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?

Sounds like you've had a scary time lately @OrangeBengal glad to hear things are OK now and hopefully they'll stay that way.

I'm 26+1 today and (touchwood) I think I've had it relatively easy so far. My main problem is I've had terrible insomnia and recently started to get backache when I lie on my side which keeps me awake even more. Some nights only manage 3 hours sleep. But baby is fine so I can't complain. He's kicking alot and I'm feeling alot less anxious now I'm past 24 weeks. Still havn't bought anything big yet or sorted out baby's room but we're planning to start all that next month I think which is quite exciting. Only about 3 months to go now which doesn't feel long at all! We have our first NCT antenatal class a week on Monday too which will be nice to meet some other mums to be. Hope everyone else is doing well.

Good to see some updates but sorry you’ve had such a challenging time @OrangeBengal. I’ve just had my fasting glucose test so hoping to get results on Monday. How did you find out about the possibility of gestational diabetes so early on? Were you experiencing symptoms? Also, have you got a gym ball? I found exercising on that helpful for pelvic floor in my pregnancy with DD.

@Kelvie103 I’m 27+1 today so just a week ahead of you. On the back pain, something my physio recommended was to pop a folded duvet under your side of the bed. Feels a bit princess and the pea at first but it’s cushioned my hips and back and made a difference to sleep. That and the pregnancy pillow, which I pop between my legs. Still having the odd rough night and I’ve had sinusitis this week which hasn’t helped but generally sleeping better.

I had my first consultant appointment on Monday and baby was measuring 29 weeks. He’s on 90th centile so seems we have a chunky boy. He’s almost 3lbs now which blows my mind. I still can’t believe we’ve got so far. I’ve been having creative therapy (new to me!) for anxiety and it’s really helped to keep my emotions in check. Next step is to begin moving over to a local organisation that supports women who are at risk of PND where I’ll be having a few birth trauma therapy sessions to help me make some decisions. Overall feeling pretty well cared for.

How’s every else doing?

Thanks @Kelvie103 and @MyEasterEggs and I’m glad you and your babies are ok.

@MyEasterEggs I’m under private care for both my consultant and my midwife and I came up as ++ on a urine test for glucose a couple of weeks ago and my midwife put me straight on the blood sugar test, skipping the fasting. So basically midwife thinks I’ve got GD and my consultant won’t make that diagnosis yet, until the fasting test in week 26. Both are diabetes specialists, so there is a bit of back and forth between them! Ultimately I think my consultant wins and she said as I have to be sedentary and I’m on loads of progesterone, she is sceptical of providing an early diagnosis. My compromise is change to my diet without pricking my fingers everyday, which is what I was doing!

I think the lack of exercise hasn’t helped my pelvic floor though, so I’m doing those exercises now, but I’m not sure if I’ll be told to stop as I’m not sure what the effect on my cervix will be and that’s the priority.

Hi all, it's good to hear an update 😊

I'm 25+2 today and I'm suffering from a bad back at night too! I have a pregnancy pillow but it doesn't really help unfortunately, maybe I'll have to try the duvet under the mattress trick!

My anomaly scan went well but I have a low lying placenta so I have to be rescanned at 34 weeks to check it has moved out the way 🤞🏻 the baby's abdomen was measuring over the 90th centile so I have to be tested for diabetes too! My test is at 28 weeks but I have been trying to modify my diet also. Hopefully the baby just has a chubby tummy!

Oh don’t put the duvet under the mattress! Put it under you, on top of the mattress! Sorry I wasn’t very clear ☺️

I also bought a pregnancy pillow. Treated myself to the bbhugme one after reading loads of good reviews. Used it for a week and I think it's actually making my back worse. It's spent the last 2 nights kicked onto the floor. My problem is I like to fidget around 1 side to the other if I cant sleep and the pillow just gets in the way and annoys me.

Tip for the pillow @Kelvie103 (I have the same one) - tie the ends together and hook your feet in, then when you turn you should only half wake when you turn.

