16 Cells.
I am endeavoring to type this while flat on my back, keyboard near my chin, so please forgive any errors.
This afternoon we transfered two embryos: one a 7-cell, one a 9-cell.
I was under the impression that even, rather than odd, numbers of cells are to be preferred, but I shan’t quibble. Both were grade two—our clinic grades from one to four, with one being the highest. The remaining 15 embryos will be watched for two days and any suitable specimens frozen. My clinic freezes only grade one or grade two embryos, and we transferred our two best, so we shall see.
The transfer itself was somewhat painful, involving multiple catheter changes and causing quite a bit of excitement. Once again my anatomy elicits consternation and awe among medical professionals: apparently there is a right angle in my uterus, forming part of a “C” shape around which the catheter had to be threaded. Dr. Bowtie, with his vaginal-spelunking headlamp on, eagerly called the medical student over for a look, pronouncing my uterus and cervix “unusual,” which I believe is a synonym for “moderately deformed.” So yes, the transfer was uncomfortable, and I am even now quite crampy, which of course sent me into paroxysms of despair because of articles like this.
For now I am relaxing and plying my potential progeny with macaroni and cheese and intramuscular shots of progesterone. My betas are scheduled for next Wednesday and next Friday, but I will not get the results until after the second draw. Of course I plan to start testing at home absurdly early (probably Sunday) in order to watch the trigger disappear and see if anything takes its place, because I have always preferred the slow dwindling of hope to the dramatic and devastating reveal. And of course, it might be positive, and I’ll gnaw off my own right breast (quite a feat, really) before I wait ten whole days for the lab techs to give me the news.
Our clinic does not give out pictures of the embryos transfered, but they do usher you into the lab to look at them under a microscope, and I say this, I promise, with scientific dispassion: our embryos are the most beautiful embryos that ever underwent meiosis. Of this I am certain. They were petite, well-behaved, symmetrical—and brimming with personality.
I am dangerously besotted with them already.
38 Comments
i’m sure they are gorgeous! rest well.
Sorry it was so painful to you. I once had a team of people looking at my ‘v.aginal ridges’, gotta love feeling like a museum piece. I’m sure your little embryos were beautiful and deserve a mac and cheese dinner!
so sorry that your anatomy gets to be “unusual”. I hope you have a bell to ring every time your pillow needs fluffing. Have a restful bed rest. Sending lots of positive vibes!
I am sure that your embryos are beautiful. My clinic doesn’t even let us see them under a microscope.
I wish you much luck with this cycle. I am wondering why your clinic won’t give you your beta results until after the second number comes in. Is this their version of fun? Or do you not want to know?
No pictures? Awwww shucks.
Congratulations on the transfer. Happy resting!
Mmmmm, mac n cheese! I am quite sure there is no better post-transfer comfort food. Now we just cross our fingers and pray that those suckers are sticky. Keeping you in my thoughts!
How could those embryos be anything other than brilliant and gorgeous with such a mama? Now stop reading despair-inducing articles and have some stinky cheese. You did good.
Here’s hoping those 16 cells (or at least some appropriate subset of them) have stuck around and are multiplying beautifully! I’ll do that funky chicken dance I do for luck for you.
Now, seriously, “vaginal-spelunking headlamp”? I think I peed myself AND snorted because I laughed so damn hard at that. You crack me up.
And 17 years from now, you can write a post with the title of “16 Candles”. Wouldn’t that be cool?
Wait, is that math right?
Congratulations, really, really, REALLY hoping for the best!
Glad everything is going well! Your embryos sound beautiful. :)
I have no doubt that they are gorgeous beyond belief and smart–and witty too. With you as their mum. Please stick around guys. There is a whole motherload of mac-n-cheese to partake in once you have teeth/can sit upright/come out of the womb healthy and happy.
Best of luck! I hope all goes well and you will be reporting back wonderful news very soon.
this post sort of made me not be able to breath for a little while.
keep up the good work little embryos!
