Infertility and Beyond

Infertility Consultant?

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 09:43:00 +0000

After years of battling infertility, I was and am happy that I could no longer consider myself an infertile. Yes, at one time, I am – but I was not an unhappy infertile. I longed for a child but I was also open to accepting whatever God wills for me.

So now, I got over the ‘infertile me’ period and I noticed I have not just become a fertile woman but has also become an infertility consultant. Gian’s pedia is actually trying hard to conceive and she would ask me about my TTC journey and my fertility treatments. My mom’s friend has been trying to conceive either and is trying to solicit advice from me on how I did it.

My former officemate, who I did not know was trying to conceive, also asked me about how I overcome that long infertility period.

Yes, I may not have the answers to their questions, but I tell them my story of overcoming infertility. My story may not have lots of drama and challenges but at least, I could share them hope that one day, they may also receive the miracle of Life.

Baby dust to all you who are trying to overcome infertility. Keep praying and of course, learn the many ways to overcome infertility.

Teething Rash?

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 06:57:00 +0000

rashes on his face and arms at 5 months. his pedia gave him antihistamines for the rash but without it, his face would be full of rashes. don't like the sight of this...

his pedia said it might be an allergy to some fabric conditioner or detergent. I stopped using fabric conditioner, bought him a special detergent suitable for baby clothes, but it shows up still after the doses of antihistamines. wish i could just erase them all at once!

Baby Gian

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:26:00 +0000

a quick look at Gian

"Gian"

by geeten

------------------

This time around last year

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:43:00 +0000

I don’t know where to start but I have a lot of things to be thankful for in the past year.

This time around last year, I was a little tensed but ecstatic about the life growing inside me. It was the start of the year and I had one of the best gifts I have ever received – a new life! the baby we have longed for!

This time around last year, we were overjoyed with the sight of this little creature that silently sleeps in my tummy, and with his tiny heart beating fast, seemingly excited to see the outside world.

8 weeks, 2 days pregnant (last year)

At 8 weeks and 2 days. Baby Gian is just a tiny creature that rests inside my womb with his tiny heart beating at 163 beats per minute. A year after, this tiny little creature has become an adorable baby that smiles when I smile, coos when I coos and snuggles into my arms when feeling tired.

Baby Gian at 4months, 3 weeks (today)

Such a wonderful life! and I thank you Dear God for the many blessings you have showered upon us!

------------------------------

Thank you Oh God for answering my prayers
and for letting me feel that you are just right beside me listening to me.
Thank you so so much oh God!
I can never thank you enough of the wonderful life you have given me and the people that you have made part of my life as well.

------------------------------

Gian at 4 months

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:18:00 +0000

he loves to cover his face with any piece of cloth he takes hold of. that’s why I don’t want to leave him alone even for a few seconds

he can now roll from his back to his tummy. and he finds it easy to roll to the right than to the left. are you left-handed kiddo?

Welcoming Baby Gian to the Christian World

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 09:17:00 +0000

Christmas this year is extra special. Baby Gian will also be baptized at the local Bradford UCCP Church. That’s one thing that made us go to sleep early after watching some fireworks display on Christmas Eve. Church service starts at 9:30 and we need to be there an hour before, so everybody went to sleep a little earlier than our usual Christmas noche buena.

But of course, that does not stop baby Gian to feel sleepy during the service. lol.

Here are some photos of the baptism:

After the church service, we had a simple lunch at home and some pictorials with cousin Chummix, who also celebrates her birthday on the 26th.

At 10 days short to 4 months old, baby Gian was officially baptized Gian Jibril. Although the pastor mispronounced the first name ‘Jee-yan’ instead of ‘Gee-yan’. not a big deal but I find the former a little feminine.

Well, if you see a ‘G’ and a ‘J’ in a name, that probably hints that the G is not pronounced as ‘J’ coz I could have spelled it Jian Jibril if I wanted to. But no big deal anyway.

Gian is turning 3 months old!

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 04:30:00 +0000

No, he still could not sit. We just placed him on a towel to help him keep upright in the sofa – just for the photoshoot.