@MyEasterEggs I definitely misread what you put 🤣 I did wonder how it would help but then I thought if it was good enough for the princess and the pea! 🙈

I also have the bbhugme pillow @OrangeBengal, not to be really dense (but as you can see I'm on a roll!) when you say tie it together and hook your feet in, does it go round you like a hoop? I'm struggling to imagine it!

Like this @Bookbug92. I put it between my legs, with my leg through the loop. That way I have more control of where it is and it’s easier to flip it.

How is everyone doing?

Hey @chloedancer88, I’m doing ok thanks, I thought we might not get to go on hols, but thankfully here I am after last minute sign-off, two days before we were due to leave. I’m 28 weeks on Thursday and I just had a negative returned re gestational diabetes (after a full gtt panel, which is a horrendous process btw), so I think my consultant and midwife might chill a bit now, which would be nice :). How you doing?

@OrangeBengal aw that's great news! Where are you going? Somewhere sunny I hope! I had a positive GTT, I agree it was an awful test. I'm just diet controlled and very fed up doing blood sugars but it could be worse!

I'm 35 weeks on Thursday. The last trimester has totally flown in!

Hey @chloedancer88, yes in San Sebastián at the mo, which is lovely, though the sun has run out now, but we’re due back on Thursday, so that’s ok. I really empathise re gtt, apart from this blip on holiday I’m also diet controlled as a precaution and I was doing the finger pricking for while too, which is definitely not ideal, let me know if you need any breakfast / snacks tips (my husband does lunch and dinner which is usually a vegetable dish of some kind). 35 weeks though, crazy! At least the end is in site! How are you getting on finding local mum friends, I’ve joined Peanut and tried some local social channels, but it’s definitely work!

@chloedancer88 oh wow that's not long to go now! I've felt like the last few weeks have flown by. I think part of me will miss being pregnant despite the hard parts, I just love feeling all the baby kicks.

@OrangeBengal Hope you're having a lovely time on holiday. We had a few days in the Peak District at the end of March and were quite lucky with the weather. Did a couple of pretty walks up some steep hills which I was quite proud of myself for managing. It was just nice to get away. We've started our NCT course now and the other ladies on that all seem really nice and there's a few who live in the same village as me but I agree it is hard making mum friends. I'm really shy so find it hard to talk to people sometimes too which doesn't help. Hoping to go to some baby classes when he's born and my local library does story and rhyme time I think. Just have to get myself to go as I don't know anyone which children nearby.

I had a busy weekend baby wise. We went shopping and finally got all the big stuff ordered. Pram, car seat, cot etc and are getting furntiture fitted next month. Also made a start on decorating his room. I'm feeling alot happier now we're making progress, been sleeping a bit better since too. I think I was just getting quite stressed about having nothing ready as everyone I seem to talk to has everything done months ago. Also went for a 4D scan at 29 weeks which was lovely. Was told at my midwife appointment my bump was measuring 2 weeks behind so have to go back to get remeasured but at the private scan baby was actually measuring a week ahead! He was being shy and kept hiding his face behind the placenta but we got a few good pictures of his little chubby face and saw him open his eyes and suck his thumb.

@Kelvie103 such lovely pics! So glad you're feeling so well! If it makes you feel any better, I've organised next to nothing. I've basically torn apart our whole upstairs and am renovating all the bedrooms which was stupid timing because now I have no time to do anything else! What car seat did you go for? It's an absolute minefield!

@OrangeBengal I saw a dietician and my diet has been pretty good but if you have any tips I'd happily take them!

Hi All,

I'm just over 30 weeks now, it's going fast. I unfortunately was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and are on insulin as the diet was not keeping my blood sugar in the right range. It's really annoying and all I want to eat is carbs! Oh well just have to deal with it. Otherwise, I've gotten more organised with getting ready for his birth, bought most of what is essential however still have some organising to do.
It's heading into winter here, I'm a bit jealous of you ladies with warmer weather... especially @OrangeBengal holidaying in San Sebastian!

Stay well!

