When I wrote my July 1st post about our family’s decision to adopt embryos, it felt like such a long time until our scheduled transfer. Now that our transfer has come and gone, I am trying to apply this lesson of how quickly time passes to our current waiting situation.
We had three healthy embryos transferred on August 26th. Originally, we had asked the clinic to thaw one device with two embryos in it for transfer. All viable embryos are transferred at the Southeastern Fertility Clinic (which works with the National Embryo Donation Center). If an embryo is low viability, it is more likely to result in a miscarriage, though. Based on this information, we chose to have a second device that had only one embryo defrosted if one (or both) of the first two had low viability. This should have resulted in three embryos only if one or more was low viability. Therefore, were surprised when the doctor came in to tell us he had three healthy embryos. Evidently, when they defrosted the first device that was supposed to be holding two embryos, there was only one embryo in there. We only had one device with one embryo, all the rest had two in them. The clinic could have chosen to defrost the single embryo, but if it had been low viability, there would be nothing else we could do because all the rest are in pairs, and the clinic does not transfer four. They decided to defrost a pair instead, so we ended up with three healthy embryos!
The next step was to have my HCG tested. We did these tests on Thursday, September 4th and Monday, September 8th. I was told that the HCG level should double every seventy-two hours. Mine went up five times. This made me think that more than one of the embryos had implanted. However, when we talked to the doctor on the 9th, he said that he expects a singleton. I was disappointed and relieved all at the same time. I want more than one to survive, but I am also anxious about the prospect of having twins or triplets.
The next thing that will happen is an ultrasound on September 25th. This feels like forever away, but I’m trying to remind myself that it has been two and a half months since I wrote that first blog post. It seems just like yesterday! Please pray for us: for patience as we wait for our ultrasound and for surrender to God’s will when we do have the ultrasound, whatever that may be.
Mission Today 