Alright,
So I have officially made it to 39 weeks pregnant! My husband arrived home on Friday afternoon, and the intended parents arrived on Monday! I am so glad that everyone involved for the big day has arrived. The French Baguette and I had an agreement that she needed to wait until her parents got here, and then she was free to come whenever she would like!
Apparently she is a little too comfortable in here. I had my 39 week checkup yesterday and I was checked again. I am still only 1 cm dilated and 60 percent effaced. I'm actually really not surprised because with my two previous pregnancies, I was barely dilated before I went into labor. I do the majority of my dilating while in labor. Lucky me! :) The doctor wanted to induce me today, but I told her that I would like to wait another week and see what might happen. She told me at my 38 week appointment that a lot can happen between 39 and 40 weeks, so I'm hoping that this is the case and she decides to come on her own before that! I need those of you that have been praying along with me throughout this journey to pray that she comes before next Wednesday night. Right now, the current plan if she doesn't come on her own before then is to get checked into the hospital on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm to do the overnight vaginal suppository Cervidil. The drug is supposed to ripen my cervix, just as an added prep for labor since they will start the actual induction process the next morning, Thursday at 6 am. A nurse told me that especially since this is my third birth, that a lot of times, the Cervidil will stimulate the contractions to start on their own and I won't need to have Pitocin the next morning to start labor! I'm really hoping that if she doesn't come on her own before that, that this will be the case for me!
I had the doctor strip my membranes yesterday at the appointment, and while it was very painful, nothing has really come of it. I still have the strong and long Braxton Hicks, but nothing near what the contractions will be. I am trying to be patient. I am really hoping that I don't have to be induced and that she comes on her own as the intended parents are very anxious to meet her! I am also very anxious to not be pregnant anymore! The last few weeks have been very hard on me, physically mostly as I haven't been able to sleep very well with the worst carpal tunnel I have ever had and also the worst heartburn. I can medicate the heartburn which helps for the most part, but the carpal tunnel is something I have yet to find a solution for. I go to sleep just fine, but then wake up a few hours later in crazy pain in my arms and hands with swelling, and can't seem to find a comfortable position or get the pain to go away enough to go back to sleep. Turns out, even though you're not bringing a baby home at the end of the pregnancy as a gestational surrogate, your body still thinks you are and still tries to prepare you for the lack of sleep and frequent interruptions of it. On a positive not, I have got one more week left at the most, and hoping that she comes sooner than that, I am trying to tell myself that this is almost over and the awesome part is about to begin for the intended parents!
I will be back with an update after my appointment next wednesday morning if I don't deliver before then, and will of course update after delivery, whichever comes first!!! Pray people, pray!!! :)
Sarah
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Thursday, August 14, 2014
38 Weeks!
Alright, so I am officially 38 weeks today! I had a doctor's appointment today and so I am here with an update.
At my 36 week appointment I was not dilated at all, and I wasn't effaced either. Fine with me since my husband nor the couple were here yet. Today, my doctor checked me and I am 1 cm dilated and 50-60% effaced. Some progress and it is a slow progress I am thankful for at this point. My husband flies in tomorrow. He has been gone for 5 weeks. WAY TOO LONG! I have forgotten what it is like to have another adult in the house. I get to watch whatever I want on TV, but I would trade that any day for having my husband home every night! The kids aren't going to know what to do with him home either! The three of us have just kind of gotten into a routine and we have adjusted to being the three of us, but I'm sure they will be so happy to see their dad tomorrow at the airport. I have been a little worried lately because I have noticed over the last week or so that the Braxton Hicks contractions that I have been having since about 18 weeks, have gotten stronger and longer. I know this is normal towards the end, but I have been stressing because as much as I want to not be pregnant anymore, this little French Baguette needs to stay in here until her parents land in this country! Monday is the big day for that! I am so excited to have them back here, and for the occasion in which they are coming! They finally get to meet their little baby girl! I can't imagine what they must be feeling, probably too much to put into words.
I have been asked lately if I am wavering in my emotions or feeling like I won't be able to give the baby away, and the answer is not at all! This baby is not mine to give away. I am just the oven, and their bun is almost ready to come out! There is no ownership on my part, or bonds that have been formed and mostly, I am just so excited to see the look on the couple's faces when they get handed their firstborn child!
I want for this process to go as smoothly as possible and for the couple to have a great transition into parenthood for the first time. The closer my due date approaches, the more and more anxious I am getting about labor though. I remember being in labor with Kynlee and thinking to myself during a contraction: "Oh man, I don't know if I can do this for somebody else." Now, obviously I have not let this thought stop me, as I am weeks away from labor again but I am just praying and hoping that it goes quickly and as smoothly as possible! I tested negative for Group B Strep so while there is no need to get to the hospital as soon as labor starts, I plan to get there much earlier than I did while in labor with Kynlee. I don't want to be desperate for a breather and pain relief as I'm walking in the door. I want to be reasonable and able to get in the shower or the whirlpool tub that the hospital has for pain relief! Wish me luck! I checked with the doctor again today, and so far I have only gained 14 pounds to this date. Not bad and hopefully since I'm not breastfeeding I won't put the weight on then. I gained 15 pounds with Brae, and 20 with Kynlee during pregnancy, but my body holds on to every calorie when I'm breastfeeding and I gain weight instead of losing it!
My next appointment is on Wednesday. The doctor is still talking about inducing labor but I told her that myself and the couple would rather I go into labor naturally so we will cross that bridge if we get to it for a medical reason. She will check me again, and see if there is any more progress made. The couple will probably be with me for that appointment and they will get to hear the heartbeat again, and ask any questions that they may have to the doctor. I will post an update after that appointment. For those of you praying, keep me in your prayers over the next few weeks. This is the fun part, but also the nerve-racking part!
Sarah
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
36 Weeks!!!
Alright, so I am officially 36 weeks tomorrow! I honestly don't know where the time has gone. This pregnancy has been so different for me mentally than my other pregnancies, and in some ways, while I feel like I have been pregnant for two years, I also can't believe I only have a month or less left!
