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

Yes I'm another one with the huffing and puffing when I walk uphill or upstairs. Going out on a walk with family later so not sure how I'm going to explain this sudden decline in fitness levels! Have been nervous about exercising which is just part of the overall anxiety I think, but definitely going to start swimming again because really been missing that and midwife said is one of best forms of exercise to do.

Hope everyone is having a great sunny bank holiday

Congratulations, Bruges!
Wombats, when is your GD screening? (Mines at 25 weeks and I figure I still have a little while to cut back on the carbs.)
Today I‘ve suddenly gone from being more comfortable in maternity clothes to not being able to fit in anything else, I didn’t realise it would creep up so fast. I don’t look pregnant though, just like I ate all the pies.

Bruges, swimming sounds delightful. I feel so massive these days I'd love to just float!

Dame, I haven't got the screen booked yet, but I reckon around 25 weeks as well. How many weeks are you now?

I'm massively bloated today, honestly look about six months gone. Nausea has almost gone for the past two days but trying not to worry too much. Scan Friday, hoping for the best, but bracing for the worst.

Has anyone else had their first midwife appointment? I was referred by my GP for midwife/consultant booking at 7 weeks but haven't heard anything yet (10 wks now).

How's everyone else getting on? A bit quiet here, hope it's just enjoying sun and anxiety levels decreasing!

Yes really bloated here too wombats, gets worse in afternoon and evening. Combined with all the bruises over my stomach from clexane injections it's not a great look! But obviously not complaining if it means everything progressing as it should. Good luck for your scan on Friday, are you getting NIPT bloods at same time?

I saw GP after 8 week scan. Midwife then called me couple of days later and I had booking appt and bloods following week. Might be worth calling them to chase up?

How is everyone else? Good luck for everyone waiting for scans and blood results x

Hi I'm still here. I'm sitting here patiently waiting for my first scan next Thursday.
No symptoms apart from sore/big boobs but feel that even that symptom is less then it was. So nervous about the scan. I just don't feel pregnant but also not sure what I am supposed to be feeling.

I spoke to my friend last night and with her two pregnancies her morning sickness didn't start till 11 weeks. She just felt tired before then. Which has reassured me.

Hi all!
The bloating has finally driven me to wear a pair of maternity trousers today! I ordered them last week, but have been too superstitious to actually try them. DH convinced me to just try them on this morning & they were so comfortable I couldn’t bear take them off again. Crafty man!
Now just waiting on NIPT test results. Clinic said it is good, we will get a letter in the mail, if anything concerning, they will call me. So anytime my phone rings, my heart skips.
I too saw my midwife after 8w scan, got a letter from hospital i choose with gp in about 10 days, the appointment is when i am 13w, so rather long wait. But you shoul have heard by now, definitely give your gp a call wombats

Hi ladies, alls ok this end I think. Had a bit of a scare on Monday as had some brown watery discharge which I have never had before, I have read Brown is fine but it's one thing reading it and then seeing it for yourself! Currently waiting for my pregnancy pillow to arrive today, it may be early but I'm so sick and tired of the discomfort I have at night and all the thrashing about trying to get comfy. My card arrived in the post yesterday so I get free prescriptions but still waiting for the date of my 12 week scan which had t arrived yet, will give it another week and call them if I haven't received anything xxx

Wombats I saw midwife at 8 weeks - at my GP surgery you just call up when you know you’re pregnant and they give you an appointment at 8-10 wks. Probably different in different places but reckon it is worth a call just to chase up.

Bruges bless you with your Clexane bruises! I’m probably joining the Clexane club at 28 weeks cos my Nan had a DVT in the 1980s, plus there’s the age and IVF factors too. I’ll find out when I see the consultant next month. I hear it is stingy?

Winnie the waiting is so rubbish. I hope it goes fast for you! Try not to worry about symptoms, I know so many people who felt absolutely fine and had healthy babies - it’s so variable.

Decaf I got a big bundle of maternity clothes second hand from eBay and they are brilliant. Elastic waistbands are the way forward. Finally I can sit down comfortably without undoing buttons. There is a lovely stretchy maxi skirt in the bundle which will be perfect for summer. I sort of wish I had a proper bump instead of the “eaten too many pies” look, just cos I feel a bit self-conscious, but am trying not to care about such things. I’m also massively on edge about NIPT results - it’s so hard not knowing when they will arrive and exactly how. Apparently I will get an email if all is ok and a call if not. So like you I’m all jumpy if my phone rings. And refreshing my emails too much. DP is oblivious and is sure everything will be fine so I feel a bit alone worrying. I’m sure it is too early for a result today anyway so I should stop fretting!

becky sorry you had a scare, it’s stressful when that happens. Glad it sounds like just a random blip for you. I might have to look into those pillows. Though lately it has been the heat keeping me awake - I’m like a giant hot water bottle and the weather on top of that has been stifling at night. I think I’m part Viking or something cos I’m hopeless in heat!

