Woman Becomes Mom to Babies Born 12 Weeks Apart after Suffering from Infertility for Years

After years of infertility and failed IVF cycles, a woman saw two lines she had anticipated seeing after taking the pregnancy strip test. Little did she know she would miraculously become a mother to two babies born 12 weeks apart.

Infertility is one of the biggest nightmares for most couples. It takes a toll on a woman’s mental health if she is the one who has fertility issues. Most people see adoption as the ultimate solution to their problem. 

However, some women don’t give up despite going through the worst. They keep trying to conceive by undergoing excruciating fertility treatments, not knowing if they will work. The woman in today’s story experienced something similar and soon saw the result of her perseverance. 

THE SPITZERS

Ashley and Jonathan Spitzer tied the knot in May 2017, and they were on the same page about their plans from the first day. The couple wanted to build a family, so they started trying for a baby soon after getting married. 

However, things didn’t go as planned. After getting negative pregnancy test results multiple times, Ashley and Jon suspected something was not right. They soon consulted a doctor to know why Ashley couldn’t conceive. 

The doctors ran multiple tests on both Ashley and Jon and found out what was wrong. Ashley was diagnosed with infertility, but the reason was unknown. The doctor referred her to a fertility specialist so the couple wouldn’t have to give up on their plans. Little did they know it meant embarking on a long, tiring journey. 

THE JOURNEY BEGINS

When the couple consulted the fertility specialist, they told her about the treatment plan. Ashley agreed to go through whatever it might take to give birth to her child. 

Ashley had to undergo “countless procedures” to treat her unexplained infertility. Having Jon by her side gave her strength, but the medical procedures did disturb her. She recalled:

“It was an emotional rollercoaster and it was mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting.”

CHANGE OF PLANS

The doctors managed to implant embryos in Ashley’s womb through IVF, but her body wouldn’t allow her to carry them. She felt heartbroken every time an implant resulted in a miscarriage. 

After three miscarriages, Ashley and Jon gave up. They decided to find a surrogate mother for their child because it was painful for them to lose their precious embryos. Ashley said:

“Surrogacy is a beautiful, beautiful thing.”

FEELING HOPEFUL 

After successfully finding a surrogate, Ashley and Jon were hopeful they won’t be disappointed this time. They were sure the surrogate mother would carry their child, but things took a different turn when the doctor implanted their embryo in the surrogate’s womb. 

The surrogate miscarried their embryo, but Ashley and Jon decided not to give up and asked the doctors to repeat the procedure. Unfortunately, the surrogate lost their embryo once again. Ashley penned down her feelings in her Facebook post:

“Infertility is a whirlwind of emotions – fear, pain, jealousy, uncertainty, anxiety, and hope. The highs are high, but the lows are SO low.”

BACK TO SQUARE ONE

Despite hitting the lowest point of their journey, Ashley and Jon didn’t give up. They continued their IVF cycle and waited for a miracle. They had no idea the reward for their patience was waiting for them right around the corner. Jon recalled:

“After three very long years, on just one day, we had found out that Ashley was pregnant on her sixth IVF cycle.”

The Spitzers were over the moon after knowing they were pregnant. However, they still had a long way to go before holding their child in their arms. 

A SURPRISE

While the Spitzers were still coming to terms with Ashley’s miracle pregnancy, they received other shocking news. They had asked a second surrogate to come on board with them, and luckily, she was a genetic match which meant they could continue with the surrogacy. Jon recalled:

“That was just one of the best days, I think, of our lives.”

The Spitzers made sure nothing went wrong during the time Ashley was pregnant. They couldn’t afford to lose this child. Soon, Jon had to rush Ashley to the hospital because her condition had deteriorated. 

AN EMERGENCY

The doctors examined 33-week-pregnant Ashley and told her they had to do an emergency c-section because the baby wasn’t doing well. The doctors couldn’t see the baby’s heartbeat on the monitor.

On July 15, 2021, the Spitzers welcomed their daughter, Izabel Hart, after the doctors performed emergency surgery. However, the little girl had to stay in the NICU because she had trouble breathing. Ashley recalled:

“The first five days were, I think, harder than the entire infertility journey.”

IT WAS TIME

Ashley and Jon had to wait for 47 days before taking Izabel home. Ashley recalled it felt surreal watching their baby sleep with them in their apartment. It was hard for them to believe they finally had a baby after years of struggle. 

Two months later, the family of three welcomed the newest addition to the clan, Zander Cole. The Spitzers flew down to Florida to bring their baby home after the surrogate gave birth to him. 

The Spitzers felt grateful to have a family of their own. Finally, after four long years, their dream of building their family came true. 

ASHLEY’S FIRST MOTHER’S DAY

After years of yearning for a child, Ashley was now a mother of two. On May 7, 2022, Hoda Kotb and Stephanie Ruhle from TODAY invited the Spitzers a day before Ashley’s first Mother’s Day for a special interview. Ashley said:

“This Mother’s Day, I cannot be more proud to call myself an IVF, NICU, and surrogacy mom. I really wouldn’t change a thing.”

During the interview, Jon praised Ashley for being a wonderful mother and a calming partner. He said motherhood comes naturally to his wife, and he feels so proud to have her by his side.

What would you do if you were in Ashley’s shoes? Would you have given up after the initial miscarriages? The Spitzers’ story teaches us to remain patient when life tests us because the solution is sometimes waiting for us just around the corner.

Click here to read another story about a woman who thought she was pregnant with just twins but later discovered that her pregnancy was a 1-in-4 billion case.

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