Candle smugglers of the world unite! The Berries have loaded up the charabanc and have Barry on repeat. Destination BFP (via the pouch of Douglas)

[happylass]

The small print:

The Berries have strict entrance criteria: TTC #1 for 12 months+, over 30, NO instadiffers, must have a special pimping pot and absolutely no mention of baby dust/dancing. Not that we're fussy

Current passengers

Happylass, 37, TTC since Aug 2012. 2 failed ICSIs. Hopefully FET early May with only frostie. Long awaited NHS appt in June
Beaky 35, ttc coming up 3 yrs, 2x failed iui 1x long protocol ivf cancelled due to poor response. On the pill awaiting short protocol IVF in may
Minx, 34, both tubes blocked, 1 buried ovary, IVF info evening June, IVF "booking in" appointment in July
Nolly, 33, TTC 2.7 years, mc Dec 2014. awaiting ivf August 2015 while dh is off on a jolly.
Wild 40 - TTC for three years. Embies on ice and planning FET with immune treatment in June.
HampshireBlues 36 TTC 3.5 years, unexplained. Cycle 1 chemical pregnancy, cycle 2 abandoned due to cyst, cycle 3 failed. Plan thrombotic profile, scratch and short protocol.
Lumen, 35, ttc since Nov 2011, unexplained, two IVF cycles in 2014, both bfns, waiting for lap&dye and results of numerous bloods, aiming for one last IVF cycle in the summer.
Tigerdog, 34 ttc since Jan 2013. Unexplained and all test results good. Currently in the middle of long protocol IVF, 13 eggs collected and awaiting news for next steps.
Gillster, 41, TTC since Feb 2012. Had IVF in Feb 14 and had 6 one cell embies frozen due to polyp. 2 x 2 day embies finally put back 14 months later on 16th April, BFP 28th April
Smidge, 39 this month, TTC since Jan 2013. Unexplained. IVF#1 Short protocol July '14 BFN, IVF#2 Nov'14 and IVF#3 Feb '15 both Long protocol BFNs. High NK cells immune treatment. 2 frosties due to be put back in natural FET in May or June.
Kuma - 40. TTC 2.5 years. Low AMH high FSH - DH antisperm ABs. Failed IVF June 14 and March 15. Looking to change clinic and try another natural cycle in June 2015.
Lucieloos, 35, TTC 18 months, low AMH & sperm motility. 1st ICSI in Czech Republic in April 2015. Awaiting results.
Barkingtreefrog, 35, ttc since Dec 2011. Clomid bfp summer 2013, mc @ 7 weeks. IUI bfp summer 2014, mc @ 7 weeks. Diagnosed with factor v leiden thrombophilia (but
not thought to be the cause of the mc's as they were too early). Failed IUI January 2015, failed IVF March 2015. No further NHS help. Going private for nk cells testing and a scratch before putting the frosties back, hopefully this summer.
Rain, 33 ttc since March 2012. unexplained. mystery bfp oct 13, MMC Nov 13. NHS IVF starting in June
Spare planning FET with remaining frosties shortly
Pont 1st IVF in Czech Republic in July.

Glad your dog is ok Barking - always such a worry when pets are ill.

Lucie I know it's hard but the only way you will really know for sure is by waiting until your OTD and testing. Knowing / not knowing that it has worked is all in the mind really, unless you have started AF all the signs and symptoms could be anything really. You're still in with a chance.

Tiger hope you are feeling a bit better and not in pain.

Tiger I can understand that you might be disappointed about the fertilisation rate. Like the others have said, these will be the strongest ones and hopefully they'll go a bit further. I had a similar rate - 6 from 12. One of the Berries before you joined only got 4 or 5 eggs resulting in 2 decent embryos which were transferred on day 3. She now has a 7 month old. I'm imagining your little embies/tiger cubs purring away contently in their Petri dish.

Spare would it be worth getting a scratch before jumping straight into your next cycle to maximise your chances, now that your numbers are dwindling? Can't remember if you had one on the first go. Are you able to change your mind at short notice regarding the number to be put back? (ie say you want one so they defrost two but if they both look OK then pop them both back).

