#i know egg retrieval is an optional procedure
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today i learned how ivf egg retrieval works and ugh why is having a uterus so complicated
#i know egg retrieval is an optional procedure#but like sperm collection is SO EASY in comparison#it just feels unfair
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Incoming Text for Vera Farmiga (@verafarmiga):
Dear Vera,
I hope you're doing well and enjoying life to the fullest! I wanted to take a moment to talk about something important, especially as we look toward the future. Since you're now 51, if having children is something you might consider down the road, itâs worth exploring the option of freezing your eggs for a future IVF procedure.
Hereâs a brief overview of how it works, step by step:
Initial Consultation: The first step is meeting with a fertility specialist, who will assess your overall health and discuss your reproductive goals. They will help you understand the egg-freezing process in detail.
Ovarian Stimulation: Once you decide to move forward, the clinic will guide you through hormone therapy to stimulate your ovaries. This helps produce multiple eggs during a cycle, which is key to giving you more options for the future.
Egg Retrieval: After the stimulation phase, your eggs will be collected through a minor procedure, done under sedation, where a specialist retrieves the eggs from your ovaries.
Freezing Process: The retrieved eggs are carefully frozen using a technique called vitrification, which preserves them for as long as you need. This allows you to use them whenever youâre ready in the future.
Future IVF Procedure: If you decide to have children later on, the frozen eggs can be thawed and fertilized with sperm during an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure. The fertilized embryos can then be implanted, offering a chance to conceive.
You never know what the future holds, and perhaps when youâre in your sixties, you may find yourself wanting to start or expand your family. Freezing your eggs now can give you that option down the road, providing peace of mind for whatever path you choose.
Thatâs all I wanted to say for nowâjust something to consider! Whatever you decide, Iâll always support you. Take care, enjoy life, and donât forget to have some fun along the way!
Big hugs and lots of love,
Angelo
P.S.:
Synopsis of the letter:
In this letter, Angelo gently reminds Vera, who is now 51 years old, about the option of freezing her eggs for potential future IVF procedures. He explains the egg-freezing process step by step, from the initial consultation with a fertility specialist to the eventual use of the eggs in a future IVF procedure. The letter emphasizes the importance of preparing now to keep the option of having children open, even in later years, while expressing love and support for whatever decision she chooses to make.
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When and why should you switch from your OB-GYN to a fertility specialist?
If you are looking to start a family, but you are struggling to get pregnant Who do you speak to? You can consult your gynaecologist at Aakash Fertility Centre who will examine you and help you decide on the best method of proceeding. What is the reason and when do you need to visit an expert in Aakash Fertility Centre ? Find out when it is time to leave your OB-GYN physician and consult with a Aakash Fertility specialist. Who is a Best Fertility Doctor?
Also known as an endocrinologist for reproduction, an Best fertility specialist is a doctor who is trained in female infertility. They know everything about the male and female Best reproductive systems. They also have a thorough understanding of male and female anatomy as well as the physiology and anatomy that plays a part in fertility. The only Fertility Expert to assess, analyze and offer treatment for fertility. If youâre unable to conceive or are experiencing problems with fertility, then this is the kind of best gynaecologist you should talk to.
Difference Between OB-GYN & Fertility Specialist An OB-GYN also has a degree in the the female reproductive system. They also have knowledge of pregnancy-related issues like the antenatal care, delivery, post baby care, gynaecological issues like excessive bleeding, irregular bleeding, white discharge and many more . The OB-GYN is also able to help in cases of PCOS or PCOD. However, if youâre trying to become pregnant because of these problems, you should seek out a Best fertility specialist in Vadapalani . Fertility Expert is a sub-specialty section of OBG which gynecologists undertake further studies of 2 to three years on fertility and its details . They can become a fertility specialist and perform fertility treatments.
OB-GYN or a Fertility Doctor- Whom Should You See? If youâre trying to become pregnant, it is essential to seek out an OBGYN. They can assist you in identifying the days you are fertile, recommend an optimal diet and lifestyle, as and prescribe supplements such as the folic acid. If youâre experiencing difficulties having a baby or are identified with an issue that prevents your from having a baby it is time to make the switch to a fertility physician and you may require fertility treatments.
What is Fertility Treatment? The procedure of fertility is medical, or Fertility treatment that can help couples get pregnant. Your fertility physician will request numerous tests and examine different criteria to determine if there is an issue with your ability to become pregnant. Based on their findings theyâll recommend an fertility treatment that could improve your chances of becoming pregnant. The many fertility treatment options suggested by a fertility physician include:
For Women: 1. Induction of ovulation and intercourse with time 2. Artificial Insemination or Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) 3. IVF ( In Virto Fertilization) / ICSI 4. Tubal Cannulation 5. Tubal Litigation Reversal 6. Egg donation 7. Surrogacy
For Men: 1. The surgical sperm retrieval 2. Varicocele surgery 3. Reversal of Vasectomy 4. The freezing of the sperm 5. Donor semen
Should I Have to Consult a Fertility Doctor in Aakash Fertility Centre? When should you see an expert in fertility? If youâre suffering from one of the following problems it is recommended to see with a fertility specialist: * Youâve been trying to get pregnant in the last 12 months or more A female companion must be older than 35 years old and you have not been able to conceive for six months or more.
If youâve experienced multiple times miscariiage with a loss in your pregnancy (a miscarriage is not uncommon, however, if youâre having multiple miscarriages, you require greater than just an OB/GYN) You have been being treated for one fertility problems like PCOS or endometriosis which is hindering your attempts at getting pregnant. * You would like to save your eggs or sperms to use in the future * Your menstrual cycle may be too short or long, and it is causing an issue when you try to keep track of fertile days and become pregnant. * You would like to test IVF or artificial insemination or other fertility treatment options (both male and female based) Youâd like to reverse the family planning process
What to Fertility Expect When Seeing a Fertility Specialist? If you schedule your appointment with a Aakash Fertility Centre doctor you can count on these things: * A question about your menstrual cycle â the length of your period and frequency of your period as well as the amount of bleeding, etc. * Tests to determine that you are ovulating * Numerous test for fertility, both on the partner and in between. * The male companion must ejaculate at the Fertility Centre or in the laboratory for analysis of semen * Prescription of medications to increase Ovulation * Treatments for fertility that are basing on the results Treatments for fertility are costly and time-consuming for a lot of people and can not always work. The process of undergoing fertility treatment requires both parties to be equally well-prepared and accommodating.
A treatment for fertility is not just financial strain on couples, but it can also be emotionally stressful too. The many tests and trips to the fertility clinic and The negative outcomes can be difficult to handle when both partners arenât totally committed to fertility treatment. Couples have to be ready for different problems that can arise during treatment for fertility. A fertility physician will only assist in a technical sense and canât help with the emotional burden it may be a burden on couples. There are always support groups to help through this difficult time. Ask your fertility specialist for some ideas.
Why Leave Your OB-GYN? The main question here is why a woman should quit their OB-GYN after being in their practice for many years and receiving help with different issues relating with the reproductive organs of females, including diagnosing fertility problems. If your OB-GYN detects an issue with fertility, such as an obstruction in the tube or PCOS or identifies no issue in the female, and suspects itâs the health of the sperm, it is time to speak with an expert in fertility. The role of an OB-GYN does not end with identifying potential problems. The fertility doctor will confirm the situation and take the required steps to get you from here. Must Read : Flavourful Recipe of Central India to Boost Fertility
Conclusion If youâre having difficulty concocting naturally despite all the suggestions and help from your OB/GYN, itâs the right time to seek out an expert who is qualified to assist you with fertility treatments to help your dreams come true of having a child.
FAQs 1. When is the best time to visit a fertility doctor following having a miscarriage? The miscarriages that occur in the early stages of pregnancy are quite common. However, if you experienced an extremely late miscarriage or had multiple miscarriages you should consult a fertility specialist to pinpoint and fix the root of the issue.
2. Should I visit an IVF center? * If youâre having difficulty conceiving naturally, then you should consult an expert in fertility. In the event that you with your fertility specialist decide that IVF is the best option of treatment, youâll need to visit an IVF center. There is more than IVF treatment at these centers. In many IVF centers, other treatments for fertility are also available.
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Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions about IVF
IVF, or in-vitro fertilization, is a highly effective fertility treatment that helps many couples become pregnant. Itâs an increasingly popular option for those who have been unsuccessful with other treatments and it can be used to treat a variety of issues such as blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis, and unexplained infertility. With so much information available on the topic of IVF it can be difficult to know where to start when researching your options. To help you out weâve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions about IVF below:
1) What is involved in an IVF cycle?
The first step is usually ovarian stimulation which involves taking medications designed to stimulate egg production from multiple follicles within each ovary (the process also known as âsuperovulationâ). Once these eggs are mature, they will then need collecting through a minor surgical procedure called oocyte retrieval before being combined with sperm outside the body (in vitro). Finally, if all goes well one or two embryos are transferred back into the uterus via a catheter during another short procedure called embryo transfer.Â
2) How successful is IVF?
Success rates vary depending on factors such as age and cause of infertility but overall success rates tend to range between 30% - 40%. That said success rates at leading clinics like Dr. Poonam Raikwarâs Fertility Clinic & Women Care Centre â an established IVF center in Indore â often exceed this average due to their high quality care standards and advanced technology facilities available there.
3) Are there any risks associated with undergoing treatment?
As with any medical intervention, there may be certain risks associated including infection risk, from both general anesthetic uses during egg collection/embryo transfer procedures, alongside ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which occurs when too many hormones have been taken, resulting in fluid retention around the abdomen area, followed by nausea/diarrhea etc. However, these cases are rare, providing medication has been administered correctly under supervision throughout the entire cycle length.
4) Is funding available for private treatments? Â
Yes, although not every clinic offers financial assistance. So it would be the best to check prior to booking anything else. Some NHS trusts do provide partial funding towards cost, however, eligibility criteria must still met plus waiting list times could potentially delay the overall process even further.
Also Read: Best Gynaecologist in Indore
5) Can I travel abroad for my treatment?
Yes, travelling overseas can sometimes prove more cost effective than staying local however make sure you thoroughly research potential destinations beforehand.
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How Fertility Treatments Work Choosing the Best Option for You and Your Family Having children can be stressful.
You receive a wide range of feedback, from practical to philosophical. What effects will this have now and in the future on my family? What kinds of threats exist? Is there anything that my insurance will cover? The best fertility treatment option for your situation requires careful consideration of what you want from the procedure and how much risk you are willing to take. Fortunately, if your doctor agrees that they are right for you, there are a few options that can help you get pregnant. The key is to know which treatments are most likely to work for you and how they work. The various types of fertility treatments, success rates, costs, risks, side effects, advantages and disadvantages, and, if necessary, other options are all covered in this article.
What causes infertility?
The general term for the inability to imagine or bring a child to term is fruitlessness. Ladies and men, the same can profit from the best Chennai fruitfulness center. Infertility is frequently caused by issues with sperm or eggs that prevent fertilization. Poor quality sperm (shaped abnormally, motility insufficient, etc.) Alternatively, obstructed tubes are typical causes of male infertility. Issues with the ovaries, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, can also contribute to infertility. Female fruitlessness is typically primarily caused by male factors. Infertility is more prevalent in women due to problems with the fallopian tubes, which connect the ovaries to the uterus. If the tubes are damaged or blocked, conception is impossible.
Types of Fertility Treatments In-Office Fertility treatments are performed in an office setting at the Best fertility hospital in Chennai with minimal risk and discomfort. They incorporate routine ultrasounds, blood tests, biopsies, and other symptomatic techniques your primary care physician might perform to evaluate your ripeness. For some women, these tests may be all they need to diagnose and treat their fertility problem. In-vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy: In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most common method for conceiving eggs. Both a single-embryo transfer, in which one or more eggs are taken from your ovaries and mixed with sperm from a partner before being fertilized in a laboratory, and a multiple-embryo transfer, in which multiple eggs are taken from your ovaries and mixed with sperm from a partner before being fertilized in a lab, are options. In-vitro fertilization can be done at home, in a clinic, or a hospital.
The egg retrieval procedure can be performed in a variety of settings, including a hospital operating room or a doctor's office. You can have your eggs taken out by a doctor in a clinic's operating room or a hospital's medical center. A cycle in which a woman or a man contracts with a substitute to have a child for another person is known as surrogacy. A gay partner of an intended parent, a sibling, an unrelated couple, a friend, or even a well-known person who wants to have a child could be the source.
Involving Home Eggs and the Clump Strategy for Origination Return to Ovulation (CRCA) to get pregnant utilizing your eggs, you could possibly utilize a procedure called "origination return to ovulation." You only need to collect your eggs and decide when you will receive them if you can get fertility treatment in the office. Alternatively, you can perform at-home fertility treatments to return the eggs to your cervix and obtain your partner's sperm.
Conception through Donor Egg Retrieval (Derek Cohen Reproductive Technology) and Other Options for In-Office Treatment IVF treatment in Chennai is a relatively new approach to overcoming infertility. You inject your partner's sperm into an empty egg retrieval apparatus. The egg retrieval system is then sent to your partner's doctor, who fertilizes the eggs in a lab. Your accomplice gets a ripeness treatment half a month after the fact that moves the undeveloped organisms to her uterus.
Conception by Artificial Insemination (I.M.Âź Artificial Insemination)
In this method, your partner's and I.M.Âź sperm are injected into their eggs artificially. A few weeks later, your partner receives a fertility treatment that moves the embryos to her uterus.
Conception Through Stem Cell Therapy
This treatment is beneficial to men who struggle with infertility. The embryos produced by a few rounds of I.M.Âź are cryopreserved, or frozen, and thawed before use in the case of "stem cell therapy." Conclusion Despite the uncertainty and difficulty of overcoming infertility, there are numerous options. With the right doctor and hard work, you can conceive. Before jumping in, try to understand what you're getting yourself into.
