#NIAW Bloggers Unite Conference~ Day 3
Hosted by Miss Conception Coach
As one part of NIAW, I was asked to be part of a bloggers unite conference this week (thanks to @MissConceptionCoach- see web link above to go to her site/blog). Those of us participating wrote about different angles of infertility, and all pieces are also centered on the theme #StartAsking. I'll be sharing the posts from the other women each day, and one day mine will pop up as well. You can read them all here, on the link above, or at the featured blog itself (which will have a link at the bottom).
Here's today's post, Day 3.
#NIAW Day 3, Be Your Own Advocate. Listen to Your Gut. Know Your Body.
There are so many
topics that we could talk about with the hashtag #StartAsking but my focus will
be about being an advocate for yourself and asking questions to your ObGyn or
Reproductive Endocrinologist.
When you are
trying to have a child, many questions go through your mind. Some of you ask
and some you keep to yourself. At first, I thought my questions were foolish or
that I shouldn’t question my ObGyn or RE, I mean they are the Dr.’s, they know
more than me right?? But if there is one thing that I have learned through all
of this is that you need to be an advocate for yourself. No question is foolish,
no suggestion is crazy, no one is on your side more than you.
So here are some tips and questions
to #StartAsking
#1: ObGyns are NOT Reproductive
Endocrinologists, but #StartAsking the basics.
I did this myself. I would ask my
ObGyn questions about fertility and trying to get pregnant and I got no where.
I didn’t even know what to ask at the beginning stages. But the three major
things I would ask if you are questioning your fertility is for : AMH and FSH
tests, an HSG test to see if your fallopian tubes are clear and a semen
analysis for your husband. Those are three things your ObGyn should be able to
do for you(and recommend a place for your husband’s semen analysis) and if any
results are off, then go to a Reproductive Endocrinologist asap. Don’t waste
any more time. ObGyns are great for delivering babies but most do not have the
time or knowledge to help you get pregnant…especially if you might have a major
issue.
#2: Once you have an RE, #StartAsking
for copies of your results
Your RE has many patients. But you
are your only patient. You should either receive copies of all of your results
or take photos of them. I am a big promoter of this. Sometimes doctors get
confused or something is forgotten….accidents happen. But, if you write down
all of your results, you can compare, you can keep track, you can research for
yourself. You never know, you might end up solving your own issue!
#3 #StartAsking to test your levels
of Vitamin D, MTHFR, TSH
I know there are many more tests
but these 3 are major.
Vitamin D: low
levels of Vitamin D might be hindering your ability to get pregnant. If you
have low Vitamin D levels and take a supplement, that may be all you need!
MTHFR: is something
I wish all RE’s would test at the beginning. Too many wonderful women (in this
blog world and online) have lost healthy babies to MTHFR. Heartbreaking. With a
simple blood test, you will know if you have MTHFR and if you need to take
necessary actions. Most likely, you would take a folate supplement and
sometimes injections throughout your pregnancy. I’ve seen many women go on to
carry healthy babies to term once they have been diagnosed and treated
accordingly.
TSH levels:
Your thyroid is important. Your TSH level should be between 1-2. If it is not
within that range, you should speak with your doctor about what steps you might
need to take to increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy.
#4 Before IVF, #StartAsking for a
hysteroscopy
It blows my
mind how many RE’s do not perform a routine hysteroscopy before
an IVF cycle(or before that!) So if you have been trying to have a baby for a
while, and you are about to spend thousands of dollars on IVF, why not make
sure that you have a healthy uterus?? That is a large piece of the puzzle! I
know many doctors say that the HSG will show
if there is a problem with the uterus but that’s not always correct. My HSG
showed my uterus looked fine. Then I had my hysteroscopy….and scar tissue was
everywhere. Many times HSGs cannot see scar tissue or a lot of other problems
inside the uterus. So, even if I would have transferred a healthy embryo, it
would not have worked. Having a hysteroscopy should be a part of every IVF
protocol. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen women go through 1, 2, 3
IVF cycles, all fail, to finally have a hysteroscopy and find problems.
Problems that should have been corrected before they even went through one IVF
cycle. It’s so sad that a procedure that cost maybe $700(or less if it’s
covered by insurance) could have helped solve the problem. Many women after
having operative hysteroscopies, go on to have a pregnancy the old fashioned
way too, no IVF needed either. Definitely one procedure I would #StartAsking
for.
#5 #StartAsking for a personalized
IVF protocol
If you are with an RE that does the
SAME protocol for every patient….beware. You cannot tell me that the same
protocol on a 25 year old with a normal AMH/FSH will work the same on a 42 year
old with Diminished Ovarian Reserve. Just doesn’t make sense. We are all
different, our bodies are different. Different doses of medicine are necessary
to encourage egg growth or, on the other hand, to prevent OHSS(Ovarian Hyperstimulation
Syndrome) which can be extremely dangerous if not monitored closely.
#6 After a failed IVF(or 3)
#StartAsking another RE
There is no harm in getting another
opinion. I know that you may feel comfortable with your RE. That maybe you’ve
been with them for years. But if they haven’t figured out your case, a new set
of eyes is sometimes the best next step. There is no “right” way about
infertility. And some RE’s are just set in their ways. If they are not willing
to listen to your questions or concerns…simply move on.
I could probably write many more,
but I’ll stop here. Now, these are just my opinions from going through the
IVF process numerous times. I am not a doctor…..which is why you
should #StartAsking your doctor.
Be your own advocate. Listen to your
gut. Know your body. Understand protocols. Research your condition. Read
medical papers. Ask questions.
Just #StartAsking
And when you do that…you are not
only advocating for yourself but for your future child.
You are opening doors for your baby
before they are even in your arms.
You are fighting for them before
they are even created.
You are being a Mother.
You are already a Mother, when you
#StartAsking
Find Bri and follow her at dreamingofdiapers.com
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