The Elderberry Pavlovas: Hanging up our fertility crystals, relaying the Yellow Brick Road and chasing that chopper. We want our BFPs and we want them now! (Thread 22)

[happylass]

The smallprint –
Berries have a strict entrance criteria (TTC #1, over 30, TTC for 12+ months, NO instadiffers, must have a special pot and definitely no mention of baby dust or baby dancing).
Those not abiding by the rules may be escorted from the premises.

I was shattered during my first cycle Trillium and napped nearly every day whilst stimming. I think it's the side effects like that that I didn't feel prepared for.

Good luck to all with up coming scans and transfers. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all catch the berry copter together.

Trill, I didn't find stimming made me tired at all. I was/am knackered after egg collection though.

Go Smidge! Thinking of you and hoping that it all goes brilliantly for ET.

Thanks berries for all the good luck messages, it's so lovely to read them - and lovely to know you are still lurking chloe as it was your progress and experience I was avidly tracking when I joined. HB haha on the sticky thoughts . lumen I'm glad you had a nice day out and no awkward conversations. When's the next step for you? I have lost track a bit with so many posts lately and I'm on the phone.

Well, I am back home after transfer. They had a 'mid quality' blastocyst to put back in, which the embryologist said was the most common quality at blasto stage (whether or not that is true I don't know!). I liked the way he ended our conversation saying 'let's get this back where it belongs' .

Of the others it looks as if one might make it to freezing, but I wasn't convinced at its quality - or perhaps they just didn't pick it for transfer today as he said it was roughly 6-8 hours behind in development. So maybe it will still end up ok... Hard to tell. He said not to forget that it's possible this blasto was fertilised a couple of hours after the one they transfered, so it may not be that much behind in the scheme of things.

As for the procedure, it went a lot better than last time. Partly I think as I generally feel a lot less bloated/sore than last time, partly as I didn't drink quite so much water so my bladder wasn't overflowing (they really press hard!), and AliG kind of admitted that she thinks last time she didn't have the right angle to insert the tubey thing. This time I barely noticed it go through my cervix, which is so different from my previous experience I can't tell you!

Did have pain initially though (really quite significant) when she used the speculum, until she decided perhaps they'd use the smaller size speculum (yay!). Made such a difference! I think she'd somehow caught some of my skin in the larger one when trying to slide it in as it felt so sharp and absolutely killed even when she took it out. I thought i must have been bleeding from it (but no). Smaller one, no problem at all, and what with barely noticing the tube I almost skipped back out of the room when it was done! I felt and feel so much better than last time there's a big smile on my face .

Now the wait.... I spotted a few days before test day last time (as normal), and what with being put on the blood thinners this time, I'm worried I'll be even more likely to bleed and won't even get to enjoy the hope for the full two weeks.

But today is good. Here's hoping my time has come!

To join in on the tired/not tired feelings when swimming/drumming, I am in the tired, afternoon-napping camp. Completely agree that hydration is key. Whatever you're drinking, drink a bit more!

Welcome Trill, and yes Pip I think we need to place an order for a massive berry copter to handle the upcoming clusterdiff (I love that word).

Yay to being PUPO Smidge! Sounds like it was a much more pleasant process than last time - hopefully the sign of things to come.

I'll break out the fire batons for the implantation dance!

I like the sound of that Gill. I'm personally imagining majorette style rather than morris dancing.

Smidge - I was thinking unicycle actually!

Welcome Trill, sorry you've ended up in this situation but with the majority of Berries going, about to go, or been through IVF then you're definitely in the right place. Watch out for Gil and her unicycle though - she's lethal

Brilliant news on being PUPO Smidge. Glad it was more comfortable for you this time. I didn't feel a thing at ET. Not sure if it helped but apparently they did a dummy run at EC whilst I was out cold,just so they'd know what 'shape' I am . Fx for your remaining blasto. We had 3 that were slower fertilisers/developers. Asked if this meant anything but the consultant said that generally girl embryos develop more slowly. Surely though if thats the case the vast majority of IVF babies would be boys?

Hope everyone else is doing ok. Any news Pip.
Bit of a shock to the system being back in work. I'm a big fan of the afternoon siesta and I was 10 times worse when stabbing! Off for a snooze now, catch you all later.

Had a call from the clinic today saying that out of the 8 that fertilised 7 of them are on track. So we are all go for ET on Wednesday. work have given us both the day off, we work together, and have given me the rest of the week off. They are also pretty much insisting that I take the following week off two. As they said, it's one week out of work that might make a difference to the rest of my life. I think I will take it but I hate taking time off unless I am dying.

