The 2-Year Journey to Our Rainbow Baby | Katrina & Kevin's Story

In this article:

• Meet Katrina & Kevin
• A Sudden Change in Plans
• Ready to Grow
• Turning to the Fertility Experts
• A New Diagnosis
• Navigating Fertility Treatment
• IUI Treatment, Explained
• Moving On to IVF Treatment
• Pregnancy After Infertility
• An Unexpected (Early) Delivery
• Katrina's Tips for Fertility Patients
• Every Journey is Unique

Meet Katrina & Kevin

Originally from Queens, New York, Katrina and Kevin met through mutual friends at a party. The two decided to exchange phone numbers and found they had a connection. They officially started dating in 2013 and started to dream of the future they would build together.

Five years later, Kevin popped the question and the couple got engaged!

A Sudden Change in Plans 

They began planning a beautiful wedding at Katrina's dream venue, which was quickly cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. Although they were disappointed by the unexpected change in plans, Katrina and Kevin decided to put their wedding budget towards buying a home instead.

They left Queens and landed in Danbury, Connecticut, moving into their new house in August 2021. "We got married in 2022 at home," Katrina says. "It was a beautiful backyard wedding, and we got to celebrate with all our family and friends."

Photos: Katrina and Kevin before baby; on their wedding day; at six months pregnant.

Ready to Grow

After getting settled in their new home, the couple began focusing on growing their family. They spent two years trying to conceive on their own, becoming increasingly disheartened by each negative pregnancy test.

"Once we finally did conceive naturally, it ended in a miscarriage," Katrina shares. "My OB/GYN called it a biochemical pregnancy." (This term refers to a very early miscarriage that occurs before the pregnancy is visible on an ultrasound.)

They were heartbroken about the loss, but determined to keep trying. It was at this point that they received a referral from Katrina's gynecologist to set up a consult with the team at Illume Fertility.

Did you know? While OB/GYNs have extensive knowledge of women's reproductive health, board-certified reproductive endocrinologists have years of additional specialized training that allows them to diagnose and treat more complex fertility issues.

Turning to the Fertility Experts

"I had a co-worker who had just recently gone through IVF treatment at Illume and gotten pregnant," Katrina recalls. With a personal recommendation and her doctor’s referral in hand, she reached out to schedule an appointment. "We were hopeful that Illume would be able to help us and that we would soon have our little family," Katrina says.

The couple were assigned a fertility specialist, Dr. Alexander Kucherov, and underwent diagnostic testing to rule out any major anatomical or hormonal issues that might be preventing them from conceiving.

A New Diagnosis

It was during this process that they discovered Katrina had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common endocrine disorder that causes fertility issues for 70-80% of patients diagnosed with the syndrome. 

Research shows that PCOS is a leading cause of infertility, often linked to difficulty conceiving. It accounts for around 80% of cases related to anovulatory infertility, meaning that a large majority of people with PCOS may have trouble getting pregnant.

The good news? PCOS patients typically respond quite well to fertility treatment, and the vast majority of them go on to have successful pregnancies.

Navigating Fertility Treatment

After meeting with Dr. Kucherov to review their test results, Katrina and Kevin decided to move forward with fertility treatment. Their first step? Intrauterine insemination (IUI).

IUI Treatment, Explained

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a low-intervention fertility treatment. It includes regular monitoring with ultrasound and bloodwork, then depositing a concentrated sperm sample directly into the uterus at the time of ovulation.

It also typically involves the use of fertility medications like Clomid and letrozole, which work by reducing estrogen levels in the body. The brain interprets those lower estrogen levels as a need to produce more follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and leutinizing hormone (LH). These hormones, in turn, stimulate the ovaries to develop and release eggs.

Note: While the overall IUI success rate ranges between 5-15% per cycle, research has shown that it can increase to 20% or higher for PCOS patients using gonadotropins.

What's next?

After three unsuccessful cycles of IUI treatment, Katrina and Kevin were back at square one. They were disappointed, but knew they had another option to try: in vitro fertilization (IVF).

"We decided that once the new year came, we would finally try IVF," Katrina says.

IUI vs. IVF Treatment

Which one is better? Explore the differences between IUI and IVF, success rates, costs, potential risks, and how to know what's right for you.

Moving On to IVF Treatment

In January 2024, Dr. Kucherov and the rest of the couple's Care Team prepared them for the IVF process, educating them on medication protocols, demonstrating how to give injections, and answering questions about what to expect.

During their first IVF cycle, the couple was shocked to find out that 36 eggs had been retrieved from Katrina's ovaries. "18 of those eggs were able to successfully fertilize, and we ended up with a total of eight embryos!" 

Embryo Transfer #1

The couple transferred their first embryo in March 2024, hoping for good news. Sadly, that first embryo failed to implant in Katrina's uterus - a different form of loss, but a loss all the same. They grieved what might have been and decided to prepare for a second transfer.

