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!

Oh Carrie. I so hope you are wrong and you get a nice shock Monday.

Blue, I can't wait to hear an update from you either!

I am trying to be more positive as I embark on IVF 8.
I had really low milk supply with DS and my son was losing weight.
I B/F for 3 months with an SNS (a tube that goes into corner of sons mouth while I breastfed to top him up with formula) but I felt inadequate, as though I needed a prosthesis to breast feeding because my breasts didn't work.
I felt as though I was deprived of a part of motherhood and it is one reason why I am desperate for number two.
I have read a book about making more milk and I developed a strategy for during my next pregnancy to make more milk next time.
One of the strategies was certain herbs in teas during pregnancy to help mammary growth.
So I am even starting the tea now in prep for IVF just to get me in a positive frame of mind.

Hi all - just received a call from an embryologist at our clinic. We've got 2x8 cell embryos, 1x6 and 1x4. They recommended we push the ET back to day 5 (Tuesday) and we've agreed. Now I feel anxious about our decision - I need to chill out! The embryologist made the point that if the embryos don't make it to day 5 in the lab, they wouldn't make it to day 5 in the womb anyway, so waiting is therefore better. They are also worried that if they put 2 back in today, I might end up with a multiple pregnancy (given that I got a BFP last time). My DH loves the idea of twins but I'm concerned about the higher risk of MC and all the other associated problems.
Arrgh. I just don't know. Anyway - it's done now, we're waiting until day 5. Same as last time.

Rant over - I hope everyone else is doing ok. Has anyone else waited to day 5 when given the option?

Yep, I did last IVF Blue with my lone embryo. The clinic actually advised a day 3 transfer but I said I would wait til day 5. Unfortunately, when I was about to walk out the door for transfer, I got the call that it had died overnight. I do kinda wonder if the uterus would have been a better environment and would it have survived? But on the other hand, if it had of died anyway inside me, I would have been left wondering where things went wrong. Was it my lining? Or perhaps I would have blamed the transfer if that didn't go smoothly. Not sure what call I will make next cycle since the last one didn't work. See how many embryos I have.

Can you refresh my memory with what your fertility issue is again? It just seems that with your 100% fertilisation rate and one good embryo last time and a couple of good ones this time, that the same thing should be happening every month you try naturally.

Do you do IVF or ICSI?

So I gather the 2 x 8 cells are the fore runners and the 1 x 4 cell wasn't given much hope? Did they give any comments on what 6 cells at day 3 means for that embryo?

Thanksfor the quick response Shellster. You're the best! We are having IVF not ICSI (nothing wrong with DH's sperm....infertility is due to one completely blocked and one partially blocked tube - scar tissue).

Yes, they think 1—2 of the 8 cell embryos will make it to day 5. Apparently there's a chance the 6 cell may also catch up /make it, but the 4 cell one is likely to fail. It's tough isn't it... part of me thinks I should have taken my chances today. Then again I do understand the rationale behind waiting to day 5. My clinic constantly advises against multiple births. I presume they are hoping there will be a clear frontrunner on Tuesday so they only have to transfer one.

Anyway it's nerve wracking. As in such a poor responder I do worry about waiting around with only four eggs to choose from. Just going to have to put it out of my mind for next couple of days and hope for the best..

Hi everyone. I'm back from a lovely relaxing week in the Dordogne (Shellster, I definitely recommend France...perhaps we should meet up there with our babies some time ), back on the wagon and planning to go again after next AF. Short protocol this time, so we're looking to transfer in early October.
Blue - thinking of you and willing those little chaps to divide and grow strong. It's so hard, isn't it, waiting that extra two days and wondering if you've done the right thing.

Phew, Carrie - I was thinking the same as Shellster. Glad everything's okay and hope you're managing to stay serene. Thinking of you.

Yoga....that's what's been missing from my life! I used to do a couple of classes a week and loved it to bits. It's been squeezed out a bit recently, but I really could do with re-instigating...

Shellster - just been reading your post about bf...I drank fennel tea, which is supposed to increase your milk supply. I drank a cup about a month after I'd stopped BFing and my milk came back...

