ALMOST THERE!

Hi Everyone!

I am 31-weeks and counting. Which means I only have 8-weeks left and Baby Miles will make his grand entrance. We are so excited and nervous. I LOVE being pregnant... it really fits me, if that makes sense.

Phil and I have not had this baby and we are already talking about #2, LOL. We think Miles needs a little sister to play with. Joking... sort of! I could see how women have lots and lots of babies... I really do enjoy being pregnant! Maybe one day we will decided on #2 and Dr. Denker will be getting a call!

Here is a picture of me about 30-weeks:


WHY IVF?

Hey!

So I get asked A LOT... "Why did you have to have IVF"?

Well... the simple answer is my husband has some problems with his sperm: "low motility" is the main reason. He shape of his sperm are also a factor.

While I did not show any signs of infertility my eggs were not "the best quality". But I could have gotten pregnant without treatment.

So not always is it a female issue. A lot of time it can be male related. There is not much you can do to fix the sperm quality and motility issues. Fertility treatment is usually a must.

After being tested at Palm Beach Fertility Center we found out why we had not gotten pregnant in 4 years of constant trying. It was a relief to finally know why and what treatment options were available.

You will hear about several fertility options... IUI, IVF, IVF with ISIC. It can all be overwhelming and depressing. Which is why YOU MUST call Dr. Denker and his staff for a consult - so they can tel you what treatments are best for your situation. He and his staff are THE BEST and I know because I got a BIG FAT POSITIVE Pregnancy Test on my very first IVF treatment cycle! It worked for me and I am 26-weeks pregnant!!

CALL them and just see if they can help. They gave me my miracle baby and in October I will deliver Miles Allen Cartwright.



Twenty down, 20 to go!

Hey,



Hooray! Halfway there! And in case you don't believe 20 weeks is a milestone worth celebrating, consider that it's longer than a semester at college—or any relationship you had in high school - LOL!

AND my belly is getting bigger :)





Looking back on the whole IVF process with Dr. Denker at Palm Beach Fertility Center... to be here... 20-weeks and feeling the baby kicking and moving is SUPER AWESOME! It was all SOOOOO worth it.

I am trying to watch what I eat... as it is easy to have a "free" pass to eat anything you want while prego. I am already a curvy gal, so I do not want to gain so much weight it is unhealthy for baby or myself. So I am indulging some, but eating pretty healthy.

The baby weighs about 10.5 ounces and 6.5 inches long from crown to rump (not including legs). And he is moving like crazy! I think I have a night owl as he likes to move and kick all night - while I am trying to sleep.

I am going to start working on the nursery soon... my husband needs to paint first! Ughhhh, glad that is not my job - LOL.

LADIES, if you have been trying to conceive and have been unsuccessful... PLEASE pick-up the phone and call Dr. Denker at Palm Beach Fertility Center. Trust me when I say he and his team are THE BEST!

New ultrasound pics coming soon :)

Have a great day!
Jennifer

"YOUR MOOD SWINGS ARE GIVING ME WHIPLASH"

That's what is happening to me... one minute I am laughing and the next I am crying... YIKES!

I have a GREAT video of my last ultrasound at Dr. Denker's office - it's amazing!! I can see the baby opening and closing his mouth and sucking his thumb. I will post the video tonight!

Tomorrow is my 18-week ultrasound appointment and I am excited! This is the ultrasound that most of the time will be the GENDER ultrasound! I am going to re-confirm that it is for sure a BOY!

Sometimes based on what genetic testing you are allowing this ultrasound will look for genetic markers (Downs).

Update on my bleed: I have not bled in a few weeks... which means I will probably bleed soon. I hope not. My doctor insist that it's the second baby that did not make it trying to make its way out (breaking-up, shifting) that is cause the bleeds. I am trying not to let it freak me out. I wear a panty liner all day as I have brown old blood 99% of the time.

I am 18-weeks this week (Thursday) and I feel good. I am not showing like I thought I would. I think it's because I was "curvy" to begin with and the cute baby bump I should have is under the fat I have. It's kind of pushed my fat out a bit... but I don;t think I look pregnant - which sucks!

The baby is about 5 1/2 inches long and 5 to 7 ounces in weight. That sounds really tiny to me. I can feel him inside me! Or at least I think I can - LOL. It feels like something pinching me - kinda. Or a very light twitch/thump. I would not say "fluttering" as everyone else says. The baby likes music, I play music on my belly at night and in the mornings and he moves around most of the time. He likes steel drum music the best - like his dad!

Well that's it for now... tomorrow I will have more updates about how the baby is doing. I am excited to see him and hear his heartbeat for sure!

Just keep moving!

Hi all,

Well last week was eventful. I had two more bleeds and two doctors appointments as a result. Last Monday was the first bleed (but probably my 5th or 6th bleed since IVF) and it was heavy but not as heavy as previous bleeds. I went to doctor on Monday morning and the baby was fine! They could see the bleeding in my uterus and said it's still the second sac (baby b) trying to make it's way out, breaking-up and shifting that is causing the bleeding. I passed a clot the size of a plum and it freaked me out!

Tuesday night I had another bleed and back to the doctor Wednesday to hear the same thing... baby good, bleed still there, nothing they can do. I will most likely bleed through his whole pregnancy. DANG IT!

