Here We Go Again It has been a while since I last wrote. It is partly because I decided to take our forced break in the PGD process as an opportunity to take a long overdue trip home to Canada to see my family and friends. I had been putting off traveling because of my hysteroscopy last November that marked the end one pregnancy, then trying to conceive again, then another pregnancy, then another miscarriage and finally our decision to move forward with IVF and PGD. It just didn’t seem like a good time to travel or even think about being away in another country. So when Dr J told me we would need to wait a cycle and go another round, I didn’t even hesitate. I booked the flight a few days later and flew out the week after. I thought going home would rejuvenate me, and certainly seeing my family and friends did help boost my spirit, but I came back feeling depressed and lonely. I spend the week with my nieces and nephew, held my best friend’s new baby girl, played with her other daughter and other friends’ children. It was amazing, I missed them so much…Continue reading IVF with PGD: Egg Retrieval Part 2
Tag: Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
Somewhere Over the Rainbow LLC: October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month October is a special month for families who have suffered the loss of a child during pregnancy or shortly following birth. It is known as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, marked by “The International Wave of Light” on October 15. Manchester, New Jersey (PRWEB) October 01, 2013 (www.prweb.com) On October 25, 1988, (then) President Ronald Reagan designated the month of October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. What an amazing act of love and compassion he showed towards families all over the United States. This later spurred the 2002 petition, October 15th Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, to designate this day specifically as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, a day set aside in which to honor and remember these babies lost. It was an American movement started by Robyn Bear, Lisa Brown, and Tammy Novak. They petitioned the governors of each of the 50 states as well as the federal government, and by October 15, 2002, 20 states had signed proclamations to recognize the date, which was observed for the very first time that year in 2002. 11 years later, all 50 states…Continue reading October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
Sharing the Love
A surprise package came in the mail today from a dear friend of mine that brought tears to my eyes. It was so thoughtful and touching, I simply had to share this gift. The best part is I don’t even know what it all is yet! The box included 14 different wrapped packages, one for each day of the 2 Week Wait. She sent it before we had made the decision to post-pone our transfer in order to do another round of meds and another egg retrieval. We made the decision to get as many eggs as possible so we’re now in a 2 Month Wait rather than a 2 Week Wait. However, I could not believe this amazing friend had take the time to collect 14 different items, wrap them all, and write an inspiring quote on each one. Each package has a number between 1-14 and is intended to inspire me and help me cope each day during the all too stressful 2 Week Wait. We all know how difficult that wait is! I know I’m going to especially need this after waiting two months to just get ready to do our transfer! To my dear friend (you…Continue reading Sharing the Love
Update 2: IVF and PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis)
A Little Set Back But a Move in the Right Direction Yesterday I had my first milestone appointment in the IVF/PGD process, the egg retrieval. I was put under for the procedure and 20 minutes later I woke up with some cramping, but otherwise, I felt OK. So all in all, I would say the procedure was a success. However, it looks like we will be doing this step again, so it’s Phase 1: Egg Retrieval Part 1 of 2. The reason for doing this in 2 parts is we were a little short on the amount of embryos that Dr. J would like to have before proceeding with the next step. We retrieved 7 eggs, but only 6 were mature and of those 6 mature eggs, 5 fertilized. So we now have 5 embryos that are ready to go, but Dr. J has recommended freezing these, taking one cycle off and doing another cycle of fertility drugs and another egg retrieval to get a few more so we can have at least 8 embryos to start the next phase in this process. The Rationale for Doing Another Egg Retrieval Prior to PDG and Transfer Dr. J wants to give…Continue reading Update 2: IVF and PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis)
Update: IVF and PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis)
We are getting ready for the first big appointment in the IVF process! Egg retrieval! Our egg retrieval is planned for Friday, September 20th! A little recap… I have now been doing hormone injections for 10 days. I began with only Follistim injections in the evenings between 6-8 pm, but after the first 3 days, I also began Menapur injections. For those who are reading this and have had repeated IVF procedures, forgive my exclamation, as I’m sure this is old news to you, but 2 needles in my belly every night is not fun! Then on Sunday, I also began Ganirelix injections in the morning to prevent me from ovulating too soon. So that’s 3 injections per day! This is not enjoyable, but so far things are going smoothly. Well almost. The doctor had me a little worried last week because early in the process after the first few days of injections, there were only 6 follicles showing growth. The other 4 follicles that we saw at my baseline ultrasound were not growing at all. Dr. J said he wanted at least 9 or 10 follicles in order to have enough embryos to send for genetic testing. He said it’s…Continue reading Update: IVF and PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis)
IVF and PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis)
