I have no job and no kids and a lot of time on my hands. I have spent most of my time working on my SOLE blog and not a whole lot here. I'm going to try to do more. I'm starting by doing guest post! I'm looking for anyone who want to post about anything! Want me to spotlight you as looking to adopt. Want to vent about something. Want to talk about a child you have already adopted. ANYTHING! So I will start with a guest post I did for Baby Mama's blog.
http://babysmamablog.blogspot.com/
...Dawn Marie has struggled with infertility and was generous enough to share her story and provide information and links for those wanting to learn more.
Before her post begins, I would like to add that because you do not struggle with the same things that she does, it doesn't mean you shouldn't be informed. I think it's important every woman understands their own body but after that, they should understand that all women are different and what may be easy for you, may not be easy for someone else.
I would also like to add that BabysMama forum does have an infertility/trying to conceive board. I encourage anyone interested in joining and using it as a resource to meet with others going through similar situations.
"Let's face it infertility sucks! Unless you have been through it you really don't know what it feels like. I'm sure we all know someone who has struggled to get pregnant. You're never quite sure what to say or do.
From before I got married I had a gut feeling I was going to struggle. When my husband and I got married we wanted to wait a year to start trying. I couldn't shake the feeling that we needed to start trying right away. Thankfully, we started trying less then a week after we got married and had no idea the road that was ahead of us. Here we are over 5 years later and we are still childless.
I've met people who had a number of kids and still have no idea how their child was created. When it just happens you don't bother with trying to know how. I have had people ask me what an ovulation test is. It's just like a pregnancy test, but tells when your hormones are about to pop out an egg. One of my sister-in-laws once said, "All you have to do to get pregnant is to go off birth control and have sex every other day between days 10 and 20!" For some it isn't that easy and some people don't understand the struggle some go through.
I have heard all sorts of things, none of which helps: It will happen when it's supposed to, just relax because once you forget about it, it happens, you should go on a cruise, I think it's your husband's fault, and so on. Sure there are people that it actually does happen like that, but not all who suffer infertility.
One of my friends adopted 4 and got pregnant with #5. Another friend struggled to get pregnant, had a miscarriage and then a stillborn at 6 months. After her stillborn she was told she could not have any, we meet during foster care classes. Only days before the placement of her foster son she found out she was pregnant. Her little boy is now 2, when he was a few months old she started trying again. She did "Provera" to have a regular cycle and then "Clomid" to help stimulate your ovaries and tell them to ovulate. With still no luck, she endured more test and the end result was that she had a slim chance of conceiving again. She decided that she was happy with her son and no longer wanted another. Just last week I got a text from her announcing she is pregnant! She later lost this baby also.
You need to be sensitive to those around who might be struggling. You have no idea the immense pain they are dealing with! I have had people say some very hurtful things to me. "You don't deserve to have that because you don't have kids." "You don't know how LUCKY you are to not have kids!" "Why haven't you done more with your life?" Yes, I've had all sorts of time to finish college, but what if I started college again and got pregnant thanks to Clomid the next month with twins and was on bed rest for 9 months?
For my husband and I it's been a long road. This week I am starting to see my third doctor in our 5 years of trying. I have had to take "Prometrium" to stop and start my cycles, followed by "Clomid" to help me ovulate. Clomid doesn't always work and there's a limit to how many times you should take it. My husband has been tested and he is 100% good. We have gotten Clomid to help me ovulate a few times, but still no success in pregnancy. (We once did fertilize an egg, but it didn't stick!) I know there is a lot more out there that we can do and try, but for us our trying ends here.
Each couple needs to decide what they want to put their bodies though, it takes a lot financially, physically and emotionally enduring all these treatments. My cousin has done everything possible and on her third try at IVF got pregnant with twins! Another friend on her 7th try of IVF now has 10 month old triplets! I know of others that IVF never worked for them. IVF can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $34,000 a try. IVF not even been a for sure thing.
My husband and I have decided on doing Foster Care. We have already had 3 little ones, none of which have gone to adoption. It might be harder on the heartstrings, but a lot easier on the pocketbook! Adoption costs range from $4,000 to $30,000 all depending on your agency, expenses and such. We have also looked into adopting, but in this economy we haven't been able to save up for it.
Coming to terms with being infertile: I'm not sure there ever is closure. My cousin, the mother of now 7 year old twins, has told me that it will always hurt. It's hard when you hear the news that someone else is pregnant again, when a new baby arrives, birthdays, and such. They are all reminders of what you don't have or struggled to have for so long. I know way too many people that take their children for granted and don't realize the precious, amazing miracles that they are!
I think every couple, in their own time and way gets to the point of accept things. Either they choose just not to have kids, to adopt or to not give up until they are pregnant. I'm at the point that I don't care if I ever get pregnant. In fact I'm trying to convince my doctor to do a hysterectomy. Why? Well, I'm 24 and I've had a crazy, irregular, extremely heavy period for over half my life. Add that with the fact that I already have a slim chance of getting pregnant, I want it to END!
Some links I really like, PLEASE read and watch them!
Infertility Etiquette, how to talk to and treat those who suffer from infertility!
http://www.resolve.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lrn_ffaf_ie
Empty Arms, Broken Hearts- video about what it is like to struggle with infertility!
http://tearsandhope.com/emptyarms_video.html
I love getting new readers, people adding their stories and tell me about other sites, articles and such about infertility. I'd love to answer any question and I'm really open about our infertility and all that I've been through! E-mail me at -maggiemoo2005@gmail.com
Thanks, Dawn-Marie
Thursday, January 7, 2010
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1 comment:
Thank you for sharing your story. It brings back many heart aches from our infertility story. Though it is great to relate to someone. You have been through a lot and everyone processes things differently. Though it saddened me to hear you say you want a hysterectomy at 24. I am 25 and I have had weird cycles and have friends that even crazier cycles. I may be speaking to freely... and if so don't post this. I just know that Heavenly Father creates miracles. I have a friend that was told she would never get pregnant... then leave it to Heavenly Father to make it happen. I ache for you! I pray this comment doesn't hurt you. I would just hate to see you close doors at such a young age. Though I do think it is fantastic you are looking into foster care!
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