IVF graduates due Summer 2021

[SpyroC]

A place for those of us finally moving on from the infertility boards to share feelings, questions, tmi and to generally support each other.

And now to update the list. It's a pain keeping up with the weeks so I'll change to due dates to make life easier. Next time you post please copy and paste to add yours.

Happy Easter everyone! Finally we can join in with the pregnant lambs and ducks! 😂

@spyroC 26.07 💗
@TheGlitterFairy 22 weeks 💚
@ChicaXS 21 weeks 💙
@SamoyedFan123 24 weeks 💙
@BonTon 18 weeks ?
@ivfjourney5 19 weeks 💗
@MGee123 20 weeks 💗
@ekam 23 weeks 💚
@MF1981 11 weeks ??
@tikha 20 weeks 💗
@sazzt 18 weeks ?
@Leala20** 25 weeks 💗

Sorry @MF1981 (crossed posts) don't feel pressured with the expectation that because we have experienced ivf and infertility that we must enjoy our pregnancies and new horns 100% of the time. Yes we've been through it to get here and of course we are super grateful but that doesn't mean we are immune to the effects of hormones and other charming pregnancy side effects. We are all entitled to feel crap, growing a human is HARD! I think we probably all blocked out pregnancy too so for me, it has all come as a bit of a shock. You are not alone, I felt the same and gave myself a talking to about feeling guilty about not enjoying it due to the sickness. I also explained the pressure to a good friend who told me to "relax and enjoy it" and she'd not considered the ivf pressure to have that dream pregnancy. She totally got it when I said. Talk to your GP or midwife if you can but remember you are not alone and we all understand how you are feeling. You got this girl 👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻 xx

New borns not horns 🙈

Thanks @SpyroC - I’m 12 weeks yesterday and due on 16th Oct

Thank you for a warm welcome! Congratulations on your recent scans! I have my 28 week midwife appointment this week. At my 20w. scan I was told all was fine and there was no reason for any other scans just follow midwife appointments. With anterior placenta and really no big movements or pattern I felt very anxious. I am trying to use breathing techniques to help me keep calm but I did call pregnancy advice line a few times to get checked if all was fine as I was experiencing what I thought no or reduced movements. Then on the scan the little one was moving and I still couldn’t feel her. I have no idea how to determine what’s normal and what’s not so looking forward to hearing my midwife. The midwives in the hospital said it is only from week 30 I should really feel the pattern..
@MF1981 I didn’t have a heavy nausea but what helped me were chewy ginger sweets (super strong) from Holland&Barnett. I still use time to time when I get bad heartburn.
@tikha I signed up for local Nct and it’s online at the moment. Looked through lots of courses online and bump snd baby sounded great as they have first aid included but then due to the distance picked Nct and hope to meet some women in my area. I want to sign up for online hypnobirth course as well as I really know nothing beyond one week ahead! Too cautious to be looking ahead but I think now it’s time.

Clothes wise I also used H&M and gap for the comfort and ordered a few cheap nice dresses from happy mamma today. At my 20w scan I was worried I gained too little but from 21 weeks I have grown so quickly that I could not fit in my normal clothes anymore. I remember going to work in one dress and by midday after lunch I was so uncomfortable and tight as if I grew within hours! Good idea to order earlier and be comfortable:)
I am sorry if I missed anyone. Lots to catchup on!

@SamoyedFan123 that’s must have been so stressful. Glad to hear the baby is fine. My 25w was over the phone and hm having f2f 28 w one this week. I was in hospital for a checkup this week after not feeling any movement all night and night is when I feel her more. It turns out she was moving but with her feet up and onto the placenta that I couldn’t feel. The nurses must know me by now but they are super friendly and say call us urgently next time if.

@Leala20 thanks, yes it is stressful isn't it? It doesn't help that I keep getting told different things. At first I was told not to worry until 24 weeks, then 25, then 26 and now today I've been in MAU for monitoring again as I've still had zero movements since the scan on friday evening abd they told me there'll be a pattern by 28 weeks. Tbh I'm not even hopeful for a pattern at this point - just something to let me know that baby is moving (other than a scan!) would be good!

Glad to hear your husband is home @ivfjourney5! And hope your consultant appt goes well. My belly is definitely beyond the holding in stage now! Mornings it isn't so noticeable but by the evening it's like a balloon 😂

@tikha my friend did NCT online last year and said they still felt it was worth it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed ours will be in person as I do think it's too early for them to be reverting to online for June/July yet. My 25 week appt is with my GP. I need to get my mat B1 sometime soon as well.

