TTC 1, 2, 3 / 備孕一二三

4/12/2021 UPDATE: WE ARE PREGNANT!! Found out on April 11 (yesterday) with a home pregnancy test. Our first appointment is on April 19th. This will be a virtual appointment due to COVID precautions...I still have a bit of a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of my first prenatal care being a video call...how can we track the progress just by a video call, without bloodworks and ultrasound? The second appointment (finally will be in-person) is on May 17th, and a follow-up (virtual again) on June 17th. I'll share more about yesterday and our experience with this TTC this last cycle in another post. Right now we're both so excited. Also need to make some adjustments to our travel plan for the summer! We were gonna have a road trip in Iceland in June to complete the ring road, hike on the glacier, sleep in a campervan, and dip in many hot springs along the way!

我們懷孕了! 昨天發現的! 第一個產檢是4/19, 而且因為疫情關係 全程是視訊產檢...我還是有點無法相信我的第一個產檢是視訊...用視訊要怎麼檢查寶寶狀態? 沒抽血沒超音波. 第二個產檢是訂在5/17 (終於會是個在醫院面對面的產檢), 第三個是6/17 (又會是在家視訊). 之後再分享昨天的心情及中間備孕的芝麻小事 現在太興奮了 要去更改一下旅遊計畫(本來六月要去冰島自駕環島爬冰山泡溫泉睡露營車)

Hello, how are you, reader? I'm feeling a bit unease and have trouble going to sleep, though insomnia isn't new to me. Before I knew it, I was on my phone, anxiously searching and reading articles on pregnancy test result (false negatives, false positives, etc)

and people's sharing about their pregnancy test results and pregnancy blogs. Well, I'll cut it straight to the point. W and I recently made a decision, probably the biggest potential life-changing decision through our time together, about expanding our family of 5 (furry family included). I also thought to document this period of "trying" and it may be something that'll come in handy in the future (like when the doctor asks about certain symptoms or when we want to look back on something). Most pregnancy blogs I read have started documenting after the expecting parents found out they're pregnant, and I thought I'd like to start documenting before seeing "2 lines" even if this leads to a period coming month after month. This could also turn out to be something we'll just laugh at later on, or could be that one experience someone on the internet just wants to read about and feel related with 💖. So, it's 2:47am on a Sunday morning (Jan 10). And here I am getting started on this documentation journey.

哈囉, 讀者 你好嗎? 我有些不舒服且失眠中, 雖然其實失眠對我來說不陌生. 不自覺的用手機 一直查看有關驗孕棒的資訊(假陽性, 假陰性等等) 還有網友們分享的驗孕經驗跟懷孕日記. 來吧, 直接切入重點. 我們最近做了一個重大決定, 大概是在一起以來最大的一個決定 就是要開始擴大我們的五口之家了(五口因為毛小孩也算). 同時, 我想紀錄人生的這個時刻, 這些紀錄可能之後哪天會用到(譬如醫生問起甚麼時候開始甚麼徵狀 或者哪天自己想回頭查甚麼). 大多數讀到的懷孕日記部落格都是在發現懷孕後開始紀錄的, 我想在看到那"兩條線"之前就開始記錄 即使會記錄到的是一個月接著一個月的月經. 這份紀錄可能只是未來我們會回頭笑讀的東西, 也可能是網路上某個人想讀的一個經驗分享 為的是多看到一份經驗跟感到不孤單💖. 所以, 現在是1/10星期天早上2:47分(其實英文打完字了 現在中文打的時候已經3:33了啦). 我要開始這份紀錄了. 

說實話, 有時候很不想英文寫完後寫中文, 因為常常需要用Google查英文翻譯成中文, 翻譯成的中文字也可能我看不懂不知道怎麼念或怎麼打出那個字/詞, 變成自己要網路給自己上課一樣的查怎麼用那個字/詞. 或者想著哪句話念起來怪怪的然後花幾分鐘做改善, 假設一句話花幾分鐘來修改, 幾句話可能演變成半小時來改. 那些好幾個幾分鐘加起來其實滿花時間. 有時候我會問W (因為W的中文比我好) 但也有過他不知道怎麼翻譯的時候. 其實也可以隨便翻譯 就錯有人在意的話自然會點出來我再改就好, 只是自我要求想要知道自己分享的盡可能是對的, 種種過程所以請原諒我下面的分享中文部分有簡化, 英文是完整版, 若有疑問可以直接留言問我.😊 (然後現在是3:51了!)

My idea is to share these in chronological order, to my best ability. Use texts (and occasional pictures, maybe?) to reflect true thoughts, worries, as close to what's happening as possible. If you're not ready to read about my random babbling about anything and everything, please hit that "x" to close this tab! If you don't mind reading about a stranger trying for a baby, then grab yourself a drink and some popcorn, and come on in! 

我打算盡可能的按照日期來分享 也盡可能貼近寫實的用文字 (偶而照片)來敘述這些想法, 憂慮等. 如果你對我的隨機碎碎念沒興趣, 可以直接點"x"來關閉視窗. 若你不在意閱讀一個陌生人的生活和備孕相關, 那請繼續讀下去吧!

Brief backstory:

Started prenatal multivitamin (SmartyPants, gummies) in mid-November, purchased off from Amazon. My knowledge about prenatal vitamins is it's fine to take them before you're pregnant. It's actually recommended to take them before trying. Had routine eye exams & dental exams just before trying. Not on any medication. Never a smoker/user. The only time I had a controlled substance was when I got prescribed hydrocodone after wisdom teeth removal (that thing really removed all of my pain in an instant, totally understand why it needs to be controlled!). I stopped drinking in October. Before October, I used to have 1-2 glasses of wine (red, white, sparkling, plum) at home every other week. The last time I had a cocktail was at a restaurant in 2019 (yuzu sour and something, maybe gin? at a ramen place). Very rarely had I drink for 2 weeks in a row within the last 2 years (even when it did happen, that was 2-4 glasses of wine within a 2 weeks period), and normally we drank only when playing games with friends online. We used to jokingly call our game sessions "gaming while under the influence." Around the same time in early October, I started having less tea and carbonated drinks that have caffeine as a way to wean myself off of my caffeine addiction. I've been working on increasing my daily water intake (I don't like drinking water so this is a challenging task for me). Also kinda forcing myself to eat more fruits. As a health educator and researcher, I'm guilty to say I don't eat fruit every day, but I try to eat at least 3 fresh fruits each week (example: 2 pears + 1 banana). Sometimes I do better like the week of writing this! Got 4 pears, 2 lemons, and 6oz raspberries down this week (juicing it up is easier).

