~~DE/DEmbryo/GC Check-in~~

JM1977 · May 2012

This group is open to anyone who has already gone through donor egg/donor embryo/gestational carrier, is in the process of it, or plans on doing it in the future.

This check-in posted each Tuesday.  If you?d like to be added to this group, please reply to this message, and I?ll make sure to add you for next week.  Welcome to the lurkers!  We know this can be a difficult journey, but we welcome you with open arms.  Let us know if we can answer any questions.

GRADUATES ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO POST!

FACEBOOK GROUP: Yellow_Daisy has restarted a PRIVATE Facebook group (meaning no one can see it in your feed, that you are a member, etc.) for the ladies from IF and SAIF who are using/have used donor eggs/embryos or donor sperm.  If you would like to join, please page Yellow_Daisy and ask for an invite to the group.  This might be a nice way to keep in touch in a more private setting and address issues that may arise down the road.

***** If you are a donor or interested in donating, we would be happy to answer questions.  Please start a new post with ?Question for DE ladies? as the title. *****

Last Week?s Check-in

Status Update: Where are you currently with the DE/DEmbryo/
GC process?

QOTW: What are your thoughts about frozen embryos? Have you done anything to minimize the number of potential frozen embryos you have? What would be your preference for what to do with remaining embryos once you feel your family is complete?

Huge congratulations to those moving forward with their cycles! We wish you only the best!

(((Hugs))) to all who need them.

Special thanks to BRSAugust20 for representing us at the NIAW panel! Can?t wait to hear about it!

Currently Cycling/on BCP's or Lupron
mtlaurel ? Pursuing DE after two failed IVF cycles, DE consult complete, scheduled required mammogram for April, hoping to cycle in June or July, DH?s SA numbers are up, chose a donor! started BCP?s on 4/3, another recipient selected donor! Will be doing breast u/s to follow up from mammogram
RFBsbride ? Fresh DE cycle and FET in 2009 both BFN's, pursuing DE again after unplanned 2-year break, initial blood work fine, started BCP?s on 12/15, everything looked good on saline sonohystogram and bone density scan, DH going for a physical and will get a referral to a urologist, all testing done, started on BCP?s on 3/25, donor in town for screenings
sekura ? Had WTF for IVF#1 and decided that DE is best option, considering RBA, consult scheduled for 3/6, cycling now at RBA?s frozen egg program! Tentative transfer date is 5/12

Waiting to Cycle/Between Cycles
amethysgrrl ? Pursuing DE, have selected a clinic and a donor, planning for a June cycle, successfully completed evaluation cycle and had SHG done
BeckyP005 ? 2 IUI?s both BFN?s, RE says DE is best option, not 100% sure about this option but beginning required testing, cycle on hold until August or September due to repeat mammogram needed
ceemonkey ? High FSH on her side and sertoli-cell only syndrome on DH's side, thinking about moving ahead with DE or DEmbryo, joined donor embryo program and have submitted some picks, matched with donor embryos! Next step is more testing and then wait for a schedule, on BCP prep for next cycle with OE

