30 Weeks Down

10-ish weeks to go! This past Sunday marked 30 weeks into the pregnancy. And in case anyone noticed on my last post, yes, I was wrong when I said I was at 28 weeks three weeks ago - apparently I got a week ahead of myself, I was really only at 27 weeks, oops! I got a little too excited for the little munchkin to arrive that I was looking forward to that 3rd trimester marker a bit early. :) But anyhow, we are now officially at 30 weeks and 2 days. Current 30 week baby bump looks like this:

From babycenter.com: "Baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in the uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face." 

I have to say it feels pretty strange to have a "head of cabbage" growing in your belly, but strange in a completely awesome way. :)  I first saw this youtube video on conception to birth a few months ago and thought it was one of the most incredible things I had ever seen. The ability for a woman to become pregnant is one of life's biggest miracles. I will always be grateful for this ability and even more so for the chance to help a couple get to experience the joy of raising a child of their own. So awesome.  

Though being pregnant isn't always hearts and flowers. These next 10 weeks of the pregnancy will most likely be the hardest for me (if this pregnancy is anything like my first two)... I'll grow even larger and then think "well, surely I can't get any bigger" and then bam! I've gained another 2lbs somehow and my belly sticks out even further! All that growth is exhausting and very uncomfortable at times. Currently, sitting at work is the hardest for me. I come home with a sore breast bone almost every day from the compaction of my uterus and the surrounding muscles in my chest. So I can't say that being pregnant is without pain, because I'd be lying. But the joy I have from being pregnant greatly outweighs the pain. And especially in this case, knowing that this little guy's parents have been waiting YEARS for his arrival makes me so thrilled to be doing this for them. Words cannot explain it.

Ok, enough of the mushy stuff. Here's an update from my last doctor's appointment...

I'm seeing the doc every two weeks now, so I've had two appointments since my last post. The first was a regular appt with a new doctor that I had not met yet, since my OB was unavailable. The doctor was nice and the appt went well, baby was VERY active and it took the doc a minute to get him to hold still long enough for the machine to read his heartbeats/minute. Active baby = healthy baby, so all his little movements are OK with me. I also had the pleasure of taking the glucose test at this doctor's appt... the drink is still orange, btw, and doesn't taste like root beer. Darn! But at least it was cold. 

Second appt was last Thursday, and the intended mother (IM) wanted to come to this appointment. However, she got stuck in some bad traffic and was late and missed it. We decided to go get some dinner together though and I filled her in on all the details of my quick 5 minute doctor's appointment. Doctor: "Hello." Me: "Hi." Doctor: "Everything good?" Me: "Yes." Doctor: "Ok, see you in two weeks." Ok, ok, so the appointments aren't exactly that short, but you get the idea... if you blink (or get stuck in rush hour traffic) you may miss it. Everything still looks great with me and with the munchkin. He was active, AGAIN, when the doc tried to listen to his heartbeat. But it was nice and strong 154 beats/minute. My glucose test results came back normal too, and my blood counts were all good, including my iron level, which is another good thing since it has been low in the past. My weight gain is up to 26lbs so far... 3lbs of which I gained in the last two weeks (see "grow larger" above). :)

Dinner with the IM was wonderful! It's nice to catch up in person and share stories and get to know her better. As to be expected, she is nervous for the little munchkin's arrival. But I keep reassuring her that no matter how many books you read or stories you here, you will never be "ready" for the baby's arrival. Part of being a good parent is knowing to follow those "motherly instincts" that everyone talks about. You don't realize you even have them until you hold your child in your arms and suddenly your world has changed - for the better. :) And even when your instincts can't always help you out, a few bumps to the baby's head won't do too much damage if little munchkin's mom drops him.... KIDDING! Though one or both of my own kids may or may not have accidentally fallen off a bed once or twice in their lives and seem to no worse off. (Just keeping it real.) 

Up next: Another OB visit on December 21st and the ultrasound I've been waiting for to check the current position of placenta is also scheduled for the same day. The intended parent's will both be coming to the appointments and are looking forward to another sneak peek at their munchkin. 

~The Baby Fairy

Third Trimester is Here

Yesterday marked DAY ONE of the third trimester and 28 weeks into the pregnancy. And if you notice the countdown ticker on the side of this blog says just "90" days to go! We are in the double digits! Yay! Here's the latest belly shot taken yesterday: 

My last appointment was 3 weeks ago and all is well with me and with baby. My regular doctor could not make it to the appointment, so I saw a different doctor. He made sure to thoroughly check my file which made me feel good. He noted that at the last ultrasound my placenta was still a little on the low side. He recommended having another follow up ultrasound around 32 weeks to check it out again. A low lying placenta can cause bleeding (though I have not experienced any, thank goodness) and it can also become dangerous for the labor/delivery if it detaches too early. Hopefully mine decides to mosey it's way up to a more suitable position, otherwise a c-section may be in my future (insert sad face here). But I will keep you posted as we go. My blood pressure looked good, and the baby's heartbeat sounded nice and strong. At this appointment I had gained 7lbs since my last appointment 4 weeks earlier (bringing me up to around 18lbs gained so far with this pregnancy). Doc said this should be OK, as long as I only gain about 2lbs/month for the remainder of the pregnancy. (Yea, we'll see about that one, doc!) I gained somewhere around 50lbs each with my last two pregnancies. What can I say? My oven grows big babies... and I like food, A LOT. :)  
 

