August 10. That is the day my husband and I were married in 2013. We had a beautiful ceremony in a wine cellar and an amazing reception on the lawn of Mon Ami Winery in Port Clinton, OH. It was the best day of my life, absolutely perfect.
August 10. One year later marks the beginning of our TTC journey and our first wedding anniversary (2014). When we started on this day I thought that was exciting! I always had a feeling I would have a difficult time getting pregnant…one of those gut feelings you tend to believe. But even so those first few months were exciting!
August 10. It’s 2015, our two year wedding anniversary and our one year TTC anniversary. A day of celebration and a day of tears. So blessed to have been married to my husband for two years, but so devastated to not yet be a mother.
Below you will find a summary of our TTC journey so far. I hope this will help serve as context for my upcoming posts.
Morgan & Nick – TTC since August 10, 2014
*Went off birth control pills in January 2014, after being on them regularly for almost 12 years due to very irregular periods.
August-December, 2014
The first month (August) was sort of a free for all. No real method to our trying. September-December we began using OPKs (Ovulation Predictor Kits) and charting my BBT (Basal Body Temperature) to track ovulation. We timed intercourse nearly perfectly almost every month. These cycles ranged from 32-40 days. Each month ending in a BFN (Big Fat Negative).
January 2015
Being the OCD perfectionist that I am, I made an appointment with my OBGYN to discuss why I had not fallen pregnant in the past 5 months (most couples wait about a year, but I was convinced we weren’t “most couples”, based on my history of irregular cycles and pre-cancerous cells found on my cervix which were later removed using laser therapy). Doctor ordered progesterone test, which came back on the low side of normal, semen analysis (SA) and hysterosalpingogram (HSG). Both of which came back “normal”. Doctor diagnosed with weak ovulation and recommended Clomid.
February 2015
Clomid 100mg round 1. Day 14 scan: p, trigger shot (a shot to induce ovulation) was cancelled because of too many eggs. I ovulated naturally a few days later. We used timed intercourse (TI) hoping to catch one. Progesterone levels great. BFN.
March 2015
Clomid 100mg round 2. Day 14 scan: produced 4 eggs, triggered that morning.We used timed intercourse (TI) hoping to catch one. Progesterone levels great. BFN.
April 2015
Clomid 100mg round 3. Day 14 scan: produced 2 eggs, triggered that morning.We used timed intercourse (TI) hoping to catch one. Progesterone levels great. BFN.
May-mid July, 2015
Made an appointment to see a Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE), a type of fertility specialist) for the end of July. Decided to take May & June off of Clomid so that I could enjoy summer and drinks on the patio! Continued to try naturally using OPKs to predict ovulation. Both cylces BFN. Cycles were once again LONG.
Mid July-August, 2015
Clomid 100mg round 2. Day 14 scan: produced 5 eggs, triggered that morning.We used timed intercourse (TI) hoping to catch one. Progesterone levels great. BFN.
First visit with RE (July 31, 2015). He said I have a beautiful uterus and follicles. Tested thyroid, AMH and Estrodial, all came back normal. RE’s main concern for me is that I had slightly thin uterine lining probably due to 4 rounds of Clomid. I will begin drinking red raspberry leaf tea to help thicken this. Main concern with husband – borderline low morphology numbers on semen analysis (based on his benchmarks). Ordered a second semen analysis to see if it has progressively worsened. Odds are after producing so many eggs on Clomid for 4 cycles are that just medically stimulated cycles aren’t going to work. Most likely go the IUI (intrauterine insemination) or IVF (in vitro fertilization) route, TBD based on 2nd SA results. Follow-up appointment August 19, 2015.
The week of August 2, my husband began complaining of pain in his left testicle. After a few days of the same pain, and finding a small lump, he went to the ER to get it checked out (cue anxiety and panic attack). Fortunately it was nothing life-threatening, but he was diagnosed with a varicocele, which happens to be one of the leading causes of male infertility! He went to the urologist but was only able to get in to see the Physician’s Assistant (PA) confirmed diagnosis and requested to see 2nd SA results. Follow-up appointment with doctor on August 24, 2015.
August 10, 2015 marks one year of TTC.
August 18, 2015. Second SA results received. Morphology seems to have gotten worse. Will discuss during RE appointment on August 19.
August 19, 2015. RE recommends IVF, and after discussing all other options we agree that this is the way to go. I begin birth control pills on 8/23/15 and retrieval/transfer is scheduled for early October. We are in for a crazy 8 weeks!!
