Eggcellent Mom Chronicles

The (Endless) Wait
In the (in)fertility world, few periods are as agonizing as the Two Week Wait (TWW). When undergoing IVF, this is the time from the frozen embryo transfer (FET) until the blood test, the “beta,” confirms pregnancy.

During the TWW, the ‘mental olympics’ begin, as every tiny ache or lack of symptom sends your mind spiraling. I kept a running log of my thoughts during that time in late August/early September. I’m sharing it now (as much for myself to revisit as for my future daughter to read one day if she chooses).

Transfer day: Saturday, August 23, 2025 (Day 0)
Watching the monitor, it felt like science and faith were merging to create a miracle. A tiny flash, and my embryo landed in the perfect spot. Amen. I took a deep breath, trying to hold onto that brief image and the possibility of what lies ahead. Thank you, God, for this hoped-for miracle.

1 day past transfer (1dpt)
A beautiful distraction. A friend who is also expecting took me out for brunch, and we touched bellies (a quiet, hopeful prayer that this magic would spread to me).

2dpt
Lying in bed I felt a small twinge and instinctively placed my hands on my belly and said, “I love you so much. Please stay.”

3dpt
I felt lots of little twinges throughout the day, some sharp and others dull. There was a heaviness growing in my belly in the evening, which I think started last night as well. Then, the most magical, mystical double rainbow appeared. I’ve never seen one so bright. I could not peel my eyes away and sensed that the pot of gold was already within me. I closed my eyes, said a prayer, and looked up again in awe. It’s not lost on me that I’ve had two losses and failed embryo transfers, yet I am here today moving forward on this journey in front of a double rainbow. Today was also the first full day of a new school year, marking new beginnings with an incredible new group of 6th graders. I felt joy with them and brought that feeling home.

4dpt
I woke up today not feeling quite as pregnant or hopeful as I was yesterday. I took a few deep breaths, did my PIO injection, and got ready for the day. I drove as the sun was glaring down and tried some positive self-talk that even though it’s been over 24 hours since I last felt any twinges, it doesn’t mean it’s not a real possibility. The mental olympics of holding onto hope and not overanalyzing are exhausting. Then when I got home, all I could think about was a nap. The hardest part is deciphering what’s from the medications, what may be true pregnancy and implantation symptoms, and what is simply psychosomatic. I’m just working on acknowledging it’s there and then carrying on. Easier said than done. Tonight was also a lovely therapy session where I really felt connected. What a great way to head into the final part of the week.

5dpt
I woke up thinking about how badly I want to take an at-home pregnancy test. Once that thought enters, it’s difficult to quiet down. Thank goodness I had a full day at school as a distraction and a lovely Shabbat dinner with family.

I proceeded to test every morning after that, watching the lines darken and confirm what I could barely believe. When I finally walked into my clinic for the official blood test at the conclusion of my TWW, the nurse asked if I was excited or if I had already tested. I have never felt more triumphant than pulling out a digital test with the word PREGNANT sprawled across it! I carried that digital test in my pocket all day.

My clinic wanted to see a Beta HCG level above 100. Mine came back at 419.
The next tests focused on doubling time (the HCG should double every 48-72 hours). In 48 hours, I went from 419 to 1316, and then jumped again to 3515. With every number, the reality solidified.

Looking back on the TWW, it feels like a lifetime ago. We fought hard for those initial beta numbers, and the anxiety of those 14 days was immense. But today, the feeling is different. Today, I am 18 weeks pregnant. I’m officially a month into the second-trimester, and am gearing up for my anatomy scan. This little journal from August and September reminds me that every single day of fear and hope was worth it, because the pot of gold I sensed in the rainbow is now stretching and growing right beneath my hands.