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Thursday, March 17, 2011

The Ever Growing Twin Belly Part 3

Well another belly update is well over due, I want bore you all with the slow growth so will only add a picture from every few weeks.

23 Weeks

23 Weeks

26 Weeks 

26 Weeks

26 Weeks

29 Weeks

29 Weeks

Hmmm..... I think they have grown

32 Weeks

32 Weeks 

33 Weeks

33 Weeks

OK ~ Yes I have stretch marks and they are growing every day. I have been applying Bio Oil and Vitamin E cream daily if not more and it hasn't stopped them. The boys are just growing to fast now for my poor skin.


Friday, January 28, 2011

The J's 26 Week Scan

Tuesday I had my Growth and Wellbeing Scan ~ AKA my 26 Scan

OMG I am 26 Weeks already!!!!

Say Hello to Jenga 




Say Hello to Jue ~ He was being shy hiding behind his hand






They are both doing really really well, growing nicely and both have an estimated weight of 2lb 3oz (just under 1kg) each. 

I had my OB check up today and I am happy to report that I have passed my Gestational Diabetes test with flying colours, I have only gained 4kg total and my BP is nice a low.

I have been having some moments of light headedness but nothing to bad. Not long now until I start my maternity leave ~ I start at 28 Weeks, Not even 2 weeks to go. I had better get started on The J's Bedroom ASAP :)

Thursday, December 16, 2010

The Ever Growing Twin Belly Part 2

By popular demand it's time for me to update my belly shots, Personally I didn't think it was getting much bigger but when looking a the pictures boy am I wrong.

18 Weeks

19 Weeks


20 Weeks
I seem to have missed a week (Week17) when and if I find it I will add it. 

I think that my waist has gone now, but I still don't look that big when I have my belly covered. I have had comments from people about how small I am for 20 weeks, Then I tell them that I am having twins LOL.  I think that they are sitting all in my back at the moment. I had a quick scan at my anti-natal appointment yesterday and one of my boys is sitting low in my pelvis and the other is hanging around my belly button.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

19 Week Scan ~ I'm Having Boys!!

I had my 19 week scan on Tuesday (7/12) in Brisbane. It took over 2 hours and I loved every minute of it.


Janga was sleeping when the scan began (little hands under head). That didn't last long.


Jue's little face 

Jenga ~ He's a BOY!!
Jue ~ He's a BOY!! 
Jue ~ 3D face (didn't stay still long enough to get a good picture)



Jenga's little (big) feet

Jue's little (big) feet
Jue kicking Jenga in the head


Janga's Profile 
Janga's face ~ big black thing on the side of the face is his open eye

Jue's Profile ~ he was being shy and laying on his belly so face was a bit squished 


Jue ~ going to sleep after a long scan 


They are both growing well and are a healthy size. They are very active and at the time of the scan where happily kicking each other in the head (one was head up and the other was head down). There are no signs of any problems at the moment but I will need 3 weekly scan to make sure that they are both sharing nicely as TTTTF (Twin To Twin Transfusion) can happen at any time.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

The Ever Growing Twin Belly Part 1

Over the past few weeks I have been taking weekly photos of my ever growing belly and I am just amazed by how fast it is growing.

10 Weeks 2 Day 



12 Weeks 1 Day

14 Weeks 


15 Weeks 


16 Weeks 1 Day

Thursday, October 28, 2010

The J's NT Results

The Results for both Janga and Jue are the same. 

T21 Down Syndrome 
Background Risk 1:51
With Scan ~ Adjusted Risk 1:254
With Blood & Scan ~ 1:1014

T18 (Edwards syndrome)
Background Risk 1:123
With Scan ~ Adjusted Risk 1:373
With Blood & Scan ~ 1:2463

T13 (Patau syndrome)
Background Risk 1:386
With Scan ~ Adjusted Risk 1:121
With Blood & Scan ~ 1:790


The reason for my concern is that there are 2 different schools of thought on the blood test results with twins. Normally the bloods are disregarded and only the scan is used. Without the bloods my risks are higher for T13 is 1:121 so that is a little worrying.


