My fertility journey started January 2023 when I was diagnosed with PCOS and factor v leiden, a blood clot disorder known for causing miscarriages. We had suspected that I had FVL due to a loss right before getting diagnosed. Between then and meeting my partner, I had another loss that no one knew about. I was freshly 20 and didn’t know what to do. I had no idea that there was a community of mothers that also experienced what I did until recently.
Fast forward to May 2023, I met my spouse. They’ve been nothing short of kind, loving, and supportive of me. Between family issues, career indecisions, etc. They never once judged me or left. We had our first loss together in December 2023. Very early, we had just found out and not even a week later, we lost the baby. I had just started a new job at that point so we had assumed the stress and lack of blood thinners is what caused it. We weren’t trying to get pregnant at all, just trying to find ways to relieve my PCOS. In March 2024, just two months before our wedding, we found out I was pregnant again. This time, we waited a little and finally allowed ourselves to tell people. Just 2 days later we lost our baby again, this time having answers. The fetus got sent off to genetic testing and we found out they had something called Turner’s Syndrome. A chromosomal disorder that causes the baby to only have one “X” chromosome instead of XY OR XX. The baby was basically set up to fail and it really triggered my grief. I was trying to plan a wedding with my partner and go further in my career. Everything felt impossible. If we didn’t have the support of our family and friends, and if I didn’t have the support of my partner, I don’t know where life would be right now.
In August 2024, I started a weight loss medication called Wygovy to help my PCOS. I only had a month’s supply so I didn’t tell anyone that was on it until I was constantly sick. I took a test at the end of the month like I normally do and behold, a positive test. One that came up immediately. That’s never happened before. I waited the two days to see if the line would get darker and it did. I told my spouse first and we were both full of emotions. Once again, the fear of loss was on our minds and we waited. We did the blood work and everything was rising properly. But then one day, I started bleeding. No one had an explanation on why. It was heavy but I had no cramping. I had just started the blood thinners so we thought that might be it.
I reached out to my OBG and she scheduled our first ultrasound. We found out that the reason for the bleeding was a subchronic hematoma. Which was from the baby trying to attach to my uterus. During the ultrasound, we also heard the heartbeat. We’ve never had either before and I immediately cried in that office. I knew then that we would be okay. Through out the weeks, my body began to hurt more and I was struggling everyday mentally and physically. It felt like my body was punishing me for being my pregnant. Around 10ish weeks pregnant, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. They can’t do much during pregnancy but it gave us answers on what was going on and a new set of things to try to relieve the pain.
I am currently about 15 weeks along. We just found out we’re having a girl! I’m excited and thankful to be on this journey, even if we weren’t trying. I’ll always be worried about possibly losing our baby since FVL can be unpredictable at times. But with my spouse, our friends, and especially our family, we will be okay again and grow.
I hope reading my story helps another mother or family trying to conceive. I always recommend getting tested for blood disorders, even if you don’t think they run in your family. A lot of times they go undetected and don’t show up until it’s too late.
I wish everyone luck on their journey and thank you for reading our story.
Photos taken by Emma Balzer.
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