When going from motherhood to menopause, one might experience a few life-changing adjustments. And not only did I go quickly from motherhood to menopause within a few short years, but I became a mother with the use of IVF hormone treatments, so put that in the mix, and stand back!

I became a mother for the first and last time at the age of 44 using IVF with a donor egg.  All sorts of things happened to my body before, during, and after pregnancy, motherhood-to-menopause, even almost seven years later, are still wreaking havoc:

• anxiety/depression
• Placenta Previa
• Postpartum Depression
• severe anemia (lost half of my blood volume following my C-section)
• weight loss (lost 30 pounds immediately following birth…it was mostly fluid)
• weight gain
• abnormal/heavy periods
• hot flashes
• night sweats
• irritability/mood swings

I was intrigued to find out about the tampon box. At least I can get a little help with one of my problems. My periods come when they feel like it and they are awful. Sometimes two to three times a month, sometimes not for two months. So, really, I’m probably somewhere between Perimenopause and Menopause. I find myself wishing for menopause, but want to be very careful about what I wish for. In any case, having this box would be nice.

Despite all of the physical, emotional, and mental turmoil of becoming a mother so late in life, none of it compares to the love I feel for my sweet girl. She is everything to me.