Assisted Conception (and all the bits in between) volume 8

[lucylookout]

Looks like we need a new thread for Italian, Scrummy, Beginnings, womanly, lissy, rowing, fretfree, Teds77, keziah, frustrated and anyone else who wants to chat about assisted conception!

Hi all - Rowing, Keziah, lissy, Mojangles, level, Scrummy, Teds77, Pocket, Beginnings, Flip, Lucy, Val, Womanly, woowa, fretfree, marmite, frustrated, Wellerbabe, Pinkapples and Pumpkinjoy, hugs to all.

Lucy so sorry, hope it will all work out soon.

Ladies, can?t quite believe it but we are there, on the two week wait! They put two lovely embies back in.

Lucy they are Paschal and Cielo!

The remaining three were not of a suitable grade to freeze but they were all still moving on and developing. So the clinic staff agreed to freeze them, after telling me about 10 times that there were no guarantee! One was the right number of cells but a low grade, anther was a slightly higher grade but not quite as many cells as they would like and the third was a total underdog. The clinic knew we were very keen to freeze if there were any embies to freeze and I basically spoke to the embryologist and said can we just give them a go, so they agreed to freeze all three. I?ve done lots of research on the internet and was encouraged to see this. If interested go down to the bottom of the page to see Case 3.

www.ivf-indiana.com/education/embryo-assessment.html

This patient had approximately 50% fragmentation in an 8 cell embryo and delivered a very healthy child.

Also

?Ultimately, the true test of embryo quality is whether it implants and develops normally and eventually goes home from the hospital with mom and dad. In other words, embryo grading systems are imperfect, and we always need the pregnancy test, and the final pregnancy outcome, to tell us more about "embryo quality" than a microscope could ever reveal.?

Just doing a bit of research what to drink on the two week wait.

See the fourth post

www.carefertility.com/ivf/viewtopic.php?t=54976

And see this drink

sportsmedinfo.net/painmeds-supplements/48-otc-supplements/239-vita-coco-coconut-water-natural-electrolyte-drink

No I do NOT work for this company!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolyte

Rehydration

In oral rehydration therapy, electrolyte drinks containing sodium and potassium salts replenish the body's water and electrolyte levels after dehydration caused by exercise, excessive alcohol consumption, diaphoresis, diarrhea, vomiting, intoxication or starvation. Athletes exercising in extreme conditions (for three or more hours continuously e.g. marathon or triathlon) who do not consume electrolytes risk dehydration (or hyponatremia).[1]

A simple electrolyte drink can be home-made by using the correct proportions of water, sugar, salt, salt substitute for potassium, and baking soda.[2]

Electrolytes are commonly found in fruit juices, coconut water, sports drinks, milk, and many fruits and vegetables (whole or in juice form) (e.g. potatoes, avocados).

So maybe I'll just try a glass of milk! That's got the protein too! I certainly won't be making a homemade drink with salt!! Yuk!

Italian congratulations on Paschal and Cielo! (I absolutely love the name Paschal btw). Sounds like you made the right decision on the other embies too. I will be keeping everything crossed for you

Lucy sorry to hear that . Does Dr T have a plan of action?

mojangles hope you had good news today.

Hi all - Just looking for some advice thoughts etc?

So I was diagnosed with PCOS about 4 months ago after a LONG time telling Doc's somethin wasn't right and as my DH and I have been trying for a year they sent us to a NHS fertility clinic. Was told to have bloods done when my period started (I am on every other week!!) and DH had to provide sample.

Once bloods and sample are done they have agreed to put me on Clomid, the only problem is my period has vanished! They have always been regular (too regular!), add to that that my boobs are really sore, my moods are all of the place I decided to do a test last Saturday as I was due on 22nd Sept and it came back negative.

I am in a real muddle today! Thinking I should prob do another test this weekend but scared it will be a BFN :-(

Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks!

P.S sorry this probably wasn't the right place to post.....?

DonnaP86 I would do another test and if it is still negative go back to the Gp/clinic and ask for advice. I was on Clomid a few years ago and I can't remember how it works.

How old are?

