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ericalee's Pregnancy
My Due Date: December 1, 2016I have given birth!
Age: 41 years old
Location: Madison, United States
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My love/hate relationship with beta draws *edit - newest beta*
By ericalee » Posted Mar. 29, 2016 9:19am - 533 views - 11 comments
EDIT: 3/30 beta came back at 1089 - up from 444!! Yayyyyy. :)
It's still early days for me this pregnancy, which means blood draws every 48 hours until we can see a heartbeat to confirm that things are progressing. This is both a blessing and a curse!!! It is a huge relief when I finally hear that my numbers are looking great... but waiting for that phone call is an absolute nightmare. My first beta was last Wed and came back at 31, went on Friday and the nurse called me a few hours later and I heard "your levels are at 7". I gasped and said something like "oh no, what?!" and then she was like "no that's good!". Yeah, turns out she had said ONE HUNDRED and seven. Not just seven. Let's talk about how quickly my heart started racing when I thought it was 7. It seriously took over 20 min before my body was almost back to normal. I was sweating, my hands were shaking... hot mess, right here! BUT once I knew it was 107, I was SO happy!!! That was a great number!
Yesterday rolls around and I go back for another draw following the weekend. I go in at 8:30 and have to also have a bunch of other stuff drawn (CBC, TSH, CMP, APTT) because of all the meds and other things I've got going on. Noon rolls around and I have not received a phone call, which is odd. I attempt to reassure myself that it is taking longer because it isn't just a beta result this time, the clinic is really busy on a Monday, etc. I try to distract myself with work, online shppping, pinteresting, etc. It can only work for so long. By 4:00 I have essentially worked myself into a tizzy and am thinking I'm not going to know by the time the clinic closes. My only friend that actually knows I am pregnant tells me to call the clinic... so I do. Luckily, my OB's nurse answers the nurse line and I stammer out why I am calling. She said, "Oh you're on my list of people to call! I was just waiting for all the results to come back because a few were still pending!". Ah-ha!! so I had been right initially. I asked if she could tell me the "important" result, the one stressing me out and she told me it looked great!! Came back at 444!!! Yayyyyy!!!! Still under a 48 hour doubling time. My other results overall looked good. My TSH went from 1.6 a few weeks ago up to 3.39, which I don't think my immunologist is going to like. I'm anticipating a dose increase of my synthroid since they like it under 2 during the first tri.
So today I'm good, but we'll see how tomorrow goes when I have to go back in for yet another draw. I wish I could just find my happy place and be optimistic, but I have yet to master that. I will be so happy to make it to 6w when I can go in for a viability u/s. Once we see the heartbeat it means the end of hcg draws. Yessss!
Today I am pregnant!! I am past the milestone of "missed my period" - woo woo!! Getting back into the routine of stabbing my stomach and butt, getting infusions, and swallowing a lot of pills has been fairly easy actually. Like riding a bike. ;) I am 100% ready for a second pregnancy - emotionally, physically, and mentally. Now ready for a second BABY remains to be seen. I can't wait to have multiple children, but there are days when things are so busy and chaotic with one human baby and many furbabies that I think "OMG. How is this going to be with a SECOND child". LOL. Happy problem to have though! :) :)
My Journal
My love/hate relationship with beta draws *edit - newest beta*
By ericalee » Posted Mar. 29, 2016 9:19am - 533 views - 11 comments
EDIT: 3/30 beta came back at 1089 - up from 444!! Yayyyyy. :)
It's still early days for me this pregnancy, which means blood draws every 48 hours until we can see a heartbeat to confirm that things are progressing. This is both a blessing and a curse!!! It is a huge relief when I finally hear that my numbers are looking great... but waiting for that phone call is an absolute nightmare. My first beta was last Wed and came back at 31, went on Friday and the nurse called me a few hours later and I heard "your levels are at 7". I gasped and said something like "oh no, what?!" and then she was like "no that's good!". Yeah, turns out she had said ONE HUNDRED and seven. Not just seven. Let's talk about how quickly my heart started racing when I thought it was 7. It seriously took over 20 min before my body was almost back to normal. I was sweating, my hands were shaking... hot mess, right here! BUT once I knew it was 107, I was SO happy!!! That was a great number!
