Interview with Juliane: When IVF is only the first hardship…
About Juliane:
Juliane Flood is 40 years old, born and raised in Lititz, PA. Juliane works as a coordinator for “Inspire Lancaster”, where she helps connect students in the area with businesses. She loves to dance, even has a degree in Dance and teaches at “Dance Dynamix”, rounding out 25 years of teaching dance! She is a personal trainer, nutritionist, and spends time working out in her home gym, reading, and playing with her children (Danika, 6, and Giordana, 4). Both of her children were conceived via IVF and both were born prematurely at 30 and 33 weeks, with a collective 75 days in the NICU. This is their family’s story.
Tell us about when you first started trying to get pregnant, what did that feel like?
I always knew I might have trouble getting pregnant as my mom had to use clomid to get pregnant and I had a severe eating disorder as a child. I also have an inverted uterus and endometriosis. My Obgyn said I’d probably never conceive. It was scary…
My body was my instrument as a fitness instructor and dance teacher and I was scared of going through all of this would harm my body, but I wanted children and after testing I knew I had to go straight to IVF.
At what point in life did you first realize something was wrong, how did you discover your fertility?
After a lot of initial bloodwork and testing, I was sent to see if my fallopian tubes were open. Well, after a very painful test we discovered they were shut, most likely from scarring due to the endometriosis. I had to have surgery to get them removed before I was able to even start IVF treatments.
Tell us a little about how you first learned you had endometriosis.
Honestly, I wasn’t really diagnosed until I was going through IVF treatments and at that point, it wasn’t a focus. I had dealt with irregular periods and cramping my whole life, but I figured it was normal. I was put on birth control at 15 to regulate my period and help with hormonal acne.
And then because of this you have needed to have your tubes removed. What was that like emotionally? Physically?
It was an incredibly painful test. I remember they gave me valium and it did not help. They just kept trying to “shoot” them open and I was like this isn’t happening. It was disappointing knowing that I would have to immediately go to IVF as I was not a candidate for anything less without fallopian tubes. I had them removed in 2014.
So turning to IVF was a decision made for me… I had no other choice if I wanted to be a mother, besides adoption, and at that time my husband didn’t want to adopt. IVF was the only choice, really.
After going through the hardship of IVF, you had two children, who were each born premature. Can you tell us what that was like?
After two failed IVF attempts, on the third try I finally got pregnant. That feeling was completely surreal and I was also scared to death. My first daughter was born via an emergency C-section at 30 weeks gestation. I literally saw my life flash before my eyes as I went for my check up and they didn’t hear a heartbeat and all the doctors and nurses took me in an ambulance to the ER. My husband was out of town (we did not think this would happen so early) so my mom was ready to go into the OR with me. He got there just in time! I just remember thinking, after all I went through now, I still have to suffer through a preemie birth?
I don’t remember much after that and I couldn’t see her for 48 hours. The next 40 days were hell with alarms and near- death experiences. I was able to stay with her most of the time and pump to feed her.
After hundreds of tests, we brought her home before her actual due date. It was then that they discovered my placenta had aged to 40 weeks… babies are smart and she knew to get out! Staying active helped keep her alive as she was getting nutrients through my blood flow.
Later on, we decided we wanted her to have a sibling. Although I was warned this would be a high-risk pregnancy due to my age and previous experience, we went through with it. I said if it doesn’t work after the first IVF attempt, I am adopting. Well, it worked on the first try. This time I was on high watch and had tons of progesterone and steroid injections. I went in almost daily for checkups. I remember making it to 31 weeks and thinking we made it further! Well, I went in for a check up and bam… repeat experience to the ER. They literally hooked me up to all sorts of devices with the plan of making it to 35 weeks. I just remember sitting there scared to move and being so uncomfortable.
They had lots of specialists in and were convinced her chord was knotted up causing her heart rate to consistently drop. Hour after hour they would storm my room saying it was time. At 33 weeks ,they screamed “it’s time!” as my uterus had nearly exploded which would have resulted in death for both of us. Repeat NICU customers but this time with a two-year-old at home. This was a very emotional experience but I knew she was in good hands and got out right around her due date after a 35 day stay.
After she was born, I developed a lot of pain in my entire body. As a lifelong dancer and athlete, I knew something was really wrong. I later found out I had Chronic Lyme and spent about two years getting treated for that… which is a whole other story!
Wow! Must have been very scary to go through that. Who were the greatest supporters to you throughout this?
My husband, Nathan, and my parents Bill and Linda Brown. I definitely owe a lot to them … They are very proud of their miracle babies and my perseverance. I always say, “You never know how strong you have to be, until being strong is your only choice!”
And how are things looking for your family now?
Well, although I’d love to have a little boy, I definitely can’t produce any more quality eggs or carry a child. We are focusing on our family of 4 and our career goals. Staying fit and healthy has always been a top priority for me and I love sharing that with my children.
You can find Juliane at @JulzDGfit on Instagram!
