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I’ve been holding back some news for a while, but the cat’s officially out of the bag – I am pregnant! We are adding a third little kiddo to the clan and couldn’t be more excited! Our sweet little girl will be joining us in early November!
So let’s talk details.
Is this a quarantine baby?
Nope! LOL. I had to go there because I know that’s the big joke right now. But we actually began talking to our doctor about starting the IVF process again back in October. Our embryo transfer was February 21, about month before life changed and shut down. I’m now just over 13 weeks pregnant and due in early November.
Did you do IVF again?
I sort of already gave that away, but yes. We were very intentional about this. If you haven’t read about our IVF journey, check it out on the lifestyle part of the blog. I shared the whole process.
But back when we did our egg retrieval and that whole process, we were fortunate enough to end up with 7 healthy PGS tested frozen embryos after our first and only retrieval cycle. For those who don’t know much about IVF – that’s a pretty amazing number. I felt strongly from the moment we knew about those embryos that if we were to have multiple pregnancies, I’d want to be sure to use those embryos.
So once the boys were born, we intentionally prevented pregnancy (birth control), knowing we still felt the same way.
So anyhow, back in October we met with the doctor. I had another hysteroscopy in November. If you read about my first hysteroscopy back when we started IVF, you may remember that it was surprisingly painful. Crazily enough, I didn’t even feel it this time. I was fully prepared for the pain, but nothing came. And then it was over. Nutty!
Anyhow, I knew I wanted to wait until after the holidays before we started anything. I had hoped to keep this pregnancy a secret from friends and family since it was all so open last time and we thought it’d be fun to surprise people. I knew if I stopped drinking at the holidays, it would be noticed.
Ashton and Brooks showing off their muscles!
T-Shirt says “Security – Little Sister Protection Squad”
So things started in January and the transfer was scheduled for February 4, with a pregnancy test on February 14 (hello Valentine’s Day!). I had planned our entire month of February around those dates. I delayed the boys’ birthday party (their birthday is February 2) to February 22 so that I didn’t have to stress about the party at the same time as the transfer and so that family who would be around wouldn’t notice me taking pills and shots. I arranged meetings around those days, etc.
But God had other plans. No joke – every time I make plans and count on them, He reminds me that He’s in control. Every. Single. Time. LOL. I should have known.
So when I went in for my last check up before I would have started the progesterone shots, they saw that I’d ovulated already. This meant that things had to be delayed.
So when I got my next cycle, I called and they rescheduled everything. And what was the new transfer date? THE DAY BEFORE THE BOYS’ PARTY. Ironic? Oh, yea. All the stuff I’d tried to avoid stressing about at the same time was going to happen at the same time. LOL.
So even though we wanted it to be a secret, I finally told my mom. I had to start my shots when I was visiting her on my own and I needed her to help me with the shots. I’m a wimp and to this day I have not ever given myself one of the shots. Sorry, not sorry. I really wanted to be able to give myself the shot and keep things a secret, but I just couldn’t. A big, long shot in the butt wasn’t something I was prepared to do.
Plus, my parents were going to stay with us for the boys’ party and it was going to seem weird that the day before their party I was literally doing nothing (I prepared everything the days before). Not to mention I needed some help with last minute things. So basically, I needed help and I needed to be able to explain why. Secrets are just not something I’m good at keeping, apparently. Oh well.
So obviously the transfer happened and it worked! I was pregnant. They do three blood tests to confirm and all looked good.
The day we went in for our first ultrasound was the Monday after they’d shut everything down here. It was kind of weird. We were the only patients there and it was just strange. But all was well. The baby was measuring perfectly – and there was only one! Yay! Naturally, we were a little nervous for twins again, since last time our single embryo split into twins.
How am I feeling?
This pregnancy has been fairly different than with the twins. You would think that twins would be harder, but as far as the first trimester goes, this one has been a little harder. It might be in part because I have two toddler to take care of and they are high high energy and wear my butt out.
One big thing is just that I’m so tired. All the time. Totally normal, I know. I do think that having two toddlers makes this harder this time around. And there were a few weeks there where I wasn’t just tired, but truly fatigued. Just showering in the morning would take all of my energy. Fortunately I’m back to just tired. Better, but still not easy.
Also with the boys I had heartburn that was pretty bad, but never had nausea or food aversions or anything like that. This time around, food and I aren’t such good friends. I haven’t had any vomiting, but the thought of food totally turns me off. Foods I normally love smell like vomit. My stomach is upset whenever I eat, making it a slow process. I can’t stand chicken, but still like beef, mostly ground beef. And I just always have this feeling in the back of my throat like I might vomit any minute. It’s not super fun.
Fortunately, about 5-6 days ago a lot of that started calming down. Food and I are slowly becoming friends again, which is nice. I still feel averse to some of the same foods, but I don’t feel so sick when I eat.
None of this is horrible, of course, it’s just so different from my other pregnancy. They say you’re more sick with girls and so far for me that has been the case.
