Hi Y'all,

I'm probably not posting this in the right area... AND I am probably overreacting.

A few months ago, my hubby and I were giving tests in relation to fertility. Everything came back OK with me except low sodium lvls (Doctor said it wasn't anything to be concerned about because the test came back 136 mmol/L and the normal is 137 - 147). My husband on the other hand, his semen analysis was abnormal. Our doctor told us that it would be virtually impossible to conceive naturally and gave us a referral for a fertility clinic.

It was only just the past couple of days that I realized (because Daniel asked me why I hadn't gotten my period yet) that my period is actually late by 15 days today. I don't feel 'pregnant' as such and highly doubt that I am on account of our test results and from what our doctor said. But, I have been feeling unwell, nauseas and craving salt.

I actually searched 'craving salt' in Google, and I found a site on Addison's disease. Apparently it can halt menstruation and has an effect on sodium levels and also feel not well. The website did say that it is extremely rare, 8 in 1 million, but I feel like some of my symptoms relate to the listed symptoms on the website. I have only been craving salt the last week and I realize that nausea is a common symptom with pregnancy, but due to Daniel having such abnormal sperm, I think it's high unlikely that it could be related to pregnancy.

I am hesitant to go to the doctors, because maybe I am just being an idiot and overreacting.

I'd appreciate any input anyone may have.

Kindest regards, Catherine.

Get a home pregnancy test. Make sure it is done in the morning. Your sodium levels are not really low. It was off by one point which is nothing, really. Your doctor is telling you the truth and quite honestly I do not even know why he told you about the result because it is within normal readings.

Doctors have made mistakes before about saying pregnancy can not happen with a couple. There was this couple that were told they could not conceive. Later on ended up getting pregnant. The father thinking that it is impossible because of what the doctor told him. He thought his wife was playing around. Turned out to be his child. So it is not impossible.

Just in case you are pregnant, you should take prenatals just to get a good start.

I do believe it could be overreacting about the sodium and salt. Please do a pregnancy test. Buy a package with two in it. Give it a couple of tries. Please let us know how the test goes.

Now if it is negative then you should see a doctor/ob.

Hoping the best for you.



Joe

There are other possibilities of why you may not have your period. Here is a small list.

Pregnancy
Stress
Diet
Other Medical Conditions

Thanks Joe!

Well Diet and Stress aren't really a factor, we have just came back from holidays and my hubby sent me roses and balloons to work, so obviously I was thrilled and don't feel I have any reasons before I thought about this concern to be stressed. We haven't consciously been trying to conceive since we found out our test results.

I just don't understand the whole craving salt thing.. It can't be normal!

I will keep you updated. Once again tnx.

Anytime,

They say that the best time to conceive or usually when it happens is when your not stressing about or thinking about it. I hope I am not getting your hopes up, but just check into it. It is better to know either way, right!

I am going to do my own search for the craving salt thing, if I come up with other things. I will let you know. By the way, your levels are fine. Just trying to reassure you.

Awww. Thank you!

I think that's why Daniel and I are dismissing pregnancy; neither of us wants to get our hopes up. Also Daniel truly believes that there is no way we could have conceived naturally.

Also, the last few days, I have had to go to bed mid morning because I feel so unwell and usually have asleep. I don't feel as though I need to vomit, I just generally don't feel well.

Forgot to mention, I do take a women's multi vitamin daily too - which includes folic acid and fish oils etc.

WOW!

I took your advice Joe! I went to the pharmacy and bought a test... I wondered if I should have waited till the morning, but I thought why not? I'm so late I might as well do one now... and it was POSITIVE!!

I honestly never expected it to be and CAN'T believe it! I'm so happy I'm crying.. I can't wait to tell Dani.. Thank you for your help Joe.

I can't believe that our doctor told us just a few months ago that it was almost impossible for us to conceive naturally! It's unbelievable.. I'm in shock!

I just hope Dani doesn't think I've been playing up... We have all the trust in the world, but I suppose if I were a man and I was told that I wouldn't be able to conceive naturally... I might question it.

Gosh, I hope everything goes Ok! All right, I'll stop my little excited rant now.

Bye.

Congrats Catherine!

Thank you very much Tamed.