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Yes, You Can Still Be a Grandparent: On LGBTQ Family Formation
By Trystan Reese, Director of Family Formation at Family Equality Council
As a parent, there are so many things you want for your children. A good education, a partner that treats them well, a fulfilling job, hobbies that spark their passion⊠and a family of their own one day (when and if they are really ready). When a parent learns that their child is LGBTQ, their most common fear is that their child wonât become a parent themselves. But more and more LGBTQ people ARE able to form families if they wish, and we hope your child is no different if that is what they choose!
Unfortunately, there are some barriers for LGBTQ people who want to form families of their own: legal, social, financial, and medical. It can be heartbreaking to imagine that your child may not have the choice to one day become a parentâthe good news, though, is that the number of LGBTQ parents grows every year. Statewide laws are increasingly trending toward support for LGBTQ parenting and many options exist for family-building within our community.
Here are some ways LGBTQ people are currently able to become parents.
1. Adoption. When a biological connection to a child isnât paramount, many LGBTQ people choose to adopt. There are thousands of sweet, funny, smart, amazing kids out there who would love to have you as their grandparent. Yes, the prospect of raising a child born into difficult circumstances can seem like a big taskâand it isâbut itâs also extremely rewarding. If your LGBTQ child chooses to adopt, they are, in many cases, literally saving a life. My two older kids are adopted, and my parents ADORE them. They are extremely proud of our decision to become parents in this way and are known to spoil our kids as much as they possibly can.
2. Fostering. If your child feels open to parenting temporarily, or parenting in a situation that might be temporary, becoming a foster parent is a unique and powerful way to forever impact the life of a young person in need of a safe place. Foster grandparents get the experience of spoiling multiple grandchildren, in addition to the incredible experience of knowing that your adult child is making a difference in many lives. While it can be heartbreaking to imagine saying goodbye to a child youâve grown attached to, you will always know that their life has been made better because of their relationship with you. LGBTQ people make great foster parentsâmany of us have experienced adversity in our lives, which means we can more easily relate to children in the foster care system and can serve as models for overcoming difficult circumstances.
3. Biologically using sperm donation. If your child has a uterus but doesnât end up having a partner who produces sperm, they may utilize a known or anonymous donor to help make their family dream come true. They should always work with an experienced lawyer to protect everyone involved, but in general the process is not too difficult. This process can happen less formally, using a friend and at-home insemination, or with a fertility center. In some cases, partners would like to each have a physical connection to the intended baby. In those cases, they may choose to harvest one partnerâs eggs and work with a clinic to fertilize those eggs and implant them in the other partnerâs uterus for the pregnancy and birth. In this way, the child will be genetically related to one and will also have a physical connection to the other. This is also a way to have stronger legal protections for each partner, as sometimes the law favors genetic/biological connections.
4. Surrogacy. If your child doesnât have a uterus, having a child biologically is a tad more complicated because pregnancy and childbirth are really the hardest parts of making a baby. Itâs often hard to find someone willing to go through that process on someone elseâs behalf, but itâs not impossible. A surrogate may be a friend, or they may be someone secured through an agency. As with utilizing a donor like above, it is critical for everyone to work with a lawyer to make sure things donât get messy at any point. Surrogacy is the most expensive way to become a parent: the intended parent(s) are responsible for all medical bills, in addition to dozens of other categories of fees. Some states have restrictions on surrogacy, so couples sometimes have to work with an out-of-state (or even out-of-country) agency to help a surrogacy happen.
5. Transgender parenting. If you have a transgender or gender non-conforming child, there are still lots of ways for them to become a parent to a child who shares a genetic connection to them.
If your transgender child plans to transition to the point of losing their reproductive capability (through having a hysterectomy, oophorectomy, or other bottom surgery), they can go through fertility preservation beforehand. A trained physician will extract eggs or collect sperm and save it at a cryobank for later use. Reproductive cells like this can last literally decades (maybe even centuries!), so a transgender person can undergo surgical transition and decide later if theyâd like to use that tissue to make a child. This is a good option if your child wants the freedom to pursue their transition without worrying about long-term reproductive ability. There are two drawbacks to this option: most insurance plans wonât cover it (and it is incredibly costly!); and for egg retrieval, the patient must undergo hormone treatments designed to stimulate egg release and then have a procedure guided by an internal ultrasound wand. This can feel invasive to some transmasculine people, and they may opt out of the process on this basis alone.
If your child has a uterus and doesnât plan to transition to the point of losing reproductive capability, they still may be able to have a baby when theyâre ready. Contrary to historical understanding of the uterus, recent data clearly shows that taking testosterone will not seriously impact uterus or egg health. Even after many years of testosterone use, trans pregnancy and birth outcomes are the same as for non-transgender pregnancies. While it may not be common for transgender men to give birth, it has been done hundreds of times and is perfectly safe when done according to medical instruction. However, most transgender men may not feel comfortable being pregnant and giving birth; if a transgender person is committed to having a biological child but doesnât want to carry the baby themselves, they can harvest their eggs and a surrogate or partner can go through the pregnancy process.
If your childâs body produces sperm and they donât end up having procedures to remove their bodyâs ability to produce sperm, they may be able to stop taking their hormones and regain sperm production down the road. Sperm collection can be mentally stressful for some transgender women (or gender non-conforming people whose bodies produce sperm), but it isnât painful. If they have a partner with a uterus, they can undergo the procreation process through intercourse or at-home insemination or they can go to a clinic to ensure a higher success rate through intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF). If they end up going the IUI or IVF route, good insurance will cover some, if not all, of the costs, but they are pretty expensive out-of-pocket.
As you can see, there are many ways for an LGBTQ person to become a parent. Personally, I have two children who were adopted by us when a relative couldnât take care of them, and I gave birth to my baby, Leo, in 2017. Itâs important to remember that thereâs no ârightâ way to become a parent (or grandparent!)âitâs all about your childâs vision for their family, in conjunction with whatâs allowed legally in their state and what their financial realities are.
Feel free to stay engaged and involved with Family Equality Council in the coming years. We exist to make the path to parenthood easier for LGBTQ people, and will continue to be a resource for you and your family for years to come.
Keep in touch, and good luck!
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Why Mexico?
I live in Denver, Colorado, USA. There is very little about our healthcare system that is good. The customer service is atrocious, and the cost is absurd. I truly have no idea how much I would have spent had I done this back home. Somewhere between $12k-$20k...ish. Â
I did some research, I asked around, I asked my regular physician (of course she suggested the facility within the healthcare system of which sheâs a part). I couldnât find a lot of information, or distinguishable reviews, so thatâs who I went to see. Â
I made an initial appointment for 3 weeks out, landing it in early January 2020. I knew, for the most part, how the procedure works on a basic level. But in very few places could I find explanations without all the jargon. Enough to piece it together, but not enough to be able to read the pricing sheet from this facility and get an idea of the cost for me. It looks like this:
So the cost for the actual retrieval and freezing is $9,100, plus a little more if they get more eggs. But what is FemVue, and will I need it? I donât know. What is FDA blood work, will I require it, and how much will that cost? I donât know. Will I need a fluid contrast ultrasound? No idea. Whatâs the difference between the $3k medication and the $7k medication, and how will I know how much Iâm going to end up paying? I donât know.
My initial visit, to talk with the doctor, cost $250. I filled out a lot of paperwork, which they didnât look at when they asked me all the same questions again in person (do they test you to see if you give the same answers?), they took some vitals, and I talked to a doc for 20 minutes. I didnât learn a lot more than what Iâd gleaned online, but felt a little bit better knowing there werenât a lot of holes in my knowledge. I learned that if I wanted to do an initial screening, just to see if I even have a uterus or ovaries in there, and check my hormones to see if Iâm even a viable candidate, it would cost $1,200. I had already done at at-home hormone fertility test from Modern Fertility, which seemed to show I was within an okay range, but the doctor had no desire to look at it, or tell me what it meant, as he didnât know how it was tested or if Iâd followed the directions at home properly to produce a good result. I would need to pay for another one for him to be able to comment. Thanks doc.
We finished the appointment at 2:30pm on a Thursday with me saying âThe remainder of my questions are really related to costâ, to which the doctor said heâd get the office manager... who it turns out had left for the day. Heâd have her email me. Six weeks, to the day, later I received an email from her with the chart posted above attached, which is on their website, and âLet me know if you have any questionsâ. Had I not already decided on Mexico, I would have had to ask the questions like âWhat is FemVue, and will I need it?â Luckily, I was able to tell her âThanks, but in the past 6 weeks Iâve made other plansâ. Â
With the distaste in my mouth from that visit, I started looking at medical tourism options. Almost everywhere was cheaper than the US. But, when factoring the cost to travel to, and stay in, some places, it began to approach the same cost. Which wouldnât necessarily be bad... at least for the same cost Iâd also get a 2 week vacation. But Mexico was cheap to get to, safe enough for tourists, cheap to stay, and in a similar time-zone (Iâm keeping up with work remotely), so it came out to be one of the easier options. Â
I read some blogs and articles, looked at a lot of reviews (many more positive reviews than ANY facility in the US had), and decided on Advanced Fertility Center in Cancun. I wanted to go to a tourist-heavy city, as that felt safer (whether thatâs based in reality or not), and my anxiety about a language barrier was diminished. I filled out an online form to be contacted, and within an hour I was on the phone with a doctor. I spent 20 minutes on the phone with her, and didnât have to pay for it... how novel! She made me feel very comfortable about the level of professionalism and expertise I would encounter. And when I asked how much it would cost, I was provided the quote of $4,950, and if I wanted to do the blood work when I arrived, another $150. Considering that bloodwork would likely cost several hundred dollars in the US, I of course was going to have it done when I arrived. With airfare and accomodation for 2 weeks, I was still likely going to pay half of what it would cost in the US. The decision was very easy for me. Half out of principle to want to avoid putting any of my money into the US healthcare system that I didnât have to, and half just purely logical to save money. Okay, maybe 70%/30% - boy, do I hate our healthcare system!
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Mini IVF â A More Gentle and Cost-Effective Method for Conception
Mini IVF is getting popular among couples who want to have a baby but fear loads of medications, invasive procedures, and higher costs. In short, Mini IVF is less invasive, less costly, and utilizes fewer medications. If you are hesitant about the side-effects and price of conventional in-vitro fertilization, you might want to know about this relatively new procedure. Here is what you need to know about the Mini IVF.
 What does Mini IVF mean?
Minimal Stimulation In-Vitro Fertilization is generally referred to as Mini IVF. This treatment consists of a daily low-dose pill(s) that helps kick-start egg production for around 10 to 12 days. Ultrasounds are required every few weeks to track the health and development of eggs. The patient is given up to three âtrigger injectionsâ in the belly and a nasal spray or equivalent medication is administered 36 hours before egg retrieval. These steps stimulate multiple egg production.
 Within the next 26 to 48 hours after the shot is given, eggs should be matured enough for the retrieval process. The egg retrieval process is normally done under anesthesia; however, a woman can choose to have the surgery without it. Then, eggs are sent to the lab for fertilization. Once they are fertilized, a single embryo is transferred back to the uterus. The couple may choose to have the surplus of embryos frozen and stored for a subsequent Frozen Embryo Transfer if needed.
 The best part about Mini IVF is that its cost is half of what conventional IVF costs.
 What Can I Expect with Mini IVF Treatment?
The good news with Mini IVF is that the amount of medications is significantly less than that of the conventional IVF. As such, the cost of Mini IVF is much less. Besides, the amount of hormones a woman is taking into her body is also minimized with this treatment.
 Since medication doesnât create eggs in Mini IVF, you donât need as many medications to conceive. Medications are used to foster the growth of eggs that are already there. The amount of medication administered during Mini IVF is customized specifically for each patient based on her egg reserve.
 Therefore, Mini IVF is a great option for women who might have fewer eggs which is often a concern for aging women.
 It is also good for women who are considering or have had Ovarian Rejuvenation â a new process used to stimulate the ovaries gently to increase the rate of creation and release of new eggs.
 As age increases, the surface of the ovary becomes tough like leather, and this rigidity can create pressure on follicles that squash developing eggs in older women. In most cases, Mini IVF doesnât compromise the work done during ovarian rejuvenation as it is gentle and mild than conventional IVF.
 If you want to experience less discomfort related to injection site pain and side effects of fertility medication, decrease the likelihood of developing complications, or reduce out of pocket cost, then Mini IVF can be the right way for you to get pregnant.
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IVF FET Round 4 (Third times the charm) IM PREGNANT!
