After successful IVF....

[Anonymous]

soooooo starting to think about whether we want a second child (sometimes I do, sometimes I don't) but I'm not getting any younger. We had a successful IVF due to MFI just over 2 years ago. I haven't yet returned to very normal cycles - mine were pretty regular before....now they're in the 45+ day each range. Not normal for me. I was on birth control for YEARS, went off, then needed IVF.

Should I be concerned and schedule some blood work with our clinic?

I no longer have an OB or GP at this point (yes, I know, no medical care for mom). I've gained a bit of weight, so wondering if that's part of it? I've been working out when I can, but not enough for it to matter.

Just curious as to what I should consider doing at this point.

[Anonymous]

Get a physical and work on your overall general health while you decide. Second baby or not, it's important.

[Anonymous]

yeah, I know that. when you work full time and have a young toddler, certain things become difficult and not as "important" as being able to, you know, get to work, get to your pediatrician appointments with the little sick time you have left, ect. It's reality for basically every mom I know that has a job.

[Anonymous]

See a Fertility Nutritionist. She can help you both with your weight and suggest food that are fertility friendly. I wish I had seen her 3 years earlier.
Nicole from Pulling Down the Moon is amazing and in helping me get my body more fertility healthy, she helped cure some other minor health issues I was having--all through food.
Having a 45 day cycle is a sign your hormones are out of whack and she can help you with that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yeah, I know that. when you work full time and have a young toddler, certain things become difficult and not as "important" as being able to, you know, get to work, get to your pediatrician appointments with the little sick time you have left, ect. It's reality for basically every mom I know that has a job.

But you need to take care of yourself to be able to take care of those you love and who love you. You *can* make time for it, promise. There are free boot camps about to start up this spring in many DC neighborhoods, yoga studios and gyms have child care, and there are ways to weave healthy eating into your life.
Start with an appointment with an OB-GYN or midwife, and talk to them about your health concerns. They will have good suggestions. They see this all the time.

[Anonymous]

Thanks - I checked out the nutritionist. She's in Chicago.

[ekh123]

Nicole is in Rockville...

[Anonymous]

ekh123 wrote:Nicole is in Rockville...

ah I just checked - they're a chain. Neat.

If anyone has a good GP to recommend, I'm open. I haven't had once since mine stopped taking insurance years ago.

I have an appointment at GW's weight clinic in April

[Anonymous]

If you needed IVF for your first, you probably will need it for your second, so your cycles may not matter. (After I had my first through IVF, everyone told me how many people just get naturally pregnant with subsequent kids. The reality isn't quite as rosy.) It is never a bad idea to get in better health, though.

[Anonymous]

Well, the first IVF was because of my husband's low count/low motility. I had perfectly good numbers and responded well to very low-stim. So we know IVF is likely if we decide to try for a 2nd. Everyone I know who got pregnant on their own after IVF had female issues, not male.