IVF Graduates due Late 2021/Early 2022

[BambiOnIce80]

Hi ladies 👋 I'm tentatively setting up a thread for those of us who have made the scary leap from infertility to a BFP and still need a hand hold from others who get it 🤝

I'm only 4+4 and already worrying that the BFP is too good to be true (I've had a previous MMC at 10+5, so that bitter experience doesn't help). Would love the company of other warrior ladies to go through the ups and downs of this emotional roller coaster for as long as it lasts 🎢

@Bella1984 and @PT8998, tagging you ladies on the hope that you'll join me 💗

@Em916 so exciting! I absolutely love being an extra done it for 8 years now. This could be one of my best parts yet! Bought the book to read, arrived today so gona start it later!

I will 100% get a few back stage pics in mh costume to show you guys, I always do! Can't post on social media obvs but nice to gave for me and to show close family and friends.

I loved normal people the book and the show. I think it bodes well for this!

I hope Joe Alwyn is nice, either way I'll enjoy spending a day beside him watching him act 😉

My favourite famous people I've worked with with date are

Liam Neeson
Charlie Hunnam
Nicole Kidman
Ethan Hawk
Alexander Skaarsgard
Most of GoT cast
Dougal from father Ted
Christopher Eccleston (Dr Who)
Jamie Dornan (the fall)
Adrian Dunbar LoD
Martin LoD
Robert pattinson

Least favourite (arseholes)
Sienna Miller
James Nesbitt
Gillian Anderson

This is for your ears and eyes only 🤫

I might write a book some day! I've some class stories

Heading to garden centre for a wee mooch with my mum and mu wee dog here all outside so lively and safe and sun is shining

@BambiOnIce80 6 days to go for us! 🙏

Happy Friday girls!

Xx

Ooooh, very, very exciting @Bella1984! 🤩 I watched normal people and loved it.

I don't know how I'd cope without the applicators @Em916! 😂 I'm ludicrously squeamish about such things, even though I'm a grown assed woman 😳

Is anyone else getting random leg cramps?! The last two nights I've had to leap up and hobble around to get rid of them - absolutely not normal for me 😕 Don't know if it's a early pregnancy thing or because I've not been running for 4 weeks after having been doing it every other day before transfer 🤔🤷🏻‍♀️

... Dr Google says it's a thing! Who knew?! 🤷🏻‍♀️

"Common health problems in pregnancy - NHS" www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/common-health-problems/#:~:text=Cramp%20in%20pregnancy,and%20may%20help%20prevent%20cramp.

Very exciting! A bit of much needed adventure atm

So has anyone put on much weight yet? I weighed myself this morning and am somewhat horrified I've put on 8lbs in the last 4 weeks 😱 so 2lbs a week! I swear I've been super healthy, eating bigger portions yes but nothing major. And obvs no alcohol, limiting chocolate and sugary foods too. Have one takeaway a week at most

What have you guys found? I know some will be fluid etc but I feel like I'm going to be huge!!!
I met a good friend for a walk who knows about ivf and pregnancy and she was like look at your wee bump! Surely 6 weeks is very early. Could I be having twins?! 6 days and I'll find out haha I tend not to do anything but half's so maybe it will be. I have always loved the idea of twins and they run in my husband's family so before we knew we couldn't conceive naturally we thought we could have twins! We will see 👫

What are you all up to tonight? My wee sis is down she lives 2 hours away so.will be nice to see her. Tomorrow we are at a BBQ with good friends one of who is a Paediatric F2 doctor, she might come in handy!

Amy xx

Oh and @BambiOnIce80 yes keep getting calf cramps at night or even during day! Had to make sure I wasn't getting a DVT hahahaha shouldn't joke but that would be my luck!

