| My Story: | | | | My story continued: |
| At the time my journey into fertility began, I was 39 | | | | After doing an extensive amount of research and |
| years old. I had realized that if I wanted to have a | | | | putting everything I discovered into immediate action, |
| child, it was going to have to be "now or never". I | | | | I decided to see if my fertility situation had changed, |
| was busy relocating to the Netherlands from South | | | | so I made an appointment with another fertility |
| Africa and my husband and I had decided that we | | | | specialist, this time in the Netherlands... |
| would start trying for a baby as soon as possible | | | | He seemed a lot more positive initially, especially after |
| after moving. | | | | seeing that my FSH levels had gone down |
| Unlike most couples with fertility issues, we hadn't | | | | substantially. I then proceeded to go through a whole |
| yet even tried to fall pregnant. Because of my age, I | | | | new batch of fertility tests, a repeat of what I had |
| went to a renowned fertility clinic, just to check | | | | already gone through in South Africa, as well as a |
| what was actually going on with my body. I had | | | | number of new tests. Now feeling a lot more |
| always had the regular gynecological check-ups, but I | | | | positive, I was not expecting the news that I |
| wanted to check that everything was in order. | | | | received next! |
| I never expected the bad news - the worst possible | | | | "I'm very sorry, but your test results indicate that |
| news, delivered early in the morning on Christmas | | | | you are not a candidate for IVF, as we are not sure |
| Eve: "I'm sorry, but your test results confirm that | | | | how many eggs you have and we don't think that |
| you have NO eggs left, you are in premature | | | | you will respond to hormone treatment. There is, |
| menopause and your only options of having a baby | | | | however a very slim chance that you could fall |
| are either a donor egg or adoption..." | | | | pregnant naturally, as your FSH levels have dropped, |
| I fainted from the shock and when I came round, I | | | | but we won't take you on as a patient as we feel it |
| found a nurse standing there, stroking my cheek with | | | | will be a waste of time and money". I was of course |
| a cup of tea in the other hand. She said: "...you will go | | | | again devastated. I really thought that after |
| through a mourning period and when you are ready, | | | | everything I had been doing, that I would at least |
| you can chat to the doctor about our donor egg | | | | now have a chance of starting an IVF program, so I |
| program..." I said; "I'm sorry, I refuse to believe it, | | | | started looking at other fertility clinics as options. I |
| that's ridiculous - and I have to get out of here right | | | | was more determined than ever and followed my |
| now!" I drove to my parent's home in tears. (My | | | | holistic regime religiously as it was the only thing that |
| husband was in the Netherlands at the time and that | | | | was giving me hope. |
| made it even worse.) | | | | Not long after this, I started to feel different. My |
| The first thing my mother said to me was: "Don't | | | | instinct told me I was pregnant. I did two pregnancy |
| buy the bad news!" "Don't believe it." And we started | | | | tests, which were both negative. Very disappointing, |
| doing research and taking action. Taking action makes | | | | but as I was still feeling a bit strange and had noticed |
| you feel much better. It immediately takes you out | | | | some changes in my body, I decided to do one last |
| of the victim role and puts you into survival mode! | | | | test, on the morning of my 40th birthday... |
| After doing loads of research, I discovered a lot of | | | | POSITIVE!!!! I was pregnant!! |
| the information as well as coming to the realization | | | | What an incredible birthday gift from God! |
| that the medical profession was offering no solutions. | | | | I still sometimes can't believe the journey I went on, |
| They gave me NO hope of having a baby with my | | | | in order to be where I am right now. I am so happy |
| own egg, so I decided to try some the holistic | | | | being a mother to our beautiful, healthy baby boy - |
| treatments, as I had to do something... | | | | what an incredible blessing! |
| The things I tried that worked for me were: | | | | The human body has an incredible ability to heal itself, |
| acupuncture, Chinese herbs, reflexology and DHEA, | | | | along with the grace of God and natural medicine, a |
| amongst other things. Please consult a medical | | | | positive attitude and the incredible love and support |
| professional, Chinese medical practitioner or | | | | of family and friends. |
| homeopath first and DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE. | | | | |