"Viable, Active Dichorionic Twins, Week 10

The kids are measuring 33 mm and have heart rates of 172 and 174. They were very active today..... They have grown like crazy since the last scan 6 days ago.

I still have the subchorionic hematoma and it has not reduced in size. I am however not on the antibiotics anymore since they are making me throw up. My cysts are almost gone and my ovaries are "almost" back to normal size. I guess that makes it a good week....

9 weeks and 2 days

We had our 9 week and 2 day scan this afternoon. The babies are measuring 22mm long. They are the same size. The heart rates are 168 and 182. The are a little concerned about baby b since the sack that he/she is in doesn't seem to be growing very fast. There may be a leak so they have put me on antibiotics for the next 10 days (as if I was not sick enough, I get to take the antibiotic 4 times a day).

I also have a hematoma (bruise) in my uterus. They are not sure why or how it happened, but they are watching it closely. I guess it is pretty normal in twin pregnancy and can be caused because everything is stretching and is very crowded right now.

So, we are happy because we got to see the little ones moving around. The one on the left is nuts. It was almost like he/she knew we were watching.... The one on the right was a little shy, but was moving his/her legs.

I can't help but be happy and terrified at the same time. Having had a miscarriage in the past, I appreciate and respect how frail these little lives are and just pray that the sack gets bigger and there is not a leak.

Milestone Day 8 Weeks

baby "a" is 17 mm long and has a heart rate of 166 beats per minute. (top picture)

baby "b" is 16 mm long and has a heart rate of 168 beats per minute. (bottom picture)

They are doing great and are growing perfectly!

"group photo"

Well, today is officially 8 weeks. We reached the end of the embryo stage and are now at the fetal stage. I went in for my ultrasound this morning and everything is looking great. I am still on all of my restrictions and have to continue with the progesterone but that is a small price to pay. They have grown so much since last week I can hardly believe it. When I saw the heartbeats last week, it seemed like their hearts took up a third of their bodies. This week, is was just a "normal" sized flutter that you would expect to see. It was sooooo cool.

My ovaries are still twice the size as normal and I still have lots and lots of cysts. My body is taking her sweet time resolving all that. My hormones are crazy and I'm sure my body is just taking care the the feti (the plural of fetus?) rather than shrinking everything back.

The nurse was nice enough to give me a prescription for some anti-nausea medication that seems to be working. At least that was covered by insurance......

We return in 10 days for another scan. I suppose I can at least make an appointment with my regular OB/GYN for the next few weeks. I asked the ultrasonographer about hearing the heartbeats and their machines are not equipped to do that. All the technology that they have in this office, and they didn't opt to get the machine with sound.... who knows....

7 weeks and 1 day

The nausea is all day. So much for morning sickness. The doctor thinks that it is worse because it is twins. I was really awesome to see the 2 little heart flutters. I almost cried. I go back in two weeks for another one, and Hubby will go with me. Hopefully we can hear the heartbeats then.

DID I MENTION THE EXHAUSTION!!!! I can hardly stay awake........

Belly is a little big. I feel fatter than I am. I still have quite a bit of fluid in my belly from the retrieval and my ovaries are still pretty large. It is so weird because the retrieval was more than a month ago. "Bert and Ernie" as my family calls them or "Patton and McArthur" as Hubby calls them, are just taking over everything. Hubby fell asleep with his hand on my tummy last night.

I did go out and buy some maternity clothes. My God! They are so COMFORTABLE. Everyone should wear them, all the time.

7 week update

The top photo is both.

The center and bottom are their individual portraits....

Monday, 4/23

Well, we went to CT this weekend to suprise my dather about the twins. We were able to let everyone else know but kept the secret from him. We had a Beatles themed birthday party for him since he was turning 64.

I am feeling very tired right now. I did manage a bowl of rice krispies and so far it is staying down. We finally had some nice weather around here. I was a nice ride home and today is supposed to be even warmner. Hubby is very excited that he gets to work on the yard.

I am still not sleeping very well. I am usually a stomach sleeper and that is not very comfortable for me between the painful boobs and my belly.

So it is off to work this morning.....

6 week update

It's TWINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beta's So Far.......

DPO Beta Doubling time
15 294 (none)
17 582 48.72 hrs
19 1377 38.63 hrs
22 4675 40.83 hrs

All Progesterone has been 160+

Estriadol
DPO Estriadol
15 840
17 1122
19 1401
22 1356 (not sure why that is down or if I should be concerned....)

Beta #4

Got the call this afternoon about my bloods from this morning...

HCG: 4675
Progesterone : 160+
Estriadol: 1356

New Numbers

So, at 16dp3dt, my hcg is up to 1377. My progesterone is greater than 160 and Estriadol is 1401. I got to meet with Dr. A and she is not overly concerned with the tugging. They did an ultrasound but it is really to early for them to see anything. I am to have my blood drawn every 3 days and will go back for another follow up with Dr. A next Wednesday. She wanted to see me next Monday, but she will be in surgery all day. next Tuesday, the couldn't see me until 2:30 in the afternoon. Since I am off on Wednesday, I will go at 10:oo and just take care of everything all at once. The office in PA is closed most of next week, so it would be back and forth to NJ. I have driven nearly 300 miles since Saturday morning just going to appointments.....

In other news, my dosage of progesterone has been reduced to 200 mg twice a day. I am praying that this will help the boobs feel better.

Still waking up in the middle of the night which makes for a very long day. I am going to sincerely enjoy this Wednesday and Thursday since I am off of work. I could use the time to relax.

