Assisted conception (and the bits in between!) - part 4 - all welcome

[mummycat1]

Starting new thread with massive congratulations to Nanoo I reckon the old man can wait till he gets home! But of course - it's up to you really xxx

Hi MercenaryMom snap! I officially POAS on Thursday, and same as you no symptoms or sign of period starting. Are you tempted to test early?

Alfiemac one place it would be very much worth checking out is Create Health, in West London (and a smaller clinic in Harley Street). Dr Geeta Nargund is the lead consultant and a real pioneer of treating us older gals. I went to her last autumn, after our third ICSI crashed and burned, and wished I?d found her before! She does a really thorough scan of your uterus and ovaries as well as all the usual blood tests, and will do natural or low med cycles if you?re not going to be a good responder on a high drug cycle. She?ll definitely give you honest advice, based on examining you rather than on general averages for our age ? she was the person who finally told me it wasn?t worth stimulating my ovaries and helped me make the massive decision to go for donor eggs, when everyone else had I had a really low chance but it might work and it was up to me. Having said that, I think a lot of places now will take you as long as you meet their hormone guidelines. Have you had any FSH or AMH tests done?

Hi Amberc ? I remember you from last year. Welcome back and chin up! I know it?s disappointing to get a low number of follies. But as long as those two have lovely healthy eggs you?re still in business. And bear in mind that lots of places are now moving to lower doses to get smaller numbers of better quality eggs.

Loads going on this week! Good luck Rosie and MM for your testing days! And sticky, dividing, snuggling vibes to Isle for tomorrow. I completely get that you can?t get too excited about this, given how beaten up you got before Xmas after your fantastic-looking fresh cycle. I?ll get a little bit excited for you

Just popping on for very quick hello before I turn the light out - and what good news from Cerubina! Yay! And thanks everyone for all the support and calm advice during my stressful moments. I've said it before, but it bears repeating - you're a lovely bunch!

Thanks Islegrin i am doing very well, and am watching you all very closely indeed! it really is very exciting at the moment. you seldom get so many on the 2ww together and those doing ETs so soon! There are so many people on here that i cant comment too personally as there isnt enough space! Good luck tomorrow, that is a cliche, but i understand that you are taking it one day at a time, and not getting too excited. only too many of us can relate to that. fingers crossed for you all! x

Good luck today Islegrin! Come and join me in the crazy-symptom-spotting-oh-I-just-felt-a-twinge-what-could-that-be-must-know-outcome-NOW boat!

Amberc welcome back! How far into the stims are you? If it was your first scan yesterday you have loads of time for more to catch up. And, as everyone was reminding me last week, it is quality not quantity - and it only takes one!

Good luck testing RosieBeagle and MM - am amazed at your willpower holding off so far! It must be a good sign if neither has your period - I assume like me your OTD is waaay beyond your usual luteal phase so that's got to be encouraging.

I have turned, despite my best intentions, into crazy woman. I feel a lot more nauseous today than I have previously, although I've had nausea ever since starting the progesterone. My H is ill, so I've obviously got the same thing...or, maybe, perhaps - and so begins another hour of consulting Dr Google!

I'm normally pretty level headed and just seem to have lost it since Sat when they went back in - keep thinking how well they managed to do without me and how crap it would be if they go back in and I can't keep them alive. I know I know, absolute rubbish etc etc. Still, nice to offload here so I don't have to scare my H too much!

Hello to everyone else!

Quality not quanitity - got to remember that! I just have a horrible feeling that I won't get any eggs out of my two litte follciles. We'll see. Fingers crossed. I have been stimming for 6 days now so not long. Got 7 days more supply and they said I probably wouldn't need any more. Gosh there is a lot going on on the thread. I hope everyone on the 2ww gets their dream. Would be great to see some postive stories!

Penguin what is it that is making you nauseous? The progesterone?

I have been wondering where Caitni is lately? if you are out there, give us an update, it must be nearly D-day?

Hi everyone
Been following you all but not posting, it all moves so quickly these days - these are exciting times and Im keeping my fingers firmly crossed for those of you on 2WW and sending best of luck for those about to go through EC and ET.