Blue, the extra two days goes by quite quick really. You make the decision day 3, then by the time you read this it will be day 4 (I think you are 11 hours behind me?) and you just have to get through that one day before waking up again and going for transfer. I guess you will even get an update day 4 anyway when they call you to give you a time for day 5 transfer? Eew, I am on the edge of my seat waiting to hear how they are progressing. Keep us posted please!

Purple, that is the best news I have ever heard about the fennel tea! I really am so desperately wanting to breastfeed next time and I can't tell you how much that bit of news about your milk coming back on fennel tea lifts my spirits that it isn't just an old wives tale but you have real life experience that it works! Of to brew myself another cup of tea and think positive happy thoughts about preparing my body for B/Fing my next baby... RaLG.

So your period is due in about two weeks then Purple? Mine is due any day so you will be two weeks behind me I think.

Shellster - thought you should see this - fennel tea fine, but in moderation.

I'm a big believer - and this fits quite nicely with RaLG - in doing the things during my ttw that I did when I was pregnant with my beautiful boy - listening to the birthing hypnosis CD and things like that, because they make me feel contented and confident. Hadn't thought of fennel tea, which was a very regular part of my life when I BFd.

Happy and positive thoughts to everyone else xxx

Interesting about the tea. I also had very low milk supply with my son 10 yrs ago, he started losing weight and I had to bottle feed, he would literally drink me dry in seconds. I wonder if there is an infertility connection.

Well I had my BFN this morning. Not at all surprised ive been in so much pain. Hoping to book my follow up later and focus on changing things for next time, maybe a shorter protocol will work better for me, or maybe I should focus on sorting out the endo first. Things to think about anyway.
Thinking of you all, hoping and praying its all our turn soon. I may take a couple of weeks out now just to heal slightly but I will be back!

Hi Carrie, sorry to hear your news. I hope you heal soon and come back strong xx

Hi ladies,

Carrie I'm so sorry to hear your news. IVF can be so f*&$ing frustrating. I hope you can give yourself some 'you' time and take a break from it all over the next few weeks. Get stuck into the wine and coffee. I do feel sorry for you.

I had 2 x 5 day blastocysts transferred this morning. It was a weird experience - the doctor gave us the choice as I was lying on the trolley - I kept asking him 'what do you recommend' and he kept saying 'what do you want to do'. After 5 minutes of back and forth he confirmed that there is a 25% of multiple pregnancy. I still don't know exactly what this means - I guess he's saying there is a 25% chance of both embroyos making it? Seems high. Anyway whatever, we decided to go for it and have 2 transferred. Given that I had a chemical pregnancy last time I wanted to give us the best chance of at least one of them implanting/developing into a real pregnancy.

Now the hideous wait begins.....

The two remaining embryos are still going - just at a much slower pace than the ones above. I should get a call tomorrow to let me know if either is suitable for freezing. I'm guessing that won't happen, but let's see. Anyway, overall we're really happy with the ways things have gone in this cycle so far. Funny how things work out - the internet is full of women complaining about 'only' having 15 eggs at egg collection and here I am with 4, over the moon (!??!).

By the way, not sure if everyone has seen this but there's some really interesting answers at the bottom of the page - milk! Maca powder!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_q_and_a/a2101897-Q-A-about-fertility-claims-with-Sense-About-Science-ANSWERS-BACK

Blue, I would be over the moon in your situation too. I wish my body would co-operate like yours. I produced 5 eggs and not one made it to blast. You produce 4 and 100% fertilise and get to transfer two for the chance at twins!

Well I woke up to my period this morning so now it's my turn. I have been quite negative towards my last few cycles. I think I don't want to get my hopes up to come crashing down. But I haven't produced many eggs and all IVF's have failed. So trying to be positive again... So today is day one of my pregnancy... I am starting injecting tomorrow to grow and egg to become my future baby!

I am about to take a look at that link now thanks Blue. Really am interested in how to make more milk and it's keeping me feeling positive as I focus on breast feeding my future baby.

Carrie - sending a big hug - so disappointed for you. Hoping you have lots of support and people to pamper you at the moment. x

Blue - that's all very exciting - keeping everything crossed. Let's hope you have a frosty or two as insurance, but that you don't need any

Shellster - that's exciting, too. And it's so good to "hear" you in so much better spirits....that can't help but do you good. I'm sending my positive thoughts to join yours....let's hope this is the cycle x

Annie - what's happening with you? Have you started stims yet?