I've been tracking my period with an app for over 10 years. The app I'm currently using has been effective in predicting my period, sometimes my period was 1-3 days early/late but it happened more back when I was a student. One time I was about 2 weeks late and my own conclusion for that was "funk up by grad school." Undeniably, I was under a lot of stress for a long period of time because of grad school, to the point I've gone to see a psychologist, but that was years ago. My period for the last couple of years has been very regular. We started with "100% no protection" (first time ever) in December. The first day of the last period was Dec 8.

簡短背景:

11月中開始吃孕期吃的綜合維他命(SmartyPants, 以軟糖方式吃). 我的認知是懷孕前就可以先吃, 而且也讀過不少推薦是建議就是沒避孕前就開始先吃. 眼睛牙齒也有定期看醫生. 沒在吃任何藥. 從未抽菸用毒. 人生唯一一次吃"鴉片"是拔完智齒後醫生開的藥(藥效超強, 馬上無痛, 難怪這需要被控管). 從10月開始自己對自己禁酒. 10月之前, 大約每兩個星期會在家喝1-2杯的紅酒(或白酒, 梅酒, 氣泡酒). 最後一次喝雞尾酒是在2019年在一家拉麵店. 而過去兩年多以來, 我很少會連續兩個禮拜喝酒 (如果有, 等於兩個禮拜內2-4杯). 通常喝酒是邊跟朋友們網路連線玩遊戲, 之前開玩笑說是酒駕打電動. 禁酒的同時 也開始減少喝茶和含有咖啡因的碳酸飲料. 也在盡量多喝水 (我很不喜歡水). 另外也在強迫自己多吃水果. 身為健康教育研究者, 很慚愧地承認我並沒有天天都吃水果, 我盡量每星期至少吃完3個新鮮水果(譬如: 2個梨子+1個香蕉), 有時候吃比較多! 寫這段的當下的這星期吃了4個梨子, 2個檸檬, 約6oz的覆盆子 (打成果汁比較簡單).

用手機/app紀錄月經已經超過10年了. 現在用的app也滿準確, 少數時候也有過月經早或晚來1-3天. 也曾經有過一次月經晚了2個禮拜左右, 當時自己的結論是 研究所壓力造成的月經亂掉. 無法否認的, 曾經因為研究所所以有滿長一段時間壓力滿大的, 也曾因此看過心理醫生, 不過那是好幾年以前了. 最近兩年的月經都很正常. 12月的時候我們第一次開始了"100%無避孕." 上次月經來的第一天是12/8.

Dec 8-15 

• Period
• 月經

Dec 21

• Spotting (more like pink-ish brown discharge), bloating, minor cramps for a brief moment
• 一點點粉紅色咖啡色的分泌物, 脹氣, 有一小段時間感到像經痛的痛

Dec 22

• Bloated all day
• 一整天感到脹脹的

Dec 23

• Bloated in the afternoon
• 下午感到脹脹的

Dec 24

• Predicted ovulation day (predicted by an app)
• App預計的排卵日

Dec 27 

• Very bad Insomnia, my jogging on phone stated 6:20am.  Some bloating but better than before.
• 很糟的失眠, 手機紀錄時間6:20我還在寫東西. 有些脹氣但比之前好些

Dec 30 

• Feeling tired almost all day even though all we did was Netflix & Chill.
• 感到很累 雖然也只有在家看Netflix

Dec 21 - 30

• Several deeds were sealed, not every day lol (just go for fun, don't want to have pressure and end up like doing some homework)
• 做了不少"活動," 當然不是每天(順其自然 沒想要天天都動變成像功課了)

Jan 6

• Predicted day for period, but it didn't come.
• 月經該來, 但沒來

Jan 7

• Woke up with a very noticeable lower backache. Nipples were sensitive to touch? Like when brushed on bra/cloth they hurt for a moment. Had cramps like that of a period, had diarrhea at night, also was feeling bloated all night (boy was I gassy LOL).
• Note: I usually do get diarrhea on the first couple of days of the period so not surprised to have diarrhea at this time since the period should come anytime now.
• 一起床就很明顯的背痛(偏下面). 乳頭特別敏感 像是內衣布料等碰到時會痛一下. 有像月經的經痛, 晚上還拉肚子. 整晚都覺得肚子好脹(超多屁 哈哈哈)
• 我通常月經來的那幾天是會拉肚子, 所以不意外這天拉肚子因為月經應該隨時都要到了

Jan 8

• Took a pregnancy test (2 days late) around 3pm, the result was negative. I threw the test into the trash bin without even taking a picture. Later, I read that some measurement tools actually need up to a few minutes to show accurate results and results could be accurate for up to 5 minutes. Well, I tossed mine away within a minute because I thought the 1 line I saw was pretty clear within the first few seconds (maybe 15 seconds?) By the time I read that "sometimes it takes a few minutes to show," it was hours later. The box of the pregnancy tests I have doesn't say it needs "x amount of time" to process. So, even though I knew even if there's been a change on the stick, it'd be considered an inaccurate result since that's way past the 5-minute mark, plus that could very well not be applicable since my box mentions none of that, I went back to the trash bin and took the pregnancy test out from the trash bin just to see the same 1-line result. I didn't tell W about any of this.
• Lower back pain, overall soreness in the abdominal area (especially left side) and feeling bloated all day
• 月經慢2天. 用驗孕棒 結果是一條線. 直接棒子扔進垃圾桶裡也沒照相. 之後, 讀到文章說驗孕棒其實根據不同廠商有些會花幾分鐘才能看到正確結果, 而超過5分鐘才得到的結果就無效. ㄟ..老娘在驗孕棒沾尿後不到1分鐘就把它給扔了, 因為我以為當時一沾上尿液幾秒鐘就出現的一條線就等於是 "沒懷孕."  當我之後讀到有些廠商的"要等幾分鐘"才知道結果的時候, 那時早過幾小時. 我買的驗孕棒的包裝也沒有提到需要等幾分鐘. 所以即使在已經知道 就算驗孕棒上的結果有變化也等於"不準"(因為過了5分鐘時效), 加上整個這個時效可能也不套用在這家廠商上因為包裝沒提到, 我還是回去垃圾桶裡把這根挖出來再看一次, 恩 還是一條線. 這些我都沒跟W提.
• 腰酸背痛 (左腰特別酸), 一整天感到脹氣

Jan 9

• Purchased 1 more bottle of the prenatal period I'm on from Amazon. Noticed the current bottle will be finished by this coming Wednesday and the new bottle will arrive on Friday. So my body will miss a day on those vitamins on Thursday, but that's ok. Also ordered ovulation test strips for the first time. These should arrive on Friday.
• Bloated stomach...though W also complained of feeling bloated so maybe it's the fried chicken we had for dinner last night.
• 網路上再訂了一罐綜合維他命.
• 肚子又是脹脹的, 不過W有抱怨他今天也感到肚子很脹 大概我們前一晚吃的炸雞導致消化不太好.

