ivf journey vlog

Navigating the IVF Process: Key Insights to managing the IVF Timeline and work-life balance

by Dr. John Preston Parry | Nov 9, 2023 | Doctor's Blog

Embarking on fertility treatments can be a demanding process that requires significant emotional, financial, and time commitments.

Understanding fertility treatments is the first step in what may be one of the most important journeys you’ll take as a couple. It’s about creating life and expanding your family. We’re here to guide you through the myriad of fertility treatments available today, providing you with a clear, supportive pathway to parenthood and helping you understand the potential demands and how they might intersect with your career.

How long does the IVF process take from start to finish?

Begin by educating yourself about the IVF process. Knowing the step-by-step process, from initial consultations to procedures and follow-ups, can help you anticipate and schedule necessary time off.

The typical IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) treatment timeline is a multi-step process that usually spans several weeks. Each cycle of IVF includes multiple stages, although the exact timeline can vary based on individual circumstances and protocols of the fertility clinic.

An IVF cycle typically includes  the following steps or procedures:

• Medications to grow multiple eggs
• Retrieval of eggs from the ovary or ovaries
• Insemination of eggs with sperm
• Culture of any resulting fertilized eggs (embryos)
• Placement (“transfer”) of one or more embryo(s) into the uterus
• Support of the uterine lining with hormones to permit and sustain pregnancy

The IVF Process and Timeline

Embarking on the journey of in vitro fertilization (IVF) can be filled with hope and anticipation, yet it’s important to acknowledge that every couple’s path to parenthood is unique. The timeline we provide here outlines a typical IVF process, but it’s tailored with flexibility to meet your specific circumstances.

As you step forward, remember that each phase is approached with your individual needs in mind, ensuring that your journey is as smooth and successful as possible. While timelines may shift, our commitment to your family’s dream remains steadfast.

*Please note that all timelines are approximate and can vary based on individual health profiles and responses to treatment.

Navigating Work-Life Balance During Your IVF Journey

Embarking on in vitro fertilization (IVF) can feel like taking on a second full-time job. Balancing your career while undergoing IVF requires careful planning, open communication, and self-compassion. Here are some strategies to help you maintain equilibrium between your professional life and IVF treatment.

Communicate with Your Employer

If you feel comfortable, have a candid conversation with your employer or HR department about your IVF journey. Many are willing to offer flexibility once they understand the significance and requirements of the process. You’re not obligated to disclose all the details, but providing some insight can lead to accommodations like flexible hours or remote work opportunities.

Flexibility in Your Work Schedule

Look into flexible working arrangements. Flextime, compressed workweeks, or the possibility of working from home on certain days can reduce the stress of juggling work and IVF appointments. It’s crucial to arrange this in advance to minimize the impact on your professional responsibilities.

Prioritize and Delegate

Evaluate your work tasks and prioritize them. Consider what can be delegated or what projects can be put on hold. By focusing on critical tasks, you ensure your work quality remains high, which can relieve some of the pressure during your IVF treatment.

Protect Your Personal Time

Resist the urge to overcompensate at work for the time taken off for IVF procedures. Protect your personal time by setting boundaries and avoiding the pitfall of working late hours or during weekends. This time is vital for rest and recuperation.

Plan for the Unexpected

IVF can be unpredictable, with last-minute changes or unexpected outcomes. Have a contingency plan for work projects and deadlines in case you need to adjust your schedule suddenly.

Understanding Your Legal Rights in the IVF Process

Deciding to embark on an IVF journey is a monumental, intimate decision, often reached after considerable reflection and, in many cases, profound emotional challenges. While navigating the intense emotions and the deluge of medical details, you must not overlook another significant element: the complexities of the legal framework surrounding Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and IVF. To learn more, check out our blog on the  7 Fertility Legal Insights To Avoid Common Pitfalls .

Navigating the Emotional Landscape of IVF

The stress of fertility treatments can affect your emotional well-being and your performance at work. Tools for stress management, such as those recommended by ACOG, can be valuable resources to help you maintain your composure and focus.

According to  OBGYN Nazanin E. Silver , “Before starting infertility treatment, I encourage couples to discuss what they will do if initial treatments don’t work. Would you ever consider adoption? Would your partner? You can talk through scenarios together, and it may help to consider couples therapy.”

In a  recent blog , we discuss how the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) highlights that the emotional impact of infertility often mirrors that of other significant medical conditions such as cancer or heart disease. You might oscillate between feelings of denial, anger, guilt, depression, and acceptance, all of which can be overwhelming and stressful.

In a recent interview with a Positive Steps patient, the couple noted, “The most crucial advice we can offer is to remember that you are not alone. The struggle with infertility can often feel isolating, but it’s important to know that you are part of a community that understands your journey and stands with you.”

Embracing Self-Care During Your IVF Journey

Self-Care is Non-Negotiable. Amid the demands of IVF and work, self-care should be a priority. At the heart of your fertility journey is a commitment to nurturing your own well-being to enhance your fertility and increase the prospects of a successful pregnancy. Self-care in this context means taking thoughtful steps toward improving your overall health and creating the best possible environment for conception.

One of the primary self-care measures involves reviewing and potentially altering medication use, with professional guidance, to avoid substances that may hinder fertility or cause developmental issues. A healthcare provider can help determine which medications are safe to continue and which to suspend during preconception and beyond.

Maintaining a healthy body weight is also crucial, as weight can influence hormonal balance and fertility. A balanced diet and regular exercise not only support reproductive health but also improve mental well-being, a key factor in the fertility journey.

Moderation is the operative word when it comes to alcohol consumption. Reducing intake can have a positive impact on fertility, and it’s a change that partners can undertake together as part of their shared journey toward parenthood.

Furthermore, understanding the significance of timing in your sexual routine can be empowering. Aligning sexual activity with the most fertile periods can naturally increase the chances of pregnancy.

Lastly, addressing additional personal health factors, such as stress levels, sleep patterns, and other lifestyle choices, is essential. Each element of your lifestyle has the potential to affect fertility, and making positive changes can contribute to a healthier conception.

By integrating these self-care practices into your routine, you are taking control of what you can on your path to parenthood. It’s a journey that extends beyond the physical aspects of fertility to encompass the nurturing of your body, mind, and relationship.

Building a Support System: The Key to IVF Success

Navigating the complexities of fertility treatments can be emotionally taxing. During this period, a robust support system becomes invaluable. While the workplace may offer one avenue of support, expanding your search for understanding and solidarity beyond professional circles can provide comfort and connection.

At Positive Steps Fertility we are dedicated to helping individuals and couples get the support they need. These groups provide a safe space to share experiences, offer and receive advice, and foster a sense of companionship on the journey to parenthood.

It’s also important to consider the support that can come from close friends, family members, and even online forums. These personal connections can offer different perspectives and kinds of support. While friends and family provide a personal touch, online communities can offer anonymity and a broader range of experiences.

Counseling services, whether individual or as a couple, can also play a critical role in your support network. Professional therapists, particularly those specializing in fertility issues, can guide you through the emotional complexities that arise during this time, helping you to develop coping strategies and maintain mental and emotional wellness.

