40 years old - 1st Pregnancy after 13 years of trying

KathyG

Reply 40 years old - 1st Pregnancy after 13 years of trying Posted on: Mar 21, 2011 at 9:50am

Having attempted 3 ICSI/IVF cycles, 1 frozen egg cycle and 5 AI procedures, and a number of cycles with only acupuncture and natural treatments I became very frustrated having never once achieved a positive pregnancy outcome. I eventually sent my blood off to a Reproductive Immunology Lab in the USA from South Africa and they found that I had high levels of antiphospholipids and NK cells.

When I attempted my 3rd ICSI as well as my 5th AI procedure (this time with prednisone, clexane and aspirin) the pregnancy test result was still negative.

I finally had a consult with Dr Braverman during 2010 and he recommended the following immune treatment with my 4th ICSI cycle – IVIG, clexane and aspirin and progesterone. When I had my IgA levels tested my levels were low so Dr Braverman recommended that I not use IVIG and rather try neupogen (G-CSF). So with this ICSI cycle I then took neupogen (G-CSF), intralipids, progesterone, clexane and aspirin. The most amazing thing is that it worked and finally I had a pregnancy test to confirm this. I was terrified to do a urine test and only see 1 line after having done so many of them over all the years so this time I waited until I received the news from my HCG blood test. My husband and I were ecstatic when they phoned to say the result was positive. The funny thing is I waited until I was about 6 weeks pregnant before I was brave enough to attempt another urine pregnancy test just to see what it felt like to see 2 lines. It was amazing to see this and so healing for me.

As I write this now I am 10 weeks pregnant and stopped neupogen last week but need to continue with my clexane and aspirin throughout my pregnancy.

We take this week by week and have been privileged to hear our baby’s heartbeat and see the baby grow steadily and healthily. We know that we still have a long way to go but are so grateful for this opportunity and appreciate this gift even though I still have nerves, anxiety, fear etc

We have Dr Braverman to thank for this wonderful gift. He is such an authentic, kind, and passionate Doctor with a huge wealth of knowledge. He is amazingly accessible and makes you feel really important and unique as his patient.

My advice to others still trying – search your heart and if you truly want to be a mother you will. Dr Braverman is amazing and he will search every avenue to help you so please don’t give up. I know it’s a long road and financially it takes its toll but its worth it when you finally fall pregnant. I only wish that I had met Dr Braverman earlier and didn’t have to wait 13 years for his help. Reproductive Immunology is still new in South Africa and I am grateful that I had doctors that were willing to follow Dr Braverman's protocol. Don’t worry if you are not from the USA as Dr Braverman is able to recommend a protocol to work alongside your doctor in the country that you reside in .

Dr Braverman - Thank you from the bottom of my heart

To all those women still trying to fall pregnant - please don’t give up and I wish you all loads of success on your journey

jenb123

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Re: 40 years old - 1st Pregnancy after 13 years of trying Posted on: Apr 1, 2011 at 3:48pm

Congratulations Kathy. Reading your story only increases my hope that the IVF cycle I am due to begin this month with the addition of Neupogen will be a success story just like yours. You, your husband and your growing baby are in my thoughts and prayers!!!!!

trooper

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Re: 40 years old - 1st Pregnancy after 13 years of trying Posted on: Apr 10, 2011 at 9:53pm

Congratulations on achieving your dream!!! Reading your entry was very inspiring. I am over 40 and trying to concieve for the first time. I am very nervous but at least I have an opportunity to try. Dr Braverman has been absolutely wonderful . I wish that I had come to him sooner. I have been responding very well to his protocol and I am hopeful that one day I too will be a mommy.

JoGi

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Re: 40 years old - 1st Pregnancy after 13 years of trying Posted on: Jul 30, 2011 at 12:12am

Hi Kathy. I was so happy to read your post - I think it gives a lot of ladies hope! And congratulations! 13 years - that could not have been easy (5 years for me & I feel like it's draining the life out of me at times). I don't know you but I pray that all will go well & that you'll be blessed with a happy, healthy, beautiful baby! I am considering a consult with Dr Braverman, but having paid a consult with another clinic in NY & having been let down & having "lost" that money for nothing, I want to make sure this time things work out for me. Can I ask what doctor you were with here in SA that worked with you in conjunction with Dr Braverman? I need to be with a Dr that won't have issues working with Dr Braverman as I feel some doctors I have seen will not consider it.

All the best
JoGi

JoGi

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Re: 40 years old - 1st Pregnancy after 13 years of trying Posted on: Jul 30, 2011 at 8:10am

An amazing & inspiring story! I hope all is going & will go beautifully your pregnancy! I am also in SA - could I ask who your doctor in SA was that was prepared to work with Dr Braverman?

KathyG

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Reply Re: 40 years old - 1st Pregnancy after 13 years of trying Posted on: Aug 28, 2011 at 12:03pm

Update from Kathy on 28 August 2011
Thank you all so very much for your good thoughts and wishes. I am now 33 weeks pregnant and so very grateful every day as my pregnancy progresses and for the immune treatment protocol that I was given by Dr Braverman. My apologies for taking so long to reply to your emails but I have been busy launching 2 Optimal Fertility and Stress Reduction Mind Body CD/MP3’s. My long journey in trying to fall pregnant compelled me to research ways to further support fertility by focusing on stress reduction and the mind body connection. Both programmes are structured around the different phases of a women’s reproductive cycle whilst taking into account health and immune system balancing. The one is designed to be used with an IVF cycle and the other is designed to be used by women trying to fall pregnant naturally. For anyone wanting more information, these can be viewed in more detail on www.utopiahealthandwellness.com or email me on [email protected]

I wish you all much success on your fertility journey and please know that you are in excellent hands with Dr Braverman who is truly a remarkable doctor and a pioneer in the important work of reproductive immunology providing hope for women around the world.

best regards
Kathy

KathyG

0 Posts

Reply Re: 40 years old - 1st Pregnancy after 13 years of trying Posted on: Aug 30, 2011 at 3:51am

Update from Kathy - August 2011
Thank you all so very much for your good thoughts and wishes. I am now 33 weeks pregnant and so very grateful every day as my pregnancy progresses and for the immune treatment protocol that I was given by Dr Braverman. My apologies for taking so long to reply to your emails but I have been busy launching 2 Optimal Fertility and Stress Reduction Mind Body CD/MP3’s. My long journey in trying to fall pregnant compelled me to research and study ways to further support fertility by focusing on stress reduction and the mind body connection. Both programmes are structured around the different phases of a women’s reproductive cycle whilst taking into account health and immune system balancing. The one is designed to be used with an IVF cycle and the other is designed to be used by women trying to fall pregnant naturally. For anyone wanting more information, these can be viewed in more detail on www.utopiahealthandwellness.com or email me on [email protected].

I wish you all much success on your fertility journey and please know that you are in excellent hands with Dr Braverman who is truly a remarkable doctor and a pioneer in the important work of reproductive immunology providing hope for women around the world.

Best regards
Kathy

KathyG

0 Posts

Reply Re: 40 years old - 1st Pregnancy after 13 years of trying Posted on: Aug 30, 2011 at 3:56am

Hi JoGi

Re your question on further information on the Fertility Specialists in South Africa that allowed me to use Dr Braverman's protocol, please email me on [email protected] so that I can provide you with the details

regards
Kathy

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