Still on bedrest. Baby girl is still head up. I've not gained any weight, and neither has she, so we will be getting another growth scan in 2 weeks. I am still having nausea, but I haven't vomited in a week. YAY!!! I seem to be living on junk. McFlurries are the current craving. Well, really the only craving. I've been having to take flexeril for the extreme uterine and ovarian ligament pain. I'm not really sure why I'm having such pain since they've already been stretched once. I guess I'm a good healer. I didn't start showing until 28 weeks again. It was little later with Sir Chance, but not much later.
COVID-19 is making this a very lonely pregnancy. DH is not allowed at any of the appointments. Friends can't come and visit. I guess being on bedrest is a good thing; since we really aren't supposed to be leaving the house anyway. Toilet paper is still in shortage months later. IF you can find toilet paper, it's twice the cost. Hand sanitizer is basically Everclear these days. A lot of distilleries have stopped making booze and are making hand sanitizer. Now to top things, there is a shortage of coins. Stores are wanting exact change, or use a card. I'm not sure about going all cashless. Not sure I want the government that aware of what I do and do not purchase. It's bad enough as it is with the credit and debit cards. Door Dash and the like have become the new normal. No one is allowed with you at the hospital if you've been diagnosed with COVID. People are dying alone. I'm hoping come the end of Sept/beginning of Oct, when baby girl is born, things will have settled down and people will be allowed to visit. As it stands right now, only 1 person is allowed to be with me, and once they come, they can't ever leave if they want to stay. It's just sad all the way around. In the beginning of things, pregnant women weren't having any complications. Now 4 months or so into this pandemic, pregnant women are going on the vent, but they haven't had any deaths. The powers at be aren't saying if these women had other underlying conditions like diabetes or other autoimmune disorders. I hope it says that no pregnant women die, but as the virus changes, it could very well happen.
So, I just lay here and hope to get off bedrest next week and ponder what things will be like with 2 kids.
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
25 Weeks
Well, this has been a roller coaster of a pregnancy. I have hyperemesis graviderum, aka severe morning sickness. I have lost 25 pounds since I started throwing up day and night at 9.5 weeks or so. I had a bad reaction to the phenergan, so I really only have Zofran, which I have been eating like candy. I finally got some Bonjesta, which is basically unison and B-6. This at least allows me to sleep through the night without waking up to throw up. The puking has gotten better. Some days I only throw up once or twice, some days more. The nausea still hasn't subsided. I have stopped losing weight. I haven't gained, but at least I'm not losing.
Along with the hyperemesis, I have a sub chorionic hemorrhage. This is a tear in the uterine wall that has bled and formed a clot. Mine is located behind my placenta, and is threatening to detach the placenta from the uterine wall.
I have a very anterior placenta this time. Good for vaginal birth, bad for repeat c-sections. Yes, I will be having another c-section. Unproven pelvis, failure to progress, and emergency c-section just makes the c-section a better option.
Back to this clot. I've been on bedrest really this entire pregnancy. I still did stuff, and 3 weeks ago I was put on restrictive bedrest because the clot had gotten larger. Restrictive means only allowed out of bed to go pee and go to the OB. I've been going once a week. Went today, and if all looks good next week, I will be taken off restrictive bed rest, if not off bed rest completely. I was originally on bedrest until 30 weeks, to make sure she is viable if we have to deliver early for some reason. I am hoping they let me go completely.
So, I lay here in bed completely bored. I have gotten a lot of reading and napping in. Door Dash is our new favorite word.......
Baby girl is doing great. She is almost 3 pounds now. I am still not showing, which is very strange for a second pregnancy. I didn't show with Sir Chance until 28 weeks, so I suspect I'll "pop" any day now. Sad thing is all the cute pregnancy clothes I only get to wear for a few weeks. Sigh.
Along with the hyperemesis, I have a sub chorionic hemorrhage. This is a tear in the uterine wall that has bled and formed a clot. Mine is located behind my placenta, and is threatening to detach the placenta from the uterine wall.
I have a very anterior placenta this time. Good for vaginal birth, bad for repeat c-sections. Yes, I will be having another c-section. Unproven pelvis, failure to progress, and emergency c-section just makes the c-section a better option.
Back to this clot. I've been on bedrest really this entire pregnancy. I still did stuff, and 3 weeks ago I was put on restrictive bedrest because the clot had gotten larger. Restrictive means only allowed out of bed to go pee and go to the OB. I've been going once a week. Went today, and if all looks good next week, I will be taken off restrictive bed rest, if not off bed rest completely. I was originally on bedrest until 30 weeks, to make sure she is viable if we have to deliver early for some reason. I am hoping they let me go completely.
So, I lay here in bed completely bored. I have gotten a lot of reading and napping in. Door Dash is our new favorite word.......
Baby girl is doing great. She is almost 3 pounds now. I am still not showing, which is very strange for a second pregnancy. I didn't show with Sir Chance until 28 weeks, so I suspect I'll "pop" any day now. Sad thing is all the cute pregnancy clothes I only get to wear for a few weeks. Sigh.
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
10 Weeks 5 Days
It's been a while since I have written. Lots going on. We have a healthy baby girl growing, as you can see. I've had a slight complication that has had me on bedrest for a little over a week now. Bored. I am bored. Not only am I bored, I am sick. ALL. THE. TIME!! I can't wait until this first trimester is over. Hopefully the sickness goes away after 12 weeks.
The migraines have been worse with this pregnancy. I had them with Sir Chance, but these are more intense and last longer. I go the 24th to my regular OB as I was released from my RE at 9.5 weeks. I am hoping I am taken off bedrest.
For the complication; I have what is called a sub chorionic hematoma. Basically what it is, is a blood clot between the uterine wall and the placenta. This happened when Sir Chance jumped on me one day and his knee went right into my uterus. I had immediate cramping, but the bleeding came a day later. It is resolving, they just do bedrest to make sure the placenta doesn't separate from the uterine wall because of the clot. So I just get to lay here and watch all my muscles atrophy!
More updates to come.
The migraines have been worse with this pregnancy. I had them with Sir Chance, but these are more intense and last longer. I go the 24th to my regular OB as I was released from my RE at 9.5 weeks. I am hoping I am taken off bedrest.
For the complication; I have what is called a sub chorionic hematoma. Basically what it is, is a blood clot between the uterine wall and the placenta. This happened when Sir Chance jumped on me one day and his knee went right into my uterus. I had immediate cramping, but the bleeding came a day later. It is resolving, they just do bedrest to make sure the placenta doesn't separate from the uterine wall because of the clot. So I just get to lay here and watch all my muscles atrophy!
More updates to come.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Second Beta
Went in for my second blood Beta test today (17DP5DT) and it came back 10,134. They want me to come in for the heartbeat ultrasound (US) while we are unavailable, so we are going to do a fetal pole and gestational sac check Friday Feb 14th. Yep, Valentine's day I get to find out if I am having multiples. YAY! So the heartbeat US will be done the week of Feb 24th.
My due date is Oct 7, 2020, but my OB will not allow me to deliver past 38 weeks due to previous c-section, my age, and certainly not if having multiples. my OB MAY wait till 39 weeks, but I doubt it. Will know more the farther along things go.
River the Aussie puppy arrived Monday. She is such a sweet heart. Her and Sir Chance are currently running around upstairs making a lot of noise; him laughing and her barking. The new Giant Schnauzer puppy arrives Feb 24th, so it'll be awesome potty training 2 puppies and a toddler! Not sure what I was thinking.......
Initially the RE clinic called my meds into Fertility Pharmacy of America (FPA). For some reason when they added the Viagra, they called everything in again to South Miami Pharmacy (SMP). When I needed more dots and P4 after the first Beta was positive, I called SMP. They not only are more expensive, but they charge for shipping on any order under $500!!! So I had to pay half the cost of my medications to get them here Monday or I would have run out. I called FPA today to check pricing. They are $5 more on the P4, but they are cheaper on the generic and name brand dots, but the cool thing is they ship overnight for FREE!!!! IF you need Saturday delivery, it's free if your order is over $75, but it is still only $10 if your order is under $75. I will pay $5 extra for the P4 to get the free overnight shipping. That means when my insurance allows another refill of the dots on the 8th, I will call FPA and have them refill my meds. They will be here Monday for free (They're closed Sunday). I do not want to run out of meds while I am away. That would be bad.....
So we now wait until next Friday for the US.
My due date is Oct 7, 2020, but my OB will not allow me to deliver past 38 weeks due to previous c-section, my age, and certainly not if having multiples. my OB MAY wait till 39 weeks, but I doubt it. Will know more the farther along things go.
River the Aussie puppy arrived Monday. She is such a sweet heart. Her and Sir Chance are currently running around upstairs making a lot of noise; him laughing and her barking. The new Giant Schnauzer puppy arrives Feb 24th, so it'll be awesome potty training 2 puppies and a toddler! Not sure what I was thinking.......
Initially the RE clinic called my meds into Fertility Pharmacy of America (FPA). For some reason when they added the Viagra, they called everything in again to South Miami Pharmacy (SMP). When I needed more dots and P4 after the first Beta was positive, I called SMP. They not only are more expensive, but they charge for shipping on any order under $500!!! So I had to pay half the cost of my medications to get them here Monday or I would have run out. I called FPA today to check pricing. They are $5 more on the P4, but they are cheaper on the generic and name brand dots, but the cool thing is they ship overnight for FREE!!!! IF you need Saturday delivery, it's free if your order is over $75, but it is still only $10 if your order is under $75. I will pay $5 extra for the P4 to get the free overnight shipping. That means when my insurance allows another refill of the dots on the 8th, I will call FPA and have them refill my meds. They will be here Monday for free (They're closed Sunday). I do not want to run out of meds while I am away. That would be bad.....
So we now wait until next Friday for the US.
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Day 13 Post 5 Day Transfer
Well, we got the BFP on the pee stick. OF course I started peeing on day 5P5DT. Beta (blood test) was on Thursday (30th). The results were 498.8. That is a very good number for 10DP5DT. We ended up transferring 2 girl embryos. Surprise!!! We were waiting to tell anyone in case they didn't take. Of course we won't know if we are having twins until the US, which is not scheduled yet. My next Beta is Thursday the 6th. I am continuing to take baby aspirin daily, P4 (Progesterone in oil 2mg IM shots) daily, and 4 dots every other day. Can't forget the prenatal vitamins and folic acid.
We ran into an interesting issue last week. After my positive Beta, I needed to order more P4 and dots, but I didn't want to order too many just in case of non-viable pregnancy. I have been having terrible migraines and I am afraid the medications will do sometime to the pregnancy. I have also been having some morning sickness this time. I've had it twice now. Once last week, (Wednesday I think), and today. I seem to be much more tired with this pregnancy. I wanted to sleep most the day, but instead I cleaned dog kennels and dog food holders; I still did rest between nausea and throwing up. Anyway, back to the issue. I ordered the meds and because the order wasn't over $500, I had to pay $30 just to get the meds shipped here by tomorrow (Monday). It would have cost more than the meds to get them here Fri or Sat. The issue: I have only 1 dot left and I have to have 4 for tomorrow. FedEx says they will be here sometime before 8p, but we leave tomorrow around 1100 for Nebraska to pick up the new puppy. I contacted the clinic to ask what I should do. Hopefully they get back to me before I leave tomorrow. I will put my one dot on and see what happens. I can add the additional 3 when I return Tuesday, and then change them to the normal 4 on Wednesday. Maybe the clinic can call in one box of dots, or maybe I can take something oral just for the day, or maybe the clinic has some extra someone donated. We shall see.
About the dog stuff. When our Japanese Chin died at Thanksgiving, I put a deposit down on an Australian Shepherd. Well, when out Pekingese died 2 weeks ago, I put a deposit on a Giant Schnauzer. Turns out the Aussie is ready to be picked up now. We wanted a bi-blue merle male with at least one blue eye, bit this red b-merle female with blue eyes is too cute to pass up, She was going to stay with the breeder to be a dam, but I asked if I could buy her and she agreed. I will drive to York, Nebraska tomorrow to pick up our new red merle female aussie to be named River Song. I got the phone call yesterday the giant schnauzer pup I was 3 back on a waiting list for, came avail yesterday for me. Holy crap. The litter I was on the list for wasn't due until June. Well, we go pick him up Feb 24th in Garden City, Missouri. He will be named Rory. We decided since all our Firefly/Serenity animals seems to be dying off, we would go with a different sci-fi show for our next set of animals; so Doctor Who it is.....companions of course. River bridges the two shows as there is a River in both shows.
So, what will a pregnant woman (possibly with twins) do with 2 puppies while trying to potty train a toddler?? Go crazy of course. We wanted larger dogs so Sir Chance could be rough but not hurt them like he could with the little dogs. Both breeds are great with kids, but the schnauzer is very protective of his family. They are generally one family dogs and get depressed and die if they lose their family. It is very hard to re-home them, so we want him for life. Aussies are fun and protective as well. I think they will get along well with the 2 cats, toddler, and new baby(ies).
Deep down I really want twins, but I really don't want sororal girl twins. I would rather fraternal boy/girl twins. Really all that matters is the baby is healthy. Had we transferred a boy and a girl, my luck the boy would have stuck then we would have been without the girl we were trying for in the first place. We would have to try again for the girl.....with a gestational carrier as I would be close to 48 and not carrying another at 48.
So, we wait until the next Beta Thursday. I assume if there is a rise there will be an US within a week, which would be the 13th of Feb. Heartbeat US will come later.....
We ran into an interesting issue last week. After my positive Beta, I needed to order more P4 and dots, but I didn't want to order too many just in case of non-viable pregnancy. I have been having terrible migraines and I am afraid the medications will do sometime to the pregnancy. I have also been having some morning sickness this time. I've had it twice now. Once last week, (Wednesday I think), and today. I seem to be much more tired with this pregnancy. I wanted to sleep most the day, but instead I cleaned dog kennels and dog food holders; I still did rest between nausea and throwing up. Anyway, back to the issue. I ordered the meds and because the order wasn't over $500, I had to pay $30 just to get the meds shipped here by tomorrow (Monday). It would have cost more than the meds to get them here Fri or Sat. The issue: I have only 1 dot left and I have to have 4 for tomorrow. FedEx says they will be here sometime before 8p, but we leave tomorrow around 1100 for Nebraska to pick up the new puppy. I contacted the clinic to ask what I should do. Hopefully they get back to me before I leave tomorrow. I will put my one dot on and see what happens. I can add the additional 3 when I return Tuesday, and then change them to the normal 4 on Wednesday. Maybe the clinic can call in one box of dots, or maybe I can take something oral just for the day, or maybe the clinic has some extra someone donated. We shall see.
About the dog stuff. When our Japanese Chin died at Thanksgiving, I put a deposit down on an Australian Shepherd. Well, when out Pekingese died 2 weeks ago, I put a deposit on a Giant Schnauzer. Turns out the Aussie is ready to be picked up now. We wanted a bi-blue merle male with at least one blue eye, bit this red b-merle female with blue eyes is too cute to pass up, She was going to stay with the breeder to be a dam, but I asked if I could buy her and she agreed. I will drive to York, Nebraska tomorrow to pick up our new red merle female aussie to be named River Song. I got the phone call yesterday the giant schnauzer pup I was 3 back on a waiting list for, came avail yesterday for me. Holy crap. The litter I was on the list for wasn't due until June. Well, we go pick him up Feb 24th in Garden City, Missouri. He will be named Rory. We decided since all our Firefly/Serenity animals seems to be dying off, we would go with a different sci-fi show for our next set of animals; so Doctor Who it is.....companions of course. River bridges the two shows as there is a River in both shows.
So, what will a pregnant woman (possibly with twins) do with 2 puppies while trying to potty train a toddler?? Go crazy of course. We wanted larger dogs so Sir Chance could be rough but not hurt them like he could with the little dogs. Both breeds are great with kids, but the schnauzer is very protective of his family. They are generally one family dogs and get depressed and die if they lose their family. It is very hard to re-home them, so we want him for life. Aussies are fun and protective as well. I think they will get along well with the 2 cats, toddler, and new baby(ies).
Deep down I really want twins, but I really don't want sororal girl twins. I would rather fraternal boy/girl twins. Really all that matters is the baby is healthy. Had we transferred a boy and a girl, my luck the boy would have stuck then we would have been without the girl we were trying for in the first place. We would have to try again for the girl.....with a gestational carrier as I would be close to 48 and not carrying another at 48.
