Ana tells us her story: “Don’t feel ashamed about going to a fertility clinic”.
Today we have a new real-patient testimony for you about the story of Ana. A story of struggle from the very beginning when she was first trying to conceive. A struggle which, for her, continues today, and which Ana wanted to raise awareness about and discuss on our blog.
Ana became mom to a beautiful baby girl on 10th November 2017 following her time with our fertility clinic in Spain: URE Centro Gutenberg. She was one of those moms who didn’t have it easy, as she encountered several problems throughout her pregnancy. Despite that, she fought like a champion and kept pushing forward to make her dream come true.
At the age of ten months, her little Claudia was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia. That’s when life decided that these two parents would need to keep on fighting, and with more determination than ever before. On 10th November 2020, this little girl turned three years old. And at URE we wanted to acknowledge her special day, wish her the best of birthdays and express our most sincere admiration for her parents’ strength and bravery.
Life sometimes throws rough patches our way, some rougher than others, but what’s important is attitude. And yours is admirable! Here’s your story.
Tell us how you heard about our fertility clinic in Spain
Some time ago we were having trouble trying to conceive a baby. I had heard about your clinic when some friends of mine who were already pregnant went there for ultrasounds to see their future children.
One day, doing some internet research, I saw that the clinic also offered services that made it possible for people like me to have the opportunity to become parents. So I called and requested information about what I should do. We arranged the first appointment for an evaluation.
After your first appointment with us, what made you choose URE Centro Gutenberg?
At the first visit we were somewhat nervous and asked ourselves if we’d be able to pay for treatment, and if it would result in us getting pregnant. The way we were treated as soon as we walked into the clinic was wonderful. You’re not thinking about anything except for how much you want to get started with the treatment process.
Our doctor, Dr. Sánchez Rosa, was great with us every step of the way, just as all the other staff who worked with us were (from admissions to the operating theatre personnel, etc.). We felt right at home and very sure of what we wanted to do.
Explain to future moms what doubts you first had regarding assisted reproduction treatment
I had many doubts. I could only think about how I’d have to self-administer the injections, how I’d have to do it by myself, about what treatment they would prescribe me, about if treatment would work and if I’d get pregnant, about having to go into the operating theatre and whether it would hurt or not… But thanks to the clinic all those doubts and fears disappeared as the days passed once I was in treatment.
What fertility treatment did the medical team recommend to you? Artificial insemination? In vitro fertilisation?
My doctor recommended we undergo in vitro fertilisation due to the problem we had. Today I know it was one of the best things I could have decided to do. At the beginning I didn’t like the idea of in vitro fertilisation because I thought, and asked myself again and again, why couldn’t I get pregnant naturally? But thanks to this treatment we now have someone here who we love more than anything else in this world.
What fears did you have, how did you overcome them, how did you feel during treatment…?
Like I said before, I was fearful about a lot of things. Many things run through your mind during treatment. I felt crazy due to the hormones… there were days when I’d cry, others that I’d laugh and imagine being pregnant… As the days went by my fears and doubts started to disappear and I felt like what I was doing would soon make it possible to have something that I had been waiting for such a long time to have.
I overcame one of my greatest fears which was having to self-administer my injections (before I would see a needle and feel light-headed). Now I can say that needles no longer scare me – they make me a bit nervous, but that’s it. In contrast, I would do it all over a thousand more times and God willing we will try to give our little girl a baby brother or sister.
What advice would you give to other women and couples who are thinking about undergoing assisted reproduction treatment?
Most importantly I would tell them to not feel ashamed for going to a fertility clinic or for telling somebody that they’re not able to conceive. I would encourage them to go and to get evaluated. And I would of course tell them to choose this clinic because the staff make you feel right at home and they’ll treat you wonderfully.
I had a lot of issues once I got pregnant and then again with my daughter. But with strength and determination I kept pushing forward and now I feel extremely proud. I have to continue giving thanks to URE Centro Gutenberg every day. And to my embryologist, Menchu, who I can’t forget to mention: she’s the most wonderful person I’ve ever met.
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Thank you again, Ana, for your bravery and for deciding to share your story with us. And to our other readers, remember that you can access all the Real Stories from our patients
