First cycle - IVF / ICSI - Day 4

[Koalie]

My hubby and I are on day 4 of stims - our first IVF cycle. Just wondering if there's anyone else in the same boat who might want to share the journey? :)

@Izzie94x I’m literally so so happy. I just am happy we have a shot. But you’re right, every stage is anxiety inducing 🤣 but I am seeing each step like a milestone, take every day as it comes

@Strawberry08 Yessss 👏🏼 love this. Knew you’d cave haha. Keep us updated lovely 🥰 so happy for you 🫶🏼x

@Strawberry08 best way to be!! 🥰 and try not to stress. Right now, you are PREGNANT. Ahhhh! I just kept saying it to myself everyday. And was like “come on little baby, stick” lol! And please don’t stress about symptoms, mine are changing constantly and coming one minute and going!! And now I’m 9 weeks tomorrow I’m starting to feel much better (I’ll pretend I didn’t have a meltdown this morning for not feeling nauseous lol!!!!) xx

@Koalie thanks lovely. I had such good intentions 🤣will of course keep the group updated.
@Izzie94x ahh it’s so hard isn’t it!! But the risk of anything going wrong for you is now so low but still so hard not to worry. The stakes are so high! Not long to go until the big 12 week scan and second trimester ❤️

It’s definitely real 😍 this is the line at 5D
Hows everyone else doing?

@Strawberry08 ahhhhh🥰🥰🥰 I’ve been waiting on an update!!! That’s so amazing!! I bet you’re over the moon!! and now you’ll want to test every single day until OTD and potentially even after that too🤣 how are you feeling? Xx

@Izzie94x hey! I missed this message. All good, lines nearly as dark as the control line now so I’m feeling positive. Tuesday is official test day and then they book the first scan in! I feel fine, sore boobs and knackered and nausea in the car which is not normal for me but otherwise good! How are you feeling?

Morning everyone,

Finally feeling like myself again now, the tablets didn't make me bleed until Monday. And felt awful until Thursday. Feel like a weight has been lifted now it's all over.
Our clinic have booked us a video call as a check in, and hopefully we can get some idea of dates to go again, and it gives my body time to rest in between.
I feel I need the dates booked though, so I have something to focus on.

@Izzie94x I already brought up the progesterone and my clinic don't offer it at all after the testing date, but I will be mentioning it again! They say there's no evidence to prove that they are beneficial 🙄 but I bled straight after stopping it and my level that next day was 1! With it being NHS I don't know how much say I will have it in all, but I will offer to pay for them, as I wanted them for piece of mind too.
Hope you are ok? Not long until your next scan 🥰

@Strawberry08 ahhh amazing!! Congratulations🥳 great lines too for it being so early!!

@User491 ah I’m so pleased it’s done, such a weight lifted. There is mixed reviews regarding progesterone but my only successful pregnancy (with four miscarriages prior to that one), the only thing I did differently was progesterone and aspirin. It could be just a coincidence, but each miscarriage was tested for chromosomal abnormalities and was normal. So whether it helps or not, with this one I’m doing exactly the same as the successful one with 150mg of aspirin and three times daily progesterone and see what happens! Really push for the progesterone as it can’t hurt and you may as well give it a go! If the clinic won’t prescribe, sometimes you can get it through your GP or another private clinic. Xx

@Koalie hey hun - how did your down reg scan go today?
How is everyone else doing?

Hi everyone
Sorry for my absence - it’s been a busy week!
My down reg scan was all good thank you and I’ve got my estrogen patches to start on Wednesday :) time has been going SO slowly so I’m hoping it speeds up once I start with the medication 🤞🏼

@User491 how are you feeling? Do you have any more idea on what the next steps are for you? X

@Strawberry08 … how have you been? Have you started having any symptoms yet? X

@Izzie94x When’s your next scan? ☺️ x

@ScottishRach I expect you’re having some time out but just wanted to make sure you know we’ve not forgotten about you and hope you’re OK x