I need to call my clinic tomorrow and arrange for a scratch later in the month. I'm starting a serious health-kick today. I haven't weighed myself for a while, but I've definitely put on some weight since I started my IVF journey - that's one downside to all that full fat milk! The wine and cheese in France didn't help either (ds said "Mummy, I think you got a bit rounder when we were in French France. That means there's more Mummy to love...." - er, thanks, sweetheart!) I got out of the habit of swimming regularly when I did the first IVF cycle, because they warned me about increased mc rates in people who swam indoors, but I'm wondering if the fitness/relaxation benefits for me might outweigh the risks. I was swimming regular long distances up until the beginning of the year - I did a cross-channel relay last September and hadn't felt so fit in years, so I think I need to reinstate my swims and give myself some headspace.

It's such a tough juggling act Purple. In the one breath, we tell ourselves to relax and enjoy. Then we do it and in the next breath, feel guilty about sabotaging our next IVF cycle.

You sound super fit - swimming cross-channel relay; I struggle to make it to the pool on my first lap! Was the warning not to swim indoors just for after the embryo transfer of just in general? I can imagine it makes sense after transfer, but surely now is okay. Good luck on your health kick - I guess you want to lose those few kilos before you start drinking a litre of full fat milk again every day.

Well, first injection this morning. I have my first scan on Monday morning. Sep last year I started with only 8 follicles on day 2 and got 5 eggs. Last cycle I started with 19 follicles on day 2 so expected a lot more - but still 5 eggs. My body just seems to choose a few dominant follicles to grow. Hoping I get a few more this time to up my odds. I have my first scan Monday morning which is day 6 (they didn't do day 2 scan this time) so I will get an indication then.

Wow that feels liked went round quickly shellster starting injections already. No hanging about!

I agree you sound like a v fit person to swim relay in the channel purple! Glad you had a good time en France enjoying the local cheese and wine and other treats , that's what holidays are all about . Back to the grind though, I'm on a health too, and oh it's so much easier to be good when life is alcohol free!

Feels like it's going very slowly here.. I'm on the contraceptive pill for 2 weeks and go for a scan a week Monday to check that my ovaries are "quiet". Then start the Buserelin and stimms at same time .. I think.. .

Ha ha! I should admit to being the weakest link in the relay team! That said, this time last year, I was pretty chuffed with my fitness levels and I carried on swimming all through the winter, but I was doing some pretty long swims - 2 hours at a time, up to 5 miles sometimes, and I broke the habit when I had my first ET, and then never went back to it, so now I'm feeling pretty flabby - current BMI is 28.9, so not great. Swimming is the only exercise I really enjoy (other than yoga) and I didn't really replace it with anything else.

The latest swimming conversation I had was after the FET, and the clinic told me that there had been a recent study on miscarriage and swimming that showed that people who swam prior to 12 weeks increased their risk. But they think it was to do either with the chlorine or the hot/humid atmosphere - interestingly, they didn't turn a hair when I said I swam in lakes, which I thought they'd be much more concerned about! I swim outdoors whenever I can - and the channel made me much hardier (even though I was in a wetsuit) - and if I am in a pool, I'm in a UV filtered one which is kept at competition temperature. I'm missing the swimming so much that I've decided this is a risk worth taking to keep fit an healthy - for now, at least. I'll probably change my mind after ET...and certainly during the 2ww.

Annie - no need for the blushes - I certainly didn't understand my whole protocol first time round, but they talk you through every stage and you'll be fine.

Love to everyone

Hi all,

Wondered if I could join? I'm having an endo scratch on Tuesday and will then start downregging (short protocol). We're having ICSI due to DH's low count, poor motility and morphology. Very new to all this and would appreciate the support!

Hi Threebee and welcome ! Lots of ladies with experience here. I'm new to it all too.

Hello Threebee - come and take a pew

purple I'm so glad I checked in and saw your swimming post.... I'm in Spain and have been wondering what the deal is with swimming! Have avoided the pool so far. Maybe I won't bother... it's outdoor but is super chlorinated. I'll just read my book in the shade with a non alcoholic cerveza

Glad everyone else is doing OK, Shellster I have a good feeling about this one for you! I am now counting the days to my test on 12 Sept. Waiting is rubbish but Spain is a great distraction.

