Congrats! Are you hoping for multiples?
I'd be thrilled with twins. We transferred 2 excellent embryos...so there's a possibility that they both "stuck" but I won't know until my ultrasound. And I'm not sure when that is yet.
And I know twins are a risk...but I'll be 37 by the time baby/babies come and H will be 39. The good news is that we have 6 other embryos frozen at this point...so if it isn't twins we can always do a FET for a sibling and at least I'd be using embryos from now (at 36) instead of trying to get more eggs at 38 and hoping that they make good embryos.
We want 2 kids. (Well, I want 3 but we agreed on two) Twins would be awesome and in the "perfect" world, I'd love boy/girl twins.
But...I'm beyond happy to even be pregnant right now. After 3 years of infertility and different infertility treatments, it is sort of surreal. Truthfully, this entire IVF experience has been a bit surreal. And almost too perfect.
Long story...feel free to skip:
I switched insurance in January to enroll in "obamacare" through the state of NJ because NJ mandates coverage for infertility (my employer plan was based out of PA and had no coverage). When I got the new insurance, I went looking to see if my prior RE/fertility clinic was going to be part of the new plan. I happened to stumble across a closer clinic that was taking part in the IVY study (clinical trial for IVF) that was "Tier 1" on my insurance whereas my prior clinic was "Tier 2". So, I called, went to visit, went through all the prequalifications, etc and we were accepted into the IVY study. I then come to find out that I had somehow wound up picking a clinic AND a doctor that is world renowned for their success in IVF patients - especially patients that have autoimmune diseases (which I have)
What would have cost us over $10K (even with insurance) only cost us about $4k. The drug I received through randomization was the study drug. It is called Afolia. It is not an approved drug in the US but is used in Europe. Everything just went SO perfectly I still can't believe it. The worst part of the entire IVF process for me was taking the birth control pills. The BCP gave me a low grade, constant headache for 24 days. The rest of the drugs...no real side effects. At all. It was awesome.
There were all these "milestones' you had to meet in order to continue in the study. BMI had to be above 18. I'm really thin so I was concerned. My BMI wound up being 18.1 or something crazy close. I needed 10 antral follicles at my "baseline" count. I had exactly 10. My progesterone after suppression had to be less than 25....mine came in at 23.75. Every "qualification" hurdle there was through the study...I barely made the cut off but I did. Over and over I did.
I was cheering on my ovaries to make eggs and giving them "high fives" for responding so well to stim drugs. I talked to my ovaries. (You know you've lost it when you are talking to your ovaries)
When I found out we had 8 embryos that were all of good quality, I almost ugly cried. And then I prayed for a couple days waiting to see how they would grow. All 8 grew. (Which is fantastic...you usually lose some along the way). And then I got a case of OHSS...and had to be put on a drug and I was worried that they wouldn't do a transfer. But, I responded to the drug and my estradiol level stopped climbing stupid crazy so we got the go ahead. And the go ahead to transfer 2 (which allowed me to stay in the study). I was thrilled. And, even though I was on Valium and *high*, to actually *see* the embryos being put into my uterus was really crazy. Then knowing you are carrying around 2 excellent embryos and not knowing what is going on inside was weird.
I started taking HPT at 5dp3dt...so what would equate to about 8dpo and getting very faint positives. By 7dp3dt (10dpo) the line was really clear. My beta numbers could go either way (beta = blood HCG tests) but even then, betas can't accurately predict whether you're having twins or not...it just tells you that the pregnancy is progressing normally.
I go again tomorrow morning for my 3rd beta. I'm going to ask then when I can anticipate getting an ultrasound. I think some of my fear/anxiety will be alleviated when I *see* something. It will decrease even more once I see a heartbeat (but I don't think that will be for a few more weeks)
Every hurdle so far, I have steeled myself for a massive disappointment...not getting my hopes up...and somehow, this body that I've beaten up for 36 years keeps coming through for me thank God! IVF is an emotional roller coaster. You're so acutely aware of what is going on in your body (or not going on) at every.single.step of the way. It is awesome and nerve wrecking at the same time.
