SU/MSU Experiments Buddy Group-June 09

Well, I finally dragged out all the equipment tonight to give SU a try and it was horrible..  I couldn't find the sperm with the microscope AT ALL.  I don't have a color wheel - any idea what to use instead?

I'm totally clueless when it comes to trying to put the egg-white on top.  I have boxed egg white that has a pH of 9 which I'm assuming is what I want.  It's pretty much the same color as the sperm so I have no clue if it floated or not.  I think I put it in way too quickly too.. any tips for that?

This is very, very overwhelming..  I can see why people don't do SU!  I really want to try and make it work - any advice/help for me?? :(

the first time is always hard.  thats why you need practice over and over till you can do it in your sleep.

you can use colored cellophane to make the colored wheel

Where would the cellophane go exactly?

tape it under the stage  where the disk diaphragm (color wheel) is suppose to be

Hi ladies...I apologize for not being on here...my attempt is coming up next week, so I am trying NOT to be on the computer as much.  It is hard because I want to know what is going on with all of you!!!

Chacha...take a deep breathe.....I know,it is overwhelming, but in no time you will be somewhat of an expert!!!!  I was like that...I think we all were to some extent.  I asked Tamara like ninety million questions....I was so confused!!  Now, I feel like an expert...somewhat!!!  Just take your time to figure out each part of the process step by step, not all the steps at once.  For example just practice looking at the sperm in the microscope for days on end and get to know exactly what you are doing instead of trying to figure how to look at the sperm, and float the ew.  It will be much less overwhelming!!!  Good luck to you and RELAX....that is the only way to do it!!!

OMG  Erin...I just went back to read the posts!!! Congrats...I am so happy for you!!!  How great!!!  Yeah!!  Gard, Babybo, Grace....who else am I missing...Brygger....good luck to you all!!  I did not realize how many ladies were attempting right now!!  PD...you too soon!!!  WOW!!!!  This is a good next couple weeks!!!  Hope Erin has started the ball rolling for all of us PINK and BLUE!!!!!

Wow, Erin...CONGRATULATIONS!!!!  May you have a happy & healthy sticky bean in there. 

There are a ton of people getting ready to attempt.  I'm thinking mine will be in about 7 days or so, give or take a day or two.  We'll see soon enough.  I've been staying away from IG lately for a couple reasons.  1) All my ds are home for the summer & I never (REPEAT NEVER!!!) have any down time until almost midnight. 2) I kind of wondered in the back of my head if staying away from IG will keep me from getting my hopes up too high.  I guess I'm in a bit of a rut...which is kind of sad considering this is only my 3rd month of trying.  I am just in the phase of feeling like it's never going to happen. kwim?  I will keep trying & doing our sway to the best of our ability...

1 other thing before I head to bed....my DB just had a (they didn't know the gender before Friday) baby BOY on Friday, the 19th.  He was 8lbs. 11oz. & was 19 1/2 inches long.  They are back at home & doing great, my SIL is still recovering from her c-section but is doing well.  Oh, I almost forgot.  They named him Joshua Jeffrey.  I am now an aunt to 3 nephews & 2 nieces! 

PurpleDream:

Wow, Erin...CONGRATULATIONS!!!!  May you have a happy & healthy sticky bean in there. 

There are a ton of people getting ready to attempt.  I'm thinking mine will be in about 7 days or so, give or take a day or two.  We'll see soon enough.  I've been staying away from IG lately for a couple reasons.  1) All my ds are home for the summer & I never (REPEAT NEVER!!!) have any down time until almost midnight. 2) I kind of wondered in the back of my head if staying away from IG will keep me from getting my hopes up too high.  I guess I'm in a bit of a rut...which is kind of sad considering this is only my 3rd month of trying.  I am just in the phase of feeling like it's never going to happen. kwim?  I will keep trying & doing our sway to the best of our ability...

