Ultrasound Day!

Today is my 5 week, 5 day ultrasound appointment.  This is the first day since the transfer that we will be taking a glimpse to see the progress of the two embryos that were transferred on September 13th.  

Up to this point, we know we transfered two embryos and 5 days later I began testing positive on home pregnancy tests.  10 days later my HCG was recorded for 6 days and confirmed not only that I was pregnant, but that my levels were increasing very nicely and the nursing staff let me know these levels were a very positive sign of a healthy pregnancy.❤️

5 weeks, 5 days
(What to Expect When You're Expecting App)

The size of the embryo this week is the size of an orange seed...so we are still talking about something really small and still really early as far as pregnancy stages.  I mean...with all of my previous pregnancies I would barely be realizing that I was pregnant...let alone getting an ultrasound done!  Science and medicine and the progress that has been made is truly miraculous!  

So naturally I have this hope that both have implanted and today we will see two babies growing...but reality says there's a good chance that only one has taken hold.  There's also only about a 50% chance that we will be able to see a beating heart this early on an ultrasound.

My mind is racing with all the possibilities 🤣.  Is it one? If so, which one implanted?  Was it the girl or the boy?  If it's two, was it the two that were transferred or was it one that split?  So instead of being two fraternal twins, could it be two identical twins instead? Hahaha...we won't even go into the possibility of there being more than 2, because that's too much to wrap my head around🤯!

Okay so the time has come...we all arrive separately, but pretty much at the same time, a few minutes before my appointment.  My sister brought me some healthy juices tied with an optimistic pink and blue ribbon🩷💙!

A few minutes before the ultrasound

My name is called and my entourage and I all stand up and follow her to the back.  She shows me to my little ultrasound room and tells me to undress from the waist down. (I'm very familiar with this drill...just never have had an audience before.) So I turn to the group and say stay out here, I'll call ya when I'm ready.

I came prepared, wearing a dress so it helped me to A. Get undressed quickly (only my underwear had to go) and B. Remain decent on the back end, since I would have an audience behind me in this tiny little space!  The dress kinda pooled around me on the table, which was nice because the thin little napkin that was supposed to cover me, didn't like to stay closed in the back 🥴.

I let the group know that I was decent and they are welcomed to make their way in and find a space where they can see the screen and avoid seeing my personal bits.🫣

My husband is right behind me closest to the table I'm sitting on and my sister and her husband are to my right right next to a sink and chair.  It's a tiny space so very cozy.

The NP comes in and her eyes suddenly open wide, clearly shocked to see so many people, looks at me and asks me to share who I brought today.  (I think at this point, she must have forgotten that I'm a GC) So I start by saying these are the intended parents, my sister and her husband and then she remembers and immediately starts saying that's right, you're doing this special thing for your sister!  Well in the chaos, I fail to introduce my husband so then he says, Hi I'm Phil.  I suddenly turn around and say yes, my husband, is here also!  (Sorry babe)😜.  I think I kinda assumed she knew who my husband was, but I guess he doesn't come usually either🤷🏼‍♀️😜.  So now introductions are done...she understands why there's a need for an audience...and is ready to begin the ultrasound.  

I scoot down to the very end of the table...and she inserts the ultrasound "wand".  Almost immediately we see a little black hole with a flickering circle inside and she says we have one...with a strong little heartbeat!  Wow this early, that's a great sign!  Then she says lets look to see if we have...suddenly we see another black hole with a round circle and she says we have another!  We don't immediately see flickering like the other, but she doesn't zoom in right away. Instead moves back to the other, now named "Baby A" and begins taking measurements.  She let us know that she was able to see a yoke sac in both and even though it was quick, she was able to see the blood supply to the womb on both also, which means they are both developing and on track!  As she was taking measurements of Baby A..she said it looks strong and everything looks great!  

Baby A

Before moving to Baby B she lets us know that it's very common not to see a heart beat at this age, so if we don't see one with Baby B, she's not going to be worried at all.  As she starts to move around to look for Baby B, we see another smaller fluid filled round area and ask if that's another?!

She explains that it's not another baby, but a small bleed from implantation, which is very common with IVF.  She said, it's small, so she's not worried about it at all.  (Okay that's reassuring)

On our quest to look for Baby B, which seems a lot harder to find, she explains that Baby A is placed anterior, which is on top and that's why it's so easy to see.  Baby B, which she now has on the screen, is posterior, lying behind a lot of my arteries, so that's why it's a little harder to find right now.  As she zooms in, we all see a little flicker!  So both have heart beats and she begins taking measurements of Baby B and is just as happy as she was with Baby A.  She gives us all a very happy congratulations and tells us this pregnancy looks great, both look great and she will schedule another ultrasound in 2 weeks to take more measurements when babies have had a little more time to develop and grow ❤️❤️🥳!

Baby B

Baby A and Baby B

All four of us, super excited that both are doing well 🩷💙