aka MTHFR

Yesterday I went to see my RE for my hysteroscopy and for the results of all of the blood work they did on me and dear husband. First up, the hysteroscopy (camera in the uterus), showed nothing abnormal at all. Uterus looks good - yay! He did take a sample to biopsy to check for infection (I will find out the results next week). He did find something abnormal in my blood work. In the test for Methylenetetrahydrofolate (aka MTHFR ;-) ), I am heterozygous for the C677t mutation. For those of you who haven't studied reproductive endocrinology, it basically means that I have a genetic disorder that prevents my body from absorbing folic acid and vitamin B 6 and B 12 very well. As we all know, folic acid is an important ingredient for growing those babies, and apparently, a vitamin B deficiency can increase your risk of blood clots. Who knew??

So, the plan. I will start taking a prescription strength super vitamin called Folgard that includes super high doses of vitamin B and folic acid, this in addition to my regular prenatal vitamin. I will take one a day now, and switch to two a day once I get pregnant. I am going to kick start another cycle with a round of provera starting tomorrow. We'll do clomid 100 mg, and start prometrium twice a day vaginally after ovulation. And hopefully all of that my friends, will be the magic potion.

I have already started researching foods that are high in folic acid and vitamin B - Mrs. Type A can't just rely on vitamins, going to try to help out with food all I can! I am a little nervous about becoming pregnant and then being sick and not wanting to eat anything - more less broccoli and lentils! But I will cross that bridge when I get there - which I am praying will be sooner rather than later. If all goes well, I could be pregnant in a month or so. I know I am being overly optimistic, but I feel like we just cracked the code and these horrible miscarriages could be a thing of the past. And, at least until something happens to prove to me that we are not out of the woods, I am going to keep rockin' my positive attitude.

Wish me luck!

Dog days of summer

I haven't posted in a while, along with the temperatures outside, I feel like my mission to motherhood is experiencing the dog days of summer. One day after another just keeps ticking off the calendar with no change. I am on day 7 of a Provera induced cycle and I have my hysteroscopy scheduled for Friday afternoon. I am also expecting on Friday that my RE will give me the results of ALL of the other miscarriage testing that they did. When the nurse called to remind me to schedule my hysteroscopy two weeks ago (do people in my situation really forget to schedule these appointments....oh yeah, i forgot i am trying to figure out why i have had two miscarriages in a row!!), sorry, i digress, when she called me, I asked her if any of my other tests results were back. She said that everything that was back looked normal, but she couldn't tell if everything was back and she knew the genetic testing was not back. So I guess that was a pseudo update. I am looking forward to the hysteroscopy and also the ultrasound that they are going to be doing - wondering how those ovaries of mine will be looking after 8 months of metformin now (hoping for reduced signs of PCOS).

On a note unrelated to fertility, but definitely related to my title, our pride and joy, Herbie the beagle, turned three this weekend and in "desperate for children fashion," we threw him a birthday bash. Our friends have to be thinking, Please Lord, give these people some children!! The party was complete with doggie cup cakes and four dog guests (their owners got to come too ;-) )! Picture here - that's me and my excited pooch trying to blow out his candle!

Hopefully this weekend I'll have an exciting post about our next steps!

The dreaded baby shower

Tonight I have a couples baby shower to go to. (husband is out of town, so I am flying solo) There are five couples hosting - three of the five couples are expecting! There may very well be more pregnant people there than not. Doesn't that just sound divine? I have actually avoided going to the last two baby showers that I have been invited to. (I did send Babies R Us gift cards to help me feel less guilty about being a no-show!) I don't really know why - I really do want other people to reproduce and I wouldn't wish my predicament on anyone. Most of my friends know that I have had one miscarriage, some know that I have had two. I guess I feel like that makes me "Debbie Downer" at baby showers. I tell myself that I am doing them a favor by not coming so that they don't have to walk on eggshells when they gush about pregnancy, or complain about swollen ankles and how tired they are!! With this shower, the honoree, specifically told me that she was hoping we'd be able to come, and I don't have any good excuse and I HATE lying, so here I am, sucking it up and going!! The invitation said UNWRAPPED gifts, so this is what I've put together. It's a Hooter Hider (which I bought from babysteals.com for myself during my 2nd pregnancy!), nursing pads, breast milk storage bags, and breast millk test strips (for drinking and nursing!). Yes, I do have a closet full of brand new baby stuff and maternity clothes, either gifts or purchases. It actually feels pretty good to be able to put an item to use - even if it's not for myself. Well, wish me luck!!