Speaking of growing, here are some fun recent happenings as the belly grows larger: 

1. I officially have an "outtie" belly button now. 
2. Grocery bags get set on the counter and not on the floor anymore - bending over takes too much work! 
3. I try to not pick up my 2 year old as much as possible anymore, which is VERY hard to do, because I want to snuggle on him every chance I get. But at 30lbs, I think he is just too much for me and the belly. :(
4. Leggings have become my new best friend. 
and 5. I am a habitual side-sleeper-tosser. I toss from the left to the right at least half a dozen times during the night. A comfortable sleeping position is getting harder and harder to find.

It's hard to believe I am in the third trimester already! This journey has flown by and I know the next 3 months will feel no different, so I am trying to enjoy every moment. I am so blessed to be able to offer this gift to such a wonderful couple. I can't wait for this little guy's arrival in February! He is not even here yet and his parents have already demonstrated just how much love they have to give him by persevering through a 6+ year journey of heartache to get to where they are now... anxiously awaiting the arrival of their son! The parents will be heading out my way in December to take a tour of the hospital... another big "THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING" moment. I cannot wait!    

Up next: Another OB appointment - a week from today, November 26th. This one will sadly not be with my regular OB again, as she was busy that week. So I will see a completely new doctor. Sometimes I wish I could see the same doc at each appointment, but then I remember that I am part of a large medical group where the OB delivering the baby could be any of the 11 OBs on staff, so meeting a few new ones isn't such a bad idea after all. At the next appointment I will also have a glucose test and get to drink the oh-so-yummy orange colored liquid. Wait, maybe it's not orange anymore?! And they somehow managed to make it taste like root beer?! Hey, a girl can dream, right? :) 
 
~The Baby Fairy             

Half Way

We've crossed the half way mark (currently at 23 weeks!) and the little munchkin is just 4 months away from meeting his parents! So excited!

Here's a 23 week baby bump shot:

 

This past month was fairly uneventful - which I suppose is a good thing as far as pregnancy is concerned. We had an appointment with my OB on Oct 3rd, and the intended parents (IPs) made the trip out from LA for it. It was great to see them again and for them to meet my doctor. My doctor is very excited about the surrogacy as well, she is young, which I think helps with being open minded to the whole idea. She was thrilled to meet the couple. The baby boy looked great on the ultrasound and his heart beat sounded strong. The IPs and I went out to eat afterwards and it was fun to listen to the parents-to-be discuss how much their life is about to change and how much they still need to prepare for baby. IM seems a little nervous about the baby, so I tried to reassure her that it will all be fine, and that her "mother's intuition" will kick in and she won't even realize it. The IPs are always so kind and grateful for the gift I am giving them. It makes me feel so blessed to have been matched with such a loving and deserving couple. I will always be thankful for that, as I know from my support group meetings that sometimes the matches don't always go well.

I got to meet up with my wonderful IPs again the following week for a follow-up appointment at the fetal monitoring clinic in LA where I had the amniocentesis done. Again, everything looked great, baby is growing on track and his heart looks good as well. Apparently babies conceived via IVF have a higher increase risk of a heart defect, but the doctor spent a lot of time focusing on the heart during the ultrasound and did not see anything abnormal. Sometimes a fetal echo cardiogram is ordered if there is something that doesn't look quite right on the scan. 

Here's a 3D look at baby from 21 weeks, 5 days:

   
Another happy occurrence from the past month - my energy has come back! Or at least as much of it that can while still having two little ones to take after and a full time job to go to. My iron level was a tad low on one of my blood work checks, so I've been trying to eat more iron and I think that helps with my fatigue as well. Green (spinach) smoothies for breakfast! They really aren't as bad as they sound, I promise. ;) 

Up next: Another OB appt on November 2nd!

~The Baby Fairy  

Sharing The News Part Two

I started sharing my news of the surrogacy with more people at work this past week. It felt good to tell people about my journey and hear them express their surprise and encouragement for me. I am also going to share the news to "the world" facebook later today. I'm not really sure what to expect when I tell people, but I would just hope for them to be supportive and encouraging. Some people have asked to hear why and how I decided to become a surrogate and I have had to tell my story many times already and I am sure I will tell it many more times as the pregnancy continues. But that is OK, I enjoy telling it. I am excited and happy to be a surrogate and thrilled to be giving such an amazing gift to a special and deserving couple. 