Congrats! I was going to say that the salt cravings could just be pregnancy cravings, but then I read on and saw you got a possitive result! Hah. So my advice is pointless now. I have known several people who have been told by doctors that it was impossible for them to conceive. And these people turned up pregnant within months, or years of that advice. Some of them had already adopted a few children, feeling they would never conceive on their own. Imagine their surprise at the pregnancy test results:0) Congrats and best wishes

Thanks Buggage!

My husband was convinced I couldn't be pregnant, as was I to be honest. Well, I am salivating over salty flavored tuna and lamb (with salt obviously)... my mouth just doesn't stop watering over salty yummy things! So at least tuna and lamb are a bit healthier than pretzels or other salty tasting foods..

As Joe and my hubby mentioned, probably because my body is lacking something... sodium I guess..

First let me congratulate you on your surprise!! You must be so excited. Now let me caution you about your salt cravings.

Be careful how much salt you do eat while pregnant. You do not want to deveope preeclampsia during pregnancy. This is a form of high blood pressure during pregnancy that is very dangerous to both Mom and baby. The only cure for preeclampsia is delivery, no matter how far along you are.

Salt/sodium is a factor in high blood pressure. So if you want a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby, keep your salt intake to a minimum.

Also, be careful of how much tuna you eat. Tuna have a small amount of mercury in it, and they caution you to only eat a certain amount(no more then 6 oz of "light" tuna a week. Albacore tuna &tuna steaks have about three times as much mercury as the light tuna, so it's a good idea to stay away from those until your not preggy anymore.) I think every preggy woman has a salt craving now and then. I use to crave pretzels and potato chips. Hah. And tuna for a while as well. I'm glad that you guys were able to prove the docs wrong;0) wishing you the best

Aww.. poo!

I thought I was doing myself a favor with that fish oil! I read ages ago that fish is good for pregnant women, due to the fish oils and omega 3. Is it only tuna that is unsafe? Is there fish that is safe to eat?

And thank you J9! We are both ecstatic; we are already driving each other nuts over baby names... I'm not sure who's more excited, us or my parents! We are going to hold back telling everyone our special news until we reach that 13 week mark... just in case! I'm sure everyone can tell something is up though, because I have the biggest smile on my face.

Also, I'm not sure if it's all in my head, but yesterday afternoon I felt like I hadn't eaten in days, and this morning I woke up and hour earlier than I usually do again feeling so hungry!.

Well thank you for your support guys!

It is recommended that omega 3 is important. Some try to say that there is a safe recommendation of canned tuna while pregnant. While others say avoid it altogether. It depends on what source on the internet you look up. As far as mercury goes apparently the levels in fresh fish are a lot higher then the levels in canned.

I think that is a good idea waiting for reaching 13 week mark. Just in case. Our doctor advised us that, I think it is up to each individual but I personally believe it is better choice to wait before telling others. Even though it is really hard to keep the news in.

Keep eating, Keep smiling.

Joe

There are several fish that you can still eat. Salmon, sea bass, sole, flounder, haddock, halibut, ocean perch, pollack, cod, farm raised trout, canned fish, seafood of all kinds, smaller ocean fish. Stuff like that. You doc can give you good pointers on food safety and how much you can eat, etc. (by the way, all this info I have given you is out of my " what to expect when you are expecting " book, by HEiedi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway, B.S.N.) it's a very good book.

Lol - well there seems to still be plenty of options then! I guess it's just a matter of moderation. Thanks guys..

O BTW... can I still get my hair dyed? I heard that you shouldn't but maybe it's a myth?

Well, it is a myth and it is not. Just think that whatever you are smelling, your baby gets a smell of too. Chemicals like this are very strong. Another reason is that the new hormones will "show up" on hair strands and either make it harder to dye or make the dye take much more quick.

So, just make sure the room with VERY well ventilated if you feel that you need to get your hair dyed. Personally though, I would not if it were me.

