We Are Back...

 

Surprise!

We are back after 2 years since our last post, and what a 2 years it has been!

Our wedding and baby making plans were put further on hold due to Covid in March 2020 BUT we finally got married a year after we originally planned on 13th October 2021 marking our 6 year anniversary. 

  

We got Christmas out the way then re-applied for funding for IVF as we live in a different borough to when we last applied. This was again turned down so we have managed to save up for most of the amount needed for the IVF part of the process. Of course, we still have the money donated previously so that is being used so thank you so much again to everyone that helped. 

We contacted a few clinics near us in December - some didn't get back to us and some only did IVF and not the surrogacy part of the process so we did find it quite limiting on options. However, we were contacted back by Herts and Essex Fertility Clinic and they were so helpful and lovely from the first phone call so we have signed up with them. They are an hour away (depending on traffic at the QE2 bridge/tunnels) but it is easy to get to, easy to park at and there is a cafe round the corner if we get there early :)

We had our first appointment towards the end of January - it should have been originally in the middle of Jan, however, I decided to have pneumonia and be hospitalised on New Years Day so we put it back until we were in a better situation. We arrived early so took advantage of the cafe and then were seen straight through to a room and answered lots of questions and had our questions answered. I gave them the long list of my medications and we had our first 'tests'. This test was to check my hormone levels and Josh's sperm and we would have the results given to us in a few weeks time over an online appointment with the doctor. I'm pleased to say both tests were normal - woohoo - I am normal in one area of my body and life at least! Josh also picked up a little souvenir from the clinic.... his sperm stress ball 😆

Our next appointment was in the first week of February to get the results of our first tests that I have just mentioned and to meet the doctor and for him to talk through the process and answer any further questions. He was really nice and explained everything really clearly. Due to my health issues with my breathing and lungs, I will not be able to have my egg retrieval done under a sedation so will have to have just a local. This is because they are not attached to a hospital so didn't want to risk messing with my breathing incase anything went wrong. Bit worried about that, however, he assured me it will be fine and others have it done that way. They will manage the pain still and be there to support me. It is a 10-15 minute procedure so I will have to grit my teeth and get on with it. 

We both have access to an online portal linked with the clinic. This is where they can send us forms to sign and get us to watch and read the different areas of the process so we understand what can or does happen. It is really helpful to have and we had a further online appointment with a nurse at the end of February, she went through the forms and made sure we were happy to sign. She then booked in our next appointment and gave us some provisional dates for our treatment plan. 

Our next appointment is in middle of March. This is for our health checks including blood tests and an ultrasound for me, to check the follicles and basically have an initial look around in there! Following this appointment, she worked out my menstrual cycle dates and they are looking at starting my medication regime a week after this appointment. The medication regime is roughly 2 weeks long and is given to make me produce as many eggs as possible ready to be used. I will then be brought in for the egg retrieval and Josh will provide his sperm sample and they make the embryos straight away. This is all scheduled for the first week in April.     

So we have a plan in place for now and a rough schedule which is exciting but nerve racking too. Just hope it goes as well as it possibly can. We need to start 'looking' for a lovely lady to carry our little baby now we have started the process. This is the part that worries me as I worry we won't find anyone and no one will come forward. I will talk more about that later but for now, we are happy and have a busy month ahead. Will update you all again after our appointment in a few weeks time!