M.H. asks from Gig Harbor, WA on December 31, 2007
TTC With Problems...
I have a 2 year old boy whom I love dearly, but I'd like to grow our family. We started trying for #2 last May and were ecstatic to get a positive pregnancy test within the first month of trying. I unfortunately had a miscarriage a few days later and after a month of letting it sink in and making sure my body was ok, we started trying again. But we've had no luck since. I'm starting to worry that something might be wrong. I want to go to my doctor, but I'm scared of what she'll say. Plus, I'd kind of like the idea of using fertility drugs, but I get the impression that my doctor is sort of old fashioned and believes that if it's meant to happen, it will. I'm not quite so patient. Has anyone had a similar experience, or has any suggestions on how to bring this up to my doctor? Am I being completely selfish and impatient for thinking 6 months of REALLY trying is just too long?
So What Happened?™
Thank you for your advice, everyone! I suddenly got bombarded! For the record, I am 24. By "really trying", we did go 2 months where we were having sex every 2 days. My doctor advised this around ovulation time, but my cycle is sort of messed up so I never know when I'm ovulating. I thought perhaps I'd catch it by being as active as possible. I'm only concerned because I got pregnant so quick when we started trying and then all of a sudden, nothing. A friend of mine started trying right around the same time as me and her doctor told her they'd look into fertility if she didn't conceive after 6 months. It was the only reason I thought of perhaps trying. I have thought of just NOT trying for awhile - like I did at the end of the summer (we were trying, but I wasn't testing unless my period was REALLY late - which never happened). I do think perhaps stress is a main factor...I think I'll wait for a little bit before going to the doctor...perhaps until May comes (which will mark 1 year of trying).
Thank you again, everyone! It's so great to get such varied responses :)
Featured Answers
K.O. answers from Portland on December 31, 2007
Be patient. 6 months of trying is not an abnormal amount of time. Most doctors won't even consider the possibility of a problem unless you have been trying for a year or longer.
2 moms found this helpful
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J.M. answers from Seattle on December 31, 2007
Chances are outstanding that there is nothing wrong. (You don't mention how old you are, though. If you're over 35 it can take longer to get pregnant.) Six months of trying is not a very long time - especially considering that your body endured a miscarriage. One year of trying - maybe. But six months? That's a blink of an eye. (Plus, you say you are "REALLY" trying - so I'm guessing that means you and your hubby are very, very active . . . this does not necessarily increase your chances to conceive because he will be more "potent" if he has time to recharge between efforts. If you're still not pregnant after a year, then you should mention to your doctor that you are concerned about your fertility. Then you can have all of the uncomfortable and invasive tests to check all of this.
Fertility drugs are expensive and not much fun - TRUST ME. You don't want to go down this route unless there's no other option.
You mentioned in your profile that you currently work full time but "hope to be able to stay home with my kids one day." Perhaps the delay in your second pregnancy is really an opportunity for you to get everything in order so you can stay home with the new baby?
I'm sure babies #2 and #3 are in your future! Just hang in there!
3 moms found this helpful
K.O. answers from Portland on December 31, 2007
Be patient. 6 months of trying is not an abnormal amount of time. Most doctors won't even consider the possibility of a problem unless you have been trying for a year or longer.
2 moms found this helpful
L.R. answers from Portland on January 02, 2008
I didn't read all the other responses, so please forgive me if I'm redundant.
Pick up a copy of the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler. I've recommended it to several freinds who were having trouble conceiving, and every one of them is either pregnant or a new mother. Assuming there are no physical problems, if you follow the charting advice in this book, you're almost sure to get pg.
About your Dr...most docs won't even start to look into fertility drugs for someone your age until they have been actively trying (ie: charting) for at least a year. Fertility drugs have a lot of side effects and it would be bad medicine for your Dr. to give them to you just for convenience. It has nothing to do with her being old fashioned. Lots of people these days just want to pop a pill to fix their problems, without doing any acutal work. Unfortunately, in this case you'll have to suck it up and do some work.
Good luck to you, and I hope the next time we hear from you it'll be with news of another positive pg test!
1 mom found this helpful
M.P. answers from Norfolk on January 01, 2008
Generally speaking I believe that most doctors want you to try a year before doing the testing and drugs. Your body may not be ready due to the recent miscarriage. Personally I would wait it out for at least a year of trying. However, if you really feel that you need to be checked out and perhaps need some help, ask your Dr. If he/she doesn't seem to want to oblige then find another one and get a second opinion. The worst case scenario is that they both will tell you to wait it out.
I too have a two year old and am due with a second on the 2nd of Feb. both are a result of years of fertility treatment and donor insemination. I can tell you from experience that going to get tested and getting the fertility drugs is very costly, not to mention time consuming and stressful, so keep that in mind when you are looking at your options. The first time I got pregnant it took a full year of testing and taking drugs before I even reached the point of insemination. We lucked out and got pregnant with the first insemination. The second time I had to be inseminated about 6 times to conceive while on fertility drugs and it took about a year and half to get through the whole process. So fertility drugs and treatment can take time too.
This can be very stressful and if it is for you that may be the very thing that is working against you. Try your best to stay relaxed. Many couples who give up on trying get pregnant shortly after because they allow themselves a break from the pressure and the stress.
Best wishes!
S.G. answers from Portland on January 03, 2008
First off, I want to let you know that I am sorry for your loss. Hubby and I TTC for 2 years before we got pregnant (I have PCOS), but unfortunately, I miscarried. I feel your pain and fears and frustration of loosing your 2nd child. Only you know just what you're going through, and those of us who have lost can somewhat identify. A year later to the date of my miscarriage, our beautiful daughter was born. I love her so much, but I still wonder what and who the other baby would have been had I carried it to full term. I wasn't expecting to be preggo so soon after my miscarriage, but I know it was meant to happen. Good luck to you and your hubby and I wish you good fertility and healing for your loss.
T.H. answers from Seattle on January 02, 2008
Hi - I would think about finding a new doctor maybe..I am surprised that she would not be suggesting starting to check to see what might be wrong. For me, I had a blocked tube the first time we were trying to get pregnant, and I am so glad we found out. The second time we tried for almost a year with fertility treatments and finally got pregnant. I dont think you are being selfish at all! It could take a while to get pregnant, you just never know. I would bring it up to your doctor and if she is not supportive, then I would think about going elsewhere. My doctor was the one that told me that if after trying for 3 months and nothing happened, then we would go to the next step...she was very supportive.You need to have that support there! I went through fertility treatments and finally got pregnant through insemination the second time. But again, it took almost a year. Try and relax though because stress can really mess things up. Pray as well!
T.K. answers from Portland on January 02, 2008
My advise is not to give up, but to be grateful for the child you have. I have been trying to get pregnant for over 3 years now. I havent had any miscarriages. I have taken all the tests and so has my husband. We are healthy and normal the doctors say. They can not find any reason why we cant get pregnant. I took clomid and we did 4 sessions of in-utero insemination. Still nothing. I am 33 years old. I have always know for sure I want to have kids. It's extremely frustrating and depressing. I havent given up but I am trying to except reality that it may never happen for me.
G.P. answers from Seattle on January 02, 2008
It can be helpful to go to a fertility specialist. Please, attempt to find the best possible one in your travel range. A friend of mine, about your age, had several miscarriages between her 1st and 2nd child. I told her if you are really serious about conceiving go to a specialist. She was tested, she was found to have hypo-thyroid problems - those were easily solved with medication and she conceived immediately thereafter. I conceived my first child, 10 years ago, at the age of 41 through in-vitro. Do not ever think that you will never have a child. There is so much that modern medicine can do today.
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