Lisa’s Birth Story: Navigating a Complex Journey with Compassionate Care from Dr. Lisa Kalik

In a recent Healthful Woman episode, “Lisa’s Birth Story: A complicated journey”, Host Dr. Nathan Fox speaks with Dr. Lisa Kalik, an internal medicine physician in NY, shares her birth story. Dr. Lisa Kalik underwent IVF after her miscarriages and decided to receive surrogacy for her two children.

Dr. Kalik’s Losses

Dr. Kalik got married at 35 and began trying to conceive immediately. After stopping birth control for the first time in 18 years, she became pregnant within two months but miscarried early. “There was an empty gestational sac and no baby,” she said. A second pregnancy, achieved with fertility treatment, ended due to Trisomy 18. “I remember the OB saying, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll have another baby. No problem.’ I remembered her saying that, as time went on, and I was like, “She was so wrong.” she shared. These early losses were difficult both physically and emotionally, highlighting the importance of mental health support from her family and friends.

Dr. Kaliks’ IVF Treatment and HELLP Syndrome

After a few unsuccessful IUIs, Dr. Kalik moved forward with IVF and created six healthy embryos. The first transfer worked, and for a while, everything looked good. She enjoyed being pregnant. But at 19 weeks, she noticed swelling in her legs and later found her blood pressure was dangerously high. Bloodwork showed low platelets, and she was diagnosed with HELLP syndrome, a severe form of preeclampsia. “I was put on a magnesium drip, which is a really hard drug to be on…it makes you feel like you’re on fire,” she said. She chose to undergo a D&E. “I remember waking up and, at that moment, I felt that I just could tell that the pregnancy was not in me anymore. It was almost like, I don’t know, I can’t describe it. But it was like I knew whatever was, you know, trying to kill me was not there anymore.” Dr. Kalik was treated at Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates, where she received specialized care for her high risk pregnancy.

Dr. Kalik’s Birth and Loss

After this devastation, more transfers followed, some of which were unsuccessful, while others ended in heartbreak. One pregnancy was lost at 17 weeks. Another showed early signs of preeclampsia again. Dr. Kalik said, ‘If I need to end the pregnancy, I’m going to deliver this baby.’” Her daughter, Cassie, was stillborn. “I did hold that baby,” she said. Dr. Kalik shared, “ I had 60 weeks of pregnancy, of all these pregnancies. And no baby.”

Surrogacy Journey

After so many personal losses, and knowing pregnancy was detrimental to her and her baby’s general health and overall wellness, Dr. Kalik began looking into surrogacy. “It gives you a sense of control, because with these types of scenarios, you have no control,” she said. She eventually contacted a childhood friend, who carried her son. “We did decide to induce her just so that Jeff and I could, plan it and be there and everything. The induction went fine. And we were all there when my son came out.” Just ten days after her son had been born in the hospital, her last remaining embryo was transferred to another surrogate, this time through an agency. She had a newborn at home, so she couldn’t even be there. That transfer led to the birth of her daughter. After years of uncertainty and challenging pregnancy concerns, Dr. Kalik and her husband are raising two children, born just eight months apart.

Listen to the Full Episode of the Healthful Woman Podcast

To hear the full women’s health podcast episode and learn more about Dr. Kalik’s story, listen to the full episode on the Healthful Woman today. This helpful information can be valuable for pregnant women navigating complex fertility and pregnancy experiences.

Maternal Fetal Medicine blogs are intended for educational purposes only and do not replace certified professional care. Medical conditions vary and change frequently. Please ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding your condition to receive a proper diagnosis or risk analysis. Thank you!