IUI Round 1: D-Day!

Or should I say, I-Day.  On Saturday after my blood test the Clinic said my hormone levels were still going up but it looked like we were safe until today, but they suggested quite matter-of-factly that we "have intercourse" over the weekend, just to be safe.  We went back in for another blood test this morning and Jo the clinic nurse thought I'd better have an ultrasound scan to check how many follicles had developed.  Dr Swift could squeeze us in for the scan and said everything looked good: I had 2 nicely developed follicles and a nice thick lining and he was predicting that we'd have to do the IUI itself today, but we had to wait for the blood test results to be sure.

At 2pm the Clinic called and confirmed we were on for today, which made me very happy - we both had the day off so it was really good timing.  Dave produced his sperm sample and we headed to the Clinic for our 3pm appointment.  We had to wait for half an hour to prepare the sample for the insemination, then we went into the lab room and waited for the doctor.  The nurse went over what happens next while we waited.  It felt like we were waiting for ages but Dr Swift finally turned up.  It all felt a bit surreal after that.  There was discussion of speculums.  And mucus.  There was some trouble with the procedure and it took longer than it was supposed to.  The doctor had to use a special tool to open up my cervix, which hurt.  I was uncomfortable and felt like my legs were going to cramp.  But finally, after 15 minutes (instead of the promised 5) we were done.  Once again, we were instructed to have sex over the next couple of days.  I felt a bit shaky and uncomfortable afterwards and was so happy I could go home and rest.

Now we start the dreaded Two Week Wait.  Starting tomorrow, I have to use vaginal pessaries for progesterone as an added precaution - it's possible that one of the reasons we haven't gotten pregnant so far is that my body doesn't produce enough progesterone.  So I take these pessaries until they tell me otherwise.  If I don't start bleeding, I go back on Tuesday the 24th of May for my pregnancy blood test!  If I do start bleeding, I have to call them for further instructions.

I hate waiting.