Sorry that you're hobbling too @Bella1984! It's bizarre, isn't it?! The only time I ever seem to get calf cramps is if I've been hammered the night before, which is definitely not the case at the moment 😄

Between the CP in November and lockdown, I'd put on 8 covid kilos before the cycle started 😳 I'd managed to knock off 4 of those before transfer day, but I've been too scared to step on the scales since 🙈 That said, I definitely think that we accumulate more fluid during a fresh cycle than a frozen one - much more heavy going drugs, egg collection, etc, probably do it. It'd be exciting if you were having twins though! 👭

Your weekend plans sound lovely 😊 I'm already in my onsie, on the sofa and considering a pre-dinner snooze 😴 It's my birthday on Sunday (the second one in lockdown - yay 😏), so we've managed to get a table at our favourite restaurant 😋 First time I'll have been out for a meal since last summer, so really looking forward to it 😎

Morning @BambiOnIce80

Haha 8 covid kilos made me laugh Well done for getting 4 of them off though. I'm so happy I lost the weight I did, 32kg in total from August to January!

Yeah the cramps are weird only my left leg too, but haven't had any the last few days actually so maybe yours will pass.

Happy birthday for tomorrow! A meal at your fave restaurant sounds amazing. That's definitely not a lockdown birthday 😉 both my sisters are April birthdays and had 2 proper lockdown birthdays, grim. Mine is July so I've been lucky. Unfortunately though stuff opened here yday, but without my vaccine I can't take the risk of going anywhere, infuriating tbh but of course will be worth it.

Tough when friends are inviting me and my husband to stuff and we are having to come up with excuses 🙈 people assume I've had both vaccinations with being frontline NHS. Nightmare!

Anyway looking forward to bbq with close friends today they know about ivf which is great.

Hoping for sunshine or at least no rain! 🤞

In our family we say Happy birthday eve the day before your bday haha we like to celebrate for at least 3 days, a week if we can 🤣🥳🎁

A xx

TMI post

Hey ladies, been a bit of a worrying 24 hours. I started spotting yesterday at 4+6 and still going today. 5w spotting appears to be pretty common though so I fighting the urge to be petrified. I have had old, dark blood, no clots and it's never once been enough to touch my underwear, it's only when I wipe. It's almost only just mixed in with the CM.

I havnet called the clinic yet as they're closed and the on call is for the emergencies only... I don't really know that means and if this would be an emergency or not? Urgh! Annoying.

Hope everyone else is okay!

Oh you poor thing, I'm really sorry that sounds quite worrying, but at the same time could be normal like you say. Are you going to ring your clinic first thing tomorrow? I would. Hopefully they can reassure you.

I can only go off this one experience of being pregnant and I don't have any spotting, I have had any at all even after the ET . . . I know everyone is different so hopefully it isn't a bad bad sign for either of us.

My scan is finally approaching this Thursday, 4 more sleeps @BambiOnIce80 🙏

Hope you're all doing OK. Have you for the Bank Holiday off tomorrow? Xx

@Bella1984 thank you! They’re not open tomorrow as it’s a bank holiday. They have an on call nurse for emergencies but I don’t know what’s considered an emergency. When I say I’m spotting, it’s incredibly light. It’s just been persistent for 24 hours (overnight it must have stopped? There was very little this am).

Just a worry if it does progress to anything heavier. 😔

Sorry yes forgot its bank hol and as we are private they are open 365 days a year, the one minor perk!

I would be worried too but if its very light and has stopped then maybe that's just normal.early pregnancy spotting?

The other ladies may be able to help you more than me.

I'd suggest keep a wee eye on it, try not.and worry (impossible I know) and just take it easy until you can call the clinic on Tuesday morning?

Have you got tomorrow off at least?

Finale of LoD tonight, it's a 90 min special!

A xx

My clinic is a private clinic but they’re closed this weekend as I tried to call this am. It was just saying to leave a voicemail or there was an option for an on call nurse but it was for emergencies. I don’t know what’s considered an emergency though?!!

