An Oldie but a Goodie!

Hello all my LW friends!  And hello to all you newbies who have no idea who I am!  I received a couple of gentle reminders that I need to get on here and update everyone on me and my pregnancy (well...my baby, now!!).  It was a looooooooong pregnancy - emergency surgery for an internal hernia and small bowel obstruction at 20-some weeks, pre-term labor and four months spent on bed rest, followed by an emergency c-section, but our little Veronica arrived safe and sound in March!!!  We are so blessed and I thank God everyday for our little miracle - she's a strong girl already! 

I got severely anemic while pregnant and had to have two blood transfusions and then went in for iron infusions last month.  I got a new kind of iron that only takes two administrations by IV and I feel fantastic!  I am tired, obviously, with a new baby, but I am no longer exhausted! 

I was able to lose all of my pregnancy weight (21 pounds) and get back down to 128 only three weeks after giving birth!  I was back in a size 4 by 8 weeks out!  Woohoo!!  I am holding strong at 128 (besides a week and a half out of every month where I get up to 132...I don't have to tell you ladies when!!).

I am so happy to see all of the successes still happening on this board!!!

Hi Tricia!

I'm one of those newbies and am so glad to hear your story. Blessings to you and your precious little one, and thank you for sharing some of the complications, as well. Anemia is a minor issue for me now, but I could imagine it becoming more serious were I to become pregnant. It's helpful to hear how you've worked through this.

xoxo
K

HI Tricia!  So good to see you again! 

WOW - sounds like you had a tough time during your pregnancy, but I'm so glad everything turned out fine. 

I'm curious about the type of iron you had for your infusions that worked so well.  I'm not to that point, but if I get there, it would be good to know.

WOW - pre-pregnancy weight after 3 weeks - MAN - I bet you had some very jealous friends!  That's great!

You need to come visit more - we've missed you!

Yes, it was definitely tough, but so totally worth it I feel silly even complaining! 

The iron is called Feraheme and is for dialysis patients suffering from chronic iron deficiency anemia, but my hematologist was able to get it approved with my insurance for off-label use in my case.  It was great - old iron infusions took 6-8 sessions (one week apart) to raise iron stores, and the infusions took 4-6 hours each.  With Feraheme, it was only two sessions and each infusion only took 10 minutes.  I also had no side effects besides a headache. 

After three weeks I could totally tell a difference in how I was feeling.  I even felt hot for the first time in a year!!!  I am in Texas, so never feeling hot was WEIRD!!

I will try and be around more often, because it really is good to be back and see everyone doing so well and all the new faces.

Hi Tricia! Missed you babeee! Congratulations on your new little one. I'll bet she's gorgeous like her mommy. Good to see you!

--gina

Nice to hear from you!
Congrats on the baby girl!
What a blessing. Sorry to hear about your difficulties, but sounds like mom and baby are strong women!
Thanks for sharing your story.
Maria

It is so great to hear from you!!!!  Congrats on your baby girl.....pictures please!!!  Awesome getting back your baby weight back off!!!!