7w6d - Furniture

Well things are going...I spent the last week in Champaign, IL doing some training for work. It was ok, but I'm certainly glad to be home. Today we decided to go baby furniture shopping. We've been to Babies R' Us before and we weren't extremely happy with their selection, so we thought we would try and find some other stores. In St. Louis, we found Goodnite Rooms in Valley Park and Treasure Rooms in Chesterfield. Treasure Rooms was pretty big and we found a few options (definitely better than the selection at BRU). Then I think we found a really good one at Goodnite Rooms. Here's a link to the manufacturer's website:

http://www.babysdream.com/Products/Ocean/Default.htm

We are looking at the glacier color (white) and we would probably get the crib, dresser/changer combo, and the chest. What I like about the crib is the drop-gate. I like the idea of drop side cribs since I'm shorter but I hate the fact that they are unsturdy. The drop gate is extremely sturdy and yet it still gives me the ability to reach into the crib since I'm shorter. We also really like the design of this set. We'll definitely keep looking and aren't 100% set on anything yet.

I was surprised to learn that most places it takes about 12 weeks to order the furniture and another couple of weeks to deliver and assemble. So I'm thinking we will probably decide on something by around 20 weeks which should give us enough time to order, etc plus then we can pick out the bedding and paint before the furniture comes.

In other news, the nausea is still here which I'll take as a good sign for now. Pregnancy brain is also still here...David has taken my driving privledges away. On Wed, July 1, David and I are headed to Dallas, TX to visit Danielle and Travis until Sun, July 5. I'm super excited for a mini-vacation and hoping that the nausea and sick feelings will stay here in St. Louis. I will miss Buddy though...he's going to Grandpa's. Ok, I think this post is long enough. I'll post more when I get back...

6w5d

Well, the morning sickness and nausea has definitely kicked in!  The first thing I have to do in the morning is eat or I'll be too sick to do anything.  I have yet to actually throw up but at this point, that's gotta feel better than just feeling like you have to throw up, right?  I'm still hungry all the time and I think that's mostly because I'm getting "fuller" at meals than I used to.  So my body is forcing me to eat smaller meals more often, which is what my doctor says I should do anyway.  I'm also trying to drink tons of water. 

 

I've also had this pain in my lower back near my tailbone.  It's been around for weeks, but it's gotten to extreme pain this week.  I've taken a pillow to work and it helps at times.  At home, I just try and stay reclined to take the pressure off of the area.  I'm hoping after a more or less relaxing weekend, it goes away or at least to the point where I don't have to wince in pain everytime I move.

 

I hope everyone has a good weekend and a great Father's day!!!

6w3d - My first appointment!

Well I went in for my first prenatal appointment today. Dr. B said I was still a little early, he usually doesn't see his patients until 8 weeks, but that's when the receptionist scheduled the appointment, so... Dr. B said we'll just see what we can see! So he started the ultrasound and right away, he found the gestastional sac and the yolk sac. You could see the blob that is our baby, it was sooo neat! Then we saw the best thing EVER...the heart beating! He put the sound on and you could hear it, but it kept moving so he couldn't get a consistent beat to measure, but it definitely looked steady and strong. The baby was measuring 6w1d but it's still early and that's still a great measurement. He also did a pap smear (not sure what he's looking for there). We also discussed all my future appointments and basically what I can or can't do. Dr. B is great, he basically said I can do anything I was doing before I got pregnant, other than the obvious drinking, etc.

I go back for my next 4 week appointment on July 15. In the meantime, I'm still nauseous, but I'm learning to deal with it a little better. I need to make sure I eat first thing in the morning, make sure I always have food around, especially crackers, and drink lots of water. I'll keep you guys posted on any new news...

5w4d - How to stop worrying about miscarriage?

I wish I knew the answer to this question, but I definitely don't!  It seems like this is the main concern for my "worries" lately.  There's nothing that has happened so far to make me think that it will, but I still worry.  I have had zero bleeding or spotting.  I have had some cramps, but they are either mild cramps, which I hear is quite normal for pregnancy anyway or they are what I found to be called "round ligament pains".  Basically, it means your uterus is starting to stretch and it causes pains.  I feel these sharp pains mostly when I stretch, sneeze, or roll over in bed, so I've pinned it down to that cause.

