Evan, Aidan, Bella & Sophia » May 2004 Journal Entries » AboutMyBaby - online baby scrapbooks, photo albums, videos, birth and pregnancy announcements

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Mon, May 31, 2004 9:24 AM
Still spotting, waiting for the RE to call me this morning (hopefully by 12 noon, although it is a holiday).

Our baby(ies) this week:

Your baby is now about the size of an apple seed. That's about 0.08 to 0.16 inches (2 to 4mm) from crown to rump. It has formed a distinct head with the first stages of eyes and ears. The spinal column and cord are formed. Buds that will grow limbs have also formed. The heart is starting to beat and at this stage its beating may even be detected by sensitive ultrasound equipment, though, it's still very early. The kidneys, liver and nerve cells have also begun to develop. Ten dental buds are growing in the jaws. Blood circulation has begun and primitive red blood cells circulate. The neural tube has closed over along your baby's spine. The optic vesicles, which resemble tiny discs of pigment set it cups along the sides of your baby's head will develop into your baby's eyes. A distinct tail is still present. The body is shaped like the letter "C".

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Sun, May 30, 2004 9:13 PM
Spotting scare: For the past 2 days I have noticed spotting. I left a message with our RE tonight, hopefully he will call me back in the morning (even though it is a holiday tomorrow).

The spotting could be from several things, I am just extremely worried:

1. Culdescentisis performed 5/25 ~ I noticed I had some scabs from the procedure inside the *virginia* several days ago. Now that I have switched from Progesterone injections to Progesterone vaginal suppositories, maybe the wounds aren't *healing* since everything is always oily and wet.

2. IVF spotting ~ I was told by our RE that you are more prone to see spotting in an IVF cycle than a natural pregnancy cycle. I don't know if this has to do with the expansion & then shrinking of ovaries, but that is what he told me nonetheless.

3. Pregnancy spotting ~ I read in my book "Your Pregnancy Week By Week" that the baby(ies) vascular connections are just forming (connecting with me) and that the placenta is just beginning. Maybe that is why I am noticing spotting?

4. Endometriosis on the right ovary ~ endo is known to cause spotting. Could it be trickling down thru the fallopian tubes and out the cervix? But I am pretty sure I read in "Your Pregnancy Week By Week" that the mucus plug has already formed. How can blood leak out at this stage?

5. Progesterone Suppositories ~ 3 girls who underwent IVF told me that their RE told them Progesterone suppositories can cause cervical spotting. The blood vessles on the cervix after pregnancy are really soft and easily broken. And Progesterone suppositories can irritate them easily.

6. The unmentionable ~ my greatest fear, which I am not even ready to discuss at this point.

I have been taking it easy all day, scared to death to move too much. I am hoping that the spotting is from the Progesterone suppositories and/or the culdescentisis ~ and nothing more serious.

Please say a prayer for our little one(s). Please God ~ protect what you have already given us.

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Wed, May 26, 2004 10:38 AM
+ Pregnancy Beta #2 (16DPO) = 592

Stats for Singletons at 16 DPO
Ave hCG: 95
Range ~ High: 223 Low: 33

Stats for Twins at 16DPO
Ave hCG: 146
Range ~ High: 803 Low: 112

My first u/s is scheduled for 6/10/04 to count babies!

I had the "culdescentisis" yesterday (fluid draining from abdomen). 2 liters were removed from my abdomen. Dr. Scheiber said there is probably 1 liter left, but he couldn't get it all. At least the pressure from my stomach and lungs is gone now. THANK GOD.

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Tue, May 25, 2004 10:36 AM
I have developed severe OHSS (Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome). Dr. Scheiber wants me to meet him at 1:15 pm today. He is going to insert a needle aspirator with catheter and drain my abdomen (Culdescentisis).

Please say a prayer that our baby(ies) make it through this. I was told there was no risk, but I am scared to come this far and lose the pregnancy.

Please God ~ continue to watch over me, and our baby(ies)...

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Mon, May 24, 2004 12:39 PM
We did it! Blood test confirms we are PREGNANT!
11dp3dt (14DPO) Beta Blood Test + 310 mIU/ml!

The *average* at 14DPO = 48 mIU/ml
The *normal range* for a singleton at 14DPO = 17-119 mIU/ml

I am being monitored for multiples. My next beta is Wednesday, 5/26. My hCG level should approximately *double* every 48 hours.

Also, Dr. Scheiber took at look at my condition. I do have a moderate/severe case of OHSS. I can't breathe, I can't eat more than 4-6 oz., I am completely miserable. He did an ultrasound on my lungs, and listened to see if my lungs were *gurgling*. I was told if they start to *gurgle* with fluid, I have to call or page the RE immediately and have my abdomen/lungs drained (fluid). I look like I am 5-6 months pregnant from the swelling. The RE said it should start to feel better in 2 weeks, and should completely go away within 8-10 weeks. Yikes!

