My IVF story - Trusting the journey

Once upon a time, I dreamt of becoming a mom. We tried, it didn't happen. After a year, we went for tests and found out that one of us was infertile. It didn't manner if it was him or me. We, as a couple, were infertile, period. Our prognosis of a natural conception was less than 1%. IVF ICSI was the only way and so began the decade journey to a complete family.

In between now and then were 10 fresh IVF, 5 frozen IVF, 3 canceled IVF, a few miscarriages, 1 ectopic pregnancy that ended in a surgery. I have 4 beautiful kids now.

Life is kinda crazy in that way. I wanted 3 kids and it seemed impossible at that time. Getting pregnant with the first child was straightforward. One IVF was all it took. Thank God for that. Getting pregnant with the 2nd child was tougher. Many failed IVF and miscarriages and ectopic. After 2 whole years of cycling one IVF after another, I got pregnant, and it stayed and I became a mother of 2.

A veteran IVFer. A fighter. A wounded soul. A crazy person. A resilient mom. Some of the names I have been labeled. I knew I wanted a third child. I was scared of the prospect of revisiting IVF and I knew the possibilities of a prolonged struggle. True enough, it was a rough one and lengthy one.

The fact is, women suffering from secondary infertility doesn't get much empathy and support from people around them, especially if the trying is a long drawn one.

When my 9th fresh cycle and the frozen cycles that came with it failed. I felt really defeated. Its been 4 years since I started trying for a 3rd child, wounded with many failed and canceled IVF, it was rough rough rough on my emotions, to say the least.

Here in my country, the maximum permissible times any woman can undergo a fresh IVF cycle is 10 times. I was not going to stop till I max out all chances. The 10th fresh cycle was a success. My 3rd child was born.

Number 3 who is 2.5 years old today. 

Thank God for sustaining me, giving me the resilience and buffering the pain, and ultimately blessing me with my children. My family unit is complete.

Wait.. that's not the end of the happy ending. I had 1 last frozen embryo in storage. And what would a person who had prayed for every single embryo that the Lord has breathed life into it no matter how brief? I couldn't make myself discard my one last embryo, furthermore, the odds of pregnancy was low. Out of almost 50 embryos fertilized and transferred to my womb, 3 embryos went on and became successful pregnancies.

The one last embryo took and became my 4th baby. That is a miracle. God has a plan and is thankful for His mercy and blessings. All glory to God.

If you are reading this. I hope you find hope and renewal of strength after reading my story.

Lots of love,
A veteran infertile IVF mother of 4.