Round Two (or is it Round Five?)

My beautiful daughter -- my dream come true -- is now one year old and walking. She loves swimming class, strawberries, yogurt, dogs, books, peekaboo (this somehow hasn't gotten old yet), sitting on dad's shoulders, going down slides (and trying to go back up), and the Upsidedown Show (a family fave). I am truly in heaven to have such a joyous child in my life. (and my husband likes her too).

 

If it weren't for my struggle in having her I'm not sure I would soak up each moment with her to the same extent. I do doubt that I could ever love another child as much as I love her. But even with that doubt I am certain I could love another child and make room in my life if blessed to that extent.

So now I'm ready to give it another go. Here's a run down of my efforts:

• I verified that I have insurance money left for another IVF. I do, thank goodness.
• I met with Dr. Swanson at Conceptions two weeks ago and he ordered blood tests and an U/S.
• FSH  is 9.0 which is good. Two years ago it was 10.4 (lower is better - doc wants to see <10).  Although you're only as good as your highest #.
• E2 (estradiol) is 28, it just needs to be < 80.
• LH was 5, just needs to be <= FSH.
• Resting follicle count was 13 and probably even more that the tech couldn't see (the nurse said they are happy to see 10).  
• I get my AMH # in another week and get my Day 10 FSH checked next week.
• I've been doing acupuncture, taking herbs, taking heavy duty liquid vitamins.
• I'm doing clomid starting today just so I don't "waste a month" of eggs while I'm still in my 30s. Dr. S gave it less than a 5% chance of working and I'm fully aware it probably won't work but hey what the heck.
• I'm considering taking bee pollen & royal jelly to improve egg quality but am scared of anaphlactic shock!! Also I haven't started taking CoQ-10 or L-Arginine or L-Carnitine but they're all sitting right here on my desk staring me in the face.

I asked about taking growth hormone with just a clomid/IUI cycle and doc says he won't prescribe because there are no studies to back it up. Because of my age myeggs may have hard shells which means they won't fertilize unless [a] growth hormone is used to make them better quality (which I think means softer shells too) or [b] ICSI is done where the embryologist actually punctures the shell of the egg and injects a single sperm. This helps because even the heartiest sperm may not be able to puncture the shell left to its own devices.

My biggest challenge is that Dr. S wants me to stop breastfeeding. I never thought I'd go this long (13 months) but here I am. DD shows no signs of wanting to stop and the more I read about BF the more I'm fine with going longer. However with IVF drugs it's not recommended, and BF may lower the chance of getting pregnant, IVF or otherwise. But DD is down to just twice a day and doc checked my Prolactin. If it is low it may not interfere too much. But he still says stop.

No idea if anyone reads this anymore but I need somewhere to capture all this data so it might as well be here!!

Comments

[kimbosue]

I still got you in my reader, so here I am!
That is great you are trying for #2. I am sure she would love a sibling!

I just had to stop BF'ing after 12 months because I got severe bronchitis and the only thing that could kill it was a steriod inhaler and steriod antibiotics. I am sad that it came to an end, especially since he's my one and only but it just means he's growing up. I am thankful for the time we did have...

[PJ]

She's absolutely beautiful!

Yay for you, breastfeeding over a year.

Sounds like you've got things lined up pretty well! How exciting!

[Jen]

I'm still reading! And she is gorgeous! Look at all those teeth! I just gave up breastfeeding (14 1/2 months) and I am sad to no longer have that special time but also thankful Mr. Wiggleworm no longer is trying to eat and stand on the floor at the same time.

I can't believe you are already trying for No. 2. I'm so very jealous. My clock is ticking loudly in my ears!

[Leah]

I'm still here too! She is beautiful and amazing. You are so lucky!

The best of luck with round two. Sounds like you are lining all of your ducks up, so I will keep my fingers crossed.

We went down from 2x day BFing around 12 months, but we kept the bedtime feeding until she was 16 months. I have no idea how long we would have continued, except that I got pregnant and they recommended that I stop the BFing. So I did.

I hope you find the answer that is right for you!

[Heidi]

Thanks for the comments and support!!
And thanks also for sharing your BF experiences!

[Jill]

So good to hear from you!!! Funny being on the other side. I feel so connected with all of you whose blogs I read while trying, and trying, and trying! Most have gone private and I miss keeping up with how their lives are going. I'm tickled you are trying for #2!!! #1 is a doll! : ) I know what you mean about feeling like you could never love another the same...that scares me a little (A LOT!). Good luck and I can't wait to hear the updates!!!

[Cindy]

Hi,
I just found your blog and it appears that we could be related! I am 36 and heading back for IVF #3. I have a beautiful daughter who just turned 1 and I stopped breastfeeding,started up my DHEA and called for an appointment with my RE. I feel like I have been out of the game for so long and I hate the idea of starting all this IVF crap again but it is so worth it. Can you tell me about Coenzyme L-Argenine or Carnetine? I am not familiar? Also, I am planning on asking my RE about HGC but I have a feeling he will not be interested. He blew me off about DHEA but I took it anyway and I think that it helped. Any information you have would be great. Thanks and good luck!
Lou Who

[CAPlastic Surgeon]

Wow those eyes are amazing. Best of luck in your journeys with fertility. It's a pretty emotional journey.