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Meet Fran Meadows!

Apr 29th, 2012
by Krissi.
1 comment

Meet Fran Meadows! I had the pleasure of meeting her in person in Washington D.C. this past Wednesday for Advocacy Day. She is the author of The Truth Behind The Secret “Infertility” which I will review later this week. Read on for her difficult but inspirational journey.

1. How long did you struggle through infertility?

For years we attempted to get pregnant naturally with disheartening results.  With trying to conceive naturally and  the journey through IUI and IVF treatments, we finally became parents at 35 years of age which was a nine year struggle.
2. What did you go through (as far as treatments, different doctors, adoptions agencies, etc.)?
My husband and I were married at 26 and just like any
normal married couple having unprotected sex you think that you will become pregnant.  Actually you think you will become pregnant right away.  Well, after 3 years of trying naturally with no success and my 30th birthday approaching we decided to see a reproductive endocrinologist.  The first Doctor we saw the connection was just not there and my husband was not completely on board yet he still thought that it would happen naturally.  A few months went by and our Ob/Gyn gave us Clomid for a couple of months to try with regular sex and again nothing.  We then were referred to another Reproductive Endocrinologist.
We did three treatments of IUI with Clomid and no success.  We were diagnosed with
“unexplained infertility”.  We then went onto IVF, we had a fresh cycle which didn’t take and left us with 3 frozen embryos.  Our next cycle was a frozen cycle which was a success but I lost the child at 25 weeks pregnant and had to deliver a stillborn.  We went back to the Doctor’s about a month after our loss and begin a frozen cycle with the last frozen embryo unfortunately the embryo didn’t make the thawing process on the day of transfer so it was a failed cycle.  Since we had no more frozen embryo’s we went on to a new fresh cycle. This cycle resulted in a canceled cycle as when I was on birth control pills I was growing follicles so I had to inject myself with HCG to have my period come to start another cycle yet again.  Our fresh cycle was a complete success and we now have our 3 1/2 year old son.  So we technically had 3 cycles because the failed and canceled cycles don’t count.
3. How did you handle disappointments through your cycles (natural and otherwise) or months of waiting?
The disappointments were unbearable, I would cry, curse, be mad and angry with a few
breakdowns but recovered in order to move forward.  After my loss I went into a deep dark hole not only did we get pregnant through IVF now we had to deal with a child loss.  I did have a dark period where I was depressed and scared to see or talk to anyone because I was embarrassed but again I had to snap out of it. My husband’s support helped me get through. It was tough not hating everything but we survived the struggle.
4. What were the ‘stress-free’ techniques that you tried that helped you get through the cycle or time (yoga, meditation, acupuncture, support through family, friends & on-line, etc.)?
My husband helped me stay focused.  I sought out help through therapy prior to beginning treatments it helped me a lot as we kept our struggle silent from our family and friends to avoid the pressures from them.  I did a lot of secret praying and tried to sought out quiet time to reflect.   I also kept a journal through our experiences with infertility.  I now have a book that I published on my journey titled The Truth Behind The Secret “Infertility”.
5. If you could give advice for couples going through infertility now, what would it be?
Stay focused, committed and never loose faith, things do happen for a reason and we
never know when success will strike.  Through failures you learn and grow stronger to stay grounded through this experience.  It is a tough struggle that nobody should have to go through but you’re not alone; I realized that later than I should have. I kept my struggle silent and should have reached out through social network support groups, family, friends and just plain old strangers who have experienced things like I did.  If we show others that are experiencing anything similar, that they are not alone it will give them hope in their journey. All journeys might not be exactly the same, but hopefully other infertile couples will find solace and comfort in the words of a couple who has been to hell and back. Maybe, just maybe we can inspire hope for those who desperately need it! I lived it and I know where you’re coming from so please
seek help, talk to others and get the word out so we can help each other!
My husband and I only wanted what many couples do – a child.   My son is now 3 1/2 and we are truly grateful for all the great nurses and doctors that got us where we are today.
Fran Meadows is on Twitter as @franmeadows and her book is on Facebook. Find more about her book at: http://www.secretinfertility.com
Thanks so much for sharing Fran! Congratulations on your beautiful family and your book!
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Meet Carrie!

Dec 11th, 2011
by Krissi.
1 comment

Meet Carrie, my newest success story! She experienced a devastating loss but stayed strong and kept trying. Read on for her touching story.

1.     How long did you struggle through infertility?  

About 2 years

2.     What did you go through (as far as treatments, different doctors, adoptions agencies, etc.)?

I first found out I was pregnant on June 6, 2009. It was a very unexpected pregnancy. The usual turmoil of emotions followed, between shock, fear, and uncertainty. It took my now husband and I a few days to wrap our heads around the idea, but once the initial shock wore off, we became excited.

At my first dating ultrasound, seeing that little baby on the screen made any doubts just melt away. We were in love with this darling child already.

Everything progressed normally – and on August 15, 2008 (my husbands birthday), we found out we were having a little girl.

On the morning of Sept 22, 2008, I awoke to find blood on my bed sheets. Not a lot of it, but enough to be a concern. At 6:45 that morning, we left for the Emergency room.

