Please or to access all these features

Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

IVF warriors - the journey continues 2

974 replies

Imisscoffee2021 · 21/02/2023 15:24

@Decaffe
@seekingbabyk
@MinBins
@acaciabluebell
@MammyandAva
@Spin101
@1stcycle
@KLM25
@ralno2
@acaciabluebell@Tinkerbell098

Another thread needed ladies! Please tag if I've forgotten someone! :)

OP posts:
Spin101 · 06/03/2025 04:36

@Honeybunie im so excited for you!! Enjoy every moment of being pregnant. I’m sorry to say this but it feels like a distant memory right now 😂😂 So pleased the scan went well! And plums 😂😂😂😂😂😂 that made me laugh!

baby girl is 11 months now. I can’t believe it. Where has the time gone?

@MinBins remind me how old your little one is. We have started similar conversations and I’m in two minds. I want a second child for my girl but I’m not sure I’m ready but I’m only going to get older 🙈

Honeybunie · 15/03/2025 16:45

Hey @Spin101 lovely to hear from you 🤗 aawww your little girl is nearly a year old now. wow that is amazing. time is absolutely flying isn't it. I am really enjoying my pregnancy atm. I feel great and have no issues, aches or pains yet. sleep very well. Little one is moving a lot which is fun. work is slowly calming down as well which is nice.
Aww you're considering a second go at it as well. That would be lovely for your girl. But I can imagine it's not easy to just go again now you know what it all entails. I hope everything will fall into place for you whatever you decide to do.
For us that decision is kinda done, because we have no more embryos left, which I'm kinda glad about in a way, because I don't have to make any decisions. OH already had three girls, so he's done more that enough lol. I'm happy with just one considering my age, and we haven't really got another bedroom and don't want to move lol. everything is just perfect as it is. I was actually wondering if we need to consider contraception after the birth lol. which is a weird thing to think about after having gone through ivf, but then we thought what if it did accidentally work you know? 😂 I guess they'll tell us later down the line what the options are.
Anyway, hope everybody is keeping well and enjoy the start of Spring 🌸xx

Decaffe · 19/06/2025 12:17

@Honeybunie how are you doing my lovely? I’m wondering if you might be due around now? 😊

Imisscoffee2021 · 19/06/2025 12:24

Nice to see this thread again, hope everyone is well and enjoying Summer :)

OP posts:
Spin101 · 19/06/2025 12:30

@Honeybunie how are you? I’m so sorry I missed your last message! I’m so pleased your pregnancy has been enjoyable. It makes such a difference. I always thought I would want two but I’m not sure now as to whether I want to go through the ivf journey again. It’s such a hard decision. I’ve heard of a few people getting pregnant naturally after having had ivf with their first which does make you wonder if contraception is required!! I hope you’re well and so so sorry for my really late reply