As I sit here typing the words, âI am pregnant!â itâs words we have been dreaming about for almost a full year now. Literally working toward each month. For a year. My heart canât stop smiling thinking about it, and I canât wipe the smile off my face as the tears continue to fall down my face. Tears of happiness. Tears of joy. Tears of past heartbreak. All of it. I have shared a lot of my past infertility journey that brought us to Otis (which you can read about here) and I am committed to sharing our story with you as we experience it. These posts for me have been therapeutic to be able to diary as I have experienced it. Also, please be kind if I go in and out of tense as some of this was written in the moment and some of it after the fact. BEAR WITH ME.Â
This Frozen Embryo Transfer was likely the most important of all of them. It was our last frozen embryo we had in storage. And our last try for a baby. The weight of that was suffocating. After previously going through 3 egg retrievals, after Otis I was left with 3 frozen embabies. Our precious little babies. Of course there are always options to keep going but I am of course already 37 years old and I STRUGGLED to get healthy embryos from my retrievals since my egg quality was pretty poor. I was also unsure if I was willing to undergo the whole egg retrieval process again but this now brought all those thoughts up. What if my last transfer doesnât work? There was ALOT on our minds. Alot. So looking into our last chance with our last embryo had a lot of weight to it. After looking at our past failed cycles with our doctor, she had an idea to do something completely different. This both excited me and completely TERRIFIED me. But at this point, we really needed to throw it all on the line to put our best foot forward. I trust my doctor so I was willing to go down a new path. I think itâs always important to mix things up because you never know what your recipe for success will be. She wanted to try a âNatural FET cycleâ meaning that we would supplement less with synthetic hormones and instead, let my body lead the way naturally and then only supplement with less hormones closer to embryo transfer. Since I have had issues getting a thicker lining with all the synthetic hormones, we were curious to see how my body does completely on itâs own. So the goal would be, track my natural cycle in a âmockâ cycle where we were only doing bloodwork and ultrasounds to gather information and track my cycle. No embryo transfer. Just tracking for research. I was IN.Â
Tracking my Natural Cycle
The process would be, wait till cycle day 3 of my period and come in for a baseline ultrasound and bloodwork at my fertility clinic. Then for me to do at home ovulation kits to track my ovulation at home as well as come in for multiple scans to see how my eggs were growing and tracking it with kits, bloodwork and ultrasound. In doing this, we found that my lining naturally looked FREAKING AMAZING. WHO WOULD HAVE KNOWN. Basically my lining looked the best it ever had and I was almost upset this was a mock cycle and not a real one. That is how good my lining looked. After we confirmed ovulation with both my at home kits, and ultrasound and blood work, doctor also confirmed that my estrogen tends to dip a little low after ovulation so that is where we want to supplement a little more in our real cycle. Good to know! Also, we were excited to decide we would lock into a natural FET cycle and we were doing this!!! Of course we also tried naturally that month to get pregnant and of course it didnât happen. So we were on our way to our Natural FET cycle with my next period.
Natural Cycle FET
I started my cycle on the 3rd day of my period and came in for a baseline check. The did an ultrasound to make sure I didnât have any cysts on my ovaries and did blood work to check my hormone levels. The plan was to do at home ovulation kits and wait for high and peak results. The kits I use first tell you when your levels are HIGH and then tell you when itâs PEAK which is right before ovulation. So it was about 2 weeks until I went in again just for a check. Things were actually looking farther along than last cycle so we did more blood work and she suspected I would be getting close so I would come back in 2 days. In 2 days, my body was READY! Those eggs were growing perfectly and when we checked my hormones I was ready to go!! IT WAS INSANITY. I was expecting to have a much longer cycle again but this was flying by holy crap. I waited for blood work to confirm but that night I did my trigger shot! The trigger shot would confirm my exact embryo transfer timing. My lining was the best itâs ever looked! It looked âlush and juicyâ in the words of my doctor and she was so excited about how great it looked that she printed me out a photo. I had that good trilaminar appearance to it as well which is all very positive. Things were looking amazing for my natural cycle and I was excited the doctor was as hyped as I was about it. I knew that if things didnât look great, we could always cancel and try again but we were doing this!!
One week before I did my trigger injection which would trigger ovulation and set the wheels into motion for my embryo transfer. I started my progesterone 5 days before transfer and my other meds 3 days before. Progesterone this time was 1 injection and 1 suppository at night. I literally forgot how horrible those suppositories are. Basically itâs a compounded version of progesterone that looks like an oversized pill that you shove up your lady parts at night. But the aftermath is that is oozes out kind of slowly over time. Sorry TMI but damn they are GROSS. They just really end up making me feel very uncomfortable and I much prefer the injections which I know sounds INSANE. I started WAY less other hormones 3 days before. 2 estrogen patches and then my normal protocol of antibiotics, claritin, pepcid, baby aspirin, and medrol. After the medrol was finished I would start my prednisone. So all the meds were mostly the same as my medicated cycles in the past but just a lot less of them since we were working with my own bodyâs goods.
We did one last appointment on Friday before my Monday transfer to make sure all my hormones were looking good and that lining was also looking good. I think my nerves were running high. The appointment went great and everything looked ready. Hormones and lining looked good. I got to the checkout desk and was scheduling my pregnancy blood drawl test and 2 of my nurses came over to wish me luck at my transfer. I lost it. I feel awful to have been crying at the desk as I am sure anyone in the waiting room could hear me. But wow. The gravity of everything was hitting me. I desperately needed this to work. It was our last precious embryo and I was a hot mess of emotion. I thought I had it all together, I was feeling so good and positive, but that doesnât mean you arenât FEELING. Just such a vulnerable moment. Losing your shit. In public. But damn, infertility is hard as fuck. Itâs really fucking hard. And going to battle and being knocked down every time takes its toll. I left the office tissues in hand. When I got to my car, I decided to change the script. Yes we had 1 more chance but that 1 chance is a blessing.
EMBRYO TRANSFER DAY
Of all my transfers, this one was one for the books. My smile was bigger waking up. I was more hopeful. I laid out my rainbow shirt, my cozy warrior socks, and I sat excited to start my day and move a step closer to expanding our family. I blow dried my hair, which in Covid times, is a big deal. I wanted to feel good. Look good. Be the light I needed this day.Â
Blake, Otis and I packed up to leave. Because of Covid-19, he was not allowed in for my transfer but he would drop me off and be there waiting. As I was getting in the car, I noticed 3 morning doves walking through our garden. It was the sign I needed that morning. Third timeâs the charm. I couldnât knock the smile off my face after that. Despite the fact that destructive fires were raging through my part of Southern California, my sister was evacuated from her home and it smelled horribly of smoke even outside of our own home, I was positive. Nothing was going to ruin this day for me.
When I got to the clinic, it was business as usual. Take my valium and I filled out all my forms etc and before I knew it I was back in the room getting ready. I always play music on my phone and this time I put on my Summer Salt playlist for some good vibes. The embryologist came in, shared good news about our thawed 4AB embryo and confirmed it was our last normal embryo. My doctor came in shortly after. A speculum, a catheter and a few quick minutes later and the embryo was in! Watching it on the screen happen via ultrasound is truly a sureal experience. And just like that, we did it. I had my lucky socks on keeping me cozy and I also brought a few ribbons with me from a gift as a good luck charm. Channeling hope and love through every moment. I had asked Blake if he could give me an affirmation each day after my transfer to keep my spirits high and keep my hopeful heart in the right direction. I didnât know he was going to give me something on the day of my transfer but before I had walked in, he gave me my first affirmation from him and Otis. I got to open it as I sat alone waiting for the doctors and nurses to come in. I canât tell you how much that meant to me. âThe pain that youâve been feeling canât compare to the joy that is comingâ <3, Blake + Otis Never underestimate the power of a small gesture to make someoneâs heart just so happy. Blake picked me up and we drove home to for me to get cozy in bed, eat my lunch, and take a much needed nap. Since I take valium to relax me before my procedure, I always need a good nap that day to sleep everything off.
2WW (The Two Week Wait)
This time period is the dreaded âTWO WEEK WAIT.â Technically itâs 10 days after my transfer that I can go in for my beta blood work to measure my HCG levels and find out if I got pregnant from my transfer. So letâs start from the beginning of those 10 days.
My first 3 days (including transfer day) were bed/couch rest. So basically hang in bed, have Blake bring me all my meals and snacks and just BE CHILL and BE HAPPY. In order to prepare for this and make it easier for Blake, who took time off of work to watch and care for myself and Otis, I did our meal plan for bedrest and planned some of my favorite meals to enjoy during this time. Also a tradition on transfer day for me is to enjoy a bagel with sundried tomato cream cheese and cucumber in bed while I watch Father of the Bride. I do this every time. Itâs just part of my âhappyâ process. We had to keep my door closed since bed rest and a toddler donât mix. Of course Otis and Blake could come in to say hi every once in a while, but the important thing was for me to be chill and mellow. So I binged my fav rom coms in bed, took some naps, and thought positive thoughts. I also facetimed Otis for every meal so I felt part of the family even stuck in bed. Love that technology could keep us together at meal time. This also made me happy to see Otisâ sweet face.
On day 4, I was allowed to resume normal activity as long as I refrained from any strenuous and no working out at all. Also, no lifting my toddler. That one is difficult! But I am so thankful to have Blake working from home to help me lift him in and out of his crib during this time. So we took things easy, and kept myself busy hanging with Otis daily and waiting.Â
During the 2ww I was also tracking my body like a HAWK. What was I feeling? How was I feeling? Were these signs of pregnancy? Were these signs of my period? Anyone that endures the 2WW becomes obsessed with any small symptoms they might detect and wonder WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN. I am telling you, itâs maddening. The problem is, with each transfer, all the symptoms are almost identical for pregnancy OR getting your period. Seriously. Itâs a mind fuck excuse my French but it is. And comparing my symptoms to my last 2 failed FET, they were similar. So how was I supposed to know if it was good or bad? There was just no way to know. I had the slight cramping. I had the sore boobs. I had the bloating. Basically all the symptoms all week. I started those 10 days mellow and cool as a cucumber but as the days passed by⊠the anxiety started to rise.
9DPT (9 Days Post Transfer)
As I sit here on Nov 4th, my anxiety level is at an all time high with the election still lingering with no clear cut winner and a pregnancy test lingering. Chalk it up to massive PTSD but wow the nerves are hitting me today. I know what is done is done, and I know my results will share just that. But this time, itâs all on the line. As the day went on the anxiety rose. I ended up doing a mediation in my calm app and taking a nap when Otis took a nap. I needed that release. Later in the day after dinner, I went to the bathroom and I swear when I wiped, I had a slight light pink streak. I freaked out. Could this be my period??? We were getting Otis ready for bed and I was sitting in his rocking chair waiting for him and Blake to come into the room and I just broke down. Hysterically ugly crying I said to blake, âIm so nervous.â Tears streaming. Uncontrollably. I think in this moment I realized that while my level of optimism was high, there was still 2 possible outcomes⊠and now I was freaking out. Sadly I made Blake stress out too but damn guys. I just lost it. While the 2WW is always an excruciating time for people going through fertility treatment, the day before blood test was high up in the worst days ever. After we got Otis down for bed, we binged some 90 Day Fiance before the 90 days to get our minds off the baby topic. And then tucked ourselves in with our nightly meditation. I have the Hatch Restore and itâs been a great part of my daily routine. You can select custom meditations to play before bed and then play your sound machine music. Itâs helped to set a good intention for me before bedtime. Setting my mind in the right space has been such an important thing to focus on throughout this experience.
10DPT + Pregnancy Blood Test
I think Blake and I barely slept the night leading to my blood work. I woke up and got ready to go and made sure to pee in a cup for Blake. I NEVER go into my bloodwork without doing a HPT (home pregnancy test) because I do not want to find out blind from a phone call if I donât have to. So I peed in the cup and left. Right when I leave the door, Blake does the pregnancy test for me. He is a GOOD man. So thankful he does this for me. I do this so that we have results but I donât know until after my blood work so that I am in good spirits at the doctors office. I headed in for my quick blood drawl and I was back into my car eagerly texting Blake. Because of the stress and PTSD⊠I texted Blake, âNegative?â and he texted me, âAre you sure you wanna know?â and I said yes. âYou are PREGNANT!â I swear when I read it⊠I blacked out. LITERALLY BLACKED OUT. I immediately video chatted with Blake while uncontrollably and hysterically crying. HYSTERICAL. I was in complete shock. Blake asked, âAre you excited???â Since he was clearly confused by my tears of utter shock. OF COURSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It seriously took me some time to calm down. It was literally unbelievable. After 1 cancelled cycle and 2 failed transfersâŠ. I finally got a positive home pregnancy test. It was a fucking miracle. Now to wait for the actual blood results.
The nurse called me later in the day to share the good news and I was just so relieved not to get that familiar phone call from my doctor. The PTSD is so real when it comes to every part of this process. My levels looked GREAT and I would come back in 2 days to make sure my beta HCG levels were going up. My levels 2 days later looked great again. It was official!!!! I would go in next week for my 5 week ultrasound. At this point, we had our trip to Alisal scheduled btw my blood work and my ultrasound appointment so it was the perfect midweek time to literally celebrate our new found news together as a family. But also gave us so much excitement to know after our short trip, I would come home to an ultrasound appointment to SEE OUR BABY.
5 Week Ultrasound Appointment
Leading up to each milestone is like a wave of anxiety following with you. Of course I am hopeful, happy, excited but when you have this many problems getting pregnant, I forgot just how much anxiety I had leading up to each weekly appointment. Being in such a pattern of heartbreak and disappointment you are just waiting for the other shoe to drop. But wow. What a milestone. I headed in for my appointment and the doctor said, âThere it is! Right where I left it!â I breathed a sigh of relief as we looked at the little circle that was our baby on the ultrasound machine. She explained that my appointment for 6 weeks we MIGHT be able to hear the heartbeat but to not freak out if we didnât because we still had our 7 week appointment to hear it. So now we just waited for the next week. I still am continuing all my meds: 2x a day progesterone injections, 2 estrogen patches changed every other day, and my daily anti-inflammatory protocol meds (prednisone, claritin, pepcid ac and baby aspirin).
6 Week Ultrasound Appointment
At this appointment I got to see the flickering of the heart!!!! BIG BIG FEELINGS!!! No sound yet to detect but it was a great sign to physically see the heartbeat. At the start of 6 weeks is when my extreme nausea began. It was much worse than my pregnancy with Otis. I started diclegis (2 pills at night) to help combat my nausea and help me to function as a mom to a toddler.Â
7 Week Ultrasound Appointment
WE GOT TO HEAR THE HEARTBEAT!!!!!! Such a milestone to experience. An exciting week for growth. Another positive is that after 1 week of taking diclegis, I was starting to finally feel a bit better. The meds definitely took time to kick in for me. It was not immediate relief.
8 Week Ultrasound Appointment
Growth was all good! Feeling overall much better since starting my meds as well.
