MAY we all be blessed with baby! May 2013 and beyond (BFFs Seeking BFPs)

[ProfWife]

Newbie - they often don't ask. They are required by laws to run specific tests. I guess you can always raise a ruckus or decline, but I just went with it. (I'd already been blood typed by my RE within the last 2 years, but my doc insisted it was necessary.)

The number of tests are astonishing. I was tested last week for syphilis and gonorrhea. Hubs and I have been married for almost 9 years, together for 10, no other partners and even we haven't done anything for the last several months (he's been exhausted from work and I've just been exhausted). Still had to have the record of being tested. I've also now been tested for HIV 3 times (twice during pregnancy, once with my RE). Considering both hubs and I had 0 partners before each other, waited until the wedding, we are what might be considered "low risk."

I understand some people lie about these things, which makes it so the rest of the population has to be tested in order to protect these little ones we carry.

 

[melann13]

Agreed profwife, same boat, DH and I have only ever been with each other, and only once we were married. I once had a crap OB that I saw just for a pap and she wanted to test me for all sorts of things as well as give me the HPV vaccine. I declined and explained that I had zero reason to suspect anything. She looked me straight in the face and said "You don't know your husband's not cheating on you." I about punched her in the throat. Never went back. I had known her less than 5 minutes and she pulls that? No way. It would be different if it was a doc that I had a long relationship with or something.
I did my lecture this morning. Hardly any of it was out of the book. I teach at a very conservative Christian school, so there are A LOT of people interested in NFP etc. I have several engaged students in my class as well. I was VERY open. We talked about miscarriage, chemical pregnancy, stillbirth, infertility and more. I told them that I've been through miscarriage and one of the MANY reasons that you NEVER ask someone if they're pregnant is because they may not want to tell you if they lose the baby, which they will have to for everyone they told they're pregnant. Even worse, they could have already had one and still be showing. It was very real and frank. They had a lot of really sincere questions.
After class an extremely genuine male student asked if he could talk. He wanted to know what a husband should do in these cases. He's not married (not even in a relationship currently from what he's mentioned to me). He really HEARD me when I said how common it is, and he felt that I was someone he could ask about what a husband's role should be in helping his wife as well as himself through such a difficult thing. He is going to make a young woman very happy someday. I am truly blessed to work with such amazing students.
We had our last chapel for the semester today, and it was amazing, and has just made me more emotional about this great place I work.

 

[newbie2013]

What a fantastic experience for your students (and you)! I'm sure that will be one lecture they will remember in the years to come. I find there are so many conversations that just aren't had in our societies - and you had some of them yesterday. The high school I went to, which wasn't conservative at all, never talked to the students things like that during sex education. We were taught that having sex would result in pregnancy (implied that it would happen immediately). I WISH I had had someone like you in my life when I was younger so that I had started this journey without high expectations that getting pregnant was as easy as having unprotected sex and after a couple of months I'd be pregnant. I never expected it would take so long and require so much intervention. I always thought that IVF was for very few people who had "something wrong" with them... How naive I was Thank goodness for good old Dr. Google who educated me rather quickly when things weren't happening.

 

[ProfWife]

Melann - that is AWESOME! What an extremely worthwhile class.

You're really a great teacher! I'd take your class in a heartbeat!

I am blessed with my doc. She shares the same values and isn't afraid of speaking her mind when she discovers her patients are of the same mindset. She expressed her irritation at needing all that testing done when she was pregnant with her boys. Yes, there are some who cheat, but that doesn't mean all men are going to do it.
I just really hope she's the one on call when I go into labor...I REALLY like her and fully trust her.

 

[athena87]

Prowife they test you for all of that again when you're having #2. My husband and I joke about it. They put all of our test results on a portal online and i was looking at my labs and went through the list I don't have such and such and so on and so forth. My husband and I have been together 8.5 yrs and just had our 6 yr anniversary on Mother's Day. We are both O+ so no worries there. The worst thing I've ever been asked by my ob was if ds1 was planned. I'd been going to her 1.5 yr for infertility issues. Dh was so mad, he was like how hard is it to look over a chart.

Melann your class sounds awesome. Most people never hear about miscarriages or infertility til they are going through it. My mom lost my twin and dh's mom lost a girl prior to having his older brother and almost lost dh when she had him at 27 weeks. It's crazy to me that his birthday is June 28, but his actual due date would've been between our boys due dates ds1 October 3(born September 13) and ds2 is due September 10. I think I was around 26 weeks on his birthday with Eli and I'll be around 29 or 30 this time.

 

[ProfWife]

Athena - I would have been mad if they were that lackadaisical! I'm glad that my doc does actually spend a few moments reviewing charts before coming in the room (and seems to try to remember specific things about each of the patients to develop a rapport with them).

 

[newbie2013]

How's everyone doing? Any sign of Anne yet??

Everything good at my end. DH came back exhausted from one work trip and leaves tomorrow on another. This one is only about 12 days, but I'll miss him and he'll miss the first ultrasound - 6 days to go!

 

[melann13]

I'm doing a little happy dance because the last 2 days I have felt SOOO much better! Wednesday and Thursday last week were really rough. I'm now considering the idea that with where I am in my pregnancy that the placenta was taking over and for those two days I had double the hormones while the switch happened. I still have food aversions and eat A LOT, but I had coffee for the first time yesterday without it making me want to vomit! (Not a lot obviously, but I haven't been able to even think of taking a sip- and I LOVE coffee- used to manage a shop- the whole shebang and genuinely enjoy decaf because I just love the taste and comfort of it. This morning I worked at a coffee shop for a couple hours writing an exam and couldn't handle the idea of having a latte, but not with the same intense disgust I had previously.
Here's hoping that I continue on the upswing into the second tri!
(Cravings are DEFINITELY still a thing- spent more at Costco on Saturday than EVER before because EVERYTHING sounded so good!

