This describes a Mira customer’s personal experience and/or was sourced from a review or interview. Mira cannot guarantee the same results for everyone. Results will depend on each individual’s health conditions. Mira is not intended to diagnose or treat any diseases. Please consult with your doctor.
Bridgette felt like she had been written off by her doctors for getting pregnant again, but she still wanted to try again. So she was looking for a device that would make life easier for her and help guide the process of trying for a second baby. Read on to learn how Mira helped her take control of her reproductive options and how it helped her get pregnant.
First time hearing the diagnosis
When Bridgette had her first baby, she was newlywed and had no issues getting pregnant. Being diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome and Hashimoto’s disease, she had always been told that she would have difficulties getting pregnant at all. Autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s can affect your fertility in a number of ways, but Bridgette was in her early 20’s when she was told this so pregnancy wasn’t even on her radar yet. Like a lot of women, since she wasn’t interested in getting pregnant at that point in her life, she didn’t even consider that there could be issues down the road or what her future fertility might look like. She wasn’t ready to have the conversations yet even though she’d been warned by every doctor about the difficulties she might face. So when she got pregnant with her first without even trying, she had no idea what to expect when trying for a second baby.
Knowing that she might need assistance in some way to get pregnant again, Bridgette searched for a device that would be easy for her to use and could help measure hormones. One of the ways autoimmune diseases often affect fertility is through hormone production, so naturally, Bridgette was drawn to a device that could provide lab-quality hormone tracking at home. She was looking for something that was easy to use and user-friendly. Thankfully she was able to purchase the device with her husband’s health savings account and got started testing and tracking right away.
She suffered a chemical pregnancy her first month of using Mira, even with the use of Clomid to help ovulation. Together with her reproductive endocrinologist, Bridgette kept on a course of Clomid and kept trying. She was frustrated with the results and planned to try out IUI as a next step in trying to conceive. But with a “hail mary” of 50mg of Clomid, Bridgette was willing to give it one more shot before looking at other options.
Her mother had issues getting pregnant with her brother and had successfully used Clomid as well. In those days, no one in her family really understood fertility issues, and she had nowhere to turn. Her mother was diagnosed with endometriosis and thyroid issues, so Bridgette knew what to expect. No one else in her family knew what to expect or had any issues with fertility, so she was really on her own in terms of how to navigate these waters.
With the help of Mira, she was able to know her timing and when her fertile window was to make the best of the Clomid dose. Not only did she find her results easy to read, but Mira helped her figure out when her LH surge occurred so she could make a game plan. Although her doctors weren’t necessarily interested in seeing the data, Mira allowed Bridgette to have some control over the situation and helped ease her fears of not being able to get pregnant.
The waiting game
At approximately 8 DPO, Bridgette was overcome with nausea and a feeling her body was just “off”. She had taken a pregnancy test that morning but it had come out negative. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something felt different. After a bout of nausea and a couple of other little things, she took another test that night and saw a very faint line that confirmed she was in fact pregnant. Bridgette’s prayers were answered and after the “hail mary” of Clomid, she was now officially pregnant.
Finding support
Although she didn’t join the group right away, the Mira Facebook Group was a big support for Bridgette. Other members helped her interpret graphs and curves and she found it super helpful to read the charts and posts from other women going through the same thing. Moderators and veteran users alike were a huge source of strength and moral support.
When you have no one in your life who really knows what you’re going through, it can become mentally draining to face months of not knowing. Bridgette found she was constantly riding this roller coaster and beating herself up because she wasn’t pregnant yet. Having an online source of support really gave her a sense of community. Not everyone had a similar story, but they could all appreciate what she was going through and that support proved immeasurable.
Advice for others
Bridgette advises others not to give up. As she said, “if this is truly what you want, go for it!” There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel and even on your darkest days, you can find hope. And never be sorry for standing up for yourself and advocating with doctors. “Be your biggest advocate” is a common piece of advice but when it comes to fertility it can really help to stick up for yourself. Feel all the feelings you need to feel, but don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself and what you know you want. You know your body better than anyone and it can pay to invest in yourself and what you’re going through.
