Our first ultrasound

Week 5 we had our first ultrasound. We were a little nervous because we were faced with the probability of multiples, yet at the same time we were so excited. Hubs and I went together and we held hands as we looked anxiously at the screen. There on the screen was one little baby. Ok, not exactly a "baby" yet, as more than a yolk sac. Measuring in at 11 MM, our little baby is growing quite fine at this point.


Week 5 is still too early to hear a heartbeat, so we are heading back for ultrasound number 2 this Wednesday. Hopefully that will make it all that much more believable for me. Each morning I still wake up in utter shock that I am pregnant and will be having a baby of our very own. Pictures to follow...

Mystery "ingredient"?

Hubs and I feel like we have one specific person who we can thank for the rest of our lives for our current state of bliss...Cousin J. Cousin J. and her hubs, Cousin K. had also been trying to get pregnant during the same period as us and going through the same hurdles as us. They were a huge support system for us and guided us through the process. This support includes a late night call to re-instruct us before we did our first muscular injection of the HCG, as well as a trip to Salem, MA for a fertility spell!

Thankfully, Cousins J. and K. were blessed and will be welcoming Baby Cousin K. into the world on December 31st. Cousin J. had started a new diet instructed by one of her doctors. This diet would help to eliminate foods that she is sensitive to, GLUTEN, being one of these "ingredients". Cousin J. eliminated this product from her diet, and subsequently Baby Cousin K. started to grow in her belly.

Cousin J. suggested after our fourth unsuccessful IUI that the following month we may try taking GLUTEN out of our diets. Honestly, knowing that it worked for them and plus being at a point where you are pretty much willing to try anything, Hubs and I were both on board.

I started to do some research on GLUTEN sensitivities and how it affects fertility. Apparently, when you have a GLUTEN sensitivity, your body develops antibodies to fight off to GLUTEN in your body. Those antibodies then attack the sperm that enters your body, or in a male sensitivity attacks their sperm "bank". Once the sperm is attacked, it pretty much does not have a chance of making it to the egg.

I was shocked and appalled that infertility doctors do not discuss this with their patients. Dr. H still does not know that I have removed gluten from my diet. Joe and I stopped eating GLUTEN on July 12th, 2009. On August 11th, 2009, 12 days after our 5th IUI, we were told we were pregnant. We full heartedly believe that our GLUTEN free lifestyle was a strong contributing factor in our success.

Just a side note as well, living GLUTEN-free has made us feel much better. We have much more energy and do not have a constant bloated feeling any longer.

More to come in the coming months on GLUTEN-free living for infertility. Cousin J. and I have discussed leading a GLUTEN-free movement for infertility. Unfortunately, we feel as though the word has not made its way to everyone yet and we plan to do something about it!

Awkward

Hubs and I decided to tell a lot more people early on than we had ever thought we would. We had tried for so long and were overcome with so much joy that we wanted to share it with those that we love. I have actually read that if you do share your news with your support circle that it can actually be positive, especially for your first trimester. If you keep the news to yourselves, then you worry more about the 10% chance of miscarriage. It made sense to us, granted by the time I read that, we had already told more than a dozen people.

Now, I have announced the pregnancy to a few people who clearly are not in our support circle. First example: I had a meeting at a local bakery to go over cake design with one of our clients. I arrived early and the woman whom we were meeting with asked me if I would like something to eat. My response, "I am pregnant!" Awkward! Now just yesterday, another vendor in the business stopped by to pick something up, she asked, "So how are you doing?". I responded, "I am pregnant!". Awkward again! She then went on to advise me I should not tell anyone until the second trimester, which really just made me paranoid. I guess everyone will always have opinions.

I have also had urges to tell other pregnant women that I am pregnant. Standing next to a pregnant woman at the store the other day, it was all I could do not to turn to her and say, "I am pregnant too". But considering, she did not know me and I obviously do not look pregnant yet, I figured that could be creepy and again, Awkward!

Check back tomorrow when I announce the key "ingredient" that we believe helped us get pregnant.

I am pregnant!

Not even having announced it to our entire families or all of our friends, I am ready to blog... We are pregnant. 6 weeks pregnant to be exact. I found out early, only just a little over 3 weeks pregnant at that time. Being that we were going through fertility treatments, they test you early. Everything was so calculated...quite romantic I know. Well, a year and 8 months of trying and 5 IUIs and we have been blessed!



So everyone always wants to know, "How are you feeling?". Well, honestly, I feel pretty good. You see, I have always been the "sickly" one. Chronic kidney infections, constant runny noses, strep throat, etc, etc... Myself and those around me, always imagined I would be very sick! Knock on wood, so far so good. Week 4, I was extremely tired and constipated. Don't get me wrong, constipation is not a walk in the park, but it is better than morning/noon/night sickness. Week 5, even more tired and now experiencing diarrhea.



Well, Week 6 milestone was yesterday and the diarrhea continues. Speaking with Mumsy on the phone last night, she felt I should call the doctor at this point and see if I should take anything for it, as she pointed out it could be affecting my nutrition. So now I am waiting on a callback from Dr. H's office to find out what I should be doing.



That is it for now my friends. I shall use this blog to keep my friends and family updated on the progress of the pregnancy and would love for any others to stop by as well.