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Swistle asked us how we found out we were pregnant. And what Swistle’s asks, Jennifer answers.
Tate and I decided that it was time to make a baby. I don’t leave a lot to chance, I’m a planner, see. I decided to start charting and charting I did. Obsessively. When I wasn’t pregnant the first two months, I made an appointment with my OB/Gyn. (There are some known fertility issues between Tate and myself that I really cannot discuss here.) I took in my meticulously completed charts. Tate had even made one up on an Excel spreadsheet because he’s a D.O.R.K.. I showed my chart to my doctor and told him how concerned I was that I STILL WASN’T PREGNANT AFTER TWO WHOLE MONTHS OF TRYING. WAAH, WAAH!
The doctor was probably trying to keep himself from rolling his eyes or shooing me directly out the door, but he was very kind and let me know that I had nothing to worry about. “It’s completely normal for perfectly healthy couples to take up to a year to get pregnant. You’re fine. And really, you don’t need to chart to get pregnant.”
But I wanted to be pregnant RIGHT NOW. I was ready RIGHT NOW. And the charting book said it shouldn’t take longer than four months if we were healthy?? What was this crazy talk about taking a year???
I got pregnant the next month.
It was day 30 or 31 of my cycle and I decided to take a test. I waited until morning since I am a direction follower, especially when it comes to being pregnant or not pregnant. The directions also said to wait five minutes before reading the results. Five minutes when you want to be pregnant feels very much like five decades, but since I was afraid that if I didn’t follow the directions, I wouldn’t be pregnant, I waited five minutes. After the brutal wait, I carefully took the test out of my drawer where I’d hidden it (so that I couldn’t peek) and saw two barely visible pink lines. I had to squint to even see them.
Surely this was a defective test? Barely visible=Defective test OR not pregnant, right? I knew from having obsessively read the test’s directions, but both Tate and I were very skeptical, certain that there was an error.
I had to go to out of town that day for a friend’s birthday party. Since I wasn’t sure if I was pregnant, I didn’t drink or eat lunch meat or feta or breathe that evening. When I got home the next day, Tate was waiting for me at the front door holding a pregnancy test. We decided to be crazy rule breakers and I went and took the test right then (at 12:00 in the afternoon) and watched the little window as the test did it’s magic. Within seconds, there were two VERY visible pink lines. To be sure, we stared, dumbfounded for the full five minutes just to make sure the second pink line didn’t disappear. It didn’t.
We sat on our bed together, hugging and laughing and crying. It was one of the best and scariest moments of my life.
For Ella, we charted also, but I was much less obsessive with charting. We got pregnant the second month of trying. I secretly took the test one morning (around day 33 of my cycle) since I had a been a raving lunatic the previous week and suspected I was pregnant. It was about 5:40am, Tate was in the shower. The test was immediately positive. I started pacing back and forth in front of the shower, scared, but less so than last time, ecstatic, amazed, and impatient for Tate to finish showering. Finally he got out of the shower and asked what I was doing walking around the bathroom. I showed him the test and….I don’t really remember his reaction. That makes me sad.
I love that feeling, right after finding out that you are pregnant, when you can’t believe that you’re really pregnant and there is a tiny, wee human growing inside. The feeling is best before you tell anyone, it’s your little secret. Before we told anyone, I would look around me and wonder if anyone could just tell I was with child by my “glow.”
So tell me, or go tell Swistle, how did you find out?
Ooh…All three of mine were ahem, surprises, there was no need to plan or chart or anything. I needed some blog fodder today so I’ll hop to it .
Jean’s last blog post..Just Call Me Rockin Momma 247
Aww, I love hearing all these stories. It makes me teary and emotional.
I posted about mine on July 2nd. http://mommydaisy.blogspot.com/2007/07/breaking-baby-news.html
Mommy Daisy’s last blog post..Now what do I do?
I was convinced I’d have problems conceiving because I have other medical issues so I started taking *super* good care of myself months in advance of trying and I started charting months before I stopped taking the pill (to make sure I knew my body’s range, or something). We didn’t try too much the first month (to get rid of those nasty pill hormones that create babies with extra appendages and super powers) but we did the second month (which was Christmas, so we spent a lot of time not “doing it” since we were spending time at family members homes). I knew when I should test but I wanted to be alone so that I could deal, one way or the other. I secretly peed in a cup and hid it in the bathroom until after hubby went to work (I wasn’t working at the time) and then did the test and walked away for the allotted time. When I came back I saw that faint little second line and just stared. And stared. And didn’t quite know *what* to think. I spent all day on the couch, knitting tiny little baby booties and trying to figure out what to think about being pregnant. I hung the booties at eye-level where hubby would see them the instant he came in the door… and waited. When he came home he looked at them, looked at me, and said “NO SHIT!” Not quite the reaction I was expecting!