Nolly . Think you might get the "most comedic berry" award.

Happy - thanks for setting up the new thread. Hope this is a lucky one for you all.

Lucie - try not to lose hope just yet. You could have some lazy implanters. Do you have any symptoms?

Barking - I know you said that the pooch seemed better but is there a chance he/she has worms? Are you doing a full or sprint triathlon? I've done 3 sprint triathlons in the past - 2 in Docklands and one at Tatton Park. Have to say I hated the swimming bit (I was so slow). The water in Docklands is salty and I nearly got stuck in a load of weeds in Tatton. I also did them on my heavy hybrid which I couldn't even attach a bottle cage to. Had to put a basket on the front to hold my water. Not the most aerodynamic cycle I've ever done! I'm all for the FUFC challenge activities although the cycle holiday I have booked in Provence in 2 weeks time could prove to be interesting!

Hi to everyone else!

Thank you, I had about 3 days of cramps after transfer, along with a sharp pain in uterus everytime I coughed or sneezed. Sore boobs although not so much now. A bit dizzy and light headed the last couple of days and fairly tired but these are all symptoms of progesterone as well so trying not to read too much into them.

gill I gave him worming tablets just to be sure! I'm doing the Hathersage Hilly. It's not a standard distance I don't think, a 420m swim then 20k ride with 240m of ascent followed by a fell run of 7k and 140m of ascent. I did my first run on the couch 2 5k tonight! 8 weeks and I should be up to 5k, then I've got a couple of weeks to add another 2k (after a swim and bike) before the triathlon!!
Are you still cycling? My friend cycled all the way through her pg (to 8 months) but I was too scared, didn't even get on my bike whilst pupo!

Thinking of you Lucie, it's a horrible time when you're waiting for confirmation one way or the other.

Thanks barking this is the worst bit by far. I can cope with the other stages.

Sounds fairly challenging Barking and fairly close to the sprint distance. Not sure about the cycling. I definitely won't be going on the road bike particularly as I had clippy pedals fitted to it about a month ago and haven't even given it, it's inaugural ride yet - that would be way too stressful! Not sure what to do about the cycling holiday in 2 weeks time. I think I would only have to a cycle 2-3 days in total as some of the days are optional. Think I will play it by ear and see how I feel at the time. It will be hard not to go out as the scenery looks so nice. I certainly won't be doing the optional day of riding up Mt Ventoux although DH is quite excited about it! I told my parents last night and my Mam is really not happy about the cycling and has made me promise to ask the GP about it next week.

gill My thoughts on it are that I wouldn't want the risk of falling off as I'd never forgive myself if anything happened. Which I can't imagine would even be a problem if I did, and I've not fallen off a bike on the last 10 years so I'm not sure why I suddenly think I might now! I'm pretty sure I still cycled for a couple of days on holiday after I got the first bfn, but after that I got really tired. It was only after the first mc that I decided cycling was a no, I was intending to carry on as normal with running, cycling, climbing etc during my first pg, as I'd seen all my friends do.
If I ever got pg again I think I'd be happy cycling away from traffic (ie easy mountain bike rides along trails that you could do on a hybrid) or at home on the turbo trainer to keep my legs going, but not on the roads because you can't control the idiot drivers on the road and just on Sunday I had three near misses with cars pulling out in front of me or across me. I think that's just me though and is very affected by the two mc's, my friend who had a mc and then failed ivf before her win still cycled to work every day until she got too big.

Can you tell this is something I've given an awful lot of thought?!
I think your main issue on holiday is likely to be tiredness, it really hit me and I found I couldn't run. Not so much the second time but I think that pg had been doomed from the start given the low blood levels and was being artificially sustained by the progesterone. In that part of France the roads are lovely and the drivers are used to cyclists and tend to give you a lot more room, I think you'd be fine if you had the energy.

