+1 to being sure you have that year in. A lot of HR people seem to not really be up on the issues around 'maternity leave' (here [DOD civilian side], they definitely aren't) so you really want to be sure you can use FMLA if you need it.

It took me about 3 1/2 years to have the max leave. I've been a fed for 7.5 years and now have like 5 months of sick and annual leave and I carry over the 240hour max every year. I never really take vacation (a day here, a day there), didn't have a honeymoon, I don't take sick days too often, and have been saving it specifically in case I ever need maternity or other family problem leave.
However, once you have your 240 in the bank, it's pretty liberating and you feel OK taking a day off here and there.

plus, with the furloughs I actually intend to use my day off for all my OB appointments when I can so I don't have to take more time off. Silver lining!

waiting to go off mine...but like you, it's worrying. Good luck, and congrats of getting to this point!

(I wonder if you can do a gradual reduction to ease your mind?)

I was GW IVF (yay for GW success!) and have my OB appointment with Metz tomorrow - I'll report back, but I picked her based on the recommendations here on another thread.

Good luck!!

We did the Counsyl test because we are both Jewish. It is pretty essential, and we found out I am a carrier for one disease and him another. I thought it was very worthwhile.

Anyway, I am really feeling crappy. Yesterday I barely left the house. It isn't throwing up, it is a complete lack of energy and overall queasiness - I feel sea sick all the time and get 'the burps'. I have no appetite until I am starving. I am trying to be positive about this - that this could be a sign of a healthy pregnancy and all that. I have night nausea, which is better than feeling sick all day at work.

During the day. Am trying to get outside for a bit each day and today I walked home from getting a mani/pedi just over a mile and it felt good.

Hope people feel better than me!

I'm also pretty retentive when it comes to cleaning, but something is making me notice every speck of dirt and the prospect is overwhelming.

i don't think it'll be a long term thing, but if i didnt do it, I'd get more and more angry over the state of the place!

I wouldn't qualify for GW midwives because I'm overweight. So, given that...I have the "f 'em" attitude. My money can go elsewhere even though I'm prefectly healthy and my recent weight gain is overwhelmingly IVF (and my husband coming home from deployment). Medicine isn't cut and dry, so being put in one category bothered me and that was that. I'm sure people love them, but I didn't want "all eyes on the fat lady", you know?

thanks for the ? suggestions, Poppy. I'm going to have a normal, boring child birth (god willing) - I'm not really a midwife/alternate health person. I understand avoiding c-section, but I am so early that I'm not really concerned about any of it now, just want to get through the first tri/early second tri!
The what we should look for that might cause unnecessary anxiety is a good one.

I ended up calling GW and a nurse called me back, she told me to take tylonol (which I didn't do) and spend some time on a heating pad - which I did do, and I rested with a pillow under my knees for a bit. It seems to have helped. I think one issue is that the night before, I was on a bar stool for hours during trivia (the only sober trivia players and we still didn't win!) and my chair/desk situation at work is terrible. I want to buy a lumbar pillow and a foot stand sometime this weekend if I can.

Hope everyone else is well....thank goodness it's Friday. Ugh. I broke down and got a housekeeper and they start tomorrow with a deep clean. Every other week, it's something I don't have to worry about even though it's wasted money, I justified it by not wanting to expose myself to the chemicals in cleaning products or wanting to exert my body that way right now <shrug> lol

I have had on and off cramping, too (and yesterday mild back pain which seems to have gone away thanks to a little bit of time on the heating pad per the nurse's recommendation when I called).
I think the cramps that feel like you're a few hours from your period starting (that's how it felt like for me) are normal. This is my first pregnancy, but I'm under the impression that unless they are more painful than normal or accompanied by spotting/blood, you should be fine. This is what the nurse told me yesterday.

If you're worried, get to the doctor sooner, but I tend to agree with your friend. Hopefully it's all ok and you have a happy healthy 9 months! Congrats!

FWIW I have always struggled with my weight, lost a lot (70+ lbs) then started IVF. Between the drugs and it being able to follow my normal 6 time a week vigorous workout schedule has sucked for me mentally and physically. I really think if you don't know someone's circumstances, it's none of business. I am overweight now but am still pregnant and will prib be in maternity pants soon largel because I don't want to keep buying a size up when maternity pants might solve the problem. never saw myself as lazy, just medically limited in the last few months in order to actually get pregnant. Hopefully my friends/coworkers aren't judging.
To OP....it was a little rude of the midwife but I'd move on and chalk it up to poorly chosen words...unless its a pattern of disrespectful statements. Hope you have a happy and healthy 9 months in comfy pants!

This wasn't to me because I am too early to tell people, but a woman in another department was pregnant and is very petite to you could tell it wasn't weight. A (male) coworker was away at training for a while, came back and said, "wow, ----- gotFAT!".
Me: "um, she's pregnant"
him: "oh. Well, still, she looks really fat"

Hence why I am both struggling to decide I I would even tell my office or just let them figure it out AND am glad this guys tour in our office is over!

You could email the embryologist and ask. But they shouldn't have issues calling you back.

I feel bad that it isn't running as well with their short staffing - I'm sure they're run ragged, in an already difficult field.

Nothing to report here other than anxiety over waiting for the OB appointment! It I have to wait a month between appointments after this one, I don't know how I'll cope. I'm going to try to express this when I go, that because of IVF I'm extra anxious and am happy to pay for extra care if necessary in the first trimester.

Does anyone have any good questions to bring up at your first OB appintment? I'm trying to think of some - I've got some listed about exercise (which I haven't been able to do since I started IVF), a random eye twitch in my right eye that has started but that's about it.

crowd sourcing to see if there's any good ones out there I might not know to think about

Well, I can't afford a nanny and we are working wit another couple re:a nanny share, but that isn't without problems. The reality is, both of us have to work and I can't afford a solo nanny nor do I really want that for my child since I want them in some sort of community. That said, we applied to three BH facilities, CCLC (which I can't really afford). GAO and commerce kids.
An affordable nanny share would be great if they are pet friendly (save us money on a dog walker!) but like I said, neither option perfect so am trying to be covered on each side.
Except for the PP who said the only good option is staying home...well, since I clearly didn't marry for money I guess I shouldnt have had a kid. Oh well, I assure itll suffer a life of public schools just like both its parents!

Hope you are all well!
This is the longest between appointments I have gone (being monitored is a luxury inconvenience). No OB u til next week so I am still very nervous.
I am still occasionally queasy but no real sickness. And when I am sitting for a while and then get up, I tend to be queasy or get a short mild headache. And my boob pain still comes and goes. I really need as new bra or two...I have one wirefree one and it's the most comfortable because I don't spill out!
I also got two pairs of bigger pants because I am fatter than I am comfortable with. I haven't been able to work out, so I know I am gaining.cant wait for e OB to tell me what I can resume doing. Ivf really takes it out of you in that regard, u fortunately.

Anyway I hope you all enjoy e lovely weekend weather and are feeling great!

Yay for another due date thread! I hope you all have a happy and healthy 9 months!

-an October mom to be, also staying cautiously optimistic