Jan 10

• 3am (as I'm writing this post) Still no period. Was really debating on taking another test or not but I know it's kinda pointless to take another test at this time since it's still very possible the period is just late due to my odd sleeping routine. Also, even if a faint 2nd line does show, I know I will keep on retesting a few days later and eventually will have to go get an "official test" at the doctor's office around week 7 or 8 anyway. So, it makes more sense to just wait a few more days until the period is at least 1 week late, then test. If it's positive at that point then make an appointment with OB and get the official verdict. If it's still negative by then, make a doctor's appointment to rule out complications. Planning on taking another test on Jan 13 if still no period (would be 1 week late at that point).
• Kinda wondering if I am pregnant because it's unusual to be this late on period, but there was no second line, not even a faint one when I did that pregnancy test on Friday
• Feeling very bloated as of now early in the morning
• 凌晨3點, 月經慢第4天. 有掙扎要不要再開一根驗孕棒但最後覺得沒必要, 因為還是很有可能只是最近睡覺作息不好所以月經晚了. 還有, 假設真的有第二條很淺的線, 我一定又會之後繼續用驗孕棒再驗, 然後最後第7或第8個週期還是要去醫生那邊做正式的驗孕檢查. 所以目前感覺再等幾天, 月經慢了一星期才再驗一次. 到時候若是有兩條線預約看醫生做正式的檢查, 若依舊一條線那也該預約醫生檢查看看身體有沒有狀況. 預計1/13(月經慢一星期)若依舊沒看到月經就再驗吧!
• 現在清晨 肚子感到超脹

Below are updated from 1/11 :::::::::::: 以下是1/11更新

Jan 10

• Woke up to slight soreness to the left side of my lower abdominal area. 
• Noticed spotting in my second run to the bathroom of the day, so maybe period is gonna show up very soon. Noticed spotting only from wiping, pink-brown ish color, nothing on pantie. 
• Went to a park for a walk with doggo on an empty stomach afterward, though I felt fine. 
• Around 9pm, saw the same pink-brown ish color when wiping again so I put on a liner pad.
• Insomnia all night
• 起床後 肚子下左邊有些許痠痛
• 第二次上廁所發現有一點點粉紅色和咖啡色的分泌物, 只有擦拭才有.
• 空著肚子出門溜狗, 身體感覺還好.
• 晚上9點, 上廁所時又看到一些粉紅色咖啡色的分泌物, 一樣是擦拭才有, 所以乾脆放個護墊.
• 失眠很嚴重

Jan 11

• Bathroom around midnight, pure white without any pink/brown on the liner. Very faint pink color when wiped.
• 1:30am. Tried to fall asleep, tried reading myself to sleep, and tried counting sheep...and breathing exercises but none worked. Meanwhile, the left breast was experiencing some pain, not shooting pain, more like when a bruise got pressed on every few seconds. This lasted for maybe half an hour, or up to an hour? Until I got up to use the bathroom.
• Bathroom around 4am, nothing on the pad but more pink-brown blood when wiping.
• Was awake until at least 4:45am because that's the last time I looked at my phone.
• Woke up at 8:45am and felt a lot better than before. 
• Very little blood on the pad, just like when it's the day before the period comes. I think today/tomorrow is key to see if my period comes or not this month.
• 9:30am, made breakfast, and now with Duke at my computer waiting for the 10:00 meeting. Opened a bottle of Simply Nature strawberry banana smoothie. It said no sugar added but tasted so freaking sweet so I passed it to W. I can feel some bloating below chest again and I haven't started eating yet.
• 4pm, spotting became heavier. It looks like the period is here.
• 4:30pm, walked with Duke in the neighborhood. Less low back pain while walking and afterward.
• Was very sleepy after dinner. Almost fell asleep on the couch so W basically dragged me away from the couch and led me to bed at 7:59pm then he went to a meeting. I didn't hear a word he said (normally I can hear him when he talks in his meeting (all online these days). I heard nothing and fell asleep so fast. Woke up just past midnight.
• 午夜上廁所時 護墊完全白色, 擦拭時一點點的粉紅色分泌物.
• 1:30am. 去床上躺著試著睡覺完全睡不著. 試著看書做深呼吸等等沒用. 期間左胸感到痛. 不是刺痛感, 比較像是每幾秒就按著瘀青的地方的那種痛. 
• 凌晨4點多 上廁所, 護墊依然全白色. 擦拭時 又有粉紅色分泌物 有比較多一點.
• 8:45起床後 護墊上有一點點血, 感覺像是月經要來的前一天. 我猜今天或明天就知道這個月到底來不來了.
• 下午4點, 出血變多, 越看越像是月經要來.
• 7:59pm, 晚餐後坐在沙發上睏的不得了. W把我拉去床上後去開會. 他開會期間(在家網路開會)我都沒聽到聲音超快的就睡著了. 醒來時是午夜12點

Jan 12

• Woke up past midnight and 'of course had a hard time to try fall back asleep. Went to the bathroom to check the liner. Yep, I think the period is here. 
• I think it's ironic that the last 2 years of my period had been normal and predictable, except this time, the month we started trying lol
• Now looking forward to receiving a package on Friday! I can't wait to play with the ovulation strips hahaha.
• 午夜12點醒來後, 想當然睡不著了. 去廁所檢查, 恩, 認為是月經來了.
• 現在期待星期五的包裹. 期待把玩排卵紙! 

