If one is skiing down a ski slop focused on not hitting a rock, one will inevitably hit a rock. I just watched a whole TVO program on the brain and the mind body connection and the power of the subconscious and priming. (ie if you sit on a soft chair, you will be softer in your negotiations vs a hard chair, if you are told "retirement""florida""operation" you will walk slower than otherwise) Hence, I am doing everything I can physically and mentally and spiritually can to prime myself for this positive outcome of carrying to full term a healthy child.
Here is my positive affirmation:
"I am now pregnant, carrying to full term, and giving birth to two healthy babies after successfully implanting two strong healthy embryos during my transfer"
Pretty good huh?:)
Friday, January 24, 2014
Thursday, January 23, 2014
IVF using Frozen Thawed Eggs
Being an early eggfreezer using the fast freezing vitrification technique pioneered at McGill University, circa 2008, I was blessed with 25 eggs, via 3 IVF egg freezing cycles, plus 4 more eggs from a fourth using the slow freezing at another clinic. According the McGill statistics, pregnancy rates based on IVF using fresh eggs vs frozen thawed eggs are comparable. McGill university produced the first baby born from in Canada frozen thawed eggs in 2005, so with those goals in mind, I decided to return to McGill for IVF treatment to start a family with my fiance.
The IVF process using previously frozen (and then thawed) eggs includes the following steps within a 3-6 week duration:
1-Staring Estrogen medication,2-3 weeks, used to simultaneously prevent follicular growth and the build the uterus lining
2-Ensuring Uterus Lining Ready to Accept Embryo Implantation,
3-Starting Progesterone inject able medication, 7-10 days
4-Thawing all available eggs, fertilizing with sperm, to create Embryos, concurrently while taking Progesterone
5-Growing Embryos for 2 to 5 days
6- Tranfering Embryos into the Uterus
7-Freezing remaining Embyros for next Transfer
During our consultation end of October with Dr Dahan, it was discussed that transporting embryos to New Jersey or Detroit for genetic testing could hurt the embryos. Since 99% of abnormal embryos will stop development, through a miscarriage, a Panorama bloodtest in Week 10 was suggested to test genetics in the fetal cells. The test will hopefully reflect a healthy fetus and the pregnancy continues full term to produce a healthy baby girl or boy!
The IVF process using previously frozen (and then thawed) eggs includes the following steps within a 3-6 week duration:
1-Staring Estrogen medication,2-3 weeks, used to simultaneously prevent follicular growth and the build the uterus lining
2-Ensuring Uterus Lining Ready to Accept Embryo Implantation,
3-Starting Progesterone inject able medication, 7-10 days
4-Thawing all available eggs, fertilizing with sperm, to create Embryos, concurrently while taking Progesterone
5-Growing Embryos for 2 to 5 days
6- Tranfering Embryos into the Uterus
7-Freezing remaining Embyros for next Transfer
During our consultation end of October with Dr Dahan, it was discussed that transporting embryos to New Jersey or Detroit for genetic testing could hurt the embryos. Since 99% of abnormal embryos will stop development, through a miscarriage, a Panorama bloodtest in Week 10 was suggested to test genetics in the fetal cells. The test will hopefully reflect a healthy fetus and the pregnancy continues full term to produce a healthy baby girl or boy!
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
First Appointment at McGill University IVF Clinic
My fiance and I went to Montreal on Friday January 17, 2014 and after an ultra quick ultrasound with Dr Dahan, everything is a go now! He just disappeared so we were left to put together the pieces with our nurse Shafiqa, an obgyn from her country of origin. Here is what we learned from our kind nurse Shafiqa.
I started Friday January 17th, meaning today is my third day of Estrogen and will continue for a total of 12 days before another Ultrasound is required to check if my endometrium lining ready- apparently the magic number is 8mm thickness. If it is, then a transfer date can be secured, allotting 5 days maximum to grow/determine which embryo (if more than 1 or 2) is the strongest for transfer (max 2), as the weakest die and the stronger ones become evident. Our nurse told us the Quebec law is such that women 36 and under are allowed a maximum of 1 embryo transfer and those 37 and over are allowed 2 embryos transfers max at one time so to prevent the health complications of multiple births.
On Wed Jan 28th, I find out if my endometrium lining has reached the optimum 8mm. If for example, my lining is only 5mm thick, I would need another 3 days of Estrogen. If for example it is only 2mm thick, then perhaps another week's medication of Estrogen is required before another scan to determine if lining has reached the ideal 8mm. Once achieved, they will be ready to thaw my
eggs and create embryos starting 5 days before the scheduled transfer date.
