Triple Loop Part 2

Fast forward three weeks. I had my first appointment with my local OB, Dr. N.  All was looking good.  A few days later, her nurse calls me and says that Dr. N received the records from Dr. S and she was not happy with the lack of information she received.  She ordered a full ultrasound to be done ASAP.

So I went and got the ultrasound a few days later.  I knew almost immediately I was about to be thrown for another loop.  I was looking at the screen and thinking there must be something wrong my eyes.  I was seeing three heads.  The techs jaw dropped and I watched her move her wand around looking for heartbeats.  By this time I was getting the shakes and holding my breath.  The tech put her hand on my shoulder and said, "Sweetie, you are not carrying twins.  You are carrying triplets.  Just breathe." 
I asked her if she was sure because I had had two in office ultrasounds from two different doctors saying otherwise.  She was very sure.  She had even checked the heartbeats before she told me.  When she placed the camera on Baby C, it was waving at the camera.  Almost as if saying "Hi!".  Once again all my mind could say was WOW!!! 
I was there for about two hours while she did all of her measurements just trying to make sense of all of this.  I was such a mix of emotions.  I would go into shock and forget to breathe for a bit, then I would stare in amazement at what I was seeing on the screen and then I would start to worry about all of the "what ifs" that go along with a high risk pregnancy.

I thought I was in shock the first time I was told I was carrying triplets, but this was unbelievable.  Here I was at 15 and a half weeks just finding this news out.  I just kept thinking, "I can't believe I have to tell my IP's this news again."  I was so nervous to tell them.  I don't quite know why I felt so nervous or what I expected them to say.  Regardless, I knew that we were in this together and that I was about to rock their world's even more so than mine had just been rocked.
I called them that evening after I had talked with my husband and we had our little freak out session.  The response was quite similar to my own.  Speechless.  We talked for quite a while and when we were getting off the phone I told A how nervous I was to tell them they were expecting triplets {again}.  As we were getting off the phone A said I am hanging up with a smile on my face.  I knew that things would be OK and everything would work out.  It may not be exactly how we planned, but the babies are healthy, I feel pretty good at the moment, my IP's are excited and looking forward to meeting their babies.

I told you this one would be long...but I do have one more little snippet of news for you.  The tech said with about 90% certainty...Baby A is a girl, Baby B is a boy and Baby C {AKA Houdini} is another girl.   

My IP's are supper exited.
So that's all for now folks.  Let's all hope it's smooth sailing from here on out. 

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great Easter weekend.  :)

A Triple loop in the surrogacy roller coaster Part 1

Ok, this is going to be a long post so bare with me here.  I'm going to start at the very beginning...Hopefully it's not too confusing.  

So remember when I had a little scare?  Well I have a confession.  Two days after that ultrasound, when I landed in the ER,  I was told that I was carrying triplets.  This was such a complete and utter shock and we all {my IP's and hubby and I} agreed that it was a good idea to keep it quiet for the time being.  You never know what will happen and odds are not all three would stay with us. This news definitely explained a whole lot regarding the spotting/bleeding, but not quite what I was expecting to hear two days after being confirmed pregnant with twins.

Sooo we all {A, S, hubby and I} went down to LA a few days later for the 6 week ultrasound.  Dr. S {IVF doctor} confirmed that I was in fact carrying triplets and that all three had heartbeats.  One was a little smaller than the other two but looked pretty good also.  All I could say was Wow!  I was a bit overwhelmed but I had a feeling things would work out exactly how they were supposed to.

One of the biggest obstacles in our way was the surrogacy insurance.  It has a clause in there that cancels your policy if you are expecting more than twins.  This is HUGE!  There are so many unknowns with pregnancy in general but with triplets...you get the idea.  So we all came to decision to take it one day at a time and see where this crazy road would lead us.

Two weeks later, A and I went down to LA again to have our 8 week ultrasound.  Dr. S did his thing and quickly told us that it looked like Baby C had stopped growing and he could not find a heartbeat.  This was very bittersweet.  On one hand we knew that everything happens for a reason and that this would give Babies A and B a better chance.  On the other hand it was just sad.  Very bittersweet.  So as we left there I selfishly felt a sense of relief because I knew how hard it would be to carry three, but in seeing how much it had upset A I felt really sad too.  I knew I had done everything in my power to keep the babies safe, but as a surrogate, I also feel a certain sense of responsibility for this precious bundle I am carrying.  I am carrying someones hopes, dreams and future in my womb. 

Another two weeks went by and A and I went down to LA for another ultrasound with Dr. S.  This one was pretty uneventful and we were told that the twins looked great and were developing perfectly.  At the end of the ultrasound, almost as an after thought , A asked if Dr. S was going to check to see if Baby C was "absorbed".  The doc said there was no point...

  Insurance had been reinstated and my care transferred to a local OB.  So on we went with plans for the twins.

Drumroll please...

Well, the results are in.  The nurse called this morning and said,  "Congratulations...you are VERY pregnant!"  

My BETA came back with a whopping 797!!!  All I can say is WOW!!!  

I think I am still in a bit of shock.   I am feeling a lot of things all at once.  On one hand I am really excited, happy and relieved that it worked, but on the other I am really anxious and nervous about the road ahead. I am still trying to wrap my head around it.  Nothing like hearing you are probably carrying 2-3 babies to wake you up in the morning right?  My hands were shaking and I felt like I was going to throw up.  Whether it was morning sickness or just plain shock, i don't know.  What I do know is that I am going to try and take this one step at a time and try, try, try to be patient until our first ultrasound.  By the way, we are scheduled to have that on Valentines day.  :)

My IP's are also feeling a bit shell shocked.  Here I am worried about how I am going to make it through the next 9 months, they have a lifetime to think about.   I'm sure that has gotta be a bit overwhelming...

So, I'm curious what other Surro Mammas came in on there first BETA.  I just want to see if there is any kind of rhyme or reason to the number or if everyone is different.  If you don't mind sharing, I would love to hear.  If you don't want to post it on my comments, you can email me too.  { h.grosser@sbcglobal.net }

Well that's all for now,  I've gotta go relax.  It's been a long morning.