IVF Questions

Yesterday, dh and I had our IVF consult with our RE to go over all the steps.  I have just a few questions for those of you who have done IVF. 

I have seen posts where some of your RE's do a mock transfer.  My RE didn't say anything about doing one.  Is it normal to have one done or is just more of a preference with your RE?

If you work, how long did you take off for your retrieval and transfer?  I know my paperwork says to take it easy after each but I just want to make plans and let my boss know what to expect if it falls on a weekday. 

Did any of you do acupuncture?  I am undecided.  My RE said at their practice, they have not seen a difference in success rate of those who do it and those who don't.

Thanks in advance!  I am scared to death to start this process in a about a week or so, just waiting on AF. 

Male Factor Infertility Sucks!!!! 

Anita C

I have not done IVF just three rounds of IUI. I was on clomid, injections, and trigger shots and the injections sucked!! I was emotional and hateful.

I just wanted to wish you all the luck in the world. You will be in my thoughts! If you just need to talk, feel free to PM me!!

Traci

It's normal to have a mock transfer done.  The RE needs to know where to place the catheter for the actual transfer, hence the reason for the mock transfer.  Just call your IVF nurse coordinator and she/he should be able to answer if that's a part of the protocol.   Normally they will do it the month before you start your meds.  

I don't work, but obviously with this second time around I had two kids to take care of so taking it easy wasn't as much of an option as it was the first time around.   Both times, I was on at least 2 days of strict bed rest.  Then it was no heavy lifting or strenuous activities for 2 weeks.   So if you have the transfer on Monday you should be good to go back to work on Wednesday or Thursday. 

Oh and I did not do acupuncture. 

Good luck!  

One more thing.  Don't forget your husband in this process.   My husband feels extremely guilty that the reason I had to go through IVF is because of him.  He may not be getting shots and all the invasive testing, but he certainly feels just as much heartache through the process of dealing with infertility.  

Thanks Tracy for the encouragement! 

Julie, I will certainly ask my nurse coordinator about the mock transfer.  I want to be sure to do all possible for this to be a success.  My DH feels so guilty that I have to go through all this.  I keep telling him that we are in this together and we just want a baby, no matter what it takes.  I think this was also a major blow to his manhood.  He may be taking all of this worse than me, if that is possible. 

Hi Anita--

I am currently 16.5 weeks along with my first baby, after our first attempt at IVF was a success. In my case, I did not have a mock transfer. A good friend of mine is also pregnant with her first baby after her first attempt at IVF...and she did not have a transfer. She and I have very different medical histories/reasons for IVF and used different clinics. Based on what I've researched online and experienced...it seems different clinics have different protocols.

Best of luck to you Anita!

--Paula

I think Julie and I see the same RE so our answers may be similar.  A mock transfer is normal for my RE, so he knows which size catheter to use and where the best placement for the embryos is in the uterus.  It’s done at least one month before the transfer on day 5-11 (I think) of your cycle.

 

The retrieval requires one day (and I was pretty out of it; I don’t remember the retrieval or anything for a few hours after it).  I was on strict bed rest for two days (on my back, only getting up to go to the bathroom) and then two more days of limited bed rest (resting on my side, okay to shower—finally!—fix something to eat, etc.).  Activities until the pregnancy test were easy and limited.  I have the problem, not my husband, so maybe I had more restrictions.

 

Again, because it was my problem, I did acupuncture—figured it couldn’t hurt and she was experienced with treating infertility, which is very important.  She focused on my ovaries and uterus.  I only went twice a week for six weeks before the retrieval and transfer because it’s expensive and insurance doesn’t pay for it but Unreimbursed Medical does.

 

Every clinic likely has different procedures but I imagine results are similar.  Best of luck!

Anita,

I don't know if my RE did a mock transfer so to speak but he did do on the day of my consult and Ultrasound to check things out and inserted a catheter with the ultrasound which is exactly how they did it for the transfer.

I am probably the worst person here to be responding to this because everything that never USUALLY happens during an IVF cycle happened to me!

So our issue was male infertility.  Fine...no big deal!  Could have been anyone right!
Well, started all my meds, injections, etc...everything was going according to the book!  Did my trigger shot and then went the next day for my levels and it was high enough so they made me immediately do another trigger.  Okay fine what is one more needle at this point. 

Retrieval when great....20 eggs.  19 fertilized with ICIS and 18 made it to day 5.  Day of the transfer was a piece of cake.  Had my acupuncture done before and after the transfer.  Docotor said he wished he could transfer the quality of embryos that I had into everyone. 

Well then BAM.....4 days later I though that I was going to die.  Over the next 3 days I had gained about 15 pounds in 3 days and I looked like I was 8 months pregnant.  I was severely over stimulated.  I had to have a culdocentisis done twice.  This is where thru ultrasound they insert a needle into your va jay jay up into the cul-de-sac and withdraw the built up fluid.  They took out 6 liters!!!!!  Had to have it done again 2 days after the first one!!!  At this point the fluid continued to build up and they told me that since I was pregnant ....YIPPIE....they wouldn't do it again because they didn't want to disturb the environment.  They said that my body would absorb the fluid on its own but that it would take a while.  Talk about pure misery.  It eventually did after about 10 days.  THIS ONLY HAPPENS TO ABOUT 1% OF PATIENTS!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok so now its time for my ultrasound to see how many of the 2 embryos took.  The doc told me that there was 1 sac for sure but maybe two.  I think he was just saying that because all along we kept saying we are having twins.  then went back a few days later for another US and there where 2 sacs!!..Then went back a week after that to see heartbeats and there where 3!!  Yes one of the embryos split.  AGAIN HAPPENS TO 1% OF PATIENTS!!!!!

So I am 21 weeks along now and the babies seem to be doing well.  2 identical boys and one girl.  They boys are weighing in at 1lb 2 oz and 1lb 1oz and the girl is 1 lb 2 oz as of yesterday.

Oh back to the acupuncture.....my RE advised on having it but it was not mandatory.  As far as being out of work....for the retrieval just that day and take it easy the next day.  For the transfer take it easy for a few days no lifting, no working out etc.

I hope I didn't scare you with my story....Please let me know if you have any questions.  And great luck to you on your IVF journey.

Carroll

Thanks so much everyone!  I am a lurker most of the time but I have followed all of your IVF journeys. When my dr told me about over stimulation and that I could possibly gain 10-15 lbs of water weight but that it was rare, I immediately thought of you Carroll.  I remember your posts of how miserable you were. The bright side is you are getting 3 babies out of this.  I am secretly hoping for twins but I will be just as happy with one.  My preacher has been teasing us that he hopes we have so many we get our own TLC show.    I tried to explain to him that we are not going to Octomom's RE.  2 embies is the max.

Thanks again everyone!!!!

Anita C

he he he  two can get you four.......