A Little Inspiration

[lanzandbaz]

Hi Everyone

I have been waiting for this site to be back up and running so i can post my story. There are so many inspiring stories here that prove medical people are always right. And i am one of those people who have proved my specialist wrong. So here is my story - the short version.........

We went through the Sperm Donor Programme process since my DH had a vasectomy before we met and has 4 children of his own.

After lots of bloods and a dumby run we were inseminated and the Two Week Wait started, we had to wait two weeks until we could test either blood or urine. I did a sneaky prego test on the Sunday before the 2 weeks and a very faint line came up, so I was excited. I called the clinic to have it confirmed with a blood test, by now the sore and swollen boobies had kicked it. When I rang for my results I was gutted. My HCG level was 25 and my progesterone level was 5. The nurse told me that I would miscarry in the next couple of days cos my hormones were too low to keep the pregnancy viable. They said I was having a chemical pregnancy, but they never explained what it was. The internet is a wonderful thing, so I researched it and found out what it was. Not that it made me feel any better.

So as you can imagine I was so upset, I had conceived and was pregnant but I was going to lose it. Went through an emotional rollercoaster for the next few days, I started to spot on that Thursday and Friday, then it stopped and nothing. And in my experience with my last miscarriage in 1997, that’s not what the bleeding looked like. I was due to have my levels rechecked on Monday so I held a little bit of hope that maybe “bean” was fighting to stay with me.

I had my blood test on Monday, HCG levels had jumped to 236 and my progesterone to 18. All in five days. The nurse said that my progesterone levels should be at 100 by this stage. So I had to go see Greg, the specialist on the Wednesday to talk about what to do, cos there is a possibility that I could lose it still or I could carry it full term. So at this stage I was still pregnant after thinking I had lost it. Again I was on the internet looking up the normal range for HCG levels and Progesterone Levels and mine are all within the normal ranges, as long as I have over 10 progesterone and my HCG keeps doubling then things should be fine. I have kind of lost all faith in the clinic at this point. So now I was 5 ½ weeks (LMP) and 3 weeks (DPO).

Went to the specialist, my levels had gone up again, but not as fast as they should be. So Greg was sure that I would miscarry, and there was nothing he could do about it. I had to have bloods on Monday to check the levels and Greg was sure that they will start dropping by then. I asked to have an ultra sound to look at what was going on. According to the ultrasound it is a normal 5th week pregnancy, the uterus lining is thickening and there is a gestational sac, but you can’t see the embryo yet. I thought they are wrong, and wouldn't give up hope till I hear my levels are dropping or I start bleeding. The baby has made it to 6 weeks (LMP) and the next few days will be the tell tale ones as this is when the heart begins to develop and start beating.
Had my bloods on Monday, and the results showed that my levels had risen to 1,067, but my progesterone had dropped to 17. And still they are convinced, I’m just sick of all the bullshit, I have to have more bloods on Friday and if my levels are still up then I’m going to my own doctor and get a midwife, I can’t handle all this negativity that the clinic is giving me!!

Friday came along and my levels are still rising, they were at 2,976, and my progesterone had dropped another point to 16. They didn’t know why they were still rising, so they booked me in for a U/S on Saturday. I thought this would be good, will know either way. Saturday rolled around and the scan showed a 6mm sac, I don’t know if anything was in it cos the doctor never told me. The confirmed again that it wasn’t an Eptopic, but they were still sure that I would lose it.

The weekend was an emotional rollercoaster, from crying my eyes out, to denial and back to crying my eyes out. The doctor says it just a matter of time, it should start this week. More bloods on Tuesday. So confused, emotionally and mentally tired and just wanting it over and done with. I know that may sound so horrible, but the not knowing when is way worse. I just wish it would happen and I could move on.

My bloods on Tuesday showed that my levels are still rising and doubling at that!! I have confused the specialists at the Fertility Clinic. So it’s more bloods on Monday and then another U/S on Tuesday.

Had my appointment with Greg today and the appointment started off with a lot of tears and ended in a lot of tears. Greg was already to do an D & C cos he was convinced that there was nothing there, I said I didn’t want to have one, I’d prefer it to go naturally, but he told me that it might take weeks and it would be best cos then they could also check if it was an eptopic. So tears were every where by this stage. He told me they would have a look on the U/S to see what was going on.

Before he even told me I could see for myself, there was a heartbeat pulsing away. Tears started again, this time tears of joy!!! He said “well after putting you through all that, you have a baby”. I saw my little bean not that you can make much out. The heart beat measured 156. A good, strong one. Doc was concerned about the size, cos it’s only measuring 6 weeks, however it is only 6 weeks old really, it was six weeks ago today that I was inseminated, so really it’s right, even though I am classed as 8 weeks and 3 days pregnant cos of the LMP.

Greg told me he’d never seen this, and I took joy in knowing that my gut feeling was right. However I am still high risk and I needed to be scanned every week, and take progesterone suppositories (eww).

Went back for another scan on Monday and our little bean has grown to 18mm and the heartbeat is 186. Everything is looking great and I am so blessed. Everything still seems so surreal to me at the moment. I had to go back the next week for another scan, but it was looking all good!!!! YIPEE!! So my EDD is 7 March 2006!!

