The IPs were in town yesterday for their egg retrieval and I just received a message that 14 eggs were retrieved (I'm sure there is a joke about laying eggs in there somewhere) and 8 were fertilized.
I'm so excited and looking forward to being pregnant by the end of the year.
and now we wait.....
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Friday, July 12, 2013
I spoke too soon....
A wise man once told me "If you want to hear G_D laugh, say our plans out loud"
In my last post I mentioned that the egg retrial process has begun for the IP's and I would be starting meds soon which meant I should be pregnant with in the next 8 weeks. Less than 24 hours of me announcing that we hit our first bump in the road.
I received a call from our nurse at CRM (our IVF Dr.s office) this afternoon while I was at a playdate. She called to tell me that since the IPs are doing genetic testing on the embryos that the lab that does the testing on them is back logged by 14 weeks. This means that I cant even start my part in the IVF process for another 2-3 months minimum and implanting in the next 4-5 months assuming there are not any further delays. The nurse said this service usually has a 2 week turn around which is why we did not expect the delay but apparently genetic testing on embryos has become standard practice now with families doing IVF so they are backed up. I was also told that its only become that way in the last month or so. The nurse called me because the IP mom was nervous to tell me so the nurse offered to break the news instead. They were afraid that I might think they were blowing me off or they had changed their minds or something so she thought he nurse could explain it better than she could. I messaged the IP mom as soon as I got off the phone with CRM to tell her I was not upset or feeling blown off. It does put me at a end of my pregnancy in the dead heat of summer which was what we were trying to avoid but in the end a healthy baby is what matters so waiting to get the testing done was more important than me living in my pool for my last trimester. Its not like I'm doing this for the money and antsy to get paid so waiting a few extra months is no big deal. These things take time.
I got a call from the IP dad today too while I was still at the playdate. He had to make a decision on something important that he could have done on his own and with the attorney but instead he called to see how I felt about it since it did technically affect me indirectly and wanted to let me make the call. I know this is technically a business arrangement but it goes beyond that and I'm so glad I found a couple who feels the same way, treats me as an equal with dignity and respect and not hired help.
I came across a blog tonight. Its a blog that a surrogate and her IP mother did together and they happen to be Sister-in-laws. Its so beautifully done and the IP had a similar story to my IP's. In the end the surrogate gave birth to twins.
A belly for me A baby for you
Check it out.
It will be a while before I have any updates not that we are just playing the waiting game.
Have a good summer!
In my last post I mentioned that the egg retrial process has begun for the IP's and I would be starting meds soon which meant I should be pregnant with in the next 8 weeks. Less than 24 hours of me announcing that we hit our first bump in the road.
I received a call from our nurse at CRM (our IVF Dr.s office) this afternoon while I was at a playdate. She called to tell me that since the IPs are doing genetic testing on the embryos that the lab that does the testing on them is back logged by 14 weeks. This means that I cant even start my part in the IVF process for another 2-3 months minimum and implanting in the next 4-5 months assuming there are not any further delays. The nurse said this service usually has a 2 week turn around which is why we did not expect the delay but apparently genetic testing on embryos has become standard practice now with families doing IVF so they are backed up. I was also told that its only become that way in the last month or so. The nurse called me because the IP mom was nervous to tell me so the nurse offered to break the news instead. They were afraid that I might think they were blowing me off or they had changed their minds or something so she thought he nurse could explain it better than she could. I messaged the IP mom as soon as I got off the phone with CRM to tell her I was not upset or feeling blown off. It does put me at a end of my pregnancy in the dead heat of summer which was what we were trying to avoid but in the end a healthy baby is what matters so waiting to get the testing done was more important than me living in my pool for my last trimester. Its not like I'm doing this for the money and antsy to get paid so waiting a few extra months is no big deal. These things take time.
I got a call from the IP dad today too while I was still at the playdate. He had to make a decision on something important that he could have done on his own and with the attorney but instead he called to see how I felt about it since it did technically affect me indirectly and wanted to let me make the call. I know this is technically a business arrangement but it goes beyond that and I'm so glad I found a couple who feels the same way, treats me as an equal with dignity and respect and not hired help.
I came across a blog tonight. Its a blog that a surrogate and her IP mother did together and they happen to be Sister-in-laws. Its so beautifully done and the IP had a similar story to my IP's. In the end the surrogate gave birth to twins.
A belly for me A baby for you
Check it out.
It will be a while before I have any updates not that we are just playing the waiting game.
Have a good summer!
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Mock transfer yesterday
Yesterday was the mock transfer. It took all of 45 seconds and everything went well. No discomfort except a slight pinch when she pulled the catheter out. it was LONG. This is it still in its sterile packaging.
A mock transfer is a preparatory procedure that will help the fertility doctors establish where the embryo will go and when the actual placement of the embryo will happen.
A mock transfer is a preparatory procedure that will help the fertility doctors establish where the embryo will go and when the actual placement of the embryo will happen.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
whats the hold up!?!?!?
Its amazing how much bureaucracy goes into these things. We had an easier time with the legal stuff than we are having with the IVF clinic. I have to go back in for a 2nd round of blood work because they forgot to tell me about 3 other things they need and now they need Nik (my husband) to get a bunch of blood work too. Mine came back 100% perfect so I'm surprised they need my husbands too. Luckily I have a midwife friend that lives close by who I've been bribing with bottles of wine to do our blood work for free and to pass down her lab discount to my IP's. Surrogacy is an expensive process so every penny counts.
