Thought I would give another little update on the process of trying for another baby. We still are trying but I am finally more at peace with how things are progressing. I have been doing a lot of research lately which has helped me understand why it might be taking us longer for a second child.
This marks the 10th month of trying so I finally made the phone call into the doctors office. I was putting off doing this as it would mean that I might have to admit that something is wrong, haha. I have an appointment booked for Feb. 1 with my family doctor, who will then refer us off to a OB/GYN for fertility options. The referral appointment I expect can take a while. But in the mean time I just got this AMAZING book called "Taking Charge of your Fertility" which I have found to be so helpful. This book teaches women what happens before, during, and after ovulation and what changes your body does so you can recognize when ovulation is occuring. In my next cycles I am going to chart my basal body tempeture, check cervical fluids, and cervix positioning, all of which will show a pattern (or lack of pattern) that I & a fertility specialist will review to see what might be wrong. I have been avoiding doing this because it seems like so much work but I am at the point where I need some answers.
One reason why I think I might not be conceiving is because I think I have a too short Luteal Phase of my cycle. A women's cycle is divided into 3 phases, the follicular phase, ovulatory phase and the last being the luteal phase. The follicular phase is where an egg matures and the body "prepares to release an egg", the ovulatory phase is where the egg is actually released and when you are most fertile/fertilization can take place, and the luteal phase is the last phase and in the case your egg was fertilized this is the stage where the egg is developing and your body is going to send off a hormone so that you don't get your period: in other words it is saying "We're pregnant!! Don't reject this baby!" A healthy woman would ovulate around her 12-16th day which would allow for the minimum of 12 days of a luteal phase. 12 days is said to be the minimum amount of days that the phase can be for a pregnancy to survive, any less and the hormone wouldn't necessarily be strong enough and the cycle would come to an end. IN MY CASE I am thinking that I ovulate late, possibly around the 20th day of a cycle, which means my luteal phase is possibly less than 10 days and is not long enough for my body to recognize a pregnancy.
By charting my basal body tempeture I can find out if this is actually the case. Before you ovulate your body temp is around 2 degrees (or more) lower than after your ovulate. I know this doesn't seem like a huge difference but by using a basal thermometer and checking my tempeture at the same time first thing in the morning (after a minimum 4 hours sleep) and charting it I will see a significant rise once ovulation has occured. Then I chart my tempeture for the days after ovulation and until I get my next period which will show how long my luteal phase is. Again, it seems like a lot of work but it does give answers to some frustrating questions! One thing that helps lengthen a luteal phase is taking Vitamin B6, which I am now on!
Another thing that the book re-taught me is just how much a miracle becoming pregnant really is! It takes so many things lining up, going right, and working together to become pregnant that I am so so so so blessed that I got pregnant once before. I knew this all along, but reading it and really learning how your body works just took me by surprise! Sommer REALLY is a miracle and a gift from God and if for some reason I am not able to have more children I will cherish the one I have forever.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The Road To A Baby
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6 comments:
It might not be you with the problem.Have you husband get his sperm checked.
Yes, when we go to the doctors they can do that.
You are such an awesome person Melissa. I love this post. Hang in there. I know how hard it is to wait to get pregnant. I hope you don't make it to your appointment and have to cancel it cause your pregnant, but if not then know that it will still all work out okay.
Thanks Jill! That comment made my day!! I really do miss you :)
Melissa, as far as fertility problems, a luteal phase defect (LPD) is THE ONE to have. Seriously. I speak from experience. My luteal phase is 8-10 days. WAY too short to maintain a pregnancy. A fertilized egg wouldn't even have time to implant.
In order to carry a pregnancy, you'll need a progesterone supplement. Many doctors prescribe it as an oral supplement, however the reading I did suggested it's more effective when used as a vaginal suppository. A bit, um, awkward and messy, but it gets the goods right to the, uh, "goods". Any why take a hormone systemically when it's only needed in one spot. Taken orally, there can be several side effects, but almost none when used as a vaginal suppository.
The trick is that it needs to be started 2-3 days after ovulation and continued until somewhere around the 8-12 week mark (which is when the placenta takes over progesterone production). And it's not cheap.
Knowing that this is the problem really makes it an easy one to "fix". Really. If I had to pick a fertility problem, this would be it.
The one issue with the progesterone supplements is that it can delay the start of your next cycle by 3-5 days even if you aren't pregnant. So you might get your hopes up only to be disappointed.
In my case, the prog supplements have worked the first time for my last two pregnancies.
GOOD LUCK! Hopefully your doctor will listen to you and just give you an prescription for the progesterone to keep on hand.
~Amy
I was going to tell you to talk to Amy Bundy but I see that she beat me to it (hi Amy!). Hang in there Mel...you're in my prayers!
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