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 :)

Lol. Hopefully everything went well 🙏🏻👍🏻

Let the next 13 days fly by fast😁

@maybebaby2023 How are you feeling?

@K2012 Not too bad thanks. I've felt really tired the last few days and definitely had some cramping yesterday evening, followed by some nausea and a weird feeling at the back of my throat... almost like a few stages before bringing sick up. My mouth didn't taste weird but I felt very aware of my mouth if that makes any sense?! Anyway, I'm back to feeling normal again today, just really tired again, so I'm convinced I was imagining it all, despite being adamant yesterday that I wasn't haha. I've received a bill from the clinic for freezing of embryos but they didn't phone this am to say how many we're freezing/the grading etc so I've asked if they can tell me that. They did phone on Saturday to say we'd potentially have 2 to freeze but that they'd phone again on Monday

@maybebaby2023 Okay hopefully the little bean will stick 🙌🏻

Are you on progesterone suppositories?

@K2012 Yeah Utrogestan 3 times a day. I’m going a bit insane analysing symptoms and flitting between having hope that it’s worked and being adamant it’s not 🤷🏻‍♀️ did you test early?

The clinic phoned to say we only have 1 to freeze, a 5BA which I don’t think it’s too bad but to only have 1 is a bit disheartening 😕

@maybebaby2023 Okay. Try to relax and not think about it too much I know it’s hard but try.

Yes I tested 4 days early before the official test date.. I wasn’t gonna but I was so ill from the treatment/injections that I thought if it hasn’t worked I want to stop progesterone. Sonu tested 10 days after the transfer and it was positive. 👍🏻🙏🏻
It’s a bit disheartening but remember with IvF it’s quality over quantity.

Which symptoms do you have now?

@K2012 so I’ve had cramping on and off for a few days. It’s been ranging from shooting pains low down at the front and a dull ache radiating to my lower back. My boobs are really sore, I’m tired, hungry. Those have been the most consistent symptoms. This morning I noticed a few minuscule dark spots on underwear but nothing when I wipe. I’d be surprised if it was my period coming as it starts off light, not dark and isn’t due until the OTD 16th. The cramps though have sometimes felt like period pains when they are more of a dull ache, the shooting pains are not something I typically get during PMS

@maybebaby2023 Okay I had some of the symptoms you have and some
others which were because of the progesterone suppositories.

1 week left now 🙌🏻

@K2012 so I conceded and did a test this morning 8dp3dt and look… 😱 I did a test a few days after ET to check if the trigger would show up and it was neg!

Woooohooooo congratulations ❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻😁😁🙌🏻🙌🏻🎊🎉

@maybebaby2023

@K2012 thank you!!! I felt so sick driving home from work last night and I’m not a sicky person at all. Can’t believe there’s actually 2 lines!! 🥳🥳🥳🥳

@maybebaby2023 I’m so happy for you!! 🥳🥳🥳

@maybebaby2023 how’s it going?

@K2012 Yeah good thanks. Yesterday was the official date so treated myself to a wee clearblue digital and it came up 2-3 weeks which would tie in with when the EC was. Still just feeling really tired but I’ve had god awful heartburn the past few days and headaches. Still another 3+ weeks until the scan as we’re having one privately up here at 8 weeks. Didn’t make sense to drive back down to ABC when we’d spend more in fuel than the cost of a scan. I was tempted to do 7 weeks but figured I’d feel more reassured if all was fine at 8 weeks… still might change it 🤦🏻‍♀️

@maybebaby2023 Okay 👍🏻

I think they prefer the scan to be done after week 7 so you can change it if you want. Isn’t the scan at ABC included in your price?

@K2012 it is but we’re a 4 hour drive each way so it would cost more to drive there than it would to have a private scan in Scotland

@maybebaby2023 Oh okay I understand.

When are you due? In July?

@K2012 Yeah I think about the 24th 🥰

@maybebaby2023 Wow it’s so exciting 🤗

@maybebaby2023 Have you started buying baby stuff? You can save loads of money by getting most things in the Black Friday sale and Boxing Day sale.

@K2012 no not yet. A bit scared to as I’m only 5 weeks today but I was thinking it might be wise to take advantage of the savings 🤔

@maybebaby2023 Definitely is but you can buy loads for the Boxing Day sale after you’ve had your scan done in a few weeks 👍🏻

@maybebaby2023 how’s it going? When is your scan?

@K2012 So I've had an awful upset stomach since Monday night and had some cramping with it then too. Contacted EPU and GP. GP have done some tests to see what's causing it, they don't think its preg related. EPU had us in for a scan this morning, saw the little bean at 6w3d with a heartbeat and measuring bang on 🤗

@maybebaby2023 wow congratulations!! Must have been very overwhelming to see the little baby ❤️

Could it be caused by the progesterone suppositories? I was on cyclogest till week 12 and used to go toilet between 2-5 times a day