So, we wait until the next Beta Thursday. I assume if there is a rise there will be an US within a week, which would be the 13th of Feb. Heartbeat US will come later.....
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Day 1 Post 5 Day Transfer
Not sore from the wreck, but having terrible cramping. RE gave me Valium to take to make sure the wreck didn't hurt the uterus and make it contract too much, but to also keep me relaxed and hopefully from getting too sore.
Sir Chance doesn't understand why I can't pick him up or let him lay on me.
Funny story about the wreck yesterday. My mother brought Sir Chance to the accident scene to make sure I would be able to get home. This child at 2.5, put together mommy was hurt because the truck was hurt. It took over 3 hours to calm him down to make him realize mommy wasn't hurt, just the truck. We wouldn't go into the house until I show him I was ok, but the truck had a big owie.
Resting again tomorrow until we decide what to do with the truck and insurance. Ugh.
Sir Chance doesn't understand why I can't pick him up or let him lay on me.
Funny story about the wreck yesterday. My mother brought Sir Chance to the accident scene to make sure I would be able to get home. This child at 2.5, put together mommy was hurt because the truck was hurt. It took over 3 hours to calm him down to make him realize mommy wasn't hurt, just the truck. We wouldn't go into the house until I show him I was ok, but the truck had a big owie.
Resting again tomorrow until we decide what to do with the truck and insurance. Ugh.
Monday, January 20, 2020
Transfer Day
Well, my day started out interesting. I was on my way for my 1000 massage before my noon transfer, and some ass hat T-boned me in my passenger side. Good thing I was in my big ass 3/4 ton truck. I walked away with zero injuries. Had I been in our Q-5 I probably would have been killed. The police and fire allowed me to drive the truck home since it would drive, they just cut the airbags out so I could see. I drove 30 all the way home. I’m so glad Sir Chance wasn’t with me.
So we got to the clinic for the transfer and we had to tell the RE what happened. She checked me out and we went ahead with the transfer. So far I just rested all day pelvis up. Gotta get that embryo to stick.
Now, I am having lots of cramping. I don’t remember cramping on the first day. I remember implantation cramping between day 3-7, but not this early. Hopefully it a good sign.
So, I will rest pelvis up for 3 days and hope I don’t get too sore from the accident.
Pic of the truck.
I go back the 30th for my first beta blood test, but we all know I’ll pee on a tick before then! Lol
Now to del with the stupid I Iran was company.
So we got to the clinic for the transfer and we had to tell the RE what happened. She checked me out and we went ahead with the transfer. So far I just rested all day pelvis up. Gotta get that embryo to stick.
Now, I am having lots of cramping. I don’t remember cramping on the first day. I remember implantation cramping between day 3-7, but not this early. Hopefully it a good sign.
So, I will rest pelvis up for 3 days and hope I don’t get too sore from the accident.
Pic of the truck.
I go back the 30th for my first beta blood test, but we all know I’ll pee on a tick before then! Lol
Now to del with the stupid I Iran was company.
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Transfer Time
According to my portal, the transfer will occur at 1:00p tomorrow. The clinic has not called to confirm this time, or tell me what time to arrive.
I started my PIO shots 4 days ago; today is day five. I also started the doxy and medrol at the same time. Stopped all viagra and Lupron shot. I am still applying 4 dots every other day. However, the adhesive has started to blister me, and since I have to be on them another few weeks, we may switch to oral.
This whole process has made me really emotional and I have been dealing with the emotions by gambling. This is a bad thing, because once I am there I can't stop until I have won $5000 or lost it all. I went yesterday at 1100a and didn't come home until 8:00p. I did win and had enough to drink that I was to the point I was smoking; which is NOT what needs to happen when trying to put a baby in the uterus. I hope I didn't screw tings up.
Today I am just going to schedule my massage for tomorrow before the transfer, and lay around like a bump on a log.
To top things off, we lost our Japanese Chin (13 yrs) Thanksgiving, and we lost our Pekingese (2 yrs) Thursday. So things have been more emotional than they need to be.
This journey sucks. Hopefully good news tomorrow.
I started my PIO shots 4 days ago; today is day five. I also started the doxy and medrol at the same time. Stopped all viagra and Lupron shot. I am still applying 4 dots every other day. However, the adhesive has started to blister me, and since I have to be on them another few weeks, we may switch to oral.
This whole process has made me really emotional and I have been dealing with the emotions by gambling. This is a bad thing, because once I am there I can't stop until I have won $5000 or lost it all. I went yesterday at 1100a and didn't come home until 8:00p. I did win and had enough to drink that I was to the point I was smoking; which is NOT what needs to happen when trying to put a baby in the uterus. I hope I didn't screw tings up.
Today I am just going to schedule my massage for tomorrow before the transfer, and lay around like a bump on a log.
To top things off, we lost our Japanese Chin (13 yrs) Thanksgiving, and we lost our Pekingese (2 yrs) Thursday. So things have been more emotional than they need to be.
This journey sucks. Hopefully good news tomorrow.
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Shots Update
I started the hormone dots today, as well as the viagra suppository. I have been on Lupron 5mg and baby aspirin for 2 days now. Just so you know the suppository is vaginal. It doesn't come with any kind of device to inset it, so I have to do it the old fashioned way; with my fingers. Let me tell you, its extremely gross. Especially since I am still bleeding from being on my period. Granted, it's really just spotting, but it's still gross.
I am not a fan of this viagra suppository. I feel yucky on it. It lowers your blood pressure to increase the blood flow to the uterus. I certainly do not need lower blood pressure. The shots have been no big deal this time, mostly because I am still numb from my c-section so I can't feel the shots. I have not been bruising like I did before either. However, I did start the aspirin two days ago, so the bruising may start.
I stay on the dots and everything else until my appointment Jan 13, 2020.
Sir Chance seems to have fallen off the bed. Off to check on him.....
I am not a fan of this viagra suppository. I feel yucky on it. It lowers your blood pressure to increase the blood flow to the uterus. I certainly do not need lower blood pressure. The shots have been no big deal this time, mostly because I am still numb from my c-section so I can't feel the shots. I have not been bruising like I did before either. However, I did start the aspirin two days ago, so the bruising may start.
I stay on the dots and everything else until my appointment Jan 13, 2020.
Sir Chance seems to have fallen off the bed. Off to check on him.....
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
The Last Beginning
Well, I got my flowsheet for the last time. Flowsheet are the instructions for the FET (frozen embryo transfer). I started the BCPs 3 weeks ago.
I take the active pills until Dec 23. I start the Lupron shots Dec 20th, along with the prenatal vitamin. I take the shots, 10 units sub-q every morning until Dec 29, then I lower the dose to 5 units every morning. On Dec 30th, I start taking 81mg aspirin (baby aspirin) every day. On Dec 31st, I start the hormone patches (vivelle dots) and the Viagra vaginal suppository. I apply 1 dot every other day until Jan 2nd, when I start applying 2 dots every other day. Starting Jan 6th, I apply 3 dots every other day. This lasts until Jan 10th, when I start applying 4 dots every other day. I am taking the shots, aspirin, and suppositories every day along with the dots. I go to the clinic Jan 13 for my first US and blood work. The last day to transfer in the cycle is Jan 31st. I haven't ever been ready at the first of the cycle; I am usually closer to the end of the cycle.
We know the sex of the embryo, it's just a matter of her surviving the thaw, and then sticking and growing for 39 weeks.
It is a v very stressful time for me. I am scared and excited all at the same time. How will we handle two kids?? Three year old Sir Chance and an infant. How will Sir Chance take having a baby in the house? We wanted to get him potty trained before the new baby comes, but I am not sure that is going to happen. He just isn't interested like he was when he was 17 months. Had I not gotten sick, he would be potty trained already. Thanks niece for that sickness.
So, we are going on this journey one last time.
I take the active pills until Dec 23. I start the Lupron shots Dec 20th, along with the prenatal vitamin. I take the shots, 10 units sub-q every morning until Dec 29, then I lower the dose to 5 units every morning. On Dec 30th, I start taking 81mg aspirin (baby aspirin) every day. On Dec 31st, I start the hormone patches (vivelle dots) and the Viagra vaginal suppository. I apply 1 dot every other day until Jan 2nd, when I start applying 2 dots every other day. Starting Jan 6th, I apply 3 dots every other day. This lasts until Jan 10th, when I start applying 4 dots every other day. I am taking the shots, aspirin, and suppositories every day along with the dots. I go to the clinic Jan 13 for my first US and blood work. The last day to transfer in the cycle is Jan 31st. I haven't ever been ready at the first of the cycle; I am usually closer to the end of the cycle.
We know the sex of the embryo, it's just a matter of her surviving the thaw, and then sticking and growing for 39 weeks.
It is a v very stressful time for me. I am scared and excited all at the same time. How will we handle two kids?? Three year old Sir Chance and an infant. How will Sir Chance take having a baby in the house? We wanted to get him potty trained before the new baby comes, but I am not sure that is going to happen. He just isn't interested like he was when he was 17 months. Had I not gotten sick, he would be potty trained already. Thanks niece for that sickness.
So, we are going on this journey one last time.
Saturday, November 30, 2019
And It Begins Again
The medications have started and I a losing my mind. Thinking of having two kids, a new business, and a DH who always works, It can be very over whelming. Transfer of our little girl is to be the last two weeks of Jan; the 31st being the last day. So Sept or Oct baby.
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Results Are In
Well, our results are in. We have a genetically normal girl sitting in the freezer!! Woo Hoo!!
Now all she has to do is stick.
I thought for sure when the RE wanted to speak to us before we left for vacation Friday, that the news would be bad; I am go glad it is not.
Now we hang to coordinated DH schedule with the clinic schedule for the frozen transfer.
Updates to come.
Now all she has to do is stick.
I thought for sure when the RE wanted to speak to us before we left for vacation Friday, that the news would be bad; I am go glad it is not.
Now we hang to coordinated DH schedule with the clinic schedule for the frozen transfer.
Updates to come.
Monday, September 2, 2019
Still Waiting
We are still waiting for the results of our PGS testing. We got a phone call requesting we make an appointment to discuss the results with the RE while we were on vacation two weeks ago. I was gone last week, and we leave again this week; so we will not get our results until after we return home. UGH.
The message indicated we would need to sign consent forms, which leads me to believe the results are bad and they need us to sign consents to destroy the embryos. I could meet with the RE two days this week if she is avail, but I don't think I want to ruin my vacation with bad news; so we will wait.
I am very torn. If the results are bad, I may consider egg donation. This may be our only option for a genetic sibling for Sir Chance. Funny thing about this, is I would still be this child's mother. DNA testing today won't pick it up, but on a mitochondrial level, the DNA of the child changes because I am carrying said child. When the technology catches up, it will show I am the mother of the child on a DNA level. Pretty cool stuff. Just something we may consider in the future.
So we just wait....
The message indicated we would need to sign consent forms, which leads me to believe the results are bad and they need us to sign consents to destroy the embryos. I could meet with the RE two days this week if she is avail, but I don't think I want to ruin my vacation with bad news; so we will wait.
I am very torn. If the results are bad, I may consider egg donation. This may be our only option for a genetic sibling for Sir Chance. Funny thing about this, is I would still be this child's mother. DNA testing today won't pick it up, but on a mitochondrial level, the DNA of the child changes because I am carrying said child. When the technology catches up, it will show I am the mother of the child on a DNA level. Pretty cool stuff. Just something we may consider in the future.
So we just wait....
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Egg Update
We ended up harvesting 8 eggs. Only 4 of them were mature, and only 3 fertilized. Now we wait. WE have to wait 5 days post harvest to find out if any of them are genetically normal. This is almost worse than the TWW after the transfer.
I am sad. I am discouraged. I have a whole range of emotions, and it is so hard to not be pessimistic. It's hard to stay positive knowing how all the eggs and embryos in the past were bad (except Sir Chance). 1 out of 30 is NOT good odds, but no one has ever said I wasn't one to beat the odds. Just look at Sir Chance; the foremost RE in the country told me I would never carry a baby to term, even if we get a normal embryo, but we took the chance and here he is. The RE was completely shocked when I called him to discuss a second baby. Completely shocked we got an embryo, but even more shocked I was able to carry to (almost - 38 weeks) term. I'm pretty sure I have been depressed since the harvest and I learned we only had 3 fertilized eggs. It doesn't help I have been in more pain than I remember ever being in before. I finally broke down and called my ER today. I am going in tomorrow for an ultrasound to make sure I am not bleeding anywhere. The pain I am describing makes her thing I may have a little bleeding and there is blood filling up my abdomen. She suspects this because my pain meds are not working, I am still swollen, the pain is one sided, and my abdomen is hard (no, it's not from working out unfortunately).
So we wait. We wait the 5 days post harvest to find out if we have possible siblings for Sir Chance.
I will do my best to stay as positive as I can, it's just very hard, I think I am tired. I am glad this is our last try for a sibling. Unless we adopt, there will be no more biological siblings for Sir Chance....unless DH has children running around he doesn't know about! LOL
So know we wait....
I am sad. I am discouraged. I have a whole range of emotions, and it is so hard to not be pessimistic. It's hard to stay positive knowing how all the eggs and embryos in the past were bad (except Sir Chance). 1 out of 30 is NOT good odds, but no one has ever said I wasn't one to beat the odds. Just look at Sir Chance; the foremost RE in the country told me I would never carry a baby to term, even if we get a normal embryo, but we took the chance and here he is. The RE was completely shocked when I called him to discuss a second baby. Completely shocked we got an embryo, but even more shocked I was able to carry to (almost - 38 weeks) term. I'm pretty sure I have been depressed since the harvest and I learned we only had 3 fertilized eggs. It doesn't help I have been in more pain than I remember ever being in before. I finally broke down and called my ER today. I am going in tomorrow for an ultrasound to make sure I am not bleeding anywhere. The pain I am describing makes her thing I may have a little bleeding and there is blood filling up my abdomen. She suspects this because my pain meds are not working, I am still swollen, the pain is one sided, and my abdomen is hard (no, it's not from working out unfortunately).
So we wait. We wait the 5 days post harvest to find out if we have possible siblings for Sir Chance.
I will do my best to stay as positive as I can, it's just very hard, I think I am tired. I am glad this is our last try for a sibling. Unless we adopt, there will be no more biological siblings for Sir Chance....unless DH has children running around he doesn't know about! LOL
So know we wait....
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Harvest Complete
The harvest went well. I seem to be in more pain than I usually am, but I'm woken through it. Got out last night to meet a friend for a little bit and I am paying for it this morning.
Honestly: we haven't gotten any results back and I am already sad and thinking the worst. They harvested 8 eggs, but I doubt any of them are going to be mature. The only thing left is to leave it in God's hands.
I am not sure I am sad because my journey has come to an end, or just sad overall I was't able to conceive naturally. Is it a blessing or a curse I had breast cancer at age 24?? It's not my place to question God's plan...and set I still do. I have a perfect little boy, who busted his chin open on Tuesday and needed stitches (we opted for glue since he was being so good and we figured he'd pick at the stitches). Boys being boys. He will have a scar, but hopefully in time it will fade and he will never know it ever happened, except through pics.
I am sad. I just want to lay around today. I am hurting and sad. So we will wait to here form the clinic on the status of our 8 eggs and make decisions from there.
Until new updates.
Honestly: we haven't gotten any results back and I am already sad and thinking the worst. They harvested 8 eggs, but I doubt any of them are going to be mature. The only thing left is to leave it in God's hands.
I am not sure I am sad because my journey has come to an end, or just sad overall I was't able to conceive naturally. Is it a blessing or a curse I had breast cancer at age 24?? It's not my place to question God's plan...and set I still do. I have a perfect little boy, who busted his chin open on Tuesday and needed stitches (we opted for glue since he was being so good and we figured he'd pick at the stitches). Boys being boys. He will have a scar, but hopefully in time it will fade and he will never know it ever happened, except through pics.
I am sad. I just want to lay around today. I am hurting and sad. So we will wait to here form the clinic on the status of our 8 eggs and make decisions from there.
Until new updates.
