How Many Pregnancies Does It Take To Have A Baby?

5

I bet you think this is an easy question, right? 

One, right?

Want to know my answer? 

NINE. (Yes, nine!)

Miscarriage is far more common than most people realize and having multiple miscarriages, while not the norm, isn’t as rare as you might think. Now, obviously, my story is a bit on the extreme side – I took multiple miscarriages to the next level. I had eight before I was able to successfully carry my daughter to term.

Multiple Miscarriages
Tuscany, 2008 – These kids had no idea what they were about to go through!

Nine Pregnancies = One Baby  (The Maternal Math of Multiple Miscarriages)

I was pretty naive when it all started. I assumed that I could just plan when to get pregnant and maybe it would take a month or 2. And, that first pregnancy did just happen – on the first month we were trying – in Italy, actually. I had visions of getting him/her a little “Made In Italy” onesie – it was going to be perfect. But, the dream soon died.

It started suddenly. Cramps. Then some more…then the bleeding…then the utter panic. I called my doctor who told me to come in for a blood test. It’s one that I would become all too familiar with – the one that tests your hCG levels (oh, how those numbers would torture me over the next 5 years!) When I got the call that my numbers were terrible and I was losing the pregnancy, I think I actually stopped breathing. I fell into a hysterical, sobbing heap on the bathroom floor. It was devastating beyond words.

But, soon I realized that I was young and healthy and this was probably a fluke – I mean, no one has 2 of these things!! Right?!

But it happened again, and again, and again. At first, I could get pregnant easily but always miscarried. Then, to add insult to injury, I stopped being able to get pregnant on my own. I saw tons of doctors and specialists, none of whom could figure out what was wrong with me.  I was poked, prodded and tested for years. 

Then came the fertility drugs. I started clomid then quickly moved on to more intense meds, the kind you have to mix and inject yourself with.  Then I added IUI to the mix (aka “the turkey baster” method.) 

I spent approximately 23 hours a day googling things like “successful pregnancy after 5 miscarriages”, then “successful pregnancy after 6 miscarriages” – all in search of a glimmer of hope that I could cling to.

I was at the end of my rope. Even outside of my fertility nightmare, my life was upside down. While I was going through all of this my dad died, my grandma died and 2 of my aunts died. At one point, I was having a minor surgery to have some uterine fibroids removed. I was on one floor of the hospital and my dad was a few floors up (my poor mom was a trooper that day!)

I was nearing 5 years into this ordeal when I had my third round of “super intense injectible fertility drugs” (yes, that’s the technical term) and first failed IUI, and I just couldn’t do it anymore. I wanted my life back (having problems with fertility can absolutely CONSUME you). We decided we were going to try one more round with the drugs and IUI and that was it. I wasn’t going any further. I needed to be done.

The whole process of an IUI is a little surreal. The quiet drive to the doctor, handing over “the cup” (you know what I am talking about), hoping it doesn’t get mixed up with the people sitting next to you…it’s all very intense. Then you get turkey basted and sent home to wait…

My Happy Ending

Luckily, my story has a happy ending. That last IUI worked, and I actually stayed pregnant. I had a rough pregnancy and was nervous the ENTIRE time. I wasn’t convinced they were going to take a baby out of me until I actually saw her.

Multiple Miscarriages
Columbus, 2013 – The day my world changed forever…the day I finally became a mom!

My beautiful baby girl was delivered by scheduled c-section weighing in at 7lbs 12oz and measuring 19″ long – she was perfect and healthy…and she made me a mom.

Today she makes me crazy but that’s another story for another day : )

To Tell Or Not To Tell

You have heard the advice that you shouldn’t tell anyone you are pregnant until you are around 3 months along and out of the danger zone. That’s what I did. I told my mom, but that was about it (well, my husband was in on it too). Then I miscarried. Then it happened again. 

Since all of this was happening in secret, I started getting everyone asking me if we were going to have a baby anytime soon. You have no idea how painful that question can be until you have been asked after having a miscarriage.

This isn’t’ something you should go through alone. This is something we should all talk about  In the past few years I have had so many friends tell me that they have miscarried too. And somehow it hurts a little less when you know you aren’t the only one who is going through it.  Although, I still haven’t met anyone who has had as many as I have (if you are out there – let’s talk!). All I am saying is don’t be afraid to tell people you are expecting from the start. I am not suggesting making a big post on Facebook quite yet, but tell your family and friends. Tell the people who can help you and support you if something goes wrong. 

Multiple Miscarriages
Hawaii, 2018 – My happy ending…strolling along the beach in Kauai with my baby girl.

You Aren’t Alone

Whether you are going through one miscarriage, multiple miscarriages or other fertility problems, I just want you to know you aren’t alone. I can’t fix it, but I can tell you that we have been there before – whatever problem you are having, someone has been there before. And don’t forget, there is hope. Even after 5 years, 8 miscarriages and countless drugs, procedures, and surgeries, there is hope.

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Katie Seemann
Katie is a travel obsessed stay at home mom. She grew up in Central Ohio, but moved to New York City after high school to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology to pursue her dream of being a fashion designer. Thankfully, dreams can change. After working in the fashion industry she realized it wasn't what she was looking for. So, she moved back to Columbus to be near family. While in New York, Katie met and married her husband, Jason. Katie is now mom to 4 year old Ellie. She and her husband love to travel... a lot. Her love of travel combined with her desire to stop her brain from turning to mommy mush inspired her to start her blog, www.zenlifeandtravel.com. This platform lets her share her own travels as well as tips about her hobby, "travel hacking", aka how to use points and miles to travel for (almost) free! While traveling, Katie and her husband love to explore cities by foot which is great since she has a mild obsession with her daily number of Fitbit steps! She also recently got her open water scuba diving certification so destinations near water are high on her list of travel musts! Katie loves palm trees, yoga, fat cats and is a sucker for anything lined in leopard print. She believes that leggings are pants and purple is the best color. Her ultimate goal is to live a simple, happy life...and to travel as much as possible! In addition to her blog, you can find Katie on Instagram (@zenlifeandtravel) and (@zencolumbus) Twitter (@zen_life_travel) and Pinterest (@zenlifetravel).

5 COMMENTS

  1. You are going to help a lot of people by sharing your story. Miscarriage is something we don’t talk about enough which leaves moms to grieve in silence and attaches unnecessary feelings of shame. Thank you for your courageous share and message of hope.

  2. Thank you for sharing your story. Yes, there are so many women out there who have had one or multiple miscarriages. The pain and the self blame is extremely difficult.

  3. Your story resonates with me in so many ways- multiple miscarriages, surgery for fibroids, the secrecy, the fertility medications, and the all consuming process of trying to get and STAY pregnant. Thank you for your courage in sharing your journey.

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