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Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

MFI support thread

223 replies

TheBeesKnee · 23/07/2019 21:42

Firstly apologies if this already exists. I had a look and couldn't find anything.

I've name changed as I feel like I have maybe been found out under my usual username, or maybe it's the paranoia settling in!

I'm late 20s, TTC 1 year.

I have been driving myself insane: stopped drinking alcohol, started eating dairy and fish was a hardened vegan for 10 years, stopped drinking caffeine, tried Brazil nuts, fertility smoothies and pineapple cores.

Nothing worked because it turns out that DP is effectively infertile, possibly due to a historical varicocele. We thought that may have been a factor but GP waved us away with "not necessarily - and anyway, you haven't been trying that long!" So we got a private sperm analysis and the results were Not Good.

However, DP got a (relatively) speedy referral to a urologist and after a few back and forths has had surgery on the affected vein. He's recovering, but we won't see "results" for at least 3 months as obviously sperm take 70 days to produce, although the testosterone production is supposed to be fixed/affected almost immediately.

Even then, research shows that only 30-50% of men with successful surgeries went on to conceive in the 12 months following the op, so my hours are not high. I mostly just feel that I will never be pregnant or have a baby, I'm convinced that next we'll find out that something is horribly wrong with me.

DP is being great. He says that we can look at donor sperm if this doesn't work, he wouldn't deny me the opportunity to be a mother. This just makes me cry, I have been very weepy the last few months.

Anyway, I thought it would be good to speak to others also affected by MFI as I feel very lonely and isolated as no one in real life knows that we are TTC, never mind that we're having issues.

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TheBeesKnee · 23/10/2022 16:31

Hello @PossiblyPertunia!

Sorry I didn't respond to the last message, life sleeping and snacking and throwing up took over my life for a bit there!

I am doing well, symptoms come and go but I'm feeling good and optimistic 😬

I have my 12 week scan on Halloween! How did your 4D scan go?

Here's the scan from 8+3, you can just about make out the head and little limbs :)

We've spent this weekend looking at prams and baby furniture in mamas and papas etc, it's all starting to feel just a little bit real!

MFI support thread
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PossiblyPertunia · 26/10/2022 18:18

@TheBeesKnee I just saw your post about a scare today! Glad you got seen and baby is doing well! They change so quickly don't they in those beginning weeks. The 3D scan was mostly a failure as the baby is so wedged in my pelvis! Could only see the mouth and chin for 90% of the scan. Going for a rescan in a few weeks though, hopefully that's more successful!
I'm 30 weeks on Friday which is just wild to me. Completely uncomfortable and not sleeping well so not enjoying this part but still so thankful to be pregnant!

TheBeesKnee · 26/10/2022 21:41

@PossiblyPertunia it was an awful morning, I'm so relieved that everything is ok. I feel so drained and emotional, I was convinced that it was all over for us.

Happily, it wasn't, so here's the scan from this morning 😊 what a huge difference from the last scan!

Wow, you're really getting on towards the finishing line then. Ah that's a shame about your 3D scan! Hopefully they'll behave next time!

MFI support thread
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TheBeesKnee · 21/11/2022 19:32

@PossiblyPertunia hello, how are you getting on? Did you manage to get a better scan?

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PossiblyPertunia · 21/11/2022 20:48

@TheBeesKnee doing ok!! Although I'm ready to not be pregnant now, got one painful pelvis!

Nope the rescan was equally terrible! Baby had flipped to breech and had a foot and the umbilical cord in front of their face haha!

How are you doing? How many weeks now?

TheBeesKnee · 22/11/2022 09:56

PossiblyPertunia · 21/11/2022 20:48

@TheBeesKnee doing ok!! Although I'm ready to not be pregnant now, got one painful pelvis!

Nope the rescan was equally terrible! Baby had flipped to breech and had a foot and the umbilical cord in front of their face haha!

How are you doing? How many weeks now?

