Our infertility journey

Below is our complete journey to building our family. In a very short nutshell, we tried to conceive for nearly six years before bringing home a living, healthy baby.

  • Married in September 2006
  • Last birth control pill October 19, 2007
  • Visited OB for the "why can't I get pregnant" appointment in mid-2008; began using OPKs to track ovulation
  • Paul's first semen analysis in December 2008 revealed low motility and low viability, and a follow up in 2010 showed low motility, low morphology, low-ish count

  • Started working with our fertility clinic in July 2010 after exactly ZERO positive pregnancy tests.
  • IUI #1-3 (August-October 2010) - BFN
  • IUI #4 February 2011 (mini-Lupron + Menopur) - converted to IVF, transferred one 5-day blast, BFN
  • IUI #5 May 2011 (mini-Lupron + Menopur) - BFP (confirmed fraternal twins June 2011)
  • August 5, 2011 - babies delivered at 14w2d after pPROM and induction of labor
  • September 2011 - unconfirmed chemical pregnancy
  • IUI October-November 2011 cancelled due to ovarian cyst (aspirated in November)
  • IUI #6 December 2011 (added Gonal-F) - BFN (11 days of stims = poor response)
  • IUI #7 January 2012 (no meds) - BFN
  • January 2012 - diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), AMH = 0.27 (poor prognosis); started DHEA, royal jelly and CoQ-10
  • IUI #8 April 2012 (with Gonal-F and Menopur) - BFN (14 days of stims = really poor response)

  • Switched clinics after RE said we needed IVF with ICSI (which he didn't offer); cherry-picked against by a top clinic in Portland, OR, who discouraged DHEA but encouraged Clomid challenge test and continuation of CoQ-10
  • Operative hysteroscopy July 2012 to remove two uterine polyps
  • August 2012 - Consultation with University of Washington, decide to try one IVF cycle with my eggs before moving on to donor eggs
  • IVF September 2012 delayed due to ovarian cyst (aspirated)
  • IVF #1 October 2012 (Gonal-F, Menopur, Saizen [human growth hormone]) - 3 eggs, all fertilized, two determined to have lethal chromosomal abnormalities through PGD, transferred 1 Day 6 hatching blast (possible extra chromosome) - BFP!!!!
  • June 21, 2013 - Asher Paul born healthy at 38w2d after four weeks of bed rest due to high BP

  • August 2013 - I am diagnosed with postpartum anxiety (PPA) and put on antidepressants and high dose Vitamin D to try and turn things around

  • June 2014 - Asher turns one, and I realize that I'm nowhere near trying again for another living child; now on Pa.xil for continued anxiety disorder, and still working on my chronic Vitamin D deficiency

  • Summer 2015 - Asher turns two, I am diagnosed with PMDD and put on a whole pile of supplements. We decide we might actually want to try again during Fall/Winter 2015.

  • August 31, 2015 - phone consult with anonymous frozen donor egg program director - possibly trying once more?
  • September/October 2015 - required pre-cycle testing (PAP, mammo, SIS) completed
  • Early November 2015 - select egg donor, fork over the moolah for cycle; two nice blastocysts created and frozen
  • November 2015 - operative hysteroscopy to remove two uterine polyps
  • December 2015 - begin FET cycle with birth control pills, Lupron and Vi.velle patches
  • January 12, 2016 - sFET of one gorgeous Day 6 fully hatched blast
  • January 17, 2016 - POAS because I'm crazy. See a total squinter of a BFP! Go crazy. Pee on another EIGHT over the next four days. All BFPs, darker as the week goes on.
  • January 18-21, 2016 - daily spotting. Paranoia. Waiting for a BFN or miscarriage.
  • January 21, 2016 - BETA #1 = 182...say WHAT?! After all those HPTs lighter than any with Asher ever were?
  • January 23, 2016 - BETA #2 = 437. Wow. Completely stunned. EDD set for 9/30/16. First ultrasound scheduled for 2/9/16 at 6w4d!

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