Trying to conceive baby#2 following ivf treatment for #1

[lucieloos]

I thought I would start this thread as I can't see anything similar. We underwent many rounds of icsi and following a couple of bfns, and an ectopic pregnancy we were finally blessed with our beautiful daughter last year.

We recently started thinking about baby no 2 and had 4 frozen embryos of which 2 had been tested and found to be chromosomally normal so are meant to have a better chance. We didnt have the other 2 tested.

A couple of weeks back we had our first fet with one of the tested embryos and got a bfp super early at 4dp5dt. Sadly by 8dpt the line was barely visible and resulted in a chemical pregnancy. I've been feeling really down about it as this was meant to be a super duper embryo with no genetic problems which they said was the main reason embryos fail.

I thought it would be easier trying for #2 and of course it is in a way as I realise how lucky I am to have had a baby but I can feel the infertility fog starting to descend again as I realise although I've had a brief respite I will never be like my fertile friends and I do really want another baby and a sibling for my little girl.

Im feeling a bit negative at the moment. We will probably go back for the other tested embryo in the near future but I can't see how I would ever get lucky enough to get 2 bfps in a row. These things just don't happen to me so just not too hopeful about it at all. We said that if we used all of our frosties with no success we would be happy with what we have but already I am thinking should I do more fresh cycles. I will be 39 soon though so time isn't on my side for that.

Anyway just wondering if anyone else is in a similar situation and would like to share the journey. Please come and say hi.

Oh also, the pain/cramps is much less now. No sore boobies though still...

Congratulations Jen. That's great news although understand if you're feeling cautious. Always one hurdle after another but you're out of the starting blocks!

I haven't been on for ages as was logged out and then too lazy to log back in!

We actually did a fet recently which sadly didn't work - annoying as it was a pgs tested embryo so was hoping we might get lucky - especially as my doc seemed confident! Now debating when to go again - timing doesn't work next month so would be Oct and then wondering whether to wait til post Christmas as don't want the pre twelve week worry and stress.

Anyway! Has anyone else had a transfer with pgs tha didn't work?? It was actually a chemical really as got an early positive which faded. :( feeling v flat

Hi choc both myself and snow ⛄️ n here had chemicals with our first pgs embryos and then our second ones work so don't be too disheartened.

Jen I think the digi is only just about due to change at 10dpt so I would give it a couple more days and try again.

jen that is amazing news - FX you have a late starter and all will be well. As lucie said I wouldn’t worry about the digi- esp as you know implantation will have occurred on the later side as you’ve tested previously. Sending good luck vibes your way, really hope this sticks.

choc yes as lucie said we both had chemicals with PGS embryos. So annoying as the clinics make out as if once you’ve got a PGS embie it’s a done deal. But second time round we were both fine. We both did medicated fets second time round though (vs natural fets on first attempt) - will you do the same? I am so impatient I can’t imagine waiting til Post Xmas but know what you mean about the stress!

Thanks for replying lucie and snow and v interesting that you both had chemicals!! Glad I'm not the only one and yup, doc seemed v confident - in fact he said he'd had 100 per cent success with pgs this year so good I'm bucking that trend.....!!!

I did party medicated - he added in estrogen and progesterone but I didn't down reg. I also didn't do intralips, prednisone etc this time which I did with my son. I was sceptical whether I needed it as never tested for immune issues but guess we'll have to go down that road next time.

snow know exactly what you mean about being impatient - I was adamant I'd wait til the new year but I'm already trying to work out timings for an earlier cycle!

Glad it worked second time for you both and thanks v much for replying. Did you go quite quickly after your chemical or wait a bit?

lucie went the cycle straight after, I waited one cycle between and then went again - I needed a little break & had some timing issues.

I didn’t downreg the second time but added immunes - pred, aspirin, clexane and one infusion of intralipids (forgot to do the second one!). I think once you’ve had a chem it’s sensible to throw the kitchen sink at it all.

Thanks snow - that's really helpful. How many weeks are you now and how old is your first if you don't mind me asking?? I've been totally wiped out these last few weeks - not sure whether its been the drugs or just an illness and makes me wonder how ill cope being pregnant with a little one

Yes I went back again straight away and did medicated instead of natural fet but didn't down reg but did the full pred, intralipids etc. I'm now 25 weeks pregnant. Really hope you have better luck next time

Excellent news @Jenbot78! Fingers crossed for a happy and healthy 9 months.

So sorry to hear your FET failed @Chocolateandwineplease27 but good luck for next time, you have a good chance.

AFM it all went a bit Pete Tong recently. Work threatened me with dismissal as my performance was under par. I haven't given myself time to process what happened, I just kept carrying on and my work was affected badly by it. So I am going to take some time off work and go and see a counsellor. Actually the threat of getting sacked helped in a way - every time I feel down at work I stop myself thinking about it and concentrate on the task I'm doing.

This does mean though that my plan to do another cycle in October has to be put on hold. There is no way I can take time off and go through the emotions of a cycle whilst I'm under probation at work .

On the flip side, DH went to see a sperm specialist so we are waiting to hear back from him to see if he can help DH and maybe we could try naturally. Time is running out tho as I'm 40 in 5 months!

Why is life so hard.

Congratulations jen! Wishing you a healthy and straightforward pregnancy.

