The Nest Chiropractic & Wellness

08/27/2025

Part IDK how many…

I was basically ready to eat as soon as I got to the postpartum room, but the nurse said I hadn’t been cleared yet and I could only have clear liquids (water, cranberry or apple juice). I remember essentially grabbing her by the cheeks (not really) and telling her to bring me as many things of cranberry and apple juice as she could bring me. Finally, around 7 (7:07 to be exact, because had just missed the hospital kitchen) PM I was told I could eat, finally. At that point it had been about 24 hours. I had my parents bring us Chik-fil-a and it was glorious. Then an hour later we walked to the nurse’s station as a family of 3 and then back. I didn’t hurt as bad as I expected. Every time Pierce helped me in the bathroom or shower all I could do was cry and tell him how good he is to me. And to keep rubbing my back with that scratchy towel because I WAS SO ITCHY. He did a great job and was the perfect man for the job, no matter how icky…

Eventually they came for the US to Bode’s heart and kidneys and Pierce went with him. When they came back it took about 1.5 days to finally get an answer…he had 2 holes in his heart and we were told MCDK on one of his kidneys, to see a urologist within the week and a cardiologist within a month but we were to be discharged a couple of hours later…which didn’t feel right. Not with those diagnoses. But there we were: Pierce waiting in the car and me and Bode riding in a wheelchair all the way down to meet him.

The drive home was full of tears and offering a kidney to Bode. One of mine. Not Pierce’s, I have 2 normal kidneys. We made it home and a dear friend showed up with a pot roast that was a big hit for the whole family, except Bode, he was still on formula (for now).

08/25/2025

Finally everyone was ready for me in the OR. I had a great experience with all of the meds, never felt the needle, the staff was great. I was riding high, it was mostly the meds, I’m sure, but in that room, I felt like everyone was there supporting me and my little family. It was as beautiful of an experience as you could have hoped for. I think C-Sections and OBs get a bad rap for being so medical and not mom-centered but it was the total opposite. We were all laughing, doing our jobs and it was like a well-oiled machine. I wish everyone could have the same experience I did.

And there he was. Our little boy, healthy as could be. The first thing out of my mouth, ‘Well, this is weird’ it’s on a video somewhere. Then I asked about his buttcrack. Guys, when I say the drugs hit just right, they totally did. Pierce slipped in Bode’s first adjustment while he laid on my chest about 1 minute after he was out.

Around 3 PM we were all headed up to our postpartum room. We got the suite. Heck yeah, we got the suite, and you should too if you have the option…our doula was there, ready to support us as we tried latching for the first time. We tried, it didn’t work, but that’s OK, lactation was on the way…but they said they didn’t know how to use a ni**le shield (?!?!?) and then missed my ni**le with the pump. Alright whatever, formula it is for now. That’s cool.

08/19/2025

Now, if you know me, I am never one to go to a doctor, let alone a hospital for anything. I grew up where we walked it off, possibly to our detriment, but I’m still here and relatively healthy, same for my parents and most of my family. I’m lucky to come from good stock. So that meant that this looming MAJOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY I was about to have was all I could think about.

I had never spent more than an hour or 2 at a hospital and that was to visit other people after their deliveries or surgeries or recoveries or whatever. I’d never so much as broken a bone, despite the bones I played…so here we were, the night before. I made my family go for Alamo Cafe since I could stuff my face with their queso and tortillas and not feel guilty. My mom said she had done the same thing the night before she had me (I wasn’t planned though). So now it’s a thing I guess. Around midnight I decided I should probably take a shower, because that’s what I did in my third trimester…sat on my shower bench (because my body refused to stand or walk for more than 5 mins at a given time) and then I’d go to bed…but of course I didn’t sleep.

3 AM came hard, loud and fast that day. We were to be at the hospital at 4:30 AM for a 7 AM OR trip. My parents loaded us up, gave us hugs and sent us on our way. Pierce dropped me off at the front door and I walked in ready to be admitted. It went smoothly at first. Then it was time for the IV placement. If you know me, you know I HATE needles. Also, if you know my husband, you know he don’t play when it comes to me. Our nurse decided the best place to place my IV was on my wrist…it hurt I said “maybe a different place?” she said she’s “been a nurse for 30 years”, Pierce told her he “couldn’t tell”. She had to go get a needle and he said he’d be right back. Little did I know he laid into her and was almost escorted out of the hospital (good thing we had a doula - love you Gabriella). Anyway, a different nurse placed the next one and it was fine…now we wait.

