"Just Barely" Pregnant PS''ers

[megumic]

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Also, it kinda feels like tiny little elves are reorganizing my organs down there! Am I the only one feeling like my whole thorax is getting shuffled about???

 

[S&I]

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Missy, I know it's hard, but don't let your doctor convince you that you could be miscarrying solely on that one HCG test. He should know better than to even say anything until after a second test. My first HCG test done at 11-12DPO came back at 39, and the second test done at 13-14DPO was 84. The nurse who gave me my results on the phone the first day simply said that an HCG level of 39 is low, but it does indicate a pregnancy, but that it's just really early on. If you don't get to have your test run until Monday, you can search online for "HCG doubling time" to find tools that can calculate your doubling time for you. That made me feel a lot better early on. Good luck! ETA: being super tired is a great sign that you're PG! I practically slept the entire weekend before I got my BFP, and have been sleeping much more since then!

Meg, shuffling of all your internals is exactly what your body is doing to get ready for the baby. I hope your thyroid levels stabilize or get better soon! Do you think it's the pregnancy that might be making your levels freak out? Are you going to be getting extra attention due to your Graves Disease/Hyperthyroidism?

Hope everyone has a great weekend! One more week until my NT scan!

 

[Missy0483]

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Meg - That is a funny way to put it. "I have little elves in my belly" and I just got a funny mental picture!! I feel the same way. I feel slight pulling and tugging here and there. Seems like more at night now when I'm trying to rest. I had some crazy gas-like pains last night like air was stuck in my stomach or something. I'm not going to complain about it. It reassures me that something is going on! I'm not sure about the cervix question. Mine feels tight and closed and doesn't hurt at all. I hope your thyroid levels even out to a better level so you aren't so nervous about it!

S&I - I was able to have my blood drawn again this morning so I will have results sometime today. I hope I don't have to talk to the same doctor!! When I called back the other day, that's what the nurse said, I was just really early in my pregnancy and she's sure everything is fine, so I felt a little better afterwards.

BIL found out last night. We were out for a little while and he noticed my drink, "He says no beer Missy? That's usually the first sign..." I was like crap!!! DH and I had smiles on our face so he just knew, but we told him to keep it quiet for a little while! 2 other friends noticed later on, but they didn't ask why I wasn't drinking, luckily!

 

[Missy0483]

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Just a quick update! I just got a call from the nurse, my hcg level went from 60 to 129 in 48 hours! I just want to go to that doctor and go in his face for making me worry! I am SO relieved right now!

How is everyone??? Now that I'm breathing easier I can focus much better on everyone elses progress too!

 

[EmmaM]

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Congrats Missy!! So glad to hear your levels are rising appropriately. I didn't get a chance to respond when you first posted but I was following your crazy cycle on the TTC board and I'm so glad it ended in a BFP for you after all.

Meg I have been feeling the same "elves" rearranging things down there. So strange. It really makes you feel like your body is being taken over by something! Luckily for us its just a precious little one!

AFM, 5w2d today and I am so, so tired! I've been sleeping about 10 hours every night with a nap almost everyday! I didn't realize making a baby was such hard work! Still pretty hungry too. Hopefully my body is storing up before the morning sickness starts. Hope everyone is feeling well!

 

[megumic]

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Okay, I know I'm getting waaaaayyyy ahead of myself...BUT am I the only one thinking about moisturizing already to preemptively halt possible stretch marks?? Don't get me wrong, I won't mind a few and likely can't prevent them, but I've heard lots of moisturizing reallllly helps! Anyone else? Or am I the only weirdo thinking about this already???

 

[Missy0483]

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Congrats Missy!! So glad to hear your levels are rising appropriately. I didn't get a chance to respond when you first posted but I was following your crazy cycle on the TTC board and I'm so glad it ended in a BFP for you after all.

Thank you Emma! I was never expecting it to happen that way, that's for sure!

So, I talked to DH last night and he said he's excited but so shocked it happened so fast. I told him it's a new thing to me also and we'll get through it together! He called us the "Dynamic Duo" I said "We sound like a wrestling team" He said "I'll tag you in when I need you" Haha!
I was also outed by another friend last night for drinking water! Haha geez. Everyone just assumes you're pregnant if you don't drink just one time! Oh well, I knew the secret wouldn't be a secret for long! My EDD from FF is June 6th which makes me 4 weeks, 3 days today. Now the countdown to my first appointment on October 17th. Not sure what they will do. I'll be 6 weeks, 5 days then.

