Moms to Be Part 3

[Linzybrooke]

I had that happen, when they found out I was pregnant (at my annual exam! I had no idea!) they estimated based on my LMP that I was 8 weeks along, when in actuality I was only 4 when she did measurements. I have always been irregular and often skipped periods, which is what happened to me.

Seriously, Little Elm? We own a house in Little Elm, but live in Providence, we should get together!!

 

[harleyquinn]

I have family that would but my mother in law already voiced her opinion on it not being right so I didn't know.Most of my husbands family didn't even have one for the first child because they think it is bad luck.We gave gifts after the birth.

Well that's yucky...hmm...so maybe a shower after the baby's here?

Anyway, this might sound odd, but as much as I read about everyone I don't really feel like I know anyone yet. There are so many new people around and it might be nice to "officially" meet each other. So, I'm Lin, I'm a 27 year old high school teacher in Texas. I teach theatre, have a degree in theatre and pretty much love all things theatre. DH, Chris, and I met in college at Texas Tech University, and he is also involved in theatre, works as a technician for a major theatrical lighting company in the states. We have two pomeranians, who we loooove, and the pups are going to have quite the adjustment when little Connor comes this fall! Other than that I love reading, painting and all things Disney. Worked as a manager for Disney Store for several years before I began teaching. I think that is all there is to me! So, HI!

I'm Sarah, a 29 year old children's librarian. I absolutely love my career. DH is an Art teacher at a local middle school, which he loves. We are high school sweethearts--been together for 11 years, married for 5 on the 19th! We have 2 cats, they are brothers and SOOOO much fun. They are the most laid back, happy kitties around, and we're actually looking forward to their reaction of the new addition. One of them is currently in love with hiding under her crib, but neither has jumped in it yet...I love to read, of course, and hang out around here!

 

[sbell111]

I had my first appointment yesterday, and I was wondering if anyone else has gone through the same thing?

When they did the ultrasound the baby was measuring 4w 2d, and based on the date of my LMP, they though the baby should be around 7 weeks. However, since I had my son I have only had two periods- 3/15, and 4/21. She said it is very possible I just ovulated late and that's why the dates are off. She said everything looks good- thick lining and all that, so they drew my bloos and they should be letting me know my hcg leves later today. I am also going in for another sonogram in two weeks. I never had to get my blood taken last time, so I have no idea about what normal levels are or anything like that.

Anyone been there done that?

Linzy- I am in Little Elm- small world!

That sounds like us. Cathy has PCOS and even though she got her cycle pretty much regulated with glucophage, her cycles still had quite a bit of variation in length and were very typically a week or more longer than normal.

We had been trying to get pregnant for quite a while and getting stressed out by that ugly old biological clock ticking away, so Cathy had taken to peeing on a stick pretty darn frequently. The week that we learned we were going to have a baby, she had checked on Monday or Tuesday and gotten a negative result and then gotten a positive on Thursday, so we found out very early along.

When they checked her HCG levels, they were lower than they expected. We were pretty freaked out and had them rechecked a few days later. Happily, they were doubling properly so their was no actual problem. It's just that using LMP for us was problematic since she likely ovulated much later in the month than 'normal' people do. We basically have had to adjust all of our calculations by a week or ten days because of this. This tends to make the "How far along are you?" question harder for us to answer.

 

[sbell111]

She is around seventeen(ish) weeks.

Regarding the anxiety, I thought that she was getting over it, but it turns out that she was just getting good at not letting me know about it. She is really stressed out that there might possibly maybe be a problem (even though the docs have told us that everything is awesome).

OK, so I got to thinking about Cathy's anxiety.

I ended up giving her a call and asking her to drive to Nashville. (We live in Franklin, thirty minutes away.) She picked me up and we went over to our OB's office. They went ahead and did a quicky ultrasound (our fourth.) A bonus was that they didn't charge us for the ultrasound. Normally it would have been a $75 charge.

Everything is fine with the baby. She wasn't as active today as she was last Monday, but it's still all good. Hopefully, this will help Cathy relax a bit.

Thinking of ultrasounds, I still need to get our last one online. The baby was so cute. At one point, she reaches down and grabs her foot with one hand and then the other. (I am definitely going to terrorize my coworkers with thousands of baby pics.)

