Ever since we got married, my husband and I have both wanted children. But we had a lot going against us.
We were already in our mid-thirties when we got married. And early in our marriage, I suffered from a chronic back issue. So, fully aware that our biological clocks were ticking, we realised fairly early that our options were limited as we tried to conceive.
After a lot of research, we finally decided that in vitro fertilisation, or IVF, would be our best bet. We also found out that the journey was going to be long and challenging one, financially and physically.
Social stigmas attached to infertility can be a major hurdle for couples seeking IVF treatment. Even in today’s times, some view a couple having medical help to conceive as a personal failure. A lot of families still shy away from saying their kids were born through IVF and would rather keep the fact hush-hush, for the fear of judgment or criticism by the society.
I am, obviously, sharing this from my own personal experience, fully understanding that everyone's experiences and journeys with IVF will be different from mine.
Nikhil, my husband, and I decided early on that we would keep the decision to ourselves. Why worry our family and close friends? It would also allow us to avoid any explaining and questioning. We could always just tell everyone when we became pregnant … or so we thought.
However, after speaking to several doctors in the UAE and abroad, we decided to have the treatment in our native India. Immediately, this meant we had to amend our decision of keeping it quiet. The doctor we liked was located in Delhi, which is where my parents lived. So we made the decision to tell both our parents and to our surprise, received instant support from them – with almost no questions – which was amazing.
We would soon realise just how much we needed their support.
I took two weeks off from work and went to Delhi for the first cycle. I woke up one morning to see purple marks all over my stomach – a result of the injections I had started to take for the IVF treatment. It was a shock.
Telling our parents turned out to be the best thing we could have done. They were caring and supportive through the physically painful process, and especially when we found out the result of the first transfer was negative – the first of many.
When I started my IVF treatment – the first cycle was in 2015 – it was enlightening to see how people in the waiting area behaved at the regular clinic visits. While some would speak about their experiences, others sat with their faces hidden behind a magazine.
As we went through our second cycle, we decided to open up to our close relatives and friends. Not only did this allow us to be more social while going through another cycle, the support system we built also made the process easier. Sure, there were some who offered unhelpful suggestions but in general, contrary to our expectations, most people were extremely supportive.
We also decided to tell our respective managers at the time. Taking two to three weeks off regularly was not easy. And the process was taking a toll on me mentally as well, which was sometimes affecting my work. My manager was not only supportive but went out of the way to accommodate my last-minute requests for travel, while also allowing me to work remotely and keeping my workload light during the cycles.
Couples undergoing IVF treatment go through myriad emotions. I remember undergoing feelings of despair, anger, stress, anxiety, sadness, happiness, excitement and hope – sometimes all at the same time.
The stress of injecting yourself daily with hormones, going through scans, several cycles of egg retrievals and then, the final stage of embryo transfer, can take a toll on your body and mind. That said, the two-week wait after the transfer to see whether or not the embryo has implanted in your womb is the hardest part.
The only thing that should matter at the time of the treatment is how you can prepare yourself to handle the psychological impact of the treatment, not what people would say or think.
Two to three years into the process, I was on the verge of giving up. Taking flights every 15 to 20 days for procedures was taking its toll and I struggled to balance work and IVF. I have even taken a few of the trigger shots – the final and the most important injection before the embryo transfer – in an airplane washroom.
For the final cycle, we moved the treatments to Mumbai, where my in-laws live. Here again, having a support system while you are on this emotional rollercoaster ride was priceless.
Looking back, I can confidently say I had the will to go on and try again every single time only because I had the strong support of my husband and our families.
After five years of doing IVF runs (with a break year in between), it’s not the memories of taking those trigger shots in the airplane or the purple marks on my stomach that I hold dear, but how happy I felt when the doctor said: “Congratulations, you are having twins!”
Anya and Inaya were born in March 2020.
My husband and I speak openly about our IVF journey, in the hope that it will help and educate those who perhaps are considering a similar path but are reluctant to.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The Bio
Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959
Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.
He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses
Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas
His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s
Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business
He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery
Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
More coverage from the Future Forum
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Pakistan v New Zealand Test series
Pakistan: Sarfraz (c), Hafeez, Imam, Azhar, Sohail, Shafiq, Azam, Saad, Yasir, Asif, Abbas, Hassan, Afridi, Ashraf, Hamza
New Zealand: Williamson (c), Blundell, Boult, De Grandhomme, Henry, Latham, Nicholls, Ajaz, Raval, Sodhi, Somerville, Southee, Taylor, Wagner
Umpires: Bruce Oxerford (AUS) and Ian Gould (ENG); TV umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS); Match referee: David Boon (AUS)
Tickets and schedule: Entry is free for all spectators. Gates open at 9am. Play commences at 10am
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
England 241-3 (20 ovs)
Malan 130 no, Morgan 91
New Zealand 165 all out (16.5ovs)
Southee 39, Parkinson 4-47
England win by 76 runs
Series level at 2-2
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
World Cup League Two
Results
Oman beat Nepal by 18 runs
Oman beat United States by six wickets
Nepal beat United States by 35 runs
Oman beat Nepal by eight wickets
Fixtures
Tuesday, Oman v United States
Wednesday, Nepal v United States
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The five pillars of Islam
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Profile Idealz
Company: Idealz
Founded: January 2018
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Size: (employees): 22
Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
New schools in Dubai
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
