Anyone starting IVF soon? Join me.

[Shellster52]

After 3 full failed IVF's last year, I am about to embark on my second last attempt. I started an IVF thread during my last IVF, and everyone got pregnant but me. So I swore I wouldn't do that again this time. But I find myself wanting to chat with people going through what I am, so I am starting the thread again. Join me as I seem to be a BFP magnet!

Shellster 19 follicles - amazing!!! I'm really pleased for you!

Don't forget to let us know how it goes tomorrow Purple. Great to hear things are moving along for everyone, including you Carrie.

Oh my goodness, I have a bellyful of nerves this morning, waiting to hear how Frosty has faired.

Frosty has survived the thaw - is there a relieved emoticon? - and the transfer is scheduled for 12.45

Thats brilliant Purple! I hope frostie is now snuggling in and making itself at home for 9 months!

Thanks Carrie. All went well...it was our named consultant who did the transfer (we got one of the others last time) and we really like him. Feels like a day of good omens - this amazing apricot-coloured rose has appeared in our garden: we have no recollection of it ever having had any blooms before - it's not a colour you'd forget and this morning produced the most extraordinary enormous bloom - which smells so good it's almost intoxicating. I stood with my nose in it before I drove to pick up DH and go to the clinic. Feels like a fitting thing on the day our future child is re-inserted....here's hoping xxx

That's great Purple! Super news and I hope the frosty is busy settling in.

Out of interest, were you told to lie still for 15 minutes after the transfer?! I wasn't - I was told to get up and go back to work. Seems like everyone has a different experience. I'm not sure that it makes any difference anyway.

No - I got up and went through to another appointment room to talk through the next steps. I was told to take it easy for the day, but then to "start getting back to normal" from tomorrow.

Have you been advised not to swim? I had an interesting conversation with the IVF nurse after the transfer. She said that some recent research had indicated a higher than usual miscarriage rate among people who swim in swimming pools in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. She said they're not sure if it's because of the chemicals or because of the enclosed and hot space which is conducive to catching anything and everything. I said I was into open water swimming and she said to wait until after my pregnancy test, but that either way it would be fine after then.

Funny consultant looked at me and said very seriously "Now, now housework for at least 6 months" . Unfortunately, DH's response was "Well, no change there then!" - as the consultant said - he'll pay for that one

Purple. Whoop whoop! After such a build up to it, you must have been so excited it survived the defrost process. Now the most torturous wait begins. Are you planning to test at home or will the clinic do a blood test. Have they given you an official test date?

Carrie. Glad I have put your mind at ease at least until Friday. But definitely double check as I am no expert! Let us know how you get on.

Blue, did you continue lying down for 15 minutes after your transfer? Curious to know since obviously your embryo was then in the right position to implant. Did you also have ultrasound guided transfer?

Thank you so much to all of you for your excitement at my 19 follicles. My next scan is Friday. Last time I had 14 follicles but only 3 grew. So Friday is D day when I find out if more are coming to the party this time.

Hi Shellster - I didn't lie down, they told me to get off the bed and go back to work! I mentioned it because I've spoken to other women who were told to stay lying down for 15 mins/1 hour/2 hours, take a week off work, various things.

My consultant says it makes absolutely no difference. I'm just curious because it seems that everyone gets different advice. It was obviously ok in my case because I got a (shortlived) BFP.

Purple nobody mentioned swimming to me but the advice makes sense because of the warm water. I was told to 'stay cool' and not get overheated. I suppose there might also be a risk of infection if you go swimming too soon after the ET.

Thanks Ladies - got a lovely day planned. My wonderful sister has come to visit and we're going to make pretty things out of silver clay - you know the stuff you fire and the clay burns away and you end up with pure silver? I bought some for her birthday and we're going to play with it today.

I don't think the swimming thing is about water temperature, because "normal" pools are usually around 30 degrees, which is obv a bit cooler than body temp, it was more about the hot atmosphere, because they didn't seem so concerned about outdoor pools (which also use less chlorine in the water). I'll be back in the lake in a couple of weeks' time though, so all well.

How's everyone else doing? Thinking good thoughts for your kick-off Carrie - please let it work for all of us this time xxx

That's a great idea to have a nice day planned. So you should be getting your BFP around when I am having my day 5 embryo transfer (thinking positive for both of us!)

You're right Blue. Everyone has seems to get different instructions. Think I'm going to ask to remain lying down 'just in case'. No harm to try it, and just want to do one cycle where I can feel I did everything perfect.

Do you guys have ultrasound guided embryo transfer over there?

Shellster - high-octane week then for both of us....here's hoping - what was that finger-crossing emoticon again?!

I think you can have ultrasound guided embryo transfer, but it doesn't tend to be offered as standard...probably one of those things that some clinics do and others don't. Mine's never mentioned it, so I guess it's not available.

I've just been googling though and found this which I thought was interesting.

Is it something you're planning to do?

Oops. Hope we didn't stress you out too much talking about ultrasound guided transfer to make you go away and research it and worry that it has affected your outcome. But that link was very interesting so thank you for posting.

