Calling all the Pregnant PS''ers

[E B]

Date: 3/31/2010 2:33:16 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
Jena, we suspect we're having a boy, based on the angle of the dangle from our 12 wk NT scan u/s pic-see below.

I think the 'nub' readings are pretty accurate at 12 weeks if done by a skilled technician who knows what he/she is looking for. Not 100 percent, of course (which is one reason why a lot of techs won't say anything), but I think most of the predictions over at ingender turn out to be correct if the positioning of the fetus is optimal. Our tech guessed boy based on his nub (at 12 weeks), and she was right! I think mara's did too.

ETA: Here's an interesting example study:

Efrat et. al. “Fetal gender assignment by first-trimester ultrasound.” Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2006.

* Study included 656 participants ranging from 12-14 weeks gestation
* Gender was determined in 93% of participants (7% inconclusive rate)
* At 12 weeks, 99% of male gender predictions were correct, and 91% of female predictions were correct
* At 14 weeks, 100% of both male and female predictions were correct

 

[Mara]

lol HH i think that is a leg... as much as you''d like for it to be the bits... we have an image almost exactly like that i think at 8 or 10 weeks and i was like LOOK ITS A BOY hahaa and the OB was like that is more likely a leg.

and yep EB... our OB guessed boy at 12 weeks but said she was still learning how to ID. at 15 weeks, we had our amnio done and we could CLEARLY see the twig and berries at that scan...no mistaking as you saw legs and then what was in between. i guess the amnio appt used a way better US machine, it was all SO incredibly clear, not all grainy like the OB offices equipment...we saw heart chambers, the brain, fingers and knuckles!! amazing clarity.

and one of my friends had ''early detection'' done, whatever that means and they said girl at 8-10 weeks and yep it was girl. i think it really depends on the technology and the equipment...because the grainy OB offices just blur it all in IMO...i hated the OB printouts, but just liked seeing the bean.

the funniest thing to me is that most docs and books say that the genitals don''t descend until like 17 or 18 weeks(?) but we totally saw the goods at 15. and it wasn''t ''late 15''...it was literally the day i turned 15 weeks.

i''d ask for a scan at 17.5 weeks if you can, def would want to share the news. BUTTTTT it also depends again on the equipment and if the baby is in the right position for them to get the goods view.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 3/31/2010 3:46:56 PM
Author: Mara
lol HH i think that is a leg... as much as you''d like for it to be the bits... we have an image almost exactly like that i think at 8 or 10 weeks and i was like LOOK ITS A BOY hahaa and the OB was like that is more likely a leg.

Or he''s incredibly well hung and we should call him "tripod"

 

[Mara]

lol i had to go find our image but here it is on 7/20 so that is basically at about 9 weeks i think. and i guess our nub was smaller...but the tech still thought it was prob not a penis. hehee.

oops sorry it's so big.

 

[E B]

Date: 3/31/2010 3:46:56 PM
Author: Mara
lol HH i think that is a leg... as much as you'd like for it to be the bits... we have an image almost exactly like that i think at 8 or 10 weeks and i was like LOOK ITS A BOY hahaa and the OB was like that is more likely a leg.

The thing that looks like the penis is actually the genital tubercle. If that was his leg, he'd be one short little dude. Compare it to the size of his head.

I think the thing floating above his belly is part of his leg/foot, but I'm not a technician.

From what I've seen, I think you've got a boy baking, HH.

(I edited my post before this one to include a study of first trimester gender evaluation if anyone missed it.)

ETA: Mara, I think your little guy's tubercle may be the bigger thing underneath what you have circled. Is that what the tech said was part of his leg? Could be, it's hard to tell.

 

[Mara]

Date: 3/31/2010 3:52:45 PM
Author: E B

Date: 3/31/2010 3:46:56 PM
Author: Mara
lol HH i think that is a leg... as much as you''d like for it to be the bits... we have an image almost exactly like that i think at 8 or 10 weeks and i was like LOOK ITS A BOY hahaa and the OB was like that is more likely a leg.

The thing that looks like the penis is actually the genital tubercle. If that was his leg, he''d be one short little dude. Compare it to the size of his head.

I think the thing floating above his belly is part of his leg/foot, but I''m not a technician.

From what I''ve seen, I think you''ve got a boy baking, HH.

