This journey's end is near... and COVID is here!

I am now 36 weeks pregnant, and a lot has happened since my last update. I still get nauseous every once in a while... sometimes I can pinpoint what it is (like eggs, blah!). And at other times I will eat the same thing 2 days in a row and be fine one day and not the next. Haven't been getting headaches anymore! YAY! To be honest, I've been feeling really good.

So far, at all of my appointments, everything has been going great with the baby and me.

At my 26 week appointment, I had bloodwork done to check for gestational diabetes. I've never had it with any other pregnancy and do not have it this time either. :-) ​

At my 31 week appointment my OB Doctor told me that starting at 36 weeks I would have weekly appointments and at those appointments, they would do an ultrasound in the office to measure the amniotic fluid around the baby and also do a non-stress test. This is standard for women who are 35 years old or older.
The Intended Parents and their 5-year-old daughter are planning to make the drive from New Jersey to Iowa right after Christmas so they will be here before the baby arrives.
I can't wait to see them again and meet their daughter!

Let's talk about COVID19 and pregnancy.

Let me just start out by saying, I take the pandemic very seriously. Sadly, I personally know people who have passed away from it and I know people who have had it and been completely fine. When the vaccine was offered to me in March of 2021, I was in the process of IVF with a potential pregnancy in April. I had reached out to both my OB and my IVF doctor to see if they recommended it for women who were trying to get pregnant or were currently pregnant. Both of these doctors told me that there was not enough research with pregnant women to tell me, either way, to get or not to get the vaccine so it was up to me. Knowing that there was not enough research, I chose to not get vaccinated. To be honest, I don't get many vaccines because I believe that my body is made to fight off illnesses.

Fast forward to October 2021, I had a routine OB appointment and was asked if I wanted to get the COVID19 vaccine. We chatted a while about it and I concluded that I just did not want to get the vaccine at this point. I was 29 weeks pregnant at this time and just felt like I was too far along in my pregnancy. I had been healthy, I don't hang out with many people or large groups of people and I just felt in my heart, I didn't want to get it at this point. Let me say, it was a bit of a battle with the OB doctor but ultimately, this is my decision.

I am not against anyone who has gotten the vaccine or anyone who has chosen to not get vaccinated - it is each individual's choice and I do not judge others because of it.

On November 19th, my son started sniffling and feeling congested. Iowa weather is crazy between fall and winter... there are days it is 20 degrees and days it is 60 degrees and this is the time of year people are getting colds, strep throat, sinus infections, etc. He started with a slight cough a few days later but other than that, he had his normal energy and no fever. On November 22nd, my daughter complained of being hot. This isn't unusual for her. I took her temperature and it was 99.4, so not anything super high. That same day I had a headache but contributed it to the pregnancy, but it later developed into hot flashes.


On November 24th I got a text from another parent who has a child in my daughter's class saying her daughter tested positive for COVID. Her child had basically the same symptoms as my children. Since we would be celebrating Thanksgiving with family, I  stopped by the pharmacy and picked up at-home test kits. I took my test in the car and it was negative. I went home and tested both kids and they were both positive. We ended up going to urgent care that night and getting PCR tests on the 3 of us. It was going to take 2-3 days to get our results back but the doctor said since the kids tested positive with the home test and I was having symptoms, to just assume the 3 of us were positive. We were bummed that we would not be getting together with family for Thanksgiving but knew staying home was the responsible thing to do.


On November 26th, we got our PCR test results back and both kids were positive but mine was negative. The Doctor said I may have just tested early so I took our last at-home test and it immediately came up positive.

Over the next few days, we were congested and coughing. I contacted my OB on and she recommended I get an antibody infusion. This was supposed to make sure my symptoms didn't get any worse. I really didn't feel too bad to begin with, just like I had a cold, but I took her recommendation and headed to labor and delivery to get the infusion. Two hours after the infusion I had a horrible headache and horrible sinus pressure. This was the worst I had felt since I found out I had COVID. After 6 hours, I was feeling better but had lost my sense of taste and smell.

On November 30th, my husband tested positive. Besides having chills for 2 days, he had the same symptoms the kids and I had... congestion and a slight cough. We were all doing pretty well and we came out of our quarantine feeling pretty much back to normal.

I do not want to downplay that being pregnant and having COVID can be a very serious thing but wanted to share my experience as a gestational carrier. As of today, I am barely congested, still coughing a little, don't fully have my smell back, and can barely taste anything. But, if that is all, I'd say I am doing well! :-)

This past weekend I started having Braxton Hicks contractions. I am hoping this little girl stays in a little longer, at least until New Year! And I can't wait for the big day where her parents and sister get to meet her.

I will keep you all posted!