OB is not sure why my back groud risk of Downs is high for my age. It seems a little odd as there was no proof of downs last time so that shouldn't have come in to it.

He is sending me for my Morpholopy Scan in Brisbane at 19 weeks. So I have made an appointment for the 7th of December for my 2 hours scan. 

Freaking out a little with the T13 results, but no where near as freaked as I was last time. So now I am waiting again, bring on the 19 weeks scan.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Waiting, Worrying and Big Surprises

Well it's been awhile since I updated my blog, I really needed to know that everything was all right before updating my Blog. I am now 12 weeks pregnant and all is going well.


29th September 2010 
9 Weeks 2 Days


Well I went for my OB Anti-natal appointment. Midwife first, did all my paper work and explained how donor IVF worked etc. Little bit shocking that I have put on 4kg since the other week!!

Into OB (Dr Bush) where we chatted for a bit and then said lets do a scan! OK YAY! Didn't take long to find little Jenga, great heartbeat. Then he says 'oh look at this, that's interesting' Mum quickly said 'what is interesting we don't need any problems this time' OB says 'Oh there is just another baby that is all' Mum and I 'WHAT???!!!??? Jenga has a sibling in there!!!! 

Jenga and Jue are both ahead of schedule, both measuring at 9w4d with great heartbeats. Mum and I are both very much in shock at the moment 

OMG OMG!!! 2 for the Price of One!!! 

I only had one embryo put back - OMG




19th October 2010
12 Weeks 1 Day 

The day of my 12 weeks scan, for weeks I had been stressing about this day. All of the what if's, scary thoughts of everything that could be wrong. The lady who was doing the scan was running late and I had drunk 1 litre of water one and a half hours before hand so that the scan could be done. OMG I thought that I was going to burst. 

Finally it was turn, Mum and my Sister came in with me to share in what ever would happen. With in moments you could see 2 little heads 


WOW!!! Is all I could think, the OB was right there were 2 in there. Then it was on to measuring them both. The lower baby was first 'Jenga' who was busy moving around kicking and squirming. Great news 'Jenga' was a healthy size of 12 weeks 4 days and the little bit on the back of the neck - the NT was very very small, well with in the right and safe range and in the low risk group. With a great heart beat of 177 bmp. Phewwwww.......

Then it was on to the upper baby, 'Jue' who was playing a little hard to get. Great news again 'Jue' was also a healthy size also at 12 weeks 4 days with the NT well within the normal range and in the low risk group too. With a slightly lower heart rate of 169 bmp. Double Phewwww......... 

More good news, they are sharing a placenta but are both in their own sacks, which makes things a little easier. Now all I have to is wait for my OB appointment Wednesday for the official all clear and stats. 

Here are some more shots from the scan.
Jenga's Profile




Jue's Profile



All this worrying and stress has made me sick though, I am home sick with a Sinus Infection that doesn't seem to want to let up so have bitten the bullet and decided to take the Antibiotic. I am slowly coming off of the progesterone, I am now back down to two a day and I will be down to just one in a few days and will be off them totally within the week. 


I hope now that I can relax a little more and start enjoying this pregnancy.  

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Cycle 8 ~ The Results


Well the moment that you have been waiting for, the results of my 8th cycle. 


25th July  - Cycle Day 1 
3rd August  - Cycle Day 10 - First Blood Test - E2 Levels were 160+
5th August - Cycle Day 12 - Second Blood Test  - E2 Levels were 204
6th August - Cycle Day 13 - Follicle Scan 
8th August - Cycle Day 15 - Double Trigger of Ovidril
10th August - Cycle Day 17 - Ovulation 
14th August - Cycle Day 21 - Transfer of one great looking Blastocyst Embryo 
25th August - Cycle Day 32 - Pregnancy Blood Test 


OK so I have known for awhile but I needed to get my head around it before I shared it here.  So a picture is worth a thousand words so check it out. 



