My name is Claire, and I had my first child in May 2020 after a normal pregnancy but quite dramatic birth.
I then got pregnant with our second baby in January 2022. At 11 weeks 3 days, I went to a normal prenatal appointment and the midwife could not find the heartbeat. She sent me for an ultrasound and it was confirmed our baby had died 6 days prior according to the measurements. We were absolutely shocked and devastated. I had a D&C the following week. We attempted to do genetic testing after the procedure but it failed, so we never learned the cause of death. We named our baby Shiloh, a name holding a lot of meaning for us.
While we grieved, we also decided to try again as soon as my body signaled it was ready. I immediately got pregnant, which ended a few days later. Four months later, the same thing happened again. Then the very next month I had a 5 week miscarriage. That was now four losses in the span of 8 months. I felt so broken. Each early miscarriage left me missing Shiloh that much more.
Through all of the months and loss, I worked with a wonderful OB who prescribed me progesterone due to my proven low levels (likely the cause of the three early losses) and started me on baby aspirin. I also learned my thyroiditis had returned so I began thyroid replacement. I then required two letrozole cycles, the second one with a trigger shot. That second one did the trick and finally, on May 8, 2023 I had another positive pregnancy test. I was shaking and didn’t really believe this could be it.
I had privately resolved that no matter what, this was my last pregnancy. Either way it goes, I can’t do it again. So we are celebrating the heck out of this baby! This one’s nickname is Fig. We are stepping into this chapter with so much hope, courage, and of course some fear. We desperately wish to bring this one home this winter.
Photos taken by Bird & Branch Photography.
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