@chloedancer88 I don't envy you all that decorating, that's alot of work! We only just finished doing our hall, landing and stairs last month which we started in November and now straight on to the nursery. I couldn't do more than 1 room at a time though. We went for the cybex cloud z something car seat. We just booked the mamas and papas buying for baby shopping thing as I had no idea either and went with what they recommended. I like this one though as it swivels and also I think can lie flat.

Hey guys, envy going around then! I’m so envious of you @Kelvie103! I love hiking and was so looking forward to a normal pregnancy after the restrictions of IVF, but I’ve basically been recommended to move as little possible since week 20, which has been tough. The holiday was a big win. Well done for getting yourself sorted though, did you do one of the John Lewis baby sessions to get all your stuff, we’ve got one booked in May? @chloedancer88, might be one for you to check out?

Sorry for the GD diagnosis both, it’s really tough. My main tip is avoid all cereals, even oats, cut out sugar (replace with agarve nectar), eat from as early as possible and try not to eat after 8pm. For breakfast I tend to have a red fruit (raspberry or mixed summer berries) smoothie, with cows milk, chia seeds and a bit of Greek yogurt, or I just have Greek yogurt and a kiwi, then I have a handful of Brazil nuts as a late morning snack and as a pre-dinner snack a little homemade chia seed pudding (the only time I use oat milk and a sugar substitute, agarve nectar) with a blood orange, mandarin or kiwi. Lunch is generally vegetables and dinner vegetables with maybe chicken or slow cooked beef. I have brown pasta maybe once a week as no carbs means low ketones which is bad too.

@OrangeBengal we don't have John Lewis here unfortunately. But I do have a pram and cot. I just need a car seat!

Your diet is so good! I definitely couldnt do that, I need more calories than that 😂😂 I was diagnosed week 28 and was really good about limiting sugar/carbs etc but now I haven't been and my sugars have all been fine. I even questioned the diagnosis because I'm eating like normal and nothing is changing. Usually your high blood sugars plateau at around week 34-36 which is where I am and I still haven't noticed a difference. I did read an article recently linking IVF to insulin resistance. It's interesting that so many of us have diabetes in this pregnancy!

Yeah I do think the diagnosis process can be a little iffy. My midwife wanted to diagnose me with GD weeks ago as I had some 8+ scores on my blood sugar test, but my consultant said that in reality no one knows what most women’s scores would be on a daily basis as this isn’t something that has been looked into, so we waited for the full gtt panel. I was also eating badly that week as my husband was away. So I really think it’s changeable @chloedancer88. And yes it does seem like there is an active IVF link.

Hey all good here. 33 weeks now and starting to get uncomfortable.
interestingly also have a ?GD diagnosis but my GTT came back negative despite lots of glucose in urine samples. I’m doing some home testing to speak to them again.
have a midwife appt on Monday to book in for elective section at 39 weeks 😬. We went back and forward over our decision between induction or section but have finally decided.
mots all exciting here. Government baby box comes this week, pram/car seat comes the week after. Nursery is all sorted and baby clothes all put away. Finally looks like we have a baby arriving soon 😬

Hey @LT103, if you had a full gtt panel (where you stop eating and drinking at 12am the night before and then only have sips of water as needed and you get tested 3 times over roughly 3 hours) and it’s clear then you don’t have GD. I’m scheduled in for a c-section too, but at 37+5 weeks. Work on our nursery is in progress, though the plastering work will now be more extensive then we thought!

How is everyone??

Good @LT103, though feeling quite stretched, but thankfully without the stretch marks! How are you ? I’m 32 + 3 today, so 5 weeks and 2 days to go to my c-section, which is amazing, especially after doubting we’d get here. I have 12.5 working days left of work, so I’m definitely counting down. Have most people finished now?

youre getting there. I’m 37 weeks today and finished work a week ago so nesting and feet up time! I’m having a section too but don’t have my date yet which is freaking me out. Have a scan and consultant appt tomorrow so will ask them but likely to be 2 weeks to go!! Feeling very real now which is scary!
glad you’re doing well