4weeks2 days (14dp3dt) : Decision to defer my u/s

My original u/s was due on 17th Jan. However, after looking at the pregnancy week by week calendar, I decided to push it backwards by a few more days to 21st Jan.

You see, 17th Jan (Friday) is estimated to be end of 5weeks. So that means apart from verifying whether the sac is planted correctly, i cannot see anything and I will prob have to (worry) and come in again just the day before chinese new year to see if there is flickering heartbeat at close to 7 weeks.. That would means I have to pay the scan twice which isnt cheap (at least HK$1000+ x2) just to see if its viable.

However if i pushed it to 21st Jan, I should ( ideally for a healthy development) be able to see at least flickering scan if its a viable birth since the date puts me at about mid of 6week. If I dont see anything or the prognosis isnt good, then I know I can get prepared mentally and get started on the inevitable earlier than wait around for another 2 more useless weeks. Since now that I know my hCG drops so slowly, I am better prepared to anticipate what to do now.

If I can see something, then at least it will be a good new year and can wait till my next scan after CNY to see what happens.

Hoping. Really hoping. and crossing my fingers.

I was looking at all the "possible" scary dates from 6wk, 8 wks, 10wks, 12wks.

They either falls on CNY, near Valentine, near my birthday. It's almost freaking scary that all my pregnancy milestones are always around those important dates. If this baby can be good enough for a live birth, then its due will be exactly the same date as the day I was pronounced with miscarriage in Sept this year. Talk about coincidental....

I'm actually less uptight about the weeks and dates now this time round. I pushed it out of my head. Had to check again online to find out what I am today and i'm feeling alittle moody with my man.

Last night, my area behind my belly button felt funny. Twinges, tugging pain.

Not sure if its a good or bad thing.

Still drinking alot of water.

Still no nausea nor swollen boobs symptom and healthy appetite.

Also ate alot of oysters these two days, cooked ones of course. They were having 4+1 promotion and the French oysters looked really good!!! Fat and juicy. Well, they tasted cooked. I hope i didnt do something stupid.

We are gonna move!

I reckon this will be a busy 2 months for me. We have decided to move to a bigger apartment, with a roof top.

One of the main reasons for the move was that I was too fedup with the neighbours upstairs constantly stomping around in the morning ranging from 6-8am, and at night after midnight and sometimes even 2am at night. It was impossible to sleep through and even with ear plugs, I could still hear them. Even my hanging lights will shake when they stomp around. Else she would be clumsy and drop things all the time.

The worst is that it isnt kids. It's this skinny HK mother who refuses to lay any carpet or rug over their cheap wooden floor. And their son's room is partially next to our master room and so that big fellow will wake me with any chair dragging or when he decide to throw things on ground.

I tried to talk to her nicely a few times, even offering to buy the rug or indoor slippers but she refused. It was impossible situation.

So after 3 years, much that i LOVE my apartment since everything was customised to suit our life style, I had to move. It was too much stress. I rem my last 2 pregnancies, her stomping caused me much distress and I wasnt able to sleep properly. That cannot be good nor conducive for a healthy birth I'm sure.

So after spending half of dec looking around, we found one in central or rather near midlevels area. It doesnt have a nice view like ours. And its not smacked centrally like mine now surrounded by restaurants and supermarts. However, we are hoping that being on the top floor, it will offer us some quieter nights to sleep in and being lesser neighbors, no more constant renovation noises through the year too.

In a way I'm excited, and in a way nervous.

In Chinese culture, you are not supposed to move during pregnancy.
I'm also worried as to if there are potential molding problems in new place.
Also need to get rid of the renovation smell.

To say i will not miss my beloved apartment and all my lovely EXPENSIVE furnishing will be a lie. Though I must admit I did design this place "minimally" with possible renting it out in mind. I will miss my very expensive lights, and my very expensive curtains. Still wondering if I can move mine along to the new place but I think the height might be a problem.

Anycase...I try not to think too much. Just hoping this will be a brand new start and if the baby sticks, at least we have a bigger place to work with and play with.

3week 6day (11dp3dt): hCG beta level report is out!

Okie. Off to a good start of the year.

I was about to head off to buy groceries when the nurse called me at 2pm that Dr Lok has approve my request for early blood test. One of the reason I had wanted to test early, apart from confirming the HPT is that my progesterone tablets will finish by this Sunday. That will mean I will miss Monday's dose if I waited till Monday to get my bloodwork done.

So off I went, strolled to Level 1 to get my bloodwork done.
I had a really grumpy looking old woman to take my blood.
Oh well.

