ET 2 or 1 eggs,

[shelld]

Hi all

Had EC on Friday and got 9 eggs, 6 mature of which 4 have fertilised, so have 4 little embies hopefully which are doing their stuff as I type..
I am having ICSI, not sure how many to put back and wondered if anyone has any views on this...I'm 40 and DH 41 which is a big factor, DH not keen on putting 2 back.

Had EC on Friday and ET due on Monday..I've read Zita West book and she recommends bed rest for first 3 days, has anyone been able to do this??

Thanks
Shell d
x

[bina]

Hi Shell,
Gosh - it's all happening for you! Wishing you the best of luck, whatever you decide!!!
With regards to the number of embies, this is so personal, it's hard to advise. The only thing I can say is that I'd always like to increase my chances, so 2 would make it more likely for one to implant. And if you take into account that out of all the 2-emby transfers the majority of pregnancies still result in singleton births it's still more likely that only one emby will stick. Then again there's no guarantees, is there?
As far as bed rest is concerned I can only look at my one and only experience (got +ve 2 weeks ago); I had no idea what to do, but my clinic said to "take it easy"; the consultant went as far as saying staying in bed would be a bad idea! So I cut out any exercise, went for gentle walks with DH, kept working hours to minimum (ie 8 hrs, no overtime) and generally forced myself not to move too quickly, hastily or get stressed. I also think if you stay in bed for 3 days you go mental because all you can do if watch out for any potential symptoms and worry about the outcome in 2 weeks' time.
Sorry, not sure how helpful this is, just thought I let you know what worked for me. At the end of the day it's important that you feel comfortable with what you're doing without major worry (yeh, like that's easy to achieve).
I'm now consumed by worry about how it could still all go wrong, but that's another matter.
Wishing all the best for your ET on Monday! Hope it'll all go well and that the 2WW will go past in a flash!!!!
All the best and GOOD LUCK.
bina

[Dagny]

Hi Shell

I agree with Bina as regards to putting 2 embies back in. It does maximise your chances but there are no gurantees that you won't end up with twins or that either of them will take. It's a decision that only you and your DH can make on the day and it will be the right one for you whatever you do. I think it also depends on whether the other embies are going to be frozen.

If I were you I'd go for 2. I asked my consultant if we could have 3 back next time and he looked at me with astonishment. I am a glutton for punishment

I think staying in bed for 3 days is a bit obsessive. Blood needs to be circulating round your body and staying cooped up in bed isn't the best thing to do. Nice short walks in the fresh air and doing normal things is better. Keeps your mind off it too.

Best of luck for ET on Monday. I'll be thinking of you.

Love Dagny xkx

[Lotti]

Hi Shell

I am sooooooo excited for you both!!! I agree with Bina I would DEFINATELY go for 2 embies to be put back (when I had my 1st ICSI in October 2003, my consultant recommended putting 2 back, and freezing my other 5), like Bina says, out of 2, usually only 1 implants anyway, why does dh only want 1 to be put back? I guess it is nerves about how to cope with twins is it?

I also think 3 days in bed is crazy talk! I was advised just to take it easy. I took the week off work and generally just slobbed around eating and watching TV! I intend to do the same this time around as well. If those embies are going to stick, they will do so no matter what we do.

Good luck Shell,and don't forget to post tomorrow and tell us you went for 2!!!!

[caz1]

Shell - Hi babe!
So excited for you
Firstly -I would put 2 back in

secondly - I think you really have to "listen to yourself" after et and do what feels right. FYI - I did exactly what bina did. MAin difference with last time (when I got a negative) was that THIS time I did no exercise and generally took it alot easier. Never went to bed for 3 days though. Just sat about not doing alot for a couple of days (infact wwent to a christening party on the day after et). just take it easy I think?
SOOOO much luck!
Cazx

[zeena12]

Hi Shell

I totally agree with the others, putting two back would give you the best chances, but you have to be comfortable with that decision. The possible outcomes are a singleton birth, twins, or nothing. If you look at the statistics of putting two back and getting twins, it's far less likely (though possible!) than putting one back and getting a success. That's how I would look at it. I hope this makes sense. But you've got to see what you're happy with.

