The Official TTC Thread!

[Festy]

Swimmer, that''s awesome that FF is looking out for ya! I hope they''re right...

Re the mothership. I''m not surprised your mom had that reaction. My mother was relieved when I told her I didn''t think I wanted to do IVF, however I made it very clear that I might change my mind should our tests come back looking bad. I''m not sure how she would react were I to tell her we''d changed our minds. She''s not the type to make her opposing viewpoint known if she knows we''ve already chosen a particular path, you know? In the end your mom is just worried about you. I think all you can do is tell her "I know how much this makes you worry, but we are doing this and I hope you can learn how to deal." Maybe a little more gently.

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Congrats to our recent graduate!! Yippeee!! Come back and say hi every now and then, mommy to be!!

********
Newsflash in the world of Fisher: I''ve ovulated! Not sure when (wasn''t temping daily and gave up the OPKS weeks ago), but I''m glad to know that I finally did. Whoop whoop!!

Not that there''s a lot of hope to rationally be had for this cycle, I''ll carry it with me none the less.

Vacation''s going well... love my family time!!!

Hope everyone''s doing well and working hard to graduate from this place (haha... if only it was about effort!!)

 

[sunkist]

Fisher yay for ovulation!!

And there''s always gotta be some hope, right?? I''m so glad you''re enjoying family time. Have fun!

 

[Sha]

Date: 7/27/2009 12:49:21 AM
Author: fisherofmengirly
Congrats to our recent graduate!! Yippeee!! Come back and say hi every now and then, mommy to be!!

********
Newsflash in the world of Fisher: I''ve ovulated! Not sure when (wasn''t temping daily and gave up the OPKS weeks ago), but I''m glad to know that I finally did. Whoop whoop!!

Not that there''s a lot of hope to rationally be had for this cycle, I''ll carry it with me none the less.

Vacation''s going well... love my family time!!!

Hope everyone''s doing well and working hard to graduate from this place (haha... if only it was about effort!!)

Yayyy!!

And where there''s ovulation and a little BD - there''s always hope!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Date: 7/27/2009 9:54:44 AM
Author: Sha

Date: 7/27/2009 12:49:21 AM
Author: fisherofmengirly
Congrats to our recent graduate!! Yippeee!! Come back and say hi every now and then, mommy to be!!

********
Newsflash in the world of Fisher: I''ve ovulated! Not sure when (wasn''t temping daily and gave up the OPKS weeks ago), but I''m glad to know that I finally did. Whoop whoop!!

Not that there''s a lot of hope to rationally be had for this cycle, I''ll carry it with me none the less.

Vacation''s going well... love my family time!!!

Hope everyone''s doing well and working hard to graduate from this place (haha... if only it was about effort!!)

Yayyy!!

And where there''s ovulation and a little BD - there''s always hope!

Amen!

Thanks, Sunkist and Sha. The reason I''m not so so very hopeful this cycle is because of a few things: FF hasn''t given me crosshairs yet (which I know doesn''t matter since I''ve been charting for SO long now, but still... I want to see them!! Anyway, because I wasn''t temping often, it has no idea when I ovulated and neither do I), I likely ovulated sometime after Monday--last week-- because that was the last day I temped before coming on vacation, and Monday is our ONLY BD day because Paul had his SA on the Friday of the week before that and the Dr. said Monday/Tuesday of that week was the last time we could BD for the SA results to be accurate, and we don''t BD at my parents'' house, and finally because I did ovulate so very late and that makes the egg "old" and less attractive to the swimmers. But, still, I have some hope as I always do!!

Wouldn''t it be something if after this year of trying we ended up with a one-hit wonder baby!!

How''s everyone else doing? Festy, feel like we never hear from you these days....

 

[steph72276]

Date: 7/27/2009 11:20:41 AM
Author: fisherofmengirly

Date: 7/27/2009 9:54:44 AM

Author: Sha

Date: 7/27/2009 12:49:21 AM

Author: fisherofmengirly

Congrats to our recent graduate!! Yippeee!! Come back and say hi every now and then, mommy to be!!