For now: no exercise, lots of rest, and drink at least 64 oz. of Gatorade per day.

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Sun, May 23, 2004 9:21 AM
10dp3dt (13DPO) ~ BFP, again!

I am completely miserable. I am so glad I am going in to Dr. Scheiber's office tomorrow. My lower abdomen and upper belly are so swollen with fluid now, I can barely breathe or eat. The best way to describe it: it feels like I have so much bloating and swelling in my lower abdomen, it is pushing my diaphragm upward. And my diaphragm is blocking my ability to take a full, normal breath ~ and also blocking my ability to eat. Last night, I was afraid to fall asleep ~ afraid I wouldn't get enough air. I have asthma as it is. I think I used my inhalers (proventil & advair) 6 times yesterday. Eating small meals (6 oz or less) several times a day works for the eating discomfort. I can't lie on my back for too long, it feels like I am drowning and can't breathe. I am seriously worried.

I tried to do some online research, but never found anything that stated this is *normal*, even though the IVF nurse told me on Friday that I had so many eggs (19) that extra bloating, swelling is to be expected. No one told me I wouldn't be able to breathe or eat, though.

I sleep a lot in the evenings (7 pm and later), but can't sleep past 6 am - 6:30 am in the mornings now. I either wake up struggling to breathe, or needing to go to the bathroom ~ most of the time it's both.

Today is Richie's 2nd Birthday party. We are planning to tell our family (mom, dad, sister) there.

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Sat, May 22, 2004 1:36 PM
9dp3dt (12 DPO) ~ even darker BFP. We are going to tell our parents tomorrow at Richie's 2nd Birthday Party. Ooooh, they will be so happy when we give them a homemade t-shirt for Richie that says "Big Cousin" on it. Plus I have him a nice card from "Cousin(s) Gorczyk." I CAN'T WAIT to surprise him. I haven't told them we have been testing!

Today, we bought a brand new Sony DVD camcorder. It burns movies (1 hour) onto a DVD. It was expensive, but I told Slawek as SOON as I see that + pregnancy test, we are buying a nice camcorder. It also takes "still" .jpg shots so I can email photos without purchasing a separate digital camera.

Today I am feeling EXTREMELY nauseated. I slept from 7 pm - 11 pm, and then we to bed last night. I woke up at 6:30 am with the worst nauseau attack yet. Oh well, comes with the territory.

My beta is Monday morning! 2 more days to go!!!!

Hang on little baby(ies)! Stick, Stick, Stick.

Fertility Friend calculations give me an Estimated Due Date as 01/30/2005!!!!!!

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Fri, May 21, 2004 12:10 PM
8dp3dt (11 DPO) ~ Darker BFP + on 3 home pregnancy tests (Answer Early, FRED, and internet cheapie test strip for hCG). All are positive (and getting darker each day).

I called Dr. scheiber's office to mention my discomfort with bloating and my digestive problems. I also mentioned my + pregnancy tests, and they bumped up my beta blood test date. My pregnancy blood test is Monday 5/24 at 7:45 am.

WISH US LUCK!

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Thu, May 20, 2004 11:00 AM
7dp3dt (10 DPO) Darker + BFP today on a Home Pregnancy Test (Answer Early)

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Wed, May 19, 2004 11:10 AM
6dp3dt (9DPO) - Faint, Faint, Faint, + BFP on a home pregnancy test (Answer Early). We'll see what tomorrow brings!

Today is the first day we found out we are pregnant. May 19, 2004 ~ what a day to go down in history.

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Tue, May 18, 2004 12:59 PM
5dp3dt (8DPO) - I have to confess. I tested today and definitely got a BFN (negative). Which was a good sign ~ it means the hCG injection from 5/8 was totally out of my system.

Onto the next tests.....!

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Thu, May 13, 2004 4:11 AM
EMBRYO TRANSFER DAY ~ 2 grade-A, 8-celled embryos transferred today.

All (total) 9 embryos are GRADE A, perfect, 7 or 8 celled embryos. The Embryologist said we have *perfect* embies. The RE said our embies are *worthy of a textbook*.

We transferred 2 and now have 7 snow babies (frozen in the cryo tank for later use, just in case this cycle doesn't work or we want more children later).

Please God ~ watch over us, let these twins stick.
St. Gerard ~ hear our plea.

Our first beta (blood pregnancy test) is scheduled 5/27/04. Onto the 2WW.

