Second Beta

611!!!

Our Journey to Baby

We decided to start trying for a second child soon after Stella was born.  Most people probably thought we were crazy but it took us forever to conceive Stella and we couldn't imagine trying to prevent a pregnancy.  A natural pregnancy is truly a gift and absolutely AMAZING!  We hoped and prayed for natural conception but that wasn't in His plan for us.  We made a decision to move forward with a frozen embryo transfer (FET) during the summer of 2011.

FYI:  During our first and only IVF cycle in the summer of 2009, we conceived Stella.  We had 5 perfect embryos that were left over from that cycle.  We are very lucky that we had embryos to freeze.  We decided to transfer two of those frozen embryos inside of me this summer.

April 28th - FET consultation with RE

We were given a 25% chance of conceiving one baby if we transferred one frozen embryo.
We were given a 40% chance of conceiving one baby if we transferred two frozen embryos.
We were given a 20% chance of conceiving twins if we transferred two frozen embryos.

*FET cycles have lower success rates than IVF cycles.

May 17th - Start BC pills
May 25th - Blood Work and Hysteroscopy
June 11th - Hallelujah!  It's CD 1!  Start Estrace (1 mg twice a day)
June 16th - Increase Estrace (2 mg twice a day)
June 20th - Increase Estrace (2 mg three times a day)
June 22th - Blood Work and Ultrasound (lining measured 9.3), Start PIO Shots (1 cc twice a day)
June 27th - FET Transfer (2 beautiful embryos, both grades 4BB), Reduce PIO Shots (1 cc once a day in AM), Start Progesterone Suppositories (1 in PM)
July 1st - BFP at 4dp5dt
July 6th - First Beta at 9dp5dt (289)
July 8th - Second Beta at 11dp5dt (611)
July

Wow!  I just can't believe how lucky we are to be pregnant again.  Thank goodness for SEFC!  Everything we have to go through is completely worth it.  It's not fun, easy or cheap but it's just what we have to do to get pregnant.  If you have any questions, please send them my way: chelseascruggs at yahoo dot com.

Congrats from RE

I'm having my second beta tomorrow morning.  I'm really hoping for good news!  The number should double. 

My RE just called to say congrats.  He is very excited for us.  He said they will continue to monitor my levels through blood work.  My first ultrasound will be in two weeks.  So around 6 weeks!  I'm sure I'll schedule the appointment tomorrow when the nurse calls with my results.

Please keep our miracle in your prayers.  I really hope and pray this is a healthy pregnancy!

Beta Results at 9dp5dt

289

My thoughts right now:

It's time to CELEBRATE!

Am I really pregnant?

Wait, am I really?

This is AMAZING!

God is so good!

Stella is going to be a big sister!

OMG!

We are so lucky!

I love SEFC!

Wow!

I can't wait to meet him or her!

ETC!

My heart still hurts for those that are STILL waiting for a miracle.  I hope my story gives you hope.

Beta in AM

My first beta with Stella was 208.  At the time I was pregnant with twins.  I'm saying a prayer that I will have a high beta tomorrow morning too.  Stella and I will be at the hospital in Savannah at 6:30 AM tomorrow.  I'll post the results soon after I receive them!

BFP at 6dp5dt

Yes, I made a mistake.  It should be 6dp5dt.

BFP at 5dp5dt

Of course I am still taking tests.  Here's 5dt5dt:



I haven't taken a picture of 6dp5dt yet.  It looks similar to the one above which kinda worried me because I wanted it to be darker.  Darker means my HCG levels are increasing which means a healthy pregnancy!  I haven't tested today (7dp5dt) because I'm out of tests.  I'm going to take one tonight when I get home.  We are in NC celebrating the fourth with our family.  I've got two First Responses waiting for me at home!

My Mom, who has spoiled me all week, made my favorite cake of all: Hummingbird Cake!  It's amazing and even better with coffee (decaf, please!).  I'll post the recipe on here at some point.  You must try it.  You won't be disappointed.

