Teresal's Story
Right, where to start? My name is Teresa (good start) and here’s my story….
In August 2003 I met Chris. It was quite casual at the start, but in January 2004 we chatted and decided that we actually did quite like each other and maybe we should give this relationship thing a go. I was 34 and Chris was 30 (yes, yes he’s my toyboy) and I had just about given up on meeting that “special somebody”.
In Feb 2005 we decided to move in together (huge decision for me and very scary) to see how we actually got on with Chris not being able to run to his house and after a few months we chatted about having children. It has always been my dream to be a Mummy and as time was ticking by we thought we better get on with it! But every month the same damned period arrived bang on time (never gave me any chance to think I might be pregnant!).
In April 2006 we moved from Glasgow back to my hometown in the Borders. So I had a quick chat with my new Doctor about trying for a baby. She decided that due to my age that maybe we should just tell the odd white lie and get on and do some tests. All came back fine for me so the attention switched to Chris. After several sperm samples (me cuddling the pot to keep it warm till we got to the clinic) it was confirmed that Chris had no live sperm(Azoospermia) and that our only chance of having a baby would be to do IVF with Donor sperm. It was like being slapped in the face with a wet fish; Chris seemed to accept it quicker than I did, but I grieved for the child that we would never make together.
We were referred to our local fertility clinic where I was given scans, more blood tests and an HSG (Hysterosalpingogram). Since they didn’t deal with IVF we were then re referred to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Our first appointment at the Assisted Conception Unit (now 2008) was very scary and yes more blood tests . We were tested for every STI you can think of and I had my AMH (anti-mullerian hormone ) done (5.4). We were then told that there was a shortage of Donor Sperm in Scotland and we would be put on the waiting list. Now all we could do was wait (something I’m not good at).
In 2009, we decided to borrow the money to go to a private clinic. After searching many clinics we decided on the Nuffield in Glasgow. Following an initial consultation, we started our first attempt in April 2009, but unfortunately it was abandoned at the first blood test, as my Oestrogen levels were too high. We were absolutely gutted, to say the least and as there was no reason as to why it had happened we just had to wait till my next period to try again. How that month dragged! We started again in the May, all seemed to go well and I had 2 grade A/B embryos replaced. Sadly, 3 days before our test date I started bleeding. I cannot really describe how we actually felt at that time, it was a total blur and even now I can’t really remember how I was. We knew that we couldn’t afford to try again privately so we felt that that was it for us and we were going to be childless forever. We needed time to grieve.
After about 2 months I seemed to get a sudden gush of anger and wrote to my local PCT and explained about the length of time we had waited to have our treatment and how ridiculous it all was. After about 3 weeks I received a letter informing us that they agreed that we had been treated badly and in fact due to an administration error we had been removed from all waiting lists in Glasgow! So they offered to actually pay for us to go to a private clinic in Glasgow.
Our first meeting at the GCRM was lovely, very relaxed, and we left that day with all the drugs I would need. So the journey started again. I started taking my drugs in the September and had 3 decent grade embryos replaced (I could have 3 because I was over 40). 2 days before my test date I couldn’t wait any longer and tested. Whoopppy!!! It was a big fat positive! But we still had another 2 weeks to wait till the scan. Chris was now having kittens that all 3 embryos had taken and was looking at people carriers and mini buses just in case (poor soul, somebody said that they could even divide and we might end up with 6). Thankfully, there was only one beautiful heartbeat. Seeing and hearing that for the first time was very emotional and still is when I think about it.
My pregnancy went reasonably well and my labour was not great, but I will keep that for another time. Our precious, beautiful daughter, Meredith Emma was born on the 6th August 2010, weighing 6lb and our world is complete.
Loads more stories to tell from having a difficult delivery, sleepless nights, right through to the terrible twos and now nearly the horrendous threes.
I hope you have enjoyed our story.