1 other thing before I head to bed....my DB just had a (they didn't know the gender before Friday) baby BOY on Friday, the 19th.  He was 8lbs. 11oz. & was 19 1/2 inches long.  They are back at home & doing great, my SIL is still recovering from her c-section but is doing well.  Oh, I almost forgot.  They named him Joshua Jeffrey.  I am now an aunt to 3 nephews & 2 nieces! 

renfro_erin:

I'm still in shock a little...Monday I got a BFP!!! I almost can't believe I'm preggo! Thank you all for your help in answering questions and moral support. Most times I just read everyone's posts to glean info. Now another 15 weeks for gender news I hope it works. The first thing DH said was "Did you get a good sort?" I got to surprise him though, so that was fun. I put up congratulations banners and balloons I think my sort was good, but I didn't have clear layers, either way a baby is a blessing. Please pray for a healthy & strong baby Best of luck  and blessings to those attempting soon!

Chachamama:

Well, I finally dragged out all the equipment tonight to give SU a try and it was horrible..  I couldn't find the sperm with the microscope AT ALL.  I don't have a color wheel - any idea what to use instead?

I'm totally clueless when it comes to trying to put the egg-white on top.  I have boxed egg white that has a pH of 9 which I'm assuming is what I want.  It's pretty much the same color as the sperm so I have no clue if it floated or not.  I think I put it in way too quickly too.. any tips for that?

This is very, very overwhelming..  I can see why people don't do SU!  I really want to try and make it work - any advice/help for me?? :(

I've never used a color wheel.  Mine didn't come with one so I bought cellophane but it didn't help me see anything.  It looked the same only red.  Make sure the magnification is enough.  I have one setting that I can't see anything with but I can with the other 2 settings.  One just barely though.  Those things are REALLY tiny.  Good luck!  Hope it works better for you next time.

Renfro_erin:

Thanks to everyone - Tamara that diagram was very helpful too!  I think I will definitely try to take it in stages.. just try to see the sperm first would be an accomplishment I think! :)

Niki (or anyone else) - how did you finally find them - do you know which mag?  I have 100x 300x and 600x and couldn't see them with any of those!!

Chachamama:

Thanks to everyone - Tamara that diagram was very helpful too!  I think I will definitely try to take it in stages.. just try to see the sperm first would be an accomplishment I think! :)

Niki (or anyone else) - how did you finally find them - do you know which mag?  I have 100x 300x and 600x and couldn't see them with any of those!!

 start with 100x. I don't use the color wheel so I don't think that's the problem. Make sure you have a slide cover over your droplett of semen. I adjust the light manually, sort of pointing just away from directly in the hole, and farthest away from the hole. Move the lens all the way down and slowly move up. you should see them then. try looking at some sperm in a microscope on Utube to see what you are looking for. If you really can't find them, you might need another scope?

You need to start with the thick EW from a real egg. Warm it up in the incubator before attempting to float. You might want to try a swim down first, just to get the hang of it all, see the layers,  then try to float the EW. When you use real eggs, you will see more of a color difference between the semen and the EW.

 Pretend like you are a master scientist. Remember that most great discoveries were from accidents in the laboratory, it doesn't always go right.

 Good luck.

PD- I know you feel down after only 2 attempts, but you've got to pick yourself up and try again. It will happen, it just takes time. Hugs...

Chachamama:

I have 100x 300x and 600x and couldn't see them with any of those!!

Maybe try putting a piece of hair over the slide so you can focus on that then, take it away and look at the slide beneath it.  Sometimes all it takes is being able to focus the microscope and then you are better able to see the swimmers.  I personally would start at 300X (I guess this also depends on your microscope, if it is a more expensive one start at 100X)

If you start at too low of a magnification then the swimmers are too small and you cannot really see them that well.  Just concentrate now on focusing on something bigger (anything small enough to fit on top of the slide.)

When you make your slide make sure that you have the slide cover and press it down a bit with the tip of your nail so the sample is not too thick.  If it is too thick then you will not be able to see the swimmers.....

Good Luck!!!

How do you see if it is a good sort ?

How can you see the difference between x and y swimmers ?