One of the secrets I’ve been keeping

The blurriest ultrasound image ever. Trust me. It's a fetus. A fetus with a very good heartbeat.
The blurriest ultrasound image ever. Trust me. It's a fetus. A fetus with a very good heartbeat.

Yep. I’m 9.5 weeks pregnant. Due 4/7/10. I know, I know…seems kind of early to be announcing a pregnancy after three miscarriages, but it’s been so hard to keep this news from you, and things are looking very, very good. (pooh pooh pooh)

We’ve been seeing a reproductive endocrinologist, but he didn’t have to actually do anything because I was already not quite four weeks pregnant when we walked into his office the first time. What it does mean is that we’ve been seeing someone who is accustomed to seeing only high-risk pregnancies, someone who you’d expect to be rather guarded about positive predictions. We’ve had two ultrasounds already (the privilege of the chronic miscarriage patient: very early ultrasounds) and both revealed a good growth rate and a strong heartbeat. After today’s scan, the doctor said, “When an ultrasound looks this good, hardly any women miscarry. I really think you’re going to have this baby.”

So…Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!! Between the ultrasounds and the fact that I’ve been feeling like absolute crap for weeks (just walking into the kitchen makes me nauseous and I can’t open the fridge. Serious 24-hour morning sickness), it looks like we’re going to get a baby this time.

What’s different this time, besides the fact that I’m still pregnant at this point? Well, I had every possible blood test and everything came back normal, so there was no specific treatment I could get. However, at my request my OB gave me a course of broad spectrum antibiotics before we tried for this baby, in case I had some kind of infection that wasn’t producing symptoms and that was what was triggering the miscarriages. I don’t know if that made the difference or not, but, well…I’ll take the result either way.

(And for those who insisted I had to wean the kiddo completely before I could get to this point? And for those nursing toddler mamas who were discouraged to read that in my comments? No. I have not weaned the kiddo. We night-weaned after I got pregnant, because I needed to get more sleep, but while we were trying, and for the first month of the pregnancy he was still nursing a ton at night. Now he still nurses at bedtime and sometimes at naptime. Just a word of encouragement for fellow long-term breastfeeding mamas, since we don’t get a whole lot of it out in the world.)


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141 Comments on “One of the secrets I’ve been keeping

  1. Congratulations! That’s one beautiful fuzzy fetus. My 6 year old learned a lot about how to prepare food for himself and his younger brother when I was pregnant with their sister, since I avoided the kitchen as much as possible for the first four months. Sleep well, eat when you can, take care.

  2. Oh Yay!!!! I was so hoping that was one of the things you’ve been keeping from us. I’m so happy for you and your family. I will think happy healthy fetus thoughts in your general direction and wish you all the best!

  3. that is a beautiful sight, mama. thinking of you and your babies.

    such a good woman, to give a big old shout out to you amazing bf’ers. i am not one, but you make me wish i had been that good at it.

  4. Fantastic! I’m so happy for you and really am hoping hard that you will continue on a healthy and easy pregnancy… thank you so much for sharing this!

  5. Woohoo! Yay, Cari! I am also 9.5 weeks pregnant, due April 8th & feeling like a pile of poop. May we both have delicious new babes in our arms by mid-April.

  6. THIS!!!!!! is the best news I’ve had in weeks. Congratulations on your teeny sea horse. (It totally looks like a sea horse in the sonogram.)

    This is so much better than boob hives.

  7. Congratulations and lots of luck for a healthy, happy pregnancy and baby!
    (I am a new breastfeeding mother and it’s good to hear some positive nursing news so thank you for sharing that too.)

  8. Mazel tov! (glad it’s you and not me, hahahaha)

    Highly interesting about the idea of an infection, etc. I never would have thought of that — but why not!

  9. Long-time reader de-lurking to say how happy I am for you and your family! I was hoping that this was one of the things you couldn’t say anything about and I’m so pleased things are going well. Glad the b’feeding is still working too – mine are well past that stage but I still miss it!

  10. Congratulations! I so wanted that to be one of the secrets you were holding. Yea for you and for the rest of the family. Thanks for sharing.

  11. That is such good news Cari, congratulations! I hope your nauseousness will diminish/disappear once you’re over twelve weeks, but if it doesn’t, just remember it’s for a good cause.

  12. Many, many congratulations ! I’m thrilled for you.
    It is difficult, in our culture, to breast feed for longer than a couple of months. People are strangely disapproving. I got a lot of grief from my mother once we’d gone past two years !
    Just keep doing what feels right for yourself.
    Take good care of yourself. Exciting times. :0)

  13. Oh, huge congratulations! I can uncross all the fingers I’ve had crossed for you.

    Isn’t it strange how happy one can be for someone one has never met?

  14. Oh Cari! I’m so so happy for you!

    And I’m glad you’ve been able to keep nursing. We’re down to only nursing at bedtime and I have only about ten days left of that. I’m jealous you get to have both.

    I wish you all the best with the ms. I hope it only lasts a few more weeks.

    YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! Babies are THE BEST!

  15. So thrilled to hear this was one of the secrets, and really glad to hear all the positive doctor stuff. Good throughts are being sent your way – so we can keep hearing about all the good stuff. I couldn’t abide the smell of dish soap when I was pregnant. Hy husband thought it was just a ruse to get out of doing the dishes. Maybe…

  16. So happy to see that picture! I also had a tougher time getting pregnant the second time but luckily my midwives did not try to get me to wean my daughter. My kids are 3.5 years apart and I tandem nursed for 3 months after my son was born. They are happy, healthy 19 and 16 year olds who still get along. Mazel Tov and best wishes for the “morning” to dissipate soon.

