The Results Are In: Pregnant or Not Pregnant?
ONE. One solid pink line. I was devastated.
I immediately went from utter disappointment to rationalization. Maybe my implantation was delayed. Maybe I had conceived later in my ovulation cycle and it just wasn’t showing up on the test yet. There was still a chance, right?
Begrudgingly, I emailed the fertility specialist’s team to let them know that my pregnancy test was negative.
They gave their condolences and instructed me to let them know when my next period started. And just like that, round one was over. No “You can test again in a couple of days”. It was on to the next round.
So much for my rationalization.
The silver lining, this was only round one. I knew the chances of success, but still, I was surprised that it didn’t work.
A little tidbit that I learned from a friend whose sister had gone through this process previously told me that women who get pregnant in their first round of IUI are called “unicorns” because it doesn’t happen often. It did make me feel better to hear that.
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The HSG Procedure: Improving My Chances
I went in for my next round of bloodwork and met with my doctor. There was a procedure that was discussed before my first IUI, Hysterosalpingogram (HSG for short).
This procedure involves injecting dye into your uterus and fallopian tubes to confirm that the tubes are open and the uterine cavity is normal.
Here is an article from the Cleveland Clinic that goes over the HSG procedure, recovery, and results.
It is also said to improve your chances of conceiving because the dye flushes any debris that may be obstructing the path of the egg from entering the uterus.
My doctor recommended this as a next step before my second IUI procedure. I decided to take that advice.
Now, if this is something you are looking into, let me prepare you for this procedure.
– It’s done in a radiology suite, so you’ll have a nice lead vest draped over you.
– Pants and underwear off (Get used to this part if you do get pregnant. It will be the new norm for your doctor appointments for a while)
– When they inject the dye, it’s gonna hurt.
The doctor instructed me to take some ibuprofen before this procedure, that I may experience some mild to moderate cramping during the dye injection or soon after the procedure.
Mild to moderate…ha!
Everyone has a pain threshold, mine is relatively low. I mentally prepared for this by thinking of horrible period cramps.
I used to have bad periods growing up. They progressively got worse as I got older, which culminated in me finding out I had a baseball-size fibroid growing in my uterus (which I had removed three years prior, but that story is for another time).
I conjured in my mind the absolute worst period I had where the cramps were pretty much unbearable.
Before the dye was injected, the technician again warned me that I might feel some intense pressure and mild discomfort for about 10-15 minutes as the contrast dye passed through.
Holy crap! What an understatement. The pressure was indeed intense, but the pain was on another level.
I kept thinking, ‘This is what will help you get your baby. You’re doing it for them. It’s rough right now, but it will be over soon and you’ll be one step closer to hopefully having this next IUI work’. (Insert warrior cry here)
I also figured it was just preparing me for childbirth. I’d heard that one comes with some discomfort as well.
Round Two
Five days later I was back at the clinic for my second insemination. Same process as before, except this time after the procedure I laid there for an extra handful of minutes, just for good measure.
I told myself I was going to be more intentional this time around about how I conducted myself.
To be honest, the first go ‘round, I didn’t take my own advice as well as I should have (obviously, if you read my previous post The Two Week Wait) and it made for a very stressful two weeks.
If you are on the second round of your IUI procedure or are preparing for it, you’ve perhaps gained some wisdom or perspective after going through the first round unsuccessfully. It’s humbling.
I think this is because a part of you was so hopeful that it would work that you didn’t allow yourself to doubt that. But that experience also helped you learn. You know how you handled that first round, and if you are like me, maybe you want to change some things for this next one.
Take notes. Record your experiences. Learn and adapt.
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This time, I was putting my positive vibes out into the universe and letting Mother Nature ‘take the wheel’. I was going to follow my own sage advice (but for real this time).
I refused to symptom-spot (unless it was something outside of the normal symptoms – then I would make note of it and then cast it out of my mind).
I continued to conduct my nightly ritual of holding/looking at my lucky pregnancy talismans and projecting my hopeful thoughts of being pregnant out into the world.
My older sister got me this adorable keychain, which I kept on my nightstand and would hold every night. She also got me this figurine that she said was something she was given when she was trying to get pregnant, that it was a good luck charm.
I don’t know if they were really lucky or not, but they sure helped me by believing they were, both emotionally and mentally. I was very grateful for these gifts, and the love and support that came with them.
I’m passing this tidbit along just in case you know anyone who is trying or you’re looking for something to help boost your luck, emotional health, mental health, etc., through your journey. It might help to reduce stress and stay positive, or maybe that little ball of baby dust actually works.
I did better at distracting myself during this second round as well. I went to the movies, had dinner with a good friend I hadn’t seen in a while, took my dog for more walks, and just enjoyed the idea that maybe, this time, it worked.
On the 14th day, my bladder woke me early. It was only 5 am, but all of a sudden, I was wide awake and it was time again to take that test.
Testing – Take #2. Here we go!
I peed on the stick and calmly (well, for the most part) walked away to sit on my bed and wait for the next 3 minutes to pass by.
My pup looked up at me as I sat down on my bed where he was lying from our night’s slumber. I whispered to him “Wish Mom luck!”.
His ears perked up. I took that as a sign of encouragement.
‘Ding, ding, ding’, the timer chimed. I walked into the bathroom and looked down at the pregnancy test resting on the counter.
A huge smile spread across my face and I started to cry. TWO SOLID PINK LINES showed in the test window. It worked!
Cheers, Warriors!
I hope you enjoyed reading this post and found it entertaining, educational, inspiring – hopefully, all three. Please be sure to leave any comments or questions you have in the Comments section below.
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