Friday, August 26, 2011

Preparing my womb for a successful embryo transfer

I've had many questions from family and friends about how this next step works: The Meds and Injections.

I've been on birth control for over a month now, and this will help to regulate my menstrual cycle and will also make it easier to sync my cycle with the egg donor's cycle. What?? You didn't think I'd be using my own eggs, did you??

In about a week I will be starting an extensive medication protocol that will help to prep my womb for the embryo transfer. The lining of my uterus will need to be super, super thick in order for the embryo to "stick" and get nice and cozy for a nine month vacation. This will all be accomplished by taking oral pills, vaginal suppositories, and injections, on a daily basis. This step will take approximately one month.

Also, during this time the egg donor will be working hard to prep her body for the egg donation. She will be required to take both oral and self-administered injections as well.

Once eggs are retrieved from the egg donor, they will be fertilized in the lab and then transferred to my uterus 3-5 days later. I will stay on bed rest for 24-48 hours in order to give my Intended Parents' embryo the best chance at sticking around for a while. Also, after the transfer, I will continue on medication, daily and throughout first trimester. This will cause the embryo to implant and help to simulate pregnancy.

My golden box of meds should be here any day now. It will be like Christmas in August and I can not wait. I'm thinking about recording my very first self-administered injection. Would you be interested in watching me poke myself for the first time? Eeeeeeek. I hate needles.

Oh my goodness, and how could I forget!! I met up with a few of my closest surro-sisters last week and we enjoyed a lovely dinner together. Yaaay for surro-sisters!!!

Clockwise from the bottom left: 
Stacie
Misti and her son
Myself and my daughter
Laura

Between the four of us, we have birthed 15 babies (one set of twins)!!!

 

5 comments:

linda said...

Sticking yourself with a needle the very first time can be scary. I would say, try to have someone on hand that can help you should you not be able to do it the first time. You'll get used to it. :)

What are you going to be injecting? I would think you might be on lupron but not sure. Just aim for a thicker part of belly fat, not too close to belly button. And make sure the alcohol has dried first! There are loads of videos on youtube of other patients showing how to do it.

Good luck!!! Those embryos are going to be in the best care possible with you! :-))

TXSurromom said...

YAY!!!!! You're so close! :) Go read my injection post. I HATED needles...still don't love 'em, but it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be. :) And, it'll be over before you know it!!

Best of luck to you!!!

momof4 said...

Can't wait for those cute lil embryos to get all snuggly with you:) love ya!

Krystal said...

Lol, I recorded my 1st time doing the lupron injection. It took me TWENTY minutes to actually do it, LOL! It's so funny to watch it now, having gone thru 4 transfers. Funny how your mind tends to make things seem so much worse than they actually are. Just wait for the PIO! :)

Michael said...

My surrogate is just about to stop her injections I think. It has been a long road but the payoff has been worth it. (I guess easy to say for me, though!)