The Soshal Network

The Journey

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The population of the Philippines is projected to increase from 95.8 million to 97.6 million this year. In an interview with the Executive Director of the Commission on Population, the increase will be brought about by the 1.7 million Filipino babies born annually. Experts say that an average of 1.3 million babies is born every year, or 3,704 babies a day.  Population growth affects all areas of development, i.e. economy, health and environment. Penge tissue please, nosebleed! 

Bakit nga ba yan ang intro ko?  Well, like other married couples, Papa O and I planned to have a baby a year after getting married. We followed the advice of our married friends to enjoy the honeymoon stage muna without a baby. Bahay-bahayan lang muna ang peg. So we started trying to get pregnant 9 months after our wedding… and my gulay! Ang hirap pala! Bakit yung iba, nag-eyeball lang buntis na?!?!? Samantalang kami, it took us more than a year para maka-buo.  Bakit ganun?!

After 4 months of trying, we went to a fertility doctor. He advised us that stress is a main factor. First thing we did was to undergo some fertility tests. Here are some of the fertility tests which the doctor recommended us: Anti-Mullerian Hormone Testing, Follicle stimulating hormone, Hysterosalpingography, Ovarian ultrasound, Hysteroscopy and Laparoscopy.

For me, I took the Ovarian Ultrasound muna… and nakakaloka siya!  Sa mga di pa nakakapag-transvaginal ultrasound, ipapakilala ko sa inyo si TVU…. Eto siya: 

 journey1

 Yes, may kamukha siya… yes, ganun din ang pagpasok sa kanya… yes, matigas siya… yes, nilalagyan din siya ng condom… and NO, DI SIYA NAKAKABUNTIS! 

After my first TVU, the doctor found that I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS (machine?) is one of the most common female endocrine disorders. It is thought to be one of the leading causes of female subfertility and the most frequent endocrine problem in women of reproductive age (Ayon sa aking research). So, I took some meds for 6 months, and at the same time, I was undergoing a fertility work-up.  The doctor gave me a fertility drug which is called Clomid, and, I was injected with pregnyl to boost my ovulation.  Our doctor likewise gave us another alternative, artificial insemination, either  directly into the cervix (intra-cervical insemination) or into the uterus (intrauterine insemination). 

Intra-cervical insemination is the most common form of artificial insemination. It involves placing the sperm directly into the woman’s reproductive tract to improve the chances of pregnancy. It is similar to intrauterine insemination but it’s more expensive. On the other hand, intrauterine insemination also known as “sperm wash” is a treatment that introduces sperm that has undergone a washing procedure into the uterus to encourage fertilization. 

We thought it was still too early to try artificial insemination… at mahal siya! So, after 2-3 months of trying, we changed our fertility doctor. We went to Papa O’s Tita, who was kind enough to help us for free, except sa mga gamot of course. 

Nung una excited pa ako pumila sa OB. Pero habang tumatagal nakakalungkot na siya. Isipin mo yung eksenang nakapila ka sa OB mo tapos lahat ng katabi mo buntis… puwera ikaw. One time, may nakasabay akong teenager na buntis. Parehong problemado ang mga mukha namin pero alam naman natin na iba ang problema niya. Sa utak ko, sana inagahan ko nalang kung alam kong ganito pala kahirap. 

The journey to jontishood continued for several months more. More injections, more meds, more tears when I get my period. Ang drama ng journey, ibang level… at ang mahal. Some of my injections cost P4k each, which I had to take for 5 days straight during my ovulation period. Tapos bawal ma-stress, gumimik, etc. Mga ilang buwan pa, sumigaw na ako ng matinding “AYOKO NA!!! 

That was sometime in December 2010. Papa O was understanding naman, so for the holiday season, pinayagan niya ako gumimik, uminom, etc. Nagwala kami ng parang college lang…. and then KABOOM! 

