Monica's Story: IVF Takes Strength, Courage, And Teaches Us to Be Disciplined
I truly have a story to tell, my road to motherhood was not an easy one, and I know that there is so many women and couples out there struggling to be moms, so by my own experience on this, I want to share my story with you.
My fertility journey started 13 years ago when I came to the United States after marrying my husband in my country, Colombia. We met on match.com. He is Israeli and was living in the States and I am Colombian and was living in Bogota the Capital.
I wanted to get pregnant right away. I assumed , I will get pregnant right away, (I come from a very “fertile” family, I have from my mother’s side 9 aunts and 9 uncles, all this 18 children were from the same mom and dad, and from all of them I have a ton of cousins, about 203, my grandpa died at age 103 years old and he was able to meet his 5 generation, so basically I took for granted that I would get pregnant with the “blow of a kiss”) But it did not happen.
After a little bit more than a year of trying, I got worried and thought that I must be the one with the problem. My hubby already had a cute little girl from a previous relationship (she will be 19 years next July; I love her as my own). My OBGYN put me on clomid for two months, but nothing happened. I felt very depressed, but my husband always supported me.
Next, we did a lot of blood tests which all came back normal, and my hormone levels were amazing. I always had very steady and exact periods, so all seemed OK on that side. After I went for a hysterosalpingogram, my OBGYN told us that both my tubes were blocked which was the reason I couldn’t get pregnant, (the cause of my double tube blockage was Stage IV Endometriosis), so the embryo could not travel from the tubes to the uterus.
He gave us a card recommending a RE well known here in NY and with very reasonable prices. I left that office devastated, crying non-stop. My husband calmed me down in the car telling me to look on the bright side – that we can be grateful that there is still a possibility of having a baby.
We went to see this RE in November 2004. He ordered further tests and a laparoscopy to try to open the tubes or unless one, and then another hysterosalpingogram but the tubes were still blocked.
IVF was our only choice. Everything went smoothly – They retrieved 34 eggs, 14 of which fertilized, and I transferred 4. We were lucky, as this first Cycle became a successful pregnancy, most of first cycles are not successful, but ours was. The result of this cycle is today, our 14-year-old daughter Eliyah.
We did not know at that time that we could freeze the remaining embryos, and nobody in the clinic told us, so again I took for granted that I would get pregnant the next IVF cycle when we would come back to try for a sibling to our daughter, because for sure we would want another child. But again, it wasn’t that easy and this time that second IVF cycle we would do, we took for granted that would be a secure pregnancy like the first one, became a count of 4 cycles, and a pain and sorrow I would never imagine would happen to us….
Our Second cycle was in 2009, due to a mistake by the nurse in the clinic, who gave me the incorrect medicine amount, I got very sick with OHSS, and that cycle had to be cancelled. The RE offered us another cycle at no cost, taking responsibility for the mistake, this was the same clinic and RE of my first cycle. So, three months after cancelling this second cycle, we entered onto the third.
For this third cycle we decided to do chromosomal testing. We found one embryo that had issues and wouldn’t make it. Of the other 4 blastocysts, 3 were very good and 1 was developing slower. We transferred all 4 embryos, and the embryo which was behind attached, and developed into a pregnancy. My pregnancy was good all the way, including the amniocentesis, which was when we confirmed that we were expecting a baby girl. Everything was normal. But no one knew that I had a blood clotting problem. At 39 weeks, 3 days before my delivery due date, our baby Isabelle died in my womb due to a blood clot in the umbilical cord. I had to deliver her anyway. We were devastated, I wanted to disappear from the pain, because it was unbearable to deal with, and I felt guilty for what had happened. It was very painful. I felt so empty that I did not even wait 3 months before going for round four of IVF. We decided to change our clinic and RE, when they told us there that I should wait more, let my body rest and recover, as I was still producing milk and having the changes of a woman that just had a baby… but without a baby in my arms… I had to also heal emotionally, but I was so stubborn, and must have that baby I lost, so they proceeded with this 4th cycle. I did get a positive test, but I guess from the sadness, the loss of the baby, the stress, and the fear all combined with other personal things, I miscarried at 7 weeks. Another unbearable pain, I was upset with God, I felt I was being punished and I was thinking why I was here and why I had to go through all of this.
The loss of our daughter, the miscarriage, the emotional disbalance all together, also took a toll on our marriage, and it started to crumble. My husband and I almost got divorced. It was a really dark time. One thing after another. When we were in the fence, already each of us with a lawyer, and after a talk with our rabbi, we knew there was still love between us, and we decide to give our relationship another chance and work on it for over a year, not thinking about a baby, but only on us and our Eliyah and Daniella (my stepdaughter), to solidify things, make things stronger, and then try again one last time for a baby.
In September 2012 we started another round of IVF, also at a new clinic. During this cycle I shifted my thoughts and decided to take things in a much calmer way. I was more relaxed. I read every night the Pregnancy Prayers from the Tefillas Channah (the Book of Prayers for the Jewish Woman), I did acupuncture, and started to see the bright side of being infertile and going through all of this burden. There was a purpose to all of this. I got a positive pregnancy test and today she is our daughter Maya. She will be 7 years old next June. For some reason I feel very strong that it’s our Isabelle’s soul back in a little different body.
I’m lucky to say that even after all this journey, I was able to become a mom. I have learned so much and my own journey inspired me to do what I do today, coach other women struggling with Infertility. IVF inspired me to write a book and create more. I am on the process of my second book. I have learned that no matter the end result, negative, positive, or even canceled cycles, IVF takes strength, courage, and teaches us to be disciplined. Though expensive and extremely challenging, for me, this was a journey to be proud of.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided in this blog is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider or qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog.