********

Newsflash in the world of Fisher: I''ve ovulated! Not sure when (wasn''t temping daily and gave up the OPKS weeks ago), but I''m glad to know that I finally did. Whoop whoop!!


Not that there''s a lot of hope to rationally be had for this cycle, I''ll carry it with me none the less.

Vacation''s going well... love my family time!!!


Hope everyone''s doing well and working hard to graduate from this place (haha... if only it was about effort!!)

Yayyy!!

And where there''s ovulation and a little BD - there''s always hope!

Amen!


Thanks, Sunkist and Sha. The reason I''m not so so very hopeful this cycle is because of a few things: FF hasn''t given me crosshairs yet (which I know doesn''t matter since I''ve been charting for SO long now, but still... I want to see them!! Anyway, because I wasn''t temping often, it has no idea when I ovulated and neither do I), I likely ovulated sometime after Monday--last week-- because that was the last day I temped before coming on vacation, and Monday is our ONLY BD day because Paul had his SA on the Friday of the week before that and the Dr. said Monday/Tuesday of that week was the last time we could BD for the SA results to be accurate, and we don''t BD at my parents'' house, and finally because I did ovulate so very late and that makes the egg ''old'' and less attractive to the swimmers. But, still, I have some hope as I always do!!

Wouldn''t it be something if after this year of trying we ended up with a one-hit wonder baby!!

How''s everyone else doing? Festy, feel like we never hear from you these days....

Fisher, so happy you ovulated! Here''s hoping this is your month! You will make such a great mother!

 

[cara]

Congrats, Applequeen! May you have a sticky bean and safe and pleasant pregnancy.

Blushing, congrats on your all clear from the dr. Don''t know if you should try clomid or not, but maybe think about how you would feel if you don''t use it and didn''t get preggo this cycle? Fine (as possible) with the one unreproductive natural cycle but ready to get clomided for the next cycle and good with that? Or impatient and regretful?

dreamer, what''s with all these pink sexy shoes? Did I miss something while away? Even headbanging TGal avatar has the shoes.

Fisher, congrats on your ovulation... no more endless waiting! (Except that pesky LP.)

Swimmer, fingers crossed for you. Did you do any HCG shots (or things that would cause false +s on HPTs?) Either way, when are you planning to test?

Festy, whats your update?

OK, I think I too have ovulated, though when exactly is a bit of a mystery as it was sometime in the days adjusting to a nine-hour time change accompanied by restless sleep in superhot conditions and alcohol. In other words, my chart is a mess. Oh, and does anyone know how to get those cute shields on your chart that indicated protected BD? Though we weren''t perfect in our usage...

Since that detail does seem relevant to interpreting the pregnancy odds. I''m using fertility friend but maybe its on a different program.

 

[blushingbride]

Thanks for all the opinions on the clomid! I''m leaning towards taking it, but waiting to see when AFF arrives in order to make my final decision. I might just get super impatient and just want to start it right away. One of the nurses at NY Pres suggested I go on it too since I''ve been waiting long enough and it will hopefully "speed things along."

Cara - How was your trip?? Sounds like you are still waiting for AF too?

Fisher - YAY for ovulating!!!! Fingers crossed that you have a one shot wonder this month!

Lovely, Festy, Melanie, Swimmer, Laila, Tiffany and anyone else I''m missing...thinking of you!!!

 

[swimmer]

Cara, tour details are necessary!

Yeah for ovulation Fishy!

Cara, Yeah, the hcg shot prob caused the + to show, but it could have been ovulation too, right . So annoying to never get lines on the freaking opks. Today is day 9, just for fun I tested on day 6 to see how long the hcg stays in the bod, nada. The RE''s office is so awesome, I get a preggo bloodtest this Sunday morning. Yeah, their office is open on Sundays. So I will get a call with info just before throwing a baby shower for a good friend. It will be fun even if the news is not good because my friend is awesome and they tried for over a year before getting preggo. She had 80 day cycles so had a hard time tracking down O, she used the cbefm.

Hugs Blushing! And Festy, Melanie, Lulu, Dr. K, Laila, and all you lurkers!

