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?

@LT103 you’re about 15 weeks now, right? I’m 13 weeks and there’s no hiding it. I had a bit of a belly before falling pregnant though so can’t say it’s all baby 😆

Yeah will be 15 weeks in a couple of days. I mean I’m sure there’s a fair bit of bloating but there’s no denying I’m pregnant. I thought I would hide it a bit longer haha

Hi all, doing well here. I’m 10+1 weeks today. I can’t relax though as I’m still spotting, but after my scan on Wednesday, I think we’re feeling much more confident. I also get to reduce some of my drugs from today, which is super exciting. Will be doing the SAFE test at some point in the next couple of weeks and hoping to get my 12 week scan in just before I go to my mum’s for Christmas. If all looks good there, I’ll tell immediate family.

So pleased to hear everything is progressing well @MyEasterEggs and @LT103

Really glad to hear that everyone's doing OK so far. I'm still waiting for my nipt results. They told me to ring if I'd not heard by Tuesday so I called on Wednesday and they told me due to the mail strikes it took 4 days for my sample to get to the lab. Really annoyed as they originally told me they'd send it by courier and it would arrive the same day. They then said I'd hear by today at the latest but still nothing so another weekend not knowing. I feel like I can't get excited until we get these results as it's if we have this baby not when at the moment. I'm going Christmas shopping with my mum this weekend and was looking forward to hopefully having a quick look at baby stuff but don't feel like I can without knowing if it's all OK.

Sorry for the rant, just feeling a bit upset about it all. Ever since the start of all this fertility stuff we've not had a single test come back when we were told it was supposed to and I'm just getting sick of it all.

@Kelvie103 that's so frustrating. Hopefully you will hear something soon. With infertility, it just feels like everything is a waiting game. It's really hard to get excited. fingers crossed you get some nice news in the next few days and can start getting excited

@OrangeBengal what was your protocol and what are you on moving forward? I’ve been weaning too but delayed a few things purely based on my own history. Is it just you and your partner that know atm? Will be a lovely Christmas surprise for your mum 🥰

@Kelvie103 I’m not surprised you’re frustrated. Are you doing everything through your clinic? I’ve had a few hiccups with mine and ended up moving additional treatment and testing elsewhere. Such a faff. Hopefully you get some good news early next week 💛

No its a private scan company (Hey Baby 4D.) I've not had any contact with my clinic after they discharged me after my first scan. I did get a very apologetic email Friday night saying they've emailed the senior management at the lab asking why they were told the results would be in Friday when they weren't. To be fair the scan company have been lovely, it's not their fault about the strikes or the lab messing around.

I'm 12 weeks today and will finally have my booking appointment tomorrow morning and then my 12 week scan on Tuesday. Starting to get nervous again about my scan! Part of the reason I paid for the private nipt test was because I wanted the results before my nhs appointments so I could discuss it with them if its bad news. Just have to try and hope for some good news soon.

Hey @MyEasterEggs, so the plan was to reduce Lubion to 1 per day from 10 weeks, then stop altogether at 11 weeks. Cyclogest was to be reduce to 2 from 10 weeks and then as instructed by my consultant and oestrogen stopped at 12 weeks. The only change to this is that as I’m still spotting I’m still on 3 a day, until I stop bleeding completely. What reduction plan did you settle on in the end?

My best friend (and actually I suppose my boss too) has been the only person other than my husband that has known everything from the start. Mum knows now as she happened to contact me on the day we found out we lost one of the twins, so I sent her some sort of cryptic message, I knew I’d have to explain, though I didn’t really want to. When are you thinking of telling people.

We get SAFE tested on Saturday and hopefully will get the results by Christmas. And hopefully gave our scan that week of Christmas @Kelvie103. It’s natural to be nervous though, but just think how well your other scans have gone and how your baby has been in these. I have my fingers crossed for you.

@OrangeBengal I started to reduce my oestrogen two weeks ago and had my last dose on Friday before hitting 13 weeks. I’ll start reducing cyclogest and prednisolone after 16 week scan with a view to being off them by 18 weeks. But this is all relates to milestones. Aspirin and Clexane continue until 36 weeks and Metformin I think I’ll come off after the pregnancy.

Our parents and siblings knew we were having IVF and they all know we’re expecting now. I’ve also told my closest friends. So I’m not really feeling the pressure to announce. We’ll let our families do the talking I think. Though I’ll need to make clients aware by the end of January as I take on quarterly projects and want to finish work at the end of April! Feels crazy to be thinking about maternity leave…

Good luck to you and @Kelvie103 with your upcoming scans and tests!

It looks like I’ll be on at least 2 cyclogest a day until 34 weeks @MyEasterEggs. They want me on aspirin too, but I can only start this when the spotting stops. Interesting re your pred and clexane instructions, I stopped both awhile ago. What does metformin do?

My friend mentioned baby clothes on Saturday, which gave me a bit of thrill, it’s great that we can both start thinking more long-term now.

@OrangeBengal the longer term use of cyclogest is because of the bleeding, right?

I’m on a recurrent miscarriage protocol and continuing on the cyclogest and pred because of our late loss. Scared to come off until 16 weeks so glad my consultant agreed. The aspirin and clexane are for potential clotting issues as I have two gene mutations which, when combined, increase that risk. Plus there’s been a clotting pattern to my losses. Metformin supports those with PCOS and there’s evidence it helps those who have had recurrent losses.

I’ve bought a couple of little things, which felt nice. Helps to build the belief all will be well I think 🙂

Yes and no for the cyclogest @MyEasterEggs, sticking to 3 at the mo is definitely because of that, but I think it’s just what my consultant recommends.

