Gimme a break

I have been contemplating a break from the trying to conceive insane assylum. My plan for escaping? Asking my N.P. for a few months worth of birth control.

Yes, I can see you scratching your head in confusion from here. I have my reasons, really, I do. Three reasons as a matter of fact:

1. I am to the point where I need to focus on something other than the effort to get pregnant. I need to spend more time doing what I want to do without the thought "I can't do that because I could get pregnant this cycle." Some of the things I want to focus on: losing weight, getting a job and relaxing.

2. I don't want to try another round of clomid until we know that Nathan's sperm are equal to the task of fertilizing any eggs that may be forced out of my rather selfish ovaries. Besides, why endure more hot flashes, mood swings and headaches unless there's a possibility of a successful pregnancy in it? Nathan has his first appointment with the urologist May 6th and if he does end up having surgery, we'll be putting trying to conceive off for a while anyway.

3. Last cycle's blood work showed something rather interesting: I don't seem to have had a rubella vaccine. A trip to webmd.com gave me enough reason want to get that taken care of. Among possible birth defects rubella can cause if I happen to be unlucky enough to catch it while pregnant (and let's face it, I'm not exactly lucky when it comes to fertility, so why should I be after conception?) are cataracts, hearing impairment, heart disease and developmental problems. Also, babies infected with rubella in utero can be contagious through their first birthday. Since getting the vaccine would still put any baby conceived shortly thereafter at risk, I have yet another reason to take a break from trying to get pregnant.

PS: Why, why, why did I have to look at the possible side effects of the vaccine? Now I'm weighing which I'm more scared of: birth defects for my as yet non-existent child or deafness and/or brain damage? Okay, freaky choice, but it's still all about the baby.

Comments

[Amy]

I'm from ttc<20, I noticed that you had malefactor as you diagnosis. How do you know if dh hasn't been tested yet, is it just an assumption? And if you do know what it is, do mind if I ask what? WE are MF too. Also, how long have you been trying?

[Monique]

Christina,

You know you have to do what is right for you... and whatever you feel is best all of us will support :)

"Military Medicine" can be very interesting, so do a lot of homework before you take what they say at face value. I can't even begin to list my odd journey through the Tri-Care system and some of the diagnosis' they gave me. It has been a long and very torturous process. Which lead me to the "no more baby" break that I am on.

If you do decide to take that break, I hope you won't be a stranger around here :)

[Christina]

Amy, yes we do have a diagnosis for DH. He has a varicocele. Right now we are just waiting on our appointment with the urologist so we'll know whether or not surgery is the best option for us. (The reason I mentioned not knowing if his sperm is okay was because we haven't gotten a defintite answer as to what his morphology is like.)

We have been trying for about 16 months now.

[Julia]

I gotta say: I LOVED LOVED LOVED taking a break. It was, hands down, the best thing that could have happened to me. I feel like a whole human being again. One who can work out, have a career, and engage in normal conversation with other adults. I had forgotten what that felt like. So if you're up for it, I highly recommend it.