What happens each day after embryo transfer

Have you ever wondered what happens after the embryos are transferred into your uterus and the medical treatment in the IVF procedure is completed? Medically, a cycle begins when the woman is given fertility drugs and the cycle ends when the embryo is transferred to the woman's uterus. However, most couples fail to ask their doctors about what happens after the embryo transfer procedure. After the embryos are transferred to the woman's womb, they still have to overcome the final hurdle - they need to implant!

Step-By-Step

Here's what happens to the Day 5 embryos ( blastocysts) after their transfer is complete.

• Day 1 – After the embryos are transferred, the cells keep dividing. The blastocyst begins to emerge from its shell and this process is called hatching.
• Day 2 – The second day is crucial because this is the time when the embryo begins to attach itself to the uterine lining. The blastocyst continues to grow.
• Day 3 – On this day, the blastocyst invades into the uterine lining and implantation begins. The woman may have light bleeding and spotting on this day
• Day 4 – On the fourth day, the blastocyst continues to dig deeper into the uterus Light bleeding and spotting may continue on this day as the embryo invades the endometrial blood vessels to nourish itself through the maternal blood supply. However, the absence of any bleeding, cramping, and spotting does not mean that implantation has not occurred so don't let your mind play games with you.
• Day 5 – On the fifth day, implantation is considered complete. The embryo is developing vigorously.
• Day 6 – The growing embryo triggers the release of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) into the bloodstream. This is a hormone that is produced by the syncytiotrophoblast, the specialized cells which will form the placenta later on
• Day 7 – The fetal development is in full swing and the embryo continues to develop quickly. As the placenta begins to take shape, it continues to release more hCG into the bloodstream
• Day 8 – More hCG is released into the blood, as fetal development continues and the placenta begins to function.
• Day 9 – By this time, the levels of the hormone hCG, are high enough in the bloodstream to be detected. You may take a home pregnancy test today. If the test is negative, it could still be a false negative. Wait for another two days and take the test again. The blood test for beta HCG is much more reliable and is usually done about 10 -12 days after blastocyst transfer.

Summary

The embryo implantation process is exactly what it would be in a normal pregnancy. However, we monitor it closely to make sure everything is working just as it should.

For any surrogate mother, immediately following the embryo transfer you will start to wonder if the embryo transfer was successful. While you know the procedure went well, you can’t stop thinking if everything is as it should be and knowing that it can take some time to be sure, this can leave you feeling a little nervous.

We understand this can be a stressful time, and first off, want to let you know that it is perfectly normal to be a little nervous after the embryo transfer. In today’s blog we would like to share some insight into what happens after an embryo transfer to help ease your nerves during the next week and a half while you wait.

Waiting After an Embryo Transfer

Usually the most stressful thing about having an embryo transfer is the waiting game. You went through the procedure but now you must wait a week and a half to find out if you are pregnant. You may be tempted to take a pregnancy test but keep in mind, during this period those tests won’t be able to help you. You should just relax and understand that the embryo transfer was performed by leading medical professionals and you will find out soon enough the outcome.

While waiting to find out if you are pregnant from your embryo transfer, we have put together an outline for you to see exactly what happens after your embryo transfer. The below outlines are based on either the 3-day embryo transfer or the 5-day embryo transfer, which shows an approximate timeline of what happens during a successful pregnancy.

What Happens After a 3-Day Embryo Transfer?

Following a 3-day embryo transfer, the below outline will show the embryo development during a successful pregnancy:

What Happens After a 5-Day Embryo Transfer?

The embryo development in a 5-day embryo transfer can be slightly different than that of the 3-day transfer. Below is a chart used to show what happens after a 5-day embryo transfer:

Am I Pregnant?

Following the final day on either the 3-day embryo transfer (day 11 past transfer) or the 5-day embryo transfer )day 9 past transfer) you will have enough levels of hCG in your blood stream to be able to determine if the pregnancy was a success.

Closing Thoughts

We know the process of becoming pregnant for a surrogate mother can be a stressful one but it doesn’t need to be. At Creative Love Surrogacy Agency, we strive to educate all of the surrogate mothers we work with on what to expect, both before pregnancy, during and after. Your journey of becoming a surrogate mother is truly a blessing and we hope the information provided in today’s article help you in some way. If you have yet to begin your surrogacy journey and would like more information, either regarding the embryo transfer or anything related to becoming a surrogate mother, we welcome you to reach out to us. Simply contact us anytime and one of our surrogacy specialists will be in touch with you shortly!

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