emca ? Decided on DE after 7 early miscarriages (including after IVF with CGH testing), chose a donor but cycle then cancelled due to donor thinking she was pregnant, decided to cycle one more time with OE, BFN with no frozen embryos, unsure if it is an egg quality problem, unsure of what to do next
Ginger71 ? Staring the DE process in the New Year, considering DE + DS, decided on a guarantee program and moving forward, working on financial details
happywifemomofone ? 100% OOP, considering shared DE cycle, DE consult scheduled at Advanced Fertility went well, would like to cycle in June or July, contemplating guarantee programs, planning to cycle in late June, have a first choice donor and a backup working out the financial details, hysteroscopy scheduled for 4/19
harriet93 ? ET May 2011, lost baby at 9 weeks (((hugs))), hoping for FET soon, growths in uterus removed, waiting on lab results before moving forward
jfire28 ? DS born in ?08, m/c in ?09, then 3 IUI BFN?s, decided on DE, ER scheduled for 11/2 and ET on 11/7, positive beta on 11/16, early m/c, betas still increasing, u/s and hysteroscopy showed nothing (((hugs)))
krod2010 ? IVF #6 with identical twin as donor, 16 eggs retrieved but none fertilized ((((hugs)))), DE cycle, ET 1/16, transferred 3 blasts, nothing to freeze, beta #1=81, D&C at 8 weeks 6 days after fetus stopped growing and heartbeat slowed, testing suggested heart defect, cycling with the same donor again in April
lynn0926 ? Made the decision to pursue DE, looking into San Diego Fert Center, nursing consult and RE consult completed, found a local clinic willing to do monitoring and submit to insurance, matched with a donor! SHG completed and decided to leave fibroid, started mock cycle on 4/2, transfer planned for early August after insurance kicks in July 1, some mixed feedback about lining, applying for guarantee program
M&MBride0506 ? Medicated cycles with sister, final IUI was negative, moving on to IVF, IVF#1 = BFN (((hugs))), sister is currently cycling - ET on 2/3/12
may2806 ? DE IVF cycle was BFP, having bleeding episodes but heartbeat is good, NT scan went great but blood work showed high HCG and low Papp-A, amnio scheduled but not done, late m/c ((((HUGS)))), determined to be caused by a huge SCH behind the placenta, did not work for SIL to be GC, planning on DE cycle, hysteroscopy showed uterus looks normal, also started looking into adoption
mielkede ? Decided on DE in August 2008, DD born August 2009, 2 frozen embryos, FET = BFN (((hugs)))
MRSBELLALEE ? FET 10/26/09 = BFN, fresh DE cycle 4/10/10 = BFN, polyps removed in July, FET 9/10 = BFN, in contact with SIRM, NKC high but everything else normal, working with new RE in Maryland who recommended the Integrin B test, late loss of baby girl ((((HUGs)))), RE suggests adenomyosis, adopting, waiting to be matched with an infant , also looking into DE at SDFC
reb259 ? DE consult schedule for 11/3, DE IVF#1 with frozen eggs did not work out (((hugs))) WTF and appointment with reproductive urologist scheduled, phone consult with RBA went well, meeting with psych and having more blood work done on 4/20, then will get access to egg bank and can choose a donor, hoping for a June transfer
rebaann ? Two pregnancies from IUI that ended in miscarriages and D&C?s (((hugs))), now pursuing DE, assigned a team, hoping for August cycle, mock ET on 4/12, everything looked good on repeat HSG, decided on financial option, next steps: injection training and social work consult
rewdew  ? Going straight to DE with ICSI after removal of one ovary and elevated FSH, also dealing with MFI, DE IVF #1 = BFN (((hugs))), 2 morulas frozen, planning on natural FET
sarahtoledo ? Looking into traditional surrogacy after a third loss
vawad82 ? BFP on 1st attempt with donor ? m/c, huge hugs

Looking into Options
Delta04 ? 2 failed IVF cycles with OE, getting more information about DE, started DHEA for 3 months and plans to cycle with OE
hrtbreakr ? Has been going through IVF/Infertility for 4 years, told DE is the best option
kbrodie06 ? Has a 3-year-old daughter, considering/researching DE for second child, checking with doctors in the area and weighing options
militarywife2b ? Considering embryo adoption, first consult with a new RE unsatisfactory, pursuing private adoption of baby who is due in May, also working on losing weight

~*~Graduates~*~
07may07 ? DE cycle with sister's eggs, 3dt, BFP! Beta at 11dp3dt = 190, Beta at 15dp3dt = 927, it?s twins! A boy and a girl!, feeling better, baby girl on the lower end of normal for weight so keeping an eye on her, 34 weeks! Babies are growing well
aebaby ? Cycled with RBA?s frozen DE program, HSG showed polyp which was removed, hysteroscopy for 11/2, 6 eggs fertilized after the thaw, SET on 12/14, 3 to freeze, beta on 12/22, early HPT?s positive!
ashleyann82 ? Chose a new donor after first one backed out, shared cycle, DE eSET on 6/19, 4 frozen, BFP! Heartbeat is looking great on ultrasounds, baby looked great on a/s, it?s a BOY!, failed GTT, appointments set up with RN and dietician, going to start exercising more and watching diet, hit 35/35 milestone
bluebabka ? DE IVF #1 - 13 eggs retrieved, ET of 2 blasts on 2/19, BFP! First u/s showed two but follow-up showed one beautiful baby with a heartbeat of 174, baby boy born 11/3 via C-section, planning on FET in April or May
BRSAugust20 ? BFP (singleton)! Joseph is here! Contemplating next steps regarding frozen embryo, on a parent panel for RESOLVE?s NIAW activity!

