Fiona McPhillips is a freelance journalist and academic researcher. Having given birth to her son in 2003, she then faced three rounds of Clomid, three IUIs, two IVFs and suffered six miscarriages before giving birth to her daughter last year. She is currently expecting
another baby.
The Morning Show / Indo
I spent this afternoon recording a show on infertility for The Morning Show on TV3, to be broadcast at 11am next Monday 15th June. Also on the show are fertility expert, Zita West, and Sarah and Bob Keating, who have been TTC for two years.
Update: The show is here. I am on from 20 minutes, although Sarah and Bob and Zita West, who are on before me, are well worth a look.
I have also written an article on infertility for the Irish Independent magazine, which I think is due to run tomorrow (Saturday 13th June). I will update with a link if it is in tomorrow.
Update: This will be in next Saturday’s (27th June) Irish Independent magazine.
June 14th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Hiya
First of all cathy from happy bumos told us your news!! SO major congratulations your way!! How is everything going?? We are good looking forward to seeing the show in the morning!! A lil nervous too but we are both so glad we did it!! It was a pleasure to meet you and hopefully our paths will cross again!
Chat soon
S and B x x x x
June 15th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Great to meet both of you too and very best of luck! I am not looking forward to seeing the show – will be watching from behind my hands and cringing! You were great, nothing to worry about!
June 15th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Hi there Saibob and Fiona
I thought you were all excellent and it was so informative, than you all so much. Fiona your journey ttc must have been so tough and yet so rewarding, she’s absoltuely gorgeous and worth every minute of it.
June 15th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Thanks MaryV!
June 15th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Hi Fiona
Just watch show this morning and am thinking of buying your book, i too am TCC have 7yr son conceived naturally, 2 failed IUI, 3 failed IVF have unexplained infertility?? Have just changed clinics going to give one more go (don’t know where will find the energy or finance but have it in my head to give one more shot as i am 37 yrs and clock is ticking) do you have any other advice ?
Thanks Fiona and hope all goes well for you, you and yrs have been through a lot
Michelle
June 15th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Hi Michelle – so sorry to read your story, it is just so hard. And, while I know how lucky I was to have my son, I always found it such a strain to keep a brave face on for him while I was going through treatments and failed cycles.
Have you changed clinics to try a new treatment? Or were you just not happy with your clinic? I know some clinics just keep trying the same treatment without doing tests or investigations to try and find out why a certain treatment has failed. I know at least two couples who did several IVF cycles before finding out that the man had sperm fragmentation issues that could have been preventing the embryo from developing – have you tested for this? Also, have you been tested for any autoimmune problems? Have you been on pregnancy support drugs after IVF? Have you tried a blastocyst cycle? I think the best thing you can do (if you haven’t already done it) is to ask specific questions on message boards to see if there are any others who are in the same situation as you and they might be able to give you more specific help as to what you can ask your clinic. I can highly recommend http://www.irishinfertilitysupportforums.ie. You could also try http://www.ivfconnections.com for more general IVF questions.
Very best of luck with your next cycle and let me know how you get on. If there’s any other way I can help, please ask.
June 15th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Hi Fiona
Thanks for that had failed iui/ivf with MFC just changed to SIMS had SIS scan, DNA fragment done sperm very good, they have to come back to me to see if i can have all treatment there or go to UK for egg retrival with my BP being high or they said may have to got to HARI ?? Had seen message on your blog from OSULLN04 she ended going to UK and no she is expecting twins so don’t know wheither to stick with SIMS or try UK route – will try web sites u listed
Thanks again
Michelle
June 15th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Sarah was really really excellent.
Great to see her there with her husband too.
You were brilliant Fiona, that was as good a discussion on IF & loss as I’ve seen anywhere. It was lengthy enough and touched on all the important bits, especially the stresses & strain.
Brilliant.
June 15th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Hi Fionna
My name is Pamela from Chile but live in Ireland with my Irish Housband 1 year .
Very good program on tv ,thank you .
The problem here is hospital system is very very slow for couples with problem .Iam very frustrated because GP no help with my problem …..after the 1 year worried for me and now wait for apointment in Hari. I dont know how long for wait. Is very sad for couples not posibol pregnant and system no help .
