IVF February/March 2021

[Alexm06]

Hi

I’m due to start IVF mid February depending on when my period in January starts.
Had a fresh cycle end of august which sadly ended in a missed miscarriage in October.
I only had that one embryo so will be starting a new fresh cycle.

Would love to chat to any ladies starting then as I found the chats really helpful during my first round.

Good luck for everyone awaiting a progress report about how many of their eggs fertilised. I didn't get much sleep last night - convinced myself none will have fertilised and it is all over!

@2mumlife good luck lovely!
Don't focus on the egg numbers of others. I know it's hard not too but as many have said you can get loads of eggs and none be good or one really good one.

I had around 40 follicles at my last scan before egg collection. My documents say they took from 20 follicles and got 17 eggs. Waiting for the call today but I know there's a chance a lot of those are not mature so we'll see. I think the more you get sometimes the less likely they are really good ones

@MrTumbleTumble I'm the exact same! Fully expecting to be told none. As we are unexplained still the issue could be egg quality or sperm (partners was 1% morphology) so terrified of that call

@willithappen thank you. I do keep trying to focus on the 'quality over quantity'. My would-have-been dominated follicule was up at 20mm yesterday, with 2 others larger than 18mm which is my clinics target line, and 4 between 16-18, which was all I was really paying attention to yesterday as I was focussed on these guys as the ones that mgiht have mature eggs, but I've read now that the other follicules keep growing, and reading the posts gives me a lot of hope that the end number could be higher. I had been expecting EC on Monday, but even at the scan before they'd check blood levels the nurse was saying to start preparing for EC Friday due to the biggies looking ready to go. I should have known, I always stimulated fast during our IUI attempts last year. I'm grateful to be done with the Menopur to be honest, and I have all of next week booked off work.

My clinic aren't allowing fresh transfers to happen if they collect over 20 eggs due to risk of OHSS and not wanting to put pressure on NHS. Has anyone elses clinic said this to them? I didn't think this was a risk for us, but hearing some of the numbers others are getting, it go me thinking over 20 eggs isn't that rare?

Early days but 3 out of three fertilised!!! Yay!!!

@2mumlife my clinic had also said if they got over 20 it would be a freeze all. We obviously got less than that but are still a freeze all and I think that was because of how many follicles I had and I also had some fluid leak from them and they saw fluid in my lining at the last scan before egg collection.

@RichmondLady1981 congrats! That's fantastic news and nice and early in the day to be told!

@willithappen I'm sorry you've had a fluid leak, I didn't know that was a thing. On the plus side, HFEA data is starting to show a slightly higher success rate with frozen over fresh transfers, so there is that to feel optimistic about :)

@RichmondLady1981 big cheer for your eggs :)

Well done everyone !! Great numbers and results.
3 out of my 4 are between 6-8 cells so going to transfer at day 4 tomorrow.
I also did something really stupid and bought a couple of little baby things. I feel like I literally need something tangible and real to hold onto. Really stupid I know, but I needed to do it. I'll just keep hidden and pull them out when I need to focus. Might carry one of them about in my bag .... realises I have officially become crazy.

@willithappen @2mumlife thank you! After such a small collection yesterday I needed a boost! 100% fertilisation rate!! I know there’s only three but I’m taking it!! 😂

Mumlife good luck with the EC tomorrow 💕. Just to let you know for me there was really no pain- just the scratch of the cannula! You are in and out before you know it. It was my first time too. Honestly don’t worry at all.

@Hop27 all the best with your transfer tomorrow!!

Willithappen @MrTumbleTumble and anyone else for progress calls today- everything crossed for you X x

I am finding it completely impossible to think of anything other than eggs, sperm and embryos. My head is a mush. Please tell me everyone else is the same? I’m teaching this afternoon and no idea how that’s going to work! Although I do need a distraction.

Thanks @RichmondLady1981
Still anxiously awaiting a call from the clinic

Hi all, been catching up on threads coz been really busy at work and got behind. Loads of positive activity for everyone!

@Hop27 not going crazy at all. I got my fiance a newborn football kit for vday, sort of putting good hopeful vibes out there for the year of IVF to come 😂

@RichmondLady1981 couldn't agree more! Why is there work to do when all you want to do is sit and think about your little fish and how they are doing?! 😆 It's so hard to concentrate on actual work!

My clinic completely gave me palpitations this morning. I was told they would ring am if my embryos weren't doing well and wanted to transfer today then pm if they were looking good for Saturday transfer. 2 missed calls before 9am! Turns out they were just checking in and 6 of the 8 fertilised are still top quality which is really exciting. Transfer booked for Saturday morning 😬

Just got my call from the clinic and out of my 17 eggs only 11 were mature. 8 fertilized
I know that's a good number but I still feel a bit deflated and worried about any of them making it to day 3/5 now. They will call on Saturday to let me know how they are getting on

Morning all, good luck for those calls today & brilliant news @RichmondLady1981 you must be very relieved.
@Hop27 Ive almost done the same thing, I totally get it, we’re so close yet so far & sometimes its just nice to think positive.