[Choco Rolls and Egg Tart for the simple celebration]

Gian at 3 months:

he can now turn to his side and sleep like that for hours.
he occasionally lie on his tummy now
he can now hold his head upright, although there are times that you still need to support it.
he’s making a lot of sounds now. he even mumbles back to you when you ask him questions or when you talk to him.
he loves to listen to “Row row row your boat” and ‘Twinkle twinkle little star’ on YouTube
he goes to sleep with “Rainbow Connection” Jazon Mraz version or “You” by the Carpenters – sung by Mommy of course!
he loves to play with Rusty the Robot, a Lamaze toy I bought shortly before he turned 3 months.

Lamaze Toys for Babies

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:26:00 +0000

I first saw the butterfly Lamaze toy from a Facebook friend and the colors attracted me. I looked at the label and it says Lamaze. I don’t know where it came from. The only thing that came into my mind is the Lamaze breathing technique that I have been doing ever since the start of pregnancy.

Now, I could not believe it is also a brand of baby’s toys. How would I know that in the first place? I don’t even spend a minute at the infant’s section before.

[Gian with Rusty the Robot – sleepmates!]

[Rusty the Robot]

What I found good with Lamaze toys:

they’re full of colors!
they have lots of textures, shapes and sounds that give your baby a lot of experience with even just one toy.
my little Gian just loves it!

Gian at 2 months

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 00:01:00 +0000

Baby Gian is now 2 months and he’s showing his smiles and stares!

{Gian at 2 months}

we just got him a number of cupcakes and put the candle on top of it. just wanted to put that number into something to celebrate his second monthsary.

{with Daddy}

sleeping early at night when her Pedia-neighbor came in for his 6-in-1 immunization. you know what happened next - he cried to sleep.

One Month Old Gian

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 23:19:00 +0000

My little Gian is now a month old.

Time flies so fast, my ordeal in the delivery room faded like a bad dream. My recovery is good but I still have discomfort sleeping on my back so I have to lie on my side. I also find it difficult to get out of bed. Argh.

…. and I think I’m suffering from post partum depression. I don’t know if this is indeed one. There were instances when I just locked myself and baby in the room and I started to cry.

I cried to the thought that I can’t even carry my baby because I find it uncomfortable with my operation still hurting a bit.

At times, I cried to the thought of being helpless. Hubby is home only on the weekends and I’m left with the baby the rest of the week. I do the dressing of my wound myself. The household helper I brought with me to my in-laws was sent home a few weeks before I gave birth, so I have to hand wash the baby’s clothes every morning. Sometimes grandma would do it for me but I don’t want an 80-year old woman doing laundry. Even if its just a few pieces of baby clothes, so I sometimes hide the laundry basket.

I cried because I don’t know how I will be able to pull through with our finances. Me, being out of work for 1 month now and all our savings were spent.

But I comfort myself with the thought that these are all just about my hormones and of course, the sight of this beautiful baby always help soothe my worries away.

Had a C-Section Delivery and Feeling Frustrated

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 22:46:00 +0000

I have set my mind to a normal delivery and in fact, I have been viewing Lamaze birthing class on my laptop to help me with my breathing.

Yes, I was able to overcome the pains of labor. In fact, my mother-in-law and grandma-in-law who were with me at the labor room thought it would still be several hours before the delivery because I was looking okay.

But a few minutes before my OB said I was 3-4 cm dilated, I was then advised to go to the delivery room. She said I was fully dilated.

Now the sad part is, 2 hrs in the delivery room and no baby was coming out.

Cervix fully dilated, no crowning after 2 hrs and baby’s heartbeat started to go down.

My OB suggested a caesarian section delivery but I asked her what other options I have. I am still feeling okay and in fact, I still want to pursue a normal vaginal delivery.

She said I could squat. So I did.

But no baby was coming out. We had no other options left.

She asked the nurse to let my mother-in-law (who is by the way an acquaintance of the OB) and my hubby in. Told them we have no other options. The baby’s heartbeat is going down and there’s no progress with the descent of the baby.

So I was wheeled to the operating room. I did not even notice how the anesthesia was given, all I knew was that, I was feeling very cold and my hands were shaking.

After a few minutes, I was given a quick glimpse of the baby and I was stitched up.

The minute I was wheeled to my room, I was not able to stop my tears. I have never been so frustrated like this in my life.

First Few Pics of Baby Gian

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:04:00 +0000

Baby Gian was born at 7:08pm, September 05, 2011.

