3D, baby!

3d ultrasounds are so cool! I am glad we did it even though it's an optional thing (pay out of pocket). The ladies at Triangle Imaging were so nice & the whole place was cozy & comfortable. The scan room was huge & had a big screen tv along with a smaller one. There was enough room for a whole family to come watch. It was decorated nicely & just all around a pleasant experience.


Jaxon is head down & apparently by this point will stay that way. He had his little head tucked into a 'corner' of my uterus with his nose pressed against my side near my pelvis, so she had a little trouble. I had to lay propped up on my side which got a tiny bit uncomfy. She got lots of good shots anyway. We have tons of pictures (77 on a CD) plus a DVD so everyone will be able to see as much or little as they'd like of him. :)


Apparently he likes his hands & feet up near his face. He spent a lot of time trying to get one or the other into his mouth. This one he's about to suck on his toes.

We also got a couple smiles out of him.

Turns out he's a little bit on the roly-poly side. She guessed he's about 3.5lbs which I think she said would be about a half to a whole pound heavier than expected. Here you can see his chubby cheeks & in the next his thick chest & arms. This just confirms for me that I need to watch the gestational diabetes so he doesn't get too big. But it made for cute chubby pics!!

We were so excited to 'see' him and can't wait until he is really here. I'll be matching up photos of him once he's born to these to see how close they are :)

19 week ultrasound

Thanks to the research study I'm participating in, I'd already found out the sex (boy if you are just joining us) at 16 weeks. So the doc & I agreed that it made sense to wait a little longer before having another ultrasound, so we pushed it out to the end of my 19th week (today is 19w4d).

My mom & I have been hard at work this week (I've been off all this week & do not go back until Jan 2!!! I love my annual two weeks off) so she tagged along today. I work at home so I had a home office, and my husband had his computer in the room next to my office. But his room is going to be the nursery, so we had to figure out how to combine the two rooms. My old huge desk had to come out & we had to go thru all my stuff & reduce the clutter. We also repainted the room (no better time than when you already have it emptied out) and put together some new furniture. I have been exhausted! But I am glad we got it done and that we did this during my 2nd trimester. I know I did not have near the energy needed to this during the 1st trimester and I assume I won't as the 3rd sneaks up on me either.

Anyway, the ultrasound was quick as usual & everything lookd good. I did have the tech confirm the gender for us (before I buy a bunch of blue paint next week). I haven't scanned in the pics yet (our cat has currently taken up residence on top of my scanner & is sound asleep) but they really weren't that exciting anyway. There is one cute one where all you see is a foot, but the rest are hard to tell what is what. I'll post a few later.

Multiple Risk

My scan today showed still 4 follies that were mature. On my right ovary, had some big ones, I think the two were between 18-20mm, the large one may have even been bigger. I've already forgotten the exact measurements. The left had smaller ones, one larger than the other. RE thought the smallest one of the left was a 'maybe' on whether it had a mature egg or not.

Because of all those follicles, my RE & I had a nice little chat about the risk of multiples that he had mentioned on Wednesday. He wanted me to be aware that I'd likely have to go for 'reduction' if I got pregnant with trips or quads. So we discussed the possibilities and there was a way to reduce the risk. Instead of doing an IUI, we could finish the cycle by trying at home. If this had been only my 2nd or 3rd try, he would have strongly recommended that option. However, being my 5th IUI and already having done IVF once, he left it up to us. DH & I decided to stick with IUI as it has the best chance of a pregnancy. Even though trying at home limits the risk of multiples, it also reduces the chances of a pregnancy at all. Right now we just want the best chances we can get, and can worry about multiples & reduction if we get there. You know, cross that bridge when we come to it. He didn't bother taking my e2 as it would not change either option. If this doesn't work, it will be the last IUI. RE said IVF would be the next step. That was another deciding factor but not a surprise.