Bubs711? Selected donor! Sonogram as follow-up from mammogram showed fibrocystic breasts, biopsy of both breasts on 2/16 ? mass was drained, TSH came back high, went on Synthroid, baseline blood work and u/s were good, ET of 2 day 5 embryos, beta #1 = 477, beta #2=1,777, first u/s scheduled for 4/25
CharBart ? BFP on 1st attempt with donor!  Twins! Boys born at 32 weeks and doing great
dreamalotmp ? DOR, AMA, DE IVF + ICSI cycle, chose donor, cycle planned for November, donor dropped out of the program but selected a new one, ER and ET complete, BFP! Beta #1 = 243, Beta #2 = 489, first u/s showed one healthy developing yolk sac, everything looked good on first trimester screening, diagnosed with gestational diabetes, great anatomy scan on 3/5 showed a girl!
epphd ? BFP (baby boy)!  Nubbin is here! Pregnant with OE in December, NT scan and CVS at 12 weeks showed chromosomal abnormality, D&E (((hugs)))
erinandbrockv ? DE cycle using sister?s eggs, ER on 2/8, ET on 2/13 - BFP!

gemini667 ? Pursuing DE after 2 losses and 3 failed IUI?s, started Lupron for DE cycle, received 4 eggs in a split cycle, on PIO, ET on 3/17! Transferred 2 embryos, HPT shows BFP, Beta #1=625, Beta #2=1,527, Beta #3=3,697, u/s #1 scheduled
GymDogFran ? Frozen egg program, twin girls!
hep01 ? BFP on 1st attempt with donor ? m/c ((huge hugs)) blood work results are back and showed a strand of MTHFR started Lovenox before ET, transferred 2 frozen embryos on 2/1, BFP! It?s twins! Two baby girls!
hooliface ? DE cycle, transferred 2 embryos (8 cell compounding grade B+ and an 8 cell grade on day 3, BFP!
ichoosehope ? DE IVF #1 - ER on 3/4, 38 eggs retrieved, 34 mature, 3dt of 2 embryos - BFP!
Imanurse03 ? DE IVF #1 - ER on 5/31, ET on 6/4, 16 frozen embryos! BFP! It?s a BOY! Complications including low amniotic fluid levels, IUGR, welcomed baby boy on 1/18/12!
iwannababy2010 ? BFP on 1st attempt with donor! Everything looked good on NT scan, baby is here! Trying for a second baby with FET in March
jcath ? Donor egg cycle with frozen egg bank, chose donor and back-up, had endo biopsy, 5dt on 1/26, beta #1 = 118, betas have been good, first u/s on 2/21 showed identical twin girls! Arrived safely on 9/2, enjoying every second with their girls
jhleap ? Has a toddler from DE, did an FET in November and got a BFP, expecting baby #2 in early August, first OB appointment scheduled for week of 1/16
JM1977 ? DE IVF #1 = BFN, DE IVF #2 - eSET on day 5 (12/15), beta on 12/28 = 1,035, beta on 12/30 = 2,234, first OB appointment showed baby measuring right on track, baby girl M arrived on 8/30/11!
juliannat ? BFP - boy/girl twins!
kb1965 ? Baby girl from DE who is 18 months old, FET of 2 embryos scheduled for 5/2
kdussault ? Donor egg cycle with known donor, 3dt on 1/22 of one perfect embryo, BFP! NT scan went great, anatomy scan on 5/19. It?s a boy!
koyn ? Cycling at RBA, transferred 2 embryos on 9/19, froze 1, BFP!! Beta #3 was 14,621, first u/s showed TWINS! 1st MFM appointment and saw both babies dancing around, hit 28 weeks
LBR_NJ/LisaBRM ? BFP! Baby girl Alana arrived on 12/9/09! FET scheduled for 12/10 but embryo did not survive the thaw (((hugs)))
lenebene ? Split DE cycle underway, on estrogen, donor started stims, ER on 4/25, ET is done - BFP! Beta #1 = 314, Beta #2 = 664, u/s showed one bean, u/s #2 saw heartbeat again, released to OB, team green!, passed glucose test
lhcooper ? Cycling with DE at out-of-state clinic, ER 12/5 - 16 eggs retrieved, got 5 in split cycle, 4 mature, 3 fertilized, 5dt of one embryo on 12/10, beta #1=413, beta #2= 3952, first u/s showed a healthy baby with heartbeat of 138 bpm, second u/s also went great, CVS on 2/14 showed healthy baby GIRL! starting to feel the baby move! Baby girl looked perfect at 20-week scan, buying furniture for baby?s room

