The Westbrooks of Charlotte NC

Life According to Astrid / into the world of IVF

So after going to the gym last Thursday I stopped at the local grocery store.  I called Zac to see if he needed anything.  Astrid, my 23 month old, answered the phone.  ”Hi Mama!”  Zac puts it on speak phone and says hey.  I asked him if he needed anything from the store so he says “I don’t know, Astrid do we need anything from the store?”  Astrid says “uh huh, a baby!”  We both laughed and I said “honey I don’t think they have babies at the store.  Is there anything else you need?”  She says “um ya a baby” then proceeded to tell me she loved me.  I came home sans baby, but this was such an ironic request since my husband and I are starting another invitro process to have another baby.  This will be my third go round, as it took two rounds to conceive my sweet baby Astrid.

The first process in IVF happens when Aunt Flo comes to visit.  So on 10/6/10 I went into the ivf office.  They did an internal sonogram to make sure my ovaries were cyst free.   I equate the feeling of an internal sonogram to a hint of bloating and like you are going to poop or rip the worst fart of your life; all while your girlie bits are right in front of your doc’s face.  Seriously.  Yes, like you would poop/fart all over your dr.  No kidding folks.   But don’t be scared away just yet.  That is such a small part of the process and the joy of a baby outweighs the small percentage of time you have that feeling.  At least this is all done in the dark, so it makes it less invading.  All was well!  NO cysts on my ovaries!  Next step start birth control pills that night to make sure no cysts invade my ovaries.  No sinking my battleship!

My last appointment was on the 10/18/10.  Another internal sonogram was performed, yes I’m the shizz– cyst free.  I also had another procedure done.  It is basically like an internal sonogram, but will rushing water to make sure there are no polyps either.  I’m in the clear.  Got my invitro meds ordered and instructions on when to start my shots.

Today was the big day!  First shot of Lupron.  Lupron is used to aid in in prevention of hyperstimulation and to suppress  spontaneous ovulation.  I started getting hyperstimulation the first round, but the round was not successful so it went away.  I had hyperstimulation the second time when I was pregnant, which I can only equate to worse than death.  I had a bit of a meltdown since I wasn’t sure which line on the piping in the syringe that I needed to use as a marking basis for the measurement.  After dragging Zac out of bed and reading instructions I figured it out.  With a swipe of alcohol, here we go!  First try- needle did not want to go in!  Second try- a little rough but finally got it.  Swiped with alcohol again to clean up the blood and off we go.  I immediately got a raised itchy bump at the injection site, which I knew would happen from my second round.  Luckily, I still have some beauticontrol corticure cream to combat the itches.  Not so bad…

I am hoping for this best in this process, but a bit numb and not trying to be excited.  I remember the excitement I had the first round only to be devastated when it didn’t work.  All in all, no matter what happens, I have my sweet baby girl Astrid.  So if I am not able to have any more I will be ok, but still would nice to have another.  :)

I am attempting to blog my way through this in hopes that I can finish my IVF book that I started writing last procedure.  My thoughts are if I can be open about this process, maybe I can help someone else who is in the same predicament.  Or maybe even give someone hope to give invitro a try.