 

[ProfWife]

I have my 38 week appointment tomorrow morning, we'll see if there's any progression. At last week's appointment I was only a fingertip dilated, 50% effaced and she hadn't really dropped at all (-2/-3 station). I think she's moved down some, but I'm not sure if it's enough. I've been bouncing and rotating on my exercise ball if relaxing without my poor swollen ankles propped up.

Today, I think nesting officially kicked in full-force. So far, I've re-organized my craft area, cleaned out the freezer (except part of the track I can't reach in my condition) and scrubbed part of the kitchen floor. I'm on a break for lunch and an episode of Call the Midwife from last night. Then it's fridge, cabinet doors, organizing the pantry and mopping the rest of the kitchen. I think after that I'll be taking a nap with my feet propped before deciding what to tackle next.

Craziness going on around here...

 

[ClandestineTX]

I'm mid-week 19, weight holding steady, still haven't had to use the maternity clothes I bought!

Tired, but trying to stick to at least daily walking. Made announcements to mail out since we are still keeping this off Facebook while I look for a new job. Can't complain, thankfully!

 

[melann13]

Yay Clande!
Props on the no maternity clothes. That ship has sailed for me already Certainly I can still wear regular shirts as long as they are long enough to cover my elastic pants!

I can't remember if you'd had movements yet or not? I'm looking forward to feeling them earlier this time around (since that's pretty standard with #2), plus I think I grew new nerve endings after my daughter. I always had ovulation pains, but in the last 6 mos they were QUITE strong, like catching my breath when I walked strong. I also felt implantation with this one. It was so strong that I commented to my husband that I was in significant pain and wondered if that's what it was- like a screwdriver being driven into my pelvis on and off for about an hour.
Wondering if i will be more sensitive to all of it now? Could be good or really bad...

 

[ClandestineTX]

I wasn't sure about the movements at first, because they are pinches and pokes, where everyone said to expect bubbles and flutters! Most is random at this point, complicated by the fact my placenta is in the front.

I keep being told I'll "pop" one day, starting to worry the wee one is getting smushed in there!

 

[newbie2013]

I'm spotting... not a whole lot and I know it is probably nothing and I'm trying not to freak out... seeking assurance that it is common... anyone? I'm 6 weeks today. Sent a message to my doctor and I'm on the couch about to order delivery for dinner... not standing in the kitchen tonight. I wish dh was here he left on his work trip yesterday

 

[melann13]

Newbie, it is likely completely nothing. Are you cramping? Laying low is good. Have some water, take it easy and try hard to relax. Spotting is very common.

 

[newbie2013]

No, not as such. We dtd about 48 hours ago, first time since FET, and I do think I did too much today, including lifting my friend's 18 month old into his carrier on his mum's back - only realised I shouldn't have done it, after the fact

Had constipation this morning, then diarrhea... not sure if any of these things prompted a bleed... or if all did in combination.

Seeing my doctor tomorrow after work... if I go to work. Wish dh was here, but then that would just be someone else to worry. Probably better that he's not.

 

[ProfWife]

Spotting pink/brown is common. If it gets to be any more, goes bright red or is accompanied by cramping, I'd at least call your RE for reassurance (they might do an early scan and see how things are progressing).

 

[newbie2013]

It is very dark reddish-brown but no cramping. I was supposed to go in on the 22nd anyway, so only a few days early. I'm hoping to go to bed very soon and get some sleep...

 

[ProfWife]

One of the first things my nurse talked to me about was bleeding in the first trimester. She specifically mentioned that things like internal exams, intimacy, over doing it can all cause some spotting. Given that you probably irritated your cervix a little with intimacy followed by some lifting and potentially straining with the constipation - it's likely you just dislodged a little blood. You're doing the best thing right now - resting. If you do go to work tomorrow, try to take it a little easier on yourself until you can get the peace of mind I know you're wanting from your doc.

Side note - watch the constipation-diarrhea cycles. You'll want to make sure you eat well so you don't end up with hemorrhoids (ouch) or dehydration (worse). Especially since a rupturing hemorrhoid can really freak a person out, even though it's normally harmless and stops bleeding quickly.

Try to rest tonight.

 

[RaeChay]

Newbie- bleeding in pregnancy is always nerve wracking, but commonly nothing serious. There are many many women who even bleed or spot throughout their whole pregnancy- while not ideal (and certainly stressful) they go on to have healthy babies. Personally, I've had SCH 2 out of 3 pregnancies, both of which occurred at 6-7 weeks' gestation. They are SO so common.

Take it easy, drink lots of water, take off work if it helps you to relax.

 

[newbie2013]

I came to work today, but only because the spotting had pretty much stopped this morning. I am very fortunate in my job that is I want to, I can take it easy in my office. If the spotting comes on heavier then I'll just go home and get on the couch. My appointment is in 8.5 hours... Seems like a long time from now. I also decided not to tell dh or my mum (the only ones who know I'm pregnant). Dh isn't here and he'd only worry. There's literally nothing he can do anyway. And my mum is a worry wart. she wouldn't sleep until after I called her tonight, which would be really late her time. Obviously, regardless of the outcome of my appointment today, I'll tell dh what happened.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!