Update: FET for Dummies =)

[Supergenius]

So, I thought I was going to just work from home today...you know, take it easy. Yeah, I fell asleep after like an hour or so and just woke up. The heating pad on my lower abdomen is so nice though, you know? Still a bit sore, but getting better.
Got my fertility report this morning: out of the 18 eggs retrieved, 17 were mature. Out of those 17 mature, 14 fertilized.
So far so good.
If my past track record continues, 1/3 of them will be gone by Day 3 and another 1/3 by blast...which is okay because it will leave us with 6 at transfer time. Since we transferred 3 blasts last time, I figure we will do the same again this time. The first time we did IVF, we only transferred two (I was terrified of multiples). I got pregnant, but it didn't last. I think that was more because I was a little overstimulated and the embie quality was not super.

So, Franny, I think you guys are making the right call with 2-3 embies (depending on thaw success). I am very excited for you!!! Let's go #21! If my embies make it to blast by Day 5, we might be tranferring together! Well, at least with in a day of each other. So you are not doing this alone! Okay, my embies have never made it to blast by Day 5 but still...they might... Oh and congrats on your PERFECT LINING. Woot! Those embies have a nice, perfect place to land and implant on Tuesday. People say blasts are better since you already know they can make it that stage of development. Before the blast stage, you have 16 similar cells called the morula. At blast stage, there are 70-100 cells (thanks Wikipedia) and they now have specific functions (one mass of cells will become the embryo, another the placenta). I think it's a matter of not knowing which embies will make this transition, so that is why blasts might be preferred.

Claudia - I mostly gave up caffiene cold turkey...maybe over a couple days. I had the worst headache the first day. It makes it a bit easier come ER time because you cannot have anything in your system that morning. I still had a headache for my ER, but that was from dehydration. Nice to hear you had a great V-day dinner and then bonus time to yourself! How did Mady like the animal expo? James LOVES animals.
Congrats on your OB appointment! Welcome to the other side...again! March 6th will be here before you know it.

Katie - I can't believe a pack of BCPs is $57 either?! That is crazy! I'm glad you could get your 1 pill for free. Sheesh. But on a happy note, WOOHOO for getting your schedule set! Hopefully that is getting you very excited because you will be PUPO once you return! It's nice they let you pick a back-up batch...a little piece of mind...but I can totally understand getting attached to a profile you love. I am curious what was in the essay that made you attached...
I'm sure Chris and Ryan will do great by themselves - don't worry about anything but making a nice home for those lovely embies. I have a friend with a two year old (and a 8 month old) - the 2 yo is a little energizer bunny too. So she "lets" him run laps around the house for an hour or more to get himself tired out. Apparently, this is still entertaining for him so it works.

Ronda - thanks! glad to hear your training sessions are going well. keep up the good work, girl!

Chris - wow, what a decision! are you transferring just one?

AFM, I think I had/have a mild form of OHSS. I have some of the symptoms but nothing serious. Keeping a weight diary to make sure I don't gain too much fluid. On ER day (yesterday), I was feeling really dehydrated. I think I heard my veins making slurping sounds with the IV fluid. I left work early on Tuesday because I was feeling super run-down. Wednesday was more of the same. I am glad I have a three day weekend this weekend to chill and recover a bit. By the time I recover, I'll be ready for some morning sickness.

xoxo, Libby

[Supergenius]

Oh and what does FRER stand for? I didn't see it in the acronym list in the General Forum sticky.

[katie99]

Quick drive by post because I am wiped out! Running errands with a toddler who wants to walk, run, touch everything in every store and of course pull everything off shelves is exhausting. And as soon as you put him down, he's ready to take off- I wonder how long this stage lasts? I cant take my eyes off of him not even for a second - he's that fast.

Franny - Yippee for a perfect lining!! Somehow I knew it would be.. Wow, so you have blasts!! They're considered 'better" because only 40% of embies will make it to a blast stage, so they're already ahead of the game. A lot depends on your lab and their thaw rate, they shouldnt mind if you ask them what their thaw rates are. The clinic I'm cycling at claims a 90% thaw rate, but freezes on day3 so for me anything that survives is getting transfered. I think you & Barry's plan of how many to transfer is perfect! Dont those kind of phone calls always happen when you're at work, or somewhere its difficult to talk? Murph'ys law, I tell you now you're all set and ready to go on Tues!! I'm so excited for you!!