My betas will be on Wednesday and Friday at 6:30 AM in Savannah.  I'll share the numbers so stay tuned!

HAPPY FOURTH!!!

BFP on 4dp5dt

Can you feel the joy?

Here's our BFP from this morning at 4dp5dt...
just like with Stella, 2 years ago...

SEFC is amazing!!!

The Wait

The wait after the FET was really difficult.  I'm writing this after the wait because I've already tested.  That post is coming next!  But I wanted to share that the wait is the hardest part (other than getting a BFN).  You don't want to get your hopes up because what if it doesn't work?  We were given a 40% of success.  You don't want to think negative either.  It's just extremely difficult.  On top of all those feelings, it has already been a long wait...like months.  And to know that you are finally so close, it's just overwhelming!

Back to the wait...

I had a few mild cramps on and off for the first couple days.  I didn't notice them as much the third day.  That kinda worried me.  I tested on the third day and it was negative.  I really tried hard to see a positive in every light, but I couldn't.  It wasn't there!  Other than mild cramps I didn't have any other symptoms. 

Okay, sensitive nipples on the second night.  That's why I tested on the third morning.  Sorry if that was TMI but I would want to know that if I was going through a FET.

I tested again on the fourth day...

Our FET Story

Our first, and let's hope only FET is complete!  The transfer took place on Monday at noon.  We had a normal morning and drive to Charleston.  I made a mistake and took both of the Doxycycline pills at breakfast.  I was supposed to take one with breakfast and one with dinner.  I took the Valium one hour before the transfer.  I had just finished my 32 ounces of water before we arrived.  The nurse took some blood work and then we met with our RE.  He told us that our two frozen embryos survived the unfreezing process perfectly.  He said they both looked great.  He even showed us their "placenta parts".  We couldn't really see what he was talking about but whatever, we were still excited!

Josh and I got dressed in our space suits (as Josh calls them) and we headed to the transfer room.  The nurse got us all set up.  She checked my bladder to make sure it was full.  Apparently they can see your uterus on an ultrasound better if you have a full bladder.  The nurse told us that she had a beautiful picture of my uterus because my bladder was very full.  So we waited for the doctor to come in and oh my goodness, he never came in.  Now remember I had to drink 32 ounces right before we arrived.  I could no longer hold it.  And how are you supposed to hold it with your legs in stirrups?!?!  I told Josh that he had to go find the nurse.  The nurse gave me a cup and told me to fill up the whole cup.  Of course I only filled half the cup because I didn't want to risk anything.  That provided some relief!  So we got all set up again and we waited.  Well of course he didn't come in so I told Josh that he had to go find the nurse again or I was going to run to the bathroom without a cup.  She came back and told me to do the same thing.  I just filled half a cup!  So back to the room again, and our RE finally arrives.  He apologized but I could careless what anyone was saying at that point because I was dying to go to the bathroom.  I tried to relax.  I don't remember having to go so badly last time.  It was pretty painful and definitely not something I ever want to go through again.  I felt like everyone was working so slow.  When our RE told the embryologist he was ready for the embryos I thought he was never going to come in with them.  I almost said "HURRY UP!"  Our RE told me that I was 3 to 5 minutes away from a bed pan when he called for the embryologist.  Finally (after months and months of waiting) our two perfect embryos were placed inside of me.  We watched with excitement (and for me, with pain too). 

Josh in his space suit!

Please excuse this picture -- no make up and awful glasses (that's another post)!

The white spots in the center are the fluids that contain the embryos!

I was finally able to relax!  We said a prayer and then we talked about how amazing it is that there are two embryos inside of me.  Everything about those little ones has already been determined.  It's just amazing and we can't wait to see what our future holds.

Josh made me another bed in the back of Murano like two years ago.  He calls it the "Murambulance".  He's too good for me!  He keeps me laughing during stressful times.  I love him to pieces.  I can't imagine going through this experience without him.

 Chilling in the back of the Murambulance!