Erica’s Story: Welcoming Baby Connor with TFI
In June 2024, Tennessee Fertility Institute (TFI) patient Erica Lezon shared the first stage of her journey with our community as she welcomed her first son, Austin, through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Today, she’s back to share the next chapter of her story—her path to baby Connor.
Returning for Baby #2
Coming back to TFI felt different this time for Erica and her husband, Jim. “I didn’t feel as hopeless knowing we had success before,” Erica shared. “I loved working with Dr. Montville and the TFI team again and I felt more confident about what to expect.”
That confidence didn’t erase the emotions that came with starting again. Erica remembers feeling a mix of emotions. Excitement for baby #2. Anxiety when she began thinking about going through the frozen embryo transfer (FET) process. Relief knowing she could go straight to the FET procedure instead of an additional egg retrieval.
Her care team continued to play an important role in providing support throughout the process. “Dr. Montville still took the time to sit and listen to any concerns I had and explained everything every step of the way. [And] I’d like to give a huge thank you and shoutout to Kelly Brunson. I felt like I messaged her a lot more this time around. She always calmed my nerves.”
Facing New Challenges
Even with familiarity, this journey brought new challenges. “We had some new curveballs and setbacks this time around that we didn’t have the first time,” Erica explained. “The first time around, my saline infusion sonohysterography (SIS) test results were fine and I was able to move forward. However, this time the SIS showed a few uterine polyps… Dr. Montville suggested I have a hysteroscopy done to remove these.”
Later, a small pocket of fluid in her uterine lining forced the cancellation of a FET cycle. “Unfortunately, we had to cancel our FET and Dr. Montville suggested having an endometrial scratch done instead. This was also something new that I hadn't done before.” Endometrial scratching is a procedure used to improve the chances of embryo implantation, and it involves superficially wounding the lining of the womb, in order to improve the receptivity of the uterus to the embryo.
Still, Erica leaned on her prior experience. Before she became pregnant with Austin, she experienced a biochemical pregnancy. Sadly, she experienced a second one before becoming pregnant with Connor. “The biochemical pregnancy was still upsetting, but I was able to stay positive knowing it happened before and we still had success.”
The Pregnancy Journey
When Erica and Jim found out she was pregnant with Connor, Erica was stunned. “I took a pregnancy test the morning of our first beta. It turned positive right away. I was a little shocked because I’ve never had that dark of a positive test before…My first thought was, ‘Did the embryo split and are we having twins?!?’”
But the pregnancy was not without difficulty. Erica remembers several complications, including bleeds at 22 weeks and 30 weeks, hospital stays, and bedrest. “Our goal was to make it to 36-37 weeks, so each week after 30 weeks was a special milestone. We ended up making it and Connor was born at 36 weeks and 5 days!”
Meanwhile, Austin was adjusting to his new role. “Once my belly started to grow, he would say, ‘Mommy has a brother in her tummy!’ When Connor was born, he was so excited and said he couldn’t wait to play with him and show him his toys. He loves giving Connor kisses on the head and commenting on how tiny he is.”
Gratitude and Perspective
Looking back, Erica feels deeply grateful. “Some days, it still doesn’t feel real and I can’t believe everything we went through to have them. I’m so happy and grateful for everyone at TFI. Austin and Connor would not have been possible without you all.”
Her journey has also changed how she views resilience. “I never thought I’d be able to go through IVF. I hated needles and just the thought of IVF terrified me. You’d be surprised what you can handle when it’s your only option for something you want. Even when things didn’t feel like they would ever work out, I kept pushing through.”
Words of Encouragement
To others considering their second fertility journey, Erica offers reassurance: “Just know you are not alone and all your feelings are valid.”
And to those considering growing their families with the help of fertility care: “I know infertility can feel lonely and isolating. I hope by sharing my experiences and journey that it can give others hope and someone to relate to.”
Thank you, Erica, for sharing your story again. We’re honored to have been part of both of your journeys to Austin and Connor, and we’re so grateful to continue walking alongside you!
