These aren't just any eggs, these are tree range eggs.

[treedelivery]

Hi. I am just at the begining of an egg donation cycle. I am donating to friends of very very good friends who have had several cycles and have reached this point.

I started a thread previously, but have started one with donation in the title, I think lots of people think about donating or recieving donor eggs, and so I thought this might be interesting.

This is the 2nd day of treatment.

I have 2 girls, 5yo and nearly 9 months. I have wound up the breastfeeding onver the last few weeks to allow the treatment to commence. It was hard juggling the needs of the baby against the needs of the couple - I think I hit a good half way house. 8 months exclusive bring is nothing to sniff at from bubba pov [though I think she would go and go an go], and 8 months wait was quite enough for this couple. In my opinion, they have been nothing but accomodating and thoughtfull and lovely and would have waited and waited. It must be so hard for them thuugh.

I kind of hope to relactate - that will be another thread!

So here we go, wish us luck. I'm hoping the power of mumsnet will send many positive vibes our way.

Bring on the questions btw - I'm really happy to answer and explain anything.

[treedeLivingDeadery]

Thursday tomorrow. Wow. 3 weeks have gone by. Scary.

AM on an 8.45 train, have packed 100 nappies and some rattles, will have to do bottles etc in the morning. It was much easier when I just had to bring the boobs. Also remembered pushchair is caked in mud, even the hood. DH has promised to clean it this eve, but he is doozing in chair with dd2 . Am going to try get back home for 6 ish, to try get to a bonfire with dd1. Quite looking forward to going, lots of snuggles and plays with dd2. Not so much returning, rush hour with pushchair and baby.

gp's are arriving at 7.30 to help with the morning bedlam and do the school run with dd1, they will pick her up and take her to her evening class thingie, dh will get her at 5.45.

It's a family effort!!!

So wish me luck, this isn't a crucial scan as such - I guess the one to see what I have grown will be the biggie. Still, it would be noce if it all went smoothly and to plan.

[peanuthead]

Tree - what's the latest? How did the scan go?

[treedeLivingDeadery]

Right - update.

Well, I was a bit gobsmaked as my ovaries and uterus hadn't responded as they should have. I nearly told the sonographer to look again

So we couldn't move onto the stimulation phase, we have to give me some more hormones [progesterone now] ontop of the injections. Hopefully I will have another period in the next week, either way I am having a scan in about 10 days.

So the first few tablets made me feel really quite whoosy and tingly. I seem to have got used to them now though, and take them last thing at night, which also helps.

So fingers crossed all will behave now!!

[swampster]

[tickles ovaries and uterus with those pom poms]

[treedeLivingDeadery]

[treedelivery]

Last day of progesterone. Yay!!

Had a wibble today that I had eaten too many or generally made a boob as I thought it was a week of meds. It's 5 days so they are right, not me. Of course.

Can expect period in next few days. Lucky me. I havent had periods proper since 2003 [babies and merina coil] so not wildly impressed with 2 in a month malarky! Hey ho its no bother really.

[EdgarAllenPoo]

what were your uterus and ovaries meant to be doing? popping with little eggy-weggs?

don't they overstimulate to get more than one?

what treatment does the receiving ady have to take to ensure the eggs have a hom to go to at the right time??

gets lion stamp and date mark out

[treedelivery]

They are all meant to be lying down quitely and having a rest. Not gently vibrating and desperate to pop one.
Hopefully the progesterone will knock them out. Like childrens neurofen on top of calpol

Yes, they ask the body to go for it and produce eggs on both sides and more than one.

Mum to be will be down regulating, then held in a holding pattern until it's time to land. Then she will be put into a pregnancy recieving mode. So nice bulky uterus, with a featherdown duvet and the heating on.

Timing is everything - can you imagine if it all misfired and something like 12 eggs shot off and we missed them I'd never dare have sex again!!

[treedelivery]

We have withrawal bleed/period. Hurrah!!

[treedelivery]

So did any of you other donors or indeed IVF cycle mums need the extra down regulation drugs? I was a bit [shocked]. As lonng as it works though I don't care in the least.

[treedelivery]

Ok - we have more withdrawal bleeding. This is good!! Have scan booked for Tuesday and childcare arranged. Hurrah!

So hopefully I can then start the stimulation cycle. It was soooooo dissappointing not to be able to star last Thurs, that I am very much hoping Tuesday will be a go.

Fingers crossed. Bored of periods.

[treedelivery]

HURRRAH!! Had scan today and I am down regulated and can now start the next phase. Stimulation.

It will be so nice to have a different drug regime. Sign of the times and all that. SOooooo glad progress has been made and that we are back on course.

Off to figure out how to mix this new med. Hope it doesn't sting, its a bigger volume. EEk!