While I was having an incredibly difficult time hunting down to buy replacement shoe laces for my man's Timberland shoes, I received a NO ID call. Hospital that quick??
It surprised me that the report was ready under an hour this time.
The last time my blood test took 3 freaking hours to be ready.

Dr Ingrid identified herself and confirmed that my 2nd IVF treatment via FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer) is a success.

She said  "Congratulations, u are pregnant again" Ha ha ha. That is funny considering she said that to me the first time 4 months ago. She is genuinely happy for me I know but my joy is just muted but I still tried to sound cheerful for her sake. Afterall, it's not her fault that my first pregnancy failed. I could tell it wasnt easy for her the last time and she kept a very neutral face while delivering the bad news. Maybe it's just me, but one dont just suffer a loss recently and then skip with joy even though this is indeed good news and start. Truth is, I'm just relieved that the hCG is not a low number to start off.

I dont even care to hope or pray now since I know that doesnt work squat the last time.

Until the baby is actually born, then I will thank my lucky stars. Otherwise, I will just try to live day by day and do my best. Afterall, what determines whether its viable is the chromosomes more than any prayers. Staying pregnant seemed to be my biggest problem. Sigh.

At 11dp3dt, the nurse told me my hCg level registers at 410. I can't rem what was my previous 5day transfer value but I vaguely think this might be higher than the previous reading. I'm wondering if the nurse told me the wrong number because over 400 seemed too high for a single embryo transfer at such early stage. I am wondering if she had told me the progesterone level instead? I will know in 2 weeks time after I get back my blood work report.

My scan is scheduled on 17th Jan 2014.
Unlike in the States where repeated blood work is done 2 days later, HK definitely do not have this obsession. If the doctor deemed the first hCG level is in good range, then that's it. The doctors here are more pragmatic. Looking at the scan 2 weeks after the 2WW is more beneficial than the blood works results since the blood work will not tell u if its blighted ovum or etopic etc.Wish me luck for my scan in 2 weeks time.

I guess my food restrictions will start again.

According to TCM, eggplant and pears are believed to cause problems during pregnancy and should be avoided. Excessive amounts of green tea can deplete folic acid levels and caffeine of any sort deprives the fetus of oxygen and blood; therefore any caffeinated tea consumption should be avoided. Mint tea dries up breast milk and should be avoided during the last trimester and while breastfeeding. All prescription drugs and nutritional supplements should be reviewed to determine any effect they may have on the production of breast milk.

To help reduce the risk of food allergies in the newborn, pregnant women may want to limit peanuts and eggs. If there is a history of sensitivity to wheat, dairy, or sugar prior to pregnancy, then avoiding them during pregnancy is recommended. For baby girls, the reproductive system is developing during the first and second trimesters and TCM practitioners believe a healthy diet during pregnancy is critical to promote fertility for future generations.

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Meanwhile for those interested, here's a hCG chart I found from this link.

hCG Levels

Days from LMP	Weeksfrom LMP	Events	Avg hCG mIU/ml	Range hCG mIU/ml
26	3w+5d		25	0-50
27	3w+6d		50	25-100
28	4w+0d	Missed period	75	50-100
29	4w+1d		150	100-200
30	4w+2d		300	200-400
31	4w+3d		700	400-1,000
32	4w+4d		1,710	1,050-2,800
33	4w+5d		2,320	1,440-3,760
34	4w+6d		3,100	1,940-4,980
35	5w+0d		4,090	2,580-6,530
36	5 1/7		5,340	3,400-8,450
37	5 2/7		6,880	4,420-10,810
38	5 3/7	yolk sac	8,770	5,680-13,660
39	5 4/7	yolk sac	11,040	7,220-17,050
40	5 5/7	yolk sac	13,730	9,050-21,040
41	5 6/7	yolk sac	15,300	10,140-23,340
42	6	heartbeat	16,870	11,230-25,640
43	6 1/7	heartbeat	20,480	13,750-30,880
44	6 2/7	heartbeat	24,560	16,650-36,750
45	6 3/7	embryo seen	29,110	19,910-43,220
46	6 4/7	embryo seen	34,100	25,530-50,210
47	6 5/7	embryo seen	39,460	27,470-57,640
48	6 6/7	embryo seen	45,120	31,700-65,380
49	7		50,970	36,130-73,280
50	7 1/7		56,900	40,700-81,150
51	7 2/7		62,760	45,300-88,790
52	7 3/7		68,390	49,810-95,990
53	7 4/7		73,640	54,120-102,540
54	7 5/7		78,350	58,200-108,230
55	7 6/7		82,370	61,640-112,870
56	8		85,560	64,600-116,310

- See more at: http://www.babymed.com/hcg-level-in-early-pregnancy#sthash.qulMvgR6.dpuf

8dp3dt: BFP on Clearblue strip

8dp3dt. New Years eve. 

