Ultrasound results and a big decision

We woke up Monday to some very interesting weather- hail, snow, rain, etc. It was however a beautiful morning. The east side of the valley was socked in with clouds so it looked like the sun was rising in the west over the Great Salt Lake. The air felt so crisp and clear. We took the kids to their Oma’s house, where she had “Oma pancakes” all ready for them. They love Oma’s pancakes and insist on having them every time they go to Oma’s to be tended. Going through the IVF process again has made both Marty and I feel extra tender towards Joseph and Caroline, realizing again what a gift and a blessing they are.

Saturday we had our appointment for our measuring ultrasound, and to decide how we want to handle the embryos- whether to go with the “2PN’s” or blastocysyts. The ultrasound went fine. Dr. Gottschall is a new doc that has recently joined this practice. She did my ultrasound and found that the endometrial lining is 10mm which means that we are ripe for the transfer and can proceed. She double checked my ovaries and found no cysts or anything that would cause us concern. So that worked out well. I’m already sick of the ultrasound machine. I told Marty as I was sitting there waiting with my bottom flapping in the breeze that I hate the ultrasound machine. I told him that he should have to undergo a prostate exam for each time I have to have these ultrasounds! I’ve had three already in the last two months. (Not counting the two ultrasounds to double check my mammogram results last week).

I found out the technical term for the early stage embryos finally- it basically means that these embryos are at the stage where the sperm and egg have joined and have begun to interact, but the cells have not yet begun to divide, in other words, there are two pro-nuclei cells, thus 2PN’s. Blastocysts are embryos that have reached the stage of 150-200 cells and the cells are starting to specialize as brain cells, heart cells, etc. I really wanted to talk to Dr. Carrell, who is the embryologist, because Marty and I had differences of opinion on which type of embryos to use. Marty wanted to use the blastocysts because they result in a higher pregnancy rate. I wanted to use the 2PN’s because there are more of them, thus a greater chance that at least two will survive the thaw. Dr. Huang (the reproductive endocrinologist) at first told us that we had to choose one or the other. In my mind and heart, I wanted to use the 2PN’s and then later, if we found that none survived, we could go to the blastocysts as a backup. Dr. Huang and Dr. Gottschall both felt that it was impossible to make a wrong decision, that either way would be okay. However, I insisted on checking with Dr. Carrell, who promptly agreed with my plan! I felt this was an answer to my prayers, and the promise that I would get the answers I needed when I needed them.

So the final plan is that we are going to take out 2 “straws” of the 2PN’s today (Monday) and let them start growing (That should be about 10 embryos). By Thursday we should hear from Dr. Carrell about how they are progressing. Whatever grows to blastocyst level by Friday will be what we have to choose from for the transfer. If none of embryos survive that long, we will thaw the blastocysts and use those for the transfer. If there are more than we need, we can refreeze them for a future attempt. We will find out on Thursday what time the transfer will take place on Friday.

Because we moved on to the next stage, the medication routine changed again. I dropped the Lupron shots and traded them for something worse- the progesterone shots. These have a two inch needle that has to go into muscular tissue, which is quite painful. It is 2 mg progesterone in oil. I’ve had three so far, and now I have three owie spots in my hips. I will continue taking this until the pregnancy test, and if that’s positive, I will continue until 10 weeks pregnant. I also dropped the Estrace (estrogen) back down to ½ pill twice a day. That will continue until the pregnancy test as well, and through the first several weeks of pregnancy.

So this week is the week we need prayers and good thoughts. Prayers that our embryos will survive the thaw, that they will progress well, that the transfer will be free of troubles, and that the following two weeks will bring a successful result.