Assisted Conception (and all the bits in between) volume 7

womanly thanks so much. It's weird how much having people you don't even know thinking about you helps but it really does. It feels like a huge length of time between a day three transfer and testing but I'm determined to hold out until Wednesday. Best of luck with the doctor.

keziah it's really good to hear from you. How are you doing?

lissy that's wonderful news on the scan. Well done!

Thanks for the info Keziah I shall get right on with connecting with my gp. Its very early days and am spotting so very nervous. beginning I have everything crossed for u lovely, only two more days to go.

Womanly - contacting your gp is purely to get into the nhs midwife system.If it is anything like my Gp practice the midwife is there once a week with a set number of appointments so booking now is important because if they don't have an appointment free you wait longer!! At about 8 weeks you will see her for the first time (and not again until week 16 then week 24)- a mammoth long session (some now do it in 2, mine rushed through it in 80 mins but a lot of it was rubbish about all the leaflets that anyone who can read didn't need to be told!) and the midwife will book you in for your NHS dating scan (11-13 weeks). The fact you get an early scan at ivf clinic is irrelevant - as the midwife I saw was only interested in what "she did" and after seeing her!!

I found seeing the midwife hard, after being under the care of a private ivf clinic who gives you lots of time and appointments etc. Even though I am on lots of medication, had a stroke recently and need to be consultant led the midwife's attitude was: "this is what I do, you see me every 8 weeks for 20 minutes and bring xyz", no recognition of how I felt or the fact that it had taken us 7 years. I guess that is what they do all the time, but I hope you get a nicer midwife than mine!!

Thanks keziah - I will call my gp tomorrow however I was wondering if that's ok given I am going to have my first scan at the ivf clinic.. I just wish there was some clear guidance on how to transition from consultant to gp :)
Thanks fret wish you the very best with your IUI cycle.

I've returned from holiday and was really busy at work, so have not had the opportunity to get back on MN. Sorry for not posting.

Womanly - What fantastic news. I am sooooo happy for you and would love you to keep posting on how things are going. I had a dildocam at the beginning of the week and was given the all clear to start IUI. I started my injections yesterday with 75 units of Puregon and will have a blood test on Wednesday morning. Your story is inspirational and I really hope that your good luck rubs off on me.

BTW - I was put on the pill briefly by my doctor because I had a residual cyst after my last ovulation and after coming off, having the all clear and getting ready to start the injections, I had a period (started Saturday - same day I did my first injection in the afternoon). I guess this is normal due to stopping the pill (I was only on for about 10 days and had been off any contraceptives for over 18 months beforehand), but my Dr did not warn me about it. Any ideas anyone?

Lucy - how is it going? Is your DH still uncertain? My DH is very much on board, but every now and again he kicks back - I think that every now and again he feels a bit like he is being 'processed' if you know what I mean. I'm the one who has made all the appointments as well (I tend to be more proactive) so I think every now and again he feels a bit like he has boarded a train that he has no control over. That said, he has now given up alcohol (unless we have a dinner invitation and wine is served!).

How did your blood tests go?

Italian - great news. Keep us posted.

Lissy - wonderful on the doubling in size.

Hi and hugs to everyone else too

Fingers crossed for everyone :)

waves hello to Flip - thanks for you kind comments. Hope all continuing well for you.

Congratulations womanly - great news. Sounds good idea to do pessaries until scan. I am on pessaries until week 12 due to immune issues (they are not too cheap so hope you don't need them for too long!!). Do you know when they will scan you? It might be worth going to your gp's too to get your nhs booking appointment for week 8, as I found out there were not too many slots free when I did that at week 5 and a half!! x

Thank you ladies for all the good wishes and the info on pessaries. I am at the clinic and the obtaining doc on call is confused.. he finally gave me a prescription for two weeks assuming we will rethink after the scan. I so wish I had q doctor who was not confused... kinda makes me wonder who really is in charge here.

Congratulations womanly - what wonderful news

Your clinic can advise on the pessaries, but as you ovulated (so your corpus luteum is therefore producing progesterone) they may not require you to be on pessaries for as long as an IVF pregnancy (which has no corpus luteum).

womanly you can't know how happy I am for you. The very very best of luck. There's been so much good news on here in the last few weeks, can everyone please keep fingers crossed that it keeps going for me on Wednesday!! The pessaries will be until 12 weeks for me too.

Happy Sunday all.

I logged on early to see if there was any news and congratulations womanly what brilliant news!
I think you need pessaries for 12 weeks until the placenta takes over x

Thank you all for your support and love - - I tested this morning and BFP
Am off to the clinic to pick up some more pessaries -- Any idea how long we need to continue being on pessaries after positive test? I am 16 days post insemination.
Still can't believe it - early days - ie, the whispering stage - and this was my 3rd IUI cycle - Third time lucky - I am most thankful to all of you for your support and love - what a blessing mumsnet really is :)

Best of luck beginnings and to all of you across all the different stages of our journey. If it's ok with you all I would like to hang around here..

Hi, quick post to say good luck to everyone who is testing or on their two week wait.

Scan yesterday was fab. Baby almost doubled in size, going from 21.8 mm to 39.1 mm. Saw arms and legs! Progesterone went down quite a bit, but still in a very acceptable range, so have to have it retested on Tuesday.

Sorry not to name-check, but will post more a bit later..

Have a great Saturday!

