@Week of 4/30

[estrellita]

May 5, 2018 10:49:06 GMT -5 katespade said:

May 5, 2018 10:37:29 GMT -5 estrellita said:

Call the doctor to book your first appointment. For my doctor it's not until 8-10 weeks. They don't do an u/s that early unless you aren't sure how far along you might be but I know a lot of doctors are different and do one earlier.

Because I freaked out about it, just know that spotting can be 100% fine. I spotted with both pregnancies due to a low placenta and both kids are fine. I just know it can be common so I'm trying to give a little pre-assurance in case you experience it!

You probably won't start feeling more symptoms for a couple weeks, like morning sickness. My best advice for that is keeping some bland food in your stomach at all times (crackers are perfect). B6 vitamins seemed to help me too. You'll probably get run down too. Don't feel bad about napping or cutting down on some activity if you're not feeling it!

As for things not to do, pretty much just avoid things like alcohol, excessive caffeine, ibuprofen, other certain medications, anything that has had a listeria outbreak (fruits and veggies but obviously still eat fruits and veggies, just keep an eye out for recalls. Also deli meat but if you heat it up it should be fine. All depends on your comfort level). Exercise is still fine although there are things on your stomach or back to avoid (no abdominal stuff mostly).

Thank you! This is all really good information.

I called my OB/GYN yesterday, and my first appointment is scheduled for 6/8 (nine weeks). I also called my endocrinologist yesterday, and she wants me to increase my thyroid meds now, go in for blood work on Monday, and then repeat labs in a month and make adjustments as necessary.

So far, I’m mostly just tired, crampy, and bloated. I went and picked out a prenatal yesterday, and my doctor recommended B6 and unisom daily to try to fight off potential morning sickness, so I got those, too.

What do they typically do at the initial appointment? If they don’t do an ultrasound, do they check for a heartbeat? Should H come with me?

My first appointment was just labs and medical history. It wasn't even with my actual OB. They usually can't hear the heartbeat on the doppler until like 12+ weeks (sometimes later, they couldn't find A's heartbeat at 12 weeks so they sent me for an u/s). Your doctor might be different and do an u/s and if they do they'll check for the heartbeat and measurements of baby, the placenta and the uterus. The testing is usually just routine blood work, conformation of pregnancy, and I think testing blood type if you don't know yours (someone else correct me if I'm wrong but I think if you have a neg blood type you might need shots in case baby has a pos type. I'm iffy on the details as mine is A positive). Anyways, in my experience, the 12 week appointment is when H came the first time to hear E's heartbeat!

[luv2rn4fun]

May 5, 2018 10:49:06 GMT -5 katespade said:

May 5, 2018 10:37:29 GMT -5 estrellita said:

Call the doctor to book your first appointment. For my doctor it's not until 8-10 weeks. They don't do an u/s that early unless you aren't sure how far along you might be but I know a lot of doctors are different and do one earlier.

Because I freaked out about it, just know that spotting can be 100% fine. I spotted with both pregnancies due to a low placenta and both kids are fine. I just know it can be common so I'm trying to give a little pre-assurance in case you experience it!

You probably won't start feeling more symptoms for a couple weeks, like morning sickness. My best advice for that is keeping some bland food in your stomach at all times (crackers are perfect). B6 vitamins seemed to help me too. You'll probably get run down too. Don't feel bad about napping or cutting down on some activity if you're not feeling it!

As for things not to do, pretty much just avoid things like alcohol, excessive caffeine, ibuprofen, other certain medications, anything that has had a listeria outbreak (fruits and veggies but obviously still eat fruits and veggies, just keep an eye out for recalls. Also deli meat but if you heat it up it should be fine. All depends on your comfort level). Exercise is still fine although there are things on your stomach or back to avoid (no abdominal stuff mostly).

Thank you! This is all really good information.

I called my OB/GYN yesterday, and my first appointment is scheduled for 6/8 (nine weeks). I also called my endocrinologist yesterday, and she wants me to increase my thyroid meds now, go in for blood work on Monday, and then repeat labs in a month and make adjustments as necessary.

