Fertilization Update

The embryology lab called this afternoon.

Found out that instead of 11 eggs as we originally thought, we actually had 12 eggs retrieved!  That's the most we've ever had.

Out of the 12, 8 were mature, and out of that, 6 have fertilized and are now dividing.  This again is the most fertilized eggs we've had so far among the 3 cycles.  So we are pretty excited.

The eggs were of various quality, and were between 2 - 5 cells each, and that is pretty decent for retrieval +2 days.  Sounds like the fertilized eggs are rated at Grade 2, which again is decent.  The nurse said that Grade 1 is not that common, and they would be worried of the eggs were at Grade 3.

Again, we are optimistic, but also trying to be realistic.  Based our past history, we know that a lot can still go wrong.

Here's how the last couple of cycles went:
Cycle 1: 8 eggs retrieved from one ovary, 6 were mature, only 2 fertilized naturally. Nothing to transfer because the embryos arrested by day 4.
Cycle 2: 7 eggs retrieved from both ovaries, only 3 were mature and ICSI'd, only 2 fertilized. Had a day 3 transfer, instead of a day 5
 
All in all though, it looks like this cycle is doing better than the others.  Because we have 6 fertilized eggs, the plan is still to have a day 5 transfer.  The clinic will call again with another update on Sunday.  Unless things change, they will call tomorrow (Saturday) morning. 
 
I have to say though that I am pleasantly surprised by how this cycle is turning out so far (touch wood!  Hope I didn't jinx it!).  I was actually feeling quite discouraged and almost hopeless when I started this cycle.  During the last 2 cycles, I was not working, worked out at the gym, ate healthy, took chinese herbs and did acupunture.  This time, because I am now working, I have been working long hours, have not gotten enough sleep, have not been eating well, have not worked out in months, and skipped the chinese medicine and acupuncture.  Yet things have been going better than before.  So, I am praying that this will continue.
 
I started my tetra.cycline (antibiotics) right after egg retrieval, and have to continue taking that until tomorrow night.  Also started my Endo.metrion suppositories this morning.  Not fun.  Feeling lots of bloating, worse than when on stims, and also kind of constipated.  I'll have to continue taking it until my beta.
 
So, I won't have any updates until Sunday (hopefully, unless things change).  So in the mean time, I would appreciate prayers for my eggs/embryos to continue to be grow and be healthy, and make it to transfer.  I've never dared to even think this, but please pray for the possibility that we may have extra embryos to freeze too!

Fertilization Report & Transfer

Dr. Hopeful's embryology lab called today.  Out of the 7 eggs retrieved, only 3 were mature.

It sounds like they did a "delayed ICSI" which I am not 100% sure what it means.  I think one fertilized naturally, and they did the delayed ICSI, I think the next day.
(**Updated: I found out during transfer that delayed ICSI meant the mature eggs were ICSI'd right away, and then they let the immature ones mature one more day before they were ICSI'd the next day.)

So now we have 2 fertilized eggs.

As of this morning (retrieval day +2) one was at 2-cell, and the other was a day behind at 1-cell.

So, we are doing a day-3 transfer instead of day-5.  

Our transfer is scheduled for 11 am tomorrow morning.

For being 2 days after retrieval, 2-cell and 1-cell seems like the embryos are growing really slow.  I just looked back at my fertilization report from my last cycle, and this is very similar to the last.  Only one egg fertilized, but then another fertilized the next day.  In this case, the second one had some help with ICSI.  The difference is we had more mature eggs last time - we had 6 - and this time, we only have 3. 

Also, last time we were going to do the transfer at day-5.  But since the embryos stopped growing before day-5, we had to cancel it.  This time, we are doing a day-3 transfer.  I guess we won't know if the embryos will continue to grow once we put them back in my uterus.

I have to confess that I am somewhat discouraged at how things are turning out.  I had hoped for a better outcome.  But I also know I need to think and stay positive.  It is not over yet.

I will find out more details about how the embryos are doing tomorrow.  I am not sure which doctor is doing the transfer.

Please continue to pray for my embies to grow strong and healthy, and that we will have a good transfer tomorrow.   Today, we had a few people pray for us after our church service and one of the guys said "This is your time!"

Yes, we are claiming that this IS our time!

God is in control, no matter what we will be OK.  We are just praying that it is in his will for us to have a successful IVF this time.