Jan 13

• Surprisingly the package arrived 2 days early! The ovulation tracking kit came with 40 ovulation test strips and 10 pregnancy test strips. 
• Downloaded the app "Premom" as instructed by the kit. Manually entered all of last year's period tracking from another app to this app to help it better track for ovulation. Planning to start the test strips this Sunday or Monday.
• Downloaded the app "What to Expect" and joined the TTC community. My goodness, there's so much information and many discussion boards on this app, and that's just with the TTC community! It's also nice to hear about other people's experiences regarding trying for a baby, preparations before trying, and the different methods they've used. I also read some discussions on various topics during and after pregnancy; found some cultural practices fascinating including the 40-day postpartum confinement. I knew about some practice from Taiwan wherein women will "sit the month" (from 28 days to a whole month) after delivery for recovery, just hadn't thought about other culture practicing something similar. Some of my childhood friends in Taiwan have given birth and stayed at a hotel-like "postpartum facility" for a month. Some gave birth at a hospital then moved to a postpartum facility. These facilities vary in cost, room size, amenities, and some are staffed with licensed specialists and registered nurses (產後護理中心, translated as postnatal care center) while some are staffed with nannies and assistants (月子中心, translated as sit the month center). The cost of staying at one such facility can be super pricey (example: a popular postnatal care center "人之初" costs around USD 360/night that include weekly doctor's visit inside your suite, daily checks on wound recovery, blood pressure, infant swimming pool in mom's suite, use of mama spa facility, postnatal yoga, daily UV disinfection and every time after visitors, 3 meals & 2 snacks/day, 24/7 infant care with a clinician-infant ratio of 1:5). Some begin with a package of 20 days for around $6,000 a month, some start with $30 days, and some last for 40 days. These are the info I just found by random Googling. I'm sure there are more variations and different packages available to suit the different needs of moms. Admittedly I'm realllllly not a fan of many of the rules I heard of Taiwan's postpartum confinement. BUT, many of these rules were passed down from a time with a lack of resources, knowledge, and technology. Like that rule of "no shower, no washing hair, no touching of any cold water for a whole month." Back in the old days (like REALLY OLD DAYS, hundreds and thousands of years ago), yeah I can see why bathing without modern technology/cleaning standards can be a problem and may cause infection. In the current age we live in, I believe many of the traditional practices can be replaced or altered thanks to modern technology. Nonetheless, it's a choice up to the mom. Here in the states, most moms get discharged from the hospital by day 2 or 3 after giving birth. Many go home and not have the luxury of "a month of sitting at home/care center" because of the lack of such center (unless in cities like LA/NYC), no one to look after other children, partner (and mom too) not able to take leave from work for long, and even if such care center exists not far from home or financially able to hire a live-in nanny & cook for you for a month (or if family members like sisters/mother/mother in law/cousins etc can come and help you for a whole month), the pandemic we're all living in makes it even more difficult to decide whether you want people coming in and out of your home (possibly from the outer state), or you & your newborn be living at a center, or do everything on your own at home. I'm not even pregnant, yet I've been pondering about this question this afternoon: if we do become pregnant and this pandemic is still around, vaccine widely administered or not, do I want other people's help in postpartum care? If it's 10 years ago, I definitely would've said no (I didn't even want to try for baby 10 years ago lol). Right now, I don't have any concrete answer. On one hand, I know for certain it wouldn't be anything like traditional postpartum confinement because I'm just not comfortable with certain beliefs and customs. On the other hand, my body does feel somewhat "weaker" than before. A process like giving birth definitely warrants a comfortable resting period to rest and restore strength. I'm just unsure what my ideal recovery period/process might look like. I probably won't have an answer until much later, if we do become pregnant. I do know this, I won't have family coming over to help because I'm a first-generation immigrant to this country. I have no family in the states, only W and our furry kiddos. My inlaws work full time and live abroad, and honestly, I'd rather not have to play host during a time of recovery. Also, even though I like the idea of staying at some hotel-like center and not do any house chores for a month, I'm not sure if there's even a center like that near where we live. Even if there is a care center like such near us, I have a feeling I'd be opposed to certain customs such center follows (like a strict diet for a whole month). Also, I'd be wary of possible insufficient license among staff and lack of certificates aka center not meeting regulations, illegal operations. The more I think about it, the more I feel likely I'll just stay home during that period of recovery. Plus, "stay home, stay safe" is likely going to stick around for a while anyway.
• 包裹出乎意料的提早到了. 排卵kit一盒有40張排卵試紙+10張驗孕試紙. 預計星期天或星期一開始玩試紙
• 下載了Premom的app. 把去年一整年的月經的紀錄都輸入到了這個app裡來做更精準的排卵紀錄.
• 下載了What to Expect的app並加入了TTC(trying to conceive,就是嘗試懷孕狀態啦)的社群裡 裡面資訊超多! 我看的好過癮 也滿喜歡看看別人的經驗分享, 包含一些別的文化的懷孕期和生產後的調理. 像是墨西哥有個類似台灣的"坐月子"這個概念. 墨西哥的是生產後 媽媽要待在家裡不能出門40天, 期間女性家人親戚(產婦的媽媽, 外婆, 姊姊, 阿姨, 生過小孩的堂表姊妹等等)輪流到家裡照顧剛生產的媽媽 幫忙分擔家務跟煮菜顧小孩 跟台灣的坐月子感覺真的很像. 說實話, 我自己不喜歡許多之前聽過的台灣坐月子的傳統習俗, 譬如不能洗澡洗頭髮碰冷水一個月. 不過我也知道這些習俗是從很久以前傳下來的(幾百幾千年了), 當時的科技, 知識, 資源完全跟現在不同, 那時候的剛生產完的媽媽要是泡澡(那時沒有現在的水管管線 沒熱水器 沒有現在的消毒水準)遇到不乾淨的水真的搞不好就傷口發炎. 現代人其實可以做些適合自己的調整, 畢竟現在的科技和生活品質比以前好很多. 美國大多數的媽媽 剛生完孩子第二天, 第三天就從醫院回家了. 沒有"休養身體一個月"的奢侈. 大部分的地區沒有像月子中心的地方(除非在像是洛杉磯紐約這些大城市又亞洲人很多的地方). 另外有些已經有小孩的還會擔心其他小孩怎麼半, 剛生小孩的爸爸可能產假不夠(例如媽媽如果在家試著休養一個月 或去外面坐月子一個月, 爸爸只有2星期的假, 那就要考慮另外2星期小孩要怎麼照顧, 普遍狀況是媽媽不太可能可以連著一個月專心只休養身體不顧家務狀況因為另一半還得顧工作 而很多人的家人都住得很遠, 近也不見得會去剛生產的媽媽家幫一整個月, 頂多是拜訪幾天 家人多數自己也有工作要顧 而且因為"坐月子"本來就不是美國當地文化), 加上現在又是全世界全國都有疫情狀況, 其中美國又是超嚴重疫區 不得不覺得 "要不要別人幫忙"這個決定很難下. 若要別人幫忙 會想要家裡時常有人進進出出嗎(或花錢請一個陌生人住在家裡)? 還是去哪裡住調養一個月? 還是自己的身體自己在家休養照顧? 我根本沒懷孕, 今天下午卻不自覺的想著這些: 如果疫情期間真的懷孕了, 無論預防針是不是普遍施打, 我想不想要有別人來幫助我的產後恢復? 如果是10年前, 我一定會決定不用了(10年前根本沒想要生). 而現在, 沒完整的答案, 確定不會是傳統的坐月子 因為習俗那些我知道自己不會接受.  恩...應該說, 隨著時間過去, 有真的覺得自己的身體跟以前不太一樣, 而生完小孩這種大費體力的事, 我認為生產完後能有一段時間休息 養傷 恢復體力 是當然很好的, 只是我自己想不出確切的是"這個修復期要怎麼過?"大 概要很久之後才可能有確切答案, 真的懷孕才可能知道吧. 不過我知道,  我不會有家人來幫忙 因為我沒有家人在美國. 在美國的家人只有W跟毛小孩. W的家人都在工作也不住美國. 而且說實在, 我也很不想在恢復期還要做好當主人. 還有, 也不知道我們家附近有沒有月子中心這種地方, 就算真的有 我感覺也會有理念衝突的地方(畢竟"坐月子"本身的習俗規則非常多, 吃的方面也可以很多規矩)另外馬上會顧慮的是 月子中心是不是所有人都有相應執照, 營業有沒有合法. 恩 越想越覺得若真的懷孕 產後大概是直接待在家吧. 而且, 因為疫情所以政府所推倡的"待在家 保持安全"大概還會跟著Oregon居民一大段時間.