Yeah, when I was about three months preggy, I decided to dye my hair back to normal color(it was a dark purplish red with black tips, and when the roots of my normal brown hair color started to grow out, it looked gray in contrast! So obviously I didn't want my roots growing out. Figured I would dye it back to normal color, and not have to keep dying it throughout pregnancy) I tried to do it myself, and was shocked to see my roots turn the color of hi-c and the rest of it an ugly dull color! SOOOO I ended up having to go to the salon and have them do a major color job on my hair to get it back to a semi natural color, and had to chop off most of my hair because it had killed my hair off so badly. (I my hair was down to the middle of my back, had to chop it to my ears) SOOOO. You are taking a big risk getting your hair dyed with all the hormones and such, chances are it won't turn out the same color that you want it to. I heard that it was inconclusive whether some of the chems could be obsorbed through your scalp, and that it is generally suggested against, simply for the fact that they don't know for sure. You might want to ask your doctors opinion. Some say it is fine, some say absolutely not. Personally, I am waiting until I am done with this pregnancy this time around haha. I learned my lesson the hard way. Ahah.

I heard that it was inconclusive whether or not some of the chems could be obsorbed through your scalp, and that it is generally suggested against, simply for the fact that they dont know for sure.

Well, this is somewhat true. We do know that our bodies do absorb anything that is put onto our skin, but with hair color and perms it is inconclusive as to how much is absorbed and the damage it could cause.

I got a perm once while pregnant. While all of my perms have always turned out beautifully, this one was so poodley it was frightning.

Best, just to wait it out.

Hiya
:) nice one about been pregnant I was told 3 years ago that I would never be able to have kids because of scaring or something whiched was caused after a fight I had at school and I must say they were wrong as I now have a bouncing baby boy who is 8 months and he's a little angel when he wants to be so like people here have said nothing is impossible soooo congratulations and I hope everything turns out well, please could you let me know what sex it is if you find out?. I also must say I never had any cravings but I had a hell of a lot of morning sickness I would have renamed it all day sickness if I could have lol... well good luck in it all I wish you both all the best Catherinen and Daniel:) :) :)

Tnx Daniella! I'm already over feeling yucky... Yesterday we went shopping and were eating in the food court, I felt fine.. All of a sudden I just start dry reaching after taking three or four bites of my lunch! After that I felt yuck all day.. And the day before we were having a morning tea at work celebrating a birthday and obviously I was delighted with a piece of cheese cake and out of no where I start dry reaching in front of everyone! So darn embarrassing.. I just had to do a runner to the bathroom - but everyone is very suspicious now... hahaha!

But anyway, we have been to the Doctors twice this week. Had my blood tests done etc. and everything so far so good except I have an e. coli infection (Urinary Tract Infection) but my Doctor has given me some antibiotics (which are safe for the baby) to take all week. I am desperately hoping that this infection hasn't harmed my baby. I am in fear of miscarrying because I keep having constant pain/cramping in my abdomen, but she said it's likely that it's linked to the infection, so my husband keeps telling me to stop thinking about it because it will just cause more unneeded stress. Any who, next appointment is in 4 weeks and I will be sent for my first ultra sound, provided everything goes well!

Well I'll let you guys know how it goes... BTW, I'm hoping for a girl... as Daniel went through a babies name book and has his mind set on 'Ulysses'... How cruel could a parent be? I would really like to name our baby if it is a boy, 'Kye' or 'Kyan' - Daniel won't have a bar of it now he is found this name he idols... I really don't understand it; he doesn't even come from a European background, his Irish! Hopefully he'll come to his senses within the next seven months!

Good to hear.

My wife was sick a couple of different times while she was pregnant. She had a fever and infection. She also had a seizure around 6 months because she is epileptic. Everything turned out fine. Yes, the antibiotics are safe and it is better to clear up the infection. It is common to get UTI while pregnant from what I hear.

Good luck with everything.

Joe

Tnx Joe! I have heard it is quite common too - but I also googled e.coli in pregnant women and read an article that specifies there is an increase risk of complications occurring when a pregnancy has infections such as e. coli.

But at least we are treating it as you say.

