What to expect next after Retrieval:)

        As many of you know, today was our retrieval day.  The CRNA put an IV in my hand and I was given some medications to make me very sleepy and unaware or what was going on.  Let me tell you it was very effective, I felt like I was in a different world. It only took about 15 min to actually aspirate the eggs out and send them to the lab. I was able to get off the table on my own and walk to my chair, which I don't really remember.  We were happy that 8 eggs were able to be retrieved. During this time, Nathan gave a fresh sperm sample that was also sent to the lab. In the lab they do a "washing " to the sperm. The washing separates the seminal fluid from the raw sperm. After the washing was done they took the raw sperm and injected it into my egg. This is called ICSI. At this point, we are hoping that CONCEPTION has begun..... in a petri dish.... 

      Now we have to wait for the sperm and egg to do their thing, which is cellular divide. A natural process that takes place over 3-5 days. At 48 hours post conception the newly fertilized egg, embryo, should be dividing 2-4 times, at 72 hours about 6-8 times. The embryos are also given a grade. A is the best, B is still good but not as good as A , C is getting into the "bad eggs" and D is the worst. A grade A embryo has divided 8 times with all equal parts at the appropriate times. A grade D embryo most likely will not develop into a baby and the ability for it to implant is rare. . We are going for all Grade A embryos! I will be expecting a call from the doctor on Saturday to let me know if any of our eggs have fertilized, how many times they have divided and what grade they are. If I have at least 1 Grade A or B embryo we will be doing the transferring. The transferring means that they will take the embryo and implant it back into my uterus in hopes that it implants and starts a pregnancy. This all seems confusing and we are learning about this more and more everyday. We are taking each hurtle/step at a time, even though the larger picture is always in the backs of our minds. We will be updating as always, thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. :):)