[koffeewitch]

I've had a migraine since sunday night, of course can't take any of the good stuff and am too afraid to even take tylenol anyways (her liver is just so dang tiny). Yarg.

but I wanted to send some interweb congratulations to kitty!!!
hope everyone else is well.

and now I crawl back to my darkened hidey hole . . . .

Honey, I agree with Zelda on this one. If your migraine continues to the point that you start throwing up and suffer dehydration you are putting your poor body through far more stress than a little Tylenol.

Kitty, it sounds good for a pregnancy, congrats! Sore breasts were always a big sign for me. You may also notice this cramp-like feeling that feels a lot like your period starting. No worries, it's (hopefully) just your uterus expanding. I also tended to lose weight at first (and at the very end when I had no more room for a stomach under all that kicking baby).

[zelda]

Kitty, all symptoms are different for every woman and every pregnancy. You definitely do have some early symptoms that sound familiar to many although many women (including me) had hardly any symptoms for weeks and weeks! A little weight loss in the beginning is normal, too...I didn't gain any real weight until the second trimester (then I gained a ton).

If you've tested positive with two home pregnancy tests, it is very likely you are pregnant as false positives are very rare. I don't in any way mean to be negative, but I will caution you that sometimes you can get a positive test and then start your period a week or so later. This is what's known as a chemical pregnancy in that you conceived enough to start generating the pregnancy hormone the test checks for, but the embryo didn't fully implant. In the days before early pregnancy tests, women rarely even knew they had chemical pregnancies - they just thought they had late periods.

You are still slightly in that window for a chemical, but every day that passes past the day of your period is a VERY good sign. By the way, have you called to make a pregnancy confirmation appt. with your doctor? (Typically, they want you to wait two weeks after your last missed period - for the chemical pregnancy reason, usually.)

I think you are wise to tell people you would want to go to for support if the worst case scenario occurred (which it most likely will not). It really is up to you and your partner. Some people tell everyone right away - but I had a friend who didn't tell anyone but her husband until she was 13 weeks. She was that superstitious. It is up to you, but your plan sounds like a good one to me.

Good luck!!!!

[kittygirl1979]

Hi guys! I have a quick question... I have tested 2 times (3 if you count the OPK that tested positive too). They are all positive, and I have tested using them over the course of 4 days. I am also 3 days past my period. I want to tell my parents and inlaws this weekend (they are coming to stay at my house starting tomorrow). Technically, I guess I am in my 5th week, since you count starting from your last period. Do you think it is safe to tell them this weekend? I would feel comfortable telling them if something went wrong, which I think is what I am going to use as my rule of thumb for who I tell early and who I don't. I do have 1 test left so I guess I could wait til Friday and test a 3rd (or 4th counting the positive opk) time. That would be testing spread out over the course of 6 days. What are your thoughts? Thanks

P.S. I'm not having tons of symptoms tho- just sore bb's, a little hungrier, lost 2 pounds, which makes me now a little underweight- I'm pretty thin anyway , no period, and more tired than usual. Oh, and anything sweet sounds gross. Does this sound right for 5th week??

[zelda]

Aphelendra, I hope you feel better soon. I would not be scared to take a Tylenol. I've taken Tylenol twice during my pregnancy and was reassured by both the nurse on call and my OB that it is perfectly safe. I had a bad headache (not a migraine, but bad) and I resisted taking something....when I finally gave in I was so glad because I was able to sleep.

I know it's scary, but try not to be too scared. Tylenol really is the gold standard for safe pain relief in pregnancy.

[aphelendra]

I've had a migraine since sunday night, of course can't take any of the good stuff and am too afraid to even take tylenol anyways (her liver is just so dang tiny). Yarg.

but I wanted to send some interweb congratulations to kitty!!!
hope everyone else is well.

and now I crawl back to my darkened hidey hole . . . .

[luleey]

Zelda, your hubs sounds HILARIOUS!!

Congrats Kitty, we'll be praying for your little one! The list of excuses is great, I think any one of those'd work. Luckily (kind of) for me I'm staying in a lot more due to my finances (turns out being a homeowner is pretty damn expensive) and have therefore been avoiding a lot of the drinky situations. Next time we go out I'll just be the DD and use that as my excuse! Although people will totally still ask! Still, I'm determined to wait another few weeks at least. Unless someone in my family drops the ball, which may actually happen. Oh well!

