10 in the Dish

I was literally on the line waiting for the answering service to pick up when the embryology lab called on my other line. I have no idea what took them so long to call and I had finally given in and was going to try to get someone on the phone. I know it has been around forever now, but thank god for call waiting.

Of the 14 thawed (yep, they thawed them ALL), 10 have made it to the dish. Actually, I'm not sure if they're in a dish or in something else. Again, this is pretty consistent with their quoted thaw rates-75% of 14 would be 10.5. I can't say I wasn't hoping for 11, but beggars can't be choosers. Of the 10, the front runners are two embryos that are currently at 7 cells. These two are already ahead of the two that we transferred last cycle (the transfer was the day after thaw, equivalent to today for this cycle). But they looked at them later in the day than they normally would, so it is difficult to say whether they are more advanced or not. Next in line are two embryos that are at 6 cells, three at 5 cells, two at 4 cells and one at 2 cells.

Here's a recap:

2-7 cell
2-6 cell
3-5 cell
2-4 cell
1-2 cell

Here are some sites with pictures of embryos (not ours obviously) if you are interested:

One

Two

Three

Four

According to the embryologist, the ones that are 4-6 cells are all considered "on track" at this stage for a Day 5 transfer and taken with the 2 possibly more advanced embryos, we have 9 embryos in the running. The poor embryo that is at 2 cells likely won't make it, but you never know.

I feel like I should name them and have people gamble on them like horses.

















Which two will make it across the finish line first? Except that if they don't make it to a high-enough quality blast to be re-frozen, they will die and be discarded. Huh, kind of like horses who get injured. I don't think they make them into glue like horses, though. Sorry. Off on a tangent here.

Time to take some deep, cleansing breaths. This cycle has me on pins and needles. Every time the phone rings, my heart starts racing. I was told to expect another phone call from the lab again tomorrow regardless of whether we are on track for a Day 5 transfer (Wednesday), or if they are calling to tell me to get my butt to the surgery center ASAP for a Day 3 transfer (tomorrow). Jeez, if I thought it was difficult to get anything done at work last week, I had no idea. Tomorrow and Tuesday are gonna be tough.