PCOS, Clomiphene and living in limbo with Ruth

Ruth experienced irregular periods and despite not having any of the other common PCOS symptoms,  was diagnosed with PCOS.   She was referred to Fertility Associates to help her start her family.

Ruth shares with us feelings of isolation as she watched her friends having babies and knew that her husband did not feel it all as deeply as she did.

Through the clinic she and her husband Dave started on Clomiphene treatment, but after three cycles and no success, they took a break. Two months later she discovered she was pregnant naturally.  By this time it had been three years since they started trying.

They really celebrated this pregnancy including a fireworks gender reveal show created by Dave at Ruth’s 30th birthday, and making  amazing documentary about Ruby’s birth (see the show notes to watch this).

In the postpartum period Ruth struggled with the dependence of her infant and not being able to just get up and go like she used to. She thought she would be able to drop everything else she loved and just focus on her baby but didn’t work out that way.

 By the time Ruby was  15 months Ruth did not have her period back but she was keen to try for a second child.  She was told by Fertility Associates that she would need to stop breastfeeding before they would see her.  This was an emotionally and physically challenging thing to do for everyone involved.

They then started their cycle to try for their next baby this time using Letrizole instead of Clomiphene.  Ruth shares a funny story about the conception of her baby boy, and her experience of going from one to two children, as well as how Ruby coped with this.

Ruth’s husband Dave is a scientist and he gave the children their middle names.  Both are named after scientists.

The decision to have a third baby is now something they are grappling with, finding that they are in different spaces about it.   This was further highlighted and complicated by a recent miscarriage.

 Ruth is finding living in limbo of not knowing what her family is going to look like quite challenging.

  Connect with Ruth
Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/ruthgilmourphotographer/
                        https://www.instagram.com/IDHTBTH.Photoschool/
                          https://www.instagram.com/ruthgilmourcommercial/
Website  https://ruthgilmourphotographer.co.nz/
Birth documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QXp27E8-2E

 Connect with Janine
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/janinefoxphotography/
Website https://www.janinefoxphotography.co.nz/
Submit to the podcast https://www.janinefoxphotography.co.nz/podcast

Others
Cyber safety for your kids https://www.citizen21.co.nz/
Fertility associates Hamilton https://www.fertilityassociates.co.nz/clinics/hamilton-central-north-island/hamilton/