I believed that one day, it had to work out
Danka is one of the many women who have faced multiple unsuccessful IVF cycles. Today, she holds her little beloved daughter Natálka in her arms. Read on to find out how her IVF journey turned into victory, why attitude is important, and what helped Danka become the happiest mum in the world.
Your journey to starting a family began with a natural pregnancy that unfortunately ended in a miscarriage. Can you tell our readers when you started thinking about having a baby and how long it took you until it finally worked out?
After several years of trying, I managed to get pregnant naturally in 2018. Still, I had a miscarriage, followed by two years of unsuccessful attempts before we decided to visit the Gyncare centre in Košice. We applied for the first IVF cycle in 2022, which resulted in the retrieval of four eggs, but none of the embryos was suitable for transfer, and I realised that it wasn’t going to be easy.
Were you prepared for failure?
It really took a toll on me—I’d be lying if I said it didn’t—but I refused to dwell on it for too long. I didn’t burden my mind with useless thoughts. I tried not to think about what would happen if the second or third attempt failed. I held on to believing in success, and my doctor and I started planning the next cycle very soon.
After adjustments to the stimulation protocol, you managed to retrieve a decent number of eggs…
Indeed, 15 eggs were retrieved, of which 14 were fertilised. Eight embryos matured to the blastocyst stage. Due to previous miscarriages, we decided to subject the embryos to genetic testing, which confirmed that five of the embryos were free of genetic defects and, therefore, suitable for transfer.
However, the first embryo transfer failed. How did you take the fact that a promising embryo with a normal chromosome number did not result in a pregnancy?
I still refused to accept the idea that it would not work. I knew we had frozen several embryos. My doctor advised me to wait a while, which I did. Before the next attempt, I underwent an NK cell test, which showed no abnormalities. I managed to set myself up to move on and wasn’t dealing with anything else.
The second embryo transfer was a win…
That’s right; my hope for success hasn’t let me down. The second post-embryo transfer test confirmed the pregnancy, which resulted in the birth of our beloved baby girl. Today, I am the happiest mum in the world. And we are about to give Natálka a sibling very soon.
Many couples are struggling to come to terms with failed IVF treatment. It’s a painful experience for everyone, with some overcoming it quite quickly, while others need more time, and some don’t even want to try again at all. Can you tell our readers what helped you regain the strength to keep going?
The right mental attitude is key. For me, it was important not to burden myself with negative thoughts and to have faith that I would make it one day. I never worried about what would happen next if a cycle failed. I just tried to take it easy. I kept focusing on positive things and doing what I love. I lived my life as usual. We went out to nature a lot, we went on hikes. Whenever I could, I got on my bike, which I love, to clear my head.
I advise all couples, especially women, to trust professionals and follow their instructions. It worked well for me. It was not an easy time for us either, but I have no regrets, it was worth the struggle.
“I’m always happy to recall Danka. She always came to our centre smiling and loaded with positive energy. She agreed with the treatment procedures we recommended, she did the tests we suggested. She trusted us, and it paid off. It is rewarding to work with patients like Danka. Trust between patient and doctor is crucial as we work together to bring a baby into this world. I cheer for every woman who doesn’t give up,” says Dr Katarína Balasičová, the senior specialist at Gyncare centre in Košice who helped Danka to make her dream come true.
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