 

[cara]

Yes, Blushing I am waiting for AF. Though DH and I were not perfect in our condom usage so pregnancy is not inconceivable... (groan on the bad pun!) It would help if my chart weren''t a hot mess. Even this am I woke up at 4something and went to the bathroom without temping, only to not fall back asleep at all cause its like 1pm Europe-time. Twenty minutes later I gave up, took my temp, and got up for the day. Temp was low but I don''t know if that means AF is coming or just bad data.

OK, Tour Report. For those non-bike racing fanatics, sorry for interrupting your TTC programming! For those interested, sorry for writing a book:

Vacation was great! Spent the first part with two friends and their toddler based out of Rome and the latter part with a single friend and her roommate based in France but near Geneva, with some overlap in the middle following the tour to Switzerland, Italy, and back to France. The friends were all Tour fans from my grad school days on 1-2 year assignments in Europe, so it was a great opportunity to go visit Europe with close old friends on the inside, so to speak.

We hung out on Verbier all of Sunday the 19th, which is a ski town in the picturesque Swiss Alps. Completely postcard-worthy, straight from the sound of music. The stage ended with a steep 9 km final climb and it was packed! We took a ski lift up from the valley below in the morning, but hiked down in the evening since going back upward to the lift seemed impossible due to the crowds. It was a long, long day as basically you have to get up and in position early in the day before the roads are closed, and then hang out for hours on end until the riders pass by in the late afternoon. This stage was the one where Contador sprinted away and passed us first, followed by the Schecks and a few other. Lance was put in a spot of bother and lost a minute or more, cementing Contadors position as Astana team leader (as much as possible).

After the rest day, we took Tuesday much easier and hung out on the lower slopes of the Col du Petit St Bernard, which was the second of two big climbs that day, just below the town of La Tuile where the road was closed very early. This was in the Italian Alps, also incredibly picturesque. It was a much more chill, less packed environment as the hills were much longer, it was not a Sunday, and we were on the lower slopes. Made for a shorter day of spectating, and I don''t think we could have done another day of like Verbier with toddler. But the climb hadn''t spread the field too much at that point and most of the main contenders passed in a group together, though there was drama higher on the hill when Lance, having been dropped, performed one of his classic sprints to catch back up to his competitors. We only saw replays of that.

Wednesday we took the day off from spectating live and watched on TV, and dropped off the family of three at the airport to fly home. Thursday the 4 of us went to the time trial at Annecy - 40 km around a lake. This was also a really long day, with the caravan coming by at 9 am and racing starting at 11 and continuing until 5ish. There was a great carnival atmosphere, and we got to see all the riders individually that we cared to cheer for. Though it was marred by one unfortunate rude Frenchman harassing us for bringing out an American flag to cheer for an American rider. We put the flag away for the next rider, but the guy came over to basically badger us if we were going to pull it out for Lance. When we said we were, he went into the building we were standing in front of, which he apparantly owned, and placed a pitcher of something on the windowsill above us, and then came back out and motioned to it and threatened us with, "You give me another surprise, and I''ll give you a surprise." ?!? Are we two-year olds? I mean, we were cheering for every rider and we were just bringing a little something extra for the Americans. Decided we didn''t need that attitude so we packed up to move on, and he cursed us in French as we left so... that did leave a sour taste on our time trial spectating. Contador killed it, but Lance managed to squeak enough time to end up on the podium in third.

Annecy basically wore us out and we decided that heading to Mount Ventoux for the decisive final stage on Saturday (and last full day of our trip) would be too much. Toddler did as well as could be expected for her two spectating days, though certainly made us and her parents pay a bit for screwing with her sleep schedule and environment as we did. The sleep nazis on the mommy threads would be very disapproving. She basically skipped most of her naps and even slept way less at night because of the overstimulating environment. Though by the second tour day, she totally rocked in the cheering department! (During the madness on the first day she was mega-confused, like whoa, what on earth has happened to cause all these adults to go completely ape-sh$t!)

OK, threadjack over. Oh except maybe if I motivate to post some pictures...

