Monday, November 17, 2008

A Day in the Life...

Of the infertility challenged female:


The inevitable wall of babies as you wait....


A pair of stirrups and a pretty blue skirt made of plastic, except no one's going on a pony ride:




The only ride you'll be going on today is aptly referred to as the dildo cam. Except it's not as fun as the name would suggest:









And lastly, the moment you've all been waiting for, follie check. Will all those who are ready to be stimmed please stand up? (sung to the tune of 'Slim Shady')







And so, IUI #6 begins...final stretch before the BIG IVF.

12 comments:

Lisa said...

Wow. The fertility center I go to does not do the "wall of babies"...I think that is supremely tacky, not hope inspiring. I guess the clinic gets all these happy baby pics from happy clients and feels like it's gotta stick 'em somewhere, but it is not cool in my mind. I think I would stick a sad face post-it up that read, "Still waiting for mine." (ps - love the pics! Did you feel super sneaky, like they might walk in while you snapped a shot of the dildo cam?! I would've gotten busted and camera confiscated :)

Lost in Space said...

I completely hate the "wall of babies". We get it, you make babies and this is suppose to give us hope, yadda, yadda, yadda.

I love the pictures. My DH always scolds me for "setting up" the u/s machine. I position it for my best viewing and then give the little rollerball a good luck rub. LOL.

I hope lucky number 6 is the one for you, Shelby.

luna said...

wishing you all the best for #6!

'Murgdan' said...

Seriously...what is up with the baby wall? And mine has theirs in the 'back' waiting room...to be sure you only see it while your in the middle of procedures or consults and not while just 'generally' waiting.

Dumb.

Tara said...

The wall of babies makes me so sad. I guess they think its supposed to show you hope and all of their successes. Yeah - thanks, but I'm good. Get me pregnant and then we can talk about how wonderful and mighty you are - Oh Doctor.

I hope #6 is lucky for you. Hugs :)

BTW - I think its freaking HYSTERICAL that you took pictures. HAHAHAHAAH You and I would be awesome friends IRL, too :)

Martha@A Sense of Humor is Essential said...

Best Wishes always, C'mon Lucky #6!!!!.
I am not a fan of wall of babies, think it's kind of cruel. Or put it in the employee lounge, Doc!

banditgirl said...

Shelby, I am so thrilled at your field work data! You (re)-inspire my love for sociology, and within it qualitative field methods. You should seriously consider writing an article for publication about this. Photodocumentation already in your pocket, girl! I have been considering writing an article for a sociological journal (Gender and Society) about our sisterhood in and outside the blogosphere (I would surely include a highly value-laden discussion of the counterproductive effect of baby-pictures busting in my face).
I mean how much more "duh" could this be? We all hate those babypictures. Could all doctors, nurses, acupuncturists, herbalists (add as applies) finally get that? I stand up, I stand up (to the Slim Shady tunes).

banditgirl said...

Btw, we are going in next week for first IUI. I am hoping for both of us, I think big time deep inside (so I may be in for a big fall, but hope feels so good).
P.s. As an aspiring fan of the sociology of IF, I am interested in your methodology and research ethics. Was the doctor or nurse in there as you took the pics? If so, what did you tell them?

AnotherDreamer said...

My IF clinic doesn't have a wall of babies...

Love the picture show.

Hope this cycle is better than last one!

Michelle said...

My center has many walls of "babies' lining the whole hallway. I hate it. It is the worst part of going. I guess it is suppose to mean that they are successful but it just reminds me of what is not working for me.

These pistures are great to illustrate the "day in the life"

I hope all goes well for you.

Shelby said...

No, the nurse was not in the room. That would've been a tad awkward, sitting there naked from the waist down with a camera phone in my hand as she readies the dildo cam, saying, "do you mind if I take some, uh, pictures?" I would've surely been the talk of the office and considering I'm already getting a name for being a lifer, I should probably stick to the lo pro.

I am however very interested in your sociological research. :) The beast of man is weird enough to deal with individually, but in groups, oh my.

banditgirl said...

Thanks, Shel, for sharing the details of your highly incognito yet scientific methodology :).
Re: my sociological inquiry into/on IF: I will first see what is out there, if anything interesting, I will send links, then I will mull it over again.