Woman raising awareness on treatment of miscarriage
After her first round of IVF, Rhonda Yelruh didn't expect to be treated for a miscarriage in an abortion clinic
Rhonda Yelruh and her husband knew their road to having children would have its challenges.
At a young age, her husband was told he would likely not be able to father a child naturally.
That wasn't a problem for the couple. They got married, and when they were ready to start a family, they went to the fertility clinic in St. John's for help.
"We had all the testing done we needed to confirm that, 'Yes, absolutely, you're going to need in vitro fertilization (IVF),'" Yelruh said.
IVF is not available in Newfoundland and Labrador. While the province's fertility clinic can offer intrauterine insemination (IUI) and other clinical services, patients who choose to pursue IVF must travel out of the province for treatment.
'I MISCARRIED'
Yelruh and her husband went to Calgary to receive IVF treatment. She said their first round was somewhat successful.
"It was successful in the sense that I got pregnant," Yelruh said.
The couple was back in Newfoundland and Labrador when, around the 11-week mark of Yelruh's pregnancy, she noticed bleeding.
"I called the clinic multiple times, repeatedly, and said, 'Here's what's going on,'" Yelruh said.
She was told not to go to an emergency clinic. Instead, the fertility clinic booked her for an ultrasound that would take place a couple of weeks later.
"After going through all those experiences, you're very heightened. The littlest thing, you're like, 'Uh oh, uh oh,'" Yelruh said.
When she went for the ultrasound, what she feared was confirmed.
"I miscarried," she said. "The baby had no heartbeat. It stopped growing at about eight-and-a-half weeks."
CHOICES
Doctors gave Yelruh two options. She could take medication that allows women to have their miscarriages at home, or she could get a surgical procedure called dilation and curettage (D&C).
Yelruh chose the medication, but nothing happened.
"I called the clinic and said, 'I don't think this is working.'"
She was told she could retake the medication, but she chose a D&C instead, because the process was negatively affecting her mental health.
"I was a week lying around my house waiting to pass my baby, which in itself should never be. I understand why they offer medication, but for me, the toll on my mental health was just too much," she said.
Then she found out the only place she could get a D&C was an abortion clinic at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John's.
ABORTION CLINIC
Yelruh is pro-choice. She is not against abortion, but was shocked when she found out this is where she had to go to treat her miscarriage.
"I have no issues whatsoever with abortion. People get them for all kinds of reasons.
“Totally understandable, not judging anybody, but that wasn’t why I was there,” Yelruh said.
While she was at the clinic, she was given reading material designed for those receiving abortions. She said it wasn’t appropriate for her situation.
“It was very upsetting for me. This was not the choice I was making,” Yelruh said.
“It was a child that I really wanted.”
Yelruh wants the health authority to update its reading material if they are treating IVF patients and others who have miscarried in the same clinic where abortions take place.
ADVOCATING FOR HERSELF
Yelruh’s D&C went well, and two weeks after the procedure she returned to the fertility clinic for an ultrasound so she could be cleared to continue her fertility efforts.
The ultrasound showed shadows in her uterus, which would require exploratory surgery.
Eager to start her second round of IVF, Yelruh was willing to do whatever it took to have a baby. She was told the wait time for the surgery would be six months to a year.
While she recognized long wait times are standard for health care in Newfoundland and Labrador, Yelruh said that wouldn’t work for her. She contacted her MHA at the time, Barry Petten.
“I’m not getting any younger. Fertility can be a very time-sensitive sort of thing,” said Yelruh.
Petten helped get Yelruh the surgery within a couple of months.
PSYCHOLOGY REFERRAL
Eastern Health, at the time, also referred her to a psychologist. Yelruh said she was struggling with her mental health, given the uncertainties taking place.
She went to the psychologist’s appointment, but nobody was there.
“I sat outside for about an hour and nobody showed up first or last,” she said.
The placement of the psychologist’s office was also not ideal. Yelruh said it is right outside the case room where people have babies.
“You’re watching everybody coming and going with their happy babies. It’s not helpful,” she said.
TWO MORE ROUNDS OF IVF
Yelruh’s surgery went well and she was cleared to continue her fertility treatments.
The couple’s second round of IVF didn’t work.
“It just didn’t take, no explanation, no rhyme or reason, it just happens sometimes,” she said.
Around three months later, the couple returned to Calgary for their third round of IVF. It was a success. She was pregnant with twin boys.
COVID COMPLICATIONS
Yelruh’s pregnancy was not without its challenges. Shortly after becoming pregnant, the COVID-19 pandemic started.
While the pandemic didn’t harm her babies, her pregnancy was nothing like she expected.
“I missed out on a lot of the experiences associated with pregnancy, like a baby shower,” she said.
During Yelruh’s pregnancy, she was diagnosed with preeclampsia. She was hospitalized for a month before she gave birth to her boys.
“I was alone and unable to have visitors,” Yelruh said.
Her husband still visited her at the hospital. Instead of being by her side, he would look up and wave to her outside her hospital room window.
When her babies were born, her husband was allowed to be present for the birth and up to five hours after.
Yelruh had an emergency C-section and multiple complications. She was in hospital for five days with her boys by herself. She didn’t see her husband until she was discharged.
“I wasn’t actually ‘ready’ to go then, but I basically said I was going against medical advice if I wasn’t cleared,” Yelruh said.
The couple had been through enough trying to start their family. She was eager to start the next chapter of their lives.
LIFE WITH TWINS
Today, Yelruh and her husband are kept busy with their twin boys.
“My twins are going to turn four now in May,” she said.
While Yelruh wouldn’t change a thing about her fertility efforts because it gave her their two boys, she wants to encourage those going through IVF and other fertility treatments to advocate for themselves.
“Surround yourself with good people, make sure you’re taking care of yourself, and advocate for what you need,” she said.