All of this "no sleep" talk is scaring me- is insomnia a normal part of PG?

Wait a minute~ You are supposed to get a GIFT for the hostess of your shower? Man, I got jipped!

Thanks everyone for being so welcoming. I have no idea what to do with my siggie, now. I feel like I'll jinx it if I make it prego instead of IF . So, I think it will just be dorky for a while.

My appt with my Nurse practioner is at 11:40. She'll do a urine test and then I can get my blood work.

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RHEA!!!!!- Congrats hun!!!! You can't possibly come over here without showing us your BFP! You don't sound too excited about it.

I haven't had any insomnia which I normally get b/c of my thyroid. I've been sleeping like a ROCK!

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It took me awhile to change mine too. I was just lazy though. Whenever you're ready. Hope you have a great appointment!

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Claire- Congrats! Being an IF graduate myself, I would occasionally pop over to the IF side and lurk. I know you are reluctant to believe but we're all ready to help you celebrate when you are ready to yell it from the mountaintops. How many tests have you taken today? I took 8 tests within 3 days when I got my BFP. Seeing those two lines never got old.

Heidi- make sure you have someone on hand to take lots of photos on Saturday.

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Congratulations, Claire!!! You are probably still in shock; it takes awhile (like 9 months) to get used to the idea of growing a human being! Have you told daddy, yet? Oooh, it is so exciting to get all of these bfps!! My sister has endo, and had to have a surgery to remove one of her ovaries (she had huge cysts on each of them). She ended up adopting, but I know that when she was ttc, she was told that sometimes a pregnancy would really help with the endo. It slows it down, or something. Good luck with your betas! I had cramping for the first trimester. You will probably worry about it the whole time, and then in the second trimester it goes away and is replaced by new worries. I think being preggo is just like that, but you are probably fine unless you see lots of red blood. (although, I did bleed in the first trimester, too). Like the other girls said, staying hydrated is pretty important because your uterus can contract a little if you are even slightly dehydrated, and that can cause more cramps. I don't know if insomnia is a "normal" part of pregnancy. In the first trimester, I couldn't sleep at night, but I would just pass out here and there during the day. After that, I haven't slept much at all. I guess nature is getting me ready for a baby.

Jo--You need to change your pic's to include the newest member of the family!

Alright, well, my appt was sort of ok. I am measuring 40 weeks, so about 6 weeks ahead still. So they did another u/s. The tech was a b$%^& . She didn't even let me see Ely's face or anything, she just really quickly did the AFI (Amniotic Fluid Index) and then sent me on my way. She could have at least let me have more of a peek! I am waiting to hear back from my doctor. My next appt is the week after next, and then I move to weekly appts. They told me that, unless I am having contractions or go over my due date, they will not ever do internals on a first pg. Also, he told me that he will not administer drugs to the baby or me to stop labor after this weekend, so if I were to go next week, they would let me. Wierd. Ely is in the ready, set, go position, so my fingers are crossed that he stays there. Unfortunately, that is partly why I am peeing SO much. Looks like he has settled his head down in my pelvis just far enough to use my bladder as a pillow. Great. No wonder I feel so huge and uncomfortable. In a normal pg, you would be delivering once you were this big. How am I going to make it 5 more weeks!?! I can barely walk. At least no one mentioned anything scary about the baby this time, so I am assuming that at least he looks healthy. I am excited to be so close, and also terrified that I will actually be measuring around 47 weeks by the time I have him. Oh, man, that does not sound comfortable!

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Krissy

Claire- You can keep your siggie however you want and as long as you want. I am so happy for you

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I know I am just meeting many of you for the first time, so please forgive me if I ask stupid questions .

Krissy- You nailed it. I'm still in shock. Actually, WE are still in shock-DH is afraid to get excited also. You said "in a normal PG, you would be delievered if you were this big". Why is your PG not normal?

Jo- Right? I hope I learn ya'll names'. I've only taken 2 HPT's today. Tomorrow might be a different story, though-LOL

Stacy- Oh, I'm excited. Just SUPER cautious! I don't want to be let down, KWIM? How are you feeling so far BTW?