(I edited my post before this one to include a study of first trimester gender evaluation if anyone missed it.)

lol why didnt the doc or tech say genital tubercle? instead they are like ''no thats prob not the genitals''...!! i swear sometimes i think they like torturing new moms hehe.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 3/31/2010 3:52:45 PM
Author: E B

Date: 3/31/2010 3:46:56 PM

Author: Mara

lol HH i think that is a leg... as much as you''d like for it to be the bits... we have an image almost exactly like that i think at 8 or 10 weeks and i was like LOOK ITS A BOY hahaa and the OB was like that is more likely a leg.

The thing that looks like the penis is actually the genital tubercle. If that was his leg, he''d be one short little dude. Compare it to the size of his head.

I think the thing floating above his belly is part of his leg/foot, but I''m not a technician.


From what I''ve seen, I think you''ve got a boy baking, HH.


(I edited my post before this one to include a study of first trimester gender evaluation if anyone missed it.)


ETA: Mara, I think your little guy''s tubercle may be the bigger thing underneath what you have circled. Is that what the tech said was part of his leg? Could be, it''s hard to tell.

LOL, have you seen my husband? I tower over him at 5''7"!

What is a tubercle?

 

[Puppmom]

Computer just ate my post! Now, I only have time to be me-centric.

We chose our crib (no pink on the sides - all white) CRIB - online it goes for $800-$900

but a local baby store is having a closeout and the floor model is $299. It''s in perfect condition as far as we can tell. I still think the price is a little steep for me but DH loves it so we''re going for it. We also chose our bedding - BEDDING - not this I''m super excited about. It''s exactly what I wanted! Who knew all this stuff would cost so much though. Anyone else having baby stuff sticker shock?

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Ooooh good score on the crib. It''s not cheap, but that''s a significant discount! And I love the bedding too!

We ended up ordering the Graco Lauren in white ($139 with $.97 shipping). It''s actually being delivered tomorrow!

 

[vespergirl]

Date: 3/31/2010 3:34:50 PM
Author: E B

Date: 3/31/2010 2:33:16 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
Jena, we suspect we''re having a boy, based on the angle of the dangle from our 12 wk NT scan u/s pic-see below.

I think the ''nub'' readings are pretty accurate at 12 weeks if done by a skilled technician who knows what he/she is looking for. Not 100 percent, of course (which is one reason why a lot of techs won''t say anything), but I think most of the predictions over at ingender turn out to be correct if the positioning of the fetus is optimal. Our tech guessed boy based on his nub (at 12 weeks), and she was right! I think mara''s did too.

ETA: Here''s an interesting example study:

Efrat et. al. “Fetal gender assignment by first-trimester ultrasound.” Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2006.

* Study included 656 participants ranging from 12-14 weeks gestation
* Gender was determined in 93% of participants (7% inconclusive rate)
* At 12 weeks, 99% of male gender predictions were correct, and 91% of female predictions were correct
* At 14 weeks, 100% of both male and female predictions were correct

EB, you are right that they can tell the gender at 12 weeks, in the first trimester. The reason that most docs won''t tell you is because they are afraid that people will terminate their pregnancies if it''s not the desired sex, since most women still aren''t showing at 12 weeks. All over India & China people use early US to determine gender & then abort girls. Docs in the USA aren''t as worried about only girls being aborted, but that a family with, say, 4 boys who is desparate for a girl aborting the 5th boy because they don''t want any other kids unless it''s a girl, for example.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

While I would like a girl, I''ll take a boy. I''m not picky. Besides at this point an abortion would be more painful than child birth and 18 years of raising the child.

 

[E B]

Date: 3/31/2010 3:56:43 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk

What is a tubercle?

It develops into the penis or the clitoris, depending on biological sex.

vesper- I suspected that was a reason, but not the main reason. I'm surprised.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

ooooh....gotcha. Lets hope it turns into whatever it''s supposed to be. It''s too big to be either a penis OR the little man in a boat.

 

[Mara]

EB i don''t think they said one way or the other from what i recall...just that they didnt think it was genitals but ''maybe''. maybe they didnt feel comfortable saying or what...but of course then it just leads to speculation!

and that nose was not ''nose'' either...it was his hand by his face, as soon as i saw that i was like OMG my child has a beak. not so much, he has a snub nose lik emine hehe.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

And why is it that their mouths look like they''re down on their chins?

 

[Jena17]

I have a funny story about our first visit at 8 weeks.. My husband just admited to me the other day! You know how the baby has a "tail" at the begining? Well when we were in the room seeing the baby for the first time he silently believed to himself that it was his little man parts!

