Optimistic? Sort of

I have three embryos on board. Yes, that's three. Which is pretty much impossible in the UK if you are under 40, which I'm not, and hard even if you're over 40, which I am. But we were confronted with the scenario this morning of three good embryos, two six cell and one five cell, and two average embryos, both 6 cell, and two embryos which gave up the ghost at 2 cells, although one was still hanging in there. This made me ask the question about whether it was worth transferring all three good embryos to give us the best chance at a (singleton) pregnancy.

H was against transferring three. I came to the idea after hearing about how this crop of embryos had done overnight. It is the poorest crop of embryos we've ever had. Trransfer previously has been of 'excellent' embryos - 8 cells at day 3 or 4 cells at day 2, and I've been pregnant twice, both times unsuccessfully, with those better embryos. So I felt we had the best chance of getting pregnant with three. Pregnant with a singleton, at best. So I asked about three, the embryologist checked with Dr Candour, who ok-ed it. And I figure if he ok-ed it, he's pretty sure our chances of triplets or even twins are close to zero.

All this took a long time and I was glad I'd paced myself with the water drinking. Last time I was about ready to explode before transfer. This time bladder was full, but bearable. The same doc did the transfer as did our last transfer. I think they got him up specially to do me as I had a long wait on the table, so I think I should be flattered. But I'd rather have someone else. He's very kind, but has hurt me more than any other doctor at transfer. So it was uncomfortable, even a bit painful, but ok - better than the last time, anyway.

I had to get myself home in a taxi as H rushed off after transfer to take Pob to Gymboree. I went to M&S and bought yummy strawberries and cherries*, came home and sat on the sofa all afternoon watching episodes of ER and reading blogs. It wasn't a bad afternoon, as they go. And when Pob got home she was delighted to see me and told me all about her day. At least that's what I think she was saying.

Thank you so much for all the good wishes. I read many of them while in various positions in the clinic today, it meant a lot to me to have all of your support again.

* I know many of you are put on bedrest by your clincs after transfer, but honestly I've looked at the evidence and it's nonsense. The only sensible study I could find found that women who took a normal level of activity after transfer had higher clinical pregnancy rates than those who went on bedrest. So though I did take it easy and did feel a bit crampy on and off, I feel fine about having had a wander this afternoon.

Comments

[perceval]

hang on in there, embies, hang on in there!!!

[statia]

Good luck.

I second your feeling of nonsense. I resumed my normal activity with the Mini, and here he is today.

[Heather]

Wishing you lots of luck!!!!

[Summer]

Just wanted to wish you luck!

How long do we, uhh, I mean you have to wait for the beta?!

[DinoD]

I am so hoping for a beautiful singleton for you. Is there any hope of freezing the "average" embryos?
Glad Pob is keeping you company.
DinoD

[Betty M]

Good luck. I agree re the bed rest - seems pointless. First time round when I knew nothing of the mysterious IVF rituals I went straight into work after ET and that was a success.

[Rachel]

Best of luck to your and your three little embies.

[NAJM]

I had 3 embies transfered (I'm 35), and it has resulted in a singleton pregnancy. Guess here in the US they are happy to transfer more. Anyway, hope the 2ww passes quickly and we here good news at the end.

[Kay/H]

Sending good thoughts, sweetie. And mmmmmm cherries :)

[Jo in Utah]

Prayers, hopes, fingers crossed, whatever good luck or karma or universal love I can channel for #2.

[soralis]

Wishing you luck!!!!!

[Bittermama]

Yay for the three latest POBs!

[beagle]

I agree about the bedrest and I think M&S is good for fertility . . . must be.

Good Luck!!

[Girl Detective]

Go, little things, go! Crossing my fingers and wishing fervently that things go well for Pob's future sib. Love to you all.

[Calliope]

been thinking about you and hoping things went well with the transfer. I totally lolled about after my transfer- but that is because I never get the chance to loll and I seized it! It was kind of boring tho'...
sending mojo to your mid section!
xo

[Nico]

Yeah, mojo to your midsection, I like that! I agree about the bedrest too, I really cannot imagine biologically what difference it would make. It's not as if the embryo is going to fall out!