Libby - I've got my fingers crossed that those little embies keep on growing and you end up with more than you were expecting. Rest up over the weekend and get ready for the 2ww. Are you planning any bed rest after the ET? I know, what a question with a toddler running around, right? But we need to at least make an attempt, right? Umm, I hope this doesnt sound shallow, but the female donor is so similar to me physically from hair, eye color, height, even down to also being left handed thats what first pulled me in, then when I read her thoughts on wanting to help another couple to the point that she'd rather donate anonymously than have them frozen indefinitely and possibly not have a chance at life - well there wasnt any need to keep looking - I was thrilled to have found them. Her hubby matches mine within 2" of height, but he matches me being Scottish - and he's a dentist so you know they'll be some smarts too, lol. And the weird part was that as soon as my coordinator said I'll sent you a detailed profile, I had this thought that she was a schoolteacher - and she is. Maybe a bit odd, but it feels right. I just hope that it works, because this batch is (3) 3day embies and our backup batch is (6) 3 day embies and I've talked this to death with my hubby and we both feel very drawn to this batch even though its small and probably a long shot.
Oh, and FRER is First Response Early Results HPT (home pregnancy test) these are supposed to be the most sensitve type.

Ronda - Aww, honey you know I love when you stalk I cant seem to stay away from this place either, I've met too many wonderful women who who mean alot to me. Even when I dont post for a bit, I still read along because there always seems to be someone that I just have to cheer on, even if its silently. You've been doing such a great job with taking excercise seriously and working with a trainer - Good job Ronda!!! I admire your drive and bet you're in the best shape of your life. How are your girls and the horses doing? Keeping you on your toes, I bet, lol. Wait, now you're likely in such good shape that you cant be worn out by energetic kids running nonstop. Bravo mama for pushing yourself this hard!! Much love to you my friend - xoxo

[Supergenius]

So today's report says we are a go for transfer tomorrow.
There are a couple already at blast stage and a few morula...always a chance it will be cancelled, but I'm thinking this is it. So hopefully by tomorrow I will be PUPO with Franny!!!

Katie, no I don't think that's shallow. Its nice you found such a great match in a donor! Its great you get to find out so much info on the parents. Not sure how much bed rest I'll get, but just try to take it easy and not carry James so much. He can walk and climb stairs fine (stairs with Mom spotting). DH threw his back out, so we are both taking it easy. Thank goodness for the ladies at daycare!
Does Ryan not like being in the shopping cart? I find it very handy to keep James out of trouble at the store. He got to ride in the cart with the little car attached to the front and loved it.

Franny, hope you are having a spa day today. I am very excited for you girl!

Claudia, hope you are feeling well these days.

xoxo, Libby

[turtle0619]

Libby Yay Yay Yay!!! I'm so excited that we get to be PUPO together! How many are you going to transfer? There is no way it will be canceled! So what day transfer is it going to be for you? Day 6? Are you taking PIO? What time is your transfer scheduled for?
No Spa day for me today haha I have to work...actually I've been working like a crazy person all weekend. Presidents weekend is also the start of winter break for the schools up here so my hotel has been sold out with crazy rug rats running around while their parents sit at the bar and drink! FUN!
I am going to acupuncture right after my transfer tomorrow though. It's so cool that they have a healing arts center attached to the clinic. I set up my appointment with my nurse on Friday, and she said that they will come and get me right after my transfer for my acupuncture! So cool! After this weekend I'm actually just excited to have some peace and quiet!
DH took tomorrow off too so he can take care of me! I'm going to take major advantage of that!! haha
Let me know how everything goes tomorrow! I hope dh's back feels better too.

afm Tomorrow is the big day. I'm actually kinda glad I have been working so much these past few days because it made the time go faster. If I was just sitting around waiting for Tuesday I would've gone crazy.
So here's a question...I'm taking PIO shots, and they hurt really really bad this time. First of all the oil seems a lot thicker in the vial, and it is soooo hard to draw up. And then there is the needle...I swear the thing is as thick as a nail. Even DH said it seemed really thick, and he has trouble getting it to go in. It's leaving big welts and bruises all over me. I'm going to take one of the needles in to the RE tomorrow, and see if there is a smaller size I can be using because this is crazy! Right now I am using a 18G 1 1/2 needle. Does that seem right to everyone? I can't remember what I used to use, and when we moved to NY I got rid of all of my IVF supplies.