lisaiesha ? DE cycle with an anonymous, proven donor, transferred one Day 5 blast on 3/12 ? BFP! Due date is 11/29, second u/s scheduled for 4/27

ljhgrey ? Diagnosed with POF at age 16, unresponsive to Follistim, matched with donor in January, started estrace and more blood work on 3/2, everything looking good! ER was 3/7! ET was 3/12, transferred two beautiful blasts, beta scheduled for 3/23, 3 frozen embryos, HPTs show BFP! Beta #1=114, Beta #2=301, first u/s showed one sac and one yolk sac, next u/s scheduled for 4/6
Lulubelle ? Diagnosed with POF at age 19, has a daughter from a previous DE cycle, original donor contacted and agreed to donate again, BFP! NT scan results looked great, anatomy scan on 8/15 - it's a boy!
lunatwo ? September cycle cancelled due to ovulating on Lupron, DE IVF#1 - ER was 11/11, 13 eggs, 6 fertilized, 5 B-grade embryos, ET on 11/16, BFP! Beta #1 = 485, Beta #2 = 2,495, first u/s showed twins!! A boy and a girl!
mamabear7 ? DE IVF#1, 26 eggs retrieved! 5dt of 2 embryos on 11/7, BFP! Beta #1 = 347! Beta #2 = 1,073, first u/s on 12/3 showed twins! Anatomy scan showed a healthy boy and girl, measuring perfect
Mom2Reese ? Have a daughter from previous IVF cycle, pursuing DE for a second child, in the process of choosing a donor, planning to cycle in April or May
my2012miracles ? Currently expecting through GC (friend)
Mrs.Fuel09 ? DE cycle with cousin as donor, 5dt of 2 embryos on 11/8 - BFP!
njohnson1972 ? Last attempt with OE, transferred 2 embryos on 11/6, BFP!  Jack is here! IVF cycle with OE unsuccessful, currently on a break and pursuing DE for the summer
RachelD83 ? BFP on 2nd FET (single embryo transfer) - boy! Jonathan born on 12/8 at 38w3d, he's starting to crawl!
shyntrue ? Donor selected! Surgery to have septum removed, cycle postponed to December, had second SHG and uterus looked good, DE IVF#1 - 3dt of 2 embryos on 12/10, no symptoms but positive HPT?s! beta #1=890, beta #2=10,967, first u/s on 1/11 showed TWINS! Still having morning sickness but getting better, NT scan scheduled for 2/24, two trips to the ER and an overnight hospital stay, extensive u/s showed (most likely) 2 boys!
snoangel79 ? Dx with POF, DE cycle: 15 retrieved, 12 fertilized, 2 embryos transferred, and 8 frozen, BFP! Twins! NT scan went great - strong heartbeats and good growth, a boy and a girl!, babies small for their gestational age but doing well, welcomed babies on 2/24!
strudel82 ? Success with DE cycle in Dec., pregnant with twin girls! Both are over 1 lb., will talk with OB about possibility of seeing a perinatal cardiologist
Stuckinthemiddle (OE) ? ET for last attempt with OE was 1/19, beta hell, first u/s looked good
SunMoon&Stars ? Cycling using frozen eggs, 5dt on 12/8, beta #1 on 12/17 = 74.8, beta # 2 = 439, first u/s on 1/7, final RE appointment on 2/4 at 11 weeks. Baby daughter born on 9/2!
svp1537 ? BFP - twins!  Everything is looking great, released to OB
turtledove09 ? TTC for 3 years, 2 failed IVF?s with OE, DE IVF#1 ? ET on 1/30, first 2 betas looking good, first u/s scheduled for week of 2/20
Vet-Tech ? BFP with donor embryos, baby girl born 9/20/10! Considering pursuing donor embryos for a second child

