Mid-August Testers

[Srbjbex]

I've given up all caffeine...I gave up for the few weeks I was pg before, then it didnt really make any sense to starting drinking caffieine again in the hope I would be pg again soon! I even found decaffeinated Earl Grey tea, which I drink loads of!

 

[CHDickey]

Okay. That makes me feel better. If we drink it might be twice a month and only on certain occasions. We don't go to the bar every weekend or anything like that anymore. Now we used too when we were 23/24 years old but since getting married we have pretty much become an old married couple!

As far as caffeine, I cute back to two cups of coffee and a diet coke. I used to be way worse with my diet cokes, but now I only get one if there isn't a caffeine free option.

Just wanted to know Y'all's take on it. Thanks!

 

[snowflakes120]

Hey Ladies! I am so sleepy this Monday AM! Holy Cow!

Bex - I see you were confirmed with OV on FF! Hooray!! TWW for you hons!

CH - I have cut back a bunch. I will have maybe 1-2 drinks a month or so. My closest girlfriend and her hubby know of our TTC and my miscarriage so they don't draw attention to my lack of drinking when we are out with our other friends. Hubby has cut back a good bit too. I too don't drink much caffeine. I drink green tea in the am but it has very little caffeine in it. It was hard to give up my coffee I tell ya! I will drink a decaf every once in a while...

My mom owns a Biomat which is very similar to the Tens Machine - it seems. Maybe I will have to ask her if I can borrow it when it comes down to it - I would never have thought to use it for birthing!! Thanks gals!!

AFM, What a busy weekend. I am exhausted! Had a great time at the wedding Saturday and on Sunday I was so happy to spend time with family that were visiting.

Now onto to my chart again. I am forever having chart problems I swear! Sorry for always talking and complaining about it! But it is seriously turned into a big hot disaster as usual! I finally got my positive opk on Saturday. I got a bit of a raise Sunday morning - so naturally I figured I OV'd Saturday but this AM my temp goes down. So I think I haven't even OV'd yet and will today. I think my raise on Sunday AM is due to us not going to bed til 2:30 Saturday night and I temp at 6am - maybe not enough sleep???Thankfully, we BD'd both Saturday and Sunday so our bases are covered. And I guess we will BD again tonight. God, only knows whats going on. I am getting slighted concerned about my temps being so high this entire cycle even though I haven't OV yet.

 

[Srbjbex]

Snow we are a right pair!! Me stressing about my temps being too low and you stressing about them being too high!! haha! Lets hope these squiffy cycles pay off! I cheated a bit on FF and discarded that silly silly low temp on Saturday, which meant that I got my cross hairs! I am still convinced that is when I ov'd - my boobs are alreayd killing me!

 

[NotNic]

Very chatty afternoon! I wish I understood temping, but then I'm not sure that would help you guys. Still we like squiffy cycles here!

Hands - Do you guys get any childbirth classes, or do you have to make your own research? Do you have any ideas at all what you would like to do?

Personally I loove coffee and do drink tea - but no more than 3-4 cups a day max pre-TTC. I swapped to decaf tea at home before we started to TTC (I found that I preferred the taste when I had tea made from tea bag) so normally half of my hot drinks were caffeine free anyway - though I'd have at least one proper coffee, often with an extra shot each day.

When I first got pregnant I went off the idea of coffee and tea. It didn't make me sick - I just didn't fancy it. Instead I drank hot squash and then started having a decaf tea at work, and the odd proper tea. Around 10 wks I started fancying it again, so would drink a small cup of coffee in the morning and a tea in the afternoon, but I haven't touched coffee-shop coffee since (I can't tand the taste of decaf and I don't want to risk going off proper coffee. I love it too much!). I also have never been a fizzy drink fan - so I haven't found reducing caffeine that hard and I stay within the daily recommended limit.

 

[InHisHands]

Nic - The classes around here are few and far inbetween and i honestly don't feel up to going to one. I'll probably opt to practice breathing exercises at home by myself.

If it were a perfect world, i would love to have a water labor and then deliever on my back in a hospital with a midwife talking me through it all and a doctor at site if anything went wrong.