OK...off to work..I'm thinking of you all!! Wish me luck tomorrow!!
xoxoxo

[katie99]

Franny - Ack!! No honey, you use the 18gauge needle to draw up the PIO, then unscrew the needle off and swith to a 22g or a 25 gauge needle. You dont use the same needle to draw up and inject because you dull it a bit just by piercing the seal and it'll hurt more that way. Oh, honey to use the 18g to inject is like harpooning yourself Theres no way around getting some lumps in the muscle but you can minimize it, make sure it goes completely straight in even a little tilted causes more lumps. Have Barry massage the muscle firmly for at least 10 mins and then go sit on a heating pad for 15-20 mins. As for the PIO being hard to draw up, inject as much air into the vial as you plan to remove so you wont get that vaccuum effect. Wheeeeee, for tomorrow!!! I'm so excited for your little embies tomorrow - you'll be PUPO!!! I'm so far behind you both, I'll start my estrace injections on Friday after baseline. Oh, of course that is is I ever get my darn meds..

Libby - Whoo hoo for blasts and a transfer tomorrow!! It wont be cancelled mama, dont even think that way, ok? You had a nice little batch there and they've been doing great so theres no reason to let that thought even cross your mind. PMA PMA PMA - because its going to work!! I just hope that you dont overdo it since DH hurt his back- thats bad timing, just try to not lift James too much, ok? Notice that I say this now, but after my FET I'll lift Ryan too much as well. What can we do? These toddler tornados are busy little boys, arent they? You make me envious of day care, I've been wondering if Ryan is getting social time with other toddlers, he goes to music class & Gymobree, but its only 45 min per class and 1 class per week. What a shame that there are no young kids around here. Umm, shopping with Ryan is an adventure to say the least, I get him to sit in the cart for as long as he'll tolerate it, but he sure does love walking around in public. It wouldnt be so bad if I had 3 hrs to shop, lol. I havent tried him in the kind with the little car attached yet, I never see them "parked" just when someone else is using it already. Ryan hasnt tried stairs yet, we dont have any ( ranch style house) and the back porch ones are steep, so we've never tried those yet. he odes like to walk backwards though, he started this a few weeks ago and has it perfected. I dont get it, but he likes to walk through the whole house like this. Oh well, whatever makes him happy, right?

[claud662]

AHHH Franny....but butt hurts just listening to your horror story!! Katie is right...you need to switch the needles to the smaller gauge!!! I also would heat my butt beforehand with the heating pad and put the oil on it as well so it loosened it up a little bit and was easier to pull up with the needle! Then massage afterwards is a must or else I would have lumps and bruises. I can't wait to hear how tomorrow goes and try to RELAX tonight and get a good night's sleep!!!! Your going to be PUPO in less than 24 hours!!!

Libby-your fert report sounds great and those blasts are going to do great!!!! I can't wait to hear your update tomorrow and that stinks about your DH's back!!! Can you get a family member to help out tomorrow and Wednesday with lifting??

Katie-Your baseline will be here in no time!!! Are there any mommy groups around you in the area that you can bring Ryan so he (and you) can be around other toddlers and mommies? There are tons of websites that offer support and groups in your area...just google it and see! Even if you have to drive a little ways it's worth it to talk with other mom's about issues the kids are going through and Ryan will get tuckered out from all the playing and socializing!!! I try and get Mady around other kids at least once a day so she can learn from them and tire her out!!!

AFM...just trucking along with this rapidly growing belly....it's getting very hard to hide and I'm almost in maternity clothes already. I can't wait for week 13 to come so that we can just be open about it with our loved ones!! No new updates with me but I will be stalking the boards tomorrow for my gals!!

[Supergenius]

I guess I should have re-read my post. Tomorrow is Day 5 and by "cancelled" I really just meant delayed to Day 6.

Franny: ouch, ouch, and OUCH. Just thinking about how big that needle is gives me the willies. The 22 gauge is what I used for the trigger shot - I really cannot imagine days on end with an even bigger needle. I hope you are able to get the right size needle ASAP. I am now even more thankful I don't have to take PIO. Just the nasty vagi-pops three times a day...still, I would rather do that than more shots.
Scheduled transfer time is 9 am, but I need to be there with a full bladder by 8 am. We are planning on transferring 3, like last time.
Woohoo for getting acupuncture right after the transfer - so perfect! Best of luck for you tomorrow, PUPO-buddy! You'll do great!

