The Shock and Sting of Infertility

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First you fall in love, then you get married, then you have a baby, right?

In 2013, I married the love of my life, Luis. We were ready to start our family together and have a baby. We tried for about six months before I went ahead and called a doctor.

I did multiple tests, took different kinds of medication, and nothing. Then came the worst news I’ve ever heard. “Mrs. Charo, I’m not really sure if you will ever be able to have a baby.”

My PCOS was so bad that, apparently, there was no hope. Those words were burned into my brain. I questioned myself, I questioned God. WHY ME!

As a 23 year old woman, my whole goal in life was to be a mother, to have a baby to take care of. Once I heard those words, my heart sank into the pit of my stomach. I called my husband, cried for a few days, then gathered my thoughts and did some research. IVF was our next option, my only option at the moment.

On October 5, 2014, I reached out to a clinic in San Antonio. They welcomed me with open arms and were ready to start treatment. I had the most beautiful doctor I’ve ever seen. Her face was like an angel’s face. Her voice was the softest, sweetest, most positive voice I’ve ever heard.

We went in to do some testing and I dreaded her returning to tell me the same thing my previous doctor said. Instead, she walked in and said, “ We can help you. Let’s get started as soon as we can.”

For the next month, I was on medications every single day, including injections for ten days prior to my egg retrieval. Finally, the day came. No make-up. No deodorant. Loose clothes. My doctor assured me that everything would be ok. I gave my husband a kiss as they ushered him into another room. I closed my eyes and prayed we would get at least one viable egg. I went to sleep for what felt like two minutes. When I woke up, my doctor said, “well, good morning sunshine.’’

My first question to her was how many egg did we got. She said, “Monica you’ve set a new record.” Is said, “what?!” She went on to tell me she was able to retrieve 42 eggs! How in the world that was possible?! I won’t ever know! She told me to go home and rest. They’d call me in a few days to see how many eggs made it to day five.

We made the long journey home. I rested for a few days and got back to my routine.

My husband and I were having lunch and I got the call I had been waiting for. Twenty embryos made it to day five! Twenty!!!! I was over the mood excited. We jumped that hurdle, now we had to jump hoops and get my body ready for the transfer.

Transfer day was January 19, 2015. My wedding anniversary. I knew that would be a good day.

I had faith in myself, I had faith in my doctors, I had faith the whole team.

My doctor successfully transferred my sweet embryo back in. Now it was a waiting game.

I couldn’t resist taking a pregnancy test. The first one I took was negative, and I thought this didn’t work. Will I ever be a mother? I waited to head back to the clinic for my blood draw. (It was called a BETA, pregnancy confirmation after IVF or other reproductive techniques.) I waited a couple of hours to hear back.

Finally I got the call. My beta was a 99! I was finally pregnant!

I was lucky enough to find a team, and a husband who cared for me like they did. They were my saving grace during one of the toughest times in my life.

On October 2, 2015, almost a year to the day from when I first went to visit the clinic, my sweet daughter entered this world. She was a healthy 8 pound 9 ounce baby girl we named Karley!

The first time I saw Mason and my husband hold our brand new baby girl, my heart was so full. I still thank God everyday for the struggles I went through to get where I am now. Now I look back on all the tough times I had and would do it over a million times. I’d do 1,000 injections if I had to!

My girl, my sweet angel, my saving grace will turn 3 this year. I can’t wait to see what the world has in store for us!

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“The things you take for granted, someone else is prayer for’’