21 Apr IVF Success Story!
IVF Success is possible!
My patients Hannah Nelson and her husband Adam Colnan share their fertility journey and joy of their baby Charlotte. Hannah was 29 at the time of conception and Adam was 26.
“Adam and I were trying to conceive for just over a year before we sought help. We were referred to Dr Raewyn by my GP, Initially, I was tracking my period and ovulation cycle. We wanted to make sure we had been trying at the “right times”.
Adam and I had agreed that we would try for roughly a year and if we weren’t successful, we would seek medical help. We based this on our age, as all the medical advice says that couples under 35 should try for a year to conceive naturally first.
So, after 12 months of trying unsuccessfully, we booked in to see my GP, Dr. Chris Han. He talked us through the first process of seeing a fertility doctor and he recommended Dr Raewyn. Dr. Han promptly gave me a referral notice and we’d booked in our first appointment.
The Road To IVF Success
My treatment started with blood tests and ultrasounds. It was at this point that Dr. Raewyn discovered that my egg count was about half of what it should have been for someone my age. This could have resulted in an egg not being released when I was ovulating. This was the first major step in our journey. Adam and I had opted to go straight into IVF. We weighed out our pros and cons of each treatment available to us but knew this was the path for us.
There were plenty of blood tests to follow, including daily injections of follicle stimulating medication that my partner Adam was able to do for me at home. I also had to use progesterone vaginal pessaries, which I administered myself.
After a little while, I was given the OK to discontinue the medications, and it was time for my egg retrieval surgery.
Embryo Implantation
It was roughly about days after the egg retrieval, and the egg being fertilised with Adam’s sperm, that our first embryo was implanted. We were so very lucky when it came to IVF success with the Dr Raewyn’s help. We’d had our first consultation in February of 2021 and by July 2021 we found I was five weeks pregnant. From the start of our treatment, it took us one to two months to get pregnant. This was of course, with the medications required to assist. Our daughter was conceived on 9th June 2021.
The Road To IVF Success – Is It Always Easy?
Personally, the hardest part of the whole process was the very beginning… not knowing if we could be helped. Would we be able to have a baby? What if nothing could be done to help us? My thoughts in the beginning really took over and I wasn’t confident in myself. The hardest part for Adam was my hormonal changes and seeing me upset throughout the process. We’re lucky that Adam has a great head on his shoulders and was able to carry us both through the tough times and feelings of doubt.
Professional Support
Dr. Raewyn gave us support we didn’t even really know we needed. She didn’t look at us as simply her patients, but as two people who wanted to have a family. Dr. Raewyn made a personal connection with us. We felt as if we’d known Dr. Raewyn for years right from our first appointment with her. We truly felt heard. All the processes were explained in fine detail. She always asked how we were feeling and her gentle hand on my shoulder when I would cry, really made it feel as if we mattered right there in that moment.
We had several follow ups with Dr. Raewyn during our time at IVF Australia, Alexandria. It was never a case of ‘in and out’. She constantly made sure we were doing well and answered any questions we had throughout the entire journey
Hannah And Adam’s Advice To Others Trying To Conceive
If someone wasn’t able to conceive naturally, I would definitely advise them to visit their GP about options for what they could do next. Being close to 30 when we were trying to conceive, I thought it was wise to give it 12 months and then seek help. I’m sure there are many great IVF doctors in Australia, but Dr. Raewyn was our light at the end of a tunnel. I have no doubt about recommending her to other couples, or even singles, if they need some help to bring their dreams into reality.
Our daughter Charlotte arrived right on 40 weeks and she is perfectly healthy. We’ve had the absolute pleasure of watching her personality grow, watch real smiles and hear her laughs form and the endless amounts of cuddles that I will forever cherish.
None of this would have been possible without the help of Dr. Raewyn and we thank her from the bottom of our hearts.
