Late last year, I saw my OB who gave us the go-ahead to start having babies again. She wanted to see me before we started TTC again to make sure that I was completely healed from my c-section. I am, and she gave us the go-ahead to make babies, and she even gave us a little glimmer of hope. She told me that just because I had to use fertility treatments to get pregnant the first time around didn’t mean I’d have to use them this time, too. And we believed her. We left thinking we’d give this a fair shot for six months and see what happens before we put ourselves through something as gut wrenching as fertility treatments.
Last fall, we were eligible for open enrollment and explored several different insurance options for our family. We learned the ins and ours of our now-insurance coverage, and what it would mean for us if we would have to repeat fertility treatments. I learned my OB’s office does not specialize in infertility so if we have to head back down that road, I’d need to see my reproductive endocrinologist again. I learned, from speaking to my RE’s office, that I’d most likely have to have some repeat testing done and that it could take weeks, if not months, to set up an appointment. I learned that it most likely meant having to start all over again, even though I’d already gone through the whole process once before. I learned that just because I already had one baby, it didn’t mean I was going to have another.
The holidays were stressful. I had two rounds of antibiotics for me to treat bronchitis that just didn’t want to go away. A teething baby. Three months went by, and suddenly we remembered: I hadn’t had a period in months. A midnight trip for a pregnancy test that read negative. This all felt way too familiar for us.
I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t hard the first time around. It was a long, tiring journey for us filled with ups and downs and tears and pain and whys and more tears. I know we got our happy ending, but what if we didn’t this time around?
In the last two weeks, I’ve seen seven pregnancy announcements on Facebook from mamas who had children around the time I had Chloe. I’m thrilled for these mamas and papas, but a teeny tiny part of me is jealous. Part of me is angry. Part of me hates myself. It’s a mix of horrible emotions and I don’t like the person I turn into when I feel this way. So I smile and I say congratulations and then I crawl back into my hole and cry.
I’m definitely not pregnant and we’re back to the drawing board. We’re going back to the reproductive endocrinologist, and god help me, I’m having a baby. Hell, maybe I’ll have 2.
Did you have to repeat fertility treatments for baby #2?
pineapple / 12053 posts
Wishing you lots of baby dust for #2!
blogger / persimmon / 1398 posts
Oh… GOOD LUCK!!
“So I smile and I say congratulations and then I crawl back into my hole and cry.”<–THIS! … Even though we are on a planned timeline… and we knew what we were in for with this adoption, I feel the same way at times. It's hard when you are waiting for something so IMPORTANT. Hang in there.
blogger / pomelo / 5361 posts
Good luck and lots of good baby vibes your way!
grapefruit / 4669 posts
Good luck! And sorry that you’re having tough times…7 preg announcements is A TON! Enough to warrant some temporary blocking? I have to do that on facebook sometimes.
apricot / 340 posts
“I’ve seen seven pregnancy announcements on Facebook from mamas who had children around the time I had Chloe. I’m thrilled for these mamas and papas, but a teeny tiny part of me is jealous.”
I’ve been feeling the same way. I hate this jealousy thing. Once I see that another friend is pregnant with their second child, it feels like a competition. Although DH and I just started TTC.
Good luck to you Mrs. Jump Rope!
pomegranate / 3438 posts
Good luck! We used fertility treatments with #1 and we will probably have to use them again for #2. I’ve only ever had one period on my own and that was when I was 15. My RE did have hopes that pregnancy would reset my body. We weaned from breastfeeding at 9 months, DS is 11 months and still no sign of a period.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
I am rooting for you mama!!! You know I’m here if you need to vent.
From the opposite side of the spectrum, re: pregnancy announcements on FB. I hesitated to post mine and even tell certain people because I am so sensitive to the fact that so many mamas struggle to get pregnant, or can’t get pregnant at all. When a good friend told me she can’t ever get pregnant, I cried for her. It’s simply not fair. And then I feel an immense sense of guilt for getting pregnant in four cycles. I just wish there was a way to share that.
Good luck honey. You will get that baby!!
kiwi / 640 posts
Good luck!! I hope your road to #2 is a short one!
Re: the jealousy thing. Sucks, doesn’t it? In the midst of 2 miscarriages and fertility treatments, I felt like the sonogram pictures on FB were mocking me. I took a break from FB and now what do you know, I don’t even like it anymore. The pain it had caused me while TTC wasn’t worth the “fun” of catching up with old friends or checking out their pictures.
blogger / pomegranate / 3300 posts
Good luck to you!! I hope your road to baby number two is short
blogger / coconut / 8306 posts
@KT326: I was told something similar (that pregnancy can change your body, you never know what can happen!) by my doctors, but like you, history is repeating itself. Good luck to you, too!
blogger / coconut / 8306 posts
@tororojo: There was another announcement today! Seriously, is there something in the water? Why isn’t there anything in mine?
blogger / nectarine / 2010 posts
Praying for you mama! I’m so excited for your announcement. I know it’s coming.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
Good luck with TTC #2.
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
Best of luck XXOO
blogger / nectarine / 2010 posts
It’s so hard to see the FB announcements. I thought it was even harder to see birth announcements of people who never posted they were pregnant. At least I could block the pregnant people and not ever know when their LO arrived. FX your time for #2 comes soon.
GOLD / apricot / 315 posts
Good luck! I hope this baby journey is a quick one.