Calling all the Pregnant PS''ers

[princessplease]

DC- Thanks, you made me feel better

 

[Dreamer_D]

Princess most doctors don't even order betas at all So far, the sum total of checking on my baby has been a conversation with my midwife about my last pregnancy I really believe the best course to take in the first trimester is to sit back, relax, and eat some pizza. As for symptoms, they come and go. You are early for anything real. For me, the sickness began slowly around 6 weeks and is much stronger now at almost 9 weeks. I know it is hard, but you must have blind faith. ETA: I just noticed in the TTC thread that you have had a loss in the past. I am sure it makes it harder. If you tell your doctor that they may offer more monitoring, if you think that will make you feel better.

Noel Thinking of you!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Noel-thinking of you and hoping that your daughter has a wonderful birthday!!!

 

[lliang_chi]

Noel, hope everything is well. Sending you and your family good vibes and happy birthday wishes to your sweet little one.

 

[Laila619]

My beta was 17.7 on 11DPO, 77 on 13DPO and then 802 on 18DPO.

Wow, with that sort of increase in betas I still think it could be twins, DC!

Princessplease, your beta for 13 DPO is NOT low at all. It's actually quite good, so no worries!

 

[Laila619]

duplicate, sorry

 

[Deelight]

Princess I agree with dreamer but I also know it is hard not to worry I am also going to sound daft here but I am not a 100% sure what beta's are as I never had that test.

I will add I worried heaps till I got to the second tri and then I was like ahhh we made it - then the worry lessened even more after 24wks and now for the most part she doesn't worry me to much - (I am trying not to think of labour )

As for boob pain mine HURT OMG so much from about 4-5wks onwards they got massive really quick and until I forked out for some new bras they caned soooo much so it is fairly normal for them to hurt.



Noel Sending you more dust

 

[princessplease]

DD- Thanks for your encouraging words. You made me feel better too!

Noel- Hoping everything went smoothly and your lil girl is snuggling in your arms!

Lalia- Thank you! I'm just a worry wart by nature, and Dr. Google SUCKS, lol!!!!

Deelight- That really makes me feel better that you don't know!! It's the concentration of HCG in your bloodstream. The number is not all that important, but the fact that they double every 31-72 hours is. My boobies are not as sore as they were prior to finding out and when we first found out, but they're a little tender to the touch. I'm really trying to chill out, lol! I told DH I want to take up yoga to help me relax.

 

[Pandora II]

Deelight - I have a feeling that they only really do betas in the USA. In the UK I think they don't see the point as you can't prevent early miscarriage so why bother spending ££ on tests when what will be will be. I've never heard of anyone having them done except when they are doing IVF and when I asked my father - who did a lot of OB work and then was a GP for the last 25 years and so first port of call for all his PG patients (UK you only see an OB once or twice if you are high risk, otherwise GP and midwife do it all) and he had no idea about ordering beta levels for a non-assisted conception and asked what the point was...

 

[Cupcake*Muffin]

Hi ladies, I was wondering if anyone has gotten a pregnancy rash? In the last few days I have broken out into hives all over. Some are small patches of raised skin and some are just little scattered bumps. I tried Googling it and looks like it might be PUPP. Anyone know if there is anything over the counter that I can use until I see my doctor on Wed? Its really uncomfortable and all over my boobs, stomach, pelvis... maybe Gold Bond or Benadryl cream? I know no cortisone but man...I'm dying over here. Help!

 

[dcgator]

Deelight - I have a feeling that they only really do betas in the USA. In the UK I think they don't see the point as you can't prevent early miscarriage so why bother spending ££ on tests when what will be will be. I've never heard of anyone having them done except when they are doing IVF and when I asked my father - who did a lot of OB work and then was a GP for the last 25 years and so first port of call for all his PG patients (UK you only see an OB once or twice if you are high risk, otherwise GP and midwife do it all) and he had no idea about ordering beta levels for a non-assisted conception and asked what the point was...

Pandora - Although Princess is the exception to the rule, most of the ladies who have their betas done (myself included) are undergoing some type of fertility treatments (IUI, IVF, etc). As part of most reproductive endocrinologist's (RE) protocals, getting betas is standard for a number of reasons including 1) to confirm a true pregnancy vs. a chemical, which leads to a continuation of progesterone supplements (which is pretty standard in most RE offices) and 2) to closely monitor the progress of said pregnancy, especially with the possibility of ectopic or other issues which can be revealed through low or non-doubling betas. I'm sure there are some other reasons, but those are the ones that come to mind first. As far as the $$ being spent on the tests, that is minimal as compared to what most of us are spending for the whole ART treatment.

