Virginia Williams: When I had my daughter in 2015, I called her a happy surprise because we definitely were not trying to get pregnant. My periods had always been irregular, heavy, painful, so pregnancy honestly surprised me. During my prenatal appointments, I brought up all these. Concerns about my periods and was told that those are pretty normal. So I had a fairly healthy pregnancy and delivery, and then about 2 years later, we decided we did want another child. I started tracking my cycles carefully and trying to get pregnant, but nothing was happening. So I went to my OBGYN to ask about fertility options and to find out why I was having trouble conceiving. At my first appointment, no blood work or testing was done. Instead, I was reminded that I had gained about 50 to 60 pounds with my daughter, hadn't lost it, so all of these were probably just weight related, all these concerns. I asked about testing. I was told to focus on losing weight, tracking my cycles, and reducing my stress and anxiety before I came back. So I did. And then about 6 months later, I came back and was told basically the same thing. Eventually, blood work was ordered, although it felt kind of reluctant at that point. And a few days later, I was told everything was normal. Thankfully, I had a few friends that helped me and guided me towards another OBGYN office. They told me that the physician assistant there was amazing and listened to her patients and actually explained things. So, I did make an appointment even though I was honestly anxious that I would have the same experience again. But happily, I was very wrong. After listening to my history and asking detailed questions, she immediately sent me for an ultrasound, and when she reviewed those results with me, she talked about the string of pearl appearance in my ovaries, which are those immature follecules that can't develop properly. So based on the ultrasound and my symptoms that I'd been talking about with multiple OBs, she believed I had PCOS or now referred to as PMOS. For the first time, honestly, I felt hurt. She explained the condition, discussed possible symptoms and treatment options, and then even walked me through what my insurance would and would not pay for. She started me on metformin to help regulate that hormonal imbalance, hopefully regulate my cycles, and we monitored my blood sugar because I'm hypoglycemic. After a couple of months on the metformin, I started the fertility medication and got pregnant the first round that I did it. So, everything changed because I finally had a medical professional that listened to me instead of dismissing my concerns as simply weight or anxiety. And that experience there showed how important it is for patients to feel heard and supported in reproductive healthcare. During that pregnancy, I developed cholestasis and had to deliver my son at 36 weeks. He was transferred to the NICU in Charleston, and the staff there were honestly incredible. They not only cared for my son, but they talked to me, gave me education and supported me as far as breastfeeding, and I had never had that kind of support before. With my daughter, I did not have support for breastfeeding. I stopped very early on after I was told she lost too much weight and I needed to start formula. Basically was what the pediatrician told me. With my son, the NICU staff helped me understand the importance and benefits of breast milk, especially for a preemie baby. And they gave me all the support and education I could ask for. My son never successfully latched, but I was able to pump and provide milk for the 1st 4 months of his life. And then shortly after I stopped pumping, I was sent home from work for COVID time frame. It was 2020, and I later learned that restarting milk production would have been possible if I had the correct support and education. So that experience inspired me to learn more about lactation and breastfeeding support. And then since then I've completed breastfeeding education courses and earned the title of a certified breastfeeding specialist. My goal is to continue towards becoming an IBCLC or Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant, so that I can support families through both the physical and emotional challenges that can come with breastfeeding. I truly believe that compassionate healthcare starts with medical professionals who listen, care, and take patients seriously. Everyone deserves to feel heard and supported when it comes to their reproductive and maternal healthcare.
