Our Process

July 2008 – December 2008

  • Confirmed that we both wanted to start TTC
  • Begin to save money and start making large plans
  • Goal to start trying in the New Year

February 2009

  • L laid off unexpectedly

July 2009

  • L finds new job

August 2009

  • Decide to start actively planning
  • Decide for first try in November/December 2009
  • Start tracking cycle with clearblue
  • Choose donor and research fertility office options
  • Research medical, disability and name change process
    • Discover waiting periods on medical and maternity coverage

December 2009

  • J leaves job she has been at for 5 years for new opportunity
  • J gets unexpectedly laid off after 1 week
  • We decide to still have first try in January/February

January 2010

  • J starts new job
  • Lack of (Late) ovulation for 2nd month in a row (Day 30)
  • Select new donor
  • 1/13 appointment with Dr. to discuss a new plan
  • 1/22 First blood work appointment
    • Here are the scheduled tests:
      • Prolactin test: measures the level of the hormone prolactin
      • FSH blood test: measures the level of FSH
      • Free T4 test: Evaluates thyroid function
      • (TSH) Test: Checks for thyroid gland problems
  • 1/26 Results are in after monumental fight w/ clinic:
    • TSH: 1.89, T4: 1.1, FSH: 2.8 and Prolactin: 8.0

February 2010 (IUI Cycle 1, #1&2) (Negative Pregnancy test)

  • 2 donor vials ordered to arrive on 2/8/2010 in 14 day tank
  • Clinic on notice of IUI’s between 2/11- 2/17
  • 2/15 1st LH peak reported @ 5pm
  • 2/16 IUI #1 @ 1pm – Motility 25-30% – Cervix nearing open state and soft. Cervix found to be slightly curved causing IUI to be challenging and painful. Bleeding following procedure.
  • 2/17 IUI #2 9:30am – Strong motility, excessive EW CM. Performed at around 36 hours after LH surge.
  • 2/27 – 2/28 BFN
  • Discussed options and decided to go on clomid for 3 rounds

March 2010 (IUI Cycle 2, #1&2) (Positive Pregnancy test)

  • First round of clomid taken on CD 3-7
  • 2 donor vials ordered to arrive on 3/12/2010 in 14 day tank
  • First positive OPK @ 8 p.m. 3/17
  • First IUI @ 3:00 p.m. 3/18 – Cervix open but procedure was still challenging/painful
  • Second IUI @ 10:00 a.m. 3/19 Cervix in better position with lots of EWCM
  • 3/19 Possible ovulation twinges / cramps at 3:00 p.m
  • TWW will end on 3/30
  • 3/30 @ 12DPO Faint 2nd line (BFP)
  • 3/31 @ 13DPO 2 digital BFP

April 2010 (Off due to M/C)

  • Pregnancy confirmation Post miscarriage appointment scheduled for 4/22/2010
  • Reproductive Specialist appointment rescheduled for 5/25

May 2010 (monitored IUI Cycle 3, #1&2) (Negative Pregnancy test)

  • 5/18 – CD1 Finally after almost 50 days following miscarriage cycle – Immediately I noticed an extreme emotional shift- more balanced
  • 5/19- Discuss options… At home vs. at clinic… As we are still waiting for our specialist appointment. After much discussion and numerous conversations with my doctor/nurse… The clinic wins again…
  • 5/20 – Begin clomid (50mg) took @ 7pm (40 min late w/ pill 4… Panic… Then move on)
  • 5/21 – Ordered vials to arrive on 5/28
  • 5/24 – Last clomid dose – First noticeable twinges on right side. Major symptoms were intense hot flashes, headaches and occurrences of odd dreams.
  • 5/25 – CD8 – Start OPK testing with CBdigitals.
  • 5/26– First specialist appointment with RE including baseline ultrasound
  • 5/28 – CBFM spike to level 2 (Usually peak comes next morning)
  • 5/29– CBFM Spike to Peak (LH Surge) 8:30 AM ultrasound finds dominate follicle at 22mm and lining at 11mm
  • 5/29 – Ovidrel shot at 5pm
  • 5/30 – First IUI at 11am (34mil count)
  • 5/31 – Second IUI at 10am (24mil count) Cervix still open

June 2010 (monitored cycle: IUI Cycle 4, #1&2) (Negative Pregnancy test)

  • 6/11– BFN (Really painful cramps)
  • 6/12– CD-1 Temp drop 1.0 in the AM)
  • 6/14 – Baseline ultrasound and medication adjustment discussion
  • 6/21, 25th, 28th – Ultrasounds show no growth
  • 7/1 – June cycle canceled due to stunted follicle growth (nothing past 10mm) Provera started (10 days)

