Trying to Conceive with PCOS | Alana & Jason's Story

Like many people, Alana and Jason didn't know much about the world of infertility - until they discovered they needed a little help to have their first child. This is the story of how they navigated Alana's PCOS diagnosis to became a family of four!

Skip to a section:

• Meet Alana & Jason
• A Lifelong Dream
• Trying to Conceive with PCOS
• Why can't we get pregnant?
• Choosing the Right Fertility Treatment Pathway
• Welcoming Their First Child
• Expanding Their Family Again
• What did you learn on your fertility journey?
• What surprised you about the process?
• Advice to Other Fertility Warriors
• The Right Team Makes All the Difference

Meet Alana & Jason

After meeting online in 2013, Alana and Jason hit it off immediately. They shared common interests - being outdoors, trying new restaurants, and watching TV shows like Breaking Bad. They enjoyed getting to know each other, and quickly became inseparable. 

In 2015, two years after they met, the couple got engaged at the beach in Norwalk, Connecticut, and got married a year later, in 2016. Jason is a video producer and editor and Alana works as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Alana's work includes supervising a parenting program at Boys and Girls Village, and she is also a Childbirth Educator.

A Lifelong Dream

With a shared love of children and family, Alana and Jason knew all along that they wanted to become parents together. Jason is the second of four kids, and Alana has one sister. "I always loved being around babies and babysitting when I was growing up," says Alana. "Being a mom has been at the top of my bucket list forever!" 

Trying to Conceive with PCOS

The couple planned to start trying to conceive their first child in 2017. "But since I had such a wishy-washy history of PCOS diagnoses, we weren’t really sure what to expect in terms of timeline," says Alana.

"Once we hit the one year mark of trying, we felt really overwhelmed with all the fertility diets, supplements, ovulation predictor kits (OPKs), and negative pregnancy tests," she admits. The couple decided it was time to seek out a specialist to help them achieve their dream.

Why can't we get pregnant?

They reached out to Illume Fertility in 2018, after trying to conceive on their own for a year with no success. "I had a history of PCOS, with a few previous doctors saying that I had it, and a few saying that I didn’t," says Alana. "We weren’t really sure what was going on, and we wanted more clarity and a plan to move forward."

Illume came highly recommended by several healthcare providers and trusted friends, so the couple decided to take the next step and make an appointment. "We were lucky enough to be paired up with Dr. Ilana Ressler," says Alana.

Choosing the Right Fertility Treatment Pathway

"I didn’t know too much about fertility treatments before coming to Illume," Alana recalls. "I knew there would be fertility testing performed, and I knew IVF was an option, but I didn’t really realize how thorough and involved the process would be."

Another thing that surprised the couple was the availability of other, less invasive treatment options. They assumed they would be going straight to in vitro fertilization (IVF), but their second timed intercourse cycle is ultimately what ended up being successful. 

The day before Thanksgiving in 2018, they got the exciting call that they were pregnant!

Photos: Jason, Louise & Alana; Louise on Halloween; Louise & Alana enjoying ice cream.

Welcoming Their First Child

"I did not think that was going to be our successful cycle and was prepared with a list of questions for the nurse about next steps for our next cycle!" Alana says. "I was completely shocked and at a loss for words when she said that I was pregnant...I think the first thing I managed to say was 'I don’t have a list of questions for this!'"

In August 2019, the couple's first daughter, Louise, was born. "She has been such a light in our lives and is just the sweetest little girl," Alana says. "It’s still surreal to look at her sometimes!"

Jason admits that the initial jolt of needing to seek out fertility treatment was kind of a low point for him, but ultimately turned into a positive experience. "Everyone needs help sometimes, and this help got us our sweet Louise," he says.

Expanding Their Family Again

Alana and Jason feel incredibly lucky that they were able to add a second little one to their family and give their daughter a sibling. Little sister Phoebe joined the family in June 2022.

"We are loving life as a family of four and feel like our family is finally complete," Alana says. "We’re looking forward to lots of adventures together and just watching our girls grow and discover the world!"

Want to thrive with PCOS?

This comprehensive guide to life with PCOS includes helpful information about PCOS and fertility, meal planning worksheets, exercise tips, and much more.

What did you learn on your fertility journey?

Alana says that she wishes she had known (before starting fertility treatment) how important it is to have a good support system that's tailored to your personality and needs. "I wish I had known that it’s okay to set boundaries about who you share your journey with," she adds.

"We ended up being very selective about who we shared with, because sometimes the people you feel most obligated to share with aren’t able to provide the kind of support that you’re looking for," she says. "It can be kind of overwhelming to have constant check-ins if that’s not your style."

Remember: You don't owe anyone (even family) information or explanations about what you're going through. Practice ways to diffuse invasive questions when needed.

What surprised you about the process?

Like many new fertility patients, Alana wasn't expecting the fertility testing stage to be so comprehensive, and was a little surprised by it all. "I wish I had known beforehand how much blood work and fertility testing was going to be involved so I could be more prepared," she says. 

Another thing she didn't expect? How much she would miss going to appointments multiple times per week after she 'graduated' from Illume Fertility's care and moved over to her midwifery practice.

"Going in for my blood draws and monitoring kind of brought me a sense of comfort," Alana admits. "I never expected I would miss going in for those appointments after graduating - but I think that really speaks to the level of support we received."

Photos: Jason, Louise & Alana announce Baby #2; Phoebe, Alana, Jason & Louise at Christmas; a family photoshoot.

Advice to Other Fertility Warriors

When it comes to fertility treatment, it’s so easy to get lost in the never ending list of fertility do’s and don’ts without making the time to really take care of yourself. Alana's advice? Make an effort to prioritize your mental, emotional, and physical health apart from infertility.

Here's what helped her get through the experience:

Practice Self Care

"You can’t be at your best if you aren’t taking care of yourself," she says. "Ask for help, set boundaries, do something you already love, or try something new that brings you joy...just make yourself a priority and take care of your soul!"

Establish Your Support System

One thing Alana and Jason knew would help them get through their fertility journey was having a solid support system in place. "I shared with a few close friends who I knew would be there to listen and love me when things were hard and to celebrate when there was something to celebrate," she says.

Take Advantage of Available Resources

"I also utilized acupuncture at Illume Fertility, which was so relaxing and helped a lot with my anxiety," Alana shares. Another useful tool for Alana was working with a fertility nutritionist, which she says helped her take the guess work out of what she should be eating. She also loved attending Fertile Yoga classes for additional relaxation.

Lean On Your Partner

"Leaning on my husband a little bit more than usual was also helpful," she says. "I was able to ask for help and not feel like I had to juggle everything by myself, which gave me the opportunity to slow down and not feel so overwhelmed."

Feel more empowered:

When growing your family isn't as easy as expected, it's normal to feel like it's all out of your hands. These tips from a Patient Advocate will help you feel more in control and connected throughout your journey.

The Right Team Makes All the Difference

Finding a fertility specialist who encourages you to be an active participant in the process can really improve the experience, says Alana. "Everyone we worked with at Illume Fertility truly made me and Jason feel like we were a part of the team, which helped immensely."

If you're trying to conceive with the added challenge of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), finding a provider who specializes in the treatment of this condition can be key. 

When you're having trouble getting pregnant, it can be hard to know where to even begin.

One of the most important things to remember is that help and support are available. There are so many healthcare professionals who take great pride in helping patients achieve their goals - you just have to find the right fit for you!