I’M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE HUBBY AND I ARE EXPECTING A BABYCAKES THIS WINTER!
EXPECTING A BABY!
Three generations now become four. Just like my family recipes, the legacy of raising daughters is being passed down too! I’m so grateful for the strong women that surround me and will surround my baby girl coming soon!
THANK GOD FOR THIS PREGNANCY
BEING READY TO BE A PARENT
For the longest time, part of the problem was me. I will be real. Mentally, I just didn’t feel ready. I kept feeling like there was more I needed to do. I needed to be more stable as an entrepreneur. I needed to feel more accomplished. I knew that when I stopped to have a baby, I didn’t want to regret a thing.
When I turned 35 last year, something magical happened. I’m not sure if it was a hormonal change or the clock finally started ticking but I wanted a baby. The craving was real, and I couldn’t deny it.
FERTILITY ISSUES
We tried and tried month after month. I bought the ovulation kits and all that jazz but I started to feel nervous because I have a history with endometriosis, which started when I was a teenager. I had the most severe cramps and menstrual cycles that sometimes required me to be hospitalized. After a laparoscopy surgery in my mid-20s to remove ovarian cysts and continuous birth control pills since that time, I wondered if my eggs were any good. In fact, I had a doctor test them when I turned 32. The results at the time stated that my egg quantity and quality were that of a woman in her 40s. Talk about a downer. But I refused to believe that. I knew I was going to be a mom one day.
FERTILITY DOCTOR: LET THE TESTING BEGIN
When we didn’t get pregnant by the end of last year, I started looking up fertility doctors since being pregnant was a major goal for me in early 2017. That’s how I work. I figure out what I want and then I go get it, even my BabyCakes. We found a clinic in downtown Chicago with a doctor that had amazing credentials. My doctor, Dr. Cohen, sat with Frederick and I for a consultation back in January and explained the pros and cons of everything. I felt so comfortable as soon as I met him and knew we were in good hands. The first thing we would do is start a ton of testing, and I mean a ton. He was initially alarmed by the test scores I presented him from the previous doctor so testing started with me three days after I received my cycle.
FERTILITY TEST RESULTS
Welp turns out doctors and tests can be wrong y’all. God is the only one that has the answer. It turned out that I had a plethora of eggs in there. They did a few tests such as an amh which for my age group they wanted to be over a 1.00. Mine turned out to be over a 3.16. Then they did an ultrasound to count the number of resting follicles I had. The resting follicles helped them determine how many eggs they could possibly stimulate during IUI or IVF. Well I had a bunch of eggs on each of my ovaries. Seriously they counted something like 30 total. It was such a magical moment to experience knowing that the previous assessment was all the way wrong.
MALE FERTILITY ISSUES
Next it was time for Frederick to test and that was where we ran into a few issues. As I’ve mentioned before on the blog, my husband had a kidney transplant several years ago that didn’t help with his testing if ya know what I mean. His daily medications had a cumulative effect which made the doctor say we need to skip IUI altogether and go straight to IVF.
IVF requires a great deal of patience, testing, blood draws, hormone shots and emotions over the course of several months. It’s definitely no joke so I plan to share the nitty gritty of it all in the next post! Stay tuned!
Nicole says
I am super happy for you and your hubby!!!!! I can’t wait to read your net post! That baby is going to eat goooooood!!!!!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Awww thank you so so much! Sharing has been so therapeutic for us.
Tanya says
Congratulations!!! I am now pregnant with an IVF baby due in February. IVF is A LOT..but oh so worth it. Ill be praying that the the both of us have smooth and easy pregnancy and deliveries.
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Awww Congrats Tanya! I totally know the feeling. IVF is truly a lot but I am so grateful everyday for it as it blessed my family. Let’s keep in touch! Congrats on your successful pregnancy!
Meriem @ Confessions of a Confectionista says
So elated for you Jocelyn!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
OMG Thank you so so much!
Briana R. says
This is awesome, congratulations. My husband too is a receipent of a Kidney and questions of infertility definitely haunt me as we move forward. I look forward to hearing more of your journey.
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Absolutely! I totally understand this entire road. I will share all of the info hoping that it helps you.
Trisha says
Congratulations, I am so happy for you! Our little girl was such a blessing, we celebrated her first birthday last January with your strawberry cake with coconut frosting actually! We are now 5 weeks from meeting our 2nd little one. I also waited until I was older so I wouldnt have any regrets, definitely the right decision!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
ow what a true true blessing!!!!! I’m so happy for you!
Ali says
Congratulations!!! The struggle is so painful, but the sweetness is coming. Keep hanging on! (2 via IUI, 1 surprise)
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
WOW!!!! That’s so amazing. I am so happy you shared about your IUI experience Ali. I also so happy that turned out to be successful for you.
Jen says
Congratulations!!! Infertility is awful, and I’m so glad you had success with IVF! Our son was an IVF baby and we thank God for the miracle of his life every day. Best wishes to you and your husband!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Oh wow Jen! Thank you so much for sharing that! I am so so blessed for our IVF baby!
Liz says
What a joyous blessing!!! I’m so happy for you!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Thank you so so much! I’m so blessed.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
I’m so so happy for you that everything ended up working out and you’re getting this sweet little baby!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Awww thank you so so much!
Telza says
Congratulations! i’ve been following your blog for years and I’m so happy for you and your family!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Thank you so so much!