So with all that in mind, we scheduled an IUI for Sunday. (Going to have to get up at the crack of dawn! Our appts are at 6:30 & 7:30 in Raleigh). So I'll take my trigger shot tonight at 6 which will have me ready for Sunday morning. Really the timing worked out well. I'm co-hosting a bridal shower tomorrow and need to shop tonight. So I'm glad we don't have the IUI until Sunday.

IUI cycle #4

My cysts from last IUI (May) have cleared up so I've got the green light for another IUI cycle. Today is day 2 and my baseline scan looked good this morning. The medication on this cycle will be just like in May. I'll take Femara for 5 days (start tomorrow & finish on Wed). Then I'll start Follistim injections on Wed night and keep that up until doc says stop. I'll have another scan next Sat (7/21). Each cycle can vary a bit, but last time I had my IUI on day 16. So I expect IUI to be around 7/27.

IUI will be Thursday

Yep, my IUI has been scheduled for Thursday. (Well technically I've got to call back tomorrow to actually schedule the time, but it's planned for Thursday).

My scan this morning looked good with a few follicles that were almost the right size. RE did want me back for another scan tomorrow to check on those follicles but before the day was out that plan changed. You really have to learn to be flexible when it comes to fertility treatment. Apparently after getting my e2 result (260) the doc didn't need to see me back. They made me laugh though, they said I could still come in for a scan if I wanted to. Hmm.. come in and pay 25% of roughly $200-300 when doc doesn't think its necessary. Nah, I don't think so.

So now the plan is to take another dose of FSH tonight, then take hCG shot tomorrow night. Then IUI on Thursday.

IUI progressing nicely

I'm on day 10 of my cycle today (IUI try #3) and had an US & e2. The US looked good, I had a couple of 12-13mm follicles and the others were smaller. RE is trying to get just one or two to develop ahead of the others (this would limit my chances of high order multiples. With IUI, we don't want to see as many follicles as we did in IVF). The nurse just called me back with the e2 results. My estradiol was 55.9 which shocked me. In IVF, my level was never anywhere near that low, but that is a good thing! So they want me to continue on the low dose of follistim (37.5) through Sunday night. My next appt is Monday morning.

IUI #3 finally getting started

Once I returned from Minnesota, I started taking prometrium to force a cycle to start. Today is day 3 and I had a baseline US (doc said everything looked good). So tonight I start the IUI meds. Plan is to take Femara (letrozole) on CD 3, 5, 6 & 7. Then I'll take 37.5 IUs of Follistim (same drug from my IVF cycle) on CD 7, 8 & 9. Then back next Fri for another US.

Retrieval & transfer

I've been away from my computer for roughly a week & a half, I think that's some kind of record for me. I've been trying to rest just like the doctors expect so that everything will go right with this first round of IVF!

~ RETRIEVAL 2/14/07~

We had our retrieval on Valentine's Day in the early AM. I got a little nervous just as a I was in the back room waiting for my turn (someone else had to be there even earlier than us for their retrieval). But it was no big deal, just a little prick to numb me up for the IV. Then once the IV was in and they were ready, I was out like a light. The last thing I said (or remember saying anyway) is 'that was fast'. I had started to feeel the anesthesia as soon as he said he'd started it. The procedure takes about 10 mins itself, it's all the other hoopla that takes awhile. I got a little nauseated from the anesthesia but was sent on my way pretty soon. Jack got me home & made sure I was all comfy & following dr orders. They had gotten 20 eggs from me which is really good!

DM came by shortly after we got home and she helped DH to take care of me. I was surprised to find the worst part was the bloating & gas. It was miserable! It went away very very slowly & really was uncomfortable through Friday.

~ TRANSFER 2/19/07 ~

Our transfer had been tentatively scheduled for Saturday morning. However, we heard from the embryologist on Fri that he wanted to wait until Monday. Of the 20 eggs, 18 were usuable (1 not viable & 1 was immature). They performed ICSI on all 18 and 16 of them fertilized normally. As of Fri, they were ranging from 2-5 cells (that was Day 2) and he felt they would benefit from being cultured thru the weekend. Sat he called us again saying that we'd transfer at 2:30 on Monday and that 9-10 of our embies were looking 'really good' (Day 3).

