Assisted Conception (and the bits in between) Volume 5

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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

MM enjoy your films and stay away from those vodka shots.

Good luck to all and hi to RosieBeagle

MM, when is your test date again? Well done trying to stay zen - enjoy True Blood!

Hi RosieBeagle, how far along are you now? All going well?

I finally got a hold of Guy's last night. I was meant to have a scan this week to see if things looked as they should, and the blood tests 2 days apart to check levels doubling. However there's no 'no point', so they've just booked me in for a scan on the 22nd. I was livid - but my room mate at work was in the room with his ears on elastic, so I was having to stick to yes/no rather than have the wail I wanted!

Hope everyone's coping ok with the heat!

Cor, Penguin I can imagine how frustrated you feel. The 22nd will come around pretty quickly for most of us (my dreaded birthday on the 20th is galloping towards us!) but for you it will crawl. By then you should be about 7 weeks, is that right? Maybe you should follow MM's lead and buy a shedload of DVDs to try and keep your mind occupied.

Hi Rosie, let us know how you're getting on won't you - we like to hear what things are like on the other side!

KC11, definitely don't feel envious of miscarriages. They aren't a step on the road to having a baby, they're a dead end turning off that road lined with tumbleweed. When you have one you have to go back to the start of the journey with no knowledge of whether that place is going to be your final destination time and again, or whether you might one day get all the way. Being robbed of the faith that a positive pregnancy test will produce a live baby in 9 months time is a lesser talked-about consequence of m/cs and for me it is one of the worst bits. As MM says, you definitely want a baby and only good things.

BB congrats on the two blasts and fingers crossed for that positive result in 10 days' time. How are you feeling? Are you swathed in orange or enjoying an espresso martini?

Horton your holiday sounds fabulous. Enjoy! Hope the good weather stays for you.

Hi Lissy, your nephew sounds gorgeous - you will probably have a hard time leaving him behind! Hope you are continuing to feel better after your op.

Italian I know we are coming in halfway through another conversation but I have to say I think any sexual scenario can only be improved by the absence of a slanket. I think they should be licensed as a form of contraception - the very antithesis of alluring. Please tell me you don't normally wear one!

Good luck for Sunday MM, will have fingers crossed. My acupuncturist has said the same thing about not exercising during the cycle - my husband scoffed at the idea but to be fair the nurse at the clinic also said not to exercise while stimming so it might be legit.

I've done 4 days of jury service and so far it's really frustrating! We keep getting brought into court, hear a bit of evidence and then are told to leave again while they deal with a point of law, or photocopy some pages for us... We haven't done an hour in one go yet, and it feels as though we are in real danger of the case overrunning. To our barristers out there ... BB and Kiwi (I think) - when they say the case will take 3 weeks, are they allowing for a lot of faffing around or is it 3 weeks solid? We've lost so many days already that if it's 3 weeks solid we are definitely not going to finish on time!

And one of my co-jurors seems to think she knows everything about the legal system despite being on income support - she's winding me up. Watching Judge John Deed doesn't make you an expert, love! So I would like to crack on with it really - maybe today will be the breakthrough.

Sniffing is going well so far, I haven't had any side effects at all but I suppose they may develop as we go on?

Looking forward to the weekend - we are having lunch and several hours of karaoke with friends tomorrow! It also looks like being a very hot day down in London so that should be lovely if we can get out in the garden or go for a walk or something.

Have a good weekend everyone, especially MM!

Cerubina, BB and I are the barristers around here - don't think Kiwi is.

I don't do criminal law, but assuming they run in the same way as civil trials, the time estimate includes all the anticipated faffing about, plus a little time factored in for overrunning, so you should still be ok! How irritating though - hope they start speeding things up.

Loving your Judge John Deed companion! Personally I learned most of what I know from the Rumpole books!

Good luck MM!

Thanks Penguin. We were actually sent home at midday today without even a minute spent in court! Goodness knows what's going on, but they have said they will ring us later to know when to go in on Monday...I have a feeling something significant is happening behind the scenes.

Just been to eat my lunch in the park - scorchio or what. I have to say it's nice doing it at this time of year with this weather...

Hello everyone! First a big congrats to Penguin!!! BFP fantastic news! My clinic hasn't done any bloods either and I am (hopefully) 6 weeks, I have my scan on Tuesday and keep thinking may be my body is making it all up! Although are really sore and I look like everyone else does at 4 months! If I keep on growing (or bloating) at this rate I am sure that people around me are going to guess.

