It all started with an emotional and medical “adventure.” My partner and I quickly realized that we weren’t ready to let go of our dream of having a child. After witnessing the struggles faced by my niece due to severe muscular dystrophy, we were determined to find ways to have a healthy child. This led us to seek out top-notch fertility specialists, and we found Dr. Emma Lawson, who quickly became our guiding light.
As someone in the medical field, I had done my homework on fertility clinics and was hopeful that Dr. Lawson could help us. Her impressive credentials focused on advanced maternal age and prenatal genetic diagnosis (PGD). After our first consultation, I felt confident we were in good hands. Dr. Lawson was not only knowledgeable but also genuinely compassionate. She understood the complexities of our situation and was eager to assist us rather than suggesting we consider adoption.
With her support, we initiated a PGD process alongside an IVF cycle. This required careful coordination among Dr. Lawson, her dedicated staff, and the genetic counselor, Sarah Green. We faced a lot of waiting as we prepared the necessary probes for testing and fine-tuned the IVF schedule. Unfortunately, our initial PGD-IVF attempt resulted in an early miscarriage. However, Dr. Lawson remained optimistic and, after modifying our IVF protocol and incorporating acupuncture, we were able to conceive during our second attempt.
As my pregnancy progressed, our anticipation grew. About nine months later, we welcomed our beautiful, healthy daughter into the world—an indescribable joy that every parent can relate to. The gratitude we felt for Dr. Lawson’s unwavering support through this journey was immense. Without her expertise and belief in our dream, we might never have had our child.
Just six months postpartum, we approached Dr. Lawson again, excited to discuss expanding our family. We assumed it would be just as straightforward as before, but I soon learned that even a year could significantly impact my ovarian reserve. The stimulation protocol that had worked previously produced only half the follicles and eggs this time, and the embryo quality was noticeably lower. We went through three additional cycles—one frozen and two fresh—but faced heartbreak with each miscarriage.
Dr. Lawson’s guidance was crucial during this tough period. She reassured us that the miscarriages were likely due to embryo quality issues rather than my ability to carry a pregnancy. She suggested we consider comprehensive aneuploidy screening in addition to PGD, a relatively new medical option. Thanks to her connections, we got involved in a clinical trial that allowed us to test for our specific muscular dystrophy mutation while also screening for chromosome anomalies.
Our final fresh IVF cycle included both PGD and a full aneuploidy screening, resulting in ten embryos, of which only one was healthy. We were skeptical but hopeful, having only one embryo to transfer. To our delight, it implanted successfully! Now at 30 weeks pregnant, additional amniocentesis tests have confirmed everything is as it should be. My partner, daughter, and I are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our second daughter.
I share our story to inspire others who may be experiencing similar challenges in their family planning journeys. I learned the importance of perseverance and of having a caring professional like Dr. Lawson by your side; it made all the difference.
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Summary
Our journey through fertility challenges involved heartache, hope, and the invaluable support of a dedicated specialist. After numerous cycles and setbacks, we finally achieved our dream of expanding our family. This experience taught us to keep pursuing our dreams and the importance of expert guidance along the way.