Jan 14

• Woke up feeling great. Not good sleep quality because I woke up every 2 hours, but still, I feel woke up feeling great.
• BBT : 97.6, I think it's a bit on the high side?
• Started tracking basal body temperature (BBT) for the first time. The digital thermometer is a contactless device that was purchased off from Amazon in October. Originally purchased for checking the temperature in case we have COVID symptoms. I just point it at my forehead and it reads a number within seconds. 
• The thermometer only reads to the tenth digit...not to the hundredth digit. It seems if I were to track my basal body temperature then it's best to track temperature to the hundredth digit so that tiny fluctuations can be detected.. BUT, I'm not really interested in going to any store to buy another thermometer since the current one was just recently purchased 😔). 
• 今天起床感到身心都很好. 昨晚其實睡眠品質不太好 因為每2小時就醒一次, 但早上睡醒還是感到很好.
• 今天量了體溫: 97.6度. 感覺有些偏高? 
• 第一次開始測體溫, 我的"不用接觸身體的"體溫計是10月在Amazon買的 原本目的是為了假如有生病徵狀時測體溫用. 只要拿著體溫計對著額頭(不用碰到) 幾秒內就會讀出體溫. 
• 體溫計只能量到".6" 不能量到 ".61" (tenth digit, not hundredth digit). 但現在的體溫計是最近才買的, 不太想為了體溫計特別去店裡一趟. 

Below are updated from 1/24 :::::::::::: 以下是1/24更新

Jan 15  BBT (體溫):97.5

• Woke up feeling good. Still didn't get much sleep (around 4 hours total) but, I feel good! No bloated feeling like the days before and the first couple of days of the period. 
• W told me he thinks it's funny to watch me being in my "researcher mode" with tracking BBM 😂. I take the temperature first thing when waking up while still lying in bed, log it into the PREMOM app right away, then back to catch more sleep 😂😂😂. Every night, I keep the thermometer & my phone under my pillow so it's easy to grab the first thing in the morning. I have an alarm for 8:30am daily so I can track it at the same time every day.
• 今天心情不錯. 雖然睡大約4小時而已但起床後覺得狀況都不錯. 沒有像月經來前幾天和頭幾天的脹肚感覺. 舒服多啦!
• W說看我一副"研究者模式"覺得很有趣. 起床第一件事就是量體溫, 還沒下床前 躺著量, 然後輸入到手機裡, 然後倒回去再補眠😂😂😂. 每天晚上把溫度計和手機放在枕頭下 這樣早上一起床很方便馬上量體溫跟輸入溫度到PREMOM這個app裡面. 每天早上鬧鐘準時8:30測體溫.

Jan 16  BBT (體溫): 97.6, OPK: 0.11

• First time using an ovulation predictor kit (OPK). My take on using it is to better understand my body. Since this is my first time using it, my plan is to use 1 strip daily from cycle day 6 until a few days before predicted ovulation day (predicted by the app). Use 2-3 strips per day on the days leading up to predicted ovulation day. Along with BBM charting, I can observe and track actual ovulation taking place or not. Also, cross-check with predictions made by the app I've used for over a decade!
• Never thought I'd say something like this...but...I'm excited to play with peeeeeee LOL
• PREMOM reads the test strip pretty fast. I use the "automatic" feature. To do this, I point the camera at the strip and the app auto-detects the line(s) on the strip then gives a reading on the ratio of control/test, based on the intensity of the color of the line(s).
• 第一次使用排卵試紙 (OPK). 我的看法是 用這個來更了解自己的身體. 既然這是第一次使用, 我計畫從週期第6天開始每天一張試紙直到預計排卵(根據app的預測)的前幾天. 預計排卵的前幾天改成一天用2-3張試紙 搭配每天體溫測量, 這樣來觀察跟紀錄自己實際排卵狀況 也看看用了10幾年的app到底準不準! 

Jan 17  BBT (體溫): 97.5

Jan 18  BBT (體溫): 97.5 💖

Jan 19  BBT (體溫): 97.5

• I keep wondering about the accuracy and reliability in using the current thermometer over a more precise thermometer that can read to the hundredth digit....so I ordered another thermometer from Amazon😎.
• 我一直在想 體溫計是不是不夠準? 因為只能測到小數點後一位...所以 我又在Amazon上再訂了一個溫度計😎.

