Went in for my second beta test today to make sure that my HCG beta numbers are doubling up. And they were! Today's beta = 791.
Our first ultrasound is in a week. I just hope so much that this week goes by without a hitch.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
First beta
Our first beta comes in at 388! The speculation right now is that both our embryos took... and so we may be expecting twins. Deep breaths.
HOLY MOLY. This is really happening.
HOLY MOLY. This is really happening.
Drumroll please
Three words I didn't think I'd say today: I am pregnant.
Holy cow, that feels strange saying that.
OK two versions of the story, the quick and dirty facts versus the gory details (it's actually not that gory; kinda funny really). Scroll all the way down for the short version.
Long version
So yesterday morning, I woke up having no more cramps but started spotting after I got out of the shower. I thought, "Crap," since it'd be too late for implantation bleeding, which could only mean one thing... my period was coming and the cycle wasn't going to work. After crying my eyes out, first to DH, then to myself on my way to work, I sought out my friends on the online fertility community for strength and support. These women quickly told me that spotting was extremely normal during IVF (which of course, I did not know!) They also encouraged (OK, more like gently coerced) me to POAS yesterday. From my previous post, you know how I feel about POAS, but after debating back and forth about it (mostly with myself), I decided to do it after I got home.
After sitting around for 4 hours uncomfortably without a bathroom break, around 9 pm, I decided to take the plunge. DH was on the phone with his dad, and that made it easier really because a) I honestly didn't want to tell him if it was a negative (since we kinda already knew that morning) and b) I love a good surprise. So I snuck in the bathroom with my pregnancy test and IPhone, went to town with the test and started the timer.
The test said to wait three minutes before looking at the results, but IMMEDIATELY, the second line came up on the test.
So here's my initial reaction, "Whoa, wait. Oh my god!" Then my face got super flushed and I swear, my nose started to bleed. Like, profusely bleed. So there I was trying to stick my head up to keep the blood from going everywhere and at the same time, trying to look at the pregnancy test to convince myself that I wasn't seeing double. When I finally did manage to stop the nosebleed, I took the stick, moved it under the light, waved it around the bathroom like some lunatic, then closed my eyes and opened it again, silently praying that the second line won't disappear when I open my eyes again.
Nope, still there. In fact the second line was darker than the control line.
Wow.
OK here's the short version
I POAS and the test was positive!
DH's reaction was priceless (I'll post that next). Beta results in a few hours. Hopefully, we're off to a good start.
Holy cow, that feels strange saying that.
OK two versions of the story, the quick and dirty facts versus the gory details (it's actually not that gory; kinda funny really). Scroll all the way down for the short version.
Long version
So yesterday morning, I woke up having no more cramps but started spotting after I got out of the shower. I thought, "Crap," since it'd be too late for implantation bleeding, which could only mean one thing... my period was coming and the cycle wasn't going to work. After crying my eyes out, first to DH, then to myself on my way to work, I sought out my friends on the online fertility community for strength and support. These women quickly told me that spotting was extremely normal during IVF (which of course, I did not know!) They also encouraged (OK, more like gently coerced) me to POAS yesterday. From my previous post, you know how I feel about POAS, but after debating back and forth about it (mostly with myself), I decided to do it after I got home.
After sitting around for 4 hours uncomfortably without a bathroom break, around 9 pm, I decided to take the plunge. DH was on the phone with his dad, and that made it easier really because a) I honestly didn't want to tell him if it was a negative (since we kinda already knew that morning) and b) I love a good surprise. So I snuck in the bathroom with my pregnancy test and IPhone, went to town with the test and started the timer.
The test said to wait three minutes before looking at the results, but IMMEDIATELY, the second line came up on the test.
.JPG) |
| My first time ever looking at two lines, instead of one! |
Nope, still there. In fact the second line was darker than the control line.
Wow.
OK here's the short version
I POAS and the test was positive!
DH's reaction was priceless (I'll post that next). Beta results in a few hours. Hopefully, we're off to a good start.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Going through the nine-day wait
Well I thought I'd write a quick update about how this week has been going. It has been slooowwww. Thankfully for my job, which keeps me fairly busy most of the time, I've been somewhat preoccupied, trying to "not think about it," which is the advice I've gotten from the online communities. Definitely easier said than done. I am really trying to refrain myself from analyzing each and every symptom I think I am experiencing (or I think I should be experiencing), but just like at the bank or at the DMV, you get impatient when you have to wait.
