2nd is the Best . .

                So there are a few reasons why I am super excited for this round to get to the point of implantation, and why I truly believe that this will be the cycle that is successful!  First of all, my body already got practice once and although it did not work - - now it’s ready to be a rock star and succeed! 

Second of all, this is a frozen cycle which does not involve as many drugs, and my body does not have to go through the retrieval surgery in the middle of the cycle!  All of the drugs I have to take for a fresh cycle tend to make it more difficult for the progress of my lining in my uterus to be lined up with the progress of the embryo they had implanted.  There is no retrieval surgery during an FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer) which will leave my body well rested and in more of a natural state during the cycle!

I have also been taking some amazing vitamins on top of my prenatal vitamins and my women’s “One-A-Day” vitamins that are recommended for fertility.  And my last reason may not have any medical credibility or facts behind it, and may be “slightly” superstitious, but I will take it!  My lucky number has always been the number 2 and that may sound silly, but it seems that the number 2 is showing up a lot in this cycle.  This is our 2^nd round of IVF!  This time we are implanting 2 embryos.  We have always dreamed of having 2 children.  This month marks our 2 year anniversary of “trying” to get pregnant. 

And lastly, 1st is the worst, 2^nd is the best . . ha.  Those last reasons may sound ridiculous, but right now I will allow it to make sense!

                                                                                                Cheers to Round 2,

                                                                                                                Lindsay

Myths. Facts. Stats. Updates.

                So I am fully healed from my surgery, and they have checked out everything, so we are a go for round #2!  I have been started on estrogen pills, and am anxiously awaiting my shipment of all of my shots.  Last time all I had was a smaller skinny needle that I would inject into my stomach.  This time I have those shots as well as a 4” thicker needle that goes into my buttocks.  This injection is progesterone so that my baby will be healthy once created and implanted into my uterine wall.  My RE said that if everything keeps going as planned, and then I will be implanted on February 26^th!  That is so soon!  I just wanted to give you an update as to where we were!

                So for the last year or so, I have done so much research about infertility, causes, effects, myths, facts, etc.  Over time I have put together a list of fun facts that I have found, and though I’d share.

-          A 29 year old woman has a 20 percent chance per month of getting pregnant – compared to 7 percent for a woman at age 39.

-          In 85 to 90 percent of all cases, infertility is treated with either medication or surgery.  Just 5 to 10 percent of infertility treatments involve in vitro fertilization or other reproductive technologies.

-          There are about 600 Reproductive Endocrinologists (RE – fertility specialist) in the United State, compared to 28,000 ob/gyns.

-          About 40% of infertility cases can be attributed to the male, 40% can be attributed to the female, 10% can be attributed to both parties, and the remaining 10% of infertility cases is due to an unknown cause.

MYTH:  Everyone seems to get pregnant at the drop of a hat.

FACT:  More than 5 million people of childbearing age in the United States experience infertility!

MYTH:  It’s all in your head!  Why don’t you relax or take a vacation.  Then you will get pregnant!

FACT:  Infertility is a disease or condition of the reproductive system.  While relaxing may help you with your overall quality of life, the stress and deep emotions you feel are the result of infertility, not the cause of it. 

Thought these were interesting and I would share.

Feel free to email me at prayingforbabydust@gmail.com for more stats and facts!

                                                                                Praying for Baby Dust for Round #2,

                                                                                                                Lindsay

Exciting News!!!!

So now that I we have gotten through the surgery without any major complications, I called my RE's office this am, and asked when I could come in next week for my follow-up post-op, and for my consult (again) for my FET cycle. (Frozen Embryo Transfer).  I was also calling to speak to the RN in regards to AF (Aunt Flo) showing up unexpectedly.  I wasn't sure if AF is something you should go through after this type of surgery, or if it would prevent it from coming . . either way, I wanted to ask.  Of course her response was, "well are you due for your period?"  I would love to know the answer to that, unfortunately I haven't had a regular cycle for years now, and have no clue when AF is arrriving. 

So she told me that she would like me to come in tomorrow and test my blood levels!  She is going to check with my doctor, but she thinks that if it is AF she would want to get an ultra sound, and start me on the hormones for Round #2!  I am so excited. 

If we are able to begin tomorrow, I will be able to be implanted in around 3 weeks, which means we will be a week ahead of schedule to find out if we get a BFP (Big Fat Positive) on the PT (Pregnancy Test) after the 2ww!  We don't want to count our chickens before they hatch on this one, but I am allowed to be excited for a day or two until we know for sure that we get to begin this week! 

This time around we have signed off on implanting 2 embryos!  Last time we only implanted one.  Our RE told us that she highly recommended one on the first round due to the fact that we are young and healthy.  Since that cycle didn't work, she suggested maybe trying 2, but she still thinks that 1 would be okay to try as well.  After some thinking, debating, and changing our mind a few times . . we have decided on 2 embryos to be transferred.  We have 3 embryos frozen from our fresh cycle.  So the way it works is minutes before I go in to have the transfer take place they will "defrost" one of our frozen embryos, if that one defrosts correctly then they will defrost the second embryo.  If for some reason any of those two do not defrost correctly, then it will be unable to be used for implantation.  If that is the case, then they will get the 3rd, and last frozen embryo and hope that that one defrosts correctly.

Worst Case Scenario:  Only 1 embryo defrosts correctly
Best Case Scenario:  The first 2 embryos defrost correctly, and we are still left with one frozen embryo

Will update soon!

Exciting news!  PrayingForBabyDust is being read in United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands!  I can't believe it!  Thanks so much for reading!  Any questions, comments or complaints, etc. can be commented below, or you can email me at prayingforbabydust@gmail.com.

                                                   Hoping for the Best!

                                                            Lindsay