Helllloooooo Delhi....and to new possible treatments

11pm 22/4/13, finally.....Delhi.
Now that 12 hour flight was easy. Singapore airlines just get it right. Food, service and comfort. Worth the extra few $$$$ (if you can) What was I thinking flying with Malaysia air last time!.... Oh yeah was thinking SAVE SAVE SAVE!!

I thought that being stopped and questioned at passport control was defiantly in the cards. I've read so many people have been questioned and asked for additional paperwork that you'd never think they would ask for. I had all the copies that SCI has sent me, just incase.
I WAS WRONG. We passed through in like 2mins. The guy at immigration even gave me a wink! Lol
So I'm never sure if we have to pass our bags through the X-ray machine, but I just always pretend I don't see it and just walk straight out. Security seem not to mind..
Thankfully our driver was waiting (somewhere where visible) and we in our car and on the road within 10mins.
Note to self--  must remember to have small notes & change to give tip to guys helping with luggage.
I always feel bad, but the dumb banks don't give you small notes!

It's 11pm and let me tell you that 30 degrees is just damn uncomfortable after a 12hr flight. Finally on the road to hotel and the first thing my mum sees is 20 bodies lying on the footpath in a row... Now I knew they were sleeping, but yes on first glance, they did look like dead bodies in a line.. She was defiantly shocked, even after I explained they were only sleeping. Somehow that was just as sad.

Now if you know me, you'd know that when it comes to hotels i do my best to get more than what they offer. So clearly i see our room, and always with a smile i request to be upgraded to a larger room. I say a few other things too. But in any case that's exactly what we got. The largest room the Hilton has, with an addition of  a sofa & sofa bed. Hehehe....
So basically the Hilton garden inn. NICE! I'm soooooo glad I choose this hotel. The mall is a wonderful western relief, and its cool, as it's 40 degrees during the day. But no sun. Seriously. No sun. It's been 3 days and no sun.... It's really overcast or I'm thinking, just major pollution! 

First meeting with Dr Shivani was again Bang.Bang! This woman is a Gem. Straight into it
And ready for injections to start the following day.
I'm now also discussing with her balstocyst culture and laser hatching.

Clearly I'm looking into everything that will increase our chances.
I'm a little excited about this, but waiting till I speak with Dr Shivani and really see what and how many folics we get.

Oh yeah... And I have appointment FRRO on Monday.
Next blog will include all information regarding FRRO and all paper work needed too.
Cause as it seem not even SCI knew a few addional thing FRRO are asking for.
I guess we must remember that this is all new for everyone. And as it seem day by day
Some things may change... So take a deep breathe and just go with it.
It's all a journey and in the end a good story to be told :)

Laser assisted hatching

Assisted hatching is a technology which helps embryos to attach to the womb of the woman. Pregnancy cannot occur unless the human embryo hatches.

The unfertilised egg is surrounded by a shell called zona pellucida. The zona pellucida ensures that only one sperm cell enters and thus fertilises the egg. After fertilisation of the egg, zona pellucida keeps the cells of the embryo together. Now the cell begins to cleave into a two-cell, then a four-cell and so on.

During the cleavage of the early foetus, zona pellucida hardens. This development is normal and the purpose is to keep the cells in the egg together. Removing the egg for in vitro fertilisation and micro insemination takes it out of its natural environment. This procedure tends to lead to egg shells that harden faster those of normally fertilised eggs.

Especially women older than 37 years of age, have a tendency to produce eggs with a harder zona pellucida than younger women. The same goes for women with a high level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). This can be diagnosed from a blood sample.

The problem of a harder zona pellucida is that the egg may not hatch and thus not attach to the woman’s womb. Hatching of the egg is necessary to become pregnant. We know that eggs from older women have problems hatching, explaining why some older women have problems becoming pregnant.

Laser assisted hatching is one out of several methods to help the fertilised egg hatch and attach to the womb. Other methods are acid or mechanical hatching of one a part of zona pellucida. At Nordica we offer laser assisted hatching, which is a gentle and safe way to weaken a part of zona pellucida. After treating the fertilised egg with laser assisted hatching, we transfer the embryo into the woman’s womb. In most cases the embryo will attach for normal growth and development.

Scientific experiments have shown that one method of assisted hatching is not superior to another. Nor are eggs damaged by assisted hatching.

Recent meta-research (comparison of different relevant researches) showed that women who have undergone repeated IVF treatments without results, double their chances of a pregnancy by use of assisted laser hatching.

At Nordica we offer laser assisted laser hatching for patients who have undergone repeated treatments without conceiving, and/or in cases where the woman is over 37 years of age. We also recommend that thawed embryos are treated with laser assisted hatching. It is our experience that thawed embryos have difficulty attaching to the womb.

The likelihood of improved chances for pregnancy is assessed medically before recommending laser assisted hatching.

Source: Journal of Assisted Reproduction & Genetics 2003 Aug.

Learn more about IVF- treatment (in vitro fertilisation)