10w4d
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Friday, July 27, 2012
10 weeks
Let's see... this week, babycenter tells me the baby is the size of a kumquat, which is (hello) not helpful. The 3D pregnancy site (where I lift pictures from) says a Brazil nut, which I can picture but won't be satisfying to Mariela, who wants a size update every Friday. Baby is about an inch and a half long, and roughly the weight of a nickel.
Maybe the most significant thing this week is that we transition from embryo to fetus. Basically, that means that all the little parts and systems are in place and now just need to mature and get (much, much) bigger.
It also means that I'm going to start having an iced tea every now and then. I religiously avoid caffeine for the first few weeks, even though everything says a moderate amount is ok, just because it doesn't feel like I should throw another chemical in the mix with all of those organs taking shape. Don't get me wrong-- I still won't go overboard, as I'm never much of a caffeine consumer anyway. But a glass of iced tea every now and again would be lovely.
I'm still feeling pretty good-- so much better than any other pregnancy. I'm about to be done with the Crinone (progesterone) too, so that should only improve things.
Looking forward to my prenatal appointment with Monika on Tuesday. Hopefully we'll get to hear the heartbeat. We're right on the line of when it's possible, so if my uterus is tipped backwards or anything, it may not happen (and would not be a cause to worry). But hopefully!
Maybe the most significant thing this week is that we transition from embryo to fetus. Basically, that means that all the little parts and systems are in place and now just need to mature and get (much, much) bigger.
It also means that I'm going to start having an iced tea every now and then. I religiously avoid caffeine for the first few weeks, even though everything says a moderate amount is ok, just because it doesn't feel like I should throw another chemical in the mix with all of those organs taking shape. Don't get me wrong-- I still won't go overboard, as I'm never much of a caffeine consumer anyway. But a glass of iced tea every now and again would be lovely.
I'm still feeling pretty good-- so much better than any other pregnancy. I'm about to be done with the Crinone (progesterone) too, so that should only improve things.
Looking forward to my prenatal appointment with Monika on Tuesday. Hopefully we'll get to hear the heartbeat. We're right on the line of when it's possible, so if my uterus is tipped backwards or anything, it may not happen (and would not be a cause to worry). But hopefully!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Insurance Follow-up
Hey! Good news. I called my secondary insurance company to follow up on my gap exception request to cover Mary Barnett (my wonderful midwife) and I am "Covered and Approved." Yahoo! Now I just have to wait for my primary insurance provider to switch over to the same company on September 1 to hopefully just get the same coverage decision applied to that policy as well. But even just having one approved is awesome.
I had a rough night yesterday. I'd been feeling better since getting off of the Vivelle patches, but I ate a big lunch yesterday (a gyro, which was delicious at the time) and it made me sick, sick, sick. I should have just thrown up and been done with it, but instead I was miserable and nauseated from about 5 to 9. Blech. I drove to pick up Mariela from dance with a plastic bag next to me, because I thought I would lose the battle, but I made it.
No more big lunches. :) Today I had soup and a fruit cup and I am A-Ok.
I had a rough night yesterday. I'd been feeling better since getting off of the Vivelle patches, but I ate a big lunch yesterday (a gyro, which was delicious at the time) and it made me sick, sick, sick. I should have just thrown up and been done with it, but instead I was miserable and nauseated from about 5 to 9. Blech. I drove to pick up Mariela from dance with a plastic bag next to me, because I thought I would lose the battle, but I made it.
No more big lunches. :) Today I had soup and a fruit cup and I am A-Ok.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
9 weeks
I'm battling with blogger today. My computer operating system got updated and now they don't want to play nicely together. Come on, kids. Work it out.
We finally got last week's estrogen test results on Wednesday. 490, which is high enough that I was supposed to go down to one patch and... test again today! Oh, I am so *done* with labs. But Mariela and I were at the lab right at 7 this morning for what I dearly hope is my last estrogen test.
****
That's as far as I got on Friday before the computer completely froze on me.
So... to cut to the chase, it was my last estrogen test! My level was 701, so off the patches I go. Actually, I took off the one I had while I was sitting at my desk at work. Yahoo! I've had more energy for the last couple of days, so I'm assuming that's directly related to not having the extra dose of estrogen in my life.