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
US and Labs
No results back yet, but there were 2 larger and one smaller follicle on each ovary today; that we could see. There was also fluid in my uterine lining, which means had I been doing a fresh cycle, it would have been cancelled and everything frozen until a later date. Good thing we aren't doing a fresh cycle. After the first one, we've never done another; my body can't handle the overstimulation of hormones.
So I start my Cetrotide today. Which tells me my P4 levels are starting to creep up. They give the Cetrotide to shut down the P4, keeping it low so it won't cook the eggs in the follicles.
I return to the clinic for another US and labs on Friday (July 26th).
I am very disappointed in how I am stimulating this time. I really only have 4 follicles. The OAR score indicated at least 8. They need to come up with a more reliable test, because this test sucks and only gets one's hopes up.
Until then......
So I start my Cetrotide today. Which tells me my P4 levels are starting to creep up. They give the Cetrotide to shut down the P4, keeping it low so it won't cook the eggs in the follicles.
I return to the clinic for another US and labs on Friday (July 26th).
I am very disappointed in how I am stimulating this time. I really only have 4 follicles. The OAR score indicated at least 8. They need to come up with a more reliable test, because this test sucks and only gets one's hopes up.
Until then......
Monday, July 22, 2019
Today's Results
Here are the results from today's US and labs.
Not as good as I was hoping, but the left ovary was hiding behind the uterus and some bowel. Hopefully there are more and we just didn't see them.
| Left Ovary | |
| Follicles: | 9mm, 8mm, 7mm |
| Right Ovary | |
| Follicles: | 14mm, 13mm |
The ESTRADIOL was 680.6 pg/ml. This is just fine for what I have. I go back on Wednesday 0900.
Until then....
Sunday, July 21, 2019
Baseline US and Blood Work
Went Saturday morning (July 20) for the baseline US and blood work. It appeared I had 4 good follicles on the left ovary and 2 maybe 3 small follicles on the right. I do not know the levels of P4 or E, and I can not confirm the follicles, because the clinic has not updated my portal. They only sent me instructions.
So I continue 225 of the stimulating shots, twice a day, until 0830 tomorrow morning (Monday July 22). I go back for another US and blood work to see how the few follicles I have are progressing, and to see if I have gained any new ones. I am still on the steroid pill once a day.
So far, everything looks good and we are progressing nicely.
Until tomorrow then.....
So I continue 225 of the stimulating shots, twice a day, until 0830 tomorrow morning (Monday July 22). I go back for another US and blood work to see how the few follicles I have are progressing, and to see if I have gained any new ones. I am still on the steroid pill once a day.
So far, everything looks good and we are progressing nicely.
Until tomorrow then.....
Sunday, July 14, 2019
And We Begin Again
Well, here we go folks. It's that time again....harvest time. I start my stim shots on Tuesday. Twice a day as usual. Also start the dexamethasone as well that day. My first US and baseline blood work will be Sat the 20th at 0800.
I'm excited but I am also nervous. My OAR score this time was the best it's ever been since we started this whole process when I was 35. Just for reference, I will be 43 in Oct. However, I have been thrown a curve ball this time.
May 19th, the day of the final episode of Game of Thrones (the first episode I would have watched and yes, it was the series finally), I decided I needed to have a seizure. Yep. Full on tonic clonic seizure. Convulsions, frothing at the mouth, classic seizure. Turns out (after MRI and EEG), it was a perfect storm of things that caused it. Migraine for 4 days, little to no sleep for 3 days (we had just bought a Dive Shop and well, stress), and Tramadol. Tramadol has a history of lowering a person's seizure threshold, but I had been on it for over 10 years and had no issues. So the only culprit is the Tramadol. IT lasted about 45 seconds or so. I was standing at the cat tree and the next thing I remember is them asking me what year it was (I couldn't come up with it) and then asking if I knew where I was (in the ambulance - I go that one right). It took about an hour for me to get all my faculties back and know what was exactly going on. I am fine, except I can't scuba dive for 6 months now. UGH. That sucks, especially during the busy summer season.
Anyway, how this affects my IVF. I was 132 pounds before the seizure. When I went to my first appointment to get my H&H blood draw and and US to check for any cysts on my ovaries, I was 150 pounds. Nothing has changed in my eating habits. Nothing. The only change is the seizure and the dive shop. I am getting at least 20,000 steps a day and constantly lifting and loving heavy objects. Is it the exercise packing on muscle, or is it something else? I feel I am eating less, but drinking more. I realize alcohol can pack on weight, but that much in such a short time?? I wasn't drinking THAT much. The other thing that has changed (IMO) is my personality. I am quick to anger, I feel I have zero emotions, and I feel my Sir Chance wants nothing to do with me.....an I am indifferent about it. Yes, I have gone to the doctor about all of this and she is stumped as well since all the tests are normal; but who says I am ever normal??!! HA!
No way to lose those extra pounds in 2 weeks, so hopefully I can get the pounds off before we transfer (God willing we get embryos of course).
Another thing that has happened, is I had surgery April 3. I had abdominal liposuction and breast/nipple reconstruction. They used the fat from my abdomen and transferred it to the left breast to fill in some flat spaces. We did this to keep from having to remove the implant and doing capsule work. The capsule is the pocket the implant sits in. Think of it as the water balloon is the capsule and the implant is the water. We moved my right nipple, via flap, almost 2 cm to the lateral side (towards my arm pit), because it was showing in any bra or swim suit top I wore (except bandeau style; but with a swimming toddler you can't wear those....he just pulls them down).
Now here is where things get tricky. DH is only off 4 days the entire 2 weeks of the harvest schedule. He is on call two days (so he goes in at 7P) and off the day after his call shift. Yes, he is off the weekends, but I have historically never harvested on the weekend. Since he is only off those 4 days, and the chances of me being ready on one of those 4 days is slim, he will have to go into the clinic and leave a sperm sample to be frozen, as back up just in case. Obviously fresh sperm is best, but if he isn't avail, it's either frozen sperm or frozen eggs.
Back to my OAR score. It is the best it has ever been, so the RE ordered less medicine than she has in the past. This gives me more hope things will go smoothly and amazingly. As you may or may not remember, our last cycle we had the most follicles we have ever had at 25, but only got a few eggs, only one of which was mature. Due to human error, our egg was accidentally injected with 2 sperm and we ended up with a ruined egg. It happens. We don't blame anyone, and no action was taken. We just wanted to make sure steps were put in place so that hopefully this doesn't happen again, or to anyone else. When you have 10 harvests in a day, it makes people rush around and sometimes errors happen. So we had little signs made to remind people to slow down and take extra precautions.
So shots start in 2 days. Not looking forward to the shots since I have no fat in my tummy anymore, but it'll be great. I am still trying to figure out where all the weight went, because I may be swollen a little bit (takes about 6 months for all the swelling to go away), so my waist is still around 2 inches larger than pre-surgery, but it was closer to 6 inches for weeks post surgery. I still wear my abdominal binder and waist trainers. Spanx don't make a small enough product to get the compression I need. I probably should be wearing a corset honestly, but that requires 2 people to get into and my 85 year old MIL can't help and DH isn't around when it's time to get dressed. So I do what I can.
Hopefully by Sat we have a few good growing follicles and we are off to a good start for this third and final harvest. We said we would do 3 after Sir Chance was born, so this is the final one.
Updates to come. I appreciate any and all good wishes and prayers. I also hope anyone reading this who is going through this journey, has faith it can work. Stay positive and allow it all to happen in God's time.
I'm excited but I am also nervous. My OAR score this time was the best it's ever been since we started this whole process when I was 35. Just for reference, I will be 43 in Oct. However, I have been thrown a curve ball this time.
May 19th, the day of the final episode of Game of Thrones (the first episode I would have watched and yes, it was the series finally), I decided I needed to have a seizure. Yep. Full on tonic clonic seizure. Convulsions, frothing at the mouth, classic seizure. Turns out (after MRI and EEG), it was a perfect storm of things that caused it. Migraine for 4 days, little to no sleep for 3 days (we had just bought a Dive Shop and well, stress), and Tramadol. Tramadol has a history of lowering a person's seizure threshold, but I had been on it for over 10 years and had no issues. So the only culprit is the Tramadol. IT lasted about 45 seconds or so. I was standing at the cat tree and the next thing I remember is them asking me what year it was (I couldn't come up with it) and then asking if I knew where I was (in the ambulance - I go that one right). It took about an hour for me to get all my faculties back and know what was exactly going on. I am fine, except I can't scuba dive for 6 months now. UGH. That sucks, especially during the busy summer season.
Anyway, how this affects my IVF. I was 132 pounds before the seizure. When I went to my first appointment to get my H&H blood draw and and US to check for any cysts on my ovaries, I was 150 pounds. Nothing has changed in my eating habits. Nothing. The only change is the seizure and the dive shop. I am getting at least 20,000 steps a day and constantly lifting and loving heavy objects. Is it the exercise packing on muscle, or is it something else? I feel I am eating less, but drinking more. I realize alcohol can pack on weight, but that much in such a short time?? I wasn't drinking THAT much. The other thing that has changed (IMO) is my personality. I am quick to anger, I feel I have zero emotions, and I feel my Sir Chance wants nothing to do with me.....an I am indifferent about it. Yes, I have gone to the doctor about all of this and she is stumped as well since all the tests are normal; but who says I am ever normal??!! HA!
No way to lose those extra pounds in 2 weeks, so hopefully I can get the pounds off before we transfer (God willing we get embryos of course).
Another thing that has happened, is I had surgery April 3. I had abdominal liposuction and breast/nipple reconstruction. They used the fat from my abdomen and transferred it to the left breast to fill in some flat spaces. We did this to keep from having to remove the implant and doing capsule work. The capsule is the pocket the implant sits in. Think of it as the water balloon is the capsule and the implant is the water. We moved my right nipple, via flap, almost 2 cm to the lateral side (towards my arm pit), because it was showing in any bra or swim suit top I wore (except bandeau style; but with a swimming toddler you can't wear those....he just pulls them down).
Now here is where things get tricky. DH is only off 4 days the entire 2 weeks of the harvest schedule. He is on call two days (so he goes in at 7P) and off the day after his call shift. Yes, he is off the weekends, but I have historically never harvested on the weekend. Since he is only off those 4 days, and the chances of me being ready on one of those 4 days is slim, he will have to go into the clinic and leave a sperm sample to be frozen, as back up just in case. Obviously fresh sperm is best, but if he isn't avail, it's either frozen sperm or frozen eggs.
Back to my OAR score. It is the best it has ever been, so the RE ordered less medicine than she has in the past. This gives me more hope things will go smoothly and amazingly. As you may or may not remember, our last cycle we had the most follicles we have ever had at 25, but only got a few eggs, only one of which was mature. Due to human error, our egg was accidentally injected with 2 sperm and we ended up with a ruined egg. It happens. We don't blame anyone, and no action was taken. We just wanted to make sure steps were put in place so that hopefully this doesn't happen again, or to anyone else. When you have 10 harvests in a day, it makes people rush around and sometimes errors happen. So we had little signs made to remind people to slow down and take extra precautions.
So shots start in 2 days. Not looking forward to the shots since I have no fat in my tummy anymore, but it'll be great. I am still trying to figure out where all the weight went, because I may be swollen a little bit (takes about 6 months for all the swelling to go away), so my waist is still around 2 inches larger than pre-surgery, but it was closer to 6 inches for weeks post surgery. I still wear my abdominal binder and waist trainers. Spanx don't make a small enough product to get the compression I need. I probably should be wearing a corset honestly, but that requires 2 people to get into and my 85 year old MIL can't help and DH isn't around when it's time to get dressed. So I do what I can.
Hopefully by Sat we have a few good growing follicles and we are off to a good start for this third and final harvest. We said we would do 3 after Sir Chance was born, so this is the final one.
Updates to come. I appreciate any and all good wishes and prayers. I also hope anyone reading this who is going through this journey, has faith it can work. Stay positive and allow it all to happen in God's time.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
One Disappointment After Another
My RE and I have had a conflict regarding MRI or letter from oncologist due to my breast cancer. My insurance won't cover and MRI if there is no reason, which there is not. I have no issues and no lumps or bumps.
So we have consulted 3 more IVF clinics. All three have told me it would be a waste of money to harvest me and just to go to the donor. This makes me feel like a failure and horrible. I think I would always hate myself if I didn't try harvesting myself one more time before going a donor. We always said we would try 3 times; but does that third time skip me and go right to donor.
I am do sad and crying today. We consulted OKC, CCRM in Colorado, and St Louis. My clinic is the only one willing to harvest me (the other clinics think they just want to take our money). CCRM just wants us to do donor and gestational carrier, because they don't think I could get preggo again.
The thing is choosing the donor. We don't really care for any of the avail donors at our clinic, but we have 3 we would choose from. This decision is really hard.
Then, do we harvest the donor and me at the same time? What happens if we get tons of embryos? Does the clinic keep my embryos separate from the donor embryos so if they come back genetically normal, we can choose whose to transfer?
I just want to cry. 3 out of 4 physicians are telling me it's a waist of money to harvest me again. I really am torn. I just really feel I will regret not trying me again, especially since my numbers increased. My AMH was .74 which is good according to the docs; not great, but good.
So now we decide. Do we change clinics after my meeting with our current RE (since she requires an appointment and won't call anyone back - even an physician), or do we just stick with what we know?
I feel like shite and can't stop crying.
I am do sad and crying today. We consulted OKC, CCRM in Colorado, and St Louis. My clinic is the only one willing to harvest me (the other clinics think they just want to take our money). CCRM just wants us to do donor and gestational carrier, because they don't think I could get preggo again.
The thing is choosing the donor. We don't really care for any of the avail donors at our clinic, but we have 3 we would choose from. This decision is really hard.
Then, do we harvest the donor and me at the same time? What happens if we get tons of embryos? Does the clinic keep my embryos separate from the donor embryos so if they come back genetically normal, we can choose whose to transfer?
I just want to cry. 3 out of 4 physicians are telling me it's a waist of money to harvest me again. I really am torn. I just really feel I will regret not trying me again, especially since my numbers increased. My AMH was .74 which is good according to the docs; not great, but good.
So now we decide. Do we change clinics after my meeting with our current RE (since she requires an appointment and won't call anyone back - even an physician), or do we just stick with what we know?
I feel like shite and can't stop crying.
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Decision Made
Well, after many sleepless nights, and lots of thinking and praying, we have made our decision. We will indeed harvest me one last time. We have entered the July cycle. If we are not fortunate enough to get a genetically normal embryo, then we will move onto an egg donor. This is a very serious and emotional decision I had to make; being the child will not be mine biologically, but I will birth the child and it will be our child. Biologically my DH of course. We just feel Sir Chance needs a sibling and this is the route we have decided to take. If neither of these options work for us, adoption will be our last resort.
Since I will be going back to work full time very shortly, this is the right time to try to get us another child.
I know on a mitochondrial level, the child's DNA will change and some of my DNA will combine with the child and it will be mine, but a normal DNA test will not detect these changes. Maybe some day in the future, with the advancement of technology, this DNA will show.
This has been a very difficult time for me emotionally. Weighing the cost of both harvests against everything else going on in our lives at the moment. We have things going in the right direction with the sale of 2 houses, so I feel God is telling me it's time, and with him leading the way, we will get our sibling for Sir Chance; who is 20 months old now!! Time is flying by too fast.
Since I will be going back to work full time very shortly, this is the right time to try to get us another child.
I know on a mitochondrial level, the child's DNA will change and some of my DNA will combine with the child and it will be mine, but a normal DNA test will not detect these changes. Maybe some day in the future, with the advancement of technology, this DNA will show.
This has been a very difficult time for me emotionally. Weighing the cost of both harvests against everything else going on in our lives at the moment. We have things going in the right direction with the sale of 2 houses, so I feel God is telling me it's time, and with him leading the way, we will get our sibling for Sir Chance; who is 20 months old now!! Time is flying by too fast.
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
New Hope
Well, lots have happened since our last harvest. We toyed, and prayed, and discussed, and everything in between. We have decided we want another baby. We once again consulted with Schoolcraft in Colorado. He was super surprised I was able to carry and have a normal, healthy baby boy. Completely shocked were his words. I gave him the low down on what happened with the last 3 cycles. He told me I will most likely never get another embryo, and I should just go to egg donor. However, there is no reason why we can't give my ovaries one last look. Come to Colorado and do a bunch of testing at twice the cost as they would cost here.
