The doc retrieved 26 eggs from the donor yesterday. 15 fertilized.
First progesterone shot was last night - built it up in my head like none other, but it wasn't horrible. Eric is a good shot-giver. :)
I am doing everything I know and can do to get my mind and body in the right place for the transfer and the pregnancy. Yesterday I had an appointment with one of my favorite people, Dr. Rebecca Cohen of Full Circle Holistic. ("hippie stuff" to follow ...) We cleared the space in my pelvic bowl, balanced the muscles in it (we all hold stress in our pelvic bowl, just like we do in our shoulders), did some meditations, and I left feeling super prepared for what is to come. I also have a flower essence from the madonna lily. Read about it here. I have a vaginal steam bath for the morning of the transfer (calendula), and some fabulous reading for the plane. Looking forward to reading this book!
While the baby I'll be growing and nurturing for nine months is not mine, I still consider this journey a spiritual one. I never feel more connected to Mother Nature and feel more like a woman than when I'm pregnant. I fully intend on doing everything I can to embrace this journey, both physically and spiritually. Being prepared in such a way will help me when the time does come to hand the baby back to his/her parents, and it will also help me as a mother to Duncan and Violet.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Big week!
Donor's egg retrieval on Tuesday. I start Progesterone shots that day (and continue daily until 10 weeks if the baby (or possibly babies) sticks.
Saturday, fly to LA.
Sunday, transfer. Also begin my Progesterone pills.
Meanwhile, continue Delestrogen shots every 3 days.
My booty is going to be sore.
Worth it, though. My IFs (intended fathers) are going to be amazing parents. :)
Saturday, fly to LA.
Sunday, transfer. Also begin my Progesterone pills.
Meanwhile, continue Delestrogen shots every 3 days.
My booty is going to be sore.
Worth it, though. My IFs (intended fathers) are going to be amazing parents. :)
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Here we go!
The past two months have been a whirlwind. Lots of work with our business, work on our home, and making some fun memories with our kids. :)
After finally passing the medical screening, we had to wait until mid-October for the egg donor to have her screening in LA. After news that she passed the screening, and that I started my period, we both began birth control pills on October 22. My last birth control pill was on Saturday, November 9.
I had an appointment this morning for a blood test to find my estradiol level - this is helpful to know so the IVF doc knows where I am in my cycle. Went downtown for the test, and started my period when I got home, of course! So that was a relief. Then I waited all day to hear the results, and finally did - we were cleared to begin injections! So that's what we did tonight, and Eric was an absolute pro. I numbed the area with ice ("the top-right quadrant of the right bottom cheek") and didn't even feel the needle go in. Wahoo!
We'll do injections on Friday, Monday, and next Thursday, then I have another appointment next Friday for an ultrasound and bloodwork. If the lining of my uterus is what it's supposed to be, then we'll be going back to California right after Thanksgiving. Yay!
On another note ...
The majority of people I tell about the surrogacy are excited for me, some are confused and don't understand but still support me, and a select few think I'm absolutely nuts. My goal with this blog is to educate people about the process, and maybe open up some minds to the idea of surrogacy. For the past few years, I've been all about living naturally as much as possible. I realize that gestational surrogacy is anything but natural - IVF to grow a baby that is not related to me in any way - but regardless of how the baby gets there, pregnancy and birth ARE natural. The actual process of getting the baby in is very short, and after 12 weeks, this pregnancy will be like any other normal, physiological pregnancy. Am I excited to take the birth control and inject my body with hormones? No. But it is temporary and I am SO excited to be able to give the gift of life to two very deserving parents that otherwise would not be able to experience parenthood.
After finally passing the medical screening, we had to wait until mid-October for the egg donor to have her screening in LA. After news that she passed the screening, and that I started my period, we both began birth control pills on October 22. My last birth control pill was on Saturday, November 9.
I had an appointment this morning for a blood test to find my estradiol level - this is helpful to know so the IVF doc knows where I am in my cycle. Went downtown for the test, and started my period when I got home, of course! So that was a relief. Then I waited all day to hear the results, and finally did - we were cleared to begin injections! So that's what we did tonight, and Eric was an absolute pro. I numbed the area with ice ("the top-right quadrant of the right bottom cheek") and didn't even feel the needle go in. Wahoo!
We'll do injections on Friday, Monday, and next Thursday, then I have another appointment next Friday for an ultrasound and bloodwork. If the lining of my uterus is what it's supposed to be, then we'll be going back to California right after Thanksgiving. Yay!
On another note ...
The majority of people I tell about the surrogacy are excited for me, some are confused and don't understand but still support me, and a select few think I'm absolutely nuts. My goal with this blog is to educate people about the process, and maybe open up some minds to the idea of surrogacy. For the past few years, I've been all about living naturally as much as possible. I realize that gestational surrogacy is anything but natural - IVF to grow a baby that is not related to me in any way - but regardless of how the baby gets there, pregnancy and birth ARE natural. The actual process of getting the baby in is very short, and after 12 weeks, this pregnancy will be like any other normal, physiological pregnancy. Am I excited to take the birth control and inject my body with hormones? No. But it is temporary and I am SO excited to be able to give the gift of life to two very deserving parents that otherwise would not be able to experience parenthood.
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