Oh no, the baby really said no paparazzi 🤣 are you just going to wait to see what they look like at birth now then?

You must be nearing your due date now?

I'm 16 weeks tomorrow 😱 time is flying and I can't believe that I'll be halfway done at Christmas!!

I had an appointment with the midwife yesterday and heard the baby's heartbeat, which was lovely.

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PossiblyPertunia · 22/11/2022 20:47

@TheBeesKnee I'm 33 weeks now! Just got my c-section date through today - 30th December! So going to have a 2022 baby which I really didn't expect!
Things have started to slow down for me now but I'm hoping the rest will fly by over Christmas.
I love hearing the heartbeat.
Not long now and it'll be your 20 week scan!!!

TheBeesKnee · 20/12/2022 23:01

@PossiblyPertunia 20 week scan is TOMORROW and I am beside myself with excitement!!

10 days to go until your CS! How are you feeling? Are you ready?!

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PossiblyPertunia · 21/12/2022 16:32

TheBeesKnee · 20/12/2022 23:01

@PossiblyPertunia 20 week scan is TOMORROW and I am beside myself with excitement!!

10 days to go until your CS! How are you feeling? Are you ready?!

How did it go?! What are you having?
9 days to go! Can't quite believe it and I'm not in any way ready... but we will get there :)

TheBeesKnee · 22/12/2022 15:13

@PossiblyPertunia we decided not to find out the sex of the baby and have a surprise... partly because I don't want an avalanche of violently pink/blue gifts from everyone and I don't trust myself not to slip up! But I think it'll also be nice to have a surprise.

I found out I have an anterior placenta, which explains why I can only feel kicks on the far left side. But baby is otherwise very well, if a little camera shy 😊 it kept crossing it's hands over it's face and giving the sonographer a bit of trouble!

MFI support thread
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PossiblyPertunia · 22/12/2022 20:00

TheBeesKnee · 22/12/2022 15:13

@PossiblyPertunia we decided not to find out the sex of the baby and have a surprise... partly because I don't want an avalanche of violently pink/blue gifts from everyone and I don't trust myself not to slip up! But I think it'll also be nice to have a surprise.

I found out I have an anterior placenta, which explains why I can only feel kicks on the far left side. But baby is otherwise very well, if a little camera shy 😊 it kept crossing it's hands over it's face and giving the sonographer a bit of trouble!

Oh that's so amazing! Hello baby.

We don't know either, a surprise is so nice!
How does it feel being 20 weeks? So incredible after all that time.

What's your due date?

TheBeesKnee · 22/12/2022 20:40

@PossiblyPertunia I'm definitely feeling pregnant, as in, I'm achey and everything feels like a huge effort to do - sit down, stand up, walk, etc 😂 heaven help me in later months!!

I have definitely popped out in the last couple of weeks. I was kind of in denial and thought that I looked a bit bloated, like I'd had a big meal, then saw myself naked in a full length mirror for the first time in ages last week and was SHOCKED. I don't have a neat bump, my entire abdomen sticks out all together.

Today I gave up on my poor jeans and bought some trackies (men's so that I can pass them on to DP when I'm done, we happen to be the same size). The relief was immense.

I am due mid May. I've always wanted a summer baby, but I'll take a late spring one just as happily 😉

There are also a couple of things under the tree labelled for the baby which is soo bizarre but lovely to see.

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PossiblyPertunia · 25/01/2023 10:34

TheBeesKnee · 22/12/2022 20:40

@PossiblyPertunia I'm definitely feeling pregnant, as in, I'm achey and everything feels like a huge effort to do - sit down, stand up, walk, etc 😂 heaven help me in later months!!

I have definitely popped out in the last couple of weeks. I was kind of in denial and thought that I looked a bit bloated, like I'd had a big meal, then saw myself naked in a full length mirror for the first time in ages last week and was SHOCKED. I don't have a neat bump, my entire abdomen sticks out all together.

