Case of the month May '08: Episode #10
Click here for episode #1
RECAP: Cora and Anthony have been infertile for over seven years. The initial workup revealed potential tubal issues. Despite surgery and many IUI cycles, they failed to conceive. They eventually agreed to do IVF. Ten days ago, Cora received two embryos transferred into her uterus.
And today….she is pregnant!
The blood pregnancy tests that we do are quantitative. That means rather than a big YES or NO, we get even more detailed information in the form of a number. Cora’s hCG value was a 209, a very good level.
We typically repeat the hCG value in 2-3 days. The reason we do this is to detect the likelihood of abnormal pregnancies which will end up in miscarriage. When the values double in 48 hours, we are very optimistic. We are OK if they even just go up by 70%. However, when they rise more slowly than that, it is concerning. And when the values actually drop, the news is devastating.
Two days later, her value was 561, more than double!
Two weeks after that, her first ultrasound showed there to be two heartbeats. Cora eventually went on to deliver beautiful healthy twins, a boy and a girl.
To this day, they stand firm by their decision.
To quote Cora, "We don’t feel that our doing IVF is a sin that is in need of forgiveness. We sin in our daily lives all the time and God forgives us, but this is different. Our precious babies are a gift and blessing from God and we will continue to serve Him faithfully."
To this day, Cora and Anthony and the babies are active members of their church. While their DECISION to have these babies is not entirely accepted, they themselves are accepted. There are others who are not so lucky, such as this teacher who was fired for having her babies through IVF.
