This morning was the transfer. The appointment was at 9:30, but we had gotten instructions to be there no later than 9am. The transfer was in a different office than the one I usually go to. It's actually downtown, instead of on the outskirts of the city. The normal trip is supposed to take just over an hour, but can take up to two with traffic. The drive to the downtown office was supposed to take about 1.5 hours. But, we had no idea what traffic was like down that way. We decided it would be better to be early than even a wee bit late, so we left at 6am. You aren't allowed to drive yourself home from the transfer, so Linnell came with me.
I had as many good luck charms as an old lady playing bingo. I had a charm bracelet that has been passed around my surro group for several years now, as well as lots of other good luck jewelry, including some given to me by former IPs. I also had a stork shirt that we bought at a stork rehabilitation place in France. Linnell bought it for me specifically because he knew I wanted to do another surrogacy.
For the transfer, you have to have a full bladder, so the RE can clearly see where to put the embryo in your uterus. To that end, I was told to drink 32oz of water between 8am and 9am. However, I am prone to feeling really sick if I chug water, so I started early and went slowly. There was no traffic on the way down, so we did actually get there in less than two hours. That left us over an hour to kill. Since I already had to pee (I was OK until we went over a really bumpy road), we decided that staying in the car might be best. I knew that when I stood up, it would get worse. At about 8:15, I couldn't take it anymore. I really, really HAD to go. It was no longer a choice. It hurt so much that I could barely walk.
We went into the clinic, and I told them that I had to let a bit out. They said that it was OK, since I was early and could refill. Let me tell you, it is so very, very hard to stop in the middle when you really have to go. But, I didn't have enough water to refill completely, and I didn't want to get in trouble if it came time for the transfer and my bladder wasn't full enough. It still hurt pretty badly, but I was able to make it so I was no longer about to pee the seat. I started drinking again.
They took Linnell and me back to the back, where they gave me a gown and had me change. It was quite the complicated gown, and we had some trouble with it. But, we figured it out eventually. :) We then went back into another recovery room sort of place. I was tucked up in a comfy chair with a heated blanket, and the nurse took my blood pressure. Adam & Steve weren't there yet (it was still before 9), so Linnell & I read magazines. The RE came in and said hi, and said that they had successfully thawed one embryo. I asked how many days it was, and she looked confused. I said, "Three or five?" She said, "Oh, five." and smiled. Perhaps she isn't used to dealing with surrogates who know what they're talking about.
When the guys got there, we chatted for a few minutes before the RE called us back to the transfer room. I got on the table and scootched down. The RE asked me if I had a full bladder, and I assured her I did. She pulled up the sheet, looked down, and said, "Oh, yes, it's full." It was so full that she could see it from the outside. She told me I did a good job, so that's nice. She inserted the speculum, and the nurse pushed down HARD with the U/S transducer. I thought I might die. This was way more pain than the HSG, and way more pain than any of my other transfers. She put in a catheter, dug around a bit, and came back out. Everybody wondered if that was the transfer, but she told them it was just a test. I was just in pain, and wanted it to be over.
I had hoped that there would be a little relief between the test and the actual thing, but no. I guess they needed to keep it in the exact same spot, because the nurse pushed just as hard as ever in the few minutes between the two. The lab guy brought in the catheter that actually contained the embryo, and everybody smiled. The RE did her work, and then the nurse finally let up the pressure. I was overjoyed. Luckily, I didn't have to lay there for half an hour like I did with the last two. It was only like 5 minutes, and I was OK with that. The RE quizzed me on what medications I was taking, and I passed. ;)
After they let me up to use the restroom, it was back out into the recovery room for another 10 minutes.I showed the guys all of my good luck charms. I got to change back into my regular clothes, and it was time to go. They gave me cookies that they had made (Snickerdoodles, one of my favorite kinds), and we hugged and made our goodbyes.
One of the traditions for the surro group I belonged to with my last two surrogacies was McDonald's fries after the transfer. So, we ran through and got some fries. One of the traditions for my current group is two desserts. So, Linnell ran into the mall down there and got me a Jamba Juice. (I love Jamba Juice, and the closest one to our house is over an hour away, so any time I'm near one, I have to try and get one). My second dessert was one of the snickerdoodles, but not until later.
