FET Sept/Oct

[Lolly2803]

Hi ladies,
I am due to start an FET in Sept/Oct and wondered if anyone else was too?! Had my first cycle of IVF in August but due to fluid in my uterus and thin lining had to freeze everything. I seem to always have fluid mid cycle, including natural cycles. Very worried that it will always be a problem and will never get to use my embryos. Having a hysteroscopy the week after next to check incase anything in there but doc suspects not. Would be great to have a few buddies! xxx

Argh so frustrating Lolly always the bloody way! Taking a test is usually a good way to bring it on....!!

Good luck for scan on Weds bear - remind me, are you doing a short protocol FET?

4dp5dt and predictably time is creeping at glacial pace!

In theory OTD is 12dp5dt but already told my consultant as I run out of meds on 9dp5dt, I'll be testing 8dp5dt before we order any more in - if it's BFN will ask if we can just do a blood test to confirm if anything at all is going on so I don't need to order more Lubion just to pee on more sticks (and so I can restart my pain meds - I have a spinal injury and take pretty hardcore opioid painkillers which obvs I have to be off post ET. So right now is a barrel of laughs). Probably cave on Thu (7dp5dt) realistically....

I've taken a test of course - BFN. Had AF pains for over a week too. She's just playing hard to get. Taken Vit C, gym and hot bath tonight wishing her here! If she's not here tomorrow I'll be SOO annoyed.

That's a good plan Banana. I'm keeping everything crossed for you. How do you feel? Apart from the pain! I'll be thinking of you on Thursday!! xx

Gah - I was going to suggest vit c and a hot bath! It will come, obviously just not as soon as you want!

Depending on how my scan goes on Wed we could be transferring as early as Fri 23rd.

I think that sounds reasonable Banana. I called time on my last cycle at 11p3dt and refused to take any more progesterone. I've saved a box for this cycle. I reckon you're good for the BFP this time though!

That's exciting Bear!! How you feeling? Excited? Keep us posted on how the scan goes & how your lining is looking.

Yer it's typical! Just annoying as I'm so desperate to get started. The waiting just boggles the mind!! Trying to focus on the gym to help pass the time! Feeling very strong pains tonight so hoping she arrives tonight/tomorrow so I might just make it for next week! xx

Gym might help! my AF was keeping me waiting this cycle (think it got to about 35 days) and showed the day after I'd got more than usual exercise. Fingers crossed. Perhaps the stress of cycling is part of why it's late.

Hope she shows today Lolly.

I'm feeling fine about my lining etc but getting terrified about the thaw! Our DD came from this batch of embryos which gives me some confidence but my OH was still 36 when they were created so it could go either way.

Think your right HelloMist! The. The stress of it not coming doesn't help it along!!

Bear I'm sure it'll be fine. Defrosting a bit later can't have much if any of am effect. The embryos are still as great as they were when they were frozen so just got to keep that in mind. Very excited for you! xx

I'm sure there's something about knicker watch that keeps the witch away, always the way!

Bear I was also terrified about the thaw, but the freezing is so good now that much like peas, frozen is just as good as fresh

The lab told me that euploid embryos generally survive the thaw - if any embryo doesn't, then chances are it was abnormal and wouldn't have had the ability to become a person (providing it was frozen using the vitrification, which all embryos are nowadays, no decent clinic uses the old slow freezing method)

That said when we thawed our frosties for PGS testing last time, they all survived the thaw - and were all duds!

So there's no reason your little frostie won't thaw beautifully - I totally get the panic though!! X

I'm still way more confident about this embryo than my stupid fresh eggs

One of my NCT friends is currently 30 weeks pregnant with a blast from her DS's batch so that gives me hope.

Bear you should feel so positive. It worked last time so no reason it won't this time. I'm sending positive vibes to you! How many have you got in the freezer? How many are you putting back? I'm very envious at where you are the process. Feels like I'm ages away from this stage right now!! Have such up and down days I'm like a roller coaster.

