Vaginal Guru is a mum!

It's been awhile since I've been on here, but now that I'm back to ttc again I'm hoping to be on a bit more.

Brief history, ttc-ed for 3.5 years, 5 miscarriages then finally got lucky with my amazing daughter who is now 20 months. While I was trying to conceive with her I never tried with any ovulation after cycle day 22 as my fertility doc told me that there's generally some diminished quality.

So I'm now trying for number 2, still nursing my toddler, first period was last month, and now it's cycle day 26 and I have a positive ovulation test. I know the late ovulation is from breastfeeding, but does anyone know if there would be any egg quality issues? Have other moms conceived while nursing with late ovulations, and if so what was the result?

Thanks ladies!

My daughter is now 6 months old, I exclusively breastfed, and have just started introducing foods this week. I still haven't gotten my period (which I havent expected yet considering how much she feeds, and how much blood loss i had after labour), just wanted to hear from other women who breastfed, how long did it take for your cycles to come back? I'm looking towards trying for another baby in the fall, but am now starting to doubt I'll be ovulating by then!

My daughter is almost 4.5 months, I am exclusively breastfeeding, and not planning on introducing anything before 6 months. I do plan on continuing to breastfeed til at least a year (though hopefully longer) to give my child the bulk of her nutrition. Obviously the biggest issues in my mind are protein and iron. I plan on making all my own baby food, but am looking for some recipes. Obviously I dont need recipes for plain pureed vegetables, but I'd love to find a book with vegetarian baby food recipes that have complex proteins, and a good source of iron. Anyone have any recommendations? Or any recipes they've used? I've also considered mixing omega 3 supplements (dha) in within her food, and would love to hear from anyone who has dont this (what supplement did you use, how much, did baby taste it). Ideally I'd like to steer clear of all soy, since I havent yet found any studies that can prove the phytoestrogens are harmless for babies/toddlers.

I have already talked to my pediatrician who is very supportive and sees no issue with raising her vegetarian. I have been veg since I was 4, my husband has been vegan for over 15 years.

My daughter is almost 4.5 months, I am exclusively breastfeeding, and not planning on introducing anything before 6 months. I do plan on continuing to breastfeed til at least a year (though hopefully longer) to give my child the bulk of her nutrition. Obviously the biggest issues in my mind are protein and iron. I plan on making all my own baby food, but am looking for some recipes. Obviously I dont need recipes for plain pureed vegetables, but I'd love to find a book with vegetarian baby food recipes that have complex proteins, and a good source of iron. Anyone have any recommendations? Or any recipes they've used? I've also considered mixing omega 3 supplements (dha) in within her food, and would love to hear from anyone who has dont this (what supplement did you use, how much, did baby taste it). Ideally I'd like to steer clear of all soy, since I havent yet found any studies that can prove the phytoestrogens are harmless for babies/toddlers.

I have already talked to my pediatrician who is very supportive and sees no issue with raising her vegetarian. I have been veg since I was 4, my husband has been vegan for over 15 years.

I haven't posted in quite a while, so first off for my contact Adelaide and I are doing great, 4 months along and growing like a weed! Motherhood has been lovely and I appreciate every moment of it.

Now that being said, I'm already starting to look towards baby number two since it took us 3.5 years to have this lovely baby (though I wont start trying til at least the summer/fall).

Twelve days after birth I started hemorrhaging, I called 911, and lost about 4-5 pints of blood in the ER before they realized I had a very bad case of retained placenta and got me into surgery. I decided not to get a transfusion, cause I was coping fairly well with the blood loss, and didn't want to risk contracting anything/passing it on through breast milk. Recovery was very very slow, and it took almost 8 weeks after for me to feel normal again.

So now I feel great, and am looking to the future, but my big fear now is having the same issue happen again. So for anyone out there who has had a retained placenta, and a subsequent pregnancy, was there anything extra done during your subsequent pregnancy/labour to help prevent retained placenta? And also if you did have a second child, did you have retained placenta again (as the rates are much higher if you've previously had one).

Just a quick update. Last Sunday I went in for a non stress test cause I was over due. The monitors picked up some contractions, and then when I was checked they said I was 4cm, 90% effaced, and that I wouldnt be going home. They broke my water, I laboured for 4 hours with little progress, so pitocin was started. I made it for 5 hours on pitocin before begging for the epi. Sadly my epi didnt work (it numbed me up in my chest, so they had to stop it, but from that point labour progressed really quickly, and after half an hour of pushing Adelaide was born at 8lbs 5oz. She is perfect, and I fall more and more in love with her every day. I find myself missing sleep not because she's fussing, just because I can't stop staring at her.

Now for my question. How long did it take you to heal after birth? I had 4 seerate tears (one of them 3rd degree). I had a hymanal ring tear, a perinial tear, and then two around my labia. It took 3 doctors half an hour to put me back together (luckily I had baby on me, so the state of my vagina didn;t matter.

So how long was it until you could:

Walk normally?

Pee without stinging around stitches?

Easily get up and out of chairs?

I feel like I've tried everything I'd heard of (other than castor oil, which I'm just not desperate enough to try). I'm 40.5 weeks pregnant now, and will be induced in a week if it doesnt happen naturally.

