Did you transfer 2 or 3 embryos?

[gingersnap]

Hello,

We transferred a 7 cell and a 5 cell embryo and ended up with a chemical pregnancy. My IPs have one straw left with three embryos in it. A 8,7,and 6 cell. I was/am only willing to transfer 2. (I have four kids under 6) and if I had to go on bedrest and put my kids in daycare, and put all that stress on my husband, I could never forgive myself. But there is still a part of me that wonders if I did transfer three, what are my chances of triplets. I REALLY want this to work for them, and they only have three left. Would you guys ever transfer three, or is this a classic "desperate rookie" mistake?

Thanks

[Rebekah Rose]

If the embryos are good quality then no I wouldn't transfer 3. I have had 2 transfers of 3 embryos (same IPs, 1st in '06 - resulted in singleton, 2nd in '08 - failed cyle). My subsequent transfers have been 2 (singleton), 1 (failed) and 2 (twins). All of my transfers have been 3-day embryos.

So, in your situation no I don't think I would transfer 3. I know negatives REALLY suck and you want this to work, just remember you have to make these sorts of decisions with your head more than your heart, as hard as that is sometimes!!

[Serendipity]

I would not transfer three, though I do understand the feeling of wanting to do anything to help. The risk of triplets is too great-- to me, to the babies, to IPs, to my family. I'm not willing to roll those dice.

[cousinmommy]

Any embryo (good or bad) has a chance of sticking. You should always plan on how many you put in being what sticks. It might not happen but that should be the assumption. Keep in mind also that many people believe that frozens have a higher chance of splitting. You can't predict if they will but it's something to consider.

[missbeth]

One other thing I haven't seen mentioned is that it doesnt matter how many you transfer, with good quality embryos, transferring 2 or 3 doesn't make the chance of pregnancy any greater. It only increases your risk of multiples.

[adhdtigger]

We transferred 3. One 5 cell and two 4 cells. Initially they all tried to stick around. With high quality embies like your IP's, I would only do 1 or 2.

Best of luck with whatever everyone decides to do.

[gingersnap]

Ok,

Thank you for sharing all of this information with me. I am going to stick to my guns and stay with only transferring 2. I know I would be fine with twins, but if I had trips, I could seriously jeopardize things. My IM wants me to consider three, I have said two, but she keeps lightly suggesting it. Thank goodness for contracts! But it does have me second guessing my plans, and thinking "what if". But, I need to remember my family first, and then theirs.

[SweetMama]

The general rule of not transferring more than you're willing to carry is a good one. With my last surrogacy we put in two. One split. All three stuck around for a while. Triplets are NOT easy. Two is all I would ever transfer and hope that the odds are with me that the splitting thing doesn't ever happen again.

[ButterflyDream]

I agree with the others--stick with transferring two, since that's the most you're comfortable with carrying.

Also, what would your IM do if all 3 stuck around? Triplet pregnancies aren't just risky to the carrier, but also to the babies themselves. And once they're born she won't be out of the woods, as there is still the likelihood that they'll have long-term health and developmental issues.

[susanb573]

I have only transferred 3 once. We got pregnant with quads. I would never do it again.

[ReneeR77]

I'd never transfer 3 because ideally I do not want to carry 3.

[PresoGesto]

We transfer 3 one fresh two frozen. Two took in the future I'll prob only transfer two.

[tm501]

I've transferred 4 on the advice of the doctor. Gotten pregnant each time with 1

[gingersnap]

I have only transferred 3 once. We got pregnant with quads. I would never do it again.

Oh my goodness! That is unbelievable! I could not imagine....Amazing how things work. I guess if I transferred two, and one split, then I would know that it was meant to be. But three to quads? Thats definitely something you dont think about, but is very possible!

My IM knows the risks of triplets, but I just think she is desperate for twins since this is her last straw and her last chance. Sheesh, talk about pressure. lol

[mgrimmgoss]

Never more than 2.

Also, you COULD potentially be on bedrest at some point, even with twins--or a singleton! So just keep that in mind and do have plans in advance just in case.

ETA: I also realize the desperate hope for it to work. During the 2ww last time (our failed transfer) I was wishing we had put in 4 just hoping at least one would stick... but then looking at it objectively, of course I'm glad we only tried 2.

[dahlia]

One. What if it splits? No thank you! I've done twins once and it's HARD. I didn't even have complications, and I won't go through twins again if I don't have to. So, one. Because more than that scares the crap out of me.

An IM who posts here frequently transferred 2 embryos. One split twice. I think her quads are now 4-years old? 5 maybe? Think long and hard on this, and stick hard to what you are comfortable with. If you're transferring more than one, be absolutely certain you have help in place in case of complications.

[doulamommy]

#1 = 2 or maybe 3 (I can't remember!) - 1 stuck
#2 = 3 - 2 stuck
#3 = 2 - 2 stuck

I will carry trips and my PIPs wouldn't reduce trips. Now, for #4 I think I will only transfer 2. If we were to transfer 3, it would only be if they are super poor quality, although I do know that is not a guarantee they won't all stick.

2 is a good number

[cousinmommy]

Never more than 2.

Also, you COULD potentially be on bedrest at some point, even with twins--or a singleton! So just keep that in mind and do have plans in advance just in case.

ETA: I also realize the desperate hope for it to work. During the 2ww last time (our failed transfer) I was wishing we had put in 4 just hoping at least one would stick... but then looking at it objectively, of course I'm glad we only tried 2.

Never assume there won't be bed rest if it's only one. Always assume at some point there will be bed rest if it's more than one.

One. What if it splits? No thank you! I've done twins once and it's HARD. I didn't even have complications, and I won't go through twins again if I don't have to. So, one. Because more than that scares the crap out of me.

An IM who posts here frequently transferred 2 embryos. One split twice. I think her quads are now 4-years old? 5 maybe? Think long and hard on this, and stick hard to what you are comfortable with. If you're transferring more than one, be absolutely certain you have help in place in case of complications.

I was just going to bring up Deb and the quads when I saw your post. She's proof that anything goes.

[twinlioness]

Hello,

We transferred a 7 cell and a 5 cell embryo and ended up with a chemical pregnancy. My IPs have one straw left with three embryos in it. A 8,7,and 6 cell. I was/am only willing to transfer 2. (I have four kids under 6) and if I had to go on bedrest and put my kids in daycare, and put all that stress on my husband, I could never forgive myself. But there is still a part of me that wonders if I did transfer three, what are my chances of triplets. I REALLY want this to work for them, and they only have three left. Would you guys ever transfer three, or is this a classic "desperate rookie" mistake?

Thanks

As an IM this is the current situation I find myself in. 3 embies in one straw. Why do they do this?!!!! Last time we transferred two fresh and both stuck and I now have absolutely beautiful amazing 2 year olds. But going forward with our other 3 I will only transfer two. If one is left over we will refreeze and try again. Emotionally that decision sucks because I know refreezing is not great but in this case logic needs to prevail.

[wannabeamom]

www.reevesquads.com

Mother was 37, using her own eggs. They put in 3, had a splitter resulting in quads. All but one ended up in NICU.

Not a surrogate pregnancy, but still a scary situation.

And yes, people do take pics and point at them in public and ask totally absurd questions.