Remember, seeking and accepting support is not a sign of weakness; it’s a proactive step toward ensuring your emotional resilience as you navigate your fertility journey.

Preparing Financially for Your IVF Treatment

Costs associated with fertility treatments can add another layer of stress when balancing work life. At Positive Steps Fertility, our goal is to provide the highest quality fertility treatment at the most transparent and affordable cost. We understand that each fertility journey is unique, and we’re committed to getting to know you personally and designing a treatment plan that aligns with your family goals and budget. We aim to provide all the information and transparency you need to make informed decisions. So, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at 855-759-4124 or email us at [email protected] to learn more.

Embracing the IVF Journey with Confidence and Clarity

At Positive Steps Fertility, we understand that your fertility journey is just one part of your larger life tapestry, which includes your professional aspirations. As you move forward with treatments, we’re here to support you in harmonizing your career goals with the path to parenthood.

With Positive Steps Fertility, you can be assured that while you strive for success in your professional life, we are working alongside you, dedicating our expertise to help you achieve your most cherished personal goal—building a family.

Site Search

Connect with Us

Positive Steps Fertility Videos:

Recent Posts

• 5 Ways Lifestyle Factors Can Impact Your Fertility
• Battling the Shadows: The Intense War on Hormonal Imbalances and Infertility
• Your First Fertility Appointment: From Anxiety to Answers
• Fertility Under Fire: How Alabama’s Frozen Embryo Ruling Affects Hopeful Parents
• Unlocking the Science of Timed Intercourse

IVF Authority

16 top encouraging and supportive ivf blogs and forums.

Last Updated on October 15, 2021

Most women and men who begin an IVF journey hope it’ll end one way: with a baby. For some, the journey takes many years. For others, one round of IVF does it. Through the journey, regardless of how long it is, many people begin to write about it, and that’s how we’ve come to have so many IVF blogs available now. These bloggers openly share their IVF and infertility stories to not only connect with others, but also to connect with themselves.

Still, no two IVF blogs are the same and no two journeys are the same. Below are seven top fertility blogs for encouragement and support. Emotional trigger warning for those still going through IVF, or dealing with the pain of failed IVF: Each of the below seven bloggers went on to either conceive a child through IVF, or surrogacy. After this list is a compilation of five great fertility blogs in which the journey didn’t end in conception or a baby. And beyond that is a list of other information, resourceful IVF blogs and forums.

Starbucks, Peace, and the Pursuit of a Baby

URL : http://trialsbringjoy.wordpress.com

About : Chelsea, a woman who has been struggling with infertility for nearly 9 years, created Starbucks, Peace, and the Pursuit of a Baby to track her journey and just share her life stories. Along with her husband, Josh, she shares their story of infertility and IVF, after having been diagnosed with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Chelsea and Josh recently (May 2017) gave birth to twins – a boy and a girl, after struggling for 9 years to conceive.

Chelsea posts updates regularly, and the blog is easy to navigate, so you can go back to the beginning. She posted an incredible resource called What to Expect – IVF 201 , to help people understand the IVF consult and how to get the most out of it.

No Bun In the Oven

URL : http://nobunintheoven.com

About : You’ll find humor, inspiration, and a ton of information in No Bun in the Oven, which is arguably one of the most popular IVF blogs, if not the most popular IVF blog at one time. The story behind No Bun in the Oven is a little different, too. While many women start a blog to track their infertility struggles (which are overwhelming female infertility, No Bun in the Oven deals with male factor infertility.

Carissa, the blog’s author, wrote an insanely funny but also very helpful post called “What I Wish They’d Told Me About Egg Retrieval.”  The post covers tips only insiders would really know, and useful advice including taking the day after egg retrieval off from work and protecting yourself from infection.

Don’t Count Your Eggs

URL : http://www.dontcountyoureggs.typepad.com/

About : Maya, a woman diagnosed with a condition called Diminished Ovarian Reserve, write this sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant blog about IVF, infertility, and parenting after infertility. Ultimately, IVF never actually worked for Maya and her husband, but it’s still an incredible blog as Maya shares her details of not only IVF with her own, but IVF with donor eggs as well.

She explains in the truest definition of a nutshell, her infertility journey in two sentences:

“I have Diminished Ovarian Reserve, and after one failed IVF cycle, two failed IUIs, and one failed IVF cycle using my sister’s donated eggs, we also have Diminished Cash Reserve. In the summer of 2014 we did an FET with an anonymously donated embryo, and it worked.”

Anyone who’s had experience with IVF will get something out of this blog. Maya posted a picture of all of the medications and tools for the IVF cycle, and several other photos with funny captions in her album titled, IVF Cycle 1.

Source: http://dontcountyoureggs.typepad.com/photos/ivf_cycle_1/img_0446.html

The Two Week Wait

URL : http://the2weekwait.blogspot.com/

About:  Read The Two Week Wait regularly for very funny, and also sassy, commentary on IVF, infertility, and pregnancy. The blog’s author is also compassionate. At the very top of the blog, she added a note for people who are still trying to conceive and DON’T want to read about her pregnancy. She points those readers to the beginning of her blog, which began in 2010, so they can read along with the journey there.

This is definitely a more humorous IVF blog than most are, and the writer considers herself an “infertility activist.” She also wrote an Infertility Etiquette  page for readers to share with others, including family and friends. On that page, she starts off with a funny list of things that she’d say to people if she could, but then gets more serious and provides – literally – a cut and paste letter that people struggling with infertility can send to people.

Unpregnant Chicken

URL : http://unpregnantchicken.com/about-our-journey/

About : Unpregnant Chicken is funny, heartfelt, and very encouraging both about the IVF and infertility journey, and pregnancy. Kaeleigh MacDonald, the blog’s author, struggled with infertility for 3 years, including 2 failed IUI treatments. Eventually she and her husband tried IVF and were successful with it.

Kaeleigh also created and published helpful resources, including two TTC (trying to conceive) guides: TTC Basic FAQ  and TTC Advanced FAQ . Her post on The Two Week Wait  is a must read both for those new to IVF and those who aren’t. In it, she warns people about the tendency to fantasize about being pregnant too much during the time:

“If you get your period it goes from, the soul crushing knowledge that you could have had a baby, to a DEFCON 5, spirit obliterating, meltdown about the EXACT baby you have lost.”

While that particular part is difficult, most of Kaeleigh’s writing is over-the-top funny, and it’s one of the things that makes her blog stand out.

Inconceivable

URL: https://inconceivable12.wordpress.com/

About : Written by a woman who was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, Inconceivable is another IVF blog that offers a lot of support and inspiration. Katherine, the blogger behind the blog, documents her entire infertility and IVF timeline and includes links to the blog posts that go along with the timeline.

She eventually was able to conceive a child, and had a baby girl in 2015, and then subsequently had another baby girl in March 2017. The blog provides encouragement to both those who still struggle to conceive as well as those who are debating whether or not IVF is right for them. It took two cycles of IVF, but Katherine’s story is a reminder that even after failed IVF, conception is possible for some people. Where necessary, she provides trigger warnings so people are aware that they might be triggered by content in her posts.

