Sacrifice

When you are going through fertility treatments, things are often more complicated than expected. There are also a great deal of sacrifices that come with the territory. Being a fertility patient means a change in lifestyle, from multiple MD visits and ultrasounds to daily blood draws, oral meds and injections. And the waiting...it's often the hardest part!

One of the most difficult adjustments (for me, at least) with advanced reproductive technologies is that there are limited opportunities for exercise. When my treatment involves injectible drugs, I have just a few days during the month to be physically active. Follicle stimulating hormones create multiple egg-producing follicles--sometimes a dozen or more. As a result, the ovaries become enlarged (often the size of grapefruits), and something as seemingly harmless as vacuuming can cause them to twist and rupture. Not a good thing. If an ovary ruptures, it is useless. Even carrying more than 20 pounds can cause problems. Hello, 36 lb. toddler!

As a person who has always exercised regularly, this has been a difficult aspect. I long to jump on the elliptical machine or go rollerblading in Forest Park. Most days I can't even take a brisk walk through the neighborhood. But here's the way I look at it: this is just a temporary phase of life during which family must come first. Yes, staying in shape is important (and much tougher with my sweet tooth and the hormonal cravings), but it will be worth it when I hold another precious child in my arms.

So, that being said, I will continue to press on! Yesterday birth control pills were added to the regimen of prenatal vitamins and Folgard (for my MTHFR enzyme deficiency). I got the bloodwork out of the way yesterday, and I have an ultrasound tomorrow (Friday) morning. I'm praying that the results of both will be normal so that we may proceed as planned. And, most importantly, I pray that the Lord will bless us with another baby.

Here's to life's sacrifices and its sweet rewards.
Bless you! Ramona