Otherwise, plodding along with everything pretty much the same. My two random cravings this past week were fresh lemonade and salty french fries. I am not a french fry person in general-- I think part of my appeal to Rick when we were in college was my complete willingness to forgo the fries in an extra value meal. Ha! But the fries I had on Friday were quite possibly the best thing I've eaten in weeks.
Here's my buddy at 9 weeks:
9 Weeks Pregnant
We finally got last week's estrogen test results on Wednesday. 490, which is high enough that I was supposed to go down to one patch and... test again today! Oh, I am so *done* with labs. But Mariela and I were at the lab right at 7 this morning for what I dearly hope is my last estrogen test.
****
That's as far as I got on Friday before the computer completely froze on me.
So... to cut to the chase, it was my last estrogen test! My level was 701, so off the patches I go. Actually, I took off the one I had while I was sitting at my desk at work. Yahoo! I've had more energy for the last couple of days, so I'm assuming that's directly related to not having the extra dose of estrogen in my life.
Otherwise, plodding along with everything pretty much the same. My two random cravings this past week were fresh lemonade and salty french fries. I am not a french fry person in general-- I think part of my appeal to Rick when we were in college was my complete willingness to forgo the fries in an extra value meal. Ha! But the fries I had on Friday were quite possibly the best thing I've eaten in weeks.
Here's my buddy at 9 weeks:
9 Weeks Pregnant
He's (on my hunch he's a boy) one inch long, half of which is his head, which is still tucked to his chest. He weighs a bit less than a penny. He has fully formed eyes (though his eyelids won't open until 27 weeks). His embryonic tail has disappeared. Looking good!
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
More information about insurance than you want to know
I called my secondary insurance company today and was transferred to the national "care coordination" center, to try to line up the "gap exception" so that my midwife's services will be covered. Turns out there are two midwives in Austin authorized by the plan, but neither of those midwives are authorized to deliver, so hopefully the gap exception for me will be approved. It was last time and the person I talked to just copied and pasted all of the old request's information into the new one.
I'm supposed to get a coverage determination in the mail-- no timeframe for that, so I am supposed to call at my convenience to follow-up. Hmm. This first call took about 30 minutes, so we'll see when that becomes convenient again.
So now I still have to call the primary insurance company, which will be the bigger headache. As I recall, last time I had to get a referral from my PCP. I hope that's the last hoop to jump!
Edited to add:
Ok, now I've talked to the other company as well. This one had me go through the pre-authorization department. Same deal, basically, where I am to call at my convenience to get an update, though this rep (DeKwan?) was able to tell me it would be about 72 hours. I think I'll just plan to have another day of insurance fun next Monday, and I'll follow up with both companies. Ideally, I get good news all around. If not, I'll appeal it and I think I'll be successful-- just more legwork involved.
Edited again:
Primary company called back. Turns out they added the big birthing center (Austin Area Birthing Center) where Andie was born as an in-network provider, so that could throw a wrench in things. Bleh. I think they are authorized on the other plan too, now that I look. Oh, what a pain.
Throwing a wrench in things, my primary company is switching over to a different carrier on September 1. So this whole authorization process would start over. Given that, I elected to close the pre-authorization request and just go under out-of-network benefits for this first appointment. I'll start the process over again with the new company in a month or so. Yippee.
I'm supposed to get a coverage determination in the mail-- no timeframe for that, so I am supposed to call at my convenience to follow-up. Hmm. This first call took about 30 minutes, so we'll see when that becomes convenient again.
So now I still have to call the primary insurance company, which will be the bigger headache. As I recall, last time I had to get a referral from my PCP. I hope that's the last hoop to jump!
Edited to add:
Ok, now I've talked to the other company as well. This one had me go through the pre-authorization department. Same deal, basically, where I am to call at my convenience to get an update, though this rep (DeKwan?) was able to tell me it would be about 72 hours. I think I'll just plan to have another day of insurance fun next Monday, and I'll follow up with both companies. Ideally, I get good news all around. If not, I'll appeal it and I think I'll be successful-- just more legwork involved.
