BFP after IVF: any other nervous ladies in need of a handhold?

[wombats]

I've had my BFP after our first FET and in a bit of a state analysing symptoms/lack of symptoms. Had two losses prior to starting IVF so really can't get my head round what might be normal or not. Clinic will scan me at six weeks, but that is two very long weeks away! Anyone else in a similar position? xxx

@Bruges21 completely agree with @wombats brown is old blood and completely fine which hopefully the clinic will reassure you with.

I went to see a psychic yesterday. It was crazy!!!! She asked me if I had come to see her with a specific question and I said yes, she asked me if it was a spiritual question or an earthly one, I said earthly. Keep in mind the only info this women has on me is that my name is Becky. She sat back looked at me and said, I see babies around you, do you have children? I said no and she asked if I wanted them? I said yes one day. She then when mmmmm would you know if you have conceived already? I was shocked! She goes it's been a long time coming hasn't it? May I ask if you had IVF!!!! Was flabbergasted!!!! She goes do you know that your having a girl!!!! Xxxx

Thanks Becky and wombats for words of reassurance. Not heard back from clinic yet but midwife happened to call this morning to arrange my booking appointment. She didn't seem worried and just gave usual advice to call back if red blood, cramps etc.

Had few more tiny specks of brown but nothing else. We have scan booked for panorama test at weekend so will probably just hold out for that unless anything changes in the meantime. Was just beginning to relax a bit about the pregnancy, this has set me back on that score!

Hi bruges sorry you've had a scare. Everyone says brown spotting is nothing to worry about, but its hard not to. At least you haven't long to wait till the next scan for reassurance. X

Hello Bruges,
Sorry to hear about your scare. I am sure it is nothing to worry about as decaf said. I had some brown spotting a few weeks ago and on advice from my clinic I upped my progesterone which seems to have worked. Glad you don't have long to wait for you scan. I booked my scan and harmony test for two weeks time. Time is dragging at the moment....x

Bruges, sorry to hear about the spotting. As good as your chances are of it being nothing at all, I know it’s impossible not to worry.
Becky, am very curious to see if you are having a girl!

Bruges, how did you get on overnight? Glad you are one sleep closer to your scan.

Becky, can't wait to find out if yee having a girl. What made you see a psychic, if you don't mind my asking?

Daisy, I'm booking my Harmony for next week, scanxiety is already creeping in

Dame, I'm envious of your maternity trousers. I'm so bloated these days I look like I'm six months gone. But also far too nervous and superstitious to buy anything! Making do with unbuttoning my top button and looping a hair bobble for now

Hi ladies
Hope you don't mind me joining. I got my positive result about a week ago now but official testing day was Sunday. First scan is due on 17/5 - which will be exactly seven weeks.
Last week I was experiencing lots of mild cramps. Since the weekend I haven't been really been experiencing many symptoms apart from sore boobs and constipation. Getting a little worried that there may be a reason for this. The next couple of weeks are going to really drag.

@becky114 I want to see a psychic four years ago and she told me that babies were in my future but I would need a little help to get there and to go and visit the doctor to get the ball rolling. Throughout the the ttc process I have hung on to that and there will be a positive outcome at the end and I just need to be patient.

Hi All, sorry have been quiet, have been feeling really rubbish with the nausea and tiredness. Am 10 weeks now so am hoping this is the peak of it.

Bruges sorry you’ve had a scare, I’ve had a few spotting episodes as well and it’s such a worry. I hope you are doing ok and this is soon behind you. Always something to stress about!

I’ve been struggling to fit in my clothes and the other night realised just how little clothing I could comfortably leave the house in! So have given in and ordered some belly bands (stretchy material things you wear round your waist to cover the fact you can’t do your buttons up) plus a bundle of used maternity clothes from eBay. I was trying to hold off til 12 weeks but I just thought “sod this, I need to be comfy”!

Hope everyone else has a good day

Welcome Winnie and congratulations! We all understand the anxiety and stressing about symptoms, or lack of them, so you're in good company here. The waiting for scans is really hard, I found that keeping busy helped. And I know it's impossible not to worry but try not to stress too much about symptoms coming and going, it seems to be completely normal at these early stages.

No more spotting or discharge today so breathing a sigh of relief about that, thanks for all your kind messages, really helped calm me down. I did notice on my period tracker app that my period would have been due yesterday, might be a coincidence but wondering if it could be connected with the spotting.

Rational sorry to hear you've been feeling unwell, hopefully the comfy clothes will help. Wombats I'm the same, too nervous to even look at maternity clothes but seriously bloated by the evening, such a relief to change into my PJ or joggers soon as I get home!

Welcome and congrats Winnie. Not much from me, except now very anxiety about my scan and the NIPT Thursday. Am Trying to focus on other stuff to stay calm, but fairly impossible.
X

@Decafplease good luck for Thursday, I have everything crossed for you.