Being pregnant during a pandemic
This could not be a stranger time to be pregnant or have a baby. I have several friends who’ve had babies in the last month and it’s just a crazy experience.
But so far for us, it’s been ok. The hubs can’t come to any appointments, which is a bummer. I have to wear a mask at the doctor’s office, which is fine by me. The hardest thing is not being able to see people, which is hard on everyone – not just pregnant people. We have pretty much quarantined throughout this whole thing so far. Our question is just when will it end? When will we feel like we can see our families again? If there’s no vaccine until next year, or even later, what does that mean for seeing our families? With me being pregnant, I’m inclined to being even more careful, but boy is it brutal. Hard, hard, hard.
I’m the most protected of us at the moment. No grocery shopping or anything. But other than not grocery shopping or seeing friends and family, it’s not horribly different for us. I didn’t have the boys out a ton over the winter because they were still a little tough to take out alone and every time I took them out, they got sick. I was really looking forward to taking them out and doing a bunch of fun stuff this summer, so that is a real downer. But they aren’t really old enough to understand or notice, so in many ways it’s easier for us than those with older kids.
Plus, we started potty training a week and a half ago, so that’s keeping us occupied. They are doing very well.
Yay for baby girls!
So that’s all I can think of! We are having a little girl and can’t wait! The boys don’t quite get it yet, but they will eventually. The baby is coming either way!
We are excited to complete our family and so thankful that God has granted us another little one to love on! We know it doesn’t come easy for everyone (and didn’t for us), so we know just how big of a deal it is. We are forever grateful and look forward to meeting our little girl in November.
I am so happy for you. I have so enjoyed following the twins and watching them as they are growing up. Your recipes are the BOMB! Stay safe and you and your family will remain in my prayers. God Bless
Thank you so much, Wanda!
How wonderful! Congratulation and thank you for sharing with all of us!
the pictures of the boys brought tears to my eyes. They are the sweetest!
Stay well and best wishes for a wonderful Mother’s Day!
Aww thank you, Deborah!
Congratulations to you and your family, I’m so happy for you!
Thank you!
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing this news! Blessings to you and your family. Can’t wait to see pictures in November! 🙂
Thank you so much!
Congratulations! Many blessings to you and your family :-))
Thank you!
Congrats, Lindsay! I’m so happy for you and your family, and I pray that you are kept safe during this quarantine and pregnancy ♡ I can’t wait to “meet” your little girl in November 🙂 Best wishes!
Ps. I love the boy’s T-shirts, so cute 😀
Thank you so much, Sarah!
Awwwwww, CONGRATULATIONS, Lindsay! This is such wonderful news! I’m so happy for you♡ Praying everything will go well for you as you endure both pregnancy and the quarantine. Also, love those T-shirts the twins are wearing-so cute!
Thank you, Erin!
Praise the Lord! Congratulations!! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you!
Congratulations on your pink bundle of joy! I can only imagine how profound is the depth of your happiness, especially the look on your son’s faces!
But I have a question, because I don’t understand what happens to the remaining embryo’s if they aren’t implanted?
Regardless, hugs to you as you get some “pink” into your house!
Thank you, Toni!
That’s kind of a tough question. There are three options available to couples with remaining embryos. Donate the embryos to other people trying to conceive, donate them to science or have them discarded, for lack of a better word.
Lindsay; thanks for your very honest response. I ask bc when my husband and I were dealing with our infertility issues, this was part of the options given to us if we chose IVF. But we knew that any embryo’s were our children, waiting to be born, and the thought of anyone other than us, raising our children was out of the question. The same with science picking apart my kids for research. And I couldn’t imagine letting them be discarded, as these were our created children. We ended up just letting God decide, and unfortunately that meant being childless. But we trust in His Wisdom, so I have tearfully accepted it. But it never stops being in front of me, and can be painfully difficult especially on Mothers Day. I celebrate this joyous adventure that you are walking, and I am so very happy for you. God bless, as I look forward to updates on your wee one!
Congratulations Lindsey I know you will love a little girl to love on also.
Thank you!
What an exciting time for you all!! So happy for your family, nothing better than to have two boys watching out for the little sister! I have two boys and then my girl, and wouldn’t change it for anything. Prayers and blessings to you all.
Thank you so much!
Just the kind of news I love to hear during these difficult times!!! So very happy for you and your family. We had a girl after two separate birth boys and you’ll love baking with her although one of my sons is an excellent cook, too. She’ll love having two older handsome brothers, too.
Thank you so much, JoAnn!
Congrats!! I’m so happy for you! A girl, wow, exciting, I can’t wait to see her! Ashton and Brooks are going to be great big brothers. Prayers and hugs to you and your family! <3
Thank you so much, Abigail!
Congrats!! I’m so happy for you! Ashton and Brooks are going to be great big brothers. Prayers and hugs to you and your family! <3
Thank you!
Congrats!! I’m so happy for you! Aston and Brooks are going to be great big brothers. Prayers and hugs to you and your family! <3
Congratulations!
Thank you!