I felt a lot better through the weekend, having finally been able to get rid of the majority of the bloating and get around better. DM had stayed thru Fri AM and then was just me & DH for the weekend. By then I really didn't need much, was just anxious for Monday to come.

We started off at the acupuncture clinic a few buildings down. My acupuncturist did some needling to prepare my body for the transfer. Then we headed over to NCCRM.

Compared to the retrieval (and its afteraffects), the transfer was a cakewalk. First they showed us the embryos in the incubator (thru a microscope), said they wanted to transfer THREE embryos! and then got me ready for transfer. They got the US ready so the dr could see what he was doing, then they transferred our babies thru a cathedar into my uterus. There was no pain (all I had was a valium) and it was over quick. Then DH & I just chatted while I laid there for 15 minutes.

2 of the 3 embies were blastocysts which is supposed to be a good thing. So we really are excited and hoping to find that I'm pregnant! In the picture they gave us, only one (lower middle) was actually a blastocyst at the time. I think he said they had taken this picture Monday morning and that the one on the right became a blastocyst during the day before the transfer.

Afterward, we went back over for more acupuncture & then on home. I was on bedrest through Thursday and then still resting today though I've been up & about. I go back tomorrow to have my progesterone levels checked & then on 3/5 have the first beta test. (That's when we find out if I'm preggo or not). Though they do 3 tests and want to see the numbers rising, so I'm not sure if they consider us pregnant for sure until the 3rd beta.

overkill

I've gotten in this habit lately of sleeping pretty late on Saturday mornings. I know when this infertility trip is over, I'll have a lovely baby waking me up early and that's ok. But a Saturday morning trip to the doctor is NOT a good reason to be awake.

So today my estradiol level continued to climb (that's with no additional FSH or Ovidrel last night) up to 5204. Today the clinic admitted that's not great as they prescribed a new medicine called Ganirelix Acetate. This one is to 'help the estradiol levels come down' in the words of the nurse. Ok, so they pumped me full of all these drugs & they overdid it? Lovely. So I get to take another one to combat that. I actually laughed out loud when I read on the packaging that this drug is an 'antagonist'.

So anyway, back to the doctor bright & early on Sunday morning for more bloodwork & another ultrasound. Hopefully this time we'll hit the mark (I don't even know where the mark is).

tuesday bw/us

Yesterday the RN msg said to reduce my FSH to 125, keep Lupron at 5 & Microdose Ovidrel at 10. It also said my 'levels were 643'. I had no idea what that means so between diggin on the internet & asking the RN today, I found that they are measuring my 'estradiol' or estrogen levels. Being that it was 'day 3', they said those levels should have been around 200 so mine was slightly high. That is why they had cut down my dose last night. They also had me come back in today for more bw/us. The US showed that I had a lot of follicles already & she said that's why my levels were so high. We'll know later this afternoon what the levels were today & what my doses will be for tonight. Hopefully I won't have to go back for bw every day!

I hate Cary

Cary is a nightmare ... of course the clinic is in Cary so I got stuck in traffic this morning trying to get to my US. I don't care if it is one of the top 5 places to live in 2006, driving there sucks.

Anyway, I did finally get there & the US went fine. BW came back fine too. So as scheduled, RE wants me to reduce my Lupron to 5units from 10. Start 10units microdose ovidrel and 150 IUs on my Follistim pen. Plus, start my estring and keep up with the prenatal & BA.