At almost 6 months pregnant, the nurses rushed me in and immediately hooked me up to an ultrasound machine. The only heartbeat they could find was incredibly weak. The two nurses shared a knowing look with each other and went to fetch the doctor.

The doctor arrived and told us that there was nothing they could do to save her. I would be admitted to labour and delivery. “Expect that your child will be stillborn” she said.

At 1:49pm on September 22, 2008, our beautiful daughter, Annaliese, was born sleeping.

The cause of my loss was determined to be premature rupture of the membranes, followed by an infection. The Dr cleared us to start trying again after 3 cycles. Not so bad, right? 3 cycles = 3 months – except my cycles had never been anywhere close to regular.

After 5 months and only 2 cycles, I went to the Dr again. I was given the first of many, many prometrium prescriptions to induce my period. From various blood tests, it was determined that I was having anovulatory cycles.

In December of 2009, I managed to beg and plead my way into the fertility clinic. The Dr asked a million questions and sent the two of us for a lot of tests. I was sent for an HSG later that month. The HSG resulted in me finding out that my left tube was blocked.

A pelvic ultrasound also revealed multiple, tiny cysts on my ovaries, commonly known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).

The Dr suggested trying a drug called clomid which would induce ovulation. Typically only 3 cycles are recommended, so we would try 3 cycles and see what happened. After an early miscarriage on cycle 2 of clomid, we were finally blessed with a sticky pregnancy on my third and final round of clomid. It was a difficult pregnancy with severe gestational diabetes, but my little miracle, James Frederick, was born via C-Section on May 2, 2011.

3.     How did you handle disappointments through your cycles (natural and otherwise) or months of waiting? and  4.     What were the ‘stress-free’ techniques that you tried that helped you get through the cycle or time?
The stress of losing our daughter nearly ruined me. I would stay up almost all of the night, I turned into a very angry, bitter person. I was completely irrational, and spent a lot of time crying. This carried on for almost a year. In July of 2009, I stumbled across an Internet message board of ladies who were trying to conceive after a loss. It was so relieving to find other women who had been through what I had been through. I was able to pour my heart out to them, and they understood. Those ladies helped me come out of my darkness and I will be forever grateful for that.

The ladies that I met during my losses and infertility are some of the most wonderful women I have ever met. There’s a group of about 40 of us who are still in touch daily. Most of us have been blessed with children over the past year, and there are some who are still struggling, and a couple who have been told they are unable to have children at all. We’re like family, and any one of us would do anything for the others.

5.     If you could give advice for couples going through infertility now, what would it be?

If I could give advice to anyone going through infertility or loss, the one thing I would recommend is to find someone to talk to. If you’re anything like me, the stress, and emotions could eat you alive if you kept them bottled away. Talk to your husbands. Find a support group with women who are going through similar issues. Sometimes just knowing that you’re not alone is more than helpful.

Thank you so much Carrie! Enjoy your first holiday with your adorable son!

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Meet Hannah!

Dec 4th, 2011
by Krissi.
No comments yet
Meet Hannah, my newest success story! She blogs at Hannah & Sam. Read on for her incredible story!
 
1.     How long did you struggle through infertility?  
 Two years. I had wanted to start trying a couple years before that, but we were waiting for better jobs, and we wanted to buy a house. When we finally decided we were ready for a family, I was thrilled! Then, after a few months, the confusion set in. Why am I not pregnant? Is something wrong with me? Why is everyone else able to get pregnant? One of the hardest things, for me, was the extreme emotions. I would be so hopeful, excited about starting a new fertility treatment, and then hurt and confused when I still wasn’t pregnant. On top of that was the strong desire for a child. I wanted to look at cribs, hold baby blankets, and paint the bedroom that would be our nursery, but it was too painful. I was convinced I’d eventually be a mom, but what all would we have to go through? 
 
2.     What did you go through (as far as treatments, different doctors, adoptions agencies, etc.)?
 We tried on our own for a year, and then went through a year of infertility treatments. At first, my Reproductive Endocrinologist identified ovulation irregularities. So to correct that, I was on Clomid, then Femara, then Femara and Menopur (ganatrophin shots). To increase our chances, we added IUI for a few cycles. Nothing produced a pregnancy, and my doctor wasn’t sure why. She said we could try a laproscopy, an outpatient surgical procedure, that would identify whether endometriosis was present. There was only a 50/50 chance I had endo. Still, I wanted to find out. We scheduled the surgery for a couple months out, and during those two months, my husband and I went to two adoption seminars. That was a big step for us. It was the first time I allowed myself to think that maybe I wouldn’t experience a pregnancy. That was hard, and yet I’ve always believed that to parent a child is more important than having a biological connection. I left those adoption seminars a little overwhelmed, but encouraged. I needed to know that no matter what happened with the lap, I’d be able to become a mom. My doctor did find endo and removed it. A month later, after the lap, my doctor said we could just try on our own, but I was too scared to do that.  We did a femara/IUI cycle and then got our first positive pregnancy test.   Nine months later, our sweet baby boy. 
 