 

[harleyquinn]

I still find it interesting that there are 3 of us (that I know of) on this thread with PCOS...

 

[harleyquinn]

OK, so I got to thinking about Cathy's anxiety.

I ended up giving her a call and asking her to drive to Nashville. (We live in Franklin, thirty minutes away.) She picked me up and we went over to our OB's office. They went ahead and did a quicky ultrasound (our fourth.) A bonus was that they didn't charge us for the ultrasound. Normally it would have been a $75 charge.

Everything is fine with the baby. She wasn't as active today as she was last Monday, but it's still all good. Hopefully, this will help Cathy relax a bit.

Thinking of ultrasounds, I still need to get our last one online. The baby was so cute. At one point, she reaches down and grabs her foot with one hand and then the other. (I am definitely going to terrorize my coworkers with thousands of baby pics.)

That's great!

On the movement thing --once Kathy really starts feeling her move, don't let her worry about how much she's moving...especially in the beginning--there will be days when she won't feel her at all. Even I don't feel her a lot all the time...she has her days, but she's usually the most active at meal times and when I'm trying to go to sleep!
If she's ever really concerned about it, have her drink a big glass of orange juice and lay on her left side for a bit...you'll almost always get a reaction with that combo.

 

[sbell111]

I still find it interesting that there are 3 of us (that I know of) on this thread with PCOS...

Before she was diagnosed with it, we had never heard of PCOS. Since then, tons of people that we know have mentioned having it. I read somewhere that over ten percent of women likely have the disease.

 

[Linzybrooke]

That's great!

On the movement thing --once Kathy really starts feeling her move, don't let her worry about how much she's moving...especially in the beginning--there will be days when she won't feel her at all. Even I don't feel her a lot all the time...she has her days, but she's usually the most active at meal times and when I'm trying to go to sleep!
If she's ever really concerned about it, have her drink a big glass of orange juice and lay on her left side for a bit...you'll almost always get a reaction with that combo.

That is great advice! I was panicing yesterday because I didn't feel Connor at all, and he has been really active lately. Now I know what to do next time!

I have never heard of PCOS...

 

[harleyquinn]

Before she was diagnosed with it, we had never heard of PCOS. Since then, tons of people that we know have mentioned having it. I read somewhere that over ten percent of women likely have the disease.

Same here...I think I read it could be 1 in 5 women since the spectrum of the disease is so broad...I'm lucky to be on the low end, and I know my weight plays a HUGE (no pun! lol) role for me--the heavier I am, the more symptoms I have.

 

[sbell111]

Same here...I think I read it could be 1 in 5 women since the spectrum of the disease is so broad...I'm lucky to be on the low end, and I know my weight plays a HUGE (no pun! lol) role for me--the heavier I am, the more symptoms I have.

The weight thing is horrible with (and because of) PCOS. We tried for years to get pregnant, but it wasn't until we seriously attacked the weight issue that we had success. Losing weight put her cycle on a better track, reduced the amount of PCOS-related pain, and allowed us to get pregnant, not to mention all the rest of the goodness that comes along with dropping unneeded weight.

She has worked so hard on losing weight that every pound of baby weight is a bit of angst for her. She knows that logically it isn't the same thing, but still it weighs on her. (Sorry for the bad pun.)

 

[harleyquinn]

That is great advice! I was panicing yesterday because I didn't feel Connor at all, and he has been really active lately. Now I know what to do next time!

I have never heard of PCOS...

I think I learned it here!

PCOS is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. It basically means that our bodies produce cysts instead of eggs sometimes. It can be relatively non-exsistant or prevent you from getting preggers at all. 10-15 years ago women with PCOS were told they could not get pregnant.

It causes all kinds of things and is related to insulin resistance, which is why Veronica, Kathy and I are all on Metformin (glucophage)...I got pregnant after a month on Met.

 

[harleyquinn]

The weight thing is horrible with (and because of) PCOS. We tried for years to get pregnant, but it wasn't until we seriously attacked the weight issue that we had success. Losing weight put her cycle on a better track, reduced the amount of PCOS-related pain, and allowed us to get pregnant, not to mention all the rest of the goodness that comes along with dropping unneeded weight.

She has worked so hard on losing weight that every pound of baby weight is a bit of angst for her. She knows that logically it isn't the same thing, but still it weighs on her. (Sorry for the bad pun.)

