Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Fertile Turtles & Hatching Embryos

Today's embryo transfer couldn't have gone any better. Before we left, I sat with my husband, held his hand tightly, and said a prayer. I am a cornball and wrote it ahead of time, because I didn't want to leave anyone or anything out. It's kind of personal, but I don't mind sharing:

Dear Lord,

We come before you this morning on what is a very important day for us. First and foremost, we want to thank you for ALL that you have given us. This marriage, this beautiful loving home, our health, and for your unconditional love and protection. Nothing is possible without you, and we are beyond grateful.


All week I’ve been hearing your message to ASK for what we want. It’s by asking boldly with expectancy that we open ourselves up to receiving. So that’s what we’re doing now. We’re asking that you are with us today.


We ask that you be with us as we welcome two beautifully perfect healthy embryos into this world; We ask that you are with our care providers as you work your miracle through them. Our acupuncturist, that she would know exactly the right places to help bring abundant energy, warmth, and a receptive environment for our future babies. Our embryologist, that he would be blessed with a steady hand and discerning eye to keep our fragile and precious embryos safe as they re-enter the world. Our physician, that he would have supernatural precision guided by you with the placement of our little sparks of life. For all of the nurses and anyone else who is doing works through you today.


We also ask that you be with us as a couple; To give us both peace that passes all understanding, knowing that you are the one in charge. That you will be guiding our hearts and minds as we put our faith in you for your will to be done in this process. The scripture says “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. If we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions we desired of him. “ (1 John 5:14-15)


We ask that you give us patience during the waiting period following today’s embryo transfer. That there will be a perfect environment for life to attach itself in the exact right place and grow with boundless energy, knowing that their mother and father are waiting eagerly to welcome them into their lives. There will be no room for doubt, or questioning, or negative thinking. You have given us all the tools we need to make this happen and we are confident you will bless us with what we ask, according to your will. We know when we’ve done all we can do, you will step in and do what we can’t do.


Thank you Lord for hearing and answering our prayer. In Jesus name. Amen


My cheeks were drenched in tears by the time I said Amen...completely unexpected. There are just so many emotions being felt right now. I was literally crying out to God on our behalf, and I felt much better having prayed together.

I put on my new "fertile turtle" fertility bracelet (a recent gift from my super sweet and thoughtful hubby) and we were were on our way...

Turtles are a potent symbol of both protection and fertility.

We stopped for a pre-transfer acupuncture session on the way. My new practitioner's treatment was different than my last practitioner's, and it included a few extra bells and whistles, including extra heating lamps and acu beads on 6 different points in my ears and on my wrists, which will stay in place as long as I wish....the whole waiting period most likely.

When we arrived at the surgery center we were met by the embryologist, who brought photos of the two embryos that were thawed. He commented that these were very high quality blasts, equivalent to fresh embryos that hadn't even been frozen. They still hadn't re-expanded 100%, but that is a normal part of the process when they thaw frozen embryos...they shrink up during freezing and then re-expand to fill out the zona pellucida during thaw.

My clinic doesn't re-grade embryos after thaw, but the embryologist said if he had to grade them he would give baby-to-be #1 a grade of BB and that baby-to-be #2 would most likely reach a BB status upon fully re-expanding. Here are the pics...

If you look towards the left edge of this blast you can see a
large cluster of cells which comprises the "inner cell mass."
Blasts with mature enough development will show this
distinct cell mass....it's what becomes the baby.

Inner cell mass not quite visible but still a 150-200 cell blast
and on it's way to full expansion.

Then, the best part came at transfer time.
Right as the embryologist zoomed in on our blasts before pulling them into the catheter, we watched on the flat screen monitor as baby-to-be #1 started to hatch! It was wiggling around in the medium and you could clearly see that one edge had broken free and it was starting to emerge from it's outer shell! So stinking cool! I wish I had a video of it to share.

The oh-so-fun Lovenox injections began tonight as well, and I'm proud to say I did it by myself with zero icing involved. And yes, I survived! Now we just need these little buggers to attach to a nice cushy spot inside my uterus, and we'll be golden. 

32 comments:

  1. You are in my thoughts. I have a good feeling...

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  2. Oh Emily. What a beautiful prayer. I can't imagine a more peaceful and loving way to create babies...(well, you know if it's not the old fashion way) You and your husband certainly are strong and full of faith. I admire you both.

    Best of luck to you. I'll be praying and hoping right along side you these next few weeks. I hope you have some fun distractions planned once you're all done "relaxing" for a few days!!!

