First Timers TTC. Safe space for brain dumps, questions, whinges and celebrations. Part 2!

@Feliciacat thank you!

That's so frustrating re. the endometriosis. Had someone just listened to you who knows how much frustration and disappointment could have been avoided.

I know exactly what you mean re. a CP. I never had one either, never had an egg meet a sperm. We had no idea what the issue was (still don't) as nobody could find anything wrong, but we tried IUI, and it worked first time. I'd love to know what hurdle the IUI got us over, but probably never will.

@Ditzydaisychain congratulations on your boy. Good to hear that the c-section went ok too.

@CatCaretaker, @LucyLoopyLu and @TinyDancer91 congratulations on your girls. I hope the rest of the pregnancy goes well.

IVF pregnancies are more risky because of the blastocysts being cultured outside of the womb for the first few days. The culture medium makes the embryos more fragile. This is also why IVF embryos are more likely to split into twins; the embryos are fragile.

I am still not pregnant and have not even conceived and had a CP (not that I’d wish for that but I mean I’ve never had an egg meet a sperm). It’s so odd because diminished ovarian reserve shouldn’t necessarily affect natural conception.

Anyway, long story short, I have gone through my first IVF cycle and had the egg retrieval…and they’ve found endometriosis all round my dominant ovary. So the eggs haven’t been getting to the fallopian tubes. That’s the reason I’ve never conceived! I feel relieved to have an answer but pissed off that I’ve sought help for bad periods before but always been ignored. I could have avoided all that pain and infertility if I’d been taken seriously.

We had six eggs retrieved, all are mature and all got fertilised. I have my day 3 update today and transfer on Wednesday. IVF will bypass the endometriosis so I should be capable of conceiving now.

@TinyDancer91 that's exciting! I can't remember when was the last time I updated on here. We're having a girl too, I'm 30 weeks now.

I've also been classed as higher risk because of IVF, although in my case the midwife thought it was kind of borderline. I'm glad I've got the consultant appointments, Doppler and growth scans though as we only had low quality embryos and as my doctor pointed out when I first met her, they want to keep an eye on the placenta and whether she's getting everything she needs as we go on.

Have you done a birth plan yet? I feel quite aware that with the extra monitoring any plan might go out of the window so I haven't decided anything just yet.

Edited to add: along with the embryo quality I have also had late onset OHSS (higher risk of pre eclampsia I think) and slow rising HCG in the early days. So all in all I think it makes sense to have the extra appointments.

@TinyDancer91 I hope tou don't mind me asking, why does IVF make the pregnancy higher risk? We've had IUI and I've seen a few places where fertility treatments make the pregnancy higher risk, but I don't know why!

Congratulations BTW, we're having a girl too. Exciting!

@TinyDancer91 we’ve had a boy, and he is just wonderful 💙
I had a last minute section, due to some growth scan anomalies, which was daunting at first but my recovery has been very straightforward and I’ve had very little pain. And after all that baby ended up being under 8lbs, he was showing as almost 10lbs on my growth scan 😂.

@Superfudgey i hope you got your positive! If not sending you lots of love and baby dust for this cycle 💕

Posting as a new comer. TTC for about six cycles now I'm 34 years old from US. Looking for support , this is my first time reaching out in a forum. My period is due tomorrow so far my pregnancy test strips have been negative, but I had a dream last night that I got a positive. Been very tired and verryyyy sensitive/hormonal/angry. Here to chat with anyone going through the same thing. Congratulations to all the newly expecting !!! <3 please give me a touch of your baby dust.

@TinyDancer91 I am over the moon for you. Congratulations to you and your DH.

Little update from me - we welcomed our little one end of June.
Thank you to all for your support on this thread. It kept me sane while we waited for our BFP.

@TinyDancer91 great news, congrats! Glad you are still feeling well too 😊

I am over the moon for you @TinyDancer91 and wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy!

@TinyDancer91 I was on the thread when I was TTC in early 2023 but very lucky that it happened quickly for us. I occasionally catch up on the thread to see how you’re doing and this is just the best news! Wising you all the best and looking forward to hearing updates 🥰 I’ve just ran down the stairs to tell DH the news as even he asks about as he knows how supportive I found the MN posters when TTC

I remember your first thread from years ago @TinyDancer91 and often look to see how you are doing. I was so pleased to see your update - how are you doing?

I’ve just read this full thread and I’m so happy to read your latest update. Congratulations and wishing you all the best for your pregnancy journey 💕

I have been checking in and out of this thread lurking, I am so pleased for you @TinyDancer91 🥰

@TinyDancer91 great news! Hope all goes well for you X X X X

That's beautiful news, so pleased for you ☺️ it must be nerve wracking worrying that something will go wrong but try to enjoy this time and your BFP!

@TinyDancer91 lovely news, congratulations! How do you feel?

@TinyDancer91 omg amazing congratulations!!!

That is amazing news! Huge congratulations!

@TinyDancer91 so happy for you! 💕