Cerubina I think time on jury service might be good as you are completely away from work and if you have a stressful job it may be having an effect! You know us ttc'ers always looking for a sign or change that might help

BB fingers crossed for the two blasts, know what you mean about not having the second option of frozen embies I was quite upset when ours weren't good enough to freeze, but the fact that the two got to blast stage must mean they are good ones !!!

MM I wasn't really that good on my 2ww, but I just didn't drink or do any running. Try to do some nice things, it is so hard waiting - good luck

Italian it must be so hard making that decision, it just sucks that we all have to think about things so much and all these other people don't even have to make these choices. Not to mention the pressure it puts on relationships, I guess you will just have to take time with your decision and hope DH is supportive whatever it is - big hugs

Hello Ladies

Hope you don't mind me joining? I've been lurking for a while but didn't feel i could join as hadn't started any treatment.
Well this month i started iui, i'm on clomid and injections, had my first injection on Wed cd6 which the nurse did but now i'm to do them on my own, did the 2nd one today which was a bit daunting but think i did it ok, the only thing that worried my was the bubble in the srynge, does it matter that there was a bubble? Sorry if thats a stupid quetion.
We have been ttc for nearly 2 years, this will be the 23rd month the doctors cannot find anything wrong with myself or dp which is a bit frustrating so we have 3 goes at iui and then on to IVF.

Just wanted to say congratulations to the ladies who have had a bfp and sorry to the ladies are still trying to get theres. It really is such a horrible journey, i took the pill for nearly 10 years to stop me getting pg and when i came off it i really didn't think i would struggle. How stupid of me.

Anyway hope you don't mind me joining in, from what i have read you all know lots about assisted conception

I have been having the first set of investigations, blood tests, scans, x-ray and as I work nearly 50 miles from my hospital I have had to have quite a lot of time off. One of my male colleauges has therefore decided that I must be pregnant, and has been discussing this with anyone who'll listen. The one person in the office who knows I am (unsucessfully) TTC let me know what he had been saying, and I am soo mad with him. It's not that he is intentionally being nasty, it's just that now everyone will be watching me like a hawk. Any advice on how to handle it?

Afternoon everyone, am popping on very briefly to say hello. Sorry I've been AWOL for quite a while, but life's a bit jumbled for us at the moment, sort of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - The Good is that I am 20 weeks tomorrow, and we hope to find out the sex on Thursday. The Bad is that I am being made redundant, and they're pretending that my pregnancy has NOTHING to do with it - the Evil Boss has got me at last! And the Ugly is that my MIL has a brain tumour, and has now decided NOT to have the operation. Talk about having lots on!

Glad to hear that bfps are still happening, and really hope that they happen soon for the rest of you.

Good morning all.

Just a quick one to say good news from me. I took my pregnancy test last night (was supposed to take it this morning, but wanted DH to be on the end of the phone) and got a BFP!

I should be elated, but after the MC last time, it seems to have hardly registered. Some part of my brain is not yet letting me be happy or think about actually having a baby. I suppose that I'll feel better and more enthusiastic after the scan (another 2ww - wonderful!)but at the moment I just feel numb.

Sorry for the miserable post when I should be terribly excited and happy. I will be eventually, I promise. Apologies also for the self-centred post... today is all a bit hectic, I'm afraid. I'll write more later when I have a moment to collect my thoughts.

Great news MM! When was the MC last time i.e. when do you need to have got to, to have got further than you did last time? In the meantime, nothing is going to stop you worrying but hooray, you are pregnant!

Good news BB! I felt absolutely no symptoms at all during the wait that weren't easily ascribable to the progesterone/oestrogen. In fact, I still don't have any really - apart from the ridiculously over-sized breasts!

Last time it didn't work for me I was told to stop the meds and my period started about 24 hours later.

KK, the Bad and Ugly are crap, really sorry about that. You have been right all along about the Evil Boss! However the silver lining there is that you can find a job without such a cretin and get more of a balance with the baby when it arrives, and she will never know the joy you're going to know, so more fool her!

Brilliant news MM, I'm so pleased it worked for you. I know you won't be able to put your mind at rest until you've had a scan (like me, you got to about 6 weeks last time didn't you and then there wasn't a heartbeat?) but you have a really high chance that that was a one-off and this one will stick. Will keep everything crossed for you and hope for good news so you have a new baby when you start your new life in Oz.

