[infertilitynovice]

Chandra ~ I LOVE seeing your bump!! Thanks so much for sharing it with us I've got nothing so far, but I'm sure it will come soon enough.

Thanks for the words of encouragement too. I hope it isn't anything serious. I've drank tons of cranberry juice today and taken tylenol too. The pressure and discomfort is better with the tylenol. At this point, I actually kind of hope that it is a little infection, because if this is just the baby I don't know what I'll do. I'm really uncomfortable!

So I've played the baby's heartbeat to my mom, dad, and best friend. My mom started screaming!!! I guess you could say that she's just a little excited about this grandchild. It will probably be her only one. My brother has been seeing his girlfriend for about 2 yrs. She had her tubes tied after her little girl was born. She was 21! I can't believe that they'd do it for someone so young. Of course, she was married to an abusive jerk, so I understand why she did it. I married a man with a vasectomy and my brother is very serious with a woman with her tubes tied...we really know how to pick'em right You can't help who you love though. My mom loves DH's boys, but they don't treat her anymore like a grandmother than they treat me like a mom, so this will be it...boy, I'm going to have one spoiled child! I thought my dad was going to start crying when he heard it. He's not a particularly emotional person, so the crack in his voice over the phone got me a bit too. He's still in GA and my mom's in TN and I'm way the heck up here in NH. I hate being away from my family and friends, especially now. My mom told me the other day that she hopes we don't mind, but she's planning on flying up here every 6 weeks or so. I don't mind at all. I figure that's once every 6 weeks that I get a bit of a break and DH and I will be able to go on a date or something. As long as they're short visits...I love my mom to death and we have an awesome relationship, but we're so much alike that if we spend too much time together we can really drive each other nuts.

How are your families responding? Has anyone's moms run out to buy little outfits or anyone kniting you blankets or booties yet? How many of you are carrying first grandchildren?

[GEwifey]

Melissa-Even though your brother's gf tubes are tied they can always do IVF , I had my tubes tied after my youngest was born, met DH who doesn't have any biological children, so Im carrying the first "biological" grandchild, but his parents have always called my kids their grandchildren even when we were just dating.

[infertilitynovice]

Chandra ~ I know that IVF is often a solution for women who have had their tubes tied, but I doubt that will ever be an option for my brother's girlfriend. Not that I think she wouldn't want to do that if she chose to have another child, but rather because I doubt she would have the financial means to do it. Who really knows though, things could change I guess. At least there is an option.

So, I went in for a quick urine culture today...the good news is that the "dipstick" test doesn't show a UTI (they're sending it out just to make sure though)...the bad news is that I guess this pressure I'm feeling is just the baby. It is just a little better today, but I'm still pretty uncomfortable.

So I've been feeling nausous again today too. It is so strange that it would come back now. I'm also finding it hard to find things to eat that sound good again. I guess this stuff really does just come and go.

How is everyone else doing today? Any important dates/appointments coming up this week?

[Amzippity]

My nausea comes and goes too. Some days are better than others. Today and yesterday I've felt the worst I've felt at all in the past week or so.

It's weird you mentioned that your bladder can't empty completely when you're pregnant. I never read that anywhere but I thought that my bladder wasn't emptying completely during my last pregnancy and during this one. I was wondering if I was imagining things or if it was normal. I'll have to see if I can find more info on it.

I have my consultation with the high-risk guy on Wednesday for the cerclage. I'll have an ultrasound (yay!) and find our more info about his plan for me.

[infertilitynovice]

Am ~ Meeting the high-rish guy this week IS important! Is he going to tell you for sure when they've got to do it? Will you have to go on bedrest then too, or can you wait a little bit? I guess you'll know more after your appt...keep us posted!!

As for the bladder thing...they (who ever "they" are) recommend leaning forward and kind of tilting your pelvis back to allow your bladder to empty completely when urinating. I had no idea that just being pregnant was a risk factor for UTIs. Apparently, in addition to the bladder thing, our urethras are dialated for the first couple of months of pregnancy too. This dialation allows extra bacteria to find its way in sometimes too. Who knew all this? Crazy pregnancy stuff!!!

[GEwifey]

Originally Posted by infertilitynovice

Am ~ Meeting the high-rish guy this week IS important! Is he going to tell you for sure when they've got to do it? Will you have to go on bedrest then too, or can you wait a little bit? I guess you'll know more after your appt...keep us posted!!

As for the bladder thing...they (who ever "they" are) recommend leaning forward and kind of tilting your pelvis back to allow your bladder to empty completely when urinating. I had no idea that just being pregnant was a risk factor for UTIs. Apparently, in addition to the bladder thing, our urethras are dialated for the first couple of months of pregnancy too. This dialation allows extra bacteria to find its way in sometimes too. Who knew all this? Crazy pregnancy stuff!!!