He got soo excited he said because he truly believed we were having a boy, but didn''t say anything for 4 weeks about it! We actually both think we are having a girl for some reason! I couldn''t stop laughing cause I know he really wants a son and I could just imagine how happy he was when he saw that!

 

[Puppmom]

Date: 3/31/2010 7:54:36 PM
Author: Jena17
I have a funny story about our first visit at 8 weeks.. My husband just admited to me the other day! You know how the baby has a ''tail'' at the begining? Well when we were in the room seeing the baby for the first time he silently believed to himself that it was his little man parts!

He got soo excited he said because he truly believed we were having a boy, but didn''t say anything for 4 weeks about it! We actually both think we are having a girl for some reason! I couldn''t stop laughing cause I know he really wants a son and I could just imagine how happy he was when he saw that!

Jena, my DH insisted that our 10 week gummy bear was a girl!

He was wrong (not surprisingly)!

Anyone else have bad leg cramps? I''ve been trying to sleep on my side but often wake up on my back. 3 or 4 times now I wake up with an awful cramp in my left leg and when I extend my foot in an attempt to work it out, the muscle freezes and my foot is stuck extended out for a few minutes. Oh, and it hurts!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Does anyone know at what point we can''t sleep on our backs?

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 4/1/2010 8:29:55 AM
Author: puppmom
Anyone else have bad leg cramps? I''ve been trying to sleep on my side but often wake up on my back. 3 or 4 times now I wake up with an awful cramp in my left leg and when I extend my foot in an attempt to work it out, the muscle freezes and my foot is stuck extended out for a few minutes. Oh, and it hurts!

I had a few in the 2nd tri - don''t point your toes! That is what ALWAYS caused mine, and my midwife told me it''s pretty common. Try to catch yourself when you stretch and flex your toe up towards your head.

HH, I think it really depends on how big you are, but once you reach the second trimester they start telling you to sleep on your side. I couldn''t sleep on my back or stomach by the time I was 15-16 weeks, it was too uncomfortable, like I was squishing the baby.

 

[vespergirl]

Date: 4/1/2010 8:42:15 AM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
Does anyone know at what point we can''t sleep on our backs?

My doc told me that even though all the books tell you to sleep on your left side, any position that you can actually get some sleep in is fine. He said that it''s better to get some sleep, in any position, than none.

In my first pregnancy, I slept on my back until I delivered (though sometimes on my side if that was more comfortable) and I was actually able to sleep comfortably on my stomach too until the 8th month.

In this pregnancy, I think the baby is bigger, because I couldn''t sleep on my stomach past the 5th month, and I only slept on my back until about the 6th month, because if I sleep on my back, I feel like I can''t breathe.

I definitely slept better inn my first pregnancy. I am pretty miserable right now

 

[vespergirl]

Date: 4/1/2010 8:29:55 AM
Author: puppmom

Date: 3/31/2010 7:54:36 PM
Author: Jena17
I have a funny story about our first visit at 8 weeks.. My husband just admited to me the other day! You know how the baby has a ''tail'' at the begining? Well when we were in the room seeing the baby for the first time he silently believed to himself that it was his little man parts!

He got soo excited he said because he truly believed we were having a boy, but didn''t say anything for 4 weeks about it! We actually both think we are having a girl for some reason! I couldn''t stop laughing cause I know he really wants a son and I could just imagine how happy he was when he saw that!

Jena, my DH insisted that our 10 week gummy bear was a girl!

He was wrong (not surprisingly)!

Anyone else have bad leg cramps? I''ve been trying to sleep on my side but often wake up on my back. 3 or 4 times now I wake up with an awful cramp in my left leg and when I extend my foot in an attempt to work it out, the muscle freezes and my foot is stuck extended out for a few minutes. Oh, and it hurts!

Puppmom, I had really bad leg cramps in my first pregnancy. I find that the best thing to do when you''re cramping is to bend and stretch the muscle in the opposite direction - sometimes it helps to stand up to do it.

I haven''t really had many leg cramps this time (it''s only cramped up badly once). I don''t know if this is why, but I read that eating bananas helps guard against cramping, so I''ve been eating one every morning, and it really seems to be helping.