Alfiemac I 2nd bumpless about Geeta Nargund, I was nearly 42 when I did ICSI at her clinic and she is excellent and definately tells you straight, no messing. At my consultation after our treatment (unsuccessful unfortunately) she told me there was a small chance 5%.. we could get pg naturally and I am convinced that this comment helped me to get a surprise bfp between rounds of IVF!

Cerubina Im so happy for you. Keeping everything crossed for your little bean.

Ailz hope you are ok? How are things going?

Islegrin Im rooting for your frosties

Finally at 18 weeks sickness has gone (most of the time) still cant really believe this is happening.

Hi there

Amberc you never know, there may be more follies to develop over the next few days. I think Penguin had only two at the same stage, correct me if I'm wrong, and ended up with six for collection so things can change. But if not then let's hope both contain nice strong eggs that will be all the chance you need.

Best of luck to MM and Rosie! So close to finding out, I hope you can stand the wait of the last few hours. Hope it is the good news we all want.

Penguin I hope the next week and a bit flies by for you...must be so hard to ignore it and not analyse every single twinge. Good luck to isle joining in the torture from today. Hope all went smoothly with the popsicles.

bluebell6, and everyone, thanks for your congrats. I haven't re-tested since Monday night but think I might do tonight! We are trying to decide whether to tell parents and close friends - they all helped us a lot when we lost our baby so maybe we should share the joy ASAP even if it feels like jumping the gun. Dunno.

Here's a medical ethics dilemma for you. Do I tell Guy's that this has happened? I am pretty sure they don't know precisely when to expect a call from me to get started, but if they don't get one within a couple of weeks they're probably going to chase aren't they? I just want to hedge my bets in case this does go wrong, as I don't know whether they'd chuck us off the list for treatment if we conceived without it - albeit that it took us 12 long months! Has anyone got any knowledge in this area, or if not then an opinion on whether I ought to fess up and tell them what's happening? I sort of feel that I should. Thanks for any sensible thoughts you can interject!

Penguin I'm not looking forward to tww madness, but it's a part of the process and to get to the other side, it must be done - so I will gladly jump in that boat and be mighty glad for your company!!! I've just got a couple hours now and I'm v excited! It's been since November since the last FET, so I've been waiting a while and the excitement is bubbling up to the surface!

Bluebell! Great to see you too! and I'm so glad you are chugging along and finally getting over some of the sickness. I can imagine still being in disbelief - I know I would be in that boat too.

Cerubina I would wait a little while and see how things go. Have you had other BFPs?

Ailz thanks for the well wishes! I haven't seen Caitni around here in a while, perhaps she's hanging out mostly in the ante-natal threads. LondonLottie has her hands full these days but still stops by occasionally. It's good when the grads come visit those of us still "studying".

Cerubina, I thought about this scenario too! My understanding was that you don't get your NHS cycle if you've had a child, but you still get it if you conceive naturally and miscarry. I decided I wouldn't tell the ACU until I'd passed 13 weeks and felt a bit safer - obviously if I then went on to have a child I wouldn't have cared about the NHS cycle anyway! I thought that was a sensible middle ground.

I doubt very much they'll chase you - we didn't call to start treatment for 3-4 months after our initial appointment and they didn't chase us. They have hundreds of people passing through the doors!

(And btw, no, wasn't me with 2 follicles on the scans - I always had loads, which was why I was so surprised by the haul of 6)

Hope your test tonight gives a nice strong line!

Cross posted Islegrin - yeah, come and join me! There's plenty of room for the crazy and unbalanced!

GOOD LUCK today - pregnant until proven otherwise from tonight!

MM, Rosie - good luck for testing can't wait to hear the results
Islegrin - hope it all went OK, good luck for the long wait!

Hi Ladies,

Islegrin hope your FET transfer went well today - I've got my fingers crossed for Larry, Mo & Curly. I've just been down to M&S to get us a big box of belgian choc biscuits, so dive in!

Duelingfanjo how did you enjoy your acupuncture? Was it your first time? (could make a joke about being a virgin and pricks etc, but I'm far too grown up for that!) Did you look into that book? I've read it now (it's only short!) and I think it's pretty good - it's all about coping with the emotional side of IVF, something that La West et al don't do enough of. It's called "Nurturing Yourself Through IVF" by Lynn Daley for any of you other girls who fancy it (I got it on Amazon).

