Hope

I’m seeing double. Double lines on a home pregnancy test, that is! But hold your congratulations. I have been here before, and it did not end well. The way I see it, entering the two-week-wait after an embryo transfer, insemination, or timed intercourse is like entering a competition of sorts, even though we are not really competing against anyone. However, from listening to some ladies talk when they announce a negative result (“I’m out this month”), it would appear that the analogy is not that far off. Once a positive home pregnancy test is achieved, or for those with nerves of steel, the results of their first beta results are in, we are indeed one step closer to our goal. However, we are not out… [more]

The time between an attempt at pregnancy (be that timed intercourse, an intra-uterine insemination, or an embryo transfer) and confirmation of the result of the attempt is commonly referred to as the two week wait. Generally speaking, it takes about two weeks before a pregnancy can be detected, even though the actual length of time can be slightly more or less time. Perhaps because we are utterly unable to do anything during this time that would bring us any closer to the desired result, this time of waiting is often dubbed “dreaded”. Speaking from personal experience, but also from noticing certain patterns among people struggling with infertility right along side me, a common theme among those waiting in their two-week wait seems to be one or more… [more]

Going into this frozen embryo transfer, I thought I had it all figured out. Since our last failed attempt nearly a year ago, we went on hold to try to align our plans with the will of God. Coming out of the hold period, I felt totally peaceful about this year; 2013 would either be the year that we finally became parents, or it would be the year that we would finally embrace our original family of two, created on our wedding day. I was ready to be done with this infertility roller coaster one way or another, and I could honestly see the benefits to either resolution. Then we transferred our two embryos last week. Subconsciously, I instantly realized how much I want this to work… [more]

Writing in the infamous two week wait. It has been 48 hours since our embryos came home. They were day 5 blastocysts, so we’re hoping they have already snuggled in nice and cozy and are growing well. It will be another 10 days before my first beta is drawn. Believe it or not, I did ask to delay the beta by a day due to work conflicts, but also because who wants to hear their beta results on April Fool’s Day? Going into this transfer, I was very relaxed and nonchalant. I’ve grown in my faith, and I am happy to participate with God’s will. I know that it may not work the way I hope. Yet I also know that it may work and… [more]

In most societies, it is assumed that girls will grow up and have babies. We, as girls are given dolls to play with, babysit, help with others' kids and are taught nurturing skills in preparation to become a Mom. Historically, women had children at a much younger age and had more children. As women entered the work force, the size of families steadily became smaller and women waited later to start their families. Awaiting - It is a word that describes a longing for something. And, with the decision to become a Mom, we are awaiting the moment that we know is coming; we will be pregnant and have a baby. It is natural. Awaiting, for the woman… [more]

Welcome to the new series of Fertility Blogs! As a Mom and a woman who had some of the most excruciating experiences with my infertility treatments, I can empathize and sympathize with every woman, man and family during these emotional times. A friend once asked me to describe myself, using one word, starting with the letter of the alphabet. This gave me 26 ways to describe myself and I felt compelled to accept the challenge; knowing it would be simple, right? I began to ask other friends, family and colleagues to use a word that best described me in their eyes. Some were hilarious, others poignant, and still some even stung. As a columnist, I began a series on life from A-Z and it… [more]

Greetings, fellow adoption journeyers!  New blogger here.  My name is  Jamaica and I'm the lucky mom of 4 great kids who came to us through adoption...with another on the way!   Each one has a funny, unique story of their journey to becoming our son or daughter, and over the course of time, I invite you to learn about us and how we became a family.  But, first I will share with you how it all began, because many of you may now be where I was a decade ago. As a young woman, in my early 20s,  I took it for granted that I would marry and have children.  But the failure of my first marriage put an end to that...or at least… [more]

The Southeast Chapter of RESOLVE is having it's first annual Family Building Conference on May 1st in Atlanta, Georgia (CLICK HERE for more information). Beyond being a spectacular idea - getting people together with experts to discuss issues surroung infertility - it is also very well named! The conference intends to "address the medical, emotional, social, financial and legal issues associated with infertility and adoption." There are also some awesome give-aways, including a chance at a free IVF cycle and a free donor egg cycle, but I digress (as I am apt to do when someone says the word free). What struck me the most about the informational email I received about the conference… [more]

In the world of infertility you often feel as though you should be "game" for anything - you know that you are going through all of this to have a child and you can sometimes be made to feel selfish or unenlightened if you have a desire to have a biological child. If you want to be pregnant, you often have this niggling thought in the back of your mind that pregnancy should not be a goal - a baby should - and that means that you are always cautious when you talk about conceiving. I always made sure I talked about wanting a baby instead of saying "I want to be pregnant" for fear that I would be judged as… [more]

4. Treat each day like the precious gift that it is This may be helpful in not losing your hope all of the way, but I know from experience that when hope is gone, this is the hardest suggestion to accomplish. Each day is not a precious gift while you are in the hopeless mindset, it is more like a punishment. But if you can get into this practice beforehand, you might be able to hang on to it longer. 5 Every morning, afternoon and night, take a 30 second break to look at the sky, breathe deeply and offer thanks This really would have been helpful to me to have some sort of reminder to get out and observe and or experience… [more]