If you ask my family, they’d say it’s a miracle that I’m pregnant! I would say the same thing, but for an entirely different reason.
Over the years, my husband and I were on the fence about whether kids were in our future. If you’re married and in your 20s or 30s, you know that this means the question ‘so when will you two have kids?!’ is asked by, well… basically everyone. It became a really stressful topic for me, as I could practically feel my biological clock ticking while also not feeling prepared for a baby… not to mention having a hefty dose of doubt that we would be able to get pregnant, even if we tried.
Their Version of a Miracle vs Ours
It became easiest to tell everyone we were happy with just the two of us. After time (we will be married 5 years this month!) they were all convinced that kids just weren’t in our plans. When we told our parents that we were expecting the shock and excitement was very, and I mean very, audible. They felt we had miraculously changed our minds!
But Seth and I had been talking for years about the possibility of kids. We knew that with both of our health histories, conceiving might be difficult. I had been on hormonal birth control since 2007 when I had an ovarian cyst burst. For more than 10 years, I relied on artificial hormones to “regulate” my cycle and prevent future cysts. It wasn’t until 2017 when I started doing more digging into the pill and the effects it has on your body and I was appalled! But I was also newly married, not ready for kids, and not confident in our ability to prevent pregnancy without it.
After almost a year of prayer, discussion with Seth, and learning about the Fertility Awareness Method, we decided it was time to allow my body to function free from artificial hormones. I was so excited and nervous! But those emotions quickly turned to frustration and worry as when I went off of birth control, my period didn’t come back… for over a year. When it did finally return, it wasn’t balanced and I knew my luteal phase (which occurs post-ovulation and is when a baby can be conceived) was not long enough to support a pregnancy if we were to decide to try for one. I was heartbroken thinking that pregnancy was completely off the table.
So, starting in 2018/2019, I put in the work:
- I prayed that God would sway mine and Seth’s hearts to reflect his plan for us
- I saw Dr. Rob to help my body detoxify anything getting in its way
- I continued to get adjusted regularly to make sure my brain was communicating at its best with the rest of my body
- I started taking prenatal vitamins to replenish the nutrients the pill had depleted in my body
- I ate a low-inflammation, hormone-friendly diet 90% of the time and made sure I was eating enough for my active lifestyle (many active women aren’t!)
- I paid more attention to my stress levels
- I saw Michelle for Emotion Code work, and both Michelle and Danie for massage
Over the next few years, my cycle started to even out and get to the point where it seemed like a pregnancy was possible. But I wasn’t sure if it was too little, too late.
Deciding the Time
After years of putting in all that work, my body was practically yelling at me that now was the time to start trying. I was still convinced that based on my past alone, despite my regulated cycles, it could take a couple years to get pregnant. But I wasn’t convinced that Seth and I were ready to say goodbye to life as we knew it and take on the big responsibility of a baby (and for the record, neither was he!)
Again, after prayer and discussion, in October of 2021, we decided we would take a ‘phased’ approach to getting pregnant. We’d start by taking small risks that weren’t likely to lead to pregnancy and as we felt more comfortable over time, would take bigger “risks”, all while praying that God would show us His will and timing.
Despite our thoughts that our health histories would make it difficult, and maybe even impossible, to get pregnant, God revealed to us He had other plans, and fast forward to today, I sit here typing this with my 4-month pregnant bump. I continue to be in awe of the way God works!
Planning to Get Pregnant?
If you and your spouse are planning to get pregnant and want help incorporating diet and lifestyle changes that support your goals, please reach out. I’d love to help you navigate pre-conception and fertility! Dr. Kassie Kaas is another great resource here at Valeo for anyone dealing with hormone imbalance or thyroid issues, both of which can impact your ability to conceive. She is currently offering free 20-minute phone consultations, which you can schedule by calling 952-949-0676.