These are his first few pictures and the sight of these tubes in his body really breaks my heart. In fact,I don’t want to look at these pics. He had Asphyxia Neonatorum or Newborn asphyxia. His pediatrician later told me that it took a couple of minutes for Baby Gian to breathe after he was born so they have to resuscitate him.

In fact, his Apgar score was 5 when he came out then rose to 8 and then to 10. Thank God, Baby Gian was able to survive it and he's now well and good.

Thank you dear God for such a wonderful gift of life.

A Baby Boy is Born

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:30:00 +0000

September 05, 2011
4:15 am

my water broke.

i wondered before if i could ever tell that the water broke. now i could say it is really totally different from just a trickle of pee. it is indeed a gush of fluid out of your system.

i was ecstatic at the same time a little nervous. this is the day!

i told hubby about the breaking of the water and in just a little while, my mom-in-law was knocking on the door. she looked tensed. i could tell she's trying to hide the anxiety or the tension of facing this very day. She was bringing a matchbox and she was asking about the books i have been reading lately and the papers that i have been working on. i don't know anything about the ritual but she tore a small piece of each book that i have been reading as well as the papers lying on my table and she started to light them up.

she also pulled a single strand of hair from hubby and throw it on the small flame on the tiled floor. she uttered a few words and after having some time in the kitchen for coffee, we then head towards the hospital.

6:15 am

we checked in at the emergency room of the Hospital at the break of day. i was then led to the labor room and was asked to change into adult diapers. several student nurses are there to monitor and take care of me. one good thing about these student nurses is that, they attended to my every little need because there were a number of them and they probably want to do something and prove to themselves that they can take care of patients very well.

i was still feeling okay. no pains. just feeling excited.

first IE: 2-3 cm.

11 am

After i had lunch, the contractions are now starting. the pain is very bearable. in fact, i was smiling when my OB came in and she just said i'm still not in active labor because i still can afford to smile. From the Lamaze classes i have been watching lately, i fairly knew the stages of labor, what to expect and what to do to ease the pain.

second IE: 3-4 cm.

based on the internal exam, i was thinking i am still a bit far from active labor and full dilation which is at 10cm. as the contractions grew stronger and stronger, the pain is also getting intense.but of course, everything is bearable. i started applying my 'cleansing breaths' and 'hi-his' that i have learned from Lamaze classes. Equipped with these Lamaze classes, i cringed less in every pain.

one funny thing when i started to do my 'Hi-his', one student nurse asked me if i have difficulty in breathing. i wanted to laugh.

4:00 pm

i don't know if i am indeed fully dilated but my OB said i am and i was led into the delivery room. i don't know how that 3-4 cm dilation led to 10 cm. the pain is totally bearable.

6:00 pm

2 hours in the delivery room but the baby isn't out yet. the baby isn't moving down and out to the cervix. my OB asked my consent for Cesarean operation. the baby's heartbeat is going down. but i am fairly ok. i told her what are other options. she said, i can squat, so i did. but the baby still isn't coming out.

after all the consent and consultation from hubby and mom-in-law who are there with me, i was wheeled to the operating room.

7:08 pm

Baby Gian is born.

Little Pleasures of Walking

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 04:52:00 +0000

Aside from the flexibility I get from my early morning walks, and hopefully make labor easy, I also get to enjoy the little flowers that I get to see along the way… and it’s a good thing that I can also practice my photography skills with them.

enjoy.

Morning Walks at 39 weeks

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:12:00 +0000

Since I came here in Tagbilaran, I do my early morning walks at 5:30 in the morning and usually end it an hour after.
Since I got my D5000 last week, i decided to bring it with me and do some practice shooting while having my one-hour walk. I was thinking if I go into labor anytime soon, I won’t be able to have the opportunity to take pictures of the place, so I grabbed the opportunity and document the road I have been traversing everyday for more than a month now.

Yes, it’s a university campus and since I usually do my walking early in the morning, I can only see a few joggers, street sweepers and security guards in the area and I make sure I’m out of the place when students start to come in for their classes.
I also tried to get some snapshots of beautiful flowers along the way. You can find them HERE.

Updates…updates

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:41:00 +0000

I left home on July 23 and it’s been more than a month since I spent my days in this little room… waiting for the baby and still working (ugh).

