High HGC = Happy Pregnancy

Hopefully today will be my final HCG check🤞🏼!  I've had a total of three so far.  Saturday, was my 10dpt beta check at 146.8, Monday was 12dpt check at 408.4, and today needs to be at least 817.  As long as these number keep doubling, it means the pregnancy is doing well and embryo(s) are embedding nicely into my uterus ❤️🤞🏼

I arrived for my appointment s few minutes early, but ended up waiting for about 20 minutes before they called me back.  It was a different phlebotomist than the most recent two...it was the gal that gave me huge bruises last month😣.  Bumma!  I was not optimistic that having either of my arms stabbed for the second time in a few days was not gonna leave a mark😜😂.  She did not disappoint😐.

My lovely blood donating souvenirs😂

Today was no different than either of the last two, other than this time, I didn't contact their office first.  Around 4pm, I got a phone call, the nurse on the line said she had good news, my HCG level jumped to 982.7 and that my numbers are looking great!  She said since these numbers have been continuing to more than double, they are going to discontinue HCG checks 🥳😅

Next step in the process will be an ultrasound, which she scheduled, for next Wednesday, which will be my 5 week, 5 day mark!  (Only a week away from finding out how many little ones I'm hosting!)

She asked if I had any questions and I told her that my primary questions were related to what the next steps were.  Will there be more ultrasounds?  Does my medication protocol change at all?  When will I need to look for an OB?

She relayed that my medication protocol will stay the same: levothyroxine, estrogen, and PIO shots until 12 weeks of gestation.  Basically my entire first trimester.

There would be one more ultrasound, after next weeks ultrasound. Typically taken at 7 weeks, 5 days and once that's completed, I basically graduate to a regular OB.  She said most women have their own OBs by 8 weeks!  (Holy smokes time flies!  That's in 3 weeks😮😁!) I thanked her for the updates and immediately shared the results with my husband and my sister and brother in law.

We are relieved and excited that the pregnancy is going well so far❤️🙏🏼🥰 and looking forward to finding out how many little ones are in there😜🥰🥳!  

On a personal note, I'm feeling pretty good in general!  Not super nauseated... mostly still just food aversions.  My "NO" foods have increased to include:  fries, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, potato chips, buttered popcorn, and sometimes chocolate 🤷🏼‍♀️🥲.  So, not horrible.  My love of pizza, sandwiches, and Mexican food have all remained in tact and the same so far ❤️🥰.  

The biggest win is I've not had any more headaches since the first few days! 🥳. So praying that continues!🙏🏼🤞🏼

Well I'm 4 weeks, 5 days and this week the embryo(s) are the size of a poppy seed.  In a few days it/they will be the size of a sesame seed!  How's that for growth😁🥳

Size of growth between 4weeks and 5weeks

Post Transfer and Trip

After the transfer on Wednesday, I relaxed and finished some work from home (sitting at a desk) and prepared for our quick trip to Southern Utah.  

Thursday morning I woke up feeling a little achy and sore...primarily my pubic bone from having the ultrasound sound jammed into it for about 5 -10 minutes straight during the transfer.  Nothing much different than my last transfer in June.👍🏼

We ate breakfast and began on our 6.5 hour drive.  About an hour and a half in to the trip, I began getting a headache.  (I'm no stranger to migraines... unfortunately) Since I could be pregnant or becoming so very soon, the difference with this headache was I couldn't take anything for it.   Yuck!

My headaches typically turn from bad to worse if I don't intervene with some type of medication, (typically Excedrin) fast.  So I kept drinking water and tried to doze off and on (as comfortable as you can get in the passenger seat of a car)...without much help.  In true fashion it continued to get worse.  By the time we reached our destination...I felt so nauseous (headaches make me feel this way often) it took all I had to go to the pre-wedding festivities, we had traveled for! 😣

Luckily, I was able to lay down in the hotel bed for a few minutes before hopping back in the car and listening to several calming songs from M83 while enjoying the beautiful Utah scenery.  Although food sounded absolutely disgusting, it was one of those Cafe Rio style dinners (which I normally enjoy) so I made myself a small bowl of salad, skipping the rice and beans...and it actually hit the spot!  So glad.  It took the edge off and I was able to enjoy my time with our family and friends❤️

Friday morning was the wedding and although I don't remember having the headache in my sleep...I definitely woke up with one.  Womp, womp.  I was so bummed because last time I had the transfer, I didn't have any headaches until a week or so later.  

St. George Pizza Factory breadsticks 

My son and I... All dressed up❤️

We had some breakfast (an egg sandwich and hot cocoa) and I will say...while eating the egg sandwich, I started to notice some smells around and maybe from the sandwich ... I won't go into detail ..but started thinking that my "supersonic sniffer" was back in action.  IYKYK?!

The wedding was beautiful, it was in the Cedar City Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Temple, which was the perfect place for me to completely relax and enjoy the peaceful environment.  My headache seemed to subside while inside, (yay) so Phil and I ventured out and grabbed a bite at St. George Pizza Factory"...which should not be confused with the Arizona and California Pizza Factories!  Haha much different and we didn't enjoy the experience, but hey we got out and I ate some more salad 🤣👍🏼. Of course we had to balance our meh meal with something we knew would be great, so it was Subzero Ice Cream for the win!  Rocky Road of course is the way to go😘😊

After salad, breadsticks, and ice cream we hit the hotel and napped hard for about two whole hours before the reception which was being held in Pine Valley (another drive).  The reception was beautiful, the couple is adorable, and our friends are the best!

Saturday morning I wake up without a headache!  Woo hoo!  It's also a travel day home, so it was definitely a win for me 😃

I never get car sick and about halfway through the drive I began to get really nauseous and a headache started coming back ..but almost off and on.  I never get headaches off and on like that, so it made me think I might need a neck adjustment (dad needs to come for a visit 😘)?!

Anyway we arrived home, the headache didn't really get worse and let me tell you...this in and of itself is a huge miracle!  As long as I can remember, I've suffered from migraines...but they have particularly gotten worse after a car accident I was in, back in 2014.  My headaches all turn to migraines and they can last for days if I don't immediately take medication.  I can't remember the last time a headache ever went away, without taking medication?!  (Even if I go to sleep...I will wake up with it if I don't take medicine!) So miracles for the win!

Sunday, I just felt blah.  Don't know how else to explain it.  Wasn't really hungry, didn't have a headache (YAY) but just didn't feel good.  Almost like I was a little car sick still.  Weird.  It's too soon to be having symptoms, if I was pregnant... right?

My sister shared the embryo pictures (shared below) that were implanted with me and the differences between the last ones and these ones were huge!  It appears that both of these embryos were hatching already!  So with this knowledge...they could have implanted right away.  Typically, after transfer, they say it takes 24-72 hours for the embryo(s) to attach to the uterine wall.  There's a sheath that they need to shed before they can attach...which can take a bit to lose.  The embryos that were implanted in me were both considered 5 day embryos, which means they were grown for 5-8 days in a specialized, state of the art laboratory, then frozen, 6 or 7 years ago, before being thawed and transferred to me on Wednesday.  Isn't that amazing??  It's truly a miracle that any of this can even happen!! 🙏🏼💖

Embryos transferred 6/19/23

Embryos transferred 9/13/23

See how you can see them coming out of their shell or sheath?? So amazing!

So I'm off to buy some pregnancy tests...wish me luck🍀🤞🏼! It's still very early at 4 days post transfer, 5 day embryo aka "4dp5t" but let's see what happens 😊. 🙏🏼❤️