Cerubina - congratulations! Where I am (Calderdale), you only "lose" your free NHS cycle if you have a live birth.

Thought I would add myself to the roll call:

Bumpless, age 42, ttc #1, 3 failed IVF in London, DE cycle in Greece Feb/March

DuelingFanjo, age 39 (just!), ttc #1, 6 months Clomid. MC June 2009, IVF to come in March

Italiangreyhound, age 44, ttc #2, MC 2006, several failed IUIs + 1 abandoned IVF, IVF with DE in UK

Islegrin, age 38 (just!), ttc #1, ectopic May '05, 5-IUI 1-IVF and 1-FET, 2nd FET on Feb 10, 2010

Cerubina, age 37, ttc #1, MMC Feb 2009, male and female factors in struggles to conceive, hoping to start ICSI cycle in a week or so.

Penguindreams, age 36 (about to turn 37), ttc #1 since Oct 07, never had a BFP (probable male factor), 2 x blasts transferred 6/2 and on the dreaded 2ww!

babybarrister 40 - DS 3, 1st IVF about to start in March, generally all "suboptimal" apparently ie they have no idea I suspect!

RosieBeagle, age 31 ttc #1 since Aug 06, 4 rounds of clomid, currently in 2ww of first of 2 available cycles also have 1 frostie

Kiwikat, age 44, ds aged 3.7, ttc#2. failed clomid, on microgynon, about to start cetrotide, first scan 17 Feb. No idea what we're doing!

Alfiemac - age 43. twin s's (3.8) - ICSI 3 x further attempts at IVF (fresh and FET)now ttc#3

tattycoram - age 38 - DS 3. Trying to decide where to have ICSI

Riggly - age 29, ttc #1 for 2yrs, male factors identified, waiting to start 1st ICSI cycle.

MercenaryMom - age 38, DD (1.9)(concieved by ICSI) and ttc#2. Just finished FET at the Hammersmith and middle of the dreaded 2ww!

Idreaminchocolate - age 32, ttc #1 since oct '07, male factors identified & PCOS (me, not him!), due to start 1st ever round of ICSI (short protocol) in March

Rosie - our wait is almost done! Keeping my fingers crossed for both of us tomorrow!

And for those of you who think I'm strong for waiting... I actually cracked very early on and took a test less than a week after the transfer! (well, I was going a little crazy and I swear Mr Google encouraged me). It was, predictably, a BFN, which the rational part of my brain knew meant nothing apart from the fact I'd taken a test way too early but the emotional part got very disappointed and upset. So I've tried to resist the temptation to POAS since then...

Islegrin - I'm wishing you sticky embryos!

Penguin - I'm wishing you early onset morning sickness (now how often do you wish someone that?!)

And top quality chocolate biscuits for everyone else!

Penguindreams those embies need you; they can?t do it without you so don?t feel negative about yourself at all. Whatever happens you have done your best. All best of luck for this week.

Rosie and MM Good luck for this week.

Islegrin Thinking of you. It started snowing in UK again today, maybe a good sign for your frosties!

bluebell6 Good to hear your news, glad the sickness has gone.

Cerubina Great news that all well so far. Very positive. Of course totally your call but if it were me I would not tell clinic yet, would see what is happening, wait until they chase you, if they do. I don?t think they will. Agree with Penguindreams about that.

However, I would tell close family, it will hopefully all be fine but if not then you may want their support etc. I hope I am not being too up front about it. I had a miscarriage a few years back and I really found it helpful to talk to people but as mine was so early not many people knew! Anyway, just my opinion.

We are getting checked to see if we have down-regged. We are ahead of the donor and the other recipient so we will have to stay here spinning our wheels for a bit. Which is annoying as the injections are hurting a bit but it is all worth it.

Waves to all.

MercenaryMom

Sorry cross-posted there, hope it will all go well when you poas for real!!

Aloha all!

Things went well today, in fact the embys were better than expected (someone must have thawed the wrong tube last time!) because we were expecting the 8,7 and 5 cell embys and we got all three embys at 8 cells!!! What a great surprise. That prolly increases our chances a bit. (fingers crossed) They thawed extremely well, no loss of cells or quality. We got to watch a looping ultrasound video of the moment they were implanted, and got to spend a little snuggle time in the 10 min of waiting. (cue romantic music) I got home and crashed for a four hour nap.

