I totally understand needing to step back! I was testing daily and analyzing line progression and would panic if the lines didn't look much darker the next day and was googling symptoms and it all just created so much anxiety that I couldn't enjoy it at first. I felt like a huge weight was lifted after the first scan. We are here when you are readyGlad your trip is going well, Nima! I never asked- how did you end up moving from Israel to Switzerland? (And feel free to ignore if that's too personal or identifying for the internet!) I would love to see Israel- i used to have a colleague who went a lot. Her husband had family in Haifa and TelAviv (if I remember correctly...) Anyway, hope you're having fun!
Hi Elencor! Good to hear from you! And I'm so happy that your new job sounds good. I think you were just told a "suspected" sex at an earlier scan. Have you confirmed?! The 20 week scan is amazing. In the US, that seems to be considered a real turning point. Ie. We were asked to pay for the portion of the birth we'd owe the OB then.That's so exciting that you're going to be able to nest and set up!
Sorry that you're having trouble working out when to start maternity leave, Megan. It is hard, because obviously you want to maximize time off after the birth vs before. Will your partner get any leave? I hope that these last few weeks are easy on you, and you feel confident going into the birth. I felt like I was nervous in the early 30 weeks, but then you get so big and uncomfortable, that you want it to happen/realize it is going to have to!
AFM- I was testing daily, and the tests are getting darker. But I've decided to sort of take a step back. I was overanalyzing every little element, and that was driving me nuts. Ie. I was convinced one line was lighter than the day before, but By the time it dried, it was way darker. That's also why I have stepped back from the internet. I actually am surprised at how anxious I feel. I thought that knowing the baby was tested would mean no stress, but of course, there's still things to worry about! There always are! Will have my first beta on Monday, and I'm not sure what after that. I assume more betas and an ultrasound at some point, but not sure when that will be. I feel like I'll be feeling much better after a good scan, and when I get to the end of first tri. I'll probably still do the NIPT, too.
And yes, I get 12 weeks of paid leave and my partner is taking 5 weeks of half pay. Not ideal but much better than nothing! I definitely want her to have the opportunity to bond and help as well. My MIL is coming to visit from 3/1-3/8 so she can help us with laundry and household chores and meet and bond with her grand baby, so we are thankful for that too
I've definitely reached the stage of being so uncomfortable that I want her to come out lol. I absolutely could not sleep last night, my abdomen hurts every time I roll over or move, I'm waddling everywhere because of the pelvic pressure and I'm feeling very crampy. I've gained about 38 pounds so most of my maternity clothes don't really fit comfortably at this point so I'm living in sweats and leggings. I've lost part of my mucus plug so I do think she will be coming pretty soon but it's hard to say! I have the group B strep test and cervical check on Monday (1/23), along with a repeat growth scan, so I'm definitely curious about that!
...but I've been having some pain around my csection scar/off to my right side, and am now worried about it being an ectopic or even worse, that it would have implanted in my scar. 
Hopefully not, as I assume the embryo was dropped off in the "best" spot, but all the anxiety I thought would be gone with IVF is instead just about worrying about other issues. 
I remember I had strong cramps and stabbing intense pains until I made it to 6 weeks more or less, I was so relieved when they saw the sac in the right place. I had my first ultrasound at only 5 weeks 3days if I remember correctly, they only saw the sac and the yolk sac, then at 7 weeks 4 days I had another one when we saw the heartbeat, and they discharged me from the clinic. I hope it’s the same for you and it’s not ectopic! 
