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Recurrent miscarriage and God’s miracle

Leen Posted on May 21, 2018 by adminMay 21, 2018

When we started planning to have a baby, we had no idea of the challenges ahead of us. After a few years of trying to conceive and nothing happened, we realised that we had a battle in our hands.

In 2003 we got the exciting result of a positive pregnancy test. The feelings I experienced cannot be adequately expressed in words; it seemed as though I had found a treasure that nobody knew about and money couldn’t buy and I was so full of joy wanting to share the news with everyone. Those feelings were comparable to what I felt when I became a born-again Christian and had so much joy overflowing within me I just wanted to share the good news. Unfortunately our excitement was cut short after a few weeks when I miscarried the pregnancy. 

It was during this time that we realised I had fibroids. Apparently some women have fibroids and are able to carry a baby successfully without any problems though some may have a lot of pain during pregnancy. There are different types of fibroids depending on where they are in the womb and this indicates whether or not it affects a woman’s fertility. However in my case I had all the different categories of fibroids thus resulting in my inability to conceive in timely fashion and the miscarriages.

Between this miscarriage and 2007, we went through a rollercoaster of miscarriages, ectopic pregnancy and 7 different operations to address the root cause of the problem. 

To say the losses and the regular surgical procedures did not take a toll on me emotionally will be denying the pain I went through however as a Christian I knew what the bible declared concerning fruitfulness in this area and so the word of God sustained me. We realised we had a battle in our hands and we had to fight to carry our seed through. So we began to search the word of God in the bible that addressed our situation.

Waiting on the Lord and dealing with reality!

During the time we waited on the Lord, we equipped ourselves with the word for direction from the Lord.

Jeremiah 33 v 3 says Pray unto me and I shall show you things you do not know. So with the leading of the Lord we researched treatment to address my fertility and sought second opinions regarding the removal of fibroids and what the pros and cons were.

We waited on the Lord for guidance about treatment and laid all the side effects before him and pronounced that I will not suffer any side effects. Of all the surgeries I undertook I did not suffer any complications or infections, to God be the glory.

I shopped for our unborn baby in faith as led by the Lord. However when I started giving them away, God chastised me for giving them away.

We didn’t let the waiting take over our lives though so we traveled many times, tried new hobbies, built ourselves up professionally, set up business and enjoyed life.

Daily confessions and affirmation of God’s word

I daily read and memorised the word of God and meditated on them in the area of fruitfulness. Some of the ones I daily reminded God are shown below:

Genesis 35 v 11a – And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply;

Psalms 128 v 3

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

Exodus 23v25-26

And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.

There shall nothing cast their young (miscarry), nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.

Deuteronomy 7 v 4

Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.

Jeremiah 1 v 12

Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

However after the 7th operation, the prognosis was grim and my fertility was reduced to 50 percent. due to a damaged fallopian tube. Not long after this I remember my Pastor (Faith Dimensions Ministries) laying hands on me and declaring that ‘the cycle is over’.

During these times I had also subscribed to Kenneth Copeland magazines and there were a number of testimonials with respect to fruitfulness after prolonged period of trying to conceive. I cannot recall how many times I read those testimonies over and over again; I just kept reading them to remind myself that if God can do it for them, He is no respecter of person He will do it for me too.

10th Wedding anniversary

By September 2007, we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary still believing the Lord for our seed. By this time I had undertaken many surgeries to remove fibroid. I had also undertaken many investigations including checking my tubes and my wombs post surgery. It became apparent that one of my tubes was blocked from previous ectopic pregnancy. My womb also had many scar tissues and i was told that the chances of a viable pregnancy was slim. However we kept believing and meditating on God’s word.

By the middle of the month of September when my period was due, I noticed it was running late but I had no pregnancy symptoms. I remembered waking up once on that Sunday morning and feeling all premenstrual pain, and I said to my husband that I think my period will be coming that day because of the symptoms I was getting, and I remember that he was very desponded and so was I. When we got to church that morning and during the praise and worship and offering time. The lord reminded me of king Solomon and how he gave God a 1000 offering, and how this moved God to action.

1 Kings 3 v 4-5

And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.

In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

I decided in my heart that though I didn’t have £1000,  I will give a £100 offering because I needed God to move on our behalf in this matter. At that particular time, I can recall that I was in a bubble with God and all the noise and singing around me was shut out!!!! Amazingly my husband had an encounter with the lord also that resulted in him fully prostrated on his chest in church for a long time.

Test of faith

Following this Sunday, the week started with the miracle we had been expecting!