Question - why are the docs so concerned about the precise location of placement of embys? Don't they just float around once they are in the ute anyway? Also why do they want us to rest for a day or two(ie lie down instead of walking around shopping or working? - btw, I'm going back to work tomorrow, sorry!) Does it really jiggle them around? or is it so they have a good chance of implanting exactly were the doc put them? I'm wondering...

ItalianGrey I empathize with the needle poking getting annoying and the other frustrating bit is that you have to circle the airport waiting for clearance to land!!! After all of the prep, you just want to do the deed! However, it's so nice that you are all prepped and ready to go, you are right on track and sometimes mother nature takes her time, it won't be long now. Hang in there.

Mercenary Well, I guess I'll join you and Penguin now on the tww. But seems like you'll probably be the next to test? I'd like to hit a world record of BFP in succession, please!

Just wanted to say well done to Isle on your 3 lovely embies - fingers crossed those three little ones get comfy for a 9 month stretch ! I've no idea about the placement, but perhaps it has something to do with trying to make sure the placenta(s) develop optimally to try and minimise the risk of things like placenta praevia...

I'll be keeping an eye on the thread as much as I can and am hoping for lots of lovely BFPs for you lovely ladies over the coming days and weeks.

I'm now on maternity leave - due in less than 3 weeks - so finally have a bit more time for MNing.

Morning Ladies
Well i can not beleive it i got my BFP at 6am this morning!!! Can not take it all in which is stupid as thought of nothing else for what seems like forever! I kind of always had it in the back of my mind that it just wouldnt work to cushion myself for the potential blow (especially as only had the one follicle at my scan which then increased to 4 luckily at EC).
Never been in this place before so don't know what to expect just hoping and praying that it all works out ok. I have to go back to the clinic later today as I said I would take part in a trial for staying on the cyclogest another 8 weeks.
Hope everythig ok with MM and good luck to everyone else and as Caitni and Isle says hopefully be the start of lots more BFP'S to come xxx
PS Isle I stayed off work the day after ET then it was the weekend, but the clinic told me there was no need to stay off just so long as you dont go lifting stuff etc etc Fingers crossed everyone and for now we are over the moon and hopefully the next few months will be trouble free

Hooray Islegrin and glad it all went well. 3 8 cells sounds really good news. Tested yet?

Rosiebeagle and MM, what news??!! Don't you realise we're all waiting here?!

Caitni, enjoy the maternity leave - last 3 weeks of relaxation for, ooh, about 18 years!

IG, thank you for your comments. I know I'm being irrational, which is irritating me. I suppose there's a part of me that wonders, if we can't manage it with 2 'perfect' blasts, what chance is there, but I know it doesn't work like that.

Still nauseous over here - it stopped briefly yesterday evening, which makes me think it's entirely the progesterone wearing off slowly during the day.

How much progesterone has anyone been on? Islegrin I know you'l be dosed up to the eyeballs in the US! I'm on a cyclogest pessary morning and night, but (despite) the nausea) am wondering whether it's enough support - I remember LL saying she was on 3 a day. One more thing to worry about!

Waves to everyone!

Cross post - hooray RosieBeagle! What lovely news. Hopefully you and Cerubina have started a really nice run of BFPs!

Thanks Penguin Am sending out positive vibes to you and everyone else on the dreaded 2ww. In answer to your question I am on progersterone twice a day morning and night. Don't particularly enjoy it but if staying on it for another 8 weeks helps the clinic find out if its beneficial I will do all I can. Am so grateful for them getting us this far, they have been brilliant, and leagues ahead of our local hospital (who I will be discharged to hopefully in few weeks) !

islegrin hope your 3 little ones are making themselves comfortable.

Penguindreams i was on 2 cyclogest, one in morning, one in evening, plus baby aspirin to keep blood flow thin.

Rosiebeagle so happy for you.

going to be lurking big time over next few days hoping for more bfp news

RosieBeagle YAAAAAAAAAAAAYYY!

wave to everyone else and thinkingnof those about to test or on the 2WW.

Acupuncture was ok, only a consultation and two needles. I have a sluggish metabolism, 'dampness' and bad blood circulation apparently.