Hang in there @MF1981. It is terrible at times but it will get better. I vividly remember sitting at the bottom of our stairs crying on multiple occasions whilst trying to put my shoes on to go to work, saying to my husband 'I can't do this anymore'. It feels so overwhelming but just take it day by day. I found going to bed really early and getting up as late as possible helped. And yes, I got the guilt feeling too. It will get better. Mine started improving significantly at 13 weeks so hopefully you're nearly there 🤞

Gosh @SamoyedFan123 that sounds really stressful. Glad all is okay and hope you don't have to keep going in too often. Perhaps it's a sign of a very chilled baby?!

Glad you're well @BonTon and great the spotting has stopped! Enjoy your 20 week scan - I found ours fascinating! Amazing to see the heart/brain/spine etc in so much detail.

@SpyroC apparently John Lewis are great for appts to trial pushchairs, no pressure to buy. I think that's what we're going to do. I am nearly 22 weeks and there is a bit of a pattern to our baby's movements I think. Post-meals she tends to get a wriggle on and then is quite active around 9/10pm. She also has a kicking fest in the middle of the night usually which gets me up at least once to go to the loo 🙈 it's hard to know what to look for isn't it? Our due date is 11th August 😊

Hope your 28 week appt goes well @Leala20. It must be a bit daunting not feeling as much movement but it sounds like that is normal with an anterior placenta. I would call the advice line/triage whenever you feel you need to - better safe than sorry and that's what they are there for 👍

I'm ticking along okay but have been getting quite a bit of rib pain which has been rather uncomfortable. Think it is just things trying to stretch. I'm trying keep active and am still running a few times a week but am so slow now, it's definitely more jogging (and that might be being generous)! As things stands I will be WFH from 28 weeks (NHS), which seems to be creeping up fast. I've got a few weeks off booked between when I start WFH and starting mat leave in august, and have a feeling once we hit may the next few months might fly past! We are going to start thinking about what to buy in a few weeks I think. It's all starting to feel rather real!

Hope you all had a Happy Easter and enjoy a restful BH today 🐣😊

@Leala20 my situation with movements sounds similar to yours. I think with the anterior placenta it might just depend on which way she is lying. I'm 24w today so I suspect I'll find this pattern business stressful as she doesn't seem to have one. I know a few people that have said their babies never really developed one either even without an anterior placenta. It's going to be top of my list for my midwife tomorrow. I've also ordered some stuff from gap for me and baby. They had a sale on-everything else clothes wise has been cheap and cheerful.

@MGee123 I'm envious of your pattern! 🙈😂 unfortunately lockdown 1 took my local (very useful) John Lewis and we had mothercare but obviously that went so we have a big baby shop hole by me. Everywhere is like a 30 minute drive, think I'll use the Easter hols to get there early to avoid covid crowds on Saturdays. I just want to test a few before I buy really. I'm impressed you are still running. I'm still walking but if I go too far I am exhausted and when I encounter a slight hill it feels like Snowdonia 😂🙈. I'm glad you are still allowed to work from home at 28weeks. It seems very hit and miss in both schools and the nhs post April 1st. I too am still working from home. I have 2 weeks left after the Easter hols 😬 stupid covid, it feels like I'm missing out on a rights of passage working up until mat leave 😂. Still much better to be safe!

@spyroC 26.07 💗
@TheGlitterFairy 22 weeks 💚
@ChicaXS 21 weeks 💙
@SamoyedFan123 24 weeks 💙
@BonTon 18 weeks ?
@ivfjourney5 19 weeks 💗
@MGee123 11.08 💗
@ekam 23 weeks 💚
@MF1981 16.10 ??
@tikha 20 weeks 💗
@sazzt 18 weeks ?
@Leala20 25 weeks 💗

@tikha I got most of my clothes from Dorothy Perkins, and a couple of things from new look, and they all seem to fit quite well and have room for growth. I'm glad your scan and chat with the consultant went well, sounds like you've got a supportive consultant there!

@MF1981 aww bless you! Please reach out to your gp for some medication. And please don't feel guilty about finding it tough, I also really struggled and felt like I couldn't moan because id obviously fought so hard to get pregnant in the first place, but after getting some medication it really helped

@SamoyedFan123 that sounds nerve racking to say the least. It sounds like they are keeping a close eye on you, but I understand it's difficult having regular checks with your other children

@BonTon enjoy the flutters! Such a magical feeling 😍

@SpyroC I've found a few small independent companies, so I'll try them in there and then once I've decided see if there's any deals online. It's so hard with not having a mothercare or mamas and papas anymore. My local John Lewis is also staying closed after lockdown as they are closing the store completely 😩

@MGee123 well done on keeping active, even good walks are a fab achievement so anything above that is great! I agree that time is going to start flying soon, I think it's gone so fast already!