 

Also, after some research, I found that there are a few reasons why women miscarry.  First, they might not have enough progesterone.  I thought this could be a concern with me since my progesterone was pretty low the first cycle I ovulated, BUT I have been taking progesterone supplements since a few days after I triggered, so I think that would fix that.  Also, I've been taking baby aspirin which is supposed to help blood flow, especially to the uterus to prevent miscarriage.  Other causes could be completely out of my control, such as a chromosonal abnormality.   I realize that even if it does happen, it's not my fault, but that doesn't make it any easier.  I feel like we've been through so much to get to this point, I can't imagine starting over.

 

Technically, the "safe" point would be the end of the first trimester, which for me would be around August 9, but I've also heard that the 10 week point is also a big hurdle and once you are over it, the chances become slim.  I want to slow down and enjoy the pregnancy, but I'm so scared and just want to make sure everything is going to be ok.

 

I'm not that superstitious, but I feel like maybe I jinxed things by telling everybody so soon or by buying a few things already.  I'm sure I'm just crazy, but I can't help but worry.  Ok, that's enough of my rant today.  I can't wait for my appointment next week and I'll update everyone again then.

5w3d and Happy Anniversary

Today is David and I's 3-year wedding anniversary.  I can't believe it's been that long and now we are expecting a little one to join the party!!! We aren't doing anything too exciting tonight since we are taking a mini-vacation to Dallas for July 4th, but just being with David and enjoying our time together especially in anticipation of our baby is enough for me.  Well that and some delivery pizza will do. 

 

So far symptoms have definitely been coming and going.  I welcome symptoms for now just because it keeps the pregnancy real.  I haven't vomited at all, just general quesy and nauseas feeling.  I also have to wake up in the middle of the night to pee.  We also are starting to think that Buddy has figured out what's going on.  He's been very close to me and he has jumped next to me in bed the last couple of nights and wants to lay right on top of me.  He's so cute and he's going to be such a good big brother to the baby. 

 

I have my first appointment and hopefully ultrasound 1 week from today.  I'm hoping that will put my mind at ease a little bit more.  I'm trying to take it 1 day at a time, but I know it's early and things can happen.  I'll post again if anything significant happens or after the appointment.

4w5d

I only have a few people left to tell and then everyone will officially know (I hope I'm not jinxing myself).  Today was an incredibly boring and long day at work.  It was also the first day I've really noticed being extremely tired.  The nausea seems to have come back today as well.  Right now, food doesn't even sound good, everything just makes me want to vomit.  That's really all I have to report for now, I'll write again on Monday.

We did it!!!!!

That's right, we are finally, after 10 LONG months, we are pregnant!!!!!

Today I'm 4 weeks, 4 days and my estimated due date is Feb 7, 2010. That may change after my first appointment on 6/17. So here's what happened:

I really had counted this cycle out so I guess it's true when they say "when you least expect it...". Last week, I took 3 pregnancy tests and they were all positive, but I still had the trigger in my body, so I didn't think too much of it. Although, the lines were getting darker, so I thought maybe something was up. Here's a picture:



On Friday, May 29, I had a follow up visit with my OB (for the D&C that I had last month). Everything looked fine. I actually didn't have a polyp, but just extra endometrial tissue. They removed it and sent it to the lab and everything came back fine. Then I explained some of my symptoms and how my lines were getting darker, so he sent me for a beta blood test to determine the amount (if any) of HCG in my body. Then I would go for another on Monday to see the increase (hopefully).

This past weekend, I went camping, had a great time and tried not to worry about it. Although I was quite nauseous all weekend. When I go home on Sunday, I decided even though I had just peed an hour earlier that I would take a test. The line came up super dark!!! That should have convinced me, but it didn't. So Monday morning, I took a digital and the result showed up within 1 minute.



You'd think I would have been convinced, but I still waited for the doctor to call on Tuesday. He told me that my beta on Friday showed 114 and Monday was 592. That gives me a doubling time of about 30 hours, which is fantastic since they want 48 hours or less.

So everything is going great. I'm still very scared and nervous because it's still early and anything can happen. I'm reassured that my numbers were so strong and that I'm still on progesterone, metformin, and baby aspirin which decreases the risk of miscarriage.

As far as symptoms, I've had some nausea which seems to come and go (no vomiting yet). I've also been waking up in the middle of the night and finding it hard to go back to sleep (that could just be the nerves and excitement though). Finally, I have definite pregnancy brain. I keep forgetting things or messing up the way I talk...it's crazy!