IVF Feb/March 2

[SpyroC]

A new thread to carry on supporting each other as the old one was full.

[PickleKid]

Hi all, got logged out and had missed the updates. Hope everyone is continuing to be well- especially the two of you in schools.

I'm 33 weeks today and big as a house.

Sometimes I think how irresponsible we are to do this and yet... there's no going back now!

Besides if very young 80s parents in their own recession can keep a kid alive surely a bunch of 37 year olds can too? Right? 😬

[confused107]

That's good news that you will be starting soon @SpyroC It really is the strangest of times and it looks like this uncertainty will be around for a while. I hope you are able to make the appropriate arrangements to isolate where you need to

I'm 29 weeks tomorrow. Still doesn't feel real and it all seems to good to be true tbh,but everything seems to be progressing as it should

Fingers crossed for more positive news on this thread

[Rumtopf]

Ah thanks, getting a bit anxious about the phone call tomorrow to update us and plan pos transfer on Saturday. I hope they've made it.

@Pinktruffle I can't believe you're 30 weeks! That's amazing and seems to have gone so fast.

@SpyroC so pleased you're about to start your next cycle, I know what you mean about another potential lockdown. I'm lucky in that I work from home and can isolate but that must be a huge concern for you. Hope the DHEA results are good for you tomorrow.

@confused107 thankyou, hope you're doing well?

[SpyroC]

Sorry @Rumtopf I just posted on the September thread and then saw the alert for this one. But I don't think a double thread fingers crossed can hurt! 🤞🏻

Not a lot happening hear. I need to speak to my clinic tomorrow about my DHEA result and will likely be starting cycle 3 in a few days. I'm afraid to wait any longer in case everything shuts down again. I'm also worried about the self-isolating during treatment as it's not possible for me now.

@Pinktruffle glad to hear you're doing well.

[Pinktruffle]

That's great news @Rumtopf, fingerscrossed for Saturday!

I'm doing well thanks, 30 weeks tomorrow. Still kind of on disbelief that I've managed to get this far and that this is all really happening - incredibly grateful of course -but I guess this sense of too good to be true goes hand in hand with IVF!

[confused107]

@Rumtopf that's great news and an excellent fertilisation rate. Fingers crossed for Saturday for you

[Rumtopf]

How is everyone doing? @SpyroC @granddesigns

I had EC yesterday and they got 5 eggs, update this morning was that 3 have fertilised and are looking good. Fingers crossed for transfer on Saturday.

[granddesigns]

Thank you so much all for your lovely comments and kind words! Whilst I joined another thread for may:June and talked to the July/August ladies and am now shaping up for October (drugs arrive tomorrow!) it is nice to hear back from original cycle buddies and my triplets! For those of you who things worked out for, wishing you a happy and healthy final journey. For those still hoping for a positive outcome or embarking on new rounds of treatment sending strength, positivity and optimism! Whilst I'm really trying to be positive about our next round and transfer in mid October I'm kind of accepting that another fresh cycle is likely. Hoping the next FET or 2021 bring a good outcome!

[SpyroC]

Thanks for your kind words. X

@confused107 weirdly I actually just want to get on with it. I had a glimmer of success you see, so it's spurring me on I guess.

@Rumtopf @PickleKid @Pinktruffle I teach in a large secondary school. Our management have been good at following government guidance but realistically it is simply impossible to socially distance with so many kids in a room. I am hoping to start next cycle so I will speak to them and see what they say. They are really supportive. I hate being off though but I may have no choice. I'm not getting any younger!

@PickleKid yup bank holiday Friday night. Don't get me started!

@Rumtopf yes Vit D & C are amongst the cocktail of stuff I take.

[confused107]

@Spyroc I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I wish you all the luck in the world for the next round, you certainly deserve it. I can't imagine how tough it must be to go straight into another round. Take care of yourself xx

[Pinktruffle]

@SpyroC I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine how awful the whole situation must have been for you. As you say, I guess you have to be thankful there was no rupture. Best of luck your next round whenever you are ready. A colleague of mine (I also work in school) was having IVF in July, she spoke to HR and managed to get signed off to work from home during her treatment and TWW. It may be worth having a with someone in school about this? Alternatively if you feel unsafe, maybe have a chat with your GP and get signed off? I was signed off for my TWW as I was worried about in work stress (my role is safeguarding, behaviour management etc)

[PickleKid]

Sorry @SpyroC I hope the next go is the one. Didn't you tell us you worked in a school but aren't a teacher? Does that mean you are away from groups in an office? Hopefully your school is being cautious and taking precautions either way.

My colleague is a school governor and he said the DfE guidance changed Friday night after the head had already written letters and recorded videos for the parents.

[Rumtopf]

@SpyroC I'm sorry to read it was so traumatic for you, that's awful. Have you long til your next cycle? The clinic have advised me to isolate as much as is reasonably possible, and with dd heading back to college tomorrow it means I'm limiting exposure in other areas. The only people I'll see are my parents but they're shielding too as my Dad has some health issues. Dh is still working from home and I'm self employed so apart from the weekly shop there's not much change for me tbh! What age group do you teach? Are you taking vit c and d to help boost your immune system?