So we once again consulted with our RE. We did another OAR Score, and my numbers actually increased!!! What? How is that possible wince they have been dropping like a rock since Sir Chance was born 19 months ago. Well, they did. Not significantly, but they increased anyway. Estimated egg retrieval is 8.
So what to do? Should we try with me again? Should we go right to egg donor and skip me?
I think I would always regret not giving myself another chance, especially since my numbers increased; however, we said we would try only 3 times, and if we did me, we would not do egg donor, as that would be 4 tries.
The embryology costs at our clinic have increased almost 100% since last June when we harvested last. This really upsets me; as there is NO reason for it to increase THAT much. What can you do though?
So I consulted the business manager of the fertility clinic and asked her about a 2 for 1 deal on the harvests. Kind of a joint risk thing. Pay time and a half, and if we harvest me and get an embryo then we are done (we would lose money - here is our risk); but if we didn't, then harvest the donor at no additional cost to us (their risk - as they are losing money).
She didn't go for that; so we will get the same professional discount as always.
Here's how the donor works (money wise). We chose our donor from a picture book. Once we chose, we pay $7,000 for the donor to have all the genetic testing, ID labs, and all the other blood work needed to be a donor. This $7k covers all the education and psychological testing. Then, there is an additional $7,000 which covers all the stuff needed for the harvest and genetic testing. Well, sort of, because the actual testing costs an additional $2,500 on top of all the other clinic costs, which goes directly to the testing lab. Medications for the donor are approx $3,500 (it's closer to $6,000 for me). The cost of the FET (frozen embryo transfer) is approx $4,000 with $1,500 in meds. There is also a $5,000 stipend for the donor to cover time off work and driving time, etc.
When I first approached the office manager about the cost, she informed me the cost of the Donor cycle would be $39,000....which immediately took it off the table. However, the I received all the financial information, the $39,000 was for both a harvest for me, the donor, a fresh and frozen transfer, and all the testing. Pour professional discount (thanks DrH) makes it less than this obviously.
So now we just have to decide. The ultimate goal is for us (me to carry) to have a second child, so Sir Chance can have a sibling or two. We have things in the works where I will be going back to work around Feb 1, so trying to fit everything in harvest wise, along with all our vacations in the first of the year, makes it super tricky, and really hard to decide.
Obviously with our track record, harvesting me feels like it would be a waste of money, but it only takes one. Look at Sir Chance.
Another thing we have to consider: if we use and egg donor, what about all the half siblings this child may have? How do we tell the child about this; I'm not your genetic mother, but I birthed you? Fortunately at our clinic, the donor is only allowed to donate one time, and we would get any and all eggs she produces. So there is this dilemma to; what if we get more than 3 or 4 embryos? Would we wait and have another child (I would be close to 48 with a third) or do we just destroy the embryos? Donate them? Lots of things to consider. I know for a fact, on a mitochondrial DNA level, me carrying the baby changes this DNA, but if a DNA test were done, the child wouldn't show as mine. So many things to consider; money not just being one of them.
So we are once again on the fertility journey.
So we once again consulted with our RE. We did another OAR Score, and my numbers actually increased!!! What? How is that possible wince they have been dropping like a rock since Sir Chance was born 19 months ago. Well, they did. Not significantly, but they increased anyway. Estimated egg retrieval is 8.
So what to do? Should we try with me again? Should we go right to egg donor and skip me?
I think I would always regret not giving myself another chance, especially since my numbers increased; however, we said we would try only 3 times, and if we did me, we would not do egg donor, as that would be 4 tries.
The embryology costs at our clinic have increased almost 100% since last June when we harvested last. This really upsets me; as there is NO reason for it to increase THAT much. What can you do though?
So I consulted the business manager of the fertility clinic and asked her about a 2 for 1 deal on the harvests. Kind of a joint risk thing. Pay time and a half, and if we harvest me and get an embryo then we are done (we would lose money - here is our risk); but if we didn't, then harvest the donor at no additional cost to us (their risk - as they are losing money).
She didn't go for that; so we will get the same professional discount as always.
Here's how the donor works (money wise). We chose our donor from a picture book. Once we chose, we pay $7,000 for the donor to have all the genetic testing, ID labs, and all the other blood work needed to be a donor. This $7k covers all the education and psychological testing. Then, there is an additional $7,000 which covers all the stuff needed for the harvest and genetic testing. Well, sort of, because the actual testing costs an additional $2,500 on top of all the other clinic costs, which goes directly to the testing lab. Medications for the donor are approx $3,500 (it's closer to $6,000 for me). The cost of the FET (frozen embryo transfer) is approx $4,000 with $1,500 in meds. There is also a $5,000 stipend for the donor to cover time off work and driving time, etc.
When I first approached the office manager about the cost, she informed me the cost of the Donor cycle would be $39,000....which immediately took it off the table. However, the I received all the financial information, the $39,000 was for both a harvest for me, the donor, a fresh and frozen transfer, and all the testing. Pour professional discount (thanks DrH) makes it less than this obviously.
So now we just have to decide. The ultimate goal is for us (me to carry) to have a second child, so Sir Chance can have a sibling or two. We have things in the works where I will be going back to work around Feb 1, so trying to fit everything in harvest wise, along with all our vacations in the first of the year, makes it super tricky, and really hard to decide.
Obviously with our track record, harvesting me feels like it would be a waste of money, but it only takes one. Look at Sir Chance.
Another thing we have to consider: if we use and egg donor, what about all the half siblings this child may have? How do we tell the child about this; I'm not your genetic mother, but I birthed you? Fortunately at our clinic, the donor is only allowed to donate one time, and we would get any and all eggs she produces. So there is this dilemma to; what if we get more than 3 or 4 embryos? Would we wait and have another child (I would be close to 48 with a third) or do we just destroy the embryos? Donate them? Lots of things to consider. I know for a fact, on a mitochondrial DNA level, me carrying the baby changes this DNA, but if a DNA test were done, the child wouldn't show as mine. So many things to consider; money not just being one of them.
So we are once again on the fertility journey.
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
Finished
The harvest didn't go well at all. Out of 25 follicles, only 7 eggs were harvested. Once again I am plagued by these dang cysts. Of the 7 eggs harvested, only 1 was mature. The 1 egg was fertilized with ICSI (inter cytoplasmic sperm injection), but it fertilized abnormally with 4 pronuclei.
I won't get into embryology, but the only way to get 4 pronuclei is to introduce more than 1 sperm into the egg. To top it all off, I missed most of Chance's first bday party because of the harvest. His party was 11-2, and our harvest was at 1030. Yeah. Horrible timing.
Needless to say I was very angry and upset that this happened. I sent a scathing email to the clinic wanting to know how this could happen, and wanting to advocate for other patients to make sure this doesn't happen to them. Of course the embryologist deflected the blame off him and his crew by saying the egg was bad. Uh huh. Whatever. I know how pronuclei are formed; I am not a "regular" patient who doesn't know how things work.
Anyway, with the poor result, we are finished on our IVF adventure. Chance will be an only child unless we adopt (not likely).
Deep down I KNEW we shouldn't have done this cycle. Historically our results have been terrible, and I was on the fence to begin with; if we hadn't had the credit and meds donated, I wouldn't have done it. Now I am angry myself because I knew better, and we just wasted all that money. We could build a new shed for the DH with that money; or even buy a new plane. We have been waiting to buy the plane to see if we needed a larger plane for 2 kids.
I have run the gauntlet of emotions. I wanted to hold out hope we would have another child, but deep down I knew it wasn't going to happen. It is hard not to get discouraged when the results have always been poor. Now I am sad and angry at the same time. I will continue to grieve, but I will also enjoy what will be my life with my 2 boys (yes the DH is an overgrown boy LOL).
I thank every one of you for going on this journey with me. I will continue to update on Chance when I think about it.
Went for his 1 yr appt yesterday. He is 31.5" tall and weighs 22 pounds 10 ounces. He got 3 shots and they drew blood to check for lead and other things. He took it like a champ. He watched with intent fascination at the phlebotomist when she pricked his finger to draw his blood. The shots, not so much. He cried for about a minute, then forgot all about what happened. We went to eat Mexican as a treat. He loves guacamole and refried beans.
Thank you once again for every one who prayed with us along this long and arduous journey. We have our one perfect little miracle boy, and apparently that is what God wants us to have.
Cheers!
I won't get into embryology, but the only way to get 4 pronuclei is to introduce more than 1 sperm into the egg. To top it all off, I missed most of Chance's first bday party because of the harvest. His party was 11-2, and our harvest was at 1030. Yeah. Horrible timing.
Needless to say I was very angry and upset that this happened. I sent a scathing email to the clinic wanting to know how this could happen, and wanting to advocate for other patients to make sure this doesn't happen to them. Of course the embryologist deflected the blame off him and his crew by saying the egg was bad. Uh huh. Whatever. I know how pronuclei are formed; I am not a "regular" patient who doesn't know how things work.
Anyway, with the poor result, we are finished on our IVF adventure. Chance will be an only child unless we adopt (not likely).
Deep down I KNEW we shouldn't have done this cycle. Historically our results have been terrible, and I was on the fence to begin with; if we hadn't had the credit and meds donated, I wouldn't have done it. Now I am angry myself because I knew better, and we just wasted all that money. We could build a new shed for the DH with that money; or even buy a new plane. We have been waiting to buy the plane to see if we needed a larger plane for 2 kids.
I have run the gauntlet of emotions. I wanted to hold out hope we would have another child, but deep down I knew it wasn't going to happen. It is hard not to get discouraged when the results have always been poor. Now I am sad and angry at the same time. I will continue to grieve, but I will also enjoy what will be my life with my 2 boys (yes the DH is an overgrown boy LOL).
I thank every one of you for going on this journey with me. I will continue to update on Chance when I think about it.
Went for his 1 yr appt yesterday. He is 31.5" tall and weighs 22 pounds 10 ounces. He got 3 shots and they drew blood to check for lead and other things. He took it like a champ. He watched with intent fascination at the phlebotomist when she pricked his finger to draw his blood. The shots, not so much. He cried for about a minute, then forgot all about what happened. We went to eat Mexican as a treat. He loves guacamole and refried beans.
Thank you once again for every one who prayed with us along this long and arduous journey. We have our one perfect little miracle boy, and apparently that is what God wants us to have.
Cheers!
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Harvest
It's that time again. Time to harvest. I have 8-12 follies on each side racing from 12-22mm as of today. So I will trigger Thursday night for a Sat harvest. This sucks since Sir Chance's bday party is Sat, but my P4 is creeping up and they can't hold me off until Sunday. I did request either before or after his party, which is 11-2. There are many factors when it comes to scheduling the order of the harvests, so no telling what time mine will be. There were 8 already scheduled for Sat, and I am unexpected.
I am already starting to get uncomfortable. Best to lay down or stand up. Sitting is no fun. I am so swollen in my abdomen, it looks like I am preggo. LOL
So Sat it is. Prayers for 2 normal embryos.
I am already starting to get uncomfortable. Best to lay down or stand up. Sitting is no fun. I am so swollen in my abdomen, it looks like I am preggo. LOL
So Sat it is. Prayers for 2 normal embryos.
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Stim Update
Well, we got off to a slow start in the stimming department. At my first US appt, I had 3 on the right and possible 3 on the left (couldn't really see the left because of the cyst and bowel being in the way).
At the second US appt, the right was still 3-4 but growing; still couldn't see the left very well. For the 3rd US, the right ovary had exploded. There were 7-12 small follies on the right; still couldn't see the left. Went Sunday (27th) for US number 4, and things were looking up. Finally could see the left ovary and there were multiple follies on it as well. Both ovaries and their follies are growing nicely. Went in this morning for US number 5. Things look great. I have probably 8-15 follies in the 15-16mm range. I will go back in the morning to see how things look, but most likely will trigger Thursday for a Sat harvest. That is going to be a little tricky, since Sir Chance's 1st bday party is Sat. We will make it work... don't have a choice I suppose. Hopefully I can be the first harvest of the day so I don't have to worry about missing his party.
So now we wait to see how these follies are growing. I am glad they are growing slower than the last harvest.
The lab tech P said to me on Friday that we are going to get 5 good embryos with this cycle; she can just feel it. I sure hope not! I only want one more pregnancy! What would I do with 5 kids??!! Of course maybe not all of them would stick when transferred, but you always hope they would. So transfer 3 and hope for twins; then what to do with the last 2? Donate them? Not sure I would want to destroy them, and certainly not keep them on ice the rest of eternity. How would I feel knowing I had 2 children out there being raised by someone else, and my children had full siblings? Interesting dilemma raised when donating embryos.
All things to think about.
Nothing to worry about until we know for sure if we get good embryos.
At the second US appt, the right was still 3-4 but growing; still couldn't see the left very well. For the 3rd US, the right ovary had exploded. There were 7-12 small follies on the right; still couldn't see the left. Went Sunday (27th) for US number 4, and things were looking up. Finally could see the left ovary and there were multiple follies on it as well. Both ovaries and their follies are growing nicely. Went in this morning for US number 5. Things look great. I have probably 8-15 follies in the 15-16mm range. I will go back in the morning to see how things look, but most likely will trigger Thursday for a Sat harvest. That is going to be a little tricky, since Sir Chance's 1st bday party is Sat. We will make it work... don't have a choice I suppose. Hopefully I can be the first harvest of the day so I don't have to worry about missing his party.
So now we wait to see how these follies are growing. I am glad they are growing slower than the last harvest.
The lab tech P said to me on Friday that we are going to get 5 good embryos with this cycle; she can just feel it. I sure hope not! I only want one more pregnancy! What would I do with 5 kids??!! Of course maybe not all of them would stick when transferred, but you always hope they would. So transfer 3 and hope for twins; then what to do with the last 2? Donate them? Not sure I would want to destroy them, and certainly not keep them on ice the rest of eternity. How would I feel knowing I had 2 children out there being raised by someone else, and my children had full siblings? Interesting dilemma raised when donating embryos.
All things to think about.
Nothing to worry about until we know for sure if we get good embryos.
Monday, May 14, 2018
One Last Try
After many sleepless nights and much prayer (and the fact we had a $4,000 credit), I decided to go ahead with this one last try in the May/June harvest cycle. It was weighing on my heavily, and probably had we not had the credit, I wouldn't be doing this again.
So alas, we are starting again, one last time. I started the BCP 3 weeks ago. I go for my baseline US and blood work at 0845 tomorrow morning. If all looks good, I should start the Gonal-F shots (stimming) Friday or Saturday.
I stopped taking the migraine medication Trokendi XR, and any other migraine medications I use. IT hasn't been a fun experience to say the least. I am doing my best to not treat anything with medications before the harvest. Not sure if it will help, but it's worth a shot (no pun intended).
So now we wait to see what tomorrow brings.
So alas, we are starting again, one last time. I started the BCP 3 weeks ago. I go for my baseline US and blood work at 0845 tomorrow morning. If all looks good, I should start the Gonal-F shots (stimming) Friday or Saturday.
I stopped taking the migraine medication Trokendi XR, and any other migraine medications I use. IT hasn't been a fun experience to say the least. I am doing my best to not treat anything with medications before the harvest. Not sure if it will help, but it's worth a shot (no pun intended).
So now we wait to see what tomorrow brings.
Sunday, April 8, 2018
Having Second Thoughts
We just got back from a CME conference for the DH and it was a cruise on the Harmony of the Seas. Had the cost of the conference not made it half the cost, we would not have eve gone on that ship. Too expensive and everything is extra...even some of the slides and stuff; dumb. All the restaurants are extra except the main dining, buffet, pizza, and hot dog joint. As big and expensive as that ship is, I would have expected better service, food, and accommodations. IMO, not worth it....stick to Carnival. The rooms are larger, the staff is more personable and fun, and everything is included except drinks and the steakhouse.
Anyway, while on this cruise, I got to thinking if maybe I was being selfish trying for a second child. The DH will go along with whatever I want to make me happy, but the $20K each attempt could be used to buy him a new airplane or even build him a much needed shed. We have had such bad results with our previous 4 harvest, getting only 1 genetically normal embryo out of all these harvests, I have been wondering if it is even worth it to waste the money and try again in the May/June cycle. i have been researching natural remedies and oils to help increase my egg production, but I just don't know what to do. I am almost 42 and I think my chances of having another one are just going down the drain. I am sad and discouraged.
