A good support network helps throughout fertility treatment
Why do you want to share your story?
I want to share our story to help others. Hearing other stories helped me during our infertility journey. I often listened to the Beat Infertility Podcast while getting ready for the day and it brought me so much hope. I am hoping our story can bring hope to others.
What led you to Fertility Centers of Illinois?
After my first consult, I knew I needed a second opinion. While listening to the Beat Infertility Podcast, I heard many interviews with Dr. Rodgers. She always seemed so compassionate and knowledgeable. I started following her blog. When she came highly recommended in a Facebook group, I knew I needed a consult with her. After meeting with Dr. Rodgers, we knew she was the right fit for us. She was very honest with us, and we felt confident she could help us.
How would you describe your experience with your physician?
Our experience with Dr. Rodgers was perfect. She is knowledgeable, compassionate and makes you feel like you are the most important part of her day. She is open to discussing any thoughts/concerns and ideas you have.
Dr. Rodgers’ nurse, Amber was a blessing. She is so kind, caring, knowledgeable and was there to support us every step of the way. Dr. Rodgers and Amber are the perfect team. The entire staff at FCI was exceptional and made us feel like family.
What fertility treatment did you undergo?
We are so lucky our journey was only two years. After six months of trying to conceive, thankfully we decided to move forward with FCI. We live in Wisconsin and had many, many trips to Illinois. The drive was long, yet enjoyable and relaxing.
I went through a few different treatments throughout our journey. It started with a saline ultrasound. That diagnosed polyps in my uterus. I had a minor surgery to remove those. We then did our first round of in vitro fertilization (IVF) that gave us one embryo that we froze. Dr. Rodgers recommended surgery to remove the fibroid and endometriosis. She referred me to an OB/GYN for this surgery(myomectomy). It was a pretty major surgery and took three months to recover.
At this time, we did another round of IVF. We again ended with one embryo that we did a fresh transfer with. Unfortunately, that ended with a chemical pregnancy. Since we only had the one frozen embryo, thankfully we did an ERA test that showed we needed an extra day of progesterone for a frozen transfer to be successful. We had to do the test twice, but we are so thankful we did. After we got the results from that testing, we proceeded with a frozen embryo transfer (FET) that gave us our miracle rainbow little girl!
What helped you get through treatment?
I would say there were a few things that helped me through this journey. First, my husband. He was going through the journey with me, experiencing his own emotional challenges and was constantly supportive of the procedures, appointments and emotions I had going on. Being open about our journey and talking about it helped me tremendously. I am extremely thankful for close family and friends that asked questions and wanted to understand the process. It showed me that they genuinely cared.
I have a great friend that went through IVF before me. She was a life saver. She was able to answer specific questions I had and she constantly checked in to see how I was doing. I joined a local RESOLVE Facebook group, where I connected with others experiencing the same ups and downs. That helped a ton. Meeting a few of these girls in person was great. A great way to support one another.
We also are foster parents. Something we choose to do, completely separate and not driven from infertility. Being able to give love and energy to my littles allowed me to keep very busy and focus on other things that were just as important as infertility. Last but not least, working out kept me sane. Making sure I was doing something I loved and taking care of my body kept me ready to carry a baby!
Do you have any words of hope for others?
Stay positive and hopeful! Never lose that hope. If you are having a hard day, read or listen to a positive infertility story and do something you enjoy. You will have good days and bad days, and that’s okay. Your feelings are valid, remember that but stay hopeful!
Tell us about your little miracle!
Sutton Grace was born in November. She was delivered via C-section weighing 7 lbs., 2 oz. and was 20″ long. She is the light of our lives. She is a happy little girl that we are grateful for every second of every day.
