Preparing for IVF: 16 Days and Counting

We are starting the IVF process again to try and have a sibling for my niece.  It worked out so beautifully the first time.  God truly blessed my sister and brother-in-law with a beautiful little girl inside and out.  She's such a happy girl.  I'm going to do my best to document the process, hopefully even better than I did the last time.

About two weeks ago, I began birth control pills (Reclipsen) so that I would have a period and the clinic could put me on a proper medication schedule.  After nine days, I developed a severe headache and nausea related to the Reclipsen and our doctor took me off the meds.  The clinic told me to inform them if I had a bleed anytime within the following week.  Turns out we didn't wait long - two days later I started my period.  That was three days ago.

After starting my period, I began applying estrogen patches to my abdomen, which have to be changed every other day.  The patches will increase in number over the next two weeks as we near the transfer date, but I will need to use them for a total of 64 days.  The transfer is 16 days from now and counting.

We aren't just counting the days down - there is much to do!  My sister is working on all the legal details and travel plans.  She is preparing all the paperwork the Jones Institute requires to do the IVF: contract, consent forms, etc.  It is quite a process.  She and my brother-in-law, and my husband and I all have to be HIV-tested as well.  Though we haven't had to go through a psychological evaluation this time around, the first time before becoming pregnant with my niece, we all had to sit down together and interview with a psychologist, who then had to send a psychological fitness report to the clinic.  Thankfully, the whole process this time is easier, especially since we no longer live in the Norfolk area where the clinic is located.

With homeschooling the kids, my husband in school and working, and me also in school, the time is sure to fly by.  I hope to still have plenty of time to share meaningful moments, details of IVF surrogacy, and any challenges along the way.