My name is Ella, and my journey to becoming a mother was one paved with patience, perseverance, and a myriad of attempts to find the key to our fertility challenges. It all started in April, right after marrying my wonderful husband, Justin. We were eager to start our family, filled with dreams and anticipation. However, what we thought would be a joyful journey soon turned into years of waiting and wondering.
We were diagnosed with “unexplained infertility.” My tests and health were fine, and a small ovarian polyp removed in the following year didn’t seem to be the barrier. Jack’s sperm analysis also came back good, leaving us with more questions than answers. My periods were like clockwork, never giving me even a hint of hope for a surprise pregnancy. The frustration of not knowing if I could even get pregnant was overwhelming.
In our quest, I underwent nine rounds of letrozole and one round of clomid. We even tried two IUIs, in December 2019 and February 2020, but to no avail. My determination led me to try everything I could think of - fertility massages, acupuncture, naturopathic consultations, Mayan massage, eating pineapple cores, essential oils, castor oil packs, and more. If you’ve heard of it, I’ve probably tried it.
By September of this year, our IVF consultation left us with doubts since we had no clear medical issues. The doctor suggested Jack see a urologist for further sperm analysis, leading to new tests and a glimmer of hope.
Amidst this, I switched to a new acupuncturist and began seeing an osteopath specializing in Mercier Therapy. I’ll never forget that week in September: acupuncture on Thursday, osteopath and my first yoni steam on Friday, then a positive OPK that night. Jack and I gave it another try on Saturday, not knowing that this time, everything would change.
Now, I’m six weeks pregnant. After three and a half long years, our dream is finally becoming a reality. This journey, while fraught with uncertainty and heartache, taught me the depths of my strength and the power of hope.
To all the women out there facing similar challenges, remember, your journey is uniquely yours. It might be long and winding, but it is also filled with the possibility of joy and fulfillment. As I look forward to welcoming our baby, I’m filled with gratitude for every step of this journey, for it has led to the most precious gift of all.