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Autobiography, Baby, Book, Choice mother, Choosing single motherhood, Donor conception, Early Pregnancy Unit, Female empowerment, Knock yourself up, Memoir, Pregnancy, Single mother by choice, ultrasound, Women's rights, Writer
I can’t take my eyes off the ultrasound monitor. That tiny, indeterminate black dot has grown. In the last few days, it has increased from a 3mm speck to an unambiguous 8mm elliptical blotch. It resembles a miniature universe – fitting for the child who will one day become my universe.
“I can see the yolk,” says the sonographer (a different woman to last time and one with whom I feel much more confident). “There’s no foetal pole yet but they don’t always develop by this stage.”
My heart halves its pace as the relief sinks in. My ovaries also seem on the mend, slightly less swollen than at the previous scan.
My friend and her adorable four-year-old son are waiting for me in the Early Pregnancy Unit waiting room. She hugs me when I tell her the good news and the little boy puts down his crayons for long enough to cheer at the fact I am happy.
The consultant confirms that the EPU is satisfied with the scans and no longer worried. She books me in for a final scan on 5th February to make sure the embryo is developing.
“There’s no sign of the other embryo. There’s a small possibility it’s still hiding but I’m nearly 100% certain that it’s not ectopic.”
“Is there anything I should or shouldn’t be doing?”
“Not really. Just avoid heavy exercise.”
Not a problem!
Very happy to hear the good news! You must feel so much relief in comparison to a few days ago
I’m sleeping again! Not out of the woods yet, but a step closer x
Your little embryo seems to be making good progress. Just take one day at a time. That’s all you can do really. It’s a long road but worth it, it’s the only way to get what you want. As I said before, heartbeat is usually detected between 6-7 weeks. 5 Feb would make you well after 7 weeks I’m guessing. I’m sure you can always push for a scan a bit earlier to reassure you. That’s why they’re called reassurance scans. I had them at 6, 8, and 10 weeks. Your GP can refer you for them if you want. Take care of yourself
Thank you, Jen. I’m happy to wait until the 7 weeks now. I think that scanning before would just worry me. Concentrating on staying healthy and watching out for danger signs like bleeding or pain.
This is fantastic news! I’m so very happy for you!
Oh congratulations! I have been thinking of you since your last post
x
Congratulations!
Wonderful! Yippee!
Congratulations from another Choice Mom! I didn’t use IVF but I remember well all the angst of TTC and early pregnancy. There’s nothing to do except wait it out, but try to enjoy it all the same. It’s your own little miracle!
Hello
A great well done thus far to you. I wonder if you wouldn’t mind going back to your 21 Dec post, now that you’ve gone through the actual IVF, and assessing to see if your initial cost estimate have held up, or you have gone over? I found your original figure very reasonable indeed and would be very interested to hear if you managed to keep to the spend. I too am contemplating a solo journey and am researching costs. Thank you very much!
Thank you again for your kind words. They are really keeping me going. May, I’ve just updated that post with a comment showing the couple of extra costs I incurred. There may be slightly cheaper IVF options but I was please with the route I chose and the service. The slight downside of an overseas clinic is that you aren’t monitored as closely and carefully as you might be with a UK clinic, but I would never choose for UK treatment unless there is a revolution in prices that bring costs down. Wishing you all the very best, whichever route you choose.