Psalms 62v5

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

The 1st test came back negative, but still no period in sight, however the 2nd test came back with a weak positive. To be honest I was shocked at God’s amazing miracle.

My main challenge now was that I was not sure of how to handle this pregnancy (the old scars suddenly re-surfaced). Will I be able to carry this pregnancy for the full duration? Or even make it to the critical 12 weeks? These and many questions rose up in my mind.

In a matter of days, other events occurred resulting in my hospitalisation with migrane and severe left sided abdominal pain. I said to myself God here we go again in my cynical way (God forgive me!!!- now I understand when the word of God says He is faithful, even when we are faithless).

I arrived at the hospital on Wednesday of the week and I was admitted, where I was diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy. But more surprising, they instantly put a cannula in my vein in preparation for an urgent surgery. They stated that the situation is an emergency and urgent action was necessary especially with the current prognosis following my last surgery.

I was perturbed and completely in shock that this was happening to us again!!!

However instantly I knew we needed to alert the saints of |God to pray on our behalf there is no way we are going to deal with this on our own anymore we needed more soldiers involved in this warfare for our seed. So I sent out an SOS text message to a few friends and the leader of the prayer group at Faith Dimensions Ministries Milton Keynes (our church).

In the meantime the hospital staff i.e. anaesthetist and surgeon were preparing me for surgery to remove the baby to avoid the consequences of ectopic pregnancy. But my husband and I were filled with holy courage and voiced our complete disagreement to the operation. We insisted that we needed to speak to a more senior consultant to discuss our options. After a number of confrontation with the ward staff and the doctors especially following one of the persuasive visit by the Anaesthetist intending to prepare me for the proposed surgery and inserting the cannula in my arteries for surgery.

All this while the Lord gave me Isaiah 43 v 1-21, this was the only book and chapter in the bible that I could find myself reading (not a coincidence) and the lord kept saying “fear not”.

He also said in verse 12 – that we are his witness that he is God!

In verse 13 – I work and who can reverse it.

Forget the past

Then in verse 18-19:

God says to forget the former things, that he is doing a new thing.

I had also been reading a book: Supernatural childbirth by Jackie Mize (which I had been reading for over 5 years). These were my tools for battle.

Finally 3 doctors came to my bedside and I told them I needed other options considered and that I was not going to undergo any surgery (all i could remember is my Pastor’s word – the cycle is over).

After a number of firm confrontations, it was then they now decided that they will try the blood testing option first, in order  to gauge the level of hormone to see if it increases like that of a normal pregnancy (i.e. doubling after every day). However, they where were convinced that the blood test will not double and even if it doubled that will not change the fact  that the scan shows it is an ectopic pregnancy and the fact that it is on my left ovary. The conclusion was that they will have to transfer us to another hospital (Luton and Dunstable) for medical termination of the pregnancy, instead of surgery once the blood tests prove their diagnosis.

The battle is the Lord’s

On hearing this I sent out a second SOS text message for saints to pray for the hormone to double, just like a normal pregnancy. On Friday, when a second test was done the result came back doubled to God be the glory. The doctors were still not convinced, they tried convincing me that some ectopic pregnancies hormone do double in the early stages especially if the embryo is growing on the ovary as mine was.

They concluded that another test will be done on the following Sunday, and that they were sure that it will not rise any further and that this will determine my transfer to L&D Hospital, for the medical termination as it cannot be performed in MK general hospital.

Through out my stay in hospital I often cried myself to sleep, speaking to God that even though His word says he his making a new way – why then is this happening and why is this pattern repeating itself. Conceiving in pain and hospitalisation, but the lord kept reminding me of his words that “this time” it is DIFFERENT.

A  number of times the nurses and the specialists will come to my bedside to talk me round to have the surgery – in short they were giving me a reality check. But God gave me a firm mind to believe that even if it is ectopic, that He will move it to the womb himself.

My husband was very strong in all of this (thank God two of us are in Christ) – He picked me up and continued confessing the word of God. He reminded me that even though David was anointed to be king – He still had to fight a lot of battle before he finally rose to the throne and so we had to fight for our seed to survive.

By the Saturday, I was so emotionally distressed with constant bombardment by the hospital staff about undertaking the surgery that I just laid in bed numb and tired. Amidst all this confusion, God brought a friend to minister to me in such a tremendous way about a particular song ‘there is a miracle inside of me’! That was very reassuring and gave me the strength i needed for the hours ahead.

Waiting on the Lord on a different scale!

During this time I learnt a different type of waiting – daily waiting, daily trusting and hourly too. Waiting for the test result, waiting for scans that will determine our outcome in an atmosphere like the hospital is warfare. But it was such a different type of trusting.

