ABC IVF thread continued

[StarryHannah]

Our other thread is now full so thought I would start this one to continue the chat.

@Beaglemum91 I'm waiting for my period so I can start meds for FET so that is really helpful information about the embryo transfer process. Thank you. Did you have your partner on Facetime or anything for it?

@Icsi2021 so excited for you xxx

Sorry lol i think my page wasn't refreshing I've just seen a load of missed messages from today and my own that I thought didn't send

@Becky105 ooh how exciting! I'm at Wimbledon, how about you? Xx

Hey a bit off topic but how long after your egg collection did you get your period? I guess it's a question for those who are doing frozen transfers!

@Francesmalin my period/withdrawal bleed came 4 days after my egg collection but I think that was a bit earlier than they said to expect it.

@Clapham4 yes, they gave me a list of instructions for things to do/not do until test day. I kind of wish I'd taken time off work so I could just relax and watch the Olympics while waiting for the test, but I tend to get very obsessive and anxious so work is probably a good distraction for me.

@Hoping4baby21 Hope you're feeling better today!

@IzzyStar sorry you've been finding things difficult. I had a freeze all too and at first I was really sad not to be doing a fresh transfer. But now I'm glad I waited as I feel like my body is in a much better place now than it was right after EC (I was at risk of OHSS too). I didn't do much different to prepare for the frozen transfer to be honest, just continued eating lots of protein and less sugar, tried to go for two walks every day, drank a good amount of water etc. I hope you'll feel better about things soon!

@lawandgin thanks for the podcast recommendation! I'll check it out. I haven't listened to any of that podcast. The only IVF-related one I listen to is If These Ovaries Could Talk, which is an American podcast about LGBTQ+ families.

@Becky105 transfer went well thanks! So far I feel pretty calm about it all. Trying not to worry about the fact that I don't really have any side effects/symptoms still. Hope your first couple of injections haven't been too bad!

@lawandgin I'm at Harley Street. I was the same when it came to the injection... Held it for a good few minutes trying to get the courage to stab. My partner also offered and initially I had thought I'd be ok with that but changed my mind and didn't want her to do it at all lol. maybe I'll let her have a go today, now I know what to expect.

@kittyfantastico21 thank you for that. I love exercising and not being able to do what I could previously do is affecting my mood. However going for walks is a good shout. 😊

@Francesmalin my withdrawal bleed came 6 days after egg collection and lasted for 6 days.

@kittyfantastico21 I've listened to the first season and I'm just onto the second. Some of the episodes are less interesting but they did interview the founder of ABC/Create on one which was quite interesting.

@Becky105 it's a shame we aren't at the same clinic as we might have bumped into each other, haha. Although I was told I might need to go to St Pauls for EC if it fell on a Sunday, although the nurse then said not because our frozen sperm is at Wimbledon. Then the nurse that did my treatment consultation was like "oh we'll work around it so that your EC is not on a Sunday" so now I'm just a bit like .... I don't think I could let DH do mine, I just feel like it might hurt more if someone else does it, but I know plenty of people do it that way and it's fine. I think I am just a control freak but luckily he doesn't seem bothered about wanting a go! x

@izzyStar, @kittyfantastico21 : same I had my withdrawal bleed 4 days after ER but I was told that's not considered as period. My actual period was due last Friday but not I don't know when it will be back hence why the question. When did you get your actual period???

I think I need to wait 2 or 3 periods to start a new IVF cycle

@Francesmalin Ohhh, I see, sorry for the confusion! My cycle after EC was 33 days, which is my average cycle length. But I have read about people having a delay to their next period after EC. I was able to start the FET cycle on that period but it might be different for a new fresh cycle.

@Francesmalin sorry I misread. I have not had my actual period yet after EC. I would have had my period this week but I had the withdrawal bleed last week. So I need to wait for next months cycle, before I start the transfer.

