"Just Barely" Pregnant PS''ers

[Lanie]

174?!?!? Wow that''s so amazing! What was your number the first time you saw the heartbeat? I notice you wrote "he"....

 

[Laila619]

Hi Lanie...
6 weeks = 105bpm (was a tiny bit worried but nurse said it was fine)
7 weeks = 136
8 weeks = 174

Do you go for another ultrasound soon?

 

[Laila619]

Lynnie, did you have your first appointment yesterday?! Hope everything went great!!

 

[plantationcatt]

I''m pregnant! Six weeks today...and my first appointment is tomorrow!

 

[Laila619]

Date: 5/5/2010 11:09:18 AM
Author: plantationcatt
I'm pregnant! Six weeks today...and my first appointment is tomorrow!

Wow, 6 weeks along already?! That's great!

CONGRATS! Good luck at your appointment tomorrow.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Congrats PC!

 

[Octavia]

Lynnie, sorry to have posted and ran...finals...anyway, I hope everything is going well for you and that you had a good appointment yesterday! Thanks for the rundown on hospitals, I didn''t know about HR before but it''s not near anyplace I''ve ever lived, so I probably just didn''t pay attention. If you do decide to switch to your hospital, I''d gladly recommend my OB/GYN (you could request her specifically, but she''s in a decent-sized practice so you might see other docs too. And the office location is very convenient). I don''t know if you still have my info -- I think I might have lost yours when I switched phones because some stuff didn''t transfer over properly. If not, hopefully Ella could put us in touch, since I don''t know if I want to post it here for the world to see!

Wishing everyone the best!!!

 

[Lynnie]

Hi, girls!

First appointment was yesterday. It went fine, though I don''t really know any more than I did before the darn appointment. Urine was positive for Hcg. They drew like 10 tubes of blood, and the results won''t be in for a few days. My OB did an exam, told me my cervix is "strawberry red and engorged", which is normal, and probably what caused the spot the other morning. They told me I need to call my insurance company, and find out the copays, so I''ll do that tomorrow. Two hours of mostly waiting and paperwork

My practice doesn''t do an ultrasound til 11 weeks, unless you''re high risk, so no hearing the HB for me either. My EDD is 12/19.

PC!! Congrats!!! When''s your EDD?

Octavia, no prob on posting and running. I do it sometimes too

I''m kinda leaning towards my hospital now, for the simple fact that I''d be able to look up all my info, test results, etc. And not have to rely on the docs to be calling me back. I''ve got work tonight, so I''ll call the insurance co tomorrow during the day. I''ll be keeping you updated!

 

[split_shank]

Hi all!

I had my recheck appt today and it went great!!! Baby is measuring right on track (10w3d) and the HR was 156. US was so cool, got to see more body parts this time. I liked the doppler even better because you can actually hear the hb, not just see it. It sounds like someone banging a drum in the background of an aquarium haha. Hope everyone else is doing great!! Looks like everyone''s appts have been going perfect too! yippeee!!!!

 

[Lanie]

Congrats Lynnie and split_shank on great appointments! Lynnie -- hope your bloodwork comes back with no problems!

split_shank -- when is the famous NT scan? You seem so far ahead of me! I can''t wait to see an actual baby instead of a teeny tiny blob with a heart flicker.

 

[Laila619]

Date: 5/5/2010 6:57:31 PM
Author: split_shank
Hi all!

I had my recheck appt today and it went great!!! Baby is measuring right on track (10w3d) and the HR was 156. US was so cool, got to see more body parts this time. I liked the doppler even better because you can actually hear the hb, not just see it. It sounds like someone banging a drum in the background of an aquarium haha. Hope everyone else is doing great!! Looks like everyone''s appts have been going perfect too! yippeee!!!!

Great news!

 

[Loves Vintage]

Split Shank and Lynnie - Congrats on your good appointments!

Lanie - How are you feeling? Morning sickness better?

Laila - How are you doing? How does this whole appointment business work? When is your next appointment? I noticed you're looking into strollers. How's that going for you? It is so overwhelming. I have no idea about any of this yet, like what type I would need and for when. I live out in the country and have NEVER seen women walking with strollers. Now that I think about it, that seems slightly insane, except of course maybe the roads are not safe due to lack of sidewalks and lots of trees!