I Thot wat the heck, is there's anything or not I might as well try my luck with home kit.

Could this be real? 

Will 2014 be a happier year?

I'm holding my breath. 

Tmw is NY so I can't call the hospital for early Hcg blood test. 

We shall see.

As per what my man says, we can only b happy if it actually is born alive n healthy. 

The last interrupted short lived experience has def muted any joy or excitement. Looks like it ain't just me alone. 

8dp3dt. No implantation symptom....

8dp3dt

This is my second 2WW and unlike the first time round where I was more "atuned" to my body and excited with anticipation, this time round, I didnt carry much expectations and days do zip by. I didnt even realise I have reached the 8 day mark, only because I had to go back to test my progesterone level did it make me realise I have reach the half way mark in the 2WW.

Unlike the previous 5 days transfer where I felt very precise and exact pain, which I realised now is implantation pain, I didnt feel any cramp or just pain this time round. What I did experience though was a sharp navel button tug twice during dinner last night. This feels completely different from the sharp pain previously.  It's more like someone is pulling your belly button from the inside and yank it down towards your pee area. It was over in few mins. Strange.

Which to be honest, does make me a little sad to think that this FET round may not have work. With the sore throat I have since Xmas and trying to ward off a cough, all these without medication, makes me feel like a lonely battle against fate. Seemingly so much obstacles as usual.

I have also been extremely lazy this time round.

I didnt eat as well as the previous time, I didnt feel as hungry as frequently as previous and I hole up at home to watch TV more. Well, primarily coz its cold out there. The only thing that I still do is drink a lot of water. I feel so dehydrated all the time and with the sore throat, I felt I need to sip warm water every min.

My man has been trying to plan for a holiday to go somewhere which is hard since we dont know when I can fly till after 6th Jan and alot of hotels and airline expect payment by 1st Jan. Sooo Soooo Soooo annoying.

The nurse tried to reach me today to tell me if my progesterone level is enough but I was fast asleep till 12pm. Dead tired. Just Surprised that they didnt bother to leave a message. I tried to call them back but as usual, the line is always unanswered.

Will try again later.

Speaking of progesterone pills, unlike the previous crinone gel which made me itch, this tablet format works better with lesser itch at night. However, it disturbs my sleep because it constantly discharges this watery discharge at night which will soak thru my panty liner. So while I didnt get the other itch effect, I get the constant wet feeling which forces me to wake to change my liner. I tried using a pad instead but somehow that made me itch. I think the discharge when dried up, leaves a powdery residue that irritates my outerskin of my vagina somehow. This is soooo frustrating. So I have been sleeping in a 3 hour cycle everynight...

3dp3dt: Dealing with a super bad sorethroat the non- medicinal way

I cannot even imagine how the hell I had this sorethroat considering I ate nothing fried, heaty and I slept early! WTF!

Since I couldnt eat meds, I resorted to natural methods of gargling with warm sea salt water. To give it extra kick, I boil ginger water, mixed it with Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) and gargled the hell out of my throat. I also drank the ginger ACV mixed with honey. It tasted quite nice really.

In less than 2 days, the sore throat subsided. No kidding.
I can finally talk without feeling like I have a fish bone pricking me from my throat!
Thank goodness!

I think the ACV with ginger really nailed it better than the salt water but it could be my imagination.

Healthy homemade porridge loaded with my fav seaweed mixed in.

I am crossing my fingers that the cough dont develop.

2dp3dt: Merry Xmas and down with the worst sorethroat

Merry Xmas all mums to be and wannabe (like me).

Since ther's only me at home, I didnt see a point to set up a Xmas tree.

Went to relative house for hot pot. Bad idea. Now I'm feeling sick.
My sore throat is acting up and I think a dry cough may be on its way unless I can ward it off.
The sorethroat is REALLY BAD. It's the prickling pain sort that hurst quite a lot when swallowing.
Damn.

I couldnt take the meds since u know, there's a fertilised egg in me waiting to implant (cross fingers). Will Santa grant me a wish and gives me my Xmas wish for a baby next year?

Anycase, had insomnia last nite. Went to bed at 1am and woke up at 5am.
watched Tv till 9.30am and fell back asleep till 12.30pm.

I am feeling so shitty now.