How many embies do we have growing??!!

L did fantastic at the retrieval.  They were able to retrieve lucky 13 eggs from her ovaries.
From those 13 eggs, 7 of those were mature.
Out of those 7 eggs, 5 of them are growing embryos!!

That means as of right now, all 5 are continuing to grow and have not arrested.  That is great news.  Tomorrow we will get a cell count but as of right now, it is looking very promising :)

And as the saying goes-- it only takes ONE embryo to make a beautiful baby!  Hopefully these five continue to grow and have a clean bill of health with the genetic testing!


I am just happy that it wasn't too physically stressful on L and that she is doing well. 

Still waiting to get those contract signed to add another check to the box and my husband is going to get his FDA blood work done.  We have been waiting to get it done closer to the transfer because even though we are married and in a monogamous relationship, the FDA requires the surrogate and husband to have their blood work done every 6 months during cycling.  Mine was done in October or November and it was $2,000!!!  Hopefully we get to transfer before mine needs to be updated!

Gotta call the monitoring U/S clinic so that I can find out protocol for what I need (my doctor to order or a written order from the RE) and what times of days I can go to get these lining scans.
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I wanted to add a few little things that I forgot to do earlier this week. 

Here are some photos of the scans of L's ovaries during cycling.  One ovary had 10 follicles on it and the other had 8 follicles. 

The following is the medication that L had to take in preparation for her Egg Retrieval.  Seeing the amounts of medication really makes me appreciate and respect the amount of time and money and just pure desire that IPs go through to become parents.  I just have the utmost respect for anyone who has set out on this journey to become parents! 

Lupron Trigger Protocol

Medications: MDR Pharmacy will be contacting you to arrange shipment of your medications.

  Birth Control Pills – 14  days

  Ganirelix pre-filled syringes - only start when directed

Gonadotropins-injectable hormones

      Follistim pen and cartridges (cartridges to be kept in the refrigerator)

      Menopur

Lupron Trigger- 1ml LuerLock syringe c 22 g ½ “needle - To be kept in the refrigerator

Zithromax 500mg #2 (to be taken the night prior to egg retrieval)

Date	Instructions
Dec 7	Current  period
Jan 4	Next period- call when cycle starts. Then will be told when to start birth control  pills.
Jan 10	Birth control pills
Jan 25	Take last Birth Control Pill. This is 16 pills
Day after last birth control pill Jan 26	Schedule a “Pre-IVF Evaluation” (blood work and ultrasound) for this day.  You will be called in the afternoon with your results. **  No unprotected intercourse during the cycle.
Jan 28	If blood work & ultrasound are within normal limits, medications will be started .  Your nurse will give you the date to start along with dosing instructions and a date to return for follow-up monitoring. Your starting dose for the first 3 days   will be:  Gonal-f  = _____300 IU in AM  and 150 in PM____________________ Menopur = ______150 IU in PM______________________   Your dosing may change based upon your response to the medications
Jan 30	Blood work & ultrasound appointment
Feb 2	Blood work & ultrasound appointment- Ganirelix will start once follicle sizes are 12-14 mm
Feb 4	Plan to be in Maryland for morning monitoring and FDA panel.
Feb 7	Potential Date of Trigger with Lupron (DO NOT take until directed) Contiue Ganirelix
Feb 8	Office appt for Blood work- to confirm absorption of Lupron; to be completed 1 day after trigger shot. Continue Ganirelix
Feb 9	Egg retrieval (approximate date). You will need a responsible adult to drive you to and from the Egg Retrieval (located at our _Rockville _________office). That person will also need to remain with you during the procedure. You will not be permitted to drive or take a cab home. Continue Ganirelix PGS and embryo freeze
	Continue Ganirelix x 3 more days

Helpful hints regarding your treatment cycle:

♦Medications:

            ♦ Storage of Medications: some of your medications will need to be kept in the refrigerator. The Follistim cartridges and Lupron Trigger should be kept in the fridge as soon as you receive them.

♦ Monitoring (blood work and transvaginal ultrasound)

♦ “Monitoring” appointments will be needed every couple of days once you begin injections of Follistim and Menopur, and then daily towards the end of the donation cycle. The monitoring appointments are scheduled in the morning so that your hormone results are back the same afternoon. It is imperative that you be available for frequent monitoring appointments and that you arrive on time for your appointments and do not miss appointments. We also request that children not be brought to the office, as this tends to upset patients seeking fertility care.

♦ Egg Retrieval

            ♦ The egg retrieval will be completed once your follicles have reached the appropriate stage of development in our ambulatory surgery center. You will be given IV sedation and therefore must have a responsible adult bring you to the procedure, remain at the facility during the procedure, and drive you home once you have been released. We cannot release you home unless a designated driver is present.