I was not imprisoned nor hidden. I am at my in-laws’ house. They told us they prefer me delivering the baby here than at our own home where only me and hubby and our new household help will be taking care of everything. So I am here.
… at 39 weeks now and will be giving birth anytime soon.
The last time I went to my OB (I had a new OB by the way), she gave me Evening Primrose Oil (Eveprim) to be taken thrice a day until the onset of labor as she said she wants me to go into labor before the due date as the baby is now 6 to 7 lbs.

Of course, that is also a relief on my side as I don’t want to deliver a big baby and of course, I am excited to meet the little one now.
It’s been 4 days since I have taken the Evening Primrose Oil but I haven’t seen any preliminary signs of labor yet. In some forums I‘ve read, they went into labor in just a matter of 3 days after taking the supplement (yes, it’s a supplement, not a medication), but of course, others say it took them 7 days. Ok, then. I am hopeful that this will put me into labor earlier than Sept 9 or Sept 10.

The anxiety of waiting has lead me to dreams of holding a baby boy, dreams of tsunami, dreams of giving birth already only to find out in the morning that I still have that baby bump. But of course, I am wiling to wait. I know I’d be able to finally meet my little one in a few days from now.
… and I pray everything will be all right.

Tummy @ 31 weeks

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 03:08:00 +0000

Pregnancy Updates: Moving on to the Third Trimester

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Tue, 31 May 2011 03:08:00 +0000

It’s been a while since i posted something about this little baby growing inside me. Of course, that means there’s been a lot going on that I haven’t had much time to jot down some thoughts.

Here are a few things that had happened in my life since the last time i scribbled something on this journal.

1. This precious little life growing inside of me is now 2 days short of 26 weeks. That’s around 6 months.

2. So happy and amazed to feel the baby’s kicks. I felt like this little angel keeps on tumbling and kicking.

3. I was a bit worried about not gaining weight this week.

4. Had my ultrasound last Saturday and the Doc said everything is normal.

5. I’m having a baby BOY!

Now i have to discard that girl’s name i have been preparing for all these time. Although i was wishing for a girl and both hubby and I was expecting a girl, we were still very happy about this little boy. In fact, we were so amazed to see him yawn during the ultrasound exam.

Now the excitement is still building up. I can’t wait to meet this little boy in person. oh, how i would love to see him so cute like daddy.

3 more months to go!

Guilty - Thoughts About Adoption

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:36:00 +0000

OK, i admit it.

I was actually thinking of adoption before I got pregnant. Not that i am bored living with my dear hubby, nor hubby wants a child desperately.

I just really love the idea of having a little girl walking beside me when i go to the groceries… or a little girl i would be dressing up every Sunday for church…

…okay, i am being biased. I would love a little boy too but for sure little boys won’t love the idea of tugging along with Mom when they reach 10 years old, or even younger.

We’ve talked about adoption in passing and hubby would want a relative if he would opt for adoption, he said. I for one was afraid about a lot of risks of adoption. but i am open to the idea.

… but actually, i was dreaming of a little girl that looked exactly like dear hubby. . . and i was thrilled by the mere thought of it.

now that i got pregnant, the thought of a little girl that looked a lot like Daddy walking along with me while doing the groceries always gives a smile on my face.

*image from polyvore.com

Third Prenatal Check-up - Stay Put!

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 05:30:00 +0000

Went to my OB today and as usual, dear baby’s heartbeat was fast. She’s probably excited to let me hear her heart beating. Yes, she’s probably a ‘she’.

I asked my OB if i can tell the gender of my baby through the heartbeat, she said it is just a pure old wives tale, but she nicely said if that can be true, i would most probably be having a girl.

17 Weeks:

Blood Pressure: 100/70

Weight gain: 7 lbs from the last weight. (so happy i finally gained weight!)

Doc’s Golden Advice: Stay put and rest!

(i actually asked her if it is fine to walk on a treadmill and she says it would be better if the treadmill is not inclined. in the end, she told me to just rest and stay put. anyway, we’ll get to the walking part later in the pregnancy).

So when i got home, i folded the treadmill and kept it in the corner. I would not be needing it for now.

Week 15

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 05:16:00 +0000

at 15weeks5days

taken on the 15th week of pregnancy. In a couple of weeks from now, i would be back again to my OB for prenatal check-up.

Targets:

Weight: 5-10 lbs

before the next pre-natal check up @17weeks.

Blood Pressure: stay at normal level

Foods and Nutrition: Drink AnMum everyday (even if my taste buds hate it);

Have more veggies and fruits on my diet;

Do the walking regularly.

