Twinges

The 12-day wait between transfer and blood test can feel like 12 years.  Luckily I have two small humans to help me pass the time.  

Even though I'm busy with the kids, I have noticed some physical sensations that I think are worth noting.  On Monday and Tuesday (the third and fourth days post-transfer) I had some significant cramping.  It was noticable for both days and felt like decent-strengthed period cramps.  I didn't notice any potential pregnancy symptoms Wednesday or Thursday, but I have had many feelings Friday and Saturday.  I described them to Eric as "uterine twinges."  As a veteran pregnant lady, they are very similar to round ligament pain.  It feels way too early to be having these sensations, but I also wonder if my adhesions cause me to be more aware of all tiny movements in my abdomen.  

While slightly uncomfortable, these twinges encourage me to be optimistic about the success of the transfer.  In the event of a failed transfer, the embryo simply disintegrates - there is no bleeding, cramping, or other symptom.  So I'm interpreting the fact that I am noticing some symptoms to mean that good things are happening.  

Since I'm feeling optimistic about my chances of receiving a positive HCG test on Wednesday, I have been fighting the urge to take a home pregnancy test.  My internet research indicates that a home urine test can be accurate as soon as 7-14 days post-transfer.  Once the embryo attatches to the uterine lining, it starts to emit the hormone HCG.  The level of this hormone in a pregnant woman's blood will double every 48 hours (in a healthy pregnancy) and eventually be decetable in blood and urine. So obviously the chances of a home pregnancy test producing accurate results increases with each passing day.  I purchased a 2-pack of pregnancy tests, but have decided not to test until next week to avoid dealing with the emotions that might come with a negative test (especially since there is a decent chance that it could be a false negative this early).   For this exact reason, I chose not to test at home after Elsie's transfer.  But the temptation this time around is greater since this is our last embryo.

So instead of taking a pregnancy test I went back and reread my posts regarding Elsie's transfer and blood test.  According to my entries, I had some light cramping on the third day after transfer, and not other symptoms until the eleventh day after transfer.  On that day I experienced more fatigue, nausea, and some cramping.  I'm having more crampy feelings than I remember feeling with Elsie, but every pregnancy is different.  This IVF cycle is also significantly closer to my most recent pregnancy than Elsie's was to Gavin's pregnancy, so I'm sure my body could be reacting differently as a result of less time between pregnancies.  And we don't even know if I'm pregnant yet!  We still have to wait five more days for blood work.  But I have a really good feeling about this.  ?