Tuesday 28 May 2013 - Day 37 - 23dpo - 18dp5dt
I have felt so nauseous that last two days it has been very trying. Both yesterday and today I felt so nauseous that I almost didn't go to work. It has been rough. Yesterday was worse than today, I felt sick all day and it made it hard to fall asleep last night.
It's strange though, no matter how crappy I'm feeling there is also an element of comfort in feeling that nausea because it tells me there is a little baby in there developing and growing.
I am feeling a little better this afternoon because I have found the wonder that is plain potato chips! Oh man did they make me feel better. It was my acupuncturist who suggested potato as a good food for nausea and then this morning when I went for my blood test the nurse suggested little bags of potato chips, total genius! For the first time all day I don't feel like my food is journeying up my throat.
I'm still very tired and getting heartburn on and off, other than that all is well.
Blood test day today (it was a challenge sitting in the waiting room while I felt so sick) and I got a lovely nurse (same one who did my internal ultrasound). Blood out and then I got my referral for our 7 week scan! So excited to see our little one in there!
I called the clinic this afternoon and got my blood test results. The levels are great,
Progesterone is at 135
hCG is at 11,076
The nurse was really happy with those numbers, so happy in fact they don't need to see me for another blood test until Tuesday next week! Although I am going to miss the comfort of getting those regular results showing everything is going well.
Next step is to find an obstetrician. We did some research and found some we liked the sound of so I'll be doing some ringing around and seeing who has a space available. Fingers crossed we find a lovely OB who has space for us.
The house cleaning and decluttering is under way! Bio Mum did a mammoth effort over the weekend and threw out an entire ute load of stuff. Next is prepping to paint the spare room so we can move the study out of what will become the baby's room! Then we paint the Baby's room.
So many big changes are happening, its amazing!
Monday, May 27, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
So Far So Good
Thursday 23 May 2013 - Here is where we stand at the moment:
- 4 Weeks 3 Days Pregnant (or 32 Days)
- 18 days post ovulation (18dpo)
- 13 days post transfer of a 5 day embryo (13dp5dt)
Wow.
I think Bio Mum and I am comforted by numbers and milestones. I am obsessively tracking our levels in both a spreadsheet and now on a calender I printed off just for that purpose (I was productive at work today!). I am doing daily Google searches on what the levels mean and what they could indicate. Numbers are a comfort, statistics are a comfort (well unless they are bad statistics then they are a cause for extreme worry).
Today was another blood test day so off I went this morning to the clinic to give them more of my blood. I got the lovely young red head nurse again (I had her on Tuesday too) and she made the process really easy and pleasant (well as pleasant as being stuck with a needle can be).
After that it was into work. Today was a colleagues birthday and last night she got engaged so that was a lovely thing to come into work to! So much happiness in the office. It put everyone into a good mood as we got to share in her happiness. Then I got to have lunch with a former colleague and good friend which was awesome. Although she did ask whether there was any movement on the baby front and I had to lie, we are not ready to be telling people yet!
At 2pm I called the clinic and got some great results and a very patient nurse who indulged me in my questions. The results for today were:
Progesterone - 131
hCG - 1,413!!
I was beyond happy with that hCG result and so was Bio Mum when I called to tell her after speaking to the clinic. The nurse said this was a great number and that everything is looking good for the continuation of a healthy pregnancy!! Yay!!
I also asked the nurse (named Sarah) about our 7 week scan, which she said we can get any time in the week starting 10 June! So there isn't too much longer to wait. I'll pick up a referral from the clinic when I'm next in there (Tuesday for another blood test) and then make a booking with the imaging place. I can't wait until the scan! I want so badly to see that little heart beating away.
A little bit nervous for the next few days. My next cycle is due to start today/tomorrow (I average a 32 day cycle, but it has been known to be upwards of 38 days or as little as 25 days) and while the numbers are great there is a part of me that is not going to be at ease until a good bit of time has past and I still haven't seen Aunt Flow.
I'm sure everything will be fine. Bub is growing away in there and soon we will get to see him/her on the 7week scan. I can't wait!
- 4 Weeks 3 Days Pregnant (or 32 Days)
- 18 days post ovulation (18dpo)
- 13 days post transfer of a 5 day embryo (13dp5dt)
Wow.
I think Bio Mum and I am comforted by numbers and milestones. I am obsessively tracking our levels in both a spreadsheet and now on a calender I printed off just for that purpose (I was productive at work today!). I am doing daily Google searches on what the levels mean and what they could indicate. Numbers are a comfort, statistics are a comfort (well unless they are bad statistics then they are a cause for extreme worry).
Today was another blood test day so off I went this morning to the clinic to give them more of my blood. I got the lovely young red head nurse again (I had her on Tuesday too) and she made the process really easy and pleasant (well as pleasant as being stuck with a needle can be).
After that it was into work. Today was a colleagues birthday and last night she got engaged so that was a lovely thing to come into work to! So much happiness in the office. It put everyone into a good mood as we got to share in her happiness. Then I got to have lunch with a former colleague and good friend which was awesome. Although she did ask whether there was any movement on the baby front and I had to lie, we are not ready to be telling people yet!
At 2pm I called the clinic and got some great results and a very patient nurse who indulged me in my questions. The results for today were:
Progesterone - 131
hCG - 1,413!!
