How it all got started…
My husband, Tony and I began like many – and developed our careers while putting a family on the back burner. After dating for a few years, we got married when I was 38. We always knew we wanted a family, and figured it should come easy like it had from all our siblings. We tried to get pregnant for a few months and watched as close friends struggled with miscarriages and IVF. I learned the hardships and the toll it takes from them. They told us…don’t wait to get help. And we took them seriously.
So, Tony & I scheduled a consultation with an highly rated IVF clinic in Dallas, TX. Our tests indicated we had “unknown infertility” and due to my age, the IVF doctor didn’t want us to wait long before undergoing IVF. (Little did we know, that would be our first and only interaction with the actual Doctor). We decided, since there wasn’t a reason why we weren’t successful that the more economical approach of an IUI would work. The IUI process is much the same as IVF, scans to check your progress, medications, and sperm sample. Any time I went for a scan, I rarely saw the same nurse, it was very impersonal. When we went for our “turkey-baster” procedure, the waiting room was packed and we were each called back like a herd of cattle. And when it was my time for the IUI procedure, a nurse came in and was about to complete the process. I said “wait” isn’t the doctor going to do it? And she said it’s typically done by the nurses, would you like a doctor? And I said “Well, Yes. What am I paying for?” So about 20 minutes later, a partnering doctor came in to do the procedure – had a tough time, said I had a tilted cervix which no other OB had said – and I was scheduled to go back in 2 weeks for a pregnancy test. It was negative.
Now, I was facing a sudden depression mixed with a need to move forward. We decided to look for a new clinic and found one. A great one. With a fantastic doctor, embryo lab, the whole gamut. The IVF was a success! 28 eggs collected. 24 mature. 20 fertilized. Then, they slowly started arresting/not developing or not splitting correctly. And after 5 days we had 2 that were our hope. With so many ladies of my age, PGT-A testing was recommended and so we waited the 4-long weeks for the test to return, but only 1 embryo was viable. A girl. And we implanted her 6 weeks later with my natural cycle. She implanted and my pregnancy test was positive! The hCG levels were low and by the third pregnancy test, we lost her after just 2 short weeks. “Barely Pregnant Miscarriage” is what it’s called.
Tony & I ran through our finances trying to the IUI and IVF – a shameful $30,000 with no results. That’s when my husband began looking at options abroad, something I never considered. We quickly learned they offered the same and better options, advanced techniques, modern equipment, and fantastic reviews. In fact, we also learned that most of the research for IVF was done in Europe and then made available to the US. The doctors were highly established and revered. And the cost, was 1/4 of what we were paying in the states. That settled it. We reached out to Anna at AboutIVF.com and connected with a clinic in Prague. We started our treatment at home with medications and scans, then we travelled about 2 weeks before my egg retrieval. It was stressful.
The clinic didn’t offer any unrealistic goals, they were upfront about our chances and encouraged us to move straight into Donor Eggs. I wasn’t able to mentally let go of using my own eggs, so we tried once more. 5 of my own eggs were collected but by day 5, there was none viable. My husband traveled back to the states while I stayed in Prague to start the Donor Egg process. I ended up staying overseas for exactly 90 days, because that was the maximum without a Visa. And on my last day, they implanted 2 donor eggs, and I started my flight home 4 hours later. Unsure and not willing to hope.
2 agonizing weeks later. I took my pregnancy test. Positive! But, I was out of hope, and I refused to believe the pregnancy would hold, even as I passed my first trimester. With each passing day, I was ashamed of the disconnect I had with my pregnancy. Then, I delivered a beautiful baby boy, and my heart wept, through my heartache came a wonderful blessing.
We traveled back 2 years later to have baby #2. And, wouldn’t you know it, our flights were cancelled and rescheduled not once but twice. I lost all confidence in the airline. Timing is so precious when undergoing an IVF transfer, so I had to quickly find a new airline and make arrangements. And God blessed us with our second Donor Egg baby, a girl. My family was complete.
And now, I use my experience to help you. In addition, I was so impressed with Anna that I signed on to be an Advocate, Consultant, and Marketing Specialist with Medistella. This is where I learned more about the IVF industry and the various treatments, facilities, and legislatures. When Medistella dissolved, Anna continued helping patients through AboutIVF.com, and I recommend her services 1000%.
I know that the IVF timeline is crucial to successful implantation. It’s also stressful, I help eliminate this additional stress by working with travel partners in each field to build your seamless itinerary.