We contributed to the rising population rate of the Philippines. I got pregnant in January! Ang galing noh?  

 journey2

 (Our baby’s first picture… Andyan siya… hanapin niyo lang) 

journey3

Some lessons learned throughout the journey to jontishood: 

Take your time. The usual comment of people who see you after you get married is… “buntis ka na ba?” Wag niyo silang pansinin. Just say you’re taking your time. If they say, naku baka maubos na yung oras niyo. Sabihin niyo, “walang pakialamanan, okay?!” 

See a doctor. Even if you think you’re healthy, you should see a doctor. I didn’t know I had PCOS. Wala naman symptoms. But do you know that PCOS can make you gain weight even if you diet? Hindi ako gumagawa ng excuse! Totoo yan! Igoogle niyo! Also, women with PCOS are more at risk of having diabetes because of insulin resistance. Pero masaya ang treatment! One of the medicines to treat PCOS is metformin… and it can help you lose weight by reducing hunger. 

Don’t pressure yourself. Don’t try too hard. Sex should be a fun activity (Baby A, do not read this!). Although this is not proven, experts say that stress can be one of the factors behind infertility. Pero for me, di ko naging problem ang work-related stress. It actually helped me to stop thinking about getting pregnant. What stressed me was the thought na I may not get pregnant ever. And when I stopped thinking about it… dun pa ako nabuntis! But of course the work-up helped.

Pray. God will give you the gift when He sees you’re ready. If God doesn’t give you this, it means he has another blessing in store for you. 

Just Love. I think it’s wrong to say that  a family is not complete without a child. Love the people around you even if they are not related to you.

family

 

So ayan ang aking story sa pagkabuo kay Baby Addie. Ngayon, nagsimula na ang aming journey para sa susunod na baby. 🙂 

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Comments

  1. We have the same experience. 4 months after getting married nagpacheck na ko sa OB ko just to check things out. I was already 29 n kasi. As it turns out I have endometriosis and also borderline PCOS n ko. Usually it is very difficult na magbuntis ang may endometriosis plus PCOS pa, so immediately nag meds na ko. When that didn’t work AI na. I think 3 times ako nag AI. AMP ang mahal magpadoctor! Halos maubos ang laman ng baul! Unfortunately,after 7 mos of meds and everything wala pa din. Napagod na ko and I decided to stop for a month. Parang breather lng. Walang iisipin, walang iinumin, walang expectation, walang frustration. THE NEXT MONTH BUNTIS NA KO. I now have a 1 year old son, Vince.

    Ps. While on the 1 month break uminom ako ng oriental supplements. Di naman sya gamot, vitamins lang.

    Reply

  2. Getting pregnant was not easy for us too. It took us almost 4 yrs of trying before our angel was given to us. Same as you PCOS din ako. Our “Ayoko na” moment was different from yours. Ako lang kasi nagpapawork up. Husband is hesitant to have his guys tested. So my OB said to me “kung ayaw pa-test ng husband mo stop na muna naten tong work up..kasi ayaw kong ma-over stimulate yung ovaries mo as it may cause it to burst..saka syempre hindi naman syo din nanggagaling ang sperm..so need ni husband mo pa-test..hindi puro ikaw” after that I said to myself “kung ayaw nya pa-test..ayoko na”..after that I didn’t give in to pressures na..keber sa sasabihin ng iba baket hindi pa ako jontis..eh hindi naman sila magbubuntis..pero I would silently pray to the Lord na I trust that He will give us our little one in His time..ayown binigay naman

    Reply

  3. Sobrang nakaka relate yung every month pupunta ka sa ob para mag pawork up tapos yung mga nakakasabay mo puro jontis na tapos mas bata pa sayo yung every month dinadasal mo na sana wag dumating yung period mo tapos pagdumating yung kahit hindi dapat sa likod ng utak mo andun yung question na bakit wala pa din kulang pa ba yung dasal na ginagawa ko. Yung tipong sinasabi ko na sa sarili ko na ok lang hindi kame mag kaanak tipong kung meron meron kung wala e di wala pero sa loob mo ayaw mo pa ring mag give up andun pa ring yung hope na alam mo pakikinggan ka din ni God….haaaiiissst penge nga ng tissue

    Reply

    • Hi Mafe,

      sobrang relate ako sayo… nagpa-check rin ba yung partner mo? kasi important daw na pareho kayong healthy 🙂 Don’t give up pero at the same time. Don’t pressure yourself. nakatulong talaga sakin yung inalis ko yung pressure ko sa sarili ko.