Edited again:
Primary company called back. Turns out they added the big birthing center (Austin Area Birthing Center) where Andie was born as an in-network provider, so that could throw a wrench in things. Bleh. I think they are authorized on the other plan too, now that I look. Oh, what a pain.
Throwing a wrench in things, my primary company is switching over to a different carrier on September 1. So this whole authorization process would start over. Given that, I elected to close the pre-authorization request and just go under out-of-network benefits for this first appointment. I'll start the process over again with the new company in a month or so. Yippee.
Friday, July 13, 2012
8 weeks
I had our 8 week ultrasound this morning. Here's what we saw:
If you find the exact middle of the screen, and then look just a bit to the left and down (7:00), you'll see the baby's heartbeat flickering away. The heart rate was 160 beats per minute, which is right where it should be right now. The baby measured 14.1 mm from crown to rump, which put it at exactly 8w0d-- perfect! I just measured that with a ruler and it's almost exactly the width of my thumb, to give it some perspective. The pregnancy sites are saying the size of a kidney bean, if that works better for you.
After the ultrasound appointment, we (Mariela and I) went to the lab for my estradiol blood test. No results back on that yet, but I know better than to hold my breath for those! I imagine it may be high enough now to quit using these Vivelle patches, which would be great. They're no big deal-- I'm just ready to stop taking all the extra meds.
I called my midwife this afternoon to set up my first regular prenatal appointment-- have to make sure their schedule doesn't fill up! Monika, who was a student midwife two years ago when I saw them, is now fully credentialed and working fulltime, which was great to hear-- I really like her. Mary (the one I call "my" midwife) will be on vacation around when I need my first appointment, so Monika will do it-- should be great. And that first appointment is July 31st at 8:00 am. This one is when we should *hear* the heartbeat! Hopefully! We'll be right on the line, so if we don't hear it then, we'll come back soon afterward and get it then.
Monika is also calling in my referral to Dr. Berry's office to do the nuchal translucency test. Apparently, Dr. Berry likes to do it around 12 weeks, so sometime around Friday, August 10. I will call him on Wednesday of next week to schedule that.
The other calls on my to-do list are to my insurance companies. Both of them will have me jump through hoops to have my midwife's care covered-- probably just setting up an appointment with my primary care physician and getting a referral. But I'll need to do that pretty quickly too, so I've got to get on it. As much as I dread talking to the insurance companies...
All for the sake of someone who looks sort-of like this right now:
Webbed fingers and toes! Eyelids! A nose! All kinds of things growing this week.
And as for me? Still haven't thrown up, even if there have been some close calls. So this is like a whole puke-free week for free, as compared to past pregnancies. I have a love/hate relationship with food-- can't eat very much at a time and I rarely want to eat dinner at all, but sometimes I do have those crazy cravings (apparently for M and N's favorite foods-- go figure!). I'm sleeping 10 hours a night, which is a little ridiculous, but Rick indulges it. Rick and the girls are all so supportive while I'm feeling yucky-- I'm pretty lucky that way.
If you find the exact middle of the screen, and then look just a bit to the left and down (7:00), you'll see the baby's heartbeat flickering away. The heart rate was 160 beats per minute, which is right where it should be right now. The baby measured 14.1 mm from crown to rump, which put it at exactly 8w0d-- perfect! I just measured that with a ruler and it's almost exactly the width of my thumb, to give it some perspective. The pregnancy sites are saying the size of a kidney bean, if that works better for you.
After the ultrasound appointment, we (Mariela and I) went to the lab for my estradiol blood test. No results back on that yet, but I know better than to hold my breath for those! I imagine it may be high enough now to quit using these Vivelle patches, which would be great. They're no big deal-- I'm just ready to stop taking all the extra meds.
I called my midwife this afternoon to set up my first regular prenatal appointment-- have to make sure their schedule doesn't fill up! Monika, who was a student midwife two years ago when I saw them, is now fully credentialed and working fulltime, which was great to hear-- I really like her. Mary (the one I call "my" midwife) will be on vacation around when I need my first appointment, so Monika will do it-- should be great. And that first appointment is July 31st at 8:00 am. This one is when we should *hear* the heartbeat! Hopefully! We'll be right on the line, so if we don't hear it then, we'll come back soon afterward and get it then.