September, 2015
September 11, 2015 – Sono w/RE. Uterus looked good but ovaries small. Upping meds. Cervix is too small to pass the catheter through to the uterus. Cervical dilation surgery scheduled for next week.
September 17, 2015 – Cervical dilation surgery was a success. The procedure was painless (thanks to the anesthesia) and just some mild cramping and spotting in the days following.
September 21, 2015 – Baseline ultrasound showed quiet ovaries, which is just what we wanted.
September 23, 2015 – Begin injections of Menopur and Bravelle. Nick takes on job of chemist (meds mixer) and I stabbed myself in the stomach like a champ. They really aren’t too bad!
September 28, 2015 – Ultrasound and blood work. Looks like we have about 10 follicles to work with.
September 30, 2015 – Ultrasound and blood work. Follicles are growing but not big enough yet.
October, 2015
October 2, 2015 – Ultrasound and blood work. Follicles are almost the right size. Egg Retrieval (ER) scheduled for Tuesday October 6th.
October 6, 2015 – Egg Retrieval is a success! 13 eggs retrieved, 11 mature, 9 fertilized. Transfer scheduled for October 11. Start progesterone in oil (PIO) shots today. Holy crap that’s a big 1.5″ needle. Nick stuck it to me in my bum like a champ!
October 11, 2015 – Embryo Transfer. This whole process was so cool. Of our 9 fertilized eggs, 2 were transferred into my uterus, only one not so great embryo made it to freeze. But it only takes one!
October 12, 2015 – Blood work to check estrogen and progesterone. All looks good. Now we wait…..
October 20, 2015 – Beta day! Also my dad’s birthday, my best friend’s birthday and my nurses birthday. It has to be a good day. Beta comes back at 2. We are not pregnant. Our hearts are broken.
November, 2015
November 4, 2015 – Follow-up appointment to discuss why IVF failed. Looks like a potential issue with my eggs. We will beginning IVF #2 later this month, followed by freezing and PGS. FET #1 should be January 2016!
November 23, 2015 – IVF Round 2 begins
December, 2015
December 8, 2015 – Egg Retrieval #2, 9 eggs collected, 5 made it to freeze
January, 2016
January 21, 2016 – FET # 1 (transferred 1 embryo). Given the news that all other embryos tested abnormal with PGS
February, 2016
February 1, 2016 – Pregnancy test day……POSITIVE at 11dp5dt!! Beta comes in at 697!
February 3, 2016 – Beta #2 comes in at 2003
February 17, 2016 – First ultrasound at 6w4d….TWO BABIES! Our embyro had split into identical (modi) twins!!
February 20, 2016 – Spotting. No cramping, doctor says to take it easy
February 23, 2016 – Heavier spotting. Trip to ER shows two healthy babies. Instructed to take it easy and that spotting during a twin pregnancy is pretty common. Still, very terrified.
March, 2016
March 29, 2016 – Official pregnancy announcement!
April, 2016
April 17, 2016 – Gender reveal party…we are having twin GIRLS!!!
June, 2016
Anxiety and panic attacks return. Doctor prescribes 50mg Zoloft.
July, 2016
July 23, 2016- Baby shower & diaper party. We were so blessed!
August, 2016
August 3, 2016 – C-section scheduled for September 12, 2016 at 36w2d!!
September, 2016
September 9, 2016 – Maternity leave begins!
September 12, 2016 – At approximately 8:36am, Lennon Jo Cranston was born, measuring 17.5 inches and 5lb1oz. Less than two minutes later, at 8:37am, Rowe Emerson Cranston was born! Rowe weighed in at 4lbs8oz and measured 17 inches long.
September 16, 2016 – Released from the hospital. No NICU time needed!
September, 2017
September 12, 2017 – Rowe & Leni turn one! I stopped pumping/nursing. Nick & I agree to start trying for baby #3. Praying for a natural pregnancy. We begin TTC this month in hopes to catch that first “magical” egg released since pregnancy.
October, 2017
October 11, 2017 – I have my first period in almost 2 years. 29 days after I stopped nursing. I take this as a good sign and hope it means pregnancy made me regular! Cycle #1 is a bust but we expected that.
November, 2017
November 20, 2017 – BFN. Period begins. Cycle #2 is 40 days. Gross. Start Vitex with the hope it will help shorten my cycles
December, 2017
Cycle #3
*I will continuously update this page so that my readers may follow my journey from start to finish.
The Patient Mom 