It hasn’t stopped, I just think that it must have stopped or slowed right down overnight as when I woke there was minimal, almost blink and you’d miss it kind of thing. As the days gone on it’s become more obvious again, but still not enough to even touch my underwear.

Nope, working tomorrow 😬

Hi @PT8998 sorry to hear you are spotting. I was 5 weeks when I got spotting and I was told to double up my progesterone for 48 hours. And since then no spotting. I think it’s quite common advice. They checked first I didn’t have cramps. They said they couldn’t refer me to early preg unit until at least week 6 so I think it was all they could do.

Happy birthday @BambiOnIce80!!!! Had such a fab weekend in Edinburgh, a wee trip up calton hill and just wandering around. So excited to move properly in 2 weeks. Although forgot to get doctors sorted so will need to wait to get signed up with the midwife.

So exciting you’ve worked with so many exciting people @Bella1984. And Martin compston from line of duty one of the good ones! He’s the reason I started watching line of duty. Excited for the finale!

@Em916 thank you!!

I rang through the concern. They weren’t worried as I am only spotting old blood. Which was what I thought, but with no guidance as to when to flag stuff up I thought I’d ring anyway! I’m on max dose cyclogest, so I’m to just keep going and see what happens!

How long did you spot for?

Happy birthday @BambiOnIce80 🥳

Sorry ladies was at my mother in laws

Don't talk to me about LoD finales FFS so disappointing for me! I did call who H was weeks ago though. . . But it may not be as straightforward as it would appear 🤫

Really glad you feel reassured about the spotting @PT8998 did you manage to get your clinic then? For me private ones should answer no matter when it is!

@Em916 sounds like you've had a fab weekend! We had a lovely bbq yday with friends, albeit in the rain but under a lovely gazebo!

Yes HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🎉🎉🎉 @BambiOnIce80 hope you had a lovely day? How was your meal?

You're gona laugh at me as I never do this but I've just ordered a small pizza oooops!!!

Hope things continue to improve @PT8998
If I were you I would book and pay for a private scan at 6 weeks to ease your mind hopefully. You can get them here for £80 at short notice. I've held off as I've not had any concerns, and also coz we've already paid the bloody clinic 21k so I'm def not shelling out another penny unless I rant have to 🤣

Chat soon, enjoy your Bank hol if you're off

Sorry you have to work @PT8998 but maybe jts a good distraction. Though if you feel at all unwell phone in sick! The ward will keep running and the world will keep spinning. You need to look after yourself 💙

@Bella1984 yeah, I rang the on call. They were fine with it, I just know that it’s for emergencies only. I didn’t know whether they’d consider 5w spotting an emergency as realistically, what they can they do other than offer reassurance? The nurse on call was a lady I’ve dealt with almost all the way through my time at the clinic, so that was nice to hear a familiar voice!
I’m still spotting, it’s hit and miss how heavy it is. Sometimes nothing, sometimes a small amount. Still never been enough to touch underwear. I put on a pad last night, nothing on there when I woke up this morning. I have noticed that when I (sorry TMI) squeeze out a wee or pass wind when sat on the toilet, it gets a bit heavier. Otherwise, so minimal most times I wipe there’s nothing there. I have tried to book in for a private USS, the only place available can’t see me until 19th May. Which is the day after my clinic scan 🙈. I am glad to be at work, this first 45 mins has already done my anxiety and stress the world of good as I’m distracted. I still feel very warm and fuzzy in lower abdomen, started feeling a bit wretch-y this am and I couldn’t lie on my front because my boobs are so sore. So I’m hopeful with a hint of worry. 🥺

Sorry to be all doom and gloom ladies.

Have a fab BH Mon all 🥰

Oh you poor thing. I'm so sorry that you've been going through this, it sounds very scary.

I'm amazed you can't get a private scan sooner though? Have you tried a few different places? Can get them here in a few clinics and within a few days actually if you're paying. Seems mad you can't get one sooner than your 7 week USS.