Monika is also calling in my referral to Dr. Berry's office to do the nuchal translucency test. Apparently, Dr. Berry likes to do it around 12 weeks, so sometime around Friday, August 10. I will call him on Wednesday of next week to schedule that.
The other calls on my to-do list are to my insurance companies. Both of them will have me jump through hoops to have my midwife's care covered-- probably just setting up an appointment with my primary care physician and getting a referral. But I'll need to do that pretty quickly too, so I've got to get on it. As much as I dread talking to the insurance companies...
All for the sake of someone who looks sort-of like this right now:
Webbed fingers and toes! Eyelids! A nose! All kinds of things growing this week.
And as for me? Still haven't thrown up, even if there have been some close calls. So this is like a whole puke-free week for free, as compared to past pregnancies. I have a love/hate relationship with food-- can't eat very much at a time and I rarely want to eat dinner at all, but sometimes I do have those crazy cravings (apparently for M and N's favorite foods-- go figure!). I'm sleeping 10 hours a night, which is a little ridiculous, but Rick indulges it. Rick and the girls are all so supportive while I'm feeling yucky-- I'm pretty lucky that way.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Cravings
Well, this is a first for me. Who says fourth pregnancies can't bring surprises?
I think I've had specific food aversions with every pregnancy. And I remember being obsessive about food last time around-- not particular foods, but certain combinations were delicious (hot + cool creamy sauce was one, which led to eating at the Indian place around the corner for lunch all too often).
But this time, I've been getting very specific cravings. The first that I remember was Friday, when, on a 100+ day, I really wanted hot chocolate. Made with milk, but not from Starbucks. Then yesterday at lunch, I really wanted ravioli in red sauce. That one went unfulfilled. Today, it was potato salad. Which I almost never eat. I walked to one place that had it and it was closed, so I went in completely the other direction to some other place. The had two varieties-- German potato salad, which is vinegary and served hot, with bacon in it, and traditional mustard/mayo American potato salad. German sounds so much better to me. But not today. I went with the American.
And these are all one-time deals. Please do not make me drink hot chocolate, because it sounds awful to me. Even the potato salad need has long passed.
I think the nausea is starting to fit a pattern. I get a good wave of it at about 10:30-11:00 and then another sometime mid-afternoon, and another right before bed (which is very early these days!). With some flashes in between. Still no throwing up, though. Some close calls, perhaps, with deep breathing to stave it off, but that's it.
I got the ultrasound order from Barb this morning, so it's scheduled for 7:45 Friday morning. I may need to take Mariela with me, which I think is a faux pas at a fertility clinic-- but then again, last time around, there were no other patients, so maybe I can be so lucky again. Looking forward to seeing the baby again!
I think I've had specific food aversions with every pregnancy. And I remember being obsessive about food last time around-- not particular foods, but certain combinations were delicious (hot + cool creamy sauce was one, which led to eating at the Indian place around the corner for lunch all too often).
But this time, I've been getting very specific cravings. The first that I remember was Friday, when, on a 100+ day, I really wanted hot chocolate. Made with milk, but not from Starbucks. Then yesterday at lunch, I really wanted ravioli in red sauce. That one went unfulfilled. Today, it was potato salad. Which I almost never eat. I walked to one place that had it and it was closed, so I went in completely the other direction to some other place. The had two varieties-- German potato salad, which is vinegary and served hot, with bacon in it, and traditional mustard/mayo American potato salad. German sounds so much better to me. But not today. I went with the American.
And these are all one-time deals. Please do not make me drink hot chocolate, because it sounds awful to me. Even the potato salad need has long passed.
I think the nausea is starting to fit a pattern. I get a good wave of it at about 10:30-11:00 and then another sometime mid-afternoon, and another right before bed (which is very early these days!). With some flashes in between. Still no throwing up, though. Some close calls, perhaps, with deep breathing to stave it off, but that's it.