That being said, I beleive that Princess had a previous miscarriage, so they may be monitoring her more closely.

 

[Lanie]

cupcake -- that is awful! I had poison ivy for a solid 1.5 months during my pregnancy and it was horrible. I hope it's not keeping you up at night. My doc told me I could take Benadryl for the night and she okayed Zyrtec/Claritin for me for the daytime, but it was an anti-inflamatory just bc my skin was screaming. Don't know if that would help you or not. She also prescribed me a medicine that is an anti-histamine...I can't remember the name of it, Hydra something. The derm prescribed me triamcinalone for the itching. It was a cream that I put on 4 times a day and that helped a little. He told me pupps starts on the stomach...don't know if that's the case for you or not, because I suspected pupps myself until it started spreading all over my legs and getting nasty. I hope you find relief soon! We have enough aches/pains and worries!

Edited to add: There's another preggo rash that isn't pupp that is some sort of hormonal imbalance. I can't remember what it's called either, but my derm checked for that. He told me that if that's what it was, it will go away "soon" after delivery. That was NOT encouraging.

 

[lliang_chi]

Cupcake, for your rash, also try a lemongrass bath. That might help give some relief for the itching. Sorry you're dealing with this. Hope it clears soon. How's you DH?

 

[Mrs]

Hi ladies, I was wondering if anyone has gotten a pregnancy rash? In the last few days I have broken out into hives all over. Some are small patches of raised skin and some are just little scattered bumps. I tried Googling it and looks like it might be PUPP. Anyone know if there is anything over the counter that I can use until I see my doctor on Wed? Its really uncomfortable and all over my boobs, stomach, pelvis... maybe Gold Bond or Benadryl cream? I know no cortisone but man...I'm dying over here. Help!

Cupake, I'm so sorry to hear you may have PUPPS - what you describe does indeed sound like it. I had it with my first pregnancy and it was awful until I got prescribed a steroid cream. Get to the dr ASAP! The derm I saw also suggested Sarna, an over the counter anti-itch cream which smells kinda funny but did help a bit. I hope you find relief soon! I remember how awful it was! Try not to itch beacuse that just makes it worse.

Mrs

 

[Pandora II]

Deelight - I have a feeling that they only really do betas in the USA. In the UK I think they don't see the point as you can't prevent early miscarriage so why bother spending ££ on tests when what will be will be. I've never heard of anyone having them done except when they are doing IVF and when I asked my father - who did a lot of OB work and then was a GP for the last 25 years and so first port of call for all his PG patients (UK you only see an OB once or twice if you are high risk, otherwise GP and midwife do it all) and he had no idea about ordering beta levels for a non-assisted conception and asked what the point was...

Pandora - Although Princess is the exception to the rule, most of the ladies who have their betas done (myself included) are undergoing some type of fertility treatments (IUI, IVF, etc). As part of most reproductive endocrinologist's (RE) protocals, getting betas is standard for a number of reasons including 1) to confirm a true pregnancy vs. a chemical, which leads to a continuation of progesterone supplements (which is pretty standard in most RE offices) and 2) to closely monitor the progress of said pregnancy, especially with the possibility of ectopic or other issues which can be revealed through low or non-doubling betas. I'm sure there are some other reasons, but those are the ones that come to mind first. As far as the $$ being spent on the tests, that is minimal as compared to what most of us are spending for the whole ART treatment.

That being said, I beleive that Princess had a previous miscarriage, so they may be monitoring her more closely.

Hi dcgator, I didn't mean to imply at all that it wasn't worth spending the $$ on the tests if you are having ART treatments - in the UK they are done for this as I mentioned. However in the UK we have socialised health care and so the state aka the taxpayer is paying for everything and so they try to keep everything as low-cost as possible without compromising care, which means that you need to have a qualifying reason for tests to be done (which ART is).

What I wanted to say to Deelight, since she is in Australia rather than the USA and they have a health system that is more like the UK one, was that it is not a standard thing done. I know when I was on the preggo board it seemed like everyone in the US was getting a gazillion more tests/betas/ultra-sounds etc than we get: if you are lucky a scan at 12 & 20 weeks and not much else - and worried that perhaps I should be pushing for more.

Hence why I asked my father - whose ART patients are seen by specialist consultants - so he was dealing with normal pregnancies where the NHS would not feel it was worthwhile to spend the money.

Hope that explains better - I certainly wasn't saying that it was a waste of time for those who were undergoing fertility treatments!