Kiwi I am so sorry about your MIL's diagnosis and your redundancy. What a dose of bad news. Is that likely to be a terminal outcome for your MIL? Has she been ill for some time? I hope your husband and family are in agreement with her decision and that she will be around for a long time yet. As for your boss, it just shows you were right doesn't it. It could definitely be for the best in the long run if she was determined to make your life difficult in subtle but stressful ways, and now you have the incentive to go and find yourself a more supportive environment, although I'm sure you'd rather not have been forced into it with a little one on the way. Good luck with the next move anyway - walk away from her without a backward glance and I hope you get a decent payoff!

Hi Ladybird and welcome. I don't think a little bubble in the syringe is probably anything to worry about, so long as you injected all the meds and it didn't stop that happening. I think bubbles are more of an issue when injecting into a vein

moomaker that sounds like an irritating colleague to have around but as far as possible try to tune him out and don't let him distract you. He doesn't actually know what's going on, it's just luck that he's hit on something in the general vicinity of the truth! He may well get bored if you don't give him anything to get hold of. If you are really bothered about being monitored perhaps you can very casually mention some plausible cover story in passing to him or someone he gossips with, eg "Oh these issues with my bathroom are annoying, as soon as we get one leak fixed another one crops up and it all means time off to deal with plumbers......." and fake some phone calls from neighbours or plumbers that he can overhear!

Good luck for the scan tomorrow Poppy. Let us know how it goes.

Not much news from me, I've had a fairly heavy period which I presume is par for the course on downregging and we had a lovely day with friends on Saturday - lunch and karaoke. Top stuff. Drank quite a few glasses of wine, which was naughty, but will be a good girl from now on I think and cut right back. Got sad news from good friends of ours yesterday - they are separating after 12 years of marriage (two daughters). They were the first in the gang to get married and the first to separate...hoping it won't be a problem to stay in touch with them both, we wouldn't want it to be awkward.

Hello to anyone I've missed.

Hi Guys

just popping in to say hi and Congratulations to MM and penguin keeping my fingers crossed for you both.

Sorry I've not kept up with everyone's stories. Hope all are ok?

I have my 20 week scan next week and have had a good result from the Amnio I chose to have after high risks from the Nuchal scan. Finally feeling like this could really all be ok. x

Congrats to MM and penguin.
I have now had all tests and am awaiting my apt at the clinic we have chosen, and for PCT to approve the funding for IVF or ICSI (probs with both of us hence we told this is our treatment plan) - think a 2mth wait.

MM, that's lovely news. You clever thing. Am crossing everything for you and sending you sticky baby vibes.

MM BE as SELF centred as you like Angelina, I am delighted for you! CONRATULATIONS.

Kiwikat so sorry to hear about your mother-in-law , sorry to hear about the redundancy, can they do that? Glad you are finally at 20 weeks, wow doesn't time fly.

BB if ET had not worked you just get a normal period. It's nothing to worry about but talk to your clinic for reassurance, but let?s hope for a BFP!

DuelingFanjo welcome back, great to 'see' you.

moomaker Hi and welcome, it's just my opinion but sometime attack is the best form of defence - so the flu adverts say....I would walk up to your nosy colleague when he is at the water cooler, coffee station, whatever, and just say 'I?ve heard rumours you are pontificating on my being pregnant, I'm not, don?t worry I won't be eating gherkins and ice cream in the office! If you say it with a smile he will not be upset, just mortified with embarrassment! And will hopefully not menten it again! Whether you choose to say it in front of colleagues is up to you (you could stage it so your one friend who is in the know is around!). I think it will put a stop to his gossiping! Who says women do all the gossiping!

Ladybird10 Welcome you are not silly for taking precautions for all those years; you had no way of knowing. But now you are on the road you are trying to get where you want to be so chin up and don?t regret the past ten years. It was not the right time but yes, I know how frustrating it can feel.

Been eating popcorn and now my farts smell of popcorn, is that normal!!! Sorry TMI. Good night all.

Each day I feel something different, adoption one day, fertility treatment the next! Have found a clinic locally that can do UK scans and a Spanish clinic with eggs and embryos. I am still quite undecided and still to speak to DH about it. But the good news for me is my hormones aren't raging and apart from shedding a few tears when I watched Benjamin Button tonight - I am not emotional, I am normal! Hooray!

Sorry to all I have missed.

So I had some bleeding today - mainly brown but a bit of rust. I called Guy's and asked for the 2 blood test thing, since there are still 9 days to go till the scan and I will go crazy!