I was beyond happy with that hCG result and so was Bio Mum when I called to tell her after speaking to the clinic. The nurse said this was a great number and that everything is looking good for the continuation of a healthy pregnancy!! Yay!!
I also asked the nurse (named Sarah) about our 7 week scan, which she said we can get any time in the week starting 10 June! So there isn't too much longer to wait. I'll pick up a referral from the clinic when I'm next in there (Tuesday for another blood test) and then make a booking with the imaging place. I can't wait until the scan! I want so badly to see that little heart beating away.
A little bit nervous for the next few days. My next cycle is due to start today/tomorrow (I average a 32 day cycle, but it has been known to be upwards of 38 days or as little as 25 days) and while the numbers are great there is a part of me that is not going to be at ease until a good bit of time has past and I still haven't seen Aunt Flow.
I'm sure everything will be fine. Bub is growing away in there and soon we will get to see him/her on the 7week scan. I can't wait!
Monday, May 20, 2013
Day 11 Post Transfer
Today is Tuesday 21 May 2013 = Day 30 of my cycle and therefore pregnancy and day 11 post transfer. Wow that makes me almost a month pregnant! Tomorrow is one month, which is absolutely mind blowing!
Today was another blood test day! I am starting to feel like a pin cushion between the acupuncture and the blood test, so many needles! It is all for an amazing cause though so I am willing to do it and enthusiastic for the many more jabs to come!
Over the weekend Bio Mum and I gave into the temptation to buy an at home pregnancy test and see what the results were. Saturday morning I headed off to our local shops to procure a pregnancy test. I was surprised at the judgemental looks I received as I knelt down to pick my test of choice. It's not like I'm in high school or was smoking/boozing it up or anything! Maybe they all assumed it was a one night stand gone wrong rather than over a year of planning, hoping, testing, extracting and preparing. Maybe they should have kept their judgemental looks to themselves.
Anyway, I bought my little test kit (see the pic below) and headed home to obsessively read the instructions.
Finally, after a wait that was more nervous than it probably should have been given we already had a positive blood test, the results were in and we are pregnant! Yay! It's a faint second line, but its there!
Oh and then because we are a little obsessive yesterday (Monday 20 May) I had to go and pee on another test. The results were a bit clearer and yeah we are still pregnant :-)
Sunday night I told my sister that we are 'up the duff' which was exciting. Its such amazing news that I really wanted to share with her. We got to talk about it in more detail last night and I think she just might be almost as excited as Bio Mum and I! She is going to have to learn how to knit now! I caught up with my friend Jess on Sunday and man was it hard to not tell her, but we are going to keep the number of people who know to an absolute minimum until we are out of the first trimester, I just don't want to have to deal with too many people knowing if something goes wrong.
Of course, nothing is going to go wrong. Bub is going to grow healthy and happy in my belly and then join Bio Mum, Moo and I in our loving and crazy family.
Acupuncture was yesterday, now that things are looking good Dr Alex only needs to see me once a week and he said that soon I might be able to stop taking my herbs. It was a wonderful announcement for me and I smiled so much my cheeks hurt. Those Chinese medicine herbs are all kinds of bad and I look forward to not having to force myself to drink them.
When I was in getting my blood taken this morning I talked to the nurse about what the next stages are for us in terms of how long does the clinic work with us and should we be finding an obstetrician? Basically she said that the clinic is involved pretty much up until the 12 week mark, which is nice. Its not like they knocked us up then kicked us to the curb, they are actually staying involved. The clinic will be doing blood tests a couple of times a week for now and then once a week until week 12. They'll also be managing the Crinone and all that.
Dr D will be the one to do our 7 week scan in a few weeks, which is awesome. Unfortunately she doesn't do the baby stuff (i.e. she is in it for the fertility/get you pregnant phase and then her involvement is done) so we'll have to start looking for an obstetrician sooner rather than later. Its a real shame because we really liked Dr D and would have loved to have her involved through the whole process.
Oh and the blood test results from this morning are in and everything is looking good! The progesterone has dropped a little to 122 (which is still really good, anything over 30 is good according to the nurse) and I have to keep going with the Crinone for now. The hero of the blood test results though was the hCG which has risen to 564, which is so awesome. The nurse was really happy with this.
I get to go back in for another blood test on Thursday.
So far I am feeling pretty good, I am super tired though. I constantly feel like I want to go to sleep and when I do sleep it just doesn't feel like enough! Other than that there was a little cramping (mostly on the right side, which is where I think Bub has implanted) and some nausea (it was bad Sunday night and all I could do was lie still in bed and munch on dry biscuits, which helped). Oh and some heart burn, which hasn't been fun but is very manageable with those Mylanta chewable tablets. All in all I am feeling good. Bio Mum has been fantastic looking after me, I am very lucky to be going through this with her.
Oh yep there goes some more heart burn! Thanks hormones (progesterone mostly if Google is anything to go by)!
Google is a great device for obsessive pregnant women like me. I have been Googling like a fiend these last couple of weeks (especially since the transfer)! I keep checking hormone levels and symptoms and what we can expect. I wonder how women managed pregnancy before Google?
Now I bid you adieu and will write again soon!
Today was another blood test day! I am starting to feel like a pin cushion between the acupuncture and the blood test, so many needles! It is all for an amazing cause though so I am willing to do it and enthusiastic for the many more jabs to come!
