IVF Nov/Dec cycle buddies - part 2

[BrandyM]

@ivfhope3
@MF1981
@81Poppy
@Jane1284
@lucymills1234
@Roo45
@dragonfly1978
@EasterBunny7
@Emmalouise11
@Gensola
@IslandStars
@Luludarty

I'm still holding on thanks @lucymills1234 :-) I'm 6 weeks today, though it feels like a lot longer. haha. I have my first scan next Thursday so I am just praying for good growth and a strong heartbeat. I have stressed myself out with so many stories of loss before 12 weeks. I wish I could just enjoy being pregnant but it is so hard to relax.

Good luck for tomorrow! I will be keeping everything crossed for you. Please do let me know how you get on. I hope your follicles are growing well and responding to the stims xx

Wow @Jane1284 6 weeks is amazing! I've not been in your position but I can imagine that the stress of IVF is swapped for a different type of stress now. Everything crossed for your scan... I hope you're able to find some ways to mentally switch off, I won't ask the 'have you tried...' questions as I am sure you're trying everything you can!

It was my stims day 8 scan today and they counted 14 follicles - 4 are already over 15mm, another 7 between 10 & 15mm and then 3 under 10mm so I've mentally written those off. That's all from one ovary, as I only have one. I've responded much faster this time round and have more follicles which explains why I've been feeling so full!

I'm back for another scan on Friday and EC is looking like Monday. It would be amazing if I can get eggs from all 11 follicles that are over 10mm but I know it's likely some might get too big/over-mature or others might not catch up...

I know quality is the main thing in any case, but I hope that a decent number of eggs will give me a chance of at least one blast.... please!

Hey @lucymills1234 - that is amazing! Sounds like you are on track for a decent number of eggs. So great you have had such a good response considering you only have the one ovary. Also really encouraging that your second round has gone so well. I will be keeping everything crossed for you that tomorrow shows good progress still.

Did you get 2 blasts last time? Sorry, I can't remember. I have a vague memory of your response being really good. Please let me know how you get on. Will be keeping everything crossed for you over the next few days!

I finally have a bit of nausea. Nothing severe, just don't really feel like any specific type of food but I am constantly hungry so just force myself to eat. It's a weird feeling. I almost feel slightly hungover and a bit off. Scan in 1 week today so not too long until I know whether there is something in there and it is growing how. I'm not sure how I will cope if it is bad news but there's not point worrying about that to much right now.

Sending lots of good vibes your way! xx

Thanks @Jane1284 - nearly time for your scan! I hope the nausea isn't too awful.

My day 10 stims scan last Friday showed 15 follicles so I triggered on Saturday and EC was yesterday. They actually collected 18 eggs, so because of that I was told it would have to be a freeze all (risk of OHSS) which feels really deflating as I was not at all prepared for that.

I know I should be considering it a success to get so many eggs, but I keep hearing that over-stimulation can be at the expense of quality... Until I know how many were mature and fertilise (and then get to day 5) it's hard to view the number as a positive!

With any luck I'll get at least one decent blast. I would rather not have had to wait for FET because at my age it feels I can't afford any delays, but I hear the results with FET are similar to fresh now. But first, have to see what I have on day 5...

Let us know how your scan goes!

Hope you’re feeling ok @lucymills1234 and that you get some good news today re fertilisation.

I’m with you on the nausea @Jane1284 ! It definitely feels like a constant hangover! I had my first scan on Friday and I’m expecting twins - aaaaggghhhh!

Congratulations and good luck for your scan @jane1284 good luck @lucymills1234 and congratulations @MF1981!!
I've just had EC for my second cycle, swapped from long to short protocol for smaller number of better quality eggs but the complete opposite has happened- I got 20 eggs but about half of them were abnormal and couldn't be injected (having icsi) compared to 2 out of 11 eggs last time. About half of the 'normal' ones are not great quality either so I'm already not that hopeful. 8 have fertilised and just have to hope some of them have a mix of decent egg and sperm!

