Assisted Conception (and the bits in between) Volume 5

[Bumpless]

Thought I'd set us up a new home! kettle's on and choc tin open.

This is a lucky start to our new thread: 2 BFPs and a fantastic fertilisation rate from Dueling!

Boobs and biscuits to everyone

Evening girls, have been catching up on you all....

KiwiKat How are you? You must be 10 weeks now, yeah? I would have loved to have met you for a caffiene-free tea and whinge but I am in Scotland. Hope those feet are up and you are being spoiled. x

DuellingFanjo You too - hope you are feeling good and positive in this 12-week, secrecy madness! x

Idream Hope you are doing ok love x

moomaker Any news on your appointment? Hope DP's job hunt is going well?

Gingerwine & Gleegeekgleek hope you are both well x

Cerubina Have you kept you acupuncture up?
I loved it when I went last year but it started to get too expensive and I had to give up but really enjoyed the calm "high" I got from it - like I could take on the world after a session. Thank you for your comments today - I have had several scans over the past 5 years - everyone of them was heartache and disappointment - I think that is why I cried like a baby today, as I was expecting Groundhog Day again. x

MercenaryMom How are your Australia plans coming along? My DH worked there for a summer and loved it - he would mind making the move there, Im the one holding him back!x

Italian Your Laura Inglis, pinny-wiping eye image was the only thing that has made me smile all week - I LOVED that programme and you made me think of it. I hope life is good for you and your DH x

Horton you hanging in there? Hope the next few days are filled with protein-eating, and your scan will be successfull. Thinking of you x

PenguinDreams Hope your scan goes well - are you on a particular protocol? I was on the flare protocol due to my elderly years. x

AmberC Thank you for your kind words last week about your sister - it helped a lot. 14lbs loss is fantastic - can I echo - what is your secret? Thinking of you Friday x

BabyBarrister Hope your special pills are working their magic? x

KC11 Hope you are relaxing and enjoying being a lady of leisure just now x

Angelberg Hope the 2ww is going well for you x

LeviStubbtears I stayed in bed for three days after ET - it helped that it was the Easter w/e. I had my laptop and the complete boxset of "Brothers & Sisters" with the odd trip to the loo and the fridge! I dodnt know if there is an unwritten rule or not but I was determined to do the best for the precious cargo on board. Wishing you all the best x

Poppy75 I have only went through IVF so dont know anything else but I do know that I have learned more from the fantastic girls on this thread than I would have every read. wishing you well x

Phew! I hope I havent left anyone out. Apologies for my "pity" posts this week, I had been so worried and as I have said before I am not out of the woods yet but I appreiate all your support given - you are the best xxxx

Scan good this morning - follicles still slowly growing. I'm scheduled for possible egg collection on Monday. Lots of growing vibes from you lovely ladies, please!

Horton - thats brilliant news - all good things come to those who wait...

Fantastic, Horton - really glad to hear it. I was despairing at one point and it all came good (well, thus far, anyway) in the end. Good luck with the procedure. I have to confess that I went for a general anaesthetic, which was fairly pathetic of me, but I've got quite a bit of stress at the moment in other ways and just didn't want this to be any more of an ordeal than it had to be. I don't know if that's an option for you? I'm sure most people don't, though, and are fine with local. So couldn't tell you what it entails. I didn't have any pain afterwards, and didn't bleed (though I think there is usually a little bit of blood afterwards - nothing much). I did feel a bit ropey the day after the operation, after-effects of the general I think, so at least you almost certainly won't have that!

Penfolds - I haven't been able to stay in bed, quite (though the idea is very tempting!) but have been sitting down almost all of today (apart from voting!), albeit working, and stayed at home. Hope that's enough. (V. exciting about your scan BTW - hope you're feeling more relaxed about things!)

Hope everyone else is ok with their various situations. I didn't find the whole IVF thing too bad at all, poppy, apart from one day of bad headache, and a little hiccup with the follicle-growing. But they can do a lot about that, as hopefully horton and I are proof of. But not as bad as I'd thought. Really sorry to hear your news, Idream - glad you've managed to distract yourself a bit and are doing ok (sounds like you're doing just the right thing).