The last time I blogged, my fluid levels were high and the doctor wanted to see me in two weeks to check the fluid levels again. That was at 34 weeks. The fluid levels were checked again and instead of going up, they went down. From a 22, to a 17! That was good news for sure. The ultrasound technician told me that the fluid levels can vary from day to day and so she wasn't surprised that the fluid levels were back down. I also found out at that appointment as well that I had lost two pounds, making my total weight gain up to 34 weeks, 10 pounds.
Today, I had my 36 week appointment, where they did the last ultrasound and growth scan. They checked the fluid levels again just to make sure everything was good. They are estimating this little girl to be at 6 pounds, 4 ounces give or take a pound. I have a feeling she is going to be a big baby, but time will tell! Fluid levels were down to a 16.4 and her arms, legs, torso, and head are all measuring just fine!
I shared this on my Facebook page, but thought I would give my readers a little laugh. I was at the grocery store last week, with both kids, checking out with a large amount of groceries. I am putting the bagged groceries into the cart, and I look up and realize that an old woman is staring at me. We make eye contact, and she proceeds to yell: "When is your baby due?" I pretend for all intents and purposes that this little baby is going to be mine, and reply: "I'm due at the end of August." The old lady then says: "Oh, are you having twins or something?" "No" I reply, "There is just one in there." I tell ya, I am not a violent person, nor would I ever wish harm on an elderly person, but I have never wanted to punch someone in the face more in that moment! The cashier was avoiding eye contact with me as much as I was with the old woman, and I got myself out of there as soon as I could! Yep, that's just what every pregnant woman wants to hear! Especially when it is 103 degrees outside with two kids who have been well behaved up until then, but are ready to be done there as well. That's the perfect thing to say! Are we sensing a sarcastic tone here? GOOD!
The doctor checked my cervix today as well, and while that was the most uncomfortable thing I have experienced in a while, it is completely closed! No effacement either. I'm fine with this news at this point. I need this little French Baguette to wait until her parents get here, and for my husband to come back to this part of the country as well! The couple will fly on the 18th of August, and my husband will hopefully be here the weekend before that! That will put me at 38 weeks and 4 days and then she can come anytime after that! The doctor thinks that I will go into labor closer to 39-40 weeks. She is still talking about inducing but she knows my wishes with not wanting a c-section if at all possible, and so if my body isn't showing signs of being ready, then she will try to let me go into labor on my own, which is what we all prefer anyway! I was tested for Group B Strep as well today, so we will find out if I will need to get to the hospital a little earlier for antibiotics. The ultrasound technician that I have been seeing every time, is so sweet. She told me today that she got all excited when she saw my name on her schedule, and that I am her favorite patient right now. She said she is going to be sad that she won't be seeing me anymore lol. She has been great to me, and very supportive!
I have been trying to keep in mind through this whole process that I am going to go into labor again. With my first child, labor was not easy, it was long at 45 hours, and there were a lot of things done to me that I think impeded on the process. With my daughter, things were much different, I felt more in control, and did a lot of the labor at home. I'm hoping that this one is relatively quick and without complications! I am so excited for the couple to witness their daughter taking her first breaths, and for them to get to bond with her! I will be keeping my mind on that when I'm in labor. Since I applied to be a surrogate when I was 6 months pregnant with my daughter, the only time I ever wavered in my decision or had second guesses, was during labor. Here I am though, so obviously didn't waiver too much! I would ask for those of you who have been praying to pray for a speedy, no complications labor!
It has been a really hard three weeks with my husband being gone, and with being this pregnant, but I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's a very vague, very small light, but it is still visible lol.
Now starts the weekly appointments, so I will have an update next week! My doctor is on vacation so I will just be seeing another OB, but not Dr. Snider thankfully!
Thanks for reading!
Sarah
The last time I blogged, my fluid levels were high and the doctor wanted to see me in two weeks to check the fluid levels again. That was at 34 weeks. The fluid levels were checked again and instead of going up, they went down. From a 22, to a 17! That was good news for sure. The ultrasound technician told me that the fluid levels can vary from day to day and so she wasn't surprised that the fluid levels were back down. I also found out at that appointment as well that I had lost two pounds, making my total weight gain up to 34 weeks, 10 pounds.
Today, I had my 36 week appointment, where they did the last ultrasound and growth scan. They checked the fluid levels again just to make sure everything was good. They are estimating this little girl to be at 6 pounds, 4 ounces give or take a pound. I have a feeling she is going to be a big baby, but time will tell! Fluid levels were down to a 16.4 and her arms, legs, torso, and head are all measuring just fine!
I shared this on my Facebook page, but thought I would give my readers a little laugh. I was at the grocery store last week, with both kids, checking out with a large amount of groceries. I am putting the bagged groceries into the cart, and I look up and realize that an old woman is staring at me. We make eye contact, and she proceeds to yell: "When is your baby due?" I pretend for all intents and purposes that this little baby is going to be mine, and reply: "I'm due at the end of August." The old lady then says: "Oh, are you having twins or something?" "No" I reply, "There is just one in there." I tell ya, I am not a violent person, nor would I ever wish harm on an elderly person, but I have never wanted to punch someone in the face more in that moment! The cashier was avoiding eye contact with me as much as I was with the old woman, and I got myself out of there as soon as I could! Yep, that's just what every pregnant woman wants to hear! Especially when it is 103 degrees outside with two kids who have been well behaved up until then, but are ready to be done there as well. That's the perfect thing to say! Are we sensing a sarcastic tone here? GOOD!