Jan 20  BBT (體溫): 97.7

Jan 21  BBT (體溫): 97.8

• The new thermometer arrived! It's compact and I like how light it weighs. I tested it this afternoon by doing 5 readings in a row and got 5 different readings 👀. However, the variance is small (differential between 0.02 - 0.06) so I'm feeling ok with using this solely for the purpose of BBM charting! I can't wait to use it tomorrow and start seeing a more precise chart on the app.
• 新的體溫計到了! 很基本小隻而且很輕. 下午連續5次測試給了5個不同的數字. 不過差異都很小(在0.02到0.06之間)所以感覺也還好 這根就專門記錄體溫用! 很期待明天開始用這個測體溫 也期待能在app看到更精準的體溫變化圖.

Jan 22  BBT (體溫): 96.98 💖

• It's the first day of charting using the new thermometer & my temp has already dropped to below 97. Not sure if it's because of the new thermometer, or if my body temperature is really lower than usual today.
• PREMOM app predicts today is the beginning of this cycle's fertile period (aka the first day of the so-called no-go week back when avoiding pregnancy).
• 第一天使用新的體溫計體溫就低於97了, 不知道是因為是新的溫度計 還是是真的今天溫度變低的關係.
• PREMOM app預測今天是受孕期的第一天(就是以前要躲避的危險期第一天)

Jan 23  BBT (體溫): 96.94

Jan 24  BBT (體溫): 96.76 💖

• Got the lowest temperature since I started charting! Could this be that "dip" before ovulation? Nonetheless, OPK test strips are giving me low numbers (ratio of 0.2 to 0.3 from last night to this afternoon)
• 今天是自從開始計體溫以來第一天的最低溫. 會不會這就是"排卵前的低溫?" 不過排卵試紙檢查都還是給我很低的數值(昨晚到今天下午也才從0.2到0.3)

Jan 25  BBT (體溫): 96.5 💖

• Noticed EWCM (egg white cervical mucus). Honestly, I used to get annoyed by this because it'd get on my pantie and I didn't track this so it always showed up random to me. Over the last two weeks, I learned so much about fertility key terms and signs of ovulation over the internet. To my surprise, this raw-egg-white-like substance actually indicates peak fertility; it helps sperm to meet the egg 👀 How come my schools never taught me this? I felt so dumbfounded because I feel body cues & fertility signs like what ovulation is and how it works should be part of sex education as they're important for family planning including preventing pregnancy (as not everyone uses the pills for birth control) and ultimately it's about understanding the human body (as a teenager, I learned about those 206 human bones, diagrams of a human brain, human heart, how the veins and arteries work, but knew very little about reproductive organs). Health education was kinda skimmed through at my middle school and high school. Sex education was a taboo at my schools and I pretty much only learned about the menstrual cycle and that babies happen because an egg was met by a sperm. I didn't even know only fraternal twins could be boy-girl (I thought identical twins could be a boy and a girl as well lol). I understand where some concerns were coming from, like "worried about exposing too much information" and "they'll know more when they're older." However, not talking about sex doesn't prevent teen pregnancy. Sex education isn't teaching young people how to have sex. Many young people don't know about the different phases of a menstrual cycle and don't know much about safe sex. People talk about using a condom, but not much teaching on how to properly put it on. Not getting pregnant after unprotected sex during that cycle leads to a false belief that "it's ok" (without knowing there's a probability involved with conception) and continue engaging in such a manner in future cycles. I know people who took pregnancy tests the day after unprotected sex, they didn't know it takes days for implantation to occur & for the body to build up enough HCG that a pregnancy test detects (didn't read the instructions on the box too or just ignored I don't know). Without adequate sex education, young people sometimes "explore risky activities" and learn from unreliable sources like peers/friends, "myths" or "rumors," the internet, porn, etc. It's also less likely for young students to seek guidance/ask these types of questions at their doctor's visit (if they have reliable access and the means to healthcare), to not feel embarrassed to ask parents and at the doctor's office. I believe it's important to have sex ed, understand reproductive health, and how the reproductive system works even at a young age. This teaches safe sex, consent, and this knowledge can be used to prevent unwanted pregnancy or for trying to conceive. Anyway, today is the first time I actually don't mind seeing raw-egg-white-like cervical mucus.
• 注意到有像生蛋白的分泌物. 說實話我以前看到像蛋白的分泌物覺得很煩 因為會沾到內褲, 加上以前沒注意甚麼時候會有這個分泌物所以每次看到的時候總覺得好像很突然. 在過去的兩個多禮拜裡, 透過網路學會了許多生育相關的關鍵字跟排卵的徵兆. 讓我很驚訝的是 原來這個像生蛋白的分泌物代表排卵期 是有助精子遇見卵子的分泌物! 為何以前學校都沒教? 自己感到自己也太笨拙了. 國中高中時學到的健康教育在性教育部分基本上只有提過月經和嬰兒是由精子和卵子的結合而產生的 怎麼結合的沒教過 結合後受精卵會經過什麼程序會變怎樣全部都被跳過. 以前甚至不知道只有異卵雙胞胎可以有龍鳳胎 (以前以為同卵雙胞胎也可以有一男一女). 我覺得生理相關知識應該要是性教育的一部分, 因為是了解自己的身體 (國中高中都學過206根人骨, 腦部構造, 心臟構造, 血管運作 怎麼對性器官卻那麼不瞭解 學校甚至沒教過經期的不同環節 跟什麼是排卵 為什麼排卵)排卵知識對避孕和計畫懷孕都很重要(畢竟不是所有人都選擇用避孕藥). 我懂一些保守觀念的人在意的是怕教太多性教育會"教壞"小孩反而造成青少年懷孕所以認為乾脆不提不教 "長大自然會知道", 但是, 不教的狀態下很多年輕人因為不懂所以不知道月經週期的環節, 不知道正確避孕方式發生性行為之後擔心緊張 若沒有懷孕就以為很安全卻不知道懷孕還有機率問題. 這個月沒正確避孕沒懷孕不代表下個月保持一樣的方式就不會懷孕. 甚至有些人以為性行為發生後隔天就可以用驗孕棒確認是否懷孕. 性教育並不是教人怎麼發生性行為怎麼生小孩. 我覺得要有性教育知識, 了解生理構造和運作, 才能知道怎麼有安全的性行為跟計畫不管是避孕也好還是懷孕. 總之, 今天是第一次不介意看到這個蛋白般的分泌物.

