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The Beginning: The Start of Our Fertility Journey

When Colin and I first decided to start a family, we were filled with excitement and anticipation. We thought our journey would be straightforward, but as the months passed, we quickly realized that it wouldn’t be as easy as we hoped.


We tried getting pregnant for several months, relying on ovulation tests to track my cycle. Unfortunately, the tests often suggested I wasn’t ovulating, which, as we all know, is essential for conceiving. We used the Premom app and their ovulation tests, but I found them harder to read than the ones that were later recommended by our fertility clinic. Each month, I’d stare at the tests, waiting for that “peak” or smiley face to appear. But it never did. Still, we kept our faith and hoped it would happen.

One of the Premom ovulation tests -Actually looks like I had a "peak" here!
One of the Premom ovulation tests -Actually looks like I had a "peak" here!

The Premom Test Kit -Still recommend the Clear blue!
The Premom Test Kit -Still recommend the Clear blue!

In March, during my annual doctor’s appointment, I shared my concerns. I had already been trying for several months, and I felt like something just wasn’t right. Unfortunately, the doctor told me that no testing—whether labs, ultrasounds, or other evaluations—could be done until we had been trying for at least a year. That was a tough pill to swallow. I tried to stay hopeful and trusted that our time would come.

Trying everything! I tried the Dutch test which gave me a few answers that I already knew. Low progesterone and other hormones. Recommend this test for sure. It is a little pricey but could be worth it to test all hormones
Trying everything! I tried the Dutch test which gave me a few answers that I already knew. Low progesterone and other hormones. Recommend this test for sure. It is a little pricey but could be worth it to test all hormones

My ovulation drawer. My husband was so used to seeing these tests everywhere! Most come with pregnancy tests too.
My ovulation drawer. My husband was so used to seeing these tests everywhere! Most come with pregnancy tests too.

As the months went by, my work at the ultrasound clinic gave me a unique perspective. I see pregnant women every day, and their stories sparked something inside me. I began asking some of them about their own fertility journeys, hoping to find someone who might understand what I was going through. And as it turned out, many had experiences just like ours—full of ups and downs, uncertainty, and waiting.


One woman shared that I didn’t need to wait an entire year to contact a fertility clinic. In fact, she encouraged me to reach out to the Iowa City Fertility Clinic as soon as possible. That moment was a game-changer for me. Her words lit a spark of hope, and I called the clinic the very same day.

To my surprise, they were able to schedule us for an appointment within just two weeks. It felt like a small victory, but it was exactly what we needed to push forward. Before our visit, we filled out pages of paperwork and had a phone call with a nurse to go over our medical history. For the first time in months, I felt a glimmer of hope that we might finally get the answers we had been longing for.


Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like you were just waiting for things to happen, unsure of what was next and it completely being out of your control? That’s exactly how I felt. But taking that step to contact the clinic felt empowering. It was as though we were finally taking control of our journey, and that was a huge relief.


It was starting to get mentally draining seeing so many negative pregnancies tests. Some weeks I would have to call into work. It was extremely hard for a period of time working with so many pregnant woman while struggling to get pregnant
It was starting to get mentally draining seeing so many negative pregnancies tests. Some weeks I would have to call into work. It was extremely hard for a period of time working with so many pregnant woman while struggling to get pregnant

In my next post, I’ll dive into what we learned during our first fertility clinic appointment and how it shaped the path we took from there. Stay tuned and thank you for being part of this journey with us. Your support means the world. Please continue to reach out with your concerns or journey as well. I absolutely love relating to others.

 

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2 commenti


lundyb4
24 gen

You are so incredibly inspiring and strong Lex!! ❤️ love you

Mi piace
Risposta a

Love you Han ❤️❤️

Mi piace
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