All the best.

PS this is a good place to post but there might be another dedicated Clomed thread and also you could start a new thread and ask for others who have had similar experiences re periods? How long since you had one?

Donna why not look on and post on here if you wish to

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/1294089-CLOMID-first-timer

Hi everyone

Thanks for all of the comparative symptoms.

Italian I am sitting on the sofa blubbing. i am just so happy for you . You've made it all seem very real for me now too. I am gonna say one heck of a prayer for you and those embies.

Rowing i know the physical characteristics of my donor (and that they are a close-ish match with me), her age and a bit about her. But not much more. No we didn't meet - and wont. There is no contact between donor and recipient. However, donor conceived children are able to contact the donor when they reach 18, if they want to...

Mojangles hope you had good results today :)

Lucy I'm so sorry about you results.

Sorry not to namecheck everyone, happy weekend and enjyoy the sunshine.

Well what a total and utter bunch of total and utter b@stards.

Up at 5.30 am with DS. Chewed nails, made tea, clanged cymbals, banged drum, hummed.

Off to swanky private hospital at 8.00 am for blood test.

More humming.

At 4.30pm hadn't heard anything so start ringing hospital. Get put through to a succession of answerphones or people who don't know anything. Finally after 5 get through to my consultant, who doesnt have the results. He goes off to check and calls back to say that the lab is shut and I'll have to wait TILL FUCKING MONDAY to know.

Seriously unwise to piss off a woman on this many drugs. Considering torching the place. Will have to lose the string of tin cans tied to my belt first though as they may impede get-away.

And I'm damn well weeing on something tomorrow even though i'm not supposed to POAS till Sunday.

OK, that's out of my system.

Lucy , so sorry about your results. You must be so disappointed. What is the implication for treatment?

Italian that is absolutely great! Welcome Paschal and Cielo! (How do you pronounce them by the way?) And well done on sticking to your guns re freezing. I'd have wanted to do the same. Your 2WW strategy seems to be supplement research rather than mindless finger drumming, I salute you.

Donna no experience of PCOS, sorry, although I've done clomid. Italian's given you some good pointers, good luck!

Rowing attagirl! Although havent the clinic given you oestrogen to take? Are you an acupuncture fan? I've found it very helpful in the run-up and aftermath of cycles.

Just for today, I will not put a brick through the stupid blood test theiving private hospital window...

Mojangles that is totally and utterly crap. i am fuming for you. i will happily come with you and throw bricks through their window. i would have gone completely barmy. Go POAS and stuff the lot of them. Praying you get a BFP - and you can stick four fingers (that's two of yours and two of mine) up at the hospital.
xxx

Hi all,

Moja that is so, so, so inconsiderate and horrible of your clinic. Surely they understand that this is very important to you. I would poas as well, there is a good possibility that you would see something by now, although still take the drugs if no positive, because - not conclusive.
I agree they might suspect if you do torch the place, when the witnesses say they didn't see anyone, but heard a lot of clattering shortly before the blaze.

Pocket I'm going for a donor embryo next month, the clinic do give some information, eye colour, weight, height and age, many donors are students, not sure of what - brain surgery or dog grooming? We filled out a long form giving our details, but I don't really believe our clinic in Czech Rep do detailed matching, although I can't prove that. Well until the baby is born with flaming red hair and a tiny petite build - the opposite of me. Donors are entirely anonymous.

Italian, trust you to provide detailed and comprehensive links on what to drink during the 2WW. YOU should definitely consider a second career in research. How are you feeling?

Flip hi there, how are you getting on sweetie?

Donna I know that Clomid can delay the onset of AF so it could be that the disappearing AF is due to the hormones in the drug. The symptoms could be early indications of pregnancy or side effects of Clomid. I would say, firstly, test again with first morning urine and good luck with it!
Secondly, your clinic should be monitoring you closely whilst taking clomid as it can cause OHSS. My advice would also be to go back to the clinic or phone and tell them what has been happening and get a proper check up and scan.