My numbers are good,

DPO16 
HCG ~ 192
Progesterone ~ 60.8


DPO21 
HCG  ~ 2635
Progesterone  ~ 63.1
That made my doubling rate every 44.46 hours so all was looking good


DPO30
HCG ~ 16076
Progesterone ~ 58.6
Doubling time 64.39 hours (or 52.6 from my first BT to my 3rd BT) which is really good 


Between the 2nd and 3rd blood tests I had some bright red spotting that scared me no end. It didn't last long but I decided that rest is what I needed, so spent most of last week on the couch. I was told by one of my clinic nurses to double up on my progesterone pessaries, which I have done and the bleeding has not returned. I will continue doing the progesterone until 12 weeks, my levels are good but it's better to be safe then sorry and it's a small price to pay for a little piece of mind.


On Friday I had my 6.5 week scan with my Specialist, Everything looks good and it was confirmed that my little one 'Jenga' had a great heartbeat and was the right length for it's age. 

Jenga at 6.5 weeks 6mm long with a little heartbeat 


My Due Date is the 2nd of May 2011, Although I am happy to be pregnant again I am so worried of history repeating itself, but will have to wait for the results of my 12 week scan to know all is well.

I have decided this time to go with a private OB and have booked in for my first anti-natal appointment with him and the midwife on the 29th of September. I am continuing my acupuncture sessions once a week until at least 12 weeks just to keep as relaxed as possible. I have been warned that my new OB doesn't approve of it, but I wont be stopping it as it makes me feel good and that can't be bad.

Now it's more waiting, this time for my 12 week NT scan. I am hoping and praying that this time it is good news. 

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

The Things I Do To Get Pregnant

Acupuncture ~ Many bruises over many sessions, here are just 2 of them

Right in the middle of my lower back

3 Days After Acupuncture 
Same one a week after 

Ear Pressure Points ~ I had to rub them every time I thought about it, around 10 times a day until they fell off. 
Right Ear

Left Ear 

Stay tunned for the results of my 8th cycle, not long now.......

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Natural FET Cycle Costs

Ok here is the costs of this cycle.

13209 Planning and Management (assisted reproductive technologies) 
Fee - $1,055.00
Rebate -$78.00
Total OOP - $977.00 

13218 Preparation of frozen or donated embryos or donated oocytes. 
Fee - $1,321.25
Rebate - $1,193.20
Total OOP - $128.05
Hospital Admin Fee $50 (as I have already paid my excess for this year.)

Subtotal - $1105.05

Medication
Ovidril (trigger) x2 - $69
Progesterone Pessaries - 3x $60 = $180
Medibank Private Pharmaceutical Refund - $-107

Total Out of Pocket - $1247.05

Also I did Acupuncture twice a week
1 Sessions @ $70 
5 Sessions @ $60 ($300)
Medibank Private Rebate -  $154.90
Subtotal  - $215.10


Grand total for this cycle - $1462.15

Not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I am really giving my private health cover a work out, real value for money IMO. Stay tuned for a cycle update sometime late next week. 



Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Cycle 8 ~ May It Be Gr8t

I have finally started my natural FET cycle. After stopping the pill on Wednesday the 21st, AF finally graced me with her presents on Sunday the 25th.

The Plan 
25/7 - Day 1
3/8 - Day 10 - Blood Test to check hormone levels
4/8 - Day 11 - Get blood test results from day 10

From the results of the blood test, my FS and clinic will decide if I need to have another blood test or if I am ready to have a scan to check if I have a good uterine lining and to check how big my follies are. Then when the time is right I will trigger ovulation with 2 injections of Ovidrel. 36 hours later I will ovulate then I wait another 5 days to have transfer. After transfer I will start on Progesterone Pessaries twice a day until the results of my pregnancy blood test are known. 


I am feeling good, I have just come back from holidays with my family and now I am ready and very excited to get on with this cycle. I am feeling more positive about this cycle then any other FET cycle so far, but only time will tell if the changes will help my little embryo become my future child in arms.  


So far it feels a little strange not to be actively doing anything other then taking my daily vitamins and supplement. All I have to do is sit back and wait for day 10 to roll around, then the fun will begin. 


'Please Universe let this be the cycle, All I am asking for is a health baby'