Update: FET for Dummies =)

[turtle0619]

anna Paul is soooo cute!! All of us IVF girls make some pretty amazing babies. How is being a mommy? It much be an wonderful feeling. I can't wait to join all of you in the "in" crowd! It must be pretty incredible since you are already thinking about trying for #2 in July. It means so much to be that you took the time to respond to me, and want to support me!

ronda My dear friend, I think about you often as well. How are your beautiful DD's doing? I bet they are keeping you busy. Please stalk away. I am going to need all of the support I can get. xoxo

claud Clifton park is seriously 15 minutes from me! Please let me know when/if you get up here because we must meet up!! Tomorrow is going to be awesome for you!!! Please let me know how it goes. I'm going to be checking in all day at work just to hear how wonderful it was. You must feel like you are living in a dream state. You are now one of those stories that i never believed. Ya know "oh...I know a friend of a friend of a friend who did IVF, and then got pregnant naturally" You're lucky I love you so damn much!! hahaha
as for my embies...we adopted *9* 3day embies. I want to say they are frozen 3 per cane. They are all very good/ excellent quality, and they came from a young donor, and a male with no fertility issues. I was able to have all of their medical and family background as detailed as if they ever wore braces to what color eyes their great grandparents had. It's amazing!
I think we are going to transfer 3...I have no idea about thawing and the chances of damage or anything like that...do you have any ideas on things like that?? If we do 3 at a time..it will give us 3 chances..or hopefully 1 chance and then 2 chances on getting a biological sibling too!!
I got a call from my pharmacy at work today, but I wasn't able to call them back today. I will have to call tomorrow morning and set up delivery for my baby in a box! There was no lupron on that list..does that mean that it will be natural? From what I remember is I will be on estrace, PIO, crinone (which i've never been on..is that the suppositories?) doxy which is the antibiotic right? and then I think there was something else, but I can't remember. I feel like a newbie with all this FET stuff.

Thank you all for all of the support, and information!!! I don't know what I'd do without it!!

*much love always*

~franny

[Arabsrcool]

Claudia,

I am well, thanks for asking. My girls are awesome and life is crazy busy! Callie is in taekwondo and one belt away from her first degree black belt. She is also doing Upward Cheerleading. My little bug Cara is doing gymnastics and cannot wait to start taekwondo. Both girls are as horse crazy as I am and each have their own ponies. We actually just sold the mini-van that we bought back when we thought we were going to have 3. Its kinda been the final closure for me, as it was a constant reminder of what we lost. I never realized it was bothering dh until he mentioned it and sugguested selling it and I was all over it. Listed it on craigslist and it sold within a week! So I am driving the "big rig" truck we use to haul the horse trailer over the winter and once SPRING is here, I will go back to driving my 40th b-day present (Mustang Convertible). My girls love the top being down! I have been working out for over a year now and actually just started doing the P90X to change it up. I am in the best shape of my life. So that is me in a nutshell!

I cannot believe I actually "know" an IVF girl that got pg the old fashion way. I am soooo happy for you ((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))), that is amazing! You have to keep posting on here so I know what "flavor" you are going to have with this little one. I bet Mady is growing like a weed (a very very very cute weed!) and will make a great big sis.

Franny,

I will be one of your biggest cheerleaders.....but it sounds like you are going to have a whole team of cheerleaders! Your embies sound awesome and its great that you got so much info about them. I cannot wait for you to get stated. Are you doing a medicated or natural FET? FET's are so easy compared to full blown IVF. FET is like a vaca in the IVF world.

Ronda

[turtle0619]

What is the difference between a medicated or natural FET? Should I be asking to do one over the other? I don't know! haha

Seriously this has all happened so fast. Barry and I were talking about "trying again" last weekend. We had a long long talk and decided the time was right. Then I got nervous and put off calling the clinic until last Friday. They had me scheduled in about 10 minutes to go in on Monday for all of my tests and procedures, and said I was good to go...call on day 1!! haha
I never really had time to stop and think of all this stuff...I was just like "ok let's do it" that I forgot to think "how the heck are we doing it??" haha

I called the pharmacy, and I have my baby in a box coming by Saturday!! Wow!!
Ok i'm off to work!!

*much love always*

~Franny

[leorira11]

Franny - "natural FET" is when your clinic monitors your ovulation and transfers the embryos 3/5 days (depending on age of embryos) after you naturally ovulate. No meds at all (maybe some progesterone after ovulation, but mostly not). To your body, it's as if you got pregnant spontaneously. It's a good option for women who ovulate regularly and have good linings in their natural cycles. I don't ovulate at all - so I need medicated FET cycles (I've done 4 FETs). Since I don't ovulate, I never need to be supressed (ie, take Lupron). I just start Estrace on CD1-3 (depending on how weekends fall out) and take it for 2-3 weeks before starting my progesterone (usually a SnS once a week). Sounds like what you are doing!

