7w1d: Told DD the news...

8 year olds are so insightful. I thought she would drive me nuts but, surprisingly, she didn't! I wanted to wait until I was a bit further along, but she found the books I bought at Barnes & Noble. If you know anything about me, you know that the minute I have a life-changing event, I go to BnN and use it as my excuse to buy more books! Well, I bought her a sibling book and she sort of found it, so I saw no need to hold back.

She keeps referring to the baby as "she". I thought that was pretty interesting, so I inquired: Do you think the baby's a girl? She responded: "Well, if it's a girl, that would be AWESOME. But, a boy would be great, too. All I want is a baby who is healthy and alive. For aunty's baby, I asked for her to be healthy... and she was healthy, but she was not alive. So, now this time I have to make sure I say healthy AND alive."

Boy do I love this little girl. Here I was thinking she would be completely mortified if she got a brother. Not at all...

6w6d: heartbeat... you make me feel so sweet!

Had my first sono today! Pumpkin is measuring 7w0d and everything seems to be right on target. I didn't get a chance to ask the nurse how many bpms for Pumpkins heart. Dh was there at the beginning of the appointment, but missed the sono because NYC parking sucks and he had to move the car.
I have two more appointments at the fertility clinic, then they release me to my OB.

6w5d: who is the sweetest man on earth?

Dh is! Omigosh, I have had the wind knocked out of my sails, lately. I keep telling myself that it's general first trimester loveliness. I bought a new fantastic bra the other day and they make my tender breasts feel so much better. When I told dh about it, he asked why I hadn't bought more and I told him that bras are expensive! Well, I came home to find two more bras, a card and skittles. Skittles make the world a better place... so does dh. I love him!

6w1d: Had a final beta yesterday!

Yesterday I went in for my final beta. I can't say that I was looking forward to it. On Sunday, my beta was over 3,000 and I read somehwere (I'm always reading something somewhere) that you can see a sac once the beta gets above 1,000. I really didn't understand why they kept having me in.

Either way, I got the email yesterday at noon and my beta was over 10,000... no more betas! I plugged the betas into the beta calculator and the doubling times are good! Thank goodness. Like I said in my last post - I don't mind sonograms, but please don't take any more of my blood!

I have a sonogram on Thursday at 6w6d. The best news is that dh will be able to come because schools are out this week. We can't wait to meet you, Pumpkin!!!

Here's the mail from the clinic:

Estrogen 578
Progesterone 35
HCG 10,907

Instructions:
Please continue the medications as instructed
Please refrain from heavy lifting, running/jogging, and strenous activities

Your next appointment is scheduled for Thursday, 3/28/13, for your first
ultrasound. Please be advised no blood work is necessary anymore.

5w5d: A hormonal wreck

Maybe I can't blame the hormones. Maybe it's just me? All I know is that I cannot wait for Saturday, so that I can sleep in (FXd) and stay in bed all day long. I am really looking forward to that. I am tired, but beyond that, I am just so hormonal it's a shame. I don't really want to be in public nowadays. I joined a buddy board for expectant moms (Nov. 2013 version) and I seem to not be alone.

I wonder if I'll be able to resist the urge to compare everything with this pregnancy to my pregnancy with DD. With DD, I was a happy little camper. I felt energized (maybe not so much in the first trimester?) Right now, however, I am just feeling like sleeping and generally not being bothered by much. I guess we can chalk it up to the 10 year difference between pregnancies? Whatever it is, please get me a bed and let me at it!!!

zzzzz

On another note, aren't these the cutest things ever? Guess who's ordering them? Maybe not the exact same ones, but something similar...

5w2d: Appointment and another beta

Today I went into the city for another beta. I think after the last appointment, I wrote that my next appointment would include a sonogram. No such luck. Seems that I have to go back for only a beta on Friday.

You would think after all the pricking and prodding, I would be used to it by now. Well, I'm not. I can deal with all sorts of gadgets up my hoo-ha. I can deal with sonograms. But for some reason, I just can't stand the sight of skin being punctured. This is going to make for a long 8 months, eh? Actually, if Pumkin comes on time or early, I have less than 8 months left. That is celebration worthy!