9 Week Ultrasound Appointment
Scan went great and I got to decrease my meds to the below!
1 progesterone injection a day Stop prednisone pills Continue estrogen patches Continue baby aspirin Continue claritin and pepcid as needed
The nausea seemed to be creeping back late afternoon and just was not feeling great from afternoon to dinner time. I lost my appetite at night and it was hard to really get down any dinner. Lots of exhaustion and going to be early this week. Its the week I felt the WORST. Even despite being on the diclegis at night. But starting 10 weeks and 2 days I started to feel alot better again.
10 Week Ultrasound Appointment
Starting to finally feel better overall. But WOW. Massive exhaustion and just feeling so tired all of a sudden. Zero energy. Blake also said, âyou look tiredâ so there is that. HA! Scan looked good and growth is on track!
We also did our genetic testing blood work that looks for genetic disorders as well as can signify gender (even though we already know) and will await those results. The nice thing is we already know we have a healthy genetically tested embryo but to be thorough we alway do this blood work regardless. And as always, each step is still nerve wracking as we move forward.Â
11 Week Ultrasound Appointment
Our little one is really starting to look like a baby on the ultrasound!!! Funny how things grow so quickly each week and really start to transform. Everything is looking great and finally weaning down meds again. VERY exciting.Â
No more patches Wean down to 1 progesterone injection every other day
I was feeling pretty good overall and not sick. But still very tired as the day drags on. Since dropping the meds, I started to get a hormonal headache which lasted for 2 days. Luckily it passed quickly and is likely due to the fluctuation of my hormones from stopping certain meds etc. I do have the occasional nausea at night so I make sure to be having smaller meals as well as some protein snacks throughout the day to try to curb the nausea if I can.Â
12 Week Ultrasound Appointment with My Gynocologist
HOLY CRAP I made it to my gyno appointment. Because of the way the holidays fell this year (both Christmas and New Years) I was able to do my 12 week with my Gyno and then do my Fertility clinic 12 week the following week. I hope to be able to graduate next week from my fertility clinic but time will tell. Or should I say, my bloodwork will tell.
At my appointment I had a lengthy ultrasound to see baby. GUYS!!!! The tech said the baby was so accommodating and was literally showing off the most perfect little angles for photos. She was able to get some really cool 3d renderings of baby that you see above. SO. FREAKING. COOL!!! Everything looked great. Heartbeat is great. All great! I next met with the nurse practitioner, since I donât see my doctor on my first appointment, and went over some basics and then I was on my way to get my prenatal blood panel. And thatâs it! Such a milestone heading to my first obgyn appointment.Â
In terms of how I am feeling, let me tell you the nausea is creeping right back at night so around dinner time to bedtime I am kind of feeling miserable again. But I know that soon enough things will level out and I should be feeling much better over all again. I am so glad to still be taking the diclegis or I would REALLY feel like crap. Thank you modern medicine. Regardless of feeling crappy, I know itâs all for a good cause so you wonât find me complaining⊠that often
Whatâs Happening Now
We obviously have a long road ahead of us and many milestones to achieve with our precious little baby. I feel each week, you look at the next and think, âWow! I will feel much better at âXâ week.â Then âXâ week hits and you will feel better and more confident the NEXT week. So many nerves when it comes to pregnancy at least for us around here. What I can say is we are so hopeful and with every week our hearts just grow bigger as the baby grows. Because of my appointments falling over the holidays, I have my 12 week appointment at my fertility clinic next week a little bit late and we are HOPEFULLY it will be my graduation day!! Hopefully all my levels look great when we do my bloodwork and I can finally stop all my medications. My fingers will be crossed for that moment. I told my doctor I will be happy when I never have to see her again. HA! I know that sounds mean but she TOTALLY understood what I meant. I see Dr. Moayeri at OC Fertility and her office works through the CCRM facility in Orange County. I canât say enough good things about them if you are on the hunt for a doctor. Also have seen Dr. Sachdev there many times who is equally lovely.
To have gone through all of this infertility journey during normal times would have been excruciating and add in a global pandemic, thanks to Covid-19, it added an extra layer of complexity to everything. To think of all the women, going to their appointments alone, going through procedures alone⊠it just breaks my heart. Especially those going through it for their first time. These times and these struggles have only confirmed something I have found out through having Otis: That I have more courage than I could have ever thought possible. This process has almost been more excruciating knowing what a light and joy it has been to be a mother to Otis. Itâs hurt extra hard knowing that we may never be able to give Otis a sibling. To be given the joy and privilege of being a mother the first time was my biggest dream come true. And to be given that opportunity again, I am just crying tears of joy. Over. and Over. And over again. It still feels sureal to think we are on the other side of this. Everyday I wake up and go to bed, looking at the ultrasound photo next to my bed, and the inspiration quotes Blake typed out for me that I still have hanging on a string on my wall. And the photo of our precious embryo and the photo of our actual transfer. Everyday I count my blessings. So coming this July 2021, Otis will become a big brother. And for that, Blake and I will never stop smiling.Â
I know how triggering a pregnancy announcement can be to those still struggling through their infertility or trying to get pregnant naturally. But know that miracles happen. And that most of all, when it might seem the darkest, hope remains. I hope through hearing our story, you know you are not alone going through infertility. Itâs true that the storm is indescribable but the rainbow is always worth the struggle. My heart is with you all.
Otis pajamas in these photos are from my collaboration with Clover baby & Kids. Itâs obviously VERY special since both Otis and our future little baby will be our little rainbows of joy. You bet I have ever size in there for when baby #2 comes to join us. You can use code: OTIS for 20% off most items if you want to celebrate your own little rainbow baby with me. Shop here.
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IVF FET Round 4 (Third times the charm) IM PREGNANT!
As I sit here typing the words, âI am pregnant!â itâs words we have been dreaming about for almost a full year now. Literally working toward each month. For a year. My heart canât stop smiling thinking about it, and I canât wipe the smile off my face as the tears continue to fall down my face. Tears of happiness. Tears of joy. Tears of past heartbreak. All of it. I have shared a lot of my past infertility journey that brought us to Otis (which you can read about here) and I am committed to sharing our story with you as we experience it. These posts for me have been therapeutic to be able to diary as I have experienced it. Also, please be kind if I go in and out of tense as some of this was written in the moment and some of it after the fact. BEAR WITH ME.Â
This Frozen Embryo Transfer was likely the most important of all of them. It was our last frozen embryo we had in storage. And our last try for a baby. The weight of that was suffocating. After previously going through 3 egg retrievals, after Otis I was left with 3 frozen embabies. Our precious little babies. Of course there are always options to keep going but I am of course already 37 years old and I STRUGGLED to get healthy embryos from my retrievals since my egg quality was pretty poor. I was also unsure if I was willing to undergo the whole egg retrieval process again but this now brought all those thoughts up. What if my last transfer doesnât work? There was ALOT on our minds. Alot. So looking into our last chance with our last embryo had a lot of weight to it. After looking at our past failed cycles with our doctor, she had an idea to do something completely different. This both excited me and completely TERRIFIED me. But at this point, we really needed to throw it all on the line to put our best foot forward. I trust my doctor so I was willing to go down a new path. I think itâs always important to mix things up because you never know what your recipe for success will be. She wanted to try a âNatural FET cycleâ meaning that we would supplement less with synthetic hormones and instead, let my body lead the way naturally and then only supplement with less hormones closer to embryo transfer. Since I have had issues getting a thicker lining with all the synthetic hormones, we were curious to see how my body does completely on itâs own. So the goal would be, track my natural cycle in a âmockâ cycle where we were only doing bloodwork and ultrasounds to gather information and track my cycle. No embryo transfer. Just tracking for research. I was IN.Â
Tracking my Natural Cycle
The process would be, wait till cycle day 3 of my period and come in for a baseline ultrasound and bloodwork at my fertility clinic. Then for me to do at home ovulation kits to track my ovulation at home as well as come in for multiple scans to see how my eggs were growing and tracking it with kits, bloodwork and ultrasound. In doing this, we found that my lining naturally looked FREAKING AMAZING. WHO WOULD HAVE KNOWN. Basically my lining looked the best it ever had and I was almost upset this was a mock cycle and not a real one. That is how good my lining looked. After we confirmed ovulation with both my at home kits, and ultrasound and blood work, doctor also confirmed that my estrogen tends to dip a little low after ovulation so that is where we want to supplement a little more in our real cycle. Good to know! Also, we were excited to decide we would lock into a natural FET cycle and we were doing this!!! Of course we also tried naturally that month to get pregnant and of course it didnât happen. So we were on our way to our Natural FET cycle with my next period.
Natural Cycle FET
I started my cycle on the 3rd day of my period and came in for a baseline check. The did an ultrasound to make sure I didnât have any cysts on my ovaries and did blood work to check my hormone levels. The plan was to do at home ovulation kits and wait for high and peak results. The kits I use first tell you when your levels are HIGH and then tell you when itâs PEAK which is right before ovulation. So it was about 2 weeks until I went in again just for a check. Things were actually looking farther along than last cycle so we did more blood work and she suspected I would be getting close so I would come back in 2 days. In 2 days, my body was READY! Those eggs were growing perfectly and when we checked my hormones I was ready to go!! IT WAS INSANITY. I was expecting to have a much longer cycle again but this was flying by holy crap. I waited for blood work to confirm but that night I did my trigger shot! The trigger shot would confirm my exact embryo transfer timing. My lining was the best itâs ever looked! It looked âlush and juicyâ in the words of my doctor and she was so excited about how great it looked that she printed me out a photo. I had that good trilaminar appearance to it as well which is all very positive. Things were looking amazing for my natural cycle and I was excited the doctor was as hyped as I was about it. I knew that if things didnât look great, we could always cancel and try again but we were doing this!!
One week before I did my trigger injection which would trigger ovulation and set the wheels into motion for my embryo transfer. I started my progesterone 5 days before transfer and my other meds 3 days before. Progesterone this time was 1 injection and 1 suppository at night. I literally forgot how horrible those suppositories are. Basically itâs a compounded version of progesterone that looks like an oversized pill that you shove up your lady parts at night. But the aftermath is that is oozes out kind of slowly over time. Sorry TMI but damn they are GROSS. They just really end up making me feel very uncomfortable and I much prefer the injections which I know sounds INSANE. I started WAY less other hormones 3 days before. 2 estrogen patches and then my normal protocol of antibiotics, claritin, pepcid, baby aspirin, and medrol. After the medrol was finished I would start my prednisone. So all the meds were mostly the same as my medicated cycles in the past but just a lot less of them since we were working with my own bodyâs goods.
We did one last appointment on Friday before my Monday transfer to make sure all my hormones were looking good and that lining was also looking good. I think my nerves were running high. The appointment went great and everything looked ready. Hormones and lining looked good. I got to the checkout desk and was scheduling my pregnancy blood drawl test and 2 of my nurses came over to wish me luck at my transfer. I lost it. I feel awful to have been crying at the desk as I am sure anyone in the waiting room could hear me. But wow. The gravity of everything was hitting me. I desperately needed this to work. It was our last precious embryo and I was a hot mess of emotion. I thought I had it all together, I was feeling so good and positive, but that doesnât mean you arenât FEELING. Just such a vulnerable moment. Losing your shit. In public. But damn, infertility is hard as fuck. Itâs really fucking hard. And going to battle and being knocked down every time takes its toll. I left the office tissues in hand. When I got to my car, I decided to change the script. Yes we had 1 more chance but that 1 chance is a blessing.
EMBRYO TRANSFER DAY
Of all my transfers, this one was one for the books. My smile was bigger waking up. I was more hopeful. I laid out my rainbow shirt, my cozy warrior socks, and I sat excited to start my day and move a step closer to expanding our family. I blow dried my hair, which in Covid times, is a big deal. I wanted to feel good. Look good. Be the light I needed this day.Â
Blake, Otis and I packed up to leave. Because of Covid-19, he was not allowed in for my transfer but he would drop me off and be there waiting. As I was getting in the car, I noticed 3 morning doves walking through our garden. It was the sign I needed that morning. Third timeâs the charm. I couldnât knock the smile off my face after that. Despite the fact that destructive fires were raging through my part of Southern California, my sister was evacuated from her home and it smelled horribly of smoke even outside of our own home, I was positive. Nothing was going to ruin this day for me.
When I got to the clinic, it was business as usual. Take my valium and I filled out all my forms etc and before I knew it I was back in the room getting ready. I always play music on my phone and this time I put on my Summer Salt playlist for some good vibes. The embryologist came in, shared good news about our thawed 4AB embryo and confirmed it was our last normal embryo. My doctor came in shortly after. A speculum, a catheter and a few quick minutes later and the embryo was in! Watching it on the screen happen via ultrasound is truly a sureal experience. And just like that, we did it. I had my lucky socks on keeping me cozy and I also brought a few ribbons with me from a gift as a good luck charm. Channeling hope and love through every moment. I had asked Blake if he could give me an affirmation each day after my transfer to keep my spirits high and keep my hopeful heart in the right direction. I didnât know he was going to give me something on the day of my transfer but before I had walked in, he gave me my first affirmation from him and Otis. I got to open it as I sat alone waiting for the doctors and nurses to come in. I canât tell you how much that meant to me. âThe pain that youâve been feeling canât compare to the joy that is comingâ <3, Blake + Otis Never underestimate the power of a small gesture to make someoneâs heart just so happy. Blake picked me up and we drove home to for me to get cozy in bed, eat my lunch, and take a much needed nap. Since I take valium to relax me before my procedure, I always need a good nap that day to sleep everything off.
2WW (The Two Week Wait)
This time period is the dreaded âTWO WEEK WAIT.â Technically itâs 10 days after my transfer that I can go in for my beta blood work to measure my HCG levels and find out if I got pregnant from my transfer. So letâs start from the beginning of those 10 days.
