PUPO with twins!

I am writing this throughout the morning..

8:30 wake up and can't fall back to sleep even though I was awake until 5.

11:00 in waiting room-here early. The Embryologist just walked through and I'm pretty sure she recognized me but didn't make eye contact-I hope that's not bad.

11:15 walked down to the IVF lab-changed and waiting.

11:30 walked across hall and got into the stirrups. Waiting for Dr Alan.

11:35 Dr Alan gives us the lowdown. He tells us they did assisting hatching. We have 2 blastocysts - a 5aa which is hatching and a 1bb which I guess is still good but a little behind and some fragmentation. He thinks we should transfer both of these. The only other embryo that has a chance for freeze is a morula that may catch up but probably won't.

11:40 we watch the screen as 2 flashes of light land in my uterus :) the transfer was painless.

11:45-12:15 I lie flat in recovery with DH holding my hand.

12:16 pee!!! Yay!!

We are now driving home. I'm nervous!!

Fert report day 3

We have :
6 going strong at 6-8 cells (And I think she said that 5 have 8 cells)
4 hanging out in the 3-4 cell stage

The embryologist didn't give me any grades, but she said, "Everything is looking great still for a 5 day transfer."

I pushed and said, "So everything is still looking good?" and she said, "Oh yeah".

Happy Easter everyone!

Fert report day 2

The embryologist just called....and ALL 10 are dividing and cleaving normally, between 2 and 4 cells which is right where they should be 48 hours after retrieval.  So yay!!!!

Still on track for day 5 transfer on Tuesday.

I have tried to find a site that says what percentage of embryos usually stop dividing/growing leading up to day 5 but can't find anything...I just want to prepare myself!  My goal is to have 2 to transfer and 2 to freeze - is that too lofty of a goal?

Ok, back to bed for me :)

Sleeplessness

Is that a word?

Has anyone else experienced this?  I don't know if it is the hormones or nerves or what but I find myself only sleeping about 3 hours at a time.  I think I am getting a full 8 hours but just in shifts.  I fell asleep at 12:30 last night and woke up at 3:45 wide awake.  Sucks!

My pain is almost gone now.  The endometrium vag suppositories are going good - I am wearing a full size pad instead of a panty liner and I think that has helped the yuck factor a little bit.  The only side effects I have noticed from the added progesterone are sore breasts and darker veins on the girls.

I am so ready for the call from the embryologist this morning!  I will probably wait up for her call and then back to bed.  Have a good weekend everybody!  And grow embies, grow!!!

Fertilization Report

10 fertilized normally!  Woohoo!  She called and said that out of the 15 - 3 didn't fertilize at all and 2 fertilized but had only one pronuclei.  We are on track for a 5 day transfer for this Tuesday.

Maturity report

Out of 19 eggs retrieved 15 were mature and were injected with sperm.  I asked the embryologist if the eggs looked good and she said, "They looked very high quality.  We had plenty of sperm so we are good to go."

I am so happy.  It is kinda unreal to know that we have 15 potential babies growing 20 miles away.  Grow embies, grow!!!!!!!

As far as today went, it kinda sucked.  It's a little easier to remember it more fondly now that I can breathe a sigh of relief.  For posterity's sake, here was a breakdown of today feel free to not read :) -

We woke up at 5:50 am.  I slept horribly - this is partly because I work nights but mostly because I was uncomfortable/scared/nervous/excited.  I showered last night with minimal soap so just had to get dressed and leave.  We drove through McDonald's to get DH coffee and a sausage mcmuffin - I was so hungry and this was just mean :)

We arrived at the clinic at 7:10 am and they quickly rushed DH back to give his sample.  I was very nervous about this because as he was getting dressed this morning he said, "I sure hope I am able to produce".  Umm, YEAH!  I said nothing and didn't harp on it because I didn't want to put any added pressure but Jesus Hell that scared the shit out of me.  Thankfully it was not an issue.

While he was back they ushered me to the ivf lab right down the hall.  I changed into gown and hat.  Anesthesia talked to me, the wonderful nurse Cate started my IV on the first stick and then Dr Alan came into talk to us.  I voiced my fears about OHSS and he made me feel lots better.  He said in his experience it is less to do with the estrogen level and more to do with the amount of eggs they get - he said anything over 20-25 would put me at risk.  He said most IVFers get a mild form of it so I should expect to be uncomfortable or bloated-but to call him for any severe pain, nausea/vomiting, weight gain or shortness of air.

I then kissed DH goodbye and walked across the hall.  The stirrups were kinda scary but other than that it was fine.  Dr Alan started setting up while the anesthesiologist gave me Zofran and Versed.  The last thing I remember is saying, "I will be asleep before he sticks that big needle in, right?", giggling, then I was suddenly in recovery.  I was a mess crying - not because of pain but just emotional.  The doctors came in and said they had to give me a LOT of anesthesia, that I kept moving around.  WOW I'm glad I don't remember that but oh well.

Dr Alan said he thought they got 14 eggs but the embryologist would be in soon - and she said 19.  I was so happy with that number!

They gave me some crackers and sprite, I took a Tylenol #3, and they discharged me.  I was only in recovery for about 15-20 minutes after I woke up which I think is too quick but whatever.  I got very nauseated on the ride home.  I took a zofran pill when I got home-the nausea and pain was unbearable - I was on the toilet straining to pee and thought my bladder was going to explode!  I ate 3 bites of soup, curled into a ball with the heating pad (thanks for the tip ladies!) and fell asleep.  I slept for a couple of hours and woke up starving and hurting!  I then ate a sandwich and took a vicodin that was left over from some dental work I had done last year.

That finally did it.  Now it just feels like very severe cramps - the worst ever imaginable but tolerable.

I can't wait for the update tomorrow!  Man this is a crazy process!