Newborn photography isn't just about capturing the fleeting details of new life. Newborn photography is a celebration of life itself. Whether your bundle of joy came to you naturally and seemingly effortlessly, or you needed a little (or a lot) of help conceiving, your baby is a gift, and your experience is powerful. This is one family's IVF journey:
Meet The Plouff Family: Andrew and Andrea
Andrew and Andrea Plouff always knew they wanted to be parents when the time was right. But, like many other newlyweds, they wanted to enjoy being married first, get settled into a routine and ensure that they were stable enough to provide a healthy and fulfilling life for their future child. Then, five years into their marriage, the unthinkable happened. Andrea was diagnosed with cancer in 2016.
Surviving Cancer
Andrea describes 2016 as the worst year of her life. Andrea says, "I was diagnosed with cancer in 2016. I underwent two months of intensive chemotherapy and a 7-hour surgery to remove the tumor. I was placed into menopause during this time in hopes of saving my eggs because, in some cases, chemotherapy can harm eggs and cause long-term effects on fertility. After very successful treatment and surgery, I was so pleased to be cancer-free."
Life is Too Short to Wait
There is something to be said about the way a life-threatening diagnosis has a way of helping you realize just how short life is. After Andrea and Andrew received the excellent news that Andrea was cancer-free, they didn't want to waste another minute. They knew the time was right to start their family. Eager to be parents, they began trying to conceive.
Unfortunately, the conception didn't come as quickly as they imagined. After six months of negative pregnancy tests, they decided they needed to get a little help. The first doctor put them on fertility pills, which can give hopeful parents-to-be a little added boost to nudge conception. Unfortunately, six more months went by without a positive pregnancy test. Although discouraged, the couple decided it was time to see a specialist at a fertility clinic.
Beginning the Fertility Journey at the University of Michigan
Maybe a little serendipitously, the Plouffs were referred to U of M for fertility help. The couple was relieved about the referral because it was a hospital they knew well, as this was the hospital where Andrea fought for her life just two short years before. Now, the couple came with a very different agenda. Walking into the doors felt like coming home, and they knew they were on the right track.
The Insemination Attempt
After countless tests and genetic testing for both Andrew and Andrea, the reproductive clinic at U of M came back with a diagnosis that no hopeful couple wants to hear, "unexplained infertility." All of the tests came back normal. The team was dumbfounded because there was nothing to "fix." However, there was hope.
Since both Andrea and Andrew were otherwise healthy, they were great candidates for intrauterine insemination (IUI). With IUI, the medical team takes the sperm and puts it directly into the uterus using a small catheter. By cutting out all of the other factors, IUI improves the chances of fertilization with a relatively high success rate.
The Plouffs excitedly went for it. Then again. And again. And again.
After four unsuccessful attempts, it was clear that IUI would not work for them. Discouraged but not defeated, the couple and their medical team went back to the drawing board two years into their fertility journey.
The Plouffs IVF Journey
With the combination of unexplained infertility and the unsuccessful IUI treatments, the medical team at U of M decided that IVF would be the couple's best chance at conception.
IVF, or in vitro fertilization, is a procedure where the medical team removes both the sperm and the egg and combines them in vitro (in a test tube, culture dish or elsewhere outside of the body). Once fertilized, the embryo is returned to the uterus.
In preparation for the IVF process, Andrew lovingly helped administer the medication Andrea needed to ready her body for the procedure. He diligently gave the necessary shots each morning and night and was there for Andrea every step of the way.
Luckily, during the first egg retrieval, the doctors procured eight very highly graded eggs during the first retrieval before giving Andrea's body much-needed rest after two years of medical treatments.
Attempts 1, 2 & a Global Pandemic
In November 2019, after a few months off, the Plouffs and their medical team decided the time was right to try the first egg transfer of their IVF journey. No luck.
They attempted again in January of 2020. Still, not successful.
The couple was heartbroken but determined and scheduled a third IVF cycle for March 2020. On March 15th, 2020, the United States officially went on lockdown due to the global pandemic known as Coronavirus-19, or COVID-19. Like the rest of the world, their IVF treatments came to an abrupt and indefinite stop.
Support and Other Options
Andrew and Andrea both knew they were meant to be parents, but how could they make it happen? The couple was growing weary from waiting, and now they were facing the uncharted territory of COVID-19. Nevertheless, they wanted to be parents sooner rather than later and began to have serious conversations about adoption and other alternatives.
Throughout their fertility journey, the couple had some friends that also had fertility struggles that they could lean on. But, they didn't have anyone that had gone through IVF personally. When you don't know anyone else who has "been there," it is easy to feel isolated and lonely.
Thankfully, Andrea was able to find a Facebook support group for women with cancer who were also trying to conceive. This group helped keep hope alive while giving them resources for other avenues to try. During the shutdown, Andrea began to try a suggested alternative medicine in the form of fertility acupuncture treatments every other week.
