IVF retrieval #3.1 - for real this time!
After my failed IVF attempt in December and having to cancel my cycle on Day 7 of stim injections, I couldn't put off another retrieval...
IVF Retrieval #3 - jokes on me
You're probably wondering why I have crossed out the THREE in the photo. Well read on for this cruel twist of fate. First things first -...
IVF Retrieval #2! Here I go again on my own...
… I don't know where I'm goin' But I sure know where I've been Hanging on the promises in songs of yesterday And I've made up my mind I...
Embryos: from blastocyst to PGT-A (genetic testing)
The the day after my retrieval, in the afternoon, I got the call I'd been waiting for. Fertilization - day 1 post retrieval From 18 eggs...
Egg Retrieval day has arrived!
My retrieval was set for 11:30am, Sunday 16th May. I had been #fasting since midnight as instructed. My mouth was as dry as the Simpson...
IVF Cycle begins: I live at the clinic now
Cycle begins - let's go! May 6th was CD2 (day 2 of my period) I had my first appointment for morning monitoring to see how many choc...
IVF meds, I could run my own pharmacy!
Returning from vacation on April 27th, I felt ready to tackle whatever was thrown my way. I was refreshed, recharged mentally, and I...
Mind & body - the stress is real. From weight gain to emotional turmoil
After the 2 failed IUI's, I started really beating myself up about everything. Pretty silly really because I knew the chances were less...
Acupuncture
Something I have yet to mention through my previous blogs is that I started seeing an acupuncturist very early on in the process. Prior...
TWW...again. What to say or not to say to someone trying to conceive.
What did I do during this two week wait? I still ate my pineapple core & brazil nuts. I did walk a lot more, plus added in some exercise,...
IUI #2 and the ugly truth about side effects
Why wait right? I'd read that it is always best to try IUI's close together, that your uterus starts to see a pattern and realizes it is...
Two Week Wait - results are in!
Go home they say, live life as usual they say, don't test until day 14 they say. Oh my, that is easier said than done! In the days after...
Happy IUI day!! The lead up & insemination....
The last couple months have been the longest ever, waiting waiting. I am now fully vaccinated against the chick pox, viewed my donor's...
Preparing my body for a baby - the basics
Disclaimer... I am not a doctor, a scientist, a naturopath or nutritionist. All information I provide is from self discovery and lots of...
Choosing a sperm donor
Let me start off by saying... no one warns you that this is the most difficult process of this entire journey! You are selecting the DNA...
Am I fertile? Drum roll please.....
After what felt like 10,000 doctor appointments, blood tests, ultrasounds, home testing and self research, the results are in! The doctor...
Acronyms & Abbreviation - what are they talking about?
Let's take a little break on my life and let me help provide some insight to the second language that comes with any fertility journey. ...
Poked & Prodded - the fertility testing process
Within a couple weeks of my consult, I had started checking off the 'to do' list pretty quickly. The list was 2 x A4 pages long of...
Clinics, Costs & Consult
My virtual consult appointment was made (since it was still a pandemic, they were doing all initial consults via Zoom!). I was all...
I'm 40... what the hell am I doing. The epiphany.
Let me start by introducing myself and how I came to be writing this blog. My name is Sam, I am an Australian born & bred to an Aussie...