3.     How did you handle disappointments through your cycles (natural and otherwise) or months of waiting?
 I cried. There were tears every month for two years. To help, my husband and I would usually plan something on our test day. We’d go to the mall, or to IKEA, or to see a movie. Something that would help distract me, but that wouldn’t require me to pretend I wasn’t upset. I also blogged and wrote out my prayers. 
 
4.     What were the ‘stress-free’ techniques that you tried that helped you get through the cycle or time (yoga, meditation, acupuncture, support through family, friends & on-line, etc.)?
 Prayer and blogging. I felt compelled to do both. I knew God heard my cries, but why wasn’t I a mom yet? Writing helped me process what I was feeling and thinking. That’s why I first started blogging. I didn’t know if anyone would ever find my blog, but I had to write it. Then, finding a support group online was amazing. It was so encouraging to know that others understood exactly how I felt.
 
5.     If you could give advice for couples going through infertility now, what would it be?
 Hold on to hope. Find a support group. Also, find ways to feel like you’re still in control of your life and still moving forward. I joined weight watchers and started exercising more. It made me feel like I was in control of my body for a change, and I loved losing the extra pounds I gained during infertility. 
 
6. What does motherhood mean to you now?
On February 28, 2011, when the doctor placed my son on my chest, I couldn’t help but sob, and sob loudly. Here he was, after everything we had gone through, after almost losing hope that we’d ever get to this point. And now, 9 months later, I still look at him in awe. I walk in his nursery and am still overwhelmed by my feelings of joy and thankfulness. Sometimes I wonder if I’m living a dream, as being his mom is even more gratifying than I had imagined. This intense love and gratitude sustained me during all those sleepless newborn nights, and it reminds me now of what’s really important as my little guy throws food off his highchair tray or tries out his new teeth by biting my arm.  This child was longed for, prayed for, and is loved unconditionally.
Now, my sweet baby boy is 8 1/2 months old already!  I’m treasuring this time. (I’m also still trying to figure out how to balance everything as a working mom.)   
 

Thank you so much Hannah! Your little boy is adorable! Check out her blog!

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Meet Aracely!

Nov 13th, 2011
by Krissi.
2 comments

  My newest success story hails to us this week from Aracely who blogs at Here’s to Unwavering Hope and Answered Prayers. She just had her son about a month ago on October 8th and says that motherhood is everything and more than she dreamed. Read on for her inspiring story!

1. How long did you struggle through infertility?

My husband and I faced infertility for 2 years.  We started trying when I was only 26.  I thought it would just happen for us but life had other plans. I have always been a planner so when we were ready to start trying I wanted to be carefree about it. This only lasted about a couple of months. We began using ovulation kits.  When those didn’t pan out, I decided to bite the bullet and buy the $200, Clear*Blue Fert*ility Monitor. After 6 months on the monitor and another 3-4 months trying with the ovulation kits nothing was happening. Something told us that we may have a deeper issue at hand.

2. What did you go through (as far as treatments, different doctors, adoptions agencies, etc.)?

Once we had the suspicion that there might be a deeper issue, I made an appointment with my obgyn and told her that we had been trying for about 10 months and nothing was happening. I was glad that she did not tell us to wait it out. I was scheduled for an HSG (hystosalpingogram) which was so painful but I was hopeful that my tubes would be flushed out and then we could conceive. In the meantime my husband was scheduled for a semen analysis.

So began our diagnoses. My results came back inconclusive with one tube clearing and the other one leaking only a little. I felt so upset but was reassured by my obgyn that my tubes were clear. This was not the cause of our difficulty. My husband’s SA came back abnormal.  His dx was abnormal sperm morphology—3% (WHO method).  His counts and motility were borderline.

We were devastated but determined to do whatever it took. My obgyn’s exact words were, “I’m sorry but this road might be longer than we thought.” We felt so hopeless and my husband felt responsible.

We were referred to a fertility specialist in a fertility clinic.  We began blood work and started our 1stIUI (unmedicated)-2 scheduled inseminations for the first month. We were hopeful but were unsuccessful. I was given news that I had tested positive as a carrier for Cystic Fibrosis.  My husband tested negative. We were given 25% of our child having this disease. This was a shock and it made me scared. We were reassured that the chances were low. This just seemed like another bump in the road.

We tried IUI again but this time I requested that I be put on clo*mid so that we may increase our chances. That month I produced 3-4 eggs. We had 3 scheduled inseminations. BFN again. We decided to try once more the next month. Once again I produced 4 eggs. We had 2 scheduled IUI’s. We were determined to do whatever it took but were really hoping this would be it. Once more we were heartbroken. We met with our doctor and were informed that my hormone levels came back higher than someone should have at my age.  I had no idea what FSH levels were but was informed that my levels were 11.5.  I was only 27.  My doctor wanted to test my levels again in case it was a glitch because in his words “he couldn’t believe it.”  The second test came back better but still pretty high at 7.8. I would later hear exactly how this would affect the rest of our journey.  We also found out that I had developed cysts on my ovaries due to the clo*mid, which once again my doctor found surprising since he only sees this in about 5% of patients.  At this point, I was beginning to believe Murphy’s Law as it related to our fertility.