We’ve been discussing birth weeks with the hospital as I have to have a c-section and want to book into a specific room. And initially they were saying 37 weeks due to age (I’m 38, will be 39 at birth), high blood pressure and the fact it’s an IVF pregnancy, now maybe closer to 38. What are others being advised?

@OrangeBengal I have no idea when my c-section will be. I’ve only spoken with midwife about it so far. I think it’s the kind of decision that’s made a bit later when you’re with the NHS. I know it’s before 39 weeks but not sure if it will be as early as 37 unless there are complications. I’m having an elective so will probably be 38+.

I expect they take your previous birth into account @MyEasterEggs??

@OrangeBengal im 40 plus ivf so I assume I also won’t be allowed to go full term but no one has spoken to me about this. When did they discuss it all with you. I’ve only had midwife appts so far

I think it’s only coming up now @LT103 because I’m trying to secure a particular birthing suite. Though I did ask each consultant I met at the meet & greet, to get a sense of how they approach things. It looks like my hospital might take time off for IVF as standard (which seems unfair, though perhaps theses pregnancies are more complicated, I don’t know), but I think with me it’s the high blood pressure they’re mostly concerned about. I double-checked with my midwife and she thinks this is most concerning factor too.

@OrangeBengal my reasoning for opting for a c-section is because I had a stillbirth with my son. My daughter’s delivery was fairly normal and part of me would love to have that experience again, but I just don’t think I can go through with it. I’d like more control and certainty.

There’s a very slight increase in the risk of stillbirth if you go over 40 weeks with an IVF pregnancy. It’s the tiniest margin, based on a study in Denmark, and this is what the NHS decision to induce before 40 weeks seems to be based on. I’d be happy with 38 weeks but ideally no sooner.

Just had my booking appointment, midwife was very nice and helpful. She said I was borderline high risk just due to my age (I've just turned 38) and being ivf so she's put me down as consultant lead for the time being. She did say being an ivf pregnancy they don't like you to go past your due date.

@MyEasterEggs I'm considering if I want a c section or not too. Not sure when I'll need to decide though. My husband's parents first child was still born, my aunt had a still born at full term and my youngest brother was born with the cord round his neck and took a while to start breathing although thankfully he was ok so all this is just playing on my mind a bit. Although I don't have anyone who could really help while I recovered so might find it a bit difficult to manage looking after a baby after surgery. I guess I'll discuss it later on. My mum seems very against it but it's not her choice!

Just remember there is no "letting" in pregnancy. You are in control. So if your doctor makes a suggestion you aren't happy with, you can challenge that!

@chloedancer88 absolutely. It’s easy to forget when other people are advising and suggesting things, isn’t it? I struggle a bit with self-trust but slowly beginning to believe in my body again. How are you feeling?

@Kelvie103 the best thing you can do is have conversations about your concerns and discuss the pros and cons of both routes to delivery. Plenty of time to decide. My midwife asked if I had a preference at my booking appointment so I just got it all out there and then and she seemed pro section in my situation - mainly as a means of managing anxiety and maintaining control. Expect I’ll discuss again at first consultant appointment next week. I do have some concerns about recovery from c-section but my worries around labour - mainly the waiting and wondering - outweigh it. I’m going to have a few somatic coaching sessions and see if that might help me to make a final decision. I’m all in my head at the mo!

Due to previous uterine surgery I had to have a c-section. Re recovery, I assume it’d be the same as my previous surgery - 3 days to be able to go to the toilet by myself properly and feel I could look after myself. Then circa 7 weeks to feel strong in my body. The first few weeks were hard (carry a pillow everywhere with you and use it when you travel, laugh or cough and buy a stool to raise your feet when going to the toilet), but as soon as you’re able to do hospital-approved exercises, strength comes back and by the end I went on a hike! I do feel grateful (in a way) that I kind of know that to expect, though I realise baby will make recovery harder.

Its been a good day for me today. Had my 12 week scan and have a proper little wriggler in there, the sonographer said it must be having a party it kept spinning around. Also has managed to get its head on the opposite side to all my other scans now. Can't believe it can be moving so much and I don't feel it. Also now measuring a day ahead too after being a day behind up until now!

Also we finally got our nipt results which all came back as low risk. I'm so relieved and feel like I can finally allow myself to feel excited. We're going to phone my husband's brother and sister and my 2 brothers tonight. Think there will be shocks on both sides as first grandchild on my side and on my husband's side his youngest niece is 21!

Also found out my nhs trust doesn't allow elective c sections without a medical reason. In a way I'm kind of happy about that as it's 1 less thing to think of and worry about.

@MyEasterEggs I think we've all lost trust in our bodies. But we will get that back over time.

I'm much better and back to work tonight. So glad this bout of covid was short lived. The last time I had it I was so unwell!

I'm still waiting for my quad test results. I think once I get that I'll be able to settle a little more! I wish I had paid for Harmony now. I think the quad test only has 70% accuracy.

Oh @Kelvie103, I’m so pleased for you. Do you feel you can relax now. I have my SAFE test this Friday and my 12 week scan the following Fri, so for better or worse we should know all by Christmas Day.

So glad you’re ok too @chloedancer88, I’m not sure what the % standard NHS test, but I’m guessing it’s around the same as the quad and that seems to work well for the majority. No need to give yourself something else to worry about.

@OrangeBengal yes I feel so much more excited and less anxious now after having this test. My background risk for downs was 1:127 which went down to less than 1:10000 after the test. We did have the combined test on the nhs too as I hadn't had my results then so will be interesting to see if that comes back high risk just because of my age. I told them about my super high hcg at 5 weeks and that was why I was so worried and they said wow that's high. It was alot of money really to pay for something I could have had free on the nhs if I needed it but definitely been worth it. Good luck with your test and scan, I really hope your results come back before christmas.