Getting closer

[2happymamas]

I talked to the sperm bank yesterday and I am getting this strange combination of excitement and nerves all-in-one. DW and I decided that we wanted to have all of our vials shipped from PRS to a local bank so that we will not have to stress about them getting here on time when we are ready to inseminate. Plus, it will save so much money! It would cost $190 per month to ship of we left them at PRS, but only 250 to have them all shipped at once! And the bank here only charges $11 per month TOTAL for all 11 vials!

We are planning to start inseminations around May 29 -- I should ovulate right around then. I am getting so excited. I swear my hands were shaking when I spoke with both banks to arrange the transfer of the specimens. But while I am excited, I am also SO nervous. This is such a huge thing, YWIM?

One more thing...has anyone else even had any experience with 2 for 1 vials? The specimens must have 20 million mobile sperm per vial. We bought 7months worth, but actually have 11 vials because 4 of the vials did not meet the 20 million quota. They had between 17-18 million per vial, so the sperm bank gives you 2 vials with 17-18 million for the price of one.

We planned to use only one vial per month, but will obviously use 2 vials when inseminating with vials containing less than the 20 million. I am thinking we will not use both lesser vials at once, but rather on consecutive days. Any ideas about that?

Did you all get that combination of nervousness and excitement when you were getting close to insemination time and making plans?

[MichelleW]

how exciting! nerve-wrackign indeed followign through with this dream!

we only ever used 1 vial a cycle, but i know people on here swear by 2. Sounds like a good idea, I guess, when they have less sperm in them.

I just remember going, 26 million sperm! All we need is 1, KWIM -- I mean, we know it takes all the others too, but 26 million, for example, is a lot of whatever it is!!!

: for you, when the time is right!

[FtMPapa]

Have a look at The Essential Guide to Lesbian...etc. by Brill & Toevs. I'm almost certain they recommend inseminating on consecutive days if you can - I'd check, but I loaned my copy out.

My gut says go with consecutive days, and maybe consider doing a combination of 1 ICI and 1 IUI per cycle. Good luck!

[2happymamas]

Originally Posted by FtMPapa

Have a look at The Essential Guide to Lesbian...etc. by Brill & Toevs. I'm almost certain they recommend inseminating on consecutive days if you can - I'd check, but I loaned my copy out.

My gut says go with consecutive days, and maybe consider doing a combination of 1 ICI and 1 IUI per cycle. Good luck!

Oh, yes! We have that book and it is great. I think, more than anything else, the post was me thinking aloud. I actually have not looked at the book in close to a year. I guess now would be a great time to take it off the shelf, eh?

[canadianchick]

Congrats!

[lexbeach]

How exciting! Yes, I would always get kind of giddy and nervous and just feel WEIRD whenever I'd order sperm. I mean, the reality is that half of the genetic material for your baby is going to be coming in the mail! It's totally crazy.

I would use the two vials of less mobile sperm at the same time. I think there's something about having a whole bunch of mobile sperm in there together that's supposed to help.

I am one of those who thinks that 2 inseminations a month is the way to go (IME, mamas get pregnant faster doing 2 per month, so you don't end up spending more money than you would otherwise, and with a lot less heartache).

But you have THE book, and the book says it all, IMO.

The vials of sperm that became Zeben arrived a year ago tomorrow. I got pregnant with him on February 20th. And now he is lying on my chest as I type this, 3 months old today . . . it's all so amazing.

Sending lots and lots and lots of your way! Have fun making your baby!



Lex

[mama2rey]

I just wanted to say congratulations. I will start being inseminated around April 25-and I know that just seeing how fast it's coming can be very exciting.

I also am nervous, excited, scared and anxious all at the same time. The reality is, it is exciting-we are getting ready to make a baby and our entire lives will change!!

[2happymamas]

Originally Posted by lexbeach

I would use the two vials of less mobile sperm at the same time. I think there's something about having a whole bunch of mobile sperm in there together that's supposed to help.

Our plan was to use one 18 million vial on the first day. The next day, we would use the other 17-18 million vial. I know we originally planned to inseminate with one 20 million vial and only use one per month. I guess we thought splitting up the 17-20 million vials into two different days would be best.

Do you think we should use both smaller vials at the same time and then two more smaller vials the next day? Oh goodness! That could be 72 million sperm in 2 days. I felt overwhelmed with thinking about 36 million of them in 2 days.

[lexbeach]

Originally Posted by 2happymamas

Our plan was to use one 18 million vial on the first day. The next day, we would use the other 17-18 million vial. I know we originally planned to inseminate with one 20 million vial and only use one per month. I guess we thought splitting up the 17-20 million vials into two different days would be best.

Do you think we should use both smaller vials at the same time and then two more smaller vials the next day? Oh goodness! That could be 72 million sperm in 2 days. I felt overwhelmed with thinking about 36 million of them in 2 days.

I believe that the reason they send you an extra vial of sperm when motility is "low" is because using a vial of less-mobile sperm has been shown to be less effective. So, the intent of the sperm bank is that you will use both of the lower-mobility vials at the same time. I don't think you would get the same benefit using them on separate days, since the sperm (once thawed) don't live that long. The benefit of doing insems on more than one day is that you up your chances of having sperm where they need to be when the egg is ready. It is very tricky to pinpoint it exactly, even when you're doing u/s to check. The timing was always the most stressful part for me, so doing two insems. gave me a little peace of mind (though I'd still worry that I'd timed it wrong). I think you would have better chances, though, doing just one well-timed insem. per month with two vials of low-mobility sperm than doing two insems with one vial of low-mobility spermies. But that is just my opinion (I'm not an expert--that said, the doctors who got me pregnant (no REs, just regular OBs) were much more clueless than I, and if I'd taken their recommendations, I don't think I would have gotten pregnant when I did).

I am assuming that you are doing ICI, right? Once you see what a very small amount of liquid they send you, you'll want to put in as much as you possibly can!

HTH!

Lex