#2 I charted, but not as stringently, and for months nothing happened and I started to get worried and then one day I’d sent an email to hubby about something but he misinterpreted the message and thought I was telling him I was pregnant so he came home all giddy and I had to correct him and he said “oh, go take a test anyways!” (kidding, though). A little while later I did and it was positive so I walked out into the room where he was at, wrapped my arms around him from behind and said “Well I don’t know what to say. You were right!” He was confused, though, so I had to explain and then we had a big giddy excited nervous laugh.
Kelly’s last blog post..Dear Ethan - 41 months
Your obsessive charting cracks me up. Gee, control issues much?
I’m the same way, though, and I think it makes sense. Obviously when you FINALLY decide you are ready to be pregnant, you want to be pregnant RIGHT NOW.
Shelly’s last blog post..Two Pink Lines
I get a kick out of Tate making the spreadsheet. My husband did the same thing when I was trying to nurse, with feeding times, amounts (if supplemented formula) and diaper changes/consistencies. Men are so crazy.
AndreAnna’s last blog post..Skeletor wants YOU!
sheesh, i’ve been trying to write some version of this for about two months. it will still have to wait tho. when you have four kids, there’s a lot to say!
janet’s last blog post..Exercising my good judgment
I love the time right after the test, too! I love figuring out the due date and starting my name lists!
Men RARELY give satisfying reactions.
Swistle’s last blog post..Pregnancy Tests: How’d You Find Out?
Yours is so warming actually. Pregnancy for us was (and is) a very difficult and long journey. So ours was planned with an RE and all that jazz. Oy ve! BTW, I have some blog bling for you at my place when and if you ever get bored.
MamaGeek’s last blog post..Bloomtastic
Oh, love this…
#1 - My nephew was born June 15th and I decided I HAD to have a baby. I found out I was pregnant on July 28th, my husband called me a “Fertile Bitch” when I told him. So, sweet, no? He was looking forward to months of trying.
#2 - Started trying in Oct. right when I went off the pill. Got pregnant in December. Felt weird, thought I might be preggers, but it was WAY too soon to be sure. My period started Dec. 1 and this was Dec. 23rd. Anyhoo, took a test, it said “pregnant” (love the digital readings!) and immediately called my sister to tell her, I was completely FREAKED OUT. My husband is still pissed that she, her husband & her dinner guests (who we have never met) found out before he did. I put a t-shirt on Dylan that said “I’m going to be a big brother” and waited until he noticed what it said. It took 30 minutes and I finally had to point it out to him.
DUH.
AMomTwoBoys’s last blog post..Help! Help! I don’t know what I’m doing!
The first time I was like you waiting until the a.m. and not peeking … and there was that line! I know a lot of people don’t believe the first test but I did.
The second time, I suspected because we had been trying for a few months and I was SO exhausted. I had gotten impatient that time around and used an OPK too. Lots of peeing on sticks!
I agree — when it’s just your secret it’s so fun.
mayberry’s last blog post..Haiku Friday: WTF edition
I also that the time right after you find out - and you have butterflies and are so excited and so scared and you share a secret with the most important person in your life and no one else knows - it’s the best.
However, what’s even better (for me, right now) - is knowing I’ll never be pregnant again … ahhhhh ….. it’s good.
Teri’s last blog post..Announcements for 2008
Our lovely daughter was the best wedding present I got. Got the BFP the morning of the wedding after it finally clicked in my head why my wedding dress wasn’t fitting right..lol.
The little one we are waiting on was a bit more elusive. We temped, we did OPK’s, sperm-meets-egg-plan, had sex until it wasn’t fun anymore. It took 7 cycles to get this baby and I am ever so happy for the timing we have now, even if the journey to get here wasn’t an easy one.
Marla’s last blog post..Protected: Pity party of one.
I TOTALLY obsessively charted before and during ttc, too.
I am so thrilled for you and Tate. Drag you can’t drink at BlogHer, though ; ).
Christine’s last blog post..Flip it. Flip it, good!
Ava was uber-planned. DHL delivered Ava to my doorstep… No, seariously! Very long story, but a good one. I woke up early, finally caved to test 4 days after I expected AF to arrive, and then drove to Jef’s work to tell him!!!
Faith was more of an “how will I tell my parents about this?” kinda deal. Surprise!
aradia’s last blog post..Did I Mention?
Well, you can’t talk about your fertility issues here, but can you on the phone? Because I want to know every single thing about your chart, mucus, cycles, flow of periods and on and on!
bwahahaha!
