Background
When Erik and I went through IVF in 2006, we were blessed to have 6 viable embryos to transfer. Embryos are graded (sort of like diamonds). At our clinic the embryos are graded with alphabet letters . . . 'A' is perfect. Our embryos were graded 'B's. After two were transferred to me, we had decided to cryofreeze the others for future IVF opportunities. Luckily, one of the two transferred embryos hung around, and we were blessed with Everett.
Cryofrozen Han Solo Babies
We have four frozen embryos. Not just eggs, actually fertilized embryos. They are in the blastocyst stage (Day 5). Under the recommendation of our doctor, we are going to transfer two embryos again. The clinic is very conservative in preferring not to overload the patient and drastically increase the chances of a multiple pregnancy.
What I mean is, this clinic doesn't just get ladies pregnant by any aggressive means possible. This clinic doesn't just pump you full of fertilized embryos and "graduate" you to the OB to carry quadruplets in order to justify their success rates of assisting couples in getting pregnant. Their goal is to help you get pregnant and prepare you for a full-term baby. This is the reason they are transferring two embryos instead of all four at once. I think of it as responsible reproductive science.
The current success rate for successful thaw of the embryos is 90%. The lab will only thaw up to two viable embryos. Hopefully, it won't take all four embryos to get to two viable ones for transfer.
Now, there is a chance that none will thaw successfully. We are prepared for that.
The Transfer
On Sunday or Monday, the lab will call us with the time of the transfer. The transfer itself is oddly anti-climatic. You go in with a semi-full bladder. Lay on that dang uncomfortable table with stirrups until the doctor comes in with the lab scientists. They go through all the security questions.
Then they insert a catheter into the uterus. You watch the sonogram screen like a hawk because when they flush the embryos through the catheter there is a brief white flash. Then the embryos are free to roam and implant.
You then get to wait a bit more on the table. The staff verifies that the embryos were not left in the catheter. You try to make as many jokes as possible with those around you.
They discharge you. You go home, bedrest for 24 hours, and wait.
But Wait: Where Do They Keep the Frozen Embryos?
Our embryos reside in a facility in Maryland, and extensive security protocols are used to protect the embryos and us. There were several paper forms that we filled out and notarized at the beginning of all this to determine what would happen to the embryos if we died, one of us died, we got divorced, etc. We pay for storage every year for our cryofrozen Han Solo babies. I imagine that their little tubes are surrounded with state of the art security, walls adorned with masterful works of art, and air filled with the music of brilliance at a temperature of lovely chilly cold to keep them safe.
WAIT! You Could Have Twins?
Yes. They will be transferring two embryos. There is a possibility that both embryos will implant and develop into two living, breathing babies. Since they are 'B' grade embryos, chances are less than if they were 'A' grade embryos.
Are we ready for twins? Is anybody ready to parent twins? I don't know. Whatever the outcome is, if we are blessed with one baby or two babies from this, we will be thrilled-- absolutely, positively most excitedly thrilled.
Grading Embryos: See here and hereMore on FET