However this world isn't perfect, and that scenerio is no where to be found. The hospital that my insurance will cover (military), does not have a water birth option. The midwife im seeing during my pregnancy won't be able to help me to deliever. In fact i won't even meet the person who is going to deliever my baby until i check into the hosptial. The prenatal and the labor and delievery at my hosptial have different staff, and there is no telling which labor staff member you'll get. It just depends who is on call and who is available when you go in to deliever.

It kind of stinks, but going into it all knowing this... i'm trying not to let it bother me and just focus on things i can control. I know i could go outside of my insurance and pay out of pocket to get something more along the lines that i want, but with me quiting my job, it wouldn't be fesible. I rather just go along with it all.

Anyways.. some options i can control are:

Lighting - dim or bright.. i'll play that by ear.

Music - I can and will bring my mp3 player.

Visitors – Husband there the whole time. Family can come in during early stages of labor and after the birth.

Food & Drink – Liquids and hard candy only, so if they do need to do an emergancy c-section it will be safer for me and baby if i have an empty stomach.

Enema – To have if possible, that way i won't poop myself.

Umbilical cord – Husband cut.

Bonding – To clean or not to clean baby before placing baby skin to skin??? I'm not sure yet. Opinions or Suggestions anyone?

Pain management – None, if possible. Nacotics if i just can't handle it.... but i have a high pain tolerance.


Am i missing anything?

 

[MrsBea23]

Nic - hmmm maybe I will give pethadine a miss then I really don't want to be out of it during the birth. I think I will hire a TENS I found a website that does 6 weeks for 20 pounds, then I can use it at home before I head to the hospital so I can stay at home for as long as possible. I couldn't think of anything worse than getting to the hospital and they say you are not dialatd enough and you have to go home so I am going to try and stay at home for as long as possible.

CH - I still drank when TTC although cut down a bit. The weekend before I got my BFP I went out and had a few drinks but it just didn't sit right and I ended up going home early becuase it just wasn't agreeing with me so maybe our bodies know when to stop! I have never drunk tea or coffee but I still drink Diet coke/Pepsi Max, one every second day mmmmm.

Hands - How is the tummy today hun? We are the same here in Scotland we don't meet our midwife until we get to the hospital and on top of that you have to call your hospital before you go up and if its full you get sent to a different hospital so you don't even know where you are going to give birth until the time lol. Oh yeah and we can't get an enema lol, they say if you really want one you have to do it yourself at home lol. I think pretty much everyone poops on the table so i am not really that bothered it is just one of those things (although I don't know how it gets cleaned up lol).

Snow - I think your chart looks fine except for that funny temp on the 8th, other than that it just looks like a slow rise to me.

Bex - It has been super cold the last week so surely that has had an effect on your temps overall. Apart from that one low temo your chart looks good.

:wave: lisette

 

[InHisHands]

The tummy has been better since breakfast, but making a lot of unsettling noises LOL

There are times i think i feel gurgly bubbles but when i sit still to concentrate, they stop (maybe wishful thinking) or the only thing i can feel is my heart beating. I think my baby is paraylized and wont ever move at this rate lol

 

[NotNic]

That TENS machine sounds like a great price. I think I'm going to ask the mw at my next appointment what they do at the birthing centre, but I'd be tempted to get one for home too. I hate the idea of going in early and either being sent back, or having to wait hours in the hospital with no progress.

Sorry to be so negative on pethidine Bea. I'm sure it must suit some people - otherwise they wouldn't offer it. I just feel like it's not right for me.

Instead of paying out for hypnotherapy classes - I'm going to order a book from amazon and get a feel for it first. TBH - I'm a little sceptical, but even if it doesn't work at least it gives my OH a proper job while I'm in labour. If I feel like I want to hear more than we'll look at classes.

Hands - Down in London, we don't get to meet our delivering midwife either - unless by fluke they happen to be one of the ones that do a tour of the labour wards with you. I am allocated a midwife for my pre and post natal care, because she is assigned to my GP's but I don't think thats overly common either. I think that's why birthing classes are so popular. I'll be doing the private NCT ones (National Childcare Trust) and the free NHS one - but I don't think they are essential. I know quite a few people that didn't bother. They thought it might scare them.