Speaking of this amazing gift... the baby is doing great! We received the amniocentesis results last week and everything is perfectly normal. Baby is healthy and the intended parents have finally exhaled after holding their breaths for a few months now. I am currently 19 weeks pregnant, and still feeling great! I filled three big bottles of water to bring with me to work this morning and got a woah-that's-a-lot-of-water look from my husband this morning. I am trying to drink up as much water as I can, because I have been getting headaches here and there a few times a week lately and I am hoping it's just a lack of drinking enough water. I've also been bringing lots of food to snack on throughout the day at work as well. I am asleep by 9pm most nights, because I notice that I get really grumpy sleepy the next day if I haven't gotten my full eight hours the night before. Other than that, I feel like my usual self - though slightly larger in the tummy section. :) Excited for my next OB appointment, because the couple will be coming out from LA to meet the doctor as well. Can't wait to see them again! 

Up next: OB appointment on October 3rd 

~The Baby Fairy      

First OB Appt and Amnio

My first appointment with my new OB went really well. Both the doctor and nurse were very surprised that this was a surrogate pregnancy (guess they don't see many of those). They were intrigued and wanted to know more about how I came to this decision. Baby's heart beat sounded great 140-150 beats/minutes, and my blood pressure was good as well. That's about all they check at the OB appointments. :) I also had the 2nd trimester blood taken for the screening test after my OB appt.  And my doctor's office called today to ask me to come in for additional lab work - yay! More needle pokes! Just routine complete blood count and urinalysis. So I will need to get that done in the next week or so as well. 

Last time I wrote, I said that we were waiting on word about the Mother 21 test, but it turns out the couple decided to go ahead with the invasive procedure, to make 100% sure that the baby does not have any genetic disorders that can be detected this early on. So last Thursday, at the fetal monitoring clinic in LA I had an amniocentesis done. The intended father (IF) was there, but intended mother (IM) was home sick and couldn't make it. It was nice to see IF and we both got to check out the baby via ultrasound again on the fancy machine, which was even better! Baby looks great - triple the weight from the ultrasound just a few weeks back, now around 6 ounces. The actual procedure wasn't too bad, despite having a giant needle shoved in your belly. I was given a shot to numb the area first, and then the larger needle was inserted and the doctor drew three vials of amniotic fluid from my uterus. The whole time the baby was being watched via ultrasound, to make sure that the needle was no where near him. It was crazy to be able to see all of that! Afterwards, it was sore near the injection sight for a few hours, and I felt some slight cramping - all of which was completely normal though. I was told to take it easy for the rest of the day, and no heavy lifting for up to one week. (This hopefully lesson's any risk of a miscarriage from the procedure.) The results will take another week or so to get back. But I am still crossing my fingers that everything looks great, and we are OK to move forward. 

I am 17 weeks now and my baby bump has definitely made it's appearance. I even had my first "are you pregnant?" question yesterday, though I've received a lot of weird glances of people that I'm sure want to ask, but are too afraid of being wrong to do so. Haha! I am both excited and nervous to tell people that I am a surrogate. I will be excited to finally share the news with all of my friends, and nervous to tell coworkers and various people that I do not know very well. But I am strong, and I know why I am doing this, so I think for the most part I will have good experiences when I share the news.

At 17 weeks pregnant I am feeling great, though I do wake up in the middle of each night to use the restroom, which isn't always fun come morning time. All part of being pregnant though. And I really do love being pregnant, so I don't have any complaints. Another new update, I felt the first little teeny tiny movements from the baby this past weekend! It was very exciting, I love being able to feel the baby move - though not so much in the later months of the pregnancy when the baby has no room and the kicks can get pretty rough! I've also been having very vivid dreams that I remember easily, probably from all the waking up I do at night to pee! In one dream, the baby was moving and kicking so hard that we could see his feet and hands protruding through my belly... like this viral image from the internet: 

 {image source}

I have no idea if this image is real or not, but it sure seems crazy to me! And my dream was definitely an odd one for sure. Lots more of those to come as the weeks tick by, I am sure. :) 

Can't believe we are nearing the half way mark, time has flown by so fast. The couple is making plans to come out this way to my next OB appointment to meet the doctor, I'm excited for them to come to "my neck of the woods" and maybe even get to meet my kids. Exciting stuff happening!!!  

Up next: awaiting the results from the amnio, all my fingers and toes are crossed!! And then another OB appt on October 3rd.

~The Baby Fairy  

First Trimester Screening & Ultrasound

Well, I was supposed to see my OB on August 9th, but that OB was put on leave and my appointment had to be rescheduled. I was able to go to my other appointment on August 10th though for what I thought would be a CVS test. The appointment was at a fetal monitoring clinic that sees patients who may be a higher risk during their pregnancy and because of the intended mother's age and the fact that this is her egg, the fetus could be a higher risk of some genetic disorders. The doctor's office I visited provided us with an in-depth ultrasound and a meeting with the intended parents (IPs) and a genetic counselor to determine what screening tests and/or diagnostic tests the couple would be deciding to proceed with. Prior to this, we had agreed on the CVS test, however, after speaking with the genetic counselor the couple decided that the risk of miscarriage from the CVS test was too high and that they would feel more comfortable starting with the regular blood draw screening test first. 

