Thursday, September 29, 2011
Disbelief
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Two Pink Lines
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
My Little Fighter Embryo
Thought I would post pictures of the morning of the transfer finally. Here we are in our get up- when you're doing an embryo transfer you literally can't wear makeup, perfumes, smelly hair products- nada- so we showered that morning (no lotions and potions) and headed over in comfy clothes. I took a Valium- an hour before to relax my uterus- it relaxed me enough to sleep the rest of the day though...guess I'm a lightweight. Here we are before the transfer.
When we got there the doctor came in and gave us a speech as promised on how many embryo's we SHOULD transfer. I sat in the room for 15 minutes and cried trying to decide. The embryologist gave me a picture of my embryos and said- this is your embryo- you want room for it to grow and be healthy. So that's what I did. I froze 7 other good embryo's. Dr. said it was enough for another 3 rounds of invitro (doing 2 each time) He said at his office 96% plus of the them survive after being defrosted (haha sounds so funny I froze my babies for later) Luckily those next few times I decide to do in vitro I don't have to go through stimulating more eggs (that was awful)
So here is the picture they gave us of the baby- crazy how that mass is the baby already forming- this was BEFORE it got implanted! The science is amazing to me! The Doctor puts this directly into my uterus- baby's job is then to hatch from it's outer layer and burry into the lining.
Here is the end result:
It takes nine days to find out if the embryo attached- the nine days after the transfer look like this:
5-Day Transfer
Days Past Transfer (DPT) | Embryo Development |
One | The blastocyst begins to hatch out of its shell |
Two | The blastocyst continues to hatch out of its shell and begins to attach itself to the uterus |
Three | The blastocyst attaches deeper into the uterine lining, beginning implantation |
Four | Implantation continues |
Five | Implantation is complete, cells that will eventually become the placenta and fetus have begun to develop |
Six | Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) starts to enter the blood stream |
Seven | Fetal development continues and hCG continues to be secreted |
Eight | Fetal development continues and hCG continues to be secreted |
Nine | Levels of hCG are now high enough to detect a pregnancy |
This morning I got blood work done to check my hormone levels- I continue the progesterone shots in the butt (which is bruised) and wear estrogen patches- this continues till I am 12 weeks pregnant or start a period- so now I pray no period starts- I am hoping this embryo's a fighter! To keep my mind off that I leave for Hawaii bright and early tomorrow morning! :)
Sunday, September 18, 2011
One Embryo Transfer...CHECK! :)
Friday, September 16, 2011
Good/ Bad News
They will look something like this:
My tummy on the other hand was not doing better. I can't sleep AT ALL (tried LOTS of Tylenol PM and NOT working! )can't walk around much, tummy is MASSIVE and hurting, can't lay on my sides, and back pain...awesome. I didn't want to be a baby (because I am totally aware that I am a SERIOUS wimp! I blame my mom for that one) so I held off on calling the Dr about how bad it was. Last night after hours of tears and frustration Jonny said he was taking me in the morning to see the Doc. I found out I have OHSS Ovarian Hyper stimulation Syndrome. It happens usually in younger IVF patients who produce a lot of eggs. Basically ALL those 29 spots in my ovaries where eggs WERE filled up with fluid and doubled in size (causing my ovaries to be DOUBLE the normal size) In bad cases it can twist your ovaries and cause surgery where they have to be removed. Unfortunately there is no drug or secret way to get rid of it. If I wasn't trying to get pregnant it would just away in a few weeks when I start my cycle again- if you get pregnant it takes A LOT longer to go away. Doc gave me pain meds and told me to sleep, come in Sunday morning and he will check them again. IF my ovaries are the same size as they were today he will still do the transfer- if they get any bigger he is cancelling this cycle and freezing my eggs for a later date. So for now- I wait...again. Chances are at this point the decision of one egg or two will be taken away from me. Even if we do the transfer, Dr. Larsen says two would not be safe for my health or the babies with OHSS. A little sad today- feeling exhausted of the constant stream of trials. Trying to be as positive as I can through this and get lots of sleep.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Decisions Decisions
I have LOTS of praying to do!