The next scan showed bean had grown to 25.4mm and heartbeat was strong at 174bpm. I was officially discharged from the clinic and now am solely under the care of my midwife! After all that stress we have come out the other side with a healthy baby growing inside me. You wouldn’t believe that I am starting to show already and I am only 12 weeks!!

So it can happen!!

thank you for reading my post.

[Lark]

Wow, I can't believe that clinic calls itself a fertility clinic! With all that gloom and dooming pgs before giving them a chance, I'd call it a death clinic instead. Good for you for standing up for yourself and your baby! Hopefully many, many women will read your story and not let their pgs be doomed by these awful drs before they even have a chance to get going. When will drs learn that we are people and not statistics? Anyway, I am soooo happy for you and equally happy you decided to post your story here for other scared and hurting women to find hope. God bless you!

Lark

[Kay]

What a horrible experience. Yikes. I, too, am so glad you stood up for yourself and your little one. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary in your post and they shouldn't have scared you as they did.

Also, don't be pressured into having frequent u/s's. Nothing will change with them and there is a risk when having frequent ultrasounds. I had more than 25 with my son and, although they are awesome, my son does have some developmental issues we believe are due to the u/s's. Keep the u/s's to a minimum whenever possible.

Congrats and thanks for sharing.

:bananas: :bananas: :bananas: :bananas: :bananas:

[Mom In Waiting]

:yay: :cheer: What a wonderful story with a very Happy Ending!!!!
I am so glad that you had the intuition to wait it out each time. Praise God that you kept the faith and listened to your heart! Your child does not know what a hero his/her Mommy is, but you two will have a lifetime for him/her to find out!!! I can only pray that maybe this "clinic" will use your story to see that it is possible for a baby not to show up right away and that waiting CAN be positive!!!! I think if this were me, I'd write my strory just as you did above and give it to them to share in their clinic to maybe help someone else's pregnancy be saved as yours was. I wonder how many others at your clinic have been talked into a needless dnc already and hopefully since your case has proven them wrong (statistical #'s not rising and all), that they will re-think before urging anyone into a dnc if they think the pregnancy is not a good one. So many times we wonder why the good Lord puts us through such emotional things as this, but I firmly believe that for one it is to strengthen our faith in Him, and for two to bring good out of it for us or someone else. I pray that the rest of your pregnancy is smooth sailing!!! Please keep us posted and I am sure that you have and will give so many soooooooo much hope to hang on to!!! Bless you and your dh for being so strong, Cyndi :heart:

[amandaw]

Hi lanzandbaz I just read your post and I kept thinking why didn't they just put you right on the pregesterone immediately? I also have a question according to your LMP and your ultrasound did the ultrsound measure you two weeks behind according to your LMP, because I had an U/s done on the 12th and I believe I was supposed to be 8 Wks that day but the baby measured to be 6wks and three days we also heard HB at 158. Please post again and let me know I have had two misscariages in the past year and I am very nervous!!! Also that is an amazing thing to hear that little ones HB :yay: You and baby our in my prayers.

[lanzandbaz]

Yes my ultrasound did measure baby couple of weeks behind at the first time we heard the baby's heartbeat, but now it is measuring only a few days behind. It gets so confusing sometimes with LMP and actual conception dates. We know our conception date as June 14, cos that's when we were inseminated, so really the baby was measuring the right size for it's actual age. I found as long as the baby keeps growing and it has a strong heartbeat (which yours does) then it will be fine. Try not to confuse yourself over LMP etc.

Off to have my 12 week ultrasound on Wednesday to check for abnormalities, bit nervous. Starting to get a bump now which is exciting.

My advice to mothers - listen to your intuition!!! My DH told me that i was too stubborn to let the baby go, but in reality i listened to my intuition and it told me that baby was fine.

[amandaw]

My LMP was on the 17th and they have my due date as april 4th.

[amandaw]

sorry the 17th of June

[lanzandbaz]

You may find that your due date will change, mine went from 14 March to the 7 March.

Take it one day at a time, that's all you can do doll.

[lanzandbaz]

Update:

Am now 20 weeks, baby is healthy & growing fine. :cheer:

Baby dust to you all, and remember - doctors are always right, listen to you. :thumbsup:

[Mom In Waiting]

:yay: :jive: :bananas: :cheer: Hooray! Great to hear the good news!!! You're halfway there! Keep us posted! Cyndi
u/s pics should be coming soon, if you haven't already gotten them, post them in the album if you like! We love to see those lil ones in utero!

[lanzandbaz]

Would like to announce the arrival of Ella Nieve born 11/02/06 at 10.25am weighing 5lbs 14oz and measuring 51cm. 4 weeks early, happy and healthy.

Took great pride in showing her off to the doctor who said she wouldn't make it.

Take a look at her website if youhave some spare time.

http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/b/beanchapman/

[Sara33]

oh wow!!!

Massive congratulations to you and your husband

Welcome to world Baby Ella xxx

[Kay]

Thank you so much for the update. What a beauty she is and, oh my goodness, what a birth story. And, to think they wanted to do a D&C on her...just like my little gal but what blessings they are.

Congrats again.

[Mom In Waiting]

What a beautiful little girl and what a beautiful birth story! Just loved all the pics!!! Makes me long for July to get here real soon, so I can meet my new lil' one! Thanks for updating your story on your lil' miracle! Blessings to your family, Cyndi