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

There is certainly no ignorance on my part, maybe I didn't word it quite right, I was meaning it more of a heads up that plans will need to change if you test positive. I have tested positive and just at the point I was trying to be 'normal', no longer tarnished with IVF and daring to consider other options for birth...it came crashing down.

@WorriedButterfly I'd definitely rather know and have the medical treatment available to limit risk. It is a very small risk but if you're in the risk group it is very serious (I know a baby that nearly died of it as a newborn and was extremely poorly for quite a while). But I totally understand that it sucks to have your birth plan changed and you must be feeling sad that you can't have the birth you were hoping for.

Sorry @WorriedButterfly I didn’t mean for it to sound like I was calling you ignorant, I meant our own ignorance of not knowing if we were not to test

As I just said to the consultant this morning when she said I may have to be induced, I’ll do anything I need to to ensure the baby (and I) are safe and healthy.

It was me about going past due date with IVF. That was what the consultant told me. I want to minimize interventions and desired not to be stimulated/induced if I go past the due date but opt for monitoring baby health regularly. I want as natural birth as possible as I read interventions tend to escalate. Not spreading my choice to others, it's totally individual and any birth is fine. As I say, I spent so much on IVF I want to feel everything no epidural only hardcore 😂😂😂

I don't think I'll be driving much later in pregnancy and will only get the seatbelt if the one we have now is totally uncomfortable. If it's cheap might get one anyway.

Just saw a bbhugme pillow being sold on eBay for £111! New one cost £139... I think I'll get a new one and sell it when I don't need it. I'm thinking it'll be useful as breastfeeding pillow too. Otherwise I would rather splurge on the baby at this point rather than on myself.

@WorriedButterfly oh good to know not all streptococcus cause skin rushes... I'll research it later on if the test comes back positive. I want a waterburth and I think they take a swab in this case.

Hi everybody. Sorry I’d worked my way into feeling very worried again - had 2 instances of really minute amounts of spotting (which apparently were most likely cervical erosion?) but then was feeling hardly any noticeable movement despite 2nd pregnancy so was just hiding away from everything. However, had my scan today and everything was absolutely perfect - measurements all matched perfectly - and we found out we’re having a little girl! Apparently my placenta is high but also at the front so that’s probably been masking the movements. But very positive experience with lovely sonographer who was so nice - especially as partners still not allowed. Was allowed to record a 20second video at the end. Feel like a huge weight has been lifted! Also all the old wives tales talk about pregnancy symptoms being worse if you have a girl - definitely not true for me!

With regards to strep B I was living in Switzerland with first pregnancy and they test all pregnant women. I tested positive but It didn’t affect birth choices at all - I still had a water birth (which I’d thoroughly recommend) they just asked me not to put the hand with the iv in the water and put in a waterproof plaster over the top. It was such a minor thing that I don’t understand why it makes such a difference here. As previous posters say, I wouldn’t want to take the risk - especially knowing I’ve had it before. But will be very disappointed if I can’t have another water birth ☹️. Ah well - so long as we get a healthy little baby at the end I’ll manage!

I think I’m coming out of shock now! Can’t quite believe that everything was exactly as it should be! It’s been quite nice letting people know today as obviously no one is seeing my bump growing etc.

Will try to post more often now! Just need to maintain positivity and try to enjoy things!

@Littlelot yay a girly! And so pleased all was okay at your scan. Any bleeding is so so worrying so not surprised you were scared.

Good news about movement. I'm sat on the sofa thinking 'is that .....?' but just not sure. Could be gas!

Ah @Littlelot how lovely having a girl, you can start picking names now. :)

I "think" I can feel movements, but not sure yet, same as @October2020, hoping I will be certain in a few days time.

My sister requested bump pictures so took these tonight and realised I have that egg-shaped vertical line that is visible from the front, anyone else has this?

@Lily999 I have that too! Your bump looks lovely!

@Littlelot congratulations!! Wonderful news and a little girl 💝💖 I found out on Monday that we are having a boy! Makes it feel so much more real!