For me, my husband saw baby for the first time on Saturday at a private scan and it's definitely helped him bond with her more 😍 we also think we have chosen her first name 😍 and we bought paint for the nursery today!

@spyroC 26.07 💗
@TheGlitterFairy 22 weeks 💚
@ChicaXS 21 weeks 💙
@SamoyedFan123 24 weeks 💙
@BonTon 18 weeks ?
@ivfjourney5 15.08 💗
@MGee123 11.08 💗
@ekam 23 weeks 💚
@MF1981 16.10 ??
@tikha 20 weeks 💗
@sazzt 18 weeks ?
@Leala20 25 weeks 💗

Thanks for all of your support guys. I had my dating scan yesterday and babies are measuring slightly ahead so we’re 13 weeks and 4 days today and due date is now 10th October. Although I was told they’ll be delivered at 37 weeks so mid to late September. I didn’t realise dates could change with IVF babies as you know the exact date of conception etc?! Did this happen to anyone else?

Can I also ask your help with something please? We are starting to share our news now but I have a friend who has been TTC for about 7 months now and she has told me she's feeling frustrated and down about it. She knows we've been through IVF but doesn't know the outcome yet. What's the best way for me to sensitively share the news with her? I know when I was TTC I hated hearing announcements! I really want to do it in the right way.

@MF1981 will you be able to meet her in person? Or call her. Don't share any scan photos. Hard to call it. Maybe text is better but maybe she would appreciate if you tell her in person before you do a group announcement

@tikha I’m seeing her next weekend with our partners as well. But I kind of don’t want to spring it on her. I think maybe a call so she has time to process before we meet up?

Hi everyone, just catching up over the last couple of weeks - lots going on! Hope everyone is doing well! Updated list below with my due date:

@spyroC 26.07 💗
@TheGlitterFairy 25.07 💚
@ChicaXS 21 weeks 💙
@SamoyedFan123 24 weeks 💙
@BonTon 18 weeks ?
@ivfjourney5 15.08 💗
@MGee123** 11.08 💗
@ekam 23 weeks 💚
@MF1981 16.10 ??
@tikha 20 weeks 💗
@sazzt 18 weeks ?
@Leala20** 25 weeks 💗

Congrats to those who have found out the sex of baby and have had 20 week scans - all very exciting!!

We have a private scan booked this weekend so DH can attend and see the baby which we're both looking forward to! I've a consultant and midwife appt tomorrow - double whammy - for my 25 wk appt! Am armed with lots of questions about this 2nd placenta I seem to have and what it all means!! Have a feeling it may be a long appt!!

@SpyroC we had an online appt with John Lewis the other week to discuss buggies/ prams and it was useful though will book an in person appt there too for a couple of weeks time so we can test drive them! The Bugaboo Fox 2 looks to be the front runner at the moment.

Still debating the next to the bed crib or a moses basket for the first 6 months - undecided at the moment! We've allocated a room to be the nursery and tester paints are on the walls. opting for a yellow/ white scheme given we don't know the sex of baby! Nice and fresh anyway!

I'm still mostly in normal clothes though broke out the maternity jeans at the weekend as my last pair of regular jeans were a bit tight over the stomach! My bump is more pronounced now though all seems to be on the front rather than front/ side so I suspect this is how I've managed to get away with normal clothes til now! I'm quite tall too - 5'8" so perhaps that has something to do with it too!
Still managing to do yoga twice a week and walking a lot also, though feeling more tired a the weeks progress.

Is anyone suffering from pregnancy insomnia?? I seem to have this at the moment, and - well, have has it since November really but the last couple of weeks have been hard work with it. I seem to drift off about 3am and then get 4 hrs sleep in before the whole thing starts again. So feeling a bit tired of that but otherwise ok.

@BonTon so pleased that your bleeding has finally stopped - hope all went well with your scan and that the rest of your pregnancy, the bleeding stays away too. Fingers crossed.

@MF1981 - tricky - when that was me, I preferred a message ahead of time so I could be annoyed about it on my own and then sort myself out before I saw my friends! I was never annoyed with my friends, it was the concept that nothing was happening for me!

@ivfjourney5 - exciting you think you've chosen the first name and that your DH was able to go to a scan!! Wonderful!

