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!

Glad the appt went well scrummy. It is busy and chaotic and friendly (and all those pictures of babies born are very encouraging!) Hope the mid cycle scan goes well.

Hello to everyone else, enjoy the sunny Saturday (well, I am Welsh!)

I'm sorry I havent been here for so long, have been in a massive whirl of our first ICSI cycle and rather than discuss it all, I have hibernated. Till now.....I need some advice, guidance and wise words because I am going stir crazy

Well, our 1st ICSI cycle has gone well so far. We have egg shared and got 13 eggs so I was able to give 7 eggs to our recipient. (fingers crossed for her!!!)

The last few days have been stressful. We had EC on Monday and because we got 5 fertilised eggs (better than 0 we got last time...) the embryologist said it would be a good idea to go for a good blastocyst to put back. Well, here we are, day 5 and although we have had ET, there were no blasties.

When the clinic called yesterday they said that we had an 8 cell grade 2 and a cell that was 'compacting' (turning into a blastocyst) so all looked good. However, today the compacting embryo has stopped compacting and regressed slightly to a grade 3 9 cell embryo and the the 8 cell grade 2 was still just that. They have put them both back hoping that being in their proper environment will spur them on but I cant help feeling utterly gutted. Is there any hope for these little fellas? It doesnt sound good to me that everywhere I look Day 5=blastocyst and I've got to day 5 with embryos that dont seem anywhere near. Is no blastocyst on day 5 really awful? There is no info anywhere, only pics of perfect embies. I feel like I'm off to the worst start ever, feeling wretched and awful about the poor things. Is there hope? Or have the clinic just gone through the motions to keep me happy? Who knows.... And can embryos regress? I would have thought that if it regressed, it was dying off???

I'm sorry if I am waffling.

Lots of new faces here, good luck to you all

Italian- how exciting for you, will you test tomorrow???

xxxxxxxxx

Hi all,

I'm in the middle of cooking, but just had to say how upsetting Tortie [gets tortie a lettuce leaf]. I'm not sure of the potential for embryos to flourish inside, but I hope they do. Babycentre is very good for success stories for the most adverse of circumstances, particularly the US version. Big huge hugs and positive vibes coming from me.

Italian I'm so excited for you, I hope, hope, hope for you and your embies tomorrow!

Better go...burning!

tortie I can really sense your pain from your post. I hope you have a lot of support from family through this. I can't advise you on your situation other than that I would have thought they wouldn't just go through the motions. I hope I'm right. Please try and do what you can to stay calm, just so those fragile embies have a stress free home, if you can.

Italian I hope you have a lot to distract you tonight and you get to have some sleep through the night. I pray that you will have a strong positive result tomorrow. I must check out your guilty pleasure.

Lucy has AF arrived yet?

Pocket, 44, ttc#1, donor found, transfer expected November-ish
Wellerbabe, 41 DP 35, DS aged 10 from previous relationship, FSH 13.5, TTC 1 year just starting IUI
Lucylookout, 40, DH 48, 1 DS aged 4 conceived naturally, 2 x mcs, 1 failed IUI May 11, waiting to cycle at ARGC
KeziahHopes, 36, ttc# 7yrs, failed ICSI, Immune testing, miracle natural BFP with immune treatment. Due March.
Italiangreyhound 46, DD aged 6 (from IUI) MC 2006, IUI/IVF/de failed, IVF donor eggs OCT 2011 2WW
Scrummy, 39, TTC #1, On monitoring cycle ahead of planned IUI in Nov?

keziah thanks for your good wishes. I meant to say that, although it won't change the situation now, you should raise this with the hospital. People don't complain often enough for poor service (and thank often enough for good) and I think you are in your right to write to them and explain the risk they have exposed to you. I truly hope the antibiotics do their job and no harm has been caused.

tortie I don't know about 5 day transfers and how many are blasts, but as much as possible, try to not worry or research too much. It's all done now, the very best ones have been put back, so just try to relax a little.

Italian all the very best of luck for tomorrow.

scrummy af kind of, finally, started today, expecting full flow tomorrow, so that was almost 6 weeks. Phew. Glad it's arrived and really hope it's more normal this month.

I know I should be positive. The embryos are grade 2/3 (out of 6 with 6 being the worst) and they look fine but they are around 2 days behind in development. That isnt good out of 5 days worth of development is it??!!! I am resigned to it now. I even want to stop my suppositries. I hope my recipient has better luck.

I have even e-mailed Scanhealth in Norway today for more info. I remember you going there Lottie. (I used to be mummy2olivia- I still am her mummy just got cats as well now!!!) If the price is right, I'm off.....

Any news Italian????? I have everything crossed for you. xxxx

Tamtortie hugs to you, I am sure they are in with a chance.

Hi all - Rowing, Keziah, lissy, Mojangles, level, Scrummy, DonnaP86, Teds77, Pocket, Beginnings, Flip, Lucy, Womanly, woowa, fretfree, marmite, frustrated, Wellerbabe, Pinkapples and Pumpkinjoy, hugs to all.

