Missed Conceptions: Operation Baby-Making

How We Got Here...

June 30, 2007- I married the love of my life. We weren't quite ready to have a baby yet so I began using birth control pills that month and continued throughout November. However, I sucked at taking them!

December 5, 2007- Jesse told me that he was ready to become a daddy, and I officially quit taking my pills despite the fact that I had missed most of them since the first of November. That is what I consider to be the beginning of our journey.

April 16, 2008- I had already had 7 cycles during this 6 month period, and my fears of infertility were growing. We both had a history of infertility in our parents. So, we met with our family doctor to discuss our plans of trying to have a baby. He said that everything looked great and we should be pregnant within a couple of months.

September 23, 2008- Knowing that if I didn't get pregnant that cycle, I was about to begin my 14th cycle of TTC and my 12th month, I sought the counsel of our family doctor once again. This time he gave me a progesterone blood test and referred us to an OB-GYN.

September 26, 2008- I received the results of my progesterone test. My numbers were high enough to both conceive and sustain a pregnancy.

October 27, 2008- I had my first appointment with my OB-GYN. She did a full exam and said that everything looked normal. She also did a prolactin blood test and a thyroid blood test. We were also given a semen analysis kit to take home with us and return in 5 days. And I was scheduled for an ultrasound in 10 days.

October 30, 2008- My prolactin and thyroid levels came back normal. Just waiting for upcoming ultrasound and semen analysis results.

November 6, 2008- I had an ultrasound which revealed everything in pretty great shape. Only one teeny tiny little thing that just needs to be observed some more before any decisions are made about it. I have a follow up appointment in about 6 weeks to check up on it again. Jesse's semen analysis came back as fabulous.

November 17, 2008- Had my follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) blood test. The results came back the same day as "excellent", so we have the official diagnosis of "unexplained infertility". I got my first prescription to begin Clomid the very next day, with the plan to continue for 3-6 cycles and do intrauterine inseminations (IUI's) if I still am not pregnant.

December 13, 2008- I found out I'm pregnant!

December 15, 2008- First HcG levels: 50.

December 17, 2008- 2nd HcG levels: 150.

December 23, 2008- 3rd HcG levels: 1,652!

December 31, 2008- 1st ultrasound. Baby measured 6 weeks, 1 day with a heartbeat of 117 beats per minute. I got a few pictures of our little blob and am scheduled for some OB appointments in January.

The rest is history in the making…

I began this blog when I was 23 years old and my husband, Jesse was only 21. That was in December of 2007 when we decided that we wanted to bring a baby into our family. We had no idea all that decision entailed. Back then I had a false assumption that I was super-fertile and would get pregnant even while on birth control. Well, I was off of birth control for over a year, went through all of the fertility testing, and then was diagnosed with "unexplained infertility".

This past year has been one of the most difficult I have ever been through. I ran the emotional gauntlet on this issue, ranging from intense sadness and heartache to anger towards God to total peace about what He is doing. God began to show me how He was using my infertility as a ministry. It is my hope to share my testimony with others so that they may either be encouraged as they face their own infertility or educated as they learn what infertility entails. More than that, though, I hope that the things I share point others to God regardless of what they are going through.

When I first began this blog, the entries were kept private. But I have decided to open everything up in order to let people see the raw truth of the struggle. I strive to find the fine line between sharing the truth and sharing too much information. However, it is my desire to share my heart, regardless. And I have learned that there is never "too much information" in the world of infertility.

After being diagnosed with unexplained infertility on November 17, 2008, I was put on a round of 50mg of Clomid to strengthen the quality and quantity of my eggs. I suppose it was how God chose to work because I became pregnant that very cycle.

In order to be sensitive to those who are still going through infertility, I have opened up a new blog about my pregnancy. I am maintaining this one, though, hoping that it serves as a testimony to anyone who may be going through infertility at the time they come across my site. If you want to follow my life's journey, check out my other blogs. And if you would like, please don't hesitate to email me:
mrs_peterson07@yahoo.com

Monday, November 17, 2008

Operation Baby-Making

FSH Blood Test Results: Excellent

Prescription for Clomid: Sent in by doctor to be picked up after work today and started tomorrow, 1 a day for 5 days

Baby-Making: Strict instructions to partake in intercourse every other day for at least 10 days, following the Clomid... "Well, if you insist... :-) "