No transfer olympics THIS time!
Transfer was ridiculously easy. I almost couldn’t believe it myself. In fact, it went so well S. and I didn’t even realize they were finished. Dr. “Stevenson” and staff were ready for me, and man, did that pay off. I am so pleased.
Two blastocysts on board… grades 4BA and 3AA. Hello, my perfect lovelies… welcome to Casa Shelli.
May your stay be long and comfortable.
I got another update from the clinic today. Wasn’t even expecting one to tell you the truth, since the last time I spoke to the DC (donor coordinator) yesterday she said “no more updates.. see you at transfer!”.
We now have 10 fighters ready to duke it out as leaders of the pack. I’m just so tickled pink to have anything approaching Day 5 as an honest to G-o-d blastocyst.
Anyway, I have to share a funny story, because it’s always a joy to experience levity when you are about to make or break the rest of your life.
So who remembers the post I wrote about the worst transfer experience known to man (or me at least)? So if you weren’t reading along back then- it was last August 2008, and I had the most uncomfortable transfer because I happen to have a cervix that is certifiably wonky. It has good and bad days, and on the WORST, loves to hide and generally be a pain in the ass. I cringed the entire time I was on the table. No valium either that day, and who knows if that transfer was the cause of my Swan Song cycle to fail… anyway…
In speaking with the IVF nurse who called to tell me about my embies, I asked who will be doing the transfer tomorrow (there are 4 RE’s at my clinic). It happens NOT to be the doctor I had last time– Dr. No, for those of you familiar with my RE’s.
Now you might think, “Yeah!” BUT… it I love Dr. No. He was the man that did a blind HSG in under two minutes with my crazy cervix. Not to mention two trial transfers and a host of IUI’s.
It was just a bad day— that day last year. Dr. No took copious notes, and in my follow-up to failed IVF#1 he said… “I wrote a ton of notes, and if you have a future transfer, I will know exactly what to do, and how to get there! No worries!!”
Turns out the RE doing my transfer tomorrow is the RE I know least (but do like him what I know of him… he did my retrieval last year). Let’s call him Dr. Stevenson… because he reminds me of a young Parker Stevenson (Hardy Boys… anyone??? Shaun Cassidy played his brother?)
I digress.
So I ask IVF Nurse to remind Dr. Stevenson to look at Dr. No’s notes. I want to be VERY SURE that I am in NO PAIN and the transfer is as easy as possible.
Her response… was classic…
“oh yes! Dr. No’s notes were extensive, and I already passed them onto Dr. Stevenson. He even drew a detailed MAP to your cervix.”
Well, here we are three days after retrieval, and we still have 13 embryos chugging along nicely. This is an auspicious occasion, in that this time last year with my own lackluster eggs, we transferred on Day 3 with so-so embryos and the remaining embryos arrested on Day 4. Yeah, that was memorable.
This time, with the donor, the embryos look great. And therefore, no rush to put them back until we can pick the cream of the crop on Day 5.
My appointment for transfer is Tuesday, 11:30am.
I am excited, and dare I say it? Hopeful… once again.
You guys are awesome with your support, well-wishes, and prayers.
Keep them coming, because it’s working!
Out of the 16 retrieved yesterday, we have 14 that fertilized normally. FOURTEEN!
The RE thinks we are making great headway to a 5-Day transfer (which could be Monday/Tuesday?)… the IVF nurses will be checking in with me daily reporting on progress. For now, I am surprised, pleased, and a wee bit happy.
Grow, embies, grow!!
BagMomma 