Our miracle RAINBOW BABY BOY arrived 8/2018

1st IVF = BFN
2nd IVF = Baby A, born May 2015
3rd IVF = Miscarriage at 14 weeks
4th IVF = BFN
After we paid for 5th IVF, positive pregnancy without IVF!

Because the important moments in life just don’t fit in a status update! I started this blog when I was training for my first ½ Ironman, (70.3 miles) to record what I hoped would be growth and progress but ended up being a huge learning experience. Although fitness is one of the key ingredients to a happy life, it certainly isn't the only ingredient. My blog has evolved to document growth, progress and setbacks in other areas too. From my surprise proposal in Rome and wedding in the fall of 2013, to Mom's devastating stage IV cancer diagnosis and death 2 weeks after I found out I was pregnant. Who knows what shape it will take, but thanks for being along for the ride.

Friday, October 21, 2016

I'm Pregnant!

With cautious optimism, I'm sharing with you the extremely early but exciting news that our 3rd IVF worked and I'm pregnant!

We did a three day transfer of three embryos on Saturday, October 8th; the second anniversary of my Mom's death. Two days prior, we learned that we only had 5 that fertilized from the 11 eggs that were retrieved. I was disheartened. Knowing that with our second round, of the 8 that fertilized, only TWO were ready to transfer on day three (the rest were not dividing or had two polar bodies) I was trying to prepare myself for arriving at our appointment only to be told "I'm sorry but...."

We checked in and they gave me an identification bracelet. That is a good sign, I thought, which was quickly countered with It's just a formality; they do that with everyone. We sat and waited. As I was called back, the woman said "The doctor will be in soon to do the transfer!" Shocked, I asked "Oh, I have embryos!? How many?" Immediately unsure and starting to backpedal, she said "oh, umm..I don't actually know. The embryologist is meeting with Dr. Frederick right now to go over the results." Apologetically, she scurried out and quietly closed the door.

When my doctor came in with a huge smile, I immediately knew and exhaled a sigh of relief. But I wasn't expecting her to say that we had THREE! Elated, we transferred all three, which is within the recommended guidelines for my age.

I went home and was on bed rest for three days, something that is much better in theory. And then we waited. And waited. The two-week wait is difficult at best. While I felt hopeful, I would quickly counter that with the fact that we also transferred three for my first IVF and none of them took.

Last Sunday, only 8 days after the three day transfer, I tested. There was the faintest line. The kind of line you could only see at a certain angle, in certain light. It gave me hope. On Tuesday, 10 days after the transfer, I had a line. A very faint one but the beginning of a line. Finally, on Thursday, I took the test above. I sent a picture to my husband who texted back: Trying not to get excited and you are making that hard to do. 

If you haven't gathered, my husband is more of a practical planner than me. While I'm over here shouting it from the roof-tops, he is keeping in mind that it is so early, and 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage. Also, we did not do genetic testing on our embryos, an additional cost of $5,000. So we do not know if this little embryo has the capacity to continue developing, even in ideal circumstances.

I'm an open person and one of the reasons I don't mind sharing this news so early is because if it turns out to be a chemical pregnancy, I would be really sad and I would want to share that too, as part of my healing process.   

But for now, I'm enjoying it. We're going out to dinner tonight to celebrate my beta blood test which was 232, a "good" number but not looking like multiples. I go back for more blood work in three days, and we want to see that number double or triple. My first ultrasound will be around October 28th, but we won't be able to see a heart beat for one month.

18 comments:

  1. I am really happy for you. I am hoping and praying that they stick and you are blessed with at least one baby in 9mos.

    I SO wish I could afford to try IVF a second time. It's breaking my heart every day that I will never be a mom because I can't afford it.

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    1. Christy....that is heartbreaking but never say never. Keep looking for clinical trials. Our first failed IVF was $20,000 with none left to freeze. But Baby A was a clinical trial and $4,000 including medication. Have you looked at CNY in New York?

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  2. Congratulations!!!!! I've been looking for your post! Here's to continued blessings and doubling in numbers!

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  3. Congratulations!! Can't wait to hear more!

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  4. Woo hoo! I was so worried for you when I heard you only made it to a Day 3 transfer. We never got a BFP with Day 3 transfers (even when we transferred 3 embryos, too), but YAY for you!! Will be praying that the little babe(s) keep on growing!

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  5. Yayyyy Meggy! Can't wait to find out if its a girl or a boy (or one if each hehe)!!!

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  6. Fantastic news! I've been stalking waiting for an update!

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    1. Thank you so much! Just hoping it sticks. I'll know more Monday when I go in for my 2nd BETA...but will really feel good when we see a heartbeat in 4 weeks. That seems like forever away!

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  7. SOOO excited for the three of you! Love, Kj

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  8. You've been on my mind a ton!! I am hoping and praying you got amazing news yesterday.

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  9. Hi Megan! I find myself in a similar situation as you however we have decided to wait to see how many (if any) make it to blast. We retrieved 9. 3 mature/fertilized. Today, day 3, we have 1 excellent 8 cell & 2 good 4 cell. Do you remember what the grades were on your embryos you transferred day 3?

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    1. Oh my gosh - how exciting! Remember you just need one! You must update me! We transferred two with 8 cells and 1 with 6 cells. With my first baby we only transferred two on day 3 - that was all we had! I think they were both 8 cell but would have to check the photo on the side of the fridge. I will be thinking of you - let me know how it goes! Very exciting!

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  10. Thank you! Your excitement is helping me a bit with my overall anxiety with this whole process! Our original plan was to PGS test all blasts but statistically they are expecting one available blast day 5 (however I do believe in little baby miracles!) so now we are torn. Do we risk the bitty embaby in the lab till day 6 to allow for pgs or just trust that our one little guy/girl is chromosomally healthy and transfer on day 5? Because you've been through this three times maybe you have some insight?

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