Anyone had counselling through FA?
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Category: Support
Forum Name: Coping with infertility
Forum Description: Have you been trying to conceive unsuccessfully? Dealing with primary or secondary infertility? Get support, advice, and help coping here.
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43309
Printed Date: 13 February 2025 at 8:09am
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Topic: Anyone had counselling through FA?
Posted By: reddahlia
Subject: Anyone had counselling through FA?
Date Posted: 22 May 2013 at 11:10am
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I'm considering looking into having a counselling session through FA (Waikato). Has anybody else done this? Was it helpful? I have been TTC for over 3 years now and have ivf lined up for the end of this year (It will be two years then, since our first Fertility Associates appointment. Just finding it a bit of a struggle to keep optimistic about it all lately. It has felt like such a long wait... |
Replies:
Posted By: weta
Date Posted: 22 May 2013 at 12:17pm
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I've been to counselling twice at FAW. It's included in an IVF cycle. I found it useful to talk things through. ------------- TTC since 2010 Me 37 & DH 48 Diminished ovarian reserve |
Posted By: reddahlia
Date Posted: 22 May 2013 at 12:48pm
| Thanks for your reply weta. Do you know if it is just one session that is included free of charge with an ivf session? I have emailed them, but still waiting to hear back at this point |
Posted By: weta
Date Posted: 24 May 2013 at 3:29pm
It's free one session per cycle. Sounds like it might be worth getting a session now. Just if it's a while to go for your cycle, they may want you to pay for it. Circumstances can change for people  ------------- TTC since 2010 Me 37 & DH 48 Diminished ovarian reserve |
Posted By: reddahlia
Date Posted: 24 May 2013 at 5:22pm
| That makes sense. Thanks. |
Posted By: Hopeful75116590
Date Posted: 27 May 2013 at 2:04am
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Thanks for your post in regard to that I really feel like I need it. Some days I'm good strong as iron other days I'm a bit fragile it comes and goes. Have been trying to get some counselling organised but nothing here in Invercargill all in Dunedin which is 3 hours away not having much joy really. Seems there is tons of support out there for teenage pregnancy but not much else quite common here it seems... this (IVF etc) is a bit of a rarity down here in Southland not being a Southlander myself it's all new to me. I did call Health & disability Avocates found them useless woman fully admitted to having 6 children of her own non planned and not having a maternal bone in her body??!! So yes probably NOT the best person to be talking to me about the whole IVF thing really then... Rattled on to discuss adoption etc told her I was atleast 2 years down the track from that consideration and I would rather have no children than bring up a trashy drug addicts / smoker heavy drinkers baby who is likely to have a whole series of health problems because they didn't want a baby and did everything they shouldn't while pregnant because they didn't care. Then told her very bluntly as I was beginningto get a bit fed up by this stage that the whole point of this is to have my own biological baby. To be honest I found the whole entire conversation just upset me even more wasn't a good experience for me at all... I found her to be rather insensitive and inexperienced on the issue towards then end of the conversation she told me she was a qualified teacher and an accountant not a social worker when I had asked to speak to a social worker / counsellor and have them call me back very strange indeed. Certainly told me nothing I hadn't already been told repeatedly by friends family etc for the last 3 years anyway.... was all quite hmmm thanks but NO THANKS I've already heard all this been down this road considered this option I don't really need to hear about that and can do without hearing all that again thank you.... found myself saying "That's Nice" (Mrs Browns Boys)alot and almost said "How Bloody Dare You Say Such A Thing" and almost put the phone down on her at one point as she kept talking round and round in circles saying quite insensitive things and making it quite obvious she wasn't comfortable with the topic of conversation.... and they are up on the FA message board as contact people??!! Good lord!! |
Posted By: babycrazy
Date Posted: 27 May 2013 at 11:43am
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We had to have 2 sessions to use donor sperm and I must admit I found them great. The FA counsellor a are dealing with the exact issues we ladies and guys are facing on a daily basis. The first was as a couple and was great because she raised some things to think and talk about that we'd not considered. Second time it was over he phone (due to dist from clinic) and just me spoke to her. It was refreshing to speak to someone who wasn't going to spurt off that ever so helpful 'advice'. So I would totally recommend it. ------------- TTC since Oct 2009 4 x DI's failed IVF1 CP & MC IVF2 CP IVF3 Angel baby born 22.3wks |
Posted By: reddahlia
Date Posted: 27 May 2013 at 7:39pm
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Thanks for your post babycrazy. I didn't realise they could also do phone counselling hmmm. Hopeful - it sounds like you really need someone to talk to that 'gets it'. This journey can open up a whole can of anger and frustration some days and, like you, I can be really strong most of the time and then it just all gets overwhelming sometimes. It is not easy to have your 'brave face' on all the time. Take care |
Posted By: babycrazy
Date Posted: 27 May 2013 at 8:29pm
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Not sure if they do phone sessions first off you'd have to ask. We definitely had to go in physically for our first session then they were happy to do it over the phone in the evening to save us taking another whole day off to get to the appointment (we're 3 hours one way away from the clinic). Ours were for a specific treatment though so it may be different if you're just wanting a session. Good luck :) ------------- TTC since Oct 2009 4 x DI's failed IVF1 CP & MC IVF2 CP IVF3 Angel baby born 22.3wks |