  17. I’m due 4/10/10, and my son is about 6 mths younger than yours. I totally get the feeling like crap part, it’s miserable. I am thinking good thoughts for both of us.

  18. My Friday just got a bit brighter because of your news. Congratulations – I’m sure Thumper will be a great big brother.

  19. Yeah!! I have been thinking of you and sending you maternal vibes! I’ll keep sending them, hoping you feel better. (Though I think the yukkiness means you are REALLY pregnant.)

  20. I’ve been readying for a long time… just never commenting. I just had to comment now. Can I say how happy I am for you and your family? Best wishes on a healthy pregnancy. 🙂

  21. Oh I am just over the moon for you guys. I have been reading for what seems like forever, and am so happy that this is happening for you. Sending lots of good thoughts your way.

  22. Good for you and the Mister and Thumper–it’s really a family effort, right? And does this mean you’ll get to bump up the $50 food allowance since you’re eating for two (as soon as you start eating again)? Congratulations and best wishes.

  23. I am delighted. What a wonderful secret to share. Thank you for sharing the sweet as well as the bitter. We are blessed to be your readers.

  24. O, Frabjous announcement!!! Sooo happy for you all. And if Thumper was/is Thumper, maybe this little fritter is Swimmer? S/he surely did have mama and papa swimming upstream to get there…
    all best wishes, girl!

  25. Congratulations! Lots of nausea and tiredness are great signs, as my doctor said to me -they mean lots of pregnancy hormones are circulating. Best wishes from a mom typing this while nursing her 12 month old!

  26. Excellentest. Presbytera says in Greek it’s “Tussu, tussu, tussu,” — so with the greatest affection I spit in your general direction.

  27. Excellent news! I am having flashbacks to where I was one year ago (Rudy was due 0n 4/11) hang in there. My hormone hangover lifted magically by the beginning of October, here’s hoping yours lifts soon. Savor your pregnancy.

  28. I’ve been a lurker for years but coming out from lurking to congratulate you and your family! It is such good news to see that someone who is such a dedicated mother is going to mother another lovely child.

  29. Many congrats! Have been through this myself, so while it’s presumptuous say “I know what you’re going through”, I have been where you are. Happy for you and your family.

  30. Cari, I’m just catching up on blogs, but I couldn’t let this one go by without a comment… this is wonderful news! Congratulations!!! Everyone who wants a baby that badly should get one (or another one in your case). It’s so sad when nature doesn’t work, I’m glad it’s working again for you.

  31. OMGosh!!! I was just looking thru my blogroll and thought “I’m going to check Cari’s blog and see if she’s blessed with a pregnancy yet” and lo and behold! Wooooohooooo!!!! So very happy for you!!

  32. I’ve never posted – but I do check your blog every couple of weeks, especially looking for this news, and I couldn’t not say anything – CONGRATULATIONS all the way from the UK!!!

    Hope you don’t feel sick for too much longer.

  33. oh my goodness!!! congratulations and will be hoping for the best possible and lots of good luck and fabby vibes. yes, fabby vibes. can’t be bad. xoxoxo

  34. yay! congratulations!!! i guess i should read blogs more often 🙂 i’m glad to hear that everything’s working out so far and that your doctor is extremely positive!! that’s great news!

    and my god, i had 24-hour morning sickness for months. i hope it lets up for you!

  35. I am absolutely over the moon for you and your family! I hope things continue uneventfully and the nausea passes.

    (are you going to find a midwife, or stick with the ob?)

    (I’m in the process of converting and was very glad to read about the pooh, pooh, pooh. Consider this pregnancy pooh’d from the northeast…)

  36. What wonderful news! So many women I know who have had children say that morning sickness is a good sign. I will send good thoughts and prayers your way.

  37. I nursed my daughter for 2.5 years and I now have a happy healthy 17 year old who still hugs me and says she loves me without me begging.

    GO NURSING!

  38. Hadn’t visited your blog in awhile and came to it today to see this great news. So happy for you and just as an aside. Nurse that guy as long as it’s a good experience for both of you. I nursed my three kids for a year each, because that is all they wanted, but to each his own. I wish detractors would just keep their mouths shut. Good going and congratulations again!

  39. What great news! Best wishes! I also wanted to let you know I nursed through my second pregnancy, and actually ended up tandem nursing for awhile. I’m sure you’ll do whatever feels right for you and your family.

  40. Oh CONGRATS! I hadn’t visited the blog in a while and almost didn’t, but I had a feeling and so I checked and was thrilled to see this news. I was hoping to read that you were once again expecting. Positive thoughts for a happy healthy pregnancy and the wonderful new life to nurture.

  41. Yay! I searched backward (didn’t have to go very far) and found what I was looking for! Another “Congratulations!” never hurt anybody!! And a prayer for that sweet heart beat to keep on. 🙂

  42. Well damn I am SO late to this party – for some reason I haven’t been able to access your blog! But today I did it through the link on Facebook. Anyway – congratulations way after everyone else’s! SO thrilled for you. 🙂

    Giant hugs and love

    XO

  43. what a blessing! i’m very glad for your family.
    yes, the longtime nursing is very hidden. my kid pretty much weaned himself, with the teeniest hint of effort or pushing on my part, and the nursing stopped in july (age 3.4 years). i thought he would go on forever, but suddenly for the last few months he just wasn’t interested. (however, 2 months post nursing, he’s still got this “thing” for my breasts/nipples.) on the other hand, our neighbor friend (3.5 years) is still a very strong nurser. every kid is different, aren’t they?

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