08/12/2025

So now we knew when he would be here (which was kind of nice). I posted to our practice’s social media channels asking for advice (and I got a lot of VERY helpful advice and support from many)...however I got some messages from local midwives who were chastising me for opting for a C-Section and how I was doing a disservice to my patients by posting about it. I never once asked for anyone’s opinion (especially theirs) on how I was to birth my child. I’ve lived in the birthworld for years, supporting women through their own journeys, so I would say I’m more educated about it all than the average person…I immediately screenshot their messages and sent them to Pierce. He called me as soon as he was done with a patient ready to go to war with them because he could hear the hurt in my voice. I don’t know if they know what they did to me but I started to doubt our decision. Luckily, I didn’t need their support because I had built an amazing network otherwise.

As I grew more pregnant, the less I wanted to move. The swelling was ROUGH. But my spirits were up, my support system was checking on me and loving on me and Bode.

08/08/2025

I had an anterior placenta, so I never felt him moving around…unless I sat in my car and blasted ‘Set You Free’ by The Black Keys. He’s always had good taste in music. But even then I’d make Pierce go to the ER for a check a few times, I would always assume I’d get bad news when I was on my way for a check up at the OB’s or MFM’s office, because I never felt him moving. I was always guessing if I felt him move during the stress tests…sometimes they’d even be surprised if I couldn’t feel his movement. IDK, this is the first time I’ve ever been this pregnant…? Is that him moving or am I just hungry? It all felt the same.

Around 28 weeks I noticed I had mild pitting edema in my ankles, which I knew wasn’t a good sign. I reached out to my OB and they had me come in that day ASAP and told me I’d need to keep a urine collection through the weekend then come back on Monday for a drop off. Later that week, Pierce and I got the news that I had preeclampsia, though mild. She told us I could be induced, however I had told Pierce I wasn’t interested in that because of the increased risk of postpartum mental health issues (and having a family history of PPD in aunts and cousins, and having a dear friend pass from PPP) and knowing patient's recoveries from a planned C-Section going MUCH more smoothly than an emergency C-Section, we opted for a planned C-Section. She told us we would not be able to go later than 38 weeks but she also didn’t want to deliver just yet and wanted to keep him in there as long as possible so he can grow and become healthy in there, HOWEVER if I felt an inkling of a headache or was concerned about anything with the baby to immediately go to the ER and we’d be having him sooner than planned, which we agreed to. We had a plan.

08/06/2025

Now really, my pregnancy was easy at first. The most annoying thing I dealt with the entire time was a nasty cough that I learned was a common complaint. We did all of the check-ins and the one that sticks out the most was when we went to TJ for a heartbeat check. I expected to hear a heartbeat and cry (I’m a big crier) but Pierce and I looked at each other and were like OK, cool. We went to lunch afterward and had a come to Jesus moment where we both admitted to the other that we expected a different reaction and apologized to each other for not reacting that way. It was then we decided we would do a gender reveal so MAYBE we would have something to be excited about. I’m sure the lack of excitement was just a protective measure because we were both thrilled, but couldn’t believe we were this far. We’d never gotten that far.

The next time we went to TJ a few weeks later, our OB told us baby had all of their fingers and toes, everything was looking good. She asked if we wanted to know what we were having…we said no…she said she thought she saw something (gee, thanks). I’ll blame the language barrier though she speaks great English and my Spanish is OK ;)

I was lucky enough to know I was pregnant early. I also knew I wanted a home birth but I was intimidated by it and I had worked so hard to get pregnant, I needed to be in or near a hospital in case something happened. I reached out to the best OB-Gyn in town and she took me on as a patient. We also thought about delivering in Mexico because we loved our OB there so much, but I felt like I had already spent so much time there already and it would be another 6 weeks there for before and after more than likely. I started the tests with our OB in San Antonio, the anatomy scan showed something concerning, so I started working with a MFM doctor. They saw a heart anomaly and kidney anomaly. We weren’t too surprised about the kidney, that kind of thing runs in the family. The heart was a surprise, we were then referred to a pediatric cardiologist for another US. We went and were told he wasn’t cooperative for the US (he never was) and we’d need to have him checked after he got here.

08/06/2025

It only took 1.5 weeks longer than we were quoted but our phone is back up and running! Thanks, !

🙄🙄🙄

08/04/2025

Happy one week anniversary to our non functioning phone system. Google is the best! It seems it will only take 1 to 2 business months to get this solved.