Funny, take deep breaths and relax...be sure and get some fresh air and exercise, that is what is helping me the most with my nausea and stress. The sun and wind feel so good. I also did some yoga yesterday which helps get me centered, strong-feeling and breathing deeply. Your birdie is here to stay, so far so good!

Random funny story...? Both my MIL and my mom had been having dreams about babies the past couple months. Maybe that happened to some of you too??

Sigh...the first tri really is hard...but I'm actually having fun now too! Keep up the positive, smiley thoughts everyone.

[zelda]

Congrats, kitty!

Oh, Funny, I am praying and hoping for you...like crazy. I really do think things will be okay. This first trimester is so hard. By the way, I had metal mouth toward the end of my first tri, but it went away. It was gross...drink water (which you should be drinking a lot of anyway).

Had my 30 week check up yesterday (insane I am that far along!)...baby's heartbeat was 136...he is usually in the 130s so my doc said hopefully we will have a mellow baby. This morning he was a little too mellow for my taste, hardly moving after breakfast...but after I got to work and ran around getting things ready for my class, I sat down to relax and he started really grooving.

Worry is the work of pregnancy worry is the work of pregnancy worry is the work of pregnancy...

My check ups will be every 2 weeks from now on which is fine with me...more reassurance from the doc.

Sleeping is getting to be very difficult with my back and hips. But I am hanging in there with my body pillow.

Oh, this will make you laugh. The doctor gave me a sheet of paper with Warning Signs of Preterm Labor on it. I posted it in the bathroom in case I need it. The warning signs are numbered 1 through 6 and include things like "Abdominal Cramping" or "Intense Lower Backache".

I went to the bathroom last night and discovered Mr. Z had added #7: "Baby's Head is Protruding Out Of Your Vag"....HA! I laughed so hard. I hope the baby inherits his sense of humor.

[nickclick]

aw babybird, that's so cute.... i hear ya about the hungover feeling. i am just so exhausted past 7pm anymore.

congrats kittygirl!

my excuse for not drinking has been diet - i don't want to drink my calories and i'd rather have delicious food at a party/dinner instead. it was hard when we had a st. patrick's day party at our house. everyone was like - you don't have to drive home, have some beers! so i kinda carried around one all day and mr.nick would steal sips.

[funnybird]

Congratulations Kitty!

I'm using the 'given up alcohol for lent' excuse. That will work for another couple of weeks at least! I'm not too fussed if people want to speculate based on my drinking habits, as long as no one asks me outright if I'm pregnant.

I'm 7 weeks today. Nausea and fatigue abound for me too. I haven't actually thrown-up yet - just feel more as if I'm hungover, only without the fun of the night before. I had that weird metallic taste in my mouth this morning, like I'd been sucking pennies all night. Oh my, this is all getting too real for my coping strategy. Please be okay babybird...

[pepper]

It's funny how many people feel like they're going to get found out by not drinking.
If you aren't comfortable telling a lie stick close to the truth, it's the lying that will get you busted most of the time!

New years resolution to cut back
hung over
not feeling well/upset stomach
taking a med works, just find out which ones qualify
bit of a head ache (and took a med for it...?)
not in the mood
big day tomorrow
made a bet with a friend (bartender i know did this, neither drank for over 2 months)
trying a strict work out/health program (to get in shape and really want to give it your all for a while at least, or allergy elimination diet and can't have anything funny, etc)
last time you had just a drink or two it really hit you hard and you're taking a break to figure out why
doctor told you to cut back (that's not technically a lie)

get a drink that looks like a drink but isn't.

And for goodness sake, if you don't want people to know ~wipe that big smile off your face!!!

[kittygirl1979]

Hi everyone! I decided to stop posting for some time because I was beginning to feel very negative about trying to get pregnant and didn't want to share my negative energy on this board....BUT.... I just found out that I am pregnant!! I am only 3 weeks along, I just had a positive test today!! I am SO surprised. I thought for sure my husband's meds (antidepressants) were causing a fertility problem. The first thing I noticed that was strange was a constant warm feeling, especially in my face and especially at night. I'm trying not to tell people yet, but we were just at our friend's house who have just had a baby and we told them. I told my best friend too. Both my husband and my parents are coming to our house this weekend so we will tell them too. The only thing I am worried about is my other friends will immediately know something is up when I am not drinking my usual PBR beer when we are out. Any suggestions? I was thinking of telling them I was on a med for something that didn't allow me to drink. When did everyone on here share the news? It's so hard not to tell!