 

[nycbkgirl]

Date: 7/29/2009 9:16:05 AM
Author: blushingbride
Thanks for all the opinions on the clomid! I''m leaning towards taking it, but waiting to see when AFF arrives in order to make my final decision. I might just get super impatient and just want to start it right away. One of the nurses at NY Pres suggested I go on it too since I''ve been waiting long enough and it will hopefully ''speed things along.''

Cara - How was your trip?? Sounds like you are still waiting for AF too?

Fisher - YAY for ovulating!!!! Fingers crossed that you have a one shot wonder this month!

Lovely, Festy, Melanie, Swimmer, Laila, Tiffany and anyone else I''m missing...thinking of you!!!

looove the nurses there!! u will see the excellent care at L&D

cheering everyone on!!!

 

[ljmorgan]

Oh, ladies. This time last year I was happily in the TTC thread! Since then we lost our sweet daughter Natalie at 37 weeks and that was in April. Here we are, my husband and I, somehow insane enough to try all of this again. Even though we lost her, she was worth all of the pain and the heartache, and that is how we do this again. Because we know that the end result will be worth it no matter the outcome. We have to try.

We conceived Natalie on August 12 of last year... and look at where I am now -- CD 2 -- April 12 would be CD 16 for me... if I were to get pregnant this cycle, everything is so close to the same dates as Natalie. I don''t know exactly how I feel about that, but the chance of getting pregnant the first try is low, plus Marc and I don''t want to waste any time before trying. I have very long and irregular cycles, I conceived her on CD 24 which is not ideal. I gave birth to her on April 14 and it''s CD 2 of my FIRST cycle since having her, I feel like my body has given up. The only way I got my period was that I induced it by taking 5 birth control pills (the same effect as taking provera.) Also this cycle will be my first time taking clomid which I will start tomorrow, I''m taking it CD 3-7 -- anyone else take it those days?

I can''t believe that I am back here a year later. I was always shocked/amazed by women with children a year apart, and yet here I am. My poor body

 

[steph72276]

Lindsey, I am so very sorry for your heartbreaking loss. I wish you and your DH nothing but the best.

 

[ChinaCat]

Linds- You are one strong woman, and I for one am SO glad to see you back on the TTC thread! Wishing you all of the luck in the world. I am sure this is a bittersweet thing for you, but hoping it becomes more sweet than bitter as time goes by. We will all be here rooting for you.

 

[cara]

Oh, Lindsey, I am so glad to see you here! Yes, your poor body, but take care of yourself and trust that your body can handle it. Women's bodies can handle a lot. I think we have several clomiders (or potential clomiders, in the form of blushing) but I am not one of them. Hopefully they can chime in with their experience.

Don't want to pry if you don't want to share, but I was thinking of you on the thread about prenatal genetic testing and what came out of your experience...

As for the potential birthday, thats a toughie. But if you and your husband are ready to try again then there is just the hope that your joy will outweigh the tears next April...

 

[tiffanytwisted]

Lindsey, I''m sorry for your loss and that you are having to do this all again but I also want to welcome you to the thread. Good luck! I''m not taking clomid anymore but I did try it for 5 cycles. My cycles were fairly regular anyway but it did put my ovulation day at day 14. Wiith the clomid you usually ovulate 5-10 days after the last pill. Hopefully it will regulate your cycles more!

 

[ljmorgan]

Date: 7/29/2009 11:17:57 PM
Author: cara
Oh, Lindsey, I am so glad to see you here! Yes, your poor body, but take care of yourself and trust that your body can handle it. Women''s bodies can handle a lot. I think we have several clomiders (or potential clomiders, in the form of blushing) but I am not one of them. Hopefully they can chime in with their experience.


Don''t want to pry if you don''t want to share, but I was thinking of you on the thread about prenatal genetic testing and what came out of your experience...


As for the potential birthday, thats a toughie. But if you and your husband are ready to try again then there is just the hope that your joy will outweigh the tears next April...

Thanks you for the kinds words and thoughts.

cara, after consulting with specialists out in Texas and then another here in Maryland, we decided to try naturally. My husband and I both had blood phenotyping done, and we have a 50/50 shot of having an O- or O+ baby. Natalie was O+ which was the problem. We could try IVF and only implant the rh- (O-) embryos, but when I spoke to the Rh disease specialist in Texas, he mentioned that a handful of couples across the country had tried it, but for whatever reason the success rate was much lower than you would suspect for otherwise healthy fertile women undergoing IVF. They''re wondering if there is some hidden mechanism not being accounted for in the PGD (prenatal genetic diagnosis.)

