Ronna & Mordechai

I knew before I got married that we had infertility and I knew that it was my fault. My period was never regular. My husband, however, has a son from a previous marriage. I went from OB/GYN to OB/GYN, and was told I had hypothyroidism and PCOS. But I knew Clomid alone unmonitored wasn’t the answer. And so one day in June after a car accident on my way to my first day at a new job, I had my initial consult with Dr. Yazigi.

I did my research. I was told he is blunt, and will tell me if I am fat to lose weight and come back. I remember mid consult he took a phone call and instead of being upset I found it relieving, seeing how caring and passionate he felt for his patients. I remember seeing on his office wall a certificate from Washington University from a residency that he did there. I used that as an ice breaker because I am from St. Louis. He was blunt and straightforward but never ever rude or hurtful.

Finding a diagnosis

I’d like to write how easy the process was but it wasn’t. I remember being terrified of the HSG and how painful it was. But nothing prepared me for the uterine biopsy. But after all the bloodwork, ultrasounds, HSG, SIS, and biopsy; it turns out that I didn’t have PCOS or hypothyroidism. In the end my diagnosis was the dreaded unexplained infertility.

The first IUI came and went. It was a big epic fail and I completely blamed myself. My body just kept failing me. I started the Provera for round two but had to rush back home to Missouri because my mom fell ill. But round three was going to be my lucky round. I remember crying to G-d begging with every ounce of my being!

I was a full-time nanny for years, filling the void of not having my own children by raising everyone else’s. I remember at the end of my first consult Dr. Yazigi said in no time at all you will be shopping for diapers and I laughed pulling a diaper from my purse.

The call we had waited for

Dr. Yazigi was right. It worked. After all the ups and downs I got my positive. I remember seeing the line on the home pregnancy test that we were told not to take. I remember Becca (my nurse) calling with the news. I saved the home tests. And now sitting on my couch taking a mommy break as my baby girl is taking her afternoon nap, all I think about is how lucky I am. I have the best gift anyone could give me. A healthy beautiful baby girl. At my first OB appointment I handed my OB the folder from Shady Grove Fertility and she told me Dr. Yazigi gave her, her twins!!

I dreaded the 7 a.m. monitoring, I mean who looks forward to 7 a.m. blood tests and transvaginal ultrasounds. But over time the staff became like family and I looked forward to seeing them. What got me through my diagnosis and my first failed IUI was my faith. I chose to believe in my doctor. I chose to believe in the science and medicine. And I believed my G-d wouldn’t let me down.

My advice to others

Never forget we are the strongest women. We’re only given struggles we can overcome and our dreams of children and parenthood are achievable. Never ever give up hope. Reach out for help. Reach out for support. Advocate for yourself. Even when you think you can’t, you can. I refused to accept that I can’t be a mom because I can. I can and I did, you can too!!!!