Pre Frozen #2 Consultation

My appointment for a diagnostic ultrasound scan was at 9.50 am, followed by doctor's appointment in the afternoon. Actually, today's appointment was more of a miscarriage follow-up. But since the scan showed that all my old tissue is cleared from my womb and Dr Sadhana gave the green light to proceed with frozen cycle #2, I consider today's review as a pre-cycle consultation session too. I'm all good to go for a second ET.

The quiet Clinic D at 1.30 pm:

Panda Mating Season

Even Kai Kai and Jia Jia are doing IUI.

Jealousy vs Inspiration

Saw this on FB while on the way to work. Share it with the ladies in IVF WhatsApp Group. I felt jealous, because I just went through a miscarriage. Some of the ladies felt inspired by her.

I hope I can get lucky the next round.

The Miscarriage

Our happiness was very short-lived. Even before I could get scanned at week 6, I starting bleeding on day 6 after BT. DH had to rush me to KKH O&G 24-hour clinic. The doctor on duty did a scan and found my baby at an unfavourable low position in the uterus. He ordered a progesterone jab and sent me home. The bleeding stopped, but only for 2 days. When we visited KKH O&G 24-hour clinic the second time, our baby was gone. I cannot understand why all these happened when I had high beta-hCG reading and had no cramps or pain. There was no signs that a miscarriage was going to happen.

The problem with KKH is that we cannot make urgent appointments to see my doctor in-charge. So, between the two visits to KKH, we went to Gleneagles to see Dr Mary Yang, who is the partner doctor of Dr Lisa Chin (who happened to be on leave that day). She did a transvaginal ultrasound scan and pointed out to us that my baby's heartbeat can already be detected and seen on screen. On hindsight, I was really glad we made this visit; at least I got to "see" my baby for the first and last time and got a "picture" of it.



After the miscarriage, I stayed over at my parents' place for 1 week and did a mini confinement. My mum didn't let me drink plain water and only allowed me to shower with the herbal water twice. She made red date longan ginger tea for me to drink throughout the day. Oh man, how I hate ginger, but I just had to force myself to drink.

I still went for my doctor's appointment as scheduled at 2 weeks after BT on 1 April, except that the purpose was a different one. Dr Sadhana did a scan and put me on antibiotics for 1 week (to prevent infection) and norethisterone for 2 weeks. After I've finished my medications, AF is expected to return in 2 to 3 days' time. I am scheduled to go for another scan and review with Dr Sadhana at the end of the month.

Also, I went to see a TCM physician, a different one from the two that I've visited before. One of the ladies in the WhataApp chat group has been seeing Dr Lim. And she appeared in a TV show, in the episode that talked about confinement. She did the usual stuff (took medical history and took my pulse) and prescribed herbs (powder form) to help expel the old blood and tissue from my womb.

Dr Susan Lim Sor San (林素珊)
Time Enterprise TCM
12 Kallang Avenue #03-16
Aperia Singapore 339511
Tel: 6294 6880

Although Dr Sadhana (and any other Western doctors) would attribute my miscarriage to chromosomal abnormalities of the embryos, I tend to accept better the TCM's explanation that my body wasn't strong enough to support my baby(s). Dr Lim said that research has indicated that the most common reason for miscarriage is poor blood circulation. I just don't quite believe that both embryos, picked from among the 6 of them, have chromosome defects. Well, I could be wrong.

In the last week, every time I pick up my handphone, DH will give a disapproving look and order me to put it away. He even tried to hide the ultrasound scan photo from me. I guess he just wanted me to free my mind.

IVF Frozen #1 Day 31

I secretly used a HPT early in the morning before I head out for work yesterday. Looks like we can expect a BFP confirmation today!

Few days back, I actually tested with the Guardian HPT and there was only 1 line. Either the HPT is lousy or it was too early to test. Whatever the reason, it scared me to the point that I was Googling for 'early pregnancy symptoms' and reading almost every single website from the search result. I couldn't really focus on doing any work in the office. Seriously, early pregnancy symptoms is never ever conclusive nor helpful at all. I couldn't help it but let irrationalness overtake my mind.

This morning, DH and I made the trip to KKIVF and reached slightly after 8 am. I pressed the queue #3 button and waited for my turn. We didn't have to wait long. The nurse asked if I was feeling okay and proceed to draw my blood. She told us to expect the result in 3 hours.

