IVF cycle November 2022

[HJen22]

Hi ladies

Just wondering if anyone is doing a cycle in November, looking for some cycle buddies.

I started stims yesterday, this is the 3rd cycle for us (2 NHS rounds where we didn't make it to transfer either time) and now we have signed up to a private a 3 cycle package with Create in Manchester. 3 egg collections and hopefully some embryo banking before and potential transfer. X

@Foreverhoping33 I'm sorry you're having to be around all the pregnancies. I feel like when I got to 32/33 absolutely everyone around me was getting pregnant within weeks of each other. My best friend actually conceived same time as me and we would have shared the same due date, except I never got to wk12 to announce any news and that was absolutely shit having to watch their every milestone celebrations. It's incredibly difficult and what's worse is that nobody seems to understand.

I've been mega cautious announcing this pregnancy but I was absolutely seething last weekend when I plucked up the courage to announce it to a friend. Their first comment was congratulations, their second was "I wouldn't want an August baby. They'll be behind in school, studies have shown they struggle".
I just can't believe how incredibly stupid and insensitive people are. It's taken over my life for 1.5yrs and I was the lowest of low after 2nd loss last yr, the amount of courage it took me to get back up and trying again. Now, I feel like my baby isn't even half way developed yet and already society is defining it's future by the date it'll be born. I held it together the rest of the time I was with them but when I got home I just cried and said to my husband how much I hate this world. Like, I feel I may potentially have this great and amazing thing I've been so longing for, yet felt deflated and defeated in an instant by a comment like that. Sorry for ranting, I'm just still very pissed off lol. X

@Cat89 I hate it when people say that about August babies! As an August baby myself, it was never true for me!! Ignore your friend and just enjoy your pregnancy xx

Thank you everyone, your messages have made me cry. In a nice way! I had an acupuncture session yesterday and the practitioner was so lovely. We talked a bit about how the miscarriage would be and it helped me so much. I'm nervous but also wish it would get going now.

@Cat89 Thank you Cat 💜 I feel really heartened that my body wanted to make it work. It helps me hope that it will happen again with the right embryo!

What an incredibly insensitive and stupid thing of your friend to say. For what it's worth, one of my best friends was born at the end of August and it didn't hold him back one bit. He did brilliantly at school and went to a top university. So screw her! I cannot believe she thought that was an appropriate response. My friend loves having a summer birthday. There are pros and cons to every month in the year. Keep enjoying your pregnancy x

@Cat89 I'm sorry your friend made you feel like that. As like some of the other lovely people on here, I too am an August baby. I wasn't put back a year, I was in the correct year for my age, granted I would be one of the last in the school year to turn whatever age everyone else did before me. That was the only 'con'. Academically I was a high achiever. Smarter than my best friend at the time who was born In September and one of the oldest! I've gone on to have a successful career, I'm kind, generous, loving. Very good traits. Actually, both my father and my step father are August born. My father conceived all 3 of us to ensure we were all born in August (yep weird I know). Taking it back a step, not everyone will rejoice in your success. Some people will smile with you but inside their heart or behind your back they wish something else. I'm not saying your friend meant any harm but I am truly sorry it has made you feel this way. Think positive thoughts, all the summer birthday parties your precious bundle of joy will have, surrounded by so much love because most people will be on holidays from school/work. All the cute clothing you could put on them, shorts/dresses etc. Enjoy your pregnancy to the max. Send those good emotions to your little bubba growing inside of you. Lots of love ❤️

@countrypunk I am so sorry to have read and caught up with your news. I will keep you and your partner in my prayers in the hope you get through this time. I hope you have a safe journey to your holiday location and take all the time you need to recover. I'm pleased to see you had acupuncture. Was this your first time or did you have it beforehand as well?
Wishing you all the best for the coming future, it shall be well. Lots of love ❤️

@FullofFaith Thank you, I really appreciate that ♥️

I had acupuncture for 6 months when we were trying naturally. I think I'll keep going with it this time. I feel very very tired today - I hope that means things are about to happen.

