Low amh / 3 lead follicles - need some hope!

[VenusStarr]

I'm doing my first round of IVF, this is my one and only nhs round. I have low amh (5) so was warned they weren't expecting much from me. I have had 4 naturally concieved miscarriages and am following an immune protocol but worried about my low numbers.

I've been on stims since Thursday and had my first scan today. I have 3 decent sized follicles: 2x12mm, 1x10mm plus 5 smaller ones all about 5mm. The nurse seemed happy but thinks that the smaller ones won't come to anything. Follow up is Wednesday and looking at egg collection sometime between Friday and Monday.

I'm on another thread and everyone has loads of follicles / eggs, so struggling not to compare. Due to my low numbers, we've already discussed a day 3 transfer, but I'm worried we won't even get that far.

Please share any positive stories. X

@39andabit I don't think so I think they try for a 5 day transfer and its embryoscope so they leave them for the full period and I get a call the day before transfer

They all seem different! My clinic was keen on day 5 for all too but we got a day 3 call and then a call on the way to the hopeful transfer- that was nerve wracking! Yours actually sounds better. We used the embryoscope too. Hopefully the embryos are tucked up and multiplying away. Have a good day and let us know how you get on on day 4 🍀🍀🍀

@Luan82 congratulations keeping all crossed for you that one or even better two of those become good embryos to transfer/freeze! Hope you can relax a bit till the transfer.

@39andabit I stopped all exercise except walking and feel a bit bad about it but didn’t want to risk given my miscarriage. What are your thoughts on exercise? The good thing is I went completely off any sweet things.

@Luan82 would they transfer 2 if both are good on day 3?

I had a double transfer. They’re ok with it if you’re 38+ I’m guessing you are due to your user name! At day 5 it looked like they were the only 2 blasts one was a 4AB & one was a 4BC, we we’re lucky as the remaining 1 caught up and although it’s a4AC the embryologist said they only freeze ‘good enough’ embryos so he’s tucked away in the freezer too.
The chances of twins are higher but not as high as you’d think - I think they said 1 in 20 for a double transfer at my age. I’d love twins if you could skip the pregnancy/birth/baby health risks so I was relieved and disappointed in equal measure that it’s just the one! So lucky. Have you thought what you’d prefer?

@jolly86 how are you feeling?

@jolly86 sorry I missed the other post!
I’m back to doing a bit but just some easy weights circuits and jogging twice a week. I was scared but all my friends have just carried on with normal exercises in the first few months so I’m tentatively doing about 30% of what I’d normally do. I think it’s good to do something and makes me feel better. I have been looking for pre natal pilates or yoga classes but not sure it’s me and it’s normally women 15/20 weeks plus I think!

@39andabit I envie people exercising but just can’t help being paranoid. What do you think about swimming? I think there was a suggestion not to swim after ivf but not sure how long.

@jolly86 I think it’s only two weeks post transfer they say to avoid swimming, think it’s to do with the risk of infection so you should be fine. I think the main things are to avoid getting too hot or too out of breath, I’m also avoiding abs exercises although I don’t think this is bad until your 2nd trimester.
I think if you just need to decrease the volume and intensity of what you did before and listen to your body and you’ll be fine. Also one day it all feels easy but often I’m finding it hard so just do a lot less or walk instead of run. It’s worth following this account if you’re into weights circuits etc… instagram.com/bumpsandburpees?utm_medium=copy_link

@39andabit @jolly86
Sorry for the radio silence yesterday- yes I'm 38 😊 would have been a year younger but covid created a nice 12 month delay for us during this process ... 😩it was my OH's birthday yesterday so took him into the countryside for a picnic 🧺 he really struggles with birthdays and getting older which is mad considering I'm the one with DOR and likely early menopause and his sperm is actually very good!! (Think we have his spermies to thank for the fertilisation rate)
leeds have a rule of transferring one at a time whenever possible, the forms I signed did mention up to 2 though so I guess it will depend on the quality? If one isn't good enough quality to freeze then I'd prefer to give it a chance in me but I guess I'll wait and see what they suggest - I prefer not to get updates till before transfer otherwise I'll send myself insane every time the phone rings!!🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

@Luan82 sorry I didn’t see this! Hope you had a lovely picnic.
Interesting about the clinic policy, I agree with you if there are 2 top quality blasts then freezing may be the right decision but if one isn’t great quality it just makes more sense to transfer 2. I think NICE guidelines say transferring 2 for over 37s is for the consultant and women to decide.
Hope you’re coping with the wait. Good luck for the call tomorrow 🤞🤞🤞
I’m doing ok, so knackered though, really thankful to be working from home. I have my first midwife appointment on Thursday and they’ll book the 12 week scan then. Will be good to get that booked.

@39andabit midwife appointment- how fantastic!! Feels like a real milestone! I have just noticed that my natural cycle is 26 days currently and according to my apps the last day of the cycle is tomorrow!! I'm terrified that I'll get my period the day after transfer (if we make it to transfer) - hopefully the progesterone helps keep the levels up and delays it but just wondering what if it doesn't? Going to mention to the nursing team today I think as it's worrying me x

We have one good quality blast ready to transfer today!!!!! The other is growing slowly but they are keeping an eye on it and it may be available to freeze fingers crossed they may leave it another day in the incubator - I'm going to transfer today .... yay!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

@Luan82 that’s great news! My slow grower caught up so keeping everything crossed for yours too. Just making it to transfer feels like a huge milestone when you start with low numbers so that’s really positive. Hope all goes well today and I found it pretty pain free and just exciting. 🤞🤞🤞

As for the short cycle, I think the progesterone delays it, it’s worth checking with the nurses though as it’s just reassuring to know!

@Luan82 that's great to get at least 1 good quality blast out of 2 eggs!! All the best with the transfer.

@39andabit wow congratulations for making to the first midwife appointment, that is a milestone!

Yay, congratulations @Luan82 and @39andabit!

@jolly86 and @Scirocco how are you both doing? It feels like it he waiting goes on forever doesn’t it?!

Waiting is horrible. We've another scan this afternoon/evening for a second opinion after a fairly difficult experience at Early Pregnancy yesterday. The midwife at early pregnancy thinks we'll have another miscarriage because the sac is the wrong shape (kind of tear-drop shaped rather than round), although there's a heartbeat and the sac looks intact.

@Scirocco I do really hope she is wrong and you get a different opinion later today!

@Scirocco so sorry to hear that, that’s so sad. Hoping you get better news today, that would be heartbreaking. Wishing you loads of luck. 🤞🤞🤞

We got good news at today's scan - the sonographer said she didn't see anything that would indicate an increased risk of miscarriage. The gestational and yolk sacs are both round and intact, and the heartbeat is strong. Still shaking with relief.

Wonderful news, so pleased for you. Hope you have a better time from now, it certainly is a rollercoaster isn’t it! Poor you. Xx

@Scirocco that's amazing news, terrible that someone told you such negative news like that though !! The transfer was amazing yesterday but I did have a 'pee' incident because my bladder wasn't quite full enough they had to send two ladies in before me but by the time they were ready for me I was unable to walk I was that desperate!! 😂🤣
Unfortunately the remaining embaby didn't quite make it to the freezer it just wasn't strong enough - but they did say the transferred embryo was excellent quality so positive thoughts now for the 2WW!! x

@Scirocco that's amazing news and crazy that your initial sonographer got it so wrong!! Hope all goes smoothly now.

@Luan82 sorry for the second embryo but the one you have is a very good one so fingers crossed for you and good luck for the 2ww!