• Timeline
  •  

    Menstrual Cycle: Introduction

    The average length of the menstrual cycle is 28 days. More

    menstrual
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    Menstrual Cycle: Days 1-5

    Day 1 of menstruation is the first day of your cycle. More

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    Menstrual Cycle: Days 1-13

    Days 1-13 of your menstrual cycle are the "follicular phase" More

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    Menstrual Cycle: Days 10-18

    Days 10-18 of your menstrual cycle are considered the "ovulatory phase". More

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    Menstrual Cycle: Days 15-28

    Days 15-28 of your menstrual cycle are considered the "luteal phase". More

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    IUI: Introduction

    With intrauterine insemination (IUI), a doctor uses a soft catheter to place sperm directly into the uterus. More

    iui
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    IUI: Day 1

    Fertility drug injections begin at the start of the your menstrual cycle. More

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    IUI: Day 2

    Follicles begin to respond to the fertility drugs and grow. More

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    IUI: Day 3

    Daily fertility drug injections cause your follicles to continue to grow. More

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    IUI: Day 4

    Your follicles continue to grow. More

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    IUI: Day 5

    As the follicles respond to the fertility drugs, your doctor will monitor your progress with vaginal ultrasound. More

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    IUI: Day 6

    Your body is producing more estrogen and your uterine lining begins to thicken. More

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    IUI: Day 7

    Fertility drug injections continued and you are monitored for ovulation. More

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    IUI: Day 8

    Daily fertility drug injections continue and follicles continue to grow. More

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    IUI: Day 9

    Your follicles are still developing and you continue fertility drug injections. More

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    IUI: Day 10

    You discontinue using injectable fertility drugs. More

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    IUI: Day 11

    The hCG trigger shot is injected to help follicles mature and release the eggs. More

  •  

    IUI: Day 12

    Your follicles and eggs are almost mature. More

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    IUI: Day 13

    Ovulation occurs. More

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    IUI: Day 14

    Sperm is washed and you are inseminated when you are ovulating. More

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    IUI: Day 15

    The embryo, now in the fallopian tube, will continue to divide. More

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    IUI: Day 16

    The embryo continues to grow. More

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    IUI: Day 17

    The embryo travels from the fallopian tube to the uterus. More

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    IUI: Day 18

    Hormone levels continue to increase. More

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    IUI: Day 19

    The uterine lining is now 8-12 mm thick. More

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    IUI: Day 20

    Your embryo is working to ultimately attach to the lining of your uterus. More

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    IUI: Day 21

    Your embryo will attach to your uterine lining. More

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    IUI: Day 22

    The embryo is starting to implant. More

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    IUI: Day 23

    The embryo continues to implant. More

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    IUI: Day 25

    Your body begins to produce hCG and progesterone production continues. More

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    IUI: Day 26

    The embryo continues to grow, and progesterone support continues. More

  •  

    IUI: Day 27

    The embryo continues to grow. More

  •  

    IUI: Day 28

    A blood pregnancy test will determine if you are pregnant. More

  •  

    IVF: Introduction

    More

    ivf
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    IVF: Day 1

    On Day 1 of your IVF cycle, you'll begin fertility drug injections. More

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    IVF: Day 2

    On Day 2 of your IVF cycle, you'll continue fertility drug injections. More

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    IVF: Day 3

    Your follicles continue to grow as they respond to the fertility drug injections. More

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    IVF: Day 4

    Your follicles continue to grow as you continue daily fertility drug injections. More

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    IVF: Day 5

    As you continue to use fertility drugs you will be monitored by your fertility doctor. More

  •  

    IVF: Day 6

    The lining of your uterus is beginning to thicken as you continue fertility drug injections. More

  •  

    IVF: Day 7

    Daily fertility drug injections continue, and your fertility doctor may start monitoring hormone levels. More

  •  

    IVF: Day 8

    You'll continue fertility drug injections and follicles will continue to grow. More

  •  

    IVF: Day 9

    You'll continue fertility drug injections and follicles will continue to grow. More

  •  

    IVF: Day 10

    You'll stop using fertility drugs at this point in your IVF cycle. More

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    IVF: Day 11

    Once your body has responded to the fertility drugs, you'll receive an hCG injection (trigger shot) and egg retrieval will be scheduled. More