Scan went well yesterday! He is decidedly average! Although as in the first scan he made it very difficult to be measured and got into an unhelpful position and she couldn't check his heart properly, however his heart was checked at the NiPT scan and all was well so I am not too worried, but I have to go back in two weeks for another scan to try again.
We flouted the rules a bit yesterday as it was my Mum's 70th and my sister and her new baby came over at a social distance. He was just so gorgeous and tiny! 😍 It has made it feel so real that we will all have this tiny baby too in just 20 more weeks! 😬

@Littlelot that is great news on your scan that all is well! And a girl! I think we are about even now for girls and boys? That must have been really worrying with the bleeding so I am not surprised you needed some time to get your head around it all. It must have been so reassuring to see the little wriggler on the scan.

@October2020 I am in the same position as you with movement, I feel like sometimes there could be something but equally it could just be gas!!

@Lily999 your bump is gorgeous! ❤️ mine is a very similar size shape!
Sorry, I totally forgot you already knew you were having a boy! 🤦‍♀️

Interesting about the strep B, I will definitely look into it, I can see what you're saying though @WorriedButterfly I would be disappointed if it stopped me being able to have a water birth.

@Chooklass that mobile is so cute! 😍 i definitely wouldn't have the skills to create something like that though 😬

@Viletta my NCT course is end of August, the description said it was a general October due date one, so I think I will be one of the earlier... Although my Mum had us early and my sister just had her son a week early (ivf pregnancy) so I may not get to my due date 😬.
Were the due dates for your course October? If so I am sure you're in the right one. You could call them though and see what other ones are available in August if your worried?

@DobbieFreeElf good tips! You are our resident expert having been through it all before! 😁

I am going to start on the hypnobirthing course next week and start some baby books now the 20 week scan is done!
I also REALLY need to start some kind of exercise other than walking. 😳

Oh brilliant @FlapJackered - I refreshed a few times last night to see if there was an update from your scan. Pleased to hear everything went well and as you say, since you know heartbeat is fine, having another scan in a fortnight is a big bonus in my eyes!!

And congratulations too @Littlelot, lovely news on your little girl. Sorry to hear you had a hard few weeks but totally get the need to switch off.

So I think we are on 3/2 in favour of the little chaps? Boys for @Viletta @FlapJackered and @Lily999 and girls for @October2020 and @Littlelot. Is that right? @WorriedButterfly are you team yellow? I don't think either @Chooklass and I are finding out next week so boys may stay in the lead a while longer.

Yes I've been looking at mobiles too and would like to make it. With the autumn baby we're going to theme the nursery with a woodland vibe and I'd like to make one with little felt toadstools and things. I'm not at all crafty like some of you but it will give me a project. 🙃

@DobbieFreeElf I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. I'm very much a doggy person and can understand how heartbreaking that is 😢

Ps - on the Strep B and impact on water births. An early warning and obviously so much can change by October, but DH looked recently and our hospital has stopped all water births because of Covid 19. 😢 I chose the one that isn't the closest to me because of the water births so quite disappointed about this. Really hope this changes....but anyway that might make some people's decisions for them, worst case.

Thank you 😊 it is honestly such a great feeling knowing she is doing well in there - I feel like a huge weight has been lifted. And @Lily999 yep we started on a same list yesterday afternoon 😁 we’d put off talking about names as we’d only ever agreed on one boy name and that belongs to ds. Lots of girls names on the list to be whittled down though!

Congratulations @FlapJackered it’s such a lovely feeling seeing them wriggle around on the screen. I am in awe of sonographers and how they are able to spot so much when it often all looks the same to me. It’s funny as well that it’s the one time when we are so happy to see that everything is perfectly average!

Love the mobile as well @Chooklass. I’d missed that in my recent absence but had to go back and find it after all the comments. My MIL knitted one for my ds when he was little but had hot air balloons on it. Hoping its still in good condition in the loft.

@Wimbledon1 thank you. We did end up saying goodbye to her yesterday afternoon. I had her from 8 weeks old and she was 15, nearly half my life. It was so very very sad and I cried so much, I looked such a state yesterday evening. As it always is there was a moment of humour for me in amongst the devastation (you know when you are just so sad you don’t know whether to cry more or laugh) whilst I took her to the vet my husband de-doggied the house (so I wouldn’t come back and see empty beds), her main bed was in the fireplace (sounds weird but it was her place, no fires, honest!) and he cleared out her bedding and put a photo in a frame in its place! It was like a fricking shrine, I burst out laughing through the tears and told him it was fucking awful! He was just trying to be sweet but it completely backfired! Sorry everyone, that was long and not pregnancy related.