Stats :)
21 were mature
6 were at an intermediate (a decent size)
2 were immature
Injected 27 with icsi (They literally inject ONE single sperm into each of the eggs- all but 2 because they were too little. They were thrown out.)
Out of 27, 17 fertilized normally
1 showed an intermediate fertilization (mean it COULD fertilize today) They are still watching it
6 showed no evidence of fertilization (still watching these ones JUST in case)
2 fertilized abnormally (These two were thrown out)
1 didn’t survive the process
When I got the phone call this morning at 8:30 am- (I was literally just WAITING for this call) I couldn't contain my excitement. The embryologist said- "Do you have a minute." UM YES! She told me all the stats when I was out walking my dog this morning and I literally ran upstairs and said, "Wait can you repeat all that AGAIN to my husband." haha! The lady probably loves her job- getting to deliver the good news to these psychotic "moms to be" I woke up this morning and FIRST thing I did was think about those embryo's...I can't imagine how it will feel actually HAVING a child of my own. (hopefully) I will be a pretty protective mom I'm sure- not meaning to be- just by nature. I woke up this morning with my stomach probably DOUBLE what it was the day before (not even joking) So I called in a little concerned. Dr. told me it's normal- the spots where all those eggs were have now filled up over night with fluid. Still REALLY achy- They will call me Friday to let me know how the embryo's are- there is a possibility of doing the transfer either Friday or Sunday at this point. Just depends on their growth. So now I just pray for them from a far.
This is what I WANT them to look like the day of the transfer-a healthy 8 cell embryo (I get REAL pictures of them then! )
So weird how fast all this happens! By the time I get implanted I will be "3 weeks pregnant" I should find out nine days after implantation- luckily I will be in Hawaii to keep my mind off things. I have two friends just a few weeks behind me- PRAYING for you ladies! )
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Sending Prayers/ Good Vibes/ and Chicken Dances My Way
Here is Jonny anxiously awaiting to do "his part" haha! poor guy- I swear the lady looked at us like we were crazy that we didn't want any "extra materials" to help him out. Really though? My babies are not gonna be starting from THAT stuff!
Here I am in all my glory- dressed up from head to toe to get put under.
And the awesome IV that gave me amazing drugs so I could sleep the whole time.
If you are dealing with in vitro or have done in the past YOU know- it is like a full time job keeping up with all this stuff- and consumes every thought of your mind! Starting tomorrow I get daily calls telling me how the babies are doing- how many fertilized, which ones are growing properly and such! SO- Please send all prayers, good vibes & chicken dance my way. :) I could use it all!!! At least those embryo's can! 4-5 days till they will be planted BACK into my tummy to start growing where they belong! :) GROW BABIES GROW!!!!
Monday, September 12, 2011
About 20 more hours
Here are the updated stats- I go in at 7 am to Scottsdale tomorrow morning to get put under anesthesia and have all my eggs retrieved. Tomorrow is the big "fertilization" moment I have never had. This is all a first for me and couldn't be more excited! Jonny does his thing tomorrow- I do mine- and than somehow lots of babies are created in a medical lab. I get updates daily on my babies- hoping they are healthy and ready for implantation this Saturday or Sunday! Let's hope for Sunday so I can still make it to my best friends wedding Saturday- that would make all of this perfect. :)
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Ignorant People
These are JUST the big ones he counted! They should grow 2.0 ml every day now which means I am now on track to have them pulled out and fertilized on Tuesday!!!! YAY!!!! For now I am seriously SO uncomfortable and not looking forward to have to poke myself THREE times every night now instead of just one big shot. 3 more LONG days. :) I just keep telling myself: I can do this I can do this I can do this!!!! :) Sunday I will go in for a check up on my follicles ONE more time- then the big day of retrieval comes. Let's hope those embryo's keep healthy!!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
They are Dancing Around in There
Until then...I will continue to obsess on pinterest. Is this not the cutest baby jacket ever!!?!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
For those of You looking to do In vitro...
Course this all comes AFTER I pay like 15 grand for in vitro and testing- oh well...maybe it will help someone else.. :) I'm not sure how this works exactly- but thought I would pass the word around just in case!