Jan 26  BBT (體溫): 96.88 💖

• PREMOM app predicts tomorrow is ovulation day. The other app, the one that I've been using for period tracking for over a decade, predicts ovulation in 3 days. Yesterday I got the lowest temperature reading of the month thus far, plus OPK values have been on a steady rise, so we'll see! I find ovulation testing quite amusing haha. The peeing-in-a-cup part isn't so much fun, but the watching-the-test-strip-reveal-color-intensity part (results) is fun. 
• Second pee of the day - OPK T/C ratio: 0.72 
• Backache, sore breasts like I've gone skiing or something...probably due to too many days of 💖 in a short amount of time lol 現在用的app (PREMOM)預計明天是排卵日. 另一個 已經用了超過10年的紀錄生理期的app則是預計3天後是排卵日. 昨天偵測到了體溫紀錄以來的最低溫, 而且排卵試紙的數值也有漸漸變高趨向. 話說我覺得排卵試紙滿好玩的 哈哈! 尿尿到杯子裡這個部分沒很好玩, 但是觀察試紙上的顏色變化這部分我覺得好有趣.
• 今天第二泡尿的排卵測驗數值是0.72
• 背很痠痛, 胸部也像是滑雪過一樣的痠痛..可能短時間內太多次💖的關係

Below are updated from 2/5 :::::::::::: 以下是2/5更新

Jan 27  BBT (體溫): 96.76, OPK T/C ratio (排卵測驗數值): 2.12 (peak, 巔峰)

• EWCM
• Bloating, lower backache, sore waist area from the minute I was awake 👀
• Cramp-like feeling in the lower abdominal area, acne on my chin 
• 今天有像蛋白的分泌物
• 脹肚, 腰酸背痛
• 像經痛的痛, 下巴長了痘痘

Jan 28  BBT (體溫): 96.92, OPK T/C ratio (排卵測驗數值): 1.04

• EWCM
• Mild bloating in the morning and afternoon
• OPK test result showed a peak yesterday so ovulation should happen anytime within 48 hours from the time of yesterday's test (unless the peak actually happened before/after I took that test then ovulation might happen a little sooner/later).
• Evening: mild cramp-like discomfort in the left side of the abdominal area in the evening, then suddenly a more intense than normal cramp type of pain more toward the center of the abdominal area just before midnight while lying in bed, maybe this is ovulation pain? I never noticed or looked out for ovulation pain before. I feel like I felt this kind of cramp/pain before in mid-cycle but didn't know that's ovulation pain. Felt something like a pull for 1-2 seconds. Marked today as ovulation day on the app.
• 今天有像蛋白的分泌物
• 早上下午肚子都脹脹的
• 昨晚的排卵試紙驗出了最高的數值, 所以應該從昨晚測驗時間開始算48小時內都可能排卵 (除非最高值其實在我驗的之前或之後就發生, 所以可能更早或更晚一點排卵)
• 晚上有像經痛的痛, 然後接近午夜12點時 突然有感覺被拉了一下的痛 只有1-2秒很快就消失. 在app上記錄成排卵.

Jan 29  BBT (體溫): 97.18, OPK T/C ratio (排卵測驗數值): 0.43

• Feeling a bit tired during the day
• Feeling more energized as it gets dark lol
• 白天感到有些累, 晚上到是比較有精神

Jan 30  BBT (體溫): 97.06, OPK T/C ratio (排卵測驗數值): 0.3

• The left side has a pulling kind of discomfort. I know 2 DPO is too early to feel anything, though I hope if I do get pregnant then it won't be ectopic.
• 左邊有拉扯的不適感. 我知道排卵後2天大概是感覺不到什麼徵狀, 不過現在倒是期望若真懷孕 不要是子宮外孕.

Jan 31  BBT (體溫): 97.36, OPK T/C ratio (排卵測驗數值): 0.22

• 2:20pm: was feeling very warm so I took a temperature, it's 98.3.
• Headache before dinner and a while after dinner
• 下午2:20: 感覺身體很熱 體溫98.3度
• 晚餐前後頭痛

Feb 1  BBT (體溫): 97.1, OPK T/C ratio (排卵測驗數值): 0.13

• Bloated all day!!
• 1:20am: Right toes cramping out of nowhere. I'm just sitting in the chair scrolling on my phone.
• 肚子一整天好脹
• 凌晨1:20am: 右腳幾根腳趾頭莫名其妙抽筋. 我只是坐在椅子上划手機. 

Feb 2  BBT (體溫): 97.76, OPK T/C ratio (排卵測驗數值): 0.19

• Just woke up from a super strange dream where I was attending some sort of new product release party for Apple (I'm not even their user lol) and Mark Zuckerberg (yes, him) handed me an ultra-tech cool flip-tablet that you can just flip, flip, and flip into a much bigger screen. On that screen, there was a list of tasks Mark wanted me to hurry and finish checking off of and I needed a phone but the staff there told me no phones allowed and just so happened I ran into a friend (he works in a rival company in real life lol) walking into the party but won't let me borrow his phone. Meanwhile, Mark kept giving me this death glare and repeatedly mouthed "hurry!" What a dream!!! Bloated all day again!
• Bloated stomach all day again!
• 11:15pm: while showering, I had this sudden cramp just under my left foot. I wasn't even lifting the foot or moving my legs (was washing my hair). Foot cramp lasted for a few minutes and noticeable pain remained when shifting weight from right leg to left leg then back. Cramp & discomfort was gone by the time I was done showering.
• 做了好緊迫盯人的夢
• 又是肚子一整天好脹
• 晚上11:15: 洗澡時左腳腳底板突然抽筋. 當時我沒有在動腳 只是在洗頭. 抽筋幾分鐘後重心不管放在左腳還右腳 左腳都會感到痛. 不過洗完澡就又沒感覺了.