The temporary phone number is (210) 920-4047

08/02/2025

It took about 7 months for us to be ready to try again with our other embryos. I had to do another hysteroscopy (I was ready to lie and be able to be put under this time but I couldn’t do it and prayed to God to let it pass easier and it did). Another 4 months passed for me to get my period on track.I had been told by a patient that it matters how you pray so I would pray in the shower on my knees to God and I also knew I needed to be specific. It started out me letting God know I always wanted a girl. Eventually, it became ‘Give me the gift of getting pregnant with a boy or a girl, (at this point I’m good with whatever) so I can give Pierce the gift of being a father and my parents the gift of being grandparents (I’m an only child). I would tell God this isn’t about me, it’s about them. I’d cry while I prayed, I’d laugh and I would always start to wander off on a tangent (I always do)... The last month before our transfer I had a 54 day cycle. We called the clinic and they told us to come and let’s see what is going on. Reluctantly I went expecting to be told it would have to wait. Surprisingly they told us everything looked great and we would prep for another transfer. I stayed in OC with a friend, enjoying the weather and being in a beautiful part of the country, went back to TJ and met my mom a week later and we prepped for the next transfer, our last 2 embryos. I had friends who shared devotionals to read through the whole prep and transfer, prayed in my war room (which is the shower) every night during the prep, my mom and dad came to TJ for the transfer and we prayed before my mom and I walked to the clinic for it. After the transfer, I was laying there trying not to p*e myself (IYKYK), I felt a corkscrew pain right above my right o***y. I will never forget it, and I’ve been told by all the medical professionals it meant nothing, but I swear that was Bode making his presence known.

After I laid around for an hour after the transfer, I met with our two OB’s for follow up care instructions. They gave me my prescriptions, which would include the shots and some physical restrictions: no exercise, no lifting more than 10 pounds… So basically my entire job.

08/01/2025

I had gotten tested to see what the problem could be with me, I had low AMH, my hormones were all out of whack…when we spoke with the doctors in Mexico and they did their testing on me, one of which was a hysteroscopy that I got to be wide awake for with no meds (as it is practiced this way around the world), and it was the worst thing I had ever gone through. Recovery from that took about 2 months and we decided now was the time. We went to Tijuana, he stayed with me the first 2 weeks and then my mom was with me the next week. I prepped, ate some good food and rested A LOT. We got 4 embryos that were ready to go (either be transferred or frozen). Our OB told us she didn’t recommend testing them due to possible loss through the process and I wasn’t that old, I was 35, so already considered a geriatric pregnancy in the US. We transferred 2, praying they would both stick and we would be done. I kept saying I can do anything once, no matter how hard it is. One stuck around but then we lost it at 7.5 weeks. While Pierce was in California, I told him I started bleeding as he was boarding a plane to go to another city in California, then we would be meet a couple of days later in San Diego to head over to Mexico to check in with our OB. We both had to process this on our own. I called a friend who said she would prescribe me meds that would match the Emergency Kit from our IVF clinic, so I stopped at HEB and talked to the Pharmacist about what they had on hand that would work, similar to those meds in Mexico. He tried, but after reading about it I decided to forgo it this time and let God do what He needed to do. I got supported through it from Adrienne at Alma Acupuncture, I asked her in a panic at 9 PM on a Wednesday to stop the bleeding for 24 hours for me to get to TJ, where the OB may be able to help this one stick around. She worked her magic and made it happen. We saw Dr. Isa and she looked disappointed and our hearts dropped. A weekend of possible celebrations with our favorite restaurants turned into a weekend of me watching Selling Sunset and laying in bed eating all of the tacos Pierce would bring me.

Part 3 coming soon!

07/31/2025

Pierce asked me to write out my experience to begin our new series of Testimonial Thursday because he thinks that our story is special (to us for sure) and that it would resonate with all of you, and I said ‘For sure!’.

We have been married for 12.5 years now, and for about 8 of those years, I worked with pregnant patients. I’d see them through their pregnancies, celebrate new pregnancies (happily-babies are always a blessing), but always wondering (hoping) it would be our time soon. We’d get pregnant, I assume only because I had all of the symptoms (sore b***s, bloody nose, extreme fatigue) but we lost that one. Only one person knew about it at the time, they would have been 6 years old now. Time went on, we thought we were pregnant because of late periods, but they always came and went. One day Pierce decided to take an at home s***m test. It came back with Azos***mia. BOOM. That was it, that explained everything.

He had been an athlete in football and wrestling and had 2 brothers and I know wasn’t always wearing the proper protective gear, which is the common cause of this. I joined some Facebook groups about IVF in Mexico and he happened to be going to SoCal and I said ‘Here’s this clinic that a bunch of people are raving about, drive to the border, cross and do another s***m test and get a lay of the land. Your testing will be a lot less invasive than anything I’ll have done there and you can see if it feels like a good fit.’ He was glad to do it, came back with good news X2: the clinic was nice, and he had normal s***m (apparently at home tests were not as accurate as lab specific same day tests, who knew). Back to square one…but maybe with a little more of a plan.

Part 2 coming later!

04/04/2025

Currently between lifting/learning to walk but I’ll be at help me soon. Good thing I know who to see for that 😉

This is so true 😂😅 my back be broke cuz of these kids