*BabyBaker

My name is Ashlyn, and my husband is Brandon. We have been married for almost 8 years! A year and a half into our marriage we decided that we were going to start trying to have a baby. I knew that I would have some issues, but I didn't realize how significant those issues were. Without birth control, my body would not have a period, therefore I was not having a cycle at all. Over the next few years, I began trying to naturally start a cycle. I eliminated all chemicals and toxins in our home, began using essential oils, tried elimination diets, and saw a naturalist doctor. After a year with no success, I was diagnosed with PCOS. It was right around that time that I started to get really sick. I started dealing with intense body pains including muscle pain, joint pain, swollen joints, and nerve issues. At the time I was 24 years old, and no one believed that something serious could be wrong with me. I was in such agonizing pain 24/7. At this point, having a baby was not an option. It took almost 2 years before I was able to find doctors that were able to help me. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and put on several medications. Since my diagnosis, my doctors have been very active with helping me manage my symptoms. I was finally feeling that I could handle pregnancy. It took a while for me to find a doctor, but I FINALLY got in to see a fertility specialist. At this point, I was so excited about starting the process. The first step was diagnostics. Diagnostic testing took over two months to complete. Our tests came back with a few concerns, but we were able to start the process. After 2 months of treatment, my doctor found a growth on the lining of my uterus. He needed to take it out to help ensure successful implantation. Now we are here in the present. Going forward, I am preparing for a small operation to remove the growth and explore the rest of my reproductive system to make sure there are no more issues that we will need to solve. The price of the monthly treatments have already become unpredictable and expensive. And from here, it will continue to get more expensive as we move to new medication, injectable hormones, and aggressive oversight. We had no intention of asking for help with this process as it is our own choice, but unfortunately our healthcare system is not set up to help those who are unable to have children naturally. It is set up to put middle class prospective parents in debt just to start a family. We are longing to start a family and take new roles as mom and dad, and we would be greatful for any and all help that can be given. We also want to let you know that if you are unable to help us monetarily, we need an ocean of prayers as well!