Every time we tried something new, we were sure this would make the difference.

We began to discuss IVF and scheduled an appointment to begin treatment. I started on a regular dosage of drugs but was not responding so they placed me on the highest dosage. My FSH levels pointed to the fact that I have DOR (diminished ovarian reserve). With all of the drugs I still only produced 3 eggs.  One was an empty follicle (that was strange), the other 2 went on to become 2 beautiful A and AB embryos. We were told that we could be “more than hopeful.” So we were. When we received our negative beta, we both cried and held each other. We felt confusion and heartbreak.  We were determined to do whatever it took.

We decided to try again.  This time I was not put on bcps. We used the highest dosages once more and I produced several follicles but when they went to retrieve them, all but 2 were empty. We were so confused. My doctors weren’t sure why this had happened. In any case, only one egg was mature. It fertilized and became a beautiful grade AB embryo. Two weeks later we received our negative beta. We were devastated once again.

Nevertheless, we felt more determined than ever to try again. Somehow, at sometime, in some way we would be parents. I felt such peace and for the first time, I surrendered.  I surrendered to God’s will and what I believed to be his promises for my life. We tried IVF for a third time and were so elated to find that this time it had worked! The amazing aspect is that we only had one mature egg, one embryo. It only took one!

3. How did you handle disappointments through your cycles (natural and otherwise) or months of waiting?

My faith in God gave me hope, strength, and perseverance. I knew that God had called me to be a mother. He had placed that desire in my heart.  I believed that one day it would happen. I surrendered to His will and it finally happened. My husband and I also communicated our feelings. We talked a lot throughout this journey. We grew stronger as a couple because of this hardship.

4. What were the ‘stress-free’ techniques that you tried that helped you get through the cycle or time (yoga, meditation, acupuncture, support through family, friends & on-line, etc.)?

I began my blog as a way to express all my feelings, thoughts, questions, and doubts.  I also read everything I could get my hands on to learn about infertility.  Following other people’s success stories gave me so much hope. I discovered yoga and absolutely loved it, if for no other reason but that it gave me a sense of peace. I also listened to meditation CD’s during our IVF cycles. On our last cycle, I gave acupuncture a try. I had heard of all the benefits and decided I had nothing to lose. It was very relaxing. I enjoyed it. Whether or not it helped contribute to our success I’m not sure but I would recommend it as a relaxation technique. I also drank Chinese herbs prescribed by my acupuncturist.

5. If you could give advice for couples going through infertility now, what would it be?

Never give up hope!  Love each other through the pain. Adopt a “whatever it takes” mentality. That level of surrender was what made all the difference. In the end, no matter how you become a parent, it will all be worth it.

Our miracle baby boy, Elliot is here!  The whole pregnancy was a series of miracles. I’ve not taken a single moment of my pregnancy for granted. At the end of this road, I am stronger and wiser.  God is good. He is faithful and close to the brokenhearted. He heard my prayers and has answered them.

Thank you so much Aracely! And congratulations on your son! Go to her blog to read more about her journey!

 

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Meet Molly!

Oct 16th, 2011
by Krissi.
2 comments

Meet Molly Wohlk! She is from WI and blogs at Adventures of an Infertile Nanny and tweets under @infertilenanny. Read on for her inspiring story!

1.  How long did you struggle through infertility? 

My husband and I struggled with infertility for 3 years and 8 months before we finally conceived our miracle.

2.  What did you go through (as far as treatments, different doctors, adoptions agencies, etc.)?

We started TTC in Sept of 2007 with high hopes. After charting for the first few months I realized TTC for us wasn’t going to be a breeze. According to my BBT I wasn’t always ovulating and when I did my cycles were way too long. At 9 months of TTC we decided to talk to our first FS (fertility specialist). Our first Dr. promptly started us on 50 mg of Clomid (CD 5-9) and diagnosed me with unexplained infertility. On our 3rd cycle of Clomid we finally conceived. We miscarried at 5 weeks. We were devastated to say the least and took 6 months off of TTC. After being unsuccessful by ourselves we went back to our Dr. and decided to try another 3 months of Clomid (same dose/days). We failed all three cycles. Distraught and disappointed we took another break. After once again being unsuccessful on our own we decided to switch to a new Dr. to try to get some answers. After talking to our second (new) FS she was shocked to find out we never ran any tests to determine why we were having so many issues. She ordered blood tests for me and a sperm analysis for Mr. Awesome (my husband). Mr. Awesome passed his test with flying colors but I failed mine horribly. We found out I had low progesterone and LPD. She started me on 50 mg of Clomid (CD 3-7) only to discover that my progesterone wasn’t rising enough. She upped my dose to 100 mg (CD 3-7) and we found that raised my progesterone significantly. I also started going to acupuncture once a week (I highly recommend this). When I was on my 5th cycle of 100 mg Clomid I started to blog. Although everything was going great we were still unsuccessful after 6 months of clomid. My Dr. recommended a HSG. Unfortunately our insurance wouldn’t cover it so we decided to take a break and concentrate on our finances. That was in January of this year. We started Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover to get our debt under control and after lots of talking we decided to save for adoption or IUI (after my HSG). I continued to use OPKs but after not getting good results for months, I decided to take a break from everything in April. On May 21st 2011 we found out we were pregnant with our miracle. We are currently 25 weeks pregnant with a very wiggly and healthy baby we affectionately call Bean. Bean is due on Mr. Awesome and my 10 year (dating) anniversary, January 26, 2012. 