@tikha - re clothes, I've a pair of jeans from Gap, trousers from Isabella Oliver and some tops from there too plus some dresses from Dorothy Perkins and also bought a bundle of dresses on ebay that were super cheap and most were fine after a wash! I've resold some that weren't quite right! Am looking forward to the weather being a bit better so I can float around in some maxi dresses! Oh - I've found that jumpsuits are comfier than mat jeans for me too so still in some normal ones of those also at the moment.

@SpyroC I think you should have your 24 wk appt this week too so hope it goes well!

@Leala20 welcome!

Hope everyone else is doing well and had a lovely Easter bank holiday and were able to catch up with friends/ family!

@ivfjourney5 it is really annoying isn't it! I'd say maybe we live in the same area but there isn't even independents by me! We are going to travel to the the nearest mommas and poppas next week I think and then try an independent for some cheaper options to see how they compare. Well done on getting the name sorted! We have a few front runners. I think I'm going to book a 4d scan to help him bind too.

@MF1981 we discussed this a bit before you joined, it seems to depend on the trust. Mine use the scan date 🙄. My midwife was saying yesterday she thinks it's strange too. I got out 1 day a week at 13dats so decided not to quibble although as they want to induce me before 40w I will insist on the 1 extra day to the IVF date. It's difficult sharing the news with someone who is having ttc worries. I've had to do it myself and I think it helped that they both know my situation. I personally didn't find baby bombs hard if I knew the person had been through infertility so hopefully they will also feel that way too.

@TheGlitterFairy it's good you actually get to see a consultant face to face! Hopefully they are able to reassure you. The Fox 2 is also one of my front runners but I can't help thinking I might be getting caught up in whats trendy. It's so expensive, I need to compare high end and mid range in person I think. Also I think the carry cot with the fox 2 can't be used for other nights? I like the suspension and height aspect of it though 🤔🤔 we've gone next to me, I figured I can always pick up a cheap moses if needed. I'm pondering wallpaper vs wall art for the nursery, the base neutral colours are all done . I like the Aldi cot bed but I want it in white which is currently unavailable 😬 pregnancy insomnia has been a pretty consistent feature throughout my pregnancy 🤪. It's so annoying when people say to enjoy the sleep now!

My 24w midwife appointment was all good 😌 love hearing the heartbeat!

Has anybody found any good maternity/nursing bras that don't cost a bomb? I like the Asda ones at 2 for about £15. But am finding that after a few washes that the padding keeps coming out of place and is annoying to get back in place. I tried some non-padded ones but i didn't feel very supported plus my big pregnant nipples show through 😂🙈. I also like how they are s,m,l etc as my actual size will surely vary a bit now. X

Thanks @SpyroC. I told a work friend today who had IVF a couple of years ago and whose husband left her after it failed. She’s in a much better place in her life now but her response was quite clippy which made me feel bad. Do I check in with her in a few days?

@MF1981 your poor friend! I think it's really tricky to know what to do as everyone is different. I guess you could check in and you will probably get a vibe as to wether she wants you to drop it or she may open up. With me I always knew people meant well and I understood that it's a tricky one. Some of the stuff you hear about is just pure insensitive and you're definitely not in that ball park. Hopefully she will understand your position. X

@SpyroC yeah I’m trying to do it so sensitively with people who I know have had their own struggles

@MF1981 calling her would work. Having been through years of infertility issue I would be overjoyed if a friend my mine with fertility issues is pregnant. You could always add that it might be hard news to hear given our fertility struggles but as a friend I would nevertheless would want you to know....

@MGee123 I run as well or jog at the moment. I do about 3 shorter runs per week and am not pushing it just taking it easy and so far all good do hope to continue as long as I can.
@MF1981 the only thing I have experienced is the contrary in a way: when telling work or friends I have been cautious not to be too excited as I had a feeling there maybe some who are silently going through what I have. You can only try and do your best and I think addressing it is ok one on one.

I feel behind as I haven’t done any shopping yet. Hoping to start with shops opening and this weekend will do more browsing. Funny you mention Fox 2 - FB sponsored ads remind me if it all the time:). The work has taken over all free time and by the time I get home I am exhausted and fall asleep at 9!
I had my 28 w midwife appointment this week and she’s booked me in for froth scan so looking forward to it as at the 20w appointment I was told there was no more scans...we talked about movements and how worried I have been and she said when you are worried you check it out and do not wait. This is our job to check on patients. She said in a couple of weeks when she grows more and is taller than placenta I should feel top movements more.

