We'll Never Forget
Diagnosis: Heart Defect and cystic hygroma
By Heartbroken Parents
Life has been tough and also cruel. My journey began in March 2007 when I was told my husband had a low sperm count and we would not be
able to conceive naturally. I was also told I had a septate uterus and this would need to be operated on.
A few months after the operation we decided to embark on IVF (In vitro fertilization) with Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (CSI) treatment.
I decided to give up my job to focus on the IVF to give it the best chance of working.
The first treatment resulted in me having a terrible reaction to the drugs - Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS.) Since this can be
potentially life threatening* we were advised to stop treatment which we did. Our embryos were frozen at this point.
We then decided to switch to another local clinic which had a fantastic reputation in the area. We collected our embryos and transported them
to the new clinic. We had 2 frozen attempts using these embryos which were unsuccessful.
In August 2009 we began our 4th attempt at IVF; it was successful. The joy was unbelievable. At our 2nd scan there were concerns as 3 soft
markers were identified. We were offered an amnio, which we declined because the soft markers were all borderline. We were not offered a
termination at this stage and decided to continue, even with a big worry on our heads. Luckily our baby daughter was born in June, 2010 with no
defects.
This was a period of great joy, which lasted until July 2011. I fell pregnant naturally in April 2011 and our first scan was in July. After several scans
we were advised that there was something seriously wrong. The amnio came back clear, but there were concerns because a heart defect and a
cysctic hygroma* were identified. We decided to terminate the pregnancy. This was the hardest thing we have ever faced. We then went through the
cremation and funeral.
We have been told there was no clinical diagnosis for what was wrong with our baby. We will never know why our baby had the problems he did.
As a couple, we feel so worn down by life and have lost that 'spring' in our step. We have just got past the due date and hope to start trying
again in a few months time. We hope that time will be our healer and one day life will be a joy again. We will never forget our baby. This experience
has changed us forever.
*You can find more information on Cycstic hygroma here: PubMed.gov
and on OHSS here: Pub Med Health members of the U.S.
National Library of Medicine.