@PickleKid those stats are eye watering! The massage might be a good idea after all. :D

[SpyroC]

It's nice to here how everyone is getting on. The time seems to have flown by since we all had our jan/feb cycles! It's crazy how far along some of you are now. It really doesn't seem that long ago.
I am a tad jealous of your pregnancies but not so much the massage you're talking about!

That's fantastic news! @CarbsAndCheese wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy. X

Good luck for this cycle @Rumtopf what have the clinic said about covid/self-isolation during treatment? I'm worried about this for my next round as I'm now back at work in a school😬. You were similar to me I think, have they suggested anything different?

Unfortunately, it didn't end well for me. Sorry for not updating sooner. It was a pretty traumatic time and I actually had to spend a couple of nights in hospital as they couldn't tell what was going on. It was a PUL, most probably ectopic. ☹️ The only good thing is I didn't need surgery or medical management so I can start a new round with my next cycle. I do take some comfort in the fact that I at least know ivf can work for us.

[PickleKid]

@confused107 glad to hear you're doing well. Best of luck for that final growth spurt! I'd like mine to slow down a bit...

See attached: baby big head, like daddy

(My partner was normal weight but had to be a c-section due to head size.)

[confused107]

Lovely to see everyone's updates. I'm 27 weeks tomorrow and as far as I know (fingers and toes crossed) everything is progressing just fine. We have booked a 3D scan for next weekend as my husband hasn't been to any scans since 10 weeks and I have a NHS growth scan at 32 weeks (apparently due to my age and IVF there is a risk of a smaller baby, so glad they are keeping an eye on me)

@granddesigns I'm so sorry to hear your news. Best of luck for the next cycle when you are ready

@carbswithcheese delighted to hear your news, fingers crossed this is the one. No advise really. I was so anxious for the first 12 weeks (still am to be honest) but I guess just be kind to yourself and rest as you need to

[PickleKid]

Congrats @CarbsAndCheese !! Hope this is the one for you!

For coping, not sure it's great advice from me. I didn't get attached for quite some time. Until we were at 16 weeks I really considered the pregnancy mine (my body doing some stuff) and then after 20 weeks it felt more like it was the baby's pregnancy and his growing. Now at 28, it's all him and I feel like I'm just the vessel enduring the heartburn.

Hang in there @Rumtopf Looking back I remember thinking just a day at a time. Breathe. Now I think how did we do it, what badasses IVFers are! You got this! 💪

[Rumtopf]

@granddesigns I'm so sorry to hear that. Good luck with the FET when you feel ready.

@CarbsAndCheese congratulations! Fab news, my fingers are crossed for you. When's your first scan?

We're on cd4 of a fresh cycle. I'd forgotten how stingy the Menopur is when it's cold out of the fridge! First scan on Friday.

[Pinktruffle]

@PickleKid thank you got that link though, it s got a lot of info if I fell I can stomach it!

[Pinktruffle]

I'm si sorry to hear that @granddesigns, I hope you are taking some time to give yourself some TLC. Best of luck for the transfer when you're ready xx

@CarbsAndCheese congratulations! The first 12 weeks are a difficult time, I spent a lot of it very anxious so I'm not sure I have many tips. It was the beginning of lockdown when I was at that stage and was able to really take things easy and look after myself. One thing I will say is don't panic and assume the worst if you get any spotting or bleeding, I had this throughout the first trimester and having miscarried previously, I really assumed the worst but here I am at nearly 28 weeks and everything is going as it should be. Just look after you, try not to worry and think positive, that's all you can do right now. All the best xx

@PickleKid I did a class with The Honest Midwife and she went through it in detail but I'm not sure I can do it, she suggested the Ani-ball as an alternative and that looks more err user friendly for me. Despite going through IVF and having invasive scans every other day, the idea of people (including me) sticking their hands up there really freaks me out

[CarbsAndCheese]

Thanks for thinking of us @Pinktruffle. Glad to hear things are going so well for you and @PickleKid! Hopefully it’s the same for @confused107?

I had a frozen transfer in August and I’m now 4+4 so hoping this one will stick! I’m so massively anxious and would love your tips for how to get through these next few weeks (hopefully!). Fingers crossed for you too @granddesigns. I’d love to hear how @Rumtopf and @SpyroC are getting on too 😊

[PickleKid]

@granddesigns I'm so sorry to hear that! I hope you're ok.

[PickleKid]

Yep, it's arriving today. For the perineal massage, my partner thought it sounded fun. And then I showed him the picture.

It is from an NHS trust:

www.ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/leaflets/files/10938Pmassage.pdf

I know it will all be worth it but my goodness every step of this journey comes with some weird things!

[granddesigns]

Thanks for thinking of us @Pinktruffle - knew there must be a thread I didn't update. Unfortunately we had a miscarriage at the end of July but are almost up and running on a new cycle and the final frozen embryo from the first full cycle which they are planning to transfer mid Oct. Hope you are all progressing well - don't keep up to date much with this thread and have had a bit of a pause when we reset so sorry if I've missed anything!

[Pinktruffle]

Are you getting the Ani-ball @PickleKid? I've been thinking about getting on of those. I'm still not sure if I'm going to go for an elective C-section or a vaginal birth but if its vaginal, I'll definitely get one, I don't think I can do the perineal massage.

How is everyone else getting on? @SpyroC @Rumtopf @CarbsAndCheese @granddesigns