@Koalie hi lovely!! 😊😊 ahhh that’s exciting that you start so soon! But also, I swear time in the world of IVF DRAGS😭 I’m absolutely dying out here waiting for dates and scans and the next week. Every week I wish my life away lol!! I had a bit of a wobble last week and nearly booked myself in for a private scan, all because my friend had a MMC at 9 weeks 2 days, so that played on my mind a lot last week. But I’m now 10+3 and have been floored with more sickness in the eves so made me feel slightly better lol. My dating scan with the hospital is 20th March! I’ll be 12+5, I was debating changing it but it’s my nans heavenly birthday so it just felt right to keep it as that. I’m trying to see it as a sign💞

How are you feeling about starting? Excited and anxious? I hate those mixed emotions lol!

@Strawberry08 how are you feeling?! And how many weeks are you now? / have you got your scan booked? I can assure you, it’s such a horrible wait and it does drag but every day is a new day and a step closer!!

hope everyone else is ok? 🤍✨ xx

@Koalie ah glad all went well at the scan and it’s not long to go until meds. Things are moving along, day by day. It honestly does drag so much though doesn’t it. So much waiting in this process!!
I am doing alright thank you! Anxious but okay. I have sore boobs and knackered and get a random wave of nausea every now and again but otherwise I’m feeling good.

@Izzie94x oh gosh not long at all to go!! So so exciting, I have my first viability scan on the 20th too when il be 7 +1 weeks so big day for the both of us. Aw lovely it’s your nans heavenly birthday. It does seem like a sign.
I am 5 weeks tomorrow so still very early days but I got my 3+ on a clear blue digital yesterday so things are progressing nicely and I feel very pregnant 😂

Hey everyone,

Sorry I haven't been on here much!

Thanks @Strawberry08 I feel so much better now, I feel like I'm ready to go again. Our clinic have booked us in but the earliest dates 10th august for egg collection. I can ring for cancellations but think it will be unlikely, but I'll try for the next 6 weeks or so, if nothing comes up we are going to book a holiday for May/June 🤣 something else to look forward to. I'll start my meds beginning of July.

That's for the advice, 100% I will be pushing for the extra progesterone, if they won't give me it, I will ask my GP, or look to pay for it privately, the fact my level was so low really makes me think that it was that issue. If it was, it's so crap as that's such a simple fix! I did request it at the point aswell and they wouldn't give me it.

Not long to wait for your scan now, the symptoms sound really good too (you know what I mean 🤣)

@Koalie thank you for checking in with me, how are you doing? Bet you feel relived the down reg scan was good and to now be getting a bit closer 😊 not too long now!

Hope you are both ok too @Izzie94x and @ScottishRach x

@User491 gosh that seems like a long wait. Are there any other clinics in your area? Re the progesterone, when you next fall pregnant, why don’t you do one of those medichecks ‘pregnancy progress’ at home tests and if your progesterone is low, you can use it to push for more from the clinic?

@Strawberry08 & @Izzie94x not long now until your scans! How are you feeling? Xx

@User491 so glad you’re doing better but such a shame that’s such a long wait! Is there any other clinic options?

@Koalie I’m actually sat in the waiting room right now for the 6 week viability scan.. hopefully all goes well!

Sorry I haven’t checked in ladies, I’ve been keeping occupied replying to random mumsnet threads and then this one fell so low down that I hadn’t realised you ladies had replied 😂🤍

@User491 oh my god, august!! That’s bloody crazy. Is it NHS? I guess they have some sort of wait list, but also, after everything you’ve been through I’d be pushing for earlier. I think once you’ve been so close you just want it even more. I’m sorry that you had to go through that though, just awful I can’t even begin to imagine 🥺 defo get yourself and DH on a lovely holiday. You deserve it!!! Please do push for progesterone, I know there’s little evidence out there and that’s why some clinics say come off it early, but I did read lots about you should wait until the placenta starts to form!! Plus, you’ve had a miscarriage now - so I’d be saying I’m having it!! And it’s not expensive lovely if you decide to ask for it privately, £20/30 per packet (if I remember rightly!)

