fbpx
SIL-Logo_white-secondary

the podcast

159 – IVF cycle Cancelled due to COVID-19 with Crystal Simpson

Erica Michelle

Imagine having your next round of IVF cancelled due to COVID-19.

Today’s guest was diagnosed with unexplained infertility after many years trying.  She experienced 3 unsuccessful IUIs and 1 cancelled IUI, and 1 IVF cycle that resulted in a miscarriage.  Crystal Simpson, a military wife went off birth control about 6 months after getting married.  She knew something was wrong and went to her OB/GYN for testing, but the testing showed no issues and she was recommended to a Reproductive Endocrinologist for an Intrauterine Insemination or IUI. After 3 IUIs and 1 cancelled IUI none of them resulted in a positive pregnancy test.  Crystal was determined to become a mother and decided to undergo IVF all while moving and travelling back and forth from Kansas to Maryland.  After having a fresh transfer with her last viable embryo she went in for her 8 week ultrasound only to find out her baby boy was measuring at 5 weeks and she was miscarrying.  In this episode Crystal takes us back on her journey through IUI and IVF all while moving as a military wife, how her family and friends supported her, God’s timing is perfect even in this pandemic.

Crystal Simpson’s Bio
My name is Crystal Simpson. I’m a military wife, a strong Christian woman, a prn physical therapist, and a loving daughter and sister.

Tell me about your journey to motherhood? What obstacles have you overcome?
My husband and I got married in 2016, just before I turned 35. We waited about 6 months, then I went off my birth control. I assumed we would get pregnant pretty fast, since all of my friends were able to get pregnant without problems, and there was no indication in my health history or family history of problems. We started really trying in April, and when nothing happened for a few months, I had a feeling something was wrong. At this time, my husband had received orders that we were moving from Michigan to Kansas in the summer. I wanted to get tested, but the timing didn’t work out for me, but he was able to get his test run. The results showed low overall volume, but no other issues. When we got settled, I was able to get in to see an OBGYN. I was able to get tested, and that showed no issues, so she suggested going to an RE for an IUI. I was able to set up an appointment with an RE, and after more testing, he agreed that an IUI would be a great option for us. In my naive mind, I assumed that cool we do and IUI, and that’s it. All the doctors had said an IUI would solve our problems, so I just went with that. Unfortunately, after 3 IUIs and 1 cancelled, no positive pregnancy test. I was so disappointed. I never imagined that infertility would be part of my story. Our doctor said the next step would need to be IVF. So after a lot of prayer and talking with family, we decided to move forward with IVF. We began IVF at the end of March 2018. After the egg retrieval we ended up with 7 blastocysts. We did a fresh transfer that did not result in a pregnancy. By this time it was almost time for us to move again, this time from Kansas to Maryland. We decide to an FET before we left and we found out that one didn’t work either. Once we moved, we had to decide what to do with our 5 remaining embryos. After more praying and talking, we decide to leave our embryos in Kansas, and that I would fly out for the transfers, and do my monitoring locally. We did more testing here in Maryland (ERA, saline US, bloodwork, etc). So after one more FET that did not result in a pregnancy, we decided to test the remaining 4 embryos. The PGS testing showed 2 normal embryos and 2 abnormal. Another failed FET left us 1 remaining viable embryo. I was put on medication to stop my cycle for 2 months in prep for the final transfer. My husband was finally able to come with me this time, and on our last transfer we finally received that positive test that we had been waiting so long for! I was ecstatic. The joy we felt was amazing. God had answered our prayers and after all those years and tests and tears, we were finally pregnant. Since I wasn’t in town with my RE, I was scheduled with my regular OBGYN from the beginning of the pregnancy. At my first appointment, I was almost 8 weeks along. Everything was going fine until the did the US. The doctor was quiet and had a questioning look. She said she was able to see the gestational sac, but not the baby and that the sac was only measuring at 5 and a half weeks. She said that she wanted me to go to an actual diagnostic center for another US. I was distraught. I felt like I couldn’t breathe and that the world was crashing down around me. The second US showed the same results. They decided to wait another week to see if any progress was possible, but my HCG numbers weren’t rising and they were never able to see any progress with the US. I was miscarrying, and there was nothing I could do about it. I had a D and C at the beginning of August 2019. I’ve never felt such heartache and pain. My sweet baby boy that would we would never get a chance to meet and hold and watch grow up. It was devastating. The good thing was I had a lot of support. My husband was amazing. He held me and let me cry, and was a positive light in the darkness. My mom was able to come up and be here with me as well. She just sat with me and reminded me how much I was loved. We had gotten involved with a church here in Maryland and my small group was so supportive and their prayers were so uplifting. My friends from work came over and brought me ice cream and hugs. I was surrounded by love and positivity. God had put me in a situation where he showed me not only His love and support, but put me in a community where I would be loved and supported as well. All my life everything just came easy to me. Whatever I wanted I worked hard and achieved my goals. Infertility has been a completely different story. No amount of hard work and trying and planning and fixing things to fit my plans has worked. I’ve had to turn everything over to God. He has ultimate control, and I trust His plans for us completely. I think that has been my biggest lesson in all of this. I’ve always had a relationship with God, but going through all of this has strengthened that relationship in amazing and beautiful ways. I’ve learned to turn to Him first for all my needs, hurts, wants, desires, everything. My God is a good God and His plans for me are good. I trust that. I believe that with all of my being. We have now decided to do another round of IVF. It’s been put on hold due to COVID 19, but I know that this delay did not surprise God, he knew exactly what would happen when and when is the perfect time for us to have our miracle rainbow baby. He is in control and He is able to do immeasurably more than I can even imagine. He has brought me this far, and He will be with me always.

Any books, tools, resources that have helped you on this journey that you want to share with the audience?
Sarah’s Laughter Online Infertility Support Group and podcast, Waiting for Baby Online Support group, “When God Says Wait” by Elizabeth Laing Thompson

Become a Sisters in Loss Birth and Bereavement Doula Here

Living Water Doula Services

Book Recommendations and Links Below

You can shop my Amazon Store for the Book Recommendations

You can follow Sisters in Loss on Social

Join the Sisters in Loss Online Community

Sisters in Loss Instagram

Sisters in Loss Facebook

Sisters in Loss Twitter

You can follow Erica on Social

Erica’s Website

Erica’s Instagram

Erica’s Facebook

Erica’s Twitter

Did you like this episode? Give us a Review!

Keep Listening

Join the sisters in
loss community

Dive deeper in discussions of the episodes, chat with episode guests, and ask questions around Grief, Loss, Marriage, Faith, and Self Care.

Follow us

Living Waters Doula Service

A Doula is a non-clinically trained support person who provides emotional, physical and informational assistance before, during, and after childbirth.

Free Download

Download this 7 day guide to speak over yourself as you grieve and heal.