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?

Otters so exciting!!Many congratulations!

Hi. Thanks for the all well wishes. It hasn't quite sunk in yet and I know that we're not in the clear yet but just want to enjoy every moment as much as possible. I've called the clinic and they've booked us in for an early scan in 3 weeks time. One day at a time.
No mention of hcg or progesterone tests and I didn't think to ask. Was it offered routinely or did you guys ask for it?

jojo are you still feeling sick or was it a one off?

goodluck this thread seems to be very lucky! So pleased I joined

As I had a medicated frozen embryo transfer, progesterone is routinely tested as you don’t make your own so you rely 100% on the pessaries. I’m not sure if there’s a corpus luteum following a fresh cycle so don’t know if it’s essential to test progesterone.

I have felt a bit nauseous today but was sick only the once. I had my acupuncture today and the TCM doctor gave me a ginger based tea to tame the sicky feeling.

Is anyone else doing acupuncture? Are you more careful with your diet?

Otters my clinic don't test for hcg or progesterone.

Can I ask how long you guys are on progesterone for? My clinic gives tablets for 12 weeks then you wean off them
For 1 week.

Twickerhun, you had a FET too, didn’t you? My clinic said similar. I think at about 12 weeks the placenta takes over. I’ll probably double check with my clinic or the GP or somebody before I start weaning myself off them.

I've been going for acupuncture for a few months. I believe it helped with this first cycle of ivf. I'm seeing him again tomorrow and he said he would adjust acu pressure points depending on my hpt results today. Intrigued to see what he will do tomorrow.

My clinic said to continue progesterone until scan and I guess I'll get further instructions then

My clinic said progesterone for 10 weeks then they start to wean you off. I had a fresh cycle but I think some/all of the corpus luteum is taken out at egg collection so you still need progesterone. I couldn't understand for ages why you needed it until the dr explained to me. My clinic test progesterone before EC and ET but there don't seem to check after that. My levels were excellent so I was hoping they would take me off but I think they keep you on everything just in case. Same with clexane (blood thinning injections) - no specific reason for me to be on those either (especially at £150 per 20 pack box!).

I didn't have acupuncture or do eat properly or stop drinking alcohol/coffee throughout the treatment as my doctor said there was no evidence any of that made a difference. The only things i did do were take pregnancy multi vits and ubiquinol. Dr said they did a trial of ubiquinal and found no evidence it made any difference. Who knows!

Goodluck, that’s interesting about corpus luteum on a fresh cycle - I had no idea it gets scooped out.
It’s interesting that they would say nutrition makes no difference. From what I read, it makes a lot of difference - eg a diet rich in antioxidants helps you get embryos with less fragmentation (definitely true of my diet and embies).

Otters are you going to test more or just give it time? Goodluck and Twickerhun, have you stripped testing now?

Have you heard of the Panorama test? Apparently you can get it from week 9 so sooner than Harmony and it screens for more :)

That's interesting. My clinic also say diet and drink don't make a difference, if the egg is going to work it'll work.
10 weeks for progesterone def sounds more normal. I've read a major secondary study that suggested that the only time period when you really need to take progesterone after I vf is in the days surrounding your bfp test. After than it's unclear what the benefit is.

I tested yesterday on an IC, a lovely strong second line came up immediately. I now feel nauseous all the time so def now feel pregnant.

I'm on the July due date group, lots of ladies due end June / early July. They have a secret FB group if you want to join?

goodluck i did a fresh cycle as well. Was not aware that they take some/all of the corpus luteum! I think I will have to continue progesterone until 12 weeks

jojo I'm planning to test again on sat and every 3-4 days assuming no bleeding/spotting - still on constant knicker watch! I've booked an appointment with my GP - might ask if she will do serial hcg bloods for me.

twicker yay for the strong second line and nausea although I'm sure it's not a good feeling. How do I join the secret group? Shall I DM you?

I went for acupuncture today and he was pleased with my BFP. Said to continue weekly until 12 weeks to encourage womb lining and embie to grow.

Otters if you pm unicornberry with your fb ID she can invite you.

Morning all.

Yes, Otters/Twickerhun, I didn't know either. I think it just takes removed along with the eggs.

Twickerhun, that's interesting re progesterone. I reckon a lot of the stuff they recommend is just to hedge their bets. It doesn't really make sense to me that you need it after you are pregnant as surely your body starts churning the stuff out anyway. Anyhow, it's not expensive and it's only for another 4.5 weeks so guess I will stick with it! I would love to join the secret FB group too if possible?

I last tested on Monday when I got my 3 weeks + - will probably buy some more digital test and test this weekend. In terms of other symptoms, has anyone else noticed their boobs getting bigger? Mine have and they feel all hot and itchy! Quite annoying as one is bigger than the other. Reminded how they feel when you are breastfeeding - permanently hot and rock hard. Nice!!!

JoJo, very interesting re the Panaroma test and that clears something up for me. They offer it at the clinic I am at but I was planning to move to the Fetal Medicine Centre and have the harmony test. I though it was the same thing as the Panorama test but just with a different name. Is it really more accurate?? Would it be overkill to have the panorama test and the harmony test? Can't quite believe everything will be ok.

My boobs are still massive as I breast feed my little one still. My symptoms are an increase in breathlessness and also nausea and massive hunger. I could eat for England.
If you join the July due date group the FB group is an off shoot if that..
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/3061936-July-2018-Babies

If you PM unicornberry she admins the fb group.