On the day of egg thaw and embryo creation with my partner's sperm, I must start taking
injectable progesterone to help keep the pregnancy. Earliest transfer possibility is Feb 6th, after which I continue progesterone throughout the pregnancy. 16 days later, they want me to take a pregnancy test.. I'm just trying to absorb how this whole process is happening, taking instructions on medication, and hoping I don't mess up!
I found out one of the prescription includes Pregvit, a pre-natal vitamin and mineral; however, it includes Vitamin A which I have heard is not ideal for pregancy. My nurse told me I can take
any prenatal, so I would like to know if you think there is a big difference between this one and the one I am taking, and if I should stay on the one I am currently taking?
http://www.duchesnay.com/
My fiance and I were able to enjoy a Montreal smoked pastrami sandwich before returning on the Via Rail back to Toronto. Unfortunately my Ralph Lauren dress was lost in the meantime which I picked up in a size 6 for my bridesmaid. Hopefully that is is the only thing I will lose and that everthing else goes well without a hitch!
I started Friday January 17th, meaning today is my third day of Estrogen and will continue for a total of 12 days before another Ultrasound is required to check if my endometrium lining ready- apparently the magic number is 8mm thickness. If it is, then a transfer date can be secured, allotting 5 days maximum to grow/determine which embryo (if more than 1 or 2) is the strongest for transfer (max 2), as the weakest die and the stronger ones become evident. Our nurse told us the Quebec law is such that women 36 and under are allowed a maximum of 1 embryo transfer and those 37 and over are allowed 2 embryos transfers max at one time so to prevent the health complications of multiple births.
On Wed Jan 28th, I find out if my endometrium lining has reached the optimum 8mm. If for example, my lining is only 5mm thick, I would need another 3 days of Estrogen. If for example it is only 2mm thick, then perhaps another week's medication of Estrogen is required before another scan to determine if lining has reached the ideal 8mm. Once achieved, they will be ready to thaw my
eggs and create embryos starting 5 days before the scheduled transfer date.
On the day of egg thaw and embryo creation with my partner's sperm, I must start taking
injectable progesterone to help keep the pregnancy. Earliest transfer possibility is Feb 6th, after which I continue progesterone throughout the pregnancy. 16 days later, they want me to take a pregnancy test.. I'm just trying to absorb how this whole process is happening, taking instructions on medication, and hoping I don't mess up!
I found out one of the prescription includes Pregvit, a pre-natal vitamin and mineral; however, it includes Vitamin A which I have heard is not ideal for pregancy. My nurse told me I can take
any prenatal, so I would like to know if you think there is a big difference between this one and the one I am taking, and if I should stay on the one I am currently taking?
http://www.duchesnay.com/
My fiance and I were able to enjoy a Montreal smoked pastrami sandwich before returning on the Via Rail back to Toronto. Unfortunately my Ralph Lauren dress was lost in the meantime which I picked up in a size 6 for my bridesmaid. Hopefully that is is the only thing I will lose and that everthing else goes well without a hitch!
Monday, January 20, 2014
Wedding planning and family talks at the Cottage
On Labour Day weekend a the cottage, we begin to discuss and plan our wedding! The following weekend included an impromptu bachelorette on Saturday night, followed by my bridesmaid accompanying me to the Toronto Wedding Show. After a few hours of being exposed to the wedding industry's unscrupulous desire to suck out every dollar out of you while you are deep in your emotional "just engaged" high, I suddenly am overcome with an acute desire to elope!
Nonetheless, once we search for venues and settle on a beautiful golf club with outdoor ceremony and I decide on a off-the-rack beaded Maggie Sottero off-white traditional A line dress from Elmwood Brides, in Aurora, the planning stress settles down and we begin to plan for starting our family. So do we do it naturally or with my frozen eggs? Answer: both!
Nonetheless, once we search for venues and settle on a beautiful golf club with outdoor ceremony and I decide on a off-the-rack beaded Maggie Sottero off-white traditional A line dress from Elmwood Brides, in Aurora, the planning stress settles down and we begin to plan for starting our family. So do we do it naturally or with my frozen eggs? Answer: both!
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Eggfreezer Engaged to be Married
On the beautiful island of Crete in Greece, we are engaged to be married. We enjoy a few weeks on the stunning islands; Santorini, Paros, Mykonos, before heading back to the mainland to venture into historic Ancient Greece: Mycenene, Naphlion, Argos, Olympia, and Delphi. We admire this stunning rooftop view of the Acropolis when we arrive at our Athens hotel, "The Acroplis View Hotel". We leave paradise to fly back home eventually.
Eggfreezer
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)