New OB and MFM

Yesterday was our first visit with the new OB and it was 360 degrees different from the last OB. The appointment last just over an hour- compared to the last OB appointment which lasted -oh maybe a half hour. I only waited to be taken back for about 15 minutes. Once they took me to the back a nurse sat down with me and did intake. She did all of my vitals, went over all of my medical history, discussed all of my fertility treatments, discussed the babies, and discussed the OB's office in general. It was probably about 45 minutes of intake alone. 

Then I met with the midwife who did a full body examination- including pelvic exam and breast exam. Everything went perfectly. The midwife added extra calcium and extra iron to my supplements. I won't be starting the iron supplementation until my stomach gets a little better. 

I have another appointment in two weeks and until my stomach gets under control and I start to gain weight instead of lose weight they will follow my every two weeks. I also have a early glucose tolerance test scheduled for four weeks from now- about 15 weeks pregnant. The reason for the early testing is my PCOS and the fact that PCOS can affect the way your body metabolizes glucose. 

It was a wonderful appointment and I am so glad I went with my gut and switched to a different practice. They deliver at the hospital I work for and they are thorough and caring. It makes me feel so much safer for both the babies and I. 

After my OB appointment I went to Maternal Fetal Medicine and met with the high risk doctor and had an amazing ultra sound. MFM was PACKED. We waited almost an hour prior to being seen, but its not like they rushed us when we were in the back for our appointment. They took so much time and pointed out so many things- even that Baby B had a full belly which shows that the baby is swallowing and eating just fine. We got to see the babies arms and legs and even ears. 

First my first baby- Swishy was hanging out with me before my appointments. Swishy is also way over the snow and cold and refused to come out from under the covers :) 

Now for some ultra sound photos. As always if you aren't in the right place right now there is nothing wrong with looking away. Feel better- enjoy a cup of tea, or wine if that's an option, put your feet up, read a good book, and enjoy some sunshine (if you aren't in the Northeast). Sending you love no matter what <3

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Baby A 10w6d-- girl??

Baby A is hanging out on the right side. I personally think Baby A is a girl. She was super cooperative and her heart rate was 184. She's growing just perfectly and was moving her arms and legs around. 
 

Baby B 10w6d --Boy??

Baby B is on my left and a lot less cooperative. Baby B was doing somersaults and stretching out all over the place. Baby B's heart rate was 154 and growing just perfectly as well. I feel like Baby B is a boy. 

It was so amazing to see them look like little humans. To see how much they grew in just a few weeks and to see them moving all over the place. We don't go back to MFM until the end of May. I have opted out of sequential screening. They are both looking perfect and it does not matter to my husband or I what a sequential screening shows. 

Our reasoning for this is worth sharing. One of our very best friends has a 19 year old, 100% healthy son. He sings and acts and runs and when we have barbeque's he eats more than anyone else at the table. There is nothing wrong with him, but at our friends sequential screening she was told that his heart had not developed properly and she should abort him. Our friends is a women of faith and she prayed and prayed and never felt peace about aborting her baby. So she didn't and 9 months later she delivered her son. They whisked him away to a children's specialty hospital after he was born -alive-- because they thought there was something terribly wrong with his heart. Only there was nothing wrong with his heart. He was healthy. A miracle. Our friend still has the doctors reports saying that her baby should have never been born alive- let alone a healthy 19 year old young man. To me it doesn't matter what the screening shows because I believe in miracles.

At our end of May appointment we will be able to find out the genders. My husband and I have decided to do elective ultra sounds at a place near us. One at around 14 weeks where they guess the genders and then another one at 17/18 weeks where they guarantee the genders. There is a small viewing area and we will be inviting our parents to the 17/18 week ultra sound to be there with us when we find out. 

So far we are all doing great and we keep praying that they keep growing perfectly. I am so happy with my medical team right now and I feel like the babies and I are in perfectly capable hands.

Happy ICLW~ IUI 5- Proceeding w/ Caution

Happy ICLW thanks for stopping by!! If you haven't followed along so far here is a quick update for our Journey So Far.