 

[megumic]

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Missy, my EDD is June 6 too!

 

[jas]

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Hi everyone. Welcome to the new mamas and a big apology for not being here the last few days for the bumps in the road.

Had my 1st appointment and got snuck into an u/s

Lots of med history questions, the lovely weigh-in (up 2 pounds!) and an oil change. Or at least that's what it felt like. Dr. said I've a good chance for a VBAC, although I'm not one of those people who feels strongly one way or the other about c/s or vag birth -- just get bebe outta me safely!

The best part was that we got snuck into the u/s and I saw little Packing Peanut, measuring at about 8w4d (I was 8w6d, so right on target) and a heart rate of 170. Just the sweetest little styrofoam-looking thing.

I let DH choose when we tell people (now or after the screening in 3 weeks.) He has so little say in the process, so I am trying to share some of this stuff. He wanted to wait for 3 weeks...until we had dinner at my folks' house last night and he spilled the beans. Heh. Cute man.

 

[Missy0483]

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Yay Meg!! A due date twin I'm sure they'll change mine eventually though. How are you feeling. Sometimes I forget I'm pregnant til I feel the little twinges or the "elves" as you called them! I feel great so far **knock on wood**

Jas - Thank you! That's cute that your DH spilled the beans So only one baby this time?

 

[jas]

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Yay Meg!! A due date twin I'm sure they'll change mine eventually though. How are you feeling. Sometimes I forget I'm pregnant til I feel the little twinges or the "elves" as you called them! I feel great so far **knock on wood**

Jas - Thank you! That's cute that your DH spilled the beans So only one baby this time?

LOL. Maybe I should have written "Spilled the bean"
Yes, only one bean. Phew. I love my twins but having two sets would do me in.

Glad you are feeling great! Yay!

 

[S&I]

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Missy, yay for your awesome beta results! Funny that your BIL and friends all assume you're PG if you're not drinking. I didn't have that problem since I was never a big drinker, since I'm sort of allergic to alcohol. Love your DH's comments! I was 6w+3d at my first appointment, and they were able to do an external ultrasound to show us our little 3cm blob and even measured the 113 heart rate. That's also the appointment where I had 9 vials of blood drawn for all sorts of tests! Only 2 more weeks until your appointment!

Emma, it's great that you're able to get in all that extra sleep now. I've come to the conclusion that my nausea is way worse when I'm tired. Naps are your friend!

Meg, I've heard the same thing about constant moisturizing to possibly prevent stretch marks. Are you thinking of getting some specifically made for stretch marks, or just regular body lotion?

jas, glad you got to sneak into an ultrasound and confirm that there is only 1 little bean in there! What an awesome heart rate too. Isn't it sweet that your DH couldn't wait to spill the beans?

AFM, 11w+3d today. Can't wait for our NT scan on Friday. I really hope everything goes smoothly with the ultrasound part, because we're planning on visiting the in-laws right after the appointment for MIL's birthday. Not sure if I can handle the weekend visit or the 4+ hour drive there if we have any worrying news.

 

[Missy0483]

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I called my OB and I'll be getting a full physical exam (so maybe the external u/s? I hope so, I need to know that everything is okay in there!!) and go over family medical history. So I think we may have to spill the beans a little early. I'm not sure of all of my family history and I'm sure DH isn't either so we will need to get this from our parents, which means we'll have to spill the good news! We'll be seeing both sets of parents this Sunday. I think I might get some plain white bibs and go to the Hobby Lobby to get some supplies! I'll need to make 2 "I love my nanny" bibs, 1 "I love my poppy"(my dad), and 1 "I love my pap"(DH's dad).

S&I - I will be waiting to hear about your NT scan! Did DH go with you to your first appointment? 9 vials of blood drawn oh boy I may pass out! haha.


*4w5d today!*

 

[S&I]

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S&I - I will be waiting to hear about your NT scan! Did DH go with you to your first appointment? 9 vials of blood drawn oh boy I may pass out! haha.


