We are not well educated about fertility.
I had been ignoring symptoms for the better part of 20 years.
On Tuesday, September 28, Camerota will hostRESOLVE’s 2010 Hope Awardsin New York City.
How did you figure out that you were having trouble conceiving?
I bought an ovulation kit and realized that I wasn’t ovulating.
I went to the doctor, who said I had hypothalamic dysfunction.
I would get my period very sporadicallyseveral times a yearcertainly not every 28 days.
What happened when you began treatments?
That led to two pregnancies and two miscarriages, which were emotionally devastating.
Luckily, my husband was supportive and wonderful through the whole process.
He always said, “We will have a family whether by hook or by crook.”
He was open to adoptionthat was very comforting to me.
And you changed your diet and lifestyle as well, right?
I did every single thing that anybody ever suggested might enhance fertility.
I cut out caffeine and alcohol.
I ate as organically as possible, increased healthy oils, cut out any processed foods.
I was really religious about specific yoga moves, carving out time each night for relaxation or meditation.
I did acupuncture once or twice a week.
It was a real commitmentthere were days that I really could have used a martini.
The third IVF cycle didn’t workbut the fourth one did.
I believed the fourth one would be my last.
It was too much of a strain on my husband and I, our lives and our relationship.
Personally, I credit all the changes I had made.
This really helped break the cycle of silenceI could speak freely because everyone was in the same boat.
It is a stressful experience and it’s difficult to relax.
The next pregnancy13 months laterwas the real shocker.
This was a massive surprise.
I was still keeping up the healthy changes, though I wasn’t as extreme about it.
I woke up one morning and I could not button my pants.
I was like ‘What is happening to me?’
I was worried I had a cyst or a tumor or something.
I went to the doctor, who was like, ‘There is a big baby in here!
You’re 16 weeks pregnant.'"
Twenty-two months after having our twins, I gave birth to a son.
The point is, fertility treatments are only one route to motherhood.
I’m living proof that in the fertility world, anything’s possible.
More on infertility: Another woman’s struggle
Photo Credit: Arthur Belebeau
