Welcome to Day 9 of the A to Z Challenge, an April blogging challenge where you
aim post every day during the month following the letters of the alphabet (with
every Sunday bar the last one off).
In
the past I've used the challenge to blog about my infertility and the IVF
process. I'm following a similar theme this year as we wait to begin the
process for a Frozen Embryo Transfer, having completed a Freeze All IVF cycle
in February.
We
currently have nine embryos sitting on ice, my little bubbles, and this April I
am blogging to them about the process of how they came to be.
Dear Bubbles,
I often find myself wondering if you might be a little more independent than other people's offspring. No, seriously, bear with me.
Most people are with their mothers for a full nine months, then they're born and they spend even more time with people. Babies are pretty demanding and need a fair amount of attention after all.
But you did pretty well without me for those first five days of your development. You were conceived without me there; you grew from two cells, to four cells, to eight, developed into a morula and then a blastocyst all without me there to cheer you on (I was cheering you on, I was just 45 miles away at the time). What's more, embryos develop better without any interruption. So you did have a caregiver (in the shape of the wonderful embryologists) looking out for you along the way, they mostly just had to make sure you had a cosy petri dish and a good spot in the incubator.
And you obviously coped admirably, all on your own. Which is what makes me wonder if you might not be a little bit more independent than all the other people who didn't begin their lives under carefully controlled lab conditions.
I don't think there's actually been any studies done on this, so perhaps we'll never know. If nothing else, you were very independent at the critical time when you needed to get on with things without any help from me. So I wonder if that will continue on through your life.
I'm looking forward to finding out!
All my love,
Your Mum.
It's interesting to see how far science has come in the last 100 years that this is possible.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. Even how far we've come in the last five or ten years surprises me! New medical breakthroughs and developments are happening all the time!
DeleteI hope you keep us updated! It can be slightly disconcerting when they start to show independence - my 16-year-old's just started as an apprentice hairdresser and it feels a bit unreal. On the other hand, it's good for them to start having some responsibilities.
ReplyDeleteI definitely will. :-) And I can imagine it is. It must be very strange watching a little person who you can still see as a needy baby suddenly becoming an almost adult and doing grown up things. :-)
DeleteThat's an interesting wondering. May all our children be the perfect blend of independence and interdependence - knowing we're all connected and all unique expressions.
ReplyDeleteThank you. :-)
DeleteI don't know if they will feel more independent than other children but love still comes into my head. Since I see many parents who have made their children dependent on them..meaning they have their children live with them well into their 20's and 30's and they have never left home! The wish is to have the children be independent...but still come home for some love and roast beef:)
ReplyDeleteI think it's a difficult balance to strike because you want them to be independent and able to cope on their own, but you want them to want to have you around and need you for some stuff too. :-)
DeleteI think you're on to something. He or she will probably not be a clingy baby!
ReplyDeleteI don't mind if they're a little clingy. I've waited this long and I'd be quite happy for a few hours of cuddles. ;-)
DeleteMaybe I missed it, but when do the little bubbles get to graduate? I'm looking forward in following that journey.
ReplyDeleteMy A-Z post The Genealogy Search Continues:
J is for Jewish Genealogy
They're still on ice at the moment, but check back later in the year and hopefully I'll have some good news. :-)
DeleteIt would be fun to watch -
ReplyDeleteIndependence is a good thing. I have no doubt you will raise strong children.
ReplyDeleteThank you. :-)
DeleteIt'll be interesting to find out the answer.
ReplyDelete