Day 2 embryo - cell division

[Hopingfor1more]

Hi all,

I am new here, I joined last week as currently undergoing IVF and needed a forum where I can find both information and comfort.

This is my second IVF round, my first round gave me my 18month old daughter. While the pressure is off compared to the first time as we at least have one child, we would love to give her a sibling.

Our initial round of IVF was due to unexplained factors. Now we have a host new problems, having experienced ovary torsion during my pregnancy, I now only have one functioning ovary.

We underwent egg retrieval on Monday and they managed to collect 8 eggs of which 3 were immature. 4 have fertilised and I have just had a Day 2 phone call telling me that they are doing well and will be cultured until Day 5. I’m terrified none will make it to Saturday.

They also mentioned that the cell division is currently 6 cell, 2x5 cells and one at 2 cells. I have just been doing some research into cell division and everything I have read says, they should be 4 cells on day 2 and 8 by day 3.

Does anyone know anything about cell division? Does the fact that my ones are odd numbers mean there could be a problem?

Any insight would be welcome

Lulu x

[clareyb46]

hi

i think im at the same stage as you! i had a son with first cycle (he is 2) and i had egg collection last monday, transfer on saturday🤞 did you transfer saturday too? i did have 2 frozen cycles last year which unfortunately both ended in miscarriage. i hope you got some good for transfer/ freeze, im not sure about early grading, my clinic doesnt tell us this, just the day 5 grading.

[Hopingfor1more in reply to clareyb46]

Hi Clare 👋

We are indeed exactly at the same stage which is great.

I had my transfer on Saturday too. Not to be pessimistic but I’m not holding out much hope from this cycle as only two were still going on Saturday and I was left with a poor quality blastocyst graded 3BC and a morula. They said pregnancies can occur from both but the rates are very very low. It was a bummer to say the least but for now we are still in the game until next Wednesday, although we’ve told ourselves not to expect anything at all.

I wonder if anyone has had a successfully pregnancy from a 3BC or a morula. Need to do some digging around.

Anyway, tell me about yourself. How did the transfer go for you? Did you manage to get any in the freezer at all? I hope your transfer appointment was more positive than ours. I assume you will test on 26th as well?

Happy to buddy up and chat so do feel free to message anytime.

Lulu x

[clareyb46 in reply to Hopingfor1more]

never say never! ive read a lot of information and forums (never posted before though!) and im not familiar with a morula. ive transferred 2 emryos this time a 5aa and a 4ab. none frozen. my son was a 4ab, then miscarried a 4ab (fet) and miscarried a 4ba (fet) so there really is no telling i dont think! the waiting is the worst bit i find, and that theres nothing we can do to help things work out. i will probably test this saturday as all 3 pregnancies ive had a positive 7 days post 5day transfer and im sooooo impatient🙈🙈 but official test date is 28th. 🤞🤞🤞

its definitely good to get to day 5, i only had 7 eggs, 4 fertilised and only 2 made it to day 5 this time.

i find it hard to find uk only information as a lot is american and their process and grading systems are different to the uk?!

did you put both back?

xxx

[Hopingfor1more in reply to clareyb46]

Yes I popped the two back in as they said it’s very highly unlikely I will end up with twins.

A morula is a day 4 stage so one embryo was just developing very slowly so they suspect nothing will come of it.

5aa and 4ab are great set of embryos. I have everything crossed for you. I always wait until the test date as I get so so nervous usually.

I agree, there really is not telling how the embryo will turn out post transfer. I’ve had both a 5aa which miscarried and a 4bb which failed. Funnily enough my little girl was a 3bb, the lowest of the bunch 🤷🏽‍♀️

If you don’t mind saying, what was your reason for seeking IVF. Mine was initially unexplained and now it’s that and the fact that I only have one ovary.

What protocol did they put you on?

[clareyb46 in reply to Hopingfor1more]

not at all, we were unexplained, still are to a degree although the first fresh cycle (i was 31) my fsh was 9.0 (high) although amh was ‘normal’ this time my fsh was up to 14.4 but again amh was ‘normal’ so im low ovarian reserve now for my age.

i was long protocol of burserelin, merofert 450 (im not at risk of overstimulating) then gonsai trigger and the delightful cyclogest . although the brand names changed it was the same protocol for both my fresh cycles.

have all yours been fresh cycles?

ive never been told any grades except what has fertilised and what made day 5🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

[Hopingfor1more in reply to clareyb46]

This is my second fresh cycle. The first gave me three embryos. The fresh cycle was a 10 week miscarriage, followed by 2xFET one of which resulted in my daughter and other failed.

I was on a long protocol the first time but I ended up with OHSS. This time, I was put on a short protocol because my AMH had dropped from 32 to 5.6 due to now only having one functioning Ovary.

My left ovary managed to give me 8 eggs which totally surprised me but as I’m now 40, I suspect my egg quality is starting to become compromised. I really was hoping this would be my last cycle.

Lulu x

[clareyb46 in reply to Hopingfor1more]

i got 8 from both ovaries the first time and 7 this time so you did really well!! this is our last cycle hence why we transferred all we had. im emotionally exhausted from the rollercoaster that is ivf and dont feel i could do another one.

10 week miscarriage must have been hard, i had a 7 and 8 week miscarriage which was bad enough.

xxx

[Hopingfor1more in reply to clareyb46]

Yeah it was horrible, just as we were getting excited about the prospect of telling family friends two weeks later. Mind you, no miscarriage is easy and two is certainly tough going.

I always say, I’d rather get a BFN than miscarry. It just hurts too much to lose the baby after you’ve had the positive result and you’ve become emotionally invested. It’s probably the wrong attitude to have, isn’t it? 🤷🏽‍♀️

I totally agree with you about how emotionally draining it is. It’s taking up far too much time, money and energy.

Hopefully, we’ll both get what we want next week. After the disappointing news about our poor quality embryo on Saturday, we decided we’ll give it one more shot if this doesn’t work out, just waiting for that test date. I hate this limbo feeling.😖

[Hidden in reply to Hopingfor1more]

I got pregnant with a grade 3bc transfer x

[Hopingfor1more in reply to Hidden]

Oh wow!! Thanks for that Daisy, that’s really great to hear. Did it result in a live birth? X

[Hidden in reply to Hopingfor1more]

Sadly not but that was due to my sticky blood issues x

[Hopingfor1more in reply to Hidden]

Oh so sorry to hear that Daisy. Have you managed to get to the bottom of your Blood issues? Wishing you the best with it x

[Hidden]

I think its really hard to get hung up on sizing at this stage - your clinic clearly feels like they are doing the right thing or they wouldn't risk taking them to day 5 so I think you need to trust them

I have had a variety of numbers in my 3 rounds so far by day 2. One thing I have been told is the older you are often the slower they split, so if you are slightly more mature it may be thats why,, they all catch up eventually

All you can do is trust in your clinic. - they have clearly done something write as you have one child - I wish you heaps of luck for this cycle x

[Hopingfor1more in reply to Hidden]

Hi Daisy,

Thanks for your reply. I think I was overreacting and over analysing. Once I calmed down, I realised the fact that they want to culture them to Day 5 is a good sign. Interesting what you say about age though. I have just turned 40 so age is now a factor for sure.

Lulu x

[Hopingfor1more]

Just thought, I’d update for anyone reading. I tested today and it was negative. I expected it but I was also holding onto the tiniest of hope. It truly sucks.

Clare all the best to you

Lu x