Yeah, let's see what happens. Unfortunately my first cycle was not successful and I don't have any embryos so I need to do it again. I am talking to the homerton today as I am in the NHS waiting list for early 2022 and also with ABC to see next steps. I am planning to go away for the summer so I won't do a new cycle before September... I am bit scared this failure repeat itself and i get 10 immature eggs again 😔

@Clapham4 sorry I completely missed your question about testing the other day! Well, after being adamant I wouldn't test early, I woke up feeling like it would be a good idea, peed in a cup and everything, and then I only went a dropped the urine on the floor when I went to put it down! I couldn't help at laugh out loud at how ridiculous I looked, pants down on the toilet and pee all over the floor. Anyway, I have taken that as my sign NOT to test early. My husband and I need to have a chat thought because OTD is officially Sunday but as the clinic is closed blood test is Monday. Trying to work out of I want to find out on the weekend or not. So in short - I have no idea yet when I am going to test but it isn't going to be today apparently!

@kittyfantastico21 the above probably lets you know how I am doing today lol! I am still heavily distracted again today.

For those doing injections I really enjoyed my husband doing them and we found it to be quite a bonding moment. I usually prefer to have control, but I really was not prepared to inject myself. So more power to you ladies who can self inject!

@lawandgin I am listening to that BFN TWW episode - not sure if it is the best idea but I have started now and she just said she had night sweats lol and thought she boiled the embryo! Its nice to hear someone admit to the crazy thoughts we all have during the TWW.

@Francesmalin I am glad you are working through your next steps, I totally understand the fear of another negative, sometimes I just remind myself that the only way to achieve the goal is to move forward and try to just focus on that.

@Hoping4baby21 oh wow, if ever there was a sign not to test early that was it! Glad you were able to laugh about it. That's a difficult decision on testing on the Sunday or not. I think I'd be inclined to wait the extra day just to allow for a positive to get a tiny bit stronger, but there's definitely an advantage to testing on the Sunday because then if it's negative you can have a day to wallow instead of having to be at work.

Hi Ladies, I am starting my first cycle with ABC Oxford in August (will be towards end of next week my period is due). I have my treatment consultation today. All things are gone well so far with them. I am also under Professor Quenby for recurrent miscarriage, am waiting on some blood results from her, results will be ready before embryo transfer so she can have any meds in place beforehand if anything shows up. Feeling really excited and slightly overwhelmed!
Is there anything you would particularly ask in the treatment consultation from experience?
Thanks xx

@kittyfantastico21 yes that my worry, we did have a conversation yesterday about it and we decided to just do the blood test. My husband has all the pregnancy tests now. So I just need to live in the moment and enjoy being possible pregnant until they tell me otherwise.

@ThinnerByDinner welcome and best of luck for your cycle. My treatment consultant was quite clear and in depth so I don't think there was anything I felt wasn't covered afterwards.

Hi guys!

Had my ET earlier and feeling a bit down, we had only 2 blasts (out of 5 embryos in total) suitable for transfer, but both are still “early blastocysts”, so I was told it’s too early to grade. Which I’d never heard before 😩
The other 3 are still growing but slower. They said tomorrow they’ll let me know about freezing. So realistically we could get no frozen if they don’t start swiftly multiplying cells. I know there’s still a chance it could work with the early blast but it feels so deflating, after being told all 5 were good and above only 2 days ago🤷🏻‍♀️

@Clapham4 congrats on your transfer and officially being PUPO I hope this goes fast for you and ends with the best news!!
I also hope you get some good news tomorrow regarding your still growing embryos fingers crossed 🤞🏽

All it takes is one so fingers crossed the right one is making itself at home as we speak.

@Clapham4
Really hoping you hear positive news tomorrow! There is still time but I know how deflating it can be. Are you having a fresh transfer? I have a friend who I met via here. She is currently 12 weeks pregnant now and she didn’t have any frozen just one embryo fresh transferred! Hers was an early blast and wasn’t graded.