I had blood taken for the state screening test, which will compare the blood results with the ultrasound and a second set of blood test results from the 2nd trimester. If any of the results appear abnormal, then the IPs will decide if they want to proceed with an invasive diagnostic test, like the CVS. But at that point it would have to be an amniocentesis. The CVS test can only be done up to 13 weeks, 6 days and I am already 13 weeks, 3 days at this point. An amniocentesis can be done between 16-22 weeks. 

The genetic counselor also suggested a new test that just came out this year, called the Mother 21. This test, unlike the state screening test that only detects 70-80% of babies with down syndrome (and a couple other rare genetic disorders), the Mother 21 is 99% accurate in detecting those disorders. And it's just one blood test. So my IPs also wanted this test, but the nurse said the lab wouldn't accept the lab slip without my insurance card attached, despite the fact that my IPs wanted to pay cash for the test. We opted to not have the test run that day, and not give up my insurance card, so not to raise any red flags to my insurance company - especially since I have not seen my OB yet. I have checked with CSP (Center for Surrogate Parenting, the agency I used for this surrogacy) and am waiting to hear back, but they said I was right to not offer the insurance card. Hopefully the agency can work something out with the lab that runs the Mother 21 test, and it can be processed as a cash payment and not through my insurance. This new test can be done up to 20 weeks, so there is not as big of a rush to get this figured out yet. 

Also at the appointment last week, the intended mother (IM) had blood drawn to see if she was a carrier of the following disorders: Cystic Fibrosis, Fragile X, and tay-sachs. If she is a carrier of any of those, then they will take blood from IF to see if he is also a carrier, if so, then they will test baby (via amniocentesis) - if IM is not a carrier, or she is, but IF isn't, then it is fine and no further testing is necessary. Those results will be ready in about a week or so.  

We also had a 3D/4D ultrasound as well. It went GREAT! Baby looks terrific, measuring a day ahead for size! Weighing a whopping 2 ounces and is 2 and 1/2 inches in length. :)  The fluid behind the baby's neck was also checked, because if there is too much fluid that can be a red flag of down syndrome. But the fluid looked great, just as it was supposed to. Yay! Also, the doctor surprised us all by asking the IPs if they wanted to know the gender....

IT'S A BOY!

Here are some of the ultrasound photos. I didn't get any of THE "boy" shot, but I definitely saw it! Haha! These first two are the 3D images...

And then the regular 2D views...

The intended father (IF) was ecstatic! I had no idea he was secretly hoping for a boy. The doctor said at this point, it was fairly likely that the baby was indeed a boy. I guess if they are wrong in identifying the gender at 12 weeks, it's usually the other way around - told a girl, but really a boy. So it was really nice to see the parents so happy with the news. 

After the appointment, all three of us went out to dinner to celebrate the great news. I am so thrilled for them. I know we still have the blood tests results to wait for, but I am hopeful that everything will be OK and that in about 6 months I will be able to give my couple a very healthy, happy, baby boy!!! 

Up next: finally get to see a new OB from my regular medical office near me on September 4th and will have the second blood draw for the state screening test then. And just waiting on word for that Mother 21 blood test, I would need to go back to the fetal monitoring clinic to have that one done.

~The Baby Fairy

Progesterone Blood Test

Well, I had my blood work done on July 25th, and the results weren't great. My progesterone level was on the low side of "normal", so the doctor wanted me to stay on the progesterone injections for another week and get my blood checked again after that. 

I was bummed, but pushed through and did another week of injections. I had my blood rechecked on August 1st. And HOORAY! The results were better this time around. And the best news is I was able to stop all medications! No more needles for me.

I have officially graduated from the fertility clinic's office and am all cleared to be seen by my OB. The only supplements I still need to take are these prenatal vitamins. 

 

Two pills/day, a prescription prenatal vitamin and an omega 3 supplement, both of which I can definitely handle a lot better than daily injections. :)

Another step closer in this amazing journey. I am beyond happy for the couple, and I hope the good news continues with our next appointments. 

Up next... I see my OB on August 9th and the very next day I have the CVS test on August 10th at the high-risk pregnancy clinic! Fingers crossed for good results!!!!

~The Baby Fairy 

Ultrasound #2

We got another sneak peek at baby on July 11th! At this ultrasound appointment I was 8 weeks & 3 days pregnant. Baby is measuring right on track (1.67cm), and has a good strong heart beat (170 beats/min).  Both intended mother and intended father got to be there, and it was so emotional for them. Their journey with conceiving has been a very long roller coaster for them, I feel so blessed to be able to help them achieve their dreams of becoming parents!

