October ICSI/IVF

[NS05]

Hi all,

I have never written a post on here but thought it may be nice to get a thread going for anyone about to start ICSI/IVF. I am 28 and have been ttc for almost a year and have recently found out my husband has a very low sperm count (2 million) and ICSI is our only option. I was sure for so long something must be wrong with me so to find out it was him was a complete shock and I think we are both still adjusting. Fortunately we are able to go private and have my appointment to get the ball rolling on Wednesday. I have had a (all clear) and all of the bloods already so hoping we can get cracking next month so I am eager to get started. Everything is apparently fine with me apart from very mild pcos which I have been told shouldn’t effect my chances! I am still very anxious about the whole situation and just praying that the process will be successful.

If anyone has any tips or is in the same boat feel free to join!

[LucyLucyT]

Merry Christmas all, hope you've had a good time. How is everyone doing? x

[siananigans]

Merry Christmas @LucyLucyT and everyone else! We've had a really tough time this year, a few days after we announced our happy news our dog very suddenly got very seriously unwell and has now been in ICU at the veterinary hospital for 10 days. He doesn't appear to be improving and were slowly facing up to the fact we are probably going to have to say goodbye before the end of the year 😥
Sorry to bring everyone down, I hope you all have had a happier time and let's all look forward to a more positive 2020. Xx

[NS05]

Oh gosh @siananigans so sorry to hear that! Hope that everything goes ok! We had our 8 week scan on Monday and thankfully everything looked good- just so weird as still have no symptoms other than being a bit tired which always makes me so anxious! I'm almost 9 now so just hoping the next few weeks fly by! Hope everyone is ok and having a healthy and happy Xmas! Xxx

[LucyLucyT]

@siananigans I'm so sorry you are going through that, our pets are such a huge part of our families, it's so hard when they are that unwell. I really hope he is comfortable and if at all possible recovers. Take care of yourselves xx

[PotatoJam]

Merry Christmas all. @siananigans so sorry to hear that. Our dog is our baby and i cant imagine how difficult it must be 😥
We are also having a difficult xmas. We had a couple of scans and although the latest one showed a heartbeat, our baby is shrinking and so the outcome will not be good. Taking each day as it comes but its basically a case of waiting to miscarry. Xxx

[Naughtyboob]

@siananigans so sorry to hear that. I know how you feel, my 4 year old fur baby pug died on Christmas day, he just collapsed, did a little howl then was gone, he had been absolutely fine. My husband bought me him when I was going through cancer treatment and he was my baby. I'm so heartbroken I haven't slept or stopped crying since. This is the worst Christmas ever.
Sorry everyone. Hope your all ok xx

[Naughtyboob]

@PotatoJam oh my gosh I'm so so sorry, I hope your ok xx

[LucyLucyT]

@PotatoJam i don't really know what to say, I'm so so sorry, sending you lots of hugs. Make sure you take any offers of support they can give you xx

[LucyLucyT]

@Naughtyboob that's really sad and a shock when he had not been unwell, I'm sorry that has happened on Christmas day, I have always been devastated each time we've lost dogs. xx

[NS05]

Omg @PotatoJam I'm so sorry to hear that i honestly can't believe it. I will pray for a miracle for you. Take the time you need to get through this! Xxxx

[LucyLucyT]

@NS05 pleased to hear your scan went well xx

[siananigans]

Gosh @PotatoJam I don't even know what to say 😔 thinking of you and your partner. xx

[LucyLucyT]

Hi everyone, hope you are all doing okay. Been thinking of you @PotatoJam but appreciate you may not want to reply here, just hope you are okay xx

[PotatoJam]

Hi @LucyLucyT and everyone! I've been meaning to post for a while to say thanks for all your kind thoughts. How is everyone getting on?

We finally had a scan confirm our babys heartbeat was no more on 30th dec and had a surgical miscarriage on 31st. Physically i am feeling almost normal but mentally im struggling a bit after having so much hope. Focusing on the positives though ... we will try our 2nd round of ICSI as soon as we feel ready but im going to enjoy at least a couple of months of having my body back to myself and not being prodded and poked constantly by nurses and doctors! I have had fantastic support from my husband and our family and friends and my work have also given me plenty time to move forward in my own time before returning which i hope to next week. Focusing on these positives makes me realise i am lucky to have them.

Also want to say a mega big thanks to you all for all the support through all that horrible bit ... the waiting, injecting, waiting, EC, waiting, ET, waiting, testing, waiting etc, etc. You guys kept me sane!

At the moment i find it tough to speak to most pregnant people but theres something different about this group and i am genuinely excited to hear how everyone here is getting on. so please do send updates or stories of where you all are ... whether it's rough times or exciting times we have all been on such a massive journey...and you never know .. maybe some of us that havent moved forward this tine will be progressing through our next cycle at the same time as each other! Xxx

[LucyLucyT]

@PotatoJam thank you so much for replying, I know it must be hard at the moment, it's very sweet of you to enquire after us as well.
I'm so sorry that this has happened to you and your husband, it must have been horrible to go through that, but I'm pleased you are recovering okay physically at least. I'm glad your work are being good about it and giving you the time you need, it's so important.
Completely see why you want to have a bit of a break from the treatment stuff at the moment, I think I would too. Sounds like you are doing so well on looking at the positives, hope you and your husband are able to treat yourselves in the next couple of months to something for the pair of you.