lynn0926 · May 2012

I am excited to check in today! What a difference a week makes. Last week I didn't know if we were going forward. But....we got accepted into the guarantee program. My lining is not an issue nor is the fibroid. We also chose a new donor because our other could not commit. Now, our cycle has been moved up and we are scheduled for ER June 19-22 with ET June 24-27! I am on BCP now. I just need to get my psych eval done which we are working on. We are also busy looking into travel arrangements.

QOTW: I am working on DH with this. I would really like to donate the embryos to other couples who want to use donor embryo. DH is not liking this idea right now. I would rather give each of them a chance at life while making another couple, like us, parents.

Bubs711 · May 2012

FX'ed for anyone cycling or about to cycle!

{{{HUGS}}} to those who need them!

Status Update: Where are you currently with the DE/DEmbryo/
GC process? Last week's u/s showed one tiny little heartbeat, and they dated me at 7 weeks with an EDD of 12/12/12. Started telling a few more people. Still doesn't feel real even though I'm exhausted much of the time (cutting into my nest/bump time since I fall asleep sitting up) and feel like I have a hangover (spinny, queasy feeling) especially if I go too long without eating, which is difficult when nothing sounds appetizing. I have semi-graduated to my OB/GYN and have an appointment there on 5/7 with two last b/w appointments at my RE's at the end of the month.

QOTW: What are your thoughts about frozen embryos? Have you done anything to minimize the number of potential frozen embryos you have? What would be your preference for what to do with remaining embryos once you feel your family is complete? We ended up with 11 frosties. Originally I thought of them as back up in case the first try didn't work. Then I thought of them as insurance for a potential future sibling if I could talk DH into more than one. If we end up as one and done (which is a real possibility), we have opted to donate them for scientific research. I feel a little bit weird about that now, though, now that one is becoming an actual baby. DH's cousin and her husband are going through IVF, and I even thought about offering to donate some to her if their IVF doesn't work. I'm sure we'll end up doing the research thing, but it really is a tough decision.

Semi-related side note: I read a book a couple of weeks ago called Between Friends by Kristy Kiernan. It's about a couple whose 15 y.o. daughter is the result of DE from a known donor and the mother's desire to have another baby using the frozen embryos they have. It was an interesting read. Funny thing is I bought the book long before I even began considering using DE, and I completely forgot I had it. Here's a link https://www.amazon.com/Between-Friends-Kristy-Kiernan/dp/B0042P56SA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1335913475&sr=8-3

BRSaugust20 · May 2012

Hi ladies! Congratulations to all of you who have had good news recently. Good luck to those cycling. Hugs to those that need them!

QOTW: When we were cycling we wanted frozen embies in case our first DE cycle wasn't successful or for siblings down the road. We have one day 3 frozen embie. Our contract with our donor doesn't allow us to donate them to another couple and we are fine donating it to science. We are still struggling whether we want to transfer it or not.

Update: We participated in the parent panel for NIAW. There were 8 of us on the panel - two different individuals talking about IVF, two talking about adoption, three of us on DE (DH and I and another woman), and a couple that used a gestational carrier for their second child. The event wasn't well attended but there were probably about 15 people in the audience. The best part (for me) was that there were two couples in the audience who had lots of DE questions. There was also a woman in the audience who was newly pregnant via known DE. I even gave my email to one of the husband's asking about DE - he wants to pursue but his wife doesn't at the moment.