Sorry to hear about the discomfort! Wishing you luck!
Good luck!
Ha! Despite your 300 eggs or whatever, you are still my Innard Twin after all with your complicated transfer.
I feel so close to you right now.
Hoping that those 7 and 9 cells are busy becoming morulae as I type. And that this didn’t qualify as a difficult transfer, just a slightly awkward one.
well how about that! Someone else exists in this world with the same uterus abnormality as me. (I’m serious). Strangely comforting. ;)
Hoping for you!!!!
I think a better term is unique instead of unusual. Here’s to your beautiful embryos latching on to a beautiful and unique momma! Sending lots of positive thoughts your way!
Oh, don’t forget the ice cream! Everyone knows that developing embryos need their nourishment :)
I am so excited and hoping this works out for you!
Sending lots of implantation thoughts your way. Keeping everything crossed!!!!
So no valium then - tut tut! Transfer is typically a problem for me, so I go nowhere near a catheter without valium. My second transfer I felt like the fellow was a drunk driver shifting into second - hideous! So where was i? Oh yes - congratulations! On the 26th and 27th most beautiful embryos to ever get transferred - they’re pretty interesting looking aren’t they? And only 10 days to wait for a real beta and less time til you start peeing - woo hooo!!!!
“They were petite, well-behaved, symmetrical—and brimming with personality.” Just like their mother!
I’m sorry that transfer was so awful. But hey, you made it to transfer! Now I’ll continue my back problems by kinking up every muscle I’ve got during the TWW.
GROW EMBRYOS, GROW!
It’s so nice that you can help the medical students learn all about extreme vaginal spleunking! Also, such a good idea to welcome your beautiful and personable embryos with mac and cheese. BRILLIANT!
I’ll be thinking of you during the beloved 2WW!
Seven and Nine - Strangely Trekkian names. I think you should make them play the same kind of reverse psychology games we make older kids play: Let’s see who can hold on the tightest.
Sending good thoughts your way.
Good luck!
All right! Transfer!
Good luck! I hope those little embryos get nice and comfortable for an extended stay in your uterus.
And I’m definitely with you on testing early and frequently. I would rather let my devestation sink in slowly over time so that by the time AF shows I’ve come to terms with it all. But on the positive side it means that you would know of a positive as early as possible!
stick little ones, STICK!
Best of luck! And here’s to a quick 2ww and a positive beta…and lots of cheese and macaroni!
Ow. My fingers are crossed so hard they hurt. Best to you.
Happy Sweet Sixteen! I hope that the strange shape of your uterus means the embryos can’t find their way out and decide that they might as well just hold on tightly.
Go little embies go!! Divide and inplant!!!
I’m with you on the POAS early and for the very same reason. Fingers crossed!!
Did you get the hot embryologist? aka. Coffee, PhD ? Sorry you were in pain - my first one was that way, perhaps it was Dr. Bowtie becasue Dr. Awkward did my last one and he didn’t hurt at all.
Isn’t it a delightful moment with you are in the stirrups and they are all standing around staring at you and then slowly checking the cathedar for the “all clear”??? Ahhh….goodtimes.
Dear Alexa, I’m so glad about your beautiful embryos being on board now, and sorry that the transfer was so uncomfortable for you. I’ll be keeping every available digit crossed for you and your precious cargo…
Bueno!!!! Here’s to continued excellence - I’m sure you can find an article that says, “Difficult IVF procedure results in perfect children.”
Really hoping it works well for you
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[…] On that same topic (the one before the parens), Whoopee is one of my favorite blogs from NaBloPoMo, as is Flotsam, with the terrifically statistically improbable phrase, “our embryos are the most beautiful embryos that ever underwent meiosis.” […]
[…] at her through a microscope. She and Ames were three days old, and only seven and nine cells big. They were beautiful. A man in a bow-tie and head lamp snaked a catheter into place, and Simone was sluiced through it. […]