Miscarriage, Loss and Our Infertility Struggle

Mar 6, 2017

miscarriage infertility

 

I’d be lying if I said that this post didn’t take a long time to write. This story is no doubt a painful one, and putting it into words to share with the world makes it all the more real. As easy as it would be to pretend that getting—and staying—pregnant was carefree and fun like it is for so many, it just wasn’t that way for us. Instead, it was a long journey, filled with a lot of heartbreak.

Since the beginning of my being, I can remember wanting children. Don’t get me wrong: I was never the girl who planned her life around getting married and settling down. I was more concerned about school and my career, but the thought never crossed my mind that I wouldn’t be able to have my own kids one day.

After Trevor and I got married, we didn’t immediately start trying for a family. Instead, we focused on traveling, spending time as a newly married couple, and really enjoying life without too many responsibilities. We weren’t ready to give up those late nights, last minute travel plans and overall freedom. A little while before I turned 30, though, we finally decided we were ready. I couldn’t believe that we’d come this far together, and was beyond excited about our future.

Sadly, month after month would pass us by without result. Days became focused on ovulation kits, imagined pregnancy symptoms, stress, sadness and always a negative pregnancy test. Gosh, if I could count the number of tests I took

As quickly as I may brush over that year of us trying now, it didn’t pass quickly at all. Each month was more painful and stressful than the last. We started how everyone does “not not trying” so we didn’t put any unnecessary pressure on ourselves. That quickly turned into “trying trying.” The ovulation kits were ordered, the app’s were downloaded, my diet was altered and it quickly became something else entirely. I was consumed by the lack of result each month and was mentally counting down the minutes till my biggest fear came true, an infertility diagnosis. Every possibility and form of guilt rushes through your head day after day: “Should I have waited this long?” “Why did I put my career first?” “This is definitely an egg problem!”

 

The most essential part of you feels broken and you don’t know why. 

 

With time, I have come to learn that this isolating experience is a lot more common than my heartbroken self could have ever realized. At the time of our diagnosis, we were not ready to shout it from the rooftops. We were filled with a lot of mixed emotions, and opening our story up to the world would have meant dealing with things we hadn’t even faced ourselves.

Trevor and I both decided recently that it was important for us to be open and honest about our journey. People so often feel alone when experiencing fertility issues, and it doesn’t have to be that way. We personally found so much solace and encouragement in meeting and talking to other couples going through similar struggles, so I’m happy to share our story.

After trying for a full year, I knew my suspicions were right. I felt like there was constantly something wrong with me while everyone around me had no problem getting pregnant. I would smile through baby showers and phone calls from friends announcing their happy news, and cry my eyes out afterwards. Let’s not even get started on the Facebook and social media announcements. It’s not that I wasn’t happy for them; I just couldn’t process why it couldn’t be us, too. Hoping that it was all just a bad dream, we decided to make an initial appointment at the best fertility clinic we could find in Chicago.

While that first appointment was met with anxiety and stress, all of our tests came back “normal” and we were briefly relieved. Then, I heard a few words I’ll never forget:

“We don’t know why you’re not getting pregnant, but you’re not. So you may want to try something.”

This advice along with the doctor’s tone gave me all the answers I needed. Something was wrong and they just didn’t know how to fix it. These “good” results placed us in the dreaded “unexplained infertility” category. For us, it was hard to wrap our heads around what may be the proper solution when we had no clear idea of what the actual problem was. And since our insurance was through Trevor’s job and the hospital he worked for was a Jesuit institution, fertility treatments were not covered. 

Our doctor recommended trying a round of intrauterine insemination, otherwise known as IUI. And since it was vastly cheaper than most of our other options, we decided to give it a go. The process was relatively easy: I had labs drawn, took a few pills, gave myself one trigger injection, and returned to the office for a quick 10-minute procedure.

Two weeks later, much to our surprise, we found out that I was pregnant! We couldn’t believe it and felt like we had cheated the infertility beast. How could this have happened the first time? How had we been so lucky?!

Following the positive test, I had to return to the office every other day for lab work to monitor my HCG levels for about two weeks. I quickly learned that fertility treatments are made even cruel by the constant monitoring that’s required. Each test result gave us more to be anxious about. And sadly, after a few days, my levels started to drop off, indicating that something could be wrong. Trevor, who’s a radiologist, tried his best to keep my mind off it, as levels tend to fluctuate. But it was all I could think about. We went back for our eight-week appointment, hopeful that we’d hear a heartbeat. According to our phone app, we knew our baby should be the size of a blueberry, and we just couldn’t wait to see that on the screen.

