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Ovarian Drilling

The longer time goes on, the more I think about whether or not my baby-making factory is going to start working again or not.  Maybe this was just an incredible fluke or maybe my body will function as female again...

For readers who don't know, I had failed to ovulate on metformin and clomid after being diagnosed with PCOS in 2008.  I'd never had regular periods that I could remember, but without progesterone I wasn't having them at all.  My RE suggested either ovarian drilling or injectables and I chose the surgery which insurance would cover.

It was the best decision I ever made because it resulted in the birth of my beautiful baby girl.  Even worth the hospitalization afterwards for a nasty uterine infection...

But since it isn't a common treatment, there isn't a lot of research out there about it.  We were told that 75% ovulate after surgery, and pregnancy rates are 30-40%.  But what about subsequent pregnancies?  How long does the surgery last? 

I had three periods after my surgery and then got pregnant the 1st time.  I had one period in between the miscarriage and baby #2 (now known as Paisley).  So it didn't take long.  And I'm still breastfeeding now which interferes with cycles, so it's not surprising that I haven't started.  But my infertile mind can't help but wonder if the "shop" is closed for business.

When I used to go on a certain site about PCOS, the girls who'd had ovarian drilling mostly didn't get pregnant.  The very few who did only had 1 baby.  In fact, one of the girls got pregnant right after her surgery, but then had 4 miscarriages following that baby's birth.  Not too promising...

I guess the moral is that I'm incredibly lucky to have this sweet baby.  She's my miracle and will complete our family if I don't have another.  It's just hard to accept that we don't control how many babies we have or when...

Sometimes I pretend I'm "normal"  (I can hear some of my friends laughing) because I had this perfect baby and I want to do it again because I loved pregnancy and enjoy being her mama so much.  But I guess we'll just see what happens.  :)

Comments

  1. That photo is precious!!

    We go through pregnancy and start to feel like a "normal" girl and then the IF issues just slap us back in the face, don't they? Paisley will get her sibling if she's supposed to. Surrendering to what you can't control is the healthiest course of action. And it's hard to be too stressed when you're looking at that sweet, precious face.

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  2. Can a person do the surgery again to try to get pregnant again? Paisley is beautiful!!

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  3. I can imagine that I will be wondering the same someday once I have my first child. Its impossible not to think about those things when you loved your pregnancy and the this gorgeous baby girl!! Sometimes I think, will it make me greedy or something if I want more after one?! But nahhh, theres no such thing as being greedy when it comes to your family! :) I hope that you are blessed with another, but if not, that Paisley probably has your heart overflowing already :)

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  4. I am going through the same thing, although for slightly different reasons. I was able to get pregnant with my son with progesterone and hoped I'd be normal after giving birth. No such luck, and to top it off I ended up with blocked tubes from scar tissue from my c-section. So now I am going through IVF but realizing how lucky I am to have one beautiful child and maybe our family is complete as it is. I just wish I was the one making these decisions.

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  5. What is meant to be will be, and unfortunately we don't have crystal balls to see what that is! But, I'll tell ya what, there was a time when I had accepted that I would only be the mother to one beautiful little miracle and here I sit years later the mother to 4!!! You just never know what God has in store. You are such a great mother, I believe that God has more in store for you. :-)

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  6. Paisley is just too adorable! :) I love her little sundress and hat!
    I'm wondering the same thing. Is there any chance my body will be normal and we'll get lucky and have a #2 without any IF treatment? Most likely not. #1 may be a one and only. I didn't love being pregnant, but I think I'll enjoy and appreciate it so much more on the next round. I really, really want to have a #2.

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  7. Hi, I came across your blog through a search regarding ovarian drilling. I am encouraged by your story. I just recently had the drilling (1 wk post-op) and talk about not feeling well. Wow! But I am so happy you were able to conceive and little Paisley is a doll! I, too, have PCOS, have had two miscarriages (one at 14 wks), done IUI, clomid, injectables...everything short of IVF. Infertility is the pits, but we are all learning to live, eh!

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  8. Paisley is just too adorable! :) I love her little sundress and hat!

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