Retired From Surrogacy (my last journey...)

It was August 2022, I found out I was still testing positive for COVID while I was waiting to be admitted to the hospital. I was just at the end of the first trimester and had been dealing with pain in my chest, which terrified me because it felt a lot like what I had with my s, before I was diagnosed with HELLPS Syndrome. It was a very long wait. I was waiting in the ER waiting room for 18 hrs (no food, no water) before I was put in another waiting area (for those who are planning on doing a treatment plan/admitted to the hospital.) I found out that not only did I have COVID-19, but I had Gallstones lodged in my gallbladder that were stuck and were causing inflammation. The doctors wanted to have my gallbladder removed, but at the point of my pregnancy, it wasn't safe. So... after a hospital round of antibiotics for a few days. I was sent home with the remaining antibiotics. I didn't have issues again until after I had surrobabe, but more about that later.

The rest of the pregnancy was pretty uneventful and normal. Just the normal 20-week Ultrasound, where we found a normal healthy baby BOY. The dads were so happy to hear they had a healthy baby. a few weeks later the glucose test with the sugary drink... I am weird and normally LOVE the drink. but I got a warm plain one and wasn't a fan. But those tests came back normal too. We were on track for a normal happy birth with the intention of a V-Bac (Vaginal Birth after C-section). Lot's more waiting...

Now was the time to prepare things with the lawyer for the paperwork for parentage and after the baby was born. This went a lot smoother this time which was a relief... Now the dads Traveled from France to Saskatchewan, Canada for the birth of their baby. We were all so Excited. The kids and I met them and had such a nice first visit with them. They got to explore my city, they were even able to come to my last appointment/ultrasound. Everything was looking great for a V-Bac until this appointment. Baby decided to be an acrobat and turn slightly to an angle (we found I had a bit of extra fluid babe was swimming in.) At this time we decided a C-section was the best course of action, which in the end worked out because I also wanted my tubes tied. ( I ended up having both tubes removed, as I was done having kids)

The day finally arrived. My kids were with my dad, I had my bags packed and was ready to go. We had to be at the hospital early in the morning. I met the dads at the hospital, we got to enjoy the nice wintery view of the river from the hospital while we waited to have our room ready. (it was great to have a room where I was the entire time before and after birth)

I showered with the special soap got my gown on and walked to the surgery room. I hopped on the table and waited. I had my spinal done with no issues, I was laid down and the drape was up, before I knew it the dads were there and they started cutting. My first C-section was very traumatic This time there was no issue, and wasn't Uncomfortable. Baby was out very quickly, with a little "Hello", dads and baby were off to have their bonding time. I was getting my tubes removed. Which was so weird... (TMI the smell of burning human meat/organs is not pleasant. but no issues) This and closing me up was the longer part of the surgery. I was done, groggy, but OKAY. They wheeled me off in my stretcher still numb. It took about 45-1hr for me to be ready to go back to my recovery room.

I was in my Recovery Room, lying in bed when my nurse came in and introduced herself... She made me get up and walk, I thought it would be a lot harder to do but I did it and was soon walking around the room and to and from the bathroom. I tried having a shower on my own, which was a mistake, as I ended up flooding the hallway... (the rooms don't have a very good draining system for the in-room showers, which is a flaw in the design of the new ward IMO.) Pretty much everything else was a blur, the pain, and most of the day/night. But I do remember seeing the baby with the dads for some visits while we both were still in the hospital. I remember seeing my late husband's family doctor who saw the baby and then came to see me. I remember filling out several (well dozens) pages of paperwork for the notarized man (that's not what he is called... I don't know what his profession is called) Then I got to go home! I missed my kids so much...

I will take a part break here and we will switch gears to postpartum of the journey.