@kittyfantastico21 hope you’re doing okay!
@Hoping4baby21 I would defo take that as a sigh! Makes me think about leaving the test result to the blood test. I just hated the phone call last time as I knew straight away it had failed. Hope you’re taking it easy!

@Hopeful1234567 Yh I know I probably won't like the phone call but I'm sure no matter how the news is delivered it sucks anyway. I think mentally I'm counting myself out already which is really negative and doing nothing for my mood but I can't force myself to believe anything else. I keep trying to be logical about it but let's be honest this is not a logical process. I wish I could be the my husband in this process I know he has tough moments as well but it isn't all happening to him and he also doesn't get it the same way a female might. So struggling and it's gunna be a long and miserable 4 days honestly. That's my pity party, I wish I could pull myself out of it.

We've decided to add panelling and paint our spare bedroom this weekend. It's the only room we haven't decorated 2.5 years later. Hoping that's enough of a distraction to get us through.

I'm gunna try and stay offline the next few days because I don't think it's helping. I'll still be thinking of you all and wishing you all the best of luck. Xx

@ThinnerByDinner welcome! I hope your consultation went well!

@Clapham4 I'm sorry you had disappointing news at your transfer, but glad you were able to transfer one! Really hoping that's the one! Fingers crossed for a good update today. I hope the TWW flies by for you.

@Hoping4baby21 I hope the room decoration will work as a good distraction and at least make the time go quicker. Staying offline is a very sensible idea I think. Sending you so many crossed fingers and good wishes and hoping you get a positive on test day!

@Hopeful1234567 I'm feeling okay today but had a tough day yesterday. I had to go to an all-day in-person training thing for work, which made me quite nervous about Covid. It was actually great to spend time with my team in person etc but we went to a park for a social afterwards and on the walk there I got aches in my abdomen, not like period cramps, more muscular maybe? I really don't know how to describe it! Anyway it made me really worried that my backpack was too heavy and I'd caused a problem in my uterus or somehow ruined implantation or something and I felt really sad. Even though I'd spent most of the day convinced it hadn't worked anyway. But this morning my boobs are a bit sore and I'm absolutely exhausted (though that could be from being around other people for a whole day!) so now I have a bit more hope, even though I know 3dp5dt is too early for any of this to be pregnancy symptoms and it could all be caused by the progesterone. But I didn't have sore boobs before transfer so can't help being hopeful anyway. What a rollercoaster.

I'm on my way to my first treatment scan, is there anything that I should be asking at this appointment?

@kittyfantastico21 try not to be too harsh on yourself. I've read that it's better to be up and about getting on with your day after transfer rather than bed rest, so you might even have been helping your chances. Sending baby dust to you and everyone else x

@Becky105 thank you, it's so hard not to worry about every little thing but I feel calmer about it today. Good luck for your scan! They should tell you the important stuff anyway, like how many follicles you have and what kind of sizes they are and how your lining is looking so I can't think of much else to ask at the first scan stage.

@kittyfantastico21 I can completely relate. Any little thing is really hard not to think into. I remember putting my laptop on my stomach and not realizing for 20 minutes so automatically thought the worst. The TTW is a really hard to get through, it’s feeling so many emotions you don’t even know you’re going to feel. Last time I went through being very positive to negative and being frustrated when I didn’t have any symptoms. Anyone that goes through this process is amazing as it really takes a lot out of you. Really hoping everything works out for you.

@Hoping4baby21 I can really relate to everything you’ve said, it is so hard to not think anything other than negative especially the closer it gets to the test day. My partner is the same, he has suffered a lot with the process but do feel he doesn’t understand how it really feels when it’s not his body. Our relationship has really suffered through this process and feel like we have only just recovered from my last failed transfer. I’m really hoping for you it works out as you really deserve it. Always here. Sounds like a great distraction to decorate your spare room!