Did the clinic say about any meds like @Em916 suggested?

I don't think you are being doom and gloom at all I would be feeling the exact same, and probs not in work today so fair play to you

I'm glad it's been a distraction for you but do take it easy, I hope you're not doing too much manual handling stuff with patients?

Keep us posted, everything crossed for you and sending big hugs 💙 xx

I’ve checked and no availability. I don’t drive so can’t go out of area either and partner won’t be able to get time off to take me. The gold standard is 7 weeks as before that is hit and miss with heartbeats etc. So they won’t necessarily tell you anything.

I asked about progesterone. I’m on max dose, so there’s nothing more I can take.

My hands are literally tied with nowhere else to turn. I just have to wait.

Yeah, taking it easy today. Very little handling thus far. My nose is definitely working today, had a few things to deal with that’s causing my nose to be very sensitive and fighting the urge to be sick (bodily fluids never bother me) and very little on wiping so far. So I’m taking that as a good sign.

I'm so sorry that you're going through the worry of spotting @PT8998 💐 Early pregnancy is such a head f🤬k of symptoms that could be both completely normal or the opposite! I know lots of people who have had bleeding the whole way through their pregnancy and have ended up with health babies 🍀 Your not being sure about calling the OOH nurse reminded me of something my counsellor told me - she said that NHS staff put a huge amount of pressure on ourselves to be the "good patient" because we know the amount of 💩 that our clinic colleagues have to deal with and we don't want to add to it but, as such, we don't get in touch when we should do... what I'm getting at is you absolutely did the right thing ringing the OOH nurse and you shouldn't hesitate to do it again if you're worried.x

I'm glad you had a lovely weekend in The Burgh @Em916 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿😁 You can see my building from Calton Hill 🏢 We had planned to walk up there yesterday but it started raining as soon as we set foot outside, so we turned around and headed for the sofa instead! 🛋️ Safe trip back down south.x

Did you have a nice time at your BBQ @Bella1984? How are you holding up with 3 more sleeps until scan day?x

Thanks for the happy birthday shouts ladies 😊 Before we went for our meal I googled the menu and promptly started freaking out because it was a 5 course tasting menu with scallops (didn't know if they'd be cooked or not 🤷🏻‍♀️), gorgonzola (definite no go) and loads of cheeses that I didn't know if they'd be pasteurised or not... I forgot what a ball ache eating out is when you're pregnant! 😩 I needn't have worried though - the front of house guy always recognises us (we went there a lot pre-covid 😬) and told me he'd make sure that the scallops were well done and that I needn't worry about the cheeses because they're all thoroughly cooked into sauces... phew! 😪 Then, when he bought the amuse bouche out and there was mozzarella on it, he quietly said to me that the mozzarella was pasteurised and "congratulations and good luck 😉" 😁 It's little touches like this (and the delicious food 😋) that keeps us coming back ☺️ The chef even came out with the desserts and told me that everything in it was either pasteurised or thoroughly cooked - definitely helped keep my cray-cray in check! 😄

Today's update is that I bit the bullet this morning and did a weeks indicator test and it came up with '3+ weeks', so I guess we're still in the running for now 🤞 I know it doesn't even vaguely come close to guarenteeing a heartbeat on Thursdays scan, but it is a little comforting to know that we're at least in with a chance... che sera, sera 🔮

@PT8998 That’s good you phoned the clinic and definitely sounds like right choice. Maybe they can refer you to early preg unit if still spotting at week 6 like my clinic offered? It’s so hard as they tell you not to worry but it’s hard not to think about when you see it every time you go to the toilet.

@BambiOnIce80 what a lovely restaurant it sounds like you went to. You will have to let me know the name?! And yay on test. I’m doing my tomorrow...eeek. Must be so exciting for you and @Bella1984 your scans are in a few days!!! (And probably nerve wracking at the same time!).

