Trip Tales

Here I am, home safe and ready to update. It may be a bit short because my laptop got accidentally broken and so I'm typing on a tiny phone screen.

Anyway, so I'm now 2dp5dt (2 days past a 5 day transfer).

We had a good enough flight out and the hotel was surprisingly lovely, definitely a nice base for us. It was central and we enjoyed the air-conditioning particularly, given it hit almost 40 Celsius for almost our entire stay.

We didn't have an embryo update for day 4, they tend not to tell you as nothing really changes and anyway we decided that we didn't want to know since regardless we were there and we would be having transfer. We took the time to sit and drink whilst people watching from the street cafes instead!

IF and I had lots of time to talk and get to know each other better, it really was nice because we had only met once but spoken more on Facebook etc so being forced to get to know each other on the trip was a good thing. I probably learnt more about them, and vice versa, than simply meeting for insems for example.

Tuesday was transfer day, I felt surprisingly calm really, I think it just felt surreal more than anything. I know both IPs were feeling the pressure though and I wished I could of shared that load but thought that staying calm was probably more helpful anyway.

We were shown to the consultation room and immediately were told to relax because it was good news. We had 4 suitable embies. 2 were hatching blasts, which are excellent and top grade. We had 2 blasts, 1 morula (which is the step before blast stage) and the remaining 2 embryos were not suitable for anything. The Dr went through her check questions and asked us if we wanted 1 or 2 put back and we said 2 immediately. With that, she said her nurse would show us to the room and she would be with us to do the transfer shortly.

A kind nurse showed us to the appropriate room, I was told to undress my bottom half and IF had to put some plastic shoe covers on his feet and then the nurse had me climb onto the couch, telling me to 'relax and listen to the music' that was playing in the background. It was pan pipe music, which made us both laugh but a nice touch nonetheless.

It was then that we saw the embies on a screen, on a wall in the room. Wow, both of us were in awe and grinning like lunatics. IF snapped a pic for M so he could include him in the whole experience. He also took a video of the room and equipment, not wanting his partner to miss a moment, despite the miles between us all.

The Dr came in and asked me to scoot down the bed and put my legs in stirrups and explained what she was doing as the nurse was looking m ultrasound at my uterus, to help guide the Dr to transfer the embies into the right place. I honestly didn't notice the transfer, felt nothing and the most uncomfortable bit was the necessary speculum that is used. It was only when the Dr pointed out the white dot now in my womb, that I realised it was done!

The Dr and nurse started to get me more comfortable, whilst the embryologist checked the catheter to check both embryos had been expelled. A lot of chuckles and the word 'no!?' spoken and we were told one embryo was still in the tube so we had to do it again to transfer that one! The Dr joked that it only happened a couple of times a year so this one must be strong and would cause us trouble.

Again, no pain and didn't notice anything. The Dr shook my hand and said good luck for our positive pregnancy test. I'm sure she says that to every patient but she seemed so enthusiastic and positive that it wasn't hard to feel positive ourselves.

I was then told to lie quiet and relax for 15 minutes and the nurse would be back after to get me. Everyone was so kind and efficient, we had been seen and had transfer and all before our official appointment time.

IF took more pictures - of us, of the ultrasound screen with embies, of the rest of the room and we laughed and relaxed together, unable to quite believe that such a monumental moment had just occurred and it all seemed so pleasant and not at all awkward.

Our nurse did return and I got dressed and we were escorted out to pay for the treatment, even given a free hpt too which was a nice touch.

Once out in the scorching heat, IF sent the pics and spoke to M, who was anxiously awaiting an update and who was at work. Upon viewing the embie pics and speaking to IF and hearing all went well, he promptly fainted! Poor poor M - we definitely weren't alone in feeling the intense anxiety and elation at a great transfer, it seems!

We grabbed a taxi (receptionist even called one, whilst we waited in the air-conditioned building) and headed back to our hotel. Bit of an annoyance when realising my phone was on the seat in reception and so a swift 2nd journey in the taxi to retrieve it (oops!) and we were back to people watching, whilst we sat under the shade of a street cafe once again.

Next day and we flew home, slightly delayed and flight a bit bumpy but fine and the end of that chapter was over. We were drained from the stress and build up and physically shattered from the travelling and the heat but very excited for the start of our countdown until testing!

Clinic say to wait 10 days, I will wait 5 days before beginning to test. Nervous but feeling very positive, the odds are in our favour so everything crossed.

We got the news today that 2 remaining embies were suitable and have been frozen and that was a lovely rounding off to our jaunt to Brno.