The doctor checked my cervix today as well, and while that was the most uncomfortable thing I have experienced in a while, it is completely closed! No effacement either. I'm fine with this news at this point. I need this little French Baguette to wait until her parents get here, and for my husband to come back to this part of the country as well! The couple will fly on the 18th of August, and my husband will hopefully be here the weekend before that! That will put me at 38 weeks and 4 days and then she can come anytime after that! The doctor thinks that I will go into labor closer to 39-40 weeks. She is still talking about inducing but she knows my wishes with not wanting a c-section if at all possible, and so if my body isn't showing signs of being ready, then she will try to let me go into labor on my own, which is what we all prefer anyway! I was tested for Group B Strep as well today, so we will find out if I will need to get to the hospital a little earlier for antibiotics. The ultrasound technician that I have been seeing every time, is so sweet. She told me today that she got all excited when she saw my name on her schedule, and that I am her favorite patient right now. She said she is going to be sad that she won't be seeing me anymore lol. She has been great to me, and very supportive!
I have been trying to keep in mind through this whole process that I am going to go into labor again. With my first child, labor was not easy, it was long at 45 hours, and there were a lot of things done to me that I think impeded on the process. With my daughter, things were much different, I felt more in control, and did a lot of the labor at home. I'm hoping that this one is relatively quick and without complications! I am so excited for the couple to witness their daughter taking her first breaths, and for them to get to bond with her! I will be keeping my mind on that when I'm in labor. Since I applied to be a surrogate when I was 6 months pregnant with my daughter, the only time I ever wavered in my decision or had second guesses, was during labor. Here I am though, so obviously didn't waiver too much! I would ask for those of you who have been praying to pray for a speedy, no complications labor!
It has been a really hard three weeks with my husband being gone, and with being this pregnant, but I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's a very vague, very small light, but it is still visible lol.
Now starts the weekly appointments, so I will have an update next week! My doctor is on vacation so I will just be seeing another OB, but not Dr. Snider thankfully!
Thanks for reading!
Sarah
Monday, July 7, 2014
32 Weeks Update
Alright people,
I am 32 weeks and 4 days! This is the part of the pregnancy that always seems to just drag on, and while I feel a little bit like that, it is going very quickly as well! Almost 7 more weeks, and these intended parents will finally get to meet their little girl!
In other sort of related news, my husband starts a new job on Wednedsay! He has been working at Mission Repair for 5 years, and while this new job is a great opportunity for him and for us, we are very sad to say goodbye to the last five years and his amazing boss who has done great things for us! Troy is going to be working at Mayvillage. They are a company that sells parts for repair companies all over the country. Sadly, he has to be in New Jersey for the next three months. Yes, he will come back for this baby's delivery, but will otherwise be out of town. I am stressing a lot about his time away. The last time him and I were apart, it was for 6 months, and Brae was only 6 weeks old at the time. Now, with two kids, they are both aware of when Daddy usually comes home, and so the nights and weekends are going to be harder than hard, but we will get through it. I have friends and family close by thankfully and will be leaning on them for support during this time.
Last week, I had my 32 week ultrasound! Baby girl is growing just fine, and is measuring long in the legs and arms, but otherwise her torso looks to be right on track. She just might be a tall girl like her daddy! During my ultrasound, the technician took notice of the amount of fluid that is in there with this baby. There is a lot of fluid in there for this point in my pregnancy and so they will be keeping an eye out for an increase in fluid. I have another appointment scheduled for next monday to check the fluid levels again. They don't like to see it above a 25, and right now I am at a 22. My doctor was talking about possibly inducing labor a little earlier, or trying to draw some of the fluid out to relieve some of the pressure this extra fluid might be putting on my uterus. My sister, the nurse in our family, also told me that with extra fluid, when water breaks, it can sometimes take the umbilical cord with it, and cause it to get pinched between baby's head and birth canal, in which case they would need to do an emergency c-section. Let's hope that does not happen!
I have to admit, I am a little stressed about this new development! As with any labor, there is a lot that can go wrong and change within a matter of seconds. I just want everything to go as smoothly as possible and I would prefer a vaginal birth for so many reasons but mostly for the intended parents to get to be in the room and witness their child being born. I'm not sure how the hospital would handle a c-section and if they would let the couple into the operating room with me and Troy, so we will see! Just pray that everything works out and that I can be allowed to go into labor on my own, and not have to be induced, and that if my water does break, the cord doesn't come out with it, and I can be allowed to labor naturally from there. I will update with my next appointment when we know what the fluid levels look like at that time. I gained 7 pounds in a month, and the doctor looked and me and said:"You don't look like you've gained that much. That weight is all baby and extra fluid." I definitely have been feeling the extra weight as well in my midsection. Harder to breath, heartburn is really bad, and towards the end of the day, it's just plain uncomfortable! One other thing the ultrasound technician informed me of was that this little French Baguette is finally head down! So as long as this fluid level thing cooperates, I can safely deliver vaginally! Woohoo for that! I was beginning to think she liked my ribs way too much!
The last few times that I have face timed with the intended parents, they have been excited to show me the progress they have made on the baby's room, and all of the adorable little clothes they have purchased for her! They tell me they are very anxious to come for the delivery and are so excited to hold her finally! I can't wait for that for them either! That is going to be an awesome moment and one I probably won't be able to hold the tears in for! One other thing they were celebrating was the issue of citizenship in France. Up until just a few weeks ago, this baby that I'm carrying would have been considered a US citizen since she will be born here, but would have to wait for 8 years before she would be considered for citizenship in France. While surrogacy in France is illegal, they have passed a law that for all babies born to French parents like the intended parents, they will immediately be considered a France citizen, instead of having to wait those 8 years! The intended parents were very excited for this new law! Yay for them and this little Baguette!
Thanks for reading and I will be back with an update next week after the ultrasound! :)
Sarah
I am 32 weeks and 4 days! This is the part of the pregnancy that always seems to just drag on, and while I feel a little bit like that, it is going very quickly as well! Almost 7 more weeks, and these intended parents will finally get to meet their little girl!
