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

@Janefx40 - that sounds good! You are exactly the same as me dates wise then. I think that seeing the heartbeat as faster is a great sign - I don't even have a clue how fast ours was, as wasn't even vaguely measured just acknowledged that it was there...
I know it's hard not to worry, but it all sounds good and from my extensive googling +- 3-4 days is totally normal this early... so you are well within that - a different sonographer could have measured differently. X

Jane honestly don’t worry about measurements at that stage, the embryo is so small and they are measuring a three dimensional object in 2D, which is really tricky. My measurement was almost a week behind at that stage but is totally on track now - measuring is most accurate from about 10-13 weeks I was told. The main thing is it is bigger and the heartbeat is there. Hang in there, everything crossed for you

And to add to what Hobbes and Rational said, Jane, the nurse wouldn’t have said it was fine if she had any doubts. They tend to lead with the worst case scenario.

Thanks folks. You have made me feel much reassured x

Thanks folks. You have made me feel much reassured x

Thanks ladies. There has been no further spotting today, thank goodness. I took it very easy today and will just try to just stay positive and hope for the best at the next scan🌟

bella hope the spotting isn’t causing too much anxiety.
ponypals congratulations and welcome
hobbes glad you staying positive!
jane to repeat what others have said, sounds like a good scan to me! The measurements are so small that a tiny change in position of fetus can make a big difference in measurements.
As for me, still exhausted & nauseous. Starting the 2nd trimester doesnt seem to have made that much difference. Get my new mouth guard on monday, hope that helps save my remaining teeth!
I haven’t put anything on social media, only telling people i meet face to face. Worried about jinxing things & also remember how sad the constant scan & bump pics made me during my failed cycles.
My workplace knows, mostly because it was impossible to hide my sickness. I would have liked to keep it quite longer, but wasn’t practical.

@Jane, sorry you're still in limbo. I agree that the measurements are so tiny at that point that just a millimetre can make a day or two of difference. Fingers crossed for your next scan.

@BElla, fab your spotting has stopped, when is the next scan? Are you on progesterone pessaries? Some of us have had luck with putting them in the back passage as they seem to be more irritating in the front.

@decaf, hope the mouth guard helps save your teeth! I'm slowly easing in to second trimester. Not feeling the massive fatigue but then try to do a bit more and am shattered. Also sick twice yesterday. I read it can take up until 16 weeks to ease more.

@ponypals congratulations and welcome! How was the second beta? I agree to stay away from the CBD, there's too much variation in your wee concentration for them to be reliable.

@hobbes, how are you getting on?

@becky, have you had a chance to talk to your midwife about the heart shaped womb? I am surprised they wouldn't have mentioned that before during IVF scans, might it have been a mistake?

@dame, I'm massively superstitious, I think IF/pregnancy have taken any last shred of rationality away from me. I'm also quite surprised by friends posting bath and potty photos of their kids on FB! I'm quite wary of privacy and sharing in the social media, can't imagine I'll do much of that if this baby makes it.

AFM, do feel a bit more myself heading into second trimester, but still have days of feeling rubbish. Really can't complain if it means I get to hold this baby in my arms in December. Only trouble is I still haven't had antenatal care, been a bit of a palaver with the hospital. Hoping they don't open a safeguarding case for my late enrolment

Sending good thoughts to all xx

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!
@Janefx40 it's so great to hear your updates as we went through this together.
Second beta is still confusing. It went up from 91 to 215 in 3 days. FS wants to do a 3rd beta on Monday.

@ponypals, that sounds alright, doesn't it? I thought it should double in 48-72 hours? The early days waiting is rubbish! Fingers crossed for Monday for you xx

ponypals i thought it was ok as long as it doubled too? 🤞
wombats have you still not been referred on by the gp? I would go to the hospital & get registered directly. Surely you should have had an NHS dating scan & bloods by now? Presumably they wont turn you away if you are there with your bump in front of them! Might have to spend a few hours waiting though

Anyone here find out that they had a negative blood type after there dating scan. Been told I'm O Negative and I will need Anti D injections at 28 weeks! It definitely wasn't a letter I was expecting to receive!!!!

Hi @becky114 - I'm rhesus negative so I know a little about it, but so is my DH (while I knew I was, we didn't know he was until our DS was born!) is nothing to worry about as long as they are aware. Basically if your partner is also rh- it will mean your baby will be so it's all a bit irrelevant - however if your partner is rh+ there is a chance your baby will be and so you need the anti D to make sure you don't produce antibodies which I may be wrong, but I don't think they'd have much effect on your current pregnancy but may effect a later one..? I may have that wrong, so don quote me, but what I do know is it's quite common and so long as they know about it then it's nothing to worry about 😊 x

I’ve had no further spotting & back to just feeling queasy...and taking afternoon naps! 😂 Keeping positive that all is okay on my next scan on the 13th. 🌟 Thanks for the tip on the pressaries, but I’m not on these. I’m on the Crinone vaginal gel, so don’t have anywhere else to put it. 🙈

BTW, has/is anyone planning to do the Harmony or Panorama test? I’m still trying to decide.