Dr. A told me that she had a good feeling about this pregnancy but given my history, I am no to lift or carry anything over 15 lbs, and my pregnancy must be "protected". A lot of that is me just making the decision at work that I cannot do certain things anymore. It is so hard for me. I am so used to running around and going 90 miles an hour. It is going to be a real challenge for me to turn over things to my co-workers.

Seat Belt + Crash Helmet + Snoodle = sleep?

Mom and Dad headed home yesterday. It was nice to have my house back. I got to take a nap on my couch and that just made my day. Stayed up extra late (for me) to watch the Sopranos and was slightly disappointed.


Not too much happening other wise, except for the tugging thing is now on both sides of my lower abdomen. I am considering getting one of those body pillows that forces you to sleep on your side. I guess I have a tendency to flop around in my sleep, kick hubby out of bed etc....Perhaps a seat belt in bed may help. I will wear Velcro pj bottoms, stick myself to the body pillow and strap myself in. Do you think a crash helmet is too much??? I have been waking myself up at 2 and 3 am. Cannot get comfortable to save my life........

What to do, what to do?

Off to NJ for ultrasound. Had blood drawn again this morning.....I look like a JUNKIE.

14dp3dt

Beta had doubled in 48 hours up to 582.
Progesterone is greater than 16
Estriadol is 1,122.
have to go in for fetal ultrasound on Monday because no one can understand the weird pulling sensation that I am having in the lower left. Ia will meet with a doctor after the U/S.
Hopefuly, it's nothing.

More bloods Monday morning.

2dpBFP

We were delighted to learn on Thursday that we got our BFP.


My hcg beta was 294. To Me it seems high for only 12dp3dt. Progesterone was 160 and Estriadol was 840. We transferred 3 embryos on the 24 of March.


I am getting ready to head out for a follow up HCG and keeping my fingers crossed.My RE's office has had more that 30 women get pregnant this month already!


This has been such a long road for us. We did 11 IUI with another office and they just seemed clueless. We finally gave up and switched to Cooper. We did an IUI in November (due to finances) and an IVF in February where I only produced 2 follicles. The one egg they were able to retrieve did not fertilize. I was devastated. We almost gave up.


This last time, we had 22 follicles and 16 eggs retrieved. 11 fertilized and we transferred three on 3/24.I am not sure if my feet have actually hit the ground yet...I know that I am still cramping. I know that I am having a hard time sleeping.


I suppose that is all normal.Ladies, just don't give up. It can happen. If this was easy, you wouldn't appreciate it as much.

It's official

WE ARE PREGNANT!!!

BetaHcg was 294
Progesterone is 160
Estriadol is 840

Back on Saturday for more bloods.

ECSTATIC

BETA DAY

Well, I am off to get my bloods drawn. hoping for a BFP! Keeping every possible appendage crossed and praying very hard that we finally get our chance after the last two years of having our hearts broken every single month.

Will post results as soon as possible.

sigh.........

9dp3dt

No signs of the dreaded Aunt Flo.

hangin in there. Some mild cramping and killer boobs ongoing.......

48 hours until beta....

praying, hoping, dreaming, sprinkling baby dust like Tinkerbell on crack.

praying for all of my friends who are in this boat with me.

7dp3dt......

Well, So far so good. Apart from going to bed really early and waking back up between 4 and 5 am, I am hanging in there.

The cramping seems to have subsided some.

I am on day 24 overall and 7dp3dt.

Boobs are still killing me and my RE's office has increased my progesterone to 400 mg in the AM and 400 mg in the PM. (this is NOT helping the boobs, thatyouverymuch).Discovered the tanktop with built in bra is quite comfortable, more so that traditional over the shoulder boulder holder.

Trying to remain calm at work (but all the barking, meowing, and general mayhem makes it a challenge).

Lovely and supportive parents will arrive on Wednesday for Easter holiday, Thursday is BETA. Explained to mother on the phone last night that if negative beta, I would be going out and getting extremely drunk, regardless of their presence. (Mom and Dad are ministers....and you know what they say about those preacher's kids).

Wanted to thank everyone for their support thus far. I am a bit of a control freak and pretty high strung. If nothing else, my IF experience has given me a new appreciation for dealing with myself when I am not in control.

Still in complete awe that we have made it this far. Last month, AF showed up on CD23. I feel like I am over the hump (so to speak) and am feeling very positive right now.

Praying for all of my friends, wherever they are, that God gives them peace and wisdom and comfort as he has given me. I truly have some amazing people in my life and I don't know what I would do without them.

My blood work was okay. Progesterone was 38 and I guess they were looking for it to be at least 30. The nurse said something out my lining not being fully converted. They are increasing my progesterone to 400 mg twice a day. Of course, tehy left a message on my cell phone and the office was closed by the time I got the message, so I'll try to get in tough with them today to find out what the heck is going on.

I am just a little fresked out becuase my last cycle was only 23 days and today is the dreaded day 23. The cycle always seems to be shorter after a stim cycle. Cramping doesn't seem as bad today.

Thank you all for your words of enouragement....hubby is trying to help but really doesn't understand much about all of this. So, 6 days until beta.

Growing Concern

Not sure if it is just in my head or what. I am feeling tired and crampy and by boobs are still killing me. It seems alot like AF is on her way. I am really scared that our 3 little embryos are not going to make it. I broke down and POAS it is was BFN. I just don't know what to do. Feeling very down right now. It has just been such a long road, I thought that this would be it.... I mean, we had eggs, they fertilized, they thrived, they looked great. The get transferred back into me and boom.....I go in a week for my actual beta, I just have this feeling that the trip will be unnecessary. any thoughts?

transfer day photo