Over the weekend Bio Mum and I gave into the temptation to buy an at home pregnancy test and see what the results were. Saturday morning I headed off to our local shops to procure a pregnancy test. I was surprised at the judgemental looks I received as I knelt down to pick my test of choice. It's not like I'm in high school or was smoking/boozing it up or anything! Maybe they all assumed it was a one night stand gone wrong rather than over a year of planning, hoping, testing, extracting and preparing. Maybe they should have kept their judgemental looks to themselves.
Anyway, I bought my little test kit (see the pic below) and headed home to obsessively read the instructions.
Then Sunday morning it was test time! I woke up at 6.30am (way too early for a Sunday) desperate to go to the toilet so I woke up Bio Mum (figuring she wouldn't want to miss out) and then headed off to the toilet. I reread the instructions and got to it. Below is the test kit all spread out as we waited for the results.
Finally, after a wait that was more nervous than it probably should have been given we already had a positive blood test, the results were in and we are pregnant! Yay! It's a faint second line, but its there!
Oh and then because we are a little obsessive yesterday (Monday 20 May) I had to go and pee on another test. The results were a bit clearer and yeah we are still pregnant :-)
Sunday night I told my sister that we are 'up the duff' which was exciting. Its such amazing news that I really wanted to share with her. We got to talk about it in more detail last night and I think she just might be almost as excited as Bio Mum and I! She is going to have to learn how to knit now! I caught up with my friend Jess on Sunday and man was it hard to not tell her, but we are going to keep the number of people who know to an absolute minimum until we are out of the first trimester, I just don't want to have to deal with too many people knowing if something goes wrong.
Of course, nothing is going to go wrong. Bub is going to grow healthy and happy in my belly and then join Bio Mum, Moo and I in our loving and crazy family.
Acupuncture was yesterday, now that things are looking good Dr Alex only needs to see me once a week and he said that soon I might be able to stop taking my herbs. It was a wonderful announcement for me and I smiled so much my cheeks hurt. Those Chinese medicine herbs are all kinds of bad and I look forward to not having to force myself to drink them.
When I was in getting my blood taken this morning I talked to the nurse about what the next stages are for us in terms of how long does the clinic work with us and should we be finding an obstetrician? Basically she said that the clinic is involved pretty much up until the 12 week mark, which is nice. Its not like they knocked us up then kicked us to the curb, they are actually staying involved. The clinic will be doing blood tests a couple of times a week for now and then once a week until week 12. They'll also be managing the Crinone and all that.
Dr D will be the one to do our 7 week scan in a few weeks, which is awesome. Unfortunately she doesn't do the baby stuff (i.e. she is in it for the fertility/get you pregnant phase and then her involvement is done) so we'll have to start looking for an obstetrician sooner rather than later. Its a real shame because we really liked Dr D and would have loved to have her involved through the whole process.
Oh and the blood test results from this morning are in and everything is looking good! The progesterone has dropped a little to 122 (which is still really good, anything over 30 is good according to the nurse) and I have to keep going with the Crinone for now. The hero of the blood test results though was the hCG which has risen to 564, which is so awesome. The nurse was really happy with this.
I get to go back in for another blood test on Thursday.
So far I am feeling pretty good, I am super tired though. I constantly feel like I want to go to sleep and when I do sleep it just doesn't feel like enough! Other than that there was a little cramping (mostly on the right side, which is where I think Bub has implanted) and some nausea (it was bad Sunday night and all I could do was lie still in bed and munch on dry biscuits, which helped). Oh and some heart burn, which hasn't been fun but is very manageable with those Mylanta chewable tablets. All in all I am feeling good. Bio Mum has been fantastic looking after me, I am very lucky to be going through this with her.
Oh yep there goes some more heart burn! Thanks hormones (progesterone mostly if Google is anything to go by)!
Google is a great device for obsessive pregnant women like me. I have been Googling like a fiend these last couple of weeks (especially since the transfer)! I keep checking hormone levels and symptoms and what we can expect. I wonder how women managed pregnancy before Google?
Now I bid you adieu and will write again soon!
Friday, May 17, 2013
Day 7 Post Transfer
Friday 17 May 2013 - Day 26 (7dp5dt)
As I sit here typing this I can't wipe the smile off my face. I mean I couldn't even if I wanted to. Today was a big day for Bio Mum and I, today was the day we were expecting some big news...
Off I went this morning for yet another blood test (I am sure I have many more to look forward to throughout this journey) and then off to work to await the time when I could ring the clinic and get our results. At 2.06 pm I couldn't wait any longer and made the call.
So the good, no, amazing news is that the hCG levels in my blood are now at 71.8 (which has more than doubled since my last blood test on Wednesday) which indicates, drum roll, pregnancy!!
I am so happy right now. I feel like a weight has been lifted and like I can breath again. I have been trying my hardest to remain positive, but it was hard at times. When you want something this badly its only normal to have those moments of doubt and fear, but so far all is well and I am now almost 4 weeks pregnant (which seems so strange to me as the transfer was only a week ago...the wonderful calculation of pregnancy). Bub is sitting safe in my belly, where I hope they stay for a good long while yet.
