37 Weeks Milestone

37 Weeks

We've reached a major milestone this week.  I am now considered full-term at 37 weeks.  I have been blessed with an easy and healthy pregnancy.  After all that we have been through to get pregnant, my fear was that there would be complications, or worse, miscarriage.  I know this is the sad reality for many women who struggle with infertility.

I hope that if you are struggling with infertility that my story has provided some comfort and hope.  I know everyone's journey is different, and not everyone will choose the path we chose, but there are many options out there for starting a family.  Hopefully this blog has provided some insight and perspective into In Vitro and other ARTs.

If you do not personally struggle with infertility, I hope that this blog has shed some light on a subject that is often hidden in the shadows.  Before it was our journey, I had never really given it any thought.  Now I see so many who are going through the same or similar struggles.  Please be aware of the many people in your life that are or may be struggling with the pain of infertility. 

And while I am so so blessed with the life that has been given to us, it is sometimes nerve wracking to think about "next time".  Will there be a next time?  Will we only have one child?  What about miscarriage or failed IVF?  We are so thankful for the child that we have been blessed with.  She is truly a miracle, and we can't wait to meet her.  The "what-ifs" will just have to wait, or quiet down altogether. 

2nd Ultrasound

One of the perks of being an IVF patient is that you get to have more ultrasounds than a typical pregnant woman.  I am only 9 weeks, and I just had my second ultrasound.  I thought it would be just like the last one, so I didn't think it would be terribly exciting.  Boy was I wrong!  I wish we had taken video, because we got quite the show!

First of all, the baby has grown a LOT in just 2 weeks!  Plus, this time you could really see the head, body, and arms.  It's incredible how much change happens in so little time.  But the most amazing thing was that during the ultrasound, the little baby was dancing around and waving at us!  (Doug says he was fist-pumping.)  It was so incredible. 

Everything looked good and the baby is still healthy.  We are praying this continues.  There is LIFE inside of me, and I never cease to praise God for this miracle!

It's so hard to see in this small picture, but the head, body, and arms are really starting to be defined now!  Heartbeat is up to 178 (cause the baby was so active).

Things are starting to feel "real".  My "baby bump" is now visible to others, and people have been asking a lot of questions.  I feel strange talking with others about a topic I have avoided for so long.  And it's interesting to see reactions--joy, disbelief, more disbelief (c'mon people, was I THAT much of a lost cause?) when I share the news.  But all is well, and we're still super-excited!

First Ultrasound

Ok, so I don't want this to turn into a pregnancy blog, but part of IVF is also the care you receive when you finally do get pregnant. 

With IVF, you are considered high risk, even if everything is healthy and looking good.  So they have you do an ultrasound at 6 weeks to check for ectopic pregnancy (something I was high risk for) and to make sure everything is progressing well.  Then they also check your hormone levels to evaluate your medication needs.

We had our first ultrasound on the 22nd.  I was actually almost 7 weeks along.  Everything looked really good and we even got to hear the heartbeat!  I think I am still in shock--I really was starting to think this would never happen for us. 

The baby is only the size of a blueberry, but that's pretty huge considering that only a few weeks ago it was microscopic! 

The heartbeat is 125 bpm. 

We also had my hormone levels checked, and they were way high, so they said to stop doing the shots and then have my levels checked the next day.  They were still high enough, so I am officially shot-free!  I have had to have daily shots since the beginning of June, so this is an awesome feeling!  But I would do it as long as necessary to keep the baby healthy!

So we are praying that things continue to progress nicely, and that ultimately we end up with a healthy baby.  Boy, girl, tall, short, it doesn't matter.  We are already so in love.

Smile

"Smile, because you have someone who loves you and wants to start a family with you.  And that is something some people will never have."

That is how a fertility doctor concluded a recent informational meeting that we attended.  What he said is so true.  Given our circumstances, it's easy to focus on the negative.  But the fact is, given the choice between having a baby or spending the rest of my life with my husband, I would choose my husband.  Because we are best friends.  Because he has been there for me through thick and thin.  Because even when our kids grow up and move away, it will be just the two of us again.  I need to choose EVERY DAY to be THANKFUL for what I have.  And to trust in God's plan for our life.  And to choose hope.

Happy anniversary, Doug.  It's been an amazing 8 years!