4 high quality embryos at day 3 - what should I expect at day 5?

[Goodluckjonathan76]

Mid way through our first cycle of IVF. They retrieved 6 eggs and 4 fertilised. The embryologist called me on day 3 and said all 4 embryos were high quality (at least 10 cells and minimal fragmentation) and so they could keep them until day 5 or 6. I am due an update tomorrow am and probably ET tomorrow afternoon or Friday (day 5 or 6) and just trying to set my expectations for the news tomorrow. How many usually die between day 3 and 5? If we do have at least one left, what are my chances of it sticking? I've gotten so pessimistic that I've sort of ruled out it working. Should I assume it's not doing to work or should I be more hopeful?

Goodluck, I hope it's a boy for you then

Otters, how are the pessaries going for you? Still suffering? Any more unusual symptoms? And yes, I do work from home a bit - I'm either somewhere local (within 15mins usually) or at home. I'm going very part-time from January and reckon with the job being so local and part-time, I should be able to go back to work really soon.

And look - I found some very cute smaller nurseries

I went to acupuncture yesterday and had a much nicer evening - barely any sickness and heartburn. Acupuncture has been doing miracles for me for the last few months. If only the acupuncturist would stop telling me to eat meat

Is anyone going through any weird food cravings?

Sorry I’ve been awol still. I’m now off work with horrendous sickness. I’ve got some pills from the doctor today so I hope to feel better soon.

Twickers, how terrible! I hope the pills work

Twicker - hope you feel better soon. Sounds awful!

Jojo - pessaries are still a pain. Can't wait to stop them. Been feeling better this week. Still no real symptoms so not sure if it's good or bad! Love the smaller nurseries - so cute! I'm a big fan of acupuncture as well - was a sceptic to start but it's done wonders for me or at least I like to think so. He said to continue until 12 weeks then stop. Are you getting weird cravings ?

Goodluck - how are you doing and when do you get your results ?

Evening ladies. I’m still here but stepped away from the internet for a little while. AF arrived earlier this week so I’ve been feeling a little fragile through that; been some serious stuff going on at work which I’ve had to work on so been elsewhere for more hours than I like and visiting DSS and his family overnight st the weekend which included a 500+ mile drive over 2 days has all left me rather frazzled!!

Waiting to hear from consultant after he reviewed my files hopefully with good news for how we go forward from here!!

Remember - do look after yourself Hope there's good news for going forward

Hope you are ok Remember. Sounds like work might be a good distraction. Look after yourself.

JoJo, any news from the Birth Centre?

Goodluck, no news yet. I’ve been staring at my phone most of the day :)

Otters, what a pessary saga! I’ll probably carry on with acupuncture till 12 weeks and then stop too. The acupuncturist says she can see me throughout pregnancy but I’m beginning to feel like I’d rather get that to me back. And no weird cravings but I’ve gone off a lot of food and go through stages of being obsessed with stuff for a few days. Currently, can’t live without tangerines

Twickers, are the meds working for you?

Remember, sounds like a crazy long trip you did! Good luck with the consultant.

I bet, JoJo! I will be doing exactly that next Tuesday. You could hear tomorrow or Sunday as they are open over the weekend. I can't actually look past getting the results. Guess it's more likely than not that all will be fine, right?

I am 10 weeks tomorrow. 10 down, 30 to do, yay!

Jojo - that's interesting about what your acupuncturist said. Mine said till 12 weeks then come back 1 week before labour! I've really enjoyed it, more than I thought I would but it is getting a tad expensive so will be good to have a break. If I suffer with lots of symptoms later, I think I'll go back and ask if there's anything he can do. I've gone off a few things too and obsessed with fruit smoothies at the moment! Hope your test results come back soon and are good! when's your next scan?

goodluck - wow 10 weeks already! you're still waiting for results too right? when's your next scan?

twicker - how are you doing? hope you're feeling better.

remember - do keep us updated

Hi Otters

Yes, 10 weeks tomorrow. Has gone quickly. When is your next scan?

Was going to ask, is anyone intending to have half a glass of champagne at Christmas? I think I did during my last pregnancy but not sure I enjoyed it due to the guilt. The rule is no alcohol, right?

My next scan isn't until the NHS one on 19.12 so a while yet. In the meantime, I've been watching the video from the Birth Company. Goodluck, have you been watching yours?

On the booze front, I've already had 3 glasses of wine I think (on 3 different occasions). They were really small (100ml or so) and I had them with big meals. I might have something at Christmas if I feel like it. But yes, the guidance is not to have any booze at all.

Remember - big hugs to you still. I hope you continue to do ok. It’s very tough - be kind to yourself.

Goodluck I’ve had the odd sip of wine, but never a full glass (trying to hide not drinking from friends, had a sip from my glass whilst DH downed his and then swapped glasses over...). I’ll have a drink at Christmas. Never more than one glass and nothing to strong but a small amount on an occasion should be ok.

Jojo my nhs scan is also on the 19th. It’s hard waiting for them isn’t it?

Otters I went off all food this week but feeling better today. Haven’t had any cravings though.

Sorry for dissapearing for so long and not engaging with you all more - I’ve felt unbearably rough but today seems much better.

Happy 10 weeks goodluck!

Jojo how many weeks are you now? Quite similar to goodluck right?

My next scan is 15th dec at fmc.

