Anyone doing FET/IVF in Jan 2013 till everyone's BFP (Everyone Welcome)

[Mells54]

Omg sorry ladies, but I am truly enjoying reading this convo... 'Harmony sperm donors'. LMAO

Ya.. picking out donor sperm was I don't know why but the last thing I wanted was some dude's portfolio pics while he was being a waiter and trying to become an actor. There is one sperm bank located in California that seemed to be FULL of those! Then I tried one that was supposed to cater to women that wanted brains, and they had a huge number of men with advanced degrees, but they didn't give you adult photos, nor would they tell you the age of the donor at the time of donation! Well with me and my advanced age I felt it was necessary to know how old these sperm were, and they wouldn't even reveal the birth year So I ended up at www.xytex.com and they had a mix of the 2 (actors or wannabe actors, blue collar type guys and also those with advanced degrees. Even better you could pay 1 flat rate for a 3 month subscription to look at ALL photos. Some of the guys opted to show none, and others showed only baby photos, but I limited my search to those that showed adult photos too. I know it shouldn't matter but I wanted to know what he looked like as an adult! So that was the best bank for me.

I think egg donors are a little different. Since they don't freeze them, and they go through the whole IVF cycle at the same time as they are preparing your uterus. Still I'm sure a lot of the photos, and the same demographic information would be the same.

It is amazing that these people are willing to help us out!! I thank heavens that they were!

As crazy as some people seem, I know they are just trying to put their best foot forward. I'm so competitive that I wonder if I would be trying everything (including air brushed photos) to be selected. I would think that is a pretty big ego booster. LOL!
In all seriousness, I'm so happy women and men are willing to do this for a complete stranger. As we all know IVF is pretty invasive I can't imagine just doing it for the heck of it, so to speak. That was one of the things that I like about this one donor. She was honest in saying that what drew her to be a donor was the monetary compensation, but in the end she realized that she loved being a mom so much she would do anything to help another woman experience motherhood. I just felt like she was talking right to me in a lot of ways.

 

[alicatt]

Omg sorry ladies, but I am truly enjoying reading this convo... 'Harmony sperm donors'. LMAO

Ya.. picking out donor sperm was I don't know why but the last thing I wanted was some dude's portfolio pics while he was being a waiter and trying to become an actor. There is one sperm bank located in California that seemed to be FULL of those! Then I tried one that was supposed to cater to women that wanted brains, and they had a huge number of men with advanced degrees, but they didn't give you adult photos, nor would they tell you the age of the donor at the time of donation! Well with me and my advanced age I felt it was necessary to know how old these sperm were, and they wouldn't even reveal the birth year So I ended up at www.xytex.com and they had a mix of the 2 (actors or wannabe actors, blue collar type guys and also those with advanced degrees. Even better you could pay 1 flat rate for a 3 month subscription to look at ALL photos. Some of the guys opted to show none, and others showed only baby photos, but I limited my search to those that showed adult photos too. I know it shouldn't matter but I wanted to know what he looked like as an adult! So that was the best bank for me.

I think egg donors are a little different. Since they don't freeze them, and they go through the whole IVF cycle at the same time as they are preparing your uterus. Still I'm sure a lot of the photos, and the same demographic information would be the same.

It is amazing that these people are willing to help us out!! I thank heavens that they were!

As crazy as some people seem, I know they are just trying to put their best foot forward. I'm so competitive that I wonder if I would be trying everything (including air brushed photos) to be selected. I would think that is a pretty big ego booster. LOL!
In all seriousness, I'm so happy women and men are willing to do this for a complete stranger. As we all know IVF is pretty invasive I can't imagine just doing it for the heck of it, so to speak. That was one of the things that I like about this one donor. She was honest in saying that what drew her to be a donor was the monetary compensation, but in the end she realized that she loved being a mom so much she would do anything to help another woman experience motherhood. I just felt like she was talking right to me in a lot of ways.

She sounds perfect!! Honest and giving. Those qualities are nice to have!

