Ok, deep breath.
Embryologist called this morning. Of the 18, 2 are only at 2 cells so they are non-starters. Three were too advanced to PGD (meaning they were more than 8 cells, i.e. can’t biopsy them), so she put them in blastocyst medium to grow to five days, 9 were slightly slower at 5-6 cells, those will be checked and frozen this afternoon and she managed to PGD four excellent embryos. She said they only PGD excellent 8 cells with no fragmentation.
I am not sure what to make of this news. I feel a little disappointed that they only PGD’ed four embies. Lord knows what we will transfer now. I hope I did not make a mistake by telling them to freeze the 9. My clinic has crap FET rates, so I don’t care about freezing. I want fresh embryos. Lots of them.
So I have seven embies to work with, to take to blast. We have the three advanced embies that look good and the four PGD’ed ones. Shit, I hope that’s enough. PGD is all new to me, I should have never said “Ask me anything” because it was just inviting something new to come and mess with my mind. I said to her “so will we have at least two blasts to work with on Wednesday”, and she said definitely. Shit, I hope so. Argh!! Nervous now.
Only getting PGD results back tomorrow afternoon. Hold thumbs for four healthy normal blasts.
Bugger!! This is enough to drive anyone to drink, except I CAN’T SMOKE OR DRINK NOW!!! Today if my first nodrinkingorsmoking day. It feels like forever already. If I have ever needed a cigarette it is now.
Sending lots of luck and positive baby hatching vibes to Julie, Grrl and Jo.
May your days soon (approx 8.5 months) be filled with screaming brats, poopy diapers and baby vomit.
Yep - nervewracking.
What was your ideal number that you wanted to implant?
Posted by: Julia | 17 May 2004 at 03:41 PM
Definitely only two this time. I am never doing the four thing again, and even three makes me nervous. So only two. Dr doesn't even want me to have twins, only a singleton. I'll take whatever I can get (one or two).
Posted by: Tertia | 17 May 2004 at 04:20 PM
Tertia, those numbers sound fantastic to me. I know how gut-churning this all gets in the eleventh hour. Hang in there.
Posted by: getupgrrl | 17 May 2004 at 05:10 PM
Hey there Tertia, am holding thumbs for you for Tuesday!!!
Posted by: Leigh | 17 May 2004 at 06:49 PM
Okay - I'll be thinkin' on two, then.
Posted by: Julia | 17 May 2004 at 09:04 PM
Count me in as keeping it all crossed that this is going to be succesful- here's hoping your life is filled with poop in the not so far off future as well! :)
Posted by: Kristine | 17 May 2004 at 09:05 PM
Happy first nodrinkingorsmoking Day. I hope it's the first of many!
Posted by: Danae | 18 May 2004 at 12:50 AM
Here's a lame-ass good luck for you from me and Mark.
Posted by: cheryl b. | 18 May 2004 at 12:52 AM
You have more eggs than I have had with three IVF's all together so I say this sounds great so far!
Hoping for the best for you!!
Laura
Posted by: Laura | 18 May 2004 at 01:27 AM
Wow. Nervewracking is right. I wish you extreme good luck tomorrow!
Posted by: Moxie | 18 May 2004 at 03:32 AM
Checking back compulsively (as I do most things) for an update. I'm so glad you had such a bevy of embryos to work with -- I know there are winners among them.
Posted by: Julie | 18 May 2004 at 01:10 PM
k, I don't really understand what you said, but I'm totally with you in hoping it'll be a good - no, brilliant - outcome. Oh how easy this would all be if it wasn't a nosmokingordrinking day.
Posted by: Janine | 18 May 2004 at 01:11 PM
I wanted to comment on what you said about the friend that had done 9 cycles, all negative.
I posted a couple of weeks ago that I had finally gotten a BFP on IVF #10. It was my first using donor eggs.
On Mother's Day weekend, I miscarried.
I had told people when I first found out I was pregnant and had low beta numbers (60) that I was happy to be pregnant, even if I miscarried, but then when we found out is was a chemical (what the HELL is that term all about ... I was pregnant, da*n it !!!), I was devastated. In the short two weeks I had to enjoy it (I found out at 5w4days, and miscarried at 6w2days), I looked at baby name sites, thought about baby rooms, and even thought about parking in the mom-to-be spot at my grocery store.
I am happy that I have had this, and I have all my pee sticks in a bag with a print-out of an explanation of chemical pregnancy, but the bitter is still far outweighing the sweet.
Tertia, I love this blog and I love your attitude and you help me cope. I don't pity you but I admire the heck out of you. I forwarded your guidelines for being friends with an Infertile to a ton of people who still tell me about the miracle stories that they hear.
Just wanted to add my two cents.
Delilah
Posted by: Delilah | 19 May 2004 at 03:53 PM