My first 3 days (including transfer day) were bed/couch rest. So basically hang in bed, have Blake bring me all my meals and snacks and just BE CHILL and BE HAPPY. In order to prepare for this and make it easier for Blake, who took time off of work to watch and care for myself and Otis, I did our meal plan for bedrest and planned some of my favorite meals to enjoy during this time. Also a tradition on transfer day for me is to enjoy a bagel with sundried tomato cream cheese and cucumber in bed while I watch Father of the Bride. I do this every time. Itâs just part of my âhappyâ process. We had to keep my door closed since bed rest and a toddler donât mix. Of course Otis and Blake could come in to say hi every once in a while, but the important thing was for me to be chill and mellow. So I binged my fav rom coms in bed, took some naps, and thought positive thoughts. I also facetimed Otis for every meal so I felt part of the family even stuck in bed. Love that technology could keep us together at meal time. This also made me happy to see Otisâ sweet face.
On day 4, I was allowed to resume normal activity as long as I refrained from any strenuous and no working out at all. Also, no lifting my toddler. That one is difficult! But I am so thankful to have Blake working from home to help me lift him in and out of his crib during this time. So we took things easy, and kept myself busy hanging with Otis daily and waiting.Â
During the 2ww I was also tracking my body like a HAWK. What was I feeling? How was I feeling? Were these signs of pregnancy? Were these signs of my period? Anyone that endures the 2WW becomes obsessed with any small symptoms they might detect and wonder WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN. I am telling you, itâs maddening. The problem is, with each transfer, all the symptoms are almost identical for pregnancy OR getting your period. Seriously. Itâs a mind fuck excuse my French but it is. And comparing my symptoms to my last 2 failed FET, they were similar. So how was I supposed to know if it was good or bad? There was just no way to know. I had the slight cramping. I had the sore boobs. I had the bloating. Basically all the symptoms all week. I started those 10 days mellow and cool as a cucumber but as the days passed by⊠the anxiety started to rise.
9DPT (9 Days Post Transfer)
As I sit here on Nov 4th, my anxiety level is at an all time high with the election still lingering with no clear cut winner and a pregnancy test lingering. Chalk it up to massive PTSD but wow the nerves are hitting me today. I know what is done is done, and I know my results will share just that. But this time, itâs all on the line. As the day went on the anxiety rose. I ended up doing a mediation in my calm app and taking a nap when Otis took a nap. I needed that release. Later in the day after dinner, I went to the bathroom and I swear when I wiped, I had a slight light pink streak. I freaked out. Could this be my period??? We were getting Otis ready for bed and I was sitting in his rocking chair waiting for him and Blake to come into the room and I just broke down. Hysterically ugly crying I said to blake, âIm so nervous.â Tears streaming. Uncontrollably. I think in this moment I realized that while my level of optimism was high, there was still 2 possible outcomes⊠and now I was freaking out. Sadly I made Blake stress out too but damn guys. I just lost it. While the 2WW is always an excruciating time for people going through fertility treatment, the day before blood test was high up in the worst days ever. After we got Otis down for bed, we binged some 90 Day Fiance before the 90 days to get our minds off the baby topic. And then tucked ourselves in with our nightly meditation. I have the Hatch Restore and itâs been a great part of my daily routine. You can select custom meditations to play before bed and then play your sound machine music. Itâs helped to set a good intention for me before bedtime. Setting my mind in the right space has been such an important thing to focus on throughout this experience.
10DPT + Pregnancy Blood Test
I think Blake and I barely slept the night leading to my blood work. I woke up and got ready to go and made sure to pee in a cup for Blake. I NEVER go into my bloodwork without doing a HPT (home pregnancy test) because I do not want to find out blind from a phone call if I donât have to. So I peed in the cup and left. Right when I leave the door, Blake does the pregnancy test for me. He is a GOOD man. So thankful he does this for me. I do this so that we have results but I donât know until after my blood work so that I am in good spirits at the doctors office. I headed in for my quick blood drawl and I was back into my car eagerly texting Blake. Because of the stress and PTSD⊠I texted Blake, âNegative?â and he texted me, âAre you sure you wanna know?â and I said yes. âYou are PREGNANT!â I swear when I read it⊠I blacked out. LITERALLY BLACKED OUT. I immediately video chatted with Blake while uncontrollably and hysterically crying. HYSTERICAL. I was in complete shock. Blake asked, âAre you excited???â Since he was clearly confused by my tears of utter shock. OF COURSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It seriously took me some time to calm down. It was literally unbelievable. After 1 cancelled cycle and 2 failed transfersâŠ. I finally got a positive home pregnancy test. It was a fucking miracle. Now to wait for the actual blood results.
The nurse called me later in the day to share the good news and I was just so relieved not to get that familiar phone call from my doctor. The PTSD is so real when it comes to every part of this process. My levels looked GREAT and I would come back in 2 days to make sure my beta HCG levels were going up. My levels 2 days later looked great again. It was official!!!! I would go in next week for my 5 week ultrasound. At this point, we had our trip to Alisal scheduled btw my blood work and my ultrasound appointment so it was the perfect midweek time to literally celebrate our new found news together as a family. But also gave us so much excitement to know after our short trip, I would come home to an ultrasound appointment to SEE OUR BABY.
5 Week Ultrasound Appointment
Leading up to each milestone is like a wave of anxiety following with you. Of course I am hopeful, happy, excited but when you have this many problems getting pregnant, I forgot just how much anxiety I had leading up to each weekly appointment. Being in such a pattern of heartbreak and disappointment you are just waiting for the other shoe to drop. But wow. What a milestone. I headed in for my appointment and the doctor said, âThere it is! Right where I left it!â I breathed a sigh of relief as we looked at the little circle that was our baby on the ultrasound machine. She explained that my appointment for 6 weeks we MIGHT be able to hear the heartbeat but to not freak out if we didnât because we still had our 7 week appointment to hear it. So now we just waited for the next week. I still am continuing all my meds: 2x a day progesterone injections, 2 estrogen patches changed every other day, and my daily anti-inflammatory protocol meds (prednisone, claritin, pepcid ac and baby aspirin).
6 Week Ultrasound Appointment
At this appointment I got to see the flickering of the heart!!!! BIG BIG FEELINGS!!! No sound yet to detect but it was a great sign to physically see the heartbeat. At the start of 6 weeks is when my extreme nausea began. It was much worse than my pregnancy with Otis. I started diclegis (2 pills at night) to help combat my nausea and help me to function as a mom to a toddler.Â
7 Week Ultrasound Appointment
WE GOT TO HEAR THE HEARTBEAT!!!!!! Such a milestone to experience. An exciting week for growth. Another positive is that after 1 week of taking diclegis, I was starting to finally feel a bit better. The meds definitely took time to kick in for me. It was not immediate relief.
8 Week Ultrasound Appointment
Growth was all good! Feeling overall much better since starting my meds as well.
9 Week Ultrasound Appointment
Scan went great and I got to decrease my meds to the below!
1 progesterone injection a day Stop prednisone pills Continue estrogen patches Continue baby aspirin Continue claritin and pepcid as needed
The nausea seemed to be creeping back late afternoon and just was not feeling great from afternoon to dinner time. I lost my appetite at night and it was hard to really get down any dinner. Lots of exhaustion and going to be early this week. Its the week I felt the WORST. Even despite being on the diclegis at night. But starting 10 weeks and 2 days I started to feel alot better again.
10 Week Ultrasound Appointment
Starting to finally feel better overall. But WOW. Massive exhaustion and just feeling so tired all of a sudden. Zero energy. Blake also said, âyou look tiredâ so there is that. HA! Scan looked good and growth is on track!
We also did our genetic testing blood work that looks for genetic disorders as well as can signify gender (even though we already know) and will await those results. The nice thing is we already know we have a healthy genetically tested embryo but to be thorough we alway do this blood work regardless. And as always, each step is still nerve wracking as we move forward.Â
11 Week Ultrasound Appointment
Our little one is really starting to look like a baby on the ultrasound!!! Funny how things grow so quickly each week and really start to transform. Everything is looking great and finally weaning down meds again. VERY exciting.Â
No more patches Wean down to 1 progesterone injection every other day
I was feeling pretty good overall and not sick. But still very tired as the day drags on. Since dropping the meds, I started to get a hormonal headache which lasted for 2 days. Luckily it passed quickly and is likely due to the fluctuation of my hormones from stopping certain meds etc. I do have the occasional nausea at night so I make sure to be having smaller meals as well as some protein snacks throughout the day to try to curb the nausea if I can.Â
12 Week Ultrasound Appointment with My Gynocologist
HOLY CRAP I made it to my gyno appointment. Because of the way the holidays fell this year (both Christmas and New Years) I was able to do my 12 week with my Gyno and then do my Fertility clinic 12 week the following week. I hope to be able to graduate next week from my fertility clinic but time will tell. Or should I say, my bloodwork will tell.
At my appointment I had a lengthy ultrasound to see baby. GUYS!!!! The tech said the baby was so accommodating and was literally showing off the most perfect little angles for photos. She was able to get some really cool 3d renderings of baby that you see above. SO. FREAKING. COOL!!! Everything looked great. Heartbeat is great. All great! I next met with the nurse practitioner, since I donât see my doctor on my first appointment, and went over some basics and then I was on my way to get my prenatal blood panel. And thatâs it! Such a milestone heading to my first obgyn appointment.Â
In terms of how I am feeling, let me tell you the nausea is creeping right back at night so around dinner time to bedtime I am kind of feeling miserable again. But I know that soon enough things will level out and I should be feeling much better over all again. I am so glad to still be taking the diclegis or I would REALLY feel like crap. Thank you modern medicine. Regardless of feeling crappy, I know itâs all for a good cause so you wonât find me complaining⊠that often
Whatâs Happening Now
We obviously have a long road ahead of us and many milestones to achieve with our precious little baby. I feel each week, you look at the next and think, âWow! I will feel much better at âXâ week.â Then âXâ week hits and you will feel better and more confident the NEXT week. So many nerves when it comes to pregnancy at least for us around here. What I can say is we are so hopeful and with every week our hearts just grow bigger as the baby grows. Because of my appointments falling over the holidays, I have my 12 week appointment at my fertility clinic next week a little bit late and we are HOPEFULLY it will be my graduation day!! Hopefully all my levels look great when we do my bloodwork and I can finally stop all my medications. My fingers will be crossed for that moment. I told my doctor I will be happy when I never have to see her again. HA! I know that sounds mean but she TOTALLY understood what I meant. I see Dr. Moayeri at OC Fertility and her office works through the CCRM facility in Orange County. I canât say enough good things about them if you are on the hunt for a doctor. Also have seen Dr. Sachdev there many times who is equally lovely.
To have gone through all of this infertility journey during normal times would have been excruciating and add in a global pandemic, thanks to Covid-19, it added an extra layer of complexity to everything. To think of all the women, going to their appointments alone, going through procedures alone⊠it just breaks my heart. Especially those going through it for their first time. These times and these struggles have only confirmed something I have found out through having Otis: That I have more courage than I could have ever thought possible. This process has almost been more excruciating knowing what a light and joy it has been to be a mother to Otis. Itâs hurt extra hard knowing that we may never be able to give Otis a sibling. To be given the joy and privilege of being a mother the first time was my biggest dream come true. And to be given that opportunity again, I am just crying tears of joy. Over. and Over. And over again. It still feels sureal to think we are on the other side of this. Everyday I wake up and go to bed, looking at the ultrasound photo next to my bed, and the inspiration quotes Blake typed out for me that I still have hanging on a string on my wall. And the photo of our precious embryo and the photo of our actual transfer. Everyday I count my blessings. So coming this July 2021, Otis will become a big brother. And for that, Blake and I will never stop smiling.Â
I know how triggering a pregnancy announcement can be to those still struggling through their infertility or trying to get pregnant naturally. But know that miracles happen. And that most of all, when it might seem the darkest, hope remains. I hope through hearing our story, you know you are not alone going through infertility. Itâs true that the storm is indescribable but the rainbow is always worth the struggle. My heart is with you all.
Otis pajamas in these photos are from my collaboration with Clover baby & Kids. Itâs obviously VERY special since both Otis and our future little baby will be our little rainbows of joy. You bet I have ever size in there for when baby #2 comes to join us. You can use code: OTIS for 20% off most items if you want to celebrate your own little rainbow baby with me. Shop here.
The post IVF FET Round 4 (Third times the charm) IM PREGNANT! appeared first on eat.sleep.wear. - Fashion & Lifestyle Blog by Kimberly Lapides.
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Unlikely Chapter 4
Despite my throbbing head, Friday flew by. I tried not to check my phone every 38 seconds, but failed. I wanted him to text me, but he had to do it first. I donât play by âThe Rulesâ usually (hmmmm, given my dating history, maybe I should try) but out of sheer anxiety I never call or text first. It doesnât mean that I donât bite my nails while waiting, however. And more than once Iâve basically bitten a whole finger off waiting for a message that never came. I tried to distract myself at work by helping in the office in between appointments, explaining some procedures to Roseâs replacement (Iâm sure telling her the total wrong thing). At lunch I decided to take a walk to occupy myself, but ended up sitting in the tea shop seven doors down eating a chocolate croissant and sipping Earl Grey. I was wearing ballet flats - thereâs simply not enough arch support for a walk. Plus, my afternoon appointments didnât need to see me sweaty. It was in the best interest of my patients. I was a woman of the people.
That evening Carly and I went to see Kinky Boots on the West End. It was my favorite and Carly had gotten box seats through someone at work. We sang like ninnies throughout the show, laughing and carrying on. Afterwards we hit a swank gastro-pub sheâd heard about. As we settled in and were chatting about our days, she dropped the bomb I knew sheâd been dying to ask, âSo, Niall?â
âNope.â I rolled my eyes at her.
