FET/IVF - January 2023

[Jane1284]

Hey

I would love to get a group together of some of us who are undergoing IVF or FETs in Jan. I found it really helpful to have the support of those going through similar last time (Nov 2020).

My story: I am due to start my first FET in January of my one and only frozen embryo. The embryo is from a cycle in Nov 2020 when I was almost 36. I have low AMH and AFC and it was my first and only NHS round. I got 4 eggs all which miraculously fertilised, 1 made it to day 5 and was put back in with a fresh transfer. Sadly it did not stick. 1 egg was left until day 6 and it finally made it to blastocyst. It has been frozen. Rather than having a FET back then they advised me to do a banking package of 3 cycles due to my low AMH/AFC so in Jan 2021 we started our first private IVF cycle with the same clinic (Kings). Once again I was on max stims (gonal f and menopur) and it looked like we would get 4 eggs again but when I woke from EC they told me they only got 2. I had a bit of a breakdown. I was so upset going through all that including over £2k worth of drugs injected to only get two eggs. It felt even worse as I had let myself hope it would go well. Out of the 2 eggs only 1 fertilised normally. On day 3 the embryologist told me it was average quality and she wasn't sure it would be good enough to freeze on day 5 if it even made it that far. I couldn't handle the thought of going through all that mental anguish to not have anything to freeze so I made a last minute decision to go in for a day 3 fresh transfer. I had zero expectations but somehow that average embryo stuck. I was so stressed all pregnancy and worried about everything but amazingly I gave birth to my first baby in Sep 2021. He is now 14 months and I am turning 38 in 2 weeks.

Now it is time to get back on the IVF/FET train. I have been for my initial scan and blood tests. The scan was fine. Still not many follicles but not significantly worse. Waiting for a consult with the Dr next week for an update on my AMH (can't wait.... ) where she'll also decide on our protocol. I am leaning towards a medicated FET just so we can plan it a bit better. If that doesn't work then it is back to a 3 cycle package of IVF.

I hope I haven't bored anyone reading this to tears. Would be great if anyone else out there would like to be a cycle buddy? :-)

@GooGooGJoob my husband was recommended Impryl - I think that helps with DNA fragmentation among other things. Also proxeed plus is meant to be a good one.

@JuliaIVF83 I had mine on Sunday. I'm not sure. I tested early last time (failure) and I think it prolonged the agony because I got a negative but then kept testing in the hope that it might become positive! So I think this time I'm going to hold out until OTD so that I know the result I get is the true one. I also think if it's going to be negative I'll probably know before OTD. Last time I got period pain and spotting a couple of days before.

The TWW is brutal though. Luckily I've got stressful work shit to keep me occupied 😵‍💫

Good luck to everyone with their transfers today ! Has anyone gone back to light exercise ? I’m 8 days post transfer and mad to go on a slow run !!!

@Hopefulfirstround today I am 7dp5dt and the only thing I do is little housework and some cooking and in the evening when husband is back from work we go for a 30 minute walk - I have also taken 2w off from work ..
I would personally recommend a walk not run coz still is early days but you know your body best x

@AnnaPr1992 thank you ! I’m maybe feeling over confident , I miss the head space of a jog , it’s great for stress management 😅

Just reading about the vitamins you're all taking! I'm just taking the pregnacare pre conception - is there anything that isn't in there that I should be taking? Just for a FET.

Also the heavy lifting - I have a 2 year old that constantly wants to be carried 🤦🏼‍♀️. Its going to be quite hard really to not pick her up, those of you who already have a child did you just carry on as normal? I guess there's not much I can do other than have my husband around for carrying duties 😅

@countrypunk I'm going to hold off til day 9 when I test ☺️. I do understand why people do it though, it's so tempting!!

@GooGooGJoob pregnacare do a men's version to! Not exactly sure what's in it but atleast it makes you feel proactive and must do some good!

@laurapop I’m holding off until day 9 too (this Thursday!). I’ve had to get my husband to hide the pregnancy tests so I can’t sneak them 😂

@Purrrrr not long to go!!! Best of luck.

Yeah tbh if it wasnt for my husband last time I definitely would have caved. The night before test day I didn't sleep at all, then woke him up at 5am to come to the toilet with me to test 😂

@countrypunk yep frozen straight away, so now we have the waiting game to see if any make it or not 😅

I’ve been keeping upto date with this thread as I start med my first cycle last week…

my treatment plan states that my embryos are to be frozen, but your comment got me questioning it. Do they wait for any embryos to develop to day 5 and then freeze? Or freeze fertilised eggs straight away and then see if any make it once thawed??

sorry for my lack of knowledge! I’ve been reading with keen interest to get as much information as possible!

