FET 8 prep

In getting ready for a cycle again there were so many forms and checklists to take care of before we could be cleared to start. In one case, as we were nearing the finish line of the marathon of tasks that needed to get done, I noticed a discrepancy. On a final checklist we were supposed to both sign as the intended parents, it had a summary of the protocol we are about to do. The error was in the timing of when my lining is receptive. The number of hours looked off - close to 6 days - when I know for a fact that my ERA results said I need at least 7 days. 

I took out my notes from 2019 and confirmed that I'm right. Then I went back to the blog post where I wrote even more notes, and confirmed again. I contacted the clinic and was told that this is what is in the protocol, but that they'll check with my doctor. Less than an hour later I got a call from my doctor apologizing profusely. It was indeed an error. After the recent ERA mishap, my guard is up and I feel the need to scrutinize everything. It looks like my feelings are justified. There is little else that is really a huge mistake in protocol other than transferring an embryo to a lining known to be pre-receptive. I'm so glad we caught the error now but it worries me to think what else we missed. 

**Lesson 1: Always keep notes

**Lesson 2: Always speak up

In the conversation we went over the protocol again in trying to repeat the 2019 protocol that worked with FET 7. Turns out there was another step missed: I never took the vaginal probiotic. That mistake was on me. I didn't realize it needed to be in the cycle before the transfer cycle. The doctor mentioned it in one of our conversations and then it just slipped my mind. In her opinion that was a deal breaker and she recommended delaying the transfer to do the probiotic this cycle. So... delay? My mind was going 100 miles an hour trying to figure things out. I was very disappointed but not at all unsure about avoiding a gamble with an embryo's success rate. This conversation was happening in the late afternoon while a certain toddler was very eager to go play outside, in the 100 degree heat, and had no patience for this phone call. Meanwhile the doctor was saying, I'm going to look a few things up, give me a minute. So I asked if she wants to call me back and we agreed she would. 

A few minutes later, the scene was completely different. My husband had finished work and took the toddler outside. I sat in the quiet, air-conditioned living room with a paper and pen, ready to figure out our strategy. I felt calm and collected: if this is what needs to happen to give our embryo the best chance possible, then that's what we'll do. No tears; just facts. The doctor calls back as promised. Figured out a timeline. Based on my long cycles we'll do the probiotic as soon as my period is over. If my cycle goes as planned, there will be time. If, for some reason, I ovulate weird then the cycle is scrapped anyway. In either case, it's a go. 

Went in this morning for baseline monitoring. Here we go.