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Claire--I have a slight case of polyhydramnios, which just means that there is too much amniotic fluid. Once you get into your second tri, they measure your uterus, and mine measures a lot bigger (and I look a lot "more pregnant") because it is so full of fluid. So, a normal pregnancy is 40 weeks. My uterus is measuring 40 weeks, even though I still have 5 weeks to go. What I meant is that, usually people who are this big are at the end of their pregnancy, but I still have quite awhile. My lungs are squished, which is actually one of the concerns. If my fluid keeps rising, it could actually collapse a lung; in that case they would need to take some fluid out. I don't think they will do this, but I do think that I am in for a VERY uncomfortable next month or so! (the baby and I should both be alright, though. This could be caused by some birth defects and other scary stuff, but my doctor does not think that is the problem since my mom had the same thing with me and I was fine). I'm so proud of you for only taking a few tests! I took 13 TESTS the first day! LOL! I was obviously in shock, as well! It is wierd to know that your body is just doing stuff in there, isn't it?

Wish I could have a beer.

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Krissy

Claire-It took me awhile to change my ticker as I too was afraid to jinx myself. When DH and I went through the cycle I got pg we had our braclets were wore for good luck and it took me awhile to take it off as I was afraid it would bring bad luck. Then I just had to get rid of my left over meds and was afraid something would go wrong. Mind you I've never had a m/c just couldn't get pg. So I think no matter what with IF when the moment finally arrives we walk on eggshells for a long time. I think you'll feel better once they do the beta.

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Claire--did you suffer previous m/c's? Or just have trouble concieving? I agree with Heidi; it takes a long time to not be nervous, and I think that is true no matter who you are or what your history is. I did not have any troubles concieving, but the beginning of my pregnancy was really rough (I concieved twins and miscarried one, so they didn't think the other one would be able to "hold on"). The doctor pretty much told me not to get too excited. Then again, I later realized that doctor was a real b#!#$. I don't think I really eased up until I got to hear the heartbeat. Then it started to seem believable. If they do an early internal u/s, I think you can usually hear it by 8 or 9 weeks? Girls, is that right? Anyways, your bfp looks really good, so I would try and enjoy it and not worry (I know, the key word there is "try") And don't change your siggie or anything until you are ready. Eventually it will sink in! I have a good feeling that you are here for the next 9 months!

So, my MIL just emailed me back (I sent her an update on the baby, the AFI, and my u/s). She can be so snotty, and sometimes I can't tell if she is trying to be or not. Her email just said that things were better when she had kids, because people didnt get freaked out by having too much information. I think she was hinting that I am being paranoid or something. Maybe I am uber sensitive, but It was just a wierd response to my email. I wanted to say, Yeah, and there was also a way higher infant mortality rate when you had your kids! Maybe she's right, and maybe we do know "too much", but I would much rather be an informed patient than some idiot just letting my doctor do whatever and trusting it! It just rubbed me the wrong way. Then again, these days with my hormones raging, Everything rubs me the wrong way. Once again: I wish I could have a freakin beer!

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Krissy

Just a few weeks and you can have a beer. Wow. I just realized you only have like 5 weeks. Then Jen and I are up on the 19th, and Heidi later that same week.

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*November 19th

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Wow...ya'll are getting really close.
Is anyone nervous?

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Krissy-You'd think she could just respond with a big fat "yahoo" that everything is looking good. My MIL is sort of like that too. And don't know if yours is like mine but not a very warm fuzzy kind of person so usually says things like that. As for the beer.....I told DH the other day I was really iffy now about breastfeeding and not sure what I want to do. He says "it's just because you want to be able to have a beer and not worry". Thought it was kind of funny and actually a little true every once in awhile!

Claire-Krissy is right about hearing the heartbeat. I was holding back tears the first time I heard it. I know at my first u/s we got to see the heartbeat at 7 weeks but their particular machine didn't have sound with it. I heard it for the first time at my 10 week u/s. Amazing. And actually everytime I hear it at the OB's office I could cry. The most wonderful sound you'll hear.

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Rhea- I can't complain. Only real things I have are fatigue, occassional sore bbs and headaches, food aversions and no appetite. Sometimes when I finally do eat it gives me a belly ache. I am grateful thus far. I don't normally get m/s with pg but I do get some nausea and bad fatigue so I am just waiting for it to kick into full gear.

Well it seems a bunch of you will be leaving within jsut weeks of each other.... hopefully some more IF grads will come over here to fill the gaps in!!

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Yeah, there is a lot that are due really close to each other.

Stacey- Rhea should be right there due close to us

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Krissy- Oh, ok I see what you mean now about the being big-well I sure hope everything is going to be OK. I've spent so much time learning about IF, I know NOTHING about PG. I know the trimesters aren't the same number of weeks, but I have no idea how many. And I know I can't drink or do drugs. Or smoke. Other than that, I'm a total newb.

As for the m/c or IF thing. I did have one chemical along the way. But by the time I got to the lab, my HCG was nearly non-existant, so it's hard to say what really happened, ex