 

[Pandora II]

Deelight - I have a feeling that they only really do betas in the USA. In the UK I think they don't see the point as you can't prevent early miscarriage so why bother spending ££ on tests when what will be will be. I've never heard of anyone having them done except when they are doing IVF and when I asked my father - who did a lot of OB work and then was a GP for the last 25 years and so first port of call for all his PG patients (UK you only see an OB once or twice if you are high risk, otherwise GP and midwife do it all) and he had no idea about ordering beta levels for a non-assisted conception and asked what the point was...

Pandora - Although Princess is the exception to the rule, most of the ladies who have their betas done (myself included) are undergoing some type of fertility treatments (IUI, IVF, etc). As part of most reproductive endocrinologist's (RE) protocals, getting betas is standard for a number of reasons including 1) to confirm a true pregnancy vs. a chemical, which leads to a continuation of progesterone supplements (which is pretty standard in most RE offices) and 2) to closely monitor the progress of said pregnancy, especially with the possibility of ectopic or other issues which can be revealed through low or non-doubling betas. I'm sure there are some other reasons, but those are the ones that come to mind first. As far as the $$ being spent on the tests, that is minimal as compared to what most of us are spending for the whole ART treatment.

That being said, I beleive that Princess had a previous miscarriage, so they may be monitoring her more closely.

Hi dcgator - I definitely don't mean to imply that beta testing is a waste of time of $$ for those undergoing ART or other investigations.

What I was trying to explain to Deelight was that is isn't a standard procedure for normal pregnancies. She is in Australia which has a similar health system to our in the UK. Resources here are limited as everything is paid for by the state aka the taxpayer and so testing is rationed to those with a need rather than available to all.

On the whole we are offered 1 scan at 20 weeks and in some places the NT scan at 12 weeks and that is pretty much it unless there is a qualifying need for more tests. I know when I was on the preggo board it seemed like everyone was getting a gazillion more tests/scans/betas etc that I wasn't despite being a high-risk pregnancy and being under an OB rather than my GP, and I worried that I should be getting more!

Hope that explains!

 

[random_thought]

I have my appointment with the neurologist tomorrow, I hope everything is ok

 

[princessplease]

DC- You're right; I had a m/c at 13 weeks 6 years ago. The first beta was done because I wasn't sure if I was PG, so instead of doing another pee test at the dr, he sent me for BW. But given the m/c history, and that I hadn't seen my ob/gyn for my annual yet, he wanted to be on the safe side and send me for one. I saw the ob/gyn for my annual today, and she made no mention of having to have another beta level done.

RT- I don't know anything about your history, but I hope your appointment goes well.


Anywho, I have my first prenatal appointment on 1/5 which will put me at almost 8 weeks. I'm not sure what the appointment is for (u/s or anything). I then have another appointment on 1/24.

 

[Pandora II]

I have my appointment with the neurologist tomorrow, I hope everything is ok

RT, good luck tomorrow. I saw neurologists and pain specialists while I was pregnant as I have been seeing them for years for serious back problems and migraines.

There is not much you can take for migraines other than paracetamol or opiates (which don't work for me) as all the others are category D. I take Zomig and that was out. Luckily I only had 3 migraines in the pregnacy - they were grim but I found sleep was the best remedy.

For backpain I was already on huge amounts of opiates (D was opiate dependent after birth and had to go through controlled withdrawal) and there was nothing I could have on top when it got much much worse. I could barely sit, stand or walk by the 3rd tri. The best solution I found was an elasticated bandage from chest to knees!

 

[random_thought]

I have my appointment with the neurologist tomorrow, I hope everything is ok

RT, good luck tomorrow. I saw neurologists and pain specialists while I was pregnant as I have been seeing them for years for serious back problems and migraines.

There is not much you can take for migraines other than paracetamol or opiates (which don't work for me) as all the others are category D. I take Zomig and that was out. Luckily I only had 3 migraines in the pregnacy - they were grim but I found sleep was the best remedy.

For backpain I was already on huge amounts of opiates (D was opiate dependent after birth and had to go through controlled withdrawal) and there was nothing I could have on top when it got much much worse. I could barely sit, stand or walk by the 3rd tri. The best solution I found was an elasticated bandage from chest to knees!

Oh my goodness, that sounds so miserable! I'm praying that maybe I will just have to go see a chiropractor for it. My doctor thinks that the back pain is causing me to have tension headaches and migraines. I'll be so happy if they are connected because it will solve both issues!

Princess- I just wrote about it on the last page but it got a little lost in the jumble

 

[noelwr]

introducing my daughter

Skye Penelope was born Wed 8 Dec 2010 at 4:53 pm. she weighs 3545 grams (7.8 lbs) and is 49 cm (19.3 inches).

she loves to sleep (easily sleeps through from feeding to feeding), doesn't always like to finish her bottle (prefers to sleep), and makes the cutest sounds in her sleep. so far hasn't cried much at all. but that's just the 1st day of her life.

