My Journey Through Infertility
My name is Kristy. I’m 26 years old and have been trying to conceive my first child since August of 2011. I have been married for over three years and have a nine-year-old stepdaughter. I am a daily poster on The Bump Trying to Get Pregnant and Trouble Trying to Get Pregnant message boards. Just a little background on my medical history. I am physically disabled due to a benign spinal cord astrocytoma (tumor) they found when I was five years old. Unfortunately, it caused a mess of other problems for me, including mobility issues, scoliosis, nerve damage, and a whole lot more. I’ve had a total of 17 surgeries (three tumor removals, two leg lengthenings with several re-breaks of bones in between, foot reconstruction, and many others) . I have definitely gone through hell and back but I fully believe that all of these challenges have prepared me for the struggle I am facing now.
Over a year ago my husband, Rich, and I trashed the birth control after visiting and speaking with each of my eight doctors to make sure it was okay for me to physically carry and have a child. I’ve always wanted to be a mom and I wasn’t going to let my disability or medical conditions get in the way of that. I wasn’t ovulating so I decided to call my OB — I call him Dr. Vajay for obvious reasons. He ran several tests and diagnosed me with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). He would always say, “We will get you pregnant. I just have a feeling it’s going to take a little bit longer for you to get there.” Truer words have never been spoken, Dr. Vajay. After that, he sent me off to the infertility clinic. I’m currently on my 5th round of Clomid and five days of injections into the stomach. I never thought it would take so much to get pregnant but I’m willing to do poke myself with needles, drive to tons of monitoring appointments and pay a ton of money to get there. I will have a child one day, whether it’s one month from now or three years from now. I’m never going to give up until I have a sweet little baby in my arms.
So now you know a little about my history and where I am on the roller coaster of trying to conceive. I look forward to sharing my thoughts, pictures, disappointments and how I handle this crazy ride in future posts. I’m incredibly open so feel free to ask any questions. Thanks for reading!
Have you struggled with fertility? How did you get through it?
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Thanks for sharing your story Kristy! I’m excited to follow your journey here on The Bump — I love that you have a positive attitude despite all the challenges you’ve had to face!
I’m so excited to work with you! Thanks for allowing me to share my story.
After 3 and a half years of IF and a miscarriage we now have a beautiful 7 month old. It was the hardest journey of my life but I wouldn’t change a thing. If we hadn’t struggles to get pregnant I’m not sure I would appreciate this miracle we have and if we hadn’t lost our first child our sweet Catey would not be here. I know it is so hard but it is so worth every pill, every dollar, and every tear when you finally get to meet your child.
I love a strong person who never gives up! Good for you and congrats on your miracle
I have PCOS and i went through 2 years of fertility treatments including 8 rounds of clomid, HCG injections, 2 rounds of IUI and a round of IVF and many fertility acupuncture treatments i got pregnant 16 times using fertility treatments and I had 16 miscarriages in 2 years. My dad got diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer in may of 2011 and he was the main bread winner in my parents household, i gave up my dream of wanting a baby and on July 28th (my dads birthday) I found out that I was 2 months pregnant!!! I did not use fertility meds for this pregnancy, the dr said that all the treatments i went through helped clear up my PCOS and I finally ovulated on my own, I have a healthy almost 6 month old baby boy and a healthy daddy
my advice to you is to not give up, pray and give it all to GOD!!!! Good luck to you and you are in my prayers, you are a strong woman and are an inspiration to all!!!
Thank you for your prayers! I need all I can get. So glad you finally had success and have a precious little baby. Thanks for sharing
it’s going to be an emotional and bumpy road, but don’t lose hope! After 5 rounds of clomid, injections, metformin, etc…due to my PCOS and Endo my husband and I conceived our baby girl in August 2011 and she was born healthy in May 2012! She was so WORTH every ache, pain and penny!
Hi Kristy,
i’m so sorry to hear about the infertility troubles you are having and you are definitely not alone. I’m 37 (38 in september) and we started trying to conceive at the age of 34, after trying for 6 months on our own we were diagnosed with “unknown infertility”. At fertility clinic #1 we went through 2 rounds of clomid, 1 of letrozol and 3 rounds of injectables all with IUI and no luck. At Fertility clinic #2 we decided to try 1 more round of injectables with 2 IUI’s back to back with no success so IVF was our next step. First IVF cycle we got pregnant but had a miscarriage – it was bitter sweet because although we lost it we it gave us hope that it could happen. IVF #2 & 3 were unsuccessful and the 4th and final IVF cycle we got pregnant with our little girl. She is now almost nine months old and the absolute joy of our lives. So, i truly believe that it will happen for you, never give up!!!!!!
I too was diagnosed with PCOS (after the birth of my son). My husband and I tried for three years on our own and then decided to seek help. I took a couple rounds of Clomid and Metformin quickly got pregnant but then had a tubal pregnancy. The first of the year, we had pretty much given up on getting pregnant again and decided to seek over seas adoption. I also decided that was I was going to get healthy. I lost 30 lbs and now I am 5 months pregnant with a little girl. So my advice NEVER lose HOPE and have lots of patience! Sometimes our timing isn’t God’s timing!
Congrats on your little girl! Thanks for sharing your story.
So proud of you deciding to share your story with a larger group. All of us on 3T are cheering you on sweetie!!
Thanks, Kati!! <3
I am 31 and just had my first child in June… A son my husband and I named Barrett. We tried for 8 years and I too went through all the up and down emotions. People continually told us to stop trying and it would happen. I was diagnosed with PCOS at age 17 when I wasn’t having periods. My OB always said we could get pregnant, it would just take a while. It’s hard to sit around while everyone else you know is conceiving and having no problems getting pregnant when you do desperately want to have a child. My oldest niece was scared to tell me she was pregnant because she knew how hard we were trying. I put on a very brave face and congratulated her as any good aunt would do and then secretly wept on my husbands shoulder after she left. After that I again sought out another treatment plan from my OB and while I was in her office for a follow up visit I noticed a sign hanging in my exam room. Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11 became my go to verse when I was feeling down and out. After coming to terms with the fact that maybe we would never have children, I decided it was ok and I was going to go back to school and get my BS degree. I started school in August of last year and found out I was pregnant in October, on the 4 year anniversary of my fathers death. God does know what you need, when you need it. Thank you for sharing your story and allowing me to share mine. Keep the faith!!
Thanks for sharing your story and the bible verse! I’m definitely going to look that up. I am a firm believer that there is a bigger plan for me that I just don’t know of yet. So glad everything worked out for you!