Two great questions have been posed in the comment section. First, Shannon basically asked if all 13 fertilized eggs could become embryos. The answer to this question is not a simple "yes" or "no."
To answer this question properly, allow me to back up a moment and tell you that Dr. Silber uses a procedure called Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) to fertilize each egg. ICSI involves the direct injection of a single sperm into each egg. This process ensures that every egg is penetrated; however, the nature of the sperm and egg (genetic make-up, quality, etc.)determines whether fertilization is successful and healthy growth will occur.
It is theoretically possible that all 13 would become viable embryos, but real life studies show that very few have the conditions necessary to thrive. In three days of incubation, 9 of our 13 fertilized eggs failed to develop properly. Therefore, we were blessed with only 4 embryos this morning. Two were transferred into my uterine lining, while the other two have been frozen for a future IVF.
Incidentally, when frozen embryos ("snowflakes") are used for IVF, the process is much simpler and the cost is significantly lower. We are thrilled that we have an opportunity for another pregnancy after this one. It was such a relief to hear the doctor tell us we had four embryos!
Here is a photo of the two embryos transferred during this morning's procedure. During the three days of incubation, the single cells divided several times and became healthy embryos.
As for the second question, Kate wondered if the embryos can split and divide into twins while in utero. The answer is YES. Although it is not typical, embryos sometimes split and become identical twins. So, if I were to be pregnant with the fraternal twins (pictured above) and one of them divided...I'd have both fraternal and identical twins. Triplets altogether!
Thanks for the question, girls. This is such a complicated process that I don't always include all of the details. If there's something you wish to know, feel free to ask! I'm practically a walking IVF encyclopedia.
Thanks for being here! I appreciate your interest and encouragement. Ramona
1 comment:
Praise the Lord for healthy embryos! We'll be praying for rest and relaxation for you and that those little ones continue to grow healthy in your womb. We'll also be praying for a positive pregnancy test next Friday and many weeks of morning sickness (I know it's the not so fun part of pregnancy, but I also remember how comforting it was). Thanks to your dear in-laws for coming to help out during this time - everyone benefits from that!
The Bauers
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