The IVF Journey Resumes
In early July of 2020, the Plouffs got a call from the reproductive team at U of M, letting them know they could schedule another transfer. Again, they felt giddy with so much hope, especially with the added help of the ongoing acupuncture treatment. But unfortunately, the third time was not a charm, and they heard the dreaded words, "not pregnant."
The doctors scrambled to change the medication again with five frozen embryos left. Unfortunately, opportunities were dwindling with the number of eggs. Andrea reminisces on what happened with the next embryo transfer:
"We had our 4th transfer in October 2020. This was the hardest transfer because the doctors had a very hard time placing the egg. The procedure should be done in about 10-15 min. Well, this transfer took close to an hour. We left the doctor's office once again feeling defeated and like another cycle would fail. We said to each other, 'Well, we have 4 more eggs. Let's stay positive.' Ten days later, I went in for my blood test and anxiously awaited the phone call. To our surprise - POSITIVE. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I couldn't believe it. After four years of no's and nothing, our dreams were finally coming true."
The Struggle Isn't Over
Although we'd love for the story to end with "and they lived happily ever after" right then and there, unfortunately, more stormy waters were ahead for the Plouff family. After several clean and clear doctor's appointments and the revelation that the couple was expecting a baby girl, a routine spina bifida test was done at 18 weeks. Unfortunately (or fortunately, as the couple would realize), the results came back alarmingly high, and the couple was referred immediately to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist.
After more testing, the team discovered that the placenta had embedded too far into the uterine lining and wall, causing blood mixing and putting the pregnancy at high risk. Andrea was restricted to a strict 2,000 step count daily limit, and the couple temporarily relocated to Ann Arbor, Michigan at 27 weeks to be closer to the University of Michigan. The diagnosis came with increased potential of bleeding, placenta rupture, and pre-term labor, and the couple wanted to take every precaution.
Welcoming Sawyer Kayleigh
Thankfully, the couple was nearby because Andrea went on to have a couple of bleeding scares and a hospitalization. Andrea had another bleed at 32 weeks and 5 days paired with preeclampsia. The medical team decided that it was safest for the baby and Andrea that be delivered that day. The couple shares,
"On May 6th, 2021, 4:16 pm at 3lbs 7ozs, Sawyer Kayleigh was born at 32 weeks, and she was an absolute rockstar from the beginning. She was breathing room air within a couple of days. Sawyer spent 23 days in the NICU and was released at 4lbs 8ozs. She had an amazing 1st year. She has hit all her milestones and is close to 20 pounds, almost walking and doing fantastic. Andrew and I still look at her and think of the rollercoaster we had to go through to get her here and feel so grateful she is ours."
A Message For Other Hopeful Parents
After countless prescriptions & injections, eight medical procedures and four years of side effects and bad news, Andrew and Andrea finally welcomed their little girl. They never imagined that they would be in their mid 30's before becoming parents, yet they'd do it all again to have Sawyer. Their experience has helped them grow stronger together, and now they have a fantastic daughter.
Andrea and Andrew have a special message for other couples struggling,
"Fertility struggles can happen to anyone, no matter family history, medical history, or background. We want to make it ok to talk about and let people know there is help out there for them. We also want couples trying to conceive not to give up hope and stay positive (knowing it's super hard in the moment). It's so easy to get caught up in the negatives or the no's. It's so important to focus on the little victories and stay positive. We believe having a faith and prayer was so important in our journey. We truly believe in the power of prayer, and we had a village praying for us. Also, Andrew and I both have a pretty good sense of humor, and we say that's what got us through all of this."
Join The Newborn Celebration Project
As a long-time newborn photographer with a newborn photography studio in Mt. Pleasant, I've had the privilege of getting to know many local families. Every story is different, each worth celebrating and sharing with the world. Yet, my heart broke for every family that felt alone during a difficult fertility journey. Like the Plouff family, I want to shed light on fertility issues and let local families know that they are not alone with IVF newborn photos and provide a platform for these families to share their stories.
Connect with a Michigan Newborn Photographer
Do you have a fertility journey you would like to share with others? As a maternity and newborn photographer in Mt. Pleasant, MI, I'd love to help you celebrate your newest addition with newborn photography in central Michigan, IVF journey photography or both! Send me a message through the contact form today!
Whether your family grew from an IVF journey, adoption or another method, sharing your experience gives hope to other families struggling to conceive. However, if you'd rather keep it private, don't worry; many other families would prefer not to be in the spotlight. As a newborn photographer, I'll respect your privacy, and everything will remain confidential. All images and fertility stories are shared only with the client's permission.
Resources (2 external):
Hopkins Medicine | Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) Treatment
Mayo Clinic | In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)