Anyone unsure if they can make it through infertility treatments?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please do not have a 2nd child just so your other child has a sibling. (Imagine you go through all this work only for the kids to hate each other, as kids and/or adults). Only do this if you (and DH) want another child.

I know SGF has a very strict NO KIDS policy. But I think the other ones around here are more lenient about this.

Does your neighborhood have a FB page? I know mine had both a general neighborhood page and also a Mom's Group. Maybe you can find someone in your neighborhood that is willing to watch your toddler early in the morning.

As for monitoring appts-for a fresh cycle, there are a lot. In the first week you'll be going in every 3-4 days, but as they get closer you could be going every day or every other day. And your DH would not be able to put in prior because every cycle is different. You could go for retrieval on day 12/13 or it could be as late as day 18/19. It just depends.

Can he switch shifts with someone for the 2-3 weeks during your cycle?

I've heard that but when we went for our initial appointment a few weeks ago, there were a couple people there with infants. Maybe they were just coming for a checkup or to show off the babies? The kids did seem a little young for the moms to be thinking of trying again!

If you were there outside of monitoring hours 7-ish to 9-ish, then yes, they were there to show off the babies. But during monitoring hours, they are very strict about NO KIDS.

Ah, that explains it. We were there around noon.

[Anonymous]

At CFA it Was very common to see toddlers during monitoring.

[Anonymous]

I think whenever you face something challenging, you have to ask yourself: "How bad do I want this?"

Do you want it bad enough to find care for your daughter a couple of early mornings one month? Bad enough to stomach a few dozen painless shots in the belly, and some blood draws? Bad enough to go under anesthesia for 15-20 minutes for a minor medical procedure?

And then don't judge yourself for your answer. Either you do want it bad enough to find a way to get over those things, or you don't. If you do, then you move on toward finding ways to overcome your perceived hurdles. If you don't, then you just keep living your life, without regrets.

[Anonymous]

I don't typically bring my kid to monitoring, but I did once on a Sat. at 7am to SGFC, because my husband also had to come. (We had to sign papers.) They just snuck us in the back door. Also, a few days later I heard baby giggling behind close doors. They will work with you if needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think whenever you face something challenging, you have to ask yourself: "How bad do I want this?"

Do you want it bad enough to find care for your daughter a couple of early mornings one month? Bad enough to stomach a few dozen painless shots in the belly, and some blood draws? Bad enough to go under anesthesia for 15-20 minutes for a minor medical procedure?

And then don't judge yourself for your answer. Either you do want it bad enough to find a way to get over those things, or you don't. If you do, then you move on toward finding ways to overcome your perceived hurdles. If you don't, then you just keep living your life, without regrets.

I agree with the intent of this post, but think OP also should know that it would be more than just a couple of mornings, that the shots in the belly can hurt, and that you'll also get probed at every appointment (NBD to me, but horrible to some people).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think whenever you face something challenging, you have to ask yourself: "How bad do I want this?"

Do you want it bad enough to find care for your daughter a couple of early mornings one month? Bad enough to stomach a few dozen painless shots in the belly, and some blood draws? Bad enough to go under anesthesia for 15-20 minutes for a minor medical procedure?

And then don't judge yourself for your answer. Either you do want it bad enough to find a way to get over those things, or you don't. If you do, then you move on toward finding ways to overcome your perceived hurdles. If you don't, then you just keep living your life, without regrets.

I agree with the intent of this post, but think OP also should know that it would be more than just a couple of mornings, that the shots in the belly can hurt, and that you'll also get probed at every appointment (NBD to me, but horrible to some people).

Yes, it is difficult. But if it's important to you, you do it.

In your shoes, I might try to find a therapist who can work with you on some of your issues before you go any further.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm with you on this. I'm a hypochondriac and hate hospitals and doctors. I also have a big needle phobia. One of my blood draws resulted in a panic attack. But I decided that I was just going to have to get through it. DH does all the needles, I close my eyes and try to think of something else. I just finished my third retrieval and I noticed that I'm getting much better compared with how I was when we started. I still can't give myself shots or see the needles at the monitoring, but I no longer have the anxiety waiting my turn at monitoring or before the nightly injections.

Also, re: toddlers at monitoring appointments, check out GW. I've seen kids there, including at my last monitoring a couple weeks ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think whenever you face something challenging, you have to ask yourself: "How bad do I want this?"

Do you want it bad enough to find care for your daughter a couple of early mornings one month? Bad enough to stomach a few dozen painless shots in the belly, and some blood draws? Bad enough to go under anesthesia for 15-20 minutes for a minor medical procedure?

And then don't judge yourself for your answer. Either you do want it bad enough to find a way to get over those things, or you don't. If you do, then you move on toward finding ways to overcome your perceived hurdles. If you don't, then you just keep living your life, without regrets.

