Fertility treatments are hard. Whether you have one loss, several losses, struggling to conceive, or carrying for someone else- it definitely takes a tool on your mind, body, and soul. My number one piece of advice? Advocate for yourself. Do your research, and question everything. It is okay to speak with multiple doctors, to ask a million questions, and to want them to elaborate on things. We have seen 2 OBGYN’s, a functional fertility doctor, and 2 fertility specialists.
We are about to transfer our second frozen embryo on February 13th, 2024. While our first transfer DID stick, it unfortunately ended in an early loss.
After spending the summer meeting with a functional fertility doctor, getting a second opinion from another Reproductive Endocrinologist, and have many labs ran to ensure we have a solid understanding of what could be addressed this round, we feel very confident moving forward with this embryo transfer.
One thing I am trying to be more mindful of is comparison. While the internet can be full of good advice, it can also be really easy to compare stories and forget that everyone is a little bit different. Don’t fall into the mindless scrolling that can just end up peaking unnecessary anxiety. There are many helpful facebook pages, but I tend to use them only to search specific questions now, rather than investing in everyone’s stories.
Anyways- If you are new to the IVF world, I hope you find this information useful!
FYI: Some links may be commissionable (at no additional cost to you.) However, some products I just genuinely love and feel like I have to share! If you support me at all by clicking my affiliate links, thank you- It really means a lot! 
Acronyms To Know:
BETA- HCG Pregnancy Test
BFP- Big Fat Positive
BFN- Big Fat Negative
CD- Cycle Day
CM- Cervical Muscus
DE- Donor Eggs
DPO- Days Past Ovulation
DPR- Days Post Retrival
DPT- Days Post Transfer
DP3DT- Days Post 3 Day Transfer
ENDO- Endometriosis
ER- Egg Retrival
ET- Embryo Transfer
FET- Frozen Embryo Transfer
FSH- Follicle Stimulating Hormone
HCG- Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
HSC- Hysteroscopy
HSG- Hysterosalpinopram
IUI- IntraUterine Insemination
ICIS- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
IVF- InVitro Fertilization
LMP- Last Menstrual Period
OHSS- Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
P4 (prog)- Progesterone
PCOS- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
PUPO- Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise
PIO- Progesterone In Oil
RE- Reproductive Endocrinologist
SA- Semen Analysis
SubQ- Subcutaneous Injection
TWW- Two Week Wait
TTC- Trying to Conceive
US- Ultrasound
Useful Items:
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- Calendar
- Planner
- Journal
- Med organizer
- Ice Pack
- Bandaids
- Heating Pad
- Massage Gun
- Numbing Cream
- Auto-injector
- Cozy pjs
- Warm Socks
- Cute shirt/sweatshirt
- Good books
- Cozy blanket
- A supportive circle
What we’ve learned so far:
Organization– Stay organized! I keep all of my supplies in this organizer, and separate my oral medications in this pill organizer. I also keep notes in my phone, write instructions in my planner, set alarms for everything (it’s all time sensitive!) and have a calendar notification every time a medicine or dose changes.
Routine– come up with what works best for you and your partner! My husband administers my shots each day, so we get them done right before his morning meetings start for work, and I have alarms throughout the day for any other medications I need to be taking. Do your best to keep the normalcy in your life- so if walking your dogs, going to work, date nights, etc fit into a daily routine- keep them! There’s already enough change going on.
Lay down for shots if needed! I was a huge wimp for my first 2 retrievals, and even my 1st transfer. I would lay down for my shots, because I would over think them and get light headed.
DO NOT ice before your PIO shot! Okay, I’ll admit that this one always freaked me out. The needle looked huge, the oil is thick, it goes in your “love handle” region.. y’all, it’s not bad. At all. I used to ice before, lay down, use an auto injector ( not really necessary in my opinion) then afterwards heat it with a heating pad and use a massage gun to ensure the oil distributes. When I started my shots this time, I happened to be at the clinic when it needed to be administered, so the nurse did it for me. No ice, no injector, just me and the needle. It was SO easy!!!! I swear I did not even feel it. I just warmed it up in my hands for a minute, leaned over the counter, put my weight on the opposite leg, and she stuck it in. When I got home I still massaged it.
