The reality of infertility

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All week, our Kate Carnegie is exploring fertility challenges in her series “The reality of infertility.”

For some couples who have trouble getting pregnant the next step is adoption. Tonight, we meet one Dunnville family who tried for years to conceive with no success. So they adopted two children. Then out of the blue, they found out they were indeed pregnant. While it was shocking to them, doctors say it happens more than you think.

The Disher’s love to spend time as a family at their Dunnville home. It’s something Amanda and Brandon and don’t take for granted. At one point they didn’t know when or if they would ever have kids. “I wanted kids. I was certain of kids.” Amanda was young, 20 years old when they started trying. “We started trying almost right away and nothing happened. Got engaged, got married and still nothing happened.” She was overweight at the time at about 400 pounds. Doctors said that could be one of the reasons she couldn’t get pregnant. Obesity is one of the number one causes of infertility in both women and men. “We certainly couldn’t afford IVF and overseas adoption was not an option.”

So they turned to domestic adoption. 24 at the time, Amanda and Brandon adopted 3 month old Aarik. Eleven months later they adopted 18 month old Aleah. Soon after, Amanda discovered she was pregnant. “I had given up on the idea. We weren’t trying. We weren’t even thinking about it.”

It’s a common story for couples experiencing infertility. “Infertility is kind of a relative thing and you can not say someone will never ever get pregnant.” Dr. Samuel Soliman is from Newlife Fertility Centre. Doctors say stress can effect ones ability to get pregnant.
“Stress is bad there is no question about it. It affects everything in your body including your immune system…your cycle. Everything.”

After already experiencing two miscarriages Amanda says she was anticipating the worst throughout her whole pregnancy. “Thinking at any moment now this is not going to happen. Thank God the adoption worked, I have two beautiful healthy children.”

The Disher’s thought they would never have a biological child and say adopting Aarik and Aleah was the best decision they ever made. “As much as the doctors say try not to stress about it, and your like really, you have to try not to stress about it. Everything happens for a reason.”

Two years after Brooklyn was born, Amanda had gastric bypass surgery. Now the mother of three has no troubles keeping up with her three young kids.

News that one round of IVF will be covered by OHIP this December gives a lot of Ontarians hope who are struggling to have a baby. Tomorrow in the final segment of the series “The reality of infertility” , Kate will share her own infertility story including her IVF experience.