Some of our friends are doing in vitro fertilization attempts, at $10 G a
shot, because they can’t become pregnant — in their late 30′s.

We are wondering:

Given all other factors being equal, what are the probabilities of NOT
being able to have a natural insemination pregnancy at different ages?
What factors most influence those probabilities (e.g., a sister becoming
pregnant at age 36)?

Paul B and Aimee M
—
Paul Bowersox, bower…@colorado.edu, "…thinking as always that some
idle instinct bet might carry the whole thing off.  But no.  Just another
two bucks down the tube.  You bastards."             — Hunter Thompson
"Are you listening to fear, or to your heart?"         — Mike Scott

I’m in my 12th week LMP and for lack of anything else to worry about, I
worry that I have almost no symptoms of pregnancy. It’s not that they’ve
gone away; I didn’t have any, apart from no period, and slightly increased
breast density, and need for a lot of sleep. Even now I need less sleep and
am reganing my energy. Has anybody else had it that easy and been ok?

Thank you to everyone for responding to my earlier post asking whether or
not I would be pregnant with a positive home test – the final result is
that I am pregnant (confirmed at the Doctor’s on Friday).  Hopefully all
will go smoothly from here (except for feeling sick most of the time).  As
I have a phobia about needles (quite a dramatic one) my Doctor is going to
see if I can get away with less blood tests (I was told they do about three
separate tests here in NZ).  I am keeping my fingers crossed about that
one!

Thanks again for all your supportive messages.

Carol
(must be due about 7 or 8 August ’95)

Kezia-
    I think much of the time you can avoid an iv if allowed to drink.   But
your best bet for avoiding an iv is to not go to the hospital too early. If
you’re taking good childbirth classes you should be learning about the phases
of labour, when you are latent, active, late active, etc.  You will know
better when it is time to go. Obviously I’m not suggesting you have the baby
in your car but most people I know think that it is best not  to go until
active labour is well established. Then perhaps alot of your concerns will not
even be factors. With my first I went when my contractions were 3 min apart
even though they weren’t very strong. They told me I wasn’t even in labour and
to go home but my water broke so they kept me. I had an IV, Epidural etc. With
my second I was much better prepared with Bradley classes I went when I knew
it was time. I was 7 cent. and labored at the birth center only one hour
before second stage. I had no iv, no epidural, or any intervention and had the
best birth experience. Hope your’s is even better.  Kerry

Hi,

I just wanted to thank everyone who
responded to my post about the treatment
I had gotten at a maternity store due
to my looking so young!!

I think that I’ve replied personally
to everyone who send me e-mail, but
if I haven’t I apologize, and I’ll
let you know what happened in this
post…..

I actually went in and spoke with the
manager of the store. She gave me a
great discount on the clothes that
I had wanted and she also promised
to speak to her salesperson.

Thanks again for everyone’s supportive
replies.

Regards,

Nancy
due May25/95
—
============================================================
My opinions are my own because no one else would want them!!
============================================================
Nancy Milinkovich

    Just wanted to thank everyone who responded to my post "single mom-to-
be".  Everyone was so supportive.  However, last week I miscarried and
I’m not sure how I feel about it at the moment – I’m heading into exams
right now & under a lot of stress besides.  The pregnancy wasn’t planned
or anything and was taking some adjusting (MAJOR!) but it was upsetting
anyway.  
        Anyway thanks again – I’ll be checking in here now & then anyways
and also in other kids stuff because I just became an aunt on the weekend!
(sorry if I’m a little confused in my post but I’ve been up all night
studying).
               LIZ
——————————————————————————
Elizabeth Bolt

I have just found out I’m pregnant, but I have been having some spotting
(actually, it’s so minor, I’d almost have to call it staining) and I am
worrying about it. I had a positive home pregnancy test last Monday, and was
planning to go if and get the "official" lab test on Wednesday, but I started
spotting on Tuesday. I went to the doctor, who did a serum preg. test and
confirmed that I am pregnant (about 6 weeks). He checked me out, said the
cervix was closed, told me to go home and rest and follow up in 2 days. I did
and was told the same thing – rest, everything looks OK, probably just normal
bleeding that some women experience. He told me if I started to spot again to
rest rather than add more stress by making a trip to the doctor. All was OK on
Thursday and Friday, then Saturday I started staining again. Today is Monday,
and it hasn’t gone away completely. I don’t have any cramps to speak of,
although I did have some low back pain on Satuday. The staining is very light
in volume – hardly enough to show up on my undies. It is not at all bloody
looking – a light brown with maybe just a litle pinkish cast to it.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? How long should I let this go on
before I call the doctor again?

Thanks in advance. I am trying not to worry and my husband has been great, but
it’s hard not to think about it!

Frances

…but then I had my first prenatal today, and my doc said my uterus
measured 14 weeks!!!  Meaning, either I have a double yolk in there, or
I’m just more pregger than my last period would indicate.  Wow!  Have an
ultrasound scheduled for next week to find out what’s what.  Just too
excited to hold on to it all by myself!

Robin & dumpling(s?)
Massachusetts

As some folks here know from reading my other posts, I have been very
concerned about my doctors’ attitude towards the birthing process, so much
so that I am in the process of finding a new doctor in my third trimester.

I haven’t switched yet, so at my routine prenatal yesterday I pulled out
my questions and went through them with doctor #3 of the 4 at my present
practice.  He was consistent with the others.  Let me tell you some of the
things he said – I’d like to know if any of you think I am right to be
dismayed.

1. Episiotomies: he said he was aware of perineal massage, but that the
necessity for an episiotomy was determined by the size of the baby.  Does
not want to support alternate birthing positions (squatting, supported
standing) because of inconvenience in catching the baby.

2. Birth plans: he just laughed and said that when women put together a
birth plan it usually contains all kinds of crackpot things that are
"unscientific" and that it would all be probably ignored in the heat of
delivery anyway.  When pressed for an example he came up with the
"pulsating cord."  I was left with the impression that he thought my
concerns about natural birth in general fell under the same heading of
crackpot.

3. He actually stated that since birth is so painful all my present
concerns are essentially pointless (ie I will end up screaming for the
drugs anyway).  Given his manner I realized that he sees himself as the
"white knight" who rides to the rescue of the hapless women in his
delivery room.  He said he was opposed to anything that would distract
from his helping me "get through it."

This was all such a downer; at this point I would rather hear that birth
is a strenuous, but natural, potentially exhiliarating experience.  If I
didn’t have the support of some of the folks in this group I think I might
really be deep in self doubt by now.

Thanks for listening!

KeziaK
due 2/25/95