Tuesday 14 November 2017

Suspense

We ended up having our beta on Friday and we did receive our results. Chris and I decided that regardless of the results that we would not be sharing the news until we were either out of the first trimester or we were starting a frozen embryo transfer. I'm so sorry to keep you all in suspense. 

I'm finding it hard not to share and write about it because I want to be as transparent as possible. And writing this blog is very therapeutic for me. I find it very hard to sit in silence over here.

But in the meantime, I have a lot to keep me busy! Christmas is just around the corner and I love Christmas time. I love how family and friends always come together, I love the coziness, I love the cheesy movies, I just love it all. And our wedding is officially less than two months away! Where has the time gone? I'm a little stressed about the wedding, especially my wedding dress. I've gained some weight since I purchased it and I've been told it can't be let out much at all because of how it is designed. So fingers crossed I don't pig out over the holidays! 

Monday 6 November 2017

8dp5dt

Today I am officially 8 days post our 5 day transfer. Still impatiently waiting for our beta test, which will be on Friday. My nurse called me back first thing this morning and she would prefer me to come in on Friday. Reason being is that if the beta is low, I wouldn't be able to come in again until Monday, since I am away for the weekend. She told me to give her a call between 11 and 12 on Friday (which is before I leave) so she can look into the results for me.

We are praying for a high beta number on Friday!!

Day 5 - On the fifth day, implantation is considered complete. The embryo is developing vigorously.
Day 6 - The growing embryo triggers the release of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) into the blood stream. This is a hormone that is produced by the syncytiotrophoblast, the specialized cells which will form the placenta later on.
Day 7 - The fetal development is in full swing and the embryo continues to develop quickly. As the placenta begins to take shape, it continues to release more hCG into the blood stream.
Day 8 - More hCG is released into the blood, as fetal development continues and the placenta begins to function.
Day 9 - By this time, the levels of the hormone hCG are high enough in the blood stream to be detected.

Friday 3 November 2017

5dp5dt

We are currently 5 days post a 5 day transfer. Time seems to be moving very slowly. Our beta is next Friday, on November 10th. I may ask my nurse if I can move it up just one more day since the 10th is the day I leave for my bachelorette party. And good news or bad news, I want to be able to see Chris.

Yesterday, we received the results in the mail from the lab. We have 4 (FOUR!!!) frozen embabies! Two were frozen on the day of our transfer and two more were frozen on day 6. We are so happy with this number.

I'm praying that our little babe is growing stronger every day and growing how it should! Praying for a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby! When the journey of infertility is so unsure, faith in God is what keeps me going one day at a time.

Day 5 - On the fifth day, implantation is considered complete. The embryo is developing vigorously.
Day 6 - The growing embryo triggers the release of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) into the blood stream. This is a hormone that is produced by the syncytiotrophoblast, the specialized cells which will form the placenta later on.
Day 7 - The fetal development is in full swing and the embryo continues to develop quickly. As the placenta begins to take shape, it continues to release more hCG into the blood stream.
Day 8 - More hCG is released into the blood, as fetal development continues and the placenta begins to function.
Day 9 - By this time, the levels of the hormone hCG are high enough in the blood stream to be detected.


Thursday 2 November 2017

4dp5dt

So last night, this crazy thing happened. I bought 10 (TEN!!) pregnancy tests. Haha, that's right people, stare all you want, but this is what infertility looks like. When my fiance saw the bag, he just laughed and said that if he didn't know any better, he would think I was crazy.

I am praying that we receive good news and that there is a little life growing inside of me. I am praying so hard! It's so hard not to get discouraged though when you feel that you have no pregnancy symptoms. I did have cramping yesterday, but now that my ovaries don't feel so swollen, I feel like it may have just been my ovaries.

The two week wait is definitely torture. Even waiting until I can pee on a stick is torture! Clearly, I am not the most patient person!