 

[Puppmom]

Thanks for the info on the leg cramps. It''s good to know it''s normal. It''s total instinct to extend my foot out instead of up so I''ll have to try to stop myself. A few more these cramps that wake me from my sleep and I think my brain will remember not to do that anymore!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

There are a few things you can do to prevent leg cramps. The biggest is to make sure you're drinking a lot of water, which I know can be hard to do when you're trying not to pee 10 times each night.

1. make sure you're not dehydrated
2. stretch before bed and when you wake up
3. drink tonic water regularly-the quinine in it will prevent cramping
4. make sure you're getting enough potassium, eat bananas.

And walking always helps when I get cramps in my feet, toes or calves.

I'm normally a side sleeper and can still sleep on my stomach, but I've noticed I'm waking up on my back a lot. I think it's because random parts of my body are now falling asleep on me so I move to make it better and end up on my back.

 

[PrettyBlues]

Hi everyone, sorry this will be a me centric post (and very long, most likely).

On Monday morning, I started experiencing some pretty bad lower back pain. It went away during the day, but came back with a vengeance in the evening. Didn''t think too much about it, and went to bed. I woke up around 6am to go to the bathroom and noticed that I had some mucous discharge, but mixed in with blood. I also had some period like cramps. Took a quick look in my books, and they said to speak to someone if this happened before 37 weeks (the bleeding), and I was only 33weeks, 6 days. So off to the hospital we went. They hooked me up to a heart rate monitor for the baby, and to check for contractions for me. While we there, I did start having contractions, I think at one point they were about every 7-10 minutes apart, and lasting 45 seconds. They decided to do an internal exam, and I was 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced, head at -1. They gave me a shot of steroids for the lungs, some pills to slow or stop the contractions, and some antibiotics for any kind of infection I may have.

The hospital I am meant to deliver at actually has an agreement with another hospital in the area that has a really great NICU and deals with pre-term labour (if you are under 34 weeks) so I get sent over via ambulance and admitted there. I was checked again (same dilation and effacement), hooked up to the monitors and watched. My contractions seemed to subside during the day, which was great. During the night they picked back up, started about 15-20 minutes apart while I was sleeping, and I spoke to the nurse when they had progressed to about 10 minutes apart. So back on the monitors I went, and was given more pills for the contractions. By the morning, they seemed to have subsided again, and I met with the doctor on call. He checked me, same dilation and effacement, although he said the head was now 0 or +1. But since the contractions had gone away and I was able to get the second dose of steroids, they decided to send me home, which is where I am now, on bed rest.

I was told that now that I am over 34 weeks, they will not try and stop the labour so if I start up again, I guess that will be it. I was visited by someone from NICU and we had a talk about the baby and the prognosis, which is supposed to be very good for a baby of this age. Also, we had an ultrasound last week and the estimated size was 2-2.2 kgs (around the 4.5 lb mark) which is great and his heart was strong and healthy the whole time I was hooked up to the monitors. If he came now, he would need probably need some time in the NICU, but probably only a couple of weeks.

Obviously we are hoping to keep him baking as long as possible, so any well wishes and thoughts would be greatly appreciated right now. Of course, I am glad that everything seems like it should be ok, but it is still quite overwhelming and stressful right now.

I really hope everyone else is doing ok.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

OMG PB! sticky baking dust heading your way!


************************************************

 

[Puppmom]

Anti-labor dust to you PB! You know what happens when we do this though? This kiddo won''t come out until at least 41 weeks.

 

[Jas12]

PB--sticky sticky to you. Hope you hold on a bit longer

Puppmom--i get calf and foot cramps ALL the time. ouch. It's normal and very common

Jena--that's cute. Funny how we can see certain things when we are really hoping for them

HH--i think (but don't quote me on it) it's not till the 3rd tri that there is enough weight and pressure from the baby to really worry about back sleeping. Even then, i think most docs say that you'll probably natually shift positions before blood flow is an issue. I slept on my back the whole way thru my last, and this pregnancy. I just prop my legs and head a bit to allieviate pressure, but even my OB said that women worry too much about sleep position. Sleeping, period, is more important.

Vesper--i am not sleeping well either! I slept terrible with my last pregnancy too, but at least i could nap after work, rest when i needed to, sleep in on weekends etc. *sigh* Isn't it frightening that we'll be welcoming this baby already majorly sleep deprived

.....

