IVF 101...

I've had a lot of people asking me what IVF is. So, I thought I'd give you a quick lesson! I've also documented our journey so that I won't forget (as if I could). I also think it'll be neat to share with my babies when they ask where babies come from. They are going to be really confused when their friends tell them where they heard they come from!


We started the process last July. The first thing I had to do was stimulate my ovaries for the egg retrieval. The typical woman produces 1 egg per month, and with Invitro you want to get as many as you can so that you don't have to retrieve again. So, I had to give myself a shot in the stomach each day, along with several other medications . I think at one point I was taking 9 different medications a day! You also go into the doctor about every other day to see how many follicles were growing. This was actually pretty neat! Chris and my family would probably have another word for it. I was injecting myself with excess amounts of hormones every day and I know I was a real peach to be around! They really do turn you into a nut!!!
They were able to to retrieve 38 eggs at my retrieval. I didn't know at the time, but I had actually hyperstimulated. 38 is way too many, but they were all really good quality. I literally couldn't walk for a week I was in so much pain. Next, they mix the eggs with Chris' sperm. In our case, we went one step further and did an added procedure called ICSI, which is where they actually inject the eggs with the sperm so they don't have to swim at all.
After the retrieval Chris got to (lucky him) start giving progesterone injections in my butt! THESE ARE THE WORST!!! I do have pictures of this as well, but I'll spare you!
I don't remember now how many fertilized, but I know that it was over 30. So, they did a 5 day transfer, which means that they transfered 2 embryos back to my euterus 5days after the retrieval.
We found out that I was pregnant 2 weeks later and at 6 weeks we found out that an M word that is currently not a part of my vocabulary had happened. My body was under so much stress and I know that I just wasnt' ready.
We did another transfer in December, but were unsuccessful. The preparation for a frozen embryo transfer is similar, except you aren't taking hormones to stimulate your ovaries, you are taking hormones to send your body into menopause so that you don't ovulate. Hot flashes are just too much fun for words! I also added estrogen patches.
It was then that I started doing some research and talked to people that had been successful with IVF and realized that I needed to switch doctors. This was a really difficult decision because I LOVED my nurses where I was, but I had to give myself the best chances.


So, Christina and I went to pick up my babies and bring them to the new doctor! Literally! I realize that this is turning into a not so short lesson on IVF, but I have to tell a funny story! We were standing in the elevator with the canister and an old man said, "What's in there, coffee?" The mature adults that we are, of course, burst into laughter and I told him that it wasn't coffee. Now, he had to know what it was. When I told him that they were frozen embryos he informed me that they used to do it the old fashioned way in his day. I told him that didn't work for us.
So, this April we did our third, and final cycle with another frozen embryo transfer and it worked!!! My new doctor and the nurses at the Reproductive Resource Center are too great for words!
I have been injecting myself with meds on and off for over a year now and tomorrow I will be 10 weeks along and off all medications!!!!!!!!!!! We are sooooooo unbelievably blessed to have been able to have done this, but it's such a great feeling to be past this part.
I've been feeling pretty good when I'm not nauseous, but that's pretty much all day now, and I did vomit the other day. Maybe that will only happen once?!? Whoever named it "morning" sickness is an idiot. This term is very misleading. I'm not complaining though, I actually like all of the symptoms!
I go to the peranatologist next Monday, so fingers crossed that the babies are still doing great!
***My sister Andrea has been telling me to start a blog for a long time and she wants credit*** There you go:)