While in the procedure room during the embryo transfer, which took less than 15 minutes total, I thought to ask my doctor about the "legs up" advice. He said that once the embryo was in place, it wasn't going to just fall out. But I was thinking he hadn't heard me coughing lately which feels like my whole uterus is going to fall out.
So I figured that I'd give the "legs up" advice a try. I don't think there's any science behind the "legs up" advice other than this - if your legs are up, that means you can't be up running around doing laundry, cooking dinner, going to work, shopping, exercising, or any of those types of things that might bounce your uterus around a bit. As a Behavioral Scientist, this appeals to me. Actually, the whole - lay in bed for a few days and have someone else do everything else for you - is quite nice. I'm blessed that I have Mom here to help me out while my husband enjoys deer hunting. And when Mom gets exhausted from my keeping up with my feeding schedule (have you ever taken a high dosage of Prednisone?? OMG it makes you crazy hungry!), then my Mother-in-Law has offered to come help.
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| I think this qualifies as legs up! |
Since I haven't posted anything since Monday prior to the embryo transfer, here's how it went. We arrived about an hour early and waited...and waited...and then waited some more. My instructions said I needed to have a full bladder (helps ensure the best ultrasound image). Two hours after needing to pee really badly, I was relieved when they called me back. Anxious if for no other reason but to be able to pee soon.
Shortly after changing into my now very familiar garb (with the gown open to the back), along with the booties and hair thingy, and my husband wearing a zip-up painter's jumpsuit, booties and hair thingy - Dr. Griffith came in to review how our eggs had grown and discuss the plan. Of the 8 eggs retrieved, they all fertilized, but 4 arrested before making it to the 2 cell stage and didn't technically "count" and, 3 others grew but weren't where they really needed to be. However #1 (they number each fertilized egg) was good. It didn't make it to the blastocyst stage as hoped by day 5 post retrieval, but it was still good-looking. He compared it to a baby which should be walking at 9 months and doesn't walk until 12 months. He advised that we only transfer the 1 good one since transferring the other 3 less than good ones could increase inflammation and hinder #1's growth. (End of embryology lesson). I have to admit - I was really disappointed. I wanted 4 perfect blastocysts to select from. I wanted the option of transferring 1 or 2 now and save the others for another time. Afterwards, we proceeded to the very sterile procedure room. Dr. Griffith, the embryologist, and the super awesome nurse, Susan, all were ready to go. Susan, obviously a Christian, gave me the encouragement I needed at that time. They all quickly went to work. As the embryologist placed the ultrasound wand (with the warmed jelly which I was grateful for) directly on my stomach over my bladder and pressed down, I thought I was going to explode! In the ultrasound monitor, all that you could see was my very full bladder. "Good job, Kelly", they all said as though I had won a prize. Yay me, I thought.
The doctor did a practice run first with an empty catheter to be able to see exactly where he wanted to place the embryo. Then he did the same thing again, but this time, with the loaded catheter. We could see on the monitor exactly what was happening. Both the doctor and embryologist seemed very pleased with the placement of #1 and said that they had seen many, many embryos of this same quality have positive outcomes. So we're hopeful.
As the procedure was ending, I asked the doctor how Donor #604 was doing. He looked up from what he was doing with an almost shocked look upon his face. He said that in all of his years of doing this, that no one had ever asked about the donor's well-being. The embryologist and the nurse both agreed - they'd never been asked that either. I was relieved to know that she was doing well. Later, as I reflected on this, I guess it was due to my own experience of having a botched egg retrieval that made me ask. I'd hate for someone to ever go through what I did. Note to anyone contemplating IVF: ask your doctor what his/her stats are regarding botched egg retrievals. All the consent forms you'll sign will tell you that it's extremely rare and highly unlikely...but me and my one ovary are proof otherwise.
I am thankful to God for #1. While we didn't have the number of embryos we had wanted to select from, I can't dwell on that. I am joyful and hopeful that #1 will be all it takes. It does only take one - and we've got #1. For those who (not unlike myself) would rejoice with the news that I'm pregnant with twins - it's still very possible. One egg can split and became identical twins...so Christina, keep praying!
My Dad has always said I was his #1 - is it because I was born 7 years earlier than my brother? Perhaps. Or maybe he loves me the most. Yeah...that's probably it. Just kidding, Randall. But THIS #1 will truly redefine what being #1 means.
So for my cheerleaders and fans out there - keep praying that #1 continues to grow and implant. Today #1 should be busy trying to hatch out of its shell and attach to my uterus. Implantation should begin soon. I've got the perfect place waiting for it to nestle into.
Grow #1!
Grow #1!
Grow #1!
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| My dog is good at bed rest. |
In the meantime, I'm getting really good at this bed rest thing. It's strict bed rest for three days - only getting up to tend to personal care and sitting up briefly to eat. I have one more day to go. Even my dog has taken the bed rest order seriously. Good boy.
The next few weeks will be filled with anxiousness. Soon the early pregnancy symptoms will set-in (if it works) which unfortunately mimics PMS. The way I see it - I'll be imaging things one way or the other. I guess that's when the real crazies will kick-in - even more! Any advice?
Love the hospital gown pageant pic - LOL!
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