In other sort of related news, my husband starts a new job on Wednedsay! He has been working at Mission Repair for 5 years, and while this new job is a great opportunity for him and for us, we are very sad to say goodbye to the last five years and his amazing boss who has done great things for us! Troy is going to be working at Mayvillage. They are a company that sells parts for repair companies all over the country. Sadly, he has to be in New Jersey for the next three months. Yes, he will come back for this baby's delivery, but will otherwise be out of town. I am stressing a lot about his time away. The last time him and I were apart, it was for 6 months, and Brae was only 6 weeks old at the time. Now, with two kids, they are both aware of when Daddy usually comes home, and so the nights and weekends are going to be harder than hard, but we will get through it. I have friends and family close by thankfully and will be leaning on them for support during this time.
Last week, I had my 32 week ultrasound! Baby girl is growing just fine, and is measuring long in the legs and arms, but otherwise her torso looks to be right on track. She just might be a tall girl like her daddy! During my ultrasound, the technician took notice of the amount of fluid that is in there with this baby. There is a lot of fluid in there for this point in my pregnancy and so they will be keeping an eye out for an increase in fluid. I have another appointment scheduled for next monday to check the fluid levels again. They don't like to see it above a 25, and right now I am at a 22. My doctor was talking about possibly inducing labor a little earlier, or trying to draw some of the fluid out to relieve some of the pressure this extra fluid might be putting on my uterus. My sister, the nurse in our family, also told me that with extra fluid, when water breaks, it can sometimes take the umbilical cord with it, and cause it to get pinched between baby's head and birth canal, in which case they would need to do an emergency c-section. Let's hope that does not happen!
I have to admit, I am a little stressed about this new development! As with any labor, there is a lot that can go wrong and change within a matter of seconds. I just want everything to go as smoothly as possible and I would prefer a vaginal birth for so many reasons but mostly for the intended parents to get to be in the room and witness their child being born. I'm not sure how the hospital would handle a c-section and if they would let the couple into the operating room with me and Troy, so we will see! Just pray that everything works out and that I can be allowed to go into labor on my own, and not have to be induced, and that if my water does break, the cord doesn't come out with it, and I can be allowed to labor naturally from there. I will update with my next appointment when we know what the fluid levels look like at that time. I gained 7 pounds in a month, and the doctor looked and me and said:"You don't look like you've gained that much. That weight is all baby and extra fluid." I definitely have been feeling the extra weight as well in my midsection. Harder to breath, heartburn is really bad, and towards the end of the day, it's just plain uncomfortable! One other thing the ultrasound technician informed me of was that this little French Baguette is finally head down! So as long as this fluid level thing cooperates, I can safely deliver vaginally! Woohoo for that! I was beginning to think she liked my ribs way too much!
The last few times that I have face timed with the intended parents, they have been excited to show me the progress they have made on the baby's room, and all of the adorable little clothes they have purchased for her! They tell me they are very anxious to come for the delivery and are so excited to hold her finally! I can't wait for that for them either! That is going to be an awesome moment and one I probably won't be able to hold the tears in for! One other thing they were celebrating was the issue of citizenship in France. Up until just a few weeks ago, this baby that I'm carrying would have been considered a US citizen since she will be born here, but would have to wait for 8 years before she would be considered for citizenship in France. While surrogacy in France is illegal, they have passed a law that for all babies born to French parents like the intended parents, they will immediately be considered a France citizen, instead of having to wait those 8 years! The intended parents were very excited for this new law! Yay for them and this little Baguette!
Thanks for reading and I will be back with an update next week after the ultrasound! :)
Sarah
Monday, June 9, 2014
Third Trimester!
Hey all,
So it has been a pretty uneventful month, which is always a good thing when talking about pregnancy. I am currently 28 weeks and 4 days! Woohoo! That is officially the start of the third trimester! I sometimes look back and think, wow where has the time gone, and then other times, getting to the third trimester seems like it has taken forever! I thought during my first trimester, with all the nausea and vomiting that I would never get here, but time passes and here I am!
I had my monthly checkup last wednesday and everything is right on track. The ultrasound technician that performed my ultrasound had so many questions as my chart says surrogate, and so she was just talking away! She stopped asking questions long enough to tell me that my placenta, which was still too close to my cervix at my last appointment, has officially moved well out of the way, and so I can deliver this baby safely vaginally. However, this little french baguette is still breech, so she will need to turn around, and meet this world head first before I am given the all clear, but my doctor and ultrasound technician seemed optimistic that this would happen. My uterus is measuring at 28 weeks, but the baby seemed to have had a little bit of a growth spurt and was measuring at 29 weeks. This little baguette has long arm and legs already, and is measuring right on track! I will continue to have ultrasounds every month until 36 weeks as well to continue monitoring growth and development. I have only gained 5 pounds so far. I am not gaining, but I am not losing either, and my OB doesn't seem concerned at all about this. She says as long as I maintain weight or gain then there is no need to worry about it. If I start to lose weight, then she will have something to say.
This last appointment was also the blood test for gestational diabetes. I had to drink 10 oz of some majorly sugar infused drink, and then 45 minutes later, have my blood drawn. Aside from the instant headache I got after finishing the drink, I felt fine. They said no news is good news for the results, and I haven't heard anything from them so that's good! Medically, everything is good! I asked the doctor about what happens if baby doesn't move head down, and if there is anything I can do, or they can do to nudge her in the right direction. If by 36 weeks, she has not moved, they can try to manually turn her. I have heard that this is pretty painful, but I would rather try it this way than have to have a c-section. So for those of you praying, pray this little baguette heads down!
The legal paperwork has begun as well. There are two lawyers here in Kansas that will be assisting with this process. One for the couple, and one for me. They will be petitioning the court for a pre-birth order that names the intended parents as biological parents of this baby. This will allow for many things including the hospital staff recognizing them as parents and as the ones who can make the medical decisions for the baby once she has arrived! I am so thankful there is an agency on board to deal with all of this!
