Viability

Baby girl is officially viable at 24 weeks! Granted, we still don't want her to be born for another 12-16 weeks, but she is viable. I've been doubting my body a bit after my 31 week preterm labor scare with my son. I notice every twinge and cramp. I've been told by high-risk perinatologists that I am at no additional risk for another preterm scare, as my son wound up coming on his due date. That being said, it's hard not to second-guess my body. I feel like I turned a corner this weekend, though, and have finally begun trusting that my body knows what the f it's doing with this whole pregnancy thing. ;)

Baby Girl M (IPs are still not sure about a name) is doing well. She is generally not incredibly active during the day, just little movements here and there to let me know she's ok. I feel her the most while commuting to and from work, when I'm putting the kids to bed, and when we're just relaxing on the couch. I'm still getting weekly chiropractic adjustments to ensure my pelvis is in good shape and to avoid another OP baby (baby born face up instead of down).

The first 20 weeks of this pregnancy absolutely flew by, but things are starting to slow down now. There's a lot going on in my life unrelated to this pregnancy, and it feels like there are just so many balls in the air! I'm trying to enjoy each moment, though, knowing that this is my last pregnancy.

My partner asked if I was upset that she wasn't interested in attending appointments/feeling the baby move. I'm sincerely not. I understand that this is not our child. I just find myself so fascinated with it all because I am literally growing a human. Pregnancy and childbirth have always been such miracles to me. Every time I have my hands on my belly, and I feel her move, it takes my breath away. The fact that there is an actual human in there just blows my mind. And I can say that feeling completely detached to her emotionally. It's no joke that surrogacy just feels different from the get-go. There's this understanding that this baby is not yours from the very start. Every time I feel her or think of the pregnancy, I see her mom. I'm not worried about going home without her at the birth, because I don't see it as giving her up, as she was never mine! I'm merely giving her back.