 3.  How did you handle disappointments through your cycles (natural and otherwise) or months of waiting? And 4.) What were the ‘stress-free’ techniques that you tried that helped you get through the cycle or time (yoga, meditation, acupuncture, support through family, friends & on-line, etc.)? 

I really don’t think we could have survived almost four years of infertility without the support of our family and friends. And I know I couldn’t have survived without blogging. Blogging for me was such a great way to vent and talk about what I was going through and to connect with women/families who were going through the same thing as me. Acupuncture was another great stress relief.

 5.  If you could give advice for couples going through infertility now, what would it be? 

My advice for anyone still dealing with infertility is this: hang in there and don’t give up hope, miracles happen. And as much as you hate to hear it (I know this made me want to stab people) try to relax. The month we conceived we were completely med free, no OPKs were used, and we were just enjoying life. This baby was conceived on gin/juice and romance novels while my husband and I were laughing and enjoying  each others company.

“I’m not telling you it is going to be easy, I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it” -unknown

“You were given this life because you were strong enough to live it” -unknown

Thanks so much Molly! Check out her blog to follow her journey into motherhood!

 

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Lovin’ Ranae, Jenn, and The Disheartened!

Jun 13th, 2011
by Krissi.
2 comments

  Thanks so much for the blog love last week! I really needed that! Now time for a little love out into the blogosphere! ;-)

First up is Ranae from The Journey I Didn’t Expect.  She now has a fitting tribute for the daughter she lost from Christian’s Beach which I love because it’s such a beautiful idea, gift, and site! And this random thought post was about grieving during Mother’s Day and the lovely corsages she made! Kudos Ranae! Go send her some love!

 Next up is Jenn from Got Love, Been Married, Now where the hell’s the baby carriage?  She needs some love right now because after 7 miscarraiges and a failed adoption, she had a stinging moment. She also has a very crafty/garden blog she recently started so go check it out!

  And last but not least we have The Disheartened from Will You Knock Me Up Tonight? She could really use a virtual hug because she recently got a negative test from her first round of Clomid. Go wish her some luck on this next cycle and read more about her from her Versatile Blogger Award!

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Meet Still A Guest Room!

Jun 12th, 2011
by Krissi.
No comments yet
*This is the last success story I have to post until I get more so if you’ve been successful and would like to share your story here and in my book I will be working on, go to this post to get the info and thanks in advance!
 
Today, meet Still A Guest Room! Through a difficult journey of recurrent loss, she has just found out she is pregnant with twins-a boy and a girl! Read on to hear her incredibly brave story!
 
1.   How long did you struggle through infertility?
I began having extreme pelvic pain in November 2007.  After consulting with multiple doctors, I had surgery to confirm my endometriosis diagnosis.  Unfortunately, removing the visible endo did not end the pain.  Through spring 2010, I tried everything from pelvic therapy, bladder surgery, to special diets, but nothing helped.  Finally, my husband and I decided to just go for it and stopped birth control in April 2010. 
 
2. What did you go through (as far as treatments, different doctors, adoptions agencies, etc.) ?
A luteal phase defect was quickly detected, so I began Clomid in July 2010.  During my second Clomid cycle, we conceived, and I was ecstatic.  Our first beta, however, was just a 9.  The doctor was extremely concerned, yet we held out hope.  The beta rose, but nothing ever showed up in my uterus.  Finally, about three weeks later, the pregnancy was diagnosed as ectopic and methotrexate was administered.  That was the longest, hardest day of my life.  We had a terrible experience with our doctor (we changed immediately after the ectopic), and spent an entire day being shuffled from specialist to specialist trying to figure out what to do.  The next month, without medicine, we conceived again.  This pregnancy dissipated after just a few days.  The next month, we did an IUI so we could use a stronger dose of Clomid, and again got a positive pregnancy test.  The beta was the strongest yet, so we had great hope.  Unfortunately, that pregnancy lasted just over a week. 
 
Clearly we could conceive, but we couldn’t get to a clinical pregnancy.  My doctor felt strongly that though the HSG showed that my tubes were open, they were not working, and that all of my pregnancies had failed because they were not able to reach my uterus.  He believed the only viable option was IVF.  I was devastated…how had we gotten here so quickly?  After two second opinion consults, we decided to go all in and signed up for IVF.  I began stims on New Years Eve, and on January 25th received the best news–we were pregnant with an amazing beta!  About 10 days later, we got the even more amazing news that we were expecting two little miracles!!!  I am now almost 23 weeks pregnant with twins.
 