Katie - hurrah for starting estrace on Friday!!! What's holding up your meds? Do you order them online?
Yes, PMA! PMA! PMA!
DH went to the chiropractor today - felt better afterwards. So I am hoping he'll feel improved enough tomorrow that it won't matter. I am getting good at going down to toddler level for hugs when they are needed, so I minimize the pick-ups. Or picking up to sit both of us in a chair.
It's nice that Ryan likes to walk - now he needs to listen to his Mamma when she says to come over here. They *do* have selective hearing, don't they? And now he's walking backwards? How clever! Good for him! Sounds like he's cultivating a great imagination. There is something to be said for being able to entertain yourself. Oh and I hear you on the carts with the little cars. This was the first time I saw one available in quite some time.
There are many days where I wish I was home with James, but it was just not an option for us. I always feel like my time with him is limited, since it's like 1-1.5 hours in the morning and the same at night (during the week). People ask why my husband and I don't go out more often and get a babysitter. Mom guilt, that is why. The weekends are our fun time.

Claudia - woohoo for baby belly! Are you posting pics yet or not til after the 13 weeks?
Thanks for the encouragement. I wish we had family in the area, but everyone is at least 5 hours or more away. Also, we have not told most of the family we are doing IVF again. Shhhhh. Hopefully DH's back is better tomorrow and the lifting will be minimal.

[turtle0619]

OMG I am such a dummy! I can't believe I've been using the wrong needle all this time! What the heck is wrong with me? haha I must have FET brain! Barry was like...uhhhh I TOLD you something was wrong, and you kept giving me back the same needle so I just kept shoving it in! Oh boy am I paying for it now!! My poor backside is sooooo sore!

So I am off in a few minutes for my ET! I'm soooo nervous. I keep taking deep breaths but my heart is racing!!

Libby Good luck today!!! xoxoxo

[to_have_fun08]

Good Luck Franny... I see twins in your future.. I was a psychic in another life.. LOL!!!

[Supergenius]

Franny - I hope you are PUPO and resting from your acupuncture session! Thinking of you.

AFM, I am officially PUPO! They transferred 3 embies (1 good quality, 2 fair), so now I have nothing to do but analyze every "symptom" until March 2nd. I may POAS the night before the beta, but not before.

[turtle0619]

Libby Wooohooo for being PUPO!! Don't worry I'll be right there with you analyzing everything too! It will be a fun little game we can play together!!

Chris TWINS?? I don't know if I can handle that...Let's see how your physic ability is! haha

AFM All 3 embies ended up surviving from the first straw so we transferred all 3! The RE said that they looked as good as any other frozen blast ever looks and to that is all we could ask for. So I'm not really sure what that means, but I also don't really care because all of my other cycles were called "perfect embies" and a lot of good that did me. I think I like the funny looking ones!! Plus I stil have 6 other blasts waiting for me!!
They gave me Valium, and then I went to acupuncture and then came home and passed out. It's been a very nice peaceful day. DH redboxed the help for me, and I'm going to go watch it now!!

Thank you everyone for your love and support! I don't know what I'd do without you girls!!

[Supergenius]

Great news Franny!!!! So happy and excited for you! Hope you enjoy the movie...I haven't seen it yet, but I really liked the book.

[katie99]

I love to read here on a day when everything goes as planned and we're all happy

Libby - Glad to hear that you had a nice easy transfer and 3 blasts to snuggle in. Rest up mama and let DH care for James, ok? So is it the 2nd yet? lol. Hurry up March 2!

Franny - Yippee for picking the right straw!! Its a good sign that all 3 survived and from what I know they all look a bit funny after their big thaw. Rest up mama and let us know how The Help was. I'm with Libby, I havent seen the movie yet, but I loved the book and was sorry to see it end, actually looked up if the author had written anythign else, but nope that was her first book. When is your beta honey? In other words what day am I hoping for it to be yet, lol.

I feel so far behind you both, but my meds will be here on Thursday and what do you know? They changed my Rx plan and not only was Crinone covered, but they ordered all I'll need for 10 weeks ( assuming that this works) I was so surprised since all 9 other attempts have been completely out of pocket - so yay for something finally being covered! I hope they didnt just jinx my cycle, but I told them it was ok to send it all now because I was afraid that the ins company may change their mind Yippee to my two PUPO girls!! much love - xoxo

[claud662]

What a good day for all my ladies!!!! Who is going to become the mayor of crazytown????

Xoxo

Ps liked the movie the help but loved the book a lot more!!