On to happy news. Sir Chance did great on the cruise. He ate like a champ. He has decided to start cutting his top four teeth at the same time, so he's a drool monster and has the scours. I also had the ultimate mommy fail twice on the cruise. He pooped his diaper overnight one night and didn't let me know, so in the morning when I went to change him, the diaper was stuck to him. It peeled the skin off his scrotum and creases of his legs and also left awful diaper rash. So for two days after he screamed and cried every time his diaper was changed. Green Budreauxs Butt Paste cleared it right up in 24 hours. Awesome stuff. Mommy fail #2 came at the airport on the way home. I was back bring him in the carrier. I was taking him out and just as I released one arm and went to turn him to get him out, he reared back and fell out of the carrier and belly flopped/face planted on the tile floor....I was standing up of course. He screamed bloody murder, I cried, everyone else saw it happened and screamed. It scared him more than it hurt him. Not mark on him. I cried for at least 30 min. Sir Chance cried for 5 min. He is playing and all is well.
So we think we will call and consult with Schoolcraft in CO one more time before this harvest to see what he has to say.
Anyway, while on this cruise, I got to thinking if maybe I was being selfish trying for a second child. The DH will go along with whatever I want to make me happy, but the $20K each attempt could be used to buy him a new airplane or even build him a much needed shed. We have had such bad results with our previous 4 harvest, getting only 1 genetically normal embryo out of all these harvests, I have been wondering if it is even worth it to waste the money and try again in the May/June cycle. i have been researching natural remedies and oils to help increase my egg production, but I just don't know what to do. I am almost 42 and I think my chances of having another one are just going down the drain. I am sad and discouraged.
On to happy news. Sir Chance did great on the cruise. He ate like a champ. He has decided to start cutting his top four teeth at the same time, so he's a drool monster and has the scours. I also had the ultimate mommy fail twice on the cruise. He pooped his diaper overnight one night and didn't let me know, so in the morning when I went to change him, the diaper was stuck to him. It peeled the skin off his scrotum and creases of his legs and also left awful diaper rash. So for two days after he screamed and cried every time his diaper was changed. Green Budreauxs Butt Paste cleared it right up in 24 hours. Awesome stuff. Mommy fail #2 came at the airport on the way home. I was back bring him in the carrier. I was taking him out and just as I released one arm and went to turn him to get him out, he reared back and fell out of the carrier and belly flopped/face planted on the tile floor....I was standing up of course. He screamed bloody murder, I cried, everyone else saw it happened and screamed. It scared him more than it hurt him. Not mark on him. I cried for at least 30 min. Sir Chance cried for 5 min. He is playing and all is well.
So we think we will call and consult with Schoolcraft in CO one more time before this harvest to see what he has to say.
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Embryo Results
We got the results of our embryo, and they were not what we had hoped. Our one little embryo did not live to be biopsied. It survived to day five post fertilization, but down graded, and passed away early on day six, which was yesterday. It was only graded at a 3CC, so it wasn't a very good embryo to start with anyway.
Where do we go from here? I want to wait a few months and let my body rid itself of these extra artificial hormones, then we will harvest again. We have decided to join the May/June cycle. This is the last week of May, first two weeks of June. We could have gotten into the April/May cycle, but I didn't want to push my body that quickly.
Obviously I am very sad. I was hoping to only have to harvest once; but God knows what is best. Sometimes it is hard to leave it in his hands. I look at Sir Chance and wish so much for him to have a sibling. Even though I didn't really get along with my siblings, it is nice to have them there. My MIL says all the time how she wished she had a sibling. Her and my FIL (who I never knew as he passed before my husband and I married) were both only children. My husband was essentially an only child as his two sisters were 12 and 10 years older than him. My sister is 2 years older and my brother is 3 years younger. Yes, I am the dreaded middle child! Oh, and the epitome of the black sheep too! LOL
So, we will take our baby food rebelling son to Chicago this weekend for a CME conference for daddy, as well as our 6 year wedding anniversary, and get over the loss of our one little embryo. Regroup and plan to harvest again in June.
Where do we go from here? I want to wait a few months and let my body rid itself of these extra artificial hormones, then we will harvest again. We have decided to join the May/June cycle. This is the last week of May, first two weeks of June. We could have gotten into the April/May cycle, but I didn't want to push my body that quickly.
Obviously I am very sad. I was hoping to only have to harvest once; but God knows what is best. Sometimes it is hard to leave it in his hands. I look at Sir Chance and wish so much for him to have a sibling. Even though I didn't really get along with my siblings, it is nice to have them there. My MIL says all the time how she wished she had a sibling. Her and my FIL (who I never knew as he passed before my husband and I married) were both only children. My husband was essentially an only child as his two sisters were 12 and 10 years older than him. My sister is 2 years older and my brother is 3 years younger. Yes, I am the dreaded middle child! Oh, and the epitome of the black sheep too! LOL
So, we will take our baby food rebelling son to Chicago this weekend for a CME conference for daddy, as well as our 6 year wedding anniversary, and get over the loss of our one little embryo. Regroup and plan to harvest again in June.
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Harvest and Results
Well, the harvest went well. We got exactly what the OAR testing predicted. 7 eggs. Unfortunately the results of the harvest didn't go as well as we were hoping. Out of those 7 eggs, only 3 were mature enough to inject via ICSI with sperm. Out of those 3 eggs injected with sperm, only 1 fertilized. Very disappointing. So now we wait.
We wait to see if this one little embryo survives to day five. If it does indeed survive to day five (to day is day 3 post fertilization), they will biopsy it, freeze it, and send the sample off for genetic testing. If it is normal, it will stay frozen until we are ready to transfer. If it is nor normal, it will be thawed and destroyed. We are praying this one is normal of course. As we know with Sir Chance, it only takes one.
We obviously will be harvesting again, as we said up front, we will harvest up to 3 times to try and get 2 normal embryos. We will look at the calendar in the next few days to see which cycle we will try to get into. Off the top of my head, I am thinking it is the May/ June cycle.
So now we wait to see what happens with our one little embryo.
Sir Chance is now 9 months old. He has two bottom teeth and is currently cutting some top teeth. He had the flu, but other than that he has been perfectly well. He is now sleeping through the night, and if he can find his soother, he will self soothe during his few little "twitches" at night. If he can't find it, either daddy or I have to stick it in his mouth and he goes right back to sleep, never opening his eyes. He is still co-sleeping in our room, but since he has been doing so well lately, we are going to start transitioning him into his room.
We set up a bed room as a designated play room for him yesterday. Just have to finish cutting the foam floor to fit. The foam is more for the protection of the 84 year old hard wood floors, not Sir Chance. He seems to like the colors. Also waiting for the straps for the dresser and bookshelf....as little boys like to climb.
He doesn't like baby food any more. He will fight and throw a fit if you try to feed him baby food. He wants what mommy, daddy, and granny are eating. He wants big people food. Even though he only has 2 teeth, he does a pretty good job eating whatever we are eating. His poops are pretty nasty now that he's eating adult food too! He does still love his milkies (formula) though. He also gets 1/2 strength apple juice and pedialtye (juice) as well. He hasn't had boobie juices since about 6 months since our donor stopped pumping.
He's wearing 18 month clothes. Yes. Too big. He is 30 inches long and weighs 20# 6 oz. Has steele blue eyes. Pretty sure he's going to keep those. His hair keeps getting darker and darker. It's dishwater blonde at the moment, but I think it'll end up light to darker brown. It's starting to curl too. Looks like he's gotten his mother's curly hair. He's got one little curl right at the very back. HA!
He is crawling like a champ, chasing the cats around the house. He also pulls up on everything. He can pass between the sofa and the table in the parlor. He loves his train walking toy the most... and his Ferrari walker. Overall he is a happy and giggly good boy.
We wait to see if this one little embryo survives to day five. If it does indeed survive to day five (to day is day 3 post fertilization), they will biopsy it, freeze it, and send the sample off for genetic testing. If it is normal, it will stay frozen until we are ready to transfer. If it is nor normal, it will be thawed and destroyed. We are praying this one is normal of course. As we know with Sir Chance, it only takes one.
We obviously will be harvesting again, as we said up front, we will harvest up to 3 times to try and get 2 normal embryos. We will look at the calendar in the next few days to see which cycle we will try to get into. Off the top of my head, I am thinking it is the May/ June cycle.
So now we wait to see what happens with our one little embryo.
Sir Chance is now 9 months old. He has two bottom teeth and is currently cutting some top teeth. He had the flu, but other than that he has been perfectly well. He is now sleeping through the night, and if he can find his soother, he will self soothe during his few little "twitches" at night. If he can't find it, either daddy or I have to stick it in his mouth and he goes right back to sleep, never opening his eyes. He is still co-sleeping in our room, but since he has been doing so well lately, we are going to start transitioning him into his room.
We set up a bed room as a designated play room for him yesterday. Just have to finish cutting the foam floor to fit. The foam is more for the protection of the 84 year old hard wood floors, not Sir Chance. He seems to like the colors. Also waiting for the straps for the dresser and bookshelf....as little boys like to climb.
He doesn't like baby food any more. He will fight and throw a fit if you try to feed him baby food. He wants what mommy, daddy, and granny are eating. He wants big people food. Even though he only has 2 teeth, he does a pretty good job eating whatever we are eating. His poops are pretty nasty now that he's eating adult food too! He does still love his milkies (formula) though. He also gets 1/2 strength apple juice and pedialtye (juice) as well. He hasn't had boobie juices since about 6 months since our donor stopped pumping.
He's wearing 18 month clothes. Yes. Too big. He is 30 inches long and weighs 20# 6 oz. Has steele blue eyes. Pretty sure he's going to keep those. His hair keeps getting darker and darker. It's dishwater blonde at the moment, but I think it'll end up light to darker brown. It's starting to curl too. Looks like he's gotten his mother's curly hair. He's got one little curl right at the very back. HA!
He is crawling like a champ, chasing the cats around the house. He also pulls up on everything. He can pass between the sofa and the table in the parlor. He loves his train walking toy the most... and his Ferrari walker. Overall he is a happy and giggly good boy.
Sunday, March 4, 2018
All Was Well
Nothing was amiss after all. I went in for my US and labs and everything was fine. I did not have to take my ganirelix shot in the office. Was told I would be coming back Sunday for another US and labs. Everything was looking great.
Lt ovary the follies measured 16mm and 15mm. Rt ovary the follies measured 15mm, 10mm, 14mm, 14mm, and 14mm. My P4 was 1.1 and my E was 1496.1.
Went in today, which is Sunday March 4th, for labs and US again. everything looks great. Had several follies measuring 20 so we are going to go ahead and trigger tonight and harvest Tuesday.
Portal results indicate the Lt ovary the follies are measuring: 20mm, 14mm, 20mm, and 21mm. The Rt ovary follies are measuring: 19mm, 20mm, 18mm, 14mm, 18mm, and 21mm. My P4 is 1.95 and my E is 3280.8.
I will take my Ovidrel trigger shot at 12:30am tonight. I start my doxycycline in the morning and I take it twice daily.
My harvest will be Tuesday March 6th at 1030 in the morning. I have to be at the clinic at 0945. Hopefully all will go well and we won't have to do this again.
Lt ovary the follies measured 16mm and 15mm. Rt ovary the follies measured 15mm, 10mm, 14mm, 14mm, and 14mm. My P4 was 1.1 and my E was 1496.1.
Went in today, which is Sunday March 4th, for labs and US again. everything looks great. Had several follies measuring 20 so we are going to go ahead and trigger tonight and harvest Tuesday.
Portal results indicate the Lt ovary the follies are measuring: 20mm, 14mm, 20mm, and 21mm. The Rt ovary follies are measuring: 19mm, 20mm, 18mm, 14mm, 18mm, and 21mm. My P4 is 1.95 and my E is 3280.8.
I will take my Ovidrel trigger shot at 12:30am tonight. I start my doxycycline in the morning and I take it twice daily.
My harvest will be Tuesday March 6th at 1030 in the morning. I have to be at the clinic at 0945. Hopefully all will go well and we won't have to do this again.
Friday, March 2, 2018
Something is Amiss
Went Wednesday for my next US and labs. I had 3-6 little follies on each side. The cyst seems to have ruptured, as it was gone.
Update: Once the portal was updated and I got my new instructions, I was told to bring the ganirelix to the appt Friday. This has me super concerned. I've never had to bring any medications to an appt... ever. This makes me thing something is going on. Portal indicates I have an 8mm, a 12mm, and a 9mm follie on the left, and a 9mm, a 9mm, a 6mm, and a 6mm on the right. my E was 446.7. This might be why they want me to bring the ganirelix to the appt Friday. If the E is this high, the P4 is probably getting pretty high too. As we learned from the last cycle, we don't want the P4 to get above 3 as it starts to cook the eggs; this is bad. So, I will go to my appt and see what happens.
Update: Once the portal was updated and I got my new instructions, I was told to bring the ganirelix to the appt Friday. This has me super concerned. I've never had to bring any medications to an appt... ever. This makes me thing something is going on. Portal indicates I have an 8mm, a 12mm, and a 9mm follie on the left, and a 9mm, a 9mm, a 6mm, and a 6mm on the right. my E was 446.7. This might be why they want me to bring the ganirelix to the appt Friday. If the E is this high, the P4 is probably getting pretty high too. As we learned from the last cycle, we don't want the P4 to get above 3 as it starts to cook the eggs; this is bad. So, I will go to my appt and see what happens.
Monday, February 19, 2018
All Is Well
Well, the estrogen level was 61.7, which is under 70, so we get to continue with the cycle. Whew. However, we almost got cancelled for a different reason. I am going to Vegas this weekend to see Sir Elton John and his Red Piano at Caesars Palace. Well, I start my stim shots Thursday. That means my first follicular ultrasound and blood work should have been Monday. It was scheduled for Monday at 0915. My flight doesn't get in until 1645 (4:45p cst). I emailed the clinic to let them know this is what was going on. Apparently if you don't let the clinic know of any scheduled travel plans before the cycle you will be canceled out of the cycle. Oops. However, I had told the RE I was going to see Sir Elton John before the cycle started, because we talked about how cool it was I had 3rd row seats. It was just in passing, but I didn't think anything about it. The clinic made an exception and we were allowed to continue with the cycle. You know, it kind of annoys me they don't bother to let you know these things. If it is so important they need to know about travel plans BEFORE the cycle starts that they will cancel you out of the cycle, maybe they should tell you these things before you pay for the cycle. That's pretty important need to know information. Of all the cycles I have done with this clinic, they have never once told me anything like this..... Oh well. I guess had they canceled me out of the cycle, I may have considered going somewhere else.
So: I start stimming Thursday with a morning dose of 250 and an evening dose of 225. I also start the dexamethasone as well. I go in Tuesday at 0845 for the ultrasound and labs.
So: I start stimming Thursday with a morning dose of 250 and an evening dose of 225. I also start the dexamethasone as well. I go in Tuesday at 0845 for the ultrasound and labs.
Friday, February 16, 2018
Baseline Ultrasound
Just left the clinic for my baseline ultrasound. Seems that pesky cyst from the last cycle has decided to stick around, except it has also decided it has wanted to grow. So here is the deal. Once again, we will wait for the estrogen levels to come back in the blood work. If it is below 70, the cyst is suppressed and we will continue with the cycle as normal. If it is above 70, I will go back tomorrow and have more blood drawn to see if the estrogen is rising or falling. If the estrogen is rising, we will be cancelled. If it is falling, we can continue with the cycle as planned. The cyst was measuring about 24-30mm. It has not completely taken over the ovary yet, but if we are cancelled out of this cycle, I will have to have surgery to have the cyst completely removed; since it is hindering our ability to harvest eggs. If we are able to continue with the cycle and are able to actually harvest eggs, the cyst will be drained at the time of harvest.
