Starting Stims

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Today is the day! My Covid test came back negative, my baseline ultrasound looked good, and we are starting stims! 

First ultrasound of my IVF cycle.

I'll continue to go in for ultrasounds every two days to check on follicle growth and the doctors will adjust the medication doses as needed. Brandon gave me the first shot of Gonal-F this evening to stimulate the follicles into growing. I'll continue to have a shot of Gonal-F every night for the next 12ish days until the follicles are mature. About halfway through the cycle I will add two more (Ganirelix and Menopur) to my daily shots, which will prevent the follicles from ovulating too soon. 

Gonal-F Shot - Stims Day 1

I told a friend yesterday that I was starting IVF and she said "That's exciting!" And yes, while it is exciting that we are moving forward with a plan to *hopefully* get pregnant and have a healthy baby, I still wish my body would have just done its job and given us our healthy baby last year. Or, that we would have been able to get pregnant again without medical intervention. Here's to hoping this is our time.

I end today with this quote, as it feels appropriate. While we've already been on this fertility journey for four years, today feels like a new beginning. A new chance for our future and it all begins with one step, or in this case, one shot.


All the love,
Em


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