Dec19/Jan20 IVF Graduates - Thread 2

[Chooklass]

New thread for us all to keep in touch. Think we're all nearing the end of the first trimester or dipping our toes into the second ... how far we've come since the days of agonising over stims!

Link to old thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/birth_clubs/3812203-Dec19-Jan20-IVF-Graduates

@Lily999 congratulations! As you say kids are kids, we will all learn on the job!

I agree with what others have said about the differences between approach from those who have been through struggles and those that haven’t. I read in my Zita West book that she encourages patients to try and see themselves as any other pregnant woman after their first scan - but it’s easier said than done!

I hope after yesterday’s announcement that shops will open so we can go to see some baby gear in person at some point over the summer - really do not want to do all our shopping online but if that’s what it needs to be then so be it!

@DobbieFreeElf that nurse sounds like a delight! What an awful bedside manner. Sorry you had to go through that.

Appreciate I am risking many different answers here, but can people remind me about maternity pillow recommendations/advice? I was really wanting to wait until I could get into the store to look at some (not least as it's a pretty monster parcel to have delivered - and send back if you want don't like it) but since it seems shops won't be open for at least a few more weeks, and I'm starting to get a bit uncomfy at night, I may need to admit defeat with the online....

Any tips?

@Wimbledon1 I've heard that the huge U-shaped ones which go around you are amazing, but take up most of the bed! They support bump, hips and go around to the back to stop you sleeping on back. Kinda like this:

www.amazon.co.uk/PharMeDoc-Full-Body-Pregnancy-Pillow/dp/B01KIQH2VU

I'm using a rolled up blanket at the moment but I wake up every morning with it on the floor! 😂

I have this one and it is very comfortable but I do keep waking up on my back 🙄

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07J5SMJQJ/ref=psdcmw_3887770031_t1_B01KIQH2VU?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I have one similar to this: www.wowcher.co.uk/deal/shop/12663154/u-shaped-pillow-pillowcase?from=14156860

Bought it for about £10 when I was pregnant with DS. There are some super expensive ones on the market but my view on this one was if I hate it I have only spent £ not £££. I loved it then and I’m using it again now 😊

Hello all! I have been lurking for a while, I am a bit ahead of most of you - due in August. I just wanted to ask whether you had been advised about induction and whether you were all consultant led due to IVF? It seems to vary by trust but I feel anxious that I haven't been referred and don't know if I need to be pushing for it. I have read there are reasons to do with your placenta, which is why they commonly induce IVFers. any help of knowledge would be appreciated. x

Hi @WorriedButterfly ! At my first midwife appointment she said ivf pregnancies were all supposed to be consultant led but gave me the option since there were no obvious problems. We've not spoken about birth stuff yet so can't comment on induction - I've not heard of that though? There are so many different reasons why people need ivf, quite often male factor, so I don't see why that would mean we need induced? 🤷‍♀️ Hope you get to the bottom of it! X

Hi @WorriedButterfly At my first midwife appointment they said I would have a consultants appointment due to IVF nature, that will be in mid July so around 25 weeks. Not sure what they hope to get out of the conversation / what next steps would be. Hope you manage to get to the bottom of it soon!

16 week midwife appointment done ✅ All good, usual caveat of “might take me a little while to find the heartbeat” but she found it instantly! All other checks good. She did tell me that in our region they are suggesting cancelling 24 week appointments and not seeing patients again until 28 weeks which she declared ridiculous and far too long so told me to book my 24 week one as usual. I also told her about the witch from EPU and she was shocked. Told me that if I have any worries she is more than happy to give me a check over at any time 😊 Also apparently I was the last face to face booking appointment she had and everyone else has now gone to phone.

Hi @WorriedButterfly unlike @Chooklass my midwife said ivf itself wasn’t a reason alone to be consultant lead. I have a consultant appointment next week but this is more likely to be for other risk factors and not ivf. I might be wrong but it would be unlikely to discuss induction etc at this stage unless you have a problem. In my first pregnancy induction wasn’t mentioned until after my EDD as everything else was fine. Honestly I would personally avoid induction unless it was necessary for medical reasons.

If you are concerned give your midwife a call, they can explain how your local area handles ivf/ induction 😊

Thank you all for responding, I have my 25 wk call later this week so I will ask again. The unit are lovely and very relaxed, but lean very much to no intervention etc, which on the whole I like, but if it makes medical sense to induce then I would want to consider that and I read this morning ar was due to more risks of placenta failing at 40 weeks in IVF pregnancies - I haven't looked into it properly so probably/hopefully nonsense. Keep going strong ladies! 😊

I'm consultant led but nothing to do with IVF (just a million other problems lol).

My IVF clinic were VERY clear to stress that once you're pregnant it is a normal pregnancy. Your uterus doesn't know whether it was a natural conception or IVF. I would be extremely surprised if there was any peer reviewed evidence to suggest pregnancy problems with IVF (except obviously in the cases where the IVF was triggered by something uterine based e.g. fibroids etc but even then IVF wouldn't necessarily be needed, maybe other surgeries etc).

I suppose there might be some links like IVF parents tend to be older, tend to have had some sort of uterine/cervical procedure (even if just egg collection), some people do IVF because of recurrent miscarriages... but there is a big difference between cause or colleration.

When I met with the consultant during this pregnancy we talked about the complications I have but at no point did IVF come into it. Hope that helps!

@DobbieFreeElf so pleased you found a heartbeat straight away and all is well. Hope it has eased your worry after the EPU witch. Did you tell the midwife?

Anyone else really not got a bump at all yet? Trying not to panic. I just look very fat - I was already a bit overweight but only a size 12/14 but I carry weight around my tummy. Definitely cannot feel an obvious bump if I push and I don't think it is growing! Argh. Saw baby a week ago today and all was fine so I'm sure she is okay but you know what the anxiety is like.... constant worrying.