Dreaming Of Diapers

URL : http://dreamingofdiapers.com/

About : The author of Dreaming of Diapers tried for 5 years to conceive a child. During that time, she went through multiple rounds of IVF, freezing viable embryos and getting ready for FET (frozen embryo transfer), only to have the FETs cancelled over and over again. Doctors diagnosed her with a blocked fallopian tube, hydrosalpinx due to a ruptured appendix, Asherman’s Syndrome, and finally Crohn’s Disease. After trying for 4 years, her sister acted as a surrogate and helped her and her husband have a baby.

In one of her recent posts, “IVF: What I Never Talked About,”  the author shares about how she developed Alopecia Areata from all of the IVF treatments over time. Alopecia Areata is a condition that causes someone to lose large amounts of hair. She explained that so much of the suffering taking place with IVF is behind the scenes. It’s not talked about. So she wrote the post – long after she and her husband had their baby through her sister’s surrogacy – to talk about something others may also be going through.

Blogs For Women with Failed IVF Treatments

Sometimes, IVF fails, not just once, but always. For some women, conceiving a baby just never happens. When that’s the case, it can be hard to read and blog about someone else’s success conceiving through IVF. Some of these bloggers are continuing with IVF treatments and some of them are not.

For women who come to the end of their IVF journey without a child, and need somewhere to go to connect with others in a similar situation, these blogs are great places to start.

Silent Sorority

URL:   http://blog.silentsorority.com/

About : Silent Sorority is probably the very best IVF blog online for women who never become mothers – naturally or not – after failed IVF treatments. Pamela, the blog’s author and primary contributor, isn’t alone. The fact is that more women who attempt IVF treatments fail to conceive than those that do, but there are probably 9 times more IVF bloggers whose journeys end with conception, than those who don’t.

Therefore, Pamela created an incredibly important, powerful infertility and IVF blog that women who end their infertility journeys after failed IVF. One of the most solemn and memorable posts is called, “Identity Lost and Found After Infertility and Failed IVF.”

Infertility Honesty

URL: https://infertilityhonesty.com/

About : Sarah Chamberlin is a self described “IVF veteran” who writes an ongoing blog called Infertility Honesty. Like Pamela of Silent Sorority, Sarah shares her life, and thoughts on infertility due to endometriosis and failed IVF, in this raw and impactful blog. She also describes her situation as “involuntarily childless” and discusses issues surrounding life when you want children that you cannot have, and how to move on. She and her husband spent $77,000 on multiple attempts to conceive, including IUI, IVF, and FET.

Sarah, like many women with failed IVF treatment, never became pregnant, in all of the years of trying. She wrote a long and insightful biography on her About page, which includes the following note:

“My writing mainly exists for my own therapy, which has become paramount in importance since the ongoing life crisis of infertility continues to be excessively minimized by society.  In doing so it ends up providing an uncensored view of what my life is like living with infertility.” ( About Sarah Chamberlin )

Parenthood For Me

URL:   http://parenthoodforme.blogspot.com/

About:  Sometimes, the infertility journey ends with adoption, not conception. That’s one of the best reasons to appreciate this blog, which is no longer actively maintained. Still, Erica, the blog’s founder, contributed many heartfelt – and sometimes gut wrenching – posts that failed IVF treatment survivors may relate to.

When You Can’t Have Kids

URL : http://whenyoucanthavekids.blogspot.com/

About : When You Can’t Have Kids, another infertility and failed IVF blog, provides support, encouraging, and insight for people who ended their IVF journey without conception or children. On the homepage, the author writes, “Eighteen months after our last IVF cycle, we knew we would not be having our own children. And, somehow, we have moved to a life that is much different to the one we thought we’d have.”

Kate Betton, the blog’s author, went on to write a book named after her blog which is available on Kindle, Amazon, and from The Book Depository.

No Kidding in NZ

URL : http://nokiddinginnz.blogspot.com.au/

About : The name of the blog indicates some level of humor in coming to the realization that the blog’s author, after two failed IVF treatments and two ectopic pregnancies, could not carry a baby to term. However, the author talks about a number of really tough situations that other women can relate to, including aging, and feeling guilty about not wanting children early in her career life.

On her about me page, the author included details about her story:

“A long story short is that two ectopic pregnancies and two failed IVFs later, I knew I would never have children.  I got the news on my 41st birthday.  I’ve had better birthdays.”

Like the other blogs for women with failed IVF treatments, No Kidding in NZ presents the other side of IVF, which is that when it doesn’t work, life still goes on.

Other Informative and Resourceful IVF Blogs and Forums

Some of the best blogs and forums on the web are either run by businesses or organizations or are news-like blog chock full of useful and helpful information. The remaining ten blogs of the Top 20 IVF Blogs are run by fertility clinics, networks, or other organizations. Bookmark these blogs or subscribe to them to get updates.

Fertility Authority

URL : https://www.fertilityauthority.com/blog

About : The Fertility Authority acts as a hub for a number of blogs and bloggers. On the homepage of the blog, you’ll see a list of recent posts, and the authors are likely all different. This collection of posts are primarily IVF related but are also general fertility articles and posts, as well. Some of the bloggers include doctors and fertility clinics, so a number of posts are informative with tips and advice.

Some of the most recent post titles include, “Giving Up Coffee to Boost Your Fertility,” “Is Spring the Best Time to Do an IVF Cycle?”, “Staying Posting During Your First Trimester” and “Advice Following Miscarriage.”

The Fertility Authority also created a blogroll featuring over 50 different blogs. Not all of the blogs on the list are specific to IVF, but they are all personal blogs and resources for those in need of fertility support.  Bloggers that write about their personal infertility journeys are encouraged to submit their URL to Fertility Authority. The process involves emailing the website’s team and submitting the blog for consideration. Subjects can include surrogacy, adoption, IVF, or anything related to infertility.

Shady Grove Fertility Blog

URL : https://www.shadygrovefertility.com/blog/

About : Run by the Shady Grove Fertility treatment center, this incredibly resourceful fertility and IVF blog is updated regularly – multiple times per week. You can search the blog by keyword, and if you search for the keyword IVF, you’ll find 480 posts on the subject (at the time this article was written).

Topics covered include IVF success tips, success rates and research studies, and discussions about egg donation, freezing, and treatment programs that increase the likelihood of pregnancy. What you won’t find here are deeply personal stories or specific infertility journeys. This is really an informative blog focused on solutions and treatments rather than stories. Ideally, this is the most helpful kind of IVF blog to spend reading when your treatments are just starting, or haven’t begun yet and you’re debating whether or not to use IVF.

Shady Grove Fertility is a fertility clinic, though, and not an independent resource. Some of their posts are specific to their facility and their treatment programs. It may be useful, though, to see what options are out there. Then you can discuss them with your doctor or RE.

FertileThoughts.com Discussion Forums

URL : http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/

Over 94,000 members participate in the FertileThoughts IVF forums, and nearly 2,000 people follow the site on Facebook. Members can post questions for patient care advocates, get advice from other people going through IVF, and find a number of free resources.