Oh~ I almost forgot. Dr. Scheiber told Slawek his sperm count was up to 27 million on Monday 5/10 (his sample collection for IVF ICSI). 20 million is considered in the *normal-range*. He also had 60% motility, with 50% being normal. This is the best result Slawek has gotten to date. He has been taking Clomid for 3 months now and doing acupuncture for 2 months!!! His follow-up appt. with our Urologist is 5/19. I can't wait to see his face when he sees the results!

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Wed, May 12, 2004 4:11 AM
FERTILIZATION REPORT #2: Our 9 Embryos are still dividing just fine. They should all be 2-4 cells by now.

Our Embryo Transfer has been set. The transfer will be Thursday 05/13/04 at 10:30 am. Dr. Scheiber plans on transferred 2 embryos, unless they aren't dividing properly. I will know then exactly how they are doing (how many cells), and how many we have to freeze. I will also get a photo of our baby embies and I will get the petri dish where they are growing! I am excited.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Pray that these 2 little ones we are transferring tomorrow will implant and we will have 1 or 2 little babies in 9 months. God be with us.

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Tue, May 11, 2004 2:25 PM
FERTILIZATION REPORT #1: 9 Embryos dividing & growing

Out of 19 eggs retrieved,
14 were mature,
14 were ICSI'd (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection)
9 fertilized & are growing/dividing...

updates to come (tomorrow)....

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Mon, May 10, 2004 4:10 AM
19 EGGS RETRIEVED!

This morning at 8 am, Dr. Scheiber retrieved 19 eggs. Dr. Scheiber said this was better than even he expected! We have such a good number, we may have some extras to freeze (in case this one doesn't work or in case we want future children from this cycle).

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. My eggs have just now been fertilized (12 noon) and I will get the fertilization report from our Embryologist tomorrow sometime. Grow babies, grow.

The Egg Retrieval was quite painful. They had to strap my knees in because I kept lifting up and squirming around too much. But, after it was over, I was truly happy. 19!!!!!! Fertilize eggs, fertilize!!!!

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Fri, May 7, 2004 4:41 AM
Day 9 of Stims ~ 17-20 follies (14 mm lining). 10 are looking very mature and ripe, the rest are at varying stages of maturation. Today is last day of Stims, hCG trigger injection is tomorrow at 8 pm.

Egg Retrieval: Mon. 05/10/04 ~ 8:00 am
Embryo Transfer: Thurs. 05/13/04 ~ time TBD
Preg Beta Blood Test: Thurs. 05/27/04 ~ 7:30 am.

I will be off work Monday 5/10, Thurs. 5/13, and Fri. 5/14.

Please keep us in your thoughts & prayers.

PS. We ate Chinese last night, and my horoscope read:

"YOUR PRESENT PLANS ARE GOING TO SUCCEED."

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Mon, May 3, 2004 10:27 AM
Day 5, Stims ~ 10-13 FOLLICLES!!!!!
I went to see Dr. Awadalla today. He did bloodwork (estradoil) and an ultrasound. He located AT LEAST 10-13 developing follicles! He said I am right on track and he couldn't be happier with my progress.

Of course, the left ovary has more eggs than the right one (with endometriosis on it). But he said I am progressing better than expected. He said that with my age, he is very positive about the chances we have now (after seeing how well I am stimulating on Gonal-F).

I have another appt. on Friday to count and measure all the follicles. I will probably end up with 25-50% more by then. I am to continue with stimulation injections through Thursday (5/3 - 5/6) and he will let me know Friday my next steps.

We are scheduled for an Egg Retrieval either Mother's Day or preferrably Monday 05/10. I'll know Friday 05/07 for sure!

Come on little eggies: grow, grow, grow!

In the meantime, I AM SO BLOATED. I can barely button my pants, I can't eat large meals, I can't lie on my back (I can't breathe), and when I sit, it feels like I am carrying an abdomen full of rocks. Weird. Weird. Weird!

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Sun, May 2, 2004 9:21 AM
Day 4 of Stims!
I am starting to get really bloated. I measured my waist and hips the night before Stimulation Injection #1 (waist 29.5", hips 37.5"). We'll see how much I expand. The RE said it could be anywhere between 4-8"! My lower abdomen feels so full, it is hard to eat too much and it is hard to breathe while lying down. Strange.

I am also very lethargic. I feel wiped out completely. When I walk, I walk 50% slower than normal. I can't pick up my pace, and I feel as though I just ran a marathon.

Tomorrow is my appt. with Dr. Scheiber to take a look at how my follies are growing, and how many are there. I'll also have a better timeline on when my Egg Retrieval will be.

For now, I am trying to take it easy. Slawek and I cleaned the house yesterday ~ in preparation for my upcoming bedrest. Looks like we're ready to go. Bring on the Egg Retrieval!

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