Why do birds suddenly appear every time embryos are near

Yesterday, on a glorious sunny summer morning, with the little bluebirds swaying gently in the tree branches, and to the tinkling of tiny fairy harps, we transferred two "excellent" embryos.

OK, I jest, but as far as transfers go, according to Dr Billy Flynn, it was "beautiful." I miraculously managed to drink exactly the right amount of water to have a full enough bladder without being uncomfortable. Everyone was in a very good mood, and my favourite nurse was there, giving me gentle and encouraging pats on the leg. Afterwards, Dr Flynn took my hand and E.'s in his, and clenched them tightly, wishing us the best of luck. To be honest, I wish he had done a tad more handholding earlier in the treatment process, but it was sort of a nice sentiment and it added to the rose tinted glow to the proceedings.

Interestingly, we could actually see the white blob of fluid containing the embryos on the ultrasound, plunked into my uterus. They printed out the pictures for us to take home, to add to my collection of the snaps of my ovaries. Perhaps I could do a slide show of how I spent my summer vacation.

The other two embryos are apparently a little less perky in their growth, so the clinic decided to give it a couple days, to see if they could be grown into blastocysts. Under HFEA regulations, we are only allowed to transfer two at a time (three in exceptional circumstances), so there was never any question of using the extras at this point anyway. If the pair make it, we'll have something to freeze, which is a plus. Apart from the assessment of "excellent", I didn't get any further information about the ones we put back, and Dr Flynn wasn't forthcoming when I pressed. I kind of got the impression they don't really want you to know, and that's OK with me. Obsessing about the embryo grading is not something I intend to do at this point.

Over the weekend, I'd had a HUGE fight with E. about his attending the transfer. He swore blind I had told him on Friday that he didn't have to be there. What, during my drug induced stupor? Yes, of course he should be there, goddamnit. I mean, strictly speaking he was not required to attend, but it agitated me considerably that he thought he would just skip it. So we had a "full and frank" about a number of things that had happened during the treatment cycle. Considering my behaviour throughout consisted of a series of shiny gold stars on my chart, he had to concede that I had put up with a lot, with good grace. Afterwards, he drove me home, stopping off to buy lots of healthy food, which is his primary way of showing affection. Bless.

So, that's it. Yay! Treatment cycle complete, all but for the waiting and the test. Get this- the clinic don't do a beta. I repeat, no beta. Instead, I have to bring in an early morning pee sample on the morning of 20 August, and they will tell me the results. I have no idea why they do it this way- certainly they have not been coy about taking blood from me at every available opportunity up until now. Even with my love of instant gratification, I can't say I am exactly thrilled. But I always knew this would be the case, and already cleared it with my GP Dr Best Friend for an immediate and proper beta thereafter as a back-up measure. In any event, I think it is safe to say I will be producing a fair few pee samples of my own at home long before the test date.

And won't that be exciting?! Oh yes, it will.

Comments

[Meg]

Great news on the embryos. That's weird about the beta thing though, it's good you have a back up GP. I wish I knew how to get through this 2 week wait any better than the last few times. A good friend at work keeps asking me if I have any signs, just when I have momentarily forgot about it all. Good luck with everything.

[Toni]

Glad to hear you got two beauties!!! That is a bit odd about the beta - maybe they don't want you to obsess about numbers? I'm only a Google doc, so I don't know the rational behind that one :)

Wishing you lots of sticky, wonderful thoughts!!!

[Cathy]

Wishing many more gold stars for you! (Congratulatons on a smooth transfer.)

[Julie]

The two embryo's sound wonderful! I wish you a quick 2 week wait.

But... I don't understand why you have to bring in your pee. You are quite capable of doing a HPT yourself - why pay them to do it?

[B]

Great news! Thinking of you.

[susie]

Great transfer! I'm hoping for you!

[Jennifer]

Heh. You made me snort my morning tea: "Perhaps I could do a slide show of how I spent my summer vacation."

Congrats on the great transfer. Keep us posted on the pee stick progress!

[Betsy]

Congrats to you and E! Hoping the next 2 weeks go fast with a nice strong second line at the end!

[Jen]

Oh, M, so very glad that everything went well yesterday! I sent lots of thoughts your way, with hopes for at least two good embryos--so glad that worked out.

Best of luck in getting through this 2ww (though now thankfully shortened by 3 days!). Hoping hoping hoping for you.

[Julia S]

Very best of luck to you. The Blase Male is soooooo-oooo irritating, isn't he?

[Kate]

Yay! Crossing fingers and toes that you get a BFP!

[Molly]

Congratulations on two excellent embryos and a relatively easy transfer. I'll be hoping for you!

[Amanda]

I'm so glad your transfer went well. Good luck with the 2ww!

[Emily]

So exciting! That's great news about your embryos. Wishing you a speedy two week wait with two thick lines at the end.

Kisses.

[liz]

I've got every available appendage crossed for you.

[deborah]

The most excellent news, Mare. If you hear a little tap-tap-tapping, that's just me impatiently drumming my fingers as I wait for your peesticking to begin...

[Ninotchka]

Best of luck to you! I'm sending you positive thoughts and prayers. :)

[PJ]

Glad the transfer went well Mare. Can't wait for "pee on a stick" day. I've got everything crossed for you over here.

[Pamplemousse]

Ha! No beta at my clinic either. Stingy Scottish clinics. At least mine gives you a pee-stick after your transfer to take home and NOT USE UNTIL THE GIVEN DATE hahahaha!

Smack E a couple of times and tell him to shut up! Jeez, he produces some sperm so that's him done??

You had better get one of those blinkies for your blog now to flash "In the 2WW"!!! (I am being ironic though I have seen them on some blogs. What's up with that?)

[alex]

Yeah...two good ones! Fingers are crossed for you.

Men....God I love them and they put up with so much but for the love of god get with the program. When your woman is getting impregnated by a tube it is a good time to be there.

[cat]

Wishing you the best and for the best. May the waiting be short and the news be wonderful.

[Lala]

Sounds like fantastic progress and handholding. Can't wait for even more positive news in the barn.

[Mellie]

Sounds like you couldn't have done better with the whole thing thus far. I'm so glad it worked out well. Here's hoping you get to take your GP up on that beta offer.

[Susan / holdingpattern]

Sounds like it went swimmingly. I hope that they two embryos stick! May the force be with you....!

[LEB]

wonderful news! Hope the next couple of weeks fly by.