 

I have been feeling really good for the most part, despite lots of trips to the bathroom! I did have one little episode of morning sickness though, but it was for lack of not eating soon enough. Babies can be picky, and you need to eat when they tell you or else you pay! So I have been trying to eat small meals, VERY often, throughout the day to keep my tummy happy. So far it has been working. I am still taking the daily progesterone injections, the doctor said I would need to take them until 10.5 weeks or so. They are definitely not my favorite part of the day, but it's a necessary evil. We don't want this baby going anywhere! 

At this last appointment the doctor also informed the parents of the prenatal screening tests and what options are out there for them. Because of the intended mother's age, the couple opted to go for a prenantal Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) test as her age does put the baby at an increased risk for a genetic disorder. The CVS test is a prenatal test that detects chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, as well as a host of other genetic disorders. The doctor takes cells from tiny fingerlike projections on the placenta called the chorionic villi and sends them to a lab for genetic analysis. The main advantage of CVS over aminocentesis is that you can have it done earlier — generally between 11 and 12 weeks of pregnancy, although some testing centers will do it as late as 13 weeks, 6 days. (For an amnio, you'll have to wait until you're at least 16 weeks pregnant.)

I am not nervous that the CVS test will hurt (from what I've read it seems to be a simple procedure, similar to a pap smear). I am just nervous that something may be wrong with the baby. I feel like none of us can breathe right now until we know that the baby is OK. But for now, things all look great! So we need to celebrate that and embrace this part of the journey. 

At this last doctor's appointment with the couple's fertility doctor, I was also told to schedule an appointment with my regular OB. So we have two appointments to look forward to: my OB appointment on August 9th and the CVS test with a high-risk pregnancy doctor on August 10th! 

Up next... I will have my blood checked on July 25th to check my progesterone level, if it is high enough I can stop the injections at that time. Fingers crossed!

~The Baby Fairy 

Sharing the News

The IVF process can be a roller coaster, and I was extremely lucky to have been successful after just my first transfer. Knowing about how rare first time success with IVF can be ahead of time it made me want to wait to share the news with my oldest son, who is 5 1/2, until we saw positive results on the ultrasound. (My youngest child is only a year and a half, and will probably not be able to comprehend much of what is happening throughout this pregnancy.) On the evening after my ultrasound, my husband and I carefully explained to our son that I was helping another couple start a family of their own, because they were unable to do so on their own. I also explained that, unlike his baby brother, this baby would not be coming home with us after he/she was born. And that this baby would not be related to us, and he was not the baby's big brother. My son said, "I know, I know." But think got real quiet for a couple seconds, and said, "But..." (This is where I panicked, and wondered what his little brain could be thinking at this very moment.) "But... will I still be able to see the baby??" my 5 year old asked. "Of course," I replied. He said, "Ok, GOOD! Because then I will know if it's a boy or a girl!" It was so sweet. I should have known that he would be completely fine with the idea. Although I am sure we will need to remind him throughout the process, especially as my belly grows larger, that we are not giving up our baby - that this baby was never ours to begin with and we are simply giving him or her back. 

My 5 year old wasn't the only person to learn about my news last week. I ended up telling three other people, as well as making this blog "public" on the same day. Guess I was still feeling all the excitement from the ultrasound. :) 

~The Baby Fairy

Ultrasound #1

There is ONE bun baking in my oven!!!

So for all of those who thought twins, nope! Just one healthy baby growing in there. I was able to share the first pregnancy ultrasound with the Intended Mother (IM). It was awesome to see her reaction to the little heartbeat flicker on the screen, and to be able to even HEAR the heartbeat as well! Such a fun experience. Unfortunately, the Intended Father (IF) couldn't make it, because of work. But he was able to hear the doctor tell us the good news via speaker phone. The baby is a whopping 5.2mm right now, and is measuring on track for being 6 weeks & 3 days pregnant. My estimated due date is February 17th - a Valentine's baby! So sweet. :)

I had blood work as well, and my estrogen level was high enough that I am able to stop the patches now. However, I have to stay with the Progesterone injections for another 3.5 weeks. I asked the nurse about the numbness I was feeling at the injection site and on the outside of my legs, and she said I was injecting them too low. Oops! So hopefully injecting higher will help with the numbness, but she did say it may take a couple months for the feeling to come back completely.

After the appointment, the IM and I had lunch together. It was fun to get to know each other better, we talked about everything from reality tv shows to working together on a possible sibling project in the future for this baby. That will take some time to consider, so we'll see how this one goes first. I am so happy for the new parents-to-be. Looking forward to the next 8 months!!

Up next... we'll get another peek of baby via ultrasound on July 11th!

~The Baby Fairy

Blood Test #2

My second hCG level check was done on Monday, June 18th (17 days post transfer). And this time, I didn't get a call from the nurse around the afternoon like before. I was impatient and wanted to know my number! So I picked up the phone and called myself, and a different nurse called me back a couple hours later with this: 

3,176!!

