On episode 52, we have something a little different. I’ve been on vacation and I wasn’t going to publish a show. I struggled with not posting since I haven’t missed a Monday upload since I started. On today’s episode I share my first transfer. It was the perfect day and I want to celebrate it even if it didn’t work out. I also share three things past guests have shared that have inspired me. And finally, I share three thoughts I’m working on right now. The transfer was on July 14, 2023 for reference.
July 14, 2023
Today was transfer day. I have been going to the chiropractor for three weeks (appointment yesterday) and have had three acupuncture appointments. I have taken pills for three weeks and progesterone shots for one week.
I felt absolutely ready and I even slept well last night. I should have gotten up earlier but I had a nice chat with my little sister before starting my day. We were both excited about the day. I still had a nice slow morning and listened to my favorite older music. Then I was early to the acupuncture appointment and drove by Dad’s house before going to the doctor. The fertility clinic is just down the street from where he lived. I’m usually always in a hurry, but today I was calm and drove the speed limit.
My husband was already waiting for me in the parking lot when I got to the clinic. We were supposed to be 30 minutes early to our appointment. We were unusually right on time. I was told to arrive with a full bladder, so I had two large cups of water on the way. I was really uncomfortable.
We didn’t have to wait long before we were taken to the consultation area with a table and three chairs. It was cold in there and the single chair was in the sun which seemed like a better place to sit. The women that spoke with us gave us a printed image of the embryo frozen and post thaw. She said it looked really good and was a 4AB grade. It’s still posted on our fridge.
We got into the room and I got ready on the bed. I made my husband snap a few pictures while we waited for the doctor. While we waited he made AI images of our protentional kid from his photo and the donor’s. The doctor told Curran to stand next to me. The doctor cleaned me out to get me ready. Apparently, a full bladder puts pressure on the uterus to straighten out the path for the catheter with the embryo. My bladder was too full! I had to wrap another paper cover on the back of me, walk next door and pee for 6 seconds. Curran just said 3 seconds but in the hallway, the doctor said definitely 6 seconds. I’ve never tried to stop a stream before and clearly my pelvic floor isn’t very strong. I had to physically stop it with my hands because otherwise it wasn’t stopping. Back on the table I went with the ultrasound on my belly. My bladder was the perfect level of full. I was ready. The doctor and the assistant or nurse (not sure what her title is) communicated with the embryologist through an old-school speaker phone that I was ready. The embryologist rolls in with a cart. I had to confirm my name and date of birth for her to hand over our embryo to the doctor. She complete the procedure and showed it to us on the screen. Where was it? What was I looking at? Oh that? The embryologist confirmed the tube was empty from the speaker and we were free to go. I didn’t feel the need to lay there longer like I expected. I didn’t feel the need to keep my legs closed like I expected. I immediately emptied my bladder. Relief! We confirmed refills on medicine in the hallway and the dates of the pregnancy test and the date for the call with the doctor. The pregnancy test was in 9 days. And we walked back to the cars. The two week wait began.
There was only one thing to do: Eat! The little Mexican restaurant where we had our first date 12 years ago was just right around the corner. We haven’t been there since that day, so it seemed like the perfect time. Besides putting laundry away and my husband unpacking, we watched 2 episodes of Jack Ryan and took a two hour nap.
It was the perfect day. The pregnancy test was scheduled for the 24th.
I couldn’t wait until day nine. I made it to day 7 and took a test against my husband’s wishes. It was positive. Two days later the doctor called to tell me it was positive. I was pregnant. It was magical hearing the words from the doctor. My HGC level was 42. Only a few days before I had recorded a show where the doctor told the guest she wanted her HGC to be above 50. That number was stuck in my head. I asked the doctor if it needed to be 50. She said she wasn’t worried and we would test in two days. Two days later my HGC was 25. She told me it would be a chemical pregnancy and to stop taking the medication.
Why would I share a story like this? It was still a great day! I’m still happy I did it, otherwise I wouldn’t know how it ended. I still want to celebrate my chance. And today, I celebrate hope. We still have one embryo left.
I like to practice thoughts that will help me enjoy the IVF process. Here are a few that I’m working on:
“Everyday I’m not pregnant is a day I get to work on my body and mind to be prepare for pregnancy.”
“Go after what you want. Not because you’ll be satisfied when you achieve it, but you become more of who you are in the process.”
“I don’t want my pain and struggle to make me a victim. I want my battle to make me someone else’s hero.”
NOTE: If you are wondering about the photo, only the middle section is real where I’m pointing to the screen where the embryo is. The rest of the image on the left and right side is AI.
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