Ha ha Twickers, am with you on the hunger! I have replaced with with biscuits! These early weeks are tough though when you know you are pregnant but no outward evidence.

On second thoughts, I am not sure if I'm ready for the FB group yet - maybe after the scan when it sinks in a bit more.

My boobs are bigger too but I wonder if it's the 6x Progynova daily that does it.

Twickerhun, that you for letting me know about the secret fb group. I think I might give it a bit more time before I feel confident enough to join one. But wow, still breastfeeding and pregnant again :) It'll be fab for your children to be so close in age. Are you planning to return for your other embryos in the future?

We've got 8 more blasts in the freezer and always thought that 3-4 children would be a good number to have. But we shall see how I feel in a few months or a year :D

Goodluck, the linked table compares 3 different tests. I like the look of the panorama.

www.thebirthcompany.co.uk/nipt.php

I'm also excited as I'm only a week away from my first scan! It's coming up ne t Friday morning. If that's good, then I could do the Panorama only a couple of weeks later :)

Otters, what are your next steps? Or are you just taking it easy for now?

Jojo I’ve also wondered if the pregnancy symptoms I feel are the drugs.

my scan is Friday lunch time. I’m already feeling the scan anxiety building. How do you feel about yours?

At the moment I’m thinking that we will stop at two babies but we have two more in the freezer. The only factor is our age, 40.

Twickerhun, our scans are on the same day then :) And Goodluck will follow after the weekend :)

I'm not sure what I'm feeling. I suppose a bit of excitement mixed with worry. I desperately want it to work as it feels like it's taken forever to get here. With lots of delays at every step...

I know what you mean about age... I'm going to be 37 next month and I'm thinking that if we want to carry on trying until we have 3-4 children, I could end up retiring whilst the youngest one is a young teen... That would be weird.

Goodluck, how are feeling about having another child? I know it was mixed feelings when we talked about it.

Otters, have you got any children yet? How many would you have in the perfect world?

So exciting with all the upcoming scans. I'm a few weeks behind you lot so will be checking in frequently for advice! I have a scan booked for 21st nov. I don't have any symptoms but have to tell myself that it's really early. When did you start getting symptoms?

twicker I feel the same as goodluck and don't feel brave enough to join the fb group yet. Thanks for the info. Will save it for later.

jojo this is our first one for both of us! We have 2 blastocysts in the freezer and in an ideal world we will have them all but I am now 39. Definitely want a minimum of 2 if we can manage it. I understand the worry as it's been a long journey for us too and we just want to get there.

Otters in my last pregnancy I had no symptoms until 9 weeks and even ten I think I imagined the symptoms! This time symptoms from 5 weeks. It’s so variable. Don’t worry about not having symptoms - just enjoy if you can.

Isn’t it wonderful that despite age concerns, ivf and needing treatment for infertility we can all try to plan our ideal families.

Otters, I don’t think you’re that far behind. Our transfers were on 11&12/10. How far along will you be when you go for the scan?

Twickerhun, that’s really interesting how your symptoms started so much sooner this time round.

I was sick in the the morning th other day and last night I felt very nauseous after a handful of plum tomatoes Other than that, it has just been a bit of gentle cramping on and off.

Goodluck, how are you doing? I know you mentioned feeling quite sick before. Is it getting worse?

jojo I had my transfer on 23/10 so only 12dp5dt today. Should be almost 7 weeks by the time of the scan. Is it normal to feel so anxious all the time? We are over the moon that it's worked first time but keep worrying that something is going to go wrong at some point! I'm still debating whether it's worth asking my GP for hcg blood tests. Can you tell much from a one off or do you need 2 to compare?

I’ve been anxious all the time. I think it’s natural to worry if you get this far for the first time ever.

Otters, sounds like you’re only 1.5 weeks behind. In a few weeks, it won’t even make a difference :)

With the beta hCG, the key thing is the doubling time and a vast range of numbers can be considered normal. The numbers going up could give you some reassurance but nothing is certain either way. The first scan can be quite reassuring- if the embryo is measuring on target at 7 weeks + has a strong, fast heartbeat, then your chances go up to over 95%.
I’m just waiting till the scan now.

Evening all.

Glad everyone is well. JoJo, I am no longer on oestrogen pills and my boobs are still a lot bigger, which is a bit disconcerting! No other symptoms really apart from a bit of crampy and occasional mild sick feeling. I didn't really have many pregnancy symptoms with either of my boys so not worried from that perspective.

JoJo, Twickers, your scans are much earlier than mine! Mine is on 14th (could have been from 13th but thought it was unlucky!) so still a week away. I am trying to take things in stages without looking far ahead. The 7 week scan then the 9/10 week and the panorama/harmony which is the biggie. If all that is fine then I will relax. At the moment I am still in limbo really. I was googling the stats re downs syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities and freaked myself out but then realised it's beyond our control and we would have had that risk anyway.

I am also worrying about stupid practical things like maternity leave and how I will manage the crippling cost of childcare AND school fees for DCs. Didn't really think that one through!!!

Re the 7 week scan, I am thinking through possible outcomes. First is that all is fine. But what are the alternatives? Stupid questions but if the embryo had died/stopped developing then wouldn't we know by now as we would have had bleeding etc?