Some of the forums and resources on Fertile Thoughts include:

• Share your fertility journey
• Egg freezing
• Infertility (General)
• Trying to conceive
• Male fertility and reproductive health
• Home pregnancy tests
• Egg donor and embryo match – This is an actual forum where people can meet others who are willing to donate eggs and embryos
• PGD/PGS discussions
• Family balancing (gender selection)
• LGBT family building
• Family building events
• HIV and TTC

Visitors can register for a free membership to the website and access the forums. Some forums are heavily moderated while others are not. The parenting, pregnancy, and adoption forums are the most populated forums on this site. Newly pregnant after ART women will find a lot of support and encouragement in these forums.

IVF Forum on The Bump

URL : https://forums.thebump.com/categories/trouble-ttc

Women who are looking for a “safe haven” on the web can register for the IVF forum on The Bump. Creators of the forum are explicit its purpose, which is for people who are still trying to conceive through IVF. Because of that, certain forum rules protect people from being triggered by success stories and pregnancy announcements. Forum moderators do have places to share certain news, but by and large the forum was designed as a place to connect with others who are still struggling with infertility.

A message at the top of the Infertility forum reads:

“This is a forum for those dealing with infertility and/or undergoing IVF treatment. Because this board is a safe haven, please include “child/pregnancy mentioned” or “siggy warning” in your title or post, if applicable.”

Every month, forum members can post IVF or FET updates in a new thread just for that month. Many of the members get to know each other, replying to updates and providing a lot of encouragement. The monthly threads help the members stay connected and continue to post updates. The members also update and maintain a shared Google spreadsheet for FET.

The Bump features a few different resources that members of the forums might find helpful. One of them is the Infertility Q&A page . Fertility specialists and medical professionals from a variety of fertility clinics and organizations post answers to common questions, such as:

• What is tubal ligation?
• Surprising facts about male infertility
• Signs of reproductive disorder
• 10 ways your home is making you infertile
• Introducing three parent IVF

Starting An IVF Blog

Keeping and maintaining an IVF blog to track your journey and connect with others can be cathartic. If you’re interested in information about how to go about it, these posts offer practical tips.

• Starting an Infertility Blog and Finding the TTC Community
• How to Start a TTC Blog
• A Whole Lot of Blogging – Brought to You Sorted and Filed
• Blogging Infertility

IVF forums also provide tips on sharing an infertility story and will help with acronyms and terminology that is so prevalent in the TTC community. Forums provide resources and links to website tips and tools. They are also good places to find ideas about what to post.

In addition to helping you learn about how to start an IVF blog, those articles also include information about how to find other people who are trying to conceive and connect with them. The more people you’re connected to in the blogging world, the more likely you’ll be to receive comments and get readers for your blog.

Other Resource:

Fertility Help Hub: https://www.fertilityhelphub.com/

Families Through Surrogacy Provide Comprehensive surrogacy advice and support to parents

IVF Pregnancy: 9 Very Important Things To Expect

Best fertility clinics in usa by live birth rate,specialty and reviews.

‘Bringing Up Bates’ Michaela Bates Shares Infertility Journey

Bringing Up Bates  star Michaela Bates Keilen is back with a new vlog. The 34-year-old has been hustling on YouTube by uploading videos featuring her heartwarming interactions with some of her younger siblings. She and her husband, Brandon, also make sketches about biblical stories. However, Michaela’s latest vlog is far different as it talks about her sad journey. Keep reading to see the second Bates child’s heartbreaking video.

Bringing Up Bates : Michaela Bates’ Adorable Content With Siblings

Michaela has been leaving many fans in awe with her YouTube content . Last month, the  Bringing Up Bates  star uploaded a 12-minute video where she taught some of her nieces and nephews how to make hand and footprint art. According to some, it’s noticeable how much Michaela loves children. Many have also pointed out that the married couple would do well as elementary school teachers. But despite all the positive content, it seems that Michaela is still having a hard time navigating through her infertility.

Michaela Shares Her Infertility Journey

Michaela recently took to YouTube to talk about her infertility journey with Brandon. The  Bringing Up Bates  stars discussed their difficult journey for 30 minutes. They admit that it’s been hard for them to have no kids at their age. Some fans also feel sad for Michaela Bates Keilen as she always makes herself constantly available for her nieces, nephews, and younger siblings, showing how much she wants to be a mom.

The married couple even shared clips about announcing a pregnancy to the Bates family before they suffered a miscarriage. Later in the video, Michaela explained that her health condition makes all treatment for her infertility impossible. However, they’re still open to adoption. The two also received positive comments from the viewers.

• “ Could everyone who has watched this video stop for a moment and say a special prayer for this precious couple?”
• “I am in tears for you. Michaela if anyone in this earth is near our Lord and Savior, is you!!! Your soul is pure and your faith is enviable God Bless you!”
• “ I’ve been praying for God to open your womb and give you a child just like He did for Hannah and Sarah. I will continue to pray and believe for you.”

Bringing Up Bates : Kelly Jo Bates Shows Big Support For Michaela

Kelly Jo also took to social media to send a heartfelt message for her daughter , Michaela Bates Keilen, following her emotional vlog. According to the Bringing Up Bates  star, she commends her daughter for sharing their difficult journey.

Kelly Jo Bates also encourages those who have suffered from “infertility, or miscarriage, or loss of a loved one” to watch her daughter’s vlog to find strength through their testimony of all the heartbreak they suffered throughout the years. Michaela also responded on her own IG Stories by thanking her mom and dad for their support.

For more news about the  Bringing Up Bates  family, check back with  TV Shows Ace.  

• Recent Posts

• Carlin Bates Hiding Baby Bump? Here’s The Truth - April 8, 2024
• Kelly Jo Bates Claps Back At Haters In Latest Post - April 8, 2024
• ’90 Day Fiance’ Fans Shocked Over Jesse Meester’s Son’s Name - April 8, 2024

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We use cookies to provide you with a great experience and to help our website run effectively. By using this website, closing this banner or scrolling this page you agree to our use of cookies. View our Privacy Policy here

Manage cookies

IVF and Endometriosis – My IVF Journey & Success Story

November 30, 2022

I have shared many posts and videos about my IVF and endometriosis experiences, and in this video I finally sit down and talk through my entire IVF journey .

I was first diagnosed with endometriosis is 2005 through a laparoscopic surgery. I found ways to manage the pain and symptoms through diet and exercise and was miraculously able to conceive our daughter naturally in 2012.

Because of this I didn’t think twice about our ability get pregnant again.

After two and a half years of trying to conceive our second baby, I had an additional laparoscopy. During that surgery the doctors found extensive endometriosis and scar tissue and diagnosed me with a frozen pelvis.

If we wanted to have another baby we needed to consider IVF.

IVF is an emotional and confusing journey to be on. It involves frustration, mourning, confusion, pain and more ups and downs than I can possibly describe.

I felt alone for much of my IVF journey. I didn’t know many people who had been through it and I was scared to make myself emotionally vulnerable by putting my story out there.

I want to change that for other people going through it, which is why I chose to share my IVF and endometriosis story here.

Please know you are not alone. There is hope, even in the lowest of times! I hope my story shines some light on the IVF experience for you.

How I Stop Comparing

Do This Before You Set Your Goals for the New Year

Worth the Wait

2 thoughts on “ivf and endometriosis – my ivf journey & success story”.

