Posts by coastalgull

It’s terrifying how quickly a place that used to feel like home can suddenly become a total dead end with no way out. I can't stop thinking about how fragile that sense of security actually is when things start falling apart. Does anyone else feel like the world is getting increasingly unpredictable lately?

Michelle Nelson4 said:Oh, man... 😢
Actually, you can get those contractions during labor too, or even postpartum while your midsection is snapping back (a close friend of mine dealt with that after losing weight really quickly following birth). It seems like there’s never a dull moment when it comes to these little surprises...

On a different note—nothing is getting on my nerves right now. In fact, I am feeling indescribably upbeat because I finally managed to sleep through an entire night for the first time in what feels like forever. I suppose this rainy weather just helped me relax. I had already mentally prepared myself for two more years of sleepless nights, so this was such a lovely surprise🙂 Should I go buy a lottery ticket?

😲

It just bugs me because I feel like I delivered right on schedule (almost two weeks ago) just to dodge all this bullshit. Only after the baby was out did the swelling, rapid weight gain, and tearing start happening. 😢

God forbid things get any worse. 😢

Labor pains hitting me at 42 weeks, totally out of nowhere 😲

I actually deactivated my Facebook account yesterday. I just hit my breaking point after being asked for the millionth time if I’d already had kids. 😠 😠

At 40 weeks and 3 days, the thing that’s driving me absolutely nuts is the constant barrage of calls and texts from everyone asking if the baby is here yet. It feels like I can't even send a quick message to anyone without them assuming I'm announcing the big news. 🙂

Hold off on seeing the OBGYN for a bit. It’s still way too early, and even an ultrasound won't show much right now. You're better off waiting until Monday to get another beta test done to see if those levels are doubling.

I didn't head to my doctor until I was already 7 weeks along. Honestly, I don't think they even like it when people show up this early. 🤷

edit: Congrats! 😉

Brandon Robinson19 said:Is it actually possible to still have a chemical pregnancy at this stage, or is that window closed? P.S. Honestly, I couldn't care less about celebrating or anything else.

It can happen. I had a biochemical pregnancy that lasted until about 6 weeks, probably because my cycles tend to be longer.
But don't dwell on it right now. Think pink 😉

On my first day of a missed period, Google showed a thick red line, just as dark as the control line. It popped up in literally seconds. 🤷

Brandon Robinson19 said:Alright, I'll probably head in tomorrow, right on the day I'm expecting my period. I guess... based on the levels, would they be able to tell how far along I might be?

I don't think so. It’s not a super reliable way to figure out how old the pregnancy is since those levels fluctuate so much. You're better off counting the weeks from the first day of your last period. I think someone else already mentioned that up there.
You can also use this calculator: http://www.e-beba.com/trudnoca/prvi-...na-poroda.html

If you aren't sure when your last period was, your doctor will determine the gestational age using an ultrasound.

You can get your beta levels checked at a clinic like CityMD (right over by the Library of Congress). You just walk in, tell them you need a beta test, give them a blood sample, and you'll have results in about an hour. I think it runs around $160-$57. My OBGYN wouldn't even write me a referral for it, claiming "it's only for women undergoing IVF" 🙄, so I just went through a private lab myself.

If you're experiencing pregnancy-like symptoms but aren't actually pregnant, it might just be a hormonal imbalance. 🤷

Just my two cents.

I never really gave much thought to how many kids I wanted until my mom got seriously ill. Suddenly, the entire physical and emotional weight of it all landed squarely on me and my sister.

Every single day, I felt so grateful to God that I had at least one sibling by my side. If it had just been me, I don't think I could have handled fighting for her alone.

We actually had the luxury of "tag-teaming" everything. We took turns stepping up so Mom always had someone strong there with her—someone who was actually capable of handling things. If I were an only child, I wouldn't have had that luxury.

It might sound selfish to want more children just so there are more hands on deck when you get old, but honestly, it makes life easier for the kids too, since they can share the burden together.

Trump, I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. 😢

I’ve been checking in on this thread from time to time, and I have to say, I'm really moved by how you handled your mom's illness. I honestly think of you both every time I walk past your apartment building (I know from other threads we live in the same neighborhood).

We all face losing someone we love eventually, and when that day comes, I just hope I can be even half as strong as you were.

Hang in there. 🙂