[Bea]

Fingers crossed for a healthy singleton...

Bea

[Lynnette]

Everything crossed! Good luck!

[daysgoby]

All my bits crossed for you, dearie....

[luolin]

Good luck!

[millie]

I think the bedrest stuff is all voodoo and superstition as well.

Here's to a speedy 2 week wait with nice news at the end. Holding thumbs, crossing bits, all that stuff.

[cass]

Yummt food and TV and blog reading sounds like exactly the appropriate level of activity.

Crossing everything...

[LEB]

hope The Wait flies by & brings good news.

[May]

Though I'd take any excuse to spend the day in bed, reading and eating cherries.

Fingers crossed.

[angela]

Stick little embryos!
...and I'm interested to hear if the 2WW is at all easier or seems any quicker now that you have Pob as a distraction...

[MsPrufrock]

I feel as if I've travelled back in time, writing this comment.

I didn't do any bedrest after my transfer. In fact, we wandered around London and did some shopping. Somehow it all worked out ok.

Good luck. I'll echo what Angela said - I too wonder if this 2ww will go faster now that you are a bit...preoccupied?

[Tinker]

I'll be hoping for the best for you!

So, your remaining embryos, will they be frozen right away, or grown to blast? My clinic froze the few good ones we had at (day-3) transfer and grew the not-so-good ones to blast and surprised us with some unexpected survivors.

Oh, and good for you being sensible about normal activity. My RE doesn't recommend bedrest and if he did, I probably wouldn't do it anyhow.

[Kristi]

Good luck, Thalia! As you know, I transfered three and I'm now having twins. Given the panic over the news I'm still experiencing (at 24 weeks), I'm hoping for one healthy POB 2.0 for you!

[marie baguette]

I think bedrest (just like it is for difficult pregnancies) can't really hurt and give you the feeling you are actually doing something to improve your odds. And even though we know it is all bollocks, I am still wondering if everexhausting myself after my first positive beta did not result in a miscarriage.
Anyway, I just wanted to wish you all the best. And you just never know... Transfers are such lotteries! I ended up pregnant with quads with just 2 very average embryos.

[Kirby]

Wishing you lots of luck!

[Jenn]

I agree on the bedrest and my clinic said they tell women that it's bedrest because if they just say "take it easy" they take it to mean only do 3 loads of laundry instead of 5. Which don't get me into the sexism in that statement or the assumption that women can't make their own decisions.

Good luck :)

[nikole]

Sending you lots of hope...

[Clover]

I hope one of them sticks around for the next 8.5 months or so. Or two, if that's what you want. But it doesn't sound like it. :)

[T]

Wowee - congrats! And frankly, I think all those 'excellent' embryos is crap (or maybe just MY excellent embryos are crap?).

Good luck and have fun in Cork - I love it there.

[Country Chick]

Good luck Thalia - have been away and only just caught up, but have been thinking of you anyway. I know it's irrational, but I HATE that whole planning thing myself. I get myself all worked up an superstitious that changing plans will jinx the whole business. Hope you are saner than me!

[Lut C.]

I'm glad you made it to transfer, hoping for an excellent singleton pregnancy for you!

[Meredith]

This is exciting! I'm thinking very positive thoughts!

[silene]

Keeping fingers crossed...

FWIW, we transferred 4/5/5 decent (but not great) embryos in my 3 cycles, resulting in 0/1(MC)/1(Kitten) implanting. I think you and I are the same age. So I think you made the right choice to push for the transfer of 3.

Yummm - cherries!!

[motel manager]

Just catching up now and wishing you lots and lots of luck! (I also think bedrest after transfer is silly.)

[Somewhat Ordinary]

Oh, boy am I late. I've missed a lot because I'm pretty bad about blogging these days. I just want to wish you all the best!

[Karen]

Best of luck to you. I'm wishing you a perfect, healthy singleton. :)

And I'm with you on the bedrest=nonsense bit.

[Geohde]

I'll be hoping for that healthy singleton pregnancy for you,

J

[caro]

Good luck.