Hey all - little update from me, you may remember we moved to DE after 4 unsuccessful ICSI rounds.
we had 12 eggs and 8 fertilised and todays day 3 update was really positive. We have 3 graded very good that are exactly where they should be and 3 graded fair and 2 graded poor. I am so happy with these results as usually at this stage with OE the update is that they are all poor or very poor. I hate what this process does though because I am now straight into worrying about how many make it to day 5, I feel so anxious, I can’t shift the feeling 😞 this is the very last shot for us! Transfer scheduled for Tue 😬

@Hopewishprayer so glad it’s all going to plan ok, wishing you the best of luck for the next few days. It’s so hard not to worry isn’t it x

@LF82 thank you! Yes, its making me so anxious, I feel it gets more difficult each time, but just need to focus on the positives from the latest update x

@Hopewishprayer That's a great update 💜 Those numbers sound excellent.
Keep us posted, I'll be thinking of you tomorrow and Monday x

Thank you everyone RE the August comment ❤️.

@countrypunk I've never done acupuncture but it does sound good! Whatever helps you to feel better you keeping doing it 😊.

@Hopewishprayer what a nice update! It sounds like your Day 3 progress is going really well, I'd be very happy with that!. I had 1 x Grade 1 and 2 x Grade 2 as a comparison and ended up with 2 top quality by Day 5. Hopefully you can relax a little after this update but I know that's a silly thing to say as we can never relax with these things! Looking forward to your Day 5 update and hopefully news of a transfer if you're doing a fresh trans?? Xx

@countrypunk thank you, I appreciate that 💕hope you are doing ok xx
@Cat89 thank you, that’s good to know - we are using DH frozen sperm (while reason started ICSI in the first place) so there is a bit of worry as I read that on day 4 the sperm takes over - but the embryologist seemed very positive that I would have transfer - fresh transfer booked for tomorrow 😬
also just read your update re your “friends” comment - what a ridiculous thing to say, I have never heard such a thing! Please don’t dwell on it xx

@Cat89 I'm so sorry you had to deal with your 'friend' saying that. I really cannot believe what comes out of people's mouths sometimes, its crazy!! I'm not surprised you were seething!! Such an insensitive, strange and rude comment! Take no notice, you have fought hard to get where you are, and you deserve ONLY nice comments and happiness!!!

@countrypunk that sounds like a really helpful session with your acupuncturist, I am glad it helped. I hope you had a nice weekend and have been being kind to yourself xxx

@Hopewishprayer thats such wonderful news!! Wishing you all the luck for tomorrow! Waiting for the updates is so so hard isn't it! But you are almost there! Will be thinking of you, and I hope that as well as your transfer you get some lovely embryos into the freezer x

We had a nice relaxed weekend away - lovey walks with the dog, some drinks and just some really nice quality time together. I really hope I AM relaxed, I had my prolactin re-tested today (and paid over £100 from a private clinic instead of using one of the at home finger tests), they had originally said 2-4 days for results, then today I was told anything between 1 day - 1 week!! I wasn't able to get a consultant slot this week like I had hoped even after asking so early on, but I have one booked for a week on Wednesday. Everything crossed we might not need it if my results come back ok. I have done everything possible to relax, meditated every day for 2 weeks etc, so I don't think there is anything else I could have done! xx

@Jx3303 ♥️ Very up and down. Shouted at partner this morning because I couldn't find the nail clippers and then cried. Now cuddled up on sofa. Partner's meant to be going away on Wednesday with work and he's desperately trying to get out of it but it's not looking good.

I've just googled prolactin because I'd never heard of it before. Did your clinic start testing yours for a specific reason or do they do it as standard?

Your weekend sounds lovely!

Xx

@countrypunk that is absolutely understandable, so let yourself feel however you do, don't rush to feel "better". I struggle a lot with being up and down, never know what sort of mood I'm going to be in! I really hope he doesn't have to go away, could he tell his work what had happened (or not even details but perhaps say something like there's a lot going on at home) so they would hopefully be understanding?