[zelda]

PS As for cleaning, I mop with a Steam Shark which only uses water, and I use the Green Works product line. Sometimes I use Windex...I don't think it's a huge deal as long as you don't breathe in intense fumes over a long period of time.

[zelda]

Michelina, how many DPO are you? I'm so glad this IUI was at least more promising for you, and you didn't mind giving yourself the shot. Let us know what's going on.

Christine, crossing my fingers for you...keep us updated.

As for telling people, my problem was that people kept guessing either because I wasn't drinking at social events or because I had to miss work at the beginning because I was having trouble with anxiety and insomnia. It's so hard to lie (and I really couldn't) if someone asked me, "Are you pregnant?" right to my face!

We didn't start telling people until 11 weeks when my doctor heard the heartbeat and told us are chances were excellent at that point. It's so hard to keep it a secret. Beforehand, I told people who I would have felt comfortable telling if something went wrong - people who I would have wanted to go to for support.

I can tell you that as slow as the first trimester goes, pregnancy goes faster and faster as the time goes on...the first trimester is agonizingly slow then picks up, and now this third trimester is going by insanely fast!

[luleey]

Aphelendra, glad you found a great hospital in the city. I think sometimes hospitals get bad reps and it's not always founded, and you're right, in the end it's about what you're comfortable with. We are going to look at 3-4 south surburban hospitals and then make decisions on where, dr./midwife, whatever. I'm just going to be relaxed about it and let myself make a good and safe decision. I'll also try some safer/natural cleaners...and probably get the Mr to handle the periodic Tilex-ing of the showers!

Funny, whatever approach you take towards telling is up to you and about what makes you feel confident and ok. Mr really wanted to tell everyone once we found it was 8 weeks, even though I thought it could wait a bit, but I acquiesced and it'll be fine--even on the off chance something does go wrong. My body is definitely making some visible changes already which I take to be a good sign, and nausea and fatigue abound, which is also good. I'll be thinking of you! Oh, and btw--you weren't bragging about UK healthcare, it's true that a lot of people outside the US haven't a clue how great their system is. Maybe we could do a pregnant lady exchange program for people in the UK who complain about nationalized HC...they'd be begging to go back!!

Glad you're feeling good about everything, Michelina!! Woot!

Cristine, take care and enjoy yourself and your hubby...that's a great thing to focus on to get your mind de-stressed and your body relaxed and healthy!

[nickclick]

hi Michelina! stick that feeling of optimism. and keep us updated.

thanks for the advice. it's totally weird seeing friends and not telling them. i almost let it slip yesterday when a friend asked me if i had a tampon in my purse. i was like - oh yeah because i won't be ..... oops. at 8 weeks, by the time we get around to seeing all who we want to tell personally, it will be almost 12 weeks before we go public anyways! i'll just have to trust that everyone can keep it under wraps for a little while. funny, i felt that same anxiety until we had the good u/s last week. the stress is certainly not gone, but now i feel like i can share excitement.

aphelendra, i just went shopping for all natural cleaners. good idea about a periodic disinfection by the mr.

christine, enjoy vacation and the baby juice!

[aphelendra]

Thanks Zelda, you managed to remind me that the end goal is what's important, not how you get there. I like that you have so much faith in your doctor, I think I just need to find a practitioner I'm more comfortable with. I feel like I'm going into this being too protective/controlling of my babe/birth because I feel like the docs in my practice are too quick to jump to intervention.

Luleey, btw I live in the city proper (although just barely), so we are almost neighbors. I plan on delivering at NMH, which is a great hospital, though some refer to it as a "baby factory", which is adding to my anxiety a bit. They do however allow rooming in, have private rooms, and have one of the best NICU's in the area, all important things.

Mostly I clean with vinegar, but periodically I make the Mr. lysol the bathroom, bless his heart. Gotta love a man who's willing to scrub a toilet for his pregnant lady Natural cleaners are generally not so effective at disinfecting, they're useful for certain things but not so good for kitchen/bath stuff.

