So the experience did feel a little strange as a whole. I'll walk you up to the "basting." So we had a two-part appointment, like normal couples, its a team effort. So DH was up to bat for our team first, he had to go to the lab to give the specimen sample. The sample is washed -- technically they separate the seminal fluid from the sperm, then they separate the best sperm from the undesirable ones (no, not like genetic preference for blue eyes or for a girl or boy but the abnormal sperm from the good and healthy ones.) We waited anxiously for this process to take place but I was in no way going to seem impatient (I wanted them to do a great job with this process!) so we headed down to the hospital version of Starbucks and I ordered a hot chocolate to DH's cappuccino. (I would regret this later . . . ) DH also partook of a bagel to my dismay as I just wanted to corral it back up to the waiting room so I could be at the ready when our sample was ready. We anxiously waited for the hour it took already pushing it close to my appointment down at my Dr's office 15 minutes away. "Valerie?" Ah! Yes! They called me, I quickly get to the window and was told to keep the sample warm (the best place to keep it is in the bra she advised, so that's where it went) and she has me sign and smiles with a, "I feel really good with how it turned out." She folded the results and put them in a bag with things to take to my Dr.and sent us on our way. DH and I raced to our car as I called my Dr to alert them we were on our way. "Are you going to check the results?" DH asks. "Yes, of course!" I make sure the sample is good and locked away and carefully retrieve the results scanning for total motile sperm and motility. Ah! It reads in order:
1. Total count post wash: 54.5 million/mL 2. Total motility post wash: 80.7%
3. Volume available for IUI: .50 mL
4. Total number of sperm for IUI: 27.3 million
5. Total number motile sperm for IUI: 22.0 million
I quickly text my cb, actually I send her a picture of the results I couldn't text, finally I give her two numbers and she is as excited as we are at the results. Four months to the day post-op and DH gives a sample that would compete with any other sample of normal fertility. I am so proud! So we are a little more hopeful to try this IUI, before it was just to try something to give us a little better chance at conception; now maybe this could work! We finally get to my Dr's office, we are promptly escorted in (my Dr is in surgery, I'll be prepped and then she'll come down to me) and I undress from the waist down and cover with a gown, then I start to freeze. Teeth chattering, I know its more nerves than the temperature and try to relax. DH always unwavering, begins a game of angry birds. Finally she comes in and brings along her student who is learning (love having extra folks in there, sure, bring 'em all in) and my nurse, Misty, and some other nurse who I think just wanted to check it out. I didn't see all that happened, but felt the speculum go in (so far, normal pap experience) then the student and my Dr disappear from my sight line and I hear her explaining what to do and why its done that way, etc. Then I heard her say, "tiny bit of blood, but its ok, you don't want blood because it causes contractions, but that's a tiny bit, that's ok." I felt discomfort but no complaints dared exited my mouth (I am not ungrateful for what was happening right now). And that's it, she plunged the sample in and this team IUI including DH hoisted me up (I was not allowed to help) and was propped on two pillows and told to lay for 20 minutes. She finally reads the results and exclaims, "Wow! These are great!" She was very happy with DH's sample and tells him he did a good job. Then she says, call us if you get your period, and call us if you don't. She smiled, I thanked her and she left me to baste (as now of course, the hot chocolate is making me need to pee, but I have a bladder of steel and did not pee for another 4 hours). DH had a better view of what was going on than I, but the whole time I just felt detached. Not detached in a negative aspect, but as though this was a start of a new chapter, new chances, new hope, new life maybe, but something different, exciting and definitely, new. I hope all goes well and I know entering yet another TWW will have the same ups and downs, uncertainty, hope and doubt, but I know DH and I are headed in the right direction. Hopefully we'll have a very happy Thanksgiving!
C'mon turkey baby!
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