Snow White's Story

I've toyed with the idea of writing our story. If you've read my beautiful friend's stories, you will know the struggles and upset they have had to endure along the way to realising their dreams. I had a very easy experience as far as assisted conception goes. Then I realised, if you're reading this, my story may just give you hope that it isn't necessarily going to be hard or bad in any way. I don't want to make IVF/ICSI seem a 'small' experience, it's huge. But, for me, it was straight forward, personal and very positive.

Here's my story...

My husband and I were married in 2008. My husband has had rheumatoid arthritis since he was 25, and had been put on a drug to help him with mobility and the pain. As we were so young, we stressed that we wanted a family in the future and after doing our own research we insisted on not taking certain medicines known for their effect on male fertility. His rheumatologist was fabulous and prescribed a drug not known to cause any long term effects on male fertility. By the time we decided we wanted to start our family, my Husband had been on the drug for 5 years.

After 10 months of trying to get pregnant we got our positive result. Our relief was enormous, and we excitedly discussed our 'secret' at every opportunity. At 8 weeks I miscaried naturally, and at home. We were devastated. We started to try for a pregnancy again after a couple of months, and nothing was happeneing. We decided to explore privately how fertile we were. I had all the tests first, and everything came back brilliant. We then got my Husband tested. To his horror, he had a nearly non existent sperm count, and poor mobility. After speaking with his rheumatologist new research had confirmed that the drug he was using caused infertility if used for a prolonged amount of time. We were devastated. He stopped the medicine straight away. Knowing we had a problem we contacted the IVF clinic immediately and booked in for a private cycle. Within two weeks of our first consultation we had every test completed, ICSI was recommended, and I was starting the cycle within another two weeks.

We had 14 eggs collected, 12 of which fertilised. 8 got to blast and we had 3 top embryos. We discussed it and decided to have 2 put back. Twins run in our family and we knew the commitment we were making if they both were successful. 3 blasts were strong enough for freezing, so our snow babies are still waiting for me! After a tentative 2 week wait helped by Zita West's relaxation CD, I did the test. I was so incredibly nervous. I knew I was pregnant, but was far too nervous to say it out loud. I peed on the test, and by the time I had walked back to the bedroom to my waiting husband, it was positive!

It was the most incredible moment. At 6am we called all our family to scream the news down the phone! Sod the 12 week wait to reveal the good news, it didn't matter. We were pregnant, and it felt right.

I'm certain that my straight forward experience of ICSI isn't rare. I put the success and ease of our experience down to the amazing family and friends we had supporting us, for my work for supporting my time off, and for the love of my partner. I know, these factors can't be the 'real' reason I got pregnant, but they really did give me hope and certainly kept me calm.

I would recommend any couple trying to get pregnant via IVF/ICSI to make sure that your partner is involved. Get your partner to do your injections for example. I can still recall myself laughing till I cried as my Husband tried to catch me to jab me with the Gonal-F pen! Let your partner get you pregnant! It may not be the 'traditional' way, but it's still important to do it together. For my Husband it also meant he was back in control, and I think he needed that after finding out he had fertility issues. For appointments that you can both attend, take 5 minutes out for a coffee and natter afterwards. It stops you from thinking and worrying unduly. Talking things through before both jumping in separate cars and heading back to your work helps that closeness, and keeps you really positive.

I hope you all realise your dreams of becoming a Mummy. It is truly the very best feeling in the world. I'm now the VERY proud Mummy of two Toddlers. If you're pregnant with twins, don't fear it. It's bloody hard work, but it's the most amazing feeling in the world. My little boy and girl are now 2 and are the light of my life. I hope one day to have a sibling or two for them, but for now, our lives are complete.

Thank-you for reading my story and the very best of luck on your own journeyxxx