Embabies are on board

This morning we had our transfer and all went well. 

I was not surprised to hear that we had an embryo to transfer, but I was quite surprised to hear that all 5 were still growing, looking good and no signs of fragmentation. 

Maybe this time it will work.

We had 2 x 7 cell embryos, 1 x 9 cell, 1 x 10 cell and 1 x 12 cell. We opted to put back 2 so I assumed it would be the 10 and 12 cell ones. However my embryologist said her pick was the 9 and 10 cell ones. On day 3, she likes to see them between 8 and 10 cells. She explained that the 12 cell one was developing a little too quickly and might burn out a little later on.

So we transferred our 9 and 10 cell embryos. I have decided to call one peanut and will let Flex Thunderstache name the other. (Unsure if this is a good idea, could be interesting!)

The other 3 embryos remain in culture in the lab, being grown for another couple of days to see if they make it to day 5. On Tuesday we will get an update call letting us know how the remaining 3 got on and if they are suitable for freezing.

So now we are back in that all too familiar place of waiting. Once we get the results, I will update you all once we are ready to share the outcome.

Here are our 2 little embabies

Xx Alana, Flex Thunderstache, Frankie and Ed

Embryo update

This morning I got the call from our embryologist. Out of the 13 eggs collected, 7 were mature and 5 have fertilised normally.

Good news!

The next decision to make is do we do a day 3 transfer or a day 5 transfer. 

For the first 2 rounds we opted for day 5 and then had nothing to transfer.

The third round we did a day 3 transfer and I did fall pregnant for a few weeks.

As soon as we have a transfer, that is the end of our public funding so I was leaning towards a day 5 transfer, however, our Dr explained that if we have a good quality embryo on day 3 but wait to day 5, and it doesn't make it to day 5, it would be unlikely that we would get any more public funding anyway.

So the decision that I thought would be difficult was actually quite easy. We will do a day 3 transfer (Saturday) If we have 2 good embryos, we will transfer them both like last time. 

They embryologist explained that they would only transfer 2 embryos if we had 2 good quality ones. They wont transfer a good quality one with a poor quality one, as if one embryo/fetus dies, it is quite possible it will take the healthy one with it.

So we only have 1 more day to wait, then we have a transfer, then the 2 week wait begins and then we will know if we will be a family with human babies or a family with just 2 gorgeous dogs.

Xxx Alana, Flex, Frank the Tank and Eddie.

Egg Collection Day

Instead of writing, I decided that I would document today through photos

Tomorrow we will get a call to tell us how many of those eggs were mature and how many have fertilised.

Xxx Alana, Flex, Frankie and Eddie

It's trigger time

It seems my little follicles are slow growing this time around. They normally grow 2mm a day but my scan yesterday showed that it's been a lot less than that.

This is how they measured yesterday

Right 11, 13, 16, 17, 19

Left 13, 13, 14, 16, 18 & 6 measuring less than 12

For comparison, this is what they were on Friday

Right 11, 11, 15, 16 plus 2 little ones

Left 10, 11, 12, 12, 14, 14, 16 and 4 little ones

I've just had the call to say my trigger injection will be tonight and egg collection  on Wednesday.

All I can day is thank goodness. My body is sore. The injections hurt. So ready for this! Even Flex Thunderstache commented yesterday that he was 'over it'. At least we are both on the same page with how we feel about ivf!

I will update again on Wednesday and let you know how many eggs we were able to retrieve.

Xx Alana, Flex, Frankie and Ed.

1st Scan

"Well you have a uterus. Well done. That's one tick."

Those were the first words to come out of my doctors mouth this morning. So far so good then.

I have 11 follicles growing that were big enough to measure and 6 smaller ones that might catch up.
Again my left side has been busier. I have 7 follicles measuring 16mm, 14mm, 12mm, 11mm, 14mm, 10mm, 12mm and on my right side I have 4: 15mm, 11mm, 16mm, 11mm

11 is a good number, but I was never concerned about this, I have always responded well to the drugs.

Quality, not quantity has always been our problem.

I am booked in for another blood test and scan on Sunday and egg collection is expected to be Tuesday.

Finally. We are nearly there.

Infertility is shit

The title says it all.

Through this journey I have met some beautiful people. Kind, thoughtful, caring women who will be the most amazing mothers. We have supported each other, laughed and cried together. 

It's just not fair. 

Watching these friends deal with heartache and pain from failed treatments. From chemical pregnancies, miscarriages, repeated miscarriages and little angels born sleeping. 

Tired and weary, I have watched these women continue to approach each round with hope. Surely this time will be our time. And the more you hope, the more vaunerable you are and the further you fall. Yet they pick themselves up and keep going. Willing to do anything and everything to get to the day they can hold their baby in their arms.

And even then, when you do get pregnant, its so hard to relax, over annalysing every twinge and pang. Consulting Dr google on everything looking for reasurance that the pain you just felt is normal. That the spotting doesnt mean its ending. It's so hard to celebrate and enjoy it because there has already been so much loss.

To my fertility ftiends. You are so fucking strong and courageous. I am here for you as you have been for me. We will beat this!

First injection

On Thursday I started the injections.

And I was actually looking forward to it.

Long cycles are just that. Long. Starting the injections marks another milestone in the journey. One more step closer.

The last couple of years feels like it has been a series of treatments, linked together with periods of waiting. But now the time is near. With or without a baby, this journey will soon come to an end.

So from now until about mid mid November I will be doing daily injections. There will be blood tests and scans, more blood tests and injections. Then egg collection and the 2 week wait.

And then we will know how this story ends.

I will update again when more interesting things are happening.
Xx Alana, Flex, Frankie and Eddie