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
There is overwhelming evidence that higher standards of nutrition support fertility, birth outcomes, and lifelong health. Unfortunately, the prenatal vitamin industry is failing us, leaving 95% of us depleted during one of the most nutritionally demanding times in our lives. Most prenatal vitamins only provide bare minimum nutrition, while Needed goes beyond bare minimums with products that can meet the needs of our minds, bodies, and babies. I’m excited to partner with Needed and offer you a special discount. Get 20% off your first order with code BIRTHHOUR at thisisneeded.com.
I feel confident recommending Needed because their products are rigorously third-party tested and endorsed by over 10,000 women’s health experts. Needed’s prenatal multivitamin comes in two forms – capsules or a delicious vanilla powder. In addition to the prenatal multivitamin, Needed has created bundle options to meet your needs, not only during different stages of pregnancy but also while trying to conceive and postpartum. As a mom of three, I especially love their collagen, pre/probiotics and cognitive support supplement.
Head over to thisisneeded.com to find your perfect bundle and use code BIRTHHOUR for 20% off your first order and up to 40% off select plans. I’ve talked to so many Birth Hour listeners who have discovered Needed through the podcast and I love hearing the feedback that they are feeling better during their pregnancy and into postpartum since starting with Needed. That’s thisisneeded.com and use code BIRTHHOUR.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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