My IVF : The Embryo Transfer Day

7 October 2010
It was our Big Day...
Alhamdullillah... thanks to God... my heartburn was a bit better...however still having some mild pain. At least my condition was better than last night.
Just like the Egg Retrieval, after i had my shower, i just put my clothes on.. no make-up, perfume etc.....same goes to my hubby. We had some light breakfast at home. I drink 2 glasses of water..need to ensure i was in full bladder when i reached the clinic for the procedure.


The Embryo Transfer was scheduled at 11am. But somehow my bladder was not full when i reached the clinic at 10.30am. The embryologist took us to the recovery room, which was at the other end of the same floor. Next to the room was the lab and the Embryo Transfer procedure room. This room though was just small, but it was pretty cosy, nicely decorated with a fluffy recliner sofa, a cute IKEA Stockholm easy chair.. few magazines, a small cabinet to keep our stuffs. I was asked to change to purple OT-like clothes.. but this time i was allowed to wear my bra. Then the embryologist took me to the procedure room to scan my bladder while my husband wait at the recovery room. She told us that husband can also be in the procedure room during the Embryo Transfer procedure.. but i just told her.. err.. it's ok.. he can just wait outside.. (well i'm not comfortable having my husband around while the doctor carried out the procedure..you can guess why, right ;) ).
Oh.. my bladder was only 1/4 full when the embryologist did the first scan. She asked me to drink another 300ml plain water and wait for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, my bladder still not full. So have to wait another 10 minutes. My bladder was finally full. So she said.. ok.. she'll informed the doctor. After 10 minutes the doctor came.. by that time..i was really feel like passing the urine..fuuhs
The doctor did a scan on my bladder just to ensure it was full.. then he did some scan of my uterus.. just to ensure the uterus was in normal condition because i told him that i was still having some pain at my lower abdomen. Everything looked ok. So he said, " OK.. i will check your embryo in the lab first.". Err another waiting game...
After like 5 minutes, he returned to the room with 3 of his assistants, he said, "You got 6 fertilised embryos. I will transfer 2 embryos today and have the balance 4 embryos frozen". Alhamdullillah. Thank God...
So, the Embryo Transfer begins... dup dap dup dap..
First, my leg was tied to the leg holder so that my legs would be really wide open (just like  during labor). Then the doctor inserted the speculum and catherer into my vagina. At the same time his assistant scanned my uterus from my tummy so that the doctor able to visualise the uterus in the monitor.. Oh ya.. why need to be "full bladder"? It's because when the bladder is full, the doctor can have an excellent ultrasound visualisation and better angle between the cervix and uterus so that the embryos can be placed at the best position in the uterus.


From the monitor, i can see clearly the thin catherer inside my uterus. The doctor took quite sometime to adjust the position of the catherer and speculum. At one time, i really could not stand the torture to pass my urine. So i asked the doctor, "How many longer is it going to take. I really cannot stand to pass urine..". The doctor answered, " Another 1 or 2 minutes"..Then he said " Ok we are going transfer 2 embryos now". So his assistant took the embryos from the lab (just next the procedure room). Then the doctor inserted the catherer which contains the embryos into my uterus. Within like not even a minute, he said, "Ok, i've inserted the embryos. Now we will check the catherer to ensure that no embryo left in it." His assistant then checked the catherer.. then she said " OK..all cleared".. The doctor immediately removed the speculum from my vagina.. and fuhhhss.. what a relief..
I was asked to lie on the bed for at least another 20 minutes before i can go to the toilet. Meanwhile, the doctor explained to me what he has done just now. He show me on the monitor, the 2 embryos that were inserted into my uterus. The 2 embryos looked glowing...what a very beautiful and unforgettable moment to be able to see the embryos in my uterus (i should have taken the picture of it .. sigh.. ). Then the doctor explained about the frozen embryos, we need to sign some consent letters and etc etc.. i was kinda dizzy at that time.. so can't really concentrate on what the doctor said.. erm.. i should have call my husband to join me in the room... it seems that i have trouble to remember so many things lately.
After the explanation.. he left the room, then the embryologist came to see me. She told me there were actually 12 embryos that were successfully fertilized. 6 of them were good quality (2 has been transfered into my uterus, another 4 has been frozen). Another 6 were still under monitoring.. if they managed to be in good quality as well, they will also be frozen. .. oo OK .. ;)
The 20 minutes passed. I finally allowed to go to the toilet.... after that i continue resting in the recovery room for about another 30 minutes before i can change my clothes and go home.
My next appoinment will be another 5 days.. the doctor said during this appointment, he will do a scan to see the condition of my uterus and give me another medication. I prayed hard everything will be ok.


In short, it was a wonderful experience, the Embryo Transfer process is not painful at all.. it's just the agony of holding the "full-bladder" .... can't imagine what would happen if i cannot control my bladder at that time.. hehehe.
So, i was officially on my 2 weeks waiting.... Yeayy !!

   
Happy me... jams