What a great story! I should write mine down while I can still remember. Or can I remember? It’s been 8 years.
Queen of Shake Shake’s last blog post..Super Target Stud
So fun! I love that you had obessive charts and that Tate used excel - that is too funny!
Maggie’s last blog post..It’s A Thin Line…
When I made the reveal to the in-laws the granny-in-law said, “I told you you were pregnant at SIL’s wedding.” I loved pulling out the chart and saying, “Actually, if you look here, we got pregnant four days later.” Watching the world’s most prude & proper woman turn five shades of red? Priceless.
Anglophile Football Fanatic’s last blog post..A Dinner So BIG it Coulda Fed the Armies of Both Japan & Switzerland*
Aw. Good story.
Onion was a total suprise. J and I went straight to the library to google “false positive pregnancy test”.
Heidi
Hydes Like Us’s last blog post..The Big Apple
With my son…I don’t know how long it took because we weren’t trying. I just know it was 6 months after our wedding. With him, I was a little sick on and off and I missed my period…typical signs…then on my bday I couldn’t even eat my dinner or my cake! I told DH that I thought I was preg and went and got a test the next day. I went to a friend’s house (we were living with his parents) and peed in a cup (didn’t trust peeing on the stick itself) and before I could even pull my pants up that little pink line showed up. I remember asking my friend what it meant when it didn’t take the whole 3 minutes for the line to show up!
Dh was dumbfounded and asked if the test could be wrong. I informed him that there were almost no false positives, only false negatives…he made me go to the the dr the next day to confirm it anyway. Again, the test was + and DH (being in a HORRIBLE job) refused to talk about it for weeks. He warmed up eventually though.
For this one we kinda planned. for about 6 months we just did what we always did and then one day I got desperate (dh doesn’t know this part!! LOL). I looked on WebMD at their ovulation/pregnancy calendar and plugged my information in and poof…my fertile days were listed on the calendar. I have to say that the calendar was accurate up to a day or two when I was supposed to start my period. You can even make it where it will tell you the best times for a girl or a boy using the Shettles method!
Anyway…
Then one day I totally forgot to check the calendar but I was sure I was gonna start. I looked at the calendar and saw I would be officially late the next day…so I told DH I would get a test. We both were SURE I wasn’t pregnant but the calendar had been right up to that point (and I told him I was using it to track my periods…which I was…). I bought the test that night but forgot about it for almost 3 days. Then, I remembered and decided to take the test, DH was on the phone so I couldn’t call him in there with me…besides I knew my cycle was just screwy…right?
Sure enough before I could even get done that pink line showed up…but this time the line looked jagged (I think it was the paper they used) so I took another one! LOL I mean…that could mean it was defective right? Same thing happened and stood there shaking staring at this stick. I opened the bathroom door so he would know I was done in there and he came in to tell me about the conversation he had on the phone…and I showed him the test…and he got this weird look on his face. Remember he didn’t think I was pregnant either!!! I laughed at him and told him not to look like that since we were TRYING…he then started being dramatic about what is he gonna do with two kids…but I know he was happy as he had a secret smile.
Sandy’s last blog post..14 down…26 to go
It took forever with the first one. I do remember buying those ovulation kits….With the second one, I never even got my cycle back (or so I thought)….I just knew I had the flu. I went to the doctor, she asked me if I could be pregnant. Pregnant?? Are you kidding me, I have a six month old I am breastfeeding ….do you think I have time to think about anther kid?? We weren’t using any ‘protection’ though. So yeah, i guess I could be. But it took us years to get pregnant…..how can I be pregnant now? Sure enough, I was pregnant, and I have two kids 16 months apart! Two under two was rough….but now all is well.
tommie’s last blog post..how old is too old???
I thought I had Mono. I couldn’t get outta bed and I was cranky and tired and my whole body ached.
And we were trying, but not really trying..we figured if it happens it happens and this went on for over a year.
I went to the doctor for bloodwork to tell me I had some life threatening illness…and I called him the next day to get my bad news.
Turns out, they were trying to call me, but they had an old phone number and the doctor got on the phone saying…”Congratulations!”
I asked what for….stupid.
He told me I was pregnant and I didn’t believe him.
I cried every day from that day on.
~JJ!’s last blog post..I’m such a Debbie Downer
Would you believe three of those damn tests LIED to me? No, No, No. Stupid pink lines should have been there all along.
Burgh Baby’s Mom’s last blog post..Take a Little Ride on the Short Bus
All this baby talk!! Lalalalalalalalala. When I found out I was pregnant, I cried not good tears. Then got married. I’m still crying about that.
Miss’s last blog post..“With you, all I know is, I’m coming home”
Oooo. I love these stories! So fun!