Great news on the embies pip and what nice work you have. Take the time off and enjoy some 'me' time as soon you will have a little one who will mean no more time to yourself

Am impressed that you have progressed from Pom poms gill to fire on a unicycle!!!

Had another scan today and now on for collection on Weds. Trigger shot tonight at 7.15 so a nice early collection on weds. Had more issues with the blood taking today, got stabbed 4 times before they managed to get some from my forearm (FYI it hurts from there). Thankfully no more bloods to deal with now, just need a vein for the anaesthetic on weds (they haven't tried my right hand so it is preserved from weds).

Anyone other than bushy been on shag week recently? We could do with a natural bfp on here

What time is your egg collection Lumen?
Have you done this before?

Yay that things went well for you today smidge! I really hope it works for you.

Thanks for the welcome happy. I'd love regular naps but if I do I usually can't sleep at night! I'll keep a look out for the unicycle

Oh wow pip! Great news on your embies! Roll on Wednesday eh? And you'll be looking forward to Wednesday too lumen! Hope you get lovely eggs .

I'm feeling quite full in my pelvis today, kinda achy but not too bad. I keep rubbing my belly, encouraging my little follicles to grow! I'm going for acupuncture on Wednesday, hope that helps too.

8.15 in the morning pip and yes this is our second attempt.

Yay Smidge to being PUPO!

Glad you have the go ahead for EC on Wednesday, will be thinking happy follicle thoughts.

Trillium i remember the 'full' feeling, odd that rubbing seemed to help...or it was purely psychological!

Have you tried a hot water bottle in that area trill? Meant to be good to do right up until egg transfer. I keep worrying I have cooked my eggs as been putting hot water bottle on once or twice a day! It helps with the bloated feeling though.

Great news on the embies Pip. Aren't you a teacher? I had ET on the Monday and went back to work on the Wednesday. Felt fine in myself but I wish I'd taken longer off. The info leaflet I had said to take it easy for 2-4 days after ET. Next time I'm definitely taking a bit longer as it's impossible to relax when your stuck in a room with 30 teenagers all day long! Not sure it'll make a difference but who knows?!?
lumen can I ask what they are testing your blood for? Does everyone have this? I had no blood tests at all during my cycle

Hello, hello, hello it's busy & positive in here. Really willing all you IVF-ers on. You sound really positive smidge- keep up that mental attitude, it sounds like it went really well. Go lumen for weds and pip that's a great result and how nice are your work. Totally take them up on the week off and do not feel bad about it.

Hello to trill, you're totally in the right place! The berries are fab and it's good timing as so many are Ivf-ing currently and a few of us already have one cycle under our belt. How do you find the acupuncture? I've not tried it.

Love all the gyrating gilster

I am currently catching up on here whilst trying to hold a wee in!! I'm still sleeping very lightly and often wake up then need a wee. Dh thinks it's because at the first urge I have I go and I don't hold onto it. He thinks I should hold on for longer to train up my bladder! Also trying to not drink too much in the evenings. My friend who had cancer said having chemo solved her bladder issues as you have to drink loads so you're bladder gets bigger. On the contrary I find whenever I drink more I just need to wee more often!!

Spa weekend was a bit mixed. The hotel, although nice, was very overpriced and had lots of ways of making you spend more, such as the old still or sparkling water with dinner thing where instead of saying tap water I said still- £4 lighter for it. There were supplements, service charges etc and it just didn't feel like value for money. Also the bed was fricking awful- like a bit spongey marshmallow.. Not much purchase shall we say . Also being a total Wally I left my phone charger there -doh!! I only found out last thing last night so was all of a flap when I went to bed so had a rubbish night's sleep, just couldn't switch off!

I've had quite a few weird twingey feelings in my groin today, not sure what that is. We're post shag week now. Anyhow, just thought I'd share!!

If pip's a teacher her work are amazing! I had et on a Sunday, the Monday was a bank hol and then back to work tues. I don't know what i'd do next time. I found work took my mind off it but then I had the big bleed and who knows whether working had anything to do with it. I did take it v easily after that but it wasn't meant to be. Think it's really hard having time off as I'd have to plan and leave all the work which is a lot of work in itself. Also I'm not sure whether I'd get paid for more than one day off as they don't sign you off for et.