So I am experiencing something new with this cycle that I have never experienced. I am having a full on period while on the BCPs. It really concerned me. I started having all my normal pre period symptoms last week; scours, pain in the right side (the side with the cyst), bloating, spotting, and just feeling like I was going to start my period any day. Of course iPeriod said I was due to start on Sunday night. I emailed the clinic on Friday to let them know what was happening, and should I be concerned. Well, sure enough on Sat (Feb 10th) I started my full on period. I texted my RE (we are friends as well), and she alleviated my fears. My concern was that how is the BCP going to keep me from ovulating if it can't even keep me from starting my period? In all my cycles with the clinic in all these years, I have NEVER had a period on BCPs. She stated at this dose, they are only concerned with suppressing the ovaries and they don't really care what the lining of the uterus is doing because we are doing an FET anyway and to not worry about it. I said ok and we went about our weekend. I get a response back from the MA on Monday and she says that it is normal to have breakthrough bleeding on BCPs. I had to inform her that this is NOT breakthrough bleeding, this is full on period. So when I went into the clinic and saw the RE today, she laughed and said welcome to old age and the club of how BCPs don't control your periods anymore honey! I said that's not funny!! I thought something was wrong! She laughed at me some more.....
One thing that is also different about this cycle and these BCPs, I has a pre period migraine. I haven't had one of those since I started back on my Trokendi XR at the full dose of 200mg. So something about the extra dose of hormones over throws the migraine drugs. Miserable. That's what it is.
So here's what's now going to happen. We wait. We wait for the estrogen levels to come back. If we get canceled out of this cycle because of this stupid cyst, I have to have surgery to have it removed. I have to schedule that surgery as quickly as possible 1: because my AMH can't take much more of a hit, and 2: because this cyst can't get much larger. If it does it will over take the ovary and removing it will destroy the ovary. No, we can not just drain the cyst, it has to be removed. Draining the cyst will only allow it to come back. Since it is still relatively small, it can be removed safely, without destroying the ovary. So here's hoping it is suppressed and we can continue. Fingers crossed.
So I am experiencing something new with this cycle that I have never experienced. I am having a full on period while on the BCPs. It really concerned me. I started having all my normal pre period symptoms last week; scours, pain in the right side (the side with the cyst), bloating, spotting, and just feeling like I was going to start my period any day. Of course iPeriod said I was due to start on Sunday night. I emailed the clinic on Friday to let them know what was happening, and should I be concerned. Well, sure enough on Sat (Feb 10th) I started my full on period. I texted my RE (we are friends as well), and she alleviated my fears. My concern was that how is the BCP going to keep me from ovulating if it can't even keep me from starting my period? In all my cycles with the clinic in all these years, I have NEVER had a period on BCPs. She stated at this dose, they are only concerned with suppressing the ovaries and they don't really care what the lining of the uterus is doing because we are doing an FET anyway and to not worry about it. I said ok and we went about our weekend. I get a response back from the MA on Monday and she says that it is normal to have breakthrough bleeding on BCPs. I had to inform her that this is NOT breakthrough bleeding, this is full on period. So when I went into the clinic and saw the RE today, she laughed and said welcome to old age and the club of how BCPs don't control your periods anymore honey! I said that's not funny!! I thought something was wrong! She laughed at me some more.....
One thing that is also different about this cycle and these BCPs, I has a pre period migraine. I haven't had one of those since I started back on my Trokendi XR at the full dose of 200mg. So something about the extra dose of hormones over throws the migraine drugs. Miserable. That's what it is.
So here's what's now going to happen. We wait. We wait for the estrogen levels to come back. If we get canceled out of this cycle because of this stupid cyst, I have to have surgery to have it removed. I have to schedule that surgery as quickly as possible 1: because my AMH can't take much more of a hit, and 2: because this cyst can't get much larger. If it does it will over take the ovary and removing it will destroy the ovary. No, we can not just drain the cyst, it has to be removed. Draining the cyst will only allow it to come back. Since it is still relatively small, it can be removed safely, without destroying the ovary. So here's hoping it is suppressed and we can continue. Fingers crossed.
Friday, February 2, 2018
New Cycle
We got cancelled out of the Nov cycle because my 4 spiked to over 12. When your P4 spikes to 3 or higher it is protocol to cancel out of the harvest cycle. So here is what happened.
Everything was plugging along just fine. We were on microdose Lupron, which had to be compounded at the specialty pharmacy.... no big deal. It is exactly what it sounds like; just a micro, or smaller dose of Lupron. We had issues right from the get go. They put me on a different BCP than what I was accustomed to; this one was called Enskyce and I had breakthrough bleeding from the moment I started taking it. Well, when I went in for my baseline ultrasound and bloodworm, I had a giant cyst on my right ovary. This means the BCP didn't keep me from ovulating, or at least from creating the corpus luteum cyst anyway. We had to wait and see what the blood work showed. If the estrogen was above 70, then I was going to be cancelled out of the cycle right then and there. If it was below 70, then we had to see if it was rising or falling. If it was rising, then the cyst was still growing and I would be cancelled; if it was falling, then the cyst was collapsing and all was good and we could continue with the cycle as planned. Progesterone (P4) is irrelevant at this point, but they pull it anyway for a baseline number. The numbers came back and the estrogen was 50, so we were ok to continue. The cyst was nothing. I started taking the stimming shots and I went back for another US in 3 days. Everything looked good and the ovaries were growing. I continued to stim and went in for US every 2-3 days. On the day of the 4th US and blood work, I got a call from the IVF coordinator telling us we were being canceled out of the cycle and to stop all medications. I was completely confused. When I finally got a hold of her, she informed it it was because my P4 had spiked to 8 and anything over 3 it was protocol for the clinic to cancel out of the cycles. She said it somehow affected the eggs but she didn't know how it affected the eggs. We made an appointment with the RE for the next day to discuss what was going on. I did not stop any of my shots because I couldn't find anything on the internet explaining how P4 affected the eggs, only that it helps prepare the lining for implantation. So the next morning we head to the clinic for our conference with the RE.
Well, come to find out high P4 cooks the eggs. The RE gave us the option of being a case study and continuing with the cycle or going a head and cancelling out. No one had ever gone ahead and harvested on a microdose Lupron cycle with a P4 over 3. They have on a ganarellex cycle, but with ganarellex, it gets the P4 back down below 4; that's how that medication works....it shuts P4 down. For some reason the microdose Lupron didn't do what it was suppose to do and keep the P4 controlled. So I came home and asked God for some kind of sign on whether to proceed with the cycle or stop. Came back to the clinic the next day for US and blood work. Well, I got my sign. The follicles that had been growing nicely had stopped growing completely. That told me the P4 had indeed caused issues with the eggs and we needed to stop and regroup.
So, since we had such issues with all these medications, we decided to go a different route if my AMH allowed us to try again. Blood work came back and my P4 had jumped even higher to 12. There was no way the eggs would have survived.
Fast forward to January period. We pull another OAR test. Those results came back interesting. The AMH was lower as expected. It came back at 0.52. Still above the 0.4 so we can try again. Whew. However, the anticipated egg retrieval score increased. What? Yes. They now anticipate to get more eggs with this harvest than they did with the last harvest. Huh? Yeah. No idea how that works, but something in the numbers. Oh well.
We are now in the Feb/ Mar harvest cycle with PGS Testing and FET.
So we have decided to go a completely different route with the medications. I am back on the original BCP that I was on with Chance. The Desogen; and I am having zero breakthrough bleeding whatsoever. I am on my third week of active pills now. I go in for my baseline US and blood work Feb 16th at 0830 am. We are doing Ganarellex with Gonal-F to stim. Gonal-F is just a different brand of stim drug than Follastim. I still have a vial and a half of Follastim left from the last cycle, so I will use it first. One is made from sheep and one is made from human. Can't remember which is which. Ended up using a different pharmacy this time because this one has a rebate program with the Gonal-F and is a little bit cheaper. We obviously make too much money to qualify for any of the financial hardship programs, so we don't get much of a cash discount. I pharmacy shop for sure. Insurance only pays for the antibiotic and steroid; it doesn't pay for anything fertility related.
So: here we are, in the middle of another cycle, trying to get Sir Chance a little. He is now officially 8 months old. He is sitting up from tummy time, has two teeth, just got over the flu, pulls up in his crib, scoots around backwards, and eats like a champ. He is no longer on boobie juices, and just barely takes any formula he eats so much food. He loves tooling around in his Ferrari and jumping in his jumper. He takes 3 naps a day and sleeps through the night, until he has to fart. He weighs 19.6 pounds and is wearing 12-18 months clothes. Growing way too fast. He giggles when you bark at him, and he loves to bzzzz/blow bubbles; especially when eating.
That is all for now. Enjoy this too cute picture of Sir Chance.
Everything was plugging along just fine. We were on microdose Lupron, which had to be compounded at the specialty pharmacy.... no big deal. It is exactly what it sounds like; just a micro, or smaller dose of Lupron. We had issues right from the get go. They put me on a different BCP than what I was accustomed to; this one was called Enskyce and I had breakthrough bleeding from the moment I started taking it. Well, when I went in for my baseline ultrasound and bloodworm, I had a giant cyst on my right ovary. This means the BCP didn't keep me from ovulating, or at least from creating the corpus luteum cyst anyway. We had to wait and see what the blood work showed. If the estrogen was above 70, then I was going to be cancelled out of the cycle right then and there. If it was below 70, then we had to see if it was rising or falling. If it was rising, then the cyst was still growing and I would be cancelled; if it was falling, then the cyst was collapsing and all was good and we could continue with the cycle as planned. Progesterone (P4) is irrelevant at this point, but they pull it anyway for a baseline number. The numbers came back and the estrogen was 50, so we were ok to continue. The cyst was nothing. I started taking the stimming shots and I went back for another US in 3 days. Everything looked good and the ovaries were growing. I continued to stim and went in for US every 2-3 days. On the day of the 4th US and blood work, I got a call from the IVF coordinator telling us we were being canceled out of the cycle and to stop all medications. I was completely confused. When I finally got a hold of her, she informed it it was because my P4 had spiked to 8 and anything over 3 it was protocol for the clinic to cancel out of the cycles. She said it somehow affected the eggs but she didn't know how it affected the eggs. We made an appointment with the RE for the next day to discuss what was going on. I did not stop any of my shots because I couldn't find anything on the internet explaining how P4 affected the eggs, only that it helps prepare the lining for implantation. So the next morning we head to the clinic for our conference with the RE.
Well, come to find out high P4 cooks the eggs. The RE gave us the option of being a case study and continuing with the cycle or going a head and cancelling out. No one had ever gone ahead and harvested on a microdose Lupron cycle with a P4 over 3. They have on a ganarellex cycle, but with ganarellex, it gets the P4 back down below 4; that's how that medication works....it shuts P4 down. For some reason the microdose Lupron didn't do what it was suppose to do and keep the P4 controlled. So I came home and asked God for some kind of sign on whether to proceed with the cycle or stop. Came back to the clinic the next day for US and blood work. Well, I got my sign. The follicles that had been growing nicely had stopped growing completely. That told me the P4 had indeed caused issues with the eggs and we needed to stop and regroup.
So, since we had such issues with all these medications, we decided to go a different route if my AMH allowed us to try again. Blood work came back and my P4 had jumped even higher to 12. There was no way the eggs would have survived.
Fast forward to January period. We pull another OAR test. Those results came back interesting. The AMH was lower as expected. It came back at 0.52. Still above the 0.4 so we can try again. Whew. However, the anticipated egg retrieval score increased. What? Yes. They now anticipate to get more eggs with this harvest than they did with the last harvest. Huh? Yeah. No idea how that works, but something in the numbers. Oh well.
We are now in the Feb/ Mar harvest cycle with PGS Testing and FET.
So we have decided to go a completely different route with the medications. I am back on the original BCP that I was on with Chance. The Desogen; and I am having zero breakthrough bleeding whatsoever. I am on my third week of active pills now. I go in for my baseline US and blood work Feb 16th at 0830 am. We are doing Ganarellex with Gonal-F to stim. Gonal-F is just a different brand of stim drug than Follastim. I still have a vial and a half of Follastim left from the last cycle, so I will use it first. One is made from sheep and one is made from human. Can't remember which is which. Ended up using a different pharmacy this time because this one has a rebate program with the Gonal-F and is a little bit cheaper. We obviously make too much money to qualify for any of the financial hardship programs, so we don't get much of a cash discount. I pharmacy shop for sure. Insurance only pays for the antibiotic and steroid; it doesn't pay for anything fertility related.
So: here we are, in the middle of another cycle, trying to get Sir Chance a little. He is now officially 8 months old. He is sitting up from tummy time, has two teeth, just got over the flu, pulls up in his crib, scoots around backwards, and eats like a champ. He is no longer on boobie juices, and just barely takes any formula he eats so much food. He loves tooling around in his Ferrari and jumping in his jumper. He takes 3 naps a day and sleeps through the night, until he has to fart. He weighs 19.6 pounds and is wearing 12-18 months clothes. Growing way too fast. He giggles when you bark at him, and he loves to bzzzz/blow bubbles; especially when eating.
That is all for now. Enjoy this too cute picture of Sir Chance.
Monday, November 6, 2017
5 Months Old - Here We Go Again
Well, Sir Chance is 5months old already.
He is wearing 9 month old clothes because I am 28 1/4” Long.
He weighs over 17 lbs.
He is allergic to peas. I break out into hives all over my body. Yucky. Scared mommy.
He now pays attention to the animals, especially Lala; even though she doesn’t want him touching her (that’s who he is watching in the picture).
He loves to eat and laugh.
He take naps twice a day and eat fruits/veggies three times a day.
He only wakes twice a night because he HATES being wet and he makes mommy and daddy change his diaper.
He's discovered a new vocalization: squealing/screaming. It’s very loud and annoys mommy and daddy. Granny just takes her hearing aids out.
He rolls from back to front, then get pissed off because he hates tummy time.
He's still getting donor breast milk, so the liquid gold is still flowing through his bones. Just got a new shipment last night. I wish there was a way I could thank these mommies for helping him grow.
Black cherries seem to be his favorite so far. Not mommy and daddy’s favorite because of the poops it gives him.
Nana taught him to chew hid feet while in Cozumel, so now he hoes that when he can. Mommy doesn’t appreciate the wet socks.
His favorite toy is still the owl on his kick piano.
He weighs over 17 lbs.
He is allergic to peas. I break out into hives all over my body. Yucky. Scared mommy.
He now pays attention to the animals, especially Lala; even though she doesn’t want him touching her (that’s who he is watching in the picture).
He loves to eat and laugh.
He take naps twice a day and eat fruits/veggies three times a day.
He only wakes twice a night because he HATES being wet and he makes mommy and daddy change his diaper.
He's discovered a new vocalization: squealing/screaming. It’s very loud and annoys mommy and daddy. Granny just takes her hearing aids out.
He rolls from back to front, then get pissed off because he hates tummy time.
He's still getting donor breast milk, so the liquid gold is still flowing through his bones. Just got a new shipment last night. I wish there was a way I could thank these mommies for helping him grow.
Black cherries seem to be his favorite so far. Not mommy and daddy’s favorite because of the poops it gives him.
Nana taught him to chew hid feet while in Cozumel, so now he hoes that when he can. Mommy doesn’t appreciate the wet socks.
His favorite toy is still the owl on his kick piano.
He drools all the time. Hopefully he'll get teeth soon so he's not going through 8 bibs a day.
That’s his progress!
We've decided to harvest for a sibling for Sir Chance. Our harvest cycle is the last week of Nov/first week of Dec. My AMH is less than 1 so it doesn't look good for getting many eggs, if any. It's sitting at 0.64. If it drops below 0.4 they won't harvest at all. So we have to get as many eggs as possible before my AMH drops below 0.4. To give you an idea, my AMH was 1.81 last Feb 2016, before we harvested for Chance. It has dropped significantly in just a year, which means my ovaries are dying. So if you are reading this and you pray, pray your little hearts out that we get 2 good embryos with this harvest. We agreed that we would harvest up to a total of 3 times to get (hopefully) 2 good embryos.
I started the BCP last Monday, and I should start the shots in a week or so. We will be doing whats called a micro-Lupron protocol. I'll explain what that is in more detail the closer ti comes time for the shots.
We are under the thinking anything we get is just a bonus this time, but we still would like a little for Chance.
More updates to come.
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Change Of Plans
Been a little busy recently, so now is the big post.
I went to my regularly scheduled OB appointment May 31. Chance actually didn't want to cooperate again; he wouldn't move. He got the buzzer again. We did get 8/8, so all was good.
