The Reluctant Yogi

I attended my first pre-natal yoga class last week (at the end of one of my "grrrrRRRRRrrrrrr" days- see previous post on that here). Not sure if it was my Ashtanga background or my "grrrrrRRRRRrrrrr" attitude, but I don't think it is my cup of tea. I did love and appreciate being in the midst of many pregnant ladies, all at different points in their pregnancy. However, I felt like we did maybe 30 minutes of actual exercises and had around 60 minutes of talking/relaxation, which didn't fly with this "grrrrRRRRRrrrr" Type A lady. For $17/class I think I can just incorporate some of those poses into my own home practice.

I was also FREEZING in the studio space! I think I may have been in the minority on that one, as halfway through the class, when we were again gently swaying our hips in circles, another (much more pregnant than me) lady told the teacher she felt hot. The air was immediately turned down even further. As my skin bristled with goosebumps and my muscles clenched up those around me might have heard a "grrrrRRRRRRrrrrr" rumble deep down in my throat.

One of the coolest things (pun intended) at class was recognizing a lady on the mat across from me. We'd been eying one another at the beginning of class in the "I think I know you but I'm not quite sure" kind of way.  Sure enough, we share a dear mutual friend, and have seen one another several times at this friends' gatherings. Once I realized who she was, I was immediately ELATED to see her there- as I knew she too hadn't had an easy road with getting pregnant. 

When we chatted after class, one of the first things out of her mouth was "I love your blog!" I was dumbfounded- then amazed- then humbled. Our mutual friend had apparently shared my blog link with her awhile back, and she told me how helpful reading my fertility journey had been to her.

Dear Readers, that is one of the main reasons why I started this blog. When I was at the beginning of our "unexplained infertility" saga, I found several blogs written by women who had struggled for years to conceive. It was incredible to find a community of women who understood what I was going through and actually wrote honestly about it.  I especially loved hearing the tales of families who eventually did conceive- it gave me SO much hope. To hear that I had provided that sense of hope and community for someone else just melted.my.heart. 

So yeah, I paid $17 for a yoga class that I didn't really groove on- but what I got out of it in way of that connection was absolutely priceless. 

Dispatched

I had booked an appointment to see Dr. Vaughn again in two weeks, knowing this would likely be my last appointment with him before being turned over to a regular OB/GYN. Today I got a call from the fertility clinic saying that my insurance had put the cabosh on the appointment, apparently because they only cover me up to 8 weeks there. BOO! I didn't even get to say goodbye to Dr. V.

So now I will officially be dispatched back into the "regular" world, where the waits for appointments can stretch hours, and there isn't as much individualized attention. Choosing a new doctor to see me throughout our pregnancy has proved daunting as well; I haven't been thrilled with my regular OB/GYN since she gave me the "unexplained infertility" diagnosis a couple years ago- delivered without any sweetness or sympathy, just dry and cold. Thankfully two of my friends & clients here in town are labor & delivery nurses at Seton Hospital- and have given me the complete low down on the doctors they work with. I love that they see these docs in their element, knowing how they handle emergencies & tougher situations. Given their feedback I am excited about the doctor I've chosen- Dr. Karen Swenson- and truly hope we love her when we meet her. I left her clinic a voicemail today, and am keeping my fingers crossed they'll have an opening for me around my 10 week mark (and hoping Dr. Swenson is taking new clients!)

It's been a long bittersweet ride with the Texas Fertility Center. While I am sad to be leaving them, I am also grateful for what it represents- that we now have a healthy, viable pregnancy (may it continue that way!)