    Much, much love. xo

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  3. So glad to hear everything went so well. Sounds like this little cuties are well on their way to snuggling in for a long 9 months of growing. I pray for that, for you. You deserve this.

    P. S. Love fertile turtle

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  4. I'm not a religious person, but that prayer made me all teary. I hope He heard you. Wishing you a speedy 2ww!

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  5. Glad it went so well! So so cool you saw one hatch!!

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  6. Your prayer was so beautiful! I really loved it, thank you so much for sharing it. Praying for you!

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  7. So happy to read that everything went so well!

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  8. What a beautiful, beautiful prayer! My eyes weren't dry just as I was finishing reading it, so I can only imagine how you must have been. I live te bracelet that your swet husband it for you - so special. I will be thinking of you! XOXO

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  9. Awesome prayer and love how everything went down. What day is your beta? I am really praying for you guys Emily!

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  10. Thank you for sharing that prayer with us. That is sooo encouraging to know your embryos are top quality! And how cool it must have been to watch baby #1 hatch! Oh, I bet you were a proud mama during that!!! I did not know the turtle was the symbol of protection and fertility; "tiny turtle" has been my husband's nickname for me for seven years!

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  11. My thoughts and prayers go out to you both. What an amazing prayer! Those are two beautiful embryo's and I pray that they find a nice cozy place to attach and stay around for awhile. I love the turtle bracelet!! Wishing you guys all the best!!

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  12. That was an amazing and beautiful prayer. I hope it all works out this time!

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  13. Sending loads of love and positive thoughts your way!!

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  14. Geez, Emily, that was BEAUTIFUL! I know that the God we serve heard your cries, and that the Holy Spirit is litrally groaning with you, crying out for you when words fail to come. Praying that these precious embryos are continuing to flourish and are at this VERY moment, snuggling into the beautiful environment that you have worked so hard to create for them! Sending lots of love and hugs your way!

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  15. A beautiful prayer. Thinking of and praying for you.

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  16. That was such a beautiful prayer, thank you so much for sharing that with us! I love the pics of the embies, that is so, so cool. What an amazing thing to have to put in a baby book too :) I love the turtle, your hubby is so thoughtful! Praying for you so hard!

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  17. read this last night, you made me tear up. What a beautiful prayer - and how wonderful you prayed together - my favorite thing, which I also find as the most intimate, is praying with Colby!! This is so so so beautiful!!! so excited for what God is doing and standing in faith that He will make you a momma!!

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  18. Sending so many prayers for you (three!). The embryos look fantastic and that prayer was truly beautiful.

    Megan

    abrinkadventure.blogspot.com

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  19. I will be rooting for your two little embryos! Good luck during the 2 ww.

    (Kearazy from AT:TNL)

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  20. How exciting!!!! I am praying for you my friend :)

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  21. Beautiful! I will be waiting for GREAT news in a couple of weeks!

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  22. Thank you for sharing, and for visiting on my blog. I really appreciate it. Wishing you four the best!!!

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  23. I've been thinking about you all week, sending prayers your way!

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  24. Praying the little ones find a cushiny place in ur uterus. Keeping u in my thoughts

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  25. Praying the little ones find a cushiny place in ur uterus. Keeping u in my thoughts

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  26. Such a beautiful prayer! I hope the wait is going by quickly. Today, I will say a prayer for you and your beautiful embabies. Sending sticky thoughts your way my friend.

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  27. This prayer is incredible. Thank you for sharing your beautiful hearts with us. I am holding you up in prayer and excited to hear the coming news because God is so faithful. Oh and the turtle bracelet is the cutest thing. Your hubby is so thoughtful!!

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  28. Beautiful! I'm saying so many prayers for you guys Emily. I got a fertility bracelet almost exactly like that right before my third IVF transfer. I loved it. It broke about a month ago (and I panicked!) but I figured it had served it's purpose. :)

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    1. By the way I just want you to know that I actively stalk you and have tried writing many comments on your various posts in the past month but I have been having issues with my google account and my computer which together have made it hard for me to comment and most of the time my comments won't post or my stupid computer erases them before I post and I get frustrated. Know that I've been hoping, praying, and thinking about you a lot. :)

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  29. Just wanted to let you know I am thinking of you and I am praying that you finally get that sticky BFP after this FET. You seriously deserve this!

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  30. Thinking of you and sending positive vibes your way!! :)

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  31. Emily, I have been praying for you guys all week and am sending up extra prayers today as your beta nears. I want this so badly for you!!! Thank you for sharing your beautiful prayer. I just know God hears your cries.

    Hugs,
    Kara

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