I have another appointment at the end of this month which will be my 32 week checkup and then I will start going every two weeks and then weekly! Again, time has flown in some senses! I have been trying to prepare myself for labor again, and while I am not looking forward to it at all, I am looking forward to handing over this precious little miracle to her parents! I will update after my next appointment! Thanks for reading! :)
Sarah
So it has been a pretty uneventful month, which is always a good thing when talking about pregnancy. I am currently 28 weeks and 4 days! Woohoo! That is officially the start of the third trimester! I sometimes look back and think, wow where has the time gone, and then other times, getting to the third trimester seems like it has taken forever! I thought during my first trimester, with all the nausea and vomiting that I would never get here, but time passes and here I am!
I had my monthly checkup last wednesday and everything is right on track. The ultrasound technician that performed my ultrasound had so many questions as my chart says surrogate, and so she was just talking away! She stopped asking questions long enough to tell me that my placenta, which was still too close to my cervix at my last appointment, has officially moved well out of the way, and so I can deliver this baby safely vaginally. However, this little french baguette is still breech, so she will need to turn around, and meet this world head first before I am given the all clear, but my doctor and ultrasound technician seemed optimistic that this would happen. My uterus is measuring at 28 weeks, but the baby seemed to have had a little bit of a growth spurt and was measuring at 29 weeks. This little baguette has long arm and legs already, and is measuring right on track! I will continue to have ultrasounds every month until 36 weeks as well to continue monitoring growth and development. I have only gained 5 pounds so far. I am not gaining, but I am not losing either, and my OB doesn't seem concerned at all about this. She says as long as I maintain weight or gain then there is no need to worry about it. If I start to lose weight, then she will have something to say.
This last appointment was also the blood test for gestational diabetes. I had to drink 10 oz of some majorly sugar infused drink, and then 45 minutes later, have my blood drawn. Aside from the instant headache I got after finishing the drink, I felt fine. They said no news is good news for the results, and I haven't heard anything from them so that's good! Medically, everything is good! I asked the doctor about what happens if baby doesn't move head down, and if there is anything I can do, or they can do to nudge her in the right direction. If by 36 weeks, she has not moved, they can try to manually turn her. I have heard that this is pretty painful, but I would rather try it this way than have to have a c-section. So for those of you praying, pray this little baguette heads down!
The legal paperwork has begun as well. There are two lawyers here in Kansas that will be assisting with this process. One for the couple, and one for me. They will be petitioning the court for a pre-birth order that names the intended parents as biological parents of this baby. This will allow for many things including the hospital staff recognizing them as parents and as the ones who can make the medical decisions for the baby once she has arrived! I am so thankful there is an agency on board to deal with all of this!
I have another appointment at the end of this month which will be my 32 week checkup and then I will start going every two weeks and then weekly! Again, time has flown in some senses! I have been trying to prepare myself for labor again, and while I am not looking forward to it at all, I am looking forward to handing over this precious little miracle to her parents! I will update after my next appointment! Thanks for reading! :)
Sarah
Monday, May 12, 2014
Six months pregnant
I don't know how this happened, but suddenly I find myself six months pregnant! I've been asked a few times if this pregnancy is going quicker than my other pregnancies, and the answer to that is yes and no. I inquired with the agency that I'm using when I was six months pregnant with my daughter. I knew that surrogacy was something I wanted to do, especially since Troy and I are done having our own children. I knew there would be a lot of paperwork involved and a lot of time spent waiting for approvals and medical records to be sent, and I also took into account that for the year that I was breastfeeding my daughter, there wouldn't be any magic happening. But with all that being said, I have been preparing myself mentally and physically for the last two and a half years. So when I get asked if this pregnancy is going quickly for me, the no part is because of all the prep work involved. On the flip side, yes, this pregnancy feels like it is going quicker than my other pregnancies because I don't have the anticipation of meeting my child. There is no: "oh, I can't wait to meet my little girl/boy" or "I wonder when I get to finally meet you, little one." So, the answer to that question is yes and no.
At the 20 week ultrasound, the doctor that performed the ultrasound recommended monthly growth ultrasounds until delivery. Thankfully, these appointments aren't on top of my regular appointments but they are involved enough to where bringing the kids with me to my appointments isn't exactly ideal. At my last monthly checkup with my OB, I was laying on the table waiting for the doctor to find the heartbeat with the doppler, and Kynlee was between my legs, and Brae was up by my chest, sharing the tiny table with me. My OB said: "wow, you don't really get a moment to yourself, do you?" No, not really. But I think it is good for Brae, especially since he knows now that mommy has a baby in her tummy, that he hear the heartbeat and just have a visual. He's so excited to tell people that there's a baby in mommy's tummy and that she is just growing her until she is ready to meet the intended parents when it is time.
Today, I had my first growth ultrasound since the doctor recommended it. At 24 weeks and 4 days, the baby is measuring great! They were and will be looking for three things. The head circumference, the torso, and the length of the femur bone in her legs. As long as they are growing steadily, they will be happy. Today, she passed her test! I really think that the doctors are being overly cautious with my situation and so these growth ultrasounds are just a way of covering their butts should any problems arise, and let's all pray that doesn't happen!
At my last OB appointment last week, the doctor informed me of a few things that I wasn't exactly prepared for. One of the reasons why I think the medical staff is being overly cautious is because of the maternal age of the fetus. While there are plenty of women who get pregnant well after their mid to late thirties, and everything is fine, they are treating me like I am in my forties having my own biological child. My OB told me that because of the maternal age of the baby, the risk of stillbirth goes up. She did not give me a percentage or comparison numbers, but that after 41 weeks gestation, the risk goes up significantly. Definitely was not prepared for that news, and that certainly wasn't the easiest conversation to have with the intended parents. The doctor will be monitoring me pretty closely towards the end of the pregnancy and I'm sure that if there are any indications, or alarms, that something will be done quickly. I went to 41 weeks gestation with Kynlee. Yes, a week overdue, and every day felt like a month, not to mention the level of pain I was in that prevented me from walking without holding on to something. I sincerely hope that I don't got overdue again, but with IVF, the dates are pretty exact, so I have a good chance of delivering on time, or possibly early. We'll see how that goes! I am trying to mentally prepare myself for induction or C-section, or whatever else could possibly be different than the idea I have in my head about how my labor is going to go. I want nothing more than for the experience where the intended parents get to meet their little girl be one they will never forget and one that will allow them to fully take in their first moments as parents.