Sorry about the FET didn't work chocolate. Good luck for next time!

It sounds like you've been having a rough time Twinkle. The work situation sounds hard but I'm glad you've found a positive, and hopefully things will improve. When will your DH get his results?

AF finally arrived for me so back to injecting myself. Whoop!

choc my son is 19 months now, I’m 20w preg. It has been a bit of a horrendous pregnancy as I’ve been vomiting a lot and tbh it has been a real struggle. Have been extremely fatigued and am just bashing on through. Sorry that’s probs not that helpful!

Sorry to hear you’ve been having a rough time at work twinkle. It’s so hard to stay focused when you’re going through treatment. Hope you can figure it out ok.

twinkle that sounds bloody tough - so so hard to stay focus and I definitely didn't realise what an impact it had on my work until recently. I hope you can compartmentalise and be as kind to yourself as possible. Good that you're having some time off to regroup - it's so draining.

Thanks again lucie for the info and snowy v sorry to hear you're having a rough time of it - that's definitely my fear - getting pregnant is so bloody difficult and then that's just the start of it! My logical side is telling me I need to wait so I don't over stress but easier said than done!

genghis good luck with the jabbing!!

SO good to hear from everyone on this board! Sorry the pregnancies are tough going, chocolate is right, all so bloody draining!

Twinkle sorry to hear about work. Is SO tough keeping it all together. Last week when I started spotting was really tough as I am a therapist and had to see a client like IMMEDIATELY after. It was bad, and I found I had to work so hard to keep it together and felt terrible for the woman I was seeing.

Chocolate yes agree with other ladies, throw the kitchen sink in. I am on prednisolone and was for DD. I have definite immune issues-Hashimotos- so was advised to do so after IVF1 ended in a couple. Also as a thyroid warrior I must advise all ladies to make sure you get yours checked before your cycles! Thyroids can go haywire after pregnancy. I’ll get off my soapbox now.

Genghis good luck with the stabbing!

AFM, I am still stressing out and worrying about a chemical pregnancy outcome. I did three more tests (!) today and felt they were quite faint. I hope you guys don’t mind me posting a pic. From left to right; a shit Wilko one (20miu) then First Response then the one the clinic gave me (but wee was quite diluted.) I’mm 11DP 5DT.

I hope no-one minds me bringing up difficult stuff and tell me to eff off if you would rather not discuss it, but if I were having a chemical pregnancy would I be bleeding now? Or would it be when I came off the drugs? Not crampy like I was a few days ago (well minor twinges but not like the period pains.) But no sore boobs. No symptoms much at all.

Aaaaarghhh! The anxiety is just killing me 😢😕 feeling so fed up.

Jen, the lines are faint but the only tests I trust are frer but you haven't bought the early result ones that is the standard one you are using and the lines are fainter on those. Do you have a beta booked in?

Thanks lucie for that info, I hadn’t realised that there was a difference in the tests. My clinic doesn’t do betas, I wish it did I think it might be easier. OTD is Wednesday so will do again then!

Could you get some betas done jen? Just to put your mind at rest.

Agree with getting betas done if possible Jen. I get your anguish though, I had to stop testing after getting my bfp as I was going mad thinking lines were fainter/darker etc etc. Also, not to sound patronising or downplaying your concerns, don't forget morning sickness/sore boobs don't always happen straight away, and that each pregnancy is different. I hope that's not too cheesy/offensive!

Ladies, thanks so much for your messages, they really have helped! And no Genghis definitely not offensive at all! I have stepped away from the tests today but will test on OTD (tomorrow) and see what they say.

Hope the test went OK today Jen - keeping fingers crossed

Thanks chocolate, tested again today. Not much darker really, only a fraction and ONLY if you really look! . Cue mad anxiety/panic/despair/excessive analysis of earlier pictures!! Spoke to clinic who gave me a date for scan and didn't seem overly concerned, saying that lines can take a while to darken. I don't really know what to think anymore...Will test again I think next week, as advised by clinic and then hold tight for scan.
One thing that is positive (excuse the pun) is that my nipples are now sore. So this makes me think that things could be heading in the right direction.

Sadly my clinic don't do beta testing and I don't even know where to look to get this. PLUS we are going to Spain for a wedding this weekend (child free!!!) and it is my husband's 40th tomorrow. There is a part of me that finds the waiting to test so exhausting (was awake from 3am last night due to anxiety for morning testing) that I just want to put it to one side for a couple of days if that makes sense? It is taking over my every thought and is really affecting my sleep waiting to test.

Tell you what, if this did turn out to be a CP would be very gutted as it's a free bar in Spain at the wedding!

Not good news from me I’m afraid. Did a pregnancy test today and no line anymore. It must have been a chemical pregnancy 😕. Not sure where we’ll find the strength to go on with this journey- it has been such a tough few weeks.

So sorry Jen chemicals are hard. I had one before this current pregnancy. Take some time and you will find the strength again. Thinking of you.

Oh @Jenbot78, I am so so sorry

Oh bloody hell Jen - I'm so sorry. You poor thing - very rough for you both. Thinking of you xx

So sorry jen. Chemicals are awful. Just absolutely sucks. As lucie says, take some time to take care of yourself. All my love xxxx