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Transfer Results

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It has been over a month since my frozen embryo transfer. A month of praying, waiting, and anxiety, but also some great news. Following my transfer in early March, we had to wait ten days for a blood test to confirm the results of the transfer. The day of my first blood test we had almost 12 inches of snow! School was cancelled, and Brandon and I were literally snowed in! We waited until the afternoon to try and dig ourselves out and climbed in the car to head to the lab for the blood draw. Once we finally reached the lab they were closed for the day! (Despite their website saying they would be open...) So, I called my insurance and asked if ANY labs were open in the Denver area that day. Thankfully there were a few labs open, but we had to drive another 30 minutes, still in crazy snow conditions, to get there. I was not expecting to hear the results that day, as it was already 3pm and with the weather I was told we may not hear anything for a day or two. BUT, at 4:30 I got a call from...
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Transfer Time!

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Prepping for Transfer in my "Lucky" T-shirt! Last week we transferred one of our beautiful embryos back home! I went into the hospital wearing my lucky t-shirt sent from an IVF warrior I met through Instagram. Her first and only transfer was successful, so I'm hopeful that the t-shirt is lucky for me too!  Dressed and Ready for Transfer! Since the procedure takes place in the surgery area of the hospital I still had to dress in a hospital gown and hair net. The procedure requires a full bladder in order to see the uterus properly via ultrasound, so that was the most uncomfortable part. The embryologist mentioned that the embryo did great through the thaw and was starting to hatch. The doctor mentioned that I have a "beautiful uterus," that my lining looked great, and the placement of the embryo looked wonderful.  Our Lovely Little Embryo! Despite all the great news during the transfer, there is still no guarantee that it will implant and continue to develop. As ...
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Almost Time for Transfer!

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Baseline Ultrasound for Transfer Cycle My transfer date is coming up soon! I have spent the past several weeks prepping with some new medications. This includes estrogen patches on my stomach and then adding in a progesterone shot. These hormones essentially trick my body into thinking it's already pregnant, before the embryo is transferred. Since the embryo has already developed for five days, my body needs to *think* it's already pregnant, before transfer, in order to accept the embryo and continue its development.  The progesterone in oil (PIO) shot is intermuscular which means it needs to be administered in the upper butt area. So, every morning at 6am I get to wake up to a shot in the butt. It's not really as bad as it sounds and I have to tell myself it's all to help this little embaby grow and develop. If the transfer works I'll be continuing these shots every day until I am around 10 weeks pregnant. The PIO needle is 1.5 inches long Brandon has become very g...
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A Time of Waiting

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Here we go again...on birth control pills! Sorry I've been quiet on here lately, but I honestly have not had much to update. I've literally just been waiting around for my transfer protocol/calendar to start. Once my period started I went back on birth control for three weeks to prepare for the frozen transfer. Just as the cycle before my IVF stims, the birth control essentially calms the ovaries so they respond better to medication.  The next step is to start estrogen patches to prepare my uterine lining for the transfer. I am probably not going to share the exact transfer date, but it's tentatively scheduled for the first week of March. I'll post more as the transfer protocol continues.  All thoughts and prayers are appreciated as we take this next step. It's still not a guarantee that the embryo will successfully implant, or that a potentially implanted embryo continues into a live, healthy birth, but at least it's a move in the right direction.  Em
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PGS Testing Results

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Results are in for our Pre-Genetic Screening Test! We got a call from the doctor to let us know that FOUR of our five embryos tested genetically normal! I am so relieved. That means we have FOUR chances for a baby! While there is still no guarantee, statistically we have around a 60% chance of successful implantation with a genetically normal embryo. Our next plan is to schedule out a transfer cycle with the onset of my next period, sometime in mid-late January.  Wishing everyone a safe and healthy holiday season! Here's a video we made in lieu of Christmas cards this year to send friends and family a little Christmas cheer! A peaceful hike in the mountains to celebrate our perfect little embryos! Love always, Em
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The Five Embryos That Could!

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It's now a week past my egg retrieval and FIVE embryos made it to the blastocyst stage! They have been biopsied and frozen. This means the embryologist has carefully removed a tiny amount of cells from each embryo. These removed cells are sent to a lab for testing to see which ones are genetically "normal." This is an optional step that can be done via IVF, and one that my doctor recommended due to our recurrent losses. Most early miscarriages are caused by a genetic defect, therefore the goal is to keep only the embryo(s) that are genetically normal, because they have the highest chance of continuing on to a successful pregnancy.  We have five little blastocysts frozen and ready! Not much will happen now in the upcoming month as we wait for results. My doctor wants me to wait a full menstrual cycle before transferring an embryo back inside me. This means, if all goes well, the earliest we could have a transfer would be late January/early February.  I have had some questi...
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Egg Retrieval

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 A few days ago I went in for my egg retrieval surgery. It was a bit surreal as the outpatient surgery wing for the egg retrieval was the same place I had my D&E in 2019 when we lost Arin. Being in the same place but for a very different reason was a lot for my emotions to handle, but we made it through. And we have some good news to share! Read on for more... Exactly 36 hours prior to retrieval, I had to take what's called a "trigger shot." This gives the follicles one final boost of energy to grow those last few mms and tells the ovaries it's time to prepare for ovulation - or the release of the mature eggs. Trigger shots done! The next morning I had a final blood draw to make sure the trigger shots did their job and my hormones were at the correct levels. It's a little weird because the hormone they check for is HCG - otherwise known as the "pregnancy hormone." So, to anyone who does not know I am going through fertility treatments, the test resul...
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