My hCG level had doubled just over every 43 hours! THIS IS GREAT! And again, I got to be the one to deliver the good news to the couple. The IM was shocked and very excited! The IF had no idea what that number meant! Same with my husband as well. We explained that it was a good strong number. We scheduled an appointment for the first pregnancy ultrasound for the following week. It would be a long week and a half of waiting to see what exactly was going on in there. With my hCG level doubling so well, some people wondered if maybe there would be twins in there??!!


Up next... ultrasound results!


~The Baby Fairy

Blood Test #1

On Monday, June 11th (10 days post transfer) I went to have blood work done. They would test the level of the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone in my blood. HCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy that is made by the developing placenta. An hCG level of less than 5mIU/ml is considered negative for pregnancy, and anything above 25mIU/ml is considered positive for pregnancy. That afternoon, I got a call from the nurse, my level was: 

222!!

A great number! And the nurse even let me call the IM with the good news. She was very excited and thrilled that the number was so high. Now we have to wait one week, for the second blood test. In a bout 85% of normal pregnancies, the hCG level will double every 48 - 72 hours.

Up next... wait for blood test #2!

~The Baby Fairy

Home Pregnancy Test

After a long 8 days of waiting, I took a home pregnancy test on the morning on June 8th and saw this wonderful word: 

!!!!!! It worked !!!!!! 

I sent a text message, with the picture of the test, to the couple and they were both very excited, and yet still cautious. They had been down this road before, with a positive test, only to be told the devastating bad news that the pregnancy was not viable at the ultrasound a few weeks later. But we have to celebrate each little victory, so for today, the news was good! It is incredibly lucky to also be successful on the first transfer, sometimes it can take 3-4 transfers before receiving a positive result.

Up next... "official" blood tests results! 

~The Baby Fairy  

Transfer Day

Preparing for the transfer meant starting the much bigger, scarier, progesterone medication. The Progesterone gives support for the lining of the uterus and is needed to maintain an early pregnancy. The Progesterone is taken until reaching 10 weeks pregnant, at that time the placenta produces enough of its own progesterone so that the supplementation can stop. And even though I considered myself a "pro" at giving myself the Lurpon injections in my stomach, I was definitely not confident enough to give myself the Progesterone injections in my backside. (Insert my loving husband here, who offered to help me with the injections.) This hormone is in oil, so it's thicker and needs a bigger needle, and needs to be inserted intramuscularly. The nurse had explained how to give the Progesterone injections to me in person, but no one actually SHOWS you how to do it. So, you are left to turn to the wonderful "YouTube" for help! I found dozens of videos of women preparing their bodies for an IVF transfer and giving themselves a shot of Progesterone. It was very helpful, love YouTube!


I started the daily Progesterone injections one week before the transfer. Some other medications that I was required to take to prepare for the transfer were an antibiotic called Doxycycline (Doryx) and a steroid called Methylprednisolone (Medrol). The Doryx minimizes the risk of injection from the transfer. And Medrol is a steroid that helps prevent the body from rejecting the transferred embryos. Both of these were oral pills that I took for 5 days before the transfer.


On the day of the transfer, my husband and I drove out to LA for the 10am appointment. I was nervously excited for the big day. I was given one Valium pill to take 45 minutes before the procedure, to help relax my muscles and me! We got settled into the room, and the Intended Mother (IM) met us in there. The Intended Father (IF) was also there, but just said hello briefly and remained in the waiting room during the procedure. They wheeled a big incubator with the embryos into the room, and plugged it in. Then we all got a chance to get a peek at the three embryos that would be transferred through the microscope. It was so neat! I don't have an actual picture of them, but they looked something like this: 

 {image source}

After implantation into the womb, the sphere you see is what later would become the placenta, and the clump of cells on the bottom would become the fetus. All that work leading up to the transfer, and the actual procedure took no more than 15 minutes. It was simple, and painless. I was asked to remain lying down for another 30 minutes with my legs elevated slightly. Then I was wheeled out of the clinic, and told to remain on bed rest for the next 24 hours only getting up to eat and use the restroom. The couple had graciously reserved us a room at a hotel nearby for the night. The next morning, we woke up and met the couple for breakfast. It was good to chat with them and learn more about each other before we headed home.


Up next... wait, wait, wait... for the pregnancy test results!


~The Baby Fairy 

Medications

After obtaining legal clearance, it was time for medications! Now I love me some Google, and sure enough, Google did not fail to provide LOADS of information on what to expect while preparing for IVF. And sure enough after my meeting with the doctor, I was reassured that yes, I would need to get familiar with needles because I would soon be dealing with LOTS of them. Apparently, there's a lot more to getting pregnant with someone else's baby than just "implanting an embryo."


