Our first cycle of IUI was a big learning curve. We didn't know what we were getting into, I didn't know if I would be able to deal with the process, I definitely didn't know the intricate details of the female cycle, ovulation, fertilization and pregnancy, and I didn't realise so few other people do either! I realised how much falling pregnant is something we take for granted as young women, and it's not until it doesn't work and you start to look into it that you realise how much of an absolute miracle pregnancy and human life is.
I started the daily injections with a fairly low dose of gonal f on a Sunday (Becoming a Pin Cushion entry). A couple of days later, I had a blood test and our nurse called me mid afternoon to let me know that my hormone levels were rising but not as high as they would have liked to have seen at this point, so I needed to up my dosage. For the first time I realised that a cycle could possibly not work.
I was nervous through the whole first cycle - what would happen if it didn't work? what would happen if we couldn't get to insemination? what would happen if it DID work? How would I cope if it didn't work in a second cycle - knowing that was our last chance before having to move to IVF? Would the hormones impact me emotionally or physically?
On Saturday morning we drove into the clinic at 7am for another blood test before doing the 2 1/2 hour drive to E's soccer. At half time during the game, J walked over to the team huddle to give him his drink bottle and my phone rang - it was the clinic letting me know that my levels were rising really nicely and I would need to come back in on Monday for a blood test and ultrasound. J had walked back around whilst I was on the phone and I hung up and did a little jig, so excited to tell him. All of a sudden I was filled with positivity 'we could be pregnant this time next week!' we grinned and hugged and kissed as subtly as possible on that sunny morning in the middle of a soccer ground filled with parents and children completely oblivious to our journey.
On Monday we went into the clinic early before work for a blood test and internal ultrasound - I hate them! J sat by my side with the clipboard whilst the technician read out numbers (the size of the follicles) - they didn't make any sense to me! The blood test next and then off to work, once again to act completely normal and try to focus whilst waiting for the call. It came mid afternoon and I ducked outside to take it 'you're ready to ovulate, you'll need to take your trigger tonight and come in for insemination tomorrow' What?! Crazy! We had actually scheduled an annual leave day for Tuesday anyway to get a few things done, our lives have been a little bit crazy lately but how lucky that our insemination was falling on a day of leave.
I don't even remember now what the rest of Monday was like - I wish I'd been writing this at the time. It probably would have given me something to do to pass the time! I'm sure that our day and evening was full of clock watching and talking and dreaming about what could be...
I started the daily injections with a fairly low dose of gonal f on a Sunday (Becoming a Pin Cushion entry). A couple of days later, I had a blood test and our nurse called me mid afternoon to let me know that my hormone levels were rising but not as high as they would have liked to have seen at this point, so I needed to up my dosage. For the first time I realised that a cycle could possibly not work.
I was nervous through the whole first cycle - what would happen if it didn't work? what would happen if we couldn't get to insemination? what would happen if it DID work? How would I cope if it didn't work in a second cycle - knowing that was our last chance before having to move to IVF? Would the hormones impact me emotionally or physically?
On Saturday morning we drove into the clinic at 7am for another blood test before doing the 2 1/2 hour drive to E's soccer. At half time during the game, J walked over to the team huddle to give him his drink bottle and my phone rang - it was the clinic letting me know that my levels were rising really nicely and I would need to come back in on Monday for a blood test and ultrasound. J had walked back around whilst I was on the phone and I hung up and did a little jig, so excited to tell him. All of a sudden I was filled with positivity 'we could be pregnant this time next week!' we grinned and hugged and kissed as subtly as possible on that sunny morning in the middle of a soccer ground filled with parents and children completely oblivious to our journey.
On Monday we went into the clinic early before work for a blood test and internal ultrasound - I hate them! J sat by my side with the clipboard whilst the technician read out numbers (the size of the follicles) - they didn't make any sense to me! The blood test next and then off to work, once again to act completely normal and try to focus whilst waiting for the call. It came mid afternoon and I ducked outside to take it 'you're ready to ovulate, you'll need to take your trigger tonight and come in for insemination tomorrow' What?! Crazy! We had actually scheduled an annual leave day for Tuesday anyway to get a few things done, our lives have been a little bit crazy lately but how lucky that our insemination was falling on a day of leave.
I don't even remember now what the rest of Monday was like - I wish I'd been writing this at the time. It probably would have given me something to do to pass the time! I'm sure that our day and evening was full of clock watching and talking and dreaming about what could be...