Hi everyone. I had the retrieval this morning and ended up with 8 follicles. Good news: all of the follicles contained eggs (apparently it's usually more like 70%). The procedure wasn't too bad. There was so pain, but I could tolerate it. My husband was by my side the whole time and the doctor and nurses were so kind.
So, I'll hear back tomorrow about how many fertilized (hopefully a lot, since they're doing ICSI)...and then it'll be a waiting game until day 5 when they plan to transfer 2 back inside of me. Then it'll be another 2 WW until I know for sure. That's a lot of waiting! But, now we're on our way and I feel positive. I've stopped talked to my follicles (since they're out of me now) and have started talking to my uterus, "Okay, start making a really, nice comfy home for the babies, you can do it!".
I hope that you're all well. Don't be surprised if you see me on here several times a day over the next few weeks, checking in and trying not to go crazy!

How cool that is so awesome that everything went well. This is your first IVF right? I was praying for you today. I knew there was something going on but for the life of me I could not rememebr and then I was like there is a retrieval today. So I made sure to pray for your a few times today. I can't wait to hear tommorrow how well the fertilazation went. Now, were they going to do ICSI?

CHJH~~~glad to hear your ER went well and way to go on the 8 follies. I pray that you get a lot of little healthy embabies:) Keep us posted.

Hi CHJH! I'm very glad to hear that everything is moving along smoothly :D Keep all that positive energy going - I'm sure it will help. We will all be here while you are going through the waiting game. Please keep us posted.
Sending warm thoughts your way :)
Holly~

Hi! :wave: I just wanted to wish you some luck on the fertilization report!! I also did ICSI but not as many of mine as I thought fertilized. I hope you get a better report! I know how tough the waiting game is at this time...stay positive and remember that we are all here. ;)

Glad things are going so well! I am looking for a great report tomorrow.
Karenn

Thanks for all of the warm wishes and positive thoughts, everyone. I can't tell you how much it means to me. I haven't shared this process with many people in my life (I'm a very private person) so your posts mean the world to me. The doctor called this morning and said 7/8 fertilized. She was really pleased with that result (do you think it's good?). Tomorrow she'll call and give me an update on division.
I hope the embabies are cozy. My husband keeps joking, "They better be cozy, they're in the most expensive hotel in the city!".

That's a great report!! Usually, they say only half fertilize, so to get almost all of them is awesome!! :bouncing:
When is your ET and how many are you putting back? Good luck to you!!! :angel: :)

The doctor called again this morning and said that 6 have divided into 3-4 cells, and 1 is just 2 cells. The 2-cell may catch up or it may arrest. She said that they're all grade 1 to 2, which is good (apparently). She said not to expect more than 50% of the original 7 by the time day 5 rolls around (Monday). We're doing the transfer on Monday at 10:45. The doctor said she's happy with the way things are going. They're going to put 2 back. I'm nervous, excited, confused, confident, insecure, happy, sad -- 600 emotions at once. Also, I'm very tired from the morphine. Maybe I'm coming down off all the drugs that have been coursing through my system for a month.
At the moment I'm only on progesterone suppositories.
Thanks for thinking of me! I'll post again soon!

Hi :wave:
It sounds like everything is going very well!! I won't have access to the internet over the holiday weekend, and I just wanted to send you lots of warm wishes and good luck for Monday morning :D :D Here's praying that everything works out and you get your miracle!

Holly~

That's wonderful! you were in my prayers last night. grow, embies, grow!!

~A~

CHJH
How are you doing? I have been thinking of you and your little embies and praying for great news.
Good luck and loads of prayers and sticky, sticky baby dust. I think we will share the 2 week waiting game.
Karenn

Thanks for thinking of me. The status report this morning was that all 7 were dividing. 5 were 7-8 cells, 1 was 5 cells, and 1 was too many cells to even count. I'm relieved. The one that was slow to start has caught up to the others. The doctor said the usually lose the most between days 3 and 5, so I'm glad we've got 7 to work with. Transfer will be Monday at 10:45 in the morning. How about you?

YEA!!! Those sound like GREAT embabies!!! Good Luck on Monday with your ET....HOW EXCITING!!! Then relax, relax and relax some more and let those little ones get comfy in their new home:)

My thoughts will be with you on your 2ww, rest well after EC and take it easy and I hope and pray you will have a babe(s) in your arms in 9 mths!:angel:
~Kay

Why aren't they doing a Day 3 transfer? My doctor told us that a lot of the fertilized embryos don't survive until day 5. We had 11 fertilized embryos on day 3. Three were transferred into me-and the rest were left to continue to divide until day 5. Only 2 survived until day 5 and we froze them. You might want to ask your doctor about a Day 3 transfer. Were the sperm extracted through NSA or the traditional way? If they were extracted by NSA-there is a decreased chance in the fertilization of the eggs to begin with. Did your doctor mention this to you? Keep me posted.

Well, I got back from the clinic about an hour ago and things went beautifully. Two perfect embryos were transfered (we saw them on the ultra sound -- little white flashes landing in the uterus!) and it was completely painless. It only took a few moments actually. I had an ultrasound about 1/2 an hour before the transfer so the technician could check my uterine lining and "plan her route". The actual transfer was done by my doctor with help from the technician (it was a team effort). Everyone was extremely nice (as usual). And, you'll never believe this, but out of the seven eggs that fertilized five days ago...five developed perfectly (two of which was tranfered today, three will be frozen) and the remaining two were still dividing so they were going to take them one more day and see if they are suitable for freezing. I didn't think we'd end up with any left for freezing! I only had 8 follicles to be begin with, I thought it was extremely lucky that all eight contained eggs, I thought were so lucky that seven fertilized, and now, on day five, to have five perfect embryos, well, I couldn't be happier. Anyway, I just want to say that I couldn't have done it without all of the kind messages and positive thoughts on this board. A million thank yous. I can't wait until we all get our BFPs.

Oh, to answer your question -- my doctor does day 5 transfers. I think this is standard in Canada (for the last couple of years anyway). Day 5 embryos have a higher success rate. But sometimes a day three is done if the embryos aren't likely to make it to day 5. I know that many people have had success with a day three transfer. In fact, the nurse at my clinic told me a story about a patient that did a day three transfer with a poor-grade embryo -- she only had one. Last week she brought he beautiful little toddler to the clinic to meet the nurse!! Good luck to you -- I wish you lots of sticky baby dust.

That's awesome!!!:bouncing: :bouncing: I am soooo excited for you! It sounds promising! I'm keeping everything crossed for you. You've been such a big support for me, that I'm here for you any time especially during your 2ww...when will your BETA be? Good luck to you and stay relaxed!!:angel:

That is WONDERFUL news!!! Happy, happy thoughts your way...

~A~

SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so happy for you. I am sure you are in seventh heaven today. Take it easy and loads of sticky baby dust to you.
Karenn

CHJH great job! I am so happy for you! I am sending you tons of sticky baby dust!!!!! I have a good feeling about this!

Koukla :D :D :D :D