I am curious to find out what the chances are of a successful birth from this point in? Google is my new best friend in helping me over-analyse all the hormone readings and what may happen. I am just so ready to be pregnant, not so ready for child birth, and so ready to be a Mum.
In my over-analysing session today used a spreadsheet Bio Mum started and I mapped out where we've been and where we are at:
So that's where we are currently at. As you can see the hCG results for today were 71.8 which was well over the amount the nurses said they were looking for, which is so good. I still have to take the Crinone each night and go back into the clinic on Tuesday for another blood test. I plan on having a good list of questions to take with me about what the next steps are for us. There is so much to think about, but right now I just want to bask in the good news.
Today I really feel like I'm pregnant, today I feel like I am really going to be a Mum.
As I sit here typing this I can't wipe the smile off my face. I mean I couldn't even if I wanted to. Today was a big day for Bio Mum and I, today was the day we were expecting some big news...
Off I went this morning for yet another blood test (I am sure I have many more to look forward to throughout this journey) and then off to work to await the time when I could ring the clinic and get our results. At 2.06 pm I couldn't wait any longer and made the call.
So the good, no, amazing news is that the hCG levels in my blood are now at 71.8 (which has more than doubled since my last blood test on Wednesday) which indicates, drum roll, pregnancy!!
I am so happy right now. I feel like a weight has been lifted and like I can breath again. I have been trying my hardest to remain positive, but it was hard at times. When you want something this badly its only normal to have those moments of doubt and fear, but so far all is well and I am now almost 4 weeks pregnant (which seems so strange to me as the transfer was only a week ago...the wonderful calculation of pregnancy). Bub is sitting safe in my belly, where I hope they stay for a good long while yet.
I am curious to find out what the chances are of a successful birth from this point in? Google is my new best friend in helping me over-analyse all the hormone readings and what may happen. I am just so ready to be pregnant, not so ready for child birth, and so ready to be a Mum.
In my over-analysing session today used a spreadsheet Bio Mum started and I mapped out where we've been and where we are at:
| Day of Cycle | Activity | |||
| Day 1 - Mon 22 April 2013 | Started Period | |||
| Day 8 - Mon 29 April 2013 | Blood Test | |||
| Day 10 - Wed 1 May 2013 | Blood Test | |||
| Day 12 - Fri 3 May 2013 | Blood Test & Internal Ultrasound | |||
| 3 May 2013 - 8pm | Trigger Injection | |||
| Day 14 - Sun 5 May 2013 | Ovulation (36 hours after Trigger) | |||
| Day 19 - Fri 10 May 2013 | Frozen Embryo Transfer | |||
| Results | HCG Levels | Progesterone Levels | Days Post Transfer | |
| Day 22 - Mon 13 May 2013 | Blood Test | Not measured | 131 | 3 |
| Day 24 - Wed 15 May 2013 | Blood Test | 22.4 | 135 | 5 |
| Day 26 - Fri 17 May 2013 | Blood Test | 71.8 | 151 | 7 |
So that's where we are currently at. As you can see the hCG results for today were 71.8 which was well over the amount the nurses said they were looking for, which is so good. I still have to take the Crinone each night and go back into the clinic on Tuesday for another blood test. I plan on having a good list of questions to take with me about what the next steps are for us. There is so much to think about, but right now I just want to bask in the good news.
Today I really feel like I'm pregnant, today I feel like I am really going to be a Mum.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Day 5 Post Transfer
Wednesday 15 May 2013 - Day 24
5 days post 5 day blastocyst transfer (5dp5dt)
What an amazingly exciting/nerve-racking time Bio Mum and I have had lately! Since our FET on Friday I have been jumping around the emotions spectrum at alarming rates. I am trying to stay calm and positive, I'm thinking pregnant! I figure there is not harm in some good old positive thinking.
Actually to be perfectly honest, I am feeling this background sense of calm and contentment (hidden on and off by the excitement, nerves and doubts) that make me believe that I am pregnant and that Bub is right now holding tightly to my uterus wall and developing well. Bio Mum keeps asking me if I feel pregnant yet, and I'm not 100% sure because I've never actually been pregnant so I don't know how I should feel. However, I have this voice in my head and my heart that is softly telling me everything is ok and Bub is with me. It nice, usually the voices in my head are kinda mean and bitchy, so thanks voices!
Since the transfer on Friday I have been on Crinone, which is a vaginal gel that contains natural progesterone. The gel is administered via a little pump/syringe kinda thing and is used every night. Its about as fun to use as you'd imagine, but I will do anything in order to get pregnant, stay pregnant and have a healthy Bub in my arms.
Monday was blood test day so off I went in the morning to get some blood taken. After attempting to get blood from both arms the lovely young nurse went and got another nurse and she got blood first go (she was the nurse who is the only person to ever get blood from my right arm). I called in the afternoon and got the results. All the levels are good. Oestrogen was at 399 and progesterone was at 131.
Tuesday afternoon was another acupuncture session. Dr Alex (my acupuncturist) was really please with my levels and said that the fact I was tired was a good sign. Unlike my last two acupuncture sessions (on transfer day) I was able to relax and have a little nap while my needles were in.
This morning it was blood test time again. I got the young nurse again and before I'd even sat down she said she would bother trying and went off to get another nurse. The nurse she got was thankfully the one I had last time, and true to form she got blood from my right arm first go (which makes her 3/3).
