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.

happy
It never ceases to amaze me the different attitude they all have to lutal support. Yet they all have roughly similar success stats!
Are you taking the pred, or have you decided against it?

The difference in clinics continues to astound me, I was asking our nurse today about transfers under US and they don't advocate it.

Rain rain cat is pretty hope she settles in quickly

Scan was ok, 20 measurable follicles with 14 >14mm so we are on for EC on Friday with trigger shot tonight. I can't believe that this has come around so quickly!

I still don't understand how they can do a transfer without ultrasound. How can they see where it is going? Do they shine a torch up your foof or something??

Array iPad posted !

You are all right, the view that the general public have on adoption is a little on the rose tinted side and there are a lot of misconceptions. It is not an easy option by any stretch of the imagine and what it seems to come down to is "do I want a child by any means?" Children up for adoption are more than likely to be older and potentially have a number of siblings so it is difficult to find a singleton. I am pretty up for investigating it a little more but DH is very much of the no camp and actually used the phrase "why would I want to bring up someone else's child?" It stumped me slightly and we have not revisited that conversation again.

Spare glad that you have had a more productive day and that you have some plans.

Gill they don't see anything at all. Apparently they do a trial in theatre at EC but don't use USS at transfer as there is technically not much to see other than the end of the catheter. The nurse also said that it was also more uncomfortable as you had to have a full bladder. All that has happened in my transfers is the usual speculum, cleaning and then do their thing to get rid of the egg and fluid and then check the catheter in the embryologists suite.

Just found this in Wikipedia:

"There is good and consistent evidence of benefit in ultrasound guidance,[7] that is, making an abdominal ultrasound to ensure correct placement, which is 1–2 cm from the uterine fundus. There is evidence of a significant increase in clinical pregnancy using ultrasound guidance compared with only "clinical touch"."

Good work on the follies HB but an interesting response from your FC about using US.

It was a bit uncomfortable but it didn't last long and in my opinion not as uncomfortable as getting a scratch.

I get so confused by the conflicting messages from the FCs. It really makes you question if you are in the right place / getting the best care......?

Gill
Foof torch!
All of mine have been ultrasound guided, and while the probe is uncomfortable on a full bladder, they do seem to have a really good look at where it is going.
For my last one, they moved it slightly because my lining was thicker in one place than the other although it didn't do any good, clearly
Seeing it going in was a nice touch as well. We got a photo with the first one but not the second

Our embryos were aimed for a specific place on the screen, no idea why.

Having a nice couple of days away. Holidays are not quite the same without sex and booze though. It's all English Heritage and gentle walks. I feel like I'm I my 70s!

Spare yes I took the drugs even though the consultant wasn't bothered one way or the other.
Gill a foof torch is exactly what they use! Or more precisely a massive great lamp to light up your bits. I'm now wondering why I've had 2 different ET techniques at the same clinic. The mind boggles!

Oh yeah, I forgot about the light......

happy inconsistencies in the same clinic doesn't surprise me at all. I had ultrasound for the first iui but not for the second. I did have it for the ivf.
At the recurrent mc clinic one consultant told us that aspirin would be a good idea and the other told us it was thought to cause mc.

Just quicky dropping by to say im madly pompoming away for Tiger and Happy our PUPO berries and also pompoming for HB for EC on Friday! Sounds like a good selection of follies there

Sorry I haven't caught up properly, I will do shortly just work is mental and other family stuff going on I hope everyone is ok though!

I was wondering where our head cheerleader was? We miss your spangliness around HQ. hope the family stuff gets sorted without too much difficulty.

HB I got a similar response from MrSmidge, but that was before our 3 IVF fails so I wonder if the subject would yield a better discussion next time round. However, I'm not sure there's a huge point tbh given I haven't given up on the idea of having a brand new baby - and as we've all agreed, the chances of that via adoption are nigh on nil.

The Aussies are beginning to get excited about having a random entry into the Eurovision this year, so I've had some inspiration into spangly moves while clad in sequin coated Lycra... Come on you PUPOs (and soon-to-be PUPOs)

I think we might hold out til June for our dFET. No real reason but as Tiger said, maybe the fact I can't decide means we should hold off for another month. Sage advice

Been keeping up but no time for long replies, so a very quick one...

Spare I'm so sorry you've been through a rough patch. It's so true what the others have said; you've been through a heck of a lot recently and it's understandable that your emotions are all over the place. The hormones can act like an amplifier on your upset. Go easy on yourself.