When the tech put the probe in place, she seemed to have some trouble finding the baby, and I knew immediately that something was up. I’ll never forget Trevor saying, “Blueberry! Everything’s okay, Babe,” when he saw the screen. He soon realized, though, that he was simply looking at the sac. Our baby only measured 5.5 weeks, even though we were at our eight-week appointment, and there was no trace of a heartbeat. A few minutes later, a team of nurses and staff we had never met came in to apologize. They explained that I’d likely suffered from a “missed miscarriage”—a miscarriage that occurs without the usual symptoms, and without expelling the pregnancy. Before the news had sank in, we were walking out of the office in shock, numb from the news, depleted of hope.

The worst part? We needed to wait two long weeks to confirm that a “missed miscarriage” had, in fact, occurred. These were some of the of the hardest weeks of my life. Deep down, I knew I wasn’t pregnant anymore. Yet I was still attached to the life I imagined inside of me.

Finally, though, after two weeks of Trevor trying to distract me and keep me happy it was time to return to that fertility clinic. The doctors confirmed that since there still wasn’t a heartbeat, I had suffered a “missed miscarriage,” and they presented me with two options: I could have a D&C—the dilation and curettage surgical procedure to remove miscarriages—or I could miscarry at home with the help of medicine. For fear of scarring, I chose to miscarry at home.

I’ll never forget that weekend. It was one of the most painful and emotional weekends I’ve ever experienced. As difficult as it was for me physically and emotionally, miscarriage can be a cruel beast for your partner too. They aren’t physically experiencing what you are and all they want is to take the pain away. Trevor has always been a constant source of positive encouragement and support for me, but it often left me wondering how I could ever do that for him? I was in no state to support him and he still never wavered. That man is my everything. 

After the miscarriage, I had to return every two weeks to the clinic to have my blood drawn. The doctors wouldn’t discharge me until my HCG fell below “1,” to make sure no debris was left. I’d heard that most women take about a month or so to drop, but it unfortunately took me over five months. Returning to the clinic every two weeks was torturous. However, there was a silver lining to it. We weren’t allowed to try to get pregnant during those five months, so in a way, this time served as the mental break we so badly needed.

Even after those five months, though, Trevor and I decided that we weren’t ready to start trying again. We wanted to get back to living life and loving each other; no more ovulation kits, no more stress, and no more disappointment. Infertility can put a lot of strain on a marriage and often times, it can become the focus of a person’s life. I wanted us to be in a happy and healthy place before we started up again, and we focused on just that.

The next few months were wonderful. We spent time with our families and went on countless date nights, and we truly started to feel human again. Getting pregnant was no longer consuming my thought process and much of the stress slowly started to fade. But Trevor was about to start his fellowship: his last year of speciality training so we decided to sit down with our families to discuss the next steps.

The Chicago clinic just wasn’t for us. We were (and still are) both in healthcare, and well aware of the fact that the clinic wasn’t responsible for our loss. However, it felt cold, impersonal and overcrowded, and our care had been average at best. Infertility can be a very emotional ride and we wanted the smoothest experience and the best help we could find. 

After researching on SART (the database that publishes fertility clinic statistics), talking with family and friends, and weighing all options, we decided that CCRM was our next step. The clinic is located in Colorado and was made famous by Giuliana and Bill Rancic but has always been known as one of the best in the country. It’s stats were off the charts and its embryology lab was world-renowned. We thought that if we gave CCRM a shot, we’d have peace of mind no matter what the outcome.

One of the biggest hurdles we faced in our battle with infertility was that we were constantly searching for answers we knew we might never find. Whether or not we were destined to have a baby, we never wanted to wonder, “What if we’d tried CCRM?”

Since the clinic is outside of Denver, it required some travel, which was actually kind of nice. We headed out a couple of days before our initial appointment, and made a little trip out of it. We went hiking, out to dinner with friends and explored Denver’s neighborhoods. Then, we had our first appointment at CCRM.

It was such a calming space. Everyone was so friendly, and we immediately felt comfortable and cared for. It was great to chat with other couples going through the same thing, and we loved our doctor. “Love” may even be an understatement. After a full day of more extensive testing than we’d ever had, we headed back to Chicago, full of hope and excited for our next steps. 

Thank you so much for making it to the end of this very long and personal post. I’ll be opening up more about our journey to pregnancy next Monday and am always here to talk in the meantime. We are extremely open and honest about our experience and even if we have never met before feel free to send me an email: lowstoluxe@gmail.com.

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  1. Shaheen, thank you so much for taking the time to share this personal story. So far we don’t have children, but like you I’ve always wanted kids and we’re just now ready to start down that path. Infertility is something many of my friends have struggled with, and from the outside looking in I know that it’s a painful journey. I’m so glad you and your husband are on the road to parenthood now. May the rest of your pregnancy be blessed with health and joy.

  2. Trevor says:

    Love you and ????????. Thanks for being such a great mother so far.