Honeybunie · 19/06/2025 21:21

@Imisscoffee2021 @Decaffe @Spin101 @KLM25
Heya lovely ladies 🥰 so nice to hear from you. I have been thinking I must update you but haven’t had time yet. Little George was born a week ago on 12 June via c section 🥰🥰🥰 he’s absolutely perfect and we’re so in love with the little dude 🥰😍🩵💙🩵
My pregnancy continued to go very well right until the end. The bump never got super big either. It was so funny in the last week to tell people that we were having a baby in a few days as I just didn’t look massive 😂 we had a bit of a hiccup with one growth scan were he measured small and had to have a few follow up scans. All was perfect in the end and he was bang on middle of the growth chart when he was born. Placenta was low lying to start with but had moved up as well. But little George had been in breech position at least since week 27. We had a private scan when we first saw him in his favourite position. He never moved once in any following scan. So we had the ECV procedure at 37 weeks to try and turn him manually from the outside. That was the most horrific procedure. Apparently my stomach muscles are super strong midwives and doctors kept telling me. That’s probably why he was stuck in that position too and my bump so small. He was strapped in. So the Ecv was awful with the doc pushing her fist and thumbs and knuckles into my bump 🥴 they even offered me gas and air which didn’t really help. And all that did not work anyway. After two tries I politely declined. OH and I were mentally scared and had nightmares after. I also had a bruise on my bump after 🙈 so since that did not work we booked in for a planned c section last week. All went very well and we could go home the next day.
We’re trying to breastfeeding so the last week was tough. Unfortunately he’s not put any weight on since day 3 now so we’ve just been admitted to the postnatal ward to stay until he’s gaining weight. The midwives put us on a mad breastfeeding action plan which we’ve tried the last two days. Feeding every 3hrs and expressing and feeding that on top plus a 1h power pumping session. It was mad and I’ve been in bits as I hardly slept because there simply wasn’t enough hours in the day. Not eaten much either as no time. We tried so hard just for the doctor in the hospital to now tell us that we need skin to skin contact 🤦‍♀️ OH and I feel very stupid now. I read about it in every bloody book I read beforehand and totally forgot! George is never happy when we change him we just quickly put clothes back on him again. And OH took him off me a lot to help me. So we’ve done the opposite to what he needed. Poor little thing and because of that my milk hasn’t continued to come in properly. It came in early on day 2! Probably because we just stayed close in hospital for two days. And then the milk supply never increased once we got home. So here we are back in hospital. Feeling rather stupid. But I’m very glad. He’s been feeding more than he has just by lying on me and I had time to eat a whole dinner and chill in bed now. Also got my own en-suite room so we’re very lucky. And hopefully I’ll get a few good hours sleep tonight 🥳🤩
I hope everybody is doing great and enjoying the heat and sunshine out there xxx

Decaffe · 19/06/2025 22:18

@Honeybunie you absolute trooper!!!!

Congratulations on beautiful baby George, I am so happy and pleased to read this!

You are doing so well I promise. My DS absolutely hated being changed as well, the things we used to do to try to pacify/distract him!! Madness haha.

So glad you are enjoying the skin to skin and check you out with your private room haha! Make sure you are drinking lots of water in this heat. So, so good to hear from you and huge congratulations again 💙

Imisscoffee2021 · 19/06/2025 22:22

Honeybunie · 19/06/2025 21:21

@Imisscoffee2021 @Decaffe @Spin101 @KLM25
Heya lovely ladies 🥰 so nice to hear from you. I have been thinking I must update you but haven’t had time yet. Little George was born a week ago on 12 June via c section 🥰🥰🥰 he’s absolutely perfect and we’re so in love with the little dude 🥰😍🩵💙🩵
My pregnancy continued to go very well right until the end. The bump never got super big either. It was so funny in the last week to tell people that we were having a baby in a few days as I just didn’t look massive 😂 we had a bit of a hiccup with one growth scan were he measured small and had to have a few follow up scans. All was perfect in the end and he was bang on middle of the growth chart when he was born. Placenta was low lying to start with but had moved up as well. But little George had been in breech position at least since week 27. We had a private scan when we first saw him in his favourite position. He never moved once in any following scan. So we had the ECV procedure at 37 weeks to try and turn him manually from the outside. That was the most horrific procedure. Apparently my stomach muscles are super strong midwives and doctors kept telling me. That’s probably why he was stuck in that position too and my bump so small. He was strapped in. So the Ecv was awful with the doc pushing her fist and thumbs and knuckles into my bump 🥴 they even offered me gas and air which didn’t really help. And all that did not work anyway. After two tries I politely declined. OH and I were mentally scared and had nightmares after. I also had a bruise on my bump after 🙈 so since that did not work we booked in for a planned c section last week. All went very well and we could go home the next day.
We’re trying to breastfeeding so the last week was tough. Unfortunately he’s not put any weight on since day 3 now so we’ve just been admitted to the postnatal ward to stay until he’s gaining weight. The midwives put us on a mad breastfeeding action plan which we’ve tried the last two days. Feeding every 3hrs and expressing and feeding that on top plus a 1h power pumping session. It was mad and I’ve been in bits as I hardly slept because there simply wasn’t enough hours in the day. Not eaten much either as no time. We tried so hard just for the doctor in the hospital to now tell us that we need skin to skin contact 🤦‍♀️ OH and I feel very stupid now. I read about it in every bloody book I read beforehand and totally forgot! George is never happy when we change him we just quickly put clothes back on him again. And OH took him off me a lot to help me. So we’ve done the opposite to what he needed. Poor little thing and because of that my milk hasn’t continued to come in properly. It came in early on day 2! Probably because we just stayed close in hospital for two days. And then the milk supply never increased once we got home. So here we are back in hospital. Feeling rather stupid. But I’m very glad. He’s been feeding more than he has just by lying on me and I had time to eat a whole dinner and chill in bed now. Also got my own en-suite room so we’re very lucky. And hopefully I’ll get a few good hours sleep tonight 🥳🤩
I hope everybody is doing great and enjoying the heat and sunshine out there xxx

