ABC IVF timeline & advice

[maybebaby2023]

Hi everyone,

Myself & my partner (lesbian couple) are looking to begin our IVF journey shortly. I will (hopefully!) carry the baby, using my own eggs, and donor sperm will be used. We haven't yet had our initial assessment/scan as I've only just had my coil out (this was the Mirena coil which had been in for 2-3 years to help with periods). I haven't had a period in the duration the coil was in and clinic have recommended having this out for 1 month prior to the initial assessment so we'd be looking at end of Sept.

We are looking into using ABC IVF, due to their reviews, general helpfulness so far and the fact that they're a substantial amount cheaper than clinics closer to us.

The ABC clinics in Manchester/Liverpool etc are about a 4 hour drive from us. We would be looking at potentially staying nearby to the clinic for the duration of the cycle.

It would be really helpful if anyone who has gone through IVF at ABC could shed some light on the timeline of appointments, i.e. how many in-clinic appointments there are, etc? Obviously, we will do whatever we need to but having a rough idea would be good!

Also, the initial assessment states that 30 areas of fertility are checked. Can anyone who has had this at ABC expand on this any further?

After the initial consult, are you able to go ahead as soon as AF arrives or is there a bit of a wait?

Thanks so much in advance :)

Hi @maybebaby2023 Okay that’s interesting that they’ve given you a chart. They never gave me that just told me the progress.

@K2012 they just had it all plotted after the scan, I asked to take a picture and she printed it off for me 😊save me trying to remember!

@maybebaby2023 how’s it going? Are you going for egg collection on Monday?

@K2012 thankfully yes! had to go back for an extra scan today (I had one yesterday too and it was a bit on the fence) but they confirmed I'm definitely ready. Triggering at 10.15pm... eek!!

@maybebaby2023 that’s so exciting!!

All the best ❤️

@K2012 thank you so much 💕 I’m just home from the EC, feel completely fine to be honest so long may that continue! They got 8 eggs so we will see what tomorrow brings 🤞🏼

@maybebaby2023 That’s good. Just take it easy and rest today I felt pretty rough after EC, felt like having a flu but only lasted about 12 hours if I remember correct.

Are they planning a day 3 transfer?

@K2012 they said it depends on quality and how many good ones they get. If they don’t think they’ll last until day 5 in the incubator, they’d go with a day 3 so as not to waste one that might otherwise be viable. Must be difficult to make that call as you don’t want to stick it out to day 5 and end up with nothing! Hopefully the embryologists have a better idea tomorrow 😊

@maybebaby2023 Okay 👍🏻

@K2012 so only 4 of mine fertilised, out of 8. The rest were immature. I’m slightly disappointed with that but doesn’t mean to say the 4 won’t be good ones 😕 they are phoning back on Thursday am but have provisionally booked transfer for Thursday afternoon

Hi both. Just a quick note to say hello. I have not started any treatment yet. I'm 45 yr old having IVF with a friend and we plan to co-parent. His sperm needs to be quarantined for 3 months because he is classed as a donor, as we are not in a romantic relationship. And so i'm quite a long way off from starting, it feels like! But wanted to say how very helpful I have been finding this thread, so thank you for sharing as you go. Will aim to update in 3 - 4 months time 😆

@maybebaby2023 Don’t be disappointed, thru say that quality is better than quantity.

Roll on Thursday 🤗

Hi @b0zza1 You’re welcome. All the best with your treatment and do update us when you start the treatment 😊

@K2012 i keep telling myself that, just worried about further drop offs. I’m more nervous now than I’ve ever been knowing I won’t hear anything until Thursday morning. Hate the parts out with your control, where you’re not physically doing anything to help. 🤞🏼

@b0zza1 hello! That’s fab, fingers crossed for an exciting start to the new year for you. Are you going through ABC too? 😊

Nope. Crgh. Also I have a 6 year old (from 'ibf' - in bed fertilisation!!! Or natural conception with me ex boyfriend.)

A bit of a tangent here! But made me think of a self compassion video i am watching at the moment. It's probs a bit deep, but in case you find anything interesting there, for your in between times! (I watch it in small chunks and think I'm about half way through at the min...) Just ignore of its not your thing! Obvs!!!!

@maybebaby2023 How have you been? Is the embryo transfer still scheduled for today?

@K2012 I've been good thanks. I haven't really had any adverse effects from the EC, thankfully. My boobs have been v v sore but I think that's probably from the trigger injection. Nervously awaiting the D3 update phonecall and that will confirm if the transfer is going ahead this afternoon. Trying to distract myself with an essay I have to write but I've been on the first paragraph for about 3 days haha. I'd be better placed attempting to write an essay on embryo development as that's all I seem to be able to look at!

@maybebaby2023 That’s good to hear 👍🏻

Haha 😂

Let me know if you’re going for the transfer today 🙏🏻

@K2012 So apparently we have 5 embryos... one must have fertilised later or something. Of the 5, 1 is excellent quality (9 cell grade 1 with no fragmentation) and 2 are good quality (10 cell and 8 cell grade 2) and the remaining 2 are only 5 and 6 cells. She said to go ahead with the transfer today as they'd want 3 excellent quality to push it to day 5. Eek! Can you remember what grading your wee one was?

@maybebaby2023 Wow that’s great 🙌🏻

All the best today, let me know how it goes 😃 Make sure you go home and rest afterwards 😊
I was also advised by the clinic to rest for the next 4-5 days.

I don’t know anything grades but I’ve just read the report they sent me afterwards and mine was a 8 cells grade 1 💙

@K2012 I think between 6-8 is good for cell numbers on day 3, with 8 and above having a much higher chance of achieving pregnancy. Grade 1 is no fragmentation, grade 2 is minor and so on up to grade 5. So what we have is as good as can be at this stage. God I'm so nervous! Not for the transfer itself but I just know this 2ww is going to be hellish! Your help has been an absolute godsend though so thank you.

I'm not back at work until Tuesday so that ties in perfectly with the rest period 😊

@maybebaby2023

How did it go today?

You’re welcome I’m glad I can help 🙌🏻

The 2 week wait is hellish but I was so ill/felt rough from the medication/side effects mainly from progesterone suppositories, I had nausea, was bloated and went to the toilet 4-5 times a day lol so didn’t even think I was pregnant just thought I just wanna do a pregnancy test asap and if it’s negative I wanna stop the progesterone suppositories. But then to my surprise 10 days after the transfer I did a random test and it was positive 🙏🏻👍🏻

@K2012 yeah it went well thanks. A bit uncomfortable but think I overdid the full bladder lol. Feels so strange as I don’t feel like anything’s in there 😅 (unsurprisingly!) I can’t say I expected to feel much different but it’s a bizarre feeling! I’m determined not to test early as I know I’d be an absolute wreck if it came up negative for testing too soon x