I called the clinic this afternoon and now I am more nervous than ever. I still believe that I am pregnant, but I am so nervous I am actually shaking (plus its kinda cold today).
Today the clinic tested the levels of progesterone and the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG or the pregnancy hormone). Here are my results:
Progesterone - 135 (I get to continue the fun of using the Crinone for now)
hCG - 22.2
Now the hCG level is alright, but the nurse told me the clinic wants that to have doubled by Friday (when I have my next blood test) in order to confirm the pregnancy. I am going to be a basket case on Friday while I wait for those results and I know Bio Mum will be just as on edge.
I am so hoping for the best here and am going to try my damnedest to stay positive and optimistic.
Bub, you are already so loved so hang on in there!
5 days post 5 day blastocyst transfer (5dp5dt)
What an amazingly exciting/nerve-racking time Bio Mum and I have had lately! Since our FET on Friday I have been jumping around the emotions spectrum at alarming rates. I am trying to stay calm and positive, I'm thinking pregnant! I figure there is not harm in some good old positive thinking.
Actually to be perfectly honest, I am feeling this background sense of calm and contentment (hidden on and off by the excitement, nerves and doubts) that make me believe that I am pregnant and that Bub is right now holding tightly to my uterus wall and developing well. Bio Mum keeps asking me if I feel pregnant yet, and I'm not 100% sure because I've never actually been pregnant so I don't know how I should feel. However, I have this voice in my head and my heart that is softly telling me everything is ok and Bub is with me. It nice, usually the voices in my head are kinda mean and bitchy, so thanks voices!
Since the transfer on Friday I have been on Crinone, which is a vaginal gel that contains natural progesterone. The gel is administered via a little pump/syringe kinda thing and is used every night. Its about as fun to use as you'd imagine, but I will do anything in order to get pregnant, stay pregnant and have a healthy Bub in my arms.
Monday was blood test day so off I went in the morning to get some blood taken. After attempting to get blood from both arms the lovely young nurse went and got another nurse and she got blood first go (she was the nurse who is the only person to ever get blood from my right arm). I called in the afternoon and got the results. All the levels are good. Oestrogen was at 399 and progesterone was at 131.
Tuesday afternoon was another acupuncture session. Dr Alex (my acupuncturist) was really please with my levels and said that the fact I was tired was a good sign. Unlike my last two acupuncture sessions (on transfer day) I was able to relax and have a little nap while my needles were in.
This morning it was blood test time again. I got the young nurse again and before I'd even sat down she said she would bother trying and went off to get another nurse. The nurse she got was thankfully the one I had last time, and true to form she got blood from my right arm first go (which makes her 3/3).
I called the clinic this afternoon and now I am more nervous than ever. I still believe that I am pregnant, but I am so nervous I am actually shaking (plus its kinda cold today).
Today the clinic tested the levels of progesterone and the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG or the pregnancy hormone). Here are my results:
Progesterone - 135 (I get to continue the fun of using the Crinone for now)
hCG - 22.2
Now the hCG level is alright, but the nurse told me the clinic wants that to have doubled by Friday (when I have my next blood test) in order to confirm the pregnancy. I am going to be a basket case on Friday while I wait for those results and I know Bio Mum will be just as on edge.
I am so hoping for the best here and am going to try my damnedest to stay positive and optimistic.
Bub, you are already so loved so hang on in there!
Thursday, May 9, 2013
The big day...
Friday 10 May 2013 - Day 19
Well the big day is here, transfer day! This day will change our lives.
This morning I headed off to see the acupuncturist at 11am to get my pre-transfer treatment, while at the same time fighting with insane amounts of nerves and anxiety. I think I almost threw up a few times today, I was that nervous.
As I said in my previous post, our little thawed embryos had stopped growing yesterday and it was looking likely we'd have a blstocyst thawed today. We knew the lab at the fertility clinic would call us by 12 if there was a serious problem, so it was quite a tense morning until 12 with no call.
After acupuncture I came home where Bio Mum had lunch ready for me and then it was off to the clinic for the transfer. Dr D, our specialist, was running a tad late so there was a nervous wait at the clinic. While we waited we met with the nurse who gave us the medication I need to have, crinone, which is a gel that is used like a pessary (I had to have the progesterone pessary last night...it was not the most fun I've ever had) each night.
We also found out that I'll be back at the clinic Monday, Thursday and then Saturday. Saturday is the big one, its the pregnancy blood test time! So in 8 days we'll know if we're pregnant or not.
When Dr D arrived we were taken into the treatment room and told they had thawed one of our blasts that morning and that it was a great looking blast. I stripped down until I was just wearing my top half clothes and then onto a bed with leg holders so I was on display in all my glory.
Dr D inserted a warm speculum (it was nice that it wasn't ice cold) and then it was transfer time. A thin catheter went in and it was all over in a matter if minutes. It was all very easy and Bio Mum was amazing.
Dr D and the lab tech both commented on what a good transfer it was and then I was allowed to get dressed and off we went (after many thank yous and good lucks) to the acupuncturist again for the post transfer treatment.
Now I am propped up on the couch watching movies, where I plan to be all weekend!
I feel good about this, I really do think its going to work our. Get a good hold in there Bub!
Day 18
Thursday 9 May 2013 - Day 18
Hey everyone, happy Thursday!