  3. Lauren Nolan says:

    Oh Shaheen, you are so brave for sharing this, but you are going to help so many couples with similar stories. So so so much love to you and Trevor <3
    xo,
    Lauren | http://www.lakeshorelady.com/

  4. Lindsay Alberts says:

    Brava for sharing, Shaheen- I am sure that you are helping others who are reading this post. I applaud your vulnerability!!

  5. Amy Lyons Usher says:

    Ugh can’t read this without crying. Thanks for being brave and sharing your story. Love you guys!!

  6. Beth Blair says:

    Thank you for sharing your beautiful story! You are brave for sharing and I know this helps so many couples going through the same thing.

  7. Caitlin says:

    This is such a beautifully written post Shaheen! Thank you for sharing. And Trevor’s comment (and your response) in the comments below are adorable. You will make great parents!

    Caitlin

  8. Carter Cox says:

    Thank you for sharing this beautiful story. In addition to helping those who have gone through similar struggles, I think it also sheds light for those who have conceived and carried to term more easily. We can never assume or even guess what someone may be going through and I think it serves as a reminder to think about questions you ask or assumptions you may make about someone “choosing” to have children. We just never know what someone may be going through. Congratulations on this baby and I can’t wait to follow your journey!

    • Thank you Carter! I totally agree, before I struggled myself I know I did the very things I later would find so hurtful. It’s just not talked about enough and people aren’t aware. I hope that changes and thank you so much for the well wishes, we appreciate it more than you know!

  9. Stephanie A says:

    I am so happy to read your story and could not be more happy for you and t-dawg!!! You both are going to be wonderful parents and I look forward to seeing everything that motherhood brings to your life!!

  10. Jess says:

    I love you! So so proud of you for sharing this!

  11. MD says:

    Thank you so much for sharing your story. You are so brave and strong. As someone that has also been diagnosed with unexplained infertility, I really appreciate how much reading this will help others. It is an incredibly sad and isolating journey, but knowing there are other people out there going through it helps me to feel not so alone.

    • Oh you are far too kind. I totally understand what you are feeling and want you to know you’re not alone. Chatting with other women who were going through something similar saved my sanity and I have so much hope for your journey. If you ever need to talk, please reach out – I am always here!

      • MD says:

        Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful words. Some days are just more of a struggle than others, but I going to go with the theory that I believe hard enough that it will happen, then it will. I’m so happy for you and that you found success and I might just take you up on your offer to chat. Thanks again for sharing your struggle and helping others in the process!

  12. Emily says:

    What an amazing post, Shaheen. So proud of you for sharing, I know your story will help so many women! And, SO happy that the outcome of all this was a baby for you and Trevor – you’re going to be the BEST parents.

  13. Jess Zimlich says:

    Reading this brought me to tears. You’re going to be the most amazing mom! I’m going to pass along to a friend who could use this right about now. 🙂

  14. Nina Rand says:

    I appreciate you being brave enough to write and share your story. I can talk about mine but haven’t been able to post about it even now. I had a missed miscarriage as well, and got pregnant 6 weeks after my D&C with a beautiful and healthy little guy who just turned one. I know your post will truly make people feel like they aren’t alone (as it does for me) and it’s wonderful. You are going to love being a mom, it’s work but it is truly the most fun you will ever have! xx Nina

    • Oh, I’m so happy to hear that and appreciate it more than you know. I’m hoping the more we talk about it the less alone it will make people feel. I am so excited to meet this little guy and thank you for your sweet wishes! xo

  15. Life Update! says:

    […] blogger friend, Shaheen, shared a raw and honest story regarding her fertility journey. […]

  16. Jessica Renaker says:

    What an amazing and strong woman you are! It is so nice for you to share your story. I am positive you will never know how many people you have provided solace and comfort just by reading your words. You and Trevor are a wonderful team and will truly be the best parents!!

  17. […] bravery in sharing her and Trevor’s journey of loss, infertility and miscarriage. So many couples struggle with this situation. She’s amazing, and I am so thankful to know […]

  18. JR says:

    My husband and I waited 6 years before even trying to get pregnant but there was always that fear that I had prevented it for so long ( I was 36) what if I couldn’t get pregnant? Thankfully, I happened upon a great doctor who let me know my hormone levels were off and with a little help from Clomid 🙂 I got pregnant but it wasn’t without lots of worrying, ovulation tests, planning sex (yuck), and imaginary pregnancy symptoms. You try to relax because stress is definitely not helpful but it is very difficult. Thank you for sharing your story. I think difficulty getting pregnant is way more common than we think and everyone discussing it openly is so helpful.

    • Thank you for sharing your story and I’m so happy it had a happy ending! I totally agree it is far more common than we think and it has been so wonderful to connect with so many women. Thank you for opening up and your kind words!