So far, I’m mostly just tired, crampy, and bloated. I went and picked out a prenatal yesterday, and my doctor recommended B6 and unisom daily to try to fight off potential morning sickness, so I got those, too.

What do they typically do at the initial appointment? If they don’t do an ultrasound, do they check for a heartbeat? Should H come with me?

I actually thought of you and the thyroid issues last night and meant to post, so glad you called your endocrinologist. I have hypothyroid and basically did a double dose on Mon and Thurs. my RE wanted my TSH closer to 1.0 even though anything 0.35-4 is considered normal range.

My OB did an ultrasound (transactional) at 7 weeks. Also, lots of questions.

I read What to Expect when expecting and enjoyed learning about the baby’s weekly growth.

I wasn’t allowed to run during pregnancy due to my losses but in general anything you did pre pregnancy is ok during pregnancy.

[katespade]

May 5, 2018 11:27:07 GMT -5 luv2rn4fun said:

May 5, 2018 10:49:06 GMT -5 katespade said:

Thank you! This is all really good information.

I called my OB/GYN yesterday, and my first appointment is scheduled for 6/8 (nine weeks). I also called my endocrinologist yesterday, and she wants me to increase my thyroid meds now, go in for blood work on Monday, and then repeat labs in a month and make adjustments as necessary.

So far, I’m mostly just tired, crampy, and bloated. I went and picked out a prenatal yesterday, and my doctor recommended B6 and unisom daily to try to fight off potential morning sickness, so I got those, too.

What do they typically do at the initial appointment? If they don’t do an ultrasound, do they check for a heartbeat? Should H come with me?

I actually thought of you and the thyroid issues last night and meant to post, so glad you called your endocrinologist. I have hypothyroid and basically did a double dose on Mon and Thurs. my RE wanted my TSH closer to 1.0 even though anything 0.35-4 is considered normal range.

My OB did an ultrasound (transactional) at 7 weeks. Also, lots of questions.

I read What to Expect when expecting and enjoyed learning about the baby’s weekly growth.

I wasn’t allowed to run during pregnancy due to my losses but in general anything you did pre pregnancy is ok during pregnancy.

That’s exactly what my endo told me to do - double my dosage 2x/week to start with. Did you have to do any other med adjustments, or were you able to maintain that until the end of your pregnancy?

I’m definitely not planning to do any exercising until after I see my doctor, just to be safe. I really want to get back to the gym, but I want to make sure I don’t overdo it. I might look for some prenatal yoga videos to get me through until I can check with her about gym workouts.

[katespade]

May 5, 2018 11:06:41 GMT -5 estrellita said:

May 5, 2018 10:49:06 GMT -5 katespade said:

Thank you! This is all really good information.

I called my OB/GYN yesterday, and my first appointment is scheduled for 6/8 (nine weeks). I also called my endocrinologist yesterday, and she wants me to increase my thyroid meds now, go in for blood work on Monday, and then repeat labs in a month and make adjustments as necessary.

So far, I’m mostly just tired, crampy, and bloated. I went and picked out a prenatal yesterday, and my doctor recommended B6 and unisom daily to try to fight off potential morning sickness, so I got those, too.

What do they typically do at the initial appointment? If they don’t do an ultrasound, do they check for a heartbeat? Should H come with me?

My first appointment was just labs and medical history. It wasn't even with my actual OB. They usually can't hear the heartbeat on the doppler until like 12+ weeks (sometimes later, they couldn't find A's heartbeat at 12 weeks so they sent me for an u/s). Your doctor might be different and do an u/s and if they do they'll check for the heartbeat and measurements of baby, the placenta and the uterus. The testing is usually just routine blood work, conformation of pregnancy, and I think testing blood type if you don't know yours (someone else correct me if I'm wrong but I think if you have a neg blood type you might need shots in case baby has a pos type. I'm iffy on the details as mine is A positive). Anyways, in my experience, the 12 week appointment is when H came the first time to hear E's heartbeat!

They said my first appointment will be with a midwife, so it would make sense that it might just be lab work and medical history. That just seems like such a long time to wait and still not get any real, visual confirmation! I have routine blood work done so often for my other issues that it seems like a waste of a blood draw. lol.