 3.   How did you handle disappointments through your cycles (natural and otherwise) or months of waiting?

We shared general information with family and friends, so one thing we did was establish that I did not want to receive phone calls asking about our status.  When we had news, we emailed it out, and that avoided many painful conversations.  We also tried to be together to receive news as often as work would allow.

 

4.  What were the ‘stress-free’ techniques that you tried that helped you get through the cycle or time (yoga, meditation, acupuncture, support through family, friends & on-line, etc.)? 

 I did meditation during IVF, which was wonderful, and also got fairly regular massages throughout our journey.  Also, I am an attorney, and when we began I had a very stressful job which required extremely long hours.  During the fall of 2010, I took a less time-consuming job that allowed me to commit more time to treatment.

 

5.  If you could give advice for couples going through infertility now, what would it be?

If you are going to share information with family and/or friends, set up a system to communicate the information you want them to have.  If you have bad news to share, only having to write it once can be really helpful.  Also, don’t let other people tell you how you should feel.  Sometimes you will grieve more deeply than people think you should, and sometimes you will get over setbacks more quickly.  Do not try to conform your emotions to other’s expectations.

 
Thanks so much for sharing! Follow her journey here on her blog!
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Meet Grace!

May 29th, 2011
by Krissi.
No comments yet

Here’s another success story to inspire you! Meet Grace! She blogs at Small Copper Coins and just had her 2nd son on May 12th right after Mother’s Day. Read on for her story!

1.      How long did you struggle through infertility?

We “allowed” for about a year and a half the first time around, and trying for our second we tried for over 4 years.

2.      What did you go through (as far as treatments, different doctors, adoptions agencies, etc.) ?

When trying to conceive our first, we just saw my regular OB. We had been allowing for over a year and I knew that I was very irregular. My OB prescribed the fertility drug Clomid, and we conceived our son during our 2nd cycle.

When trying for our second, we tried Clomid first with my OB, but I never ovulated on it. We did many tests and my OB informed me that he suspected I had PCOS. He told me he was not equipped to treat that, and he recommended that we see a specialist. We had put off going to a Reproductive Endocrinologist because we did not have infertility insurance coverage. But after trying 7 rounds of Clomid with my OB, he told us there was nothing else he could do. So we made the appointment with the RE. I remember specifically praying and telling God that we did not have the money for this, but that we would go see the RE if He would provide the money. That year, I started babysitting a friend’s kids AND we got a double tax return, so we were able to pay cash for everything the RE wanted to do! He did a battery of tests and determined that I did have PCOS. He started me on Metformin to treat insulin resistance and I had surgery to clean up some scar tissue from my previous C-section. He also did ovarian drilling during that surgery. After surgery, we tried 2 rounds of Clomid with him, but I did not ovulate, so we moved on to the fertility drug Femara. I conceived our second son during our second round on Femara. 

3.      How did you handle disappointments through your cycles (natural and otherwise) or months of waiting?

God. Seriously, He was all that got me through sometimes. Knowing that God is good, and that He does have a plan, even when I don’t understand it. Don’t get me wrong, I had some screaming matches with Him, asking why and when and what next? But ultimately, I got to the point where I realized that God’s plan for me is not something I have to settle for… it’s for my best. Even if it looks different than the way I thought it would be. My husband was amazing as well, and I had several friends who I could be very real and honest with too.

4.      What were the ‘stress-free’ techniques that you tried that helped you get through the cycle or time (yoga, meditation, acupuncture, support through family, friends & on-line, etc.)? 

A couple things really helped me. The first was finding an online support group. I joined Hannah’s Prayer Community (www.hannahsprayer.org), which is an online community of Christian women facing infertility and pregnancy or adoption loss. Just knowing I was not alone, knowing there were people out there who really understood and cared what I was going through, was so important. I’ve met several of these areas in real life as well, and the bond we have is very real and special. The second thing that really helped me was that I started blogging about my infertility. I have always been a pretty open person, but my blog was primarily a family blog. But I found it was very freeing and healing when I started getting more honest about my infertility, what I was going through both physically and emotionally, and what I was learning about God through the process. People started reading and commenting and things I had shared, and I realized that in sharing my journey, I was helping them too. It gave me a way to use even the painful parts of my life to have an impact on someone else, and that has been very special to me.

5.      If you could give advice for couples going through infertility now, what would it be?

 Know that you are not alone. Find a place, in real life or online, where you can be honest about your struggles, frustrations and pain, and make use of them. Be honest, and be vulnerable. Use your story to educate others. And most of all, know that God has a beautiful plan for your life that is for your good. It may or may not include children, but it is your story… and it is beautiful.

 

 

Thanks so much for sharing Grace! To follow her jounrey, visist her blog!

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Meet Pregnant Yuppy!

