Day 5 Embryo Report

I was a bit nervous this morning as I only had Saturday's day 3 report to go on. I sent in an email to the office. A prompt reply came back:

"You have one non-expanded and one compacted, both grade 3. There will be one last update right before transfer"

OK. I've not been to a day 5 transfer before. I'm in the dark on these things. I found this great description of how blasts are graded here which helped a lot but I still asked for a bit of clarification. She wrote back right away. Thank god. As I am a bit nervous.

"The best case is an expanded blastocyst, the non expanded and compacted. The non and compacted are just embryos that haven’t totally expanded. You will be able to get a better explanation at transfer from Dr Italian or our embryologist."

So I am wondering about the grading now. I had 2 7-celled grade 2 embryos on day 3. But now they are blasts. Blasts tend to have their own rating scale (esp if you look at the link above). Are my blasts still being graded on an embryo scale (and have thereby slipped from grade 2 to grade 3) or are they onto the Gardner blast grading scale which makes them a 3 and is actually quite good?

Well, I guess I'll have to wait til I get to the lab to know for sure.

All I know is that I am grateful, elated beyond belief, that this 45 year old has produced two living blasts for my 5 day transfer. I know that I have beat the odds: only 50% of embryos apparently make it to day 5.

This can happen. I believe this can happen.

Touch wood. Throw salt. Spit. Make sign against evil eye. Anything I'm missing in my ritual?

I'm doing pre and post acupuncture at the clinic (thank god it's all done in house) which should bump my odds a bit higher.

Now if I can just remember to breathe!!!!