Can I Cross the Hurdle? - Heartbeat Confirmation/Fertility Treatment

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I managed to clear the stages from embryo transfer to gestational sac confirmation right on schedule.
And then, there was the hurdle I had never been able to cross before: heartbeat confirmation.

Last time, the growth of the gestational sac was poor, and I ended up having a missed miscarriage without being able to confirm a heartbeat.

Those two weeks, where all I could do was pray, felt incredibly long. I would stare at my planner and count down the days every single day.

During this time, I had one piece of homework to do, which was
to decide on a maternity clinic.

The clinic I attend graduates patients once a heartbeat is confirmed, so in order to get a referral letter, I needed to have decided on a clinic by the next visit once the gestational sac was confirmed.

Honestly, it was tough having to think about that while I still couldn't confirm a heartbeat...
It was especially hard because there was a high possibility of miscarriage last time as well.

I had only moved to this area two years ago and didn't know anyone, so I worried quite a bit about which maternity clinic to choose. I would like to write about this again later.

The Day of Heartbeat Confirmation

The original confirmation date was Monday.
However, early on the Saturday two days before that,
I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen, and the pain persisted from there.
Although the pain subsided afterward, I became very anxious about whether everything was okay.

After worrying and worrying, I sent a message to the clinic before noon.
Then, I received a reply about two hours later.
'There is nothing we can do at this stage of pregnancy, but since I understand you are worried, you are welcome to come in for an examination.'

I hurriedly made a reservation through the app and ended up having an emergency visit that day.

To the Examination Table
Since it was a Saturday, it felt quite crowded. After waiting for a while, I went to the examination table.

Usually, there are many female doctors for ultrasounds, but on this day, it was a male doctor who was likely the one who performed my second egg retrieval.

The second egg retrieval was incredibly painful, but this doctor's ultrasound was gentle and painless, so I felt a little relieved.

And then... the doctor said,
'Can you see it moving? That's the heart!'
On the screen, there was something shaped like a human, moving with a flickering motion.
'Wait a moment, I'll let you hear the sound.'
Thump-thump-thump... I could clearly hear the rapid heartbeat.
'That's great, congratulations!'

Tears welled up naturally.
I couldn't believe this moment had actually arrived.
It might have been closer to being moved beyond just happiness.

'I wanted to let you hear this as soon as possible. Sorry, wait a moment while I take some measurements.'

I was happy to hear the doctor say that, too.
The clinic often felt quite impersonal, so,
I don't know, I was just happy to hear such empathetic words.

And then, to the consultation

At the clinic I attend, internal examinations and consultations are done by different doctors, and the doctors are assigned randomly.

However, there was one doctor I saw often.

I had hoped it would be this doctor and wanted to thank them, but it turned out to be a doctor I had never seen before. I received the set of documents, told them which maternity hospital I would be using, and the consultation ended immediately.

I think the moment I first saw the heart flickering and moving is a moment I will never forget.

However, the relief was fleeting; I am still terrified and anxious about what lies ahead, but I can only be grateful for this little life that is working so hard.

I intend to write about what happens from here on out as well. If reading this is painful for you, I hope you will feel free to stop reading or step away.

Thank you for reading this far.