Luckily, I do know my blood type and it’s A+, which it sounds like makes my life easier.

[pooh8402]

May 5, 2018 10:49:06 GMT -5 katespade said:

May 5, 2018 10:37:29 GMT -5 estrellita said:

Call the doctor to book your first appointment. For my doctor it's not until 8-10 weeks. They don't do an u/s that early unless you aren't sure how far along you might be but I know a lot of doctors are different and do one earlier.

Because I freaked out about it, just know that spotting can be 100% fine. I spotted with both pregnancies due to a low placenta and both kids are fine. I just know it can be common so I'm trying to give a little pre-assurance in case you experience it!

You probably won't start feeling more symptoms for a couple weeks, like morning sickness. My best advice for that is keeping some bland food in your stomach at all times (crackers are perfect). B6 vitamins seemed to help me too. You'll probably get run down too. Don't feel bad about napping or cutting down on some activity if you're not feeling it!

As for things not to do, pretty much just avoid things like alcohol, excessive caffeine, ibuprofen, other certain medications, anything that has had a listeria outbreak (fruits and veggies but obviously still eat fruits and veggies, just keep an eye out for recalls. Also deli meat but if you heat it up it should be fine. All depends on your comfort level). Exercise is still fine although there are things on your stomach or back to avoid (no abdominal stuff mostly).

Thank you! This is all really good information.

I called my OB/GYN yesterday, and my first appointment is scheduled for 6/8 (nine weeks). I also called my endocrinologist yesterday, and she wants me to increase my thyroid meds now, go in for blood work on Monday, and then repeat labs in a month and make adjustments as necessary.

So far, I’m mostly just tired, crampy, and bloated. I went and picked out a prenatal yesterday, and my doctor recommended B6 and unisom daily to try to fight off potential morning sickness, so I got those, too.

What do they typically do at the initial appointment? If they don’t do an ultrasound, do they check for a heartbeat? Should H come with me?

First appointment, it really depends on the doctor. My first OB did an u/s at my 8 week appointment because she doesit on everyone, even though we did IVF, which she knew about, and our dates were exact. Also lab work, history, etc. DH came with me to that appointment, and every appointment that had an u/s. I had an u/s at 12 weeks (NT scan) then we did the doppler at every appointment after that.

[pooh8402]

May 5, 2018 11:06:41 GMT -5 estrellita said:

May 5, 2018 10:49:06 GMT -5 katespade said:

Thank you! This is all really good information.

I called my OB/GYN yesterday, and my first appointment is scheduled for 6/8 (nine weeks). I also called my endocrinologist yesterday, and she wants me to increase my thyroid meds now, go in for blood work on Monday, and then repeat labs in a month and make adjustments as necessary.

So far, I’m mostly just tired, crampy, and bloated. I went and picked out a prenatal yesterday, and my doctor recommended B6 and unisom daily to try to fight off potential morning sickness, so I got those, too.

What do they typically do at the initial appointment? If they don’t do an ultrasound, do they check for a heartbeat? Should H come with me?

My first appointment was just labs and medical history. It wasn't even with my actual OB. They usually can't hear the heartbeat on the doppler until like 12+ weeks (sometimes later, they couldn't find A's heartbeat at 12 weeks so they sent me for an u/s). Your doctor might be different and do an u/s and if they do they'll check for the heartbeat and measurements of baby, the placenta and the uterus. The testing is usually just routine blood work, conformation of pregnancy, and I think testing blood type if you don't know yours (someone else correct me if I'm wrong but I think if you have a neg blood type you might need shots in case baby has a pos type. I'm iffy on the details as mine is A positive). Anyways, in my experience, the 12 week appointment is when H came the first time to hear E's heartbeat!

Yes, if you have negative Rh blood, you get a shot at about 28 weeks, and again after delivery is baby is Rh positive.

[estrellita]

We're out running around with just A and it's nice! E is with ILs. It's been nice to not wait for him, lol. I forgot what it was like to just have 1 baby!

[luv2rn4fun]

katespade- I think I stayed on the same dosage throughout. I don’t remember it ever having to increase. I did tend to stay at a very low TSH level while on 125mg.

