5w3d - Beta chart

I did a little math today and made a neat chart showing my betas and what they should project to be this coming Thursday.  I was a little wrong before.  My doubling rate was actually faster than 48 hours since once HCG hits 1,200 it takes 72 hours to double.

Symptoms:  Super veiny all over, sensitive sense of smell, thirsty (mid-day), lower back ache, bit of nausea (could be from taking my prenatal with a small lunch), hungry.

5w2d - Beta #2 - 18dp5dt

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The doubling rate is almost exactly textbook 48 hours!  Probably just one cooking in there!  Which is plenty!  :)   We go back on Thursday for a third, and probably, final beta.  Then most likely NEXT Thursday for our first ultrasound to see our baby's heartbeat!


Symptoms:  full bbs AM, woozy AM, hightened sense of smell AM, peeing a lot (probably just nerves waiting for beta #2 results!), lower back aches going into left leg, burpy, super veiny all over.

5w1d - Almost beta #2 time!

I have just been beside myself with stress waiting 96 hours for beta #2!   We need the number to be in the upper 2000s, so like 2,800~2,900 would be ideal!!

Symptoms:  woozy in the am, no spotting today, lower back ache, sensitive smell, veiny after shower (arms, bbs, chest, shoulders), gassy, cramps after standing, thirst (worse towards the PM), frequent urination in the PM, shooting pain in BBs in the PM, burpy.

What I've been up to while waiting for beta #2:

(the blue capped ones were all in the mornings and the pink capped ones in the afternoons)

5w0d - POASing like mad

Finally the weekend.  It's hard facing the public and not just blurting out "I'm pregnant!"  Because they are making me wait 96 hours to repeat my beta (instead of typical 48), I am just beside myself over analyzing ever little symptom (or lack there of).  Since my beta, I have POASed (peed on a stick) 4 times - just to make sure I'm still pregnant!!  lol

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Make that 5 times!  I think they all look strong.  Holding on to hope and prayers til Monday's beta!

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Spotting red just now.  Saying a bazillion prayers.

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Saying even more prayers..... looks like I forgot to take Friday's estrogen dose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Symptoms:  Middle of the night insomnia, thirsty, small tan spot in the AM and again in the afternoon, red spot in the PM - freaking out.

4w6d - Anxious for beta #2

Keeping these posts as drafts is getting hard!  I just want to tell all of you the good news!  Just have to wait a few more days!!


Symptoms:  Woozy in the AM, a few tan spots, lower back ache, waves of tiredness, twinges in uterus, middle of the night insomnia.

14dp5dt - Beta #1

Well folks!   The beta came back positive!!!!!!!!!!!!

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So I home tested just so I could see and the test line is even darker than the control line!

Symptoms:  thirsty, crampy when moving, tweaks in my bbs on and off, veiny BBs.

14dp5dt - Morning of beta #1

Well, my blood has been drawn.  Now, we just wait.  Mike is calm and collected.  I'm a nervous wreck!   No matter what happens, we will get through this.  We would be happy with tears if it comes back positive, but if not, we already have plans to meet with a new doctor.   Say some last minute prayers for us!

13dp5dt

Today I started a blog.  I decided to start one today after realizing I have only been able to make it through this TWW (two week wait) with the help of Google and with the openness of other women suffering from infertility sharing their own stories and giving others hope.   I have time and time again found my exact symptoms on other women's blogs and felt an overwhelming sense of calmness they provided me.  I thought it was time to pay it forward and hopefully provide this same thing to other women on their own journeys.

Anyways, I can't believe I've made it this far without POASing (peeing on a stick)!  My beta is tomorrow and I'm still holding onto lots of hope that it will be positive.   Mike and I are taking off tomorrow afternoon so we can be at home when we get "the call."   Of course I'll make him answer it too and I'll try to be as far from the phone as I can so I can't overhear what they say.  Mike will deliver the news to me way better than a stranger ever could!

Symptoms:  spotting in the morning, slight cramping here and there, more cramps toward the evening, bloated, lower back pain (praying AF - aunt flow - isn't on its way), thirsty, freezing feet and nose at night.

And I've been saying my prayers:

12dp5dt

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Symptoms:  spotting on and off, cramps when moving, thirsty

11dp5dt

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Symptoms:  brown spotting on and off, cramps after moving, thirsty

10dp5dt

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Symptoms:  cramps after standing, brown/pink spotting in the PM, thirsty.

9dp5dt

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Symptoms:  no symptoms really today :(.   I think I feel thirsty but it might just be in my head.

8dp5dt

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Symptoms: blood after using tongue scraper, dizzy in the AM, cramps, headache, thirsty, I think my bbs are fuller (might just be from getting fat from not running).

7dp5dt

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Symptoms: blood after using tongue scraper, still spotting light and brown, acne is clearing up, gassy, cramps after standing, really bad headache

6dp5dt

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Symptoms:  blood after using tongue scraper, cramps, I think I see more veins in my bbs, cramps, light/brown spotting, gassy

5dp5dt

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Symptoms:  small cramps, gassy, acne, blood when I use the tongue scraper

4dp5dt

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Symptoms: more cramps, slight acne on chest, a lot of acne on back (most likely from too much progesterone in my system).

3dp5dt

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Symptoms: cramps

Embryo transfer

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Transfer goes smoothly as always.  They tell me how textbook my bladder and uterus looked on the sonogram screen.

Praying third time's a charm!!

Embryo transfer tips

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Things I did to get my BFP (big fat positive) in no particular order:

• Pineapple cores.   1/4 to a 1/3 of a core a day.  I just blended it up in banana smoothies and you couldn't even tell there was a core in there.   I started the night before my transfer and for 5 days after each day.  Pineapple Core has what is called bromelain that will relax your uterus and help with implantation.
• Acupuncture once a week.  It definitely helped me relax which is a big part of it.  
• Pillows... I sat on pillows on the way home from the transfer as I had an hour and a half car ride.  (Helped absorb the shock of the drive.)
• 1 baby aspirin a day.
• Heating pad for my feet after the transfer.  If I was lying around and my feet felt cold I would turn on the heating pad to warm them up.  (This was suggested by my acupuncturist.)
• Relaxed on the couch after the transfer for three days.  Not bed rest, but I didn't go anywhere or do anything.
• Day of the transfer I self prescribed myself Valium   I had some left over from a dentist appointment and took one pill before the transfer and then another pill a few hours after the transfer to completely relax my uterus.  This helped the uterus NOT contract which made a still cozy environment for my embryos.
• Listened to this religiously every night leading up to the transfer and after the transfer:  Zita West relaxtion CD specifically for pre & post embryo transfers.  
• Come back and post your BFPs (as I'd love to hear from anyone I helped) and good luck with your transfer!!!!!!  

Lining check take 2

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Lining is at 9.9mm to 11mm.  Given the go ahead to start progesterone shots.

Lining check

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Lining is only 7.2mm.  Will go a little longer before starting progesterone.