Our pregnancy journey was not exactly what I envisioned for Le and myself. I was definitely naive in thinking that it was generally pretty easy to get pregnant if you wanted to. Just have unprotected sex and boom, there ya go! But it is not that simple for everyone. There are a lot of different factors that can come into play when trying to conceive and also some trial and error.

2019

We were married in September of 2019 and I immediately stopped taking birth control. I no longer wanted those chemicals in my body and we knew that it may take a little while to get them out of my system. I went to my OBGYN in November for my annual physical exam and we discussed our family plans. My doctor explained that my exam and all of my labs were normal and to come back in a year if we were not able to conceive. 

2020

We thoroughly enjoyed our first full year of married life and it seemed to fly by. We took various trips, celebrated our friends, and experienced many firsts together. However, a year had passed and we were still not pregnant. I went back to the doctor in December of 2020 and had another physical exam. She proceeded to order a semen analysis and scheduled an Hysterosalpingography (HSG) test. The HSG test is an X-ray to outline the internal shape of the uterus and to also show whether or not the fallopian tubes are blocked. Le took a semen sample to the lab and the results came back normal. His sperm count was high and all of his little swimmers were healthy and swimming. This was great news however I began to feel a little stressed. I immediately thought, “Great… so I’m the issue”.

2021

January 5th- I went to a radiology center and had the HSG test performed. They inserted a dye into my uterus to see if it would travel through and out of my Fallopian tubes without issue. The procedure was very uncomfortable and slightly painful but thankfully Le was able to be there to hold my hand. We were able to see on the X-ray that the dye went through and flowed out normally. My doctor explained that Le’s semen was normal and healthy, I was healthy, ovulating regularly and my fallopian tubes were normal. We were then diagnosed with Unexplained Infertility. We were relieved to hear that we were both healthy and neither of us were the “issue” however being diagnosed with unexplained infertility is a whole can of worms because you essentially have no answers. The doctor gave us a couple of routes that we could take in order to possibly conceive. We wanted to be proactive and decided to start with a treatment that pushed ovulation.

January 23rd- My next cycle started and my doctor prescribed Femara (Letrozole), which is an ovulation induction medication. I started the medication on day 3 of my cycle and ended it on day 7. The only side effects I experienced were some hot flashes on a few days of the medication. 

February 3rd- I went to the OBGYN for an ultrasound to see if the medication was working to force ovulation. The nurse performed a transvaginal ultrasound. She moved the wand around so that she could see both ovaries and the thickness of my uterine lining. My doctor explained that my lining looked fine and the left and right ovaries had follicles forming but they weren’t quite ready yet.

February 5th- I went in to receive a “trigger shot” of hCg. This injection prepares the eggs to mature and burst out of the ovaries. hCg is known as the “pregnancy hormone”. I received the injection around 9:45am and by noon I began feeling super moody and just wanted to be left alone. The doctor instructed us to have sex often for the next 5 days.

The two-week waiting period is no doubt the most nerve wracking timespan. You are nervous and excited all at the same time, thinking that this could be it. Envisioning yourself with a cute little baby bump and stopping as you walk past a mirror to poke your stomach out. Daydreaming about what your baby’s little laugh will sound like. But you are also cautious not to get your hopes up too high because you could end up with yet another negative test or the unwelcome surprise of your period returning.

February 20th- I took two pregnancy tests and they both read positive. I was no doubt excited but cautious. 

February 21st- I took two more pregnancy tests and both were still positive (I had to make sure the baby was still there lol). I was about 4 weeks along. I surprised Le with the news and he was so excited. We had to get tested for COVID that morning due to Le showing symptoms and he was positive while I tested negative. I was not able to take any vitamins or supplements to support my immune system since I was pregnant except for my prenatal vitamins. I contacted my OBGYN and they wouldn’t be able to see me until the second week of March because I had been exposed to the COVID virus. At this appointment they would perform an ultrasound to check for a viable pregnancy. 

March 11th-  We had our first prenatal visit and we were both so anxious. The tech performed a transvaginal ultrasound since I wasn’t that far along. As soon as my uterus was on the screen we saw our baby. Our baby was so teeny tiny just like a little bean and we could see the baby’s heartbeat flickering. Le and I stared at the screen and we couldn’t believe our eyes. There was an actual baby in my womb. I was overjoyed and so relieved. Le was so excited and couldn’t stop smiling. The ultrasound tech printed out a few pictures of our little baby and I couldn’t take my eyes off of them. She also told me I measured 6 weeks and 5 days with an estimated due date of October 31! It was official… we were having a fall baby!