Transfer Results

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 my clinic - "Congratulations you are pregnant!! Your HCG levels look great at 292, and we want you to come back in two days for another blood draw." Cue the waterworks, I can't believe it actually worked! Those ten days were so difficult, and I was seriously spiraling the last few days. So many emotions, both scared that it did not work, and also scared if it did. Two days later my second blood test also confirmed pregnancy, and my HCG number doubled to 608. 

Brandon and I waiting for our first ultrasound

Even though my HCG levels were looking great, I was still a nervous wreck for the next two week wait until we were able to have our first ultrasound. It is still common for IVF pregnancies to end in early miscarriage, and the only way to confirm is at a first ultrasound, usually around 6 weeks. The soonest my clinic could schedule me for an ultrasound was at 7 weeks, 2 days. Thankfully, Brandon was allowed with me at this ultrasound, so we got to see the "little bean" and a strong heartbeat. 

7 weeks - baby is just a little blob at this point!

They did see something slightly concerning, a small area of blood near the gestational sac - technically called a Subchorionic Hematoma or SCH. This is a very common phenomena with IVF pregnancies (no one really knows why...) and can be cause for concern. My doctor was very positive saying that my SCH was very small and will most likely absorb on its own. But, they wanted me to come back again in a week for another ultrasound to check on it. So, I scheduled a second ultrasound with my clinic at 8 weeks, 3 days. 

8 week ultrasound, hopefully my last "date" with Wanda at the fertility clinic!

The eight week ultrasound was very positive! "Little bean" had grown so much in just a week and now you could see a head and body. And the best part - my SCH was totally gone. She could not find any evidence of bleeding anywhere in the uterus! The doctor who did my egg retrieval and the transfer was the same one who was able to do this final ultrasound and she was so happy for me! I am officially graduated from the fertility clinic and will start with an OB next week. Due to my history of fetal loss, and the fact that this is an IVF pregnancy, I will also be seeing a Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor (high-risk doctor), who will provide more ultrasounds, blood work, and testing throughout the pregnancy.

8 week ultrasound - what a difference one week can make!

We are still so early in this pregnancy, and with my past trauma, it's still difficult for me to even acknowledge this is really happening. While I have been incredibly open about my journey through this blog, I have not told very many people in my immediate life about what I'm going through. It's still something I've been private about in my "real" life and I'm not ready to be completely public about this pregnancy. There are still so many unknowns about the future, I'm just focusing on getting through each week and each upcoming appointment. I'll keep updating this blog throughout my pregnancy, so those who do follow me here can stay informed, but I probably won't post much at all on social media. 

Thank you all for following me on this journey, keep praying and keep hoping for this little one. Brandon and I are cautiously optimistic that we get to meet this one earth side in 6ish months!

💓Em