The Day I Found Out I Was Pregnant After Battling Infertility

Just like I will never forget the day I was told I couldn’t conceive, I will never forget the day I found out I was pregnant after battling infertility. It was a beautiful, sunny day in April, exactly one year ago today, in fact. I’m celebrating today because this was the day that God demonstrated His grace, power, and limitless love in my life.

If you’re not familiar with my struggle with infertility, the gist of it is that I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and a bicornuate uterus. My doctor told me that it was likely that I would not be able to conceive naturally. I started a low-carb diet to help with my PCOS symptoms and regulate my cycle, and my husband and I tried for a long time to conceive.

A week of darkness

The week leading up to that amazing day was incredibly hard for me. I had a lot going on at work, was planning a bridal shower for a precious friend, and had taken several pregnancy tests that were negative.

That Tuesday, I had a bit of a breakdown. When I got home from work, I went straight to bed after (another) negative pregnancy test and spent most of the evening crying under the covers. My amazing husband went out and got me some ice cream; even though I had been super good with eating low-carb and sugar free, he could tell desperate times called for desperate measures. It was then that he lovingly advised me to take a break from peeing on a stick for a few days for both our sanities.

On Wednesday, my parents came over to help with some crafty things for the bridal shower, and my mom could tell I had been crying. I told her I felt hopeless we would never conceive. She told me she was confident the Lord would bless us with a child and encouraged me to not give up trying.

I refrained from taking another pregnancy test until Friday. I stopped to get another two-pack on my way home from work, just in case. Side note: those suckers are expensive! Especially when you’re using them multiple times a week. *Pro tip: get just the pregnancy test strips on Amazon. They don’t come with the plastic outside, so they are a lot cheaper!*

Taking the pregnancy test

Anyone who has struggled with getting pregnant after battling infertility understands the excitement, dread, anticipation, and fear that comes with taking a pregnancy test. My hands shook a little as I opened the package. I forced myself not to look at it while I waited for the results.

Just to be safe, I gave it a few extra minutes before I checked the test. I held my breath and said a quick prayer as I looked at the stick in my hand. My heart skipped a beat. Wait…is it? Are there two lines?? I blinked a few times and checked again. Sure enough, there were two lines! I was pregnant after battling infertility for what seemed like forever!

Instantly, I burst into happy, relieved, joyful tears and thanked God over and over for those two precious lines. I probably sobbed in my bathroom for almost ten minutes before I finally pulled myself together enough to gather my thoughts.

Immediately, I thought of my husband and how incredibly excited and happy he would be when I shared the news that we were finally pregnant after battling infertility. We planned to go out on a dinner date, so I decided to wait until we got home to tell him. I arrived home from work before he did, so I had a few minutes to freshen up and wipe away my tears so he wouldn’t suspect anything.

The big reveal, hubby edition

All throughout dinner, I did my best to act normal. I asked my husband about it later and he said he never suspected a thing (I guess I’m a pretty good actor!). When we finally arrived home for the evening, I excused myself to the bathroom where I hid the positive test. I checked it again to make sure I hadn’t imagined it. Yup, those two lines were still there. Just to be positive, I took the second test and sure enough, two more lines appeared. I was definitely pregnant after battling infertility!

Several weeks prior, in anticipation of this moment eventually arriving, I bought a plain white coffee mug and some permanent markers to make a custom mug for my husband. Inside the bottom of the mug, I wrote “You’re going to be a daddy,” complete with a little red heart.

I sneakily offered to make my husband some tea while we watched TV. It seemed like it took a lifetime for the tea to steep and cool off enough for him to drink. And then, of course, he just took his time sipping it. I think I even asked him a couple times, “Aren’t you going to drink your tea?”

Finally, I noticed he almost finished.

My heart was pounding and my stomach was full of butterflies. I watched out of the corner of my eye as he did a double-take at the bottom of his mug. He looked at me and at his mug again.

“Really?!” he exclaimed as I once again burst into tears. All I could do was nod as he scooped me up in a huge hug and squeezed me so hard I could barely breath. I showed him both of the positive pregnancy tests and we laughed and (I) cried. Next to the day I married him, I think that was one of the best nights of my life.

Don’t give up: you can get pregnant after battling infertility!

I tell you this, dear sister, to encourage you to never give up hoping and praying for your little one. If you’re struggling to conceive, know that you’re not alone. It is possible to get pregnant after battling infertility.

People don’t discuss infertility very much because it’s uncomfortable, and they don’t generally know what to say about it. But there are people who are willing to listen to you and cry with you as deal with this struggle. Don’t be afraid to ask for prayers! 

Keep on dreaming about your future baby. I firmly believe that if God gave you the desire to be a mother, then He will make it happen. It may not be in your timing (it sure wasn’t in mine!), but His timing is perfect. And it may not be in the way you think, either. He may be calling you to adopt or foster and love the children who have no one else.

As I reflect about that day one year ago, I am filled with so much joy.

My Little Man is just about four months old and he’s smiling, gurgling, cooing, and laughing. Those sounds are music to my ears because there for a while, I thought I would never hear them.

Today, as I held my baby, I thanked God for blessing me with the chance at motherhood. I pray that your day comes soon and that you would be content in the waiting.

Have you been blessed with a miracle baby? Are you struggling because you desire to be a mother? Share your story in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!