@wombats, I can’t wait to get to the second trimester, especially if it brings more energy!

@SouthernBella74 glad the spotting has stopped. Must be a relief. Sorry you feel queasy - I don't but would find it reassuring if I did just a little bit!!

Xxx

@southernbella74, glad your spotting has stopped! I've heard it's just more common with IVF pregnancies, no idea why.

I did Harmony and was quite happy to have done it. Had low risk screen and felt much more relaxed after receiving result, which was fab after the constant worry of the early days. It's a fetal DNA test, so more reliable than the standard test on the NHS and included two scans (date confirmation and nuchal scan) which were quite reassuring. There's also a much higher chance of false positive with the standard NHS screen, so you would end up with the Harmony if you were high risk anyway. I decided with my age and all we'd been through to get here, I'd rather have a more definitive (though not diagnostic) result sooner and be able to consider options earlier. Decided against Panorama as the extra tests it does aren't well validated so don't provide much more information, typically just more worry if you fall into a higher risk category.

Did the test at FMC in London and can't say enough good things about the experience. Happy to answer any other questions about it, did massive research on both tests.

Thanks for the info @wombats it certainly answers a lot of my questions.

AFM I am officially pregnant the levels came back at 698.
5 weeks today and the first scan next Wednesday!!!!! Still in shock!!!

Amazing @PonyPals congrats. Fantastic news. It's really happening!

@wombats, thanks so much for this. So very informative. I’m in the 40+ group, so want to be armed with as much info as possible. I have a few weeks until I make 10 weeks, but leaning toward the Harmony test & the offer at the FMC looks pretty good.

@Janefx40, I do hope all this queasiness is a good sign. I really don’t feel like myself anymore. 😬 How I'm feeling now, Serena Williams must be superhuman to have won the Australian Open 7 weeks pregnant. I barely have enough energy (and drive) to go for a gentle walk! 😂

Congrats @PonyPals! 🎉 So pleases your numbers continued to rise.

That's great news @PonyPals!
Thanks also @wombats - I have been tentatively thinking about harmony test if we get past this scan on Wednesday... so that's useful info for me too. I'm painfully conscious that as I'm 41 now that the risks are higher. I don't want to jinx it by booking anything yet though...
Feeling knackered and queasy and my boobs are v tender - which would all be v reassuring if it wasn't for the fact that all can be blamed on the progesterone and estrogen I'm on. Roll on Wednesday!

Great news ponypals!

Ponypals so good to see that your worries have been put to rest. You must be feeling great!

Hobbes not long now till Weds. The time just passes so slowly in the early days. My scan is another 2.5 weeks away and honestly that feels like forever. I feel pregnant, but keep thinking "what if...?"

Am suffering a bit with horrible bloating after eating anything at all. Feel like I look like a big balloon. I don't remember this from my last pregnancy.

I'm pleased to announce that whilst only slightly nauseous in myself, the thought of pretty much any food DP can suggest now turns my stomach! Having a strange dinner.

@wombats yes thanks for Harmony info. I will be doing it too. Also 41. There's a place local to us but will look into FMC if not

@Hobbes39 let's hope queasiness is a good sign. How are you holding up?

X

@Ponypals, brilliant news, congrats! Roll on next Wednesday!

@Hobbes, fingers crossed for you Weds. Just two more sleeps, hope the time goes quickly! The symptom spotting now is worse than in the TWW!

@janefx40, funny how not wanting dinner and queasiness can be such a relief!

@Wanda, I had the bloating too, looked to be about six months gone. Much better now and being replaced by a wee bump!

Glad I could help with Harmony info. I really had a brilliant experience with FMC (I swear I don't work for them!), as we were given very detailed scans, loads of photos, and plenty of time to ask questions. The doctor who runs it is a world-renowned researcher (I believe he pioneered the NT and CVS procedures) so they were able to give me even more information at the follow up nuchal scan (development of nasal bone, brain, heart, palate, kidneys, etc., which I believe are "soft markers" for other conditions) than I believe is standard at most places. After all of the worry and uncertainty leading up, I was glad to have the extra reassurance that baby is doing okay. Of course still a long way to go but really put my mind at rest for the long wait until the 20 week scan. We also booked before 11 weeks, so the price was only £400, which seemed reasonable for the two scans plus harmony.

Sending good thoughts to all xxx

@Hobbes39 good luck tomorrow. Will be thinking of you x