Home Β» Family Friday (vol. 9): And Then There Were Four…

Family Friday (vol. 9): And Then There Were Four…

Baby #2 Announcement Blog

Our little family will be growing this September – Shea is going to be a big sister! Does the uptick in carb-a-licious meals posted on the blog make more sense now? 😉 Since this picture was taken, my due date was actually adjusted to September 6th and if that ends up being the case, my babies will be *exactly* 23 months apart. 🙂

Our “trying to conceive (TTC) journey” was very different with baby #2. After over a year of trying for Shea, followed by an IUI (I posted all about our infertility journey here), I was mentally and emotionally gearing up for a long haul in getting pregnant and praying all the while that we were, in fact, going to be blessed with a second child. I am a very open book as a person and many people knew we were ready for #2. I heard a lot of, “Oh, so-and-so…she had fertility treatments her first pregnancy and then, BOOM! She wasn’t even trying for the second!” I’m poking fun, but you hear these stories. All. The. Time. Baby #1 was a miracle among miracles against all odds and then without even trying, subsequent babies were conceived “effortlessly”. Sigh.

I didn’t want to hear it. As much as I wanted to think it, I knew I had to remain cautiously optimistic.

As with most women during breastfeeding, my cycle never returned. During this time, I struggled with my commitment and desire to breastfeed knowing that we were delaying efforts for baby #2. In this way, every woman and family is different. I loved breastfeeding and yet felt the pressure to regain my cycle and give serious efforts towards a second child. I vividly recall my 6 week post-partum check-up where my midwife shared that statistically, my best chances of conceiving naturally are in the next 18 months. Tick, tock, tick, tock.

I decided not to wean early and as it ends up, Shea very happily weaned herself right at 11 months. It was both a happy and sad time. I had the “goal” of a year and of course, I missed the closeness that came with breastfeeding. I spun the situation towards the positive and anxiously awaited my cycle (for the first time in my life). Eight long weeks later, we officially began trying to conceive (the end of October 2015, just after Shea turned 1).

Right off the bat, I used ovulation predictor kits (OPK’s). Just the cheapies. My ovulation was late and my cycles were long (40ish days). I would ovulate close to day 29, about 2 weeks later than most women. It was very frustrating. During this time, I continued on my 500 mg metformin daily (for PCOS) and tried to remain patient.

My midwife had agreed that we could try clomid after 2 natural cycles. Needless to say, that time came in December. I was prescribed 50 mg clomid to take on CD3-7. I tolerated the medication well and had no issues other than a slight headache for a day. I monitored for ovulation and did not receive any other monitoring. Often, clomid cycles are monitored by way of ultrasound to not only measure the maturity of the follicle(s) for optimal timing, but to also ensure the ovaries are not over-stimulated, resulting in an increased risk of multiples. Mark and I understood we were at an increased chance of multiples and continued with the unmonitored cycle, as monitored cycles would have required a referral to a fertility specialist…of which we do not have one locally.

Fast forward to the day after Christmas (3w4d) when I was SHOCKED to have received a positive pregnancy test. We were leaving my parents’ home for my in-laws that day and I not-so-patiently waited until we were in the car for the 2 1/2 hour drive to share the news with Mark. He didn’t honestly believe me at first!

I had my first ultrasound at 6 weeks and there was a heartbeat of 101 bpm! I don’t know why, but I wasn’t provided with an ultrasound picture…but here’s one from ~9 weeks when I got a bonus ultrasound from an ultrasound student. Perks of working in health care!

ultrasound 9 weeks

I don’t know what more to say than I feel so very blessed to have had such a different fertility journey with baby #2. We got pregnant with our first IUI and now, our first cycle of clomid – we are blessed!

We cannot wait to find out the gender so we can argue over names and in just 6 months, give or take, we’ll be a family of 4. Five with the dog 🙂

  • Weight gain: 0-1 lbs, depending on the day.
  • Cravings: SANDWICHES, soup, chips, chocolate milk. I joke that I “knew” I was pregnant when I craved Subway. It was all I wanted when pregnant with Shea. My Jimmy Johns love on Instagram? Yeah. And Fritos and cottage cheese? Can’t knock it til you’ve tried it!
  • Food aversions: Other than nearly making a scene over Hummus-Crusted Chicken, I’ve had no real aversions. That was the first time I’ve made dinner and not eaten it. But, Mark loved it!
  • Fears: Miscarriage, the balance of 2 vs 1 kid, Shea not adapting well.
  • Is Shea excited? Not in the least, I’m sure. 🙂 She’ll get there. At (not quite) 17 months, she doesn’t understand any of this.
  • Workouts: ~5 days/week – jogging, walking, and tennis. I quit hockey very early on – better safe than sorry.
  • Favorite girl name (for now): Piper
  • Favorite boy name (for now): Gavin
  • 1st trimester woes: Fatigue, a few headaches, and some lower back pain if I have a heavier workout day. I feel very fortunate not to be plagued with morning sickness in either of my pregnancies.
  • Babymoon: Was supposed to be to Playa del Carmen with friends, but due to Zika, it will be Mark and I in Scottsdale, AZ and Sedona. I’ve never been to Arizona so I’m trying not to be so sour over canceling Mexico.