Congratulations on your little boy! Love the name George! What a journey to get him❤️ so happy for you, and he has three big sisters to dote on him too?

Don't beat yourself up about the skin to skin, first babies are such learning curves, i wish i could go back and parent Reuben again with what i know now! We didn't do much skin to skin with him as it was sooo hot in London when he was born and we got so sweaty and sticky and he also screeched when nappy changing and dressing so we just did it asap! He had a tongue tie so never ever latched, even after it was cut as his tongue took months to finally grow out of the heart shape, expressing and stressing over feeding is so incredibly draining in the first weeks, you're such a trooper tonsound so cheerful despite it!

Hope little George gains and you can go home soon, though than enquire room sounds really nice actually 😂

OP posts:
KLM25 · 20/06/2025 16:23

@Honeybunie Massive congrats on the birth of baby George and well done! I’m over the moon for you 🥰 George is our little boy’s middle name ❤️

You’re doing an amazing job. Nobody warns you about how tough breastfeeding is, and the stress of the weigh ins. Both of ours had a slow start putting the weight on - both of them c sections too. When you’re exhausted and sore, it’s so hard - and triple feeding on top of that… for me it was tougher than the IVF. So please know that you’re doing a fantastic job. I still feel that the NHS encourage you to breast feed, but then put every possible obstacle in your way. It sounds like you’re getting some good support though, so that’s great.

In this heatwave, you’re in the best place if you’ve got a private room and they can support with the feeding, and bring you food! Like the other ladies said, don’t worry about the skin to skin, I don’t think there’s any time limit on it and it’s such early days still.

Hope you’re getting some sleep here and there. I’m so pleased and happy for you 😊 x

Spin101 · 21/06/2025 12:05

@Honeybunie huge congratulations! It was so nice to read your message! ❤️ I hope you’re recovering well post section and little George’s weight is increasing. The breastfeeding is tough. Overtime if you choose to continue to breastfeed, it does get easier. So nice to hear from you and so happy for you ❤️ xx