Following the advice of the nurse, I literally was bed-ridden for the rest of Monday after we got home from the transfer. Which was fine for me since I was pretty exhausted after the procedure. Tuesday, I was mostly couch-bound and relaxing, but whenever I was forced to walk, I willed myself to tread the ground as lightly as possible. I was unfortunately back to work in full force on Wednesday and beyond... and now we're here at the end of the week. But overall, I have been taking it easy though this week: no major cleaning sprees, no laundry, and no gym.
Someone on a fertility community asked me if I was going to POAS (i.e., pee on a stick) before my blood test next Wednesday. I told her I didn't know, and really, I don't, because of the various scenarios and subscenarios that are playing out in my head. Here's a short synopsis of what's currently happening; by the way, this barely scratches the surface of what's going through my mind:
Scenario A: We get a positive
Subscenario (Sub) A1: Woohoo!
Sub A2: Wait a sec, would that be a true positive though?
Sub A3: Can we be happy about the positive or could it simply indicate a chemical pregnancy?
(And then we'll worry and worry all weekend until the beta test.)
Scenario B: We get a negative
Sub B1: Would that be a true negative? Maybe we tested too early.
Sub B2: Maybe we test again the next day. Maybe it's a negative again. Maybe we tested too early.
Sub B3: Test again the following day. Should I bust open the booze or maybe we tested too early again?
(And then we'll worry and worry all weekend until the beta test.)
So, in light of the fact that we'll incessantly worry all weekend (or at least, I will), regardless of what the pee stick says, I thought to myself, why test at all? I might as well just enjoy the weekend with DH and whatever happens next week during the beta test, happens. We have no choice but to accept the news, good or bad it may be.
Following the advice of the nurse, I literally was bed-ridden for the rest of Monday after we got home from the transfer. Which was fine for me since I was pretty exhausted after the procedure. Tuesday, I was mostly couch-bound and relaxing, but whenever I was forced to walk, I willed myself to tread the ground as lightly as possible. I was unfortunately back to work in full force on Wednesday and beyond... and now we're here at the end of the week. But overall, I have been taking it easy though this week: no major cleaning sprees, no laundry, and no gym.
Someone on a fertility community asked me if I was going to POAS (i.e., pee on a stick) before my blood test next Wednesday. I told her I didn't know, and really, I don't, because of the various scenarios and subscenarios that are playing out in my head. Here's a short synopsis of what's currently happening; by the way, this barely scratches the surface of what's going through my mind:
Scenario A: We get a positive
Subscenario (Sub) A1: Woohoo!
Sub A2: Wait a sec, would that be a true positive though?
Sub A3: Can we be happy about the positive or could it simply indicate a chemical pregnancy?
(And then we'll worry and worry all weekend until the beta test.)
Scenario B: We get a negative
Sub B1: Would that be a true negative? Maybe we tested too early.
Sub B2: Maybe we test again the next day. Maybe it's a negative again. Maybe we tested too early.
Sub B3: Test again the following day. Should I bust open the booze or maybe we tested too early again?
(And then we'll worry and worry all weekend until the beta test.)
So, in light of the fact that we'll incessantly worry all weekend (or at least, I will), regardless of what the pee stick says, I thought to myself, why test at all? I might as well just enjoy the weekend with DH and whatever happens next week during the beta test, happens. We have no choice but to accept the news, good or bad it may be.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Two blastocysts transfered!
Today finally arrived! In spite of all my anxieties, everything worked out well. I had a great night's sleep, got to work in a good mood, and received the call from the clinic at 11:16 am (RIGHT after my class ended). The nurse told us that our transfer is scheduled for that afternoon and we should be in the clinic by 1 pm. Aside from some customer service snafus (we got there at 12:30 pm and didn't get called in until 2 pm), we were prepped and ready to go by 3 pm.
By the way, I opted to do laser acupuncture before and after the transfer. It was my first time with acupuncture but I didn't really feel anything - just felt a little sleepy after the acupuncturist left.