Yep, we're doing ultrasound guided transfer (assuming we make it that far!) My old clinic where I had 2 day two embryo transfers didn't offer ultrasound guided transfer which your article suggests would have significantly reduced my outcome. And to make matters worse, the one time when I had a top quality embryo, it was a nervous trainee doing my procedure! I really wonder if these were the reasons my embryo didn't implant.

Hence this time I am paying more $$$$ for a better clinic that does ultrasound guided transfer as a standard, and they have assured me no trainee! This clinic also does day 5 embryo transfer rather than day 2. Your article suggests ultrasound guided only increases the chances very minimally on day 5 so I hope that reassures you that all is well with your little embryo.

Ha ha! No, didn't stress me out at all - I was just interested. Can't believe you had to put up with a trainee - did they give you a choice? I mean, I know they have to learn some time, but when the stakes are so high. I guess they're always high with IVF, aren't they?

I woke up this morning to a lovely optimistic radiating feeling that started in my abdomen and moved up. Am choosing to see this as a good omen . Feel much calmer about things this time.

How's everyone else doing? xxx

Our (NHS) clinic uses ultrasound and I had ultrasound guided transfer last time - in fact, they gave us a picture to take home! Can't really see anything on the picture apart from my uterus but, hey.

Shellster I'm surprised your old clinic doesn't do day 5 transfers. From what I know, a day 5 transfer usually gives the best outcome (obviously it depends on the quality of the embryo, I don't think they'll wait to day 5 unless it's top quality). Anyway, fingers crossed everything goes well for you this time around. You're off to a great start with your follicle count!

Purple, good to hear you are feeling good! Stay that way!

Hope you don't mind but I just popped in to see how you are all getting on. Will be keeping in touch to see some bfp soon!

Shellster fab follicle count!!!

Wishing you all loads of luck xx

Why would we mind, Happily - you're part of the gang. How are you?

Nice to hear from you Happily. Thank you for your fab comment! Feels so supportive here. I don't tell anyone in RL (other than hubby and employer for time off work) as I don't need the added pressure of people asking me if it has worked. Also, past experience tells me they don't get it and while well meaning, only say things that annoy me (Relax and it will happen). So the support on here means so much.

Of course, all those 19 at day 3 mean nothing if they don't grow. Last time I had 14 and only 3 grew. I went for a day 6 scan today but all I got told is that I have 18 in total, but they only count the larger ones and my largest two are 10mm and 8mm. So I have no idea if the others are not growing at all and will disappear by my next scan (as has happened in the past), or if they are only a couple of mm behind the two lead follicles.

Sorry for the long post. In the thick of it now and it's so nice to get it out. Okay, venting done. Have a repeat scan on Tuesday so I have to repeat my mantras and relax until then.

But they're going to grow, Shellster - we're all willing them on. Sending you spiritual vanilla milk and lots of water x

Hey Ladies,

Thought I'd pop back & see how everyone was doing.

Fab news Shellster, so pleased for you.

Purple, how did the transfer go?

Glad your back on it Carrie, keep positive.

I've missed so much on this thread but had to go away and clear my head. We managed a week away early June, which was very much needed.

Some surprising news, but got my BFP last week. Came as a total shock after the failed IVF in April!!

Anyway, wishing you all the best Ladies xxx

I'm good thank you, 10 weeks now and fingers crossed everything is going well!

I will keep popping back to see these bfp that are just round the corner! X

Congratulations walter!!

Hey Happily thanks & congratulations too.

10 weeks seems to have flown by. Have you had any scans or midwife appts? Any sickness etc?

Luckily the Assisted Conception unit I went to for IVF have offered me a 7 week scan even though it's not through IVF. Feel very lucky that they offered it to me.

Wow Walter, that must have been a total shock. I have heard that IVF gets the hormones going and some women get pregnant naturally after failed IVF. Must be reassuring to have an earlier scan. Our pregnancies are so much more precious after all the effort and I can only imagine how paranoid I am going to be during those first 12 weeks if I can ever get to that stage.

Purple, you sound like you are in the right mental place and actually enjoying the 2ww rather than stressing which is a great attitude - not sure I will be able to do the same! Thanks for giving me the positive attitude I am lacking - they're going to grow. I have been taking your advice and having at least 3.75 litres of water a day. I was never sure of the whole milk thing. Some say it's good and others say it's filled with hormones. But I found a high protein low carb shake I like and studies show that high pro/low carb diet increases IVF success so I am having that daily which also happens to be milk based.

Okay, my next scan is Tuesday and I will know how many/little of my 19 initial follies are coming to my egg collection party.

walter had a scan at the clinic at 7+1 and we saw a little jelly bean with a heartbeat, then had booking in appointment with midwife at 9 weeks and then I paid for am extra scan yesterday as my next nhs isn't until 13 weeks and I couldn't wait that long! It was fab though, saw an actual baby.

Shellster is right though it feels so much more precious as it's been such a long hard journey to get here. The doctor yesterday said that there's a 99.4% chance that everything will be ok- but I still can't quite believe we might get our happy ever after! X