Anyway, I've been keeping my eye on Craigslist for a rocker/recliner type chair that is not that standard wooden glider. Why do they make them all wood?? No luck yet, but there's PLENTY OF TIME.

I've got nothing new here, just feeling chatty I guess!

I POAS'd again the other day, and the line was SUPER-dark, so I was happy about that. Even DH was impressed! Hahaha. Oh, and I made my ob/gyn appointments yesterday. I think it's 9 weeks for the patient coordiantor and then the following week to meet with dr and have u/s. I expect to have an u/s sooner at the RE's office.

 

[lovelylulu]

LV - just skimmed your post and saw that you are on the lookout for a rocker that isn''t all wood. We scored a great deal from craigslist on a pottery barn one that is basically a sort of upholstered arm chair with a wooden rocker base. I might have posted a pic in the nursery thread. Just keep looking over those listings and congrats on your bun!!

 

[split_shank]

Date: 5/6/2010 8:57:38 AM
Author: Lanie
Congrats Lynnie and split_shank on great appointments! Lynnie -- hope your bloodwork comes back with no problems!

split_shank -- when is the famous NT scan? You seem so far ahead of me! I can''t wait to see an actual baby instead of a teeny tiny blob with a heart flicker.

Excuse me for my ignorance, I''m still getting used to what all these tests are for... from what I gather, the NT is going to be optional???? As she stated with the CF testing and Downs, it only gives you odds, not definites, and most of the time its not worth the worry until the baby is born. She made a good point in saying, "Would you do anything differently if it was positive?" Nope. So I guess thats where we''re standing. Discussion welcome.

Our US gender scan will be the beginning of July

 

[Loves Vintage]

Lulu - Thank you! I looked up the nursery thread, and YES, that is exactly what I have in mind! Good to know that Pottery Barn makes one. I can add that to my searches.

I love your crib too. So many choices! And, I have to ask where your bedding is from?? If I had to guess, I would say Garnet Hill maybe, but I don't even know if they sell baby stuff?!

 

[lucy.lucy.80]

Hi ladies!! Congrats to all those newly preggos!!

When you start looking for baby items (stollers/furniture/breast pump/etc) I highly recommend a book called Baby Bargains (8th edition) it has a green cover. It tells you the top rated brands, how to save money, etc. Someone recommended ti to me and i have saved hundreds of dollars and it made the whole registry and baby product process much less overwhelming. I found a good used copy on amazon under $5

 

[Loves Vintage]

Lucy.Lucy! Thank you! I was thinking, someone should write a book about all of this stuff! Off to order a copy now!

How are you feeling these days, Lucy?

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 5/6/2010 1:56:22 PM
Author: split_shank

Date: 5/6/2010 8:57:38 AM

Author: Lanie

Congrats Lynnie and split_shank on great appointments! Lynnie -- hope your bloodwork comes back with no problems!


split_shank -- when is the famous NT scan? You seem so far ahead of me! I can't wait to see an actual baby instead of a teeny tiny blob with a heart flicker.

Excuse me for my ignorance, I'm still getting used to what all these tests are for... from what I gather, the NT is going to be optional???? As she stated with the CF testing and Downs, it only gives you odds, not definites, and most of the time its not worth the worry until the baby is born. She made a good point in saying, 'Would you do anything differently if it was positive?' Nope. So I guess thats where we're standing. Discussion welcome.


Our US gender scan will be the beginning of July

SS, yes the NT, quad screen and AFP tests are optional (this is the general 1st tri screening for d/s and spina bifida). This screening only gives you odds.

The CF screening is also optional for people who do not have a familial history of it. It's a blood test and is separate from the NT scan. They did my CF screening with the blood work they did in the first visit. It will tell you if you're a carrier for CF. If you are, then they suggest your husband be tested. If he is a carrier then you have a 50/50 chance of a having a child with CF. Both parents MUST be carriers to have a baby with CF.

For us we wanted the downs testing for awareness and to make plans. I felt the d/s outcome would be more detrimental than a CF diagnosis because my cousin has CF and has successfully lived with it for 35 years (two transplants in that time though). She's otherwise healthy and vibrant and successful. Granted, growing up with CF was tough on her and her family, but she was at least able to enjoy life and all it has to offer (with the exception of having a child, which she can't).