I secretly took the tests and then surprised my hubby each time. With the third one I was actually surprised too.
Kathryn’s last blog post..Inspirational Woman
I love this story. I love when you have that little “surprise” all to yourself too. I have kept the news from my husband for at least one day two of my pregnancies. I wanted to tell him so bad but I loved having it just to myself for a little while.
Tuesday’s last blog post..Change for Life
This was so cute! What a great idea she had!
Let’s see, I ate… a bunch (I was a kids’ meal sized eater) hubby said..um pregnancy test. Yep. 4 weeks or so. I’d been off birth control for ONE week.
Second time, I just knew. I was right
We have been very blessed!
Thanks for sharing such wonderful moments of your life with us!
Rachel’s last blog post..Labeling love.
The first time I charted (gotta love Taking Charge of Your Fertility, eh?) months before we started trying to know my body’s rhythm. I was disappointed when we weren’t pregnant the first month. The second month, I got up one morning, took a test, didn’t really see any line, so went back to bed. When I woke up again later, Aaron was already at work. I looked at the test again, and there were two lines. Another test confirmed it. I told him when he got home from work, and we both had a stunned, quiet “Huh. OK, we’re pregnant.” moment.
For Mira, I already knew my body’s rhythm (I’m like clockwork), so no charting was needed. Or practice, either, since I was pregnant the first month we tried. I got the positive test result in the bathroom at work, then had to contain my excitement and secret the remainder of the day. I called Aaron during his lunch break to tell him. His reaction was, “Cool, although I wish we could have taken a LITTLE longer to get pregnant…” Men.
Christina’s last blog post..Chi-Town Visit & A Contest
ok, I’ve been absent for a while - ya know, just sitting around eating bonbons and watching talk shows. but I wanted to say hi, thanks for visiting and being so nice all the time
I love the new look, too 
NOW STOP POSTING SO I CAN CATCH UP!
Dawn @ Coming to a Nursery Near You’s last blog post..wondering where I am?
Baseball factored into both times…
With my first, I left work early, bought several tests, went home and peed.
By the time my husband got home, there were three positive tests laying on the bathroom windowsill. We were taking my stepkids to a baseball game, so we had to leave before we could really talk about it. During the game, we kept grinning at each other and saying, “Two pink lines” in goofy, jubilant voices.
With my second — Husband was photographing baseball for the newspaper (out of state) on the night I took the first test. I called him late that night to tell him another was on the way.
It was Father’s Day.
Arkie Mama’s last blog post..My grandmother’s secret
That’s why you gotta get the plus/minus tests (Target brand has it!).
Love your magical thinking, btw.
When I found out, it was 5 something am, because, you know, following directions, test first thing in the morning.
Bleary eyed I see the one line getting all dark, as usual. Then a faint other line. But WAIT!! I awaken — the dark line is NOT the usual line!!
Baby, get in here!! I think this says WE’RE PREGNANT!!!! Holy cow!!
VDog’s last blog post..Little Man’s Story, Part Two
I just posted about this. Thanks for the idea!
Jerseygirl89’s last blog post..Ugghs
You are such a chart maker.
I would check as soon as possible too. Screw that wait and see crap. I am an instant gratification type of chick.
Phoenix’s last blog post..Bill Cosby on education
what a great idea for a post!
and since the word is now out that i am, indeed, pregnant with our first… i may have to post on this this weekend.
thanks for the idea!!!
i’ll come back later and give you the link, but our baby blog in general is:
thelittlebean.wordpress.com
mpotter’s last blog post..while we’re on the subject
Oh, I was home alone for a whole day before Scout got home. I sat on the steps and watched him walk around and was just thinking … man.. he has no idea that I’m getting ready to change everything….
Dawn’s last blog post..P0rn at school - bad idea
I loved that you had a spreadsheet - that cracks me up. I pretty much decided the birthdays of both of ours. Ya, with Elliot we got pregnant on the first try. Then with Arlo we thought it would take longer, but nope, first try again. I’m just that fertile. I really must send the husband for the ol’ snip-snip soon lest I be gifted with a ‘pleasant surprise’.
andi’s last blog post..Mothers unite to defeat HOB
You are so right… that feeling IS the best.
OHmommy’s last blog post..Yesterday I cried, today I smile
“I love that feeling, right after finding out that you are pregnant, when you can’t believe that you’re really pregnant and there is a tiny, wee human growing inside. The feeling is best before you tell anyone, it’s your little secret. Before we told anyone, I would look around me and wonder if anyone could just tell I was with child by my “glow.””
Oh gosh, the memory. Mine was completely unplanned, but even so, I felt exactly the same way. I think I started believing in miracles right then and there. I too wondered if people could tell.