*4w5d today!*

Yes, DH went with me to the first appointment, since we knew we were having an ultrasound done. He didn't go to my second appointment at 8 weeks because we thought it was just going to be my regular exam and pap. My OB did an ultrasound too, because their policy states that they have to see or hear the heart beat at every appointment. I think our plan going forward is for DH to come to all the milestone ultrasounds, versus just the regular check-ups. We'll see how that goes. And yes, the 9 vials of blood took so long! The nurse kept asking me if I was okay because I was just quietly staring at the blood filling up each vial. Is your DH going with you to your first appointment?

 

[JGator]

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Meg, the elves don't stop. I'm at 9 weeks 1 day today and still have funny feelings and also slight muscle pulls when I toss and turn in bed. I think you will likely just have blood taken pretty regularly throughout your pregnancy to monitor your TSH and related thryroid levels. I hope all goes well for you and the bean.

Missy, you may end up with an internal transvaginal ultrasound. They are looking to confirm the pregnancy is not ectopic and also to see the yolk sack and they will measure the baby on the ultrasound to date the pregnancy. They have shown the heart beating/flickering on the 2 ultrasounds I had but they didn't tell me the heart beat and I haven't heard it yet either. I have had 2 so far at 5 weeks and 6 weeks. It was not too uncomfortable. The medical history they will ask you is if there are any known genetic diseases in the family like Down Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, and others. I have had my weight and blood pressure taken at every visit plus blood. They take a full pregnancy blood panel to check for tons of things at one visit including your blood type, AIDs, cholesterol, thryoid, etc. My husband went to both ultrasound visits so far but he won't be able to go to my next one on Friday due to work, and I didn't want to delay it any longer since it feels like such a long time since I've seen the baby.

S&I, congrats for making it to 11 weeks and 3 days! Good luck on Friday. I'm sure all will go well and you'll have a happy drive to the in-laws. You are the trail blazer for us since you're the most experienced mom on JBP.

Jas, congrats on one bean with a healthy heart beat.

Emma, I think taking all the naps you can get now is a good idea. They say the first trimester is tiring and you get a wave of energy in the 2nd trimester. The baby is growing exponentially even though he/she is still tiny.

AFM, not much new - just feel like I am slowly baking this bean. My next appointment is Friday. Just a check up at around the 10 week mark. Looking forward to seeing some growth and the hearbeat. I am so paranoid and need that reassurance that everything is progressing along as my symptoms are pretty minor. No morning sickness at all. Just some more acne (lots of strange small bumps on my back and a few new large painful ones on my face) and I have to go to the bathroom a lot more than usual. We had an out of town house guest this weekend - my husband's best man. We had several opportunities for drinking and each time I said - I'll just have water. His eyebrows perked up a few times, but he didn't say anything - I think he's likely on to us but was just being polite.

9 weeks and 1 day today!

 

[Missy0483]

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I'm not sure now! I don't know if I should expect an ultrasound or not. I should have asked her more specifically. I'd hate to call back again! I had a pap smear back in April, so not sure why they'd have to do another one. If that's all they're going to do, I'm sure he won't want to be there for that!

 

[JGator]

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Missy, you should call and ask but I think they will do an ultrasound if he wants to be there to see that.

 

[S&I]

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JGator, yay for being appointment twins this Friday! I totally feel you on the long time lapse between appointments. My last one was at 8 weeks, so it's been a while since I saw the baby too. Funny about being the most experienced mom on JBP - I certainly don't feel very experienced! Congrats on 9 weeks! You're not too far behind me, and who knows - I might end up having to repeat a week soon, if the baby doesn't have a growth spurt soon.

Missy, I agree with JGator - just call them back to ask for the ultrasound. If anything, you can just tell them that you had a really long cycle, so you need to get the pregnancy dated (even though you actually know when you Oed - they don't!). Around the 6 week mark, it's a toss-up whether they'll do an external or a vaginal ultrasound. I think it depends on how good their machines are. The vaginal one isn't too bad, and they can get more detailed images that way. ETA: I called my OB's office way more than necessary during the first few weeks due to my craziness, so don't feel bad!

 

[Missy0483]

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I called back. Why couldn't the first lady just give me ALL The info. I hate having to ask. I always forget until I get off the phone! Anyway, I found out I will most likely still get a pap smear again even though I had one in April. They do not do ultrasounds until 20 weeks at this OB not too happy about that! So I asked her how the heck am I supposed to know what's going on inside of me if I can't see anything? SHe said they check for the heartbeat at each visit, including my first one using an external doppler on my belly. Now for my question since I forgot to ask her lol...will I only be able to hear the heartbeat, but not see anything? If I can only hear it, I just find it strange that I will not be able to have an ultrasound until 20 weeks! 20 weeks, half way through my pregnancy. It just boggles my mind! I wish I had someone close to me that's pregnant or has been recently so I can ask all my questions!

