A Woman’s Road to Motherhood - Part 1
When God’s work needs a little help...
Copyright 2001 by Meredith Agius
Well, having a family was supposed to be an easy and ‘normal’ part of married life, and what marriage was ordained for, right? Well, for me it was not so easy, even though it was what I had yearned for.
My husband and I married later in life. I was 27, and he was 32. I was still in prime fertile territory, right? Well, it wasn’t like that at all. We tried on our own on and off for 5 years, got more serious about it for 3 more, and then, finally realized, we aren’t going to be able to do this.
I had always wanted children, and I had wanted to be a teacher. So, sheepishly, I talked to my Doctor about the matter, and she sent me to an Obstetrician/Gynecologist who specialized in Infertility Treatment. She talked about the screening process, blood tests for HIV and Hepatitis ad well as an ‘assessment’ of our family tree in terms of illnesses, and tendencies.
Then they would have to analyze my husband’s (oh how can I put this delicately) contributions to the endeavor to ensure that things were alright on his part, and to figure out what they could do.
So, after lots of blood tests and visits with the Genetic Counselors, we were ready to start. I called the specialist when I was ready and all the tests had come back for the ok to proceed, but was I ready for the emotional ride? Not quite. I had to take a pill for the first few days of my cycle, take injections of fertility drugs each day. I was a working woman, and my drug plan covered a portion of these drugs, but it was still expensive even with coverage.
I had to get to the clinic by 6:00 AM to sign in for a good time for my ultrasound to check follicle (egg) growth and blood tests to got levels of HCG, which indicated ovulation so that the staff could determine when I would book the procedure. What a job these did on my emotions, and helped to pack on a few extra pounds as well.
I was very lucky. The first procedure in the office in early December 1996 worked, and I was able to celebrate Christmas with the news that I was pregnant! I was overjoyed, and enjoyed watching myself grow, and feeling and growing as one with the miracle baby inside me. I thanked God every day that I was finally going to be a mommy. I felt so blessed, although it was not quite the way that I ever envisioned things happening.
Our little miracle, Crawford, was born right on his due date, weighing 6 pounds 11 ounces, and I was the happiest woman on earth. He grew and thrived. I was in awe of this wonderful little person that I had hoped and prayed for, and wondered why God made it so difficult for us to conceive him. The answers were to come in the most surprising and difficult ways over the next few years.
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