Felt giddy with pleased relief today. Been out all day as the clinic is a good train journey. So just back this eve, did a bit of window shopping in the big smoke after the scan, to celebrate.

Back for a scan in a week, and then it really hots up and becomes more scan intensive. My mum is working all week so can't provide school run childcare so think I will be asking many favours of many people nest week! At the very least I am out 8am to 5pm.

Off to inject and sleep, am wiped out.

[peanuthead]

Hooray Tree! I've only ever done the stimulating bit - the injections I had did't hurt and only side effects were a swollen belly and ovulation pains nearer the time of ec - but then as I only got 2 follicles and no eggs maybe I'm not the most typical example....

You're nearly through it all anyway.

[treedelivery]

Have had 2 days of the 2 injection regime and it's fine. Bit of a faff to mix, and I have a whopper headache today. I think that is becasue my neck is out rather than the new drug though.

I hope anyway

Thanks for that info peanuthead

[treedelivery]

Well, blow me these 2 injections really really bruise!! I think its the new mix. I have really black bruises, one is 2" across. Dh goes green when he sees it

Not long till Tuesday.....

Don't want to wish life away as am on mat leave and want time to stand still, but then I want to zip forward and see the bubba

[treedelivery]

Now a bit worried as feeling really quite rough. Headache and sickky. Have a neurosis about overstimulation - although when I asked about symptoms of this last week the nurse said that would be futher into stimulation.

Probably just side effects. AT least it is having an effect I guess, but really not so good this eve. AM relieved scan is tomorrow. Have probably eaten something dodgy and have a headache because I am tired!

[Caitni]

tree I'm following your progress with interest (currently 26 weeks after IVF where I egg shared - fully altruistic donation is wonderful ).

It's good to be worried about OHSS - check out the assisted conception thread, as mummycat recently had to abandon a cycle due to OHSS. She does provide an insight into symptoms/how it develops though. Lots of water helps and good luck for the scan [sending eggy vibes]

[treedelivery]

Oooo I will check it out now. I guess with the scan being tomorrow there is no need to worry as such but I do feel rough. I wish clinic had told me to drink. I have actually hardly drank at all this last few days as have been busy!

Many congratulations!!

[treedelivery]

Wrote message and it got eaten! Strange.

Ok, so had the scan today. Journey was a bit full on as dd2 cried most of the 2.5 hours, and I felt pants. Left at 8.20 and back at 7.10 so it is a fair old day with my hormone head.

Got [I think] 9 follicles. Sizes 10-18, but most 16. Only one 10, and a 14, some 16's, some 18's. SO I am a bit upset about the number to be honest, but pleased at the way the sizes are spread.

Bit confused!! I don't know if I should feel positive or negative. Lord, if I am no more halp than if they tried again themselves!! That would be awful. They are spending so much money on my treatments.

Back tomorrow [hope dd2 is calmer on the train] and then we decided if harvest is Friday or Saturday.

WOuld value some info on these numbers and how they sound to experienced people!

[EdgarAllenPoo]

ooh just catching up after a busy period, hurray for starting stimulation though it does seem to be making you sicky -

hope it's all worth it in the end.

will they have finished all this before xmas?

[treedelivery]

Will have finished by the weekend!!! For me anyway.

They should be cooked by Fri or Sat, then replaced into the mum-to-be on Monday or Tuesday.

I think there is then a 2 week wait for a pregnancy test. That will be a long 2 weeks.

[Northernlurker]

Tree - you are doing a lovely, lovely thing here. No experience of IVF but 9 follicles sounds pretty good to me - that is a lot of chances - nearky a year's worth of eggs if you were ttc by the 'traditional' method! Hope all goes well for the collection.

[treedelivery]

Thank you Northern. Am in need of cheer tonight so it is nice to hear good vibes.

[Northernlurker]

Now then, don't get down. You are doing everything you can for these folks, more than most people would or could do. You are giving them a great shot at this but if it works or not is not in your or their hands. Nothing you do or have done will reduce their chances or increase them - it is what it is. Just think hatching thoughts

Come on little eggs! Isn't musmnet wonderful - only here do you end up rooting for somebody's follicles

I think you need some chocolate - got any in? Fudge Brownie ice cream would do as well - or cake at a push?

[treedelivery]

OOOO you know what, today I had a folicle stimulatory burger of falafel, halloumi cheese, hummous and roasted pepper. It was blardy marvellous.

I live in a cultural void where falafel would need to be googled, so I enjoyed that burger to the max.

Good advice - Cheers me dear.

Can't believe the weight gain!! Pounds and pounds in days. Mental. Feel like am wearing swimming ring around my waist. I think thats why I thought I would have a vineyard bunch of grapes on each side, not 9.

Ah well. Who needs 9 babies. 1 or 2 will do nicely.