TTC first baby thread 26

@orangeloo congrats on getting through it, you're right the emotions and physically commitment is hard going. How did you feel after EC? I remember I couldn't walk for about 3 days and still sore up to a week later.
Take it easy until transfer and good luck for your little eggsy waiting for you x

Hi everyone.
Egg collection was last Friday, got 21 eggs only 4 mature :( 4 fertilised. We have one top quality blastocyst frozen waiting for us. I couldn't have a fresh transfer as they were concerned about OHSS but I was fine.
It was a tough 5 days. I know we are lucky to have one but that first phonecall was so disheartening - going from such a high of 21. I only had 7 days of stims so think my dose was too high and ovaries went to much too fast. FET should be next cycle all being well. For anyone about to embark on IVF. It really is a tough rollercoaster. I was as prepared as I could be I think but emotionally nothing could have prepared me for it all. Take all the support you can get and look after yourselves. X

Welcome @EllaRose123 I'm sorry to hear of your recent disappointment. Lots of us on here have been TTC for a while now.

Hello everyone been trying to conceive for 13 months with #1 just had a failed IUI from last month, and starting the second pretty soon

We had people round today and it was just so normal (apart from the fact we were all outside under blankets). It was a nice distraction from all consuming TTC inner monologues XXX it might be nice to see them and just not talk shop xxx

I've just found out my BFFs are pregnant with 2nd baby! Of course I'm happy for them but I am absolutely devastated for us . . . Far more devastated for us than happy for them in fact. We had arranged to meet up tomorrow but I just can't bring myself to do it right now after our recent news. Another friend of mine gave birth a couple of days ago to a baby they've been waiting 7 years for to confound things.

Thanks @CycloGoose neither can I!
Hope you're feeling OK @orangeloo unfortunately we can't afford to self fund which is why it's so devastating. We've maxed out our borrowing so that's not an option either
@ilkerandamelia have you tried acupuncture? I jist started sessions had 4 now.
Hope you can get some answers @Lozzlepop

@MIW01 I think it's definitely worth looking into as are second opinions maybe. I don't know what nhs criteria is re amh but I would think private amh criteria is lower and I think they may do more mild or natural IVF for people with DOR. X

I'm still absolutely fuming for you @miw01 can't get over the incompetency!

I've got all the gadgets ready to roll for cycle 8.

Good luck for all the ongoing appointments and procedures. Lots of love to you all xxx

@Lozzlepop I'm getting a repeat FSH done on the 16th which will be CD3. So I changed surgeries in October to a different CCG as the previous 1 only funded up to age 35 (I turned 35 in September) so they had to look at everything again. And this area requires FSH levels below 10 (they basically treat it as an alternative to AMH because they won't fund the AMH blood test)

@orangeloo that's interesting you say that about AMH as I've just been told it has to be at a certain level for me to qualify on funding for the NHS because if it's too low it indicates diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and it's very unlikely IVF will work with your own eggs . . . As it happens, the area won't fund AMH blood tests (go figure) so they looked at my FSH levels instead.

@Lozzlepop ah yes of course I really hope they are helpful and can give you some answers. I'm on stims now so it's all starting to happen. It's funny you wait for ivf for so long and I'm pretty prepared but it's still seems crazy when it all starts happening. X

@ilkerandamelia hi, sorry for your losses. I think the only tips are just the usual, be healthy, eat well etc but I would also say look after yourself mentally. Just keep trying, I'm sure you will have success. There may be miscarriage groups on here too that you may find useful. X

@orangeloo yeah I am not overly concerned about the IVF working in order for us to conceive as we have not had issues there, it's just getting past 8 weeks so I hope someone can give us some more info and maybe some stats about how and why this is the best route to go down! When is your first cycle starting? sorry if I have missed this from earlier in the chat

Hi everyone,

Can I join please?

Im 25 and trying to conceive baby #1.
Ive previously suffered from a miscarriage and 2 ectopics (one was may 2020) and we've been ttc since October.

Ive been seen by private gynos and they seem to say everythings fine but i feel like something's wrong with me.... I only have one tube due to my EP but have been told that this shouldn't really stop me from having a baby.

Any tips on trying?

Babydust to all ✨💕

@Lozzlepop glad work is going well. Good luck for Monday. I know it's easier said than done but try not to worry about AMH too much. It is mainly for them to know what dose of medication to give you because even people with very low value can still go on to have healthy babies. X

Hi all,

Sorry i have been quiet recently and missed loads! How are we all?

@orangeloo the training is going well, a LOT of info though so I am looking forward to the long weekend 🙂thanks for the tips we have our first appointment on Monday along with a blood test fro my AMH levels 😬

@CycloGoose so sorry to read your news, can't imagine how hard it must have been to go see your SIL- I have had 2 pregnancy announcements this week and its can be so draining 😔remember to be kind to yourself in this time.

@MIW01 I'm so so sorry to hear this, I can't even imagine how you must be feeling. Have you considered asking for them to repeat the test? How can they just come back with these results and do a full 360 on things 6 months down the line?

@Kiza so glad to hear you are doing well, will be such a relief that your 12 week scan is coming up! wedding was postponed until June so its 9 weeks on Saturday- which makes me feel a little bit ill lol!

@Annny27 @XjustagirlX hows things with you?

@MIW01 I'm so sorry to hear your news. I hope some heads roll with your complaint and you get some counselling support. 

