I’m Pregnant!
It’s such a joy to finally be able to let the secret out. Although you may have guessed when everything went silent and remained so over the holidays. We are so thrilled to announce that we are expecting another baby come early August.
This pregnancy has been a miracle and a gift I am so thankful for. We were ready to get pregnant last summer ( 2019), but my body was not. I figured like Eric’s pregnancy it would be an easy road of conception ( with Eric I got pregnant the first month we tried to conceive). We wanted Eric and our next to be close in age so I was already planning on 2 under 2 and I was ready for it. One month came and went, another month came and went, and another, and another, and another.
If you follow me on Instagram you know what a hormone junkie I am so I was able to take my advice first hand and try to figure out the puzzle of my own frustrating, failing hormones. I felt like my body was not only shutting down but simultaneously failing me at the same time. There were so many signs something was wrong, I just wasn’t quite able to pinpoint where to start. I was experiencing anovulatory cycles ( cycles where you “bleed” but never ovulate), my hair was falling out, I didn’t really have an appetite, I was lethargic, gloomy, and was experiencing massive stomach issues again.
I knew that my inability to get pregnant was my body telling me something else is off. It’s not simply infertility. But something causing it. I began working with a nutritionist ( seriously, I cannot recommend this enough!) and we ran tests and set out a plan of recovery. I don’t feel comfortable disclosing everything my nutritionist told me to do and which supplements to take simply because I don’t want people to see what worked for me and naturally assume they should do the exact same thing for themselves and it will work for them. Everybody is different. Our DNA is different, our bodies tendencies are different, there are so many different factors that come into play.
Fast forward a month, I successfully ovulated ( on day 27 of my cycle!) and boom. I was pregnant. I could not believe it. I called my nutritionist to let her know so we could make any necessary changes to my plan if need be for the baby. She told me under no uncertain terms I have to go immediately and get my progesterone tested. Because of the deficiencies I was experiencing, she knew my body wouldn’t be able to make adequate amounts of progesterone on its own to keep the baby.
I contacted my midwife to schedule some blood work even though I had no signs of any concerns such as cramping or bleeding. Apparently, with progesterone it is something you have to be proactive about. If you can catch low levels in time ( before they drop dangerously low) it is much easier to reverse and carry a viable pregnancy. Once it’s to low it’s too late. I went in around week 6 I believe and sure enough. My progesterone was drastically low. So low they said they want me to go on high doses of progesterone suppositories and that creams or other forms of supplementation would not suffice.
To say I was thankful for my nutritionist and my midwife would be a drastic understatement. I’m still on the progesterone ( currently 13 weeks) and all seems to be well. I am by no means out of the “danger zone” but I’m learning that in life we are never fully out of the danger zone. Even once that baby is earthside, we’re never guaranteed a safe zone.
I wanted to share my story in hopes to help anyone out there struggling. I’ve been quiet about our struggle to conceive since it has in no way even come close to some of my dearest friends’ and families’ struggled. But I simply share to help anyone else going through the same thing. If you have any questions, please please reach out to me on Instagram or send me an e-mail. Anything. You know my passion for women’s hormone health and I would count it a privilege to talk to you.
Until Next time,
–Carrie