We've been having regular sex. I've tried nipple stimulation, spicy foods, walking, birth ball, orgasms, acupressure......I'm running out of ideas, and am willing to try just about anything safe/natural to avoid a pitocin drip.

Obviously everyone is different, I'm just looking for a general feel. I'm 36 weeks and 4 days, started losing my plug about 4 days ago. Lots of pressure, baby is nice and low, perfect position, and doc says I'm good to go anytime.

First off for my contacts, I know I never update anymore, and I've been spending no time on here, sorry! I'm 28 weeks now with my baby girl, doing well, feeling good. She's a feisty little one, and I enjoy every kick.

Now that I'm officially in the third trimester I've been thinking more and more about labour, and what my ideal labour would be like. I've read a bit on groaning cakes (cakes baked during early labour), but haven't heard of anyone who has actually tried it.

The thought of an apple + cinnamon cake baking in the oven sounds so soothing and like it would create the perfect atmosphere while at home, plus cake would definitely keep my energy levels up if labour is long.

So has anyone out there done this? Any stories/recipes to share?

I've got a posterior placenta, and have been feeling flutters since around 15 weeks, and they have been getting stronger every day (as I would expect). Now at 21 weeks my little girl is quite a kicker. All day and night she kicks away, and it can be felt very very easily from the outside.

So my question is, if I'm feeling it this clearly already, will I be in agony during the last month of pregnancy?

I'm by no means complaining, I love every kick I feel, and spend hours a day with my hands on my belly, I'm just wondering how much stronger these will be getting.

And for my contacts, as an update, first off I'm sorry. I have had no urge to go near the computer during my second trimester. I'm 21 weeks now, with a healthy baby girl, I'm feeling great and am loving the 2nd trimester and every second of pregnancy. I hope everyone's doing well, and if you want to get in touch email (even though I've been avoiding the computer I'm still addicted to my blackberry!).

I've been trying to conceive for 3 years, have had 5 losses, and am finally 14 weeks pregnant with a healthy babe.

I'm trying not to worry, but I don't think I'll relax fully until I can feel baby moving.

My placenta is prosterior, and I've heard from midwife/ob friends that with prosterior placentas some women can feel movement at 15 weeks (though that seems a bit early to me).

So, when did you first feel your baby move, and (if you happen to know) where was your placenta?

It seems like every year yellow jackets become more of a problem in our backyard. I do all the normal things to avoid attracting them, the garbage is securely covered away from the yard, and I never leave any food or drinks out.

So does anyone know anyways to naturally deter them? A few friends of mine have severe allergies, and by August the yellow jackets can get so aggressive that it becomes hard to enjoy my garden.

I put up fake nests I found at a store that is suppose to stop them from building within 200 feet, but it seems unlikely to work. So does anyone have any suggestions?

I am avoiding any kind of chemicals because I grow fruit in my garden, and I don't want to kill off my pollenating bees.

I went for my 12 week screening today. Before I was pregnant I was 122 lbs, today at 12 weeks 2 days, I'm...123lbs, with a full bladder and stomach. I'm 5'6", so a healthy weight for my height, but was a little put off by the fact that I haven't gained anything yet!

I know you're not suppose to gain much during the first trimester, but I expected at least something. I've been very careful, trying to eat a very healthy balanced diet (plus I have hubby saying "healthy choices for baby"), but am I not eating enough? My belly has grown though, and my old pants no longer button, so is my body just redistributing??

And for my contacts, I had my 12 week scan today, everything was perfect, all measurements right on point, and I'm told I can finally relax!

Normally I love skinny tight jeans, but ever since about 8 weeks, they've been too tight around my belly, so I've been getting by with some older baggier jeans, and a few pairs of yoga pants.

Today, after a lovely ultrasound, I decided to go out and buy some maternity jeans as a little celebration to making it past what my doctor called the danger zone (I've had multiple early miscarriages).

Now the woman in the store told me they normally recommend waiting til after 20 weeks to buy maternity jeans! Since after you pop your hips are tends to get a bit bigger, and if you buy them before that, they might not still fit.

So what do women wear before that 20 week mark?? When did you ladies start buying maternity jeans?

I bought myself a nice pair of comfy maternity jeans that look good. I guess worst case scenario is I'll need another in 9 weeks.

And, for my contacts, I had a lovely ultrasound this morning, baby has grown from a peanut to a full fledged baby. He/she was moving around, kicking, flipping, he/she also got a bit annoyed with the ultrasound wand and kept turning away. Everything is great and healthy, heartbeat 167, and I've been told I can relax! http://preg.fertilityfriend.com/ug/entry/7606066.h...

I've had 5 losses. I'm currently 9 weeks 1 day pregnant. I had an ultrasound yesterday and saw my lovely peanut, with a nice heartbeat of 170. Normally with my pregnancies my baby measures small, and the heartbeats under 120. So obviously this pregnancy is different.

I can't seem to relax though. I've been getting weekly ultrasounds to monitor, and every week I'm insanely nervous. I told myself that if I still had a healthy bean at 9 weeks I would start to relax, but I'm not.