Yesterday rolls around and I go back for another draw following the weekend. I go in at 8:30 and have to also have a bunch of other stuff drawn (CBC, TSH, CMP, APTT) because of all the meds and other things I've got going on. Noon rolls around and I have not received a phone call, which is odd. I attempt to reassure myself that it is taking longer because it isn't just a beta result this time, the clinic is really busy on a Monday, etc. I try to distract myself with work, online shppping, pinteresting, etc. It can only work for so long. By 4:00 I have essentially worked myself into a tizzy and am thinking I'm not going to know by the time the clinic closes. My only friend that actually knows I am pregnant tells me to call the clinic... so I do. Luckily, my OB's nurse answers the nurse line and I stammer out why I am calling. She said, "Oh you're on my list of people to call! I was just waiting for all the results to come back because a few were still pending!". Ah-ha!! so I had been right initially. I asked if she could tell me the "important" result, the one stressing me out and she told me it looked great!! Came back at 444!!! Yayyyyy!!!! Still under a 48 hour doubling time. My other results overall looked good. My TSH went from 1.6 a few weeks ago up to 3.39, which I don't think my immunologist is going to like. I'm anticipating a dose increase of my synthroid since they like it under 2 during the first tri.
So today I'm good, but we'll see how tomorrow goes when I have to go back in for yet another draw. I wish I could just find my happy place and be optimistic, but I have yet to master that. I will be so happy to make it to 6w when I can go in for a viability u/s. Once we see the heartbeat it means the end of hcg draws. Yessss!
Today I am pregnant!! I am past the milestone of "missed my period" - woo woo!! Getting back into the routine of stabbing my stomach and butt, getting infusions, and swallowing a lot of pills has been fairly easy actually. Like riding a bike. ;) I am 100% ready for a second pregnancy - emotionally, physically, and mentally. Now ready for a second BABY remains to be seen. I can't wait to have multiple children, but there are days when things are so busy and chaotic with one human baby and many furbabies that I think "OMG. How is this going to be with a SECOND child". LOL. Happy problem to have though! :) :)
Comments for this Journal Entry
 | Comment from josamarie » Posted Mar. 31, 2016 12:03pm What a happy update, thanking of you guys! |
 | Comment from WaitingwithHope » Posted Mar. 30, 2016 11:29pm Yay for awesome numbers! <3 |
 | Comment from Bostonmama08 » Posted Mar. 30, 2016 8:03pm I second that wish for the 6 week ultrasound! Cant wait!! Ahhhh! |
| Comment from Hopeforchildren » Posted Mar. 30, 2016 4:00pm Come on 6 week ultrasound!!! :D |
 | Comment from Starmama14 » Posted Mar. 30, 2016 2:00pm Yay!! Nice update! Ahhh....so excited for you! Keep us updated :) |
 | Comment from niknik86 » Posted Mar. 30, 2016 10:35am I know! The weeks are going by so fast this time around! Both me and my husband think we will have another girl :) Yeah it is incredible how fast they develop, Heidi is still not walking, she is standing alone in the middle of the floor though - but doesn't have the courage to take her first steps. I'm sure she will be walking in about 1-2 weeks! I'm exited to have two, but I don't really realize it yet - still almost no bump and sometimes I forget that I'm pregnant! haha I'm also taking prednisone this pregnancy and fortunately it doesn't have any side effects this time (last time I got horrible break-outs), taking 25 mg/day now. How is your body handling all the medication? Any side effects? |
 | Comment from pbc910 » Posted Mar. 30, 2016 9:11am Great news! You'll do just fine with 2! I'm not sure if it's easier having 2 of the same age or having a gap. It's amazing how much one person can handle. If I sat and thought about how much work it was, I would be overwhelmed but seriously, it's not too bad. |
| Comment from niknik86 » Posted Mar. 30, 2016 8:45am Congratulations Erica! So happy to see you over here :) The beta looks great! |