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    IVF: Day 12

    Your eggs are almost mature, and are ready for egg retrieval. More

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    IVF: Day 13

    At this stage of the IVF cycle, your eggs are retrieved and fertilized. More

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    IVF: Day 14

    Your eggs are fertilizing in the lab. More

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    IVF: Day 15

    Embryos will continue to develop, and if PGD has been scheduled the procedure will take place. More

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    IVF: Day 16

    Usually on Day 16 of your IVF cycle your embryo transfer will take place. More

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    IVF: Day 17

    The embryo is in your uterus, and cells continue to divide and increase. More

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    IVF: Day 18

    The embryo continues to grow and hormone levels increase. More

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    IVF: Day 19

    The lining of your uterus is now 8-12 mm thick. More

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    IVF: Day 20

    Your embryo is working to attach to the lining of your uterus. More

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    IVF: Day 21

    The embryo attaches to the uterine lining. More

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    IVF: Day 22

    The embryo begins to implant in the uterine lining. More

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    IVF: Day 23

    The embryo continues implanting in the uterine lining. More

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    IVF: Day 24

    More

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    IVF: Day 25

    Your embryo continues to grow and progesterone continues to be produced. More

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    IVF: Day 26

    Your implanted embryo continues to grow. More

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    IVF: Day 27

    The implanted embryo continues cell division. More

  •  

    IVF Cycle: Day 28

    It's time to take a blood pregnancy test. More

The Miracle of Life

The Miracle of Life

a blog by Murgdan

You there with the rounded belly;
Talking on your cell phone and dragging your toddler along behind you,
his arm twisting, losing his step trying to keep up with you,
while your attention is focused on your conversation, your plans, your business,
your new pair of shoes.
Please be mindful of the miracle.

You there in the grocery store line;
Digging in your purse and writing your check while you scream at your child that
you wish she were never born,
slapping her haphazardly on her arm, her leg, her bottom
while she reaches for packets of candy bars and mint flavored gum.
Please be mindful of the miracle.

For 80-something percent of the population, getting pregnant is a mindless act that happens on accident, on purpose, and accidentally on purpose. There is not always thought, or consideration beforehand. Pregnancy may be a surprise, a shock, a regret. It may be a blessing, a plan, or a mistake. It is merely a state of being that a large number of women are in every minute of every day. It is. It simply is.

Maybe it was a one-night stand, a fling, a short-term relationship. Maybe it was an accident, a broken condom, or a forgotten pill. Maybe you didn’t want this, or maybe you made it happen. Many women spend a large portion of their lives trying to prevent pregnancy from occurring. It becomes a condition to be avoided, yet sometimes the plans are thwarted. It happens anyway.

Maybe you planned it this way. You met. You fell in love. You married. You bought a house with four bedrooms. You filled them quickly. There was no effort, no calculating, no saving. You feel blessed. You feel grateful. You have the family you always wanted. It happened. It happens to everyone. It’s easy. There is no fuss. These are dreams that come true. They do.

For 80-something percent of the population, getting pregnant is a mindless act. Whether it was planned or on accident, it simply is. It is a state of being. It is commonplace. It is normal. Egg and sperm find each other without needles and labs and pills and assistance. Ovulation is not inducted or detected. Intercourse is not timed or planned. Pregnancy without surgery—it happens.

And while I don’t expect every pregnant woman in the universe to twirl around in a circle of happiness and gratitude, spreading fertile joy to the world—I am mindful of the miracle. While pregnancy may be an ordinary, humdrum, everyday condition to some, it is not to me. My perspective is forever changed.

For a percentage of the population, pregnancy will never be commonplace. It will never be unplanned. It will never be no fuss, no muss. If it ever happens, it will be a carefully executed symphony of intention; a purposeful pre-arranged plot carried out over endless weeks. The mind shift this process creates will perpetually alter your point of view.

Please be mindful of your miracle. Miracles don’t happen every day; and they are anything but commonplace.

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shelby's picture

As with anything, if it does not come easily, it is often so much more appreciated. I don't know anyone who has battled IF, whether it is through one round of c.lomid or 7 IVFs or adoption who would not be grateful for every second of their miracle. Great post!

Shelby

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