Trigger Warning – This episode contains discussion surrounding Pregnancy loss. If today is not a good day, please come back to this episode when you’re feeling a little stronger. Here at The Fertility podcast, we’re always here for you.
We’re delighted that this week’s episode is sponsored by The Lowdown – the place to get the lowdown on your reproductive health. Learn about your fertility share your experiences and read those of others.
In this week’s episode of The Fertility Podcast, I am joined by a patient of mine – Katie. Katie @secondary_infertility_life shares her story of secondary infertility, IVF and pregnancy loss.
Katie knows that she is really lucky to have her little boy Jake. Jake is everything to Katie and more, however she just feels that, as yet, her family is not complete. However Katie found the process of trying to conceive again really isolating. Somehow it just felt harder to find support when you already have a child. I firmly believe that trying to conceive the second (or third, or fourth) time around is different as not only do you want a baby for yourselves but you desperately want a sibling for your existing child. So that they don’t grow up alone in life. This is exactly how Katie felt.
After trying unsuccessfully for a year or so, Katie and her husband finally found out that they were pregnant. Fantastic news! However, Katie could tell something wasn’t quite right with the pregnancy, and sadly at 8 weeks they went for a scan and there was no heartbeat. Katie ended up miscarrying at home and she talks about how she felt OK physically, but took time for her to heal emotionally.
After trying for another 6 months, Katie and her partner decided to start IVF. Katie had a top grade frozen embryo transfer in November last year and got a positive pregnancy test. Sadly, at Christmas, there was no heartbeat again and Katie had a miscarriage in the hospital. Katie talks about her positive experience of miscarrying at the hospital and how she got all the support she needed.
Katie went for her 3rd transfer, which was sadly unsuccessful again and by this point Katie says she knew something else was wrong. She wanted to find out more and made the decision to have NK Cell testing. This identified a high level of natural killer cells which has informed her treatment going forward. At the time of recording Katie was about to embark on her next round of treatment and I’m sure you’ll all join me in wishing her the very best. We’re hoping this is the one Katie!
Katie’s advice to listeners is to trust yourself and your gut, to keep driving and find out what further investigations are out there for you and get knowledgeable. Make your own decision on what’s best for you and you alone.
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