So the actual transfer itself took an entire 10 minutes. It was a success. Before the procedure started, the doctor actually gave us a picture of our blastocysts. The one on the top left is actually a hatching blastocyst, which is a good thing, because it is developing at a more advanced level. I can't stop staring at this picture, thinking how awesome it is to actually see a product of the IVF process.
I am instructed to be on bedrest today and as much as possible tomorrow. So I am lying in bed now in my pajamas typing this with Investigation Discovery on TV... I have similarly big plans for tomorrow. It is admittedly a little difficult trying to type one-handed while I am lying flat on the bed; I don't want to put my laptop on my belly area. Silly as it sounds, I don't want to squish 'em. So I will report more when I am not so... horizontal.
.JPG) |
| Ready to do this! |
So the actual transfer itself took an entire 10 minutes. It was a success. Before the procedure started, the doctor actually gave us a picture of our blastocysts. The one on the top left is actually a hatching blastocyst, which is a good thing, because it is developing at a more advanced level. I can't stop staring at this picture, thinking how awesome it is to actually see a product of the IVF process.
 |
| Brian calls them "Thing 1" and "Thing 2" |
Sunday, March 18, 2012
The stage is set...
This morning's ultrasound result: a "12 Type 3" uterine lining. Which means I have a 12 mm endometrial lining and Type 3 indicates the presence of "triple stripe": both factors ideal for implantation. From what I've read online, I kinda knew it was good news. This morning's RE agreed with me. His exact words were, "That looks good. Actually, no. That looks excellent. It is ready for pregnancy." Boy am I glad my uterus decided to jump on board with the plan because we sure are ready for it too!
Special thanks to DH for hard work of injecting those mammoth progesterone-in-oil shots every night. I know he gets slightly traumatized every time he has to do it, but he has been a real "DH" (darling husband, in the fertility community lingo) indeed.
So it looks like everything is where it should be at this point. The estrogen pills and progesterone shots have helped make a plushy environment for the incoming embryos. Hopefully they will make themselves at home for the next nine months. And why wouldn't they, right? I'm a pretty nice landlady, I don't charge rent, I don't pry (well, not all the time), and there won't be any noise complaints from the neighbors. Plus, they get free food, occasionally, awesome free food like cookies and Thai food. Clothing is optional in there AND they get a free playground to practice their kicks and gymnastic prowess.
Hmm, maybe I should also hang a sign in there that says, "Free college if you stay" in there, just for good measure?
One worry down, about a thousand more to go. Tonight, I am instructed to take metrogel (a suppository to prevent possible infections) and tomorrow, a high dose progesterone suppository right before the transfer. Then tomorrow anytime between 7 am - 12 pm, the clinic calls to confirm two things: a) if our embryos survive the thaw, and b) the time of our transfer. From what I've heard, our clinic has an excellent thaw rate. I will be in back-to-back classes until 11:15 am, but my nurse has assured me that it will be fine and I should try to relax on my way there. Easier said than done.
Hope to report good news tomorrow... and after that, the waiting game begins.
Special thanks to DH for hard work of injecting those mammoth progesterone-in-oil shots every night. I know he gets slightly traumatized every time he has to do it, but he has been a real "DH" (darling husband, in the fertility community lingo) indeed.
So it looks like everything is where it should be at this point. The estrogen pills and progesterone shots have helped make a plushy environment for the incoming embryos. Hopefully they will make themselves at home for the next nine months. And why wouldn't they, right? I'm a pretty nice landlady, I don't charge rent, I don't pry (well, not all the time), and there won't be any noise complaints from the neighbors. Plus, they get free food, occasionally, awesome free food like cookies and Thai food. Clothing is optional in there AND they get a free playground to practice their kicks and gymnastic prowess.
Hmm, maybe I should also hang a sign in there that says, "Free college if you stay" in there, just for good measure?
One worry down, about a thousand more to go. Tonight, I am instructed to take metrogel (a suppository to prevent possible infections) and tomorrow, a high dose progesterone suppository right before the transfer. Then tomorrow anytime between 7 am - 12 pm, the clinic calls to confirm two things: a) if our embryos survive the thaw, and b) the time of our transfer. From what I've heard, our clinic has an excellent thaw rate. I will be in back-to-back classes until 11:15 am, but my nurse has assured me that it will be fine and I should try to relax on my way there. Easier said than done.
Hope to report good news tomorrow... and after that, the waiting game begins.
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