First time single mother...ready to start my journey
melissaprestwood
Posts: 136
In one month from today I have my initial consultation scheduled to start my family. I'm going 2 days after my 34th birthday, I'm single and just tired of waiting for the "perfect time" and "perfect man".
I'm super excited, the nerves aren't really kicking in yet. I'm not going to choose my donor until after my consultation and I learn everything from the doctor. But I do have a few narrowed down.
If anyone has any advice, please share. :)
I'm super excited, the nerves aren't really kicking in yet. I'm not going to choose my donor until after my consultation and I learn everything from the doctor. But I do have a few narrowed down.
If anyone has any advice, please share. :)
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I narrowed my choices, but didn't actually choose my donor until a week or two before my first IUI- I kept vacillating between a few of them.
I would just say try not to stress too much, keep busy during the 2 week wait (the time between your IUI and the first opportunity to test for pregnancy), and don't get discouraged if it doesn't take the first time.
At this point, just take it one step at a time. I felt very overwhelmed at first, but looking back on it all it wasn't so bad. They'll give you a list of things to do and appointments to make, and you'll be fine. For me, the trickiest part was the first steps- figuring out where to go, what was covered by insurance, etc. You've done that, so you're on your way. ;-)
Good luck to you! We're here for you if you need it.
I'm on pinterest constantly pinning craft projects, I think that is what I will do to keep busy and calm my nerves...crafts crafts and more crafts. LOL.
Congratulations to you! So exciting to be expecting. I've been talking to my obgyn about this for 3 years, she will be thrilled when I go in for my first pregnancy appointment with her. She told me that it is more common than you would think, she has had several patients recently that have decided to have a family on their own.
I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for more than one try.
So excited! YAY!
I went in a month before my 35th birthday. It took me 5 tries to get to pregnant. I had a miscarriage, and I thought I was done. There was no way I could go through that again. I think the only reason I tried again was because I still had a vial left and my dr gave me an amazing pep talk. I tried again right away. I am now 10 weeks pregnant with twins from try #6. Don't get discouraged if it does not work right away (althought I hope it does). Just keep focused on your goal.
As far as choosing a donor, I narrowed it down to 4 or 5. My main criteria was an open donor but everyone has different things that matter most to them. Then I had my sisters and 3 best friends vote on their favorite. Luckily, they voted overwhelmingly for the one who was my favorite too. It was pretty funny. One friend developed a point system to grade them. My sister just looked at baby pictures. My other friend looked strictly at medical history. Basically, everyone chose on different criteria but they call picked the same guy. So, I went with him. It worked out perfectly. I bought 6 vials and used all 6. I was kinda nervous about using my last vial. He is no longer available, and I worried about it working and me wanting a sibling in a few years. Little did I know it would work so well. Now, I am getting 2 in one shot so I got my baby and sibling and they will be full siblings:)
I want more than one too, and twins runs heavily in my family. If they can't have the same donor, I'm ok with that, I hope they are :)
Congratulations!!! So exciting to have twins! And sounds like you have a great support system.
I'm so glad to be able to talk to women and get insight from women who are going through the same thing. Some people just don't understand the strong desire to want children so badly. I just can't imagine not being a mother. Love can come later on.
As far as advice, well all I can tell you is what was important to me in selecting a donor: age (the younger the better...faster swimmers), clean family medical history, and of course hair/eye coloring, and height/weight combos. I was lucky. I thought it would be a never ending search for "the" donor sperm. I narrowed my selections down to three, bought the packages, of course asked all my friends to view the profile, examine the medical history, see the baby picture, and listen to the audio sample. It was thankfully unanimous and I was able to buy the last 8 vials of my guy. Only needed to use 2 and BOOM! I was preggers. I never thought I'd end up being "Fertile Myrtle"! LOL
I did end up with a closed donor, but I signed up for the sibling registry just in case there are any half siblings out there who would like to connect one day.
Curious to hear about your special journey, so please keep us posted!
Thanks so much for all of the encouraging words!
Praying that this isn't a major setback.
Now I'm stressing over the low progesterone levels. Idk if they r low naturally or because of my age. I'm 34, I wasn't expecting there to be any problems. But I'm not letting it discourage me.
Good luck hope....keep us posted!
I had another ultrasound today, doctor counted 12 follicles. She said that she could check my progesterone levels again and it's possible they will be normal, but she'd rather be safe and make the most from the IUI and give me the best chances of it working the first time.
So I have another u/s next week to see if the follicles are maturing, then I will start OPK and praying by the end of next week I'll do my first (an hopefully only) IUI.
I hope it is our 1st and only too! :)
Best of luck!!
I can't tell you anything about your age, it is completely up to you. I always thought I'd have my family in place before I turned 30. And in my early 20s I started thinking if I'm 30 and not married or no hopefuls I'm doing artificial insemination. I've always told my family and friends that. And here I am 34 and been talking to my doctor about it since I was 30, I've put it off hoping the "one" would come along. I'm tired of waiting. I can't control someone else and how they feel. But what I can control is this...to an extent...God willing, it will be the perfect choice for me.
I hope I at least helped some. Good luck. And I know you probably hate hearing this, because I sure do, but you are very young. You have plenty of time to figure it out. But if it is definitely what you want, don't put it off.
I'm reading a book right now called "Knock Yourself Up", I suggest reading it. It may help you out.
I am 42 years old and starting my journey! You are so young you have plenty of time. You have at least 10 years but don't wait 20 like I did. I was divorced at 30 and wasted a lot of time with many emotionally unavailable men. I wish I let all those losers go sooner. I wish I focused on someone who wants a healthy, serious, committed relationship and children. I reallly liked the book choosing single motherhood. That might help make things clearer to you! Good luck with your decision!
Try to have a glass of wine on the day of your insemination or even try acupuncture. I did both and found myself lucky. My doctor uses no meds or us. He used just OPK's for the LG surge. I was nervous that I missed it, so I tested many times a day and was shocked when I found out I was pregnant. It was the best decision that I made, now I am just waiting for my son to come home. Hopefully soon. he weighs almost 6 lbs so we shall see. He only has one more milestone to pass and I hope it is soon. he is only 38 weeks 3 days so he isn't even term yet.
it was the scariest but best thing i did. i have meet so many wonderful people in the NICU that will be good friends for ever.
Good luck and keep us up to date. I delivered when I was 43.
My progesterone levels were low so I did a cycle of Clomid. Went in this morning and the dr saw 2 nice huge follicles...she laughed and said "you're ok with twins right?". So in the next few days I'm expecting a positive with the OPK and it's time!!!!!
So excited...and nervous. And like you said, def having a glass of wine! Wish I had one right now. LOL!
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I had my first (and hopefully only) IUI this morning. Thinking fertile thoughts! haha