Mojangles so sorry your clinic are being such a pain. As you don?t want to burn down the clinic with your results in, I suggest you pee on the clinic, in your mind! Hang on in there. So sorry this is being such a drawn out process.

pocket thank you for your very kind words.

Mojangles Paschal is pas-kal (pas as in northern English way of saying pass and kal as in Cal-mares -those Greek squid things). Cielo is Theo-lo, sort of all run together. Thanks for asking. Did you name your embies in the freezer? I know most people don?t do that but I am a huge name buff and would name everything if I got the chance. My daughter chose our hamster?s name so I didn?t get to name him! And yes, I like some research, some things on the internet are amazingly easy to find now, you just have to have the vaguest idea and you get it. You almost need to look for what you expect to find rather than framing it as a question, as a statement, or so I am concluding!

Rowing honey, I am sure if you get your little red-haired petite baby you will be just over the moon. I must admit that although I feel VERY grateful to our anonymous donor and did send up a quick prayer for her that she would be pregnant through this treatment, I have not really thought of these little embies as anything other than mine! The fact I had to ?fight? or rather ?argue? to get them into the freezer made me feel all protective and mumsy! For the ones which are in the freezer!

Choosing the names for the two in me and thinking of them has helped me to feel connected to them. I KNOW not everyone would want to do that or feel happy doing it!

In one sense one is trying to be positive, in another realistic, in one sense optimistic, in another preparing for the crushing blow of it not working out! It?s such a tough line to walk so whatever helps, I feel I just need to do it! Whether it is picking out names, researching what is good to drink or looking at pictures of fertilised eggs on the Internet! One of my friends has two kids and is expecting number three, she is lovely but so matter of fact about it all, she decided to have another, she is pregnant!

I wished so much that I could do that, just want it to be so and it was so! But about a week ago I lay in bed and just prayed that I was OK with how it all worked out. I was so lucky we got our lovely DD at the start of this process and the last six years have been about trying to get her a brother or sister and not trying to get started. So I am one of the lucky ones and I don?t want to forget that. I ended up praising God and feeling happy, I know that is probably hard to understand but if anything this last six years have reminded me how lucky I am that that one tiny follicle on an IUI cycle almost 8 years ago actually made it. Life can seem quite random at times, I like to think it is not all random but sometimes it is quite unfathomable. So I am off to bed now but you dear ladies are all in my thoughts. I hope we all get our beautiful flame-haired petite babies, or whatever good is in store for us. Hugs to you all.

Just wanted to nip in and say hi to Italian How funny that you left a message on the icsi/ivf thread for me and I said to myself yesterday I would do the same for you here today-I don't mind you as a stalker!-In fact I've been stalking you for a while and sort of 'lurking'! I wanted to say how really pleased I am for you-7 embryos was brilliant and I am crossing every single thing I can find that your little duo are burrowing in nicely. Thanks for your message-still early days and all that and we are wishing away the days waiting for the scan. Anyway, I am rooting for you-you are such an inspiration and have been a great support for lots of us ladies. Take care of yourself xxxxxx

Been hiding a bit this last week. Lots of activity Fab news Italian and rowing, nice to hear things are moving forwards. I am convinced Im not pg. I can just feel it in my bones.I know it's too early but I POAS this am- BFN. I Hope you are ok Lucy. Sorry brief, on phone and hard to type.

level I am so sorry but if it is early days then maybe hang on a bit, think positive thoughts and take it really easy and see what happens. Thinking of you.

pumpkinjoy thank you, honey, for your kind words.

Hi all,
Level oh poor you feeling down about the whole thing. Nightmare! I hope the result changes for you in a day or two. It was a day two or three transfer wasn't it? I think the hcg takes a while to rise for earlier transfers so there is still time.

Hi ladies, I know I am mad but I am watching One born at Christmas!

www.channel4.com/programmes/one-born-at-christmas/4od#3159331

The first programme in the festive series comes from the Princess Anne hospital, as the race for the first Yuletide?series one episode one.

Very emotional, will have you in tears!

level thinking of you.

Rowing any news.

