BFP after IVF: nervous ladies needed a handhold Part II

[gingergnome]

Hi everyone,

Think that the last thread for this topic reached its limit, so have started a new one.

Good luck to everyone who has finally got that longed for BFP!

This is a place for everything that comes after the 2WW: celebrating milestones, being (cautiously!) excited, symptom checking, worrying, sharing advice, commiserating bad news, generally keeping each other going, and willing each other along on our way to the 12 week mark.

A bit about me: 39 y/old, 0 DC, IVF ICSI cycle 1, first BFP since TTC, currently 6+0.

Look forward to meeting lots of people with new BFPs and sharing your journey!

Tagging in some ladies from the old thread,
@itonlytakesone
@TheArtfulScreamer
@cannonball8726

@HJ82 really good if you can go off later. Time is going so fast, it’s scary! I’m already hoping that I can take extra unpaid leave at the end of this. I had originally thought I could go off at 38 weeks... but was so exhausted and in pain. Just see how you feel, and take the time to rest. Good to get that before labour too.

@CritterTamer it must be so tiring to carry two! Could you reduce your hours at work? I tried that for my last two weeks, but then went off a week early anyway 😅 it’s tough! Xx

@CritterTamer omg you poor love. I feel so silly for complaining about my burning thigh. 😔 I'm sure you've tried everything. Sleeping propped up, diet change. Small portions throughout the day etc. It's not long now!! You've done so well!

@Beherenow32 I only work half days thank goodness! Even that is hard now because of the lack of sleep and constantly being ill. I'm in awe of those of you managing to work full time until 38 weeks - I'd have no chance! 😁

@HJ82 yeah tried everything but the problem is the acid reflux is pretty much constant at all times of the day, whether I eat or not - even drinking water brings it on so it really makes no difference what or when I eat! Trying to sleep propped up as that is much better than lying down and helps with the sinus issues too but I can't really sleep properly in that position 😢 I just keep reminding myself that this is all temporary and will be worth it in the end! 😊

I guess all the pain we are going through now is good prep for labour lol 😂

@CritterTamer just think of the relief once babies are here! You won’t have all that pressure on your body! Xx

@CritterTamer are you doing any daily self care? I have magnesium baths with some lavender oil, I meditate every morning with affirmations about having a healthy pregnancy and labour and feeling great in my body etc etc. It really does helps. It's relaxing and centering and I can feel any pain shift in my body as I deepen the relaxation and focus on that ailment. Our minds are very powerful, if we can believe and focus! Just a suggestion 🙂 I'd try anything 😛

@HJ82 funny you should say that - I downloaded the positive birth company positive affirmations mp3 the other day with just that in mind. I did lots of meditation when we were going through the IVF but don't do it any more other than once a week at prenatal yoga class - definitely going to try to get back into it now I think.

Hubby has banned me from baths now as I'm now so huge and have nasty SPD so can't get in and out safely any more 😭

@CritterTamer yes Shivons digital pack is doing so well. We are doing one on one with another lady in London and it's amazing. I did find some incredible YouTube voice videos by Tracy Holloway recently. Sometimes it's nice to have guidance in your ears. I really enjoy the self hypnosis aspect of hypnobirthing and not all practitioners teach it. I think it's necessary really.

@HJ82 - thanks for the link, that's great 😊 will definitely give these a go!

Getting tired of people asking me if
A. I'm having twins
B. Am I going on mat leave really soon
C. You look ready to pop!

My bump is measuring exactly as it should at 30 weeks according to midwife. I'm not tiny by any means but I'm not a house!! And I've only put weight on in back and belly. It's getting annoying. I think people haven't seen anyone at 9 months if they think 7 is ready to pop! I don't even have an outie button yet.

Must not let them get to me 🙂

Aww bless you - I think people just say whatever comes into their head to be honest. I'm getting a lot of people saying ooh when are you down - must be soon now? Then when I tell them June 23rd they look shocked so I say it's twins and t hey completely do a U turn and say wow you're tiny for twins!

@HJ82 I was the opposite, but it still bothered me! Everyone saying how small my bump was! I was worried about baby being too small. They said I looked like a malteser on legs lol.
@CritterTamer is right. People say anything and don’t have a filter when your pregnant! Like how they just touch your bump... xx

@cannonball8726
Just reading back through as I'm awake when i should be resting My little girl is doing good she's sleeping but i seem to have insomnia it's hard relaxing between feeds I seem to always be 'on the clock ⏰' I'm finding it tough it's tiring isn't it! My husband works away Monday- Friday so we go it alone in the week.