May 22nd, 2011
by Krissi.
4 comments

  I can’t believe it’s ICLW time again! Where did this month go? If you’re new here, welcome! I try to post a new success story every Sunday (if I have one) so if you’ve been successful and would like to share your story here and in my new book I’m working on, go to this post for the format of questions! And thanks! Also, don’t forget to check out my giveaway in honor of National Infertility Survival Day which will end on the 31st! Thanks for stopping by! Now without further adieu, meet Pregnant Yuppy! I featured her here for Blog Love(which I do every Monday–this was at a time where I only did one blog at a time and now I feature 3 randomly from my blogroll so if you’re not on it, let me know and I’ll add you on!) Read on for her incredible story!

1. How long did you struggle through infertility?

I stopped birth control in around 2006.  I had decided that I was done with adding artificial hormones to my body.  I told my husband that if he didn’t want to have kids, then birth control was now his responsibility.  So without actually TTC (trying to conceive) I did indeed get pregnant in March of 2008.  Unfortunately I miscarried at 10 weeks.  After that we decided to actively TTC.  I figured that since now we were trying, that I would get pregnant right away.  Not so.

Month after month of doing everything right yielded no results except for stress and frustration.  My family doctor would not refer me to a specialist for another year since we had already gotten pregnant on our own (despite being over 35).  It would be 2 more years before I got pregnant again.

2. What did you go through (as far as treatments, different doctors, adoptions agencies, etc.) ?

  When we finally met with an RE she conducted lots of tests.  Bloodwork for me on cycle days 3 (to test for FSH), and at 7 days past ovulation (to test progesterone levels), and an HSG.  Hubby only had to “endure” (as I teased him) a semen analysis test.  All of the tests came back normal and a review of my charts were textbook. Our infertility it seems was “unexplained”.  The RE felt that given our ages that IVF would be the best option.  The wait list was about 6 months so I wanted to try other treatments too.

In December 2009 I started on Clomid.  Due to my ovulation falling during the Christmas holidays we did not do any other treatments that month.  In January 2010 we did Clomid and an IUI, coincidentally the day of our IUI was the day of our IVF orientation class.  It also failed.  In February we were getting ready to try another IUI when I got a call from the clinic.  Our names came up for IVF!  We opted to skip the IUI and go straight for the good stuff.  So in March 2010 I started my first of the IVF drugs and on March 31, 3 sub-grade embryos were transferred into my uterus.
During the IVF process they harvested 24 eggs from me of which only 19 were mature.  We opted to have them fertilized via ICSI to increase our odds. Even so, only 13 fertilized.  Each day that followed the report from the embryologist got worse and worse.  On top of that, I was in danger of developing OHSS and having the transfer cancelled completely.  Due to the poor state of our embryos, the embryologist went to bat for us and insisted that they do the transfer or risk us losing all of our embryos.
They transferred the 3 best ones.  And 1 stuck!  We had our son in December 2010!

3. How did you handle disappointments through your cycles (natural and otherwise) or months of waiting?  

This may seem weird to some, but I would reward myself if AF showed.  After each failed cycle I would pick out something to buy myself if the next cycle was also a bust.  It could be new shoes, a new purse, a mani/pedi, etc.  I found that having a little luxury took the sting out of the failure.

4. What were the ‘stress-free’ techniques that you tried that helped you get through the cycle or time (yoga, meditation, acupuncture, support through family, friends & on-line, etc.)?

  I don’t know if I would have gotten through the miscarriage and all of the months that followed if it wasn’t for my online support.  For the most part I could be found on www.justmommies.com  But also I wrote on my blog http://thepregnantyuppy.blogspot.com/ and I could be found on Twitter as well: http://twitter.com/#!/YuppymomCanada  We live in a great age where you can find support for anything!  Take advantage of it.

For years I have gone through acupuncture for migraine treatment.  I continued with that for fertility as well.  I also started to see a holistic doctor who specializes in fertility treatments for a few months.  
And I downloaded the Circle+Bloom meditation.  At that time they did not have one specific to IVF but they do now. It is a great program.

5. If you could give advice for couples going through infertility now, what would it be?

Relax.  Talk to each other.  Know that you will be okay if you don’t become parents in the way that you intended.  Reach out to others, whether in your community or online.  You are not the only one going through this.

  

Thanks so much for sharing Pregnant Yuppy and congratulations on your son! He is adorable!

Check out Pregnant Yuppy to follow her journey! ;-)

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Meet Haidee!

Jan 30th, 2011
by Krissi.
No comments yet

Meet Haidee! She blogs at Maybe Baby…(or maybe the looney bin?).  Read on for her inspiring story!

 

ME NEW1. How long did you struggle through infertility?

 For nearly 3 years. We started TTC in January 2008 and finally conceived our miracle in October 2010.

2. What did you go through (as far as treatments, different doctors, adoptions agencies, etc.)?

 By September 2008 after only 9 months of TTC naturally I started thinking something was wrong. We were young (both 25 at the time) and I had always had periods that were like clockwork, so I couldn’t understand why it was taking so long to fall pregnant. I honestly thought I would be one of those women who fell pregnant straight away (how naïve I was!) and there must be something not right or I would be pregnant by now.