I hadn't ever heard of it either, and the fact it's linked to being pregnant/producing milk! After my last cancelled cycle they asked for thyroid and prolactin to be tested, I think as they are hormone related too and perhaps cos my LH and estrogen were so off last time. The Dr seemed hopeful that it was a one off it being high (it wasn't in the thousands it was 699 and should be between 102-496) but I am absolutely not getting my hopes up. He said even the stress of a needle can increase it and given I did the two tests myself (and had to use multiple fingers) that might not have helped. I had no idea it was a stress related hormone though - like I for sure didn't need that right after a cancelled cycle! Xx

@countrypunk could he say he has covid if he hasn’t already asked for the time off? I know where I work wouldn’t want me to travel if I had it and they don’t ask for a test result? Hope you are looking after yourself as much as you can

@Jx3303 sending you lots of luck for your results.

@Hopewishprayer good luck for today, I’m sure it will go well

@Jx3303 you seem like you had a good weekend, hopefully your results come back soon

@Cat89 hope everything processing well I am so happy for you and it gives us all hope that it’s possible to get pregnant

@countrypunk i hope you get some more time with your partner and it all works out, I can’t imagine how you feel now, you need your family around you

@Jx3303 thank you! Hopefully you will get your test results sooner rather to an later x
@Crystal88 thank you, means a lot this wee group! No one knows I am going for transfer today apart from DH. Also going myself as it’s in Darlington (I am in Glasgow) and DH couldn’t take the full day from work so the support in here is lovely x

@Hopewishprayer good luck for today 💕🤞🏻 sending all the love x I'm sorry to hear your DH isn't able to go with you, I hope the nurses take extra good care of you, which I am sure that they will x

Thank you lovely ladies for your well wishes, means a lot x

@Hopewishprayer Good luck for today, sending loads of love too! 💕

@Crystal88 Thank you x

@LF82 His work know what's happening with us, it's a problem with visas for the country he's going to and not being able to send anyone else in his place. He might be able to delay till Friday which would be something.

@Jx3303 Urgh, being told to keep your stress levels down during an incredibly stressful process - I mean bloody hell. Sounds like you've done everything you can. With the crazy number of variables it amazes me that anyone is ever able to get pregnant naturally!

Lots of luck for the results. Xx

@countrypunk I know, so hard! I had no idea it could be effected by stress either or I'd have done that one first before I'd hurt and used all my other fingers for the thyroid test. I took a half day yesterday so I wasn't rushing and they got the blood first time so 🤞🏻

Oh I'm sorry, not quite as simple as him just not going then. I hope he can delay! When is your next appointment? Xx

@Jx3303 I just spoke to the EPU and I go in tomorrow to do consent for the operation and have bloods taken etc. Then hopefully operation early next week, though I suppose it might have happened naturally by then. They've got a backlog because of the strikes this week.

Just feel in limbo, I want my body to feel like my own again.

Partner keeps saying we got so close this time, but we didn't, not really. If I can't make normal embryos this is the closest we'll ever get.

@countrypunk I'm so sorry you're having to go through all of this, and now an operation too 😞 I really hope that in the not too distant future that this will be over and your body begins to feel like yours again. Remember you are so strong, even on days you don't feel it, you are 💕

I can imagine it's so hard to not think like that, but try and have faith that the next embryo will be the one that gives you your dream. This isn't the end of the journey, sadly just the end of this chapter, and I'm so sorry you've had to go through this xxx

@Jx3303 Thank you 💕♥️

So I’m on the train home now after transfer , had a 4BB transferred 😊 the embryologist was really positive about it saying it was a really nice embryo - I can help feel a little disappointed as I had a 4BB embryo previously using OE and it didn’t implant. Of course all embryos are different and this one could be different, need to remain positive.
we also had a 4BC to freeze and some still developing and they will check them again tomorrow- I had hoped for at least 3 to freeze given that we had 12 eggs from a young donor it I am grateful we at least have these chances 💕
let the 2WW commence 😬