I got the ultrasound order from Barb this morning, so it's scheduled for 7:45 Friday morning. I may need to take Mariela with me, which I think is a faux pas at a fertility clinic-- but then again, last time around, there were no other patients, so maybe I can be so lucky again. Looking forward to seeing the baby again!
Friday, July 6, 2012
7 weeks
Today I'm 7 weeks pregnant with a blueberry-sized little baby that looks something like this:
Andrea left a message on our home phone with my blood test results yesterday, and Rick remembered my estrogen level as either 234 or 324 (he deleted the message). In any case, it's good enough to stay on 2 patches for now. I'm supposed to call Barb on Monday when she's back from vacation to get my 8-week ultrasound scheduled.
I looked back over my last blog and this pregnancy is definitely being nicer to me in terms of morning sickness. I have much less nausea and I haven't vomited at all, which was not the case at 7 weeks last time (or either of my prior pregnancies, I think). Sometimes I worry about not feeling worse. Then I hit one of my lower points and kick myself for ever feeling that way! I would say there are probably about 3 rough patches per day. Much better than all-day sickness. I'm pretty sure I'll worry all the way through when I can feel the baby move-- until then, what's going on in there is just a mystery!
The baby is chugging along, growing its brain and starting to develop its facial features. It has a tongue! I don't know why that seems so amazing, but just think what a teeny tiny tongue that would be to fit in a .5" body. 33 more weeks and we'll get to see that cute face.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Misadventures in Lab Land
In the ongoing comedy of errors that is my experience with labwork and this pregnancy...
Got to the lab at 7:05. Quite a few people already waiting. When I was called, I told them that the nurse said she would enter the lab orders in directly. They checked the computer. Nope. Checked the other system. Nada. Sigh.
So I called Houston IVF. It was about 7:10 and the office doesn't open until 7:30, so I left a message with the after-hours people. Then, at 7:30 precisely, I called again and left a message for Andrea. She called back a few minutes later and said she had refaxed the order, but could she verify the fax number? She was faxing to a Houston number, and I am at a lab in Austin, so there's part of the problem. She said she would fax again.
The fax finally came through at about 7:50. They got me back right away, but the phlebotomist today was rough (I'll take a student again, please!) and had a hard time getting a vein, which really never happens for me-- I've got good, easy-to-find veins. Somehow, there's about a one-inch scrape going down from the puncture site. No idea what went on there.
Since I never had the lab orders in-hand this time, I'm not sure whether she put the alternative fax number on there, or if I'll have to hunt down results again. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised this time!
I hate sounding so negative-- it doesn't jive with how I usually am. I'm definitely looking forward to that magical time in just a few weeks when my days aren't filled with lab tests and medication schedules, when we can just settle into the routine miracles of pregnancy.
Got to the lab at 7:05. Quite a few people already waiting. When I was called, I told them that the nurse said she would enter the lab orders in directly. They checked the computer. Nope. Checked the other system. Nada. Sigh.
So I called Houston IVF. It was about 7:10 and the office doesn't open until 7:30, so I left a message with the after-hours people. Then, at 7:30 precisely, I called again and left a message for Andrea. She called back a few minutes later and said she had refaxed the order, but could she verify the fax number? She was faxing to a Houston number, and I am at a lab in Austin, so there's part of the problem. She said she would fax again.
The fax finally came through at about 7:50. They got me back right away, but the phlebotomist today was rough (I'll take a student again, please!) and had a hard time getting a vein, which really never happens for me-- I've got good, easy-to-find veins. Somehow, there's about a one-inch scrape going down from the puncture site. No idea what went on there.
Since I never had the lab orders in-hand this time, I'm not sure whether she put the alternative fax number on there, or if I'll have to hunt down results again. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised this time!
I hate sounding so negative-- it doesn't jive with how I usually am. I'm definitely looking forward to that magical time in just a few weeks when my days aren't filled with lab tests and medication schedules, when we can just settle into the routine miracles of pregnancy.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Update
Just talked to Andrea, who (finally) got my lab results, but still not the ultrasound report. My estrogen was really high-- something over 1000 (they want over 300), so I'm going to start weaning off the Vivelle patches. I'm supposed to go down to 2 patches. And my progesterone was 30-something and she said that, since we saw the heartbeat, I'm good to go off the PIO shots and just do Crinone once a day.