@Bruges21 Glad your feeling a little better and that there's no more spotting. It's all so scary sometimes isn't it, this knicker watching is very overwhelming.

@TryingToStayRational You really have had a rough time with it in terms of sickness, I hope today is a less nauseous day for you.

@Winnie56 Welcome to the group my lovely and best of luck with your scan on 17th.

@wombats I went to see a psychic because I'm so worried I will miscarry. It's like I'm constantly waiting for the second shoe to drop. I don't think it's really hit me yet, after years of trying that I'm pregnant, when I went to my scan, I could believe that that little baby was inside of me???????

Last week I had sickness everyday but it seems to eased off again, my main thing at the moment is that I'm having all sorts of twinges and stitch sensations across my back and stomach, I'm finding it very uncomfortable sleeping on my side at night time. I have another scan on Friday and if baby is still there I think I will be a pregnancy pillow. I will be 9 weeks then.

Xxxx

Hi all,

@Winnie, congratulations and welcome! The anxiety is unbelievable, the early days especially. Agree with the others that the symptoms really do come and go. And if your test day was Sunday, it's still quite early, and many women wouldn't even have realised they'd missed a period at this point, so do try not to worry if you can even though I know that's impossible but feel free to chat here when you're in need of a handhold. I think we're just hyper aware of our symptoms due to many cycles of TTC and then IVF.

@Bruges, happy to know the spotting has stopped. Is it just two more sleeps until your scan? I have also heard that it's normal to have spotting when you're due on for your cycle so hopefully was just that.

@Rational, sorry you've been feeling so poorly! I do hear the sickness tends to ease up around 10-14 weeks so hopefully you'll be feeling a bit better soon. The belly bands are a good idea, I wish I could let my superstitions go. Have you got an NIPT this week as well?

@Decaf, good luck with the NIPT tomorrow, got everything crossed for you. The scanxiety is awful but know we are all thinking good things for you!

@Becky, I have that feeling too, feels unbelievable/too good to be true that I'm actually carrying a little baby with a heartbeat inside, especially as symptoms vary so much. Wish I just had a little window into my womb and could see the little heart beating all the time. Sending loads of good thoughts for your scan on Friday.

I'm still knackered, symptoms come and go, feel quite sick one day and then practically normal the next. Cue worry and then gladly feel poorly again. I'm at least starting to think this is a normal pattern and (dare I say??) feeling a bit more relaxed about it. I've booked my harmony test for end of next week and will have scan that day as well, can already feel the anxiety building. Has anyone else bought a doppler or considering one? I feel the temptation for reassurance is high but also seems they might be fiddly and provide false reassurance. Just don't know how I'll hold out until next Friday, as if it's bad news, would want to know right away.

We bought a Doppler when we had DD because the time between 12 and 20 weeks when you don’t have any scans and don’t feel movement is very weird (but it’s definitely a different kind of anxiety to pre-12 weeks, don’t get me wrong). We must have used it three or four times. Sometimes it was really calming to use it but once we couldn’t find a heartbeat for nearly an hour, and of course, once you start looking for it, you can’t stop until you find it. Apparently it can often be false reassurance because you pick up your pulse, not the foetal heartbeat, but tbh false reassurance is fine with me up until the point that I could actually make a difference to the outcome by e.g. going to A&E.
Looking at the resale value you can probably resell them for a fair amount and we figured it was cheaper than an extra private scan.

Winnie Welcome, sorry I think I missed your first post! Hope time goes quickly and smoothly for you these next few weeks

Bruges glad things have settled for you

Decaf hope your NIPT appt is ok. Mine is tomorrow too after work so will be an anxious day I think

becky I hope you feel less anxious soon, but totally understand what you mean - it’s really hard not to worry. Hopefully the next few weeks will soon go by without a problem and you’ll feel less worried.

Wombats I hope you feel less stressed as well. I can understand you wanting a doppler - I hadn’t thought of that myself but might think about it.

As for me, I’m feeling truly awful today, so have been lying down since about 4pm and am now in bed. The nausea is exhausting and it’s getting me down quite a bit this week. But I know there’s nothing for it but to hang in there and hope it improves soon, so just gotta do that. I feel like the worst times coincide with my cyclogest, so I’m really hoping when I stop that at 12 weeks I’ll improve a little at least. I’m so over sticking bullets up my bum three times a day!

Welcome Winnie and congratulations! As everyone has said symptoms def seem to come and go. Mine always seem to have disappeared when I wake up in the night to go to the loo which always sends me into a panic!

Rational – sorry to hear you are feeling so rough. I hear you on the pessaries. Absolutely sick of them but also terrified to stop as I have always had very low progesterone levels.

Bruges – glad to hear the spotting has stopped – you could be right about the period breakthrough bleeding. Have heard that happen to a few people.

Decaf – will be thinking of you tomorrow, hope it goes well.

