IVF + Our Journey

As a photographer in Las Vegas specializing in baby and maternity photography. I am lucky enough to get the opportunity to hear some of my client’s journeys. Often touched by their stories and their desire to do whatever it takes to have a family. I truly feel A great deal of respect should be given to women who have been through IVF, Fertility challenges, etc. This is not easy, and I feel a lot of people do not fully understand how physically and emotionally taxing infertility can be. After learning more about IVF I can’t help but be a little overly excited when I am shooting a maternity session or newborn session these couples.

Why Was This Not Working For Us?

After a few years of being married my husband and I were ready to grow our family.  After two years of trying on our own and two miscarriages we decided to look into other options to help us get to where we wanted. We began fertility testing and found out that there was no medical reason why we were not conceiving. Although we were glad there is nothing medically wrong with us, this news was frustrating at the same time.  Why was this not working for us?

The Power Of Sharing Our Journey

In the fall of 2017 I met a new friend who I happen to share my struggles with.  She opened up to me about her own fertility issues and our stories were very similar.  That is when she shared her successful story of going through IVF to have her son. 

We decided to get a second opinion and visit this new recommended fertility clinic.  We immediately loved the staff and doctors at the Fertility Center of Las Vegas.   Everyone was very welcoming and made us feel at home.  We decided to begin the process of doing IVF to help us conceive. 

Someone To Lean On…

During this same time I happen to meet another new friend going through the same thing.  Once we started talking we discovered we were going to the same clinic.  We immediately connected and chatted about where we were in the process and ironically we had our egg retrieval on the same day!  It was such a blessing to have someone to share your thoughts, concerns, struggles and triumphs with through this process who knows exactly what you are going through…(other than my amazing husband who provided me with the most support every step of the way).

The First Step

Although we completed this first step of a successful egg retrieval, we were only just beginning. We waited a week to find out how many little embryos we would have.  With great hopes of having a plentiful amount…due to the amount of eggs they retrieved we were told we had 3 viable embryos.  At first this was hard to hear because I was expecting a much greater number.  Very quickly realized I was more fortunate than others.  

The Heartache

The next few weeks I was able to let my body heal before beginning new medication and injections to prepare for implantation.  Then just a few weeks later one of those little embryos was ready to be implanted. The process was very smooth and again all the doctors and staff were very helpful to answer all our questions…day or night.  We waited 10 days (which felt like a lifetime) before we would know if the embryo implanted.  Unfortunately on day 10 I got a call from the doctor that it was not successful.  This was very frustrating to say the least. Again, there was no medical reason as to why it did not work.  We knew that this could be a possibility when we started, but you never think that it’s going to be you. 

Picked Myself Back Up

We knew we wanted to implant the second embryo as soon as we could.  So I began the next round of injections once I was able to.  I felt like a pro now being able to do the injections myself.  After countless blood testing to see if my body was ready we had our next implantation day scheduled. I followed all my instructions just like the time before.  On our drive to the clinic across own we got a call…when I saw it was the clinic I knew that it was not good.  

Once I heard the actual doctor’s voice, my heart sunk.  She told us that as the embryo began to thaw it was not looking 100% up to their standards.  Again, this was another possibility of what we knew might happen…but didn’t think it would.  Sometimes an embryo does not survive the thaw. She wanted to let it sit for 24 hours to see if it would look stronger the following day. If so, we would implant embryo #2 and if not they would be begin to thaw embryo #3 (our final embryo). 

God Heard Our Prayers

As we headed back home we tried to wrap our minds around why this was happening.  Why was the process not working for us?  After not much sleep that night….and a lot prayers and tears, we got a call in the morning that embryo #2 was looking VERY strong and we were to head into the clinic. We got over as soon as we could and embryo #2 was implanted.  And so begun the next 10 days of waiting.  Day 10 came and we were so blessed to find out that the implant was successful! Lots of happy tears were shed, but we knew we still had a long road ahead of us.  

IVF Graduate

For the next 10 weeks I continued with my injections and medication as instructed….. and many blood tests in-between. At the end of the 10 weeks we officially “graduated” from our IVF clinic.  Although, I was sad to leave everyone I had become close to the past few months. It was such a great feeling knowing the pregnancy was moving forward like it should be. We are now expecting our Baby Girl on May 3^rd.  We can’t wait to meet this precious angel. The Drs said she might not make it, yet god was there beside her to guide her to us! 

I’m thankful for all the people I’ve encountered throughout this process.  I hope that my experience will help someone else not to give up on the dream of having a family.  Although science has helped us get us to where we are today. We whole heartily believe the power of prayer and faith is much stronger. 

To contact Marie Grantham for more information on Family, Maternity, Newborn, or Birth Photography please click on this LINK.

Marie Grantham Photography

2530 Saint Rose Parkway Suite 110

Henderson, Nv 89074

(702) 336-1609 or mgranthamphoto@yahoo.com