@Koalie girllllll I am an anxious mess. My symptoms have fluctuated so much, that one week I am like “yes I am growing a healthy baby” the next I’m thinking, fuck I’ve had a MMC and I have no idea. My god it’s a whirlwind of emotions, but I’m trying to remain positive! How are you?💖

@Strawberry08 omg keep us updated!!!! I’m sure it’ll go absolutely perfectly and you’ll be so so happy - for about 3 days and then you’ll worry agan, but just know that’s normal 😂 1 week and 1 day for me to go!!

Im also already trying to hide a baby bump / bloat! I’ve always had a flat stomach (genetically blessed lol!) but since egg collection, I’ve been quite bloated.. and now it’s just got even worse and there’s no hiding it! Secretly I’m loving it lol xx

Yay!! 6 week scan showed little tiny bean with a heartbeat flickering away nicely. So thrilled and relieved but @Izzie94x you are right, it will only help for a few days!!
Izzie you are so close to the big 12 weeks and so lovely that you have a little bump, even if just is bloating it’s so nice to know it’s all going on in there!

@Strawberry08 yay!!! I’m so so pleased for you. It’s so amazing seeing that tiny little blob isn’t it. I was close to tears when we had our scan lol! 😅 such a relief! When do you get to have another? Do you get one with the clinic at about 8 weeks?

Eeee, counting down the days down. I usually WFH but I’ve got a busy week this week so will be in and out of the office. So hoping the days go quicky!!! Xx

@Izzie94x I have the one with the clinic on Monday 20th (7 week + 2). Not long to wait now for your big one!!
@Koalie is it nearly transfer day for you?

@Strawberry08 ah how amazing 🥰 what times your apt on Monday? Ours is 11:30! Which is quite nice as we haven’t got to hang around all day. A nice little get up, walk the dog, breakfast and it’ll be time to get ready and go! Feeling so excited but ridiculously nervous too!! Just want to know if everything’s ok😩

How’s everyone else doing? X

@Izzie94x mines at 11, so same situation here. We are also going to walk the dog and grab some breakfast 😂 I think you will be absolutely fine, how exciting!!

@Strawberry08 @Izzie94x What lovely little Mondays you have planned - super excited for you both!

I have a scan tomorrow to check my uterine lining, then if all good, will be starting progesterone injections ready for transfer either Wednesday or Friday next week 😊

@Koalie ahh amazing, it's almost here 🥳 hope today has gone well!

@Strawberry08 @Izzie94x so exciting, good luck to you both for Monday ❤️

Yeh it is a long wait, my meds will start in July.. I just keep thinking it will fly in. I think we are going to stick with the dates and get a holiday booked in.
@Koalie thanks for the advice there, yes I may do that actually. I am hoping the clinic just give me them to save the hassle and worry etc.

@Strawberry08 we could switch clinics, but I think by the time we would switch it's likely to be around the same timescales anyways, and our clinic have been very good so far.. apart from the progesterone part.. up to now 🤣

@Izzie94x yeh it's nhs, we do have the means to go private but with only getting the one blast on cycle 1, I'm thinking we are maybe best sticking with NHS as we get another 2 rounds free and maybe we will need them, and we can keep the money for any future rounds we need. It's a difficult one tbh!

@Koalie ahhhh next week is going to be a good week for us all, I just know it 🥰 how did today go?

@User491 as someone who’s had to pay privately and of course I’d do it all again for our little miracle - get everything you can for free!!!! 😂 we work, pay our taxes, the lot. TAKE IT WHILST YOU CAN 😂 I have a feeling one day, it won’t be free at all for anyone!! Least then you can use all your free attempts before needing to use money - which you’ll need for little baby because next time you’ll have a sticky baby!!🥰 our access fertility package was £12,000… plus around £2,500 on pre treatments scans, SA, and meds… it’s a ridiculous amount of money. But it was a 50% back package if we didn’t get pregnant which was a no brainer! And we just put all the meds on a credit card… yay for us lol!! Xx