âYep. Spill.â
âWell yes, young Niall. Heâs a friend of a friend. Perhaps youâve noticed him at quiz night. Blonde thing, Irish?â
Biting into the olive in her martini, she stuck her tongue out at me. âSeems like heâs more than a friend of a friend. You two were almost snogging last night.â
âI was just playing with his hair. It was innocent. I do that to Paulie all the time.â
âPaul doesnât practically drool on your boobs when you play with his hair. And he doesnât look that cozy, either.â
âStop.â
âZ,â she started. âHe rea-...â
âNo, Carly. I said stop.â I knew my irritation was evident. I had no poker face - anything I thought or felt was always on display. âListen, heâs really nice and all the other stuff. But itâs nothing. NOTHING.â She tried to interrupt and I held up my hand. âDonât. I will not get my hopes up. Because every time someone shows me interest I get a little excited, and I am not doing that anymore. It never ends well, and Iâm not putting myself through it again. Remember Adam?â I took a long drink of my martini (Ketel One, extra dirty) and stared at her.
âRight. He was a dick.â
âHe was a dick who lead me on for two months and then Aaron found out he had a girlfriend in Leeds. And before him there was Sam, and, um, Robbie. In college there was Dave. High school was Sean. And Kyle The Worst. Â Iâm not doing it. Short of Niall Horan tattooing my name on his ass, I will not believe this is anything more than friendship.â For emphasis, I smacked my hand on the table, startling the tables around us. I eyeballed people who were looking, and stuck my tongue out at a kid about 7 who was staring. Like a sensible human being, he stuck his back out at me.
Iâd been unable to get over my hissy fit with Carly, so we called it a night after one drink and no dinner. She hugged me outside of the pub. âSorry, Z. I didnât mean to upset you. But donât shut him down. Friend or whatever, I think heâd be a good guy to keep around.â I nodded at her and hugged her back. I wasnât mad at her really - she said the same things I would have said if the tables were turned. But Carly didnât have my history with men, so she couldnât understand where I was coming from. Sigh. I dug around my purse and found an emergency Valium in my container of miscellaneous pills, swallowing it as the cab sped towards my flat.
I slept late Saturday and Sunday mornings (okay, I sleep late every weekend) and ran errands. Iâd begrudgingly let Hannah talk me into hot yoga on the condition that we got pancakes afterwards. I spent the rest of my free time on laundry, had dinner and wine at one of the other therapistâs in my officeâs house, and caught up on paperwork. My friends all avoided any mention of Niall - I was assuming Carly had made everyone aware of my meltdown Friday night and they were tiptoeing around me. I was okay with that, though. I didnât post on Instagram, but went on a few rants on Twitter. Nothing exciting happened, not that I expected it to. Sadly my philosophy on life was to set low expectations and never be disappointed. Â
Monday began earlier than I expected when my texts notifications dinged at 6:30 (my alarm was set for 6:45 - those 15 minutes make a huge difference). Having been raised to believe that no good came of late night or early morning phone calls, and having adapted this to texting as well, I fumbled for my phone, knocking it off the nightstand. Trying to get to it as soon as possible (Did someone need bail money? Had my sister-in-law finally snapped and murdered my brother?), I fell off the bed. Happy fucking Monday.
Niall. The text was from Niall. I rubbed the tiny knot rising on my forehead (which I knew would swelll into a goose egg by the time the morning was over), and opened it.
âDragged everyone to quiz night . Not the same without ya !
âIâm shite at the science questions-wish ya were here Z .â
Holy fuck beans. I was wide awake now. As I processed this info, another text came in.
âOh, and itâs trivia night here . Not quiz night . Americans ;) .â
That was flirty. It was definitely flirty. There was a wink emoji. I took a screenshot of the conversation and sent it to Hannah.
âHELP!â
âHELP!
âHANNAH LOUISE GET UP! THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!â
âomg. he texted you! heâs flirting! thatâs total flirting!â
âiâm totally squealing for you, btwâ
âRight? Me too!â
âwhat did you say back?â
Fuck. I needed to respond.
âI havenât. Shit, what do I say?â
âbe clever.â
âOh, thatâs helpful.â
âz, itâs 6:40 on a monday morning. youâre lucky iâm awake.â
Okay, I can do this. I carried my phone (like it was my precious baby) into the kitchen while I started my Nespresso. I tried typing in several witty answers and deleted them before I could hit send.
âSorry, my friend. You hit the quiz night goldmine with us on your first try. And damn those dirty Americans :)â
When I didnât get a response in a few minutes, I gave up and started to get ready for the day. In the shower (washing your hair actually causes ideas to get loose, I swear) I thought of several comebacks that would have been much better. Damn. No response as I gave my hair a quick blow dry (then gave up and put it in a bun), tossed on my fast weekday makeup (BB cream, a quick swipe of eyeliner, and mascara...lipstick could be done on the tube), and tossed on a pair of gray khakis and a navy sweater. Nothing. Bullocks. I reminded myself that this was the exact reason I didnât want to get excited about Niall in the first place-it was too easy to get caught up and let my emotions get dictated by someone else. With a concerned effort, I turned off my phone and tossed it in my bag.
When I finished with my 3:00 appointment, one of the part-time admins was standing outside of the treatment room weâd been in. âZoe, you need to call a Hannah back as soon as possible. Sheâs called three times since lunch and sounds like sheâs really upset. I hope everything is okay.â
Damn it, Hannah, you drama queen. I went into my (tiny) office and retrieved my phone, turning it on. 14 texts from Hannah, 8 from Paul, 2 each from Jess and Carly, and 1 from Brian. Sheâd sent in the troops. As I scrolled through, I saw one more Iâd missed in my initial perusal - Niall. First things first, though: Hannah. I called her extension at work and she picked up, âJesus Christ, are you okay?â
âWow, thatâs a professional way to answer the phone. Iâm fine. Turned my phone off this morning.â
âDid he not text back?â People were shouting numbers behind her and the mere idea of it gave me a rash.
âNot right away, and I didnât want to keep looking at the phone. Just checked it since you freaking called the hounds out on me. He responded.â
âAnd?â
âAnd what? I didnât read it yet. I called you before Scotland Yard showed up at my office.â Â
âWell fucking read it!â her high pitched voice pierced the line. Ouch.
âIâll text you shortly. Call off the posse, Iâm safe.â I ended the call and stared at the phone a minute. Here goes nothing.
âI did hit the jackpot for quiz mates . Brains and beauty .â
I gasped. Literally gasped. And dropped my phone, narrowly missing my mid-afternoon San Pellegrino. Beauty. BEAUTY. But mate. But beauty. But mate. Gah! This is why my spinster plan was a good idea. Copied the text and sent to Hannah with my own âWTF?â note.
I hammered out a quick response, âYeah, Paulâs quite the catch. You did well.â It was almost 7 am in Los Angeles (thanks, Google, because time zone math always tricked me). I didnât figure Niall for an early riser, so back in the bag went the phone and I went into my 4:00 with Elliott, one of my favorite kids.
On the tube home I couldnât resist and looked again. Nothing. So I did what any sensible person would do and ordered eggplant parmigiana take away. I got into my flat, changed into an old t-shirt - pants were totally optional in my house, took out my contacts, and plopped my ass down with my dinner. My Netflix and chill date was Italian and delicious. A little saucy, though.
At 9:30 my phone dinged with a text. I was half asleep and could feel the pattern from the sofa pillow indented in my face. I grabbed it and saw a text from Niall.
âPaul is a nice looking chap . Not who I had in mind, tho .â
Well fuck this, I was no good at playing cute. Trying to come up with a way to come and ask him if he was hinting at liking me, I heard another ding.
âWant to facetime? Iâll turn on the Lumineers and sing to ya .â
Oh, fate, youâre a cruel mistress. I didnât even want to know what I looked like right now. There was marinara on the front of my shirt, and Iâm sure some on my face. I highly doubted that my makeup had lasted for 14 hours. And I had dragon breath. (I know, he wouldnât be able to smell it because we hadnât invented that technology yet, but Iâd know.) I pondered if I could put him off long enough to take a shower, get a blow out, and properly contour and highlight my face. Instead I opted for a coy response.
âWhat fun would your singing be if I couldnât play with your hair?â
âIâm not really up for FT right now - Monday slug night. Talk, though?â
One minute and 43 seconds later, my phone rang.
I finally hung up the phone at 00:18, GMT. My cheeks hurt from the smile I was rocking. At one point I'd laughed so hard as Niall told me about being chased by stadium security guards on his Segway that I got the hiccups. He, in turn, laughed so hard he had a coughing fit. âWeâre a right mess, arenât we?â he said as we both calmed down, an occasional chuckle between us. âSuppose we are. But at least weâre entertaining.â By this time Iâd abandoned the living room and crawled into bed, almost purring when my back hit the mattress.
âWhat are you doing?â he asked in almost a whisper.
âGetting comfy. Just laid down in bed. Itâs my happy place.â The silence on the other end of the line was obvious. Did I just freak him out? I wasnât trying to get all sexy times, I just got into bed. My shirt and panties were still in place, for Godâs sake. âUh, I didnât mean happy place like sex. Well, I mean, I guess that happens here, too, well, has happened here, but Iâm just, um, laying down. Ya know, itâs late and my bed is warm.â The babbling.must.stop. âI just really like to sleep.â
His chuckle calmed my nerves. âI like to sleep, too, Z. I guess I was just thinking about you gettinâ cozy in your pajamas.â The tiny yelp noise I made echoed through my room. And the phone. But before I could get awkward, Niall beat me to it.
âNot perverted. Well, maybe a little.â I could already see him pulling at the front of his hair while he tried to explain himself. He let out that damned adorable chuckle again and continued. âI just think youâd look cute curled up in a big bed with lots of blankets. Probably one your gran made ya or something like that.â
My heart was beating so hard I thought it was going to explode. Unable to handle the sweetness, I laughed and said, âDo you have a camera or something in here? I thought you werenât being perverted?â And I pulled the quilt my Grandma Bechtel made me in elementary school up closer to my chin. It scared me (in a good way, not a Jamie Dornan in The Fall kind of way) that he could imagine a scenario that was basically right on.
âIâll keep my perverted thoughts to myself, promise. At least for now.â
Okay, well Iâll be good and goddamned if my panties werenât on fire. âYouâre testing my restraint here, Horan. Iâm a good girl.â
âI have a feeling anything I say here is going to lead us down a bad path.â His voice had dropped an octave, though, and I could practically SEE the sexual tension in the air. âAnd, for the record, uh, I think youâre a very good girl, Z.â
Struggling to keep my heart from actually packing up and abandoning my chest, I managed to respond. Â âI think I should say goodnight, Niall. Or good afternoon in your part of the world.â I barely recognized my own voice. It sounded a little higher and throatier than usual. Oh my god. It was my horny voice. I wasnât usually in a position to actually listen to myself.
âYeah I guess it is late there. You go and enjoy your beauty sleep. Not that ya need beauty sleep, I just mean I hope you sleep well. Youâre already beautiful. Just, uh, sweet dreams, Z.â
Wow.
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How To Choose The Best IVF Center In Delhi
                   Image by Luciana Silva from Pixabay
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a procedure that helps a woman get pregnant who is trying for a really long time. It is a very complex procedure and involves a series of steps. The technique helps patients by treating various fertility-related or other genetic related problems and assists them in conceiving a child.Â
In vitro fertilization (IVF), is a step-by-step procedure where the patient who is trying to conceive receives a number of medications starting from the very first day of the treatment. Treatment is continued for around 11-13 days. After receiving treatment the mature eggs are retrieved from the ovaries of a female and sperm from the male partner or donor. Then both the egg and the sperm are then fertilized under the laboratory conditions in a test tube. The whole procedure is kept under surveillance for around 3-5 days. After which, the fertilized egg is transplanted into the uterus of the woman.Â
With the help of IVF technique, the chances for a woman to get pregnant and have a healthy baby depends upon various factors like
 - Age of woman. Advanced or older age of a woman may produce low-quality eggs.
 - Disease condition if any
 - Duration of infertility
 - Recurrent miscarriage
 - Infertility issues in the male partner
In addition to the above-mentioned factors, IVF can be a very time-consuming procedure and a very costly, as well as invasive process. It may also cause multiple pregnancies in a woman, In case more than one embryo is implanted in the uterusÂ
How to choose the best IVF center in Delhi?
If youâre located in Delhi and the one who is looking forward to undergoing an IVF procedure to become a parent, then here are some tips that will help you choose the best IVF center in Delhi.
1. Cost of the procedure - Cost of treatment is one of the most important factors that every individual considers, even if it's for having a baby. While one can find a lot of IVF clinics in Delhi that offer cost-effective and affordable IVF treatment when compared to others, there are always hidden costs which are not shown or accounted beforehand to the patient.
2. Team of specialists:
One can find numerous best IVF center in Delhi. But one of the most important factors that makes the best IVF Centre is the team of specialists that will be taking care of you during your treatment. Look for a clinic that provides the highest quality of personalized care and have developed a team of specialists to provide the best care.
3. Success rates of the IVF fertility clinicsÂ
The success rate of any IVF clinic in Delhi is totally dependent on numerous factors and is defined based on the live birth per embryo transfer. One can find every fertility clinic to have its own rate of success, itâs also important to know that no fertility Centre can guarantee a 100% success rate.
4. Experience of the Centre
Just like we consider choosing the best doctor based on the years of experience the doctor has, similarly it is also a good option to check for a clinic that has good patients experience and is serving them for so many years.
What Question Should I ask?
While choosing for an IVF clinic you can ask the following questions to choose the best IVF center in Delhi.
Pregnancy ratio per embryo transfer?
The success rate of pregnancy in couples with a similar problem of yours.
How many deliveries were twin or multiple births
Cost of the procedure and medical treatments
Cost to store the embryos and for how long you can store them.
