The Journey - Part 1

We kept our journey to our rainbow baby offline, mainly to ensure the privacy we wanted, but to also make sure we felt each moment together. It’s been a tough and at times scary pregnancy, but now he’s here I feel it’s important to share Williams journey.

Back in July 2021 we finally were cleared to start IVF, we had filled out all the forms and gone through many tests and appointments. All the waiting was almost at an end and we were told we could start meds after my next period.

We had a small panic over getting the meds delivered on time and had to actually go and pick them up from Bath. It all turned out ok though and we were all set to do the first down reg injection of Buserelin. Having done Clexane I wasn’t worried about doing the injection, more about messing up the amount as it was so important. When the morning came I drew up the medicine and Mark pushed the plunger down. We had done our first part of IVF!

After a week of injections it was time to start the stimulation part to get my ovaries to begin creating eggs. This was just a cartridge loaded pen needle and nothing too bad. Again we did the first one together. I felt good as I was finally doing it, we were making our baby.

After a few days I went for a scan to see how my follicles were developing. I had 5 small ones and 2 larger ones. The decision was made to leave it a few more days before egg collection to enable more to develop. After the weekend I had another scan and things looked good to schedule egg collection for the last week of August after the bank holiday Tuesday 31st. This meant I had to do the trigger shot the night before to ripen my eggs.

Tuesday morning came and we nervously made our way to Bath for our 8am appointment. I was told to make sure I was hydrated so my bladder was full. As I have a tiny bladder we had to stop so I could pee. When we arrived I was again bursting! Mark went to a different place to do his sperm sample and I was taken back to do my part. The nurse gave me a gown and consent form, I was allowed to pee but not to empty my bladder.

Then I waited for my turn to be called in.

Soon I was called into the small room where a couple nurses, embryologist and consultant were waiting. I led on a bed with my knees up. The consultant struggled to get a cannula in but eventually got it into my wrist. They injected me with sedation and I remember still talking to them and then laying quietly. I vaguely remember pain but it faded away and before I knew it I was back in a bed coming round.

I quickly came round and saw Mark had text me to say we had 9 eggs! We were so happy with that as it was more than we expected. Once I was more awake I met Mark outside, we were both so happy. Now it was a case of waiting to see how many fertilised! We decided to go get McDonald’s and buy a pineapple for me to eat the following days before transfer. We also got some nice treats as I needed to go home and rest as I was a bit crampy.

The anxious wait to see what the results would be began!

- Allana x