IVF Cycle buddies March/April

[Hobbes39]

I know we are only partway through February, but I'm down to start our 2nd round of IVF once my period starts at the end of this month, so thought I'd start a cycle buddies thread now as I gear up..!
Our history is that we have a 3.5yo DS, naturally conceived, but have been trying for a sibling for 2 years now... we had an ectopic pregnancy just over a year ago, but after that nothing... so as I'll be 40 next month, we decided there wasn't time to waste anymore and had all the tests last year but we are 'unexplained'... so we had a cycle of IVF in November/December but sadly was unsuccessful as ended in a chemical pregnancy. So here we go again - fingers crossed it's 2nd time lucky...! If anyone else is starting soon then would be great to have the support! Xx

Thanks hobbes for advice. I guess my worry is if I don't get pregnant A while before December then I have to wait a while as no one wants to take on a pregnant nanny!! And time isn't on my side as I'll be 41 this year. I know what you mean about carrying on - it's a case of having to! Xx

Hello everyone, sending you all good wishes.

Could I ask a question? Does anyone know what the grading scale ranges from & how important it is?

Yes laurel, you can find some helpful info here www.advancedfertility.com/blastocystimages.htm
Basically grade of numbers 1-5 is the expansion grade, the higher, the better. And then the two following letters A-C is the cell mass quality.
So a 5AA would be better than say a 2BC. That's what I understand from the research I've done. You can be successful with 3 and above with good cell mass quality I believe... Again, I know I'm no doctor here! Just hope that helps at high-level.
You were expecting some results today? How'd it go?

Thank you, that is extremely useful. I'd been searching but there is such a mass out there, it all seemed to say different things.
We got our results today. We have some good news but also some inconclusives.

A lot to take in. A lot of ethical questions also for us. Also more money required for more answers, my husband wants to wait, of course I want to go ahead now.

Congratulations Ozzy, very good result. I like the expression "beautiful embryo", I think that means it is dividing very evenly.

Glad your ET went well @MushaSoturi - good news about the frostie too! xx

lulah im so sorry to read your news, look after yourself

musha congrats on your frostie, hope yr 2ww goes quickly xx

Thank you Nemo and Hope. Just got a call to say they've frozen another one today. I asked what grade the frozen ones are and today's is 4BB but yesterday's was 5BB and now I'm wondering why they didn't put that one back in instead of the 4BB? Anyone know any reason for this?

Hope everyone else is doing ok xx

There must be science and reason behind it all musha.
They transferred a 3BA in my first fresh cycle. And froze 2x 3AA's. And then for my frozen cycle, the one 3AA thawed into a 4AA, so I felt like I had to trust the decisions the embryologist makes when choosing at the time of ET.
But if in doubt, you have every right to ask your consultant directly.

Joining as well! And my first post, despite reading you ladies, and other thousands posts, for about 2,5 years...
Long story short, unexplained infertility, and due to start IVF process (long protocol) tomorrow.
All the best to us all!!!

les welcome. Though you may be better off on a different thread as we are nearly all at the end of the process. You're very welcome to chat with us all though. But maybe the may/June thread or June thread (I think there is one) would be better for you. Good luck with the process
Congrats musha on your Frosties and good luck with the 2 ww.
Hope everyone else is ok

Right! For some reason I hadn't seen that one but found it now :)
Thanks and good luck to all!!!

Good luck les!

How's everybody doing?

I'm constantly analysing how I'm feeling and Google is my worst enemy at the moment! TBH I don't really have any symptoms, I'm feeling pretty normal apart from a heavy feeling in my lower abdomen! Trying to stay calm but definitely finding the 2ww the hardest part of the whole process. Hope everyone else is doing okay!
xx

hey nemo this 2ww is just torture, isn't it. my DH has been away for work all week & i've been like a crazy woman contantly questioning any potential symptom & also lack of symptoms, and honestly (as we're all so honest here, which I love) I tested POAS this morning with BFN. it's 9dp5dt and my OTD is a day before yours, I should be waiting till Monday 1st, but i just couldn't any more, even tho deep down i've just known it was negative. again. so i'm feeling glum. not surprised. but still this sick feeling of tiny hope that monday will bring a different, official, result... urgh.

lulah how are you? testing again today?

ozzy you also in the joys of symptom spotting & google this 2ww?