Thank you for sharing! I don’t think many people understand the devastation of infertility and failed fertility treatments. Your doctor sounds amazing and like she was really willing to work with you and your body’s unique needs. Gives me hope, because I have no kids, never been pregnant, and so far IVF has not worked for me.

Thanks so much for sharing Jessica, I am a student with pregnancy Pilates Impact and have just skipped forward to the IVF section as I’m starting down regulation next week and have Egg transfer on August 17th 2020 I too have endo and a very similar story to yours as I am a P.T and Pilates instructor, I have a 22 year old daughter and have been trying for a second baby for just over 3 years now. I had my 3rd laparoscopic ablation for endo on my sacro uterial ligament almost a year ago and was told We should now be able to conceive but unfortunately still no luck so IVF is our last option. Knowing that you aren’t the only one to feel the way I do right now is a breath of fresh air and I really hope no matter what the outcome for me I can move on with the experience to help others in the same way your helping me today thank you

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

About Blog DEIB & Anti-Racism

UNLIMITED Programs Women's Health One on One

© Jessica Valant Pilates 2024

Our Response to the Alabama IVF Ruling

«  View All Posts

IVF Success Stories: 44 Parents Share Their Family-Building Journeys

October 11th, 2023 | 14 min. read

By Sierra Dehmler

When you find out you need the help of fertility treatment to conceive, it can lead to feelings of isolation and hopelessness. Thankfully, there is a welcoming community of parents who have chosen to share their IVF success stories to help others feel a little less alone. 

In this article: Finding Hope in IVF Success Stories An Honest Look at the World of IVF IVF Success After Cancer Stories Egg Donor IVF Success Stories LGBTQ+ IVF Success Stories PCOS & Endometriosis IVF Success Stories Male Factor Infertility IVF Success Stories Single Mom by Choice IVF Stories IVF for Genetic Conditions Tubal Factor Infertility IVF Stories You Deserve the Family of Your Dreams

Finding Hope in IVF Success Stories

Although public discourse is steadily increasing around the topic of infertility and fertility treatment, there are still layers of stigma and shame associated with not being able to conceive. One of the best ways to combat this is through sharing our experiences . 

When fertility patients open up and tell their stories, they bring more than hope to those struggling to grow their families - they also offer a glimpse into a world that is not often visible. Now on the other side of the storm of infertility, these grateful parents have chosen to break the silence and share what their journey to parenthood really looked like. 

An Honest Look at the World of IVF

In the following stories, you'll meet a diverse array of former Illume Fertility patients who have navigated challenges like PCOS , male factor infertility, endometriosis, cancer treatment , secondary infertility , pregnancy and infant loss , life-threatening genetic conditions, and unexplained infertility. 

Our hope (and theirs) is that through hearing their stories, you will find the hope, courage, inspiration, and comfort to achieve your own family-building dreams, knowing that you are never alone on this challenging path to parenthood.

IVF Success After Cancer Stories 

While treatments such as chemotherapy can be life-saving for those facing cancer, they can unfortunately also damage a patient's future fertility potential. The following couples share their experiences with family building after beating breast cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma. 

Meet Ross & Jackie

The story of how one couple become parents after cancer treatment, with the help of fertility preservation and IVF. 

Meet Erin & Matt

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis and undergoing IVF before chemo, a survivor shares her journey to motherhood.

Egg Donor IVF Success Stories

Hopeful parents who pursue IVF with donor eggs are most often facing fertility challenges like diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), genetic concerns, poor egg quality, and unexplained infertility. Get a glimpse at what this process is like through the following honest accounts.

Meet Rebecca & Steve

After a diagnosis of unexplained infertility, two thankful parents share how they made the difficult decision to use an egg donor.

Meet Eva & Bryan*

*Patients have requested to remain anonymous

Despite many years of trying to conceive and a diagnosis of diminished ovarian reserve, the decision to pursue IVF with the help of an egg donor was an incredibly difficult one for Eva. She shares what led up to her diagnosis and the emotional process of releasing a genetic connection with her children in order to build the family she dreamt of for so long.

Unexplained Infertility IVF Success Stories

One of the most frustrating diagnoses for both patients and doctors is "unexplained infertility," a term assigned to those who are unable to achieve pregnancy without a discernible cause. Around 15-30% of hopeful parents trying to conceive receive this diagnosis, which often leads to IVF treatment.

Meet Stephanie 

After years of TTC and turning 36, Stephanie sought guidance from a fertility doctor and was diagnosed with unexplained infertility. This led to IVF treatment and a successful embryo transfer that resulted in twins!

Meet Christa & Aland 

On June 7, 2021, Christa and Aland had their first frozen embryo transfer. A couple weeks later, they were shocked when they discovered they were having identical twin girls.   

LGBTQ+ IVF Success Stories

There are so many different paths to parenthood, including IUI , IVF , surrogacy , adoption, and using an egg, sperm, or embryo donor .

At Illume Fertility, we are proud to offer family-building options for all. With the support of resources like our Gay Parents To Be program and an expert third party reproduction team, we are able to provide next-level care for LGBTQ+ patients pursuing parenthood.

Meet Tim & Steve

A gay couple shares how they met, when they decided to have kids, and what their two IVF and surrogacy journeys were like.

Meet Diana & Di

A PCOS warrior shares her and her partner's long journey through fertility testing, finding a donor, and IVF treatment.

Meet Taylor & Holly

Learn about reciprocal IVF from two moms who navigated the ups and downs of fertility treatment together.

LGBTQ+ Stories Collection

Explore our full library of family-building journeys through surrogacy, adoption, fertility treatment, and more.

PCOS & Endometriosis IVF Success Stories

Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis often lead to fertility issues, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to find success with proper treatment.

Around 30-50% of people with endometriosis struggle to conceive and up to 70-80% of anovulatory infertility cases are caused by PCOS. The following Illume patients share how they were able to overcome these challenges using IVF to grow their families.

Meet Nicole & Steven

High school sweethearts share how they discovered Nicole's endometriosis diagnosis and what it took to meet their baby boy.

Meet Katie & Anthony

In this 3-part series, a PCOS patient opens up about her long and difficult journey to becoming a mother.

Meet Megan & Jeff

After 2.5 years of fertility struggles and disappointments, Megan and Jeff turned to IVF - and ended up with twins! 

Meet Andrea & Ralph

A couple shares their emotional journey through a PCOS diagnosis, three failed IUI cycles, and fighting to become parents.

Meet Virginia & Joe

In this story, PCOS patient Virginia shares her and her husband Joe's experience at Illume Fertility on their first embryo transfer day.

Male Factor Infertility IVF Success Stories

When most people think about infertility, they assume the issue lies with the female partner. However, in around 40% of cases, male factor infertility is to blame.  

Meet Sarah & Chris

After multiple pregnancy losses, egg retrievals, and embryo transfers, a couple shares what got them through it all.

Meet Kristen & Jeff

PCOS and male factor infertility led this couple to IVF treatment after more than two years of trying to conceive a baby.

Meet Danielle & Rob

After struggling to conceive and discovering male factor fertility issues, they turned to ICSI and IVF, which brought a huge surprise.

Single Mom by Choice IVF Success Stories

Thanks to processes like IVF and donor conception, more women are able to realize their dreams of becoming a mother - even without a partner. 