I went to Home Goods with my sister - who needed to find a jewelry tray for her dresser. Of course, I walked out with an elephant stool for Pumpkin. Then, I went to gymboree to get dd a birthday shirt (I pretty much do it every year) and they had an outfit that was just screaming "buy me for Pumpkin", so I did. However, I don't plan to do much more shopping. I really need to focus on school and leave the shopping for summer break.

Anyway, here's the mail from the clinic...

Your blood results from today are as follows:

Estrogen 427
Progesterone 33
BHCG 3229

Based on these levels, it indicates that the pregnancy is progressing well.
Please continue taking all your medications and come back on 3/22/13 for
blood work.

The protocol that worked...

A number of you have asked me about what happened prior to my BFP. I've offered to give a play-by-play and decided that it was easier to do it here since I'm sure it will come up again.

First things first. Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor. I am not offering medical advice. My results may or may not work for you. I am only offering up the protocol that worked for me. Please view it accordingly.

Appointment 1: Preliminary FSH reading (Dec. 17, 2012)

Blood test result today:

Estradiol (E2): 41

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH): 35

As per MD, your FSH is elevated. MD recommends birth control pill to lower FSH in order for the follicles to grow.

Medication instructions:

Start/Continue with prenatal vitamins – one tablet everyday

Start birth control pill today, 12/17/12 – 2(two) tablets taken together from 12/17 to 12/23.

Next monitoring on 12/24/12 for blood only at 8am Columbus Circle.

Please email me back if you need me to call in script for birth control pills. Email me name of the pharmacy and telephone number.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Note: between Dec. 24th and Jan 11th, I did not return, due to a family emergency. I was taking 1 tablet every other day during that time.

Appointment 2: Monitoring and Bloodwork (Jan 11, 2013)

Estrogen <Low
FSH 35

Instructions:
Please take birth control pills to help suppress the FSH level for a
dominant follicle to grow.

Increase birth control pills to 1 tablet every day from today to 1/21/13

Your next appointment is scheduled for 1/22/13 for blood work only.

Have a good day!

Note: I did not return on 1/22 because I had the flu. I continued to take the tablets and returned on 1/27.

Appointment 3: Monitoring and Bloodwork (Jan 27, 2013)- FSH is lower now, time to wean off of OCP

below are your blood results.

E2  31
FSH  4
LH  3
P4  0.2

Please reduce birth control pills 1 tablet every other day ( skip today,
take 1 tomorrow, every other day until 2/3) and return to the office on 2/4
only for blood work . If you have any questions, please feel free to
contact us.

 Appointment 4: Monitoring and Bloodwork (Feb 4, 2013) - FSH is elevated again on 1 tablet every other day
Your lab results from today are as follows:

Estrogen 42
FSH 25
LH 10
Progesterone <low

Please continue with the birth control pill 1 tab every other day until
2/7/13 and return to the clinic on 2/8/13 for blood work only.

Appointment 5: Monitoring and Bloodwork (Feb 8, 2013) - Snowstorm hits NYC, nurses say to stay on one every other day and come on the 11th

Please continue the pill every other day and return on Monday for blood
work, 2/11/13.

Appointment 6: Monitoring and Bloodwork (Feb 11, 2013) - FSH is still a bit elevated, but E2 levels indicate a follie may be growing

 I am writing with the results of your blood work today:

E2      62

FSH    21

LH      11

P4     0.1

The doctor has reviewed your chart and would like you to return for blood
work and sonogram on Thursday, February 14, 2013, any time between 7:00 am
and 1:30 pm. No medications at this time.

Appointment 7: Bloodwork and Sonogram ( (Feb 14, 2013) - Sonogram indicates there are two follies growing on the left ovary - 7mm and 4mm; no meds

FSH    21

Your FSH level is stable. You don't have to take any medications, simply
return to the office on Tuesday 2/19 for blood work and sonogram. If you
have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Appointment 8: Sonogram (Feb 19, 2013) - Sonogram now shows one follie at 15.5mm

Appointment 9: Bloodwork and Sonogram (Feb 20, 2013) - Sonogram now shows one follie at 18mm 

Blood test result:

Estradiol (E2):277

Luteinizing hormone (LH):41

Progesterone (P4): 0.6

As per MD, your Egg Retrieval is confirmed for 2/22/13, Friday, at 8am/

Please return to office with your husband at 7:30am.
Anika, continue with Ibuprofen/Advil 600mg every 12 hours until tomorrow's
procedure.


