Navigating pregnancy in a fertile world

Going through the experience of trying for this pregnancy and waiting four years plus for it to happen has changed me. It's changed us. Not only did we have to wait that long, but we had to live through the ups and downs of trying everything from IUIs to TCM to IVF and spending thousands and thousands of dollars just to get here. Nobody can know what that is like until you've gone through it. I know many of you out there are in the same place and totally get it.

I understand that pregnancy is different for every women how ever they got there, but there's something about the fertile world making assumptions about how you got there and how you are going to feel about it that irritates me at times. Most of the time I and LOVING being pregnant. Every time I feel the Keiki move or kick it brings joy to my heart and a smile to my face, but when people make comments like, "wow you timed it perfectly" or "your husband must be so excited it's a boy" (like I wouldn't be..)  I feel a pang. Maybe it's the hormones..maybe it's left over bitterness from dealing with IF. Who knows... I try to be present and let it go, but sometimes I just want to wave a big sign that says "I don't fit into your fertile box!!"

OK enough ranting let's do some stats!

Status: 22w4d

Weight Gain: Not sure. Got on the scale yesterday, which said I lost a couple pounds, but can't be possible the way I've been eating. hehe

Symptoms: Heart burn has has come and gone, not too bad definitely trying to rule out what triggers it.  

Cravings: still nada

Aversions: Still certain smells

Exercise: Yoga today other than that...not so good. Gotta get my bootie out to walk! 

Best Moment of the Week: Starting to purge and clear out Keiki's room! 

 

What I Look Forward to: Starting to really put together a plan for decorating. Yay!

Here's the latest belly pic taken this morning. I swear my belly took a leap over the last two days. Have a great week everyone! 

It's a.....

Note: Just wanted to state that in my first blog I had mentioned having sensitive feelings about people out there who get pregnancy naturally. I wanted to clarify that this statement was referring to people whom have NEVER struggled with TTC. Anyone who has had to struggle with fertility absolutely deserves to have it happen naturally. As does anyone, but honestly I am much more thrilled for someone who's been through the ringer and are blessed with conceiving naturally. I hope that makes sense. 

The weeks are flying by! I can't believe we're over half way there. We had the anatomy scan a week ago and found out...much to our surprise....we're having a boy!!! Apparently my instincts were WRONG! It's taken all week to adjust, but we're thrilled all the same. It's funny how people assume that men want a boy and women want a girl. I've had numerous people ask me if Mr. Bags was so excited to be having a boy and is he happy to have someone to carry on his name. Honestly, those things didn't even cross our minds. We are happy either way to just be in this place and are excited to plan for our son. Eeek! So weird to type that!

The anatomy scan went really well and all looks great I'll post a pic below. We sat there with our mouths hanging open at all the things you could see in the scan. We had an OB doing it so he was able tell us everything he was seeing and was able to give us the results right there. We feel so very fortunate that all of  is going well. Now for the stats...

Status: 21w5d

Weight Gain: As of my last OB appt. I've gained 17 pounds. It seems to be right on target as I gained 4 pounds since my last appt. which was 4 weeks ago. 

Symptoms: Indigestion!! This started last week and I've had to be more careful about what I eat and how much. My appetite has slowed down and I've noticed that I'm getting fuller sooner. Tums help and sometimes I need to sleep sitting up. Other than that, feeling good! 

Cravings: nothing major

Aversions: Still certain smells

Exercise: uhhh have fallen off the wagon since coming back to work, but did prenatal yoga yesterday and planning on a walk today. Plus it's COLD out! No excuse, I know. :) 

Best Moment of the Week: Finding out the gender and seeing his little face during the anatomy scan. He continues to move quite a bit throughout the day which is a thrill all it's own. 

What I Look Forward to: Diving into getting the house ready. We have  A LOT of crap to get rid of LOL! Purging feels so good! 

Here's a pic of Keiki's little face! 

P.S. wanted to give a shout out to Tippy! Thanks for letting me steal your stats list! :)

Latest stats

As I had mentioned before we think Keiki is a girl. I've had a strong sense as well as several dreams that tell me it's a girl. My MIL also says she has known we are going to have a girl for a year now. Another indicator is that whenever I talk about Keiki I always refer to her as a "she". We'll know for sure on Monday. Of course we will be happy with whatever the gender will be. We just want a happy, healthy baby when we meet him/her.  OK here's the latest stats and a belly photo. 
Status: 20w1d

Weight Gain: As of my last OB appt. I've gained 13 pounds. I think I may have started a bit under weight, so it's a good amount.

Symptoms: My breasts have grown two cup sizes much to Mr. Bag's delight! LOL Still have quite the appetite, but it's calmed down slightly since the beginning. Having more allergies at night which is affecting my sleep. I haven't had few solid night's sleep without waking up 2-3 times a night since about week 8. Peeing a lot more which also affects the sleep cycle. 

Cravings: Nothing obvious yet. But I did crave meat in the beginning and whenever I saw popcorn I had to have it. Right now I don't crave anything in particular. (except for Golden Grahams this morning which I NEVER eat. :) )

Aversions: Funky smells. Need to get away from them immediately!

Exercise: Fri- 30 min laps in the pool Sat.-2 mile walk Sun- 6 mile bike ride, Tues.- 30 min. prenatal yoga & 30 min walk, Wed-3 mile bike ride.  

Best Moment of the Week: Feeling the Keiki kick!!! Mr. Bags was able to feel it too. She's been kicking throughout the day especially in the mornings ever since 

What I Look Forward to: The anatomy scan on Monday. Can't wait to see the Keiki again, hear the heartbeat and find out the gender! 

Here's a belly pic taken Christmas Eve: 

Here's to 2012

Where do I begin? Except to say welcome to my new blog! It's been since October that I blogged about anything. Work started to become hectic and between that and managing my changing body I just got out of the habit. I also wanted to really take the time to start this off right.

First of all, thank you for following me over here. I mainly just wanted to start a new blog to mark the start of this new chapter in our lives and IF journey. Even though we are where we want to be and waiting for our baby to come, I am still of the infertile mindset. When someone announces a pregnancy with the ease of it happening naturally, it still stings. I'm trying to work through that and focus on our little bean growing...rapidly I might add! I can't believe I'm almost 20 weeks!!! We have decided to name her (I write "her" loosely as we don't know for sure yet..more on that in the next post) Keiki (pronounced kay-kee), while in utero. This is the Hawaiian word for "little one".

The journey from the transfer until now has been amazing! Every step of the way and each week that goes by gives us more and more confidence that this is for real. We didn't breath easily until after the NT scan and the 12th week mark. Since then it has been so fun to watch my belly grow and start to feel movement! We've been able to hear the heartbeat several times and my cousin even let me borrow a monitor. It's best when used in the third trimester so we haven't been able to get much out of it yet.

In reflecting on 2011 there was quite a mix of highs and lows to be sure. A hopeful start then a devastating spring with a fun trip to Hawaii in the middle of it. The end of the school year came followed by a great trip to New Jersey and NYC to hang with my bloggie besties M & K. Then a very mixed end to the summer with the passing of my dad and the egg retrieval and transfer of the Keiki! The rest of the year has been pretty great with little to complain about. We got to close out the year in beautiful Tahoe with M and her husband T and my mom. We had a great time relaxing, getting outdoors and ringing in the New Year with a yummy dinner, Ping Pong and Champagne (sparkling cider for me of course: )).

We are looking forward to saying goodbye to 2011 and welcoming all that 2012 has to bring. I hope you can all do the same and whatever your heart desires comes to you with little resistance. Cheers to 2012!