Friday, December 14, 2007

Transfer Complete

Well, it's done. What has been medically possible to make and keep me pregnant has been done. I am relieved and so happy to have the little ones "home" with us.

The day was a bit hectic at first. I didn't sleep very well last night, a combination of nerves and excitement, I suppose. I was wide awake at 5 AM and decided that I might as well just get going. As I am not planning on going back to work until after the New Year, I had a lot to take care of workwise. I also wanted to do a final "once over" on the house, just in case we get any visitors over the weekend. I dusted, mopped, and ran the vac. Finally, at 11, I jumped in the shower and quickly got ready to go.

I took my valium at 11:45 and started drinking my water. I had been warned by many of my friends not to drink as much as they suggest. I drank an entire bottle by the time we left the house and finished another bottle on the way there. On our way, the IVF coordinator called to tell us the final fertilization report: two perfect blasts reading for transfer, two blasts already frozen, and three blasts still in culture for a possible freeze tomorrow. We were thrilled!

We were brought to the transfer room at exactly 1 PM. The valium was really starting to kick in at that point and I was glad to lay down on the exam table. The embryologist came in and updated us on the quality of the blastocysts. She used the words gorgeous to describe our little ones. She went into pretty great detail about implantation and all that. My husband asked "When is she officially PREGNANT?" I thought that she would say wait for the beta, but she replied that we have two really viable blasts going in, so she would consider me pregnant as of fifteen minutes from then.

Dr. M came in with J, the ultrasound tech. I had bought some really soft and cute socks just for the transfer. They even had little fur cuffs on them. My husband made fun of them, but both ladies had a fit and wanted to know where I got them. We then talked a little about when to do the beta (I'll post more on this later).

Things went pretty fast after that. I was put into the stirrups and J spread the warm goo on my belly to do the external ultrasound. They checked my bladder and were a little disappointed that it wasn't more full, but were still able to visualize the uterus. They showed us the embryos on a screen on the wall, just sitting in their culture dish. Dr. M put in the catheter, which didn't hurt, but felt like a pap smear. Then, she threaded the catheter through and said, "I'm ready."

The screen on the wall showed the catheter picking up our embryos. As she was working on that, I asked Dr. M if I should be worried if I spotted at all later on today. She looked at me strangely and said, "What are you planning on doing?"

I thought she meant was I planning on being really active, so I responded, "Not much, pretty much just heading home and to bed."

She was still looking at me so strangely, so I started to further explain. "It's just that when you have had miscarriages, any blood is really scary and. . ." I trailed off as she started laughing.

She thought I had asked her if I could go to a spa! It was definitely a funny moment!

At this point, the embryologist came back in with the blastocysts and she transferred them in. I felt a small bit of pressure from that part, but no pain. We could see a little "puff" of liquid go into the uterus and that was it. She withdrew the catheter and they checked to make sure that it was clear of the blastocysts.

Dr. M said that it went as smoothly as it could, patted me on the knee and told me to come back for my beta as soon as we had decided which day we want the news.

The tech and the embryologist stayed longer, instructing us on what is normal to expect as far as cramping (from the catheter, the progesterone, and possibly implantation), spotting (even red is normal after transfer), and liquid coming out from down there (leftover stuff they used to clean up my girly bits). They also said that there were no hard and fast rules for how easy to take things, but to treat myself as if I am pregnant, and to "listen to our hearts." They did recommend doing nothing but resting the rest of today and tomorrow morning. They wished us luck and then it was just my husband and me.

We then stayed put for another fifteen minutes, I used the bathroom, and we were out of there.

It is amazing, so amazing. If I didn't have those pictures of the blastocysts, I might not even believe that it happened.

Thank you for your prayers and good wishes. They are so appreciated. Now, we just have to wait. And wait. And wait.

25 comments:

Geohde said...

What can I say but the very best of British with the wait.

Hopefully this is the only transfer you need to do for only the best of reasons!

Oh, and how do I talk my clinic into giving me valium for a transfer?

xx

J

AwkwardMoments said...

Katie- you have me in tears- I am praying and wishing hte best of hte best of hte best for this cycle!

K @ ourboxofrain said...

My best prayers and good wishes are with you right now. Every good vibe I can muster I am sending your way.

Missy said...

I'm glad everything went well and wishing you the best.

Anonymous said...

Good luck. I've been following your blog (I check ebery day!) and can't wait to hear the good news.

Mrs. Piggy said...

Yay, that went SO smooth. Very similiar to mine. This worked for you, I know it.
10 more days? When are you getting out the pee sticks :)

Kim said...

I clicked your blog 500 times yesterday, so glad to see an update!

I'm in tears now... I'm just so happy for you guys. Stick, embies, stick!!!

Natalie said...

congrats on transfer:-)

Anonymous said...

I'm just so so so so so happy/excited/thrilled/elated for you!! Take it easy today and keep breathing! :)

Alyssa said...

Oh, Katie, what a beautiful and exciting day for you and what a lovely post for us to read. I send you all my sticky, sticky thoughts and all my best wishes to you, your husband and your embies. :) You'll all be in my prayers!

Prairie Girl said...

Hoping and praying that this is it for you Katie!! Good luck Hun! Enjoy your incubating! :D

nancy said...

Well, this is just pretty darned exciting!!! Weeeeee!!! Good luck!!!

elephantscanremember said...

Katie, I am so excited for you! You are in my prayers.

Von said...

Best of Luck Katie. I really hope you get the Christmas present you are after.
XXXXXXX

Anonymous said...

What great news about your embryos!! I hope this is the only transfer you will need, unless you are trying for a 2nd or 3rd later on.

Anonymous said...

katie, this is such wonderful news, and so exciting! I got chills reading your account. I hope to be right there next week (though we'll be doing a 3-day transfer) so we will share 1 week's wait together... wishing you all the best. legs up! ~luna

Polka Dot said...

I'm so glad it went so well. And two gorgeous blasts w/2 already frozen. That is amazing! I'm truly hoping beyond hope that this is it.

Amanda said...

I'm praying and wishing for the best!

Adriane said...

Sounds like it went, really well!! So exciting - good luck!

Tracy said...

I love the valium! It's one of my favorite parts of the whole thing. :)

I just know this is going to be it for you. I can't wait to hear how it goes. Have you decided on what date you'll get the news?

Anns said...

Wow! Thanks for sharing this - I had no idea how this was done and am always eager to learn!

I can't wait to hear the results (which I have a good feeling about)

xo

Jen said...

I'm so glad that everything went well and that you even had enough blastocysts to freeze. I'm keeping everything crossed for good news around the New Year!

Searching said...

Gorgeous? How exciting!!! Sending you so many prayers that these little one(s) sit tight and grow, grow, grow!

Christy said...

This is just the best transfer story I have ever read. I will certainly be holding a good thought for you and keeping you in my prayers.

Laura said...

Yay! I am so glad it went well!