PUPO!

I have a confession to make.  I’m hugely superstitious.  I don’t step on cracks in the sidewalk.  I walk around ladders, not under them.  I have a necklace I’ve worn for every single exam I’ve taken since the start of medical school – even my board exams. 

I’m not free of superstition in the trying to conceive arena.  For my first IUI, I wore my lucky socks, which promptly lost their lucky sock status when AF arrived 11dpIUI.  For my second IUI, I wore a fertility necklace I found online. I should have know it wasn’t going to work when I constantly cursed at it as the cute little fertility turtle kept getting caught on my sweaters and scarfs.  The day AF arrived at the start of my third IUI cycle, I was wearing a Celtic cross necklace in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, so it became my fertility charm, and I didn’t take it off until the morning of my D&C. 

Now that I’m on to try #4, I’ve got a new fertility amulet – a green silly band in the shape of a car that my nephew gave me.  I doubt it will last 9 months, but I’ll wear it as long as it holds up, or until AF comes, whichever comes first!

I had bought a new pair of lucky socks for try #3 – rainbow striped, and conveniently labeled “My Lucky Socks”.  Only, the morning of the IUI, I couldn’t find them, so I wore my black socks with shamrocks on them instead.  And until the end of May, they had been given the new designation of my lucky socks.  Last night I made sure my rainbow striped socks were out on my dresser, ready to wear this morning.

Since I did manage to conceive with IUI #3, I decided to try to do as many other things the same this time as I did last time.  So I had a massage last night, and asked the therapist to do some extra reflexology stuff to help with fertility, just like last time.  This morning I did the ovulation yoga practice from Restoring Fertility yoga DVD, just like last time.  And instead of bringing a pregnant friend (my sister) with me to my IUI like I did for my first two IUIs, I went alone with just my iPod for company.  Just like last time.

I had one of my favorite nurses perform my IUI, a different nurse than prior tries.  The IUI was easy – unlike the first two times and just like last time.  Instead of fighting with my wonky cervix, the catheter went right in without a hitch.  I had 20 minutes to relax and dream of sperm fertilizing eggs after the IUI, and then I ran into my RE in the hallway on my way out.  I left feeling hopeful and happy, which is always a good way to feel when a stranger’s swimmers are having a field day inside you.

My Lucky Socks - 2 minutes pIUI

Here’s hoping the change in socks and fertility amulets, along with higher dose of meds, better supplements before IUI and a hard working left ovary all work together to give me a BFP that sticks this time.  It’ll be two weeks before I know– but for now, I’m going to enjoy being PUPO!