Also I began to feel something at 17 weeks, and only today did I feel something that I felt a lot more convinced was Pip. Give it time. You'll have bruised ribs before you know it!

How is everyone else doing? xx

 

[InHisHands]

CH, Bex, Snow - Any TWW symptoms?

Nic, Lisette, Bea - For baby clothes is there anything you are going to avoid? For example, i used to work in a development center taking care of 6weeks-18month year olds. I absolutely hated when a baby came dressed in an outfit that had a zipper that ran from the top all the way down the leg (like nighties), because it meant not only having to take the one leg out, but both legs and folding up the outfit behind the baby and it was a huge hassel getting both legs in and out compared to snaps. I also disliked clothing that had a LOT of snaps. When buying clothes i am going to look for clothing that has no more than 5 snaps and clothing that is eslastic pull off/on.

 

[Srbjbex]

Hands - I do actually think I am having some TWW symptoms, although as usual I have no idea if they are in my head! Boobies have definiely grown and busting out of my bra, which is making me feel positive, but they are also tender, like when AF is coming so who knows. I also think I am peeing more, and i think I have a few twinges that might be IC?? haha - one moment I am convincing myslef I am pg then I am definitely not!!

Bea - i think the cold spell really has affected temps, but I had a lovely rise this morning which put me in a really good mood. Now even if I dont discount Saturday, FF still puts me at Oving last week as expected, so that puts my mind at rest a lot (as didnt get chance to BD at all at the weekend).

Snow - how are your temps looking today? Were you taking any supplements or anything that might have affected your temps, Im wondering if the Agnus Castus had an effect at all?

CH - any TWW symptoms for you? I know what you mean about being an old married couple now. Me and Hubby really appreciate our Saturday nights in in front of the TV! But defineitly is useful in terms of cutting down drinking anyway! we live in a village so mostly have to drive when we go out, so I normally do the driving now, which saves any questions around why Im not drinking!

Nic - it sounds like there is so much to consider for you guys, I would definitely be interested in finding out about the hyponotherapy, so let me know what you think once you have read more about it!

Lisette - you doing ok hun?

 

[snowflakes120]

Hands - No, nothing yet.

Bex - I took B6 this cycle to try to lengthen my LP and that's it. Great raise today on your chart and sounds like you have awesome symptoms too - my boobs were killing me from like 3dpo when I got my BFP which was totally out of the ordinary for me.

AFM, FF confirmed OV on CD14 this am. I am still unsure if it was that day or yesterday. I played around and disgarded that one temp that I was unsure about and it still gives me crosshairs at CD14. Eh whatever. Not feeling too confident the cycle as we only BD'd that day and not the day before. I guess we'll just wait and see. My temps aren't as high in my LP as I would like either and too high in my Follicular phase. I feel my MC really screwed me up and it sucks.

 

[NotNic]

Hang in there Snow. You're not out until the witch is in!

Bex - Will do. I love a bit of research! Yay for a great temp rise today.

Hands - Haven't really thought about clothes yet. Zips on babies seem a bit rough to me. I've also already mentioned to OH's grandmother who knits for all her g-grandchildren, that I can't wear wool and tried to drop hints for cotton blends in case she is thinking about knitting for Pip too. Also quite a few of the baby shops here do dungarees etc that have poppers all down one side, so you just lay the baby on top of the outfit, fold over the top and then do the poppers up at the side and underneath. Much easier than trying to convince LO's to put their arms and legs into clothes! We'll probably get a few outfits like that to start us off.

 

[NotNic]

Lisette - Is all okay? xx

 

[CHDickey]

Hey there ladies,

I have really tried not to look too much into TWW symptoms any more. Every time I do, I get let down, so to be honest. I am just expecting AF as usual. I am not optimistic at all. I am really tired of getting my hopes up. To be honest, I am really over this whole trying thing....I am in a bad mood can't you tell? I mean it has been 7 months and we have had NOTHING to even hint we are able to concieve. I do not even test early anymore, it is a waste of money and not worth it because guess who shows up EVERY month....AF!!