I go back on Monday for more BW & then they might change my dosages. At this point we're only about 2wks away from transfer. Not too shabby!

no biggie

I took my first Lupron shot last night. As expected, this one was no big deal, it's a tiny little needle. This shot doesn't come prefilled like shots I've had before. It came in a tiny little bottle that is my full 3wk supply & you have to draw out the right amt into the syringe each time. It wasn't too complicated, but we've got this huge box of supplies inc. needles, alcohol wipes, a sharps container & various medicines taking up all the space on our bathroom counter plus a few more meds in the fridge. LOL. So far, no side effects though it may be too early to call that one. So I'll be taking just this shot, some baby asprin & prenatal vitamins until next Fri. Well, plus the bc that I'm still finishing up. That'll be done this Fri. Then I'll get another US on 2/2 at the RE office before starting any other shots. I also go back for more acupuncture that Fri.

Start Lupron tomorrow

DH & I went back to NCCRM today... I had another U/S & he had to leave a 'backup' deposit in case anything happens the day of the retrevial. These guys are supposed to be good at what they do, but I have to say they leave a lot to be desired in the bedside manner & patient education arenas. I never seem to know what's going on unless I ask.

Turns out I was supposed to have already had my meds overnighted from the pharmacy but I didn't. She said it wouldn't matter to start the Lupron a day later. So I had to jump on the phone & get it overnighted so it'll be here tomorrow. Turns out when the pharmacy asked me if I wanted to hold my order, he meant the whole order when I thought he was just asking about one specific med. I didn't realize the order would come all at once. I thought I'd get each med as I needed it. Even the lady I talked to today assumed I had understood that. Anyway, it's supposed to be here tomorrow & since I work@home, it should be no big deal.. I'll be here to get it.

Lupron is a little shot, so I'm not worried about that part. I'm sure it'll be no big deal. But the side-effects I'm not looking forward to. I've heard some horror stories about how others reacted to this one. I guess we'll see ...

IVF education, Saline Ultrasound & more

Ladies.. be warned, if the nurse says 'saline' before she says 'ultrasound'.. then you're in for a treat. This is not the same as the lovely vaginal ultrasound we're alread used to.. it's very similar to the HSG (maybe my memory is a little fuzzy now but I'd say it's a close call on which was worse). Basically they insert saline thru a catheter into the uterus to see something in there better. Anyway.. I had to have this done as part of our prep for IVF. Last week I came in for some blood tests (a whole slew of tests including HIV,etc) that have to be done b4 going thru with IVF. Then DH had similiar tests done today before the class.

The class was an eye-opener. We came out of there completely overwhelmed! We watched a video on how to administer all these crazy injections, passed around sample needles, got a sample schedule (wow is all I can say on that), asked lots of questions, & signed a ton of documents. Oh and of course I was the only idiot that stabbed herself with one of the needles they passed around. It bled like you would not believe & was all swollen. That'll be fun tomorrow. I knew there was a lot involved in IVF ... but this is just crazy!

Clomid #5

Today is CD2... U/S still looks fine. We're on try #5.. who knew it'd go this long??

Clomid #4

AF showed again on 2/10. So back to the doc. U/S still looked good, so stickin to the same schedule. CD 21 test progesterone level & call with period. boring...

Clomid #3

Somehow I made it through the holidays. It's hard keeping this whole thing quiet since I like to talk. But I know that it's for the best. Well.. I have of course told my friends, just we're not ready to tell family yet. Just too much pressure.

Anyway, today was another daty with the lovely OB. CD2 so I had to have an ultrasound. The good news is that AF came on her own this time & I don't have to take anymore progesterone. Apparently that plus my increased CD21 progesterone levels tells us this dosage works. So that's a good thing. The level went from 0.9 up to 25.4. For me that's a big jump. So we try again with cycle #3.

This Clomid is getting the better of me though. I already had a bit of a temper, but now.. man I flip out pretty good. Not just at little things but I really go nuts, yelling & screaming. Woa.. plus I'm hot all the time. Why do they call it hot 'flashes'? I'm just always hot. I know January in NC is not exactly frigid, but it's still odd for me to be this hot in January. I even crack the windows in my car sometimes!