The Journey to Having a Family Continues After the loss of our son, Holdon, my biggest concern moving forward with trying to become pregnant again was being at high risk for a reoccurrence of preeclampsia. This is still a huge risk that lurks in the back of my mind, but after my 3 miscarriages since then, this fear has been overshadowed by other fears… fear of having another miscarriage, fear of not being able to have another baby, fear of moving forward with expensive fertility treatments that don’t have a guarantee, and could result in further heartache and disappointment. However, after giving it a lot of thought, we have decided to proceed with IVF and PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis). After 3 ½ years, four pregnancies, one baby in heaven and 3 miscarriages later, our journey with trying to have a baby has taken this surprising turn. It’s surprising because I always thought of IVF as a solution for infertility, and it didn’t initially occur to me that this was a solution for us because we get pregnant quickly and easily. However, the word infertility comes with different definitions and for us it means recurrent pregnancy loss. Why do IVF for…Continue reading IVF and PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis)
Inspiring Stories: Healing Through Sharing
Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss Blog Directory Below is a link for a directory of stories and resources about miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss. It is is created and maintained by those who have experienced the loss of a baby in miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death. Their goal is to maintain a current listing of Babyloss Blogs, recommend related resources, and to post the latest Babyloss information. Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss Blog Directory (babylossdirectory.blogspot.com) Other Inspiring Blog Recommendations For This Week Miscarriage: Finding My Way Home (miscarriageonetwomany.blogspot.com) “This blog is for the countless silent sufferers who have lost babies through miscarriage. Here, you can read, share, find other related resources and together we can find our way back home. Please share this site with others who may need a place like this.” Hope In Miscarriage (hopeinmiscarriage.blogspot.com) “I just moderated and answered a few comments on this blog and for some reason went back and read the first few posts when I shared our own story. Yes, I got tears in my eyes. Yes, it makes heaven so precious. But, the grief is no longer overwhelming or even really painful. I remember, I long to see our little ones,…Continue reading Inspiring Stories: Healing Through Sharing
Preeclampsia Foundation Introduces Illustrated Education Tool
On May 7th, 2013, the Preeclampsia Foundation introduced a new education tool to inform expectant mothers about the life-threatening disorder of pregnancy. This is a must read for anyone who is trying to become pregnant or currently pregnant. Preeclampsia Foundation Introduces Education Tool to Inform Expectant Mothers about Life-Threatening Disorder of Pregnancy Illustrated preeclampsia symptoms tear pad now available, already adopted by California healthcare initiative Melbourne, Fla. — May 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — The Preeclampsia Foundation today released the Illustrated Preeclampsia Symptoms Tear Pad, a patient education tool that was developed in collaboration with health services researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Ill. The tool effectively informs pregnant women, even those with potentially poor literacy, about preeclampsia. Because preeclampsia is a disorder that can have grave consequences for a mother and her unborn baby, the goal is for the tool to offer information in a way that allows women to assimilate and retain knowledge related to preeclampsia, leading them to promptly seek medical attention should they have symptoms related to preeclampsia… To read more… Click Here or Click Here to see Multimedia Version © Preeclampsia Foundation 2013 | www.preeclampsia.org
Inspiring Stories: Healing Through Sharing
Below are some links to stories and resources I found inspiring and hopeful. I hope reading these stories about miscarriage will help you find some hope too. I will be posting links about pregnancy, miscarriage/recurrent loss and preeclampsia regularly so please return frequently for other stories and resources like these. BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA: We Need To Talk About Miscarriage (worldmomsblog.com) “We need to tell people when we suffer a loss. We owe them that, and we owe ourselves that, because for all we know, they need someone to talk to, too. Don’t assume that they don’t know what you’re going through, because chances are, they do.” Finding Hope after Miscarriage (well.blogs.nytimes.com) “Two months after I had surgery to remove my fourth pregnancy, I fell pregnant again. Just like the last time, nausea hit hard by week 5, and by week 7, we saw a tiny heartbeat. “Is it too much to ask for that heart to keep beating another 80 years?” I asked my husband, and we laughed and laughed, because we knew exactly how much that was to ask. But a little over seven months later, I was holding our son.” Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (www.nobiggie.net) “As hard as this trial has been,…Continue reading Inspiring Stories: Healing Through Sharing
Creating a Community of Hope
It’s talked about in little circles. It’s discussed in hushed tones amongst family and friends. It’s brushed aside as a sad part of life that one should not dwell on and certainly should never be talked about with strangers. What am I talking about? Miscarriage. I am starting this blog because I recently experienced my fourth loss in three years and I no longer want to hide it and be ashamed of it. Why is it that people can post every detail of their pregnancies on facebook and other social media sites, right down to the sex of their baby months before the baby is even born, but talking about miscarriage, another part of pregnancy, is taboo? After my most recent miscarriage, I really hit an all time low. This was my third miscarriage in two years and I delivered a baby boy prematurely at twenty-eight weeks due to preeclampsia the year before. He died after three and a half months in the NICU. These were four incredibly painful events in my life. I was tired of it all. I was heartbroken. I was angry. I asked, how could this happen again. I wondered how it is possible that there…Continue reading Creating a Community of Hope