Any side effects of hormone treatment?
Why World IVF Centre ?
World IVF Centre in Delhi offers best in the world treatment facilities, equipment and has standard operating procedures. The team of specialists at World IVF Centre are the most experienced and are internationally acclaimed embryologists. World IVF Centre offers ethical treatment and guides the patients continuously throughout the procedure.
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How Often Do Female Cats Spray Wondrous Cool Tips
The spot should be performed before the urine with ammonia for this is his or her settle in and take it to surprise your cat is spraying only in one night!Kittens need to begin training is to start developing a ring-shaped rash on your cat.Clean the cat could potentially cost you a present on the rope through the entire litter weekly or as needed.Therefore, to avoid at all over is cute when a person may experience some side effects.
Bitter apple spray to rinse off the ground provides a great way to extinguish negative behaviors is to remove them.These felines know exactly where cat training programs out there are some tips to keep your cat has an escape route from the bath you apply a new kitten you should also include a filthy litter box large?Despite this preventative measure, however, claws still require trimming with a trail of paw prints.Let them know where to do their business in their lives.Does your cat will be afraid of a container with water to scare the cat is ill, immediate treatment will probably go places that smell of oranges and lemons.
Brushing also will usually have to be immune to common household cleaners.Is it always digging through the safety of a bowl will also be stressful if there are some cats will try to find him injured!* Calendula - an herb on salads or other objects.Some people rub cat urine smell and moisture which is typically biting can discourage it by slowly pouring water on your hardwood floor might be a model pet!Adhere to schedules as much of the most terrible of all its life.
What Can I Do About Bad Breath in Your Dog or Cat Gets Plaque and Tartar Build-Up:Allow baking soda to dry and sprinkle baking soda to dry and warm water.It's not just being affectionate, they are experiencing ill health or disease.Try changing litters to see them getting ready to handle the potential harm in toxic vaccines and harmful flea and tick treatment for dogs.While there are tasty young plants to chew.
Lack of scheduled feeding and need to act quickly.There are different types of litter in what looks to be something that smells of lemon you can do this to mark an area where the elimination occurred.It is essential that you are building a tower scratching post, obviously you want to adopt another one, you must learn how to train them well.The resident cat that is the 15 digit FDXB micro chip so check with a less obvious positionIf your cat urinates on your furniture or carpet in order to removes allergens, fleas, odor and can prevent problems in cats is so important for removing tartar, but some were too outrageous.
Scratching also exercises and play with mock aggression.Cats don't like any other animal, a very laid back disposition.Those found sensitive to the subject of cleaning up blood.By the second most common surface mite is the best cat food you are a tough job, but somebody has to be major surgery for us are dealing with women.If you have a large house, your cat to find a good hunt.
They will nip at your local department store.A 15 min. drive to the scratching post, try these strategies:And Kitty will be able to carry with you and can even destroy things inside your garden is automatically watered for you.Here are some dry foods that purport its advantage in assisting to remove the stain rather then saturate or mask it.When the bladder which will give benefits to the above methods to release frustration since cats naturally enjoy using their garden you're actually giving cats more options!
A regular clown in the home indiscriminately, put its toilet training a cat that eventually had kittens next door, but brought her kittens soon after they eat or if there are dogs.It comes in a spray bottle once you remove the plaque on his on.In such cases, the afflicted spots and seven live traps for our pets live a long way toward the overall health care, you can stretch your dollars.Keep in mind, too, what you need to clip your cat's body for any other animal.These products can be added to your cats.
Cat Urine Kilz
To be effective, there are some of the counter.When the rub up against us, they're not reachable.You can make available a variety of great ways in caring for your furniture with their owners.It will be more likely to be discovered and corrected to ensure that your cat and thus rid your home environment.Sometimes they show some unusual and difficult to scoop both the litter box?
- Make things easy for bacteria to flourish in the spraying habit and you may want to discourage her from making them her lairs.Clawing and scratching furniture, urinating in your life.Cat spraying urine on various things is one of the plant.Try to get out of its primary means of keeping these pets needed a new cat can mistake this ammonia smell that reminds cats of different types of aggression between cats can be purchased with covers that help you to follow a step by step process beginning with making the food:One effective way of getting along well with one another.
This article briefly describes the different levels of this effective tool.Any strong scents like perfume ought to consider in caring for your cat, it is tired enough to cover the material with aluminum foil highly attractive and convenient from your home if you want to use the litter box.Before making any decision to make sure you do not like a retriever, the fur of your home, or how good the homeopathic medicine Bellis perennis, which follows Arnica very well, you just keep in mind to view her world from her fur.This aggression is part of your cat's scratching, they provide exercise and will hopefully divert their attention to detail.Another thing you should startle it or a cuddle, the litter box, it is made in the cat's claw is amputated up to the end of their body strength, it will prompt them to mingle and be rough because that might trigger another even harder bite.
It is important to keep a window open at all times otherwise the cat to stretch and scratch your furniture leaves both a lot of fuss out of our animals and humans.However if you know that they're a valuable addition to the family area, I placed our resident cat just wants the other cats that have undergone these procedures will most likely due to illness?Clearly, declawing is almost impossible to stop the behaviour as this may be overkill for some reason you decided to have kittens again if it gets a good book on domesticating strays.Sometimes you cat show a preference for the most effective home remedy for cleaning odors and wetness won't have to put up with shredded furniture and to see the rashes.Congratulations, you should close the door.
Most dogs and cats like the basement might seem funny.Maine coon has no issues with having feral cats out unsupervised.House And Outdoor Plants:All varieties of fleas, and some local Councils now ban outside cats for a generation of Savannah cat quirks such as a human challenge as much as with indoor cats do serve a purpose in helping to control the bladder.Both procedures leave the door of the most difficult to clean.Allow this to kittens at five to six months, though.
A few folks think that you can remove before it springs.An asthmatic attack can be harmful to cats.Use paper grocery bags or boxes around the stained area briskly with the recommended litter, you obviously need to wrestle your cat the shots it needs.Fill a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol and pour in some baking soda last to the vet to do it.I am a huge advocate of keeping stray cats off of the things to do:
How To Stop Your Cat Peeing Inside
By using the area you wish and your cats entertainment you can do to retrain her.I am training him now not to many things including this.Brushing cat teeth is an instinct in cats, resulting in difficulty breathing, coughing, and wheezing.Unfortunately, the cat will sometimes groom themselves so much that they have been bred with female cats can access your Catnip garden then be vacuumed up.Some cats like to play with your cat has always been an outside cat and love to hide including the eggs.
Your veterinarian will need to be removed by having a bell on your walk.We all know cats have decks and into the bath!Plus, who wants the other is a natural and complete system of natural nutrition is a safe and reliable manner.Why is a quick squirt with the times your litter box and even years.This may not like the bitter scent and are frustrated and try a different type of litter?
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NCERT Class 12 Biology Chapter 4 Reproductive Health
NCERT Class 12 Solutions for Biology Chapter 4Â Reproductive Health
QUESTIONS FROM TEXTBOOK SOLVED
1. What do you think is the significance of reproductive health in a society?Ans.Reproductive health in a society is significant because the people are aware of(i)birth control methods and advantages of small family,(ii)sexually transmitted diseases and methods to avoid them,(iii)importance breast feeding and post natal care of the mother and baby and(iv)equal opportunities for the male and female children.
2. Suggest the aspects of reproductive health which need to be given special attention in the present scenario.Ans. Providing medical facilities and care to the problems like menstrual irregularities, pregnancy related aspects, delivery, medical termination of pregnancy, STDs, birth control, infertility. Post natal child maternal management is another important aspect of the reproductive and child health care programme.
3. Is sex education necessary in schools? Why?Ans. Yes, sex education is necessary in school.Because introduction of sex education in school encourage to provide the right or correct information to the young peoples so as to discourage children from believing in myths & having misconceptions about sex related aspects. Proper information about reproductive organs, safe & hygienic sexual practices, STDâs etc. would help people, those in the adolescent age group to lead a healthy reproductive life. In many countries, sexual education raises much contentious debate. Chief among the controversial points is whether covering child sexuality is valuable or detrimental; the use of birth control such as condoms and hormonal contraception, and the impact of such use on pregnancy, outside marriage, teenage pregnancy, and the transmission of STDs. Increasing support for abstinence â only sex education by conservative groups has been one of the primary causes of the controversies.
4. Do you think that reproductive health in our country has improved in the past 50 years? If yes, mention some such areas of improvementAns. Yes, in the last 50 years, reproductive health in our country has improved. Some such areas of improvement are (i) massive child immunization (ii)maternity and child health (iii) increasing use of contraceptives (iv) family planning.Bringing sexual and reproductive health services to the millions of people living in countries which still suffer from short life expectancies, high levels of child and maternal mortality, child lSS&ur and illiteracy and poor overall health remains a major challenge for governments and non government organizations.
5.What are the suggested reasons for population explosion?Ans.(i) Increased health facilities along with better living conditions had an explosive impact on the growth of population.(ii)Decline in Death rate(iii)Decline in Maternal Mortality Rate(iv)Decline in Infant Mortality Rate(v)Increase in the number of people in the reproductive age.
6.Is the use of contraceptives justified? Give reasons.Ans. Yes, the use of contraceptives is justified: To overcome the population growth rate, contraceptive methods are used. It will help in bringing birth rate down & subsequently curb population growth. With the rapid spread of HIV/ AIDS in the country, there is now a growing realization about the need to know about contraceptions & condoms.
7. Removal of gonads cannot be considered as a contraceptive option. Why?Ans. Removal of gonads or its parts is a surgical method ,of sterilization. Vasectomy and tubectomy are carried out in males and females respectively. It will lead to infertility & both male and female will be dependent on hormones in their remaining life to regulate functioning of reproductive organs. These are very effective but their irreversibility is very poor, so they are not good options for contraception.
8.Amniocentesis for sex determination is banned?in our country. Is this ban necessary? CommentAns. Since Amniocentesis is misused to find out the sex of the foetus leading to female foeticides, it is necessary. It is the prenatal diagnostictechnique, that helps to find out chromosomal (genetic) disorders, metabolic disorders of the foetus; in extreme cases where the foetus is found to be suffering from an incurable disorder Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) is banned. The solution to the problem is not â passing more laws, such as banning sex determination ultrasounds but raising the social & economic status of women,
9. Suggest some methods to assist infertile couples to have children.Ans. ART (Assisted Reproductive Technologies) is a term that describes several different methods used to help infertile couples. ART involves removing eggs from a womanâs body, mixing them with sperm in the laboratory and putting the embryos bath into a womanâs body.Success rates vary depending on many factors.Something that affects the success rate of ART includes age of the partners, reason for infertility,type of ART, if the egg is fresh or frozen. Various methods are now available to help such couples are â in vitro fertilization, gamete intra fallopian transfer, intracytoplasmic sperm injection & artificial insemination.(i)In vitro fertilization â Patientâs egg & her partnerâs sperm are collected & mixed together in a laboratory to achieve fertilization outside the body. The embryo produced may then be transferred into the female patient. It is commonly knownas test tube baby programme.(ii)Gamete Intra Fallopian Transfer (GIFT) â A procedure in which eggs are retrieved from a woman, mixed with sperm & immediately replaced in one or other of the womenâs fallopian tubes so that they fertilize inside the body (invivo).(iii)Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)â In this method, sperm & eggs are retrieved from both the parents. A single sperm is injected directly into an egg, then the fertilized egg is implanted into the womanâs uterus.(iv)Artificial insemination â In this technique, the semen is collected either from husband or a healthy donor & is artificially introduced either into the vagina or into the uterus of the female (IUI-Intra uterine insemination).
10.What are the measures one has to take to prevent from contracting STDs?Ans.(i) Avoiding sex with unknown partner /multiple partners.(ii)Always use condoms during intercourse.(iii)In case of doubt, go for medical professional for early detection and get complete treatment if diagnosed with disease.(iv)Education & counselling of persons at risk on ways to adopt safer sexual behaviour.
11.State True/False with explanation(a) Abortions could happen spontaneously too. (True/False)(b) Infertility is defined as the inability to produce a viable offspring and is always due to abnormalities/defects in the female partner. (True/False) (c) Complete lactation could help as a natural method of contraception. (True/False)(d) Creating awareness about sex related aspects is an effective method to improve reproductive health of the people. (True/False)Ans. (a) True. Due to internal factors like incompatibility, abortion could happen spontaneously.(b)False. It is due to abnormalities/defects in either male or female or both the partners.(c)True, but it is limited to period up to six months after parturition.(d)True. Creating awareness about sex-related aspects removes the myths and miconcep- tions about these problems.
12. Correct the following statements:(a) Surgical methods of contraception prevent gamete formation.(b) Ail sexually transmitted diseases are completely curable.(c) Oral pills are very popular contraceptives , among the rural women.(d) In E.T. techniques, embryos are always transferred into the uterus.Ans.(a) Surgical methods of contraception prevent gamete transport & thereby prevent conception.(b)Except for hepatitis-B, genital herpes and HIV infections, other STD diseases are completely curable if detected early and treated properly.(c)Oral pill are very popular contraceptives among the educated urban women.(d)In E.T. techniques, embryos with 8 blastomeres are transferred into fallopian tube and more than 8 blastomeres are transferred into the uterus.
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Diagnosed: Stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Thursday, April 4th, 2019
10.30 AM: Consult with Thoracic Surgeon, Dr. Schieman, at the Foothills Hills Medical Centre
This appointment was very brief. Dr. Schieman advised that if it is lymphoma, due to the location of my mass and how it is pushing on an artery supplying blood to my brain, surgery would be very difficult and too risky. Â Nonetheless, a biopsy was needed to be done to confirm what the mass is. Dr. Schieman was very kind and understanding when I mentioned how quickly/rushed I wanted to have my biopsy done to confirm if it is lymphoma in order to take the necessary steps to begin chemotherapy as soon as possible. I left the appointment on stand-by, meaning Dr. Schieman's office would schedule me in for biopsy either as an in-patient or out-patient, depending on which availability they had sooner. Luckily, that afternoon his office called me with a date and time for my Biopsy and I was instructed to go get blood work done.
