Following a very easy, and quick conception and a healthy pregnancy, my ObGyn performed an emergency c-section because there were signs of fetal distress during labor. My son’s cord was wrapped around his neck but he was safely and successfully delivered via a straightforward c-section procedure.

As this was my first pregnancy, I didn’t realize what followed was unusual. I knew that recovery would be slower from the c-section than if I had delivered vaginally. But I was given very little guidance from my doctor on what to look for/or be concerned about post-op. I even called the office when I experienced a high fever and chills when I got home but was told not to worry about it. The bleeding post delivery was heavy and the clotting fairly large. My recovery was extremely slow and painful and took several months.

I nursed my son for 17 months and my periods never resumed. I was told that it was from the breast feeding and that they would resume up to six months after I stopped. On my son’s second birthday I went back to the doctor to see why I still wasn’t getting a period. I was experiencing the tiniest bit of stringy dark discharge about every 28 days. The doctor suggested I try Clomide to regulate my cycle if I wanted to try to conceive again. That didn’t feel like the right response to me and so it was at that point that I sought a second opinion.

My new ObGyn ordered fertility tests and found all of my hormone levels were normal, my egg quality was high and I seemed to be ovulating. I had found information about Asherman’s online but it seemed such an unlikely diagnosis given my history. My doctor did order an HSG test to rule it out and everyone was surprised when there was absolutely no fill of my uterine cavity. A hysteroscopy and laparoscopy was scheduled with a reproductive endocrinologist for what was assumed would be a mild case of AS with some scarring near my c-section incision. But the RE found my uterus to be almost completely sealed with scarring and my fallopian tubes were not functioning. I had the most severe of Asherman’s. The doctor who performed the surgery said that I should consider adoption or surrogacy.

Again I sought a second opinion and the next surgeon said that he felt that he could reopen the uterus and remove the scar tissue from in front of my tubes. He had seen similar cases before, and although rare, they were caused when the walls of the uterus were sutured together following a c-section. This second RE reopened my uterus six months after my first procedure (3.5 years after my c-section) and one fallopian tube was functional. Following a month and a half of treatment with estrogen and progesterone I waited for what should have been my first period since my pregnancy. Unfortunately all that I got was three days of extremely painful cramps. I rescheduled a third procedure with the same RE who felt that we were making progress but there had been some re-scarring that was causing the monthly cramping. My third hysteroscopy and laparoscopic surgery proved his theory was correct and the scar tissue was removed again. This time, following a month and a half of hormone treatment, I finally had my first period in almost five years. My husband and I were encouraged to try and conceive as soon as possible in the event that there might be some re-scarring. In spite of my age (39 years) and having one functioning fallopian tube, we conceived that first month.

My second pregnancy was as uneventful as the first. My Ob ordered several ultrasounds and we watched the pregnancy with great caution. At 37 weeks, I delivered a beautiful baby girl via a repeat c-section. The placenta was easily and fully delivered after (there was some concern about placenta acreta given the severity of my Asherman’s but it did not occur). Recovery from this second c-section has been remarkably easier than I remember. And my husband and I look forward to adding at least one more sibling to the family in the future.

We received a lot of discouraging feedback from doctors along the path to recovery. But we always believed that this would be something that I could overcome.