Bushy my work were great and didn't really question the amount of time I took. I'm sure if the FC advises you to take x amount of time off then they really can't question it. But I agree that the biggest ball ache is having to set so much cover work and then my classes falling behind. We are due inspection this year too. But having said all that my biggest priority at the moment is getting diffed, that's got to come before everything else.

LOL at the marshmallow mattress Bushy!

I thought I'd do a mini summary of those currently undergoing treatment:

Smidge - PUPO on 3 Nov
Pip - ET on 5 Nov
Lumen - EC on 5 Nov
Trill - day 5 of stims
Seren - stimming yet?
Gillster - start DR on 4 Nov

Have I missed anyone currently or about to start treatment?

I am a teacher, but I teach one to one most of the week, so if I don't go in then I don't leave a class needing cover. That said last year when I did have a class they suggested the same. They are very caring.

Hi berries, apologies for being AWOL, my beak has been tripping me up and in my better moments I've been practicing twirling fire batons to join in with Gil for you all. Thanks so much for your lovely comments it really does make a difference.

Smidge congrats on being PUPO! Fire baton twirling commencing and I'm really willing your embie on the procedure sounds painful for the initial part!

Tiger how did you manage to get through the baby shop! Tricky. Hope you're feeling a bit better now after the glumness.

Wild how awful about your kitten, I think a little ceremony is a lovely idea.

Lumen you sound like a total domestic goddess! I'd love to come to yours for a lovely Sunday lunch. Great news that you're in for EC on weds, will keep my fx for lots of lovely eggs!

Jellie it's lovely to see you so positive and great news that they think they have a donor lined up already! I hope you hear soon but do let us know.

Chloe it's lovely to hear from you, how are you getting on? How far now?

Trillium welcome, sorry you are here but it's the best place. Good luck for this IVF, hopefully there will be a massive clusterdiff for us all!

HB I've heard of arbonne, organic products are so expensive, I don't end up telling dh what lots of things cost for this ttc lark.

Pip good news re fertilisation! I hope transfer goes well, did you decide on 1 or 2? I would feel the same about the embryos being alone! If I were you, if take the time, it's not long in the scheme of things and you have a pretty good reason.

Happy are you going for a fresh cycle next or fet? Hope getting back to work hasn't been to bad, and for you too Bushy!

Gill is it tomorrow you start downregging? Very impressed with the unicycling and the fire batons

Bushy are you starting IVF again on your next cycle? Fx you won't need to! Do you do pelvic floors? That's good for strengthening the muscles to hold your wee!

When you all started IVF did you have your bloods done again and what did they test for? I had mine done again this morning and dh has to have an sa and bloods again (we only had them done in May). I asked the nurse and she just said fsh but I wonder if I need amh or anything. She said I should be able to do my cycle straight after my consultant appointment but that will run into Christmas so not sure if that will work. Tiger is it your IVF open evening this week?

Oh Bushy schoolboy error. I refuse to let the waiters/waitresses use that sneaky technique. The way they ask 'would you like still or sparkling water?' trying to suggest they are the only options - PAH to that. I respond by saying I'd rather a jug (carafe, if I'm feeling fancy) of tap water thankyou, with a sweet well I think so smile on my face

Happy I'm surprised to hear you haven't had blood tests through your cycle. I typically have to have 6 blood tests.

• when period is due (baseline I guess)
• days 6, 8 and 10 of stimming (coinciding with dildocam, to compare hormone levels and follicle development)
• day before egg transfer (to ensure oestrogen has dropped and prog risen - I think may also help ensure not at risk of OHSS but that's a guess)
• preg test.

The day 6/8/10 blood tests proved important for me first time round as they showed my LH levels were rising and that they needed to trigger sooner. If it had been left to dildocam only, they would have left the eggs to grow more and risked spontaneous ovulation before EC day. (It's possible that's less relevant on long protocol).

I agree with the other comments that pip's work sound amazing! We only get signed off for 2 days for ET I think. Tbf I don't think usually any time is needed physically but completely get that mentally it might be a different matter!!

Cross post Beaky - you've been v good and must have taken notes

Talking of unicycles Gill, last summer I spotted a surprising number (at different times/locations) in Sydney - people actually uni cycling to work!! Was hilarious. My OH thought I had some weird unicyclist magnetic powers as it was uncanny how often I saw this randomness! I reckon this fire-baton-twirling-uni-cycling is therefore perfect for encouraging my embie to stick and make itself at home.

Look carefully at the right side of this pic!