BETA moved up.

K and I decided that it's time to just get this over with. We've moved the beta to first thing tomorrow.

So, after that is done, we're making decision to move forward with the next transfer. Here are some of the questions she is contemplating. If you've got thoughts on any of these, please feel fee to comment. We're up for ideas/opinions.

1) We're trying to decide whether to do the next transfer here in my home city or fly me back to theirs. (It would be a fraction of the cost to do it at my clinic.) - Either way it's the same protocol for me. Estrogen all cycle to hold off ovulation and progesterone the week before transfer. The success rates at my clinic are a little less than at hers. BUT really all my clinic is doing is monitoring me and doing the transfer. Would you really worry about my clinic's numbers in that case? Placement of the embryo doesn't really affect success rates much does it? My clinic does ultrasound guided, hers doesn't if that makes a difference. Both clinics will do assisted hatching.

2) fresh or frozen cycle?  Eggs are already frozen through vitrification. She originally had 10 retrieved and 9 fertilized. All were frozen. Two were thawed last cycle. Both /excellent quality. We used one and re-froze one.

3) 3 day vs. 5 day?  They're thawed as 3 day embies. Do you feel we'd have better success if we let them grow another 2 days? Even that possibly means using up more frosties?

Other thoughts? Is there more info you need? I want to help her out in any way possible. 

Losing sleep

I have not been sleeping well lately. My little ones have been playing dueling banjos, taking turns waking me up in the middle of the night. My oldest has been sick and my youngest loves being with her mom. Then when I get back to bed, I just lay there and my mind will not shut off. A lot of times I think about the upcoming IVF transfer. I'm excited to get all of our ducks in a row and get it going. With that excitement comes some fear too.

I'm nervous about the possibility of carrying twins. The plan (based on conversation) has been to transfer one embryo on our first try, as one healthy baby is our ideal situation. If that doesn't work, we'll have to re-evaluate. Originally that second try was supposed to be a fresh single embryo transfer as well but both the intended parents and I need to come to an agreement.

I'll admit that I'm really nervous about that. While not the end of the world, twins would be so much more difficult. More difficult to carry, more risk involved with their health and mine, more difficult to care for my own girls, there's always the risk of time in the NICU, bedrest, and the much increased chances of a c-section. I absolutely do not want a csection if at all possible, and bedrest would throw my household into a tailspin.

Yes these are all things I considered before agreeing to this process. It's just that now I'm feeling more pressure to transfer more than one embryo and it makes me nervous. Sleeplessly nervous.

Moms that have been there before, please tell me about your experiences.

• How did your life change carrying twins? Did you have toddlers to care for?
• If you carried twins, when did you deliver? (what gestational age) Was there NICU time involved?
• Were you on bedrest or restricted activity? How long?
• Did you have a c-section or did you manage to deliver vaginally? 
• If you did not have a c-section, what lead to the success of you being able to avoid it?

Additionally, what things can I do to increase my odds that the first single embryo transfer will be successful? It will be a FET (frozen embryo transfer) with AMA eggs. (AMA = Advanced Maternal Age) Intended mother is healthy. Just can't carry a baby, physically.

I would love to hear experiences and advice from those who are "in the know." I know there's a plan for me. Not knowing exactly what that plan is, keeps this control freak awake at night though.  Ha! :)