12 years together.
3 years married.
2 years trying to conceive.
1 year since we starting seeing a fertility doctor.
3 months of this IVF process (length differs for everyone).
Many countdowns within the past year, but the most important countdown is finally here. 5 days until our embryo transfer!
When I’ve told people we’re doing IVF or when people see my posts about it on Instagram, they often say, “I’m so excited for you!” and my response is, “Thank you!” but in my head, I’m thinking, ‘This is not exciting.’ It’s been a long journey and I don’t wish this upon anyone.
It took 22 blood draws, 16 transvaginal ultrasounds, 5 tests, 2 failed IUIs, 1 egg retrieval surgery, over 100 pills, and 52 tummy shots to get here. I’m thankful I didn’t experience any side effects, aside from the night before the egg retrieval. The last 24 shots have made me a little warm and the estrogen pills make me feel kinda off, but nothing to complain about. I’m definitely glad I didn’t get the menopausal symptoms Lupron shots can cause. Emotionally, I’ve been doing ok on most days. I’m just living my quarantine life to the fullest possible. I know there’s more to me and my marriage than trying to have a baby. However, to be honest— because what am I if nothing but honest— there’s been a handful of days when I wasn’t ok. Most recently I was bummed on Halloween. It’s one of my favorite days of the year, but this year, I couldn’t eat anything sweet because of my strict IVF diet, couldn’t go out because of COVID, there was no point in making a costume, and still no baby to dress up. Emotional rollercoasters can be the pits. I digress. Now that we’re so close to hopefully the end of IVF, I’m finally starting to get excited!
I had a pre-transfer appointment today and everything looks good to go. At least a 7mm uterine lining thickness is ideal for an embryo to have the best possible receptive environment to attach itself to and grow into a healthy baby. My uterine lining is at 9mm and it’s trilaminar (three-layered). 9mm! And it’s not even go time yet. She thicc!
I got the green light to start okole shots of progesterone tonight! The most dreaded part of IVF according to me, but I’ll see how it goes and let you know how bad it is. The progesterone is in sesame oil and it needs to be injected with a thick 23 gauge, 1.5” long needle. The oil crystallizes and forms bumps, so it hurts to sit. It’s like getting a flu shot every day, since it’s intramuscular. So I’ve heard. The Google says “Progesterone is the primary hormone of pregnancy and the daily injections are helping your body prepare for a pregnancy.” With that said, I want the okole shots. Let’s get it! Note: I’ll be doing okole shots every night until I’m 3 months pregnant. Time is a weird concept.