I went with a guy that was well rounded and had similar coloring to me. When I say well rounded, there were sports, arts and music as well as intelligence in his background. I wanted someone that wasn't too hard on the eyes, but beauty wasn't important. As long as he didn't scare small children we were good I also put a high value on health both physical and psychological, as well as issues with addiction. I had pretty high standards, it was a feat for me to find 1 let alone 3 that met my standards

My decision to find someone that had similar coloring to me was mostly due to the fact that I was single, and didn't want a child to look like it wasn't mine. Like I had kidnapped him or her! So I figured well if I pick someone that has similar coloring, hair and eyes, then hopefully the child will not look too different from me! I think if I had a DH that had darker coloring, I would have been more open to picking a donor that had mixed or similar coloring to him, but since I'm single that was important to me.

I hope your donor works out! When do you get to find out? What are the next steps? Have you targeted a cycle to do this? So many questions! So excited for you!

 

[WannabeeMum]

Mells - that's so exciting!! I'm in awe of people that are so willing to give a gift like motherhood to us who struggle. Good luck in the rest of your journey!

Turkey - you have a ton of willpower. I only lasted until 6dp5dt before I tested.

Lotus - beautiful stuff on your site!!

 

[everhopeful]

Wanna - is that when you got your BFP? I think I am too scared to test too early. If I get a BFN I'd rather just know that it hasn't worked rather than having to wait a few days and see. Those few days would be hell! I know I'm in the minority though! Xx

 

[Mells54]

Ali, thanks! We are really excited too, especially to get started. Since we have only looked at 3 profiles so far, I really want to see a few others before the final decision. DH is leaving for four months the end of April, so he also has to provide a sample or two that they can freeze so there won't be a delay while he is gone. If we can get a solid donor picked before he leaves, we will be in good shape.
I also have a few questions for my RE coordinator. I want to know how old her profile is and if anything has changed in her history. I think it's fairly recent, but she mentions school in 2011. And I also want to know if she has donated before. How many 1/2 silblings will our future children have?
I don't think you have high standards at all. I think everything you asked for was something we would all look for in a potential spouse. This is such a daunting process.
So, depending on the donor selection process, and her availability we are hoping to start sometime in May with a transfer sometime in late June or July. A lot depends on her and syncing our cycles. I thought regular IVF was out of my control, this is 100 time worse!
I'm just staying positive and know that if Halle Berry can have a baby at 46, I can have one at 39!

 

[Turkey16]

Mo: love your siggy, ice ice baby! I can't wait to pick up our ice babies next month

Turkey: I would start testing, but everyone is different. Would an early BFN really upset you? Or would you rather know where you stand?

My husband is pretty adamant about me not testing...historically I'm not an early tester...in fact, when I had my daughter I waited 4 weeks to call my RE when they told me to call 2 weeks after the IUI if I hadn't gotten AF. I just didn't want to hear no AGAIN, and the longer I waited the more likely a yes became. They weren't thrilled, but it all ended well. This second go-round I've always been on progesterone, so once waiting was no longer an option, friends talked me into testing early, and it was ALWAYS no, and since it was always a tad early, I scrambled for hope, playing mind games for 2 or 3 days til I got what I knew in my heart was coming...a BFN. Sooooooo...this time I'm gonna wait for my OTD. I want to POAS, and it's always in the back of my mind, but I can't bear to go thru all the "drama" if it's a no, even if its just cause its early. Does that make sense?? In the meantime I'm thinking VERY positive, but trying to prepare myself for whatever that phone call brings....

So, as far as symptoms go...I have a WICKED sore throat right now. Feel fine, no other cold symptoms, just a painfully raw throat. I dont have allergies, and I'm rarely sick...anybody have anything similar?? I googled, but at this point I feel like I could google "9dp3dt second head growing out of neck?" and there would be 50 entries verifying that as a valid 2ww symptom"!!!

 

[everhopeful]

Turkey - that last bit made me laugh!! I am trying do hard to stay away from symptom spotting!! I was told the steroids I am on will cover up any pregnancy symptoms but if I'm completely honest, I never had any with my son until about 7-8 weeks.

I'm finding it a little stressful this time as we really are out of money now so although we have 2 more frosties we really can't afford to do much about it!
Hopefully I won't need them!!

Hang in there Turkey!! Xx

 

[MoBaby]

Ever I tested pos at 3dp transfer... That's rare though. It was faint for the next 2 days.
Turkey: you have great reasoning to wait! I can't wait; I need to know lol!