With downs, Tri 18/21, SB, etc, I don't know. I know so little about it and about what goes into raising a child with d/s, etc so for me that's a lot more scary and hard to come to terms with.

Our NT scan results came back great, lower than average chances for my age group at 1:1100. Then we had our anatomy/gender scan at 18.5 weeks and learned Aidan had a calcification on his heart which increased our odds to 1:550. However the odds of complications from an amnio are around 1:250 (my mother was the 1 with my brother), so we felt, after researching and speaking with a few docs, that we were better off foregoing the amnio and just leaving things up to chance. We have no other indicators for downs and our doctor is super confident that Aidan will be a bright and healthy baby.

"NT Scan"=nuchal translucency scan, where using an ultrasound, they measure the space at the back of the neck. Babies with problems like downs tend to have a very wide space.

"AFP screen"= alfa fetal protein screen, a blood test to check for problem markers

"Quad screen" = not totally sure what this entails, if it's the combo of screens they do in the 1st tri or the name of one of the tests in the group of screens they do.

In addition to determining the gender, the anatomy scan is another step in the birth defect determination process. The tech basically measures different parts of the baby and confirms that everything is where it's supposed to be (heart, kidneys, brain, etc). Quirks in the measurements, spots, cysts, etc can be clues to problems like d/s, etc.

 

[Laila619]

I checked out Baby Bargains from my library and like lucy.lucy, highly recommend it! It helped make a bit more sense of all the baby gear madness. I was able to start a baby registry now that I know what is necessary and what isn't.

Loves Vintage, how are you?! Great that the line was super dark.

Sounds like everything is going just fine with your 'lil one! Anyway, here is how my RE worked once I got my BFP: the first week, betas 2 days apart to make sure they doubled in 48 hours. Then they wanted to see me for the first ultrasound at 6 weeks--that's almost always when you can first see the heartbeat. It's nice going to a RE in a way, because we ladies get to see the baby's heartbeat long before other girls get to! It was so cool seeing that flicker! Then I had another ultrasound at 7 weeks to make sure the baby still looked good. At that point, they usually discharge you, but since I was a nervous nelly, my nice RE agreed to give me one more ultrasound at 8 weeks. I just had that one on Monday, so I'm officially discharged now, and I called my OBGYN to schedule the first appointment with them.

Your RE's office might be a bit different, but from what I understand, almost all of them want to see you at 6 weeks.

 

[Loves Vintage]

Laila - Hi there!

The library, what a great idea. I do go occasionally, but sometimes it is more cost-effective for me to just buy the book than pay all the late fees I usually accumulate.

But, I'll have to go in the next few weeks and see what's available. I just got the Baby Bargains book at Half.com for $8.50. Let me know when you decide on a stroller or strollers, ok?

Yes, everything appears to be going fine. About the HCG tests, that's why I was taken aback when the first nurse told me to come back in a week. A WEEK?!?! Last time, they did have me come back in a two days, and then maybe 3 days again. The third test confirmed the pregnancy would not be viable. Anyway, maybe he recommended a week because I was in so early for the first HCG? I have no idea. DH says, let's just wait until Monday . . . it's out of our hands at this point, which is true. Acupuncturist said, don't worry, your HCG levels will double every 72 hours (positive thinking?) and leave the worries about when to test again to your doctor. Huh, leave the worries to someone else, ok, I can try, and for the most part, I'm doing ok!

I've been pretty busy lately. I picked up two foster greyhounds on Sunday, so they've been keeping me busy. They are so much fun! I will post their pics at some point. They are seniors so they have the adorable white faces.

How are you doing? Did you have a problem getting an appointment at your OB/GYN? I decided to call this week because sometimes they book up, so I didn't want to miss out on the earliest appointment they would give me. I do think my RE's office will do an u/s for me. I just don't want them to kick me out early because this past month was a break. I'm sure they won't, though.

 

[charbie]

Date: 5/6/2010 3:16:28 PM
Author: Loves Vintage
Laila - Hi there!

The library, what a great idea. I do go occasionally, but sometimes it is more cost-effective for me to just buy the book than pay all the late fees I usually accumulate.