I'm doing okay thanks, had my 12 week scan last week and everything seemed as it should be, just waiting for trisomy screening results to come back but the measurement at the scan was okay so I'm hopeful the risk will be low. Christmas and New year were more exhausting than normal but I think I knew to expect that :-) xx

[NS05]

@PotatoJam all my thoughts and prayers are with you! Try and think that you can get pregnant and it will definitely happen for you it just may take that bit longer. It is such a tough and mentally draining process but it will be worth it in the end and you will get there!

I've been ok I had my 10 week scan on Monday which was all ok so just hoping the next two weeks will fly by. Have weirdly had a lot of pain in my bladder I think it may be to do with the pessaries so seeing a urologist tomorrow. I'm still so anxious and I think the fear will never go away. If you ever want to talk I'm always here, I feel like we have all become so close from this experience and it's so nice we have each other!

[siananigans]

I had my 16 week check up with my midwife on Thursday, all seems well. I got to hear the baby's heartbeat which was amazing - cue more tears!! I don't think I've ever cried so much as I have in the past 12 months!

My mum gifted us a 4d scan for Christmas so have booked that for end of March. I was always a bit in 2 minds about these as I always think the still images look a bit scary! But I think my mum feels a little out of it all as she lives about 300 miles away, so her and my sister are going to come down for a few days and come with us, so that'll be nice.

[LucyLucyT]

That's lovely @siananigans, it's always amazing hearing the heartbeat! We first got to hear ours at the private 10 week scan we had when I had a bleed and it was such a lovely feeling especially as we were thinking the worst at the time.
I confess I have a Doppler and checked on my littler wriggler this afternoon and all seemed okay about 160bpm.
I have my midwife appointment on 31st January.

So I started watching a film on Netflix without reading about it called Only You.... Turns out it's about a couple who end up needing fertility treatment, it's making me emotional!

Do you feel like you are expanding? I do but I think it's mostly cake related!

[siananigans]

@LucyLucyT I do have a little bit of a bump, it seemed to appear from nowhere, but like you I'm not sure if it's baby or just me eating carbs again! 😂

[NS05]

Hi guys I know it's been FOREVER but was thinking about you all today and thought it would be nice to see how everyone is getting on? I'm just over 31 weeks now which I can't believe just looked back on some of these messages and felt emotional - hope everyone is ok!X

[LucyLucyT]

@NS05 sorry just seen your message! How are you doing now?
It has been a while it's true :-)
I'm 36 weeks today, just had my last growth scan and all seems to be going okay.
I'm booked for an induction on my due date, they don't like you going overdue here if you have had fertility treatment. Hope to have a sweep at 39 weeks so with any luck things start naturally.

I've been working from home since mid march as my job would have been on the frontline with Covid. Things have been a bit different to how I expected to say the least!

@siananigans you were a few weeks ahead of me I think, hope all okay.

[NS05]

@LucyLucyT aw I'm so happy to hear!!! I'm just past 33 now so just a bit behind you. Yes mine are the same they literally only just told me so I will either have a c section of induction at 40 weeks! I've been on furlough for 6 weeks which has been so nice and luckily my company are topping up so I'm getting full pay! I can't believe I prob won't be going back now until next August! I'm so happy at how far we have all come and it's so lovely! Please post when the baby is born!! @siananigans hope everything is well with you you must've had the baby by now hopefully!

[siananigans]

Hi you two!
So strange you should message today. I'm currently in hospital, I'm not due until 24th but my baby boy arrived on Saturday lunchtime!
Unfortunately after nearly 48hrs labour he was stuck and not going to come out the traditional way, so exited through the sun roof! We're both doing well though, and that's all that matters.

I haven't been at work since 18th March, am self employed but didn't qualify for the self employed help unfortunately so it's been a bit tricky but maternity allowance will start now which is better!

Hope all goes well for you both xxxx

[NS05]

Oh wow he's so gorgeous congratulations!!! So so happy for you that honestly made me feel emotional! We are also having a boy 🙏 Really hope you don't have to stay in hospital for too long and that you can be home soon!! Xx

[LucyLucyT]

Ahh thats such wonderful news @siananigans! Sorry it was a bit of a mission for you in the end but you got a good final result, he's gorgeous.

When do you think you might get to go home? Presume the hospital you are in have quite strict visiting restrictions at the mo? Mine is birthing partner for active labour only still.

Shame about the finances, I'm sure that's not been fun for you in the last few months, I know I'm very lucky there really.

@NS05 pleased you are doing okay, scary how close it's all getting, I would say I'm partially organised but could be further along. We wanted to get work done on the house but have had to make do with a bit of tarting up of what will be the nursery for now!