IVF Cycle #3: FET Acupressure

Since this is my first frozen embryo transfer, I didn't know how this cycle would affect me. Since the start of this FET cycle, I started taking the prenatals that my RE has prescribed vs. the one my primary physician had prescribed me (two years back). Taking the new prenatals and baby aspirin caused me to feel nauseated, heart burn, and hungry in the middle of the night (Strange, I know). But I feel super hungry, it actually wakes me up and I'll check what time it is, it'll only be 3am or 4am. Wondering if anyone feels the same while on their FET. My family knows I have been going through several IVF cycles.

So, my mom took me to this holistic health therapist (acupressure) on Tuesday, August 6th. When I talked to him, this is what he told me:

• Absolutely no cold drinks
• No coffee or tea (no caffeine)
• Eat more ginger - it warms up the body
• Eat more Ginseng
• Exercise or at least walk for 40 minutes everyday. Luckily, I've been doing Yoga and recently got my certification in teaching yoga. (But I digress.)

Has anyone had any experiences with Acupressure and IVF? Does it help? My mom knows this holistic therapist, he said that I should do these things because I have a cold womb and it wouldn't carry a baby. Doing those things would help warm it up. This sucks, my DH can attest to this, I looove cold drinks (especially pearl teas of all kinds) and ice cream!

So, after trying the acupressure for a few days. I took the liberty of researching acupressure/acupuncture and the meridian lines. It appears that pain along the meridian lines will tell the acupuncturist which part of your organs are either inflamed or weak. I had pain along my back running the bladder meridian all the way to the sacrum and tailbone area. The last few days/sessions has been a pain in the behind! Quite literally. The acupuncturist said my kidneys are also weak.

Other things I have found for yang deficiency from an online source:

• Eat more warming and wholesome food like stews, roasts and hearty soups
• Eat cooked/steamed vegetables 
• Avoid cold food like raw vegetables and salads
• Add ginger, garlic, and ginseng to the diet
• Other foods to eat are: Shrimp, mussels, walnuts, lamb, onions, radish, turnips, cinamon, peppermint, and royal jelly

IVF Cycle #3: FET Cycle Day 18 Ultrasound

We are in the middle of the IVF Cycle #3. We went to the RE's office for a Day 13 ultrasound on August 1st. During the office visit, we asked our RE to advise on how many embryos to transfer. Since we have 2 failed IVF cycles, he isn't oppose to transferring 2 embryos. As usual, the RE reminded us of course it depends on the couple's concerns.

Personally, for us, we have started paying for IVF cycle #3 out of pocket. Our main concern is to get pregnant. As a result, we are planning to transfer two embryos. DH and I have talked about it, we are not oppose to having twins. We also have 7 embryos frozen, 3 are of excellent quality and the rest are at a very good quality. The RE explained that transferring 2 at a time does not mean it gives us a better chance of getting pregnant than transferring 1 at a time. The more he talked about it, my tears started rolling. I was disappointed the day/week when we found out our cycle 2 failed, but it was even unexpected for me to cry in my RE's office.

I knew the infertility road was hard, people have warned me. But we were caught up and so excited to start a family through IVF. But, I wasn't prepared for these two failed attempts and what it does to you emotionally. I find myself wondering if and when we should find another option. DH has been super great and supportive and doesn't want us to give up just yet. He is determine to exhaust every avenue first.

Today, we went to our RE's office for Day 18 ultrasound. The lining: 5.7. R side: 6mm. L side: 5mm, 8.5 medial. (Is 8.5 medial good or bad? I should have asked the RE while I had a chance. Yikes!) My RE told us that my follicles aren't growing at a speed they were expecting. But that is not abnormal. For some, after a fresh cycle, follicles lag. My RE's experience is for some women it could lag about a week to 3 weeks. His analogy is the follicles are waiting for food (stimulation). Base on the last two months, I had gone through the stimulation. My body is still waiting it. There were a couple of small ones. But once my body realizes the stimulation isn't coming. One of those follicles will develop to 17-18mm, at which point, that's when my RE will schedule me for the transfer. (Hey, I didn't say it was a good analogy ;P). 

IVF Cycle #3: Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)

IVF Cycle #3 - Frozen Embryo Transfer started on July 18th when I found out our IVF Cycle #2 resulted in a BFN. Since that day, I've scheduled a Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET). I found out that we (DH and I) will be paying for this out of pocket. It sucks that it'll cost more than we have expected.

Luckily, the frozen embryo transfer cycle only require one specialty medicine (HCG/Navarel). It is based on my natural cycle. We have been hoping to start a family this year. I hope the third time is the charm. I've always wanted to transfer more than one embryo since cycle #1, but our Dr have advised against that. This time, I'm hoping to state my case and hope my reproductive endocrinologist (RE) agrees. :) My RE seems to be on the conservative side. I think it's because of my age and because I have only gone through 2 cycles.

• July 23rd, Frozen cycle baseline ultrasound. Everything looks good, no cysts.

• August 1st - Second ultrasound (day 13). My RE was on holiday for my first baseline ultrasound. So, another RE asked me to start my ovulation testing on Aug 1st. When I went into the office, my RE has asked me to stop the ovulation testing because the follicle is only at 6.5mm. 

• My RE scheduled me in for another ultrasound for today, August 6th (day 18) of my cycle. The lining is 5.7. R side: 6mm. L side: 5mm, 8.5 medial. He wants to keep monitoring me for the time I'm going to ovulate. He mentioned that in frozen cycle transfers, it is crucial to time it just right. My scheduled frozen cycle transfer will be scheduled exactly 5 days after ovulation.

Since we have already failed twice. I asked him for advice (and maybe subconsciously reassurance) on how many embryos to transfer to make this a successful try. He mentioned he would transfer no more than two. I don't think I want him to transfer more than that. But since this is so early in the process, he wants me and DH to think about it. No need to commit on how many right now.

Whew, another appointment down, and looks like a few more to go! More updates to come on another post. Stay tuned...