@willithappen I think 8 is a great number, you should be happy. When do they next call you with an update?
@Nix49816 brilliant news & good luck for Sat.
I find this period in-between EC & ET hard... its essentially just a waiting game out of our hands. I keep googling stuff but know I shouldnt.

Thanks @GingerBrummie I know 8 is good, just a shock to have such a big drop off but they did say that they don't count the immature ones so technically it was a 75% fertilisation rate.
They will call on Saturday to let me know and decide if any need frozen then and then if none frozen then they will call on Monday/Tuesday

@RichmondLady1981 that is wonderful news, congratulations!

Good morning,

Iv just had an update, all the eggs were mature but only 4 have fertilised which im really happy about.

They will call me on day 3 which will be Saturday with an update.

Good luck those haveing ET and EC today.

Congratulations @Blessing12

Just got a call from the clinic. Out of the 16 eggs collected, 13 were mature. Of these 13, 11 were fertilized. She said a good result would be for a third of these to get to day 5/6. It's a waiting game now until Tuesday so hopefully we will get some to embryo stage

Everyone has such great news - congratulations all!

We've got a lower fertilisation rate than hoped - 3/7 fertilised. Last time we had 3 fertilise and all 3 made it to day 5 blasts, but it feels too much to hope for that that will happen again and I'm so worried about any drop off. We're still planning for a single blastocyst transfer on Monday but the clinic will call me tomorrow, if it's not looking good tomorrow PM they might look at putting 2 back on day 3.

Very much wish I wasn't at work today and tomorrow and feeling like the chances of this round working are slim. This was our last fresh round and we've been so hoping for at least 1 fresh transfer and 2 to freeze, that felt like our best case scenario. Just got to hold out until tomorrow I suppose.

Sorry guys I didnt see all these new messages when I posted my message.

@RichmondLady1981 Congratulations, fantastic news.

@Nix49816 fantastic news also, good luck with transfer Saturday

@willithappen thats a great number I have 4 thats have fertilised and we only need 1. Good luck.

@hopefulhel thats also a fab number fertilised.

Well done everyone, I think apart from the 2ww this time is even worse because its all down to the little embies to be strong and do all the work.

Great @hopefulhel & its a great fertilisation rate.

Is anyone doing anything different for ET & 2ww? I normally have a few brazil nuts per day. I dont do pineapple core. I wear socks 24/7 as uterus stays warm. Gentle walking & lots of water & also to avoid cold foods & drink. Also something salty after ET for OHSS.
Anything else? I know that none of this stuff really helps that much as it will either stick or not but at least I feel like Im doing something positive. Wont be doing acupuncture as it never seemed to like me!

@willithappen - thanks! I do laugh at my own jokes! LOL! I swear its the hormones, I haven't felt like this in ages!

@2mumlife - that's great news - good luck for tomorrow!!

@RichmondLady1981 - that's a fantastic percentage - everything crossed for you. Will you get a day 3 update?

@hop27 - that's great news and no you aren't crazy for getting excited - I love the teething blanket!

@Nix49816 - fabulous news!! Saturday is going to be an exciting day for lots!

@willithappen - I know it is hard but the tops ones will make themselves known.

yay @Blessing12 - 100% fertilisation is fantastic - good eggs and sperm there!

@hopefulhel - that really is fab news, I know it is hard to wait (I had my day 1 update yesterday and that will be it until Sunday AM when I go for ET) I'm just going to drink gin so the days roll into one!! LOL!)

@GingerBrummie - I'm going to eat some brazil nuts and walk, well that's if my stomach stops being so bloated! I've promised DH that I won't jump the horse (I feel off each time I had a transfer!)

Today is running away from me, which is good as I kinda have forgotten about the IVF. Also my BF is keeping me sane and I am doing her an OTT 'influencer' style update each day. It's making me laugh anyway! DH has told me to show the lubion draw up needle and say its the biggest thing I've had inside me in months!!

Thank you so much everyone! As you know I only have 3 and I’m so aware that the drop off rates from now are quite big- especially from day 3 to day 5!!

@Mrbay yes- get an Update on Saturday morning.

@MrTumbleTumble all the best for you and hope your transfer go ahead. X

@hopefulhel and @whatwill .those are such fabulous numbers. Congratulations

Sorry if I’ve missed anyone. My mind is a blur!!!

Any tips on how to not drive myself absolutely mad during this 5 day wait to see if any can make it to be frozen?
I have already googled all the worst outcomes and I'm just winding myself up. I'm such an over thinker/straight to worst case scenario person