Not Quite Time to Celebrate Yet

Today has been a day we have been anxiously awaiting. Our gestational carriers had their blood work done this morning to see if they had positive pregnancies. John's carrier, unfortunately, had a negative test. She is willing to try again in approximately 45 days and we are very grateful that she is willing to give it another chance... probably some time in November.

Tom's carrier has a low positive. What does that mean? It means that hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) levels are checked to determine pregnancy. The amount of hCG in a woman's blood is one way that a pregnancy can be detected.

hCG under 5mlU/ml:  Negative, not pregnant

hCG between 5mlU/ml - 25mlU/ml:  Uncertain; possible pregnancy but not definitive

hCG over 25mlU/ml: You are pregnant!

Tom's carrier came in at 5.9 and will be tested again on Monday.

Here is some information I found very helpful:

"As soon as an embryo begins to implant and its root system (trophoblast) begins to invade the uterine lining, it starts to release hCG into the recipient's blood stream. About 12 days after egg retrieval, 7 days after a blastocyst transfer, the woman should have a quantitative beta hCG blood pregnancy test performed. With gestational surrogacy and frozen transfers, no hCG "trigger shot" is administered, so the detection of any amount of hCG in the blood is regarded as significant."

Click here to read the full article.

We may be popping champagne on Monday. Maybe we won't.

We give thanks for these things:

We are thankful for the hope brought to us by the embryos that did not grow.

We are thankful for the possibility that Tom's carrier will end up with more concrete positive news on Monday.

We are thankful that we have another chance with John's carrier.

We are thankful that we have another chance with Tom's carrier if Monday does not bring us the news we hope to hear.

We are thankful for all of your support!

The two embryos on top were John's that did not make it. The two on the bottom are Tom's, that at this moment in time, remain beautiful possibilities.