Sadly, my test was negative. Feel a bit numb.

We will try and go for a FET cycle as soon as we can.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.

I am just so grateful we have our lovely DD or I would be going mad right now.

Oh Italian sweetie, I'm so sorry! Don't give up hope, you still have some frozen ones!

tametortie- I had two day three embryos put back on my first cycle, not the best quality, and got a positive. Try and stay upbeat, it's not over until it's over!

scrummy- Glad to hear your appointment at ARGC went well. It's great that they're not worried about your immunes. I agree about the letter writing. My grandmother always said that you shouldn't only write a letter when things are bad, you should write them when things are good, too!

Lucy- Yay for AF! When will you start your cycle?

Hi to everyone else...

AFM, I'm off to Philly tomorrow, so today is all about the packing! Had my 20 week scan on Thursday. SO cool! It was really in depth, and baby is looking super. And I'm having a girl! Unfortunately was back at the hospital on Thursday night. Went to GP for unfortunate pregnancy related problem (Piles...sorry TMI), because they're horribly painful. She sent me to A and E, who couldn't really do anything about it other than to tell me to take warm baths and continue putting cream on them. Don't think my plane ride is going to be terrible comfortable tomorrow...argh.

Hugs and baby dust to all, will try checking in from the States...

It is really hard. I feel its over already. I can't find a single positive story anywhere about my situation. Google has failed me...

London- id love to hear more. Firstly, what was the approximate cost, travel all in? And do you remember their success rates??

Italian- I'm sorry. Hugs xxx

Aplogies for sp mistakes- I'm on my phone.

I think my main issue is, my embryos weren't bad quality but were far behind in development. All I can find on this points to development arrest which basically means dying off. But they were good quality. Thanks for kind words everyone . X

Italian I am so sorry to hear to you didn't get a BFP today. You've been in my thoughts all day and I've been checking in to see how you got on. Here's some from me. I hope you got loads of cuddles from DH and that you both can look forward to the next journey. God bless you and your family.

Really glad AF has arrived Lucy what's the next step? Another course of Humira?

lissy a girl! I hope you have a great time in Philly. And don't spend too much in Old Navy! You may want to get one of those plain pillows (you know, ones that go around your neck) and stuck it under your bum...just a thought....

Italian I'm so very sorry :(

I'm so sorry Italian. I'm thinking of you, and hope your lovely DD and DH are giving you lots of love x

Scrummy I'm half way through my second Humira dose, so, after this cycle, when next AF starts, if my levels are OK, I could begin a cycle (but I'm trying to stop thinking that way because some curve ball always comes along and scuppers my plans)

Have a great time Lissy, and yes, those circular pillows are meant to help piles (not glamorous, but neither is pregnancy!) I'm guessing you've tried all of the other things like prune juice, high fibre diet, loads of water etc. I got it with DS and sympathise entirely.

Italian I'm so sorry for the BFN . You've been in my thoughts all day - I'm glad your lovely DD is making this pain a little more bearable - hugs to you xx

Italian I am so sorry to hear your news, praying all goes well for your FET.

Lissy have a lovely holiday. Yes pregnancy is undignified - am on canestan pessaries now, joy!

Italian, I'm so sorry to hear your news. What a nightmare for you! You won't go mad though and you will get through this and onto the FET. Please take good care of yourself and your family, self-indulgence and kind treatment of your tired self is essential now.
So sorry though!
Still you've always got us (not sure if that is a consolation in my case, but I will make funny faces and do handstands to make you laugh)

Italian I have been looking forward to seeing good news I'm so sorry but you are right it makes you look at what u have and appreciate them even more... Take care x

Italian sweetie, I'm so gutted for you. Big, huge hug. I really thought it was going to work out for you this time. Make sure you take your own advice to me, and be nice to yourself, take it easy, and give yourself some time to grieve for Paschal and Cielo. I hope it's a comfort that you have those little frosties that you fought so hard for, just waiting until you feel ready. And I know what you mean about your child easing the pain - DS helped enormously a couple of weeks ago.

LondonLottie how fabby to see you! I do hope your gorgeous girls are giving you more pleasure than exhaustion and you're still enjoying the swiss life (I was Bumpless if the name's not familiar!).

Tametortie you sound so sad and worried. We all know on here how hopeless these awful situations feel, but there are some amazing positive stories. I know it's been said before, but your two really are in the best place and even if they were struggling in a petri dish they are in a far more nurturing environment now. Hang in there...

AFM, we are pretty much on the brink of booking another DE cycle for january. DS's donor is availale again and we can probably just about scrape the dosh together. I'm now going on a massive health and beauty kick, to give me something to focus on.

waves to everyone xx

italian I'm so sorry it's a BFN.

Italian thinking of you

Lucy have my FX the drugs do their job this time.

mojangles that sounds really positive.

My scan today was fine. Showed I had ovulated from my right ovary. Bloods today normal. Going for another blood test on Thursday. Lost a little bit o faith today when they called back re test results, when the recommendation was to start using OPKs. Gladly I questioned Mr Ts guidance and we got it sorted so carrying on as planned.