She said I should go back on Thursday for repeat blood work, to see if we're ready to wean off the Vivelle completely. Yay, more results to get lost! I kid, I kid. Sort of.
She also said the follow-up ultrasound would probably be in two weeks, so on July 13th. I assume I'll have to wait until Barb gets back from vacation to get the order for that and get it scheduled.
HALLELUJAH!!!!
Oh, Evil PIO, I will not miss you.She said I should go back on Thursday for repeat blood work, to see if we're ready to wean off the Vivelle completely. Yay, more results to get lost! I kid, I kid. Sort of.
She also said the follow-up ultrasound would probably be in two weeks, so on July 13th. I assume I'll have to wait until Barb gets back from vacation to get the order for that and get it scheduled.
Bleh
Subject reflects both my physical state and my frustration level.
Physically-- on my second night of 12+ hours of sleep (and could have slept more), so exhaustion has definitely set in. Very strong food aversion too-- it's difficult for me to find anything that sounds even remotely appetizing. The nausea is still pretty fleeting, but I can tell it's going to kick in. I'd been kind-of wanting to have some more symptoms, as they're (oddly) comforting during these early weeks. Wish granted.
No wishes granted on another front. I exchanged emails with Barb into late Friday afternoon and she never received my lab results! Even after me calling the lab and having them refax them (as I've had to do every time). I was really mad at the lab, but the more I think about it, I'm pretty sure the issue is with Houston IVF's fax machine. Because they didn't receive my ultrasound report from Friday either, and I find it difficult to believe that both Texas Fertility and the lab (repeatedly) dropped the ball. Barb is on vacation this week, but I left a message this morning for Andrea, asking her to confirm whether she'd received the reports. She said there was nothing on the fax machine or in my chart. ARGH. So frustrating. But she gave me the nurses' private fax number and I called the lab and Texas Fertility again and gave them the new number. So maybe we'll have actual results this afternoon? Three days later? So much for STAT.
Physically-- on my second night of 12+ hours of sleep (and could have slept more), so exhaustion has definitely set in. Very strong food aversion too-- it's difficult for me to find anything that sounds even remotely appetizing. The nausea is still pretty fleeting, but I can tell it's going to kick in. I'd been kind-of wanting to have some more symptoms, as they're (oddly) comforting during these early weeks. Wish granted.
No wishes granted on another front. I exchanged emails with Barb into late Friday afternoon and she never received my lab results! Even after me calling the lab and having them refax them (as I've had to do every time). I was really mad at the lab, but the more I think about it, I'm pretty sure the issue is with Houston IVF's fax machine. Because they didn't receive my ultrasound report from Friday either, and I find it difficult to believe that both Texas Fertility and the lab (repeatedly) dropped the ball. Barb is on vacation this week, but I left a message this morning for Andrea, asking her to confirm whether she'd received the reports. She said there was nothing on the fax machine or in my chart. ARGH. So frustrating. But she gave me the nurses' private fax number and I called the lab and Texas Fertility again and gave them the new number. So maybe we'll have actual results this afternoon? Three days later? So much for STAT.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Maybe "morning" sickness?
Since I'm sitting here at the computer wasting time instead of doing the 1,000,001 things I need to do to get the girl's rooms ready before they get home from camp...
I'm feeling kind-of... meh. Not nauseated exactly, but right on the edge of it. And the strangest thing is, it's comforting. I feel like it's the first good sign from my body that it's feeling pregnant. I had maybe a little flash of it yesterday too, but today it seems to be hanging on. I can't promise that it's not being helped along by some good ol' procrastination, but it sure feels like the beginning of morning sickness. At 7:00 pm.
I'm feeling kind-of... meh. Not nauseated exactly, but right on the edge of it. And the strangest thing is, it's comforting. I feel like it's the first good sign from my body that it's feeling pregnant. I had maybe a little flash of it yesterday too, but today it seems to be hanging on. I can't promise that it's not being helped along by some good ol' procrastination, but it sure feels like the beginning of morning sickness. At 7:00 pm.