Yes, it is very common to get uti's during pregnancy. And the antibiotics are perfectly safe. Since you went to the doctor and got it taken care of right away, it won't have harmed the baby. If you had left it uncared for it could have traveled to your kidneys, etc. So its definitely good that you got on the medicine. You can't always trust everything you read on the internet either. Any joe shmo can put something on the internet and make it look real. Your doctor knows best. As far as being sick, don't be embaressed, just about everyone has an embaressing story when it comes to their unexpected moments of morning sickness. I have a bit of advice as far as how to help avoid uti's. They aren't foolproof, but it can certainly help. Stay hydrated. Drink enough tthat every time you pee, your pee is pale or clear in color. (like lemonade) this helps keep your urinary tract clearer, helps keep bacteria from having a chance to build up. Avoiding baths may help, but I would try this last, as everyone loves a good bath now and then.(they really help with those growing cramps later on). Every time you have sex, go pee immediately afterword.(taking a shower helps too) It helps to once again clear things out.(this is all stuff suggested by my doc) I use to be really prone to having them when I was younger. And with my first pregnancy I got a bladder infection towards the beginning. This time around, I have taken all this advice and so far (knock on wood) I haven't gotten any.

Thanks Buggage.. Sounds like good advice!

Congratulations, you must be so happy. Just thought I would tell you, that doctors can be wrong. My mother had 2 kidney operations, one to remove large stones and the other to remove part of the kidney(both ops within months of each other), a short time after the operations she started to get pregnancy symptoms and was told by the doctor that after the operations she had had, it was impossible and sent her home, she went back a few weeks later with the same symptoms, again she was told impossible and to stop worrying and relax and the symptoms would disappear, they didn't and she again returned to the doctor and demanded a pregnancy test which proved positive. The doctor said he had never known it happen after such large operations, she had to have extra special care, during her pregnancy and labour, to make sure she didn't burst the stitches inside. So you see they can be wrong.

WOW... Thank you for the lovely little story! I am glad everything turned out all right for your mum, and yes we do now realize that doctors are only human.

But perhaps it's what we needed for our little miracle to happen!

O, one other thing... What can I do to help my morning sickness? I felt like I was going to die today! Not only did I vomitt all over myself after I had finished getting ready for work, I was dry reaching on the phone to a client(my own fault, I was thinking of a smell in the elevator from someone's lunch - which smelt disgusting!) and aside from that I just feel dam horrible, I don't know how I am suppose to go through another 5 weeks of this? One of the girls in my office is like - it's only another 5 weeks! OMG... a day feels like forever when I feel sick like I have been. Any tips guys?

If the sickeness is bad, you can get something from your doctor to help stop it. I don't want to put you off, but with all my 3 pregnancys, I actually vomited, the whole 9 months, even on the day of delivery, so it is worth getting something from your doctor. In the 1960s when I had my babies, there was nothing they could do to help with the sickness, we just had to put up with it. See the doctor and good luck. :)

There really is little we can do today that is healthy to prevent morning sickness. One piece of advice I can give is to stay in bed for about 15 minutes after waking up. If you must eat something, eat dry saltine crackers. They tend to help soak up excess stomach acid.

It is best to see your doctor, there are few meds that can help these days.

Just know that typically it only lasts a short time, and I said typically.

Morning sickness. One of those aggrivating parts of pregnancy. With my first, I had it all day, every day for the first 5 or 6 months straight. After that I had it off and on the rest of the time. ( mostly aggrivated by the heartburn in the last few months) This time around, I did a lot of things different. And things seem to have gone better. However, I can't say these tips are a sure thing, because every pregnancy is different, so maybe this time around was just better. But I will tell you what I did. Never have an empty stomach. Even if its just snacking on pretzels or crackers throughout the day. Don't eat big meals, just 5-6 small meals throughout the day. My doctor told me that morning sickness is brought on a lot by low blood sugar. That is what started the name " morning sickness". Not because it only happens in the morning(anyone who has expereinced morning sickness can be truly frustrated with the name) but because that is when your blood sugar is the lowest, after going all night without food. So if you always keep something light in your stomach, it really helps. Keep hydrated. Try to eat something like crackers before you get out of bed. Try to avoide greasy, spicy, or highly flavored/scented foods. Cheerios and grahm crackers saved me lots of times. Gatorade is also good, because it helps keep your electrolites up.(esp if you are having diahrea and vomiting) There area also these little yogurt drinks at the store that I absolutely loved. They put something in my stomach, without having to be too heavy, or textured. Peanut butter helps too. I just ate it straight off the spoon. Hah. Anyway, I think that is about it. Hah. Good luck!

I shall try some of that stuff guys! I just don't know how I am suppose to give my baby nutrition if I keep vomiting up everything that goes down... except crackers and ginger bikkies. My Doctor told me to eat heaps of red meat and veg, but I can't stomach it...