Transfer done! Embryo survived the thaw well apparently. My OTD is the 2nd. I'll be waiting till then, as I did with my other cycles, as ignorance is bliss - at least can still be in with a chance if I've not tested.

@laurapop I have an almost 2 Yr old too, and tomorrow is my day at home with her...going to be interesting not to lift her too much. Imagine there might be a bit more TV than normal in the morning and then some friends and their kids coming in the pm so will have some other adults on hand.

@Fourfrosties Hooray! That's three of us with an OTD of 2 Feb. It'll be nice to be able to support each other 🙂 Hope you're feeling OK.

@Laura23FE I didn't know you could do this! Fingers crossed you get a great development rate.

@Fourfrosties
Was taking folic acid &
Vitamin d started taking pregnancare about a week ago.
Had my transfer today. It wasn't painful just like how you all told me smear test thanks guys 💕
Mine was a 5BA embryo.
Will anyone be testing everyday? Since its my first IVF cycle and first transfer I have never experienced the obsessive testing everyday lol I kinda wanna experience the build up to it. I think my first test I will do on Sunday and then every 2 days I bought myself 4 tests only first response 6 days early and clear blue. Also my Clinic don't do blood tests they gave me a test for the 6/2/23 x
Hope yours went well. Wierd how our testing days are diff but same day transfer x

Did anyone have tge McDonald's fries aftwr the transfer is it worth having🤣🙈

Any foods to avoid during this 2 weeks wait x

@Frosty91
I would say treat yourself like you are pregnant since day 1 - have nice meals full of nutrients, eggs are full of protein, fruits , vegetables and plenty of fluids
The only thing I have stopped having weeks before the transfer is coffee and anything which includes caffeine ( and I am huge coffee lover 😢) but caffeine affects the pregnancy and increase the heat rates of the developing embryo and isn't good.
Other food I would avoid is everything that isn't allowed while you are pregnant : raw fish , pate , soft cheese and etc.

@AnnaPr1992 Thankyou so much. I love this thread. Everyone is so helpful. How are you getting along x

Good luck to everyone who has had their transfers! The countdown is on for mine, 2 days to go, all being well and it survives the thaw!
I keep having nightmares already that it will fail, that fear of a negative test brings so much heartache :(

For vitamins i am only taking the seven seas conception and omega 3, should I be taking more? panicking I am not having enough :/
However I do eat a healthy diet and exercise well so fingers crossed that will help as I don't think much will make a difference now.

@Hopefulfirstround I feel your pain! I went for my last run this morning before the transfer, and already im thinking how am I going to cope not running for at least 2 week :/ I'm in 2 minds what to do...I think for the next 2 weeks I am going to change my morning runs for a 30 minute walk and do some light exercises with no weights etc.

Is anyone else on Clexane post transfer ? I hadn’t heard of it before - I have my first shot tonight apparently it’s a sore one !

@Frosty91 I’ve heard lots of warm / hot food as opposed to cold is good to have in the 2WW ! Lots of nice soups etc ( plus the McDonalds fries!!)

I will also defo be getting some mcdonalds fries on Thursday haha, but I don't understand why, does any one know? Just curious lol

Wishing everyone luck with their transfers this week!

Ive been taking pregnacare conception max. I have a load of others but I’m not very good at remembering to take them!

I’m on day 6 of stims, scan is Thursday. Stims is dragging and seemingly going very quick at the same time. I’m hoping there’s some good news on Thursdays scan, I feel twinges and slight cramping. Also feels like I pulled a muscle in my groin area/hips which I’m guessing is down to the stims.

@whomoon hey welcome to the thread. Yea they let the embryos make it to day 5 blastocyst stage and then freeze sometimes they also freeze on day 3 if they are looking really good x

@Frosty91 I love this thread as well x I feel less alone in this journey and thank you all of you for the support ❤️
Iam doing okay today I haven't tested I have developed a slight self control hahaha 😝 how are you ? How are you feeling?

@JuliaIVF83 I have heard of it is a blood thinner and doctors give it on early pregnancy to help implantation and prevent blood clots forming in the placenta..and slightly stings according to my patients feedback but the needle is small same like the injections we had for the egg retrieval.. hope you feeling alright x