On a far happier note congratulations @littlelot 💖 and @FlapJackered 💙 so happy to hear happy scan stories, I’ve still got a couple of weeks and the anxiety is creeping back in.

We’re not going to find out either but I just feel like this pregnancy is so similar to DS my guess is a boy... which would be easier as we have some really strong boys names but no girls names we love!

On the note of water birth, that’s what I wanted with DS but after being in labour for so long and him getting wedged on the way out I really didn’t care I was on a bed! The short time I was in the birthing bath was nice, except for when I pooed and DH had to go fishing with a sieve! He still uses that to prove his adoration for me! “oh yeah, well I caught your poo in a sieve!” 🤣

I really hope that what I say is helpful, sometimes I feel like I’m coming across as a know it all, if it’s annoying please just tell me to shut up!

@Wimbledon1 we have a woodland nursery, I got wall stickers, very similar to these: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261174513145 they didn’t cost much, we’re really easy to put up and have lasted 4 years. Best thing is when we want to move they will be easy to remove for advertising the house/ appealing to a wider market who might not be into the woodland nursery feel!

@FlapJackered congratulations on your scan!! Little boy 💙💙💙💙
I've got the hopnobirthibg pack too and it's great so far! Very positive! I call it hippy birthing :))
NCT gave me a choice between July, August and September, I've contacted them to ask which one would be best.
I'm 100% with on you exercising! Have only been doing walking and a 5 min dancing :)

@DobbieFreeElf oh.. I'm such a doggy person, it's so sad. I'm sure your doggo has a wonderful life with such loving parents. Also please do share your experience, it's super helpful! I'll alert my DH on poo 😂

@Wimbledon1 Thanks for finding this out! I sometimes wonder if I'm low risk and hipnoburthing makes me brave maybe go for a home birth in a pool then. I have a feeling covid will still be around for a year or so. Gosh I'm mentally prepared to be on our own with DH on Christmas...

Has anyone else seen the daily mail’s article about coronavirus and pregnancy? I have got a link but it’s not what we really want to be reading, it has got me a bit more worried, just when I was starting to relax a little. It also supports what I have been saying to everyone around me that I didn’t understand how they can say there was little risk to pregnant women or unborn babies when the virus is too new for babies of those that have contracted the virus to have been born yet... worrisome to say the least ☹️

Some lovely scan results on here a since I last checked in!!

Thanks for the details on Strep B, I had no idea. I’ve put a diary reminder in to check on this when I’m a bit further along.

@DobbieFreeElf I did see that, DM at its best. It does also say that the 25 women delivered healthy term babies so I’m trying to take that away from it. I feel quite safe whilst WFH and only going out for walks, I feel I was in more danger commuting to London in mid March but have so say that I am nervous should I / my husband need to go back to the office before November.

Should anyone be interested Seraphine and Dorothy Perkins have a sale on mat wear at the moment.

Sorry 15 women

@DobbieFreeElf oh thanks for bringing this up. I read the study and it seems that the sample is too small to make any conclusions. Let's keep vigilant and "stay alert" and try not to get the virus. Luckily it seems that it's slowly going away in the UK.

Agree it’s a very small sample (and also that the Daily Mail should be read with a pinch of salt) but I have said to my husband from early on that I didn’t know how they could be sure there was no harm to unborn children when the virus is too new to see enough babies born to mothers who have had it. Does that make sense?

Anyway, we’re happily working from home and DS is not going to preschool, doing our daily walks and DH does all the shopping. I think I was just hoping to maybe starting to interact with others more but I will hold off for a while longer until there’s more information 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’m so glad i know they check the placenta for blood flow at 20 weeks scan as I had Covid symptoms early on (about 10 weeks). They are tracking my pregnancy now and baby’s first 2 yrs of life because of my symptoms. Think it’s an Imperial College study.

I am choosing to only read the RCOG information because otherwise I get myself into a state about coronavirus and this baby. Control the controllables - wash hands, sensibly social distance, attend all appointments to check on baby's health. The rest is all uncontrollable.

I'm starting to get major scanxiety about Tuesday. Worried she isn't growing enough as my bump isn't really changing and is still very low. Worried there will be something wrong. Etc, etc, etc. Know there is nothing to do except go and see!!