I just checked my email on lunch hour at work (good thing not too many students are in the classroom) and started crying b/c i found out my cousin, who has gone thru 3 rounds of IVF and many other fertility treatments that failed (including loosing triplets at 12 weeks last year), just had an ultrasound and got a good strong HB on one fetus

I am so happy for them!!!!! happier than when i found out about either of my pregnancies -ha

I can't tell anyone IRL, so i had to share over PS

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 4/1/2010 11:47:01 AM
Author: puppmom
Anti-labor dust to you PB! You know what happens when we do this though? This kiddo won''t come out until at least 41 weeks.

Haha, so true! But PB, I really hope your LO stays inside a bit longer - are you on strict bed rest no matter how much longer you''re pregnant?

I am irrationally jealous of your progress, it''s better than mine and my due date is tomorrow. Shame on me

 

[vespergirl]

PrettyBlues, sending sticky dust your way. Since you are now 34 weeks, I''m sure that your baby will be 100% fine no matter what happens, but hopefully it will stay in there until you reach at least 37 weeks.

One of my best friends had placenta previa, was placed on bedrest at 24 weeks, given the steroids to help lung development, and waited. She started bleeding heavily at 32 weeks, and they delivered the baby. The baby was born healthy and strong with great lungs (thanks to the steroids) at 32 weeks, and she spent 4 weeks in the NICU, but went home at 36 weeks in time for Xmas. She is now a strong, healthy, thriving 16 month old, and you would never know that she was a preemie. So, I''m hoping that your baby bakes as long as possible, but even if it comes early, I''m sure it will be a perfect little baby. Stay strong!

Jas, what great news about your cousin! Stories like that make me so happy.

MP, how are you feeling? Any baby yet?

 

[lovelylulu]

Hello Ladies. Long time no chat!

This thread has been moving right along so I hope that I can catch everyone -

pupp - my bum is keeping frighteningly good pace with my belly

. and I find it so much more (than usual) unsettling/awkward when I get heckled/hooted at now that seven months pregnant!! henry and owen were potentials on our boy list. excellent choices

mere - hope that things are maintaining with the blood pressure/swelling. sounds like something that needs to be monitored closely like you are. hope your sister''s doing well too!

cara - bah to your dad. I''m sorry that it''s an already strained relationship. and double bah to your work. my work was very congratulatory etc., but I can''t help but feel guilty about the timing/length of leave. I''ll get over it

, but it is tricky. however, if this one monstrosity of a case settles, perhaps I can have a guilt-free maternity leave (to dream, oh to dream)

charger - sorry that times have been so stressful lately, but maybe by the time you read this things are looking a bit brighter!! good luck on the longer GD test

and that picture is fabulous!

MP - keep on keeping on lady!!

prettyblues - hurray for an enjoyable shower. I''m the same way when it comes to being at the center of attention and my family shower is coming up soon. hoping to be able to sufficiently deflect everyone for a bit towards my adorable baby nephew who will be in attendance!!

jas - like everyone else said, I''m sure that your measurements are a direct result of you being in such fab shape!! my babe has up''d her activity level quite a lot during weeks 26-28. and what happy, happy news about your cousin!

snlee - thinking of you today and hope that you have a great appointment. can''t wait to hear the report!! (and perhaps see a photo!!)

blushing - twins and still fitting into your regular pants. impressive. i was an early victim of the bloat. oh, i hated the bloat. good luck deciding on the nt scan. I opted to do it (though only a singleton) and it was by far my favorite ultrasound. seeing that profile shot. i was simply melted.

something - I was so happy to read that all of the measurements are find and I hope that you get more information about her heart asap!! and hope she bakes a few weeks longer!!

china - thanks (as always) for popping by here with your momma words of wisdom. newborn pictures. must find photographer. stat.

vesper - you are soooo close!!! sorry to hear about the lackluster sleep situation. hope that you''re getting some rest before all the *fun* starts

HH - not sure when the warning about sleeping on your back kicks in, but your Dr. will definitely know. I was never a big back sleeper, so it hasn''t been hard. plus, I''m quite happy to find that at 28 wks, I can still sleep how I did pre-pregnancy which is a sort of on my side on my belly morph. too bad, I just can''t continue to sleep through the night...

jena - good luck at your appointment!

**************************************
Things are still going well for me. On monday, I took the 1hr GD test and if I don''t hear from the office today, I should be in the clear. please let me be in the clear. We''re making bit-by-bit progress with the nursery. My husband painted last weekend and we''re slowly geting all of the pieces so that kid will have a proper place to cry, er, I mean sleep.