FET in September/October

[MyEasterEggs]

I’m preparing to start my treatment cycle in a month or so and thought it might be helpful to start up a thread for anyone heading for FET soon.

This will be my first FET so I’m nervous but also feeling hopeful having gone through a fair amount of testing and treatment. Think I’m about as prepared as I’ll ever be!

Current cycle finally got going two days ago after a bit of a delay and I’ve decided to use it to focus on eating well and getting into the right headspace.

Anyone at a similar stage and want some company?

@OrangeBengal I had a small bleed last week but they found a fibroid so they think it might be that. The other bleeds they put down to implantation. My beta at 5weeks 4 days was 12000 or something. My clinic didn't ask for it. I just did it on my own because of all the bleeding

Thanks @chloedancer88. I have a 1cm fibroid, plus a couple of smaller ones, so that makes sense. Plus I think bleeding is more common in IVF pregnancies, not sure why though. Good work on getting one a beta done.

I'm 6 week 4 days today. I started with some spotting last night which has got a little heavier today, but not fresh blood, just brown when I wipe (sorry if TMI).
I went in today for my viability scan, there was one baby, with a heartbeat flickering away , my clinic doesn't measure the rate but the midwife said it looked fast enough. The baby is measuring 2 days behind though (6 week 2). I know that this is within acceptable range, but with the bleeding etc I'm really worried.
We had a missed miscarriage in May this year, where we had a similar situation, baby measured 3 days behind at 6wk4 then I developed spotting, the next week there was no heart beat.
I'm just worrying that this is history repeating itself. The midwife couldn't see a reason for the bleed on ultrasound, she said it's most likely my cervix.

Seems we’re all in limbo at the moment. I hope the next few weeks pass as quickly as possible so we can all reach a point where we have more certainty. Love and hugs 💛

Hear hear @MyEasterEggs!

More blood this morning and darker than before. Tests still getting darker though (both lines the same today) and still no pain, so I’m going to try and concentrate on this side of things!

Ugh 😩 so sorry @OrangeBengal. Glad the tests are reassuring but appreciate it’s still worrying. Hope the beta HCG backs up the tests and comes back showing progression 🤞🏻

Morning ladies, I'm 5 weeks today but I had some brown on wiping last night that's become redder this morning. I don't have a good feeling but trying desperately to stay calm. Going to call the clinic as soon as they open and see if they can do some bloods x

Sounds like almost all of us have had bleeding at the same time. I wonder if the progesterone causes irritation of the cervix too.

@OrangeBengal I also have a fibroid discovered on scan

I know it sounds OTT but I basically have had a scan every week until now. It was the only thing that would reassure me. I ended up paying a private clinic for it but also had 2 scans at early pregnancy for the bleeding. Be insistent that you need seen there. You all deserve the reassurance

That’s a good plan re scans @chloedancer88. It’s my first HCG later today, so holding my breath for the results. The bleeding is worrying, but as it’s light and intermittent, not a flow, with no pain I think I’m coming round to just accepting it. Things that could help I suppose are doing pessaries rectally and stopping aspirin, if you’re not already doing this @Bookbug92. Are you feeling pain?

@OrangeBengal my clinic stopped my pessaries at 7 weeks. And I'm not on aspirin. But have definitely heard that taking them rectally can help. Fingers crossed for your beta xx

Thanks @chloedancer88, I think maybe for you and I the reason for the bleeding might be clearer - the fibroid(s). Though through this processes I’ve learnt that reasons are often hard to find!

What a week we’re all having. I started spotting last night too and it’s accompanied by cramps in my lower back. Heading into PAU for a reassurance scan at 3 and they’re going to have me do a urine test and vaginal swab to make sure there are no signs up infection as I have a history of BV and UTIs. I really don’t want a scan because I feel like I’m content in a little bubble but I know it’s necessary. They think that constipation could be a factor in irritating things because (sorry TMI) both of the times I’ve had to strain a little more I’ve spotted. Never had this in previous pregnancies so it’s thrown me a bit…

And yes to doing pessaries rectally. I’ve read so many stories of vaginal insertion causing cervical irritation. It’s actually less messy tbh.

