Claire & Lisa
Infertility Diagnosis
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Treatment(s)
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
Location(s)
- Albany
Physician(s)
- Michael Grossman, MD
Claire & Lisa's Story:
Our mutual desire for children was one of many factors that brought my wife and I together. After researching local options, we opted for CNY because they had a great track record and clearly advertised positive attitudes toward queer couples. We had the additional challenge that I, the birth-mom-to-be, have polycystic ovary syndrome. We went to CNY in the winter of 2014; our first pregnancy was very challenging - I didn't get pregnant until the summer of 2015, a year and a half and many attempts after our first attempt. But, it obviously ended well!
Our son was born in March 2016. A year after his birth, we started trying for a second, and it only took 4 months the second time. All in all, we had 9 IUI attempts with two different sperm donors, but the results are contestable: two lovely, wonderful, brilliant, effervescent children who recently turned 6 and 4 respectively. The family picture attached is our son giving our daughter a kiss when our little one came home with me from the hospital 2 days after she was born - it was about a week before our son's second birthday.
Our first child: established a biological baseline for me in March 2014. Started trying to get pregnant in May 2014. Between then and June 2015, we did six IUI cycles with two different sperm donor's sperm. We had to skip multiple months for a variety of reasons - several due to my stress levels being too high/my period too irregular, and several others due to a cyst developing. We had intended to switch to IVF if the 6th try didn't work, but it did.
Our second child: re-commenced biological baseline in January, 2017. Made pregnancy attempts in March, April, and June 2017. The June attempt "took," and our second was born in February, 2018. Both our children have the same (anonymous sperm donor) father.
All in all, we'd highly recommend CNY. If we'd wanted a third child, we'd have been back in a heartbeat. They're respectful, professional, polite, and optimistic.
Favorite Team Member at CNY:
Sadly, my memory is terrible for names, but I will say every nurse and NP we interacted with was fan.tast.tic. Our meetings with the doctor were rare and honestly, if I could have done with entire process supported by the NPs, I would have. They were all fantastic and we loved them. Thank you!!!
Helpful resources Claire & Lisa found:
Parenting classes at Bellevue Hospital in Niskayuna, NY - what to expect from the birthing process, risks, lactation support, etc.
Unique Moments:
Lows: 2014 was rough. It felt really hopeless for a while.
Highs: getting through the first trimester each time without a miscarriage! A lot of my friends have had miscarriages and I was really worried about it; it kinda feels like a miracle that I didn't have one either time.
Hope, Inspiration and Advice:
My advice is patience. I know it's hard. I was there, too. But stressing out will make a body less likely to accept the egg. Just...breathe, and do what you need to do, and get the medical help you need. It's gonna be okay. You're gonna have great kids.
