This transfer has really snuck up on me. I have been so much more laid back and non obsessive. It part because it is summer, the kids are out of school, and I have so much going on. Also this isn't my first rodeo. :) I know what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, and all the steps that need to be taken. S says "let’s hope that a non-stressed uterus is a happy and warm uterus!"
So transfer is set for July 2nd at 11am. I started progesterone today. I am on both Crinone and PIO. I really wish they had chosen one or the other but as long as it works I will live. Estradiol patches have left those awful sticky marks on my back. Luckily I have learned that the stuff you use to take wax off your skin also works on the sticky marks left by the patches.
They retrieved 26 eggs, 25 were viable, and 17 were successfully fertilized. These are some great numbers. We are transferring one perfect little embryo and the rest will be frozen.
Less then 48 hours to go!!!
I can't remember if I posted a picture of my meds and needles last time but this is for G! He loves needles ;)!
My protocol is a bit different this time and I am not sure I like it. Not much I can do about it so I will follow my directions and try not to be annoyed. This time I don't only have injections but also have estrogeen patches and crinone gels. The patches leave horrible sticky places all over your body that from what I understand are impossible to get rid of. The crinone (progesterone gels) are no fun either but I won't go in to detail about those. Let's just say I would much rather be giving myself injections. The crazy thing is while I am using the progesterone gels, I am also still giving myself the progesterone injections. There are less needles this time but as crazy as it sounds I would rather have all injections. They really don't bother me that much.
My calendar thus far.
Sunday 6/2 - Begin Lupron 10 units daily
Thursday 6/6 - Last BCP
Tuesday 6/11 - U/S and Blood Work
6/12 - Patch Day 1 ~ Etrogen patches 0.1mg (1 Patch) Decrease Lupron to 5 units every day.
6/14 - Patch Day 3 Etrogen patches 0.1mg (1 Patch)
6/16 - Patch Day 5 Etrogen patches 0.2mg (2 Patch)
6/18 - Patch Day 7 Etrogen patches 0.3mg (3 Patch)
6/20 - Patch Day 9 Etrogen patches 0.4mg (4 Patch)
6/22 - Patch Day 11 Etrogen patches 0.4mg (4 Patch)
6/21 - Patch Day 12 Lab work and ultrasound today. Continue estrogen patches ( 4 patches every other day until pregnancy test.
6/27 - Discontinue Lupron
6/27 - Begin Doxycycline 100 mg twice daily X 6 days.
6/27 - Begin Medrol 16 mg daily at bedtime X 6 days.
6/27 - Begin progesterone in oil 50 mg. (1cc/ml) once daily. Crinone vaginal gel AM and PM. Continue until pregnancy test.
7/1 - Lab work only
7/2 - Transfer!!!
7/12 - Pregnancy test will 12 days after your embryo transfer.
and should be transferring in a little over a month!!!!
Bill and I met S&G for brunch on March 10th. We spent 3 hours talking, enjoying our meal, and drinking way too much coffee. I finally looked at my phone and realized the time; also realized we had spent very little time actually talking about surrogacy. We both needed to run at this point so decided we would get in touch with each other once we had some time to think everything over. I already knew my decision but I knew they would need to think over all the costs associated with a surrogacy in the United States.
On my birthday, March 24, I got a great birthday present! They wanted to match with me. The email subject read "Check Yes or No" which I thought was great. I really like they have such a great sense of humor. It always makes this process go much easier when things are kept light and not too serious. I let them know that I was ready to begin as soon as they were. So from there began the hurry up and wait. So far everything has gone fairly smoothly. We were really pushing for a June transfer and we almost got our way. Looks like transfer will be sometime between June 30th and July 5th.
Contracts went smoothly. It really helped that they used the same lawyer that Y&S used. Meant most everything was already written and I knew what to expect.
We used the psych evaluation from last time. While some would disagree with this I really don't think I could have gotten too much crazier in the last 3 years.
S&G were able to find an egg donor fairly quickly.
We found an insurance company that would cover the surrogacy here in North Carolina.
Those are usually the biggest hurdles in beginning a surrogacy and we were able to knock them out pretty quickly. I feel like if the IVF clinic and donor agency had been a bit more on top of things we would have been able to transfer a little sooner but all seems to be coming together in the end.
I like to stay busy, especially when I am in the hurry up and wait stages of a surrogacy journey. This usually involves coming up with a new project and that is just what I did. I started on a huge long term project!
Well this time has been no where near as easy to find intended parents (IPs) as it was the first time around. I placed an ad on SMO this time. I got a lot of replies, about 3 that seemed like they would be good matches so I started emailing these.
The first one I emailed back and forth a couple times and I felt like would be a better match for a fellow surro so I sent the intended mother her email. Looks like as long as the RE accepts her they have a match which is awesome. That is the point in all of this, helping couples have the families that they want.
The second couple I talked to seemed great, they are international IFs. I really like them. Some where along the way an email got missed and we stop talking for a while. Mean while I was talking to another tradition couple that wasn't too far off. Really liked them too and thought we would a good match but they seemed to drop of the planet. Would have been fine if they didn't want to match with me but I really do wish that people would send a nice short email saying, hey we aren't interested. If I have been talking to someone for a while I try my best to not only tell them I am not interested but to find them a surro that may be interested.
Now I am just talking to one couple, S&G. They were the couple that I had missed an email from. We have chatted on skype and it seemed to go well. They are looking to start a little later then I would like but we will see. For the right match I would probably wait. They are going to be in the states this coming weekend so hopefully we will be able to get together for lunch and see how it goes.
My match with Y&S was so easy! Guess everything can't always go my way. :)
So, somewhere along the way I decided that once wouldn't be enough. I loved helping to build a family and didn't want to stop at just one. My hubby is a little skeptical especially since I carried twins last time (it wasn't always the easiest pregnancy for me or him), but we have talked about it and have made the decision to go down this road again.
I have put my application in with an agency this time. I didn't use an agency the last time. I matched with the first couple who answered my ad and things couldn't have gone better. I just am not sure I would get that lucky the next time around so I decided to go the safe route. The woman at the agency said despite some of my complications with the twins I shouldn't have a hard time matching. Twin are a lot harder on your body and I still carried them to 37 weeks and was able to deliver vaginally. So anyway, they are sending out my profile to IPs! I am excited. I am hoping to put off the getting pregnant part mid summer so I can still do my vacation in August without a huge belly. The process tends to be a long one anyway so here is to hoping I find some wonderful IPs who aren't in to much of a hurry.
Here is the reason I have ventured on to this amazing journey! I was able to help bring these two little lights in to Y&S's life!
