Baby Number 2 Is...

A GIRL!

16 Weeks

This Pregnancy So Far

I haven't updated in forever. We'll just blame that on lack of time and energy. The first trimester whooped my butt in terms of fatigue and most days I could barely keep my eyes open for a few hours at a time. Had a little bit of nausea (a bit more than just the gagging of my pregnancy with Charlie) and have had some pretty massive headaches.

I'm currently 15 weeks and 2 days! Time was going so slow at first (probably due to waiting for the ultrasounds and my first prenatal appointment) but now it feels like it's speeding up. Not sure how I feel about that since this could be my last pregnancy and I'm really trying to savor every moment.

We've had 2 ultrasounds so far. First one on June 24th...

Baby's Debut At 6 Weeks 5 Days. Measured 6 Weeks 3 Days HR 118

And the second one on July 8th...

Baby Measured Dead On At 8 weeks 5 Days HR 166

We won't have another one until I'm 20 weeks because the military hospital I go to operates a little wacky in my opinion. When I first went to make my appointment around 7 weeks in preparation of being released by my RE, they told me that I had to come in and do a blood test to confirm pregnancy or they can't make my first appointment. I argued that I had already had 2 betas done and 1 ultrasound (and would have another by the time I came in) so I'm sure I'm pregnant and they said no go. I asked if getting records from my RE would suffice and she said it should. Well, it didn't. On top of the fact that they won't even think of seeing you until 12 weeks (their reasoning is they can't hear the heartbeat on doppler before then so they don't make appointments until they can. Funny, I heard my baby's heartbeat on my doppler at 8 weeks 3 days...), they insisted they needed a positive blood test on record through their hospital. Ok, fine, whatever. I needed the full prenatal panel anyway. 

But now this is where I think things get annoying/odd. They absolutely needed a positive blood test for their records, but they don't need an ultrasound from their own hospital for their records.

HUH???

How on earth do they accurately date a pregnancy? Not everyone that walks through those doors knows when they ovulated or even when their last period was for that matter. Do they just guess? At first I thought that I wasn't getting one because I had already had some through my RE but they told me at my "one on one" that they just don't do them until 20 weeks. 

Boy do I feel sorry for any woman who is going to be surprised by twins halfway through their pregnancy.

And boy am I happy I was seeing an RE. Can you imagine the wreck I would have been of going half my pregnancy with no ultrasound. Don't think so!

So far the only thing I am truly impressed with concerning their care is that they are going to allow me to do a VBAC (or a TOLAC* as they call it). Don't get me wrong I'm fairly excited that there are midwives there too, but in a military hospital, it doesn't matter who you like. Who you get depends on what day of the week and what time of day you go into labor. Midwives are during the day and the doctors (all male might I add) are at night. I'm not really surprised at that though. It's how it was when I had my daughter. The doctor who delivered my baby I had only met the day before when she was telling me my water broke and I was being admitted and induced.

Oh well.

Next appointment is on September 3rd and I guess that's when we'll see if I get another odd look/question (is your bladder full) when they check the size of my uterus.

*For those that have never heard this term before, it's called Trial Of Labor After Cesarean. I had only heard of this being referred to as a VBAC but the midwife there insists that a VBAC is when you have successfully given birth naturally after a c-section. The attempt itself is called a TOLAC. Whatever.

And I leave you with this...

15 Weeks

Second Beta Results...

279!

Whew!

So the first big worries are over.

Now to be a wreck until my first ultrasound on the 24th!

This Is Why I've Been So Quiet

I'M PREGNANT!!!!

I can't believe our first IUI worked!

After MULTIPLE home tests, we went for the initial beta today and it came back at 113!

We have our second beta on Thursday and fingers crossed it doubles!

6dpiui

So today is 6dpiui (days past IUI), 7dpo (days past ovulation), and 8 days past trigger (no fancy abbreviation for that one).

My chart says I ovulated the day before the IUI and based on ovulation pains followed by lack of ovary pressure on that day I'd have to agree. An egg can live up to 24 hours after it's released so let's hope mine did just that.

The trigger shot is still in my system. A pregnancy test taken this morning showed a faint line and since it's very unlikely I already implanted and have enough hCG in my system to register positive, I know it's from the trigger. Last time it was out by 6dpo but I guess it's like a pregnancy and can be different every time. I'm expecting it to be fully out by tomorrow or at the latest Thursday.

As far as symptoms go, not too much to report. I'm very sleepy but it's probably from the trigger shot and/or waking up early. Heightened sense of smell is there but that's a post ovulation thing for me. So is a bit of nausea every now and again (check!) so not much to go off of for pregnancy symptoms. I've also got my usual twinges and pains in my uterus and my cervix has been hurting so those point to AF coming. Noticeably (and thankfully) absent are the headaches. I usually get them nearly every day after ovulation but I haven't had one...yet. my worst ones come a couple days before AF arrives so we'll see.

We're one week down and one to go. My chart looks great but that really doesn't mean much at all. Women with great charts don't end up pregnant and women with crappy charts do. Happens all the time.

Only time will tell...

UPDATE: Mild headache. Crap.

IUI Day!

I'm all inseminated. Procedure was fine. Things got a little complicated because my uterus/cervix is tilted so they had to re-adjust the speculum a couple times (which one thing no one tells you is they can't use lube so that's fun) and they had to change catheters to get past the tilt but after that, smooth sailing. Pain free with just minor cramping afterwards. I am a little tender now but it's not horrible.

So let the 2ww begin!