And there you have it, folks! My doctor followed a natural IVF cycle protocol, using OCP to suppress my FSH levels and encourage a follicle to grow. Until egg retrieval, OCP were the only meds I took. 36 hours before my retrieval, I took a nasal spray. That was it. When I first embarked on my IVF journey, I thought I would have to give myself shots, but I didn't. This was minimally invasive!

5w1d: Cold from I don't know where or allergies?

I'm not sure I can call this thing a cold. It's really just sneezing fits accompanied by a headache... and it has overtaken me. It's a really good thing I was on spring break. I can not afford to feel this crappy whilst also having school. I am leaning to the side of allergies, though. It really feels like my seasonal allergies, although this is much earlier than I've ever had them.

Well, if it's a cold, that's bad because I can't take NyQuil - it just doesn't seem like the type of thing one would take while pregnant. So, I thought, I have my nasonex. That should give me some relief. That is, until I read this:

Nasonex and Pregnancy Category C

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category C is given to medicines that have not been studied in pregnant humans, but do appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies. Also, medicines that have not been studied in any pregnant women or animals are automatically given a pregnancy Category C rating.

 

When given to pregnant mice, rats, and rabbits, mometasone increased the risk of birth defects, low fetal weight, and slow bone development. In these studies, mometasone was given as an injection just under the skin. It is not known if Nasonex (which is sprayed into the nose, not injected) will also cause similar problems.

 

However, it is important to note that animals do not always respond to medicines in the same way that humans do. Therefore, a pregnancy Category C medicine may be given to a pregnant woman if the healthcare provider believes that the benefits to the pregnant woman outweigh any possible risks to the unborn child.

Um, I'm going to pass on the Nasonex. This stuff is scary!!! I don't need to feel well that badly. I'll just be sat here sneezing like there's no tomorrow and going through a box of kleenex every half hour. No worries!

2nd Beta: 465

I went in this morning for my second beta. It wasn't a full 48 hours after my last appointment, but it was close enough. My beta two days ago was 244 and today, it was 465. I have a doubling time of 48.3 hours, which is in the acceptable range of 31-72 hours, so I'm happy.

Now, I don't have to go in multiple times a week; I can start going in weekly. My next appointment is next Sunday for another beta. After that appointment, the one afterward should include a sonogram.

Daylight saving time began today and it's always a lot harder to spring forward than it is to fall back. I am just taking it easy for the rest of the day because I know work this week will wear me out faster than I can say Friday.

Since I can't have any more wine, I had to find a new social drink. On Friday, I went to a pal's house and she had a really good sparkling cider. I grabbed two bottles of it today when I went on my grocery run! I have to pace myself because I'm totally the person who could drink a whole bottle in one sitting.

Anyway, nothing more to report... I haven't been doing much other than taking naps and generally being lazy.

OHHH... I did get a pinterest account. My stars is that thing confusing. It MADE me follow five random people before I could get an account. How do I make that stop? I don't want to follow five random people. I just picked 5 interesting looking ones, but now I'm getting all of their pins. I guess I have to play around with it a little bit.

12dp2dt: Confirmed a pregnancy

Obvious from the last post, I could not wait to POAS. Not only did I do it 9dpt, but I did it at 10 and 11, as well. I have labeled them by the date. The blue-dye ones do not keep well, at all. I promise my urine is not GOLD. You can't even see that they were positives, now.

