It took us three years, seeing a reproductive endocrinologist, a diagnosis of PCOS and two cycles of Clomid to get pregnant with our daughter, Chloe.  After her birth, I went back on birth control pills to regulate my cycles.  Last winter, my OB gave us the go-ahead to start making babies and even told me that there’s a chance we wouldn’t need to repeat fertility treatments again. We figured we’d give this a fair shot for 6 months and see what happened.  But first, let’s back up a few months to my Big Fat Oops and what lead us to call our RE’s office to schedule a consultation. Would I have to repeat any testing?  If so, would it delay our journey toward having a second baby?

This past October, shortly before Chloe’s first birthday, I came down with a really bad cold.  It turned into bronchitis and I was prescribed an antibiotic that interfered with my birth control pills.  It just so happened that I was starting a new pack of pills that same weekend, and in my head it made absolute sense to skip my BCP that month.  After all, it was going to be ineffective, right?  The holidays kept us busy and before we knew it, it was mid-February and I hadn’t had a period since September.  Not only that, but we kind of forgot to use a back up method all these months.  Cue a midnight run for a pregnancy test, a big fat negative, a few more pregnancy tests and lots of tears.  So much for that “fair shot.”  This reaffirmed (in my mind, at least) that we’d need to repeat fertility treatments so we scheduled a consultation with my RE.

It took a few weeks to get an appointment.  I could hardly sleep the night before the visit, but I’m not sure why I was so nervous.  I was overcome with emotions as I sat in the waiting room with other women and couples.  You could tell, by the look in their eyes, where they were in their journey.  I felt a twinge of guilt for having my own baby at home when I could see so much heartache in their eyes.  I remembered being in their shoes a few years earlier, and there was one woman in particular that I really wanted to hug.

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Ready to be a big sister… already sharing!

I was finally called back by a nurse.  I was weighed, had my blood pressure taken, and she asked me about Chloe and wanted to see her pictures.  That was much more fun than the getting weighed part.  Then I was taken into my RE’s office where we had a formal consultation. Since we already know what fertility drug (Clomid) and dosage that works for us, it’s exactly what we’ll go back on whenever we’re ready to conceive.  We’ll use timed intercourse and close monitoring for our first cycle.

I’m back on birth control pills now to regulate my cycle, and I’ll stay on the pills until we’re ready to start a cycle.  In the meantime, I’ve already started prenatals.  It’s as easy as me calling my coordinator the week before I’m supposed to start my period for a prescription of Clomid, then taking the pills on CD3.  It’s so much easier this time around, and I don’t need any repeat testing like I was previously told! I was in and out of their office within 45 minutes and it was a much shorter and even more informal consultation than our first one years ago.   I left feeling hopeful.  We had a plan put into place, and I like having plans.

OUR PLAN

Start Clomid on Cycle Day 3 for a total of 10 days
Begin using Ovulation Predictor Kits on CD16
If I get a +OPK, call my RE’s office at 6:45am to schedule same-day bloodwork
If I get a -OPK, call my RE’s office to schedule next-day bloodwork

We’re allowed to try Clomid for three cycles before moving on to an IUI.

It’s an exciting time for us, and a much easier process to swallow this time around.  It isn’t quite as emotional of a journey yet, though I anticipate that it will be if we aren’t successful as quickly as I hope to be.

We ask Chloe if she wants to be a big sister, and she tells us no.  No is her new favorite word, by the way.  We happen to think she’ll be an excellent big sister, though.

Did you need to repeat fertility treatments for baby #2?  Was it an easier process for you the second time around?