[leorira11]

Rhonda - I'm touched We've never cycled together and you still stalk me? How sweet! I kinda stalk you too I'm glad to hear your girls are doing so well.

I have lots of cheerleaders on this board - which means so much to me. Thanks to all of you... you make my life so much better.

And next time I'm in the USA - I'm doing a road trip and visiting everyone!

[katie99]

Hi everyone -

Franny - I'm excited for you! Your embies sound great and having 9 must be a relief. Have they said whether they'll do a 3d transfer or grow them out to blasts? I couldnt think of anyone else I would rather go through my last cycle with. It seems fitting somehow doesnt it? All I know is that this has to work and I'm keeping you & Barry in my prayers that the rest of your batch is reserved for a sibling

Ronda - So good to hear from you honey! It sounds like you've had a really positve year and whoo hoo for becoming able to handle P90X!! Thats really impressive! Your girls are something to be admired - and some self defense training is never a bad idea for a female either, right? It takes a really special mama to raise girls with such dedication and drive I think you did an awesome job. Spring is coming and you enjoy your Mustang!! - xoxo

Claudia - Thats so funny! Woodbury Commons is maybe 20 minutes from me. it would be fun for us all to get together, I was disappointed to have missed to last get together. How are you feeling miracle mama? - xoxo

Leorira - You can count me in as another one of your cheerleaders! I've checked in many times just to see how you're doing. You have lots of love and support honey and sooo many of us silently cheering you on! You are one strong woman and I cannot wait to read that your determination made your dreams come true. It just takes some of us longer thats all - you WILL get there! - xoxo

AFM - Still no schedule.. still no AF. As much as I want to get going already I will admit to being terrified that we wont be successful, so its not bothering me too much to be in 'cycling limbo" its safe there, you know?

[gi]

Hey ladies,


Its been like Forever since i have wrote in!! Franny great to see you back!!! I know how much of a difficult road ye have been on but believe me if it works its just sooooo worth it. My little miracle took 7 attempts and i wouldnt change my journy for the world. Best of luck hon cant wait to follow your new journey xxxx

Katie me ould pal, i am so far behind on everyone but i am thrilled to see you are back doing FET. hows motherhood???? Mam still reads from time to time and always mentions you!!

Claude ah girl a miracle baby i am sooooo happy for ye xxxxx

Lou cant believe your little girl is 3 mths old already!!!! You are a great inspiration for never giving up xxx

AFM ah life with Kayla is just great imagine 14 mths already, still hasnt walked yet but all she needs to do is just get the courage to let go. I am only working 3 days a wk so get to spend lots of time with her though she is going thro a clingy stage and only wants "ma ma", sleeps well, naps well, eats well what more could a mother want Was actually talking to jason last night about when we will do a FET but we are going to leave it till 2013 as we havent been on hols in years and going save to go to New York in October!!!! (mam gonna mind kayla and the dogs )
Thanks a mil girls for all your support when i needed it the most, i may not be around much but i think of ye regularly oh and ye know how computer illeterite i am i gave up on the face book thing as i dont have a computer (using works at the moment opps) it just was too hard to keep in contact.

Lots of love

gi xxxx

[gi]

Sorry Leoira i was meant to mention a hi to you too. We have never cycled together but i found the odd time i logged on to the site i was following your heartbreaking journey and when i found out you lost your precious little boys i was so peed off i stopped reading. I just want to say that even though we have never met i often think of you and dh, life is just so tough for ye but ye are so couragous in your battle to have your "rainbow baby"..... though i understand what choice do you have if you dont do ivf then you dont have a chance of getting your miracle. My journey was no way near as tough as yours but i was never going to give up. I am soooo gonnna cross everything i have that you get your little baby xxx

gi xx

[claud662]

Franny...BABY IN A BOX term is back!!!! If you are not doing Lupron than you are doing what is called an "unmedicated" cycle even though you will technically be using some medicines to help with your estrogen levels and then your progesterone levels!! This is great if you have pretty "normal" cycles and ovulate...you will go in for a lining check around day 10 and then based on your bloodwork and lining they will decide how many more times till your natural LH surge and then you start the progesterone. The crinone is MESSY so wear a panty liner so it doesn't get all over!!

