At the start of the transfer process, they give you a picture of your embryo(s) that they will be transferring that day. It's amazing. It's really your first look at your child(ren). During the actual transfer itself, they have you undress from the waist down, they cleanse the path to your uterus where they will place your precious cargo, and then they do a trial run with a little cath to make sure the way isn't blocked. You can see it on the ultrasound screen. Then they show you your magnified embryo(s) on a TV screen, in a dish in the lab, before the transfer is done. You get to watch the transfer on the ultrasound screen as the doc guides the pipette along the proper line to the nesting ground. :) Then they slowly remove the pipette and examine it under a microscope to make sure the little guy(s) didn't get stuck in the pipette.
The nurse tells you that spotting, cramping and bloating is normal. Remember, this is almost a week after the retrieval and your follicles that used to hold eggs are now filling with fluid and blood. The bloating is back, with a vengeance. You get dressed, you go to the bathroom, where it takes an alarming time to actually relax and pee, and then you get to drive home grinning like an idiot, and holding your husband's hand trying to decide how much you're going to tell people, and when.
Do we tell people as soon as we are pregnant because we've been so transparent this far and that's been the expectation? What if I can't carry? What if I tell people too soon and then we miscarry? What do other couples do, wait three months? Do we share the sex? Do we want to know the sex? Will we even make it that far with this first attempt?
We've talked about it, and we've decided to hold off on any announcements or detailed reports until we give it some time. We won't know for a few weeks yet if the transfer is even successful. We do have some frozen embryos for additional attempts if or when we need them, so we rest in the knowledge that this is not the end, but the continuing journey of something wonderful. I'll ask you to pray for health and life for this potential pregnancy and that J and I will be at our best for the baby. I'll post again on this topic when we have news to share.
The count: 22 eggs retrieved, 18 fertilized, 13 dividing normally, four of those frozen, 9 cultured for 5-day growth. 5 mature blastocysts. 2 transferred, 3 frozen.
Congratulations on reaching this milestone! I'm adding my two cents only because.... well, I don't know why. I will say this: after I miscarried, a part of me stopped trying to "hold off" on news any longer. No one knew (other than those closest) that I had even been pregnant. When we lost that one, our grief therefore became something we carried alone. So the question goes out: if you were to meet with bad news, who do you want to help shoulder that burden? If you are a private person, perhaps it comforts you to be more alone in it. If not, you might like knowing that many people hold you in prayer. And if this meets with celebration and your baby (babies!) are ready to be in your arms in 9 months' time, who do you want to pray for them during the whole journey? You are prayed for either way. So are your babies and your husband. Rest in the knowledge that there is only the "right" that is right for you and your family. The rest of us can wait. Or we don't have to. That's the beauty of you holding the keys. Be well, and God be with you during your journey.
ReplyDeleteI will be praying for you! You must be so excited and nervous!
ReplyDeletewaiting is good...I blabbed all that stuff about the twins about a week before we lost one and felt like and idiot. Talk about adding insult to injury...
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