Aw Bee I'm sorry to hear about your BFN, but try and stay positive it's still early days! I really hope it comes good for you on Monday! Sending hugs xx My husband is also away this weekend, so I'm worried I'm going to be going out of my mind Googling and knicker checking! Was planning on just staying at home and keeping a low profile, but now thinking it might be better to keep busy and see friends. It's tough though when they don't know what's going on! xx

It's hard not to be obsessed indeed nemo. I've seen friends 3 of the 5 nights my husbands been away, and it's nice to have had the support from chatting with the 2 that I have told. And also refreshing NOT to have spoken about it all with the other friend, who I haven't told for one night. (But always tricky when I don't crack open a bottle of wine with such friends, I'm sure they are questioning...) I really loved my other two nights, curled on my sofa, watching chick fliks (my DH refuses to watch when he is around) and absorb heat and cuddles from my little fur baby (French bulldog). Whatever you do, I hope you have some well deserved chill time nemo and a calm mind, if possible!

Thanks Bee! Glad you've been keeping busy and taking good care of yourself while DH is away. I'll have my fur baby (a mini schnauzer) for company this weekend too - they're the best aren't they?!

Hi all, sorry for the radio silence. If Weds wasn't bad enough with the BFN, I then came down with a stomach bug so have spent the last 48 hours feeling very sorry for myself! Blood test on Weds was negative so we have an appointment next week to discuss next steps.

bjones - maybe mention to your clinic about the July time off you have and see if there's anything that they can do to make it work for them? And would definitely reiterate what hobbes said about statutory maternity allowance - might take some of the financial pressure off.

hobbes - will be keeping my fingers crossed for a successful FET for you in July. Am hoping we may be able to do our FET around then too so may see you on a July thread!

musha - congrats on the extra frostie! And I wouldn't worry too much about embryo grading - the embryo I had transferred was a 5AA and didn't stick while I've read about lots of other people who've had lower grade embryos transferred and they have stuck. Like bee said, all you can do is trust your embryologist!

bee and nemo - hang in there for the rest of the tww. Will keep my fingers crossed for better news for you on Monday bee. Hope you're getting on ok too ozzy.

Hope everyone has a lovely back holiday planned! X

I'm feeling absolutely nothing, however I am only 4dp5dt. Just sore boobs & mild cramps which I've had all along anyway!
My OH also work away in the week so it's been a loooooong week!
On a hen weekend this weekend so hopefully it will go abit faster although panicking that I should be at home tucked up in bed 🙈

I honestly think it makes no difference what you do Ozzy. Obviously I'd avoid skydiving and marathons but I spent my 2ww trying to be the perfect implantation vessel - took 2 weeks off, first 3 days lying on the sofa and listening to hypnosis tracks and putting my legs up the wall to promote blood flow, then the next week being gentle and taking short 30 mins gentle strolls and deep breathing and watching funny films. Still BFN. Next time I'll take EC and ET says off but otherwise work as normal, activities as normal and change anything. I really think it either works or it doesn't. Remind me of this if I go crazy nearer the time.

Thank you lulah - I'll try not to wish the weekend away so I can OT on Monday

Hope you can enjoy distraction of hen weekend away ozzy. Just take care, but have fun and good laughs!

As you say, geeup it just works or it doesn't and we all try to just be and do perfect to know we have done our very best. No regrets. But so much of it is just out of our control. Period.

Happy weekend ladies

Thanks lulah! So sorry to hear you've been poorly on top of everything else! Take it easy and look after yourself xx

Enjoy the hen do Ozzy! Sounds like the perfect distraction to take your mind off the 2ww! :)