Rain wow that scan has crept up on us, sounds like you are well on track for a good haul.

Hello to everyone else.

the berries must all be busy voting!

Gill how are you doing? Hoping things are going quickly for you.

Tiger happy how are you pupos? Any symptoms? When's otd?

Wild how are you feeling after detoxing? When will your frostie cycle be?

barking you've summed up adoption brilliantly there, that's partly why (for the moment) I'm out. Dh is totally open to it though!

Smidge are you doing a medicated FET next cycle then?

HB best of luck for EC tomorrow! Be sure to let us know how you get on!

Nolly how are you getting on with your swarthy builders?!! Any news about that interview?

Spare the flying off the handle is 100% understandable. Hope you're feeling ok at the min but do give yourself a break you've been through so much

I'm now on the waiting to see my area get their election results in first (hopefully!) eek! I'll put me spangly leotard on for a quick berry PUPO cheer and then an EC one for HB though

Just getting ready to head off. Thank you for the good luck....line up Barry White!

Good luck HB! Didn't realise you were on the early shift. So much better to get it out of the way though rather than hanging around. Let us know how you get on, will be thinking of you

Good luck hb!

Good luck HB!

Ladybros

Good luck for today HB. Reall

Thanks for all the support berries. I did indeed get myself in a massive load of wine and books - ta for recommendations tiger, yes it was me into Cazalets. Have you read any Jasper Fforde? Bit daft but good for people who read a lot. Mr Nol has disappeared (yes africa wild), but the good news is my swarthy army should be installing my shower tomorrow - at freaking last. Doing OK at the moment but I suspect it'll be crash and burn when May's AF turns up.

Kuma they're bloody everywhere, pg women. I hate those baby on board badges - sometimes there's no bump or anything and you just think - really? already?

How are the tigercubs? New forest is v nice, very good idea. All of our holidays make me feel about 60 - mainly because that's the average age wherever we go, for some reason.

Happy I missed your FET, hope it all went well. Pom Pom etc! Thank goodness haplet survived the thaw.

I'm not surprised you went nuts, spare. Mr Nol makes similar comments sometimes - and cold comfort can stab you right in the heart at bad moments. You've had a horrific year, and - speaking personally - I think it's so easy to think you're OK, functioning, etc - then something just pierces that silk-thin skin and it all comes out again.

gil how are you feeling - symptoms yet? How's the stress? I wasn't pg for very long but it was an unbelievable stressful experience while it lasted. You just have to think that every day massively raises your chance of holding your baby, and your feelings are totally normal.

Sorry about the surprise kids, barking. Owt wrong with preservation mode - doens't say anything about you other than you've had a shit time.

beaky are you going ahead next week then? So exciting. I did get the job, thanks for asking :) but I decided to turn it down as I knew I'd probably leave as soon as I could. So staying with me, my formal complaints and psycho boss for now. >50% turnover in my department now.

what a gorgeous cat rain. I am quite jelby. Are you fostering? I'm considering fostering a cat in the autumn (will sell to cat-phobic mr Nol as essential anti mice measure).

wild when's the day, do you know yet?

All this adoption chat is interesting. How is it possible that there is so much mis-information out there? (She says, in a country which has just elected Poached Buttock-face as PM for the second time)

waves to patch, lucieloos, Smidge (eurovision???? really??), bedhead, mminx and anyone else I've missed,....

Hmm meant to have ready "really hoping this is your time", HB

Good luck HB!

I've seen the FC today. Different doc to the last cycle, but she was really nice and had read through my entire history before I came in, and then asked to read the reports from the baby we lost, and gave me an arm squeeze after she'd read it.
I asked her if we could just defrost 2 of the 4 frosties, so we'd have 2 more chances and she said that should be fine, and she will recommend to the embryologist that they defrost one to start with, see how it goes for the first day and then only defrost the 2nd if it isn't developing properly. So tick for that.
I asked her about putting 2 back and she said she would advise against it. She doesn't think it would increase my chances of getting pregnant, just my chances of getting pregnant with twins, which is fair enough.
So back for another dildocam on Weds and assuming everything is developing at the same sort of rate as during the other FET cycles (and she pulled up all 3 graphs, and they were more or less identical in terms of lining thickness and follie size) then we'll be doing a transfer next weekend or Monday 18th. Yikes!