It's hard to describe how scary this kind of thing can be. You see all that blood and you think MY BABY! And you worry until you see it on the ultrasound and hear that amazing heartbeat.

The ultrasound tech slipped at my last appointment and told me what we are having... IT'S A BOY! I love boys... so we are thrilled!

My belly is growing but I still just look fat. It does not look like a pregnancy bump... guess because I am not super skinny. So it's kinds pushing my fat out... LOL. I keep waiting for those "flutters". I feel something every now and then... I think it may be small flutters, not really sure. I know when I do feel him... gosh will that be awesome!

My next appointment is May 19th and I am excited to see him, make sure he is okay. I like my OB... I switched to a female doctor and she is GREAT! She is NOT Dr. Denker... but she is GREAT!

PS: I am 16-weeks this Thursday! This is what the baby looks like at 16-weeks (see below). Here is some info about what my body is going through and what the baby is doing in the womb as well...

Pregnancy at 16 weeks:
Funny how everyone who's never been pregnant assumes all the changes you're going through are just located in your uterus. Nobody mentions the stuffy nose, the itchy skin, the sciatica, the outbursts of emotion, the fatigue, the sickness and dizziness. But just remember that all the funky things your body is doing are leading up to the big payoff of snuggling up with that little muffin in just a few months.

Your Body...
No, you don't have a new superpower, although it'll feel like it because you're able to smell pizza, burnt toast or a pulled-pork sandwich from miles away. Your heightened sense of smell isn't the only new trick your nose is doing. You're probably noticing some extra nasal congestion and maybe even some nosebleeds to go along with it. Clearly your sense of smell is in overdrive, so try to avoid walking past the BBQ Pit or Curry Emporium. But enough about your nose. Let's talk about your ever-enlarging breasts. Your boobs might still be tender, especially your nipples, and they're continuing to grow, grow, grow. You may even be able to squeeze a little colostrum (nutrient rich pre-milk milk) out of your boobs at this point. (If you can even touch your nipples without writhing in pain, that is.)

The Baby...
Your baby is already mugging for the camera as she practices all sorts of facial expressions, such as squinting, yawning and grimacing. Your baby's skin is still translucent and wrinkly, not unlike an old man's, but more fat will soon accumulate under the dermas to plump him/her out. If you could peer inside right now, you'd be able to see all of her veins under her skin. And speaking of veins, your baby's heart now pumps about 25 quarts of blood per day! Also, his eyes are now locked and loaded at their final destination, facing forward rather than to the sides. (Whew!)

Your baby weighs about 3 ounces this week and measures between 4 and 5 inches.

Hurdle #... (I forget)

Hi,

So I am almost 15-weeks. YEAH!

The morning sickness is still here, not quite as bad, but here non the less. I am still taking the miracle pills for the nausea - thank goodness for those!

My belly is changing a bit. My pants do not close - LOL. I am so short (5' even) that I need my belly only had one place to go - OUT!

Unfortunately, last week Monday I had another bleed. It seems to come every 28 to 30 days. Seems like my period still tries to come every 4-weeks or so (I don't know why this is happening). I got up early Monday morning bleeding - scared me as usual. Put my feet up and waited to get into the doctor that morning. After waiting 4 hours they took us back for an ultra sound. THANK GOD baby is fine. They saw the bleed and said nothing was wrong with baby. Here is the new picture of the baby. He/She is laying on his/her back and this is the profile. SO WILD!!


Well, that's it for now. I go back on May 19th for the next big appointment. Fingers and toes crossed. I will keep you updated.

Jen

Transition... change.

Hi,

My last appointment with Dr. Denker and his staff was yesterday and it went very well. The baby is great... PERFECT is the word Dr. Denker used. I am 12-weeks now and ready to transition to my OBGYN.

Phil and I are sad to leave the care of Dr. Denker and his staff but we knew this day would come and I am ready to meet my new Doctor... which will be next week! He will pale in comparison... I just know it :)

We have decided not to find out if it's a Boy or a Girl. We are going to let it be a surprise! I know... crazy! My Mother already says this is unacceptable - LOL.

I found this poem that I wanted to share :)

A Boy Or A Girl
© Regina M. Linn

At first you moved only a little. I could always find you, right in the middle.

As time went on, you really started to grow. It wasn't a whole lot, in fact, it was rather slow.

Before I knew it you were all over the place. It kind of felt like you were running a race.

People would ask me if you were a boy or a girl. I would sit and wonder if you would have curls.

There are so many things I really want to know. But, you are hidden inside, so the answers don't show.

How much will you weigh?
How tall will you be?
What color is your hair?
Will you even like me?

I hope and pray you feel like you belong. I never want you to feel like you are alone.

Your Dad and I planned you from the start. You my dear child were made straight from our hearts.

There will be no one like you, not any place in the world. It really doesn't matter if you are a boy or a girl.

We are both so happy that you even exist. The gender doesn't matter, you'll be hard to resist.

I hope I make you proud that I am your mother everyday. Because you have filled my dreams in more ways than words can say.

It won't be long before I can look you in your eyes. I can feel the excitement growing, I know I'm going to cry.

Don't worry my angel, those tears will be of joy. It won't matter to me if you are a boy or a girl.