PB, our surrogate, parted ways with us on Thursday, after two days together sharing stories, watching TV and generally being sociable. We won't know the results of the transfer for another two weeks, after PB gets her blood tests.
The whole transfer event was a little like a surreal vacation. We were excited and nervous about the whole thing, and we got to relax for a couple of days afterwards.
Now we just keep our fingers crossed for the next two weeks!
Friday, October 22, 2004
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
The Big Day
Well LH and I arrived late last night in Los Angeles. We called PB, our surrogate from the road to arrange meeting at 9:30 AM this morning for breakfast. After breakfast we drove PB to the appointment at California Fertility Partners.
At the appointment, PB went ahead to the examination room, while we waited. After she was situated, we joined her in the exam room. Jody, the embryologist wheeled in the incubator, and Dr. Ringler brought in a report and pictures of the two embryos chosen for transfer.
LH and I were allowed to view the two embryos under microscope in the incubator, before the procedure began with PB. Afterwards, we sat for an hour with PB, and kept her company while she had her mandatory bedrest. They kept her tilted on the bed head downwards at about a 15 degree angle. In a strange twist on surrealism, the TV in the exam room was on and tuned to the National Geographic channel. During the transfer, they ran a segment on cross dressing men in India, where it was normal to sleep with other men on only one holy day a year. After that show during the bed rest, National Geographic continued on with a show on stolen Egyptian antiquities.
Kim, the psychiatrist from Growing Generations, visited us during the one hour bed rest wait, and brought gifts for LH and I, as well as for PB. We received a book on an embryo's development in the mother's womb, while, PB received a silver bracelet, with a charm attached.
After the hour was over, we were allowed to take PB back to the hotel. We let her rest for a bit, while LH and I went out to get lunch and then browsed in a bookstore on Sunset Blvd. before we returned to the hotel, where PB had munchies for chocolate and sunflower seeds, which we got her from a local quickie mart.
We then kept her company watching TV, and eventually a movie before leaving her to rest for the evening. We'll see her again tomorrow, and have another day of bedrest before she can go home on Thursday.
At the appointment, PB went ahead to the examination room, while we waited. After she was situated, we joined her in the exam room. Jody, the embryologist wheeled in the incubator, and Dr. Ringler brought in a report and pictures of the two embryos chosen for transfer.
LH and I were allowed to view the two embryos under microscope in the incubator, before the procedure began with PB. Afterwards, we sat for an hour with PB, and kept her company while she had her mandatory bedrest. They kept her tilted on the bed head downwards at about a 15 degree angle. In a strange twist on surrealism, the TV in the exam room was on and tuned to the National Geographic channel. During the transfer, they ran a segment on cross dressing men in India, where it was normal to sleep with other men on only one holy day a year. After that show during the bed rest, National Geographic continued on with a show on stolen Egyptian antiquities.
Kim, the psychiatrist from Growing Generations, visited us during the one hour bed rest wait, and brought gifts for LH and I, as well as for PB. We received a book on an embryo's development in the mother's womb, while, PB received a silver bracelet, with a charm attached.
After the hour was over, we were allowed to take PB back to the hotel. We let her rest for a bit, while LH and I went out to get lunch and then browsed in a bookstore on Sunset Blvd. before we returned to the hotel, where PB had munchies for chocolate and sunflower seeds, which we got her from a local quickie mart.
We then kept her company watching TV, and eventually a movie before leaving her to rest for the evening. We'll see her again tomorrow, and have another day of bedrest before she can go home on Thursday.
Monday, October 18, 2004
1 day and counting
I got another call this morning from Jody, from Fertility Futures to set the time for the transfer tomorrow (it's set for 11:30 AM), and to give me an update on how the fertilized eggs are doing. Out of the 8 fertilized eggs, and the 2 additional that were fertilized yesterday, 1 has divided to 2 cells, 7 have divided to 4 cells, an 1 has divided to 5 cells. An additional 2 eggs of the immature eggs have shown signs of growth and viability. So they've taken those two and one of the 4 cells and frozen those as well as a backup. That leaves 8 fertilized eggs in culture. Tomorrow we'll make the final decision about how many to transfer to PB, our surrogate.
According to Jody, ideally we want the eggs to be around 4 cells today and anywhere from 5 to 8 cells when they're transferred tomorrow.
We'll be staying at the same hotel as PB, so we'll be driving her to the transfer appointment. She has no restrictions on her eating/drinking prior, but Jody did warn she's not to move for an hour or so after her transfer so she might want to watch her consumption of what she drinks as she won't be able to use the facilities.
We're going to leave between 3-4pm for the drive from the SF Bay Area down to Los Angeles. We're hoping to not to get down there too late. But in any case, I'll try and call PB tonight before it's too late to make arrangements for meeting in the morning.
According to Jody, ideally we want the eggs to be around 4 cells today and anywhere from 5 to 8 cells when they're transferred tomorrow.