After some contact with the doctor that performed the embryo transfer in Connecticut, the intended parents feel better about their odds, and agree that the doctors here are probably being a little more cautious than normal. My younger body has to count for something, I say! I passed a medical screening for a reason, and was deemed physically fit enough to carry another child, so I'm sticking to positive thinking that everything will be alright! (Knock on wood)
The ultrasound technician checked on the location of my placenta and while it is still low, it is not considered a placenta previa (where the placenta is blocking the cervix, making vaginal delivery life threatening). She was pretty confident in saying that as the baby keeps growing, the placenta will move out of the way and allow for a smooth vaginal delivery (fingers crossed). The baby is still breech as well, but it is still early and I'm also thinking positively that she will move into the proper position when she is ready!
Just keep me in your prayers and thoughts. Physically, I feel great! Probably better than I have felt with my other pregnancies. Mentally, it is still very easy to feel disconnected to the baby, and I have to constantly remind myself that I am pregnant. It is like my brain and the rest of my body is not connected or refuses to acknowledge what the other is doing lol. Pray that these placental issues and baby being breech fixes itself with time and nature, and that I can hang on to feeling good for as long as possible!
My next appointment is the first week of June. I will have another growth ultrasound done, will have the blood test done for gestational diabetes, and my regular checkup with my OB. I will keep you updated after than appointment! Thanks for reading! :)
Sarah
At the 20 week ultrasound, the doctor that performed the ultrasound recommended monthly growth ultrasounds until delivery. Thankfully, these appointments aren't on top of my regular appointments but they are involved enough to where bringing the kids with me to my appointments isn't exactly ideal. At my last monthly checkup with my OB, I was laying on the table waiting for the doctor to find the heartbeat with the doppler, and Kynlee was between my legs, and Brae was up by my chest, sharing the tiny table with me. My OB said: "wow, you don't really get a moment to yourself, do you?" No, not really. But I think it is good for Brae, especially since he knows now that mommy has a baby in her tummy, that he hear the heartbeat and just have a visual. He's so excited to tell people that there's a baby in mommy's tummy and that she is just growing her until she is ready to meet the intended parents when it is time.
Today, I had my first growth ultrasound since the doctor recommended it. At 24 weeks and 4 days, the baby is measuring great! They were and will be looking for three things. The head circumference, the torso, and the length of the femur bone in her legs. As long as they are growing steadily, they will be happy. Today, she passed her test! I really think that the doctors are being overly cautious with my situation and so these growth ultrasounds are just a way of covering their butts should any problems arise, and let's all pray that doesn't happen!
At my last OB appointment last week, the doctor informed me of a few things that I wasn't exactly prepared for. One of the reasons why I think the medical staff is being overly cautious is because of the maternal age of the fetus. While there are plenty of women who get pregnant well after their mid to late thirties, and everything is fine, they are treating me like I am in my forties having my own biological child. My OB told me that because of the maternal age of the baby, the risk of stillbirth goes up. She did not give me a percentage or comparison numbers, but that after 41 weeks gestation, the risk goes up significantly. Definitely was not prepared for that news, and that certainly wasn't the easiest conversation to have with the intended parents. The doctor will be monitoring me pretty closely towards the end of the pregnancy and I'm sure that if there are any indications, or alarms, that something will be done quickly. I went to 41 weeks gestation with Kynlee. Yes, a week overdue, and every day felt like a month, not to mention the level of pain I was in that prevented me from walking without holding on to something. I sincerely hope that I don't got overdue again, but with IVF, the dates are pretty exact, so I have a good chance of delivering on time, or possibly early. We'll see how that goes! I am trying to mentally prepare myself for induction or C-section, or whatever else could possibly be different than the idea I have in my head about how my labor is going to go. I want nothing more than for the experience where the intended parents get to meet their little girl be one they will never forget and one that will allow them to fully take in their first moments as parents.
After some contact with the doctor that performed the embryo transfer in Connecticut, the intended parents feel better about their odds, and agree that the doctors here are probably being a little more cautious than normal. My younger body has to count for something, I say! I passed a medical screening for a reason, and was deemed physically fit enough to carry another child, so I'm sticking to positive thinking that everything will be alright! (Knock on wood)
The ultrasound technician checked on the location of my placenta and while it is still low, it is not considered a placenta previa (where the placenta is blocking the cervix, making vaginal delivery life threatening). She was pretty confident in saying that as the baby keeps growing, the placenta will move out of the way and allow for a smooth vaginal delivery (fingers crossed). The baby is still breech as well, but it is still early and I'm also thinking positively that she will move into the proper position when she is ready!
Just keep me in your prayers and thoughts. Physically, I feel great! Probably better than I have felt with my other pregnancies. Mentally, it is still very easy to feel disconnected to the baby, and I have to constantly remind myself that I am pregnant. It is like my brain and the rest of my body is not connected or refuses to acknowledge what the other is doing lol. Pray that these placental issues and baby being breech fixes itself with time and nature, and that I can hang on to feeling good for as long as possible!
My next appointment is the first week of June. I will have another growth ultrasound done, will have the blood test done for gestational diabetes, and my regular checkup with my OB. I will keep you updated after than appointment! Thanks for reading! :)
Sarah
Monday, April 21, 2014
20 Week Ultrasound results
Well, it has been about a week since the intended parents left Kansas to go back to France. It was a great visit filled with emotions, bipolar Kansas weather, and nice visits!