The doctor in Texas (Dr. Moise) is the top specialist for this issue in the country. He works closely with a doctor nearby to me at the University of Maryland Medical Center. My protocol for the next pregnancy is this:

1. Come in for a dating scan
2. 12 weeks -- have a maternal DNA test to determine the gender/blood type of the baby. It''s really interesting -- if the result comes back Boy/Rh+, Boy/Rh-, or Girl/Rh+ then the test is accurate and the test is detecting the baby''s DNA in mine. If the result comes back Girl/Rh- then the test is inconclusive because I''m also a girl with a negative blood type

3. If the baby has a positive blood type (would be O+), I start immunoglobulin IV therapy at 14 weeks to 20 weeks. I go to the hospital once a week for the treatment. This overloads my body with benign antibodies that will cross through the placenta and confuse the baby''s immune system and keep it busy -- this prevents the baby''s immune system from reacting to my anti-D (anti-Rh) antibodies) so that if the baby has positive blood cells, its body won''t try to destroy them as quickly because the immune system will be too busy. This is considered experimental (but both specialists recommended it) and very, very expensive but I am lucky to have health insurance that will cover it.
4. The IVig will hopefully get the baby alive to 18-20 weeks, the earliest that blood transfusions can be performed on the baby -- before that, the umbilical vein is just too small. Then I would have a couple of US scans a week to see if the baby is becoming anemic, and if so, off to the hospital for a transfusion.

So that is the route that we are going. Sometimes I think that we are nuts, but both specialists first reaction was: try again -- which really surprised us. I thought they would be like "you''re going to try again, are you crazy?" But we do have that 50/50 shot. But I went into this telling myself that this baby will be O+ so that I don''t get my hopes up and am then devastated. I want to go into this assuming almost the worst!

 

[blushingbride]

Hi Ladies!

I''m getting ready to leave for my long weekend in Savannah tonight! We are very excited for the MUCH NEEDED trip away with friends. I''m hoping to have a nice tan when I get back on Sunday too!

Cara - your trip sounds amazing!! I remember flying over the Alps on our flight to, and from Italy and they were INCREDIBLE to look at. Everyone on the plane was absolutley mesmerized. I also can''t believe that Frenchman being so rude to you! Who does he care who cheer for? Ridiculous! It must have been really cool to see Lance - something you''ll always remember! BTW - not sure if you''ve read some of my posts while you were gone, but we are heading to Sweden at the end of Sept. to visit with DH''s family. I''ve never been, but I''ll take any chance I get to go back to Europe!

I think we are leaning towards using the clomid, but I''m waiting to see if and when my AF arrives - it''ll probably be a game day decision. We haven''t been perfect in our protected BD either...actually at all. But, we obstained until after I saw my RE last Thurs. and she gave us the green light. She didn''t think I ovulated yet and I''ve been still having some random CM. I have no clue what the heck is going on!

NYC - my fellow NY Pres buddy! THANKS for reaffirming what I''ve already been feeling about that hospital - I love hearing it! And THANKS for cheering us on!

Lindsey - great to see you back here again! You and your DH have been through so much, but the events of this past year have only made your love stronger. Wishing you all the best as you travel though this journey with us again. It''s got to be strange starting up again around the time you concieved Natalie, but it seems as if you have taken the time needed to heal and that you are definitely ready.

It sounds like you have consulting with the right specialists and that you have a good plan of attack. I remember following your story in the preggo thread, but can''t seem to remember exactly what went wrong (if you don''t mind me asking). I have a busy morning or else I''d go back through the thread and re-read it. I''m curious because I''m O+ and am wondering what the situation was for you guys?

If you don''t feel like sharing, I completely understand!

 

[Festy]

Hi guys, this is going to be a book because I''m just back from vacation and am getting caught up.