We went camping over the long weekend. The heat had my kankles the size of softballs...no kidding. Hurt...OMG. Doc wasn't worried about the swelling. Throw back to olden days when women would try to bleed to death; they needed the extra fluid, hence the swelling. He warned me the swelling would be worse for two weeks after the birth. He wasn't kidding, but we will get to that later. I wasn't going to do my 24 hour urine testing while camping, so I started it Monday when we got home. Turned it in Tuesday about 4p. The results weren't back when I went for my appt on Wednesday at 1p.
We decided to go ahead and induce me at 39 weeks, so June 7. Knowing this, I called the Henna lady to come apply my belly Henna, as the color peaks at a week....just in time for the induction June 7. Well, perfectly laid plans change. My 24 hour urine came back while I was having my Henna applied. The proteins in my urine were 329. Normal is 100. 300 is BAD.....329 is VERY BAD. Even though my blood pressure was still normal, I was severely pre-eclamptic. I was on the verge of having a seizure. So I was told to be at the hospital at 7p, no ifs, and, or buts...
So we loaded up all our gear and headed to the hospital Wednesday May 31 for my induction.
We arrived and were ushered into LDR room 2. This is the room they put me in for my last miscarriage. Things came full circle in that room.
I had to make several phone calls to get things in order. The amazing diaper service lady delivered all our cloth diapers to the hospital so we would have them when Chance was born. B is awesome. She's been amazing since we've been home too.
They inserted the misoprostol (cytotec is the brand name) to help start contractions and soften the cervix. They do this before they start the Pitocin......
I got my first dose around 1930. I started having contractions about 30 min later, although I couldn't feel them. They just showed up on the strips. (They strap a fetal heart monitor and a contractions monitor up to your belly).
I got my second dose of miso around midnight. This dose caused me to hyperstim. The contractions came every 1-2 minutes and lasted 1-2 minutes. It was so painful they had to give me fentanyl for the pain. I was texting the DH that if this is what labor is like, I am a wienie and want an epidural for sure! Because I was hyperstimmed, the nurse called the doc to make sure he wanted me to get the third dose at 0400. He did, but he said we could wait till 0500 to get it. So with the third dose, it settled things down. I was contracting every 4-5 minutes for 1-2 minutes, and it wasn't painful at all. Each time I was checked, my cervix hadn't changed at all.
Doc came in around 0730 to check me himself. Of course my cerix hadn't changed at all, and my BP had started to creep up. So the decision was made to go ahead and do an emergent c-section.
Well this messed everything up. My DH was downstairs working, so the doc went and got him. I had to call the doula, my parents, the birth photographer, and anyone else that needed to know. All through the night they tried to get a different IV in me. It didn't work out so well. So when the anesthesiologist came in to prep me for surgery, we decided an EJ (external jugular) would be the best solution for the IV. He tried to get me in the right side, but ended up blowing the vein. So we tried the left. He got the IV in, but it was very positional, so I had to keep my head turned to the right in order for it to work.
Everyone showed up just as I was walking to the c-section room. Whew.
However, on the way to the room I decided I should pee first. While on the toilet I decided to throw up. Always awesome to be sitting on the toilet and puking into the trash can. I got sick from the bolus of Ancef (antibiotic) they had just given me.
We get to the room at 0900 and the spinal goes in. Unfortunately for me, the spinal decided it was going to take it's sweet time to set up. So on my head I went. For 20 minutes. I never lost motor function (as in I could always move my feet), but the warm feeling that slowly made its way up my body, told me the spinal was working. Of course I decide to get sick again during the wait. Cut time was finally 0930, and baby was out at 0933. Doc doesn't mess around.
The DH was so busy playing doctor, helping the anesthesiologist keep me from being sick, he missed the actual birth. While we were waiting the 5 minutes to clamp the cord, he looked over the drapes and got to see Chance pee all over everyone! When they pulled his head out, he let out a little cry. I decided to cry then.....
So baby was handed off and they started to close me up. After he was printed and wiped off, they brought him to me so I could skin to skin. He was so little. He was born 06/01 at 0933. He weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces, and was 21 inches long.
Well, about 5 minutes after we started skin to skin and they started closing, I got sick again. Horrible heaving. They almost didn't get the baby off me before I started retching. It was so violent, I started to push my small intestines out of the incision they were trying to close. I started pulling so hard on the stitches, they had to cut them out and wait for me to calm down. This was accomplished by putting me to sleep for about 10 minutes. When I woke up from my short nap, I wasn't sick anymore and my incision was closed. The anesthesiologist decided to do a TAP block to help with post op pain.
They wheeled me back to my room and everyone was there. We immediately started skin to skin again, and he had his first feeding. Remember, I can not breast feed as I don't have the equipment thanks to breast cancer; so I had donated milk. The coolest thing is my birth photographer had a new baby and she was breast feeding. She was so engorged from the fast action of the morning, she didn't get to feed her little one. She got a pump and pumped fresh breast milk for little Chance. That was so amazing.
They transferred me to my post-op room and we started to get things under control. However, because I pulled so hard on my abdomen when I got sick, my abdominal muscle on the right side started to spasm. It hurt so badly I was crying. They were alternating dilauded and 10 mg Oxycodone. It wasn't even touching the pain. Awful.
After several hours, they finally called the anesthesiologist on call to help with the pain control. He gave me a lidocaine patch and fentanyl. I was a new person. We were in the hospital for 4 days. We came home Sunday afternoon.
We are now two months old. We had been supplementing formula at night to help the breast milk last longer. We will be taking a trip to meet our donor next week and pick up the last of the milk avail. We have increased our volume from 2 ounces every 2-3 hours to 4 ounces every 4-5 hours. He seems to be much happier with this arrangement. The only issue is the formula constipates him as it is fortified with iron. He went from pooping every feeding to pooping every 3-4 days. Pediatrician isn't concerned. Said by the 7th day try prune juice. I got Mommy's Bliss Constipation Ease, with has prune juice in it....it seems to help when I remember to give it to him.
So since he isn't pooping regularly, he is trying. Which means he isn't sleeping; which means I am not sleeping. Brutal.
Hopefully we will get back into the groove of things with sleeping. He went from sleeping 6-8 hours pre formula to sleeping 1-3 post formula at night; sometimes less at a time.
A friend suggested yesterday to sleep him on his stomach. I tried it this morning and he slept for 4 hours!!!
He got his first set of shots Tuesday. He took them like a champ. Hardly cried at all. I preloaded him with Tylenol to help. He's been a little cranky the past few days, so the sleep today has really helped.
We had grown since our last appt at 2 weeks old. He is now 11 pounds 12 ounces, and 22.75 inches long. Head circumference is 39.25 inches.
We are well on out way to growing up.
He took his first plane ride on Sat July 29th. We flew to Houston for his Global Entry Interview. He did fantastic. No issues at all.
Just getting ready for Cozumel in Oct!!
I went to my regularly scheduled OB appointment May 31. Chance actually didn't want to cooperate again; he wouldn't move. He got the buzzer again. We did get 8/8, so all was good.
We went camping over the long weekend. The heat had my kankles the size of softballs...no kidding. Hurt...OMG. Doc wasn't worried about the swelling. Throw back to olden days when women would try to bleed to death; they needed the extra fluid, hence the swelling. He warned me the swelling would be worse for two weeks after the birth. He wasn't kidding, but we will get to that later. I wasn't going to do my 24 hour urine testing while camping, so I started it Monday when we got home. Turned it in Tuesday about 4p. The results weren't back when I went for my appt on Wednesday at 1p.
We decided to go ahead and induce me at 39 weeks, so June 7. Knowing this, I called the Henna lady to come apply my belly Henna, as the color peaks at a week....just in time for the induction June 7. Well, perfectly laid plans change. My 24 hour urine came back while I was having my Henna applied. The proteins in my urine were 329. Normal is 100. 300 is BAD.....329 is VERY BAD. Even though my blood pressure was still normal, I was severely pre-eclamptic. I was on the verge of having a seizure. So I was told to be at the hospital at 7p, no ifs, and, or buts...
So we loaded up all our gear and headed to the hospital Wednesday May 31 for my induction.
We arrived and were ushered into LDR room 2. This is the room they put me in for my last miscarriage. Things came full circle in that room.
I had to make several phone calls to get things in order. The amazing diaper service lady delivered all our cloth diapers to the hospital so we would have them when Chance was born. B is awesome. She's been amazing since we've been home too.
They inserted the misoprostol (cytotec is the brand name) to help start contractions and soften the cervix. They do this before they start the Pitocin......
I got my first dose around 1930. I started having contractions about 30 min later, although I couldn't feel them. They just showed up on the strips. (They strap a fetal heart monitor and a contractions monitor up to your belly).
I got my second dose of miso around midnight. This dose caused me to hyperstim. The contractions came every 1-2 minutes and lasted 1-2 minutes. It was so painful they had to give me fentanyl for the pain. I was texting the DH that if this is what labor is like, I am a wienie and want an epidural for sure! Because I was hyperstimmed, the nurse called the doc to make sure he wanted me to get the third dose at 0400. He did, but he said we could wait till 0500 to get it. So with the third dose, it settled things down. I was contracting every 4-5 minutes for 1-2 minutes, and it wasn't painful at all. Each time I was checked, my cervix hadn't changed at all.
Doc came in around 0730 to check me himself. Of course my cerix hadn't changed at all, and my BP had started to creep up. So the decision was made to go ahead and do an emergent c-section.
Well this messed everything up. My DH was downstairs working, so the doc went and got him. I had to call the doula, my parents, the birth photographer, and anyone else that needed to know. All through the night they tried to get a different IV in me. It didn't work out so well. So when the anesthesiologist came in to prep me for surgery, we decided an EJ (external jugular) would be the best solution for the IV. He tried to get me in the right side, but ended up blowing the vein. So we tried the left. He got the IV in, but it was very positional, so I had to keep my head turned to the right in order for it to work.
Everyone showed up just as I was walking to the c-section room. Whew.
However, on the way to the room I decided I should pee first. While on the toilet I decided to throw up. Always awesome to be sitting on the toilet and puking into the trash can. I got sick from the bolus of Ancef (antibiotic) they had just given me.
We get to the room at 0900 and the spinal goes in. Unfortunately for me, the spinal decided it was going to take it's sweet time to set up. So on my head I went. For 20 minutes. I never lost motor function (as in I could always move my feet), but the warm feeling that slowly made its way up my body, told me the spinal was working. Of course I decide to get sick again during the wait. Cut time was finally 0930, and baby was out at 0933. Doc doesn't mess around.
The DH was so busy playing doctor, helping the anesthesiologist keep me from being sick, he missed the actual birth. While we were waiting the 5 minutes to clamp the cord, he looked over the drapes and got to see Chance pee all over everyone! When they pulled his head out, he let out a little cry. I decided to cry then.....
So baby was handed off and they started to close me up. After he was printed and wiped off, they brought him to me so I could skin to skin. He was so little. He was born 06/01 at 0933. He weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces, and was 21 inches long.
Well, about 5 minutes after we started skin to skin and they started closing, I got sick again. Horrible heaving. They almost didn't get the baby off me before I started retching. It was so violent, I started to push my small intestines out of the incision they were trying to close. I started pulling so hard on the stitches, they had to cut them out and wait for me to calm down. This was accomplished by putting me to sleep for about 10 minutes. When I woke up from my short nap, I wasn't sick anymore and my incision was closed. The anesthesiologist decided to do a TAP block to help with post op pain.
They wheeled me back to my room and everyone was there. We immediately started skin to skin again, and he had his first feeding. Remember, I can not breast feed as I don't have the equipment thanks to breast cancer; so I had donated milk. The coolest thing is my birth photographer had a new baby and she was breast feeding. She was so engorged from the fast action of the morning, she didn't get to feed her little one. She got a pump and pumped fresh breast milk for little Chance. That was so amazing.
They transferred me to my post-op room and we started to get things under control. However, because I pulled so hard on my abdomen when I got sick, my abdominal muscle on the right side started to spasm. It hurt so badly I was crying. They were alternating dilauded and 10 mg Oxycodone. It wasn't even touching the pain. Awful.
After several hours, they finally called the anesthesiologist on call to help with the pain control. He gave me a lidocaine patch and fentanyl. I was a new person. We were in the hospital for 4 days. We came home Sunday afternoon.
We are now two months old. We had been supplementing formula at night to help the breast milk last longer. We will be taking a trip to meet our donor next week and pick up the last of the milk avail. We have increased our volume from 2 ounces every 2-3 hours to 4 ounces every 4-5 hours. He seems to be much happier with this arrangement. The only issue is the formula constipates him as it is fortified with iron. He went from pooping every feeding to pooping every 3-4 days. Pediatrician isn't concerned. Said by the 7th day try prune juice. I got Mommy's Bliss Constipation Ease, with has prune juice in it....it seems to help when I remember to give it to him.
So since he isn't pooping regularly, he is trying. Which means he isn't sleeping; which means I am not sleeping. Brutal.
Hopefully we will get back into the groove of things with sleeping. He went from sleeping 6-8 hours pre formula to sleeping 1-3 post formula at night; sometimes less at a time.
A friend suggested yesterday to sleep him on his stomach. I tried it this morning and he slept for 4 hours!!!
He got his first set of shots Tuesday. He took them like a champ. Hardly cried at all. I preloaded him with Tylenol to help. He's been a little cranky the past few days, so the sleep today has really helped.
We had grown since our last appt at 2 weeks old. He is now 11 pounds 12 ounces, and 22.75 inches long. Head circumference is 39.25 inches.
We are well on out way to growing up.
He took his first plane ride on Sat July 29th. We flew to Houston for his Global Entry Interview. He did fantastic. No issues at all.
Just getting ready for Cozumel in Oct!!
Monday, May 29, 2017
37 Weeks 5 Days (16 Days To Go)
Once again, I got reminded I haven't been updating my blog enough...LOL
Went to the OB last Wednesday at 37 weeks. Sir Chance decided he didn't want to move during the BPP ultrasound. This is the first time he hasn't wanted to move continually. He did breath the whole time though. I suspect he was in a food coma as I had just eaten Chick-fil-A moments before my appt. The US tech took a little sound buzzer (normally used for people who have no voice box to help them talk) and buzzed him. He moved then.... I got an 8/8 once again.
I have officially gained 20 pounds with this pregnancy. I am very disappointed in myself. I only want to gain 15 pounds at the most, since I started out overweight. I am allowed up to 25 pounds. I have been sitting at 8 pounds the entire pregnancy, until we got back from Turks and Caicos. This last appointment showed I gained. However, I think it is all baby. He had a growth spurt while we were in Turks and Caicos. His head is lower in my pelvis, but his bottom is still up against my diaphragm. I am just waiting for the "lightening".
I had some swelling of my feet and ankles two days last week. Man it hurts. I showed the doc and he wasn't concerned. He said it was preparing my body fort after the delivery, in case there is excess bleeding. The body stores water to keep us safe.
I asked him about membrane stripping, because the partner I saw the week before asked if I was going to have it done. He was VERY adamant he was not going to strip my membranes. He said it hurts badly, and doesn't really help with labor progression.
Something came up with my urine sample this time that has him concerned. He didn't say what it was, but he ordered blood work and a 24 hour urine sample. Awesome, I get to pee in a bowl and save it in the fridge for 24 hours. He also said he was going to schedule my induction for 39 weeks.
So if I don't go into labor this week, I will be induced June 7 at 0500. We should have a baby June 7.
His nurse said something about PH +1, but I don't know what that means. There was also blood in my urine, but I had just gotten waxed and had a little bleeding. I pulled out my panties to show them the blood on said panties. They were ok with it after I showed them the blood. Maybe his concern had to do with my answer to one of his remarks. He mentioned the pressure in my pelvis coming and going. Not Braxton Hicks, just pressure. I said I wasn't having any pressure that comes and goes. Who knows.
We did go camping this weekend for Memorial Day out on our ranch. He told me to stay away from the dairy products (hard to keep really cold and listeria away in an ice chest), and stay off the four wheelers (don't want abruption - or a tear in the placenta). The only issue I had all 5 days, was swelling of my feet and ankles from the heat and humidity. 90 degrees with 90% humidity reeks havoc on the body. I did have issues sleeping on the air mattress in the tent. It made my back and pelvis hurt, so the last night we stayed, I went and slept at my parents house instead of sleeping at camp. I also put ice packs on my feet. This didn't help the swelling at all. Even after we got home today, I kept ice packs on them for 2 hours, then soaked them in the 75 degree pool water. They are still swollen at this point (2120), but at least they seem to be getting less swollen. I can see 2 veins in my right foot; ankles, not so much. I would be ok with the swelling if they didn't hurt so much.