Hope everyone is ok and doing well x

@Itonlytakesone exact same with the insomnia! My mum took baby for a few hours thus evening and couldn’t sleep. Are you breastfeeding? I wondered if it was to do with hormones xx

@BeHereNowx32
No I'm not I'm bottle feeding. My baby has wind so is unsettled sometimes (right now!) I'm so grateful to have her but it's really hard work she's so clingy i don't get much done but maybe nobody does I'm no way pretending to be all over it because i not!😓😬

Hey all. My little girl was born a week ago. She is lovely and I still can't believe she's here and ours. Finding breastfeeding hard - she is hungry all the time at moment. Think it's a growth spurt. I am giving formula too as it's just exhausting trying to keep up with 100% breastfeeding while she is going through this. But we are really happy to have her here - can't believe she's the little mite that was kicking me in the womb!

Hope everyone else doing okay xxx

@cannonball8726 lovely news!! Congrats.

It’s so, so hard. The other night baby was on me constantly. I was ready to give up, but the last few days have gotten easier, and I love our time together. Take it each day at s time. We also top up with formula too, and baby has taken to both
Xx

@Itonlytakesone aw, poor baby. It’s frustrating when you can’t get things done. Our baby is very unsettled at night. 😔 then we don’t have energy for things during the day! Hope things get easier for you xx

@cannonball8726 biggest congratulations! I hope you're well. How's it all going?!

Congratulations @cannonball we top up with formula aswell as it seems the only way to fill her and it gives me a much needed break, I cried about it at first (blame the hormones) but now realise it's absolutely the right thing for us as a family. I was pleased with myself today though as I managed to express 4oz in one go.
@itonlytakes I don't seem to get anything done either I desperately need to clear out my underwear drawer as I can hardly open and close it but I just can't seem to find 10 mins to do it.

@TheArtfulScreamer1 @cannonball8726 hi. How are you both? Just wondering how you’re getting on with combination feeding?
I got checked by a doctor because Sofia has thrush in her tongue. I am getting breast pain so wondered if I had it too. Dr says I don’t but an engorged, so try feed/ express more often and not use formula.

I’m stressing! I always breastfeed for ages before offering a bottle, and she doesn’t take much formula.

No way can I keep on feeding her even more. I’m so ready to give up and switch to formula.

I’m also on antibiotics due to urine infection. Feeling run down xx

Aww behere you really are having a time of it. I try and express and have a few ounces spare in the fridge so that I'm offering top ups of expressed milk rather than of formula, I just offer an ounce or 2 at a time and if she takes that I'll offer another ounce or 2 until I'm satisfied she's full. I do give one formula feed at night in the hope she sleeps for longer and so that my DH is involved and it's not just me doing all the work. Truth be told if I'd have known 6 weeks ago what I know now I'm not sure I wouldn't just've gone straight to formula. I've got past the stage of my nipples and / or breast being overly painful but I don't like the fact that I never know how much she's had, that feeds aren't at regular / predictable intervals, that it's always me that bears the responsibility and that breastfeeding seems to take so long by the time she's offered both breasts, latched on and off as she sometimes messes about, is topped up if required and is winded. I've already said if we have sucess with our frostie I'll probably go straight to bottle but when I've got past the painful stage with it this time it seems a shame to just give up even though some days I gladly could.
My health visitor said milk gets fattier and richer around 6 weeks so hopefully that might make breast feeding more efficient fingers crossed. I hope the UTI and Thrush clear up and if breastfeeding is causing high stress and anxiety for a prolonged period I'd seriously think of switching to formula. A fed baby is best and a happy mum equals a happy baby. Is it really worth your physical and mental health suffering just to say your baby is breastfed if you look at a class photo no one can say who was or wasn't breastfed in the grand scheme of things it makes very little real difference in life. Xxx

@TheArtfulScreamer1 thank you for telling me your experience. I was a wreck yesterday thinking about stopping. Couldn’t stop crying! Even to the nurse at my 6 week check.
Feeling more stable today 😅 but have still been breastfeeding. I get pain in between feeds... not sure if that’s normal. I will try to wean us both off slowly. (It’s more for me than her!).

How you and baby are well. How is your baby at night times? Xx

She settles at about half 10 11 and then usually wakes up at about 2 she then feeds and is often quite hard to settle sometimes 90 mins plus from wake up to resettled and then she'll wake 2 hours later for another feed this is normally the point I give up and co sleep so that she can sleep and feed to her hearts content as I feed laying on my side and just put her on when she stirs and doze on and off. I think where I'm going wrong is she'll be sleepy and she'll go to sleep after a small feed but not be full so she doesn't settle properly I'm going to try and change her nappy in between boobs tonight to wake her up a bit in the hope she feeds more and gets fuller.
Florence suffers a bit with tummy ache early evening and the other night I cried as she was so upset and I couldn't make it better and I've also cried when I first had to start topping up with formula so don't worry you're not on your own.

@TheArtfulScreamer1 it’s definitely an emotional rollercoaster. Yeah, that sounds similar to Sofia’s usual routine. Sometimes she is awake for hours and hours and used to feed from me that whole time. The feeding has calmed down a lot. But I do feel sore and tired from it. Wonder if I have thrush too. I got cream incase.

You’re doing an amazing job with breastfeeding!

Hope Florence’s tummy gets better. Would infacol help? Xx