Feeling very peculiar, I have to say - in part because I haven't slept properly in weeks, but also possibly the progesterone - very emotional and bloated and uncomfortable stomach - anyone had similar with progesterone gel? Can't believe this is the bit I seem to be getting side-effects from. NOT that I'm complaining (well, not justifiably, anyway!). Can't believe this is day 1 of the 2WW though - how does one get through it?!

Gosh, it is quiet on here today - maybe everyone is glued to the Election...

Levi sitting down is good. After ET the nurse said to me no high impact aerobics or spin classes which made me laugh as I would be the worst looking advert for any gym!!! think she was just being nice and saying clinic policy. Thank you about scan comments,not relaxed but eternally hopeful.

x

Cerabina thanks for your wonderful kind words. You are so right. It is a massive shift, I did have another bit f a meltdown when DH and I argued but I also think it is hormonal, period of its way!

I went to see counsellor at work, she comes in voluntarily, and she was brilliant. I do feel so much better.

Thanks Levistubstears for your lovely words.

Thanks *Horton too.

You are such a kind bunch.

I am struggling to keep up with all your news as I am trying to write some articles and apply for a job plus pack for a weekend away and...Oh yes, get some sleep. So I will just say you are all in my thoughts, and prayers, Lord, let them all have babies, that is what I am praying!

Choco thinking of you my lovely, how goes the job hunt, this is only the start of the baby hunt, don't give up.

Penfold thinking of you and wishing you well.

all lovely truckers from Slough called Dave, I think you are great!

Nighty-nighty, Italian

Hello, I have been lurking on this thread for a while and also on the over 40's TTC thread. Finding it difficult to keep up with everyones news as Im at work (open plan) and its hard to spend much time on MN.
Anyway firstly wanted to offer my condolences and support to all those people who have just MC'd or had the BFN and/or are experiencing sadness in some way or another and huge congratulations to anyone who is currently pregnant.
My husband (just turned 40) and myself (the older woman just turned 44) have twin boys (4 years at the end of May) who were conceived via ICSI due to male fertility problems.
I long for another child (husband not so keen especially if it means fertility treatment again) almost as much now as I did before falling pregnant with the boys.
Although we are hoping for a miracle conception (2 x further attempts at IVF since boys have failed) we (or should I say I) are also thinking about egg/embryo donation and more likely adoption. From what I understand (correct me if Im wrong for those that know) if you already have children (natural or adoptive) then I believe we would only be able to adopt a younger child and that child would have to be atleast 2 years younger. I also understand that the availability (so to speak) or adoptive children 2 years old and younger is very scarce so Im not sure whether we should wait or try starting the adoptive process to see whether we might be approved atleast for adoption. What is the policy re age of prospective parents do you know and also would it count against us that we alraedy have two children?

AmberC How did today go for you?

waves to everyone else...

Yet another scan this morning. Apparently my womb lining is 'beautiful' and my blood test results 'perfect'. I am bizarrely pleased with this. I'll take my compliments where I can get them!

I take my HCG shot tomorrow evening at 10pm and am scheduled for egg collection on Monday morning. Wish me luck!

holeymoley, I don't really know a lot about adoption. There is a whole board here devoted to it, if you haven't already found it.

Horton that is brilliant news - it all came good in the end! I remember taking my HCG shot on the Tuesday night - it felt like I could do no more, I had gave it my best shot and it was all down to the medical professionals and fate/luck.

Lightning post just to say good luck Horton!! Great news about the womb lining! I know exactly what you mean about being pleased - you do feel a little bit like you're being tested at every stage, in more than one sense of the word, even though it's not really like that at all.

Glad you're feeling a bit better, Italian, it must be a very tough phase. Keep your pecker up, as my mum always says (trying to pretend she's a cockney, I suspect!).

I also don't know much (anything, really) about adoption, but very best of luck with whatever you decide, holeymoley - sounds like a tough one.