We'll be staying at the same hotel as PB, so we'll be driving her to the transfer appointment. She has no restrictions on her eating/drinking prior, but Jody did warn she's not to move for an hour or so after her transfer so she might want to watch her consumption of what she drinks as she won't be able to use the facilities.
We're going to leave between 3-4pm for the drive from the SF Bay Area down to Los Angeles. We're hoping to not to get down there too late. But in any case, I'll try and call PB tonight before it's too late to make arrangements for meeting in the morning.
Sunday, October 17, 2004
The Egg Retrieval
BR, our egg donor had her retrieval yesterday, October 16, Saturday. It was a surprise to all of us when Eileen called on Saturday afternoon to confirm that they were able to retrieve 30 eggs from BR. That's a huge number. We'd been told all week that she had stimulated 16 follicles, but no one was expecting 30 eggs.
The eggs were fertilized Saturday afternoon, using an invitro fertilization technique called ICSI. It's where the egg is injected with the spermatozoa to increase the chances of fertilization. Out of the 30 eggs retrieved 20 were mature enough for the fertilization procedure. Out of the remaining 10, those that remained viable were allowed to mature further.
I received a call this morning from Fertility Partners, and the embryologist who confirmed that 14 of the 20 eggs fertilized successfully. Out of those 14, 6 were frozen for future use in case the procedure later this week doesn't work out. The remaining eight will continue to mature for use in the transfer. Out of the 10 that weren't mature enough, only two matured enough for the ICSI procedure, which they will undergo today.
So for Tuesday's transfer, we'll have a minimum of 8 fertilized eggs to choose from, with a maximum of 10. On Tuesday, they'll look at all the eggs and decide which ones are the best candidates for transfer. At that time we'll make the final decision, along with the doctor about which ones get transferred and how many.
The eggs were fertilized Saturday afternoon, using an invitro fertilization technique called ICSI. It's where the egg is injected with the spermatozoa to increase the chances of fertilization. Out of the 30 eggs retrieved 20 were mature enough for the fertilization procedure. Out of the remaining 10, those that remained viable were allowed to mature further.
I received a call this morning from Fertility Partners, and the embryologist who confirmed that 14 of the 20 eggs fertilized successfully. Out of those 14, 6 were frozen for future use in case the procedure later this week doesn't work out. The remaining eight will continue to mature for use in the transfer. Out of the 10 that weren't mature enough, only two matured enough for the ICSI procedure, which they will undergo today.
So for Tuesday's transfer, we'll have a minimum of 8 fertilized eggs to choose from, with a maximum of 10. On Tuesday, they'll look at all the eggs and decide which ones are the best candidates for transfer. At that time we'll make the final decision, along with the doctor about which ones get transferred and how many.
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Dates are set
Wow, I've been a bit remiss in updating this site. All sorts of exciting things have been happening this week. Both BR and PB have gone in for exams every few days, Erica called me yesterday to confirm that we had to slip a date, since BR's folicles are growing just a little slower than expected. So the retrieval will occur on Saturday, the 16th instead of the 15th, Friday, which means that we won't do the transfer to PB until Tuesday the 19th.
That means LH and I will be driving down to Los Angeles on Monday night instead of having all day Sunday to do the drive. We're going to try and leave San Jose around 3pm or 4pm so we don't get into LA too late. We're going to stay in the same hotel as PB, and we'll drive her to the transfer appointment on Tuesday. Afterwards we'll drive her back, and we'll stay with her for two days at the hotel while she's on mandatory bedrest.
More news later!
That means LH and I will be driving down to Los Angeles on Monday night instead of having all day Sunday to do the drive. We're going to try and leave San Jose around 3pm or 4pm so we don't get into LA too late. We're going to stay in the same hotel as PB, and we'll drive her to the transfer appointment on Tuesday. Afterwards we'll drive her back, and we'll stay with her for two days at the hotel while she's on mandatory bedrest.
More news later!
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Update from CFP
Eileen from CFP is on vacation this week, so Anita gave me a call yesterday with the update on what's happening. BR, our egg donor had her check up on Monday, and she's still on target for all the original planned dates. She's got another followup this Friday, so we'll be able to confirm the dates again then, the idea is that the transfer of the eggs will occur on the 15th of October, and then fertilized embryos will be implanted in the PB, our surrogate on the 18th of October.
I received an email from PB and she's doing well, continuing her fertility drug regimen. She's on patches now, and she's getting ready and excited for the 18th as well.
After getting the call from Anita, Kim Bergman, the psychiatrist from Growing Generations gave me a call and we talked for a little bit. So all is going well for us at this point. Just another couple of weeks before the big day!
I received an email from PB and she's doing well, continuing her fertility drug regimen. She's on patches now, and she's getting ready and excited for the 18th as well.
After getting the call from Anita, Kim Bergman, the psychiatrist from Growing Generations gave me a call and we talked for a little bit. So all is going well for us at this point. Just another couple of weeks before the big day!
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