It was interesting because there were 3 other men besides my DH (two of which were there solo as their wives were home with the kids). Hearing everyone's journey was so touching and inspiring. One of the panelists started tearing up and I told her she had to stop because I could feel the tears coming too. It was nice to hear all the different perspectives and journeys and be able to answer questions for people still struggling.

It was a great event. I figure if we even helped one person it would make me ecstatic. We are going to participate in another parent panel at the beginning of June for a DE/adoption seminar they hold twice a year.

If anyone has any questions, let me know!

ETA: I told one of the husbands about this check-in so if you are lurking - hello!!!

reb259 · May 2012

We picked our donor and i start meds monday!!

Main reason we are doing frozen is so we won't have "a lot" leftover. Anything we do have we will do another cycle.

Wishing all upcoming cyclers good luck and congrats to all the BFP's and ultrasounds. Hugs to those who need them!

mtlaurel · May 2012

Lynn0926, congrats on big steps forward. Our cycles will time out pretty close together - see my update below.

Bubs, congrats on a heartbeat!

BRS, I'm sure you helped several people by participating on that panel. I can't speak highly enough of what going to a Resolve conference did for us.

Status: We got a tentative schedule! ER - 6/13ish, ET - 6/18ish. Holy cow!

QOTW: We are not likely to get any frosties because we're doing a shared cycle and our clinic has very, very high freezing standards. I'd like to have a couple for "back-up" or to try for a sibling. But, I'm truly not expecting to have any. Fortunately, we both agree on donating frozen embryos we do not want to try to use ourselves to a couple looking for donor embryo. DEmbryo is still an option we consider on the table should this DE cycle not work. So, it seems only right to be willing to donate.

lynn0926 · May 2012

mtlaurel:
Lynn0926, congrats on big steps forward. Our cycles will time out pretty close together - see my update below.
Bubs, congrats on a heartbeat!
BRS, I'm sure you helped several people by participating on that panel. I can't speak highly enough of what going to a Resolve conference did for us.
Status: We got a tentative schedule! ER - 6/13ish, ET - 6/18ish. Holy cow!
QOTW: We are not likely to get any frosties because we're doing a shared cycle and our clinic has very, very high freezing standards. I'd like to have a couple for "back-up" or to try for a sibling. But, I'm truly not expecting to have any. Fortunately, we both agree on donating frozen embryos we do not want to try to use ourselves to a couple looking for donor embryo. DEmbryo is still an option we consider on the table should this DE cycle not work. So, it seems only right to be willing to donate.

Awesome news! I feel like there is a lot of good news in DE world here and on the FB group! I hope we all get to move over to PAIF!

rebaann · May 2012

Status Update: Where are you currently with the DE/DEmbryo/
GC process? Let's see, this week DH has a repeat s/a, I have my annual appointment with the gyno for a pap and a referral for a mammogram and we have our social worker consult.

We did the injection training last week and I found out that my estrogen is also butt shots. I was not a happy camper, but what can you do? Stick out tongue I picked up the meds for the mock EEP cycle on Saturday and it had been so long since I was last at the specialty pharmacy, that they had MOVED! Fortunately, they are still in the same general neighborhood.

QOTW: What are your thoughts about frozen embryos? Have you done anything to minimize the number of potential frozen embryos you have? What would be your preference for what to do with remaining embryos once you feel your family is complete? We are doing a shared donor cycle, so it's very unlikely that we will have any to freeze. If we were lucky enough to do so, we would donate any that we were not going to use to science.

JM1977 · May 2012

Sorry I was late with the check-in today - the day got away from me!