I'm feeling miraculously better this evening - much more myself and human (am hoping v. much this isn't some sort of sign that it's the end of the 'pregnancy', i.e. sudden reduction of hormones or something? - am choosing not to put that interpretation on it, anyway!). Feel a bit more able to cope, whatever happens, anyway.

Waves to everyone.

Is it odd that I feel bereft at the thought that I have no injections to take on Sunday? It seems all wrong somehow! Am quite pleased that things are looking good, though. I was told we have a good chance of up to 8 eggs which is pretty good as this was mild stim and no down-regging and they expect 2-7 eggs. Feel quite positive now, after feeling so down just recently. At least things now appear to be working as they should!

DD came with me to the scan and she's been so brilliant at them all (I've had to take her to five of the six since treatment began) and sat so quietly and not talked when I had to talk to the doctors that I took her to John Lewis and bought her a scooter afterwards. She can't steer it at all and will only go at the pace of a very slow snail. I have made a rod for my own back as I then had to spend the whole journey home leaning over holding the handlebars and pushing her along. I can see myself regretting this...

Idream I am so sorry to hear that you got a BFN. I hope you are ok and taking care of yourself.

PenfoldsGlasses Yay for the heartbeat. I see people all the time about how they heard the heartbeat, we weren't given this opportunity but just saw a flickering on the screen.

I am coping ok with the secrecy, though to be honest so many of my family and friends already know because they knew I was having IVF. Only one person knows in work, though someone did ask me outright if I was pregnant the other day - he knows I have been trying a while. I have my work appraisal on Monday and wondered about blurting out that I am pregnant if it goes badly but really I want to wait.

Horton - good luck

hello ladies, I haven't been on here in AGES. For that I am really sorry, but went back to work in March and life has been full on hectic;.
LondonLottie, Italian how are you?

Bumpless hope you are ok my sweetie? congrats on mojangles hope you keeping ok.

We are all doing fine here. Scarlett turned 3 last weekend and I can't believe it! - Louis is 8 months and started crawling and has 3 teeth and as much as I wanted him to stay an ickle baby he has no intention of doing so.

For those of you that dont know, both my babies are from Donor Eggs, same donor.

Trouble is I am not starting to get VERY broody. Haven;'t yet remortgaged the house to consider another go.
I hate being back at work, but not a lot i can do about it.

hope everyone is ok, sending lots and lots of hugs xxx

Ooooh Horton good luck for tomorrow!!

Had IUI yesterday which was more bizarre than IVF for me. Strange how I am doing things backwards - start with the most invasive and then go backwards! It went 'well' says the nurse and we had a 'good' sample from DP says the embryologist. Now on the 2WW AGAIN!!!! It was all very surreal. They leave you in a dark room for 10 minutes with your legs in the air. I got awful cramping afterwards. Feel fine now so we'll have to wait and see.

The diet has not gone well for the last three weeks although I haven't put on anything just stayed the same. No motivation!! Maybe if the sun shines that'll help. No secret - just weightwatchers!

Anyway hi to all and look forward to hearing the news tomorrow. x

Not yesterday - Friday - silly me!

By the way - anyone got any good tips for killing ants in the garden?

Good luck Amber lots of baby dust to you for your 2ww.

Glad everything is going to plan so far Horton, I'm following you Levi closely as I think you are about four weeks ahead of me! Glad the sniffing and injecting didn't seem too bad for you both I just really want to get on with it all now!! I have a week at work and then a week off for a nice break with DH before the rest of the treatment starts. What have you decided if you have more than one egg, would you go for two?

Holey Welcome to the thread, I don't know anything about adoption but I am sure someone on the thread will do.

Penfold I know what you mean about the scan, I think that if it ever gets to the point when I need another scan I will be so worried as the last time I had it when I MC'd I also had bad times. I bled lots at the time of the scan and it all went on the bed (sorry if TMI) so I had such a negative experience. I also had to then wait in a waiting room with everyone else with bumps or scan pictures! Not a good time! So I am glad that my treatment is at a new clinic so I don't have to go back to the same place. I am feeling really positive about this treatment so hopefully it will go well!

Hi all! Have been off the thread for a bit and sooooo much to catch up on! Apologies if my brain isn't strong enough on a Sunday evening to do a full rundown, but a few mentions...