Thank you for all of your love, support, and kind words. xoxo! Please leave baby name suggestions, too! 🙂

Be well,

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17 Comments

  1. Joanne
    March 4, 2016 / 2:58 pm

    congratulations on your great news!

  2. Melissa
    March 4, 2016 / 3:35 pm

    Congrats!!! Gavin is my pick for a boys name too!!!

  3. Amanda
    March 4, 2016 / 3:43 pm

    Did you have any milk production issues related to pcos? I just had my first 3 weeks ago and struggling!

  4. Biz
    March 4, 2016 / 4:36 pm

    I am so happy for you Nicole! I secretly hope it’s another girl because Shea is so damn cute. I love the name Merryn. πŸ˜€

  5. Sheryl Brown
    March 4, 2016 / 5:47 pm

    Congratulations! I am so very happy to read this, and pray that all goes smoothly.

  6. Jessica of My Baking Heart
    March 4, 2016 / 7:24 pm

    SO excited for you guys! Can’t wait to hear what the gender is! ❀️

  7. Lizzie
    March 4, 2016 / 9:09 pm

    Congratulations!! So exciting. Glad it was (relatively) easy for you! I can’t believe you waited 2.5 hours with that secret. I like your fave names. Hmm..if you like Piper, you might like Harper?

  8. Elaine
    March 5, 2016 / 11:45 am

    Congratulations! Rachel or Andrea are my favorite girls’ names. For a boy? That’s a little tougher-mainstream, classic names always are good- William or Jonathan for example. Hope you have smooth sailing through your pregnancy!

  9. Becca
    March 5, 2016 / 1:17 pm

    Congratulations!!! It’s not my business, but when you haven’t posted pictures of been or wine on Instagram, I wondered if another was on the way (totally not my business, but it crossed my mind!) My husband and I are deciding if we’re going IUI or IVF, and I forgot you guys had done IUI with Shea. Your IUI success is encouraging, thank you for sharing!!!

  10. Anna K
    March 5, 2016 / 4:33 pm

    Boy: Caleb, Grayson, and I like Gavin
    Girl: Ella, Skylar, and I like Piper too!
    -Anna K

  11. JulieL
    March 7, 2016 / 6:51 am

    Congratulations!

  12. brittany (healthy slice)
    March 7, 2016 / 6:54 am

    Congratulations Nicole!! I’m so happy for you <3
    I'm terrible at coming up with names, so no suggestions, but lots of well wishes πŸ˜‰

  13. Tracy
    March 13, 2016 / 12:30 am

    CONGRATULATIONS! I was on your site to revisit your protein pancakes recipe to share with someone and, since I’m not on Facebook for Lent, decided to see what’s going on in your blogosphere. This was way better news than I could have imagined!!!!! Yippee!!

    • Nicole Morrissey
      Author
      March 13, 2016 / 10:10 am

      Thanks, Tracy!! Hope you are well πŸ™‚

  14. Debbie Jackson
    June 14, 2016 / 2:36 pm

    I have something important to share, for over 4 years now of my marriage i have been trying to get pregnant, this almost made my husband to divorce me because my mother in-law was planning to get him another girl, i was always crying everyday because my marital life way going down. My mother in-law made my husband believe that i was the cause of us being able to give birth, i was always crying, my heart was broken into pieces. My husband and I have been seeing a fertility specialist. We have done one IUI with no luck. My husband has a sperm count which goes up and down, the doctor has recommended him taking the Preseed supplement which he is doing over 3 years with no change in the situation my husband who has low sperm count? It just seems to me that if the sperm are unable to fertilize the egg it will not matter how many are produced. I am was so confused until i contacted this powerful spiritual coven online who I saw a number of testimonies of how he has help so many of them so I sent fountain waters coven a mail and I told them all my sorrows and pain they replied me and ask me not to cry any more that they will help, the sent me some instructions and caution, fountain waters performed the ritual rights and send me a spiritual medicine, they told me to have sex with my husband within 2weeks of doing this I felt dizzy and I went to the doctor and it was confirm that I was pregnant thanks to fountain waters spiritual waters powers now am a mother of a bouncing baby boy and joy has been restored to my marital life and am very happy, no more stress from my mother in-law. If any one needs such help don’t wait all life time to get help in getting pregnant contact fountain waters now on his personal email : [email protected] Or whatsapp them on +2349054913842

  15. Kate Dobkin
    July 29, 2016 / 12:21 pm

    I never thought I’d be writing this message but after 4 years of TTC, severe endometriosis and scarring, I was told that IVF was the only option. This was something we could not afford and had almost given up hope of becoming parents. A friend of mine recommended fountain water to me and persuaded me to contact him. To cut a long story short, he did spiritual deeds for me, within 9 weeks I was pregnant (naturally!!!) and gave birth to our son in April. I am writing this message for those women who are at the stage I was at. Obsessed by babies, envious of pregnant women, depressed with no light at the end of the tunnel. Give fountain waters a go, and hopefully you’ll have the same success that I have had. Here is his email address [email protected] and his mobile number on whatsapp is +2349054913842

    • Jazmine
      January 23, 2017 / 1:18 pm

      Hello
      i am 37 years old second marriage I have 2 children from 1st marriage.
      I have been trying for a baby since 2011 I have had 3 attempt of IVF all failed I have endometriosis problem left felopine tube not working only right tube is working I’m desperate so is my husband can they really help us.

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