The intended parents flew in to Kansas City Thursday night, and the 20 week ultrasound was scheduled for the next morning at 11:00. I met them at their hotel on Thursday night and we went and had some dinner together since they had not eaten since their international flight! I took them to Chili's and they loved it! We said goodnight afterwards and made plans to meet up in the morning so they could follow me to the doctor's office. I needed to drop the kids off with a friend that was nice enough to watch them, so it worked out great!
Friday morning, the morning of the ultrasound, I did not feel the same way as I have felt with my own children on ultrasound day. As I have mentioned before, the ultrasounds were just confirmation for me on their sex, and not a surprise, but I'm still very excited to find out if I am right! This time was very weird for me. I was so excited for the couple to find out what they are going to have, but it had no impact on me whatsoever! So anyway, kids were dropped off and off we went to the appointment. We arrived right on time, and they took us back rather quickly to the appointment. I could feel the anticipation and excitement, and began to feel nervous myself. I was nervous for different reasons though. I was nervous that they would find something abnormal with the baby, or that they wouldn't find the heartbeat or that the baby's legs would be closed and that the intended parents had come all this way to find out the sex and wouldn't be able to.
The doctor came in, shook our hands, and got right down to business. I was informed of a risk with IVF patients in that we have a higher risk of preterm labor and that there is a way for them to check if you have a higher chance than normal of this happening. The way they check is with the cervix. If the cervix is short at this point in pregnancy, I would have a higher chance. If the cervix is long at this point, I have a lower chance of preterm labor. I don't know how many women can say they know what their cervix looks like, but mine is long. The doctor said I should be fine in regards to preterm labor. Yay!
The doctor went right to work, and placed the probe on my stomach and the intended parents got their first live view of their baby. The doctor was measuring the baby's head, all the organs, the heart, he showed us where all four chambers were and well developed, and then asked if we wanted to know the sex. The intended parents said: "Of course, that is why we have come all this way!" I kept looking for a penis, because I knew that if I couldn't see one, it would be a girl. I looked and looked and looked, and then all of a sudden, as we are all looking on the screen, we see the words: "Hi mom and dad, I am a girl!" Cheers, and laughter and disbelief came next! I am carrying a little baby girl for this couple, and they could not be more thrilled! They are very happy, and were glad to share the experience with me!
The doctor said that everything baby looks good! Organs, limbs, and baby girl look great! He noted that my placenta is low right now, and said that I need to have ultrasounds every month until delivery to make sure that it moves out of the way, and also to check on the overall growth of the baby. This is new to me, as I only had two ultrasounds total with each kid, so all these ultrasounds is a lot, but I will do what is asked of me!
The rest of their trip was pretty uneventful. We traveled to Topeka so they could meet my parents and sisters, and we spent the day together, enjoying a nice Lebanese meal my dad prepared, and spending time outdoors getting to know each other more. It was a long day, and my kids had a blast playing in the backyard with their cousins, and were out like lights before I could get on the highway to get home! It was a quiet drive home, and I struggled a little bit with wanting to sleep, but since I was the driver, I called my best friend and she distracted me for the rest of the ride. Sunday was a day of rest. The intended parents decided to go explore the city a little bit and ended up at Legends Outlet Mall where they did some shopping. Troy and I got a sitter for that evening, and we took them to Houston's on the plaza. If you have never been, their pork ribs are to die for! So delicious!
Monday morning, I had an appointment to tour the hospital for the intended parents and then my regular monthly checkup with my doctor. It was a busy morning for sure! I took the kids along and immediately regretted it, but my options for childcare are limited. The tour was good, and it was great for the couple to see where their baby would be delivered and where she would stay for a few days afterwards. The hospital was very accommodating and we met the director and clinical nurse coordinator of the maternity floor, who were very nice and had some questions about how this was all going to work, and let us ask them any questions we had. My OB appointment went well too. Everything was fine, and the intended parents got to hear the heartbeat for the first time as well! We came back to my house after the appointments so the kids could nap, and then we made plans to meet for dinner after I got my kids to bed, and Troy could stay home with them! It was a good last dinner, as their flight was early Tuesday morning. We said our goodbyes and we are all very excited for our next reunion, when baby will be born!
Everyone has been asking me how I am feeling. To answer, I am feeling well. I am not uncomfortable yet as I have been in past pregnancies, except for some heartburn here and there, and emotionally, I am constantly surprised at how easy it is to feel disconnected from this baby. She is moving a lot, and it is sweet to feel those movements, but I don't feel the same with her movements as I felt with my own children. I knew, going in to this, that I would be able to disconnect, I am just surprised at how easy it is. I have my moments of hormonal mood fluctuations, but I don't have the stress and worry, and anxiousness to prepare for a new baby. That part is definitely nice!
On saturday evening, as we were enjoying some family time, Brae asked me after playing with my tummy a little: "Mommy, do you have a baby in your belly?" I made eye contact with Troy and he said to go ahead and explain. I said: "Yes, Brae, Mommy has a baby in her belly."
Me: "Do you remember the intended parents (I used their names)?
Brae: "Yes, I like them."
Me: "Well, the intended mother's tummy is sick and she can't have a baby in there, and so their doctor put their baby in mommy's tummy and when the baby is all done growing, mommy is going to give the baby back to the intended parents."
Brae: "Okay."
Just like that! I have been stressing about this conversation since I found out I was pregnant. I have been worried and praying for the right words to explain to my 4 1/2 year old what I am doing. Just like that, he said: "Okay" like I was telling him we were going to get ice cream! lol He hasn't asked any more questions so far, but when he does, I feel more confident that I will be able to answer them in a way he can understand. He's a smart kid, probably smarter than I gave him credit for and I hope that when he is older, and has a better understanding, that he will be proud of what I did.
I will keep you all updated with the upcoming appointments with my OB and how the ultrasounds go. The goal is for my placenta to move out of the way so that I can stick with my plan of having a vaginal delivery, otherwise it will have to be a c-section. I would appreciate your prayers as always and will be back with the next update soon! :)
Sarah
The intended parents flew in to Kansas City Thursday night, and the 20 week ultrasound was scheduled for the next morning at 11:00. I met them at their hotel on Thursday night and we went and had some dinner together since they had not eaten since their international flight! I took them to Chili's and they loved it! We said goodnight afterwards and made plans to meet up in the morning so they could follow me to the doctor's office. I needed to drop the kids off with a friend that was nice enough to watch them, so it worked out great!