Sorry for bringing everything down, I am just down and out today

 

[NotNic]

CH - Don't feel like that honey. Remember what your doctor said. You just need to give yourself time. I was so stressed thinking it wasn't going to happen for me, and I missed out on things and spent weeks obsessing. The month I lost all track of what was going on was the month we ended up getting pregnant. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the pressure I was putting on myself to get pregnant, that was actually stopping me from being pregnant. You need to book yourself in for a treat. Something just for you - like a haircut, a manicure or plan a treat for you and hubby. Something for you to look forward to rather than worrying about AF. I also bought myself budget testers in the end which I didnt trust to be accurate early - which meant I wasn't tempted to poas too early!

 

[MrsBea23]

CH - Awwww sorry you are having a low day hun . It is so hard to stay positive all the time and there is no need, we are here and have enough PMA for you. I do know exactly how you feel though I went to the doctor after 6 months I was getting so annoyed by it all and then I was back at the docs at 8 months and was waiting for an appointment at the hospital and bam it happened. I am sure it is going to happen for you soon though and when it does you will appreciate it so much and be such a great mummy.

Nic - I was looking on ebay today and I might even buy a TENS machine then I will have it for the next one as well, it looks like you can get one for about 30 and then you need to buy the pads on top for about 5. If I get one I can send it down to you when you need it. I think I want the mamma tens or the elle tens. One of my NCT classes is going to be on all the different pain releif options so i will have a better idea about it all after that. DH just said to me at dinner he is looking forward to Thursdays class, I am so pleased he is not hating it lol.

Hands - I am not a fan of denim on little kids especially girls and yes I doubt I would get anything with zips for a baby oh and definitely no leather. I haven't actually seen anything with zips when I have been looking at clothes though. I have bought 8 sleepsuits and about 10 dresses so far, the dresses vary in size though. Little girl clothes are soooooo cute he he. Don't stress about not feeling movement yet, I have an anterior placenta and didn't really feel her properly until about 20 or so weeks.

Bex - Holy batman that is one heck of a temp rise it is looking good . When is AF due when are you going to test? My bb's where so sore the whole time in the month I got my BFP and I got hearburn around CD 9 or so.

Snow - You Bd'd the day before that didn't you? honestly I really think there would still of been lots of swimmers in there and then with a fresh batch on the day you are totally in with a huge chance hun.

Lots of to you girls.

Lisette - I hope the MS hasn't got a grip on you hun.

 

[Srbjbex]

CH - sorry you are having a down day Hun iknow how you feel, I have some days where I feel like giving up all together, but always remember that you WILL have a baby, it will happen, and when it does, that little bubba will be so loved, and so wanted.

Snow, hooray for crosshairs, I know you not happy with your bd pattern, but I think the day before could have been good! I'm think high temps for the both of us!

 

[InHisHands]

Snow - Don't give up hope. It may take your body a little bit to readjust, but just remember that you CAN get pregnant, and that it will happen in HIS timing and just keep your chin up.

On my BFP month, i had no symptoms besides a lot of mucus (cold like). In fact for 3 days i felt like AF was coming and kept finding brown tinge in my discharge. It was like why oh why hasn't she came yet? -- DUH!!! After 3 days i finally broke down and tested. Each pregnancy is different so don't lose out hope until the witch comes. You might not have any symptoms this next time around at first.

CH - I know its hard hun and i don't blame you one bit for not testing early anymore. It's so hard when you get the witch and you just want to cry over and over again and give up.

I know for me, after the 3rd month of TTC i started becoming jaded, and the tension just grew month after month. I finally at month 9 went in to start my infertility testing. Trying to figure out what was wrong (if anything) made me feel productive, even though AF still showed up. On month 10 at 16dpo, i took my test and got my BFP and didn't believe it! Now 13 weeks later and a big fat belly, there's no denying it. Your turn is coming! Keep your chin up. You still got us cheering for you.

 

[NotNic]

Hands I got a late BFP too. I took a test on 10dpo because I had a night out with the girls and wanted to see if I could have a drink. Got a BFN. I then tested again at 17dpo and got my BFP. I used a cheap test, but according to the ttc threads it was one of the best early response tests out there. I wouldn't test early again next time.

Xx