Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)

They call it THE two week wait. They say it is one of the most terrible waits one must endure on the journey to create a human with the hands of science at play. They are correct. 

We know this little one was a 5 day blastocyst which is thought to have a better success rate compared to a 3 dayer. We know according to genetic testing (Preimplantation genetic screening, aka PGS) on this tiny one that some of the factors that contribute to early miscarriages are not present. We know that the place this little one is supposed to call home for the next 9 months is ready. We know the hormone levels that are supposed to sustain this little one in the first trimester are right....seriously...my bum can attest the presence of this hormone that must be injected daily for nearly three months. Plus the oral pills twice a day that have turned me into a lady that cannot be without her purse because that is where the pills live.We know that home pregnancy tests, LOTS of them, have told us this little one has decided to stick around and grow. We know everyone in this process is hoping for success. 

However...THE two week wait is the lead up to what many call their beta test. This is where they test for the presence of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG.) This will tell us if indeed implantation has occurred. This will give us a hint if little one is growing in the wrong place (ectopic) as the numbers would grow too fast. It's also not unheard of for the HPTs to give false positives, or for it to be a true positive, but not a viable pregnancy. So many possibilities. However, the IM and I have had a gut feeling from the start that we were going to be having this baby. It was this feeling that we have had to rely on during this wait. 

Well...I have a secret...I've already had my first blood draw, and my hCG was 101! We were thrilled to see that number!! As great as seeing that number was...we had to wait a couple more days, because the key to hCG is seeing it grow (double really.) So two days after the first draw I went in for another to see if we were progressing. I was expecting a number between 200 & 250. Well this little one is a testing whiz already (no surprise...little one's parents are super smart,: ) and gave us a hCG of 308! Today makes four days since that last hCG blood draw, and we had another one this morning. Now we are waiting for the hCG level to be over 2000. This generally tells us that we'll be able to get our first glimpse of Tiny Tot. 

So now we go back to waiting. This seems to be a recurring theme, but all worth it in the end <3 

Well y'all...the stick says it...there's a baby in there!

8 days post transfer!

Well, okay, the medical world calls it an embryo, but to me it's my little ball-o-baby :)

Backing up a little...I started giving myself intramuscular shots of progesterone in oil several weeks ago. This hormone is the helper for the ovaries during this process as my ovaries, who would normally take care of this hormone production in the early stages of pregnancy, have essentially been told to hush since we already had a little egg fertilized and ready to go from the intended parents. They use Lupron to hush those ovaries which is also an injection, but a little bitty needle in the belly. I've also been on estrogen to build up the uterus lining and support the early pregnancy. I should be able to stop taking medications right around the end of the first trimester. I am looking forward to this, and while I know I'm lucky when it comes to the side effects of the medications, nobody really wants to take them or do it for as long as we do! Truth be told...there are nights where I let myself throw a full on tantrum because I have to give myself this shot. Then I put my girl panties on (well...off,) and get that shot stuck where the sun don't shine.

Transfer day was July 1st, and really it was simple and quick...VERY quick! Full bladder, a hair net, my dandelion transfer socks, and a ride to the OR to get this little bit put in its new home! We were in the OR for all of 15 minutes. They did a check to make sure I was indeed supposed to be having this little ball-o-baby put in there. Then they took a look on the ultrasound where we saw my VERY full bladder and this little ones new home. The most uncomfortable bit of all of this is being opened to what feels like the world. I'm super modest, but I have to believe that anyone is uncomfortable with their lady bits having a spotlight...literally...on them. Speculum in. TINY catheter bearing tiny five day old blastocyst painlessly placed right where the doc wanted. Some pushing with the ultrasound to get a picture of the tiny white speck, and the spotlight was turned off and the curtains closed. Hung out in bed for 20 minutes...finally emptied my bladder and that was it! No bed rest, they just asked I didn't try and go tour the town :)

During all of this I have to say I think I have the best intended parents. Super supportive. My IM met my friend and I at the hotel a couple hours prior to transfer so we could just spend some time. She also brought gifts for my kiddos, and let me know that my daughter's gift was picked by her oldest daughter <3 None of our kids know what's going on yet. On my side I want to make sure this goes well before I introduce the idea to my kids, and I believe that is the same thought for my IPs. So for now our kids just know we have special friends in another state. The IF joined us just after we arrived at the hospital and we all spent some time chatting and joking around with each other. Again, they are amazing. The agency that brought us together, Growing Generations, seriously hit the nail on the head with this match. Some confusion at the hospital brought about some frustrated laughs, but all in all it went very smooth.

While I was waiting to be called back to change I asked my IM if she wanted me to take home pregnancy tests or if she just wanted to wait for the blood draws. THANK GOODNESS she said to go for the home tests. My willpower would have seriously been tested if she had said no, but I have vowed to make this as much her choice and her experience as I can.

I started the home pregnancy test madness four days post transfer, and saw a SUPER faint line. One of those lines that only a mother can see!

This one I had to do a little "tweaking" to get it to show up in a photograph, but it's there! 4 days post transfer  :) 

 Day five post transfer the line was actually able to be seen in a photograph: 

Lighting isn't the best, but look close...it's there! 

Day six: 

I had a really hard time photographing this one! 

Day seven: 

Faint, but without a doubt there! 

Day eight:

There is that dark line I have been looking for!!! 

After this test I decided to go ahead with the digital! Since they're not as sensitive I wasn't sure it would pick it up since I was testing in the evening, but the picture at the top was it!