      Reply

  4. Hi,

    This is my first time to browse through your site. I find it informative, credible, and straight to the point. We are going to attend a wedding this coming May in Baler so I was able to read your post about Costa Pacifica. I like how you write so I got curious and read your other posts.

    I seldom leave comments but this specific entry really had me that “ouch-akong-ako-ito-feeling!” My husband and I got married 3 months ago. We were together for 9 years and leaved together for 2 years before getting hitched. We initially planned to have a baby next year. But we finally decided to have it earlier. We went to see a doctor and turns out I also have PCOS (on both ovaries). I know its only a few months since we started trying but I never thought it could be this upsetting. I cried upon reading your line “…More injections, more meds, more tears when I get my period….” Every month I look forward in missing my period, and every month I get disappointed. It was frustrating, depressing. Just last night I also had the same moment as yours at sinabi ko din ang matinding “AYOKO NA!!!”

    I honestly envy women who were able to bear a child. Seeing kids in strollers and parents chasing over their children makes me so sad sometimes. But like you, I am also grateful that I have married a patient, understanding, and loving husband. Last night I prayed really hard and told my husband that beginning today I will stop trying hard to become pregnant. I am still hopeful. Maybe not today, Maybe not tomorrow, but I know someday…….

    Thank you for writing this post. Keep on inspiring people. You are a great writer!

    Reply

    • Thank you, Mymy!

      Alam mo ba na nahihirapan kami now makabuo ulit? Haha! Pero I learned not to worry about it too much anymore. You shouldn’t too. Having kids is a blessing, but having none does not mean that life won’t be great.

      Pero I know the feeling. Yung frustration and desperation. Pero when you say “ayoko na” kahit sa loob mo hindi naman talaga, di ba may relief? I think dahil you feel pressured to have a kid. Wag ka mapressurre. Dadating yan if para sa yo. If hindi dumating, it just means na God has other plans for you. Dami ko friends na walang anak pero happy 🙂 pero pagdadasal kita 🙂

      Reply

  5. I have PCOS too!!! Sabi nung doctor ko malamang since teenager pa ako neto hehe.. Mas masakit pa ba ang TUV sa Transrectal? hahaha!!!

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  6. Before I got preggers with Akira, nakailang tapon din ako ng pregnancy test. In fact, katulad ng sinasabi ng iba na hindi siya minsan accurate, feeling ko 2 yung nakuha ko dun. If it were’nt for TVU, hindi ko malalaman na jontis nko nun. Hehehe.

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  7. That’s true, D! Just enjoy your marriage kung wala pang ibigay na biyaya si Lord wag mataranta at mainip darating din yan. Chillax. Kung hindi man biyayaan maging masaya kapa rin at makuntento dahil kasama mo ang pinaka importanteng tao sa buhay mo…ang iyong kabiyak.

    That’s all!

    *bow*

    Reply

  8. Hi Jillsabs! 🙂 Thanks and keep on reading TSN! 🙂 haha!

    Hi Chesadear 🙂 Thanks for the advice again about the blog layout 🙂 My doctor said that getting pregnant at 30 is okay. Around 40’s daw delikado. Yes, madami akong tips but the best tip is to enjoy the honeymoon stage!!! haha 🙂

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  9. Naiinspire ako!! 🙂 Ang (slight) issue ko kasi ay by the time we get married, 30 na akech. And since we have the customary 1-year waiting period, 31 na ako by the time na ready na kami gumora. Hihingi ako ng tips in case maging challenging ha! (TMI ata itong comment na ito, pero wth). 😀

    Reply

  15. ay, super relate ako sa post na ‘to dahil sa mga nagtatanong kung bakit wala pa kaming junakis! e sa wala pa e! mas marunong pa sa may katawan haha! =D

    Reply

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