Lindsey - it''s so great to see you back here! I was a lurker on the preggo thread when you lost Natalie and I think of you every so often, wondering how you and your husband are doing. I hope that your stay here is short and your next pregnancy as uneventful as possible!

Fisher - hi friend! I''m still here. I can''t keep up with the every day posting, but I am here! Update to follow below. I''m glad you''re having a great vacation and hooray for ovulation!

Cara - Welcome back! I thought of you while (reluctantly) watching the Tour thinking, who are these crazy people hanging out here all day? But hey, at least it''s France. The shots of the countryside were the only thing keeping me going!

Blushing - have an awesome time in Savannah! It''s way at the top of my list for places to visit.

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

Just back from a quick vacation to Maine and Quebec City where I got to practice my extremely rusty French. (I''m a lapsed French major). I decided to use OPK strips this month after last month''s rogue longer cycle and presumed late ovulation. Things seem to be back on track b/c I got a positive OPK on CD 14 and we managed to BD on CD 14 and 15. Yay for us. And one of those days was at an inn with no insulation in the walls and my mother taking a nap in the adjacent room!

Get this - next cycle, my DH''s father and stepmom will be *in the next room* during O. Oh joy.

In fertility news, DH produced his second sample this morning and we see the RE tomorrow for the results. (Fingers crossed that they have the results). All this is just to know what we''re dealing with. If his sample looks fine or even a little less than fine I''m willing to let this play out. We know a couple that tried for 5 years, including unsuccessful IVF attempts and then managed to get KTFU *twice* the natural way. I think I''m ok with it taking that long. So if I''m not posting often it''s only because I''m pacing myself. 5 years on the TTC thread is a little daunting! I am always lurking though, and cheering for you all!

 

[lovelylulu]

Hello ladies!

We returned last weekend from vacation in North Carolina. It was such a luxury to wake up each morning to the ocean and the sun. Together with my father, older brother, his wife and their baby, we strung together a week of perfectly contented leisure. I only wish that it could have continued for a bit longer.
I think that I''m meant to live near the water, but somehow I''ve managed to wind up miles from the shore.

I promised myself that I would not take any pregnancy tests while I was away. I can still vividly remember last year - We were all together at the same place, though my older brother was absent (baby too young) and my younger brother and wife were present (absent this year because expecting first baby in August). It was our second month of trying and for three of the mornings I snuck into the bathroom with a pregnancy test, so damn hopeful that the there''d be a second line.

Of course there wasn''t and there hasn''t been.

This year, I waited until we got back home.

negative.

so I stopped taking the progesterone to bring on AFF. why, when my heart is already hurting so much, does there have to be such a pain in my belly to to remind me further?

We made the decision to try another natural, but for progesterone cycle. Reasoning that since the progesterone seems to have resolved the spotting issue, maybe we''re now just like any other *normal* couple on attempt 2.

When we returned from the beach, we were not ready to reembrace reality. So, I attempted to ignore that negative, along with the piles of laundry and list of errands and instead continued our vacation. If having ice cream twice in one afternoon is the measure of anything, it was indeed a good day!


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

 

[Laila619]

Lindsey, you've gone through so much, and I am so amazed at your grace and strength. I wish you and your DH nothing but the best. It's got to be very bittersweet to TTC at this same time you did last year. I hope your DH and family have been a great source of strength for you. Pardon my ignorance, but due to you being a negative blood type, why can't you just get the rhogam shot to prevent any problems if the baby is positive? Isn't the rhogam shot for Rh incompatibility?

blushing, there are no problems if the mom has a positive blood type, only if the baby has a positive blood type, and the mom has a negative. So you being O+ wouldn't matter.

 

[lovelylulu]

Congratulations applequeen!!!

 

[lovelylulu]

welcome Lindsay! I truly admire both you and your husband. your story touched me so deeply.

I wish only for a very happy and healthy pregnancy and birth!

 

[lovelylulu]

swimmer - nice choice on the summer hair

I am still loving my new shortness. Hope that Sunday comes ever so quickly

 

[Laila619]

lulu, I''m so sorry it didn''t happen this month. TTC is so frustrating. I had to go to a baby shower last weekend, and it just about killed me, especially since the mom-to-be was complaining about how miserable she was, and how it was torture.