Embryo Transfer #2 

"It was stressful, but by the second transfer I became more hopeful," Katrina recalls. "I meditated, I prayed, I went for acupuncture and just did everything I could to keep myself in a positive headspace." 

By the end of April 2024, Katrina and Kevin had completed their second embryo transfer.

On May 5, 2024, they were ecstatic to find out that they were finally pregnant. "It was an absolute blessing for us, and perfect timing, because we had just found out our best friends were pregnant too," Katrina says. "So we got to be on this journey together!"

What surprised her about IVF:

"When I finally started IVF, I was shocked at how easy and quick the process was," Katrina says. "Even though it feels like a lifetime, the fact is that after four weeks of injections, you’re already halfway through your journey!"

Photos: Katrina & Kevin at their baby shower; newborn Lena; proud parents at the hospital.

Pregnancy After Infertility

By July, the expecting parents received even more exciting news—they were having a baby girl! "We were in total shock when we found out," Katrina says. "The pregnancy went by quickly and smoothly, until the end."

At 36 weeks, Katrina was diagnosed with preeclampsia—a serious pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and potential organ damage. The only way to resolve this condition is to deliver the baby.

An Unexpected (Early) Delivery 

After trying to quickly absorb this shocking news, Katrina and Kevin arrived at the hospital and began the labor induction process.

During labor, their baby's heart rate began to decelerate (drop) dangerously low, leading to an emergency C-section on December 17, 2024. Thankfully, their little one arrived healthy, weighing in at 7 pounds, 2 ounces and measuring 19 inches long.

They named her Lena Josephine.

Embracing Parenthood

"We are so grateful and blessed for everything Illume helped us achieve," Katrina says. "We got a great Christmas gift and ended our year as a family of three - plus two dogs and a cat!"

The couple is still adjusting to life with their new baby girl after welcoming her four weeks early. But, just like much of their family's story - they've learned that not everything goes to plan.

Katrina's Tips for Fertility Patients

After two years full of disappointments, losses, and uncertainty, Katrina says she's learned quite a lot. As she reflects on her difficult journey, she has a few pieces of advice for other fertility patients who are still in treatment.

1. Create a Support System

"Having a great partner and a support system of friends and family to talk to about everything was crucial," Katrina says. "If I hadn't had people there to keep me sane during this journey, it would’ve made everything ten times harder for me to go through."

2. Strengthen Your Beliefs

Whether you currently hold specific spiritual or religious beliefs or want to explore new ones, the practice of turning to a higher power can be helpful for many fertility patients. "I became a stronger believer in my faith and prayer during my fertility journey," Katrina shares.

Meditation can also be a helpful addition to your stress-reduction routine during treatment.

Practices like prayer and meditation are deeply personal, and what feels right to you will depend on your individual preferences.

3. Take Advantage of Holistic Treatments

Katrina also emphasizes the importance of self-care strategies, like holistic treatments. "My biggest mistake was not doing fertility acupuncture right away," Katrina says. "I did it the second time around, and I swear it was one of the reasons why I got pregnant!"

Research has shown that acupuncture can actually improve embryo implantation rates. At Illume Fertility, we have a robust in-house acupuncture team that offers both traditional and laser acupuncture (which is completely needle-free).

4. Work With a Doctor You Trust

While the couple's entire team was essential to their success, Katrina pauses to highlight Dr. Kucherov: "He never gave up on us - even when I was ready to throw in the towel," she says. "He helped me keep hope and have confidence that everything would work out."

5. Connect With Fellow Fertility Warriors

When you're new to the world of fertility treatment, having people to commiserate with can be hugely helpful. "I turned to friends who had been through the same struggles and tried any advice that was given to me," Katrina says.

If you don't personally know anyone who has experience with infertility (or simply don't want to share your journey yet with friends and family), there are a variety of ways to find likeminded people. Support groups, social media, and online forums can all be valuable tools.

Note: There is a wealth of information (and misinformation) about infertility available online. If you have questions or want to explore new supplements or protocols, always reach out to your Care Team for trusted guidance.

Free Fertility Assessment

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Every Journey is Unique

As Katrina and Kevin’s story reminds us, perseverance, expert support, and community can make even the most challenging paths to parenthood achievable.

No matter your fertility or family-building goals, you deserve the support of an expert team championing your success from start to finish. That's why choosing the right fertility clinic can make all the difference. 

"We are so grateful for all of Illume's help," Katrina says. "None of this would’ve been possible without them!" From the medical assistants to the financial counselors to the embryologists working behind the scenes in the IVF laboratory, each staff member plays a critical role.

If you're looking for expert support on your journey to parenthood or want to learn more about PCOS treatment, reach out to us today.