If you aren't familiar with ICLW its a wonderful group of women who have become some of my best friends and biggest supporters- you can read more about ICLW here. If you are looking for a group to help pick you up and cheer you on they got your back :) 

So far IUI #5 has gone like this- 

-First no follicles wanted to grow. 

--Then no follies grew again. 

---Then one follie showed some initiative and grew enough to keep the cycle moving forward and left a little hope. 

Which brings us to today- first off my lining is T/L 12mm which is prime baby making goodness. Three cheers for uterine lining! 

My Right Ovary- which was 11mm and (2) 9mm follies- today they are 16mm and (2) 13mm -my cyst seems almost resolved. He didn't even measure it. 

My Left Ovary-which was 9mm and 8mm follies- today they are (2) 13mm 

So we went from little to no hope to possibly having to cancel the cycle because if they all continue to grow we would be talking about the possibility of 5 mature follicles. 

Dr O says he doesn't want me to trigger yet and I need to come back again in Monday for yet again another ultrasound and more blood work. Im also continue 225 IU Menopur and Dex .25 daily. 


**edited my APN just called and told me my estrogen is still low and they do want me to up my Menopur to 300 IU daily till Monday. Which officially scares me, but she says its going to be just fine. 


There are a few scenarios here- 

Scenario 1- I surge on my own and ovulate prior to Monday's appt. IUI would be canceled and DH and I should proceed with caution on TI b/c lord only knows how many follicles I could release. I have a friend who had twins with a 14mm follie. 

Scenario 2- I don't surge on my own. I return Monday and the perfect/ideal number of follicles continue to mature. 3 at most continue growing and then I trigger and have my IUI Wednesday. 

Scenario 3- Anything over 3 matures and the IUI is cancelled fearing high order multiples. 

So now I go from praying "grow grow grow" to asking for God to only let a few grow and stop some of the others. I feel like I am being picky here, but quintuplets is not something I am ready for, however I am ready for a baby or two. 

God has a plan here. Praying it all turns out exactly how its suppose to. 

Happy ICLW my friends and thanks for all your well wishes, happy thoughts, and prayers. IUI 5 is still moving forward- however with caution. 

Hope, Faith, and Love

Not too much going on in our world today. The next two weeks are going to feel like forever.

　

I talked to my Mom today and told her about yesterday's IUI. I’m very close with her and she is aware of our struggles. There are times I wish I didn't share everything with her- but honestly its nice to have my Mom to talk to. I told her about the fact that if this IUI works there is a very real chance of multiples. Its the first time I said those words out loud to anyone really.

The thought makes me hopeful - since I have always wanted a big family. My emotions range from excited and emotional about the thought --

But it also makes me worry- how would we afford that, our house is too small, what if there are complications.. so on a so forth..

My online blogging friend Heather and I have been talking a lot today about our two week waits- which coincide exactly. She sent me this bible verse this afternoon- she is also looking at a very real possibility of multiples this go around. Like me she says she just senses it could be the cycle and she feels multiples.

It’s a weird feeling- like its meant to be… I will be happy with whatever we are blessed with equally… just a hunch if you will..

　

(For the record I am not super-duper religious however I believe strongly in the power of prayer and that God is always listening. To further this record I often pray to my Grandma G and not to God because I believe he has a lot going on and she is my true angel)

　

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

　

Along those lines we also discussed how no matter what happens this cycle- blessed with pregnancy- or multiples- or another BFN- the Lord will help guide us and move us forward in the right direction. We will find a way -no matter what happens- to move forward. To continue to love one another and the life we share.. When the time is right our paths will be shown to us and only then will be truly understand the struggles we have faced so far..

I continue to feel extremely hopeful- almost giddy- about this cycle. I know there isn’t a "baby" or "babies" in there yet - but I've been talking to my belly today.. telling the little cells to multiply and implant and grow.

My heart is full of love and I want nothing more than to share it<3

Like the trusted and true Bible verse reads- Hope, Faith, and Love- but the greatest of these is LOVE.