The good news was, at least for me, I got to take baby steps with the meds. After my first ultrasound, the doctor had ordered me to start estrogen patches to improve the thickness of my endometrium lining (the inner wall of the uterus). This is monitored closely, because a thin lining is no good, but neither is one that is too thick either -- looking for that happy just right place of 8-12mm. I began the Vivelle-Dot estrogen patches on April 15th. I applied 2 small patches to my lower abdomen and reapplied 2 new patches every other day. I was scheduled for an ultrasound on April 27th but was rescheduled due to a note in my file that said the doctor wanted me to go up to 4 patches a few days before the ultrasound. So I added more patches and rescheduled the ultrasound for the following week. The patches were easy and I did not feel any side effects from them. Yay for a easy first start to meds. On Tuesday, May 1st I had the ultrasound to have my uterine lining reassessed. The doctor said my lining looked great! It had thickened to 8.4mm (originally it was only at 3mm prior to the start of the estrogen patches). The doctor gave me the green light to move forward with a new cycle!

So a few days after my second visit to the doctors, this GIANT box arrived...

This box included everything I would need to get me through the transfer and a little beyond. The box came with less scary items like prenantal vitamins (though they were the prescription kind and bigger than any over-the-counter prenatal vitamin I had remembered taking with my first two pregnancies, and I was asked to take two different vitamins, which I had also not done with my first two pregnancies), more estrogen patches, and four different bottles of oral pills. And then there was the scary stuff - the alcohol swabs, the needles, the fluid for the injection, and the bio hazard container!! 
  
In addition to staying on the estrogen patches, I was also asked to take an oral pill, called Provera, for 7 days - these pills would induce my period, so that I could begin the other meds and prepare for an IVF transfer. After my period arrived, the fun stuff began... injections! I was asked to do one daily injection of Lupron. This medication would temporarily suppress the pituitary and ovarian hormone production and prevent ovulation from occurring. 


Preparing to give myself my first injection of Lupron...

Surprisingly, this injection was not bad at all! It's a very small needle, and you pinch the skin in your stomach before injecting. I was able to do this myself and felt no side effects from the Lupron, other than a little weird hand tingling on day 3. But it went away after a day or so.

The Monday (5/14) after my period arrived, I went in for lab work. The results were good, estradiol (estrogen) level was 22 and progesterone level was 0.6. At the time, I honestly did not know what these numbers meant and actually still do not understand them even now. :) But the nurse tells me they are good, so I just go with that. All meds remained the same, daily Lupron injection, and 2 estrogen patches changing every other day.

On May 21st, I went back in for lab work, estradiol level was 211 so I was instructed to increase to 3 Vivelle-Dot estrogen patches beginning 5/22, changing every other day. I went in for a final ultrasound before the transfer on 5/25, and had my lining reassessed, now at 9.44mm! Doctor said it looked perfect, just as it should. And we were ready for the transfer in one week. I took my last Lurpon injection that morning. And would start the infamous big, nasty, progesterone injections the next day.


Up next... preparing for the transfer! 


~The Baby Fairy

Meeting the Doctor

The intended parent's (IPs) had already been working with a fertility clinic near their home, so that is where I would go to meet the doctor and learn about the IVF process. On March 14th, I made the 2 hour commute to Los Angeles to meet the doctor.

{image source}

The doctor walked me through the IVF process and explained what would happen. Afterwards, he did two different trans-vaginal ultrasounds. The first ultrasound was to check the thickness of my endometrium lining. For IVF, most doctors prefer the lining to be around 8-12mm. My lining was only at 3mm, the birth control pills I had been taking can cause the lining to become thin over time. The second trans-vaginal ultrasound, also called a saline infusion sonography (SIS), was to check my reproductive organs, including the uterus, ovaries, cervix, and vagina. The doctor was looking for any abnormalities or growths - he found none. Yay! So, at this point I was only half-cleared for surrogacy. The doctor wanted me to start estrogen patches to help improve the thickness of my lining and come back in a few weeks to have my lining reassessed.



However, before I could start any medications I had to receive legal clearance and sign all the appropriate contracts. This process took an entire month, but I understand why it is so important to make sure that my husband & I both clearly understood what we were agreeing to. We were given a 24 page contract to sign and spoke on the phone with a lawyer (provided by the CSP agency) to make sure we knew what we were signing.


Up next... medications!


~The Baby Fairy 

Matched with a Couple

During the matching process, I was sent two couples profiles to read over and then asked to approve of them and select my top choice. At the psychological screening with the counselor she had asked if I would prefer a local or international couple. The agency does deal with many international couples, because unlike the US, many other countries have laws against surrogacy. And although I wouldn't have been against working with an international couple, I think it would have felt harder to form a relationship with them. So, I was happily surprised to find out that both profiles that were sent to me were within a 2 hour drive from us. However, It was heartbreaking to read about both of their struggles with infertility and I immediately wanted to help them both. I could only chose one couple in the end though, so I went with the first essay that I read. It seemed that this couple was open to forming a relationship with the surrogate and her family, not just during the pregnancy but maybe even beyond. That was important to me. And although I do not expect to become best buddies for life or anything, I have hoped to be able to hear updates every now and again and see pictures of the baby that I helped bring into this world. And I felt like the first couple was definitely open to that, so my husband & I selected them as our 1st preference. I still remember the date I approved their profile, February 13th. A nice little match right before Valentine's Day. And lucky for us, they selected me too.