But, I''ll have to go in the next few weeks and see what''s available. I just got the Baby Bargains book at Half.com for $8.50. Let me know when you decide on a stroller or strollers, ok?

Yes, everything appears to be going fine. About the HCG tests, that''s why I was taken aback when the first nurse told me to come back in a week. A WEEK?!?! Last time, they did have me come back in a two days, and then maybe 3 days again. The third test confirmed the pregnancy would not be viable. Anyway, maybe he recommended a week because I was in so early for the first HCG? I have no idea. DH says, let''s just wait until Monday . . . it''s out of our hands at this point, which is true. Acupuncturist said, don''t worry, your HCG levels will double every 72 hours (positive thinking?) and leave the worries about when to test again to your doctor. Huh, leave the worries to someone else, ok, I can try, and for the most part, I''m doing ok!

I''ve been pretty busy lately. I picked up two foster greyhounds on Sunday, so they''ve been keeping me busy. They are so much fun! I will post their pics at some point. They are seniors so they have the adorable white faces.

How are you doing? Did you have a problem getting an appointment at your OB/GYN? I decided to call this week because sometimes they book up, so I didn''t want to miss out on the earliest appointment they would give me. I do think my RE''s office will do an u/s for me. I just don''t want them to kick me out early because this past month was a break. I''m sure they won''t, though.

LV- if it makes you feel any better- my regular OB /GYN (whom i LOVE and TRUST WHOLY) said numbers are kinda crap. he said he doesn''t even take them until he has a real reason to, and even then it''s just ballparking for awhile. it was another doctor who ordered them for me the first time, and my doctor said checking back in only 2 days wasn''t going to tell him that much, he''d rather wait a week so he could see a big significant change and then make a decision. the every 2 days thing drives him nuts. i know it is SO hard not to worry about every single little thing- i spent hours scouring the internet for every single possible sign of what any information i was given meant. i''ve decided now that whenever i find out im pregnant again, i NEED to take a more relaxed approach. and think about it- you got preggo when you took the relaxed approach- so i think everything will turn out just fine for you

 

[Loves Vintage]

Hi Charbie!

Thank you for saying that. I am coming to accept the fact that I just don't know very much about any of this, and I really need to let go a little and trust my doctor. I haven't been researching very much at all. I am more focused on taking care of myself and researching baby stuff, which I know it is really way too early for, but anyway, it's more fun than worrying. Good to know about the waiting one week!

 

[lucy.lucy.80]

Hi LV! the 1st trimester had a lot of nausea but now that I am 22 weeks I''m feeling much better- thank you for asking! I am sooo happy for you and was thrilled to find out you got your BFP!! How are you feeling? Hope you dont encounter too much nausea but if you do, it ususally subsides by the end of the first trimester. Great to hear you ordered the baby bargains book and hope you find it as useful as I did!

 

[Circe]

Hi, guys: mind if I come and play in your sandbox?

I had a wonky period last week that lasted all of a day, and today around midday I just got too curious and used an old test I had lying around ... and I got a positive! Faint positive, but positive nontheless (though I am having currently dressing to go out and buy one of the high-falutin'' kinds that just says YES or NO to relieve any doubts in my mind). I am happy, and shocky, and ... gah! Words fail me. Y''all know what I mean, I''m sure.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Oh my goodness Circe, CONGRATS!!!

 

[Laila619]

Wow, congrats Circe!

 

[geckodani]

I just wanted to pop in and say congratulations to all of the ladies here!

 

[Puppmom]

Circe, fantastic news! Can''t wait till you join us over on the preggo thread.

 

[Circe]

And, the fancy test confirms it! I''m just reeling - delighted, but overwhelmed.

Thanks so much, HH, Laila, Geckodani, Puppmom! I can''t wait to start migrating between the threads, either.

 

[Lanie]

Circe -- congrats! Is this your first?

LV -- Hey!

How are you feeling? My m/s isn''t really better. I feel awful. Zofran isn''t doing much for me. UGH.

I''m just counting down the days til school ends, which is 14 and it seems like an eternity. I guess it could be worse...I could be vomiting uncontrollably and hooked up to IV''s in the hospital. Anyhoo...have you told any family/friends yet?

Laila -- how are you hanging in there?

Lynnie -- any news about the bloodwork? How are you doing my other fellow L?