The secret berry Tri squad! I've done a few as well, and am signed up to do one in July if I'm not pregnant by then, but will need to get some serious training hours in, because i haven't swum since my last Tri 2 years ago..!

gill I'm with barking on the cycling. There is a chance that early preggo knackeredness will hit you by then, and you won't want to walk 5 mins let alone cycle for 5 days, but I would be a bit worried about falling. Especially when tired - I've managed to fall off my bike at traffic lights when knackered, and once misjudged a gap between lamp posts and cycled straight into it! Plus you'll need to pee a LOT and bib shorts aren't very accommodating

I had two scratches for both abandoned cycles (at £350 each. Ouch!) and then didn't for my successful cycle, so I know I can get pregnant without one, and am a bit loathe to spend the money again because it seems to jinx the transfer..! And if I have a scratch this month, they will wait to do the transfer, whicy I don't want to do.

With my successful cycle, they did the transfer 36 hours after OV, and transfered a 1 day old embie straight out of the freezer because all the others had perished overnight.
This time, they did the transfer 3 days after OV with 3 day embie.
Obviously the first one wasn't their standard procedure and was a 'needs must' response to the situation but I am tempted to ask if they will do that again. Thoughts?

lucie Hang in there! Not long to wait now!

Those are my thoughts exactly Barking, particularly as I fell off the bike quite hard about 6 weeks ago. Don't think I'd chance the commute to work on the hybrid as you just can't legislate for idiot drivers but we did a walk on Sunday part way along an old railway line so would quite happily put the bike in the car and have a pootle up there again. It's encouraging to know that France might be a bit better in terms of roads and drivers. Will just have to see how I cope with the tiredness. I feel sorry for my road bike though. It's going to be chained to the lawn mower for a long time and will have to put up with DH's bike regaling it with all its adventures (clearly this is crazy but I like to think my bike has a personality)!

Are you sure it was a day 3 transfer Spare? Didn't they transfer it the day after they defrosted it which was the same for me and I understood that to be a day 2 transfer.

Ooh you lot are hardcore. I couldn't ever see myself doing a triathlon as I detest swimming and I'm so bloody slow!

Personally as someone whose coordination deteriorates when tired I would be avoiding such risks as cycling on roads, but you will know what is right for you. My neighbour did an outdoor swim in minus temperatures the day after she found out she was pg instadiffers eh

lucie how are you doing?

Just waiting for the call from the FC....

The last cycle or the first one?
First one, they took the day 1 embie out of the freezer at 10am and put it back at 2pm after watching it for a few hours
The last cycle was definitely a day 3... They read the notes back to me on the phone yesterday when I told them about the bfn and said I had a day 3 embryo transferred on 17th and then double checked my OTD...

tiger Keeping everything crossed for you, and in beaky's absence, I'm wearing a leotard under my dress today

Good luck for today tiger - when will you know?

It's a horrible time, spare. Big hugs. I know what you mean about getting cross with oneself, too. on the one hand, hope is a positive thing, but on the other it's bloody tortuous. Fatalism is a bit deadly but self-protective. I just hope that my emotions (never that lively to be fair) come back to life after 3 years of hibernation.

beaky, wild what's new with you?

I dont' understand dogs barking but I"m pleased your pooch was just trying it on :)

Enjoying the cycling chat ladies. I did Ventoux on a hybrid a few years ago - nearly killed me as (I realised on the descent) my front wheel was slightly buckled. G-Dunk g-DUNK g-DUNK all the way down). Amazing experience though and I love cycling in France, people are so friendly. Even drivers will shout "allez, courage!" at you which makes a change from what I usually get in London ("fck you you fcking c*nt" yesterday morning, for outrageously cycling ON A ROAD).

It's the swimming which puts me off tris. I mean - Tatton. weedy & drowny. Ever tried Salford Quays northern berries? so nasty.

gil you never know, you might have a wonderful easy and dull pregnancy. I'd probably avoid the clips personally, but would still cycle otherwise - my body is so used to it, & I can't help thinking business as usual is the best course of action - physically speaking.

Very informative post from Barking on cycling and pregnancy. I'm particularly impressed by the in-depth knowledge of how motorists treat cyclists in various regions of France. Kudos to you Barking.

Gill - Shocked that you have chained your bike to the lawn mower like some kind of hostage. Starting a campaign for its (her?) release.

Tiger fingers crossed for good news later today.

Lucie I hope you are doing ok, the end is in sight. Do you have any IVF hypnotherapy downloads? That was the only thing which got me through the 2ww after our IUI last year. Might be worth a try.