I am sitting here feeling a fairly predictable mix of nervous, excited and apprehensive because tomorrow is our FET.
I called the clinic today and talked to the lab, unfortunately our two remaining thawed embryos had stopped growing. There is still a chance that they continued to grow as the day passed, but this is also a chance that they haven't. If they haven't grown then tomorrow at about 11am the clinic will thaw one of our frozen blastocysts in the hope that it will be good to transfer. Thankfully we have a couple of really nice blasts frozen.
Personally I have my fingers crossed that our two slow growers kicked into gear this afternoon and have grown on. I hate to think of them not surviving like the other two who did not survive this thaw.
So hear is the plan for tomorrow, acupuncture at 11 am to get my body all ready for transfer and then off to the clinic at 1pm for transfer. The whole procedure should only take 5-10 minutes at most and then we're back off to the acupuncturist at 2.30pm for another session.
After that I'll be home relaxing in front of the television, taking it easy and giving our little embryo time to get a good hold in there. This weekend will be a quiet one for me, which to be honest I am looking forward to so thank you Bub for the excuse to put my feet up!
I so hope this works. Bio Mum and I have invested so much into this over the last year. I already love this little being and they don't even really exist yet. Bub, we really hope this all works out and that early next year you will enter the world. You will be so loved my little darling.
Fingers, toes and everything else are crossed for tomorrow!
Hey everyone, happy Thursday!
I am sitting here feeling a fairly predictable mix of nervous, excited and apprehensive because tomorrow is our FET.
I called the clinic today and talked to the lab, unfortunately our two remaining thawed embryos had stopped growing. There is still a chance that they continued to grow as the day passed, but this is also a chance that they haven't. If they haven't grown then tomorrow at about 11am the clinic will thaw one of our frozen blastocysts in the hope that it will be good to transfer. Thankfully we have a couple of really nice blasts frozen.
Personally I have my fingers crossed that our two slow growers kicked into gear this afternoon and have grown on. I hate to think of them not surviving like the other two who did not survive this thaw.
So hear is the plan for tomorrow, acupuncture at 11 am to get my body all ready for transfer and then off to the clinic at 1pm for transfer. The whole procedure should only take 5-10 minutes at most and then we're back off to the acupuncturist at 2.30pm for another session.
After that I'll be home relaxing in front of the television, taking it easy and giving our little embryo time to get a good hold in there. This weekend will be a quiet one for me, which to be honest I am looking forward to so thank you Bub for the excuse to put my feet up!
I so hope this works. Bio Mum and I have invested so much into this over the last year. I already love this little being and they don't even really exist yet. Bub, we really hope this all works out and that early next year you will enter the world. You will be so loved my little darling.
Fingers, toes and everything else are crossed for tomorrow!
Monday, May 6, 2013
Day 16
Tuesday 7 May 2013 - Day 16
Hello, here is a very brief update on where we are at.
I spoke to the clinic this morning and got an update on our three embryos. One has grown on and is doing well, one hasn't grown on yet but still might and one did not survive the night which is sad. Hopefully the second one grows on and the first continues to keep on growing. If not, then on Friday they will thaw one of the blastocysts we have frozen and transfer that.
I am finding it hard to stay calm and relaxed as we get closer to the transfer. So much is racing through me head. There is still so much excitement, but it is mingled with a lot of other emotions. I really want this to go well.
I'm off to the acupuncturist this afternoon for another session and then there will only be one more before transfer. We are 3 days out now, time is flying scarily fast here and before we know it we'll be at the clinic for the transfer.
Deep breaths, calming breaths, ragged nervous breaths.
Hello, here is a very brief update on where we are at.
I spoke to the clinic this morning and got an update on our three embryos. One has grown on and is doing well, one hasn't grown on yet but still might and one did not survive the night which is sad. Hopefully the second one grows on and the first continues to keep on growing. If not, then on Friday they will thaw one of the blastocysts we have frozen and transfer that.
I am finding it hard to stay calm and relaxed as we get closer to the transfer. So much is racing through me head. There is still so much excitement, but it is mingled with a lot of other emotions. I really want this to go well.
I'm off to the acupuncturist this afternoon for another session and then there will only be one more before transfer. We are 3 days out now, time is flying scarily fast here and before we know it we'll be at the clinic for the transfer.
Deep breaths, calming breaths, ragged nervous breaths.
Day 15
Monday 6 May 2013 - Day 15
Howdy everyone!
So today is day 15 in this cycle and we are now only 4 days away from transfer! How exciting and terrifying.
So here is what has happened over the last few days...
Friday night Bio Mum injected me with my trigger injection to stimulate ovulation. Now for those of you who have never seen this particular injection, it kind of looks like an epipen and is designed for easy self injecting. I am not so keen on needles so asked Bio Mum if she would stab me with said needle...she was more enthusiastic that I'd like, maybe the thought of stabbing me with sharp objects has already entered her mind and this was just her chance to act on it? Great now I'm going to have nightmares about a murderous Bio Mum.
Anyway, the actual trigger injection is pretty straight forward. It goes into your stomach and the needle is so thin it only hurts a little. Bio Mum swabbed my tummy with an alcohol wipe and then grabbed a hunk of skin and popped in the needle. The whole thing was over with in 10 seconds. There was a minimal amount of pain afterward, but it was hardly noticeable. The below picture is what the injection was like (my tummy is...how should I say this...slightly flabbier than the one in the photo).