July 2010 (Third monitored cycle: IUI Cycle 4, #1&2) Redo of last month: (Positive Pregnancy test) POST LINK 

  • 7/18- CD-1 Temp drop 1.0 in the AM
  • 7/20 – CD-3 Baseline Ultrasound
  • 7/28 – CD-11 16mm 13mm and 18mm (lining 9mm) Trigger at 8:30pm
  • 7/29 – First IUI @ 19 hours (same timing as 1st successful cycle) 30MIL
  • 7/30 – 2nd IUI @  37 hours (same timing as 1st successful cycle) 24MIL
  • 8/9 – Faintest second line imaginable BFP
  • 8/10 – Slightly darker and positive digital pregnancy test BFP
  • 8/11 – Beta only 13 and progesterone only 9.8
  • 8/13 – Beta 4 and dropping
  • 8/15 – CD-1

August 2010 (Fourth monitored cycle: IUI Cycle 5, #1&2) : (Negative Pregnancy test) POST LINK 

  • 8/17 – Baseline ultrasound: Switching to injectable cycle:  75Iu of Bravelle
  • 8/21- Ultrasound – CD-7 lining 7B & all follicles under 10mm
  • 8/21 -23- Continue 75 Iu bravelle (CD7-9)
  • 8/24 – Ultrasound – 2 follies 13mm left &  12 mm right. Lining 8B, Estradiol 78
  • 8/ 24&25- Continue 75 Iu bravelle (CD10-11)
  • 8/26- Ultrasound – 2 follicles: 15.5 Left & 14.5 right. Lining 9B. Estradiol 101
  • 8/28 – Ultrasound: Left 17.9 Right 14.5. Lining 12B, Estradiol 266!!!
  • 8/28 – 11PM LH Surge with OPK
  • 8/29 – Ultrasound: Left 21.5 Right 16.5. Estradiol 326. Progesterone .67.
    • Trigger shot 6pm – Too late to overpower natural surge
  • 8/30 – IUI: 9AM (36 Hours post LH on OPK)

September 2010 (Fifth monitored cycle: IUI Cycle 6, #1&2) : (Negative Pregnancy test) POST LINK 

  • 9/13 – CD-1
  • 9/15 – Baseline ultrasound
  • 9/19 – Follow-up Ultrasound
  • 9/24 – Follow-up Ultrasound (no growth – 2 stuck at 12mm each)
  • 9/24 – Met with current doctor to discuss IVF and other options
  • 9/24 – Increased Bravelle to 175iu
  • 9/26 – Follow-up Ultrasound- 2 16mm follies with 11B
  • 9/27 – Follow-up Ultrasound- 2 18mm follies with 12B
  • 9/27 – At home insem #1 Syringe with Known Donor
  • 9/27 – Trigger shot 9:30pm
  • 9/28 – At home insem #2 with O-Cup with Known Donor
  • 9/29 – Office IUI 9:30am

October-December 2010, IVF Fresh Cycle: (Positive Pregnancy test)

  • 10/15-11/16 Birth Control Pills
  • 10/18 Saline Infused Sonogram/Trial transfer
  • 10/26 RN Consult (go over medication & plan)
  • 11/18 Baseline Ultrasound
  • 11/19 Start Stimulation meds: 75 Menopur and 150 Bravelle
  • 11/22 Follow-up estradiol only: E2 level 145 (After 3 shots: Fri-Sun)
  • 11/24 Ultrasound/estradiol E2 500
  • 11/26 Ultrasound/estradiol E2 1020
  • 11/27 Ultrasound/estradiol E2 1600
  • 11/28 Ultrasound/estradiol E2 2900 – Trigger shot 11:30PM
  • 11/30 11:30AM Egg retrieval POST LINK
  • 12/4 19 eggs – 10 mature – 7 fertilized – 5 progressed – two blasts frozen
  • 12/5 Day 5 Transfer of 2 blastocysts POST LINK
  • 12/10-12/14 Faint-strong positive pregnancy tests
  • 12/14 First Beta 134 Officially: PREGNANT!
  • 12/16 Second Beta 263 (almost double with doubling time of 49.34)
  • 12/23 Final Beta: needed 3156 and it came back at 5346. Doubling time of 38.66!
  • 1/4/11 – First ultrasound – Discovers TWINS! Graduated to OB.
  • 3/30/11 – Ultrasound discovers twin girls!