Ask your DR like Katie99 said if they are going to grow them out to 5d blasts or transfer them on day 3!! when is your AF expected?!?! I can't wait!!!

Katie-Hey momma! Weird to be writing to you here on the forums again!!! We should definitely make a meet up at woodbury commons with Ryan & Mady!! DH has family that lives in Monroe so we are there often!

GI-HEY HON!!! It's been sooooo long since we caught up! So glad Kayla is doing well and I wish Mady wasn't walking yet!! She has been running around since a little before 11 months and she doesn't stop for a second!! I wish I still had her strapped up 24/7 so she wouldn't get into trouble

Rhonda-your girls sound great and so do you!!! I think of you often and so glad it took Franny starting up again to reconnect us all again!

AFM...we saw the baby's hb on Wednesday at 130 and we go back next wednesday for another u/s!!! This whole getting pregnant naturally is still surreal and it still feels wierd to actually say it out loud. Just crossing my fingers at every stop and hoping for the best!

xoxo
Claudia

[turtle0619]

gi!!! Oh wow! It's so good to hear from you! I can NOT believe your lil Kayla is 14 months old already! Seriously where did the time go? Thank you so much for thinking of me. I can't wait to see how amazing motherhood is. I've been trying to get there for so long. Nothing but PMA this time though!! How is Ireland? Can you post pictures? I would love to see how big Kayla is now. xoxo

Katie How are you? Any signs of AF? I'm expecting mine around the 12th (just in time for valentines day!) What are your plans on getting out west? Did you book a hotel? Ya know I work for Marriott, and if you need anything please let me know..I'd be more then happy to try and get you a discount!!
Again...I have no idea if they are going to grow them out or just do a 3dt. I've only had day 2 transfers so I'm already ahead in this cycle! How will they know if they should grow them out or not? Is it something I can ask them to do? I never had any left over embies to freeze so I never had to think about things like "growing out".
I can't believe we are cycling together again too!! I think it's a great sign!! The universe knows we need each other when we go through this stuff! We are IVF soul sisters! haha xoxoxo

claudia I actually laughed out loud when I typed *baby in a box*, I haven't even thought of that for soooo long..It just came out of my fingers as I typed without even thinking about it. haha
Thanks for explaining the non medicated cycle. My cycles are normal, and I ovulate. My lining is actually the best part of all of my reproductive parts haha. My eggs just suck! That is why I am so hopeful for this cycle.
I'm so happy you got to hear the heartbeat!!! It's awesome that you get to go back again so soon too!! I can't even imagine how surreal it is...how far a long are you now?? Everything is going to be perfect..I have everything crossed for you too!

afm Nothing much is going on...just waiting for my baby in a box to show up tomorrow. Do you guys think I should call my clinic and see if they are going to grow out my embies or just wait and see what happens when it gets closer?
So here is a question I've been thinking about...The only people who know that we adopted embies are my parents and my inlaws. The people who knew that we were doing IVF were my brothers, my SIL, and a few other family members, and a few very close friends. They all know that we tried a million times..they also know we stopped because our insurance ran out, and we couldn't afford the odds of an out of pocket cycle. They also know we moved to a state that does not cover IVF cycles in insurance plans...so we can't say we tried again because of our new insurance..(well I guess I could...they would never know)...anyway if this does work...most people we know will just be like "geee you finally decided to have a baby..what took you so long?", but what do I tell the people who are "in the know"?
It's been so hard keeping our embies from my brothers and sister in law, but we decided when we got them that we were going to keep it private. I know I'm probably jinxing this cycle by thinking of things that don't even matter right now, but I already feel like I want to tell people that we are starting again because I'm so excited, but I can't.
Anyway I hope everyone is having a great day, and a great weekend!! xoxoxo

*much love always*

Franny

[katie99]

Hi everyone -

Yippee! AF finally showed up this morning and if my donor coordinator ever decides to call me back I'll ask when I'll get my schedule. This clinic sure is a lot harder to contact than my old one, I mean I know they're busy but when it takes days and 2-3 calls and emails before I hear back from them it gets really irritating. I have heard from someone who cycled there that once your cycle gets going they're pretty on top of things so I hope thats right. Weird, but as soon as AF showed up I got a stomachache which I think is my body saying "What are you doing?? Why are you trying this madness again"?? lol. I'm just going to try my hardest to put it out of my head that if this doesnt work, thats it. Including all cancelled cycles, BFN cycles and faiiled FETs this will be my 10th attempt at this. Thankfully we had the "miracle baby" on try #7. I knew this IVF business would be hard but I never imagined how much it changes you and the way you think, feel and react to babies and bellys. I'll shut up now before I end up in tears.

