My Frozen Embryo IVF Transfer Experience
It’s transfer day! After almost a year with our clinic, I can’t believe we’re finally here. I have a lot to be anxious about (Will our embryo survive the thaw? Will it stick? Will this work?), but I have so much to be excited about too. We made it this far! We’ve got a strong, genetically tested, healthy embryo and this could very well be our chance at a real family. For those curious, yes, we could have found out the gender since we had the embryo tested, but we asked our doctor to keep it a secret. We debated for a while, but at the end of the day, chose not to find out in order to somewhat distance ourselves from the picture of what our future could be in case our transfer fails or ends in an early miscarriage.
I had one final blood draw and ultrasound the day before transfer to make sure my uterine lining was ready. Everything looked great, so my nurse called me later that afternoon with instructions for my transfer. I was told to avoid scented products and arrive at the clinic the next day with a comfortably full bladder. Too many women wind up drinking to the point of bursting, so thankfully, my nurse gave me the best tip. She told me to relieve myself immediately after checking in and then drink during the hour leading up to the procedure. I ended up having 3.5 bottles of water. I wasn’t bursting and my doctor said my bladder looked perfect.
An embryo transfer is minimally invasive, quick, and requires just a catheter to inject the embryo into your uterus, but based on my traumatic IUI experience, I asked my doctor to prescribe me valium. A lot of doctors actually recommend valium anyway because it helps relax your uterus since you don’t want it to contract during the procedure.
After checking in, the receptionist led me to the changing room where I was given the standard two gowns, hair net, and socks. I was then led to a little exam room across the hall. A nurse eventually joined me, watched me take the valium, went over my discharge papers, and gave me some paperwork to fill out. At 2:30pm, my doctor brought me back to the same room I had my retrieval and a nurse told me to lie down on the table where my legs were lifted into elevated stirrups.
The embryologist came in next to confirm my information and tell me our embryo had thawed perfectly (!!!!). He instructed me to watch the screen to my right if I wanted to see him load the embryo into the catheter while a nurse checked my bladder with an ultrasound (my first external one! lol). My doctor then cleaned my cervix, inserted the catheter, and used the ultrasound to find the best spot to place the embryo. I kept my eyes on the screen the entire time, completely in awe that I was watching myself become pregnant. I started involuntarily shaking (nerves? the cold?), so another nurse covered me in a blanket and told me I needed to relax my muscles.
The procedure was super quick, but I wasn’t allowed to move until the embryologist checked the catheter under a microscope and confirmed the embryo was not still there. When I was cleared to go, a nurse rolled a bed directly next to me and had me hop over. Someone then handed me a picture of our beautiful little embryo and I was wheeled to the recovery room to lie down for 10 minutes.
It was such a surreal moment. I was so sad my husband couldn't be there due to Covid restrictions, even though he’s fully vaccinated, but I texted him a photo of our embaby immediately after and met him in the car about 15 minutes later. We spent a good 5 minutes just staring at our baby’s first photo and you bet we went out for fries next. It’s tradition. :)
I am officially PUPO, pregnant until proven otherwise. Let the torturous two week wait begin where we just have to pray this works. Stick, baby, stick!
Fun fact: When you transfer a 5 day old frozen embryo, you walk into the clinic not pregnant and walk out 2 weeks and 5 days. How wild?
xx Esther
