Duggar Fertility Doctor Visit

[MandyLaLa]

I know we usually keep the show talk all in one thread but I was wondering if it would be possible to have a separate place to discuss this week's upcoming episode where they visit a fertility specialist?

[ILoveJellybeans]

Sorry Michelle, there is no more babies coming out of that worn out thing.

No, we will not give you IVF, you would never be able to carry a baby to term, and definitely not with octuplets.

I don't care how many Kelly has.

No, it would be unethical for us to transplant Jana's uterus into you, and besides, that probably wouldn't work.

No. No babies. It wont ever happen.

There is nothing we can do to repair your uterus, prayer wont work either. It is worn out.

Not even a tiny chance.

[JenniferJuniper]

I'm sure it would be, but I'm also sure that's just another TLC driven wind-up.

Michelle is 48 soon and would almost certainly need donor eggs at this point. With the threat of multiples and the Duggars' refusal to selectively reduce, a cluster fuck could ensue, one that most reputable physicians wouldn't want to touch. She has 19 kids already, why risk her life trying to get to 21 at her age?

My own guess this is a staged event so TLC can now lead them down the path of considering adoption.

[DuggarsTheEndIsNear]

I'm still fairly certain that this is just an exam to see if she's going through menopause. Probably done by her regular Ob-Gyn, which TLC rebranded as a fertility doctor because she's having her hormone levels tested for the ability to conceive.

One of 3 things will come out of this:

1. Michelle will be told she's in menopause and we'll get A LONG SERIES of "seasons of life" quotes from her and possibly an announcement to the clan about how god opens and closes the womb

2. Michelle will be told she's not yet in menopause and well hear more about how they're hoping for number 20

3. (And I cringe saying this) she will find out she's already pregnant with number 20. Which would explain why it's this late in the show. If this episode was filmed in December, she'd be 5 months pregnant now. She'd be a minimum of 21 weeks, which would be 3 weeks shy of Josie's gestational age. Obviously they'd want to put off the announcement as long as possible to ensure they didn't have another Jubilee fiasco (I imagine even if she had another still born, it would be mourned privately to keep from receiving the kickback associated with trying to conceive again -- a second micropremie would receive some kickback, but not nearly as much as two stillborns and a micropremie in a row). I haven't seen many pictures of Michelle lately, and the ones I have seen haven't been enough to gage the likelihood of this theory being true or not. Especially since I've known friends with her body shape who haven't looked pregnant till the last month, if ever.

[ILoveJellybeans]

Please not another pregnancy :( It cant end well :(

[cindyluvs24]

And It works with the character that Michelle plays on the show. She has to show that she'll do anything for the baybeez. Then she can use that line about not having too many flowers and how the world's population fits in Jacksonville.

[cindyluvs24]

Please not another pregnancy :( It cant end well :(

But the ratings!!!!!! ( reminds me of the movie "Network")

[JenniferJuniper]

Michelle's not pregnant in any of the recent photos we've seen of her.

"Menopause" is only one day. It's the one year anniversary of a woman's last period. Before that she's pre-menopause, the day after that she's post-menopause. The average age for this day is between 48 and 52 in the United States. Many go through it earlier, many later, but that's the typical age range.

Michelle may well not have hit menopause yet. However at 48, most of her eggs are no longer viable, making the odds of her conceiving and staying pregnant very low. It's certainly possible for her to conceive with implanted donor eggs (usually two or more) but her age coupled with her most recent pregnancy problems would make it a very high risk pregnancy, especially if multiples are involved.

There will be no more pregnancies. Michelle is in deep denial if she thinks otherwise.

[anjulibai]

I think this is just to confirm she can't have more babies.

[MalteseBaby]

THIS is a topic I never thought I'd see. Blow me over with a feather.

Whatever happened to " As many children as God gives us"? It never was " As many children as assisted reproduction can give us". I don't have any problem with ART, but what can they say to justify the conflicting statements?

I do think, however, that Michelle could have 1 donor embryo implanted and carry it to term with the right hormonal balance. She's still at a high risk for recurring pre-eclampsia... Not sure she will be a candidate for ART because of her history with pre-eclampsia, and( possibly) full blown eclampsia with Josie. They weren't exactly transparent about the hours leading up to her delivery, hence my use of the word " possibly" with Josie's gestation and birth. I think she did have full- blown eclampsia.

IF she has younger Roarke female relatives such as a maternal niece, one could be the donor if the woman chose to be, and of course, they should be able to use Jim Boob's sperm. That way, Michelle might feel a greater bond to the child after birth than with a donor egg from a non-relative. I worry a lot about Michelle's bonding..

It goes without saying that the donor who would garner the most viewers and create the most drama would be Anna....

It could work, biologically, just not sure if they will go there.

As for adoption, I'm an advocate for adoption, being adopted myself. Not sure if I would be an advocate for adoption if the Duggars had been my adoptive family, though. The family seems to be perpetual chaos, which would not suit my personality well at all. I'm sure they, or at least Michelle, would want a baby, not an older child or children. I'm not one to judge but I've never heard of many people who think she's a good mother to children beyond infancy. Could she change? Would she want to change?

I'm over- thinking this. There's no good answer except to accept menopause, I don't think.

[silverspoons]

I can't see Michelle ever admitting to using fertility treatments or any sort of help. Her whole I delivered them all myself slogan makes me believe she wants us to think she is a super fertile women that is special and did it all herself.

If she did get any fertility help it would be 100% in private. More private then a courtship.

My guess is she is going for a check up to a reproductive endocrinologist , which might have a secondary label a fertility dr just to get her levels checked. She will discuss her chances of #20 and our final TH will be we are still open to #20 and praying for adoption.

