So, there have been a lot
of "news" for me this pregnancy.
I don't mean news like "things
to report" I mean news like the new items and feelings and expectations,
etc. I think about 90% of the "news" simply comes from being a surrogate
while 10% of the news comes from being pregnant over 30, with a girl, with 3
boys at home.
I must
admit it has been funny to start receiving diaper and bottle and nursing top
advertisements and all I can think is "nope, not going to need those".
It's a
whole new world to realize you are pregnant but you aren't mentally or
physically preparing yourself for after the hospital. My only immediate plan
will be to sleep and to heal and love on my boys as much as possible!
So,
the last few weeks haven't been much different. Still feeling slightly queasy
but thank the Lord not the debilitating nausea I had for about 3 weeks. I'm
pretty certain the increased nausea was due to the extra hormones I was taking
because of the special circumstances of IVF and surrogacy in general. I'm now 11
and a half weeks and each day gets a little better.
A few
weeks ago, I was weaned off the hormone supplements but my numbers didn't hold
as high as they would have preferred. It wasn't dangerously low but with all
these procedures the doctors always err on the side of safety so I went back on
one of the supplements until this week. Once the placenta develops it will take
over all hormone production. I am going in Friday to check my numbers just to
be certain they are holding for baby's safety.
Around
8 weeks I dug my proverbial heels into the ground and refused to go buy
pregnancy shorts. I was only 8 weeks, there is no way I needed maternity
clothing yet. But alas, with this being my 5th pregnancy my body was like
"oh I know exactly what to do and how to stretch, let's get ready"
and I broke down at 9 weeks and have enjoyed the elastic waist ever since 😉
July
will mark the end of the first trimester and it can't come soon enough! This
has by far been my hardest first trimester and that includes crossing the Atlantic
with air sickness with each one of my boys in my first trimester. Again,
certain things like being over 30 vs 23 when I first did this and extra
hormones have added to that. I've never loathed Summer as much as I have the
last few weeks. The other night I had what I can only describe as the very
opposite of a nightmare, it was euphoric! I was wearing a sweater and a scarf
and I was calling out to my husband "It's COLD, it's ACTUALLY COLD!"
Alas I shall endure and I keep reminding myself how glad I am that when I feel
as big as a whale at the end of the pregnancy it will be dead of winter!
Woohoo! And, of course, when I say "winter" in Southern California it
will probably be 60 degrees.
I
had a little snag a few days ago that left me in hormonal tears for a few days.
After we returned from South Africa I never had the need for a gynecologist. My
GP could fulfill whatever I needed. So, for surrogacy I had to start from
complete scratch finding an OB/GYN to deliver this baby! Well I did my research
and asked some moms I knew and decided to go with a doctor in one of the
largest hospitals in Orange County. 2 weeks a before I was to be released from
my fertility doctor I called the OB's office and confirmed they took my
insurance and was informed the doctor would need to look over my paperwork
before he could accept me as a new patient. I got my paperwork from UCLA,
dropped it off in person and waited a few days. I got the call that the doctor
could take me on and I made the soonest appointment available to meet with one
of his nurse practitioners for my initial consultation. Fast forward a few
weeks and I spent almost 2 hours at my first appointment creating a file for
me, going over all my history and what I knew of Chad and Stephanie's history
(since the baby is fully genetically theirs) and getting an ultrasound. Little
embie looked great with 4 little stubs still growing (arms and legs). I decided
she looked like a teddy bear. The nurse tried for 10 min to get a profile shot
but the little girl just wanted to stare straight on at the camera.
Fast
forward a few more days and I get a call from someone at the hospital informing
me that not only my doctor but the hospital itself doesn't take my insurance. I
was shocked. I told her I double checked AND I waited for over an hour to be
seen after giving them my insurance card and no one thought to look it up?
There was nothing I could say eventually. I have an EPO and they only take
PPOs. And of course, this all happened on a Friday so I felt pressured to find
another doctor quick before the weekend even though I didn't need a check-up
for another month.
Luckily,
after a nap and my emotions settled down I decided not to make any decisions
and just wait for the weekend and research and pray and take my time finding
another doctor. By Monday I had found another hospital as well as an AMAZING OB
that had stopped delivering babies a few years ago but recently joined the
hospital and was taking patients again. My first appointment won't be until Aug
2 but I'm hoping it all goes well. You never know what God's plans are but none
of this was a surprise to Him and we'll never know what or why He chose to have
it happen this way but I can trust that His ways are prefect!
So that's it for me.
Wasn't a super exciting update but wanted to fill everyone in on the last few
weeks. If you think of it, please pray for me and my family as we are heading
to Northern California for a quick trip this weekend and then bringing family
back down with us for a few days and I would love to not have any nausea while
they are here!
