Consult with the RE

Future Blackmail Picture

In August I called my RE, Dr. M, for an appointment to discuss TTC #2, but then Finn had his first MRI and I forgot all about it.  Until this week, when I realized that my appointment was today.  It was weird, going into that office and not feeling a sense of anxiety or worry.  I'm sure that I'll feel different the next time I go, but today was just to come up with a plan (I'm a planner), so I'd know where we stand, and so there were no nerves at all.

We first talked about baseline testing, and he recommended that we repeat the HSG.  He didn't insist upon it, but said that sometimes weird things happen with c-sections (he's seen more than one case where a fallopian tube was twisted up away from the uterus) and that while it's unlikely, it makes sense to go ahead and get it checked just to be safe.  That makes sense to me, so I agreed with that.  Because of stupid laws and regulations, I have to get all my infectious disease testing done again (they won't take my word for it when I say there's no way I could have contracted syphilis, hep C or HIV in the past year).  We discussed IVF, but he thinks it's reasonable to try at least a couple of IUIs using the same protocol that got me pregnant with Finn.  I have two vials of Finn's donor's sperm in storage at the RE's office, so that sounds ok to me.  I'm going to order a few more vials and have the cryobank keep those, so if I don't need them I can sell them back, but I won't have the possibility of running out of vials influencing any decisions I might have to make.

The plan is to do the HSG my first period after I've weaned Finn, along with a TSH and an AMH, and then with the next cycle after that we'll get Day 3 labs and go from there.  I'm thinking that I'd like to try 2-3 IUIs before going on to IVF if my labs and antral follicle counts look ok, but if they're not so great, I may go straight to IVF if IUI #1 doesn't work.  Though Dr. M said I shouldn't worry about that, "I fully expect you to get pregnant on the first try.  I'll hold the threat of IVF over you to scare your body into getting pregnant."  If only it were that easy!

Dr. M thinks I should start TTC after the holidays (!!!!) but I'm not sure I'm ready to try quite that soon.  I'd really like to breastfeed Finn for a full year, especially since his immune system is doing such a great job killing off his neuroblastoma, and - while I realize I'm not getting any younger - I'm not sure if starting in January vs starting in May will make that big of a difference.  We talked about TTC while still breastfeeding, but Dr. M thinks that prolactin from breastfeeding may keep Femara from being effective at stimulating follicle growth.

Of course, there's always the chance that Finn might wean himself before then - both of my sister's boys did - and if that happens, then I might move the calendar up some.   He's such a boob boy, though, I don't see that happening!

It's hard to imagine having another.  The thought is a little scary, but I know it's the right thing for me and Finn.  This time last year I was pregnant.  It's crazy to think that there's a chance that this time next year I could be pregnant again.