Meet Kaitlyn

A single mom shares why she chose to have a baby without a partner -with the help of IVF and donor sperm. 

Meet Alison

After an unexpected divorce, Alison knew she wanted to give her son a sibling, so she decided to do it on her own.

Is IVF right for you?

Learn how much IVF costs, how long the process takes, and how this treatment method can help make your dreams come true.

IVF for Genetic Conditions Success Stories

In some cases, IVF isn't used to combat infertility, but instead to help parents avoid passing on life-threatening heritable conditions to their future children. In the following stories, three courageous mothers share their experiences with genetic disorders and infant loss.

Meet Alyson & Scott

After a shocking genetic discovery, Alyson and her husband were advised to move straight to IVF treatment.

Meet Nicole

A mom with cystic fibrosis shares her journey through IVF, twin pregnancy, heartbreaking loss and finding light on the other side.

After losing her infant son to Alper's Disease, Anna sought genetic counseling and IVF to help protect her future children.

Tubal Factor Infertility IVF Success Stories

Tubal factor infertility accounts for about 25-30% of all cases of infertility, and occurs when a blockage in the fallopian tubes will not allow the egg and sperm to meet. The following families share how IVF helped them overcome this frustrating obstacle to become parents.

Meet Azana & Delvin

After a previous ectopic pregnancy and removal of one fallopian tube, this couple turned to IVF for help conceiving their son, Levi. 

Meet Shiraine & Barry

When fertility testing revealed 34-year old Shiraine's fallopian tubes were damaged, the couple moved quickly into an IVF cycle.

You Deserve the Family of Your Dreams

Whether you're seeking inspiration as you prepare for an upcoming IVF cycle, in need of hope after an unsuccessful embryo transfer, or simply looking for different perspectives as you explore your fertility options, the families featured above offer a transparent account of the challenges - and the joys - that can come from pursuing IVF.

Want to learn more about IVF treatment or speak with a fertility expert? Reach out to our team today or download our Step-by-Step Guide to IVF Treatment . We wish you the best of luck on your family-building journey!

Sierra Dehmler

Sierra Dehmler is Illume Fertility’s Content Marketing Manager - and also a fertility patient herself. Combining empathy gained on her personal journey with her professional experience in marketing and content creation, she aims to empower and support other fertility patients by demystifying the fertility treatment process.

Talk to An IVF Expert Today

Get honest answers to your IVF questions from a team of board-certified reproductive endocrinologists.

More Fertility Resources

We don't speak about infertility | shiraine's story.

February 22nd, 2024 11 min read

IVF Success After Endometriosis | Nicole's Story

February 21st, 2024 6 min read

How Years of Infertility Led to Two Miracles | Deanna & Justin's Story

December 14th, 2023 11 min read

From Unexplained Fertility to IVF Success | Juliana & Ryan's Story

November 8th, 2023 9 min read

Becoming a Mother After Surviving Breast Cancer | Erin's Story

October 18th, 2023 8 min read

Accepting My PCOS Diagnosis to Build Our Family | Natalie's Story

October 4th, 2023 7 min read

An Unexpected PCOS Diagnosis Led to Our Rainbow Baby | Kate's Story

September 7th, 2023 17 min read

Navigating Unexplained Infertility & Egg Donor IVF | Rebecca's Story

August 11th, 2023 8 min read

Finding IVF Success After Cancer Treatment | Ross & Jackie's Story

July 12th, 2023 8 min read

How IUI Helped Us Conceive with PCOS | Gabby & Shane's Story

May 18th, 2023 5 min read

Find Your Voice: Fertility Patients Share Their Stories | NIAW 2023

May 2nd, 2023 11 min read

When a Fertility Doctor Becomes a Patient | Dr. Kucherov's Story

April 28th, 2023 6 min read

How Infertility Changes You | Andrea & Ralph's Story

January 17th, 2023 8 min read

Trying to Conceive with PCOS | Alana & Jason's Story

December 12th, 2022 6 min read

Navigating the Complex Emotions of Infertility | Sarah's Story

September 2nd, 2022 6 min read

Why I Chose to Freeze My Eggs at Age 27 | Alex's Story

August 2nd, 2022 16 min read

Reimagining Family: Our Donor Conception Story

June 8th, 2022 13 min read

Every Story Matters: Fertility Patients Share Their Journey | NIAW 2022

April 29th, 2022 9 min read

Katie's Story, Part 3: Graduation Day Emotions & Pregnancy Updates

March 21st, 2022 8 min read

Choosing Single Motherhood | Kaitlyn's Story

March 4th, 2022 9 min read

Growing Our Family Through IVF | Azana's Story

February 7th, 2022 7 min read

Katie's Story, Part 2: The Road to Baby #2

January 28th, 2022 11 min read

A Warrior's Journey Through Chronic Illness & Unimaginable Loss

January 10th, 2022 7 min read

Katie's Story, Part 1: From Infertility Diagnosis to Rainbow Baby

December 14th, 2021 12 min read

• Hair Care Staples to Shop during Amazon Prime Day Deals
• 8 TIPS TO GROWING HAIR FASTER
• Year 2021 in Review with Hair Biology

Our Halloween Costume Reveal – 2021

Why i don’t take multivitamins.

• Beauty Favorites from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
• My Ambassador Experience with Hair Biology
• Complete Skincare Regimen for Mature Skin
• Google Plus

My IVF Journey Over 40

Thanks to in vitro fertilization (IVF), my twin boys turned seven last week.  In celebration of National Infertility Awareness Week I’m here to share my story of how I was able to conceive over 40.

My husband and I went through IVF after we tried to conceive naturally for almost a year.  You see, when we first met I was in my late thirties.  At the time I was trying to reset and restart my life.  I was not ready for a relationship let alone kids.

I didn’t know I really wanted to be a mom until I met my husband.  Before then I was so caught up with my career that I didn’t realize my biological clock was ticking away.  At the same time I was dealing with a bad relationship. Obviously, it was not the right time to start anything.  

Being a woman, I never once thought I would not be able to get pregnant naturally.  I felt that if I wanted to get pregnant I should be able to.  My mom has 5 kids after all.  However, I was wrong.  Very wrong.

A year into our relationship, we decided to get pregnant.  I went through blood and hormone tests but there were no indications that I would not be able to get pregnant naturally.  Maybe I was too stressed out?!

However, there was one test left.  While my doctor was performing Myomectomy, a procedure to remove fibroids in my uterus, she also performed a hysterosalpingogram (HSG), a procedure that uses an X-ray to look at fallopian tubes and uterus.  

That test found the culprit all along.  Both of my fallopian tubes were completely blocked with fibroids.  So the chances of getting pregnant was less than zero.

IVF was our only option.  We were excited and scared at the same time about this procedure.  We knew nothing about IVF…yes, heard about it but never really understood how the entire process worked.  That night and the next few days we lived and breathed IVF.

We met with a few reproductive endocrinologists she had recommended and chose the doctor that we both felt comfortable with not just because of her success rate but her experience, and most of all her warm personality.  She made us feel like we were not on the IVF journey alone.

