Still cookin'

The lab called this morning and all four embryos are dividing! Yay!! One was at 3 and another was at 5 cells, the others were at 4. She said that was perfectly normal. I have to admit, that was a long 24 hour wait for the phone call! A friend who went through IVF gave me her journal so yesterday I went to the part after she went through retrieval, before the embryos were transferred. According to her notes (this was in 1999), the lab director said Day 4 is the day they tend to lose some embryos. From 0-8 cell divisions all the cells are identical. It is not until they go to 16 cell divisions (day 4) that the cells differentiate and it is common to lose some embryos at that point. Fingers crossed that our embryos divide as expected!

Because we only have four embryos, we are not going to do the embryo biopsy. They recommend that for more embryos. We're both very content with this decision. I think I am actually relieved that don't have to make that decision. I was nervous about potential long term effects, if any, on a baby/person of this test. It is so new there aren't many years of research.

I took my first shot of progesterone this morning. It is the really really long needle, in the butt. It didn't hurt at all, I guess I either have very muscular butt cheeks (ha) or plenty of fat to soften the needle! The progesterone is naturally occurring hormone and has side effects that make you feel pregnant (breast tenderness, increased urination, etc.). The hardest part of the shot was trying to twist around to take the shot.

I also start taking a ZPak (antibiotic) and Medrol today. The medrol is a steroid that mildly suppresses the immune system to decrease the chances of the body rejecting incoming embryos. Possible side effects include rashes, nausea, headaches, low blood pressure (rare).

I have been sleeping quite a bit. Yesterday I laid down around 10:30 or 11 am for a nap and made myself wake up at 3:30. I took several doses of Tylenol yesterday for the cramping pain. No spotting though, which is common after the procedure. I went to bed around 8:30 or 9 last night and slept pretty well until 6:30 or 7, then I started watching the clock, waiting for my phone to ring with the call from the lab!

I think today looks like a good day to get outside and get some fresh air. Morgan certainly thinks it is time to play ball and/or frisbee. Don't know about that, but maybe we'll catch some neighborhood kids outside who will be willing to play with her! I ended up with 5 boys in the backyard last night, ages 3-12ish, who were more than happy to throw for her for 15-20 minutes.