Friday morning, the morning of the ultrasound, I did not feel the same way as I have felt with my own children on ultrasound day. As I have mentioned before, the ultrasounds were just confirmation for me on their sex, and not a surprise, but I'm still very excited to find out if I am right! This time was very weird for me. I was so excited for the couple to find out what they are going to have, but it had no impact on me whatsoever! So anyway, kids were dropped off and off we went to the appointment. We arrived right on time, and they took us back rather quickly to the appointment. I could feel the anticipation and excitement, and began to feel nervous myself. I was nervous for different reasons though. I was nervous that they would find something abnormal with the baby, or that they wouldn't find the heartbeat or that the baby's legs would be closed and that the intended parents had come all this way to find out the sex and wouldn't be able to.
The doctor came in, shook our hands, and got right down to business. I was informed of a risk with IVF patients in that we have a higher risk of preterm labor and that there is a way for them to check if you have a higher chance than normal of this happening. The way they check is with the cervix. If the cervix is short at this point in pregnancy, I would have a higher chance. If the cervix is long at this point, I have a lower chance of preterm labor. I don't know how many women can say they know what their cervix looks like, but mine is long. The doctor said I should be fine in regards to preterm labor. Yay!
The doctor went right to work, and placed the probe on my stomach and the intended parents got their first live view of their baby. The doctor was measuring the baby's head, all the organs, the heart, he showed us where all four chambers were and well developed, and then asked if we wanted to know the sex. The intended parents said: "Of course, that is why we have come all this way!" I kept looking for a penis, because I knew that if I couldn't see one, it would be a girl. I looked and looked and looked, and then all of a sudden, as we are all looking on the screen, we see the words: "Hi mom and dad, I am a girl!" Cheers, and laughter and disbelief came next! I am carrying a little baby girl for this couple, and they could not be more thrilled! They are very happy, and were glad to share the experience with me!
The doctor said that everything baby looks good! Organs, limbs, and baby girl look great! He noted that my placenta is low right now, and said that I need to have ultrasounds every month until delivery to make sure that it moves out of the way, and also to check on the overall growth of the baby. This is new to me, as I only had two ultrasounds total with each kid, so all these ultrasounds is a lot, but I will do what is asked of me!
The rest of their trip was pretty uneventful. We traveled to Topeka so they could meet my parents and sisters, and we spent the day together, enjoying a nice Lebanese meal my dad prepared, and spending time outdoors getting to know each other more. It was a long day, and my kids had a blast playing in the backyard with their cousins, and were out like lights before I could get on the highway to get home! It was a quiet drive home, and I struggled a little bit with wanting to sleep, but since I was the driver, I called my best friend and she distracted me for the rest of the ride. Sunday was a day of rest. The intended parents decided to go explore the city a little bit and ended up at Legends Outlet Mall where they did some shopping. Troy and I got a sitter for that evening, and we took them to Houston's on the plaza. If you have never been, their pork ribs are to die for! So delicious!
Monday morning, I had an appointment to tour the hospital for the intended parents and then my regular monthly checkup with my doctor. It was a busy morning for sure! I took the kids along and immediately regretted it, but my options for childcare are limited. The tour was good, and it was great for the couple to see where their baby would be delivered and where she would stay for a few days afterwards. The hospital was very accommodating and we met the director and clinical nurse coordinator of the maternity floor, who were very nice and had some questions about how this was all going to work, and let us ask them any questions we had. My OB appointment went well too. Everything was fine, and the intended parents got to hear the heartbeat for the first time as well! We came back to my house after the appointments so the kids could nap, and then we made plans to meet for dinner after I got my kids to bed, and Troy could stay home with them! It was a good last dinner, as their flight was early Tuesday morning. We said our goodbyes and we are all very excited for our next reunion, when baby will be born!
Everyone has been asking me how I am feeling. To answer, I am feeling well. I am not uncomfortable yet as I have been in past pregnancies, except for some heartburn here and there, and emotionally, I am constantly surprised at how easy it is to feel disconnected from this baby. She is moving a lot, and it is sweet to feel those movements, but I don't feel the same with her movements as I felt with my own children. I knew, going in to this, that I would be able to disconnect, I am just surprised at how easy it is. I have my moments of hormonal mood fluctuations, but I don't have the stress and worry, and anxiousness to prepare for a new baby. That part is definitely nice!
On saturday evening, as we were enjoying some family time, Brae asked me after playing with my tummy a little: "Mommy, do you have a baby in your belly?" I made eye contact with Troy and he said to go ahead and explain. I said: "Yes, Brae, Mommy has a baby in her belly."
Me: "Do you remember the intended parents (I used their names)?
Brae: "Yes, I like them."
Me: "Well, the intended mother's tummy is sick and she can't have a baby in there, and so their doctor put their baby in mommy's tummy and when the baby is all done growing, mommy is going to give the baby back to the intended parents."
Brae: "Okay."
Just like that! I have been stressing about this conversation since I found out I was pregnant. I have been worried and praying for the right words to explain to my 4 1/2 year old what I am doing. Just like that, he said: "Okay" like I was telling him we were going to get ice cream! lol He hasn't asked any more questions so far, but when he does, I feel more confident that I will be able to answer them in a way he can understand. He's a smart kid, probably smarter than I gave him credit for and I hope that when he is older, and has a better understanding, that he will be proud of what I did.
I will keep you all updated with the upcoming appointments with my OB and how the ultrasounds go. The goal is for my placenta to move out of the way so that I can stick with my plan of having a vaginal delivery, otherwise it will have to be a c-section. I would appreciate your prayers as always and will be back with the next update soon! :)
Sarah
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