At the risk of boring all of you, I decided to post the pic of the three embryos that were transferred during our last IVF cycle.
Cody and I will find out if this was a successful transfer in a few weeks :). For now, here is a little bit of info about these little tiny embryos (no, we do not name them). This is what an embryo looks like three days after fertilization. A healthy embryo will have divided at least 8 times by day three. You want the cell divisions to be very clear and clean. That being said, the highest quality embryo is the one on the bottom right in the picture. Another part of the procedure that these embryos went through is what is called assisted hatching. The embryologists (yes, that is a real profession) use a machine that can calibrate a laser to just pierce the "shell" of the embryo. Assisted hatching is done to help the embryo conserve energy during the hatching process. I guess these little ones get tired easy. You can see where the laser cut through the embryos' shell really clearly on the bottom two, not so clearly on the top one. Anyways, the last of my biology lesson is that it takes a few days after the embryos are transferred for them to hatch, and then it takes a few more days for the embryo to implant itself in the wall of the uterus. So, hopefully at least one of these little ones will find their way. It was aggressive to transfer three embryos, and Cody being the worrier that he is, has been worried about how I would manage holding two babies at the same time. I assured him that it can be done. You have to love him for all of his worrying...the poor guy! Thanks to all of you for your thoughts, prayers, love and support through all of this.
Cody and I will find out if this was a successful transfer in a few weeks :). For now, here is a little bit of info about these little tiny embryos (no, we do not name them). This is what an embryo looks like three days after fertilization. A healthy embryo will have divided at least 8 times by day three. You want the cell divisions to be very clear and clean. That being said, the highest quality embryo is the one on the bottom right in the picture. Another part of the procedure that these embryos went through is what is called assisted hatching. The embryologists (yes, that is a real profession) use a machine that can calibrate a laser to just pierce the "shell" of the embryo. Assisted hatching is done to help the embryo conserve energy during the hatching process. I guess these little ones get tired easy. You can see where the laser cut through the embryos' shell really clearly on the bottom two, not so clearly on the top one. Anyways, the last of my biology lesson is that it takes a few days after the embryos are transferred for them to hatch, and then it takes a few more days for the embryo to implant itself in the wall of the uterus. So, hopefully at least one of these little ones will find their way. It was aggressive to transfer three embryos, and Cody being the worrier that he is, has been worried about how I would manage holding two babies at the same time. I assured him that it can be done. You have to love him for all of his worrying...the poor guy! Thanks to all of you for your thoughts, prayers, love and support through all of this. 
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ReplyDeleteI loved the biology lesson! I'm a research fanatic when it comes to the whole process of getting a baby here! I hope you DO get two babies, I'm sure it'll be a ton of work, but at the end of the day, what a great blessing! You know their grandmas will spoil them silly so why not? :)
ReplyDeletei LOVE them!!!! thanks for sharing....keeping my fingers, toes, and mustache crossed. i love you two to crumbs!
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