Spare I can see why you might be tempted to follow the same steps which worked for you that time. God knows what works really! My FC will only transfer blastocysts - reasoning that many non-viable embies do make it to Day3 but by Day5 more non-viables have been weeded out. But then as we know plenty of women, including you, have had a BFP with earlier transfers. Maybe there is something in the thought that embies which would die in the lab will thrive inside you, or that the hormones line up better on different cycle days. In the end we are never really sure quite how all the different parts of the puzzle come together to make a life. Which is my long-winded way of saying: do what makes you feel better.

Nolly makes a good point about hope. Hope is such a bugger.

I woke up with a headache today, surely by day five of the detox I should be over all that? Boo. Having sorted through my wardrobe, I've now embarked on a clear out of books - so I'm detoxing all round. It's very cathartic. I think my life has been very much on hold with everything focused on the IVF and somehow having banked the embryos I feel I can finally put my energy elsewhere.

Update from the clinic - 2 top grade embryos, one just behind it also very good and another a bit behind. presumably one fertilised egg hasn't made it but I forgot to ask. They're confident of getting at least three to blastocyst so I'm provisionally booked in for Monday at 2.40pm. Relieved as I feel like I need those few days to properly recover from EC and practice the ET technique!

Love a good clear out wild! Hope the headaches abate.

Woo hoo Tiger, sounds like your embies are purring along nicely . This weekend will probably seem like the longest ever! Hope the soreness is wearing off. What is the ET technique? If you're up to it try and get some walking in over the weekend to get some good blood flow to the area. Also try to get out on Monday before transfer too. We want you in top notch condition!

Love a good clear out Wild - very therapeutic.

Impressive bike skills Nolly and kudos for doing Mt Ventoux.

Yay! That's great news on the little embies Tiger and thank goodness you have an extra few days to get over all the rummaging about they did during EC.

I've just done a massive post and then my stupid fingers accidentally refreshed the screen arghhhh.

Tiger fantastic news!

I'll be back later when I have time to retype the whole bloody message again as I'm in work!

ET technique is something that I got from Lucy at catching rainbows - basically relaxing all your abdominal muscles for the transfer. Thanks for the advice gill! Definitely planning on plenty of walking - the dog has been getting two good walks a day plus we're treating ourselves to some nice day trips - a castle and some shopping today and we'll probably head to the peaks on Sunday if the weather holds.

Am thinking about going away for 2 nights after ET - possibily a luxury shepherds hut on the gower. Fancy sea air and being alone with Mr T and Tdog. Do you think going away the day after is too ambitious? Will just be gentle walks and scrabble by candlelight so nothing too strenuous!!

Hi Tiger I think going away after ET is a great idea. ET is nothing like EC. Even if it's a bit nasty at the time, (only once in 3 attempts for me - think AliG got the wrong angle) there are no after effects. I was told to do normal things and just keep up the fluid intake.

Still trying to decide on May or June transfer for me. AF finally arrived today so I need to hurry up and decide.

Can't comment on all you keen cyclists. The idea of cycling in French or Italian countryside seems so romantic, but suspect the reality for me would be anything but! (Sweaty red-faced mess, pushing the bike as often as actually riding it )

Sound ideal Tiger - go for it! Best thing is to be relaxed and happy.

Go tiger!
I'm on my phone so can't post it, but all this talk of tiger cubs has reminded me of those pics of the tiger cub litter that had a surrogate mum lookin after them for a few weeks - a pig with a tiger print vest on so now I'm picturing the embryologist in Tiger print..!

My bike has a name - Bella - and we have some songs for difficult rides

Come on cubs! that is great, tiger! Really pleased for you and hope you feel the pressure is off a bit. I think a getting away break is a very good idea - anything to reduce anxiety and frankly help the time pass is got to be a good thing, right?

Inspired by clear out chat to spend the weekend unpacking boxes and throwing crap away - and my strawberries have just been delivered! SHould all help take my mind off Mr Nol's imminent departure on Sunday. Hope I don't bore you all with my self-pity next week ladies, my apologies in advance

Have a lovely bank hol all - over and out.