...Our Embryos

The fertilization update is in: we are going to have a Day 5 transfer on Friday the 20th! Our embryos have exceeded our wildest dreams- we still have 17 growing away in the lab, although some may not make it to blastocyst.

I asked the nurse about grading them, and she said they don't really do it until Blast day since ours are all doing so well. I knew that since some people have 3 day transfers, they might check on them tomorrow, but she said, "We won't look at them again until Friday. We do NOT want to disturb them!" I loved this- it made me feel like the Embabies were hanging out in a luxurious hotel, ordering room service and sleeping in Heavenly Beds. I hope they don't get too terribly comfortable as Mommy wants them to come home soon!

I also talked to the acupuncturist at the clinic and I am set to do a session before and after transfer. Then we will meet with the embryologist and discuss the quality of embryos and how many he recommends we transfer, but ultimately, it is our decision.

I am laying around still- I am so beyond bloated and sore. I called my nurse and she said, "With how many we got out of you, of course you are sore!" which didn't make me feel like it is going away anytime soon. I also seem to have caught a lovely stomach bug, so I have all kinds of good things going on in my abdominal area! Oh well, it is hard on the body, being a hen. Cluck.

The Fertilization Report is in

WOO HOO!

Of the 22 retrieved, ALL of them were mature!

17 fertilized normally and are doing well. We will know tomorrow if we have Day 3 or Day 5 transfer, but a Day 5 seems most likely at this point. Of course, we could lose some of our embryos, but at this point, it should not be too many.

Grateful is the word of the day. I am moved to tears- we have a chance at having a healthy baby and I could not be more grateful. Thank you to everyone who is cheering me on! I read your comments every day and take so much strength from them.

Wishing you a wonderful day...I am walking (or laying on the couch, all bloated) on air!

Lazy Lefty- Day 7 Stats

Had my Day 7 ultrasound this morning. Righty is going strong! About 18 follicles, all measuring mature! Unfortunately, Lefty is slacking. About 11 follicles, but most are small-ish. A couple are mature, but not many. Waiting on E2 and dose changes.

I am really bummed by this news! I should be grateful to have so many on the right side, but I am feeling like we have less "chances" since Lefty is under performing. It also is making me wonder, is something wrong with that ovary? The doctor doing my u/s said, "Sometimes that ovary gets less blood flow, but that might just be this cycle." That began the freak out: what if I have to do this again? What if there aren't enough and we have to do another fresh cycle?

I know so many people have done more than one cycle, and you are my heroes. Since I am tubeless, and this is our only option, I am sort of in it until it works, but I hope with all my heart it will be this time.

God, hormones make me even more of a worry wort!

Day 5 Stats

Thanks to everyone who is cheering me on, encouraging and making me laugh! For those of you who understand IVF speak, here we go.

Day 5 of Antagonist protocol

11 Follicles on left ovary, average 8 mm.
18 (!!) on right ovary, average 11 mm!

Lining, 9.6 mm and waiting for E2 blood work.

They told me to start Cetrotide immediately so I don't ovulate, and to wait on my stim dose. It sounds like everything is going just how they want, and that I will probably have my retrieval earlier than thought- maybe Sunday or Monday. I also have to go in Thursday and Friday for monitoring and possibly tomorrow.

I can't believe how fast this is happening... I am so thankful to be responding well, and so hopeful that this will work for us!