With all these teaser episodes have we ever been truly surprised by the Duggars? Not me.

[Isis]

Hmmm...I've always thought that they might try embryo adoption thru one of the "Christian only" agencies.

I know they wouldn't consider IVF but I don't 't think that transferring an already created leftover embryo would be at odds with their mentality.

I don't think that she can carry a child to term or anything close to it but I think she'd give it a go.

[Arete]

There will be no adoption, embryo or otherwise. Michelle's entire identity is based on conceiving, carrying, and birthing infants. Full stop. She has no interest in parenting after weening.

As for embryo adoption, that is off the table because JB's investment in his kids, though slightly greater than Michelle's, is dependent on the uber masculine high he gets knowing he was able to get her pregnant so many times. There would be no high from a pregnancy someone else created, even if Michelle could successfully carry and birth an adopted embryo.

[tkr322]

I honestly don't think they'd ever do IVF or any sort of fertility assistance besides something like Clomid. I am a very liberal person but even I have moral issues with things like IVF so I am sure that people like the Duggars do, too. I also don't think she'd ever do an embryo adoption. It wouldn't technically be her's and that's what she loves about her kids, they're all her own flesh and blood. This is another reason I don't think they'd ever adopt either. I know she is dying to get that #20 though so I think they'll just keep humping like rabbits and praying that God "opens her womb". :cray-cray:

[DuggarsTheEndIsNear]

There will be no adoption, embryo or otherwise. Michelle's entire identity is based on conceiving, carrying, and birthing infants. Full stop. She has no interest in parenting after weening.

As for embryo adoption, that is off the table because JB's investment in his kids, though slightly greater than Michelle's, is dependent on the uber masculine high he gets knowing he was able to get her pregnant so many times. There would be no high from a pregnancy someone else created, even if Michelle could successfully carry and birth an adopted embryo.

This. Plus, there's that whole "sins of the father" thing when adopting. Which would apply to both embryos and already birthed children.

Furthermore, I know a lot of "normal" Christians who view IVF as playing god and a form of abortion (when the embryos don't take). I could see them MAYBE attempting IUI, but that seems completely unlikely cause it doesn't involve sex.

[Isis]

I didn't see the teaser but is it possible that the visit is accompanying one of the soon to be married daughters on a pre-conception checkup?

[Jana814]

Please not another pregnancy :( It cant end well :(

Soo true!

[browngrl]

Michelle is going to see a fertility doctor? What happened to letting God open and close the womb?

This being said she could get pregnant again and she could carry another baby to viability BUT it will require lots of intervention (likely requiring donor eggs, possibly requiring hospitalization, likely requiring a tertiary level high risk OB specialist care). This will all be hugely expensive and time consuming (what mothering she does will almost certainly have to fall by the wayside) and there are no guarantees of a good result (i.e. a live mother and baby). If they do go this route, Jim Bob better put on his dancing shoes because it will take some fancy footwork to dance around the fact that they are totally taking their fertility in human hands and out of God's.

[Dandruff]

I suspect she isn't in menopause but that the doctor will warn them major health risks to her and any jestating J'20. They can then either keep trying (trusting in the Lord) or stop trying (not because they wanted to but because of what the doctor said).

I'd be amazed if they adopted, though I could easily see Jill and some of the other kids doing so.

[Letgo]

THIS is a topic I never thought I'd see. Blow me over with a feather.

Whatever happened to " As many children as God gives us"? It never was " As many children as assisted reproduction can give us". I don't have any problem with ART, but what can they say to justify the conflicting statements?

Thank you! I was just about to post the same. It's okay to ignore God saying no because of age, but not okay to say no if one is an overwhelmed, worn out, unwell mother of umpteen children?

[Toothfairy]

Michelle is sooooo selfish. She's has 19 kids for god sakes. Fertility doctors are for people who are having problems conceiving or getting pregnant. Michelle can get pregnant very easily since she's given birth almost every year. The doctor can't help with Mother Nature. Every woman goes through it. Why can she just accept it. She has serious mental issues and Jim Bob doesn't help at all.

[Toothfairy]

Michelle's not pregnant in any of the recent photos we've seen of her.

"Menopause" is only one day. It's the one year anniversary of a woman's last period. Before that she's pre-menopause, the day after that she's post-menopause. The average age for this day is between 48 and 52 in the United States. Many go through it earlier, many later, but that's the typical age range.

Michelle may well not have hit menopause yet. However at 48, most of her eggs are no longer viable, making the odds of her conceiving and staying pregnant very low. It's certainly possible for her to conceive with implanted donor eggs (usually two or more) but her age coupled with her most recent pregnancy problems would make it a very high risk pregnancy, especially if multiples are involved.

There will be no more pregnancies. Michelle is in deep denial if she thinks otherwise.

I wish I can like, but my like button is gone. Also menopause usually takes a few years to get through.

[Hane]

Dear Michelle: God is not just "closing" your womb, he's hammering "Do Not Enter" and "This Property Condemned" signs over its entrance.

[Mela99]

I seriously wonder what kind doctor would be willing to see her and talk to her....

[marmalade]

I wish I can like, but my like button is gone. Also menopause usually takes a few years to get through.

The "This Season on 19 K&C" preview showed Michelle getting a blood draw. I suspect an FSH test, which will determine if, and/or how far she's in to peri-menopause, or whether she's menopausal. Maybe (hoping) she has had some erratic periods of late and will be told that the shop is closed. Sure, she can get knocked up in peri-menopause, but as everyone has said, the results won't be pretty.