Our first pregnancy ended in heartbreak with an ectopic pregnancy that nearly cost me my life. I can still remember my husband’s face as I handed him my wedding ring just before they wheeled me into surgery. My doctor brushed off my other symptoms—missed periods, constipation, and heavy bleeding—as unimportant. The solution? Clomid. After a year of trying unsuccessfully, a family member urged me to seek a second opinion.
My new doctor suggested that my symptoms pointed to endometriosis but would need to confirm this through surgery. Thus began a long journey, including eight laparoscopies over six years. My endometriosis was so severe that my organs were fused together. After my first surgery, I resumed Clomid treatment, but after four cycles, my doctor advised that IVF was our best option. That’s when the reality of our situation began to sink in.
With my husband working in construction and me as a Kindergarten teacher, IVF felt like a distant dream. We faced the harsh truth that pursuing IVF meant sacrificing vacations and home improvements. We had to come to terms with the possibility that we might never have children. After sorting out our finances, we took our first steps to the fertility clinic recommended by my doctor, ready to start IVF that summer while I was off work.
When the medications arrived, we were shocked by the number of needles! I insisted my husband give me the injections to keep him involved in the process. He was nervous at first, but I reassured him that to have a baby, he had to step up. Aside from some bruising and pain, I handled the treatments relatively well. Unfortunately, our first round ended in disappointment as I learned that I wasn’t producing many viable eggs. My husband’s sperm was fine, but I felt the weight of the pressure on my shoulders. We attempted a frozen cycle with some leftover embryos, but that didn’t work either. Sticking to our plan of only doing IVF in the summer, we took time to regroup and save money for another attempt.
The second round didn’t yield success either. When we approached the third round, we implanted three embryos, and on July 7, 2007, we received the joyous news that I was pregnant! My husband believed that the date was a lucky omen. We were thrilled, and my pregnancy progressed smoothly despite the chaos in my work life and my father’s health issues. At our 20-week ultrasound, we learned we were having a boy and named him Lucius.
But just a week later, while discussing school event guidelines, my water broke. I still remember that moment vividly and it brings tears to my eyes. The hospital sent me home, hoping my body would heal, but I developed a fever and had to deliver my little boy. The doctor explained that waiting until he was viable wasn’t an option, and I was devastated. I felt like I had failed my husband once again. In the months that followed, I struggled with the loss, wishing I had died with my baby. My husband’s support was unwavering, and when I suggested he find someone else to have children with, I’d never seen him so angry. He was committed to us, and we would face whatever came next together.
Rounds four and five were unsuccessful, but we managed to keep our marriage strong through communication, even as we dealt with the lingering pain of losing Lucius. My husband began drinking more, and I found myself resentful of friends with children. Yet, we pulled through together.
By the time we reached round six, we didn’t expect success, but to our amazement, it worked! This time, we took every precaution. I even had my mom help me at work to alleviate stress. After the first trimester, I realized that living in fear wasn’t fair to our baby, so we began preparing for her arrival. When we learned we were having a girl, our joy knew no bounds! Other than some gestational diabetes, everything went smoothly, and on March 13, 2011, our beautiful Lyra was born, weighing 7 pounds 8 ounces and measuring 20.5 inches long. She was everything we had hoped for.
After a decade of trying, six years of IVF, and the loss of our angel baby Lucius, we finally felt complete. Looking into Lyra’s eyes, I know every sacrifice and tear was worth it.
In summary, this heartfelt journey of Martina and Leandro through infertility, multiple IVF attempts, and the loss of their son Lucius ultimately led them to the joy of welcoming their daughter, Lyra. Their story highlights the emotional and financial challenges faced by couples on the path to parenthood. If you’re interested in more insights on fertility and home insemination, check out our other blog posts, such as this one about aluminum’s fascinating insights.