Twicker - glad you're feeling better

Remember hope you're doing ok

Happy weekend all! Can't believe it's dec already. We are going to get our tree and put all the decorations up. A lovely festive weekend!

Back again!!

Can’t brlieve you’re all approaching 1/4 distance and that exciting time when you make ‘the’ announcement to the world and his wife!!

Good luck for scans coming up.

I spoke to my consultant yesterday; he was very disappointed that our cycle failed and said we were a couple he would have banked on success for. In some ways it’s nice that he had such optimism and shared with our disappointment.

There are a couple of things he wants to check out before we try again - one is whether my rheumatologist thinks I should increase my steroids dose for the duration of my ivf treatment and the other is to have an hsg done and he wants to see the images. Now I have to investigate getting that done sooner rather than later.

He also wants to talk to the accountants and hospital management about the level of discount he is able to offer us for future treatment as we have no embryos left to try FET with.

So my next step is seeing GP and finding out how and where we can be referred to for the hsg and, more importantly, what it will cost us!!

Happy weekend to you too Otters! I've just been shopping and bought crackers, stuff for the table, tree decorations, more presents for the boys etc so starting to feel more festive.

Remember, that all sounds really positive with your consultant. Hopefully you can relax over Christmas and start afresh in the new year.

JoJo, still no news I am guessing? Sorry to keep asking. I am measuring when I am going to get my results by when you are! Really hope we know by this time next week.

Was speaking to a good friend at work on Friday and she was a bit shocked that we hadn't told DSs, even more so that I had lied to DS1 when he found my ultrasound pic from the Birth Centre (he is always on my phone!) Feel very guilty for lying to him but would be awful to say something and then to get bad results next week. I also wouldn't want to ask him to keep it a secret from his dad. I think we will bring forward when we tell them though, maybe even to this week if we get good results from panorama. I am also seeing a very dear friend next weekend who has cancer and would love to tell her in person. When is everyone else going to tell people? Definitely NOT selling work until the new year.

Forgot to say, glad you are feeling better Twickers. Hopefully you are past the worst. I will be joining you in having a glass over Christmas!

Remember, sounds great that the consultant suggested further steps to take rather than just saying ‘bad luck’ - feels so proactive.

Twickers, glad to hear you’re feeling better. And don’t worry about not being here all the time - I can imagine that tif you’re feeling so horrendous the last thing you fancy is going on forums! Do you think it’s the meds from the GP working? Do you reckon it could be a girl? Apparently they produce higher hCG in pregnancy and that’s associated with sickness.

Otters, that’s less than 2 weeks till your next scan! The countdown begins. And it sounds like there’ll be a lot of scans around that time.

Goodluck, the results came back today. I got a call in the afternoon and the email followed afterwards. So that’s 8 days after the test.
All healthy and, as predicted, it’s a boy We’ll now stop making it a secret and will tell wider family and friends. I won’t tell work till January, though.

We’ve also been stocking up for Christmas. Waitrose has sent us a lot of -20% vouchers but there’s a min spend required. So every week, in addition to the usual shop, we’ve been adding some Christmas stuff. Another batch of voucher has just come through so it’ll be 20% till Christmas Eve. Quite handy as we’re hosting this year and there will be up to 10 people staying over!

Goodluck we aren’t telling my step kids either until at least 12 weeks. It would be so hard to tell them and then have to pass on bad news later.
I’m telling Work after Christmas but not immediately. They are planning huge redundancies and I don’t want them to put me on the list with a spurious non pregnancy related reason.

Remember that all sounds very positive and I hope your GP will be equally helpful.

Jojo - congrats on a boy and good news about the panorama tests.

Goodluck - we're meeting quite a few friends the weekend after the scan so if all is well we will tell them in person then. My family already know and currently 2 close friends as they helped me through it. Definitely not telling work till Jan at least

Twicker - glad you're feeling better and good idea not to tell work quickly especially if they are planning redundancies

We have our Christmas tree and decorations up. Still need to wrap presents and write cards tomorrow. Thank goodness it's December as the weeks will fly past with the run up to Christmas. Definitely counting down to the scan and midwife appointment which is around the same time.

I bought cheese yesterday - Waitrose had 1/2 price deal on counter cheeses so I bought a huge chunk of black bomber and a piece of oozy Brie. Still got crackers from last year. I’m working Christmas as on call manager for the care agency I work for but am also cooking for a client so sent the menu list to his daughter who has ordered it all for me - keeping busy to keep my mind off our disappointment.

My DM is in hospital quite poorly so that’s another distraction and I’m now looking at costs of private HSG tests - and recommendations?

Remember so sorry about your DM. I had my jag on the nhs so I don’t have any reccomendations sorry.

Jag? Hsg

Thanks for that Twickerhun; I have a feeling that it’s not something my GP can request (or, if he can there’s probably a long wait) so I will need to be referred to have it done privately - I might be surprised though!!

Remember, I had an HSG (is that where they run dye through you) at the Portland Hospital for around £600. Sure it can get it elsewhere for cheaper.

JoJo, that is amazing news! Are you thrilled? Do you already have DC (sorry, can't remember)? Either way a boy is fab. Bracing myself for a girl mainly due to your theory, although I am holding onto classic IVF and all 5 day blasts being more likely to be boys. I read 70% somewhere. All mine were 3s although we didn't have ICSI - not sure if that makes a difference. Anyway, main thing is that it is healthy. Do they just report it as high risk or low risk?