Idream I'm so sorry.

Horton and Amber good luck!

Penfolds so glad you saw and heard the heartbeat.

Cerubina I'm with you on the bored with waiting thing... this assisted TTC thing is so boring really!

Italian I'm glad you've stuck around. And don't be hard on yourself for feeling sad - it would be more shocking if after everything you've gone through you could just carry on as before. This is a tough process - be kind to yourself.

And welcome to the new joiners and the returnees.

As for me, I'm not finished with work yet - I've resigned but have a 3 month notice period, so I'm not a lady of leisure until the end of July. . Had my coordination meeting on Friday and AF started today, so the countdown has begun at last! Heading to Oz for an initial recce in a week's time and start down-regging when I get back. DH will be staying in Brisbane to start his new job, so I'll be going this cycle alone, with DH glamourously flying in at the end for EC and ET. He says it will be better this way since I get very moody on the drugs .

Waves and chocolate to all!

Horton Hi, how are you doing?

Frosticle any news?

Chocobunny Thinking of you. Are you going on for another cycle or taking time out? What happened about the job? I am applying for two new roles this week.

Mojangles Thinking of you.

Penfoldglasses so glad that it is going well.

Cerabina thinking of you, what are you doing?

Amberc what?s happening with the diet, you said not going well. Sorry to hear about that.

Kiwi How?s it going?

Londonlottie How?s it going?

Flibbertygibbet Nice to hear from you again.

Well, me, up and down, back and forth like a dunny door in a gale! I have found it hard and easy in equal measure. Went for a walk today and the laurel bushes were in blossom, I picked some blossom and thought of my embies (I named Emerald and Laurel). Maybe naming them is not such a good idea! Anyway, I am afraid my diet has gone out the window, which is annoying as I will need to lose weight to adopt. Thinking maybe some miracle will happen naturally after all these years, who knows! It is a good idea for the adoption services to make us wait six months as I think it does take that kind of time for it all to sink in. To compliment this my periods have gone BALISTIC and I am moody as can be, so I am now taking Evening Primrose Oil tablets to ensure DH and I can stay friends!

Love to all, any prayers out there, shoot up an arrow prayer for me and DH, I am not being very nice to him when moody, and a miracle surprise in 9 months would not go a miss!

Levistubbstears welcome, nice to see you, all the best on the two week wait.

Holeymoley Hi I?ve spoken to you on the adoption thread, all the best.

Just a quickie in reply to poppy - I had two embryos put in (think I might have said that in an earlier post) - to be honest it was a bit of a shock as my clinic had pushed the 'single embryo transfer' policy so hard. But I think I'd signed something saying I would leave it up to the embryologist whether it would be one or two, as I'm on a borderline in terms of age (38) after which they will put two in.

I'm almost wondering about the wisdom of two - waking up at night in slight panic at the idea of twins (I should be so lucky, I know) - but they did some sort of calculation based on my age and the quality of the embryos and that was what they decided had the best chance of success so was happy to go with that.

Hi all, just a quick one to update.

I got 9 eggs! Really pleased after all that fuss with my ovaries not responding.

If we are lucky enough to get two embryos of decent quality, we will go for putting two back in. I would actually be allowed three, given my age, but I have decided that triplets would be worse than no more children (and not at all fair on my three year old).

Wow Horton that's amazing! Do you get to find out tomorrow? You might even get some for freezing.

MM - good to hear from you - seems like your whole life is changing. After the shag of your DH flying all the way across the earth to create them I hope your embryos appreciate the effort!!

Italian, My periods went mad too but have calmed a little now. You should also take B vitamin complex - that will help with mood swings. Hope everything settles down.

As for the diet well I went to weightwatchers today expecting to be shame faced but actually have lost another 4 lbs so 18 lbs in total yay!

Hi to everyone else and look forward to some god news soon.

PS- who is on the 2ww at the mo and when are we expecting results? Mine is e week saturday (so two saturdays time).

Yay Horton! Brilliant news, I'm so pleased you got such a good haul. Fingers crossed for a good fertilisation rate overnight x