This has been a very busy, exciting couple of weeks! A quick update:
As mentioned in the last post, the egg retrieval was a success, and the doctor was able to get 8 eggs from me. Doug's numbers were much, much, higher ;) Haha. So that was on Thursday. Friday morning, we called to find out how many eggs were able to be fertilized...FIVE! Don't worry; it's very typical that not all of the eggs were able to be fertilized. Five is a good number to us; way better than zero, especially considering that all of them came from my right ovary. We are so happy! So now we're joking that I'm eating for five and that I'm long-distance pregnant. Har har.
The doctor was thinking I'd have to do a 3-day embryo transfer (which is usually done in cases where the eggs aren't very healthy or there aren't very many eggs), but we are actually able to do a 5-day transfer. So Tuesday's the big day!
As always, we appreciate your prayers. Please pray that the babies would continue to grow healthy and strong, and that my body would also be healthy and ready to receive them. We know God can work miracles; He's already done (at least) 5 just this week!
One couple's journey through infertility.
Showing posts with label Egg Retrieval. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Egg Retrieval. Show all posts
Monday, July 23, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
IVF Egg Retrieval
Wow! Today was quite exciting. Today we got to find out how productive the medication has been at maturing eggs for our IVF cycle.
July 17 at 11:15pm sharp, Amanda was given her HCG trigger shot to finalize the maturation of the eggs for today's retrieval (I could be a nurse--I did awesome; ask Amanda). I (Doug) had to be present at the Dr.'s office at 8 am today for my share of the procedure, which is quite the breeze compared to what Amanda has had to go through. Amanda had to be present at the Dr.'s office at 9:45 am so she just came along. Mind you she had not eaten breakfast or anything since 9:30 the night before. For those that know Amanda well, she does not skip her breakfast :).
At 9:15am Amanda took her medication for the procedure (Precocet and Valium).
Within 15min you could tell the medications had set in. We were sitting in the waiting room and Amanda just started cracking up laughing out of nowhere. So I asked her what was up she said "I am looking for a 'nerd face'". What does that even mean? The receptionist was even laughing at her and asked if the meds had hit.
She was taken back into a room for prep with an IV. More giggling...
Not so fun; they tried her hand first with no luck (the needle was too large for her vein). The second stick they got her in the arm. By that time another nurse came to get her to take her to the retrieval room. I had to leave, because they put her under to do the egg retrieval.
I stayed in the waiting room while the procedure was happening. I must have looked anxious because the other Doc at the practice came out to ask if I was ok. Anyways, the retrieval was a success, they were able to retrieve 8 eggs. Now we wait until tomorrow morning to find out fertilization status and whether the transfer will be Sunday (3 day transfer) or Tuesday (5 day transfer).
Thanks everyone for the prayers and well-wishes! We'll keep you posted!
July 17 at 11:15pm sharp, Amanda was given her HCG trigger shot to finalize the maturation of the eggs for today's retrieval (I could be a nurse--I did awesome; ask Amanda). I (Doug) had to be present at the Dr.'s office at 8 am today for my share of the procedure, which is quite the breeze compared to what Amanda has had to go through. Amanda had to be present at the Dr.'s office at 9:45 am so she just came along. Mind you she had not eaten breakfast or anything since 9:30 the night before. For those that know Amanda well, she does not skip her breakfast :).
At 9:15am Amanda took her medication for the procedure (Precocet and Valium).
Within 15min you could tell the medications had set in. We were sitting in the waiting room and Amanda just started cracking up laughing out of nowhere. So I asked her what was up she said "I am looking for a 'nerd face'". What does that even mean? The receptionist was even laughing at her and asked if the meds had hit.
She was taken back into a room for prep with an IV. More giggling...
Not so fun; they tried her hand first with no luck (the needle was too large for her vein). The second stick they got her in the arm. By that time another nurse came to get her to take her to the retrieval room. I had to leave, because they put her under to do the egg retrieval.
I stayed in the waiting room while the procedure was happening. I must have looked anxious because the other Doc at the practice came out to ask if I was ok. Anyways, the retrieval was a success, they were able to retrieve 8 eggs. Now we wait until tomorrow morning to find out fertilization status and whether the transfer will be Sunday (3 day transfer) or Tuesday (5 day transfer).
Thanks everyone for the prayers and well-wishes! We'll keep you posted!
Monday, July 16, 2012
This Crazy Week
So, I keep trying to upload some videos, but with no success. Ah, well.
Well here's the update. We are in full swing with the IVF process. I've been on Lupron since June 7. I started the gonadotropins (say that five times fast) last weekend (July 7). Basically, gonadotropins are hormones that make many eggs mature in my body, rather than just one. Right now, the doctor thinks I have between 6 and 8 eggs that are the right size. They are all on my right side. He said that there may be some on the left, but he can't see them. Some women have up to 20 eggs. The more the merrier, as far as eggs go! So he's been monitoring my progress almost every day through ultrasounds and blood work, and while it's not all perfect, so far so good!
Tomorrow, we go in for another ultrasound to make sure things are still progressing. Hopefully, they will have me do the HCG shot (another hormone that basically finalizes the maturation of the eggs). Then I get a day off on Wednesday, and then they should be doing the egg retrieval on Thursday! It's so crazy that this is finally our week!
We are really praying that this is successful, and that we would be blessed with a child. Thank you all for your kind words, and prayers, especially. I will try to keep this blog updated, and hopefully will have good news soon!
Well here's the update. We are in full swing with the IVF process. I've been on Lupron since June 7. I started the gonadotropins (say that five times fast) last weekend (July 7). Basically, gonadotropins are hormones that make many eggs mature in my body, rather than just one. Right now, the doctor thinks I have between 6 and 8 eggs that are the right size. They are all on my right side. He said that there may be some on the left, but he can't see them. Some women have up to 20 eggs. The more the merrier, as far as eggs go! So he's been monitoring my progress almost every day through ultrasounds and blood work, and while it's not all perfect, so far so good!
Tomorrow, we go in for another ultrasound to make sure things are still progressing. Hopefully, they will have me do the HCG shot (another hormone that basically finalizes the maturation of the eggs). Then I get a day off on Wednesday, and then they should be doing the egg retrieval on Thursday! It's so crazy that this is finally our week!
We are really praying that this is successful, and that we would be blessed with a child. Thank you all for your kind words, and prayers, especially. I will try to keep this blog updated, and hopefully will have good news soon!
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