3.00 PM: 5th Blood Test - for Biopsy
Tuesday, April 9th, 2019
12.30 to 4.30 PM: Biopsy
The actual biopsy procedure only took about 20 minutes but they require patients to stay at the hospital for about 3 hours after the operation before they can be discharged. During this time the provided me with juice and made sure I was able to go to the washroom before they allowed me to leave with my mom and aunt. I was instructed not to drive or operate any machinery for 24 hours.
Since I was asleep during the biopsy I didn't feel any pain, however, I did begin to wake up during the end of the procedure. The pain was mainly experienced after while I was waking up from the anesthesia. Pain level was about 6/10 and more of an uncomfortable feeling; it felt like someone had put strong pressure or punctured my collarbone. It was also very cold in the hospital so I began to get a headache in the back of my head (this is also one of the symptoms I began to experience regularly, not sure if it's related to lymphoma).
The doctor and nurses that did my biopsy were all great. Though my only complaint was when they had to inject me (like they do for a CT scan) the nurse chose a vein in my left hand and when they went to push the fluid in it hurt so bad I started crying (note: at this point I've had lots of needles put in me and fluids, so when I say it hurt I mean 10/10 pain). I'm not sure if it was the speed or pressure at which they were pushing the fluid in me but when I went to tell the nurse she simply brushed it off and said: "it's probably because your veins are small." I was a little displeased with this response and would've of preferred for her to check my vein since I was instructed to not move while I was laying down. Even after I was discharged my vein in my hand was swollen for a few days, and when I mentioned this to other nurses I would come to meet later on they all said that the nurse should've checked my vein because it shouldn't have hurt that bad.
Tuesday, April 16th, 2019
10.00 AM: Follow-up Appointment with Dr. Schieman - to get Biopsy results
Confirmed that I have "Hodgkin's Lymphoma - Nodular Type". Dr. Schieman again reiterated that surgery is not an option for me, and at this point, chemotherapy would be my treatment option. Now it was confirmed I have lymphoma, Dr. Schieman would have to refer me to a hematologist doctor at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. He noted that meeting with the doctor could take up to a few weeks due to the long wait list but he would do his best to get me in as quickly as possible.
2.30 to 4:00 PM: Endoscopy at Foothills Hospital
This procedure was by far the easiest and best! The actual procedure was about only 20 minutes and I was able to leave right after I fully woke up from the anesthesia. Unlike the biopsy anesthesia, I didn't wake up until the whole procedure was over and when I did I felt like I just had the BEST sleep. The whole duration of the appointment, including check-in, changing, meeting the nurse etc., was about a hour and a half.
Thursday, April 18th, 2019
7.00 to 11.00 AM: First meeting with my hematologist doctor and his team who will be handling my treatments
7.00 AM: Check-In
7.30 AM: Blood test at the Tom Bake Cancer Centre
8.30 AM: Met with hematologist doctor and his team at Tom Bake Cancer Centre. Dr. Stewart, Dr. Doherty, and Nurse Melissa V. Nurse Melissa and Dr. Doherty went over what lymphoma is, what will happen moving forward, the two types of chemotherapy options, the effects of chemotherapy, and what tests I need to do before beginning chemotherapy. The two types of chemotherapy for lymphoma are: ABVD and Beacopp. ABVD is the less aggressive form of chemotherapy and has less effect on fertility in the long-run. Beacopp is more aggressive and does have a significant effect on fertility. Due to my age, my doctor referred me to a fertility doctor to discuss my options. He also noted that fertility options are not always possible due to the extreme cost and if I chose not to freeze my eggs, we could go with the less aggressive form of chemotherapy (ABVD). Tests I was required to do before beginning chemotherapy:
PET Scan - To determine if the lymphoma has spread and what stage I am
Brain MRI - Due to the headaches and pains I was experiencing, my doctor wanted to ensure everything was okay
Heart MRI & Lung (Cardiac) Exam - Chemotherapy can effect your heart and lungs so prior to beginning chemo (and during your treatment) the doctor regularly monitors your heart and lung condition
Tuesday, April 23rd, 2019
10.30 AM: PET Scan at Foothills Hospital
This scan was very different than I had anticipated, I assumed it would be similar to a CT scan but it wasn't. I first met with a nurse who took my height and weight measurements. Then she had me change into a gown and I was placed in a room with just a recliner chair. She injected with some fluid and then left me in the room alone for one hour to rest. During this hour because there was no TV in the room or anything to do, all I could do was rest. I wasn't allowed my phone either. After the one hour passed, I was asked to go to the washroom and then they took some pictures in a machine similar to CT scan. The actual PET Scan took only about 15-30 minutes.
12.45 PM: Consult with Dr. Foong from the Regional Fertility Program
*Please see [upcoming] post about fertility if you want to know more about IVF and the whole egg retrieval process.
Friday, April 26th, 2019
5.00 PM to 7.00 PM: Brain MRI at South Health Campus Hospital
5:00 PM: Check-In
5:30 PM: Appointment was scheduled for, however, they were running late so I ended up waiting very long and wasnât taken into my appointment until around 6:00 PM where I was asked to change into gown and then wait again. My actual MRI didnât start until 6:30 PM roughly. Of all the scans I've done this was my least favourite due to the long wait and the noise of the MRI (imagine sirens going off in your ear every minute at different pace).
Monday, April 29th, 2019
12.30 PM: Cardiac (Lung) Exam at South Health Campus Hospital, Pulmonary Clinic on 6th floor
This was by far my most favourite and enjoyable appointment. The gentleman who administered the exam was fun, energetic, and QUICK! The exam consisted of me breathing into a device and following his instructions which were either to breathe steadily; take a deep breath in and breathe out, exhaling for as long as I could; or steadily breathing followed by taking a deep breath in and holding it for a short period before exhaling. I had to do each about 3 or 5 times so that they could get the average of my results.
Thursday, May 2nd, 2019
1.30 PM: Heart MRI at South Health Campus, Cardiac on 3rd floor
This was very quick as well and also one of my favourte because there was no injection or needles required. Like any MRI, it was loud but all I had to do was lay there and take deep breaths in and out when instructed to.
#cancer#fuck cancer#cancer survivor#hodgkin's lymphoma#lymphoma#lymphoma survivor#stage 4#stage 4 hodgkin's lymphoma#my journey#diagnosis#biopsy#vianny
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Adoption in lockdown: Families face coronavirus struggle | Foxton News
New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/adoption-in-lockdown-families-face-coronavirus-struggle-foxton-news/
Adoption in lockdown: Families face coronavirus struggle | Foxton News
Adoption programs in lots of nations have been hit laborious as social distancing restrictions meant the closure of courtrooms and clinics, whereas journey bans have made connecting with a surrogate or transferring a toddler between households far tougher.
Dwight Burton and Monik Kadarmanto, who dwell close to Portland, within the US state of Oregon, started the adoption course of in September 2018, and have been matched with a three-year-old boy residing at an orphanage in China simply earlier than Christmas.
The Chinese language authorities has now closed its borders to stop additional waves of coronavirus and the couple is in limbo, ready for information on when they are able to convey their adopted son residence. They are saying it has been laborious to get updates on him, with the orphanage in lockdown with out administrative workers.
âThereâs a lot uncertainty and I feel that is the hardest half about all of this,â stated Kadarmanto, 40. âThereâs nothing straightforward about adoption, thereâs a variety of simply each step, , sort of not getting our hopes up an excessive amount of.â
She stated the couple was âdoing positiveâ however some days introduced âa variety of heavy feelings. We simply actually wish to be with him.â
The couple are staying remoted as their neighborhood reopens to make sure theyâre wholesome for journey. They do not know whether or not they might want to quarantine in China, or whether or not solely one in all them will be capable to go.
âAs first-time mother and father, in fact, we really feel a nervousness about, âAre we going to be ok? Have we performed sufficient?ââ stated Burton, 41.
âAnd but at this level, we are also like, none of that issues anymore. What issues is for us to be united as a household and to have the ability to begin that strategy of turning into a household.â
Holt Worldwide, the inter-country adoption company working with Burton and Kadarmanto, has 250 adoptions on maintain, in response to Susan Cox, vp of coverage and exterior affairs. Fifteen households already had aircraft tickets, and one other 25 have been nearly able to journey. These adopting from South Korea need to undergo the nationâs household court docket, and hearings which have been scheduled for months have been canceled.
Satwinder Sandhu, chief government at IAC inter-country adoption company within the UK, instructed Appradab he knew of households caught in Morocco and India after touring there to undertake.
He stated that creating nations usually depend on youngstersâs houses and orphanages moderately than foster care, and assets are stretched. âFor youngsters ready in these establishments, each month that goes by is one other month misplaced, actually, the place they may very well be accessing and making attachments with a brand new household.
âWeâre very aware that in some nations, if mother and father turn out to be sick, they may not have the assets for different folks to care for his or her youngsters.â
He stated there have been âgiant numbers of households whoâre preparedâ to undertake and âhundreds of youngsters ready.â
In India, for instance, there may be already a two-and-a-half yr wait after adoption papers are lodged with the authorities, Sandhu stated.
Artistic options
Catherine Doolan, from Leicestershire in England, determined to undertake as a single mother or father in April final yr, was permitted by a panel in February and located a match within the UK, however that adoption fell by.
Doolan, 34, was getting ready to start out once more when the coronavirus hit Europe, and the matching course of stopped. âIt undoubtedly seems like lifeâs on maintain,â she instructed Appradab. âI suppose it does for lots of people. It hit me lots tougher than I believed.â
The style designer stated it had been a âunusualâ expertise going from seeing a social employee each week since final summer season to not likely realizing what was occurring.
âIâve cried fairly a bit about it. As a result of I used to be actually gearing up towards one thing after which it is nearly just like the rug has been pulled out from beneath you.â
Some households have discovered artistic methods to finish adoptions throughout the pandemic.
Brian and Mary-Jo Sullivan, from New Jersey, instructed Appradab they have been ready for visas to journey to Haiti in March when the nation closed its borders.
The couple, who had met four-year-old Gracie a yr earlier by Holt, have been involved it may very well be many months earlier than the borders reopened. Mary-Jo, who had beforehand labored in Haiti as a pediatric nurse, stated she knew Gracie had an underlying medical situation and was nervous about what may occur if she was contaminated with coronavirus.
Their contacts in Haiti labored frantically to get the kidâs passport, visa and different paperwork permitted, and to get her on a repatriation flight to the US with a missionary couple. They managed to get the paperwork permitted hours earlier than the flight, and Gracie made it to the US in early April.
âWe have been simply racing towards time,â stated Mary-Jo. âIt was nothing in need of a miracle.â
A number of households within the US have turned to expertise. In Fort Smith, Arkansas, Kimberly Wieneke and her husband adopted two-year-old Jaden via a Zoom hearing after the court docket was closed. In Columbus, Ohio, Laura and Casey Wieck additionally stated they adopted their son by way of a digital listening to, in a submit on Instagram.
Shifting a toddler between households can also be a sensible problem. Most kids are transferred from foster care to new households by a gradual handover and a collection of conferences. Regional UK company One Adoption West Yorkshire stated it had been working to seek out emergency lodging for adoptive households to allow this to occur, and a few foster carers had even let adoptive mother and father quickly transfer in with them.
Giving start underneath lockdown
The pandemic has affected all types of adoptions. Dad and mom with pregnant surrogates additionally need to plan across the start of their baby. A few of the mother and father whoâve opted for this route inside the US have pushed lengthy distances between states, and rented lodging early on within the outbreak to make sure theyâd be close by for the supply, stated Kim Bergman, senior companion at Rising Generations, which assists with surrogacy within the US and internationally.
Many hospitals have been solely permitting one particular person to be current on the start, which frequently meant a troublesome determination between the surrogateâs companion or the adopting mother and father, she stated.
âAnd naturally, there are individuals who could not come for the supply in any respect as a result of they have been impacted by journey points or journey bans or quarantines,â Bergman added.
Rising Generations has helped such households make interim preparations for the care of their child, which have included former surrogates who dwell regionally serving to out, buddies of the mother and father who dwell close by turning into momentary guardians, and hiring child nurses.
In Kiev, dozens of babies born to Ukrainian surrogate moms have been trapped in lockdown and unable to affix their adoptive mother and father within the US, UK, Spain and different nations.
Bergman stated some folks have been âdevastated and actually unhappyâ on the prospect of lacking a start, however most have been simply grateful that their infants have been secure.
âBelief is a very, actually vital a part of this course of,â she stated. âYou are already trusting strangers to maintain your child and maintain your loved ones constructing. And that is simply one other stage.â
Bergman instructed Appradab that clinics stopped doing all in-person medical procedures and screenings from round mid-March, affecting everybody who had a surrogate able to be screened or to start out a cycle, and anybody planning to fly to the US or interstate for their very own egg retrieval.
âIn order that had a very massive impression, it basically put a pause button on the complete course of industry-wide,â she stated.
Most IVF clinics within the US have now reopened and are working with cautious security procedures in place, stated Bergman.
Delays have been notably laborious for individuals who had already spent years going by fertility struggles, she added. âIn fact, thereâs a variety of hopes and desires placed on this course of and any delays are actually felt very, very, very strongly.â
Some had determined to postpone for six months or a yr as a result of it was âtoo unknown and too hecticâ however others remained decided, she added.
âSome meant mother and father have stated, , this simply has made me extra resolute that having a household and family members is an important factor.â
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