How you feeling today Banana? Not long till test time! Have you been doing anything to help implantation? Like smothering yourself in pomegranate juice and eating your body weight in Brazil nuts and Pineapple!! xx

Well 2.5h sleep and I'm obvs in a massively rational frame of mind!!

Predictably I'm comparing to last time (which in fairness I had no symptoms in - except some pulling cramping around 4/5dp5dt, and I had that over the weekend but not now, so obv I am therefore extrapolating that nothing is going on....!)

Major design flaw that our belly buttons don't light up to tell us if we're pregnant or not. Or go ping like the microwave.

Haha! That would be so much easier wouldn't it! Just put your feet up and get This Morning on! Go for a walk later, going to be a beautiful day and then maybe cook something nice for dinner? Have you decided when you're going to test? I know you weren't sure.

I'm really sure the embryo is snuggling in nice and tight!! You've done so well this cycle!!

I'm reading up on transferring one or two embryos (if I ever get there). I'm edging towards 2. Something inside is telling me two. xxx

Gaah it's maddening isn't it. I'm surprised we're not all stark raving bonkers by now.

I am confident about this cycle but I'm terrified about it not working for 2 reasons really - my OH produced these embryos 3.5 years ago nearly, and she is now 40 years old so we probably wouldn't get much out of her now. I was 36 last month so not too old but my eggs have produced one miscarriage and one failed IVF with only 1/15 fertilisation. So it's a lot of pressure on these embryos. We have one 2AA blast which is the best bet and one early blast.

We would only ever put one back in. Last time because we lived in a tiny top floor flat and this time because we already have one child and don't want 3. But it's personal preference. If you can afford to stop work, have enough space etc. then why not 2. I know a few couples who have gone down that road, 2 lesbian couples and 1 straight couple. All now have twins and it works for them.

2AA is great isn't it?! Sounds like you've got great embryos so try and stay positive. I'd be feeling really positive if I were you! But I know it's hard, all the waiting makes the mind wander and over think everything!!

I have the space and could give up work so am thinking if we get there then I'm leaning towards 2. At this stage i am just praying we actually get to FET!!

Oh and not done any specific fertility woo for implantation - I did take bromelain tablets for 5 days to replicate the apocryphal magic pineapple core, and already take selenium supplements for lining anyway. I did pomegranate juice before transfer, but after ET don't see it's going to make any difference and my PCOS probably doesn't like the sugar hit!! I'm already on clexane and aspirin for blood flow (as was very apparent when I nicked a blood vessel and was like 'whoa, there she blows!'😂)

I did acupuncture on the day of ET and yesterday, same as I did in my BFP cycle. Otherwise it's really just crossing everything and relying on science and luck!!

I did a cheapie and unsurprisingly at 5dp5dt that's BFN, but at least I know the trigger is out. Think will probably do a FRER on Thu - will probably bottle it tomorrow!!

We only put one back last time because it was my first transfer, I had good quality embryos, and I was under 37. I could have had two blasts put back if I'd insisted but I'd have had to sign a waiver saying I understood the risks and was doing a double blast transfer against medical advice. The chances of getting pregnant, counterintuitively, don't go up by that much. But the risks of twins if you do are 1 in 2.

This time we did one because they're PGS tested, and the only point of putting more than one back is to theoretically increase the odds of getting a normal one to stick. With a euploid blast it's all down to the uterine environment - if the soil is good then both seeds will stick, if it's not then neither will and I'd have wasted a decent embryo unnecessarily.

Totally a personal choice, but just important to make a fully informed decision xx

Re twins our biggest concern was the health risks to the babies - of all the twins we know the vast majority spent the first weeks of their life in the NICU, which was incredibly traumatic for the parents. Very sadly I also know one woman who had a late miscarriage at 20w with twins (IVF) and one couple who delivered twins (natural) but their son was stillborn 😓

The risks of a twin pregnancy are pretty significant - so for us we wouldn't consider two blasts unless we'd had multiple failed cycles. Personal choice, but just important to go in with your eyes open. Xx

Thanks banana. Love all your advice - so helpful! What is selenium meant to do to help lining? When should you take? Am wondering if I should take?