 

[S&I]

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I called back. Why couldn't the first lady just give me ALL The info. I hate having to ask. I always forget until I get off the phone! Anyway, I found out I will most likely still get a pap smear again even though I had one in April. They do not do ultrasounds until 20 weeks at this OB not too happy about that! So I asked her how the heck am I supposed to know what's going on inside of me if I can't see anything? SHe said they check for the heartbeat at each visit, including my first one using an external doppler on my belly. Now for my question since I forgot to ask her lol...will I only be able to hear the heartbeat, but not see anything? If I can only hear it, I just find it strange that I will not be able to have an ultrasound until 20 weeks! 20 weeks, half way through my pregnancy. It just boggles my mind! I wish I had someone close to me that's pregnant or has been recently so I can ask all my questions!

Wow, nothing until 20 weeks? What if you wanted an NT scan at 12 weeks, or other tests that are required before 20 weeks? The external doppler won't be able to pick up the sounds of a heart beat until around 10 weeks (I think), and you won't be able to see anything with that. It's just a probe that they stick on your belly to listen to it. Maybe the lady you spoke to just doesn't know all the details?

 

[Missy0483]

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I have no idea, but this upsets me a little! I so badly want to talk to my SIL because she goes to the same OB that I will be going to so she will know what they do. I guess I'll wait til we spill the news so I can ask her!! Or maybe I'll call back lady and pray for a lady that knows what she's talking about!

 

[JGator]

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Missy, can you switch doctors? I don't think I could wait till 20 weeks if I were you!

 

[Missy0483]

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Thanks for replying JGator and S&I I was having a minor freakout moment. Actually I just talked to my friend. She's due the end of December and goes to the same OB! So glad I thought about her. I was starting to wonder WHY this OB was recommended to me until I got this info. She said the receptionist doesn't know what she's talking about! She said she told them she wasn't sure when her last AF was and they did an ultrasound right then and turns out she was 6 weeks at that point. She told me to tell them at my first appointment that my last AF was 8/1 (which is true!) and when I think I O'd and they will then try to date me. If they can't do it then, she said they will send me to hospital to have one done there after my appointment. She said she had 2 ultrasounds prior to 20 weeks, one for dating and one for 1st trimester testing where they do a detailed ultrasound. I'm guessing that's for the NT scan and other things. Whew I feel better.

 

[JGator]

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Missy, great news! Those office staff can be annoying. Glad you had someone to ask.

 

[S&I]

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Missy, glad you were able to clear that up. I thought it was strange that the lady on the phone would tell you that they only use the doppler prior to 20 weeks, since it obviously wouldn't work for you that early on. My OB's office has an option to be connected to the nurse line, and even then, I feel like they don't know what they're talking about (depending on who you end up talking to)! I hope your first appointment goes well, and you are happy with the recommended OB.

 

[megumic]

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Just curious -- what's the point of a pap when you're pregnant? For some reason it strikes me as totally unnecessary.

 

[JGator]

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Meg, think they just do it if you haven't had one in a year as part of their regular maintenance.

AFM, I need some sticky dust. I just saw red blood spots on toilet paper. I called the doctor and she said to rest and keep my feet up and if I soak a pad in an hour to go to the hospital. Otherwise, just call in the AM for an appointment and everything could be okay if it doesn't start to really flow like a period. I am really hoping this is temporary but worried since it was red and not brown or pink.

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

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JGator: Just saw your post and wanted to send lots of sticky dust and positive thoughts to you... Keep resting, try not to worry. I hope like heck that this is just a fluke incident. Lots of women bleed (even a bit of red) during early pregnancy and go on to have healthy babes. I am sorry you're dealing with this stressor and hope that your little bean is still growing and thriving. Hugs to you!

Please keep us updated if you're able.

 

[megumic]

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JGator, hoping all is okay! Fingers crossed it was just some extra that your body is kicking out and hopefully has nothing to do with the bean. Keep us posted!

 

[JGator]

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Thanks PPM and Meg. I did not experience any more bleeding last night other than spotting a few times last night before I went to bed. I am going to try to get in to the doctor today to make sure everything is okay and stays that way.