It’s been a month since my first gestational diabetes (GD) appointment where I learned the intricacies of how to manage GD and the dust has settled. As you may have gleaned from my last post, I felt quite overwhelmed initially and for the first couple weeks, I really struggled. My first week of diet change,Continue reading “The dust has finally settled”
Category Archives: Fertility
Gestational Diabetes – Lessons Learned
I had my educational session at a diabetes clinic last week and wow – there is a lot to learn! I was very grateful that my nurse also had gestational diabetes (GD) and told me how angry she was when she was diagnosed. She said whatever I was feeling was valid and that set theContinue reading “Gestational Diabetes – Lessons Learned”
Advocating for yourself is crucial
I first truly learned the importance of advocating for yourself (or having someone advocate on your behalf) when I was in Rwanda experiencing the cancer diagnostic process there. That situation never leaves me. Since then, I’ve always been a proponent of listening to your body, seeking medical consultation when in doubt, and pursuing treatment earlyContinue reading “Advocating for yourself is crucial”
Sometimes all you need is a break
It’s been a while since I’ve given an IVF update – but I’m back! Taking a few months off from IVF was truly what I needed. The time off from doctors appointments, injections, medication allergies and other side effects restored my energy and focus. I spent the first few months of my IVF break continuingContinue reading “Sometimes all you need is a break”
When challenges arise, you can pivot!
We found out our first embryo transfer failed just before Thanksgiving. We were so confident it would work that we booked flights to see both our families, in hopes that we could tell them we’re pregnant in person, so it was quite the let down. There was always a chance it wouldn’t work, but theContinue reading “When challenges arise, you can pivot!”
Transfer, waiting and results… oh my!
The week leading up to our first embryo transfer was filled with excitement and stress, the latter of which is not ideal. Everyone tells you to reduce stress before a transfer, which makes feeling stressed all the more anxiety-producing. Let me explain. We were excited about our transfer and, quite honestly, very hopeful that itContinue reading “Transfer, waiting and results… oh my!”
It’s a long road to embryo transfer
The process leading up to an embryo transfer is different from that leading up to an egg retrieval. There is far less monitoring (yay for flexibility) and there are different medications to take. Our fourth retrieval was in September and we had two trips planned during October, so we weren’t sure if we’d have toContinue reading “It’s a long road to embryo transfer”
Going with the flow: the process continues
After only getting 1 potentially viable embryo from our first round of IVF, and talking with our doctor, we decided the best thing to do would be to do another retrieval in the hopes that we could get more potentially viable embryos. Since my fertility will continue to decline as time goes on, we didn’tContinue reading “Going with the flow: the process continues”
My first retrieval became a reality check
By the time the egg retrieval procedure came around, I felt bloated and uncomfortable from the medications and I was ready to be done with it. Because of Covid, no one was allowed in the facility with me so Ilan had to wait in the car. It wasn’t my first time under anesthesia, so IContinue reading “My first retrieval became a reality check”
A rundown of my egg retrieval process
Our doctor started me off with a relatively high dosage of Gonal-F/Follistim at 375iu daily to stimulate my ovaries, alongside 40 units of low dose HCG daily. These are both given as subcutaneous injections (under the skin) in the lower abdomen near the belly button. I’m not sure what the normal protocol is but myContinue reading “A rundown of my egg retrieval process”
Still Rising 