Keep in mind I was turning 40 at the time and the chances of getting pregnant via IVF for me at that age was less than 5 percent.  Yes, that hard factual data was really hard for me to swallow and comprehend. We took a leap of faith anyway and decided we would do this together.  Our thought process was…if we don’t try we will never know.

On our first round my doctor was able to retrieve 6 eggs but only 2 were in good quality.  After weeks of needle poking and vaginal ultrasounds there was hope.  So we told the entire world about it and shared the embryo transfer date.  My family came to town to stay with us and also went to the clinic to be part of this exciting process.

Two weeks later, I went in to get a blood test.  The next day we got a call that the embryos did not attach to my uterus.  Sadly, I was not pregnant.  We felt defeated and discouraged.  We were so emotionally drained and tired that we didn’t want to do another round.

We decided to take a break and started to plan our lives living without kids.  We had NYC in mind and started the process of putting our home in the rental market while house hunting in another city to implant our lives.  

A month later, while driving on the freeway passing our IVF clinic, hubby turned to me and asked if we wanted to try again.   I said let’s do it but we have to do it differently this time.  Let’s not tell a soul that we are doing another round.  Whenever my family/friends asked we would shrug it off that we’re taking it easy and would decide later.

On our second round, we just took one step at a time and tried not to get ahead of ourselves and set timelines and goals.  I still remember the night of the trigger injection for egg collection. You have to time it right so that the eggs are fully mature and ready for retrieval on a particular time/day.  Hubby was performing a show on the Last Vegas strip at the time and in between his performances he came out to the parking lot to perform the injection…it’s a bigger needle and I couldn’t administer the injection myself.  Try to visualize a woman sitting in the back-seat of a car in a Las Vegas parking lot prepping some needles…one can argue that I looked like a druggie at a glance.  So with 5 minutes in between shows hubby marched to the car dressed in top hat and tux and perform the injection exactly at 8:30pm.

One process after another, it was a success.  This time we got three quality eggs out of nine and they were all ready for the transfer.

Two weeks later we were told that we were pregnant.  That was unexpected because during the two weeks after the transfer, I didn’t have any pregnancy symptoms.  The only symptom that I experienced was that my favorite denim no longer fit me.  I thought I was bloating.

During the ultrasound we found out we were very pregnant…with twins!  My doctor immediately recommended a couple high-risk Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialists to monitor my pregnancy.

It was very emotional for us…I was pregnant with twins right before I turned 41.  I had a 5 percent success rate and we did it!

The entire IVF process was filled with pain, sweat, and tears but it was so worth it.  Fast forward eight years later we have two beautiful healthy boys that we could never imagined living without.

If you are over 35 and have been trying for over 6 months or are under 35 and have been trying for 1 year or more, go and see a reproductive endocrinologist sooner rather than later.  I was lucky that my OB-GYN happened to have just conceived a baby via IVF herself and was able to help us look for a reproductive endocrinologist to start the process, but many OB-GYNs do not have that knowledge to help.  

Places like My Fertility Navigator are designed to help women and couples navigate the rocky road of fertility by offering resources and direction to find answers to the questions you’re afraid to ask, while also offering guidance along your unique fertility journey. Visit MyFertilityNav.com/contest to share your fertility story for a chance to win an all-inclusive weekend getaway for two to Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa.

If you know a friend or a family member who is trying to start a family you can help increase awareness by posting with #TalkAboutTrying on social media.  For every social media post shared with #TalkAboutTrying, Ferring Pharmaceuticals will donate $1 to RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association.

Related Posts

Practical Methods to Soothe Yourself to Your Senses

Write a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Globe-Trotting

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Privacy Overview

PROFESSOR CHAPMAN’S BLOGS

I would like to share my knowledge to educate and support those looking to grow their families

Estimating your due date after IVF.

After going through the roller coaster ride of IVF wondering whether it is going to be successful or not, the wonderful news of a positive …

The ‘right’ dose of FSH for an IVF cycle?

In retrospect, it is easy to say that your specialist selected the ‘right” dose for your IVF cycle if you are pregnant . However, as yo…

Learn from me

The  blog.

My IVF Journey

In 2017, Chris and I realized that even though we had 2 perfect little kids that we just didn’t feel like our family was complete. With Jackson and Rylee, I had no issues getting pregnant which makes my IVF story a little different than most, or at least I thought. The reason we decided to go through IVF was because Chris had a vasectomy in 2016. At the time, we had a 3 year old and a 1 year old and a growing business that we could barely keep up with. We honestly thought we were done having kids. I was 29 and know now that I was too young to make that decision. Fast forward to a year and a half later, we had changed our minds and started researching our options. It was either a reversal for him or go through IVF and somehow the doctors convinced us that IVF was the easiest route. Looking back on this now, I would have chosen the alternative. 

We had our first consultation in December of 2017 at Nashville Fertility Clinic. I was so naive that I thought we would be getting pregnant within just a few months. That’s until they started handing out all the paperwork and going over all the tests you and your husband have to have done before even starting IVF. It was like a book. With how busy I was with our company, it took us several months to get all the appointments, do all the medical tests and complete everything that they needed. By the time we were done and ready to actually start the IVF process it was April and I was getting frustrated. I was supposed to be pregnant by now.

Once we got cleared to officially start the process, they had to line everything up with my cycle. I started Birth Control in May since they have to be able to control your cycle down to the day before your egg retrieval. Once I stopped the birth control, that’s when the shots started for the fertility drugs. This part was tough. I wasn’t used to giving myself shots and my husband basically can’t stand needles so it was a learning process. My hormones also started going a little crazy about this time since I was pumping myself full of fertility drugs. Fun times. 

In July of 2017 we had our retrieval and they got 18 eggs. I thought this was such a good sign and that everything else would be smooth sailing from here on out. Then, I got a call back just a few days later that only 6 had made it to becoming a day 5 embryo. I was a little bummed that only ⅓ of my eggs became viable but we still had 6 great ones to choose from. Or so I thought again. 

We decided to do the genetic testing to ensure that our embryos were genetically ok before a transfer. I don’t know exactly what all they test for but I do know it’s for abnormalities that could cause you to miscarry or the baby to not make it through a pregnancy. This testing took a month which seemed like forever. I was so ready to be pregnant and we were already going into August at this point. We finally got the call that 3 of our embryos were genetically ok for a transfer. This is when it really got a little concerning for me. Only 3 made it out of the original 18. But still, I had high hopes that we would get pregnant on our very first transfer and everything would work out perfect. I was wrong yet again.

I had to wait a few more weeks before our transfer and start more fertility medications and shots. Our first IVF transfer was scheduled for September 6th, 2018. I went in with high expectations. Since I had no issues getting pregnant with my other two, I just knew I would have no issues this time. But it failed. Two weeks later after the procedure my period started and I wasn’t pregnant. I was devastated. How could it not work? At this point, we had already paid close to $20,000 and had nothing to show for it.  This was also around the time that two of my very best friends got pregnant and man that was tough. I was right there with so many other women wondering what the issue was and why I didn’t get pregnant.

From there, they decided they wanted to do some testing to see what the issue was and if I was becoming infertile or had any health issues that would stop me from getting pregnant. I had to do a mock cycle which means I had to give myself the fertility shots for another month like I was preparing for another transfer but instead they go in and do testing to see what the issues are. So basically, waste more time and money on fertility drugs and push everything back another month. This is when it really became overwhelming. My husband and I hadn’t told most of our family or friends we were even doing IVF so it was hard to keep it all a secret and struggle in silence. 