Posted By: reddahlia
Date Posted: 27 May 2013 at 9:45pm
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Thanks Will check it out. Feeling quite good at the moment but it can get a bit much at times. Will see how I get on |
Posted By: reddahlia
Date Posted: 27 May 2013 at 9:46pm
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...is that a lucky horse shoe you got there? Nice 
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Posted By: amk11
Date Posted: 06 June 2013 at 4:33pm
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Just new to oh baby but thought I'd share our story and it might help you red dahlia. My wife and I were hoping to do IUI with donor sperm but then they found I had an ovarian tumour, turned out to be benign luckily. Lost an ovary and Fallopian tube, qualified for public IVF because of this. Had first round in march 2011 and 2 more that failed. Last one I had a miscarriage at 7 weeks. Throughout this the counsellor at FA Waikato has been amazing, supportive and helpful. I can honestly say without her we wouldn't be now expecting our first baby on our 4th round, my wife is 12.5 weeks pregnant now and all going well. She can be hard to get an appointment with but persevere as it is totally worth it, you get 2 free appointments with IVF but if you can have more (this may cost) I would recommend it. We miss our catch ups with her now! ------------- IVF 1- No embryos to transfer IVF 2- BFN IVF 3- BFP, miscarriage at 7 weeks IVF 4- BFP, Joshua born 15/12/2013 and one frozen embryo FET- CP IVF 5- Baby number 2 due 21/2/2017 and 1 frozen embryo ❤ |
Posted By: babycrazy
Date Posted: 06 June 2013 at 7:01pm
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I love hearing success stories from treatment! And sorry Red totally thought I replied...yep it's a lucky horse shoe passed on to me from another lovely lady on hear. Deal is once you get your bfp you have to pass it on to someone else. Hopefully it doesn't take much longer to work its magic lol. ------------- TTC since Oct 2009 4 x DI's failed IVF1 CP & MC IVF2 CP IVF3 Angel baby born 22.3wks |
Posted By: amk11
Date Posted: 06 June 2013 at 7:06pm
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Thanks baby crazy, it's nice to be one the other side of treatment now. Was a long 3 years but counselling helped make it bearable Love the horse shoe idea ------------- IVF 1- No embryos to transfer IVF 2- BFN IVF 3- BFP, miscarriage at 7 weeks IVF 4- BFP, Joshua born 15/12/2013 and one frozen embryo FET- CP IVF 5- Baby number 2 due 21/2/2017 and 1 frozen embryo ❤ |
Posted By: babycrazy
Date Posted: 06 June 2013 at 10:07pm
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I so can't wait until I'm out the other side of this. About to start our 3rd round of iui using a donor (my DH has azoo) and I'm hoping 3rd times a charm. All the best to you and your wife amk. ------------- TTC since Oct 2009 4 x DI's failed IVF1 CP & MC IVF2 CP IVF3 Angel baby born 22.3wks |
Posted By: amk11
Date Posted: 06 June 2013 at 10:22pm
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Good luck baby crazy, fingers crossed for you. ------------- IVF 1- No embryos to transfer IVF 2- BFN IVF 3- BFP, miscarriage at 7 weeks IVF 4- BFP, Joshua born 15/12/2013 and one frozen embryo FET- CP IVF 5- Baby number 2 due 21/2/2017 and 1 frozen embryo ❤ |
Posted By: Mrs Impatient
Date Posted: 07 June 2013 at 10:27am
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AMK - Awesome to hear a good story. Congratulations Babycrazy - You must be coming up to the blood test marathon. Good luck for this month, third time lucky I say All the best cycle buddy ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  TTC Mar 2011 4 IUI all BFN IVF Dec BFP |
Posted By: babycrazy
Date Posted: 07 June 2013 at 12:34pm
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Yep the marathon starts tomorrow which is good cos I don't have to panic about getting back to work after them until Monday and then hopefully Wednesday will be insem day (based on prior mths). Trying to stay in a good frame of mind keep telling myself the odds are better the more we try. Going to miss my cycle buddy though....don't be stranger during your "sabbatical". ------------- TTC since Oct 2009 4 x DI's failed IVF1 CP & MC IVF2 CP IVF3 Angel baby born 22.3wks |
Posted By: reddahlia
Date Posted: 08 June 2013 at 12:00pm
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Goodluck with the iui this month babycrazy! I will cross my fingers for you and let's hope the lucky horseshoe does it's thing! (I think that is a cool idea that it gets passed on by the way). Thanks for your reply amk11. All the best for you and your wife and your bubba-to-be! Really felt like I could do with some counselling at the time, but it's funny, since posting that I seem to have regained my optimism for another month. Must be all the good support that is out there on forums such as this one :) |
Posted By: amk11
Date Posted: 08 June 2013 at 7:16pm
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These forums do provide good support and all the stories are so helpful as you realise others have a hard time conceiving too. Glad you are feeling better, just don't forget counselling is very useful to talk through questions too and helps you feel l,e all those feelings of doubt are normal. IVF is stressful so it is really useful ------------- IVF 1- No embryos to transfer IVF 2- BFN IVF 3- BFP, miscarriage at 7 weeks IVF 4- BFP, Joshua born 15/12/2013 and one frozen embryo FET- CP IVF 5- Baby number 2 due 21/2/2017 and 1 frozen embryo ❤ |
Posted By: babycrazy
Date Posted: 08 June 2013 at 7:25pm
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Thanks Red. These forums have been my life saver. They've help me get things off my chest that no one else would understand and provided support I wouldn't have ever dreamed existed. I've made friends with people and I wouldn't know them if I fell over them in the street but that's ok as it's all part of it. Anyway that's my 2 cents worth lol. ------------- TTC since Oct 2009 4 x DI's failed IVF1 CP & MC IVF2 CP IVF3 Angel baby born 22.3wks |