Then, it was just the drive home. There was no traffic, so we made it home in good time. I go in on Friday for blood work to test my estrogen and progesterone levels. It will be two weeks before the beta (blood test to determine pregnancy)
I had as many good luck charms as an old lady playing bingo. I had a charm bracelet that has been passed around my surro group for several years now, as well as lots of other good luck jewelry, including some given to me by former IPs. I also had a stork shirt that we bought at a stork rehabilitation place in France. Linnell bought it for me specifically because he knew I wanted to do another surrogacy.
For the transfer, you have to have a full bladder, so the RE can clearly see where to put the embryo in your uterus. To that end, I was told to drink 32oz of water between 8am and 9am. However, I am prone to feeling really sick if I chug water, so I started early and went slowly. There was no traffic on the way down, so we did actually get there in less than two hours. That left us over an hour to kill. Since I already had to pee (I was OK until we went over a really bumpy road), we decided that staying in the car might be best. I knew that when I stood up, it would get worse. At about 8:15, I couldn't take it anymore. I really, really HAD to go. It was no longer a choice. It hurt so much that I could barely walk.
We went into the clinic, and I told them that I had to let a bit out. They said that it was OK, since I was early and could refill. Let me tell you, it is so very, very hard to stop in the middle when you really have to go. But, I didn't have enough water to refill completely, and I didn't want to get in trouble if it came time for the transfer and my bladder wasn't full enough. It still hurt pretty badly, but I was able to make it so I was no longer about to pee the seat. I started drinking again.
They took Linnell and me back to the back, where they gave me a gown and had me change. It was quite the complicated gown, and we had some trouble with it. But, we figured it out eventually. :) We then went back into another recovery room sort of place. I was tucked up in a comfy chair with a heated blanket, and the nurse took my blood pressure. Adam & Steve weren't there yet (it was still before 9), so Linnell & I read magazines. The RE came in and said hi, and said that they had successfully thawed one embryo. I asked how many days it was, and she looked confused. I said, "Three or five?" She said, "Oh, five." and smiled. Perhaps she isn't used to dealing with surrogates who know what they're talking about.
When the guys got there, we chatted for a few minutes before the RE called us back to the transfer room. I got on the table and scootched down. The RE asked me if I had a full bladder, and I assured her I did. She pulled up the sheet, looked down, and said, "Oh, yes, it's full." It was so full that she could see it from the outside. She told me I did a good job, so that's nice. She inserted the speculum, and the nurse pushed down HARD with the U/S transducer. I thought I might die. This was way more pain than the HSG, and way more pain than any of my other transfers. She put in a catheter, dug around a bit, and came back out. Everybody wondered if that was the transfer, but she told them it was just a test. I was just in pain, and wanted it to be over.
I had hoped that there would be a little relief between the test and the actual thing, but no. I guess they needed to keep it in the exact same spot, because the nurse pushed just as hard as ever in the few minutes between the two. The lab guy brought in the catheter that actually contained the embryo, and everybody smiled. The RE did her work, and then the nurse finally let up the pressure. I was overjoyed. Luckily, I didn't have to lay there for half an hour like I did with the last two. It was only like 5 minutes, and I was OK with that. The RE quizzed me on what medications I was taking, and I passed. ;)
After they let me up to use the restroom, it was back out into the recovery room for another 10 minutes.I showed the guys all of my good luck charms. I got to change back into my regular clothes, and it was time to go. They gave me cookies that they had made (Snickerdoodles, one of my favorite kinds), and we hugged and made our goodbyes.
One of the traditions for the surro group I belonged to with my last two surrogacies was McDonald's fries after the transfer. So, we ran through and got some fries. One of the traditions for my current group is two desserts. So, Linnell ran into the mall down there and got me a Jamba Juice. (I love Jamba Juice, and the closest one to our house is over an hour away, so any time I'm near one, I have to try and get one). My second dessert was one of the snickerdoodles, but not until later.
Then, it was just the drive home. There was no traffic, so we made it home in good time. I go in on Friday for blood work to test my estrogen and progesterone levels. It will be two weeks before the beta (blood test to determine pregnancy)
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