This past week I came across this quote that I read on a DE message board and saved. I wish I knew who wrote it but thought it was beautiful and worth sharing:

Another point that always does ground me, if ever doubt creeps in, is the fact, scientific fact, is that we are all, as humans, genetically related ultimately, each a part of the larger human family. And that we also share some DNA with other living things also. I think to get distracted by 'own-ness' can be a trap for us in this particular situation. yes, certainly it would be nice, to not HAVE to endure this, BUT, does it not teach us, that our children really are not ourselves anyway? our children are not something that we own, but rather beings that come into our lives that we have the honor and opportunity to guide off into their own lives. beings we are allowed to enjoy whilst they are under our wing, only to fly one day on their OWN as well. a simple, basic fact that all parents must learn

JM1977 · May 2012

BRSaugust20:

It was a great event. I figure if we even helped one person it would make me ecstatic. We are going to participate in another parent panel at the beginning of June for a DE/adoption seminar they hold twice a year.

Good for you! I am so inspired by your giving back in this way. I know you helped me A LOT on our DE journey. Thank you!!

JM1977 · May 2012

So excited to see all this news!

Congratulations to Bub711 on hearing the heartbeat! So, so happy for you! (and thanks for the book rec!)

And yay! to lynn0926 and mtlaurel - June cycles?! Smile

Congratulations to reb259 on choosing your donor! What a wonderful step forward!!

BRSaugust20 · May 2012

JM1977:
BRSaugust20:

It was a great event. I figure if we even helped one person it would make me ecstatic. We are going to participate in another parent panel at the beginning of June for a DE/adoption seminar they hold twice a year.

Good for you! I am so inspired by your giving back in this way. I know you helped me A LOT on our DE journey. Thank you!!

So nice of you to say. It makes me really happy to pay it forward for all the help I got from epphd and LBR_NJ allowing me to be comfortable with DE.

lhcooper · May 2012

Update: I am starting to have the "there's a basketball where my stomach used to be" feeling. It is awesome on the one hand and a pain on the other! Otherwise, nothing new except that some friends are banding together to throw me a baby shower in June -- really sweet. I still have some weird moments -- with things like this shower -- where I feel like I don't quite deserve it, like this is a "fake" pregnancy or something. Mostly, though, she feels more mine every day.

QOTW: we ended up with no frosties. Because of our shared cycle we would only have ever had only a few, so we would have saved them for a possible attempt at a sibling. If there had been more...I guess we would have donated them to science. Which I feel guilty about since I researched going the DEmbryo route and know that embryos are so needed! But I just don't think I could have done it.

krod2010 · May 2012

I am finally checking in with some good news. Our donor had her retrieval on Sunday and my doctor retrieved 30 eggs. As of today, we have 27 embryos growing, 20 are grade 1. Our first cycle our doctor retrieved 15 eggs which dwindled down to 2 "perfect" blasts on day 5, one implanted and I m/c at almost 9 weeks. We had none to freeze and had to cycle all over again with our donor. Our transfer is this Friday. I am so excited. It seems like it has been forever when its only been 2 months.

Good luck to those currently cycling and those who are newly pregnant!

mtlaurel · May 2012

krod2010:
I am finally checking in with some good news. Our donor had her retrieval on Sunday and my doctor retrieved 30 eggs. As of today, we have 27 embryos growing, 20 are grade 1. Our first cycle our doctor retrieved 15 eggs which dwindled down to 2 "perfect" blasts on day 5, one implanted and I m/c at almost 9 weeks. We had none to freeze and had to cycle all over again with our donor. Our transfer is this Friday. I am so excited. It seems like it has been forever when its only been 2 months.

Good luck to those currently cycling and those who are newly pregnant!

20 grade 1 is fantastic. Good luck with your transfer!

jcath · May 2012

Brsaugust - sounds like a great event and what a great thing to share your experiences. Even if it wasn't huge numbers of people, the people who were there obviously benefited from your experience

QOTW: We did the frozen egg program at RBA, they only give you a few b/c they found that with fresh cycles people were having more frozen embryos than they could use and they want to minimize that problem. We have one frozen that I don't know what to do about. We won't transfer it, so I'm trying to let DH make the decision if he wants to donate to another couple or just for scientific purposes.