Oh @MyEasterEggs what a palaver, hopefully it’s just the general bleeding a lot of us seem to be experiencing. Re constipation I used to be really bad at drinking water but my husband got me a HidrateSpark water bottle when we started IVF as you can put in how much you need to drink and it’ll give you reminders. Now I drink at least 2.25L a day easily. It’s a small thing, but it’s really helped me, no more staining.

Thanks for your support and suggestions everyone, it means a lot. I'm sorry to hear that we're all going through similar symptoms. The spotting has turned brown again and sometimes there's none when I wipe.. I've messaged my clinic explaining my situation but no response yet. I've requested bloods but I'm NHS funded so worried they'll say no, even though I have added that I'm willing to pay just for the reassurance.
I'm on cyclogest 3x a day but I take them all rectally so don't think it's irritation sadly.

I feel as though I’m drinking tons of fluids and also started taking OxyTech. I’ve been fine most of the time. But wonder if the sheer level of progesterone I’m taking is what’s causing me to “back up” now and again (for want of a better expression). But I could try drinking even more!

@MyEasterEggs i had that my last pregnancy where I would bleed after a vowel movement I think just due to the pressure. Although that pregnancy didn’t work, the bleeding was nothing to worry about and said can just be totally normal so fingers crossed scan all fine

@OrangeBengal good luck for your bloods today

Thanks @LT103, I’m just googling beta results whilst awaiting mine. I know doubling is more important then the number, but I’d obviously feel more comfortable if the first number is high. For my fresh cycle we had 7.1 returned, which was the worse experience as this number was in the ‘grey zone’, as over 5 is technically pregnant. Turns out it was the Gonasi, but no one told my nurses. A few days of torture, or so it felt at the time.

Anyway, I thought this might be a useful thing to discuss with clinics if you suffering from multiple miscarriages and / or an initial low beta - www.fertilityfriends.co.uk/threads/post-your-beta-hcg-results-here-part-5.394601/page-3

Essentially ‘three ovitrelle injections’ and ‘steroids’ got one of the messengers over the 12wk mark after an initial low beta.

Fingers crossed for your beta @OrangeBengal, we're all rooting for you!

My clinic never even acknowledged my message which is disappointing. Brown loss continues, exactly the same as I would have before a period. Trying to remain positive that it's not red 🤞🏻

Can you ring your clinic @Bookbug92?

I think there’s usual an emergency number alongside the normal one

Back from my scan and baby measuring a day behind but otherwise all okay. Cervix seems to be closed so they think the pressure may have caused a tiny bit of bleeding from around the cervix because the area is so swollen with blood, even more so because of the progesterone.

@Bookbug92 so sorry your clinic have been rubbish. That’s really disappointing. If it’s dark, hopefully it’s a sign that it’s old blood. Have you called your PAU? I’ve found them to be more supportive than my clinic in terms of care during pregnancy.

Phew @MyEasterEggs, so glad you’re both alright.

Yes @Bookbug92 hound whomever you need to!

Beta back, 298 at 9dp6dt - whoohoo. In for repeat on Monday.

I gave my clinic a call after your suggestion @OrangeBengal and they told me they'd had a busy day and that a nurse would call me back. They have called and they were reassuring, they said that I'm on quite a high dose of meds and that may have made the ectropian cells on my cervix irritable. They said my cramping is normal as apparently it's my ligaments and uterus stretching already? Hmm. They have booked me in for a beta but not until Tuesday.

I'm a midwife so I called the EPU where I work @MyEasterEggs 🙈 they also wouldn't see me this early, but they've booked me in for a scan on 4th Nov so just one week to get through.

How lovely to have seen baby on the scan though today 😊

@Bookbug92 i didn’t get any spotting but I had the most awful cramps up until about 6 1/2 weeks. Like my worst period cramps. All totally normal but enough to make me panic!