I have had a couple days of diarrhea. Apparently this is normal after 37 weeks. It's the body preparing to make room for the baby to come out. I also had a decrease of the discharge I have had the entire pregnancy too. This could be from dehydration, or I lost my mucous plug (the mucous that blocks the cervix) and didn't know it. I did have a few days of Braxton Hicks at camp, but they didn't last long. I have had no bloody show...which would indicate I lost my mucous plug.
Next BPP and appointment is Wednesday at 38 weeks.
We will have our son soon!
Went to the OB last Wednesday at 37 weeks. Sir Chance decided he didn't want to move during the BPP ultrasound. This is the first time he hasn't wanted to move continually. He did breath the whole time though. I suspect he was in a food coma as I had just eaten Chick-fil-A moments before my appt. The US tech took a little sound buzzer (normally used for people who have no voice box to help them talk) and buzzed him. He moved then.... I got an 8/8 once again.
I have officially gained 20 pounds with this pregnancy. I am very disappointed in myself. I only want to gain 15 pounds at the most, since I started out overweight. I am allowed up to 25 pounds. I have been sitting at 8 pounds the entire pregnancy, until we got back from Turks and Caicos. This last appointment showed I gained. However, I think it is all baby. He had a growth spurt while we were in Turks and Caicos. His head is lower in my pelvis, but his bottom is still up against my diaphragm. I am just waiting for the "lightening".
I had some swelling of my feet and ankles two days last week. Man it hurts. I showed the doc and he wasn't concerned. He said it was preparing my body fort after the delivery, in case there is excess bleeding. The body stores water to keep us safe.
I asked him about membrane stripping, because the partner I saw the week before asked if I was going to have it done. He was VERY adamant he was not going to strip my membranes. He said it hurts badly, and doesn't really help with labor progression.
Something came up with my urine sample this time that has him concerned. He didn't say what it was, but he ordered blood work and a 24 hour urine sample. Awesome, I get to pee in a bowl and save it in the fridge for 24 hours. He also said he was going to schedule my induction for 39 weeks.
So if I don't go into labor this week, I will be induced June 7 at 0500. We should have a baby June 7.
His nurse said something about PH +1, but I don't know what that means. There was also blood in my urine, but I had just gotten waxed and had a little bleeding. I pulled out my panties to show them the blood on said panties. They were ok with it after I showed them the blood. Maybe his concern had to do with my answer to one of his remarks. He mentioned the pressure in my pelvis coming and going. Not Braxton Hicks, just pressure. I said I wasn't having any pressure that comes and goes. Who knows.
We did go camping this weekend for Memorial Day out on our ranch. He told me to stay away from the dairy products (hard to keep really cold and listeria away in an ice chest), and stay off the four wheelers (don't want abruption - or a tear in the placenta). The only issue I had all 5 days, was swelling of my feet and ankles from the heat and humidity. 90 degrees with 90% humidity reeks havoc on the body. I did have issues sleeping on the air mattress in the tent. It made my back and pelvis hurt, so the last night we stayed, I went and slept at my parents house instead of sleeping at camp. I also put ice packs on my feet. This didn't help the swelling at all. Even after we got home today, I kept ice packs on them for 2 hours, then soaked them in the 75 degree pool water. They are still swollen at this point (2120), but at least they seem to be getting less swollen. I can see 2 veins in my right foot; ankles, not so much. I would be ok with the swelling if they didn't hurt so much.
I have had a couple days of diarrhea. Apparently this is normal after 37 weeks. It's the body preparing to make room for the baby to come out. I also had a decrease of the discharge I have had the entire pregnancy too. This could be from dehydration, or I lost my mucous plug (the mucous that blocks the cervix) and didn't know it. I did have a few days of Braxton Hicks at camp, but they didn't last long. I have had no bloody show...which would indicate I lost my mucous plug.
Next BPP and appointment is Wednesday at 38 weeks.
We will have our son soon!
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
37 Weeks (21 Days To Go)
Just left my weekly OB appointment and BPP ultrasound. Chance scored and 8/8 on the BPP again today. Remember, they check amniotic fluid levels in each quadrant, he has to move, he has to breathe for 30 seconds in 30 minutes, and he has to have a good heart rate. Get one point if any of these things is not as it should be. 2 points if he does all these things. So he got 8/8, which is 2 points for each thing. He was in a little bit of a food coma and didn't want to move, so he got "buzzed". They took a little probe that makes noise and put it on my belly. He moved after that!! LOL
Appt went fine. I got checked. Cervix is still hard and not dilated. Chance is still high, but his head is low in my pelvis. He needs to drop more.
The doc decided to go ahead and schedule the induction at 39 weeks. So I will go into the hospital the evening of June 7th, and hopefully have a baby June 8th; unless Sir Chance decides to come on his own before.
I've had some swelling in my feet and ankles the past two days. Doc isn't concerned. He says its storing fluids for later; ones needed after delivery. I went and got my blood work done, and they want a 24 hour urine sample. I assume because there was a little bit of blood in my urine sample this time. However, I had just gotten waxed and had a little bleeding from the waxing. I showed them my undies to prove this, but they are getting it anyway to be sure.
My BP was the lowest it's been in weeks, so they aren't concerned about pre-eclampsia.
Question brought up last week by the other doc was stripping membranes. I asked my doc if he does this. He adamantly said NO!! Not only does it hurt, it doesn't really do anything to help labor. What they do is once you are dilated, they stick their finger up in the uterus through the cervix and run it around the inside of the cervix to "strip" the amniotic sac away from the cervix and it's opening. Yeah....that doesn't sound pleasant. No thanks. Especially when it doesn't do anything to help speed labor along. It won't put me into labor at all. Yeah. I'll pass. Glad my doc doesn't do it anymore.
I will be camping this weekend. Only rules I was given was no riding four wheelers and no dairy. Hard to keep dairy cold in ice chests camping. No four wheeler because of chance of abruption. Pretty sure I can get around our ranch anyway. Fishing. Having a good time.
Maybe I'll go into labor..........
Appt went fine. I got checked. Cervix is still hard and not dilated. Chance is still high, but his head is low in my pelvis. He needs to drop more.
The doc decided to go ahead and schedule the induction at 39 weeks. So I will go into the hospital the evening of June 7th, and hopefully have a baby June 8th; unless Sir Chance decides to come on his own before.
I've had some swelling in my feet and ankles the past two days. Doc isn't concerned. He says its storing fluids for later; ones needed after delivery. I went and got my blood work done, and they want a 24 hour urine sample. I assume because there was a little bit of blood in my urine sample this time. However, I had just gotten waxed and had a little bleeding from the waxing. I showed them my undies to prove this, but they are getting it anyway to be sure.
My BP was the lowest it's been in weeks, so they aren't concerned about pre-eclampsia.
Question brought up last week by the other doc was stripping membranes. I asked my doc if he does this. He adamantly said NO!! Not only does it hurt, it doesn't really do anything to help labor. What they do is once you are dilated, they stick their finger up in the uterus through the cervix and run it around the inside of the cervix to "strip" the amniotic sac away from the cervix and it's opening. Yeah....that doesn't sound pleasant. No thanks. Especially when it doesn't do anything to help speed labor along. It won't put me into labor at all. Yeah. I'll pass. Glad my doc doesn't do it anymore.
I will be camping this weekend. Only rules I was given was no riding four wheelers and no dairy. Hard to keep dairy cold in ice chests camping. No four wheeler because of chance of abruption. Pretty sure I can get around our ranch anyway. Fishing. Having a good time.
Maybe I'll go into labor..........
Monday, May 15, 2017
35 Weeks 5 Days (30 Days To Go)
Someone I know gently reminded me last night I hadn't posted in a while. She knows who she is..... so here we go.
Went to my 35 week appointment last Wednesday. My BPP test was great. I got 8 out of 8. They score movement, breathing, heart rate, and amniotic fluid levels. I have only gained 8 pounds. I am super happy about that; however I suspect I will gain more in the next 4 weeks. Because my BPP has been 8/8 the last few visits, I have been downgraded from high risk to normal pregnancy. This means I will NOT be induced at 38 weeks as my OB has been telling me this whole time. That puts a kink in plans......
Chance looks great. He's measuring 6 pounds. Still has a giant noggin. His head is measuring 3 weeks large. OB isn't worried about a big head, he's more concerned about a large abdomen. He says it makes it hard to get the baby out with a large abdomen, and they usually get stuck and end up with an emergency c-section. Yuck.
Went to my 35 week appointment last Wednesday. My BPP test was great. I got 8 out of 8. They score movement, breathing, heart rate, and amniotic fluid levels. I have only gained 8 pounds. I am super happy about that; however I suspect I will gain more in the next 4 weeks. Because my BPP has been 8/8 the last few visits, I have been downgraded from high risk to normal pregnancy. This means I will NOT be induced at 38 weeks as my OB has been telling me this whole time. That puts a kink in plans......
Chance looks great. He's measuring 6 pounds. Still has a giant noggin. His head is measuring 3 weeks large. OB isn't worried about a big head, he's more concerned about a large abdomen. He says it makes it hard to get the baby out with a large abdomen, and they usually get stuck and end up with an emergency c-section. Yuck.
He's got chubby little cheeks!
We went to Turks and Caicos for our babymoon. Solid week of relaxing by the pool. The place we went has Sesame Street Characters that go around the resort and entertain. One of them, Zoe, came by while we were at the pool. Everywhere she touched me, I broke out into this strange rash/fungus stuff. OMG did it itch too!! I still don't know what it was, but lots of lotion and benadryl, and I forgot about it and it went away on it's own.
My BP was a little high at my appointment, and I was dilated to a 1, so doc told me to stay close to the house and rest. Nothing exciting. I stop my aspirin on Wednesday at 36 weeks. Hopefully it will help the bruising.
Reflux. Reflux sucks. As does costalchondritis. This is inflammation of the cartilage between the ribs. It just happens to be near my Xyphoid process...which is the little notch at the base of the sternum (breastbone). I am waiting for the "lightening" or what they call the drop. Once he drops, he will be off my ribs and stomach. His little butt is right on my stomach, with one leg on either side of my stomach. So when he pushes up to stretch is legs, or donkey kicks as my DH calls it, he pushes right on my stomach. If I have recently eaten, I throw up. Nothing I can do about it. It's like he just pushes it back out. SUCKS.
Weekly BPP ultrasounds and appointments from now on until delivery.
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
31 Weeks 6 Days (57 Days To Go)
Everything is good with Sir Chance. He is very active again today. I have started my weekly BPP (biophysical profile) ultrasounds. This just measures growth, the amniotic fluid, and checks the heart rate. I see the doc every two weeks; so this week is ultrasound only. Doc appt is next week.
The DH is stressing about me getting the hospital bags packed. He wants me to do it now, so he doesn't have to run back and forth to the hospital and house if I go into labor early. So to appease him, I started packing the bag last night. Not the baby bag, but at lease mine/his. Just have toothbrush, hairbrush, pillow, blue tooth speaker, and house shoes (when they arrive) left to put in the bag. DH asked why I don't just put a regular toothbrush in the bad instead of the electric one; I'm not sure I remember how to brush my teeth with a regular toothbrush!! I've been using an electric one for so long......
A friend of ours with an 8 month old has graciously volunteered to donate breast milk to us for at least the first 3 months of Chance's life. She said she may go longer if it's not interfering with her sleep or schedule. We are so appreciative and thankful she is doing this for us. She currently has 1000 ounces in her freezer waiting for pick up. Going to try to get it this weekend. She also gifted us clothes and a moby wrap. She mentioned she had some formula as well. Since she won't take replacement bags or monetary reimbursement, I am going to bake her a cake (she loves my cakes) and give them some home grown beef.
I have had Braxton Hicks a few days. Nothing serious and it never lasted long. Felt like menstrual cramps; super low in my pelvis and pressure on my bladder. It felt like my uterus was very small again.
At the last ultrasound (last week) Chance had turned face down. So now his position is head down, face down, or occiput anterior. OA is the ideal position for birth. Occiput is the back of the babies head. Anterior describes the front of the mother's pelvis. There are other positions the baby can be in for birth, but OA is the best. OP or occiput posterior, is when the back of the baby's head faces the back of the mother's pelvis (head down, face up). This is where back labor comes into play, because the baby's head is pushing on the mother's tail bone essentially. Transverse is where the baby is laying sideways. This is bad. This requires a c-section if the doc can not turn the baby into the head down position. Oblique is when the baby is diagonal. With twins, this position is ok, but a singleton makes for a long, hard, and painful labor which normally results in a c-section. The final position is breech. This is when the baby's bottom is downward toward the pelvis. This will def get a mother a c-section. So far Chance is exactly where he needs to be for me to have a vaginal delivery.
We interviewed pediatricians this past week. Interesting. They do their best to sell their practice to you. Very salesmen like. Like with my OB, when you ask a question they don't know the answer to, they blow it off. I get they are "experts" in their field, but not everyone is ignorant; and some people have legitimate questions. I'm not sure they are used to educated questions.
My folic acid has been making me vomit the past week. I couldn't decide if it was the aspirin or the folic acid, so I finally started taking them separately. Yep, it was the folic acid. I have been instructed to stop taking it for a week, then start again, but only one. We are so close to delivery, the extra folic acid probably really isn't doing anything to help the baby. Most, if not all defects are closed by now and the extra isn't really necessary.
I can't believe after 5 years of trying, we will have a baby boy in arms in 6 weeks. That's crazy!!
The DH is stressing about me getting the hospital bags packed. He wants me to do it now, so he doesn't have to run back and forth to the hospital and house if I go into labor early. So to appease him, I started packing the bag last night. Not the baby bag, but at lease mine/his. Just have toothbrush, hairbrush, pillow, blue tooth speaker, and house shoes (when they arrive) left to put in the bag. DH asked why I don't just put a regular toothbrush in the bad instead of the electric one; I'm not sure I remember how to brush my teeth with a regular toothbrush!! I've been using an electric one for so long......
A friend of ours with an 8 month old has graciously volunteered to donate breast milk to us for at least the first 3 months of Chance's life. She said she may go longer if it's not interfering with her sleep or schedule. We are so appreciative and thankful she is doing this for us. She currently has 1000 ounces in her freezer waiting for pick up. Going to try to get it this weekend. She also gifted us clothes and a moby wrap. She mentioned she had some formula as well. Since she won't take replacement bags or monetary reimbursement, I am going to bake her a cake (she loves my cakes) and give them some home grown beef.
I have had Braxton Hicks a few days. Nothing serious and it never lasted long. Felt like menstrual cramps; super low in my pelvis and pressure on my bladder. It felt like my uterus was very small again.
At the last ultrasound (last week) Chance had turned face down. So now his position is head down, face down, or occiput anterior. OA is the ideal position for birth. Occiput is the back of the babies head. Anterior describes the front of the mother's pelvis. There are other positions the baby can be in for birth, but OA is the best. OP or occiput posterior, is when the back of the baby's head faces the back of the mother's pelvis (head down, face up). This is where back labor comes into play, because the baby's head is pushing on the mother's tail bone essentially. Transverse is where the baby is laying sideways. This is bad. This requires a c-section if the doc can not turn the baby into the head down position. Oblique is when the baby is diagonal. With twins, this position is ok, but a singleton makes for a long, hard, and painful labor which normally results in a c-section. The final position is breech. This is when the baby's bottom is downward toward the pelvis. This will def get a mother a c-section. So far Chance is exactly where he needs to be for me to have a vaginal delivery.
We interviewed pediatricians this past week. Interesting. They do their best to sell their practice to you. Very salesmen like. Like with my OB, when you ask a question they don't know the answer to, they blow it off. I get they are "experts" in their field, but not everyone is ignorant; and some people have legitimate questions. I'm not sure they are used to educated questions.
My folic acid has been making me vomit the past week. I couldn't decide if it was the aspirin or the folic acid, so I finally started taking them separately. Yep, it was the folic acid. I have been instructed to stop taking it for a week, then start again, but only one. We are so close to delivery, the extra folic acid probably really isn't doing anything to help the baby. Most, if not all defects are closed by now and the extra isn't really necessary.
I can't believe after 5 years of trying, we will have a baby boy in arms in 6 weeks. That's crazy!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)