Last night was rough. It’s hot here so we sleep with the windows open, which means the fan on full blast in our room (to block the road noise...our room faces a street with a 50mph speed limit, it’s loud). I can’t hear C with the fan on so I slept on the couch.

We have this super annoying bird and he was doing a mate call from 2-4a. L was up 1:50-2:30 and then again at 5. DH was up at 6 and woke me up.

I took the boys for a walk and to the park for 2 hours so DH could work on MD project. Came home and grilled carne asada. Just walked to get my haircut and am now relaxing in bed while DH works on the MD project.

[HoneySpider]

katespade, I feel like there's not a whole lot you need to know in the first few weeks outside of what to avoid in terms of foods, medications, etc, some of which you might already have been avoiding in the TWW.

There's a lot of stuff that can happen early that can be either normal or not, such as bleeding, cramping etc. Do not be afraid to call your doctor if you need to.

I feel like my experience with early appointments has been different than most (2 different practices) I've always had the doctor look or listen for the heartbeat even before I had a history of loss. My husband always came with me, but he also comes to almost all of my appointments (my doctor is 2 blocks from his office) I know he really likes being involved even if it's something routine and it's nice for me to have him there too especially early on when anxiety is high.

[luv2rn4fun]

May 5, 2018 20:25:15 GMT -5 HoneySpider said:

katespade, I feel like there's not a whole lot you need to know in the first few weeks outside of what to avoid in terms of foods, medications, etc, some of which you might already have been avoiding in the TWW.

There's a lot of stuff that can happen early that can be either normal or not, such as bleeding, cramping etc. Do not be afraid to call your doctor if you need to.

I feel like my experience with early appointments has been different than most (2 different practices) I've always had the doctor look or listen for the heartbeat even before I had a history of loss. My husband always came with me, but he also comes to almost all of my appointments (my doctor is 2 blocks from his office) I know he really likes being involved even if it's something routine and it's nice for me to have him there too especially early on when anxiety is high.

Ditto all of this!

My OB always did an ultrasound even before my loss history, just part of her standard practice. DH went with me for my first appointment during our first pregnancy and then I naively had him skip out on the second one (my mom was there though)...I found out we had lost the baby during that appointment and I so wish he had been there with me (it was very traumatic and even more so to go through that without DH). So...he went to nearly all appointments until second trimester with L and then he only went to the really big ones (NT scan, a/s, follow up with MFM due to findings on the a/s, etc). He wasn’t even there at the 40w appointment when I had no fluid and had to go straight to the hospital...he quickly got a phone call to leave work ASAP with a list of things to grab at home before coming to the hospital (we delivered L about an hour away from his work).

If your DH can come without it being too stressful for his work then that would be great for both of you! Seeing the heartbeat always makes it real and it’s a way for your DH to bond with the baby and also to ask questions he might have.

[krystee]

katespade Had you started being seen by an RE yet? If so, they might do early monitoring (betas and progesterone) for you.

I know you had ovulation issues. Did they ever test your progesterone while TTC? If so and if that tended to be low, you can request to see your OB immediately for a progesterone draw to see if you might need supplements. But if it was normal, just sit back and relax (ha!) for nine weeks!

[katespade]

May 6, 2018 9:34:09 GMT -5 krystee said:

katespade Had you started being seen by an RE yet? If so, they might do early monitoring (betas and progesterone) for you.

I know you had ovulation issues. Did they ever test your progesterone while TTC? If so and if that tended to be low, you can request to see your OB immediately for a progesterone draw to see if you might need supplements. But if it was normal, just sit back and relax (ha!) for nine weeks!

I hadn’t started seeing an RE yet. I decided to try a few cycles of letrozole with my OB/GYN first, and I’m glad I did! No progesterone testing, either, though I did take progesterone for ten days during my TWW to help kickstart AF if I wasn’t pregnant.

I ended up sending my OB a message through the patient portal last night basically, I let her know that I gave to go in for a blood draw for thyroid labs, and wanted to see if there are any labs she would like to order while I’m having my blood drawn anyway.

This wait is going to be the longest five weeks of my life! 😂