  19. […] recently wrote this post on her IVF journey, and I was in tears. So happy for you, Trevor and Baby T, Shaheen! Love […]

  20. Jessica says:

    I knew my biological clock was ticking and I didn’t have much time left to complete our family. IVF was the right answer for us. Our journey to complete our family had many rocky moments. However, we would have never changed our mind to pursue IVF. We were so fortunate to have Biotexcom clinic. The staffs at the clinic were so awesome! Through the death of our first son, we learned to appreciate even more the miracle of life. . Like other similar clinics, that one has lots of patience and contracts. But comparing to Canada we have paid just once. It costs us like 30k euros. Not a big money for the result that I got. I wish I’d known from the start how happy I would be. I delivered my son after my last round. And I now have the most amazing 8-year-old boy. If the price I had to pay to be his mom was four years of treatments and two miscarriages, then so being it. He was worth the trouble.

  21. Osewe Anthony says:

    now i am worried what to do? please give me possible reasons for this delay and what should be the future course of action. how can I have a baby for my husband that was my question. so a friend introduce me to this rahany herbal center so I contacted him, after using his herbs he sent, to my believe I was tested pregnant, it was an amazing miracle. when i showed my husband the result I could see the joy in his eyes, thank rahany herbal center once again for your help, ,he is a wonderful father.}1.Trying to get pregnant 2.Infection 3.Blockage from the fallopian Tube5.Unpleasant smell from the virginal 6.Irregular menstruation 7.Infertility for easy Conception @rahanyherbalcenter@yahoo.com/

  22. Linda says:

    I have a practice of assisted reproductive technologies treatment. And I can say for sure that it is great medicine which gives thousands of people great hope and happiness. After two and a half years of trying and hoping, my struggle is over. Through all of the ups and downs of infertility, I always had hope. I truly believed that someday I would get pregnant. Losing that hope is almost as hard as losing a pregnancy. Luckily I married an angel. My hubby supported me even more than I deserve. He never stops looking for solution. I have never let me feel guilty. I think that is what true love is. He encouraged me to give a shot in Ukrainian clinic Biotexcom as they have the most high rating and affordable prices. In our case we chose the unlimited attempts because it gave us guarantee which we were expecting. .And for the middle class the most adequate option is to have a program with a fixed price. Well we did it and I feel it was the best decision I’ve ever take.

  23. […] group — hi Zain! It wasn’t an easy journey to motherhood (you can see her infertility journey here) but she’s an open-book to help others in their struggle. A big heart that I’m grateful to […]

  24. […] group — hi Zain! It wasn’t an easy journey to motherhood (you can see her infertility journey here) but she’s an open-book to help others in their struggle. A big heart that I’m grateful to […]

  25. Angel L. says:

    Dear Shaheen,

    I’m going through this now and the news of “unexplained infertility” doesn’t really help. Everything that you mentioned is so true and it hurts so much hearing news from others that have no problem conceiving. However, more and more unexplained infertility are happening with people in the late 20’s and early 30’s. I’m not quite sure why- to be honest i would love to do more research on this. I will start with Boston IVF tomorrow and praying for the best. Thank you so much for sharing your story, it really helps with coping and bracing for what will come- the anesthesia on egg retrieval day! Thank you so much again!

    • shaheen khan says:

      Hi Angel,
      First off, I’m so sorry your comment got lost in the backend and I am just seeing it now! I so agree with everything you said and I am so hopeful everything went well for you! Thank you so much for sharing and sending you lots of love!

  26. Sarah smith says:

    My husband and I went to the Atlanta location of CCRM, and had an amazing experience as well. We now have a 2 year old and one on the way thanks to their incredible team. We also made the decision to go to ACRM after having a difficult/cold experience at another place. You are so right, feeling supported during such a lonely time is necessary. I also joined a weekly support group there, led my one of their physicians and a psychologist, that was such an awesome forum for women going through the process. Thank you for the post!

    • shaheen khan says:

      Oh my gosh, congrats!!! Agree, I went to the support group while I was in Colorado for my treatment and loved it so much. Emotional support is such a big factor and I loved that they covered everything. Congrats again and thank you so much for sharing!

  27. Kasey Goddard says:

    You have no idea how much this was needed!! I just completed my second IUI and I’m in the dreaded two week wait. Everything in your post is everything I have felt or am feeling. Thanks for sharing!

  28. Breanne says:

    Thank you so much for sharing. That description of your terrible weekend has me tearing up. I can’t imagine what that must have been like for you both. Miscarriage is so common, and yet few share their experience with it. I hope others struggling with infertility find solace in this post.

    • shaheen khan says:

      Thank you so much Breanne, that means more than you know! I agree, it’s been so nice to connect with so many other women and what initially felt so isolating is so much more common than we think. I so appreciate your support and taking the time to send me that note.