What calms me? Hmmm...Reading! Perfect. I pulled a book I'd been reading off and on out of my nightstand and settled down with a bottle of water, trying not to wake the snoring beast next to me. Fat chance. LOL. An hour into my book, I realized my mistake as I reached over for a tissue to wipe my eyes and blow my nose. What did I choose to read on the cheerful morning of my embryo transfer? The Fault In Our Stars. Yep. Fantastic choice, eh? I know every hopeful mother-to-be looks forward to starting her transfer day out with a terrifyingly sad book about dying children in love. Bah!
As I pulled myself together for the second time that morning, I decided to just get my day started. I made a little breakfast, picked out a comfortable outfit and did a little puttering about. Before I knew it, it was time to go. Geesh! I was such a ball of nerves that I'd forgotten I needed a full bladder and just tee-teed. You see, before the embryo(s) can be transferred to their home, the bladder must be so full that it makes the rear of the uterus visible on an ultrasound. That way, the RE can see where he's going with the pipette and make sure that the little embies get to their destination, rather than floating in space. Eeeeeek! I was way behind. I grabbed a 33 oz bottle of water, and we headed for the door. I drank the whole way there and shooing away the hub's complaints that I was drinking too fast. "Slow down!" he'd said. "You're going to pee in the car!" Oh, please. I know me, and I know my notoriously slow bladder. I had a good hour before that liquid would make it anywhere near it's exit.
We arrived in perfect timing for me to need to use the ladies'. Ok, truthfully...I had about 20 minutes of life left before I would explode...but that's just where I needed to be to avoid the dreaded catheter. (See post from last FET. That catheter ain't no joke!) Unfortunately, as the hubs was helping me change into my super-flattering hospital gown, and the nurse was badgering me with pre-op questions, we all realized just how close I was to losing it. She asked what was wrong and I told her I had a super full bladder, just as ordered. "Oh! Hon....you've got two patients ahead of you and your RE isn't even down here yet. You'll want to go ahead and empty now. We can start over then." Whaaaaaaaaat?!?!?!?! I realize that the feelings of murderous anger I felt were not a great way to welcome my newly thawed beans, but it just couldn't be helped. She wheeled me to the bathroom, apprehensively asking me why I thought I had to arrive full. "Um...no reason. Only that the nurse in the office TOLD ME TO!" I barked. I went in, relieved myself, and came out feeling like a new woman. I apologized to the pre-op nurse and explained that my stress was a little out of control. She said she'd remind the office staff about procedure so that this didn't happen again.
I waited another 45 minutes before I heard my doctor's voice booming through the lab rooms. He came in to say hello and show us a picture of our little defrosted beans. "Gorgeous!" I said. As doc handed them over to the hubs, he whispered, "I think these two look just like mom." Cheeky bugger. The hubs had been water boarding me for the last half an hour, and I was sure my bladder was near bursting again. I called the nurse to my room to ask what to do, and she offered to let me "release" just a bit...enough to make it bearable. Who DOES that?! Who can tee tee just a little bit? When you gotta go, you gotta go, right? I gathered my wits and went for it. The RE was JUST getting started on #1 and I had another after her to wait for. It was do or die...again. I almost didn't make it to the restroom! Ladies, if I could say one thing about this full bladder requirement, its that you make sure you know your body's limits! LOL. Half a pee and two more solo cups of water later, I was being drugged for my turn. They got me all strapped in to the gravity chair (you know, the one where you lay back and they elevate your bum?), and prepped for ultrasound. This time, my tech was super caring and took care to gingerly scan my tummy while she guided the RE's tools. "Whoa!" he bellowed. My head craned up to see what the fuss was about. Everyone in the room was shocked at how well they could see the back of my uterus (aka bullseye), commenting on my amazingly full bladder.
I grabbed on to the hubs' hand and squeezed as the RE placed a total of three, yes THREE instruments up my hoo ha to deliver my embies home. I just can't, for the life of me, see why everyone thinks there's an infinite amount of room in there! The whole thing took about 10 minutes, once I was in the chair (they've taken to calling my RE "quick draw"). I was then wheeled back to my room for a little post-op nap. The drugs were taking effect nicely and I finally was able to feel my body relax. I fell asleep to the hubs stroking my head and telling me how much he loved me and our beans.
I am officially PUPO (pregnant until proven otherwise) again! According to my RE's protocol, I'm on bed rest for the next two days. No walking around without necessity, no exercise, no lifting anything, no getting excited. Today is only day two and frankly, I am bored. to. tears....but whatever I've gotta do to give my beans a good oven, I'm on it! Only two weeks until my beta....when I'll get to find out whether I'm pregnant again! How on earth will I be able to distract myself? I'm already talking to them!