My testing came back with normal results which made it much more frustrating. If I didn’t have any issues then why wasn’t I pregnant? We decided to take a month off due to the holidays at this point and the stress and give my body a rest. We took a much needed vacation with the kiddos and just enjoyed being our little family of 4.

My 2nd round of IVF was on January 10, 2019. I again had super high hopes. I just knew I was getting pregnant this time. And I did!! 10 days after the procedure, I started feeling pregnant so took a test and got a positive. I was so excited! But then, one day later the bleeding started. I woke up and just knew something was wrong. I rushed to the clinic the next morning where they tested my levels and scheduled me to come back the following day for another test. They said the bleeding could just be a coincidence and hopefully my levels would still increase. And they did! For a moment, I had a false glimmer of hope. I was still pregnant and my hcg was still rising. They had me follow up again the following day for more tests. That’s when I got the call that I was in fact miscarrying. My hormone levels plummeted and my body wasn’t responding to the pregnancy. I was devastated. How could this happen to me? I once was this girl that had no issues getting pregnant or being pregnant and now here I was having a miscarriage. It was one of the hardest things I had ever been through and still is hard to talk about. My body still felt pregnant for a few weeks and I started having horrible contractions that honestly weren’t much less painful than actual birth. I was an emotional wreck. 

At this point, we still had only told a few people about our IVF journey and struggles. I finally felt the need to open up to my family and tell them everything I was going through. That’s when I also turned to social media for support. It was amazing to receive so many messages from other women that had been through IVF or through a miscarriage or even both and have them share their stories. I knew I wasn’t alone in this journey and even though it was so hard to go through, I clung to my faith to get me through. We still had one embryo left. One more chance to have a baby through IVF before seeking other options. At this point though, my high hopes that it would work a third time pretty much shattered. It wasn’t as easy as I thought. It was a struggle to make this happen. That’s when I realized that getting pregnant isn’t as easy for everyone as it was for me with my first two kids. So many women have these struggles and feel this pain. It really opened up my eyes and made me feel so grateful for my 2 easy pregnancies and that I was blessed enough to be a mom already. My heart really goes out to those that never get to experience motherhood. It really is the best thing in life.

Going back to our IVF process and my miscarriage, the doctors wanted me to wait to begin our third round until after 2 more completed cycles meaning I would have to wait until March to start fertility medications back. At this point, my hormones were insane. Going from medication to getting pregnant then no fertility drugs, I was all over the place. Work also was super stressful as we continued to grow and I was traveling so much. I tried to keep it all together but looking back, I know I wasn’t really myself during this time. I lived with severe anxiety and a little depression for the loss of a pregnancy masked by the determination to show everyone that I can be strong when all I wanted was to be pregnant. It was tough.

March rolled around and I started giving myself injections yet again. We scheduled the procedure for the 2nd week of April and I tried my hardest to not worry or stress leading up to it. We decided to take the kids on a last minute Disney trip to relax and enjoy another little getaway. My procedure was a few days after we got back and everything seemed to go well. I started taking pregnancy tests just a few days later even though they tell you not to. With IVF, there is a possibility of getting a false positive due to the medications so they prefer that you wait to have a blood test 10-12 days after the procedure. Being the impatient person that I am though, I couldn’t wait. I started testing daily until on day 5 a faint line appeared. I was so excited but instantly terrified. What if I miscarry again? This is our last embryo. What if it’s a false positive? So many questions and such a hard time to go through. I had to leave for another trip the following week so the clinic had me find a doctor  to get a blood test during my work trip. I went the first day while I was there and then again the 2nd. I heard nothing. No one called and I was so anxious at this point. Finally, 3 days after my blood test I got the call from my nurse that I was pregnant. The last procedure worked. I was so happy. I changed my flight to come home early to be with my family to celebrate.

The next few months after, I tried my hardest to relax and rest more than normal. I was no longer allowed to workout due to the doctors orders until I hit the 2nd trimester. They didn’t want anything to cause a miscarriage so I rested and took it easy. We waited until the 2nd trimester to officially announce to make sure that the pregnancy would sustain. From then on I had a fairly easy and quick pregnancy. It really flew by and looking back, I honestly miss it a little.

Then, on January 1st 2020, our sweet little IVF baby was born. Reese Caroline. She weighed only 5 pounds 15 ounces and was absolutely perfect. I am now a mom to 3 and couldn’t be happier. It was such a long and hard process but everything happened for a reason and that reason was for me to have my sweet little Reese. She was our last and final embryo. She is so loved already and I couldn’t be more thankful that everything happened the way it did. Had I not struggled or had a miscarriage, I would have never known just what so many others go through or been able to put myself in their shoes. Infertility and IVF are not easy to go through. I am lucky that I had success and can now share our story.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Hi, I'm tori

Join in on my wonderful community of over 350k women. get to know me and my family and see behind the scenes of everything from work to travel and all of the in between. , follow me on instagram, find me on pinterest, get in touch.

Let's connect!

Hi, I'm Tori

Serial entreprenuer.

@torigerbig

Let's be friends.

for daily behind the scenes at Pink Lily, life with my family + daily outfits, follow along!

© tori gerbig 2021  |   Privacy Policy    |  Site credit

I encourage and inspire women to claim their power and confidence and build their dreams into success. 

read The Blog > 

 @torigerbig.

The Independent

Megan McKenna reveals secret fertility battle and IVF journey in emotional video

Posted: April 9, 2024 | Last updated: April 9, 2024

Megan McKenna reveals secret fertility battle and IVF journey in emotional video -

More for You

David Cameron holds talks with Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago surprise meeting

Forgotten 1990s Blockbusters Everyone Should Rewatch

Space Rock Slammed Into Moon - The Explosion Was Seen From Japan

Can You Eat Potatoes with Sprouts?

5 Netflix movies to watch when the kids have gone to bed

I Did a 25 Day Water Fast. I Lost 20lbs and My Skin Cleared Up

A deposition Elon Musk fought to keep confidential was released. Read the most interesting quotes.

50 iconic movie lines that you have probably quoted at least once

Different images of the eclipse worldwide

I left the United States for a country where black lives do matter – Rwanda

The 5 Foods You Should Never Eat From the Breakfast Buffet

Supreme Court Divides Gavin Newsom And Progressives

Scientists discover highly toxic material in human urine: 'Raises important new questions'

The 25 Best Long-Lasting Perfumes You Won't Need to Reapply

Mount Etna, Europe’s largest volcano, puffs giant ‘smoke rings’ into sky

I tried to snap a photo of the 'Devil comet' during the solar eclipse. Here's what happened.

30 slang words you may not realize came from TV and movies

Experts Say These Are The 5 Worst Foods For Your Cholesterol

6 Hybrid Vehicles To Stay Away From Buying

Transgender Catholics say new Vatican document shows no understanding of their lives

Debina Bonnerjee on women going for IVF still considered to be a taboo: Never be afraid of ‘log kya kahenge’ and trolls

Visual Stories