On  that glorious Sunday, the day the determining test was going to be done at 12 noon, but unknown to me my pastor’s wife had asked the church to pray for us. The test was done and we had to wait for a number of hours for the result. My husband came from church with excitement and shared that there was such a profound atmosphere at church and that there was a double witness in church and the message preached was:

‘This is our time’ another reassurance from God.

And instantly I reminded God that when the saints were praying for Peter- The Lord moved instantaneously and that when Peter arrived at the door even they that had prayed could not believe it.

Later on that Sunday night, after what seemed like waiting for eternity, I was told that the hormone test result had doubled again – now the doctors where confused, because they could not transfer me to the other hospital as planned. Glory to God

All this time I was still in so much pain – but I said to God that this is it and we needed to see his hand. The next step was to undergo another scan the following Tuesday. On the Tuesday, the scan still showed that the pregnancy was on the ovary.

The word of God versus word of men

Finally, on Tuesday evening they decided to discharge me though I was still in much pain since I had refused treatment, and one of the doctors commented that I was carrying an abnormal pregnancy. That was such a devastating statement but I said to myself that I am carrying a “SUPER NATURAL PREGNANCY”.

I was given an appointment to come back to hospital in 10 days time for another scan to determine the next course of action.

That same night when we arrived home from the hospital with the last statement of the doctor echoing in my memory. I came across a Kenneth Copeland magazine and as I was reading one of the articles the following verse jumped out at me:

Lamentation 3 verse 37 – “who is he who speaks and it comes to pass when the lord has not commanded it”

I bursted out in tears at the mighty way God ministered to me.

This was such a timely word that after the number of reassurances I have had with the word of God this one was so profound and it immediately gave me enough strength and faith to renounce the confession of the doctor few hours before confidently.

The 10 days wait at home prior to going for further scans were the most agonising days counting down and with constant pain and bleeding – As planned on Thursday the 11th October a day after my 33rd birthday – we went to the hospital for the scan and to God be the glory.

They saw our miracle baby in the womb and clearly with a heart beat!!! Our train had already left the station – to God be the glory.

The midwives, ultra sonographer were shocked because they expected otherwise and had counselled my husband and I prior to having the scan with a view that I was not carrying a viable pregnancy and that i will require a D&C.

One day at a time

Then the next huddle was oh you’ve never reached the critical 12 weeks. On the 11th week I had every sign indicating I had lost the baby but kept confessing that the Lord that made this baby will keep it alive. When we went to the hospital a few days before 12th week, our baby was there growing steadily as would be expected. The hospital staff were once more astonished.

Inspite of the victory of the 11th of October and the 12 week scan result, the enemy pulled many stunts. There were days of the bleeding and constant pain and several weekly visits to the hospital not knowing what to expect at any one time- it meant leaning on a daily basis and drawing strength from the Lord, resting on his everlasting arms up to the 37th week  when I was delivered of my miracle baby by caesarian section.

There were days of severe pain and on several pain killers through out to the 37th week – yet despite weakness and inability to pray continuously. God raised intercessors through the church and my immediate family (my sisters and brother) who stood in the gap with me praying, calling me to pray and sending messages of prayer. God never leaves us neither does He forsake us.

To tell you of all the events that culminated to getting pregnant and throughout the pregnancy will end up in a novel. I believe the lord has led me to give it to you in this compressed form.

A formula I got from a book by Bob Gass:

Your Faith & Conviction (agreeing with God’s word) + Your Confession = Result

It is only when we put our conviction out and confess it faithfully trusting God (Inspite of potential ridicule) that is when the battle begins – mountains are moved, circumstances are changed and sickness healed.

Today we not only have a son but we have 2 energetic boys. We named the first one a name that  ‘Who is like our God’ and the second one ‘There is none like our God!!!!’

The fight was worth it. Somehow the pains of the last few years have disappeared; carrying our bundles of joy is indeed a blessing from God.

If you are still believing the Lord for your seed or anything please search the word of God and hold on to it. Find some willing Christians you can trust to stand with you in the days of your battle.

It maybe a long haul but when you get hold of your blessing you will know that it was all worth it in the end. All we need is a faith as small as a mustard seed and we can move whatever mountains stands between us and our breakthrough.

Bless you

Posted in Testimonies | Tagged #comfortaftermiscarriage, #ectopicpregnancy, #faith, #fertilityissues, #miraclepregnancy, #miscarriage, #tryingforbaby, #tryingtoconceive, #ttc | 14 Replies

Miscarriage

Leen Posted on April 4, 2018 by adminApril 4, 2018

A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during the first 23 weeks.

