Progesterone In Oil Shots: My Tips!

As a survivor of well over a million of these oily shots straight to the tookus, I like to think that by the end I kinda had a good thing going.  Not enjoyable per se, but a far cry from where it all began. So, here is what I learned...

1. ALWAYS make sure to switch your needle.  Obviously, you will remember to do this.  OBVIOUSLY.  Because if you don't, you end up using the MASSIVE needle that is created solely to suck the medicine into the syringe to puncture your hiney...and then you will scream out in pain and punch your husband (as soon as he's finished, of course). 

2. Morning shot time.  This is sooooo important and I'll tell you why.  For the first 2 IVF's, I had an 8pm shot time because this worked with our work schedules.  Every night at 8pm I'd get shot, sit on a heating pad, massage the area and walk around for a couple hours before going to sleep.  Every morning, I'd wake up with a numb bum without fail.  During my FET, I took a producing job that required me to work at night, 6pm-10pm.  I was freaking out because my shot time would get messed up!  Aaaaah!  We had no choice but to move it to 7am, right before Jeff left for work...and sometimes a little later on weekends.  Well, what do you know?  No more numb butt!  Moving around for a couple of hours is good, but moving around for an entire day is WAY better in my opinion.

3. Light a candle.  Not only does a good smelling candle go a long way for making the "experience" a pleasant one, but you should also heat the oil up by holding it above the flame for a little while.  This thins out the oil and makes it go in your bum easier.

4. Happy music.  Yes, I've sort of become one of Pavlov's dogs, because now there are 3 songs that completely make me feel like I'm about to get a progesterone shot in my hiney, but that's the price I pay.  Happy music helps for a happy distraction.

5. Ice Pack/Heating Pad.  Ice the injection site until you've been stabbed.  Then apply the heating pad.

6. My lovely lady lumps.  No matter what you do, you will get a few lumps in your butt. It's unavoidable from my experiences.  However, I like to think of these lumps as temporary butt implants. Move over, J.Lo.

7. Chase it with some water.  The longer you do the shots, the more things will happen.  First and foremost, your pregnancy will progress (whoooo!), your butt lumps will develop, and you may or may not feel a little light headed some mornings.  For me, it's happened about 3 times total.  BUT, I've noticed that a glass of water as my companion goes a long way.

xoxo
L

8 Weeks - Heartbeat 167

The heartbeat was 167 and the Cheerio measured right to the day - 8 weeks exactly.  Hallelujah!!!  

This morning we heard the best sound in the world for the third time and I for one (Jeff, for two) couldn't be more thankful, excited, blessed, happy, and through the roof.  This past week was a scary one, but I'm willing to move past it and not hold anything against my uterus as long as it keeps its' end of the bargain and stops acting crazy with it's spontaneous bleeding ways.  Thank God that is over.

Now onto my new thing to worry about...

Being released to my regular OB.  EEK!

Today was my official LAST day with my RE and the infertility palace.  I am soon to join the ranks of normal fertile girls everywhere and sit in a waiting room with gals who got pregnant the ol' fashioned way.  I seriously cannot imagine.  A room of girls not looking completely forlorn with crossed toes and fingers?  What a strange thought.  

Leaving today was surreal.  I was handed a USB drive with pics of our little Cheerio, a goody bag (yes, really) with pregnancy magazines, while exchanging heartfelt goodbyes.  This place that I have loathed going to for the past million days is about to be in my past.  And yet, it didn't quite feel like it was the end.  I said to Jeff as we made our exit out of the parking lot, "I guess it's like graduating high school.  We won't feel a difference until we just don't go back." Weird.

So, here's my problem.  I am HAPPY to graduate.  I mean, that was the goal the whole time here...but I'm also sooooo scared.  I'm scared to stop my progesterone shots and switch to progesterone suppositories and then I'm scared to stop those at 10 weeks.  I'm scared that nobody will be monitoring my blood and I'm scared that the baby's placenta won't take over.  Why didn't anyone tell me that graduating from my RE and going to a regular OB (which should make me feel like a regular person...a good thing) would be so scary! Aaaaah!

xoxo
L