Ah, thanks for coming out to chat @WorriedButterfly. Reiterating what others have said, I do have a consultant appointment in the diary but just the one at the moment and induction definitely hasn't been mentioned. My appointment is booked around the time you now are though so worth checking

Does this mean there is no equivalent thread to this for Pre Christmas IVF babies? Do hang about, we mostly spend the time reassuring each other and thinking about shopping 😂

On which note, thanks for the pillow links ladies. I keep waking on my back too so will likely go for one which says it prevents that. Also thanks for the book rec @DobbieFreeElf - already arrived (see pic)

And sorry - great news on the 16 week scan after that horrible experience last week. I feel like anyone in hospitality would lose their job with an attitude like that, so frustrating that someone in a care precession can have it! But hurrah all good :)

And @October2020 - you also had your uterus checked last week didn't you and it was exactly right? Our bodies are just not necessarily performing by the book because they are all so different. I'm now 18 weeks and still weigh less than at booking-in, but have stretch pains, kicks and tonight an absolute bucket load of leukhorrea (sorry TMI, but has anyone else noticed this really increasing, especially after exercise?! Yuk 😯) It's also harder with IVF as you go from progesterone bloat to showing and hard to tell the difference. Bet if gig could stand next to yourself as of last summer, you would be seeing something

@Lily999 we are having the same dilemma with names! (Although there is still lots of time). Our favourites are Archie, Alfie, Oliver and Theo, which all happen to be in the top 10! I think it's probably best to try and not worry about how popular a name is as otherwise we would probably end up with something totally obscure that we end up hating! 😂

@Wimbledon1 I bought the theraline pillow which is rated highly on here. It is suuuuuper comfortable but BIG! I can't get used to having it in the bed yet. I am sure I will get to grips with it at some point though!

@DobbieFreeElf that's great news your appointment went well! Hopefully that has made up for the rubbish experience with EPU!

@October2020 i totally understand the worry as I have been worried the other way! 😂 But I really would try not to worry, one of my bf's was hardly showing at her 20 week scan and all was well, it probably just means you have strong stomach muscles. 💪

Urgh I am still suffering with these damn headaches. Not sure how much more I can take! It's not the 2nd trimester I was planning, I just feel like I can't do anything.
Very frustrating. 😩

@Wimbledon1 I'm totally there with the leukhorrea, it's really increased in last week or so and is especially gross if I've been out for a walk! I'm wearing liners when out for a walk just now after an embarrassing wet crotch incident (thank f@ck for lockdown and nobody seeing me!!). I suppose it's a good thing though? As it's cleaning things out to help prevent infection? That's what I keep telling myself!

@FlapJackered Sorry your headaches are still awful :( Has your midwife suggested anything which might help? I've had them off and on but not as bad as you. Trying to drink enough water and watch my posture when working at my laptop seems to help, as I know if my neck/ shoulders are hunched I start to get terrible tension headaches. X

Anyone else had a resurgence in morning sickness? I never had it that bad but it has been horrendous the last few days!

@October2020 try not to worry about the bump or lack of, everyone is so different. I’ve had friends not get a bump until 20 weeks and others show at 8! I’ve got a small bump at 15 weeks, it is very low down but I am very small across that area (my hip bones are generally pretty obvious) so the bump is quite clear on me without clothes on. Dressed I look pretty much as I always have done.

I have another worry, my bump is so big I'm worried what if I get gestational diabetes. I'm so glad I don't have to go to the office where a friend of mine is only a few weeks ahead and hardly has any bump. I look like 8 months pregnant after a meal.

Also gained 4-5 kg.. I think indeed we are all so different, it's all good! Baby will definitely take all she needs. Can't wait to get a scan on Monday 🙏🏻

@Chooklass unfortunately the midwife basically said there is not much I can do but wait it out and take paracetamol, I am a bit worried about taking too much paracetamol though and the effect it might have on the baby. 😕

@October2020 sorry you're feeling rough, I have definitely had the odd day where I have felt nauseous again and was sick about a week ago randomly. I think it is not unusual for it to come back now and then from what I hear.

@Viletta I am the same as you! Mine seems huge and my family are delighting in telling me how much bigger than my sister I am than when she was 19 weeks 🙄
When are we meant to get the test for gestational diabetes?

@FlapJackered I'm so pleased I'm not the only one!! I think it's after 28w, but honestly I think we are just built differently. I had headaches too and a pregnant friend of mine complaint about the same and said paracetamol didn't help. I wonder if drinking more water would help and maybe have a bit of sugar. Hot water bottle on my forehead helped. I think it's something to do with weather changing

Hello everyone, hope you all had good weekends? Do we have a few scans coming up this week? My hospital doesn't do it until week 21 but think @Viletta definitely this week and probably @FlapJackered and @Littlelot too?

A few questions. The first lighthearted - have people discovered Seraphine yet? Accidentally stumbled across it looking for petite maternity leggings and now I want basically everything they sell but it's really pricey. 😬

Secondly more personal...anyone suffering with a really painful lower abdomen (I presume around the bladder) if they don't go to the loo basically as soon as they need to? I have to limp to the toilet sometimes and when I get back into bed after the inevitable middle of the night trip, it's so achy, presumably because I was quite desperate before I woke up. I've dropped two samples into the GP in case of a UTI and both case back inconclusive, so they've said just to leave it for now. But....oww basically! Thought I'd ask around to test if it is worth pressing the GP again.

Final thing. When looking back through this thread for some of the shopping recommendations, came across @QuantumGirl. Are you still around? Hope everything is ok with you and your little one!