Hi!!  It has been quite a while since I have posted anything, BUT I promise that will change.  I have been a little preoccupied with my first pregnancy at the age of 41!  I mention my age only because it placed me in the “high risk” category right out of the gates.  My husband and I struggled to get pregnant for the last 3 years and went through extensive testing regarding our fertility.  My last effort before I moved to Arizona (literally only a few days before moving) I had the dye test done to see if I had any blockage in my fallopian tubes, but nope all clear.  Luckily for us we got pregnant right after that quick and simple test and that is where my journey began.

We found out we were pregnant on Thanksgiving and the first thing I did was go and run a Turkey Trot.. I say that only because my journey not only involved tons of doctors appointments and constant surveillance of my baby, I never stopped working out and nor was I ever told to do so.  I have worked out all my life and so it was second nature to keep exercise apart of mine and my babies life.  As I began to progress through my pregnancy, always having healthy check ups I was diagnosed with IUGR, Intrauterine Growth Restriction, meaning my baby was smaller than she should have been for her gestational growth period or she was not growing at a normal rate.  I was a bit upset, no, I was actually extremely upset.  My daughter was measuring small below the 10th percentile, but proportionally small, which was a good thing in this case.  They measure three main areas on a baby to check for growth, the head, the abdomen, and the femur and lucky for us she was evenly small, which ruled out possible abnormalities, but still a cause for concern.  I began seeing a Perinatal Specialist who didn’t have anything to compare my pregnancy with since this was my first, and stated that the baby is healthy, but she just may be small so we need to monitor you twice a week until it is time to deliver.  I was over the moon relieved to find out she was healthy, “just small.”  

Both my Perinatal Specialist and my OBGYN stated that working out was good just as long as I got enough calories in throughout my day.  IUGR has several different symptoms, but I didn’t fit the bill for any of them.  Each week I would have a Biophysical Profile done and a Stress Test and every three weeks I would have a growth ultrasound to see how she was growing.  I feel so blessed to have been taken such good care of, but I also felt a little scared and worried.  Seeing something on a screen so precious and small, all I wanted to do was hold her and make sure she was ok, but that time would come.  So we endured all the tests and watched her progress and I continued to be active and workout.  I felt great throughout my entire pregnancy, I worked out everyday, I worked up until a few days before she was born.  I never got sick and never craved anything that I didn’t already eat.  I am not saying that to rub it in anyones face, I just know I was lucky.  

IUGR prevented me from making it to my due date which was July 21st, 2016.  I went in for my Biophysical Profile and was told I would be scheduled to have an induction in two days on July 14th.  I think I almost fell over.  I looked at my husband like “did she really just say we are having our baby in two days?”  I was so not prepared, I didn’t even have diapers for her yet!  I tell you what, those two days were get ready for baby days, and fast!  Having moved to Arizona I didn’t have the opportunity to have a baby shower so I was fortunate to have a friend who got all the must halves from her sister who recently had a baby.  The 14th came and I threw my hospital bag together and we headed out to have one last meal as a couple and then went to the hospital.  The induction started at 10:00pm and the wait began.  I had to wait for 12 hours all in hopes that the Cervidil ( a medication to get your cervix ready for labor) would take effect, but unfortunelty for me after 12 hours I only was dilated to 1 cm.  So this led to having Pitocin through an IV, but as the Pitocin dosed increased my contractions did as well, and I was having them every 30 seconds and causing my blood pressure or my babies blood pressure to rise and again still only dilated to 1 cm. My husband and I decided to go ahead with a C-Section.  I was a little upset because I was hoping for a natural birth, no epidural, but that was not in the cards.  The C-Section was a success and I got away with just a spinal tap.  I can’t say enough amazing things about Chandler Regional Hospital and all the staff that took care of me, my husband and of course out precious baby who weighed in a 4lbs 8oz, and 18 inches long.  

Once the surgery was over, the Doctor came over to me and said our decision to have a C-Section was great because the umbilical cord was wrapped around her head and it was short, which means she may not have made it out of the birthing canal and I would have had an emergency C-Section.   I have learned a lot form this last 9 months of my life, but I do know that I couldn’t love anything more than I love my little girl and I know that staying active and working out helped me have a great pregnancy and a safe and quick recovery from my surgery.  IUGR is still a mystery to me, but although my little girl is small she is healthy and growing everyday.  She is a blessing and I am grateful to everyone who helped bring her into this world on July 15th, 2016.