 

[lovelylulu]

cara: your trip sounded amazing

fisher: hurray for ovulation!! hopefully it''s a winner

blushing: I can only speak about my experience on clomid (one cycle) - it completely did away with my normally plentiful CM. I was pretty sure that made it a bust cycle. If I take clomid again, I will only do so for an IUI. BUT, I know other *graduates* of this thread were very successful on clomid! have a great vacation. sometimes you just need a perfectly good pause (with great friends all the better)

anyone I''m missing - thanks. and I hope to be reading a lot more good news soon enough!!

 

[drk]

I think I''ve fallen too far behind to catch up!

Laila - Rhogam will prevent an Rh negative mother from developing antibodies while carrying an Rh positive baby. The problem is that Lindsey had already developed those antibodies prior to pregnancy, from a blood transfusion earlier in life. So with an Rh positive baby, her antibodies can cross the placenta and destroy the baby''s red cells, making it anemic.

Lindsey - I''m sorry you have to be back on this thread again so soon. You and your DH seem to have dealt amazingly well with the loss of your beautiful daughter. I sure hope fate smiles on you and gives you a nice Rh negative baby sometime in the very near future, though it does sound like your doctors have excellent plans in place to reduce your risks during your next pregnancy.

Not much new here. Waiting for ultrasound #2 next Tuesday, trying not to worry that I don''t have many symptoms. Hopefully all is well. I don''t feel comfortable moving over to the PG thread until I make it past 12 weeks (with the two previous losses), so I hope you all don''t mind me lurking here for a little while longer! I''d be so devastated to have to start from scratch. Fingers crossed and praying hard for a great ultrasound result!

Kate

 

[ljmorgan]

Laila Rhogam prevents Rh- women from creating Rh antibodies if they are sensitized to positive blood, so it is a preventative measure. Unfortunately I was sensitized during a mismatched blood transfusion during a surgery years ago. Since I already have the antibodies, Rhogam can''t do anything for me.

Blushing Since you''re O+ you won''t have any problems. It''s Rh- gals that have the risk, but even then they''re usually given Rhogam while they''re pregnant so that if they''re exposed to any of their baby''s blood during pregnancy or birth, they won''t create antibodies to the positive blood.

The short story of what happened with Natalie: I am O-, was given O+ blood during a transfusion, my body created antibodies to that blood. Fast forward to last year when we first discovered that I had the antibodies at my first prenatal appointment (prior to this I had no idea I was given the wrong blood, but since then I pulled my medical record from the surgery and sure enough...). When you have these antibodies to destroy Rh+ blood, and your baby is Rh+, the antibodies cross through the placenta and attach to the baby''s blood cells. Then the baby''s immune system starts destroying its own blood cells since they have antibodies attached to them, essentially telling the immune system that they''re foreign and should be destroyed. I was followed closely by a maternal-fetal specialist but my antibodies spiked at the end, and the ultrasounds are unreliable after 35 weeks. Their original plan was to deliver her at 36 weeks, but then she was doing so "well" they wanted to see how long I could go. Oh how I wish we had delivered at 36 weeks. You can imagine I will not allow a "wait and see" approach this time.

Anyway, as long as Rh- women get the Rhogam shot, Rhogam only has a 1% failure rate. The only way Rh- women create these antibodies are if they''re exposed to Rh+ blood somehow and don''t receive Rhogam.

 

[ljmorgan]

drk I''ve got all fingers and toes crossed for you -- sending lots of good thoughts your way, and hope that you see a healthy baby on that US next week!

lulu why the progesterone? Do you have irregular periods or a low progesterone level? I was just curious because I took it to induce a period.

 

[Mandarine]

Lulu I''m sorry about the negative

...you still have an amazing attitude and I hope it happens soon for you!!

Festy...good timing my friend!!! you''ve been missed around here but I totally understand!

Lindsey, like everyone else I am amzed by your grace and attitude. I am happy to see you back here and hope your stay on this thread is short! Best wishes to you and DH

DrK, Can''t wait for you to come back with pictures of the little one from the ultrasound!!

M~