Kat tried to conceive for a year using IUIs from a known sperm donor (her wife Emily’s brother). When that didn’t work, Kat sought fertility treatment and she was diagnosed with PCOS; because her PCOS had gone undiagnosed her whole life and she had never been on birth control, the unopposed estrogen from anovulatory cycles had caused endometrial cancer (stage 1, grade 1). Using fertility sparing treatment (a Mirena IUD and oral progesterone), Kat was free of cancer within 6 months and able to try IVF, which they were able to access because they had moved to MA. After two miscarriages and four years of trying, Kat was pregnant with her daughter Alice. That pregnancy, Kat experienced a long-lasting subchorionic hematoma and her daughter had a marginal cord insertion, and she was induced at 41 weeks. Kat got chorioamnionitis during the long birth, and the antibiotic treatment led to both her and her daughter having thrush. With her second pregnancy with her son Sam, Kat had another subchorionic hematoma. That birth led to an induction due to what ended up being a gallstone attack, a postpartum hemorrhage and blood transfusion, and a postpartum period affected by Covid. Her partner Emily is currently pregnant with their third and final baby, via reciprocal IVF.
Kat Fabel Bio
Kat and Emily live in Florence MA with their 4 year old daughter and 2 year old son, and they are due with their third child in August 2023. Connect with Kat via email: katfabel@gmail.com
Resources
- Facebook groups for queer couples trying to conceive, as well as facebook groups for trying to conceive after endometrial cancer
- If you have PCOS or irregular cycles, and especially if you have never been on birth control, please consider getting screened for endometrial cancer
- If you’re having trouble conceiving, very much recommend seeing a reproductive endocrinologist sooner rather than later, it would have saved us a lot of time, money, and pain
- If you’re doing IVF or fertility treatments after cancer, Boston IVF was amazing and has reproductive endocrinologists specifically trained in fertility treatments after cancer
- RESOLVE is a national organization that keeps a really helpful list of IVF insurance coverage by state, including how they define infertility (especially relevant for same sex couples). If you’re calling your insurance company to ask questions about the kind of fertility coverage they offer, ask to speak to the fertility nurse or fertility specialist rather than whoever answers the phone because it can be complicated
- Joining a postpartum group (our hospital runs one for new parents) was a wonderful way to meet other new parents and talk through sleep/eating/other issues
- TushBaby carriers
- Lactation consultants saved my breastfeeding journey – our pediatrician had one on site, check if yours does too!
- Hearing alllll the birth stories (Obsessed with The Birth Hour; I also liked Australian Birth Stories)
Needed
Today’s episode is sponsored by Needed. Needed is the leading women’s health supplement brand recommended by nutritionally-trained practitioners. While most perinatal supplements include the bare minimum of the nutrients needed during pregnancy, Needed’s products are based on the latest clinical research and in-practice experience of nearly 4000 practitioners. Needed has all your needs covered, from your prenatal vitamin to pregnancy-specific Pre/ and Probiotics, to egg quality support, sleep, stress, immune and hydration support, as well as your protein needs for blood sugar balance and postpartum healing. Needed’s Complete Plan delivers unparalleled nourishment for every phase — whether you’re trying to conceive, pregnant, or postpartum! Instead of having to pair 6 different products together to meet your needs, I love that Needed has simplified things by bundling together four core products you need, in an easy and flexible monthly plan. Save 20% off your first order of Needed’s Complete Plan or any of their other perinatal nutrition products at thisisneeded.com with code BIRTHHOUR.