My IVF Journey 1

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. I know and well aware that I've been blogging about a lot about secret journeys. And this is one of it.

My IVF Journey - First cycle

It started end of 2017. My first appointment was on September 11th. Initially it was just to ensure if I have endometriosis, and it led to an interview, and more appointments and tests which confirms that I have no such worries. However it led to my infertility issues, as we have been trying for the past 5years, and not once have we conceived. So the gynae suggest for me to do my HSG test, and was scheduled for it on October 9th. 

The HSG Test

It was nerve wrecking. The whole procedure albeit short, was uncomfortable. Not much of pain - I didn't take any pain relief medications what-so-ever. I survived it. Eventually a little relieved to find both my Fallopian tubes to be blocked. So that was the reason why we never found ourselves conceiving.

It was the hours after, that I felt cramps like never before. My next appointment was scheduled to be on November 6th. We had a series of tests done. All sorts of blood test including HIV tests among the many others. We were given meds to keep and take once we are ready to embark, which I told them it will be early 2018.

Quit my job

As you would have known, I quit my CAD Designer job to get this done - I didn't want interruptions or anything like that during the course.

I was told to attend a seminar in February, but I gave it a miss. I just jumped to the actual counselling on 2nd March, and this is the start of my IVF Journey...

I had to inform them the moment I have my menses for them to calculate and confirm the dates for me to start my medications. We were scheduled for another appointment on 5th April. Then again on 12th April. Of which I was given more Gonal-F and Org (to be injected on the day I am scheduled for a return for a scan)

Stimulation Jabs

I start doing my stimulation jabs on 13th April, and I had to inject myself every evening, and schedules for scans to check how my body reacts to it every 3days or so. The first scan I had was on 17th April. At this point I had 3 follicles, which was a good number considering I have low AMH. Now, I have to inject myself twice a day, the Org in the morning, and Gonal-F in the evenings. My next appointment was scheduled on 20th April, at this point I have 5 follicles and it is growing well to an almost perfect size and was told to return the next day for a final scan before the gynae give a date for my egg retrival. And indeed, she said I am ready for the surgery on Monday, 23rd April.  I had to do an additional jab in wee hours on 22nd April to trigger the growth so I am ready for the surgery.

Egg Retrieval Surgery

23rd came, I was excited, I was very hopeful on this being it. I will have some eggs ready to be fertilized and I will be just waiting for the right time for it to be implanted in me. Sadly, after all the pain I went through.. The gynae came to see me and told me all the follicles retrieved was empty. There was no eggs... It was a failed cycle. 

The next appointment on 26th, was also the day my mom had to do a surgery for her kidney stone. The gynae encouraged me to try again, sadly, I am going to start my new job and it clearly state that I cannot be on long leave and that includes falling pregnant until 31st Dec 2018. So it was on halt.

Gynae was very positive though, and she said we can always do it again 2019, and she would be keen to try different medications route to see if it might trigger better reaction and hopefully get better results. I said okay. 

My journey continues... In the meantime do wish and send us lots of luck!

Until my next journey... in the next entry...
Jun

Wassalam

Peek-a-boo Pattern - Pat-a-cake Romper

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. After what seemed like forever, let me now get down to write on this way overdued pdf pattern that I bought!

The Pat-a-cake Romper by Peek-a-boo was bought like in September 2018!

This is the first one I made, in size 3m and I got a neighbour to put it on her 6mth old baby:

The Pat-a-cake Romper has multiple view options : standard neck or collared, pants length - shorts or long & sleeves - regular short or bubble.

I was quickly commissioned to make another for an older baby, so I made a size 12m.

Then I got keen to do a more girly version - a bubble with cuff sleeve and short length.

A friend quickly grab it off my hands although it is a size bigger, I made a 6m, her baby is going to be 3m - I think. Here she is!

Baby Y reminds me of Baby M with that hair! Oh I miss little babies in my house! Cries and wailing in the middle of the night inclusive! And yes, beside her are some of the gifts I gave to her, along with the rompers that I mailed over. I am so guilty of not visiting this girl!

Alright back to sewing the romper, the instructions were really clear and easy to follow, I like how the placket was done, it was really easy and there are almost no error of not catching the fold for this one. And oh! This pattern can be sewn using knits or woven - the beauty of it! 

It took me approximately 3-6hrs from cut to finish with interruptions and distractions in between, but to keep myself sane, I do 1-2hrs (still with interruptions and distractions!) over 3days to finish two sets.

Definitely okay for a beginner to give this a try as long as you know how to read instructions and go for it!

Oh I made this with a little hack and combination with another pattern (another entry for the details)

Until the next one,

Jun

Wassalam