After the injection it was 36 hours until I ovulated so Sunday it was time. I'm now all ovulated we are just waiting until 5 days post ovulation for transfer.
I got a call from the fertility clinic today to tell me that they had thawed some embryos in preparation to grow them on to day 5 or blastocyst embryos. We had planned to thaw 3, but 4 had to be thawed as one of our little frosty babies did not survive the thaw. Now I know that they might just be embryos to some people, but to Bio Mum and I they are part of us (well not biologically me, but still the connection is there) and it is sad to think that one of them didn't survive.
Right now there are 3 little embryos growing, well dividing, in preparation to hopefully be the one that goes into my uterus on Friday. The others will be refrozen as Blasts.
The clinic told me I can call each day around 11am to check the progress of the embryos so I'll be calling them tomorrow!
We are getting closer and closer and I am getting more excited and nervous. I'm just trying to stay calm and relaxed. I figure the more zen I can stay the better right? It certainly can't hurt at all.
Bub you are so close I can almost feel you in my belly. Soon my little darling.
Howdy everyone!
So today is day 15 in this cycle and we are now only 4 days away from transfer! How exciting and terrifying.
So here is what has happened over the last few days...
Friday night Bio Mum injected me with my trigger injection to stimulate ovulation. Now for those of you who have never seen this particular injection, it kind of looks like an epipen and is designed for easy self injecting. I am not so keen on needles so asked Bio Mum if she would stab me with said needle...she was more enthusiastic that I'd like, maybe the thought of stabbing me with sharp objects has already entered her mind and this was just her chance to act on it? Great now I'm going to have nightmares about a murderous Bio Mum.
Anyway, the actual trigger injection is pretty straight forward. It goes into your stomach and the needle is so thin it only hurts a little. Bio Mum swabbed my tummy with an alcohol wipe and then grabbed a hunk of skin and popped in the needle. The whole thing was over with in 10 seconds. There was a minimal amount of pain afterward, but it was hardly noticeable. The below picture is what the injection was like (my tummy is...how should I say this...slightly flabbier than the one in the photo).
I got a call from the fertility clinic today to tell me that they had thawed some embryos in preparation to grow them on to day 5 or blastocyst embryos. We had planned to thaw 3, but 4 had to be thawed as one of our little frosty babies did not survive the thaw. Now I know that they might just be embryos to some people, but to Bio Mum and I they are part of us (well not biologically me, but still the connection is there) and it is sad to think that one of them didn't survive.
Right now there are 3 little embryos growing, well dividing, in preparation to hopefully be the one that goes into my uterus on Friday. The others will be refrozen as Blasts.
The clinic told me I can call each day around 11am to check the progress of the embryos so I'll be calling them tomorrow!
We are getting closer and closer and I am getting more excited and nervous. I'm just trying to stay calm and relaxed. I figure the more zen I can stay the better right? It certainly can't hurt at all.
Bub you are so close I can almost feel you in my belly. Soon my little darling.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Day 12
Here are the updates!
Wednesday 1 May 2013 - Day 10
Day 10 meant another blood test so up I got at 5.50am (leaving a very tired Bio Mum to snatch a few more minutes of precious sleep) after a very sleepless night. Because I knew I had to be up early this morning to go for the blood test I kept waking up every half hour or so panicking that I'd slept in. Oh and at about 4am Bio Mum (who also couldn't sleep) was awake and on her laptop, it was a crappy night's sleep all around).
After dragging my sorry butt up I got showered and dressed and then led Moo out to the kitchen for her breakfast only to have her throw up on the floor...while she continued to walk forward and spread it out. Thanks Moo!
I may have mentioned this before, but I am not good with vomit (human or animal) so I instantly freaked out. I was tempted to go get Bio Mum, but figured that wouldn't go down so well. Instead I grabbed a shit load of paper towels and got to work. It was not fun, but as strange as it is I am proud of myself for sorting this out solo. Maybe I can handle more than I thought I could?
Then it was of to the clinic to give them some more of my blood. Following that it was off to work where I was busy, busy, busy until it was time to call the clinic for the blood test results. All is looking good, still a way to go yet. My oestrogen levels had practically doubled since Monday so we are heading in the right direction.
Friday 3 May 2013 - Day 12
Oh my gosh do I have big news! But let's start at the beginning.
This morning I headed off for another blood test and an internal ultrasound at our fertility clinic. Blood test went well...well as well as anything that involved jabbing me with a needle can go and then it was time to wait until my ultrasound. I got to read a fair bit of my kindle while waiting.
Then ultrasound time! Now the internal ultrasound is a great way of preparing you for people to be down in that region of your body. Dignity (not that I had a hell of a lot) is now gone and I feel like I'd be pretty comfortable flashing my bits to whoever needed to see them (medically speaking of course).
Ultrasound went well, the nurses were lovely and talked me through the whole thing as we went. Miss right ovary is currently the proud owner of a 19mm follicle and a few littlies that won't mature this cycle and Miss lefty is a bit behind the mark with only some littlies. Uterus lining is looking plump and healthy, which is great.