My experience with miscarriage

When we started trying for a baby, I suffered 3 miscarriages consecutively. My first miscarriage was a shock as I was not prepared for it at all and I was only a few days close to the critical 12 weeks. Additionally we had been so overjoyed about our pregnancy since we had been trying for years and so we had shared the good news with family and friends.

I will never forget when I started spotting and the tell tale signs of miscarriage became obvious, it seemed like my whole world was completely ripped apart. Thankfully Michael and I pulled through with the help of the HolyGhost and close friends and family.

When I took in the second time, fear gripped me as I could not rid myself of my previous experience even though it was over a year before yet it was still very raw.

Despite my fears and trying everything possible to avoid another miscarriage, yet my body could not hold this second pregnancy and I again miscarried.

I then went on with a third pregnancy, which again I miscarried and at that junction, we had to seek the Lord for guidance as well as sought medical help.

Prevalence of miscarriage

Miscarriage reportedly occurs in 20 percent of all pregnancies. However many women, before realising they are pregnant may miscarry without knowing it-assuming their miscarriage is merely a heavier period. Of the number of women who miscarry, 20 percent will suffer recurring miscarriages.

 

Types of Miscarriages

  • Missed abortion
  • Complete abortion
  • Incomplete abortion

Here is some more information on miscarriages you may find helpful:

Can miscarriages be prevented?

The majority of miscarriages can’t be prevented. If a woman has suffered from more than three miscarriages, some women can be helped to keep their pregnancy with medication under the care of a specialist.

However, there are some things you can do to reduce the risk of a miscarriage. Eating a healthy diet and reducing your risk of infection can help.

Weight

Obesity can increases your risk of miscarriage. A person is obese when they have a body mass index (BMI) of over 30.

The best way to protect your health and your baby’s wellbeing is to lose weight before you become pregnant. By reaching a healthy weight, you cut your risk of all the problems associated with obesity in pregnancy.

Treating the root cause

Sometimes the cause of a miscarriage can be identified. In these cases, it may be possible to have treatment to prevent this causing any more miscarriages for instance:

Antiphospholipid syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), also known as Hughes syndrome, is a condition that causes blood clots. It can be treated with medication. Research has shown that a combination of aspirin and heparin (a medicine used to prevent blood clots) can improve pregnancy outcomes in women with the condition.

A type of investigation known as Abnormal Thromboelastogram is conducted to determine if you have this blood disorder. It is only undertaken in a handful of hospitals. If all other alternatives have been done and still suffer miscarriages, ask your doctor about this blood tests and for a referral to the appropriate Hospital. In UK, only 3 centres undertake this test, one of which is St’ Mary’s NHS Trust Fertility Clinic.

For more information and testimony of what God can do if you suffer this condition, this link will take you to ‘More Testimonies’ and you can read the Article on Winners never quit!

Weakened cervix

A weakened cervix, also known as cervical incompetence, can be treated with an operation to put a small stitch of strong thread around your cervix to keep it closed. This is usually carried out after the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy, and is removed around week 37.

Fibroid tumours

Research has shown that fibroids are associated with increased midtrimester losses in women with recurrent miscarriage, and that removal of cavity-distorting fibroids i.e. those fibroids inside the lining of the womb may increase live birth rates and reduce the losses.

A significant proportion of Afrocarribean black women suffer from Fibroids, however not all of these women will have problems or show any symptoms. The location of the fibroids determines whether or not you suffer any symptoms.

I know a number of people that have carried their pregnancy successfully with fibroids although some women encounter pain and cramping yet they have been able to carry to term.

There are many fears regarding undertaking surgery and the potential complications that may arise. As a child of God you need to know that like David enquired of the Lord before he went to fight to recover his family that  we need to ask God to lead and guide us in the path He wants us to take. Do not take this decision without Him!

We have a number of testimonies on the link below that shows that you can still carry a successful pregnancy after fibroid tumour surgery (Myomectomy).

1) God makes all things beautiful

2)10th year wedding anniversary and God’s gift

Karyotyping

If you’ve had recurrent miscarriages, you and your partner can be tested for abnormalities in your chromosomes (blocks of DNA) that could be causing the problem, which is the rarest of known causes. This type of testing is known as karyotyping.

If karyotyping detects problems with your or your partner’s chromosomes, you can be referred to a clinical geneticist (gene expert).

They’ll be able to explain your chances of a successful pregnancy in the future and whether there are any fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilisation IVFthat you could try. This type of advice is known as genetic counselling.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

This is a is a condition that affects how a woman’s ovaries work.