@MF1981 brilliant news on the scan!! Yes my due date got moved 4 days ahead by the NHS following my 12 week scan. I was also really confused to begin with but I've been focusing on the new date for a while now as it puts my further ahead and closer to meeting her! 😍 It's so nice to hear you're thinking about your friend. I did a social media announcement over the weekend and there is one person who I knew was having ivf, I messaged her privately beforehand to tell her that I know how heartbreaking announcements could be so I wanted to pre warn her, but also mentioned that I would be talking about the struggle to get pregnant and treatment in order to raise awareness. She was very grateful for me letting her know beforehand so she wasn't triggered by the announcement. I would suggest letting your friend know by a text or message so they can process it in their own time and don't have to respond or react immediately, and can get back to you when she feels ready

@TheGlitterFairy good to hear your John Lewis app went well, I've got one booked in for Sunday! Exciting about the testers for the nursery, doesn't it make it feel so much more real!! We painted the nursery the other day and got a storage cube unit set up yesterday! White/yellow sounds like a lovely combination, we opted for a burnt orange colour which was always going to be the case no matter a boy or a girl.

@SpyroC so annoying! The nearest one I've found with the Ickle bubba that is on my list is about 45 mins away, so that's a morning trip out just to go to one place! I hope you manage to get something sorted!

I had a consultant app this week and have 4 growth scans booked in, I'm so glad they are keeping a close eye on her, they are at 28, 32, 36 and 38 weeks with a view not to go over 40 weeks. My husband felt her kicking last night, so magically! I have a posterior placenta so I'm quite lucky to feel quite a lot

Updated list below, I found out today we are having a baby girl! We had been convinced it was a boy so now back to the drawing board for names 😂

It's starting to feel a lot more real now. I also get a bonus scan in 2 weeks as there was one check they couldn't complete today because she wouldn't lie still in the right position for long enough! Really excited to go pram shopping on Monday, and the John Lewis appointments ones sound good too, I will take a look at those. Someone recommended Mamas and Papas as a place really good for taking you through lots of information without pressure to buy immediately etc. Unfortunately there's not really one near enough to me 🙁

@MF1981 my dates were moved a bit too - brought forward 2 days from my ivf clinic dates, and I'm using the 'new' date now as otherwise it gets too confusing.

@spyroC 26.07 💗
@TheGlitterFairy 25.07 💚
@ChicaXS 21 weeks 💙
@SamoyedFan123 24 weeks 💙
@BonTon 18 weeks ?
@ivfjourney5 15.08 💗
@MGee123** 11.08 💗
@ekam 23 weeks 💚
@MF1981 16.10 ??
@tikha 20 weeks 💗
@sazzt 25.08 💗
@Leala20** 25 weeks💗

Hi ladies

I’m so sorry for the radio silence! Work has just got nuts.
@SamoyedFan123 how are you feeling lovely? I am so sorry to hear about your issues but your in the safe zone now and they’re keeping an eye on you!
@MGee123 @ivfjourney5 are you doing!? Glad to read your scans have been happy and healthy! Ivf journey- it’s crazy how many growth scans your getting? My consultant saw me on my 20 week scan and dismissed me. She had no concerns lol!
@TheGlitterFairy I am suffering from pregnancy insomnia 🙋🏼‍♀️Bang on at 3 am I wake and can’t go back to sleep! I fall back asleep around 6.30 am but have to wake at 7 for work ! So annoying. I can’t sleep during the day either!

I am doing all well. Waiting for the shops to open so we can finally start shopping for the bubba. We’re getting our nursery ready around week 28, I already have the mood board in my head lol.baby is kicking well. I just feel really bored (besides work keeping me busy during the day!) and actually wish the baby would just come already! 😆

I signed up to two prenatal courses - NCT and baby and bump! It cost me over 600 quid which isn’t great but NCT screwed me over by accidentally kicking me off a course so I booked baby and bump but then they managed to rebook me. Anyway we shall see but it’ll be a whole weekend full of education with repeated info no doubt.

Has anyone been reading about breastfeeding or have plans too? It’s my first baby and I would really want to but nervous I don’t get it right! Also anyone started looking at pain relief and birth plans?

Hope all is well xxx

@spyroC 26.07 💗
@TheGlitterFairy 25.07 💚
@ChicaXS 04.08 💙
@SamoyedFan123 24 weeks 💙
@BonTon 18 weeks ?
@ivfjourney5 15.08 💗
@MGee123 11.08 💗
@ekam 23 weeks 💚
@MF1981 16.10 ??
@tikha 20 weeks 💗
@sazzt 25.08 💗
@Leala20** 25 weeks💗