The wait to find out if any embryos made it to the crucial day 5 felt like an eternity - waiting, hoping, and trying to stay calm as every moment weighs heavy with anticipation and uncertainty. The emotional toll of this process is immense, and I’ve spent lots of time cuddling with my pup and working on a puzzle to keep my mind occupied.

Day 3: A Glimmer of Hope

On day 3, we received a call from the clinic with some promising news. Of the 10 eggs that had fertilised, 7 had made it to day 3 embryos. This felt like a good result, and the embryologist reassured us that it would be highly unlikely for none of them to make it to day 5. Hearing this was a relief, but I couldn’t shake the worry that we might end up with nothing. Nothing is ever guaranteed with IVF and I always try to remain realistic. Although I kept reminding myself that these experts knew what they were doing, the fear still lingered.

Day 5: The Big Unknown

Day 5 arrived, and it truly felt like the longest stretch of time. We headed to the clinic with no idea if we had any day 5 embryos or if a fresh transfer would even be possible. Despite the uncertainty, I decided to go ahead with my pre-transfer acupuncture session, holding on to a small hope that everything would align for us.

From the very beginning, it had been made clear that I was at high risk of OHSS, meaning we’d likely have to freeze any embryos. Every tracking appointment pointed in that direction, but deep down, I couldn’t help but wish for a fresh transfer.

The Unexpected News: A Fresh Transfer

When we arrived at the clinic, they performed scans, and to our surprise, there was no fluid in my ovaries. The embryologist then shared the news we’d been waiting for: we had two good-quality embryos, one graded 4BB and another 3BB. Even better, we could proceed with a fresh transfer. There was another 2 embryos that they were monitoring with the hope that they would catch up to where they needed to be and could be frozen too. They advised that if they did catch up, they would call us with the good news later in the day. If we didn't hear from them, that meant we had just the 1 embryo frozen.

The transfer itself was a surreal experience, with the most uncomfortable part being the full bladder required for the ultrasound. The procedure was relatively quick compared to egg collection, and Dan was able to be by my side. During the transfer, the embryo is placed into the uterus using a thin catheter, with the hope that it will implant itself into the uterine lining and develop into a pregnancy.

Everyone talks about the "flash" you might see during the embryo transfer. The "flash" on the screen is a brief moment visible on the ultrasound when the embryo, along with a small amount of fluid, is expelled from the catheter into the uterus. It's not the embryo itself that creates the flash, but rather the air or fluid that moves as the embryo is released. This flash helps the doctor confirm that the embryo has been successfully placed in the intended location within the uterus. We watched the screen intently, but we didn’t see the flash to indicate that the embryo had been successfully placed. The embryologist then examined the medical equipment under a microscope to check if the embryo was still there, but it wasn’t. That means it can only be in one place - exactly where it was meant to be - inside of me!

Disappointment and Relief

Leaving the clinic, I had mixed feelings. I was grateful for the fresh transfer and the one embryo we had frozen, but I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. There was so much pressure on these two embryos to work. The thought of going through another full round of IVF, with all its mental and physical tolls, felt too close for comfort.

But then, on our drive home, the clinic called. Since they said they would only call with good news, we immediately knew something had changed. They told us that the two remaining embryos had developed well and were now graded 4BB, just like the one we had transferred. They were both suitable for freezing.

This was the first moment in the entire IVF process where I felt a true sense of relief. Dan even said that he could see the weight lifting off my shoulders. This pivotal moment meant we had three embryos suitable for a frozen transfer, giving us three more chances at pregnancy. The fear of another egg collection didn’t feel so overwhelming anymore.

The Dream Outcome

At the start of our IVF cycle, the best-case scenario for us was to have a fresh transfer and a couple of embryos to freeze. Now, that dream has become a reality. We couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome in our first IVF cycle. I know this isn’t the reality for everyone, and my heart truly goes out to all the IVF warriors who continue to fight through this process.

Entering the Two-Week Wait

Now, we enter the infamous two-week wait to find out if we are pregnant. After years of trying to conceive and never seeing a positive line on a pregnancy test, I am beyond grateful to have this chance. Holding on to hope, I’m taking it one day at a time, knowing that whatever happens, we’ve come so far.

Justine x