19 million sperm

19 million.  One of those has got to hit one of the two eggs I'm releasing, right?  19 million!

We did the IUI at 7:45 this morning.  First we did an ultrasound to look at the follicles.  The left one didn't look like it had released but the right one looked like it did.  It took about 45 minutes for the doctor to prepare the sperm.  He inserted the speculum and then put in the catheter and released some of the sperm into my left tube, some into the right.  I stared at a calendar that had a picture of a pissed-off looking cat with a milk mustache.  I couldn't even feel the catheter.

Afterwards, I relaxed there for 20 minutes.  During the sperm preparation (sperm washing), the prostaglandins in the ejaculate are removed.  These can cause cramping and severe pain in the cervix and may even cause the uterus to collapse!  I didn't have any cramping, just continued discomfort from the Pregnyl injections.  Sperm washing can also remove dead sperm and those with poor motility, leaving the strongest ones.  It works best with guys who have a count of 20 to 30 million.  My husband has a count of around 20 to 25 million.

After the IUI, I got my blood drawn for, like, the 100th time this month.  They called later on and said because of those results, we are going to do another IUI tomorrow.  I believe what the doctor is looking at is my progesterone level, which should reach a certain number after the follicles release the egg.  Mine were lower than that and so we send in more troops tomorrow to try to hit that second target. 

He didn't say that I had to relax afterwards but when I left the office I took the bus straight home.  I took a nap, snuggling my hot water bottle against my abdomen.  I have to go to work tomorrow after the appointment and after work we are going to a quinceanera.

Oh, I hope we make a baby!  One baby!