Told the doctor that I'd first tested positive on x day and continually since. He looked astonished and said 'but why would you test more than once' [shocked]. I told him if he could find a woman in the ACU who only tested once and then waited for the scan, I'd show him a liar . He basically tried to make me feel like an idiot, which really riled me. Kept saying 'but why?' Finally I told him I was psychotic and he shut up after that.

So I got one blood test but he doesn't want me back on Thurs because there's 'only' a week then to go until the scan.

I am pretty actually - you'd think these people would have slightly more sensitivity given where they work!

Sorry, very me me me, but am fuming!

Thanks BB - when do you test?

What someone v wise on another thread said was that the 'common' feelings of early pregnancy are the body reacting to the hormones, but with IVF we are given the hormones even before ET, so there's nothing for the body to react to that it hasn't had for a while, if that makes sense?

Good God, EVERYONE tests loads of times, even when they're not on the assisted conception roundabout! Don't they? I tested at least once a week for ages with DD. Also, I know tons of people who had bleeding in early pregnancy who have lovely healthy children to show for it. Wishing you all the best, Penguin.

And wishing you luck, too, BB.

Hi guys

BB on my first pregnancy I felt sick 2 days before I was due and knew I was pg. With the IVF I felt nothing right upto the day of testing so you never know! Good luck

Penguin I can completely relate to your feelings, can't believe that drs who has such a crap understanding of what we go through can be making decisions. He obviously has no idea of the stress we go through even when we have a BFP. Completely rubbish service hope it turns out ok, fingers crossed!

Cerubina glad the down regging is going as planned, I too had wine and fun stuff before the stimulation, has to be done sometimes!

MM congratulations!! I can completely understand how you feel, I thought I was making it all up. I used to have a rabbit that used to pretend she was pg and start pulling her ruff (fur under her chin) out to line a nest. This ttc sends us crazy and I thought I might be turning a bit mad like the rabbit!

Italian I think it is normal and also your wee sometimes does like with sugar puffs!

Ladybird yep I also had 10 years on the pill, I wonder sometimes if I would tell a younger me to come off or not, I think I would have freaked if I had become pg when I was younger

Moonmaker Definately be direct with him, men hate that and he will never say another word

Kiwi God it never rains but it pours heh? Well I'm glad that you have made it to 20 weeks, but you definately don't need all that extra stress, big hugs to you.

Well I think that is everyone, sorry if I have missed you. I had my six week scan today! And glad to say I wasn't making the whole thing up, it was amazing to actually see a heartbeat! The crazy news is that both embryos have taken!! So at this stage there are two, but although I should be really excited (I am trying to hold back a bit) I feel almost more scared as if they survive will have a family! (I know one will make it but two would be fabulous). Before I didn't dare wish for two, so happy but know it is really early days. My clinic have booked another scan for 8 weeks. Is this normal? Keep everything crossed for me.

P.S know this post is not the most positive but after everything I've been through I just feel scared of feeling happy. But deep down am really excited

Penguin poor you! My best wishes are with you. I could tell you not to worry, but that would be pointless - but try not to think the worst just yet. It is quite common to have some bleeding early on. Did you get any results back from the first blood test?

As for testing more than once, who doesn't test more than once? I'm cross with myself because I've run out of tests and forgot to buy more at the chemist's today.

Moomaker I'm sorry to hear about your difficult colleague. Since you're only having investigations, how about asking loudly "does anyone want to go for a drink tonight" in the office. Then drink a glass of wine or something in front of them. That should quash suspicions. I also like Italian's suggestion of confronting him directly - always good to get to the point.

Kiwi very sorry for all your difficulties lately. Can they really make you redundant a few months before you go on maternity leave? That seems very harsh. Boo Hiss to the evil boss - although now you're finally free of her!

BabyB I agree with Penguin that all the hormones we are taking mask any symptoms of pregnancy, so don't expect to suddenly feel pregnant. I still don't feel pregnant - although I'm hoping I can blame the fact my jeans feel tight on it...

Any temptation to test early?

Kezia good to hear that things are coming along. Two months isn't a bad wait at all.

Dueling I'm glad to hear that things are going well!

Ladybird welcome!

How is jury service going Cerubina? Any court room drama? And how is the sniffing going? Is it all working well with your judicial responsibilities?

Poppy did you have your scan today? If so, how did it go?

Italian it is lovely to hear that you're normal again. Enjoy it!

Horton when are you off on holiday?

Lissy hope all is well in the States...

I think that just about covers just about everyone, but apologies if I've left anyone off!

No news from me. Scheduled my scan for 4 August. It could have been a week earlier, but I'll be in the US on holiday then - urgh!