Thank you @Roo45

I got 22 eggs and only half were suitable for fertilisation - 9 fertilised and we got 4 to blastocyst stage which were frozen. So there definitely is hope based on the numbers you have. Good luck

Those numbers are amazing @lucymills1234 ! I really hope you have a good number fertilised and a few make it to blastocycst. When will you be getting your first update from the embryologist? I will be thinking of you. I pray that all goes well. So sorry you have to have a freeze all but a lot of women say it is better as it gives your body a chance to recuperate after all the stims drugs. So encouraging that you have responded so well to the protocol this time!

Congratulations @MF1981 - I am over the moon to hear you are having twins! wow!! I expect your sickness may be worse if you are carrying multiples. How are you feeling now? When is your next scan? Is it 12 weeks with the NHS or will your clinic do some more due to having twins?

@Roo45 wow that is a large number of eggs. I'm sorry half of them were not suitable for ICSI. 8 Fertilised is a great start though! Even if a quarter of them make it to blast you should have 2. Are you doing a fresh transfer this time or is it a freeze all? Will you be getting a day 3 update? The waiting is the worse. Will be keeping everything crossed for you!

Today has not been a good day for me. I am exactly 7 weeks 1 day and I was counting down until my scan on Thursday but this morning I started bleeding. It was pink spotting on my liner and stopped after an hour but I have convinced myself it is the beginning of the end. I spoke to the nurse and she just said to monitor it and call back if it gets stronger. They do say bleeding is common in early pregnancy but when it happens to you it is hard not to fear the worse. Especially when you have almost been waiting for something to go wrong. Sigh.... I will keep you all updated. Pray for me xx

@Jane1284 I’ve been having pink, brown and even red spotting on and off since I got my BFP. It’s so worrying isn’t it. But my clinic said not to be concerned unless it’s a lot of red and I have pain. Fingers crossed yours is nothing to worry about. I won’t have another scan now until the 12 week NHS one I think. My clinic have discharged me and I have my first midwife appointment on Monday so will see what she says.

@MF1981 thank you for sharing that. Really helps to give me hope. It seems like a lot of women, especially those who are pregnant after IVF, have spotting in the first trimester. It is just so hard to see blood after so long and not fear the worse. At least I have my scan on Thursday so should know either way. thanks again x

Luckily I have no signs or symptoms of OHSS- they were expecting between 8-10 on the scans so I think everyone was surprised at 20!
@Jane1284 it's easy to think the worst but if it's a small amount of spotting I would try not to worry too much which is of course easier said than done-only 2 more days until your scan fingers crossed it's nothing xx

Oh wow @MF1981 twins!!! Did you transfer two blasts or is twins a total surprise?

Fingers crossed for you @Roo45. Our bodies are so unpredictable, aren't they! First time round I was showing 6-8 follicles on my scan and got 11, so this time when I was showing 14-15 that seemed a leap... then to get 18 was a shock. Your experience with more eggs meaning lower quality is what scares me, too. I don't think the clinic could have predicted it (protocol was exactly the same as last time) but it's frustrating. But to have 8 fertilised is still a really good number - keep us posted.

So sorry about the stress of spotting @Jane1284 - it must be impossible to relax as we are so used to seeing bleeding as a negative. As others have said, it is expected in early pregnancy so everything crossed that the fact it's stopped quickly means all is fine. You are so nearly at your scan date, keep hanging in there x

I'll get my first post-EC update tomorrow. My clinic waits until day 2. Trying my best not to overthink it but easier said than done as always!

Thank you @lucymills1234 yeah we transferred 2 but were told there was only a 20-30% chance of multiples so we knew it was a possibility but I thought a very low possibility!

Loads of luck for your scan today @Jane1284 - I hope all goes well.

I had my fertilisation update yesterday (day 2) and 10 eggs fertilised but 2 abnormally leaving me with 8 embryos. It's a fairly low fertilisation rate but on my last stims scan 3 of the 15 follicles they were tracking were under 10mm so I'm sure there were immature eggs in the bunch.