Update: The girls have figured out how to crawl...I think things are going to go downhill fast

rebaann · May 2012

krod2010:
I am finally checking in with some good news. Our donor had her retrieval on Sunday and my doctor retrieved 30 eggs. As of today, we have 27 embryos growing, 20 are grade 1. Our first cycle our doctor retrieved 15 eggs which dwindled down to 2 "perfect" blasts on day 5, one implanted and I m/c at almost 9 weeks. We had none to freeze and had to cycle all over again with our donor. Our transfer is this Friday. I am so excited. It seems like it has been forever when its only been 2 months.

Good luck to those currently cycling and those who are newly pregnant!

Wow, that's a great number. Good luck on Friday.

ceemonkey · May 2012

We are just waiting on a few things before we can plan a transfer. The clinic is closed for a couple weeks this month so I know it will be at least a month before we can transfer. We had also backed out of using one lot of embryos because of some health concerns so we still need a few more to be able to transfer.

QOTW: We are using donated embryos so this doesn't apply to me really. But I will say that I think it's a very generous act, and I am so grateful to those that do it. It provides another path to parenthood for those of us with severe IF on both the male and female side.

lisaiesha · May 2012

rebaann:

We did the injection training last week and I found out that my estrogen is also butt shots. I was not a happy camper, but what can you do?

My experience with estrogen has been that it is not painful. The doses are low and I don't think it is in an oil carrier like PIO. Estrogen shots are easy peasy compared to PIO.

Update: I'm officially 10 weeks today. My first time in double digits.

QOTW: We have 6 frozen embryos. At this point, I am not convinced I want more than one child. So, presumably, we will have some left over. For now I think we will donate to research. I don't have a problem donating them to another couple, but my DNA is not involved in the embryos. I think my husband feels a little weird about having potentially biological siblings out in the world.

Mom2Reese · May 2012

I'm here and cycling for Donor Embryo FET this month. Took a break from Thhe Bump before this cycle. We chose a donor with 13 frozen embryos. Started my Vivelle patches on Monday and my transfer should be sometime the week after Mother's Day. YAY!

amethystgrrl · May 2012

Status Update: Where are you currently with the DE/DEmbryo/
GC process? Just waiting to receive dates for next month's cycle!

QOTW: What are your thoughts about frozen embryos? Have you done anything to minimize the number of potential frozen embryos you have? What would be your preference for what to do with remaining embryos once you feel your family is complete?

If we were to be lucky enough to have extra embryos after completing our family, I think my preference would be to donate them to a couple, possibly with an open relationship.Though I don't know what DH's preferences at this time.

Great question!

amethystgrrl · May 2012

mtlaurel:
Lynn0926, congrats on big steps forward. Our cycles will time out pretty close together - see my update below.
Bubs, congrats on a heartbeat!
BRS, I'm sure you helped several people by participating on that panel. I can't speak highly enough of what going to a Resolve conference did for us.
Status: We got a tentative schedule! ER - 6/13ish, ET - 6/18ish. Holy cow!
QOTW: We are not likely to get any frosties because we're doing a shared cycle and our clinic has very, very high freezing standards. I'd like to have a couple for "back-up" or to try for a sibling. But, I'm truly not expecting to have any. Fortunately, we both agree on donating frozen embryos we do not want to try to use ourselves to a couple looking for donor embryo. DEmbryo is still an option we consider on the table should this DE cycle not work. So, it seems only right to be willing to donate.

SO EXCITING! We will probably be on a similar timeline.

amethystgrrl · May 2012

krod2010:
I am finally checking in with some good news. Our donor had her retrieval on Sunday and my doctor retrieved 30 eggs. As of today, we have 27 embryos growing, 20 are grade 1. Our first cycle our doctor retrieved 15 eggs which dwindled down to 2 "perfect" blasts on day 5, one implanted and I m/c at almost 9 weeks. We had none to freeze and had to cycle all over again with our donor. Our transfer is this Friday. I am so excited. It seems like it has been forever when its only been 2 months.

Good luck to those currently cycling and those who are newly pregnant!

What great news! Wishing you a happy ET day!

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