On top of the blood work the IVF clinic won't allow us to start until they have the contract from our attorneys on file but not the actual contract, a summary that the attorney has to write up separately since they are not allowed to see the contract but they only asked for that this week when the IPs went up to start the egg retrieval process.When the IPs went in last week to the IVF clinic the said I should have been on meds weeks ago with the time line we had aimed for yet they still won't even see me until they have the rest of the stuff listed above even though they have all the important blood work results from the lab already.
ugh..... so much red tape!
On a better note I've started hording maternity clothes. I only have a few things left over that were worth keeping from my own pregnancies and luckily I do get a budget for maternity clothes but I'm starting basically from scratch. I've had some friends give me some hands me downs and I've lucked out with target and Khols so far but all of me grows when I'm pregnant so from bras to shoes I have some more shopping to do. No complaints here!
On top of the blood work the IVF clinic won't allow us to start until they have the contract from our attorneys on file but not the actual contract, a summary that the attorney has to write up separately since they are not allowed to see the contract but they only asked for that this week when the IPs went up to start the egg retrieval process.When the IPs went in last week to the IVF clinic the said I should have been on meds weeks ago with the time line we had aimed for yet they still won't even see me until they have the rest of the stuff listed above even though they have all the important blood work results from the lab already.
ugh..... so much red tape!
On a better note I've started hording maternity clothes. I only have a few things left over that were worth keeping from my own pregnancies and luckily I do get a budget for maternity clothes but I'm starting basically from scratch. I've had some friends give me some hands me downs and I've lucked out with target and Khols so far but all of me grows when I'm pregnant so from bras to shoes I have some more shopping to do. No complaints here!
Thursday, June 27, 2013
the contract has been signed!
Contracts are signed and we a re ready to go. There is nothing holding things up now. I wanted to thank the attorney's office who blew me off. Had they not I would not have found the most amazing, caring and passionate fertility attorney in Central Florida. Karen Persis was fast, made my case a priority and has a true passion for surrogacy and fertility in general. I'm so glad I found her.
I got everything I asked for in the contract and the IP's and I are on the same page about everything so it all went smoothly.
I got everything I asked for in the contract and the IP's and I are on the same page about everything so it all went smoothly.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
HSG procedure
This is my uterus on an X-ray with dye to show if I have any blockages or issues that need to be avoided during implantation. You can see my fallopian tubes on the sides of them. so cool!
Its early June and I had to go into to get this done today. I'd heard the procedure was not a pleasant experience. Honestly it was easier than a well woman exam. I do have some spotting now and am leaking some of the fluid they inserted in my uterus but besides that and some light cramping it was easy. They wouldn't let me bring anyone in the room with me or let me take pictures during the procedure but here is me in my surgery gear before hand.
Lots of good things happening
SO many things to update you all on. Last month Nik and I went for our psychological evaluation. The Dr. was a LMHC here locally who deals with fertility issues in families. It was so laid back and low pressure. I've been told that some couples are put through a personality profile test and a counseling session. This was just like a counseling session with basic questions to make sure I wasn't going to have attachment issues with the baby after and try to steal it, what kind of support I had with in my family and friends or that this process would make my marriage fall apart. Once we were given the thumbs up by the DR. we were ready to move on to the physical stuff. Later that afternoon Nik and I went to an IVF seminar that CRM the IVF clinic makes every family go to that use them. The IPs went too and Nik got to meet them for the first time. We sat through the boring seminar with a TON of other couples who were about to start the IVF process too. After the seminar the four of us went out for dinner. We hit it off wonderfully. I've known the IP's since December 2012 but have only gotten to spend time with them 4 times before so it was really nice getting to know each other when we are not touring birth centers, meeting specialists and going over specifics. a few days later I went in to meet our IVF specialists Dr. Jaffe. She and I hit it off immediately. She though I was a perfect candidate to be a surrogate health wise and personally since "She's a doula AND Jewish, she's perfect!" I'm quoting the Dr. who had noticed my Star of David necklace and she herself happen to be Jewish.
The month prior the IP's had come to town to find an IVF specialists and interview the midwife I had chosen. They loved her and were excited to have all of that out of the way especially after having a difficult time finding an IFV DR. who was willing to keep appointments after the IPs had driven up from Miami just to interview them. We had our IVF clinic, Midwife and birth center chosen.
Big Thank you Tree of Life Birth and GYN for accommodating me and my IPs on your day off and between births to meet with my out of town IP's. Kaleen Made such an impression on them and are looking forward to working with the Tree of life staff.
The month prior the IP's had come to town to find an IVF specialists and interview the midwife I had chosen. They loved her and were excited to have all of that out of the way especially after having a difficult time finding an IFV DR. who was willing to keep appointments after the IPs had driven up from Miami just to interview them. We had our IVF clinic, Midwife and birth center chosen.
Big Thank you Tree of Life Birth and GYN for accommodating me and my IPs on your day off and between births to meet with my out of town IP's. Kaleen Made such an impression on them and are looking forward to working with the Tree of life staff.
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