I totally understand. If she ever needs an email buddy, I'm there! We have so much in common.

 

[ShootingStarMom2]

I am wondering what does anyone think about having a baby shower for a second child?It has been almost 9 years since my dd's but I don't know if it is very greedy to ask people to come to another.

Hi,
I was just lurking to see if there were anymore additions since I left.

About the 2nd shower. I've been to lots for the second time around. They weren't as big or dramatic as the first ones, but rather a celebration of a new life. There were a few gifts like new outfits and diapers. My sisters and best friends just got together for lunch and cake. They gave me a nice spa giftcard and that was way more than enough. My 1st is only 19m so I didn't really need anything. Maybe a close friend would do something similar? It's not unreasonable to celebrate a new baby.

 

[Disney Ron]

Baby update from Dr. today. All is well. I am 1cm dialated and 50% efaced. Happy to hear I am making some progress, but like Dr. said that could mean a baby tonight or in two weeks from now it depends on the person. Emma's heartbeat was 143. My BP was 110/64, and I did not gain any weight.

Back to check in later, looks like things have picked up here today and we are chatty!!!

Ann

 

[harleyquinn]

Baby update from Dr. today. All is well. I am 1cm dialated and 50% efaced. Happy to hear I am making some progress, but like Dr. said that could mean a baby tonight or in two weeks from now it depends on the person. Emma's heartbeat was 143. My BP was 110/64, and I did not gain any weight.

Back to check in later, looks like things have picked up here today and we are chatty!!!

Ann

Yay!

I forgot that my Dr told me we start the internal exams next time (sorry sbell! ) anyone want to tell me what to expect? Is it similar to the annual check up? She said she'd do the strep test too...can't wait

 

[Disney Ron]

Yay!

I forgot that my Dr told me we start the internal exams next time (sorry sbell! ) anyone want to tell me what to expect? Is it similar to the annual check up? She said she'd do the strep test too...can't wait

The strep test is similar to a pap. They insert speculem and take a swab.
Internals ...Dr just feels around with a glove and presses on belly while doing so. I will be honest and say both are more uncomfortable than an annual because of being pregnant. I had my exam at 10am today, she said I might spot but nothing yet.

 

[Maggimus]

The strep test is similar to a pap. They insert speculem and take a swab.
Internals ...Dr just feels around with a glove and presses on belly while doing so. I will be honest and say both are more uncomfortable than an annual because of being pregnant. I had my exam at 10am today, she said I might spot but nothing yet.

for a strep test? I thought the strep test was swabbing the outside of rear-end hole (to put it nicely)!?!?!

 

[Skylarr29]

She is around seventeen(ish) weeks.

Regarding the anxiety, I thought that she was getting over it, but it turns out that she was just getting good at not letting me know about it. She is really stressed out that there might possibly maybe be a problem (even though the docs have told us that everything is awesome).

How about renting a fetal doppler? There are sites like www.storkradio.com and www.babybeats.com that rent then for a fee each month and you can even buy one on Ebay... it was my saving grace, I just returned it. I could hear baby's heartbeat from about 10 weeks with it. That thing saved us at least 2 ER visits.

At 17 weeks movement is going to be very very sporadic and possibly non existent. I couldn't feel my little one until 19 weeks and he is just now getting the very strong kicks and where my DH can feel them and see the tummy move etc. at 27 weeks. Most doctors will tell you not to worry about consistent movement or kick counts until after 28 weeks. She has a long way to go. Even now I freak out if I don't feel him move. I'm bad and I'll drink a soda or something sweet to make him move but that didn't work when I first started feeling him.

 

[Disney Ron]

for a strep test? I thought the strep test was swabbing the outside of rear-end hole (to put it nicely)!?!?!

When they did my strep test, they also did another standard test that she said was routine. I forget the name of that one. Maybe I have the two confused. Both were in the front area, nothing involved bottom. One was invasive swab the other was a rim of outside.

 

[Maggimus]

When they did my strep test, they also did another standard test that she said was routine. I forget the name of that one. Maybe I have the two confused. Both were in the front area, nothing involved bottom. One was invasive swab the other was a rim of outside.

IDK!? I know the rim of the outside is what I think is the strep test-- and thats on your back-side. Not at the girly parts. I dont know I may be wrong!? I havent had it yet.