Well I have good embryos according to their grades but haven't had any testing done and goodness knows if we'll even get to ET so not sure whether my lining will play ball or not. Just thinking about it in the back of my mind. Still thinking 2 though! If they push for 1 I guess i need to think of a good case to allow me to have 2?

That's way to early to test so don't worry about the BFN. Hold out till Thursday if you can. I know it's hard but at least it will be closer to an accurate response. And until you know for sure there's always hope right?! I've got a good feeling though. xx

It is a great embryo yes, so that is really positive. You've got some great embryos too, and will get there eventually. Better to make sure that all is well than just chucking them in there and hoping for the best, frustrating as it is.

With my DD's cycle 3 years ago, I just ate pineapple for 5 days past transfer. That's it. And pregnacare. This time I'm going to do acupuncture, I have already had a few sessions and it's really relaxing. I need a bit of help on that front as life is just a tad more stressful now than it was back then. I'll also do the pineapple again, brazil nuts, and cayenne pepper supposedly helps with blood flow but i'm already on aspirin for that anyway.

Banana - step away from the pee sticks ;o)

The reason people eat Brazil nuts is for selenium, which is supposedly good for lining in that list of apocryphal Internet lore. I took it as it's good for thyroid anyway.

I stopped taking most supplements I was on before and just kept with the prenatal, prescription folic acid (I have epilepsy), omega 3 and extra vitamin D.

I do acupuncture because I feel I ought to, because it's supposedly helpful - I don't find it especially relaxing, and as far as I can tell it makes absolutely no difference to anything except my bank balance, but I do it 'just in case'

Lolly only thing to think about if the lining is iffy is whether you want to put two back into a uterine environment - I'm sure they wouldn't transfer if they weren't confident in the endometrium, but if there were any question mark over the soil (as there is with mine) then you might not want to plant two good seeds, IYSWIM

The FRER are in the cupboard and not coming out till Thu!!

I know what you mean Banana. If the soil was iffy then I wouldn't want to waste them. I'm sat googling about this fluid at the moment. The difficulty is there isn't much information about it. Can't seem to find anything about what happens to me. Fluid around mid cycle ish time from about day 10 that drains itself over a few days. If there's nothing from my hysteroscopy then I've no idea what they're going to do and it really worries me.

Glad you're staying strong Banana! xx

Bear, I really get the fear about thawing and how you feel about putting 2 back. I hadn't realised that the twin risk was so high though! I have 1 DD already and don't feel equipped to look after twins in addition to her. Yes, what you say as well banana about health risks in pregnancy. :(

My embryos were slow frozen I think because it was 2 or 3 years ago (and because of how the clinic worded our chances). I feel like whether they thaw or not is a real hurdle to get over.

I want a lighting up, microwave pinging belly system too, banana! It's maddening at each stage not being able to see what's going on in there!

I recommend chocolate coated brazil nuts if you're trying to eat brazils (Holland & Barrett's are nice but Tesco's are cheaper!) ;) I'm not eating/taking too much else special, just generally trying to be healthy and pregnacare vitamins.

HelloMist - yes the technology does come on so fast. Mine were frozen more than 3 years ago using vitrification, I think it's the new method but I'm sure even technique has improved in that time.

you know what though, anything that survives the thaw should be a good one. I really resented in my last (fresh) cycle having an embryo transfer of a crappy embryo that I knew would not result in a BFP, and putting myself through the 2ww. At least this way there is an extra filter for quality.

Just had my first lining scan. After 7 days of Progynova it's 6.2mm so they want to scan me again on Monday to hopefully book in transfer for the following Sunday or Monday.

Banana - how are you holding up?

Bear is that good? Are you happy with that? I think I will come on tonight/tomorrow am which means Tuesday will be day 6. I might have some brown spotting on that day, do you think that's ok for hysteroscopy? They said I shouldn't be bleeding but surely that's fine?!

Banana got everything crossed for you as I know you're testing in the morning. Sending all the positive vibes in the world. xxx