Surrogacy Blog #10: Beginning the medications to prepare for surrogacy & pregnancy

My personalized box o’goodies from the Portland pharmacy had arrived via USPS bursting with vials, syringes, pills, disinfecting wipes, directions and more.

I laughed as I rummaged through it. This is a lot of medicine! My naive reproductive system had no idea what was about to happen.  I snapped a photo and sent it to Anders and Johan in Sweden. “Let’s make a baby!” was my caption.

The directions were clearly labeled and thankfully included photos. The fertility clinic even had videos online to help eliminate any confusion or questions. I read and re-read the instructions and calendar until I had every dosage and schedule memorized. Oral antibiotics to ensure a clean, healthy slate. Then shots in my abdomen to stop my ovulation, which begin about a month before the embryo transfer is scheduled. Additional shots in my lower back prepare my body to accept the embryo transfer about a week ahead, and continue a couple of weeks into the pregnancy. These, along with baby aspirin and pre-natal vitamins, would help ensure a successful embryo transfer.

Having had many holes poked in my ears and one in my belly button as a teenager, the injections for the IVF meds did not faze me. The shots in my abdomen were barely noticeable. I did them myself – just a quick dart in and out. A few small bruises were scattered near my belly button but besides that, these Estradiol injections were very straightforward and barely noticeable.

The Progesterone in Oil injections were given in my lower back. The injections are designed to be self-administered, but it was easier for Aaron to give them to me. He was just beginning nursing school; this was great practice for him and I liked knowing that he had a small inkling of what he was doing. The placement for these was trickier. Even though I used my hands to measure every time, my placement was sometimes slightly off and it could really burn! Occasionally, it hurt more than others and I wondered what kind of tricks Aaron was playing on me. Afterall, we had just come off a long and bumpy aspect of our relationship. The few jokes I attempted about this did not go over well and I realized I should not anger the person giving me shots.

The Medrol pills were an oral hormone. Swallow that one quick – that tiny pill packs a punch of unpleasant aftertaste.

And my friends think the shots are the bad part!

I’d never been overly emotional or hormonal during my periods or my first pregnancy, but my emotional state was definitely heightened during these injections. Perhaps knowing the great steps being taken to create this new little life for my Swedes is what had me so sensitive. So many people were brought together and were working so diligently to bring this little one into the world.

I’m not even pregnant yet and I can’t wait for the dads to meet their baby!

Thankfully the fertility clinics includes a personalized calendar so it’s easy to keep track of the daily medications!