My boobs ached when I took off my bra tonight, but unlike my dear friend from the 40s thread, Hippy - and various other friends, my boobs are not a real indicator of anything! Perhaps it is jus their pendulous size weighing me down or my cheap supermarket bra not doing its job! love and chocolate boobs and big juicy hugs to all.

Italian that's lovely that you can watch the programme. I'm too bitter to watch anything about birth without throwing things at the TV.
Is this the beginning of the symptom spotting? 2WW here we come....
I have no news, other than the fact I have fallen off the exercise wagon. Come on! Tell me off! I need discipline!

Get back on that wagon honey! Rowing thinking of you.

Hi all, back from our hols, so trying to catch up with the news!

Italian wow, things have really moved on for you. So pleased to hear it's been all systems go and that you have TWO lovely embies and others in the freeze. Well done for sticking to your guns there. Are you secretly hoping for a boy? Just wondered because of the names, which by the way are lovely .

Lucy so, so sorry to hear that you didn't get the results that you wanted. That must be so disheartening. I hope you are ok? If you can afford to, why don't you book a weekend away to spend some quality time with DH and let him spoil you rotten? What's the next step?

mojangles and level Hang in there girls. Keeping my FX for a BFP for both of you!

rowing I get spotting before and after AF. It's annoying isn't it. One recent cycle I had AF for 3 days and spotting for 10. Felt like it was never going to stop. I shall be interested to hear what ARGC think is the cause of it. Luckily I dint get any spotting whilst away, but sure enough the old spotter was back as we reached the airport!

teds pleased to hear you have found a place you feel happy with. Good luck with your next cycle.

pocket can't believe they've found a match so quickly. That's such wonderful news. Hope the cramping eases off soon.

lissy I had a peak at Old Navy website and found that they now deliver to UK. Once my time comes, I too shall be doing some shopping with them. They have got some lovely stuff, haven't they. When are you off to US? You must be really looking forward to it?

beginnings how lovely to get a little wave from your little one. Have you shared the 'working title' with your DH yet?

womanly how are you dear?

Hi flip and everyone else.

Our news....spotting started at 11DPO, which is much later than recent months, so happy about that. AF due on Tuesday, meaning we will enter our monitoring cycle. We have our blood tests booked for Thursday and then have our appointment on the following Friday. Lucy - what day do they want to do mid-cycle scan or is it OPK only?

Hi everyone - I've been insanely busy at work so have rather fallen off the board, plus off on a business trip tomorrow for a week, so things are not letting up.

It sounds like there have been quite a few developments. italian - really excited for you. lucy - hugs and hope your levels go down. Level - sorry to hear your BFN, but still keeping fingers crossed. Hello and hugs to everyone else.

I had my 6w 4d scan on Friday. I saw a little heartbeat :o. It's the first time that it has actually felt real. They printed me out a picture, so I could take it back to show DH. There were actually two sacks, but only one had an embryo. Actually very glad it is not twins to be honest - it would have been too nerve-racking to have a higher risk pregnancy that just due to my age. Also the wife of a friend recently had a very premature baby due to an incompetent cervix, which I gather is also a higher risk with twins, so again, a bit of a relief on that front.

Anyway, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for everyone this next week, even though I am unlikely to be able to get on line.

Hello, just a really quick one. Feeling a little more upbeat after bad news about levels, but am still going to try to put this whole TTC thing to one side a bit as it's too all consuming, but I saw scrummy's message and wanted to say that you go in for a mid cycle scan before you ovulate (as in, if you normally ovulate on day 11, go in on day 9ish). Then they'll want you to do an OPK, when you get a positive, call up and make an appt in about 5 or 6 days time for a blood test to check progesterone. They do give you a big pack with all of the info in too. Not long for you now. Glad you had a good hol.
Thinking of everyone else! x

BFN, none of my little guys made it

I'm sure having gastroenteritis on implantation day was the problem. My immune system was all revved up and attacking anything, inc embryos. I'm not hugely surprised, I sort of knew it hadnt worked, ever since the bug I've felt no-one was home.

Pocket if I may, I'll still borrow those fingers of yours to put up at the universe and say PPtthhhhhhhhhzzzzzzzzzzzpt