My Fertility Journey - the end of IVF

In 2013 I was looking in my bathroom mirror.  Two weeks ago we had completed our third and final cycle of IVF.  Despite the fact that my period had not arrived I knew deep down that it hadn’t worked.

After 5 years of intrusive tests and procedures, journeys back and forth to hospitals and clinics, the physical and emotional roller coaster had finally come to an end.

Although I was sad, I was not surprised.  In fact I felt some relief that it was over.  We could now proceed with the next chapter of our fertility journey – adoption – a process that would surely result in us having a child.

I felt lighter – content with the prospect of having a non-biological child. Free of the all-consuming thoughts of getting pregnant.  It would take time but we were finally going to be parents!

And true enough fast forward 3 months and I finally hear the words “Congratulations Mrs Bartlett, I can confirm that you are going to have a baby!”. 

The sonographer’s face was beaming.  Against all hope as I looked at the screen, an early pregnancy scan revealed a tiny dark sac with a small circle inside.  A naturally conceived 2mm embryo that last week reached the ripe old age of double-digits – 10 years old and big sister to 3 younger siblings.