Thank you .
Pamela
June 15th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Michelle – I don’t know where osulln04 went in the UK – I meant to ask her but forgot. So if you’re reading, can you let us know??? I’m afraid I don’t know anything about high blood pressure and egg retrieval – I hope you get some answers from some of the other boards. Very best of luck!
Xbox – thank you very much! Yes, Sarah was fantastic, a total natural and got across exactly the right amount of information and heartache without sounding bitter or looking for sympathy.
Pamela – I am so sorry to hear you have had problems with your GP – the waiting times are long and frustrating enough without having to deal with GPs that won’t help. You are right, the system seems to be designed to cause the maximum amount of stress for couples waiting for treatment. Have you made an appointment with HARI? As far as I remember, the Sims clinic used to have the shortest waiting times – you can also make an appointment without a GP’s referral. Very best of luck and I hope you don’t have too long a wait.
June 16th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Hi Fiona
ah feck (sorry!) i didn’t see your post so i missed your interview! Catch you next time!
‘Wanted to say hello again and that i’m chuffed you’re doing so well, I know you cant relax just yet, but pls know i’m hoping nothing but the best for you and sending you buckets of white light.
‘Will keep checking in on you!
Jeanette.
June 18th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
I’m on a ttc with assistance web trawl this evening and then saw the news about the baby-2-be on the blog. Congrats! And you came across very well on TV3 as well – looking forward to the article on Saturday (hopefully).
Pamela – I’ve only had good experiences so far with the health system in Ireland. I wen to the gp after ttc for less than a year and was referred immediately for tests in Holles Street. In the space of a few months I had blood test results, a laparoscopy and a hsg. And dh had a sa in that time as well. If you’re not happy with the treatment you’re receiving then you need to look elsewhere for help, because there is excellent help available if you want it.
June 18th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Thanks Jeanette and Callie.
Callie – so glad to hear a positive story. You are right, people need to know that they have options and can go elsewhere if they are not happy.
June 20th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Just watched the Morning show eventually! They dealt with it all very sensitively as well as providing lots of info and spending lots of time on the subject – I see they also did breastfeeding one day but haven’t time to watch it now!
I thought you were brilliant and you’re looking great – I was expecting you to look slightly tired and pale!!!!!!!!!!!
Interesting to hear that anti-histamines aren’t good for fertility as I take 2 a day for eczema. I’m also on Mucodyne to create more mucous but hadn’t thought of the anti-histamines as being the cause. It was typical though that the month after miscarriage that had to be a ‘rest month’, I had loads of it – sorry, to be a bit gross but it suggested to me that relaxation/stress re getting pregnant affects it too.
Hope week 13 is going well for you. x
June 20th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Hi Fiona
Would love advice from you about getting publicity on a blog for women who are long term infertile. My target is women who have been trying for years without conceiving and have endured multiple failed treatments, women who have to listen to miracle baby stories about how it could happen for them, when realistically it won’t. So that we can help each other reach the acceptance phase of the grief cycle instead of the insanity of the hope stage. Me: 5 years TTC today. Time to close that door, and move on, but i need the help of true infertile veterans to inspire me and others to deal with permanent infertility…..thanks, hope you reply….
June 21st, 2009 at 11:10 am
Thanks Lorna.
Stillnobaby – so, so sorry to hear you have reached that stage. I can’t imagine how hard a decision it is and how strong you have to be to make it.
http://irishinfertilitysupportforums.ie/index.php has a section for living without children. Also, Helen Browne of the National Infertility Support and Information Group – http://www.nisig.ie – may be able to put you in touch with others. I know she had to face a similar situation. http://www.ivfconnections.com/ has a section for child-free living and is probably a lot busier than IISF.
There is also a list of blogs of women coming to terms with child-free living here: http://stirrup-queens.blogspot.com/2006/06/living-child-free-room.html. I hope you find something of help there.
June 28th, 2009 at 8:14 am
I just read your article in yesterdays Independant, well done! Very good article and fab pictures of you and the kids!
August 14th, 2009 at 1:46 am
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