(Image from: http://www.advancedfertility.com/4cell.htm )
On day 2 of development, embryos should have 4 cells. The grading of them depends on the level of fragmentation.
Of our 13 fertilized embryos:
7 have 4-5 cells, and are graded as good
5 have 4-5 cells, and are graded as average
1 has 2 cells, but is still alive and could catch up
I asked the embryologist to give us daily updates, which they don’t normally do. I am so grateful that she is doing this for us, and appreciate the time she takes to answer our questions.
OHSS watch:
Weight: up 0.2 of a pound
Waist measurement: up 1 cm
How I’m feeling: Ovaries are still sore, especially with movement, peeing and pooping. The Dostinex is still making me super nauseous despite taking it at night and with food. DW made me a great breakfast in bed: GF grilled cheese and soft boiled eggs, with a side of Gravol.
Today, I start all of my embryo transfer meds:
– prednisone 10mg
– endometrin (progesterone suppositories)- 100mg x 3 times a day
– prometrium (progesterone orally)- 300m at bedtime
– Fragmin injections
*TMI Warning*
Shoving the Endometrin in my vagina was a real treat this morning (not!). My vagina is clearly still in the early stages of healing after all the egg retrieval punctures. I couldn’t get the suppository more than two inches inside, because everything was clenched and hurt.
I’m a little worried about the Prednisone, because last time (failed FET) it caused major comfort food cravings, as well as water retention. This time, I’m trying to stave off OHSS, and the last thing I need is to crave bad food and retain water. However, a nice therapeutic effect of the prednisone is that it made my digestive issues go away. Honestly, my usual IBS and Celiac issues seem to go away when I’m on the Prednisone, which is wonderful.
Mama et Maman 
I’m so happy you are getting daily updates! I feel like somehow it would be comforting to know what’s going on.
I’m excited for you to start prepping for the transfer, and hope your body heals quickly from the retrieval!
Thank you! The daily updates help so much with my anxiety. And it’s crazy to think that I transfer in just under 72 hours! I really hope this all works.
72 hours! Wow, that’s just crazy soon! But, I am so excited. I feel so much hope that with the protocol you are going on this will be it for you!
Thank you! I sure hope so!
Sending lots of good vibes for you and the embabies. 🙂
Thank you Lindsey. I’m sending you some too- for a rock solid second beta!
I hope you continue to get good updates (almost all average or better!)
Thanks me too!
Are they keeping prednisone at 0 mg or are you going to increase to 20 pre or post transfer?
Keeping me at 10mg. Everyone I see online is on 20mg and higher. I’m not sure why he’s only got me on 10mg- maybe just to treat me stepwise- lowest dose to see if it works? Obviously, I want a dose to ensure my immune system won’t act up, but I tried asking before, and they weren’t receptive to the increase. I hope 10mg daily is enough.
I get no noticeable benefit from that dose when I have immune reactions. Our bodies make or should make at least 20 mg daily which I think is part of the threshold for immune treatment being 20 mg. You have a history of elevated NK cells or activity, yes? I don’t know if 10 mg will make much impact if so. I wish they would Rx 20 mg for you or I could send you some to increase it yourself. I truly hope things work out. Will they still transfer if your ohss symptoms increase or will you hold off to do a FET then? I forget, are you getting Intralipid this week in case you transfer too?
Yes, my TNF-a was elevated beyond the normal limits. I will email them and see if they will increase my dose.
I had Intralipids on the 3rd day of my stim cycle. The next intralipid infusion is if I get a BFP.
They are checking in with me everyday to monitor OHSS. If it’s bad, we won’t transfer. So far, it has been manageable, but I remember that last year it was worse a couple of days after retrieval.
Can you email me you info on intralipid source? Mamaetmaman at gmail dot com. Thanks so much!
Done. 🙂
Merci!
That’s awesome that she’s nice enough to give you daily updates…it was so anxiety provoking waiting the 5 days until the transfer to find out our numbers…those found pretty good so far…I hope they keep doing their thang!
Yes, so awesome. I find the clinic staff are a bit nicer to me now that I’m a repeat customer. I hope we get all the blastocysts we need for the kids that we want. Fingers and toes crossed.