 

[Flowermal]

Turkey: haha I laughed out loud when I read your last line! I'm also trying very hard not to think bat the 2 week wait.. Just trying to busy myself and not think about it.. Only thing bugging me really bad is flatulence and I mean so much if it esp at night that I'm wondering if hubby and I are gonna pass out on gas poisoning!!

 

[Flowermal]

Ever: u hang in there too!! Big HUG!!

 

[everhopeful]

Flower that's hilarious!! Damn progesterone! I hate feeling bloated! At least we can all try pull each other through the madness of the 2ww!!
Are you POAS on the 19th or blood test?
Turkey - being an idiot, when is your OTD? I can't scroll easily on phone.
Xx

 

[Turkey16]

Flower that's hilarious!! Damn progesterone! I hate feeling bloated! At least we can all try pull each other through the madness of the 2ww!!
Are you POAS on the 19th or blood test?
Turkey - being an idiot, when is your OTD? I can't scroll easily on phone.
Xx

TUESDAY!!! Gulp!!!

 

[Turkey16]

Turkey: haha I laughed out loud when I read your last line! I'm also trying very hard not to think bat the 2 week wait.. Just trying to busy myself and not think about it.. Only thing bugging me really bad is flatulence and I mean so much if it esp at night that I'm wondering if hubby and I are gonna pass out on gas poisoning!!

I'm dying!!! Too funny!!! I'm in the same boat, but between my husband & my bulldog I'm in good company!!! I'm just adding to the fun!! Hahaha!!! Glamorous and oh so sexy, all this is right???

 

[ttcbaby117]

Turkey - you are hilarious and I think I will wait it out also, bfns just hit me so hard. I don't know mjy meds yet because I am flying to Florida tomorrow to start Ivf. I will find out then. I will be doing the antagonist protocol though.

Ali - I think you choose the right way, that's not being picky at all. Do you still have the same donor sperm or did you have to get more?

 

[alicatt]

Ever, Flower and Turkey.. I've lost track of where you are in your 2WW, and when your OTD's are!

I just wanted to send you all some and whether you test early or not I really hope to see some BFPs!!!!

 

[Flowermal]

Ever: yea the darn progesterone!! ehh I might cave it and POAS on the day before or if I can hold on a bit, on the day of OTD

turkey: haha I think your bulldog should win? Mine's a female cocker so definitely much less comes out of her haha

 

[Flowermal]

Ali: thanks Hun, hugs to you too!! My OTD is on the 19th

 

[alicatt]

Turkey - you are hilarious and I think I will wait it out also, bfns just hit me so hard. I don't know mjy meds yet because I am flying to Florida tomorrow to start Ivf. I will find out then. I will be doing the antagonist protocol though.

Ali - I think you choose the right way, that's not being picky at all. Do you still have the same donor sperm or did you have to get more?

I have actually had 3 donors! The first one I used in my 3 IUIs and my first IVF. During my first IVF it was determined that his sperm was not up to par. They could tell because the embryos all died off on day 3-4. Apparently the egg gives the embryo the energy it needs to make it from fertilization until day 3, then the sperm is supposed to take over and keep it going. I had 9 at day 3 that were all 7-8 cell and only 2 made it to blast. So since I was using donor sperm my FS recommended picking someone else. So I did for my second IUI, and we had 12 fertilize and 6 make it to blast (they didn't look at them between fertilization and blast so I'm not sure when the other 6 arrested). The reason I have a third donor is that my FS insists on having 2 vials just in case one doesn't thaw properly, he has a backup. Well the 2nd donor only had one vial left! so I had to have another vial of something so I picked another that was a my runner up. Luckily we didn't need to use his.

I kept having nightmares that first night after ER, thinking what if they ended up having to use donor 2 and 3 and then I ended up with embryos from both and I had twins and we didn't know which baby was from which donor? Luckily that didn't happen. So I still have donor #3 on ice should I decide to use it in the future.

So my plan currently is to do the biopsy on Monday, then (hopefully) immediately start lupron. Then start my real FET, I have 4 frosties waiting for me, so providing everything thaws properly I have the ability to do 2 FET's and possibly 1 IUI, but then it is game over I think at that point I will have to accept defeat, and just be happy with my doggies.

 

[everhopeful]

Ali thanks for support. My OTD is 13th and will wait till then. Xx

 

[everhopeful]

Ttc- how amazing!! Where do you live if you are flying out to Florida? If you don't mind me asking?? So close now. Xx