Monday, February 22, 2010

Numbers Game

We're up to a 31, still inconclusive. The beta has risen, which is good, but not enough for us to believe we've passed the first viability hurdle. As we mentioned, the point isn't the number so much as what happens to the number; the beta should be doubling every three days or so and we didn't quite hit that mark. Our next test will be conducted Friday, with results available Friday morning our time, and we'll be looking for a number up around 90.

Any couple trying to build a family obsessess over every variable they believe reflects or influences the process. Right now, Shannon and I have one, solitary number to fret over so it's getting one hell of a lot of attention. We have to remind ourselves that for "normal" pregnancies, some women live through this first month without even being aware of what's going on inside them let alone measuring HCG numbers. All of which is to say, our numbers may end up being perfectly fine but the detailed knowledge is as much of a curse as it is a blessing.

To really overdo analysis of a single number, we're thinking the size of our beta implies - at the very least - that there's no chance of twins. We were ambitiously hoping for twins as our ideal family size includes two children and we weren't keen on going through this surrogacy process any more than necessary. However, yes, it's just too early to interpret much of anything. It's so hard not to play the numbers game!

Next up, Friday morning. More waiting.

6 comments:

  1. Guys......all fingers are crossed here for your success!

    Continued best wishes!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I will keep you guys in my thoughts - Friday seems so far away :( Come on little embryos!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Shannon and Geoff, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you! I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to feel "sort of" pregnant. On the singleton/twin topic, while I'll always wonder what having twins would have been like, having one baby who you can give all your attention and resources to is wonderful.

    Next time I'm in Boston I'm definitely going to try to round up a few India surrogacy folks so I can meet you all in person!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hang in there as best you can, the number game is awful, the waiting worse. Most likely not two, but you never know when these little ones implant, yours could be a late implanter. My friend's baby was born through the same clinic last November, with a starting beta of 20.2 - it's not over by a long shot!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hoping for a triple digit number by Friday for you. Positive thoughts and healing energy coming your way. Keep the faith!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have the same words as I did for Amber and Brian ...I have a prayer for you guys. I hope Friday brings good news and a bigger stronger number.

    ReplyDelete