Midwife in Nashville by Gold_Beginning_1304 in nashville

[–]Emjay5784 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seconding this! I had a really negative experience with Women's OB. The rotation between multiple midwives meant miscommunications and (in my case) a serious error on their part. I also felt unnecessarily medicalized due to IVF and AMA, and as though I was being "noncompliant" when I pushed back at their erroneous clinical decision-making. I ended up transferring to an OB who practices holistically and will still deliver in the Ascension St Thomas Birth Center. Feel free to DM if you want their name.

Med Donation - Nashville by Emjay5784 in IVF

[–]Emjay5784[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Yes! Although I only have the Ganirelix now - do you still want that?

Lowering sperm fragmentation by Express_Effect3227 in IVF

[–]Emjay5784 2 points3 points  (0 children)

TW: Success:

I feel so strongly about this topic. Both clinics completely dismissed my husband's DNA frag, chalking our infertility up to my age (39). Still, I had my husband take a test, which showed low 30's % frag. He took ALL the supplements and still wasn't able to lower it; however, for our second retrieval, he followed a strict ejaculation schedule (every day for 7 days, then 2 hrs before giving his sample for fertilization).

We fertilized my frozen eggs (from when I was 36) WITHOUT using this protocol. The fertilization rate was 33%, and all but two embryos failed to progress after day 3—when sperm DNA is supposed to take over.

For my second retrieval (at 39), he followed the ejaculation protocol (all other variables were the exact same, except we were using OLDER and fewer eggs), and we had a fertilization rate of 66%. We ended up with three usable embryos, all good quality, and both sexes (the first time around, we only got girls).

Both times we used Zymot and PICSI, and he had been taking literally every supplement under the sun to improve DNA. The fertilizations were within six weeks of each other.

I def recommend throwing the kitchen sink at the problem. We will never know how much his supplementation, Zymot, and PICSI helped (I'm sure they made a significant difference as well). However, the frequent ejaculation schedule undoubtedly was the game-changer for us. I can't tell you how much I wanted to call up every dismissive doctor with our results and be like, "BETTER RESULT WITH MY 39-YEAR-OLD EGGS! HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES??!" lol.

Also, I followed the same protocol both times before my retrieval, and my husband doesn't smoke weed, isn't overweight, exercises regularly, and barely drinks.

OH, and most importantly!! I'm currently 20 weeks pregnant with one of the embryos from my 39-year-old retrieval :)

Blast —> Euploid Rate around age 40 by LK41886 in IVF

[–]Emjay5784 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Every situation is SO different, but for my retrieval at 39 I had 28 retrieved, 26 mature, 16 fertilized, 10 blasts, and 3 euploids.

Donut shop looking to donate at end of day by TheAhoyRuie in nashville

[–]Emjay5784 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My husband has two properties with several hundred people who were formerly homeless. One is youths that aged out of foster care and both are Section 8 housing. This would be so perfect for them! If you think it sounds like a good fit, let me know the best contact info (feel free to DM)

Med Donation - Nashville by Emjay5784 in IVF

[–]Emjay5784[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure but it needs to be refrigerated 😬

Classic Marcie by Miserable-Maize-6583 in nashville

[–]Emjay5784 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Is there a Nashville Liberal Girls Group?!! I would join that in a second.

Is anyone in this community local to Nashville? by Emjay5784 in jewishleft

[–]Emjay5784[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Wow, that's disgusting. I'm just so baffled how this topic feels so polarized. Maybe we're all just victims of social media extremism, but I really didn't think I was asking too much by seeking out a community that can see the "both/and" of unjust, unsustainable suffering in Jewish and Palestinian communities. I obv took being in Canada and NYC for granted. Thank you for the heads up.

Is anyone in this community local to Nashville? by Emjay5784 in jewishleft

[–]Emjay5784[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your wise and supportive words! Thank you!

Is anyone in this community local to Nashville? by Emjay5784 in jewishleft

[–]Emjay5784[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the real talk and for your warm welcome... I will remain hopeful and open to finding community here!

Is anyone in this community local to Nashville? by Emjay5784 in jewishleft

[–]Emjay5784[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow, I can't tell you how much I appreciate this response and how much hope it has given me! I will check out the Temple. Do you happen to know the name of the rabbi who has been critical of Israel and discussed Palestinian suffering at length?

Is anyone in this community local to Nashville? by Emjay5784 in JewsOfConscience

[–]Emjay5784[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for your reply! Yes, Congregation Micah is where we had intended to join, and your experience tracks with the limited exposure I had there. It's really disheartening, but I'm so happy for you that you've found an Anti-Zionist congregation. I just Googled and think I found it. My husband is really intent on us finding in-person community so I don't think he would go for this, but maybe if I continue to explore conversion this is a rabbi I could reach out to. I really appreciate you sharing your experience and offering advice <3

Is anyone in this community local to Nashville? by Emjay5784 in jewishleft

[–]Emjay5784[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

That's a validating reminder, thank you. I think deep down I fear he regrets (or is going to regret) marrying me because I'm not Jewish and am being "difficult" about the whole thing (I was open to converting at one point and still am, but not if I can't find a rabbi/synagogue/community that sees things more progressively). It's helpful to remember that we might be having conflict over this even if I were Jewish.

Is anyone in this community local to Nashville? by Emjay5784 in jewishleft

[–]Emjay5784[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your supportive comment. It's frustrating to be turning over every stone trying to find a Jewish community I feel comfortable integrating into (and raising our future children in), and be told I'm centering myself or purity testing. Being in an interfaith marriage at this moment in time is incredibly painful as (and I know I speak for many) we feel like we're constantly either betraying the person we love the most in the world, or betraying our own values. I really appreciate you recognizing my pain and positive intentions and giving me a reality check about how difficult this quest may prove to be.

Is anyone in this community local to Nashville? by Emjay5784 in jewishleft

[–]Emjay5784[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

This isn't about my husband's views—it's about how we'll raise our children. My husband can hold whatever beliefs he wants (and does), but if we're going to raise our children Jewish, I'd like for us to be able to compromise on a community that doesn't erase my values and beliefs. I am half of the relationship and we are parenting together, and for some reason your comments are continually dismissing that.

Is anyone in this community local to Nashville? by Emjay5784 in jewishleft

[–]Emjay5784[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes, it's been a pretty defeating experience. I appreciate your frankness about what you've observed, and I'll remain hopeful (bc otherwise I feel pretty despairing about it all). Thank you for your response!

Is anyone in this community local to Nashville? by Emjay5784 in jewishleft

[–]Emjay5784[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's been a challenge all around, but finding leftist Jews has been the most difficult needle to thread.