I agree with the intent of this post, but think OP also should know that it would be more than just a couple of mornings, that the shots in the belly can hurt, and that you'll also get probed at every appointment (NBD to me, but horrible to some people).

Yes, it is difficult. But if it's important to you, you do it.

In your shoes, I might try to find a therapist who can work with you on some of your issues before you go any further.

This. Resilience ladies!! You can do this.

Look, these are optional medical treatments and in the grand scheme of possible procedures resulting from health issues you or a spouse might have over the course of your life, it is small potatoes. It just is. Either you tell yourself you're going to do whatever it takes or you decide it isn't worth it and you move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think whenever you face something challenging, you have to ask yourself: "How bad do I want this?"

Do you want it bad enough to find care for your daughter a couple of early mornings one month? Bad enough to stomach a few dozen painless shots in the belly, and some blood draws? Bad enough to go under anesthesia for 15-20 minutes for a minor medical procedure?

And then don't judge yourself for your answer. Either you do want it bad enough to find a way to get over those things, or you don't. If you do, then you move on toward finding ways to overcome your perceived hurdles. If you don't, then you just keep living your life, without regrets.

I agree with the intent of this post, but think OP also should know that it would be more than just a couple of mornings, that the shots in the belly can hurt, and that you'll also get probed at every appointment (NBD to me, but horrible to some people).

The shots in the belly don't hurt. I have done more than a few dozen. They just don't. The needle is beyond tiny. It's a psychological hurdle to get over stabbing yourself with a needle. That's the hardest part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think whenever you face something challenging, you have to ask yourself: "How bad do I want this?"

Do you want it bad enough to find care for your daughter a couple of early mornings one month? Bad enough to stomach a few dozen painless shots in the belly, and some blood draws? Bad enough to go under anesthesia for 15-20 minutes for a minor medical procedure?

And then don't judge yourself for your answer. Either you do want it bad enough to find a way to get over those things, or you don't. If you do, then you move on toward finding ways to overcome your perceived hurdles. If you don't, then you just keep living your life, without regrets.

I agree with the intent of this post, but think OP also should know that it would be more than just a couple of mornings, that the shots in the belly can hurt, and that you'll also get probed at every appointment (NBD to me, but horrible to some people).

The shots in the belly don't hurt. I have done more than a few dozen. They just don't. The needle is beyond tiny. It's a psychological hurdle to get over stabbing yourself with a needle. That's the hardest part.

PP here - I had one cycle where the medication burned like fire when it was injected, so yes, the shots DID hurt. The needle itself didn't hurt, and I'm a giant wuss, but the medications can cause pain and a reaction at the injection site. Don't minimize the experience of others just because you didn't have it...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think whenever you face something challenging, you have to ask yourself: "How bad do I want this?"

Do you want it bad enough to find care for your daughter a couple of early mornings one month? Bad enough to stomach a few dozen painless shots in the belly, and some blood draws? Bad enough to go under anesthesia for 15-20 minutes for a minor medical procedure?

And then don't judge yourself for your answer. Either you do want it bad enough to find a way to get over those things, or you don't. If you do, then you move on toward finding ways to overcome your perceived hurdles. If you don't, then you just keep living your life, without regrets.

I agree with the intent of this post, but think OP also should know that it would be more than just a couple of mornings, that the shots in the belly can hurt, and that you'll also get probed at every appointment (NBD to me, but horrible to some people).

The shots in the belly don't hurt. I have done more than a few dozen. They just don't. The needle is beyond tiny. It's a psychological hurdle to get over stabbing yourself with a needle. That's the hardest part.

PP here - I had one cycle where the medication burned like fire when it was injected, so yes, the shots DID hurt. The needle itself didn't hurt, and I'm a giant wuss, but the medications can cause pain and a reaction at the injection site. Don't minimize the experience of others just because you didn't have it...

I think the larger point is having a painful experience is typically the outlier. Is OP likely to have painful shots? No.

[Anonymous]

I am just starting my journey and I am taking it one step at a time and not trying to think too far ahead. It might help if you only focus on what needs to be done today, and break everything down into small steps. When I think about everything I will need to do, it is overwhelming. I am trying not to get too caught up in all the details that will come weeks from now.

[Anonymous]

I can't believe anyone who already has delivered a child still has white coat syndrome. I thought I was the only one (I don't have kids yet but am doing a number of IVFs). My friends who have kids all appear very brave when it comes to doctors! :O

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At CFA it Was very common to see toddlers during monitoring.

This is simply untrue. I am in Bethesda CFA office since September, and have yet to see one.

[Anonymous]

Not untrue - I've seen many in my time in DC and Arlington. Also no official policy on it one way or the other - I know, I asked.