Our Success story today comes from Cady who blogs at The Diaper Diaries. After a 22-month struggle with ttc, she finally got pregnant on her first IVF attempt, and her daughter was born Nov. 21, 2009. Read on for her inspiring story!
1. How long did you struggle through infertility?
We struggled with infertility for 22 months.
2. What did you go through (as far as treatments, different doctors, etc.) ?
This is my infertility timeline: May 2007 – Off BCP, start TTC
April 2008 – Talked to OB/GYN
May 2008 – Started seeing our reproductive specialist; diagnosis: unexplained infertility
July 2008 – First Clomid with timed intercourse cycle; cancelled because of too many eggs
Aug. 2008 – Second Clomid with timed intercourse cycle, first Ovidrel injection; BFN
Oct. 2008 – Skipped third Clomid with timed intercourse cycle because of kidney infection and possible mono
Nov. 2008 – Decided to try IVF/ICSI #1
Jan. 2009 – Orientation for IVF/ICSI #1
Feb./Mar. 2009 – IVF/ICSI #1
02/16 – Progesterone test
02/17 – Started Lupron (20 units)
02/27 – Baseline u/s, b/w
02/28 – Started Follistim (150 iu), lowered Lupron to 10 units
03/03 – Estrogen – 284; lowered Follistim to 125 iu, Lupron 10 units
03/04 – Estrogen – 479; LO & RO – more than 10 follicles 6-8 mm; Follistim 125 iu, Lupron 10 units
03/05 – Estrogen – 633; Follistim 125 iu, Lupron 10 units
03/06 – Estrogen – 975; Follicles 10-14 mm; Follistim 125 iu, Lupron 10 units
03/07 – Estrogen – 1,500; Follicles 12-16 mm; Follistim 100 iu, Lupron 10 units
03/08 – Estrogen – 1,559; Follicles 13-17 mm; Follistim 125 iu, Lupron 10 units
03/09 – LO & RO – 20 follicles measuring between 14 and 22; Follistim 225 iu, Lupron 10 units; TRIGGER 10 p.m.
03/10 – Start Doxycyclin and Medrol
03/11 – ER – 21 eggs retrieved; start Progesterone 1 cc
03/12 – 17 eggs mature, 14 fertilized; Progesterone 1 cc, start Estrogen patches
03/13 – Progesterone 1 cc
03/14 – ET – 1 compacted morula and 1 8-cell embryo transferred; 4 embryos frozen – 1 morula, 1 10-cell, 1 8-cell and 1 7-cell
03/25 – HPT – BFP!!!!!!!!!! 
03/26 – Beta #1 – 126
03/28 — Beta #2 — 358
April 10, 2009 — One strong heartbeat
June 10, 2009 — It’s a GIRL!!
November 21, 2009 — Our beautiful daughter, Lucy Jane, was born — 6 lbs, 14 oz., 20 inches long
3. How did you handle disappointments through your cycles (natural and otherwise)?
I didn’t handle my negative pregnancy tests well. I tried to find some kind of positive way to look at it, but each negative cycle was harder than the last, and I spent a lot of time crying and wondering why it was so hard for me to get pregnant. Those feelings were exacerbated by the never ending pregnancy announcements — my brother, my husband’s sister, countless friends. I was a very jealous person, which I hated, but I couldn’t help it. I’m now able to see how everything really happened when it should have for us, but, obviously, at the time I couldn’t see that.
4. What were the ‘stress-free’ techniques that you tried that helped you get through the cycle (yoga, meditation, acupuncture, support through family, friends & on-line, etc.)?
My outlets were blogging and talking to people who had gone through fertility treatments. I know two people in real life who did IVF, and being able to vent to them and talk about what I was going through was extremely helpful. My mom tried to be there for me, but if you haven’t gone through fertility treatments, you really don’t know what to say.
5. If you could give advice for couples going through infertility now, what would it be?
Lean on your husband, and let him lean on you. Most people don’t think about infertility affecting husbands, but it does. It is so hard to go through fertility treatments, and having your spouse there for support is really important. I can see how many marriages don’t make it after going through something like this. It’s really stressful. We’re lucky in that our marriage got stronger, and now we have a beautiful baby girl who is the light of our lives. My husband and I have never been happier than we are now.
Thanks so much Cady!! What an inspiring story and adorable little girl!
Follow Cady’s journey into motherhood! Stop by: Diaper Diaries
I’m crying as I write, as #3 resonates with me on every level…even the jealousy. I’ve never been a jealous person in all my life….until NOW. Thanks for the honesty Cady and Congrats on your precious little girl
Thanks again for all the fabulous posts…this one is particularly encouraging!
Thanks for sharing…such an inspiring story & beautiful baby!