Becky – Sounds like I am having similar sensations to you. Feeling really uncomfortable tonight and hugely bloated. I also keep getting sharp twinges when I move in my right side and a few other shooting pains when I breathe in. This is making me quite anxious as it is different to the period type pains I’ve been getting.

Wombats – The varying symptoms can be a worry can’t they? I felt sick as a dog yesterday and knackered and today hardly any nausea after about 10am and lots of energy. I was thinking about getting a doppler but like Sylvie says I would be worried it might make me more anxious.

@Decafplease and @TryingToStayRational good luck today xxxxxx

Thinking of @decaf and @rational today and sending loads of good thoughts! Got everything crossed for you both, please let us know how you get on.

Fingers crossed for everyone with scans today!
Daisy, I also have the sharp shooting pains in the ribs and side when breathing. Also I’n feeling a bit breathless at times. I’m guessing it’s just my insides rearranging themselves — it’s crazy how far everything has to move up to fit the uterus in.
Rational, for me the nausea was definitely connected to the progesterone as I had it on the failed cycles too. This time round the nausea stopped within half a day of stopping progesterone, and as this didn’t line up with the end of the first trimester I‘m guessing that was it.
Also I learned last week I‘ve been putting suppositories in back to front (I have paracetamol ones for the inflammation, not that they make a blind bit of difference). Haven’t tried the right way yet but hoping it’s a little more comfortable!

Hi guys there's something I need to mention because it's really bothering me and Im wondering if any of you are having anything similar. I haven't asked because it's a little embarrassing and I'm really nervous about it. For the past few weeks I have had slight pains in my vagina where my cervix is, they are not all the time but it got me worrying about my cervix and last night for the second time when I was putting in a suppository after my shower my cervix got in the way and I noticed it felt open - like half the tip of my fingertip. This is my first pregnancy and I'm scared it's signalling that baby will get pushed out as it grows? That or I could be just paranoid. It's probably scananxiety about tomorrow xxx

Hi all.
Thanks for all the good wishes, it really helps to feel we have a little squad here!
Scan was good. Looks like a real baby now, had a little hand up across its eyes to sheild from light the sonographer said! Bloods handed in for NIPT, results should be back in 10-12 days. In a way, its harder, having had the scan to contemplate bad news. I am going to be a wreck till i know!
rational good luck for your appointment- its later today right?

Thanks, becky and wombats. Mine is 5pm so gonna be a long wait! DP can’t get off work early so I’m going to be on my own which I’m a bit annoyed about, grrr.

Dame that’s good to know about cyclogest. I despise the stuff, I just know my body doesn’t like it, but of course I’m frightened to go against the doctors advice and stop taking it as if anything went wrong I would blame myself. Only about 10 days to go, yay! Sorry if you already know this but if you find insertion tricky you can use a bit of lube (eh KY jelly) and also squatting down should make it easier.

becky could you ask your clinic or midwife about your cervix? I’m sure someone could do a quick examination and reassure you. It’s probably nothing to worry about but at least then you would know for sure. And don’t feel embarrassed, it’s a perfectly reasonably thing to ask about!

becky hadnt seen your post. I have also random pains very low down, so much is moving around, to make space for growing uterus though. They will definitely check your cervix today. Hope it goes well! X

Congrats @decaf, wonderful news to see your little bean. Fingers crossed for a short 10-12 days. Did you get any photos for your baby book?

@Daisy, I've not had sharp pains but been quite short of breath. Even just getting up to the loo from bed my heart is racing and I'm huffing and puffing.

@Dame, I've been doing cyclogest in the back passage as well, no faffing about with lying down afterwards and ruined knickers. @becky, perhaps that is an option for you too? My consultant said it's equally effective in the front or rear and then perhaps not irritating to your cervix. Might be good to ring your clinic to let them know about your concerns? As everyone said, lots of things are moving around (at 9 weeks I've read the womb has gone from the size of a plum to a grapefruit already ) so makes sense to be having funny twinges.

Rational, sorry your DH can't be with you today. We'll all be sending loads of good thoughts at 5.

I've been feeling quite nauseous and tired past couple of days, work day is dragging and I'm mostly sat at my desk eating crackers and watching the clock! Thrilled that we've got a bank hol Monday so I can have a bit of rest.

Yay decaf sorry we crossed posts so I only just saw yours now. Great news on scan. I leave for mine in about 2 hours so am feeling the nerves. Everything crossed for good results for both of us! 😊

Becky, I‘ve had pains in the cervix but no idea what it’s supposed to feel like to the touch (after all the bleeding I‘ve been leaving it alone and I put the pessaries in very low down). I think it’s supposed to be soft in early pregnancy and it then gets harder and longer but probably you have to feel a few dozen cervixes to know what that really means.
I know they can see and your cervix on the ultrasound but generally don’t look unless you ask, so you could ask tomorrow.
Otherwise maybe your GP?