The little embryo that could?

We've officially made it farther than we ever have!

After a week of anxious waiting, I tested at home for the first time on Saturday 10/10, 7 days after our transfer.

It was positive. I felt a lot of relief, but knowing what happened last time I can't say I felt happy quite yet.

I had my first beta blood test on Monday. I was very fortunate to have the day off due to a Jewish holiday, because waiting for that phone call is torture.

My HCG levels were 51 at that point. Considering that last time it was 87 at the same time and that one didn't work out, I didn't feel hopeful at all. There were definitely tears.

By Thursday 10/15 my HCG increased to 99. The levels are ideally supposed to double every 48-72 hours. Mine almost doubled in 73 hours. Again, I didn't feel super hopeful... but at least we weren't out of the game.

I kept testing at home all weekend and was happy to see the line getting darker, but of course I was still stressed out.

My third beta was today. Last night I couldn't sleep because I was nervous. Which is not great, because I had to wake up at 5am to get to the clinic before work.

I asked the nurses to leave me a voicemail with the results because I can't really answer the phone at work. Of course my plan was to wait until after work to check it, but I am NOT patient. I hate not knowing things.

I had a feeling like it would be okay if I checked, so I looked at my phone while the kids were playing a math review game. I looked at the text of the voicemail and it didn't say the results, they just asked me to call back. *Cue freaking out*

45 torturous minutes later, the kids were done with their game, and I wouldn't be missed if I stepped out and made the call. The only place in our crowded school where I thought I could get any privacy was in the claustrophobic supply closet. So in I went.

Then I was on hold for what felt like forever. The nurse said "Let me put you on hold so I can finish charting something." Like lady, you are about to tell me if my life is about to change. You are going to tell me if I'm having a baby or a miscarriage. But sure, take your time with your leisurely charting.

The conversation started something like this-

"How are you doing?"

"You're about to tell me."

Anyways, I was thrilled and a little shocked that my HCG rose to 530! That's an amazing jump from 99 four days ago.

I felt happiness- and not just relief- for the first time since this transfer.

Our poor little embryo was not high quality. But the test today gave me a lot of hope that it could make it all the way. 

I'll have my final blood test on Thursday. If the levels have continued to rise, the next step would be an ultrasound. 

These are the 2 embryos we've transferred. The one on the right from July only made it 12 days past the transfer. You can see that it's higher quality- bigger and the cells in the middle (that are supposed to become the baby) are clearer. 

Our October embryo is smaller and the cells aren't as clearly differentiated- but it's still hanging on 16 days past the transfer. It's not an exact science- the prettier embryos don't always result in babies.

My home tests getting darker. They span from 1 week -> 2 weeks past the transfer.