In early March, we got to meet the couple. The counselor was there to help assist with questions and to break the ice a little. We all sat down for lunch together and discussed why we all chose the surrogacy path. They seemed like a great couple, and I was anxious to help them with their desire to start a family.

Up next... meeting the doctor! 

~The Baby Fairy

The Application & Screening Process

A few months after contemplating surrogacy, I decided to Google the agency that was featured on the "Little Couple" show. The agency was called Center for Surrogate Parenting (CSP) and their web page said that they had a worldwide reputation as being the leader in the field of surrogacy. (And later after speaking with CSP's coordinator, I felt truly grateful that I selected this agency above any other to help me in my quest to become a surrogate. It would provide a smooth, streamlined process from a well knowledgeable team of people.) I read what it takes to become a surrogate on CSP's website, and although the process looked intensive, I thought it seemed reasonable. And so I completed an application. Five days later, part 1 of my application was approved, and I had a 45 minute phone consultation with CSP's coordinator to discuss more about the program and answer any questions I had. I was then asked to complete part II of the application process - more detailed questions about my health history and submission of my health insurance card and coverage information. 

After completing part 2 of the application, I was moved to phase 2 of the screening program - this involved the medical and psychological screenings. This phase of the screening process required a lot of information! I was asked to be cleared for IVF (in-vitro fertilization) by my doctor, submit my OB records and get a pap smear (since my last one was more than a year old). I was also asked to complete a form for a formal background screening and pass a health exam to receive a life insurance policy provided by CSP. Both my husband and I would need to submit for blood tests to check for STDs and nicotine levels in both of us, as well as the Rh factor and thyroid levels in me.


In addition to all of that, my husband and I were both also asked to make an appointment with the counselor hired by CSP, and prior to being seen by the counselor I was asked to fill out a personality questionnaire - reminded me a lot of the Meyers & Briggs Type Indicator. I was also asked to write an essay and submit pictures for the prospective couples to look at when deciding which surrogate they wanted to work with. I felt like I was auditioning for a dating show! I wanted to say all the right things and use the best looking pictures.

It was now February, my husband & I had our meeting with the counselor. I laughed as she told us that she liked to tell people it wasn't her job to see if I was crazy, but to make sure that I was the "RIGHT TYPE of crazy" needed to be a surrogate. She asked questions like why I wanted to do this, and what my husband thought of the idea, and what our family and friends thought. At this point, I had told my closest friends (about 5 total), and both my parents, my brother and my in-laws. And although everyone was supportive, I could tell there were a few, especially my mom, who were skeptical and thought I had lost my mind completely for wanting to do this. Many of my family and friends had questions, some I knew the answer to, but most that I did not know. I told them that it was all a learning experience for me as well and that I would share what I learned along the way.

A week after the psychological screening, I met with my gynecologist who said he would recommend me for IVF. (Yay!) I received my pap smear exam, and also picked up my OB records and mailed everything to CSP. Paperwork - finished. Yahoo!

I was also asked to attend a monthly support group meeting in the second week of February to meet other women who were also surrogates. The meeting was overwhelming (as there were about 30 or so other surrogates present), but also provided a lot of insight to the road ahead of me. I learned about how often times a couple's struggle with infertility can transfer to the surrogate, and that many first time IVF transfer's are not always successful. But I also got to witness a surrogate share her birth story with the group and see just how much joy can come from giving such a precious gift to a couple in need. I knew I had made the right decision, and that this was something I definitely wanted to do. 

Up next... becoming matched with a couple!


~The Baby Fairy

Becoming A Baby Fairy

After giving birth to my second child, I was extremely grateful for my beautiful, healthy baby, but I was also mourning the end of the pregnancy. My husband & I had decided that baby #2 was it for us, we were happy with our 2 boys, and didn't plan to have any more children. Then one day while watching the show “The Little Couple” on TLC, I learned about surrogacy. Watching another couple struggle with the reality of not being able to have a child in the traditional way made me realize just how special having a child of your own can be. It also made me think of my own pregnancies and how beautiful and wonderful I felt throughout each of them and how happy I was to be pregnant. I was very comfortable with this decision to not have any more children of my own, however, I was sad at the thought of not ever being able to experience another pregnancy. I knew that if I could, I would love to be able to make a difference in the lives of a couple who was also struggling with having a child of their own. One thing to be sure and note, I was NOT going to donate my eggs. I wanted only to be the 'oven' for the 'bun'. The child would have no genetic connection to my husband or me. 

Now I just had to figure out how to become a surrogate and how to convince my family and friends that I wasn't completely insane for volunteering to do this. :) 

~The Baby Fairy