 On the day before my OTD, I had some REALLY bad cramping and what I thought was spotting. It wasn't really... anyway, it was enough to freak me out, make me go home and miss school. I got home at 4:30, after leaving work early, and slept for FOUR hours, at which point I woke up to find messages galore from my law buddies - making me feel so loved. Yesterday morning, at 12dpt, I had my appointment and got the following mail from the clinic:

 This email is to inform you of your instructions: Estrogen 322 Progesterone 39 HCG 244 Please be advised that the pregnancy test was POSITIVE Instructions: Continue Estrogen and Progesterone supplementation at this time Refrain from heavy lifiting, jogging, and excessive exercise. Your next appointment is scheduled for 3/10/13 to confirm that the pregnancy level is increasing.

To say I'm over the moon is an understatement. We are calling this baby, Pumpkin. I haven't told anyone outside of here, my sister and one law friend... oh, and dh knows, too. LOL

9dp2dt: Dh wanted me to poas...

7dp2dt: smacked by an elephant...

That's how I feel. DH and I slept until a little bit after noon, which is unlike him. I have been known to catch an extra Z, or two, but this morning I just could not pull myself out of bed. Even now, after having just gotten up a mere 2.5 hours ago, I am yawning and feeling like I need a nap.

My "symptoms" have plateaued. I'm not feeling anything right now, actually. Breasts are still a little sore, but I'm still taking progesterone, so I'm not expecting anything different. I did feel a tiny bit of cramping today and I've gotten headaches for the past 3 days. I forgot to mention that on the past posts. Other than that and the tiredness (oh, and SNEEZING like a baboon!) I am not feeling anything.

So, I'm fighting myself with this whole POAS thing. Obviously the one yesterday was negative. It was way to early to test. But now, I'm wondering if I should POAS before my appointment on Friday so I'm not disappointed if it's a no. I figured if I know ahead of time, it won't be so bad finding out from the nurses.

I am REALLY hopeful for a positive. I love my clinic's "one good egg" policy because otherwise, I wouldn't have had the chance to be on this journey.

This week is a huge week for me. My firm is having communications on Wednesday - that's when they tell us how badly our bonuses are going to suck. This is also the last week of school before spring break. I.can.not.wait! I need a break.

Yesterday was moot court, which was the culmination of all of the brief writing I was doing last week. To say that I'm happy it's over is an understatement!

Anyway, that's it for now. Trying to keep my eyes open and read for this week.

Symptoms:
exhaustion
tender bbs
sneezing
cramping
headache

6dp2dt: Holy cramps, batman!!!

So, I skipped a post yesterday. I did it for a few reasons:
1) I'm the only person who reads my blog
2) The symptoms were pretty much the same and all caused by the progesterone and estradiol

When I got home, at a little after 7, I was wiped out! Seriously... felt like I couldn't move a limb if my life depended on it. DH was folding laundry and I was starving. I asked him if he would go to panera and get my fav and in exchange, I would finish folding the laundry. Bless wonderful husbands. He did it! Not more than 20 minutes after eating, I was completely knocked out - onion breath and all.

DH said he knew I was tired because I didn't do my hair before bed and that has only happened about 2x in my adult life!

I woke up this morning with pretty bad cramps. If today were an ordinary Saturday, I'd just stay in bed and read for next week, but I have oral arguments today. To top it off, there's usually a team of 2 doing the arguments and I decided to do it on my own, so I have to present both sides. This'll be fun. On a better note, the two guys I'm arguing "against" are two of the sweetest guys in the program and have been very collaborative and not at all treating me like the enemy. I cannot wait for 3pm today.

On to symptoms. First, I'll say that I POAS (peed on a stick/took a pregnancy test) for those of you not familiar with the lingo. I know I wouldn't be able to detect any HCG yet, so I was comfortable witht he BFN I inevitably got. I just didn't know how long it would have taken for the HCG trigger to be out of my system, so I wanted to test to see if it was. Anyway, 6 more days til my beta. I.can't.wait!

Symptoms:
medium-severe cramps: I used to be on naproxen for my cramps when I was a teen. I know bad cramps when I see them - progesterone?
heavy boobs, though remarkably not as heavy as mid-week - estradiol/progesterone
still weeing like a race horse - I might have to wear pull-ups for oral arguments! LOL

That's all, folks! Wish me luck with OA. When it's over, I'm going to do a backflip in my head!