I've tried the leaning forward thing and I really haven't noticed a difference, it still seems that 10 minutes later Im back in the bathroom...LOL

[tcrsmom]

I got the doppler from baby beats today. I was so excited but unfortunately I only seem to get my heartbeat on it yet. It totally freaked my DH out that we could not hear it and I have to say I was a bit unnerved as well. I get a rate of 150 for a brief moment then back down under 100 which would be me. I go tomorrow for my first ob appointment. Not expecting an u/s just a pap smear but maybe I can ask for them to attempt the doppler.

[chantalTTC]

Originally Posted by eggy

Sorry to hear about the clot, Chandra. I'm sure everything is ok, but it still must be scary for you. Hang in there!

So, I took one of those Intelligender tests this morning -- and I can't tell what the result is! (Not that it would be 100% reliable if I could....) Anyway, so much for the novelty.

Hope you're all feeling better than I am today (bad cold, no sleep). XOXO

Hi - my cousin (14w and I 12w) ordered that test for kicks and giggles. Since I know I'm having a boy, we're using my results as the 'control group'... What did it say for you? Did it not give a result at all, or an error? Besides avoiding diluting the urine, any other advice you have for us? We'll take it Wed morning as it's due to arrive tomorrow some time...

[chantalTTC]

Originally Posted by tcrsmom

I got the doppler from baby beats today. I was so excited but unfortunately I only seem to get my heartbeat on it yet. It totally freaked my DH out that we could not hear it and I have to say I was a bit unnerved as well. I get a rate of 150 for a brief moment then back down under 100 which would be me. I go tomorrow for my first ob appointment. Not expecting an u/s just a pap smear but maybe I can ask for them to attempt the doppler.

Try not to worry - I have the same problem. I'm getting better at it (have had it for 2 weeks now) and there's definitely a learning curve to deciphering the different sounds and knowing where your little one is hiding... Sometimes even now I'm unable to find it - sometimes it takes me 10 mins to find it - other times its immediate.

Have fun tomorrow!

[chantalTTC]

Chandra - how fun! Thanks for sharing your 'bump' picture with us. It must be so cool to be showing - I just feel bloated and no one can tell I'm pregnant yet. I'm looking forward to having a little bump myself soon!

[infertilitynovice]

Originally Posted by tcrsmom

I got the doppler from baby beats today. I was so excited but unfortunately I only seem to get my heartbeat on it yet. It totally freaked my DH out that we could not hear it and I have to say I was a bit unnerved as well. I get a rate of 150 for a brief moment then back down under 100 which would be me. I go tomorrow for my first ob appointment. Not expecting an u/s just a pap smear but maybe I can ask for them to attempt the doppler.

I just got mine Friday. I've found that my baby's heartbeat is always right next to where I pick up mine. It is important to note that you don't have to move the doppler wand to pick up new sounds. Just angling it (or pivoting it) can allow you to pick up different sounds. So far, I've used it 4 times and have picked up the baby's heartbeat 2x. I've found that the full bladder thing works better for me. Also, both times I found the baby's heartbeat about an inch or so above my pubic triangle. Maybe you could start about halfway between your bellybutton and the top of your pubic mound? I've had good luck doing that.

Just a quick funny note on the doppler use...so DH and I were trying the other day and we were picking up some really crazy intestinal sounds...we weren't able to find it that time and DH said, "Well, I guess the baby is hiding out until the wind storm passes." Cute, honey!!

[eggy]

My result was ambiguous. From one angle, it looked smoky orange; from another, it appeared smoky greenish. I emailed the company, and they asked if I had taken a picture. I had not, so they offered to send me another test for free (except I'd have to pay the $8 shipping fee). I think I may as well try again, don't you think?

Keep us posted about your results. I love that you're the control group, though apparently, boy results are more common false positives than girl results. So, if your son with his super gonads makes you test orange, then we'll know the test is unreliable. Hopefully, you and your cousin will be able to provide us with some good info. I'll let you know what happens if/when I take it again....

Originally Posted by chantalTTC

Hi - my cousin (14w and I 12w) ordered that test for kicks and giggles. Since I know I'm having a boy, we're using my results as the 'control group'... What did it say for you? Did it not give a result at all, or an error? Besides avoiding diluting the urine, any other advice you have for us? We'll take it Wed morning as it's due to arrive tomorrow some time...

[hopefull79]

Don't worry too much about the doppler. I'm almost eleven weeks and have yet to be able to pick up the baby's heart rate. Some people it takes up to twelve weeks to hear it, so not to worry!!!

[tcrsmom]

Originally Posted by chantalTTC

Try not to worry - I have the same problem. I'm getting better at it (have had it for 2 weeks now) and there's definitely a learning curve to deciphering the different sounds and knowing where your little one is hiding... Sometimes even now I'm unable to find it - sometimes it takes me 10 mins to find it - other times its immediate.

Have fun tomorrow!

Well I held my pee for 2 hours which was quite a feat for me lately then used the doppler and found it right away. It hovered around 155-160. It was such a relief to find it.

[infertilitynovice]

That's wonderful news! Isn't it just the most amazing thing when you do it yourself? It is fantastic anyways, but there is something particularly neat about being able to find it yourself...like you're connecting directly with the baby or something...