I thought I was feeling a bit better yesterday but I think it was just cos I’d had a few relaxing days off. Feeling sick and shattered as usual again today. Oh well, just gotta keep buggering on and hope for the best!

Hope everyone else is doing ok

Bruges, yes I'll have scan and Harmony bloods on Friday. Have you got maternity trousers yet? They are so tempting but I'm convinced I'll jinx myself if I buy them too early. I have been having some success with peppermint tea in the evenings.

Winnie, the waiting before the first scan is absolutely dreadful. I didn't have many symptoms then, either. Mostly sore boobs and feeling a bit tired.

Decaf congrats on the comfy trousers! Fingers crossed for normal results for you. Did they say when they might be in?

Becky sorry you've had a scare. Might it have been from the scan last week? Hope it stays away and let us know how you get on with the pillow, hope you can get some rest.

Rational glad you've had a bit of a break from the sickness, I reckon you're getting near the point where it clears.

I've had a bit of nausea again today, but veeeery mild, and not feeling as shattered, so trying not to panic. Massive scanxiety and trying to carry on but seem to have lost all common sense and can't stop fixating on missed miscarriage or some other terrible outcome

Sending good thoughts to all xx

Wombats, I‘m 16 weeks now so the screening is 9 weeks away. As my latest craving is for really wholemeal bread, the kind with lots of seeds, I‘m hoping to find it easier to not eat much junk food.
I tried wearing a pair of normal leggings yesterday that I have that happen to have a thick elastic waistband that I could move to quite far down the hips and they were as comfortable as maternity things. Just in case you want to try and find some normal more comfortable clothes that don’t tempt fate.
I am having a huge roseacea outbreak that has got to be pregnancy related as I‘ve had it completely under control for years. Over the course of one day more than 100 spots have appeared (in the worst times before, I had maybe 5 or 6) and the worst part is, it burns like a sunburn as weil as looking awful. Hoping to get a dermatologist appointment not too far in the future.

becky sorry to hear you had a scare!
bruges I remember the clexane bruises only too well! Made me look like a crazed junkie. Was advised to stop them when i had those 3 big bleeds in my 7th week. rational they are stingy, but not too bad. Icing the area helps when it gets too bad. How are you holding up waiting for yhe NIPT results?
wombats the results could be anytime from today to Wednesday next week. Finding it really hard to concentrate on anything else now.
Hi to everyone else. X

Decaf I’m exactly the same, blimmin nightmare trying not to think about it! My Mum said when she was pregnant with me she didn’t worry at all really and there were no scans in those days. With my sister a few years later she had a scan and then kept being told she was having a giant baby and it was going to be impossible and so on, and then there were more scans and they kept going on about how the baby would be enormous (my Mum is tiny) and would get stuck. Anyway after all that she was born naturally at full term in a few hours and weighed just under 8lb. So although we are lucky to have lots of checks available to us it can certainly bring extra stress! Fingers crossed it brings us reassurance

Hi everyone - I don't really feel like I'm ready to be on this board properly yet, as just got BFP from our most recent FET - I'm 9dp5dt. I tested with FRER 3 days ago and was surprised and delighted to see 2 lines, but today had blood test to confirm the BFP and was only 56... which is just over their threshold for getting you back in for another test to check doubling... I'm worried that if I tested positive 3 days ago, it should be higher than that by now? Anyone else had similar? Need a hand hold til 3 weeks time when have scan...

Hobbes - welcome! I had a similar situation early on too. I had positive on home test at 10dp5dt and my first blood test was 2 days later. My clinic retests if the result is under 150 at that point and mine was 108, so I had to go back two days later for a retest. I was also spotting so was not feeling confident at all. Fortunately two days later my result was over 300 so they were happy that was a true BFP. I’m 11 weeks now.

Nobody can guarantee anything for you at this stage, but if your HCG has at least doubled in 48 hours then that’s the best indication things are on track. Everyone’s HCG levels are different so try not to fret about how yours compare with anyone else’s - it’s all about that doubling.

Best of luck - it’s an anxious time but we all understand x

Welcome Hobbes, and congratulations!

Oh and isn’t a FRER sensitive to 10 mIU/mL? Meaning that it could have been day 1, 10; day 2, 20, day 3, 40? (Or working down, 56, 28, 14.) So it could be fine and you might just have a late implanter.

