Laurabe - that's terrific! I'm envious (but in a good way
)
Disney - sorry I've been out of touch - honestly, second tri has been pretty boring for me! Did you see I'm having a GIRL!?!? I thought FOR SURE it was a boy!!
How is everyone feeling?
I also want to point out that there is an IVF success thread that many women post on after they have a successful IVF.. Please consider posting your success story there once you are comfortable with your pregnancy. I cannot tell you how many times I read that thread from beginning to end while struggling with my infertility/IVF battle - it was a lifesaver!!!
Chickadeedee - How wonderful! It's fun shopping for a little girl. Ours is so SPOILED already.
Are you feeling a lot of movements? This little one is quite active whenever I crawl into bed. DH and I were laughing last night because we could see my belly "popping" when she was doing her soft kicks last night.
Lucinda, Disney, Sunshine - Nice to see you here!
Laurabe, Sprite, Allika, Chickadeedee - welcome!
Katie - welcome! I hope we'll be able to help you along your journey!
So, I already have a question for you ladies that are a bit further along. My first u/s is scheduled for 8.5 weeks. It's like 3.5 weeks away! I thought it would be a lot sooner. I know my doc is away for a bit this month, so maybe that has something to do with it. When was your first u/s? And how did you cope with the wait? Is pregnancy just a 9-month long 2WW
?
Thanks, mizuno!
Our first ultrasound with the RE was at 6 weeks and was followed by one at 8 weeks and then 10 weeks (well, 10+3 -- 10 weeks was the day after Thanksgiving). I was kept on all of my medications until 10 weeks. At my last appointment, I had blood drawn for the MaterniT21 test. I officially graduated to my OB after that appointment.
At the 6 week appointment, we saw the tiny speck that was our baby. We could see the gestational sack, and we saw and heard the heartbeat for the first time. By 8 weeks, we could see her squirming around during the ultrasound. Her shape was more baby-looking by the 10+3 ultrasound (again, she was "dancing" quite a bit).
My OB wanted to see me before the end of the first trimester, so I actually saw her at 10+3, too (I was off that day). That appointment was first, and I actually got 2 ultrasounds that day -- one from each doctor. My next (and last) ultrasound was at 19+3 for our anatomy scan. The ultrasound tech said that our little one needed her first official time out because she wouldn't stop moving.
I won't be getting any more ultrasounds unless a reason for one comes up. I've been seeing my OB every 4 weeks since the first appointment with her. I believe my visits change over to every 2 weeks when the third trimester starts, and the I go weekly starting at 36 weeks.
I don't know how it is for others, but for me, I look at various milestones and look forward to them. Seeing the baby for the first time and hearing the heartbeat, stopping my meds, starting the second trimester, the anatomy scan -- I've found it helpful to look forward to the little things as they feel like little victories once you get there. We tried for this first baby for two years. We went through 3 Clomid cycles, a Femara + IUI cycle, a failed IVF cycle, then another IVF/FET cycle to conceive our little miracle. Now if only her due date would hurry up and get here.
First of all huge congrats on your 
!!! 
both the longest AND shortest 9 months of your life 
I am dying to see her! What really helped me is the fetal heart Doppler. I was able to use it after week 11 and have used it since then whenever I was worried. Now that she moves I don't need it as much anymore but it is nice to have!
