On Weds, 29th April, we finally had our first proper IVF appointment. It was our first consultation with a wonderful Dr at our chosen clinic where we will have our NHS funded cycle.
I was pretty nervous beforehand.
We got ready… sort of… We are still in lockdown so our appointment was a virtual one, using a video call, so when I say ‘got ready’, what I really mean is we rolled out of bed and put some clothes on. No make up, hair not done, looking pretty scruffy as a couple and feeling a little fluttery in my stomach (nerves, not a baby kicking, obvs!).
The Dr was so sweet. She explained to begin with what our CCG had confirmed; we are eligible for 1 full round of IVF with 1 fresh embryo transfer, and if that doesn’t succeed, we are eligible for 1 frozen embryo transfer too. Thank you NHS!
Previous to this, we had to fill out a lot of forms online, including consent forms and watching videos about the consent and different types of treatment. So went through this all with us again and made sure we fully understood.
Due to our main issue with TTC being low morphology, it is likely we will have to have ICSI, a specific type of IVF where the individual eggs are injected with an individual sperm to fertilise, rather than the normal way where they egg and the sperm are put into a petri-dish to fertilise a little more naturally.
On the day of egg collection, they will examine the sperm to see whether we will need ICSI or the standard petri-dish procedure.
As we are still in lockdown, it could still be a long way off. The Dr explained that when fertility clinics are reopened, the clinic we are at will treat patients whose cycles were cancelled or postponed due to Covid-19 lockdown in the UK; totally understandable! As frustrating as more waiting is, I would genuinely feel awful if we ‘skipped the queue’ just because of when my menstrual cycle was!
But it seems that, once clinics open, we could (I say could very faintly as I don’t want to start believing it until I see it!) possibly begin treatment pretty quickly….
On Day 1 of my cycle (the day my period starts full flow…. nice), I have to email the nurses team at the clinic. They will get us in for 1 final blood test to check my ovarian reserve so that they know how high a dosage to give me. At this appointment, we will sign a few more pieces of paperwork and then we should be good to go.
It was unclear then if our IVF treatment will begin that cycle or we would have to wait another month, but I know that on day 21 of the chosen cycle, I will begin injections. After a few days – I think she said 10 days – I will go for some scans and then begin a different type of injection to start stimulating my ovaries. I’ll then have to go in every few days for them to keep an eye on how many follicles I have. When I have enough, we will have the trigger shot (this is what tells my ovaries to release the eggs). Roughly 36 hours later, we will go in for my egg retrieval and Pete will have to….well, you know what he will have to do…. so that they can then check the sperm. They will then perform either ICSI or mix the sperm and eggs in the dishes, and voila! Embabies will be made! Hopefully…..
All of this is what I think the Dr said. I could have misheard some of it.
But anyway, I feel hopeful. I feel excited. And I feel so very ready! Baby C, we are so ready for you, we are waiting with our arms open wide ready to hold you and kiss your sweet little forehead.
Let’s get this journey started.
When lockdown ends…
Journeying to Family 