Today I gave up on my poor jeans and bought some trackies (men's so that I can pass them on to DP when I'm done, we happen to be the same size). The relief was immense.

I am due mid May. I've always wanted a summer baby, but I'll take a late spring one just as happily 😉

There are also a couple of things under the tree labelled for the baby which is soo bizarre but lovely to see.

How are you getting on?

I had a little girl on 30th December! She will be 4 weeks old on Friday which is crazy!

Anonbaby · 25/01/2023 11:41

Hi! I just wonder if anyone on this thread had mild MFI and conceived naturally? TIA

alt22 · 25/01/2023 13:22

ProbablyPertunia · 17/12/2019 17:13

I really really hope this is ok me posting, but I've just got my first ever BFP.
I cannot tell you how shocked and confused I am as we're only 2 months post op today!
Can't tell you how much I want this for all of us and there is the chance you guys who's DHs had varicoceles could fall without IVF!
My DH had awful SA results before the op, 800k/ml so I honestly think there is hope for everyone.

Hi @ProbablyPertunia

I've just been catching up on this old thread as me and my husband are in a similar situation! I just wondered whether you had a SA analysis done after and if so, did it increase? Thanks so much

PossiblyPertunia · 25/01/2023 13:31

@alt22 we didn't ever bother because we fell pregnant naturally before the 3 months we'd been told to wait to see if there was an increase in numbers!

alt22 · 25/01/2023 18:12

PossiblyPertunia · 25/01/2023 13:31

@alt22 we didn't ever bother because we fell pregnant naturally before the 3 months we'd been told to wait to see if there was an increase in numbers!

How lovely - huge congratulations to you!! @PossiblyPertunia x

TheBeesKnee · 30/01/2023 16:39

@PossiblyPertunia huge congratulations! How are you finding it?

I had my 25 week appointment today and was shocked by how my bump was manhandled 😅 not long to go now and I am definitely feeling pregnant with carpal tunnel, sore hips and much less energy.

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TheBeesKnee · 13/05/2023 10:13

I just wanted to update and close this thread with a very happy ending.

I had my baby last week and we are absolutely besotted with him.

It was a long journey (3 years and 10 months of TTC before finally getting a BFP!!) but I cannot be happier right now.

I give credit to 2 embolisation surgeries and my partner's unwavering dedication to CoQ10 and ZMA supplements every single night for months and years.

MFI support thread
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Ecdysiast · 14/05/2023 16:45

Congratulations @TheBeesKnee ! What were the supplements that your partner took?

PossiblyPertunia · 16/05/2023 16:24

TheBeesKnee · 13/05/2023 10:13

I just wanted to update and close this thread with a very happy ending.

I had my baby last week and we are absolutely besotted with him.

It was a long journey (3 years and 10 months of TTC before finally getting a BFP!!) but I cannot be happier right now.

I give credit to 2 embolisation surgeries and my partner's unwavering dedication to CoQ10 and ZMA supplements every single night for months and years.

Oh my goodness @TheBeesKnee what an absolute beauty! The biggest congratulations to you.
What did you have? How are you feeling? The real fun starts now :)

TheBeesKnee · 16/05/2023 17:42

@PossiblyPertunia thank you! I had a boy, 8lbs 11oz via emergency CS as I was induced and then he tried to climb out foot first. It's kind of funny because the last ultrasound we had they couldn't get a face pic so sent us home with a foot. Now that he's here he likes to poke his foot out of everything too.

He's been a relatively easy baby so far aside from the nightmare that is breastfeeding.

How are you getting on? Your little girl must be 6 months now?

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PossiblyPertunia · 16/05/2023 22:18

@TheBeesKnee she will be 5 months at the end of the month! Time is just flying though, so much more than firs time round. But I think that might be because of lock down first time.
Breastfeeding is definitely a task and a half. I've been really lucky with both mine that I've not had any problems but I feel like that is actually quite rare.
My first was a 8lb 13 boy via emergency c-section, so similar.

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