Nick, we waited until almost the end of the first trimester, our fertility specialist gave us the all clear at 10 weeks, which was around christmas. For Mr.'s parent's present, we gave them a framed ultrasound picture with a tiny santa hat glued to buggo's little bean head. Aaaahhh the things we do when pregnant . . . . We did get a few congrats posted on facebook before we got to tell friends, but we had just gotten engaged as well (cart before horse, I know) so I think most people chalked it up to that.

Funny, I understand what you're saying about keeping it from feeling to real. For the first few weeks of this pregnancy I dealt with it by saying we "had conceived" not we were "pregnant" because that somehow made it less about a baby and therefore easier should things go awry . . . .Though you must be well past the point at which you miscarried last time? I'm going to take that to mean that this one's gotta be a sticker

Michelina, glad to hear the IUI went better this time around. I did the injections for a few cycles even before IUI, I remember it being strange, but exciting to do something so proactive. I've also been on ativan, and I have to say the stuff saved my sanity. Anything you can do to make this process easier, you should do.

Good luck to you, and to Christine this month!!!!

[funnybird]

I really hope I didn't sound as if I was gloating about the healthcare thing - but plenty of folks here in the UK knock the NHS and I'm just so grateful for it! I just don't get why anyone would object to nationalised healthcare - I mean, it's far from perfect, but it's not as if anyone is stopping anyone else from paying for private treatment if they really want to.

We haven't told anyone yet, and plan not to until I've had the scan. It was just too heartbreaking last time to have to 'un-tell' our parents after getting them so excited. Keeping the news under wraps also helps it seem less real, which is actually helping me to cope with the anxiety at the moment - probably not a healthy approach, I know, but it appears to be working...

Michelina, I'm glad to hear that your doc was helpful and sympathetic, and that the IUI went better this time.

Cristine, I hope you're enjoying your vacation! Whereabouts are you?

It's getting late here and I have to go to bed, despite sleeping in til 10, having a 2 hour nap this afternoon and not leaving the flat all day...

[Cristine]

Funny, add me to the list of jealous Americans who envy your healthcare! We are on the verge of passing new healthcare reform but not only does it not include the "extravagances" that other countries have but I'm afraid it really does fall short of its original intent... "socialized" healthcare, which is NOT a bad thing!

Aphelendra, we are currently on vacation and giving it 1 more try. After this I'll have to make an appointment with my doctor for a referral.

Michelina, I'm ok but I just feel like it's just not gonna happen naturally & I've just come to accept it. My poor husband continues to pump me with baby juice & I pretend like everytime could be *it*! Sorry for the visual. I am on CD 16 & have not ovulated yet, the latest I've ever ovulated is CD 18. How many DPO are you?

[luleey]

Thanks for all the feedback...yes, it occurred to me that while I am a very short, slender person everyone in my husband's family is super tall and stout...and he was his mom's smallest baby at over 9 pounds. So...I have to brace myself for the possibility of C-section if I end up with a giant baby. Or, if it's a breech like I was. But we decided to do some hospital tours and look into midwifes and other Dr's as well to see if we can find the right fit and the right place for our birth.

Yeah, and I had to make everyone in the fam promise not to tell...OR post anything on facebook! Sheesh, people, it's my news!!! Don't blab it to the world just yet fer cryin' out loud!

Another question that came up today as I was cleaning house...probably shouldn't be inhaling bleach-y chemicals and whatnot, but what do you all do when it comes time to scrub the tub and disinfect the kitch? My cats get into everything, and I don't want raw meat germs etc. lurking around, but I realized I'm probably breathing in all sorts of fumes and toxins. Gross. Any advice? I'm thinking wear mask and gloves, buy some natural cleaners or just stick to mostly vinegar and baking soda...

[pepper]

Oh man, I let the news out as soon as I knew. I am no good at waiting on stuff like that, I mean HOW? When it's all you can think about it's impossible to just bottle it all up and not let it leak out somehow. But I can totally understand not wanting to hear or feel anyone else's negativity during that time. I remember someone making a comment to me when I told her I was knocked up about how "most people wait until after the first trimester in case they lose the baby you know" and I just about smacked her. I mean, what a thing to say to someone who's just told you they are newly pregnant! Doesn't get much more insensitive than that. I'm always amazed at what boners people can be. So ya, sometimes (or from some people) keeping it a secret isn't such a terrible idea.