New to this board (lc/loss mentioned)

[luvbats]

Hi all,
I've been posting on the surrogacy bb but I have an IVF question we thought you all would be able to help me with...

A brief background on me:
I am 36/dh 40. I am very fortunate to have two sons, 15 and 13 from a previous marriage. DH and I have no living children together. In the course of our 2 year marriage we have lost 2 babies to prematurity. Sam born @25 weeks in 8/03, died 25 days later. Samantha born @22 weeks on 6/19/04. Emergency hysterectomy post delivery rendered me infertile. I have ovaries, cervix. DH and I got pregnant easily both times. Our hearts have been broken.

Now...we have a wonderful surrogate and we are currently getting ready to start 3rd cycle....
First cycle retrieved 9 eggs-6 fertilized-2 3day embies transferred=BFN. 2nd try 4 frozen-4 thawed-2 grow to blasts and transferred = BFN. Now waiting for 3rd cycle to begin end of April.
My question:
RE wants to go directly to blasts. I would love to hear any of you and your experiences/advice on this topic. Please be honest
The more information I have the better I feel about my choices. As you all know there are so many variables and time and money involved....and especially emotions.
Thank you in advance for anything you can offer me.
Hugs
Stella

[jillgalindo]

Hi Stella,

I am so sorry for you losses . I don't know what I can tell you as I am doing my first IVF. But I just wanted to say hi and welcome.

[BC-KarenS-MI]

Hi Stella,
First off, I'm so sorry for the terrible, tragic losses that you've endured. It just breaks my heart when I read your words.

You don't say how many cells your embryo's were at transfer or what the quality was, but just based on the fact that you've had 2 unsuccessful blast cycles, honestly, I would refuse to allow my little ones to be taken to blast this time around. It seems that perhaps your little ones don't do so well in the dish for that length of time. I would insist that they be transferred at day 3, no if's, and's or but's!

Some people's embryo's do well in the dish, but others just don't & they do much better in their natural environment. There are things that the body and only the body can give to those little ones & that could be all the difference between success & failure. My RE told me before we started on our 2nd cycle (it was our first with him) that the little ones do better in you than they do in a dish.

Good luck with your decision!! BTW, weekends here are usually pretty slow, but add a holiday weekend & it's even slower!! Your post isn't being ignored, it's just not a hoppin' place here this weekend!!

If you want some cycle buddies during your next cycle, come back & post with us! We'd love to have you on board!! You'd be part of the April Baby Showers group & have loads of cycle buds!!

Karen

[BC-Sirell]

Hi there, Stella.

I'm so glad you took my advice and asked your questions of these wonderful ladies. They are very, very knowledgeable and will help in any way they can.

Big hugs!


Sirell

[AmyLeigh]

Hi Stella... Gosh, I am so sad to read about your losses and all the things you and DH have been through... you seem to be very determined and it is good to ask questions !!

Ok... I agree with everything Karen has said. It is your money, your body, your life/future.... I too would almost demand NOT to do the Blast Transfer this time... 2 have failed already, try something different... maybe a 2 day or a 3 day transfer instead. The embryos are best when back in their natural environment, IMO.. some will say having them grow to Blastocysts give them a "leg up" once transferred.

This is a wonderful place for information, support and friendship... we are all here for you !!! xoxoox

[noweapon]

Hi Stella,

I understanding from reading your post that you have had two transfers that were 2-3 days transfers. I'm in the same boat, I have had two IVF's both BFN from a 3-day transfer and my RE is suggesting for this 3rd and final try to take my embies to a 5 day blast. The reason for this is because he wants to see if my eggs are good by observing which eggs actually grow to blast which would improve my implantation results of the embies. To me it is worth a try. I hops this helps.

LH