Week 13

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 02:28:00 +0000

Size of baby : 3 inches long; size of a medium shrimp

Highlight of the Week : my OB was able to hear the heartbeat on her Doppler; had 110/60 blood pressure and the Doc said ‘great!’

Wondering why : i lost weight! and why my nausea is not subsiding!

Doc’s Golden Advice : sleep on your left side to allow more blood flow to the baby. (i’m a side sleeper, no problem, but i sleep on my right, so i’d have to practice this for sure).

14weeks

--------------------------

At last I am at the last week for the first trimester. Of course, that is a great relief as the threat of miscarriage is largely reduced and vomiting and nausea may start to subside as well.

Went to my OB today and one thing that bothered me today is that, i lost weight! my oh my! i am suppose to gain weight! i lost one pound for the first trimester and i wondered if i can keep myself on track with the weight i am suppose to gain.

Unlike many, i have been finding difficulty in gaining weight ever since. I was even trying to gain weight during the fertility workup as I know getting into your ideal weight is one thing that can boost up your fertility as well.

But i only gained a mere 3 to 4 pounds since i quit my office job and that is still 5 pounds lower than my target weight.

i was reading all over the internet and found out that it can be normal for some to lose weight or not gain anything during the first trimester especially if nausea and vomiting kick in.

I was relieved to find out though that my pregnant ex-officemate also did not gain any weight during the 1st trimester and she simply said, not to worry as gaining weight may be a little easier than losing extra weight during pregnancy.

Hope to see some weight improvements next week.

GCT (Glucose Challenge Test) Results

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 04:50:00 +0000

Glusose Challenge Test (GCT) Results

After 3 hours, I got my Glucose Challenge Test Results and was so happy to see my Glucose reading was only 114.71 mg/dl which is way lower than 140. That was indeed a relief!

When your results are 140 or above, you will most likely be advised to take the Glucose Tolerance Test or GTT in which you will go into a 10-hour fasting and you will also undergo 3 blood extractions in three hours. Urinalysis will also be done thrice in three hours to double-check your Glucose levels.

As someone who feared needles for a long time, i don’t think i would like to go into that hourly blood extraction thing. Thank Heavens, i pass the test with flying colors.

High glucose levels during pregnancy can mean you may develop gestational diabetes and that can also mean higher chances of delivery complications and getting a caesarian delivery as well, and I’m just so, so thankful I passed the screening.

Glucose Challenge Test (GCT)

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 03:52:00 +0000

My tummy is now 2 days short before it turns 12 weeks and today, I went to the laboratory for the 50g oral Glucose Challenge Test or the GCT. My OB said it is to screen for diabetes that can just occur during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes, that is.

I just saw a friend’s wall on Facebook the other day and she was talking about 10 hours fasting and 4 blood extraction and 4 urinalysis in four hours. She failed her GCT and has to go further with the GTT or the Glucose Tolerance Test. My oh my. I was praying i won’t go that far.

So when i went to the Lab, they gave me an orange-juice-like Glucose drink, which looked like the Listerine i have at home, and told me to drink everything. From the looks of it, i was wondering if i won’t be able to vomit everything out, but it just tastes like orange juice, so there was actually no problem with it.

I was also told to just stay at the Lab, not eat anything, and wait for one hour before the blood extraction.

So I did. Dear hubby was eating my favorite McDo French fries but I am determined not to be hard-headed this time. Of course, i don’t want to go to a 10-hr fasting.

Exactly after 1 hour, the med tech took my blood sample. Along with my Glucose Challenge Test (GCT) i will also be tested for HBsAg or screening for Hepatitis B, Anti-HBs, a complete blood count as well as blood typing and urinalysis.

Nervous for the results.

Gender Predictor During Pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (battling infertility) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 01:04:00 +0000

I was eagerly checking some things online on how to determine if you are carrying a girl or a boy even as early as 10 weeks.

One of the old wive’s tales that have been known for years and in fact was considered at a certain time in the past to be widely accepted gender predictor is the fetal heart rate during the first trimester.

Just for the fun of it though, i tried the test and entered the date of the ultrasound as well as the age of gestation, and i smiled when i got this:

So they say that if the fetal heart rate is below 140, you would most probably be having a boy and above that is a girl. Well, let’s just find out in the next few months.

smile* smile*