Very disappointed too with line of duty finale @Bella1984 : (

We got back last night and having lazy bank holiday day off (bingeing location, location, location). Feels a bit weird as not really got symptoms so don’t feel pregnant at all. (Always doubting I am!).

Your birthday sounds lovely @BambiOnIce80

That restaurant sounds fantastic! I have to admit I'm jealous of you with your vaccines and I'm stuck at home 😔

But it will be worth it!

Did you survive work @PT8998? Hope you're feeling OK?

It has pissed it down all day here I've had a lazy day, first in ages! Watched Nomadland which was Brill. Played some guitar (taught myself during lockdown last year!)

Got my covid test at studios in Belfast for my costume fitting which would you believe is Thursday, same day as our scan! I've asked for their last app so will be fine will be at like 4pm, scan is at 12.

Our clinic sent us a nice letter about what to expect etc. Did you get some info too @BambiOnIce80?

When is your scan @Em916?

Getting very Real now and I'm not even joking Bout twins as my belly has a very definite bump! My mother in law couldn't get over it haha.

A xx

@Em916 thank you lovely ❤️ That’s what I am planning. I am 5+1 today, so hoping it’ll settle and ease off ASAP and that’s the last of it. If not, I said I’ll ring them Thursday this week to update so they have time to action something on the Friday (if needs be).

@Bella1984 yes thank you! Ended up being quite busy, but I took it easy and asked one of my colleagues to do the heavy stuff. He’s aware of the IVF stuff and the positive tests (not the bleeding) for moments like this. I was a bit worried that telling him was the wrong choice, but days like today when I asked him to do stuff he didn’t even hesitate or dig his heels in about anything. I was so grateful as I knew he was completely aware as to why I asking him. I’m getting emotional thinking about how kind he was 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

On a side note, possible TMI... my guts are going mental!! I can feel the gas moving from below ribs all the way down to the departure lounge. When they depart they are all so strong, in every sense. What on Earth... seems to have started around the same time as the spotting?

Ahh @Bella1984 I love that you have a bump already 🥰. I am super bloated. I am like all the way out there already with just bloating!

I can’t wait for you ladies to have your scan ❤️❤️❤️

@BambiOnIce80 sorry!! Missed you out! I read your reply earlier in work but didn’t get the chance to reply! Thank you, I am so glad I called.

Sounds as though you had a fab birthday! I’m glad they looked after you so well, you deserve nothing less ❤️ Also congrats on your 3+. I stupidly bought more tests yesterday in panic and I also have another two digitals being delivered tomorrow.

My cheapie test tonight was the start of a dye stealer. I feel like I need to monitor one way or another. I won’t be able to just let the next two and a bit weeks go by without even checking once!

Your colleague sounds lovely @PT8998 😊 Definitely the right thing to do telling him so that he can help you out when needs be 👍 I've told my immediate management team (purely because it impacted them so much with me WFH to shield for the cycle) and they've been great all the way through. It definitely makes it easier for when we're not firing on all cylinders 🥱

@Em916 the restaurant is called Aurora and is on Great Junction Street in Leith - they've even got a non-alcoholic drinks pairing at the moment to go with the menu due to not being allowed to serve alcohol yet, which was awesome 🍹😋 I'd definitely recommend them for once you get here 👍 I was the same with barely any symptoms (and panicking about it 🤦🏻‍♀️), but the tiredness has really ramped up since I've hit 6 weeks (I'm not sure how I'm going to get through work tomorrow without an afternoon nap! 😰) and I've been really, really queasy all afternoon 🤢 I can't wait to go to sleep to get away from it! 😴 Good luck with your week's indicator test tomorrow 🍀

No pre-scan letter here @Bella1984, but I know we don't need to have full bladders from the last time I had one (thank god for small mercies! 😉). I'm just looking forward to getting it out of the way, I must say. It's cool that you've got your custume fitting to look forward to 😎 I've taken the day off just because I know my head will be minced, whichever way it goes 🔮