Beta results and Symptom chceck

Last week I went in for my beta draw on Wednesday just after 8am. The lab slip say stat - so because labcorp doesn't offer stat - they had to run the blood draw through UAB instead. I didn't realize this because no one explained it. Anyway I wainted all day and got no results. Thankfully I'd already had the test done that morning that showed the must desired two lines. Never heard back from the fertility clinic so on Friday morning I just reprinted the lab slip and went to do another draw. The woman who drew the blood said it would be done in about an hour. Again a day of waiting with no results. I contacted teh clinic and they said they didn't have them. So I called the lab here and she said they were faxed over and that it went through. She couldn't give me the results over the phone but if the nurse or dr called in she could relay the results to them. So I passed that info along to the clinic and they called to get me the results.

So Wednesday - November 26th Beta HCG was 45 (8dp5dt) (13 dpo)

Friday - November 28th Beta HCG was 136 (10dp5dt) (15dpo?)

Even though my tests were not any different in darkness - it indeed did more than double at the 48 hour mark. 

I reach out to the clinic again asking if I need to do any more bloodwork or if they are good with just that. No response. They did however tell me to schedule an ultrasound for December 9th - which I chose the 10th because it works better for my schedule. Again the person I deal with forgets that I am not a local patient and was trying to schedule me to come in there. I don't understand why she can't remember that I am not a local patient. I also requested that she send in another script for the progesterone because I was almost out. I told her in the email I had no refills left - she tells me to contact the pharmacy to get refills. I had to contact her again and explain I am out of refills and that I need a new prescription sent in. I don't understand why she is so confused. So anyway she sent in another the way I wanted it - to get two vials at a time so I am not having to call in every week for more. 

Shots are going ok - not as smooth as when we first began but still ok. I've only had one big bruise on the shot sight. They do hurt a bit more when I poke the needle through the skin. Its just tender and so lumpy right now. Its also incredibly itchy where I inject as well as down the outside of my thigh. When I do the injection it feels like its running down my leg for a bit. I can live with the itchiness though. A few times the injection sight has bled quite a bit when I withdrawal the needle - not a big deal though. I have tried the bandaids they sent but its really hard to do by myself. I also get a nasty itchy red spot from the bandaids so I try to avoid them when I can. 

This morning I decided to go get my blood drawn myself again just so I can see how the numbers are doing. I will go again Friday just to see how they are doubling at that 48 hour mark as well. This time however I chose to just go through labcorp and skip the stat order on the slip so that I can check the numbers myself from home. 

Lastly lets do a symptom check. I am 4w4d based on lmp and 4w6d based on an IVF due date calculator. So close enough. I like the lmp one so that my new week lands on a Saturday each week making it easier to calculate. Anyway. 

So no real symptoms as of yet. I am using the bathroom a lot - but I don't know if its more that normal yet. When I first returned from California from the transfer I was really bloated for about a week, but I feel like thats subsided. I've had a couple instances of heartburn and nausea - but not enough that I could say for sure that its from the pregnancy. I did gag brushing my teeth this morning which was a first. I was tired when I woke up, but when am I not? I thought my boobs would be hurting some by now but I haven't noticed anything which was one of the reasons I wanted more bloodwork. Overall I don't feel pregnant even a little bit yet. 

I'm still praying for these little embies and praying hard. I know its Gods plan whatever happens. I will say I have more peace over this pregnancy than I have in any precious pregnancy. Its honestly really strange. I remember with Leiland how deep down I felt like everything was ok - and pregnancy wise had no concerns or issues - but I still was so scared and disconnected for so long. The fear was so present in his pregnancy. Then with Owen there were some things we had to keep an eye on at the end - and again I didn't really feel any bonding with him till towards then end. This time there is just complete peace over it all. It just feels so different. 

Testing day

Today is the day I get my first bloodwork done. We did the transfer on Tuesday the 18th and today is Wednesday the 26th. So I believe that means today is 8 days past a 5 day transfer (8dp5dt). There was no way I was waiting until Friday to possibly get a number though. Learned that with the first ivf cycle and I’ve always just tested myself since. 

So there’s a second line - we are indeed pregnant. I’m really excited to hear what the number is and to test again and know how it climbs. I tried comparing the line darkness to the boys cycles but they weren’t comparable as far as the dates I took them in relation to the transfer. 

IVF cycle 5

Long story short - we did it again. 

Last year over Christmas Tim and I talked about trying ivf one more time. We talked about timing and whatnot. We planned for October but wound up pushing to November because of a conflict next summer for Leiland. 

Here we are and it was transfer day today. 

So to rewind a bit. Two cycles ago in September it was the weirdest cycle ever. I had no clots, no cramps, no need for Motrin, and no heating pad. I only bled for 3ish days then some light spotting. Bizarre. Then on 9/25 I have a hysterscopy procedure with my Alabama OB. All went well and all the dr could really say was my “tubes were tubing”. So that happened early in my cycle and so then come October I had nothing. Not even spotting. Again beyond weird. 

Now at this point I’ve noticed my normal mid cycle aches and pains have eased up some. Not gone but definitely less. 

So moving forward. Dr. Q was all good to move forward. My period was due to start on my birthday but after the previous two cycles who really knows when things will happen. If I start on my birthday that puts ovulation/ transfer right at Thanksgiving week. So we had a tentative transfer date two days prior to Thanksgiving. 

Well per usual my period did its own thing and began on November 1st. Now I was already slotted to begin my Lupron injections starting November 1st and so that’s what we did. I was also instructed to go to Labcorp as soon as I could once I started. And of course I started on a Saturday and not a one lab was open until Monday. So again we have a wrench in the plans. I go Monday for the labs and it’s no biggie. 

So because my period was early that means we are slotted for a transfer the week prior to Thanksgiving - the 18-21st. 

So Tim and I made the plans to have me fly out with Ellie for the week. We flew in on Sunday and go home next Sunday. Transfer was today - Tuesday. There were a handful of hiccups but we got there and transferred two 5 day blasts. It was a little uncomfortable but bearable. I had a little bleeding and have been cramping ever since. After we left the transfer Ellie and I went to dinner at black angus and then watched a movie at the hotel room. 

Praying for a healthy little bean to finish off our family. 

This is go #5. 

Of 4 cycles we have transferred 8 embryos that resulted in two healthy boys. 

I’m very nervous but also know it’s in Gods hands. If it’s his plan then I know it will all work out.