Yesterday I had a new ultrasound tech, and was in the same room as the last time I was told I was miscarrying. New tech wouldn't tell me a thing! 5 minutes of taking measurements and making me lose my mind before she told me that everything was fine and let me see the bean.

I know it's partly due to hormones, but I break down at each ultrasound.

So for women with previous loses, when were you able to relax in your subsequent healthy pregnancy?

I normally get morning sickness, but never this bad. All day long. It wakes me up through the night. I have trouble keeping anything down. I have tried a few things (eating foods high in protein, crackers through the night, lots of small meals through the day, extra vitamin b6), but nothing seems to be helping me. Every time it gets bad I remind myself that it means baby is doing good, and that hopefully it'll get better in the next few weeks, but I would love to find some way to decrease it just a bit, any tips?

And of course for my contacts, had my scan today at 8 weeks 0 days, heartbeat 160, baby looking good, and on the video you could see little arms and legs! This is the healthiest pregnancy I've ever had, and I'm feeling very optimistic.

Here's a picture of the bean taken an hour ago http://preg.fertilityfriend.com/ug/entry/7606132.h... its grainy and not to clear, but lovely all the same.

I'm 7 weeks, have had multiple losses, and just went in for my first scan today. I was so nervous, but luckily I had a lovely tech who let my husband come in with me, and 30 seconds into the scan she turned to me and said "everything is perfect".

Little bub is measuring perfect, heartbeat is perfect, yolk sac is perfect, everything was clear, and looked amazing. Bub is cute, the ultrasound tech agreed. So as of right now, everything is perfect, next scan will be same time next week. I had a blood test too, but wont find out my hcg levels until later today.

Now question. I've been having trouble keeping down my prenatal vitamin. Morning sickness has gotten the best of me, and once it start to desolve my stomach wants nothing to do with it. So I've been breaking it into 3 parts and taking them throughout the day during any point where the nausea settles down. It's working, but it's not ideal, so any other way's to cope with morning sickness when taking prenatals?

Hope everyone is having as lovely of a day as I am.

I've been trying to conceive for 2.5 years, and have had 5 losses.

I'm 6 weeks, 4 days now, earliest natural ovulation, fastest rising hcg levels, and symptoms completely different from my past pregnancies. All of these things have me very very hopeful.

I go in Thursday morning for my first ultrasound. Hubby will be coming with me of course, but they don't actually allow them in the room until after a heartbeat has been found.

This is the ultrasound that went badly for me during my last pregnancy, and the fact that I'm going at the same time, to the same clinic, it just feels like a set up for a completely horrible deja vu experience.

I've been trying to keep busy, and keep my mind off of it, but I really don't know who I'll handle laying back on that same bed waiting to see if there's a heartbeat.

I know everyone feels nervous before ultrasounds, I always have, but now I feels so much worse. Honestly, my palms broke out into a sweat just typing this. I'm just not sure if I could handle yet another loss.

So any tips on how to cope with the worry before that lovely heartbeat comes up on the ultrasound?

For those who don't know my story, I've been trying to conceive for the past 2.5 years, have had 5 miscarriages from auto-immune issues, was suppose to start injectables, but got accidently pregnant the cycle before on my earliest natural ovulation ever. Currently 5 weeks pregnant, and on blood thinners and progesterone to help this one stick.

I tested positive very early, at 8DPO. I've had 3 HCG tests done (my doubling time was 26-28 hours, fastest ever), I feel good, different from my last pregnancies, and generally very optimistic about this bean.

I have 14 more days before I get my first ultrasound (on April fools if the ultrasound tech makes any jokes I'll kill her), and I'm honestly not sure how I'm going to last until then.

So for the women who have had losses, how did you cope in later pregnancies. Any advice on how to relax until I can get the reassurance of my bean with a lovely heartbeat?

Many of you know my story. I've had 5 miscarriages in the past 2.5 years. I've been diagnosed with autoimmune and egg quality issues. I was suppose to start injectables next weekend, but accidently got pregnant on an unmedicated cycle (somehow through all this the hubby and I still have a sex life, weird).

I think I've peed on at least 25 pregnancy tests in the past 72 hours (I get them cheap online, I'm an addict, what can I say). I LOVE watching the two lines come up. I love how it gets darker and thicker with each test. I love every twinge I feel.

I know it sounds strange, but I welcome every symptom most other women get annoyed by. I want it all, and dont care how bad I feel as long as those two lines keep coming up thicker and darker.

So tomorrow I'll be calling my fertility doc to tell him the good news. And he'll tell me not to get my hopes up (despite this cycle being the earliest ovulation I've ever had in my life, cycle day 16!). I wish I could put it off, put off the blood tests and ultrasounds and stress, but alas I'm out of progesterone suppositories, so I will have to be poked, proded, and told not to get excited.

I know it's crazy, and the rational side of me says not to do it, but I am completely positive about the miniture bean inside my uterus right now.

So my question, is it bad to get too optimistic with a new pregnancy when you have a history of miscarriages? For those who do have a history of losses, how do you feel with each new pregnancy?