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Emily, Bethany, and Elisha discuss how Emily is handling infertility, and how babies are really made.
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Apologies for the cranky cranky baby on the second half of this!
On our first wedding anniversary Mrs. Russell and I decided to start our family. It took two years and eight months, however, for her to become pregnant the first time (The second time took one year and five months). Like Emily, we discovered that the medical specialty most suited to our needs was Reproductive Endocrinologist. After much testing (and treatment of a couple of diagnosable, but minor and reversible causes) the medical verdict for us was “diminished fertility,” i.e. no remaining diagnosable cause. In the event both of our children were conceived when I was taking Clomid (I noticed when Emily mentioned that Clomid was one of the medications she was taking). For the record, Clomid for the husband is prescribed by his Urologist, not by the Reproductive Endocrinologist. We also rejected IVF though there was another procedure we would have considered as a last resort, namely Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer, or GIFT.
In re the discussion about when to announce that she had finally become pregnant we found that we had to wait to satisfy ourselves that the good news (of a positive pregnancy test) was not just another mirage. Having suffered so many disappointments the fear of jinxing the good news was just too great. In our state of mind I only half jokingly suggested that we try buying a pair of stone fertility figures (one male and one female) of the sort favored by certain tribal peoples (idolatry ishmolitry).
For what it is worth our first child was conceived about two weeks after we brought home a new puppy.
This book deals with how one of the pre-eminent biohackers and his wife were able to overcome their challenges conceiving a child: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Better-Baby-Book-Healthier-Smarter/dp/1118137132/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1524554186&sr=1-1&keywords=better+baby+book
“And now, back to the sexytimes” got the most inappropriate laugh from me in my cubicle, leading to probing questions given they think I don’t stream audio through this earpiece I wear.
I’ll listen to the podcast tomorrow when I’m on the treadmill, but no LadyBrain has to apologize for the sound of new life making itself known.
Until then, quick off-the-wall question: What are the names of the theme song and artist used for the LadyBrains podcast? Is there any interesting story behind how it was picked and why? Just curious . . .
Nah – babies are good. My brother and Sister in law had huge issues with her reproductive issues (ovarian cysts and other things) and as he said when you are 18 you can get your girlfriend pregnant thru sweat pants when you are married and WANT to it can (in their case) take tons of money and team of doctors. So they decided to adopt. Looked for a while before they found a young girl that was going to put her unborn child up for adoption. Here where we live the presumptive adoptive baby goes home for the first 10 days to a neutral home to give the new Mom time to adjust and decide whether to go thru with the adoption. She decided to go thru with it and I had a lovely new niece – but apparently Brother and Sis in Law had been working off some stress during the waiting period that loosened up some fertility things because she gave birth to my nephew 9 months later. Exactly nine months which caused a few raised eyebrows on introductions later (like “man couldn’t you give her a chance to even get out home from the first one before starting the second!!!). Life works in odd ways and I wish Emily and her husband much luck in getting the family started and much joy when it is!!!
It seems that to some degree you brother and sister in law’s story (in which she became pregnant as soon as she brought home an adopted newborn) tracks ours (in which Mrs. Russell became pregnant with our first child two weeks after we brought home a new puppy).
My wife and I know a couple who tried unsuccessfully for years to have children. Finally, they gave up and adopted twin boys. Within three months, the wife became pregnant with their daughter.
Not that I want the little one unhappy, but the crying reminded me of my kids. Beautiful memories.