I had my first FS appointment in October 08 after 10 months TTC and was told I had low progesterone from my blood test and polycystic ovaries in appearance (despite the clockwork cycles). I was put on clomid and booked in for a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy keyhole surgery along with a dye test for January 09 to see if there was something else going on. The FS honestly thought the Clomid would work immediately but unfortunately that wasn’t the case either. I had my op and they found a uterine polyp (which was removed) and the dye test revealed I also had a blocked tube but the other appeared fine. I was told to carry on with the clomid and had a follow up appointment where I was put on the waiting list for IVF (in NZ you get 2 free IVF cycles but you are required to go on a waiting list until it is your turn, which in my instance was 7 months and you need to meet certain criteria to get free cycles – ie. if you have unexplained infertility you are not eligible until you have been TTC for 5 years. It is a really unfair system in my eyes!). When we went for our follow up appointment our FS said because we had 4 fertility issues (PCO, hormone imbalance, blocked tube and uterine polyp which was removed but have a tendency to grow back) we were very unlikely to ever conceive on our own and IVF would be the only way. I was upset but willing to do whatever it took. Unfortunately during our 7 month wait to start our IVF cycle I started having mid-cycle bleeding and found that the uterine polyp had indeed grown back (within 8 weeks of being removed!) and I had to go for a second op to have it taken out again.

Finally December 2009 rolled up and we were ready to go! Surely IVF would be the answer. Yet again, we had a set back. I over responded to the drugs and was cancelled due to excessive E2 levels and 40+ follicles. I was devastated that after 6 weeks of jabbing and going through the motions of a long cycle of IVF it was all for nothing. The only silver lining was that because we hadn’t made it to egg collection that cycle was not counted as one of our free tries. We then had to wait a further 2 months before we could go again. Bring on the second IVF cycle and I was on a reduced dose of 100iu Puregon. Once again I over responded but this time I was able to be coasted and egg collection was able to go ahead. After an excruciating egg collection (we don’t get put under in NZ, you are just given strong pain relief via a needle in the arm but are fully awake for the whole procedure. Unfortunately the drugs didn’t work for me and I nearly fainted from the pain and was shaking which made the pain worse) we got 18 eggs. 15 fertilised and 14 made it to day 3, but by day 5 we only had one viable blastocyst to transfer and none to freeze. I was absolutely devastated. In Between egg collection and transfer I got OHSS which left me in a lot of pain for 5 days but we went ahead with the transfer anyway because I never told the clinic how much pain I had been in as I was terrified of having my cycle cancelled and I felt like I had been waiting forever. In hindsight, this wasn’t such a great move! When we went for transfer I had a lot of fluid and bleeding in the ovaries but they transferred anyway and a long week later we got the devastating news of a BFN. I was gutted beyond words. That was one of our 2 free IVF cycles over and we didn’t even get any FET’s out of it.

We had to go back on the waiting list to do our second cycle but it was only a 3 month break this time. This cycle I was reduced even further to only 75iu and produced 18 eggs again, but only 7 were mature. 6 of those fertilized and we transferred a perfect 8-cell embryo and FINALLY we got the news that one of our other embryos had made it to blast and was able to be frozen. I was ecstatic! Once again I had the agonizing wait and was sure it hadn’t worked as I got mild cramping just like last time and no pregnancy symptoms, so when the nurse rang with the news I was pregnant I was in shock! I honestly wasn’t expecting it and after I got off the phone I promptly burst into tears. It was the best day of my life.

3. How did you handle disappointments through your cycles (natural and otherwise) or months of waiting?

In the beginning of my TTC journey the disappointments of my period arriving month after month were really upsetting, but later on I just got to a point where I expected it so didn’t get as upset and became a bit numb to it all. Emotionally all the waiting was tough and I was no different from any other woman struggling with IF, in that I would get upset with pregnancy announcements and the like. But I always tried to hold onto the hope and read lots of success stories to try and keep that hope alive and not become bitter.

4. What were the ‘stress-free’ techniques that you tried that helped you get through the cycle or time (yoga, meditation, acupuncture, support through family, friends & on-line, etc.)?

I tried acupuncture (I did acupuncture and Chinese herbs for over a year and it cost me a fortune!) and had support through the forum world which I have now been a part of for over 3 years. The support of the friends I have made through these forums are invaluable and I love them to pieces! My mum died when I was only 21 years old so it was really tough and I felt like I was very alone at times but my friends, family and forum girls got me through. I also got a hypnotherapy CD called ‘Preparing for pregnancy’ which helped keep me relaxed. Reading and becoming as knowledgeable as possible about infertility and treatments also helped my anxiety levels.

5. If you could give advice for couples going through infertility now, what would it be?

Don’t give up, try not to let bitterness consume you and do your research. Reading up on everything there was to know about my options and speaking to others in the same boat as me really helped me retain at least a little control over the situation. Also, make sure you have a really good support network to help you through it, I found my fellow IF friends to be invaluable.

I am now 18 weeks pregnant and apart from a terrible bout of morning sickness which lasted from 6 weeks to 14 weeks I have had a great pregnancy so far. We will be finding out what sex the baby is on 11th February and I can’t wait! I am due on the 4th July 2011.

Congratulations Haidee! ! ;-)

Check out her blog to follow her journey!

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