Praying our little embaby is doing what it's supposed to be doing (growing into a strong baby!):

  • Day 1 – After the embryos are transferred, the cells keep dividing. The blastocyst begins to emerge from its shell and this process is called hatching.
  • Day 2 – The second day is crucial because this is the time when the embryo begins to attach itself to the uterine lining. The blastocyst continues to grow.
  • Day 3 – On this day, the blastocyst invades into the uterine lining and implantation begins. The woman may have light bleeding and spotting on this day
  • Day 4 – On the fourth day, the blastocyst continues digging deeper into the uterus. Light bleeding and spotting may continue on this day as the embryo invades the endometrial blood vessels to nourish itself through the maternal blood supply. 
  • Day 5 – On the fifth day, implantation is considered complete. The embryo is developing vigorously.
  • Day 6 – The growing embryo triggers the release of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) into the blood stream. This is a hormone that is produced by the syncytiotrophoblast, the specialised cells which will form the placenta later on
  • Day 7 – The fetal development is in full swing and the embryo continues to develop quickly. As the placenta begins to take shape, it continues to release more hCG into the blood stream
  • Day 8 – More hCG is released into the blood, as fetal development continues and the placenta begins to function.
  • Day 9 – By this time, the levels of the hormone hCG, are high enough in the blood stream to be detected. You may take a home pregnancy test today. If the test is negative, it could still be a false negative. Wait for another two days and take the test again. The blood test for beta HCG is much more relaible and is usually done about 10 -12 days after blastocyst transfer.

Wednesday 1 November 2017

Transfer Day

October 29th was our transfer date. We were so excited for the day to arrive and to be PUPO (pregnant until proven otherwise). The night before, we stayed home, made homemade pizza, and just relaxed. I was still sore from the retrieval and wanted to take it easy. The days we stay home and do nothing are my favourite. 

At the transfer, the lab told us that they had two great looking blasts to choose from and they had 6 others that they were going to keep on eye on for one more day to see if they made it to blast to freeze. We won't find out about those 6 embabies until we receive a report in the mail. I had a dream (before the transfer) that we ended up with 8, so this would be amazing if they all made it!

The day of the transfer also happened to be the first day that I started to get my energy back. It was slow going for a bit for me. 

Since the transfer, I've been trying to keep myself busy. Yesterday was a fun evening full of trick or treating and this evening is my hair trial for my wedding. But I am still counting down the days until I have the chance to take a pregnancy test. I don't think I have the self control to wait until next Friday! I'm thinking I will start testing on day 6 post 5 day transfer. 

Below is a little something I found that grieves a brief little note on what our blast should be doing (by God's grace!): 

  • Day 1 – After the embryos are transferred, the cells keep dividing. The blastocyst begins to emerge from its shell and this process is called hatching.
  • Day 2 – The second day is crucial because this is the time when the embryo begins to attach itself to the uterine lining. The blastocyst continues to grow.
  • Day 3 – On this day, the blastocyst invades into the uterine lining and implantation begins. The woman may have light bleeding and spotting on this day
  • Day 4 – On the fourth day, the blastocyst continues dig deeper into the uterus Light bleeding and spotting may continue on this day as the embryo invades the endometrial blood vessels to nourish itself through the maternal blood supply. 
  • Day 5 – On the fifth day, implantation is considered complete. The embryo is developing vigorously.
  • Day 6 – The growing embryo triggers the release of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) into the blood stream. This is a hormone that is produced by the syncytiotrophoblast, the specialised cells which will form the placenta later on
  • Day 7 – The fetal development is in full swing and the embryo continues to develop quickly. As the placenta begins to take shape, it continues to release more hCG into the blood stream
  • Day 8 – More hCG is released into the blood, as fetal development continues and the placenta begins to function.
  • Day 9 – By this time, the levels of the hormone hCG, are high enough in the blood stream to be detected. You may take a home pregnancy test today. If the test is negative, it could still be a false negative. Wait for another two days and take the test again. The blood test for beta HCG is much more relaible and is usually done about 10 -12 days after blastocyst transfer.