As I was putting my pants back on the nurses suggested I head over to the drug nurse and tell her to give me my trigger injection (to trigger ovulation) and pessary. Both of these things mean the transfer is nigh!
With a fast beating heart and excitement racing through me I got my drugs and headed home (headache today so not at work) to call Bio Mum with the news. She was pretty excited too!
Then this afternoon I called the clinic and found out that it is all systems go. We are T-minus 1 week until our frozen embryo transfer (FET)!! Oh my god, it feels like we have been planning this forever, but still this moment feels like it has suddenly crept up on me.
Tonight Bio Mum will be stabbing me with the trigger injection at 8pm (I am kinda scared of needles and don't think I could stab myself) and then I should ovulate on Sunday (which the clinic is calling day zero). Tuesday will be another acupuncture appointment to get me all prepped, Wednesday will be calling the clinic to confirm the time for transfer on the Friday and then Thursday night it will be in with the progesterone pessary.
Thursday night or Friday morning its to the acupuncturist again and then Friday 10 May I will be having 1 blastocyst transferred into my uterus where it will hopefully stick and grow into a super cute and very healthy baby. I am also happy to report that Dr D, our amazing and wacky specialist OB&GYN will be the one doing the transfer.
Friday, after the transfer there will be another trip to the acupuncturist at 2.30pm.
It is all too exciting to actually put into words. I am actually shaking I am so excited. I just want to tell the world that this amazing thing is happening to my little family, but I'll behave and keep it to myself for now (well aside from this anonymous blog).
I will update as this journey progresses, but for now I have to go for an excited run around the house with loud cheering and clapping...and maybe some fist pumping too!
Wednesday 1 May 2013 - Day 10
Day 10 meant another blood test so up I got at 5.50am (leaving a very tired Bio Mum to snatch a few more minutes of precious sleep) after a very sleepless night. Because I knew I had to be up early this morning to go for the blood test I kept waking up every half hour or so panicking that I'd slept in. Oh and at about 4am Bio Mum (who also couldn't sleep) was awake and on her laptop, it was a crappy night's sleep all around).
After dragging my sorry butt up I got showered and dressed and then led Moo out to the kitchen for her breakfast only to have her throw up on the floor...while she continued to walk forward and spread it out. Thanks Moo!
I may have mentioned this before, but I am not good with vomit (human or animal) so I instantly freaked out. I was tempted to go get Bio Mum, but figured that wouldn't go down so well. Instead I grabbed a shit load of paper towels and got to work. It was not fun, but as strange as it is I am proud of myself for sorting this out solo. Maybe I can handle more than I thought I could?
Then it was of to the clinic to give them some more of my blood. Following that it was off to work where I was busy, busy, busy until it was time to call the clinic for the blood test results. All is looking good, still a way to go yet. My oestrogen levels had practically doubled since Monday so we are heading in the right direction.
Friday 3 May 2013 - Day 12
Oh my gosh do I have big news! But let's start at the beginning.
This morning I headed off for another blood test and an internal ultrasound at our fertility clinic. Blood test went well...well as well as anything that involved jabbing me with a needle can go and then it was time to wait until my ultrasound. I got to read a fair bit of my kindle while waiting.
Then ultrasound time! Now the internal ultrasound is a great way of preparing you for people to be down in that region of your body. Dignity (not that I had a hell of a lot) is now gone and I feel like I'd be pretty comfortable flashing my bits to whoever needed to see them (medically speaking of course).
Ultrasound went well, the nurses were lovely and talked me through the whole thing as we went. Miss right ovary is currently the proud owner of a 19mm follicle and a few littlies that won't mature this cycle and Miss lefty is a bit behind the mark with only some littlies. Uterus lining is looking plump and healthy, which is great.
As I was putting my pants back on the nurses suggested I head over to the drug nurse and tell her to give me my trigger injection (to trigger ovulation) and pessary. Both of these things mean the transfer is nigh!
With a fast beating heart and excitement racing through me I got my drugs and headed home (headache today so not at work) to call Bio Mum with the news. She was pretty excited too!
Then this afternoon I called the clinic and found out that it is all systems go. We are T-minus 1 week until our frozen embryo transfer (FET)!! Oh my god, it feels like we have been planning this forever, but still this moment feels like it has suddenly crept up on me.
Tonight Bio Mum will be stabbing me with the trigger injection at 8pm (I am kinda scared of needles and don't think I could stab myself) and then I should ovulate on Sunday (which the clinic is calling day zero). Tuesday will be another acupuncture appointment to get me all prepped, Wednesday will be calling the clinic to confirm the time for transfer on the Friday and then Thursday night it will be in with the progesterone pessary.
Thursday night or Friday morning its to the acupuncturist again and then Friday 10 May I will be having 1 blastocyst transferred into my uterus where it will hopefully stick and grow into a super cute and very healthy baby. I am also happy to report that Dr D, our amazing and wacky specialist OB&GYN will be the one doing the transfer.
Friday, after the transfer there will be another trip to the acupuncturist at 2.30pm.
It is all too exciting to actually put into words. I am actually shaking I am so excited. I just want to tell the world that this amazing thing is happening to my little family, but I'll behave and keep it to myself for now (well aside from this anonymous blog).
I will update as this journey progresses, but for now I have to go for an excited run around the house with loud cheering and clapping...and maybe some fist pumping too!
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