Thank you all for your support -
beginnings I am hanging in there (as in do I really have a choice.). DH is a bit miffed at my super-obsessing nad my scenario planning -- I did not even know I could be THIS good at scenario planning. So yesterday I saw some brown spots and brown cm (sorry for the tmi) and then went crazy...but after that first time - there was not much more.. though each time I'd wipe there were small traces of brown. One theory is that I got so stressed after the initial spotting that my AF just froze...the other theory is that since I am still on the pessaries perhaps it's keeping AF at bay.. the bfp theories are too freaky and I just can't bring myself to test. I will test on Sunday since I have to for the clinic...but am dreading that too. Also I keep feeling like AF is just about to start... so all around I am not doing much to help myself keep sane or distracted or blissfully positive.

lissy how goes your scan? Hope it goes well
beginnings glad you had a good accupuncture session - that's something I have yet not got to doing though am reading a book on TCM
scrummy sorry about what you're feeling at present - I am glad you are happy with yoru appt date. I do hope that dh's operation goes well and you're both well and rested for your October date.
Wave to everyone else :)

Hi everyone!

Italian so, so pleased for you and your news. That is just amazing. I love the fact you have called your donor Desiree . My dad is Swedish and I lived in Sweden for couple of years when younger. I hope you feel better today.

Lucy that is really good news about them accepting the FSh levels above 10. Let's hope they behave. How quickly will they come back to you?

womanly this is where I've found FertilityFriend chart gallery a calming effect....I've been known to track through charts with spotting before AF was due to see if there are any that then lead to BFP and I can assure you, there are many. Hang in there. I know how hard it is.

beginnings so many people say that they felt as though AF was on its way, when in fact it was implantation, so please don't give up hope.

pocket welcome.

flipfantasia it's kind of like your body has woken up and realises what it is supposed to do Seems to happen a lot. Which is why I'm keen to see if I can convince DH that I won't go on contraceptives after treatment (successful or not). really glad to hear about your success and I wish you all the best with your pregnancy.

lissy really glad to hear you are able to take your medication to get some sleep. You must be so relieved.

rowing did you manage to have your appt changed?

I thought on Monday that AF had started early as my spotting became so heavy and that continued through Tuesday. But it was just VERy heavy spotting, as temps stayed up and temp down this morning and AF arrived proper. Good news is, we received our letter from ARGC and have our appt scheduled for 14th Oct. That's good timing for us, as DH is unwell (has been for weeks) and has to have an operation next week with couple of weeks of recuperation. We are also extending our house and it's a real mess. That should all be completed by end of Sep. I also have a big deadline at work at the end of Sep, after which we'll finally have our holiday. I'm feeling quite tired and stressed at the moment.

Thanks for asking italian. I'm much better today. I had acupuncture last night which was booked anyway. It was pretty intense but I definitely feel like I've more energy this morning and I don't feel uncomfortable. I also got reassurance from the Lister yesterday which made me feel better.

womanly how are you doing this morning?

Take a deep breath womanly and remember it's not unheard of. I know people with pcos who bled the whole way through successful pregnancies.

Fingers crossed for Sunday. Hang in there. This bit is truly horrible.

Hi everyone

Hope everyine is doing well...the weekend is almost in sight...

rowing thanks for the advice on donor stuff - my confidence is growing. am looking at Spain having had a good chat with clinic earlier...

italian brilliant brilliant news - i'm so so pleased for you. i'm saying prayers and keeping everything crossed for you - are you feeling any better?

sending lots of love, luck and prayers to you all

xxx

Saw some brown stuff and am now scared silly. Reading angle waiting..for whatever is in store next.

Italian- Hooray! I'm so pleased that a donor has been found! I know it's been so hard to be patient, but it'll all work out in the end. Can't wait to hear about your progress. In the meantime, I hope you feel better soon. I've been suffering from irritable bowel/colitis for a long time, so I know what you're going through. Hope you can think calm and relaxing thoughts.

beginnings- It's so hard, isn't it, to second guess EVERYTHING in your 2 ww. Sending you calming, positive implantation vibes. Hope you can hold off testing until next Wednesday.

lucy- You are GO for ARGC! Glad to hear you've decided to go whole hog, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that your FSH behaves. I've heard about the Humira, of course, but know very little about how it works.

rowing- Good luck with doctor's appt. Let us know how it goes.

flip- Congrats on your BFP! I've heard so many stories of failed IVF cycles and then natural BFP's. Hope you're feeling good, glad that your scans are showing good results, and keep up the good work!

womanly- Hope you're surviving!

AFM, scan tomorrow morning, and more mini-immunes. Still suffering from morning sickness, and hoping that starts to ease off soon. Spoke to BIL about sleep medicine, as he's a doc AND works for MHRA. He said to take sleeping pill every other night, and that it was ok until I hit my third trimester. I've been doing that since the beginning of the week, so on the nights of no pill, it's two and a half hours of sleep, and about eight with. I pray that once I'm into my second trimester, I'll experience that sleepiness that will knock me out.

Sorry if I missed anyone!

Beginnings yup, same doctor. Hope work is a good distraction!

Oh and good luck today Lucy!! (wishes for steady FSH)

flipfantasia her first name starts with j. Was it the same. I really like her. Very sensible, explains things, really sympathetic but not mushy.

Thanks Lucy I can always rely on you to talk sense :) people keep telling me that implantation doesn't feel like the same kind of cramp but I guess it could be....I'll bank that as an idea for now and run with it.

Right, I better try and do some work now!

Beginnings I also have a short cycle - 24/25 days - with spotting before AF (though that seems to have stopped since DS) so waiting the 14 days from egg collection felt like an aaaaaaage. I remember it so well - my test date was our second wedding anniversary. The acupuncture is a good idea though - sending calm thoughts to you! Hope you've got a lot of good DVDs to watch or something equally distracting! PS it sounds like we had the same doctor, didn't you mention she was female? I heart her...found her v sympathetic during the whole process.

Lucy good news about your FSH! Looks like it's all systems go for you