Quality Over Quantity

~10 eggs retrieved
~8 eggs fertilized
~6 are grade A as of day 3
~2 are grade B as of day 3
~5 day blastocyst transfer scheduled for Wednesday 1/16


Overall, the ER went great!  We had 10 high quality eggs.  Before we knew the quality both Dr. B and I were a little disappointed that I had 10. But, I just kept remembering that quality is far more important than quantity. In the end, all we need is 1 high quality blastocyst to implant.  After the retrieval, I was feeling very tired and my stomach was bloated and uncomfortable for the next two days.  Today, I'm feeling much better. 

I've started the progesterone shots and the estrogen patches.  The progesterone in oil shots make all the other stims and trigger shot look like nothing!  The needle is huge and the oil is thick! And, I have to give them to myself in my ass!!!! I explained to Dr. B that I chose to give them myself instead of having Jake do it due to his crazy work schedule.  He said that after my pregnancy test, I can start the suppositories instead.  While I'm not crazy about having a rainbow of colors coming out of my lady parts, I'm even less crazy about PIO shots for 9 weeks. 

I'm in a really good place right now.  I'm super positive and have a lot of hope and faith in this.  Everything has been looking great.  But, there are so many hoops to get through before we can start decorating a nursery. Mostly, we need my lovely uterus to accept and nurture this embryo.  Then, we need my beta test numbers to rise accordingly.  If all of that happens, and we are told we are definitely pregnant, then I will feel like I can truly be excited.  I know all too well not to get overly excited over "everything looking great".  On 4 out of the 5 medicated iui's I was told that everything looked perfect, and that created a lot of false hope.  IVF is a much more involved process, but a lot can change between now and then. 

Please continue to pray and send positive thoughts our way.  Pray that our embryos turn into high quality blastocysts.  Pray that my body decides to cooperate and embrace the pregnancy that is being forced on it.  Pray that I keep my sanity and patience through this all. 

Here are some resources that help to explain the blastocyst grading system, and 5 day transfers:

http://www.advancedfertility.com/blastocystimages.htm 
^ goes into detail of how blastocysts are graded

http://fertilitydr.com/blastocyst-transfer.html

http://www.advancedfertility.com/blastocystpregnancyrates.htm
^success rates for 5 day blastocysts at the given fertility clinic (note: this is not the rates from my specific clinic)