THE IDEAL MUSLIMAH

I am 33 years old, and I have a 2 1/2 year old child. I had absolutely no problems conceiving her, alhumdulliah (Praise is due to Allah). I nursed my daughter so that my period was delayed until 13 months after delivery. At that point, my husband and I decided that we would really like another child and so did nothing to prevent another pregnancy. I became pregnant again about 3 months later, but I did not know it, because that pregnancy was an ectopic one, and I had bleeding throughout the pregnancy. Finally, I was in so much pain that I went to my obstetrician, who diagnosed me with an ectopic pregnancy and I had surgery to remove it. During the course of the surgery one of my fallopian tubes was removed.

Well, we still wanted another child and so we kept on trying. Six months later we had had no luck, despite careful timing of intercourse, etc. I went back to my obstetrician who told me that sometimes, after the body has had a "big shock", eggs are just not released for awhile. The doctor did a vaginal ultrasound and saw that indeed, although I had eggs, that they were not maturing and being released. She prescribed Clomid in the lowest dosage which I took for one month. I went back to her and had another vaginal ultrasound and she saw that eggs were starting to mature, but had not matured enough to be released. She then had me take another course of Clomid - a higher dosage - (for one cycle) and did yet another vaginal ultrasound and this time saw that eggs were mature, and would hopefully be released. Sure enough, that month I did conceive, alhumdulliah, and am now 4 1/2 months pregnant, inshaa’ Allah (Allah-Willing).

I cannot stress enough, however, that I have made a lot of du'aa (supplication) during this time, and really asked Allah for help. I got up at night and prayed, using the supplication that Prophet Zakariyyaa (Zachariah) (peace be upon), "My Lord! Indeed my bones have gown feeble, and grey hair has spread on my head, and I have never been unblessed in my invocation to you, O my Lord! And Verily! I fear my relatives after me, since my wife is barren. So give me from Yourself an heir." (Chapter: Maryam. Verses: 4,5).

My heart goes out to every sister who is facing infertility. It is hard enough to have infertility problems, but harder still as a Muslim, because Muslims are told to have as many children as possible by Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alyhi wa sallam).

May Allah bless all those who desire children with children, and may Allah give us all the best in this life and the next. Aameen (May it be so).