My mum told me to sip on a glass of ginger ale in the morning - so if morning sickness does have something to do with low blood sugar, I could see how ginger ale could possibly help. I'm really just concerned because there is so much sugar in all of these things... I'm trying to not over do it with sweets and eat more nutritious foods...

I really have allot of respect for these women who have 2, 3 or 4 kids very close together and have to go through this.. It's probably one of the most awful things I have experienced when it comes to being ill!

If you are taking your prenatals, and trying to eat the best and healthiest you can, do not worry. I use to be so scared that my baby would be hurt because of the terrible morning sickness I had. I would worry and worry over it. My doctors would tell me that I was doing fine, and not to worry, just to keep trying my best. When I hit my second trimester, I started gaining weight, and showing and by the time the third trimester started, I had gained well and had a nice big tummy. Most of the weight you gain is in the second and esp the third months. The first months are more of the developemental stages, and as long as you are doing all that you can to get those vitamins, and getting good prenatal care, your baby will be just fine. Baby takes what it can from mommy, whether willingly provided or not haha. I sometimes wonder if the prenatals aren't more to help mommy keep up on vitamins, then for baby. The later months are more just for putting on weight and growing. By then you will hopefully be past all this morning sickness, and will inevitabley be wondering " am I eatting too much!?"

Lol.. nice answer!

I did feel better today, I had an initial up heave and then I drank my gingerale and had a small bowl of ceral and had a pretty OK day snacking light...

So hopefully the next five (hopefully) weeks go just as well!

Good job, glad you had a nicer day. Those days keep you going through the rough ones. Slowly but surely those good days will become more numerous then the rough ones. Those light snacks really help. It's the last thing you want to do when you feel sick, but eatting and drinking really do help. Good luck hun!

Congrats on the pregnancy! That is so exciting! I've just read through all the posts and thought I would add my two cents! I've always been proned to getting UTI's until now. Trying to get pregnant and being prone to UTI's doesn't work very well. I started taking a once a day cranberry pill (herbal), and when I start to feel like I have one coming on I just take two. It has kept them away for about nine months now (I usually get them every three to six months). For the morning sickness I agree with buggage. Eat some crackers before getting out of bed, eat many small meals throughout the day instead of a few big ones, and stay hydrated. Drink lots of water! Above all, pamper yourself and enjoy being pregnant (as much as possible). For most women the morning sickness will go away by the second trimester. Best wishes!

I will start enjoying more when this horrid sickness subsides... am still excited, but only when I get a chance around the heaving! I can't recall having a UTI before, and I honestly didn't feel any changes like the Doctor described... I am almost finished taking my antibiotics so hopefully that nasty infection is gone!

It will happen for you too Automansgirl... not only does my husband have abnormal sperm, but he also works away every second week (since we moved further from his work), so imagine our chances of conceiving when his only home half the month and a very abnormal sperm count. Try and focus on other things... I think it's just so funny that it happened just as I started back at work and came back from holidays - to be honest pregnancy was the last thing on my mind. Probably because we were told IVF was our only answer.

Tnx guys... and I hope everything turns out well with your pregnancies. =)

CONGRATULATIONS! Reading your story had me in tears. What a relief to read that you got pregnant. My husband and I have recently received an abnormal sperm result and we had been so desperately worried about it and very concerned that we are never going to be able to have children. My research on abnormal sperm has been so inconclusive that I was beginning to really get concerned. Can I just ask, if it isn't too much, what percentage of abnormal sperm he had? Don't feel you have to answer if it makes you feel uncomfortable. Thank you and really I'm so so happy for you both.

Hi Answersneeded!

I definitely don't feel uncomfortable with disclosing details like that - but I can't remember all the different results of motility etc. there were quite a few numbers, but our doctor said we had a 4% chance which is extremely low apparently? I'm not sure if you saw in some of my other posts that we actually conceived fraternal twins (which Daniel was extremely proud of) but unfortunately one didn't finish developing. 3 more months to go.. seems like forever away let me tell you! But we can't wait to meet our little princess.

Best of luck to you! BTW - if you would like, I could ask my Ob next prenatal check-up for our semen analysis...

Congratulations I am so happy for you, good luck and take good care you and that little baby.