I'm on the 2ww right now and I've been trying to be as normal as possible (I've been going to work as usualy) - except no excersise at all, and I'm making sure I get 8 hours sleep every night. And lots of reading (I love reading) . And no coffee too (I've been having only tea). I also stopped my acupuncture for now, I'm not sure if I'll continue when I get past thiese two weeks. Also, we've not told anyone, so there is very chance to talk about it (and dwell on the outcome) which is good.

Good luck, let us know what you decide!
Zeena

[Jules R]

Hi Shell

How many embryos to have put back is a very personal thing but I believe that you do have a slightly better chance of getting a positive if you have 2 put back. I was one of those people who had two put back and they both took. For us it was a dream come true and we've found having twins a complete joy. But if you're not sure about how you would feel about twins then you seriously need to think about having 2 put back.

As for the 2WW, I carried on completely as normal, going back into work straight after ET. I think that if I'd been at home, I'd have gone nuts whereas as a teacher of 5 year olds, I didn't have time to worry about it. I'm sure that my clinic said that complete bed rest wouldn't be a good idea and wasn't necessary.

Good luck with ET tomorrow.

Jules

[alisonn]

hihi shell, i have to agree with the girls i would put 2 back, im going
to be honest here and say what the consultant told me, that when you
reach 38 the odds start to reduce dramatically, so you realy want
to give yourself the best chance. I was 42 when i started treatment
and i was allowed to have 3 put back due to age, i looked at it this
way chances of triplets was very very low and same for twins at my
age, and also the embies that were left unfortunately were unsuitable
for freezing.
good luck trmw let us know how u get on alisonn

[Traci]

Wishing you good luck for tomorrow and I hope the decition isnt too difficult for you both .

Trace x

[shelld]

Hi everyone

Thanks for all your advice and encouragment. I thought the stay in bed for three days from the book was a bit over the top!!!!

Well 2 embies went in but the clinic were not very positive about their chances. They were the only 2 vaguely viable so decided to go with two and keep fingers crossed. Had 9 eggs to start 6 mature enough to be injected (having icsi) 4 fertilised of those 1 did nothing and by today there was one of 3 cells and 2 of 4 cells and fragmented. Embryologist didnt seem very optimistic but I decided to go for it so the two 4 cells went in..
Feeling a bit anxious and heavy hearted but have just read Traci's poem Dont Quit and I've got nothing to lose so lots of positive thoughts are going to those little embies...

Thanks all of u

Love
Shelld
xx

[Traci]

Shell D
Youve made it well done , now take it easy girl and add your test date to the list
Trace x

[Tracey S]

Shell

You def made the right decision and good luck. I am pg with twins and decided that if we ever go again then just have one put in just incase......... but always a fine balance!

As for fragmentation - well my very special friend Nikola who has just got home with her IVF twins told him to shove any two in out of her 3 as they were all C**P ( her words more or less) and he refused to put 3 in - she told him just shove them back. She thought no way would those fragmented ones take and I have seen the pictures of them - bits all over the place (sorry Nik) her first ones were perfect and didn't work. She now has twins!

Good luck
love
Tracey
xxx

[bina]

Hi Shell,
Well done! Great decision! BEST OF LUCK! Just take it easy, have lots of facials and massages (I treated myself to lots of those - best excuse really)!
I had one 4-cell and one 5-cell put back and got a +ve, so please don't worry about it! It's not the number of cells that matter, but the overall quality (which they don't test for in this country, so we don't know anyway)! Your 4-cells have every chance of sticking!
I don't know whether I'll have twins or not (only got 1st scan tomorrow), but it might well have been the 4-celler that did it!
Hope this puts your mind at rest a bit.
Enjoy the sunshine - inside and out!
Best of luck! May the 2 weeks go as fast as ever!
Love,
bina

[Dagny]

Hi Shell

I was going to tell you the same story that Tracey S told about Nikola's crappy embies but I don't need to as she has done it already. The fact Nik has got beautiful twin girls is proof of the pudding that if it's gonna work it will whatever the embryologist puts back.

You have done the right thing having 2 put back.

Keep up the fluids and take care

Love Dagny xkx