Gi - OMG honey I've missed you so much!! I know its hard for you to check in but I'm so happy when you do! Dont you worry, Miss Kayla will take off walking any day now and then you'll see how fast they go from toddling uncertainly to practically running! Whew! Ryan is like a tornado all day long. He's into everything and wanting to climb on everything also. Its scary to see hom trying to stand on the couch arm. I try to not be too overprotective, but this boy is ACTIVE! Thankfully he still takes 2 naps a day or I'd never gety a chance to drop in here, food isnt going as well since he will only touch yogurt, french fries, apples and chicken nuggets, and then wants baby food. Sigh. He'll decide when he wants to try something new but its been a real slow process. Please stop by more often Gi, we love you! Hi to your Mam - xoxo

Claudia - You'll just have to get used to being known as 'the miracle story" of beating the infertility odds! Umm, I think its time you feel comfy enough to add a pg ticker.. lol. You know I live in Monroe also, dont you? - xoxo

Franny - I was told by my clinic that they prefer to grow them out to blasts because its impossible to pick out the best ones on day 3 because they all look similar, but I think its each RE's personal preference. When I told my RE which batch we picked he changed his opinion and said that since there are only 3 that he would thaw all and transfer all and hope for the best. Suddenly my uterus is a better place for them then his lab. Hmm, that makes me nervous to have such a small batch, but theres been lots of success with 3 days around here. I think whats most important is the batch's history and implantation rate. All I was told was that this batch had 28 retrieved, 23 ICSI'd, and 2 BFPs for the donor, then there were 18 left over to donate ( God bless her!) I'd love to know what happened with the other 15 though, I'll ask but I dont know if I'll get an answer. Is it strange that we both started this journey together and now after this long road, we're still here for each other to cycle with again! Love you much girl! Fingers crossed for us all!! And I havent looked into flights yet until I get my schedule, but I have looked into whats close to the clinic in Reno and I think theres a Marriot Eeek, I still cant believe I'm going to leave Ryan with Chris for 3 days (he'll survive - Chris I mean, lol) and fly to the other side of the country. Jeez, I 've never been further than Kentucky so this will be an adventure.. Much love cycle sister - xoxo

[Supergenius]

Hi Franny!

I don't know if you remember me, but I remember you and was very happy to see your posting!

I am also glad to see some familiar ladies posting here too - I just started Lupron for a fresh cycle in February and was feeling like I didn't know anyone. I kind of just lurked for most of my pregnancy, too tired to keep up with posting every day. Glad to see so many successes...

xoxo,
Libby

[to_have_fun08]

Frannie - YIPPEE !!! glad to see you back. so i might have missed this but are the embryo's your transferring yours or donor embies? I hope this is the cycle for you. i know you have been waiting a long time. As far as FEt goes, they are so much easier then a regular IVF cycle. When i transferred my donor embies last year it was the same protocol as a FET. I kept thinking i was missing something cus it was so easy.

Katie- Good Luck girl.

Leoria - I am always rooting you on even if i am not posting.

[turtle0619]

katie wooohoo for AF!! What ended up happening yesterday? Did they ever call you back? What do you do now??
PM me here or on FB to talk hotels ok?? xoxo

libby Of course I remember you girl!! Every time I watch Ace of Cakes I think of you haha
I'm so excited that you are cycling again...please stick around and join me and Katie!! Joining in a big cycle group seemed very overwhelming to me this go round, so please stay here, and we can support each other! I can't believe your ticker..your DS is already a year old...insane!! I can't imagine trying to do IVF with a toddler running around! xoxo

Chris Hey hun!! Soooo good to see you around. Just so you know you are my inspiration for not giving up! I am thrilled your dream came true and you have your beautiful DS to hold now! Is it everything you thought it would be? Hopefully this will be the cycle that lets me into the gang with everyone else. Please stalk away!

AFM I got my baby in a box today!! woooohooo!! Oh man, it is soooooo much smaller then my other ones...when the postman dropped it off I seriously laughed because it so such a tiny box. Then I opened it up and saw the IM needles for the PIO, and it all came rushing back...I looked at my dog piper and said...I don't wanna do this anymore!! haha
I was also shocked that there was nothing that needs to be refrigerated...I'm so used to having half my fridge being IVF med! crazy! I'm so excited...I just want it to be GO time!! A few more weeks....Please everyone keep me sane!!

*much love always*

~Franny

[rypell1985]

Franny!!!! So great to you on here!! Congrats on your baby in a box! I can't wait to stalk for your bfp!!!!!!