One of the 8 is atypical though apparently they keep watching as it can develop. Waiting for my day 3 update with baited breath... Have been feeling really uncomfortable for the last few days so seems I have mild OHSS. Really hoping it eases soon.

Thanks @lucymills1234 - I am so nervous. I guess it is out of my hands now and just need to fnd out. Eeep.

8 fertilised eggs sounds like a great start! I hope you get a number of day 5 blasts to freeze. Sorry you have mild OHSS. I hope it doesn't progress. The last thing you need right now is feeling unwell on top of the added stress of waiting for updates. This whole IVF process is so much waiting. It really does take it out of you! Sending lots of good vibes.

@lucymills1234 8 is a great number - we had 9 at this point and ended up with 4 that were great quality and were frozen. So fingers crossed for you. Hope you start to feel a bit more comfortable too.

Good luck @Jane1284

Hope you feel better soon @lucymills1234 I've got 8 too fingers crossed some are decent blastocysts XX

Thanks for all your kind wishes. I am so happy to report that the scan went well. Saw a heatbeat and the baby is the right size. So releived. Now I just have to keep holding on until the next scan!

@lucymills1234 and @Roo45 I hope your embyros are going well. Let us know how you get on with your next update xx

Ahh, that's fantastic news @Jane1284! You must feel so relieved! Do you now get 'discharged' from your clinic and into regular NHS care? The next scan would be 12 weeks, presumably? I hope you find some way of celebrating that doesn't involve booze or things that make you nauseous!

Thanks @Roo45 @MF1981 for the luck! I got an encouraging day 3 update. My clinic say on day 3 they'd expect embryos to be above 6 cells and all of my 8 embryos are - there's even a 12cell and a 10cell. The atypical one is lagging a bit but still 7 cells. In quality terms the lab said they're all 'top tier'. We didn't go through each individual grade but I was really happy with that.

I feel like I shouldn't say it for fear of jinxing something but the embryologist said though a drop in numbers is inevitable, she's confident I'll have something on day 5 given the strength of the group. So long as I have at least one blast it will have been worth doing this cycle, obviously anything more than that would be amazing.

Brilliant news @lucymills1234 and @Jane1284 !!!

Thanks :-) It was very special to get to 7 weeks and know things are currently on track.

Yes @lucymills1234 I am now discharged from the clinic and into the NHS system. I have to pick a hospital and then self refer there and they will contact me in a week or so and organise an appointment with the midwife and a scan. I think the appointment is usually weeks 10-12.
Your day 3 update is amazing! I am so happy for you. Great that they are top tier and you are on track for what sounds like a few blasts. Will next update be on day 5 when they tell you how many they freeze? x

Ah great news @Jane1284!
So out of 8 embryos we had 1 good quality 1 and 1 poor quality one the others have either arrested or a day behind, my clinic don't tend to keep to day 6 but have at my request.
Had ET yesterday and hoping it sticks! No symptoms so far trying not to symptom spot.
Last time all our embryos were poor quality or arrested so I guess there's some improvement but doubt we will have any to freeze.
Hope all are ok xx

Congratulations on getting to ET @Roo45 ! I will be keeping everything crossed for you. I hope this embryo sticks and you get your BFP. When is OTD? Are you going to hold on or do you think you'll test early?
I think it is good you requested them to keep the embryos developing to day 6. I didn't think I would have any to freeze based on their quality on day 5 but they let one keep going and a 5BB was frozen on day 6. It's comforting to have one in the freezer even though I decided to do another round of IVF rather than a FET. I hope you get something on day 6 that is good enough to freeze xx

@Jane1284 Trying really hard to hold out! Knowing me I'll probably test early though. Just getting anxious about everything now though diet exercise lack of symptoms just treated myself to an iced doughnut and now thinking why did I do that?!
Unfortunately we had none suitable for freezing.

@Roo45 i think you deserve many donuts after going through IVF! I honestly don't think treats are going to undo the good work you have already done on your diet. Though I understand how hard it is not to put all this pressure on ourselves. Good luck for your TWW. I'm sorry you had none for freezing but I really hope this one sticks! I will be thinking of you xx