Blue, wish I was there with you instead of at a desk at work where I currently am! Sounds amazing. What a way to spend the 2ww.

Purple, your clinic sounds really up with all the studies - first the milk and now the pool info. Didn't realize prior to 12 weeks would increase the risk. But far out, of all the things you enjoy and that is healthy for you and will help you reduce your BMI and increase your chances is the thing that will increase miscarriage! Dammed if you do, dammed if you don't.

Annie, not knowing your IVF protocol probably is a good thing as it means you aren't a stressed out control freak like me and are just going with the flow and doing what the clinic says.

Welcome threebee. We are doing ICSI due to 100% abnormal morph too.

First scan is Monday - day 6 - for my first insight into how this IVF will pan out.

Good luck tomorrow Shellster let us know how it goes.

We're heading home tomorrow - Spain had been lovely. It has definitely helped take some of the 2ww pressure off. Last time I spent every spare minute googling my 'symptoms', or lack thereof. Really trying not to do that this time around... not easy though. My boobs are massive and I'm getting the odd ovary twinge, but I'm sure it's the progesterone. Relax and let go!! Relax and let go!!!

Hospital appointment is on Friday but I think I'm going to POAS Thursday, just so I don't have a crying meltdown in front of the nurse if it's BFN. I don't like surprises!
.

Yes - good luck Shellster - got everything crossed for you.

So, Blue - do you go into your clinic for a blood test? I just get sent away with a testing kit...not sure which is worse!

Hi purple I'm getting a blood test at the hospital because of the medical trial I'm on....last time I was also sent away with a pee stick. I'm dreading it to be honest. I want to know and don't want to know all rolled into one....arrrgh.

I really hope this journey is all over for you when you pee on that stick Thursday Blue. You seem to make perfect embryos and one implanted last time, so surely this time with two perfect embryos, you will see two pink lines in just a few days time.

Well I went for my scan this morning. Last cycle I was on 300 Puregon and 150 Menopur. I had lots of follicles (15?) at day 6, but then a few took the lead and I only got 5 mature eggs. So this time, the Dr suggested increasing the Menopur to 300 as well as 300 Puregon to get more growing. But it has made the situation worse. It seems that the couple that like to take the lead have hogged that extra FSH and now I have a couple of absolutely huge follicles (considering it's only day 6) at 19, 17 and 15 with not much else. Perhaps I need to take less medication instead next time???? Who knows. I just can't believe how hard it has been to grow just 5-6 follicles at a similar rate when so many other women get 15-20 eggs.

My nurse will contact my Dr today with the ultrasound results and then telephone me to advise. No idea what they will suggest - seems ridiculous to trigger tonight for these 3 eggs as I know that growing them very hard and fast like this is bad for egg quality. Seems ridiculous waiting til day 14 for the sake of another 2 eggs that might have caught up by then as these 3 will be way over mature and I know that shouldn't be allowed to happen as the first to mature contain the best eggs. The best option to me seems to cancel.

My sister is due in 5 weeks and I was really wanting this IVF to work so I wouldn't be in such pain when I had to pay my dues and visit her in hospital. My bum brother in law and partner are pregnant again and on the drive to work after the scan, I was already thinking of ways to get out of Christmas as I just can't be bothered seeing them and having to fake smiles.

2 1/2 more hours at work and I can go home and have a good cry. Sorry for the long rant. Just needed to chat with the only people who understand.

Shellster I can't believe it - what awful luck. Please let us know what the doctor says. Are you sure it's too early to collect the eggs? Just wondering what the outcome would be if you went for egg collection now, based on the follicles you do have. I haven't heard of this situation before. I can understand why you might prefer to cancel though - you don't want to throw money down the drain if the outcome doesn't look good. Might be better to try again.

I do hope you get some better news from the doctor today. On the bright side, at least you can use the data to work out the optimal dosage/timing for next cycle? At least you know you can produce big, juicy follicles.

Sending you some good wishes and some positive mental energy from across the world xx