Feb 3  BBT (體溫): 98.52, OPK T/C ratio (排卵測驗數值): 0.14

• Bloated all day again, omg and so gassy
• Lower backache, sore waist area all day (this is so uncomfortable)
• Very early in the morning (midnight-2am): the lower abdominal area is feeling a bit different. No pain, not exactly cramp-like feeling, but it feels slightly "tight." Maybe it's PMS. 
• Shortly after midnight: weirdly started having a random hiccup while chatting with W on the bed, and some puke came up....I freaking swallowed it back. I feel gross I did that.............
• Woke up feeling hot and my whole body was sweating from head to toes, including my palms, neck, back, legs, and feet! 
• Woke up too early. I couldn't fall back asleep and only slept a little over 3 hours.
• Took temperature 2 hours earlier than usual
• Duke had to have 6 teeth extractions today so I'm sad for him and worried throughout his operation/afterward. Recovery just began and he's clearly very uncomfortable.
• Couldn't focus at work because I keep worrying about Duke during surgery. Tried to catch more sleep but couldn't sleep well. Napped for about an hour in the afternoon.
• Around 9pm: cramps and shooting pain (shooting pain lasted only 1-2 seconds, not even sure if I was just imagining it??) near the left side of the abdominal area. Was in the middle of typing up documents on my computer while Duke was sleeping on my lap and then felt the sudden shooting pain and cramp. I'm sure Duke wasn't moving when I felt it. Duke's still drugged out and the shooting pain can't be from him moving on me.
• More cramps between 10-11pm. Not painful but noticeable and felt different than period cramp. Was like a small pinpoint area kept getting poked at a speed of around 2 hits per second. Still a little to the left of the lower abdominal area, not in the center.
• 11pm: Right breast felt sore around while lying on the bed.
• 11:14pm: Feeling even more bloated
• 腰酸背痛 失眠 像經痛的痛 肚子脹氣 超多屁
• 午夜12點-凌晨2點: 肚子感到不 一樣, 不是經痛那樣, 覺得緊緊的. 也許是pms.
• 剛過午夜12點: 跟W在床上聊天突然打嗝, 有點東西上來..(對嘔吐物)我還給他吞回去 之後覺得自己好噁心.
• 早上醒來時全身發熱出汗 從頭到手心脖子大腿小腿腳指頭都是汗.
• 一醒就睡不著了 比平常早醒, 只睡了3小時多.
• 比平常早2小時量體溫
• Duke今天拔6顆牙 我一整天因此很難過也很緊張
• 今天上班無法專心 因為擔心Duke拔牙手術過程. 試著補眠一下 午覺睡得很不好 大概一小時
• 晚上9點: 下腹偏左側有刺痛感(1-2秒鐘而已 甚至不確定是不是自己幻想出來的). 當時Duke在我腿上 我在用電腦. 很確定他還在術後吃藥的昏昏沉沉沒有踢我所以痛不會是因為他.
• 晚上10-11點: 有一種不像經痛的不適感在下腹. 像是有東西在搓一個地方 而且每秒大約搓兩下. 還是偏左側, 不是下腹的正中間.
• 晚上11點: 躺在床上時感到右胸覺得痠痛
• 晚上11:14: 覺得肚子又更脹了😣 

Feb 4  BBT (體溫): 97.06, 

• Due to stupidity, had to get out of the bed before taking the temperature therefore it might have affected this morning's BBM?
• Was feeling very warm in the afternoon so I took a temperature again at 1:55pm and it was 99.16! 
• 2pm: toothache? What the heck? I was typing on my computer and suddenly experienced toothache in my lower front teeth. It went away in about a minute but got me wondering if that could be a pregnancy sign lol Also...kinda hope and kinda hope it's not because I'm afraid of toothache....
• Shooting pain in the left breast while cooking dinner at 6:04pm
• about 9pm: toothache for less than a minute in an upper left molar. Maybe I need to get sensitive toothpaste again...My dentist just told me all's good almost 3 months ago and I have a dental appointment on 2/22 anyway. I'll bring it up at the appointment.
• Very bloated all afternoon, stomach feels tight and bloating every time I move around from room to room or when extending an arm to pick up something (from a table/counter etc)
• Was feeling tired most of the afternoon.
• 下午感到特別熱 一量體溫發現升高不少 變成99.16
• 下午2點突然牙痛(下排中間)!? 過程不到1分鐘. 有點好奇會不會真的是懷孕徵兆 同時也希望不是因為我怕牙痛lol 幾個月前牙醫才說我的牙都沒問題 這個月22號本來就有要回去定期看牙 到時候會跟牙醫提今天的突然牙痛.
• 晚上6點做晚餐時左胸突然有幾下刺痛 很快就沒感覺.
• 晚上9點, 牙痛再來(左上排後面) 也是不到1分鐘.
• 一整天肚子很脹 感覺緊緊的 活動一下就很不舒服

Feb 5  BBT (體溫): 98.4

• Woke up 1.5 hours earlier than usual. Couldn't fall back asleep again so I just got up resulting in taking BBM earlier than usual.
• Feeling tired from about 2pm onwards, even though I've just been on the computer (no writing/brainy stuff today, just training modules and videos for work).
• 今天比平常早起1.5小時 所以體溫比平常早量
• 下午2點多後就一直很累的感覺, 即使只是在家用電腦工作

Below are updated from 2/24 :::::::::::: 以下是2/24更新

Feb 6  BBT (體溫): 97.82

Feb 7  BBT (體溫): 92.72

Feb 8  BBT (體溫): 97.36

Feb 9  BBT (體溫): 97.74

Feb 10  BBT (體溫): 97.74

• Period

Feb 11  BBT (體溫): 97.2

• Period

Feb 12  BBT (體溫): 97.12

• Period

Feb 13  BBT (體溫): 97.06

• Period

Feb 14  BBT (體溫):  97.08

• Period

Feb 15  BBT (體溫): N/A

• Only just gone to bed around 6am so I thought to skip today's BBM
• Period

Feb 16  BBT (體溫): 96.84

• Noticed my temperature has been on a decline. 

Feb 17  BBT (體溫): 96.74

Feb 18  BBT (體溫): 96.5

Feb 19  BBT (體溫): 96.5 OPK T/C ratio (排卵測驗數值): 0.13 💖

Feb 20  BBT (體溫): 96.8

Feb 21  BBT (體溫): 96.9 OPK T/C ratio (排卵測驗數值): 0.14

Feb 22  BBT (體溫): 96.78 OPK T/C ratio (排卵測驗數值): 0.09

Feb 23  BBT (體溫): 96.88 OPK T/C ratio (排卵測驗數值): 0.42 💖

Feb 24  BBT (體溫): 96.54 OPK T/C ratio (排卵測驗數值): 0.78

• Woke up feeling great! These days, it's becoming harder to sleep through the night without interruptions. I woke up feeling like I had 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep!