Dec/ Jan IVF support #2

[Chooklass]

First thread is filling up fast so I thought I'd get a new one ready so we can keep on supporting each other through this crazy journey! Will post a link in old thread 😊xx

I see @stace999 it must have been difficult to your DH and you as well to go through that. We might end up having the same, will know more on Saturday. This is our very first round so we are quite inexperienced and had no idea what to expect.
Did they say anything about the quality of the embies to you today @rainbow178 @huffleclaw and @stace999?

@Lily999 yes it was a difficult decision, but also an easy one if that makes sense. DH Sperm was poor all round even after supplements and we had a DNA fragmentation test that came back high. We decided to go with the best chance of getting a healthy baby, fortunately DH has been amazing and positive about it from the start. We also changed clinics and the new one has been great.
They didn't give me any indication of quality just said they had fertilised normally and they have booked me in for a transfer monday. I can call Saturday morning for an update.

That plan sounds the same except they will call us on Saturday. We will see what happens on day 3 then we might have another discussion, but I guess it is early days. The embryologist said 4 out of 9 is not bad, 5 would be classed as normal, so we are just under, it was ICSI so a lot depends on which sperm is picked that I understand. Could be that it was not the strongest for the other 5.
So another big day for us is Saturday!

@Lily999 they didn't say anything about the quality of them, just said it was a good number and I wouldn't hear anything again till i go for transfer Monday!! Unless it's bad news and they all don't make it......so I REALLY don't want my phone to ring!!

Here's a thinker though, they said that if 2 embryos are viable, they are happy to transfer 2 to increase chances after so many failed attempts (we have been on this journey with our centre for 4 years). But obviously that could mean twins- have a think they said! Wowzers.....

Thanks @rainbow178 hope you won't hear anything back from them then! Probably too early for them to grade the embryos.

I would probably go for the option to transfer 2 obviously depending on how many you will have on day 5, but as I heard the good thing about your clinic knowing your history is that they can make suggestions like this as they have seen so many cases before ours. Obviously this is something you should discuss with hubby and make sure you go with the option you are most comfortable with.

Ladies with the fertilisation news please do not be disappointed, @lily999 don’t forget a day 3 embryo has to grow into a day 5 to become a baby that’s why most prefer a day 5 transfer so if they did a day 3 & it didn’t work & you lose an NHS go “for no reason” that’s worse?

Others, we to start with on our first EC only got 4 eggs, Then 2 embryos, froze both day 3. transferred one day 3. One son. That was our only half Nhs funded option. Now VERY lively 18 months this week.

We have since done another EC, got 5 eggs & 4 more embryos, 3 made to day 5.

In your minds bad numbers. In our minds we go in with a good mindset! Please think positively, science is amazing 🥰

Hm... thanks @minster2012 I honestly think I would go insane without this thread. I will try and simply not think about it for the rest of the day, maybe that would be the best way to survive this process. Yes, need to be grateful to science as in so many cases it works!

@Minster2012 thanks for your positive vibes- that is so reassuring to hear ! 😀

I know everyone says it could only take one and small numbers are of course demoralising but it’s all steps in the right direction 🤞🏻🤞🏻

Thank you all for your messages!

I am doing my best to stay positive and my mum made me feel better because she had text my auntie and Nain to say that we had 2 fertilised and they were really pleased and thought it was great news. It's the drop from 16 that was the shock and disappointment.

But trying to be positive and as others have said there is a reason we haven't gotten pregnant naturally! If they had all fertilised I would've started panicking that maybe the problem was implantation and we would just keep trying and not managing to stay pregnant!

It definitely is a rollercoaster. I'm just in waiting for Saturday now. If they survive they are going to freeze then. Not the best timing if they don't as it's my husband's birthday so have everything crossed!

Going to work tomorrow because I think I would drive myself insane waiting for news otherwise. Nothing quite like 3 year olds to keep your mind off everything!

Morning ladies, is anyone else struggling with pain? I can literally feel every movement in my ovaries- feel like they're massive and sore every time I move. Can't stand for too long as they get really achy. I haven't got any other symptoms of OHSS so I'm not TOO worried but just wondered if anyone was the same?

Fingers crossed if anyone gets news today it's good 🤞

@rainbow178 I felt like that two days after EC. Spent whole day on sofa and felt a lot better by evening. I did phone clinic and they weren't concerned unless it kept getting worse, just said drink lots and rest. The bloating seemed to ease more for me when I drank electrolytes rather than just water? I used the fizzy dissolvable tablet kind as OH had some in house for his long runs. Hope you feel better soon xx

@Chooklass @rainbow178 I am still sore 2 days after and only had 9 eggs. Expected to be fine yesterday so took the dog for.a walk, probably shouldn't have done it was a major struggle! It's more bloat and uncomfortable than pain so figure my ovaries are just a bit swollen. Thankfully I can work from home again today and hopefully be fully recovered by the weekend. I had a follicle reduction with iui last year and expected to recover as quick as I did with that but may have been a bit naive there!

Also sorry but what medications are you on now before and after ET? I am on Utrogestan (progesterone 200) x 3 a day and Progynova x 2 a day. Seems like a lot as in previous cycles it was only progesterone once a day. I see the oestrogen (progynova) helps with womb lining but mine was apparently looking good. I am all for anything to help achieve a success but it seems like a lot!

I'm just on the utrogestan and was on antibiotics for a week after too. Oestrogen seems odd if your lining was ok? Must have other benefits I guess! X

Thanks guys, feel a bit better now knowing you're still feeling a bit ropey too! I went back to work yesterday for a half day but thinking I maybe shouldn't have to be honest. I am on progesterone pessaries twice a day (NOT pleasant!!) and lubion injections as well to boost my lining.

Hiya! Sorry to hear @rainbow178 you are not feeling great, I guess I am lucky as I came back to work yesterday and didn't feel a thing. Would happily trade feeling rubbish for 7 fertilised embryos though, too bad it's not up to me :D
Still working on being positive for those 4 little embies, but also preparing myself for the possibility of not having a reason to go back on Monday.
Also frustrating that based on someone else from this very same thread it can easily happen to have 4 embies still going strong on day 3 then have nothing on day 5. So unfortunately even if we get good news on Saturday I need to remind myself that is not the end of the road. At all.
I just want Monday to come! :)
I am using a progesterone gel once a day in the morning, it is totally fine, just need to wear liners pretty much constantly.

Thanks both I guess every clinic is different the progesterone pessaries are better than the cyclogest I was on last time (less umm waste 🤢) I'll carry on doing as I'm told might ask them Monday what the benefits of oestrogen are, I had a 13mm triple lining so know that wasn't an issue.
Haven't heard from the clinic was scared they'd call and say all the embryos had failed.. I am dreading an update tomorrow just preparing myself for bad news dont know why!

Question

If they have had to freeze all the embryos what happens next? I have an appointment next week..but I'm impatient tbh

You'll have a FET transfer when you're ready. This will most likely involve some kind of contraceptive to shut down any ovulation and then they will prep your lining with estrogen and progesterone. Lining will be monitored with scans and when ready they will call you in for a transfer.

Did you have your embryos frozen @sabz36.
Mine have been frozen too as my lining was too advanced. I was told I could do FET in my next cycle or wait another month to clear my system of the drugs.

@Dia12 yeah I did as there was some fluid. They called today to tell me the final grading etc. All numbers and letters sounding like algebra. I'm due for AF soon...next week. So it's either this cycle or far far into the future

Hope the fluid has subsided. I've been told there's little difference in whether you transfer sooner or later. Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly for you.

I'm waiting for my AF too and have also sent off the embryos for PGS so waiting for those results. That's just added to my stress and I wish I hadn't as looking at the stats it seems most of them will be abnormal 😓

@Sabz36 they usually like you to have had a normal period first (so one immediately after IVF and another) then start the treatment for a FET. We had to wait another month on top due to Christmas close down at our clinic.

You usually get given the option of natural or medicated, depending on things like the regularity of your cycle and preferences of yourself / doctor.

Lots of research to show as good a chance with a FET then fresh (or slightly better chances with FET). Although the extra wait is frustrating when you’ve geared yourself up for a fresh transfer.

@Sabz36 I can’t speak for having to freeze all thinking we were going to have a fresh we were always going to freeze all then FET later, but what I can say is that my periods have never actually returned properly so my clinic went ahead with us on just on scanning me to see when I would have had AF so they can do back to back as your period may not return to normal. But they may prefer otherwise, it may go down to how regular you were before for instance

Any updates? We still have 7 developing but 2 are very slow (3 cell) and 2 are a bit behind (5 cell) we have 3 looking good though so I am over the moon! Transfer monday all being well.
Fingers crossed for everyone else xx