@Kiza I have started stims and am on short protocol which I am glad about. Yes I will definitely be doing some of the myth type stuff haha. I will feel like what if if I don't lol. So exciting to reach that milestone. Hope scan goes well 😊

Thanks @Kiza. I just found out my FSH in June 2019 was 9.2! & I was told my results were normal! I am absolutely horrified by their incompetence. The main concern I had going into that appointment was early menopause!

@MIW01 if you google fertility counselling then some local charities may come up (most GP's are clueless about them and have no idea they even exist). The smaller charities often offer free sessions and it's more person centred approach to allow you time to offload and process rather then the CBT approach (which is mainly all the MHS offer and many people don't connect with it or it isn't suitable for what you're going through ).

@CycloGoose & @Kiza I will be complaining to each region separately about these cock ups!

@Kiza I asked my GP for counselling and got fobbed off again . . . All they can offer is talking therapy. I've completed 3 rounds of CBT, I don't find it at all helpful and last time I refused it I got discharged back to the GP!

@MIW01 for sure go down the PALS route or even your local MP. We are fobbed off so much and it's not right that we have to scream and shout to be heard, and even then still may not get the treatment we are entitled to.
I can only suggest an AFC scan as that gives a much clearer picture of exactly how many follicles you have left, although I don't know how much they cost privately? Egg donor route is such a hard thing to get your head around and for a week after our first scan that was where I truly thought we were going to be, like you I grieved and was angry. Take some time to consider some counselling as an outlet for all your emotions as I know there are some smaller local charities that offer free or means tested therapy for TTC.

Thanks @Kiza - I've basically been told now that if it doesn't happen naturally then we will need an egg donor. I am jist mortified and grieving so badly atm fearing the worst . . . That's interesting that your results were borderline and then when they looked things weren't as the results suggest. I guess that just shows how everyone is different! That's another reason I'm really cross cause my sister had an FSH level of 14.7 at age 31, told she was in perimenopause and it would be unlikely she'd ever conceive another child naturally, and then she fell accidentally pregnant with my now 7 month old niece! So maybe FSH level is just high in our family?! Though we do have the early menopause history. I'm going to be complaining to everyone under the sun I can think of about this fiasco. I am so disgusted at how we've been ignored and misinformed from even before our TTC journey.

@MIW01 yeah my FSH was 8.8 and AMH was 5.9 and I'm 40 so they didn't appear that bad, just borderline. However once I started IVF and they scanned me there was only 6 follicles- so much lower than expected with the above results. Of those 6 follicles only 2 responded to the ivf meds and yeah only 1 egg was found on the day of collection and was fertilised with icsi.
We are still in shock that it worked as that first scan showing only 6 follicles and only 2 of them stimulated we had just accepted it wasn't going to work and we'd have to go down the egg donor route. But as they say miracles do sometimes happen 💗
The way you've been tested is shocking and you're not the only one, our journey has been crap and I had to push and fight so hard to start the IVf when we did otherwise it could've been another 6 months. I wrote a letter of complaint via PALS as it's disgusting.

Really pleased things are ticking along for you @Kiza out of interest did you have your levels tested? I remember you saying you only had 1 egg for IVF but as you say it only takes 1!

Sorry to hear of your loss @CycloGoose and the 'to add insult to injury element' I have to admite everytime there 'new baby news' amongst our friends I can't even bring myself to say congratulations to anyone anymore!

What I'm most angry about is I've raised concerns about early me opause being a factor on both sides of my family since I was 23! And had on and off investigations since then.

Thank you @Kiza I have everything crossed for you for next week. It's a really big milestone XXX

@MIW01 this sounds like horrendous treatment and can't even really be considered care! God it's awful that they've led you down the garden path with misinformation. Utter insert your preferred expletive

I went for scan and empty womb as anticipated. SIL had her third baby the same day so got to buy a congratulations card on the way to the hospital which was an extra layer of fun. HCG had already dropped to 23 by the appointment and 7.4 48hrs later.
My BBT and OvuSense seem to suggest I might have ovulated again in that time so all a bit odd. Though only had a very brief temperature rise. I also had bilateral cysts which seem to suggest it may have been ovulation time as well. I was pretty surprised that there was a 5cm haemorrhaging cyst on my ovary and that's just normal.

Easter holidays now and back to the drawing board. Knowing my luck, I won't be fertile whilst we're at home 🤦🏼‍♀️

Good luck to everyone xxx

@MIW01 I'm so sorry to hear this, it's absolutely shitty that we have to go through this nonsense! I was thinking how about paying for a private AFC as it's much more accurate than AMH and FSH as they can see just how many follicles you have- all of which can become potential egg holders with IVF?
More should be done within the NHS for speedier and more accurate testing and sharing of these results too.

@orangeloo good luck with the IVF, I'm assuming you're on the long protocol? You're right it's emotionally overwhelming, especially when you get your meds and Sharps box! I even did all the myths around egg collection and transfer of pop juice, hot water bottles walnuts etc 🤦🏼‍♀️

@CycloGoose sorry to hear about your loss, even when it's that early on it still stings and hurts. Hope you're doing ok.

@XjustagirlX did you mange to get your prescription in the end?

@Lozzlepop when have you postponed the wedding till?

All good my end, didn't want to post any scan photos up as I remember only too well the mixed emotions I had towards pregnant women and wouldn't want to trigger any of you lovely ladies. Still on cyclogest twice daily and going to wean myself off it rather than just stop. Hormones daily for the last 3 months has definitely bumped me up a dress size and can only wear leggings and dresses now but 11+4 and have my 12 week scan next week so elated to have reached this point as have never gotten this far before.