Congrats hobbes lovely to see another graduate of the 3+ lucky group here! Hope it all works out & your next reading is nice and high.
So i got a call from the clinic - once i stopped hyperventilating i heard congrats, NIPT is back normal! Turns out it was the same doc who did my transfer & she was so excited she called me, despite the clinic policy!
Can’t quite believe it yet, i’m actually having a baby! 😀
rational hope you get good news too soon. And if they do call you, dont panic immediately- might just be an over enthusiastic doc!
X

Oh @Decafplease that is lovely news! So glad you got your reassurance!

Congratulations, Decaf! Did you find out the sex?
Isn’t it strange when you start to realise that you have an almost 100% chance of having an actual baby by Christmas?

@Decafplease congratulations hun. @Hobbes39 wishing you all the best with blood tests I know it's worrying. My first blood test was 61 and one week later was 990. I'm now 10 weeks pregnant 🤰 hopefully. Still worrying though as all my symptoms have disappeared since scare so I'm terrified baby is no longer there. Xxx

Brilliant news decaf really happy for you. Your heart must have been in your mouth when phone rang but brilliant to get good news!

Becky hope the brown spotting has stayed away. Do you have another scan booked soon?

Congratulations Hobbes! As others have said it's all about the HCG doubling rather than individual levels as they seem to vary so much. Are you having a repeat done? My clinic didn't do bloods at all, so I just used CB digital tests to check was progressing though looking back that caused a load of extra stress too.

After having hardly any symptoms suddenly started feeling awful yesterday, threw up twice overnight and today can hardly get out of bed due to nausea. Wondering if I've got a bit of a bug as seems strange to suddenly kick it at this stage (10+3 today). Not bought any maternity clothes yet wombats, will probably try to manage till my 12wk scan, 2 weeks to wait. Due back in work tomorrow so hoping to somehow feel better before then xx

Thanks everyone! It’s slowly sinking in now.
dame the sex will be in the official letter, thought it would be nice for dh & me to find out together.
bruges hope you feel better.
hobbes will be thinking of you next few weeks. Really hope this is your time. X

Had my first midwife appointment today, she was so lovely and supportive, she went through treatment herself and was my age at the time she had her son. Hopefully I'll get my scan date soon, I have a horrible feeling they're going to try and give me a date for when I'm away on holiday in 2 weeks!!

Glad to hear everyone else is doing well

Congratulations @Decafplease - that is wonderful news! Must feel amazing to be able to relax a bit now!
Thank you all for the supportive messages. As Decaf knows, I've got to this point before and had a mmc on our fresh round, so I'm afraid to get my hopes up. As my levels were above 50, they won't test me again, so I'll be waiting 3 weeks til scan. I will be using CDB with the weeks indicator in 4 days - it should say 2-3 weeks by then ... if it doesn't then I'll know. I'd rather know before the scan if it's not looking good...

Hi all, thrilled to hear so much positive news here.

@Decaf, massive congrats! Hope you can now relax a bit and find some nice maternity trousers

@Hobbes, welcome and cautious congrats! Holding your hand from here. 54 seems like a reasonable number for 11dp5dt. Will you have another beta prior the scan?

@Bruges, we are really twins so far. I felt much better Monday, almost normal Tues/Weds, and then today nausea, exhaustion, headache back with a vengeance. Nibbling crackers all day at my desk. Hope you make it through work alright tomorrow.

@Dame, I've been craving seeded wholemeal bread too! There's a bakery near me that makes a fab loaf but it's £££ so trying to ration it out a bit. Have you felt more movements yet?

@Rational, I've been thinking about the early testing too, quite sure my mum didn't have any sorts of scans at all! Incredible how much information and anxiety we get from it all.

@Becky, I've had symptoms on and off and been obsessively googling, was quite worried as I felt practically normal past two days. Apparently loads of women notice a decrease in symptoms around 10 weeks as the placenta is taking over, so I reckon (hope!) this is normal at this point.

@Melanie, fab that you've had such a lovely midwife appointment! I've forgotten how many weeks you are now. I think they schedule the nuchal scan at 11-14 weeks? Fingers crossed you get a good date.

I had a massive meltdown last night, was completely panicked about a missed miscarriage but DH was lovely and talked me down. This morning woke with loads of nausea, so feeling somewhat reassured. I reckon I can't do much to change the outcome now so fingers crossed for scan tomorrow. It's not til late afternoon so hope the day doesn't drag too slowly.

Sending positive thoughts to all xx