Senate Bill 965
Family Act of 2011 (S. 965)
The financial burden of fertility treatment can be one of the most stressful parts of the entire fertility process. With more than 3,000,000 people suffering from infertility, out-of-pocket expenses for treatment affect a large majority of Americans. Across the United States only eight states require comprehensive infertility coverage and among those States most employer-provided plans are exempt. According to the 2005 National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans by Mercer IVF was only covered by 19 % of large employer-sponsored health plans and only 11 % of small employer-sponsored plans.
A new Senate Bill introduced by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and co-sponsored by Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) proposes to include out-of-pocket expenses for in-vitro fertilization as a tax exemption. The bill would allow for “50% of the qualified infertility treatment expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year” up to $13,360 per individual. If approved the bill will go into effect January 1, 2012.
The bill was designed around the current legislation that is in effect for costs associated with the adoption process. Since this bill is currently before the Senate for approval it is very important to contact your two senators advocating for the passage of this bill. This bill is currently endorsed by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and many other fertility organizations. In 2009 a similar bill called the Family Building Act of 2009 (H.R. 697) sponsored by Representative Anthony Weiner (D-NY) was introduced but did not gain enough support to be passed into law.
Hopefully, with all of the buzz of health care reform the 112th Congress will be more supportive of this bill that will positively impact millions of Americans undergoing the huge financial burden of infertility treatment.
For more information about Senate Bill 965 click on the following link to follow it’s progress until it hopefully becomes a law.
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s965/show
Positive Affirmations/ Visualization
- Every Cell in my body vibrates with energy and health
- Loving myself heals my life. I nourish my mind, body and soul
- My body heals quickly and easily
- I am at peace
- I trust in the process of life
- Life is a joy filled with delightful surprises
- My life is a joy filled with love, fun and friendship all I need do is stop all criticism, forgive, relax and be open.
- I choose love, joy and freedom, open my heart and allow wonderful things to flow into my life.
Positive affirmations are designed to challenge those negative beliefs and start to stem the flow of negative thoughts and words that seek to validate them. Affirmations are more than just repeating words. It is a whole process of becoming aware of your thoughts and words in everyday life, choosing to think and project happy positive thoughts. The more you can consciously inject the spirit of you affirmations into your daily thoughts and words, the quicker they will work for you."
Good stuff right?? I don't think we even realize how negative self talk can affect us. We are our own worst critics- that's for sure. It may sound a little weird the first time you say them - but it's so worth it! It's so easy to get caught up in all that negative self talk. I am struggling a bit with the visualization aspect but am trying. You can go HERE to read about that. Thought I would share for those of you who are interested. :) Got my blood work done this morning with the Doctor- and am excited to see how things are progressing at my ultra sound tomorrow. Still didn't get much sleep last night but I'm working on it.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Stimulation Phase
I started the stimulation phase of all this on Saturday. I basically had to add two more drugs to my injections and another 5 oral drugs to my list of my "daily drug cocktail." I did fine Saturday- the injection hurt a lot more since the medication stings and it's a LOT more fluid (hence a bigger needle)- but I felt fine minus a small headache. Sunday was AWFUL. I couldn't move out of bed- (besides for church) because my constant headache became a migraine. I am also limited right now to what I can do- no Ibuprofen, no exercise, no unprotected sex (odd) NO CAFFEINE - which is just adding to my headache. Not being able to take my regular Excedrin for a headache pretty much sucked. I decided to just go to bed- hoping that would help but I COULDN'T SLEEP! I am talking didn't get an ounce of sleep till 5:00 this morning. I am grateful I had no work because I would have stayed home otherwise. (2 melatonin and a Tylenol pm later- I finally got 5 hours of sleep) It's like I can feel this pressure in my stomach. Tomorrow I go in for blood work- the next day an ultra sound to check in on how my follicles are doing. Doc says I will look pregnant by the end of this week due to my ovaries getting a lot larger than normal. I can already feel all the pressure in my lower abdomen- doesn't feel good. Can't wait for this part to be over. Unfortunately this part will last everyday until September 14th...seems like forever. :( Especially when you are moody, exhausted, and craving caffeine! Jonny took good care of me- made my hot chocolate and popcorn (my pre- pregnancy craving right now) Hopefully today will be better.