It’s difficult to know exactly how many women have PCOS, but it’s thought to be very common and affect millions of women.

The three main features of PCOS are:

  • cysts develop in your ovaries (polycystic ovaries)
  • your ovaries are not regularly releasing eggs (ovulating) as required normally
  • high levels of “male hormones” called androgens are in your body.

PCOS affects a woman’s fertility due to irregular ovulatution and have been suggested to result in miscarriage of pregnancies.

Our God is able! We have a testimony (Baby after 7 years) on the Homepage to encourage you that you can have children in spite of PCOS diagnosis.

Coping with Miscarriage, healing and recovery

Miscarriage remains an uncomfortable subject in our society. The silence permeating the topic causes more psychological pain for the grieving mother since she is unable to mourn openly and properly. The grieving process provides much healing to the emotional and mental health of the woman and without it, she finds, she suffers alone.

Miscarriage, brings great psychological and emotional pain. The loss of pregnancy does not end with expelled fetal matter-for many, miscarriage brings about the death of a child. Although medical terminology does not deem the developing embryo or fetus as a child, many mothers attach to the pregnancy early on. When the miscarriage occurs, the woman loses not just a pregnancy, but a child and her dreams for that child.

For Prayer Declaration following the loss of a pregnancy please click this link  

Posted in Encouragement, Miscarriage | Tagged #losingpregnancy, #miscarriage, #tryingforbaby, #ttc | Leave a reply

My Mind – A battlefield!

Leen Posted on March 5, 2018 by adminMarch 5, 2018

How do I keep my mind stayed on Jesus when it seems to be bombarded by all sorts of issues relating to my infertility?

In my waiting, in my trusting, in my hoping, in my believing, there were many occasions where I struggled in my mind in dealing with the constant challenges when trying to conceive (ttc).

However loving your hubby is, mine Michael was very supportive and loving yet it remains a lonely journey for a woman going through ttc.

I know what it was during those months and years of agonising wait for the month to end so that I could conduct a pregnancy test. Image result for emoji anxious

The confusing symptoms I suffered that triggered a whole chain reaction that pulls my emotion into a downward spin into depression almost.

I was constantly getting anxious and frustration will set in every now and then from the constant purchase of pregnancy kits to conduct home testing anticipating a pregnancy. These issues engulfed my life that it was almost eating me out until I got to a CROSS ROAD with my God.

Isaiah 26 v 3:

The Lord will keep in perfect peace those whose mind are stayed on HIM.

Mind stayed on Him – Jesus NOT on the Problem!!

But how do I keep my mind stayed on Him you ask when your physical symptoms are so overwhelming?
Romans 8 v 6b

……..the mind controlled by the SPIRIT is life and peace!

Actions I needed to take:
  1. Keep my mind stayed on God
  2. Learn the power of prayer
  3. Allow my mind to be controlled by the Holyspirit

 

You ask how do I keep my mind focused on Him when in reality my challenges are so physical and tangible?

My response is delve in to the word of God and find His promises on fertility – check out my older blog – God’ s word on fertility. http://www.leen.org.uk/gods-word-on-fertility/

This will give you reassurance and remember the promises of God are yes and amen.  I will also suggest find a Jesus believing church and be a part of the body of Christ where you will find encouragement and gain knowledge, revelation and insight through the preaching of the word

The wait with trying to conceive (ttc) is a lonely journey!

But the Lord Jesus our Savior went through a lonely journey at Gethsemane Matthew 26v36-46 . His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow, he even took his closest with Him and asked them to keep watch with Him. But you will recall that the 3 disciples slept off and could not wait with Him. Jesus prayed 3 times, I believe that by the 3rd time He got the victory in His mind to overcome the overwhelming feeling he had suffered.

Here the power of prayer gave Jesus the power to overcome the fear of the cross!

My long waiting and then followed by miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and a further miscarriage was very weighty. However I decided to decide that no longer will my mind be a playground for the enemy to mess up with. I was taking control through the power of the Holyspirit and I did take the steps, starting one day at a time!

 

You can do the same:

My daily prayer for a long time was taken from:

 Romans 12 v2

Be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable will of God.

The only way I could transform my mind was through a constant renewal of my mind with the word of God to de-clutter my mind from:

  • My negative experiences
  • Miscarriages
  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • The doctors’ report
  • My failing womb
  • My collapsed fallopian tube

 

And I filled it with the truth in the word of God, you can do the same.

Be encouraged.

God bless you in Jesus name.

 

Posted in Encouragement | Tagged #failed pregnancy, #fertility support', #infertility, #miscarriage, #trust in God, #ttc | Leave a reply

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