A Late Start

I got married when I was 32, which is late in life compared to my friends. However, if it was God's will that I got married at this age, and I believe it was, then this was just the right time and age.

My husband and I decided to wait a year before we started trying to have a baby. Even with what I know now, I think we still would have waited--the first year of marriage is hard enough without adding the stress of trying to get pregnant. Around the time we would have been beginning to try, I had an abnormal pap smear. It was dysplasia, which means that there were some abnormal cells that might turn cancerous in years to come. It was upsetting at the time, but I had cryosurgery, and all my pap smears since then have been normal. After the cryosurgery, it takes about a month for the body to heal, so that meant no sex. After this ordeal, my doctor wanted me to come off the pill and use another kind of birth control for two months before my husband and I started trying to have a baby. I used the sponge during this time.

Finally, we could start trying--this was October of 2004. By "trying," I mean that we weren't using any kind of birth control and were having sex about twice a week. My doctor said this should be often enough. Several months went by, and I can remember breaking down one night and admitting to my husband that I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get pregnant.