 

[lili]

Aw...congrats to the new mamas -- IceKid, Lynnie, and Noelwr!!
A big welcome to your little ones -- "Jumper", Vincent, and Skye.
They are simply adorable and precious

 

[lliang_chi]

Congrats Noel! She's beautiful!!! I'm so happy you two are doing well.

 

[fieryred33143]

Noel she's perfect What a beautiful baby girl. Congratulations!!

 

[noelwr]

the labor

here's my birth story. if you haven't experienced labor yet and are easily scared, you probably don't want to read it! I keep very detailed mental notes of things that involve pain. I have a very poor pain threshold.

got to the hospital at 7:30 am. I was still 2cm dilated (same as 1.5 weeks ago). they broke my water. I told them I wanted an epidural, and they asked did I want to see if was able to stand the contractions first, and I said no way, the sooner I get my epidural the better. so I got that around 10am (at which point I was having menstrual like cramps). the worst part of the epi was the needle that numbs the skin, so that was totally doable. I didn't have contractions yet so I was able to sit nice and still. was back in the delivery room around 11am and they put me on oxytocin to bring on the contractions. reached 5cm dilation quickly. then I started feeling pain in my vagina followed by the horrible feeling to poo every time I saw a contraction register on the monitor. I think around 2pm I was 8-9cm dilated. the vaginal pain went away, but the poo feeling kept getting stronger, and I had to use my breathing techniques to get through them. at 3pm I was fully dilated. gynae said to call him when I could no longer fight the urge to "push to poo". by then I was just breathing deeply and grunting through the urges. it was a horrible feeling, so I am glad the epi stopped the feeling of the whole contraction as I don't think I would have been able to deal. at 4 pm I said I couldn't fight the urge to push anymore. gynae came in about 10 min later, and I started pushing with the urges. he had me lie on my back, put one foot on his hip, one foot on a nurse, hold my legs open with my hands, press my chin into chest and push 3x during each contraction. it was horribly painful and extremely exhausting. I did this for 40 min, but it felt like HOURS. every time he would say "almost there"... but I still had so many pushes to go! and he would put his finger in my vageegee saying "you need to aim your pushes here" and I thought "get your hand out of there; it's already sensitive enough!" the "ring of fire" was okay, had to do a lot of huffing and puffing. anyway, I never experienced something so painful and exhausting in my life, but finally I felt lots of slimy limbs coming out and Skye was put in my arms and I was just so happy it was over. while I was talking to her, they removed the placenta, and I had to push a little for that, too. then it took about another hour before they stitched me all up as I tore. I asked how many stitches and the gynae said he uses one thread, but overall many stitches. he even had to call another gynae for a 2nd opinion to inspect my sphinxter to see if that had torn, but luckily Skye did not tear her mommy's butt. it wasn't great to still have all this stuff going on down there when you're super-sensitive, but you are fixated on your baby, anyway.

today I was trying to have a bowel movement and it is extremely sensitive and I don't have the energy to push so I guess I just have to be constipated.

we are absolutely in love with our daughter and she was worth it all, but would I go through all of this again to have another kid? sorry, not for me!

 

[Kunzite]

Congrats noel!! Skye is a doll!!! I'm with you on the only child front. DH is going to have to do A LOT of talking to convince me to have another!! I was terrified to have a bowel movement too. I refused to push because I didn't want to hurt my stitches. Take lots of stool softeners and you'll be fine.

Congrats again!!!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Noelwr! Skye is gorgeous!!!!! Congrats mama!!!!!! I've had a really bad day (see the TTC for 6+ months thread if you wnat details) but I've been refreshing this page nonstop to glimpse your beautiful little angel!

 

[Skippy123]

Noel, Skye is soooo Beautiful; what a little doll! Many Congrats

 

[Laila619]

Congrats Noel!!! Great job 'baking' her, hee! She looks so beautiful and she's a great weight! I love her little hat.

 

[fieryred33143]

Wow Noel! What a birth story! I wonder if the epis are different in the US. Once I had mine, I couldn't feel anything but the pressure to push. I'm also surprised he had you on your back!! That's insane! I can't imagine pushing while on your back.

Way to go momma! I wanted to address the constipation issue. Drink a lot of prune juice and/or use some suppositories (sp?). TMI but the prune juice will really help get things moving. I had a fear of pooping as well and so I held it in. It took a week for me to use the restroom and it was really, really bad/painful.