So my tried and true routine now is:
- Load the needle
- Warm it in a heating pad for a minute or two to thin the oil (or in your bra, armpit, inside elbow, etc)
- Take it out, give it a few flicks and a little teeny push to get rid of any air bubbles
- Lean on counter, weight on opposite leg, and continue to breath as it goes in
- Heat and massage for a few minutes, then rub the area a few times during the day and heat one more time before bed
Expect to be tired! You are being pumped full of hormones. It’s okay to rest!!
Keep moving (gently) *stay busy* Like I said before, stay busy to keep your mind occupied, but in a low stress kind of way. Hang with friends, go on dates, shop, whatever makes you happy. Low intensity exercise was highly encouraged by my doctor. I have been doing 10,000 steps a day, with some pilates, yoga, or stretching mixed in.
Rough Timeline Estimate:
Genetic Testing: PGT-A and PGT-SR takes around 2-4 weeks.
FET: 01/2 LMP 1/3 start bc 1/15 start shots 1/19 stop bc 1/24 baseline labs, 2 lining checks, 2/13 transfer 2/22 hcg check.. So it was about 6 weeks from the date I started prepping for my transfer to actually transferring our embryo.
TWW: 9 days later we will go in to have bloodwork done to check my HCG levels and find out if our little embaby stuck!
Retire from FT: around 8-10 weeks after the positive HCG check.
What to expect day of:
Wake up and shower- use unscented soap and unscented deodorant (or skip until post transfer) eat a healthy breakfast, and drink a bottle of water on the way to your clinic. Advice: Drink a regular sized water, not an XL bottle like me! My bladder was literally so full that they made me slowly release my bladder- I had to go to the bathroom twice and was instructed to just barely let a little out- let me tell you… that’s stressful! I was sooo afraid I was going to accidentally fully release!
Sometimes you have to wait a bit before you transfer, so be prepared to chat with your partner, or it wouldn’t hurt to bring a book to read while you wait! I had 2 acupuncture appointments this day, one right before, and one right after. After my first appointment, we went straight to the clinic and they took me to my prep room. The sweetest nurse ever gave me an IV, and about 30-45 minutes later, they took me back to the procedure room. The embryologist asked us to confirm our identities, and after the full bladder debacle, we were set to go! We were able to watch the whole thing on the ultrasound screen, and it was such a cool (quick) experience! Afterwards, they brought me back to the room to rest for about 30 minutes, then we were released to go home. We grabbed our McDonalds fries on the way home, then we went home and watched some funny movies, walked our dogs, and relaxed for the rest of the day! Overall, it was a wonderful experience.
Symptoms you *may* experience afterwards:
- Light bleeding or spotting. This could indicate successful implantation. It could also be in response to hormone medications, or even be an early sign of transfer failure.
- Cramping. This can occur immediately following any pelvic procedure. It can be an early sign of a successful transfer or an unsuccessful one.
- Tender breasts. This is one of the early signs of pregnancy but can also be a side effect of hormone medication.
- Fatigue. Feeling tired and fatigued may begin on day one after your FET. Fatigue will hit most around the time your period is due.
- Nausea. This usually starts in the second month of pregnancy, so discuss it with your doctor if it comes calling following your FET.
- Constipation. An increase in progesterone levels can leave you feeling bloated and facing a case of constipation. This can happen if you’re pregnant, taking progesterone, or about to start your period.
Wives Tales/Lucky Superstitions:
McDonalds Fries
Laugh! Nothing makes you feel better than smiling and laughing, so I asked my facebook friends for all their favorite comedy recs to watch during our tww.
Pineapple Core- The core contains bromelain, which has a protein-digesting enzyme that supposedly can help thicken the lining and be a mild blood thinner to help blood flow to the area.
Affirmations:
- My transfer is bringing me one step closer to meeting my baby.
- My body is ready to receive my embryo and provide a warm home for it to grow
- I trust my body, and accept that it knows what is happening.
- My uterine lining is perfect, warm, nourishing, and welcoming.
- Whatever the outcome, I will survive.
- I prepare each day for a new life to begin inside me.
- We are well prepared for the conception of a child.
- Everything will work out perfectly for us.
- I surrender my body to this task.
- I breathe in peace and breathe out anxiety.
If you are navigating your fertility journey, I wish you the best of luck and I am sending all the prayers, well wishes, good vibes, and baby dust your way! 