Although tired (because we had to wake up early), we didn't go back home. We went for a good breakfast at Wild Honey located in Scotts Square and went window shopping to kill time while waiting for the result. Finally the phone call came. I nervously picked up the call and received a good news from the nurse! Happily, we went back to KKIVF.

This time, I pressed the #4 button for a queue number. The reception congratulated us and asked for my IC. Then, she gave me the prescription and forms for the next appointment in 2 weeks' time. We went to the pharmacy, collected and paid for the medications, then headed home.

Today's charges (including GST) paid by cash:

Beta-hCG blood test	$42.80
Medications	$156.97

I updated my close friends, the ladies in the IVF WhatsApp chat group and in the forum. With my beta-hCG at 2686.4 iu/L, some suggest that I could be carrying twins! Using the online pregnancy due date calculator, my estimated EDD (based on LMP) is 23 November.

Baby dust to everyone!

TWW Embryo Growth

Today is 2dp2dt. I took only 2 days HL and I'm back at work (because I have a meeting this afternoon). I wonder how's my babies are doing... keeping my fingers crossed that they are growing well. Anyway, I found several websites describing the day by day embryo development in utero. I have no idea how reliable they are, but it's nice to know what's going on inside. I couldn't find any on 2-day transfer, so I've made up my own.

0dp2dt	The 8-cell embryo is transferred
1dp2dt	The cells of the embryo continues to multiply
2dp2dt	The embryo continues to grow into a morula
3dp2dt	The cells of the morula continue to multiply, developing into a blastocyst
4dp2dt	The blastocyst begins to hatch out of its shell
5dp2dt	The blastocyst continues to hatch out of its shell and begins to attach itself to the uterus
6dp2dt	The blastocyst attaches deeper into the uterine lining, beginning implantation
7dp2dt	Implantation continues
8dp2dt	Implantation is complete, cells that will eventually become the placenta and fetal cells begin to develop
9dp2dt	Placenta cells begin to secret HCG in the blood
10dp2dt	More hCG is produced as fetus develops
11dp2dt	More hCG is produced as fetus develops
12dp2dt	Levels of hCG are now high enough to detect a pregnancy on HPT

References:

• http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/index.php?/topic/927508-timeline-of-what-happens-after-an-embryo-transfer/
• http://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums/ivf-icsi-discussion-299/embryo-implantation-timeline-your-thoughts-181436/
• http://withgreatexpectation.com/ivf/three-days-post-transfer-plus-whats-the-deal-with-pineapple/
• http://www.bubblesandbumps.com/what-happens-after-embryo-transfer-day-3-day-5-transfer-calendar/

Socks Buddy

One sister in our IVF WhatsApp chat group shared with us about the socks buddy system in the States. I did a quick search on Google and found this website. Why socks? "The reason it’s socks is because during egg retrieval and embryo transfer you can’t wear anything under your sexy gown except a bra/vest and a pair of socks so it’s nice to take a pair that will bring you a bit of luck and positivity."

Interesting.

IVF Frozen #1 Day 14

Today is ET day! My appointment was at 8 am. On the way there, I brought along warm water in my thermal flask and sip throughout the journey. We managed to reach KKIVF before 8 am, took our queue number and wait for reception to call. The nurse took my ET form and asked me if my bladder is full. After a brief wait, another nurse led us into the procedure room. After I got changed (just the bottom only) and once Dr Sadhana arrived in the room, the procedure begins. From the TV, we were shown our 2 embryos in a petri dish (I assume they are in a petri dish) before they were transferred into my womb.



Out of my 6 frozen embryos, these 2 were thawed. They survived and grew from 4-cells to 8-cells.

My 1st frozen cycle timeline:

CD1	Call KKIVF
CD4	Collect medication at KKH (can be done before CD4 too). 4 mg progynova daily for 5 days
CD9	6 mg progynova daily for 5 days
CD10	Visit KKIVF for scan. Uterine lining 8.1 mm
CD12	Crinone gel inserts twice daily until BT
CD14 / 0dp2dt	ET. 2 8-cells embryos transferred. TWW begins! 4 mg progynova daily until BT.
CD31 / 17dp2dt	BT

IVF Frozen #1 Day 10

Went for scan today. Uterine lining is 8.1 mm. Felt like I just scraped through an exam because lining must be at least 8 mm to proceed. ET scheduled on 1 March at 8 am!

Disappointed

I thought I could start my frozen cycle. But, no! AF came this morning and I called KKIVF. I was told that I have to wait for the next cycle, as I have missed the cut off date for ET because of CNY holidays! Now, I have to wait another month. So upset!