amazing
conception stories
Against the odds, these couples got pregnant!
expecting a baby
“I went to the doctor thinking I had a kidney stone, only to learn I had an ectopic pregnancy. Then, because of my irregular cycles, my OB said I should consult a reproductive endocrinologist. I had three hysteroscopies, a uterine septum removal, three D&Cs, a laparoscopy, three IUIs and five IVFs. I also had five pregnancy losses. After one of them, I broke down at an appointment. A nurse grabbed me by the shoulders: ‘You have two choices,’ she said. ‘Give up, knowing that if you do, your dream of becoming a mother will probably never come true. Or keep fighting.’ Those words gave me the strength I have today. Now I’m 14 weeks pregnant.”
chandra & jacob juncker expecting a baby
“Because I knew I might not ovulate regularly, we started right away with Clomid and OPKs. After five rounds of Clomid, we learned that Jacob had varicose veins that were hurting his sperm count, and I had a cyst wrapped around my fallopian tubes. An infertility specialist recommended IVF. The first round was grueling; I developed ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, a painful condition, and then miscarried. Jacob and I both had surgeries (he for his veins; me for the cyst), and we both needed to recover. We started an organic diet and did acupuncture. Finally, a few months ago, I took a pregnancy test on a whim. It was positive!”
24
marcu & ben alexander parents to Stella (age 2½) and Hadley (18 months)
“In addition to PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), I had a blocked tube and endometriosis, and Ben had abnormal morphology, really putting the odds against us. We stayed hopeful and tried IVF. We were fortunate, and I got my first positive pregnancy test two days after Christmas! I gave birth to Stella nearly three years ago and to our second daughter, Hadley, a year later. My conception journey taught me so much about myself. For me, it was helpful that I kept a positive outlook and allowed my mind and body to rest. Holding my babies for the first time was well worth the wait!”
tabatha & aaron steinhaus parents to twins Savannah and Callista (age 2½)
“After trying for months, my OB started me on Clomid—which gave me awful hot flashes and mood swings—but because I had PCOS, I still didn’t have a clear ovulation pattern. I then tried four cycles of IUI and still didn’t get pregnant. I took a fourmonth break before moving on to the scariest acronym of all: IVF. Before too long, I was pregnant—with identical twins! Today, my daughters are 2½, and we’re hoping to add a baby brother to our family. The infertility journey was tough, but it brought Aaron and me closer. Plus, I’ve learned that I’m strong; I can handle more than I ever imagined.”
Read more conception stories at TheBump.com/ttcstories thebump.com
alexander family: tkz photo; steinhaus family: blowing dandelions photography
krystyn & bob labate