Honeybunie · 19/07/2025 16:29

Hello lovely ladies
Thank you sooooo much for your wishes 🥰🥰 it really means a lot 🥹❤️
Little update for me and George 😊 have had zero time until now. God that stay in the hospital feels like ages ago now. George is 5 weeks old now 😊 Life was pretty wild back then. Like everything got worse before it got better. I wasn’t worried about him at the time tbh because he always looked super healthy thank god and his hair was growing well and I always thought if he didn’t get enough milk his hair would be the last thing to grow 😅
So we spent one day and night in hospital when all we did was skin to skin and feed feed feed and he gained 60g! Pretty amazing. So we were able to go home the next day and were put back on the triple feeding plan with pumping 8 times a day 🫩🫩🫩 god that nearly killed me. Those were the worst days. I think we did that for another week and he continued to put on weight and a week later had regained his birth weight. The pumping then got cut to 4 times, 2 times, once and then stopped. That was such a relief. We are now fully self sufficient yay 😊 I was super proud that we got there after the battle we or I had been through. Didn’t supplement once, refused when a midwife suggested it and battled through, had two very hard weeks, but it all paid off in the end. I’ve been to a breastfeeding support group twice for advice and to socialise and there are mums 4-5 weeks in that still struggle to breastfeed for various reasons like giving a bottle too early. So I’m very thankful we ‘only’ had those two hard weeks and now we’re all good 😊
We had our latest weight in this Wednesday and he was just under 4kg and 54cm so growing well. He looks and feels heavier too and is out growing his first lot of clothes 🥹
We’re doing really well I think. He wakes up about 3 times every night and around the same times too so we have a pretty good routine for 5 weeks I think. I get 4.5-5.5hrs sleep and then OH gets up early and takes him for a walk every morning and to see his nana while I get another hour or so 😊
he’s feeding loads but I guess that’s normal. And he screams a lot when he doesn’t get booby straight away after waking up 🤦‍♀️😅 OH has to run home regularly when he’s out for a walk with him 😂
Last week my parents came to visit from Germany. They are so in love with George 🥰 first grandchild 🥰 I think my mum loved him more and more every day 😅 we had a lovely week. They helped a lot around the house but it was also a bit hectic at times with four people. They’re always late and never ready when we want to do something or leave the house which drives OH nuts 😅 but all good fun. We also attended the graduation of OH’s eldest daughter last Friday. It was a full day out, getting up early, getting there for 9, lunch after and a few drinks after in the sunshine ☀️ George was very well behaved and slept well that day thank god and we managed to breastfeed okay everywhere we went - something I have to get used to 😅 funny how you think “oh yeah I’m gonna breastfeed” but you never think of what that means. And now I have to get used to getting my boobies out everywhere 😅 and feeding whilst eating. My shoulders are killing me lol.
Oh his sisters are absolutely obsessed with him! Two live further away with their mum but they came especially the day after he was born, driving two hours just to see him briefly when we came home from hospital. They loooove him. They’ve been down a few times since so we see a lot more of them 😅 the eldest lives close by with OH’s mum so she sees him most days. And she misses him when she’s away for a few days. It’s very cute 🥰
Oh another thing I wanted to share with you - the day after he was born, when we had all these examinations before we could go home, one of the doctors that came around to look at him had looked though our file and said “ah he’s a “precious” baby” referring to him being an ivf baby. I thought that was such a lovely and great acknowledgment of the journey we’ve been through to get him and how wanted and special he is! Of course every baby is precious and special, but I’m sure you know what I mean. Such a lovely way of putting it by the doctor I thought 🥹🥹💝
We’ve also applied for his passport two weeks ago and we got it already 🥳🥳 it’s amazing how quickly you get a passport in the UK and all online. We’ll have to fill in a long application and go to the embassy in London to get him a German passport and then it takes 10-12 weeks 🤦‍♀️ anyway we got one and we’ve booked flights to see my parents in Germany end of August. And we’re planning a holiday with my parents in October. I want them to see George as often as possible so they build a relationship and he learns his German well, not just through me 😊

@Decaffe aw I know little George still doesn’t like being changed. He seems to like it hot. He’s got poor circulation in his hands and feet and gets cold very quickly. And he sneezes straight away when he gets a chill 😂 he’s got that from me 😂 so funny 🤣

@Imisscoffee2021 I know I never thought about all the things you don’t know yet as a first time parent 😱 and how you’d do a lot/everything different/better with your second child (which we won’t have but just saying 😅) bit annoying George gets to be the one and only Guinea pig 😕 poor boy 😅
And yes skin to skin in hot weather is no fun. He gets sweated all over by me and gets spots bless him. Last weekend’s heat really wasn’t fun. I’m glad it’s not usually hot in the UK when it comes to having a baby!

@KLM25 I know I can’t believe nobody tells you how tough breastfeeding is. And why is it so tough? Most things in nature are designed to work super efficiently and perfectly. But not breastfeeding?! Unless we’re doing something wrong these days? I find it mad 😅 it’s the single most difficult thing I’ve had to master in my life 😂
Oh it was very funny in the hospital with my private en-suite room - I was in a north facing and so the coldest room on the ward. Everybody that came in to check on us was saying how lovely and cool it is in our room while the rest of the ward was roasting. We probably had more people coming in than we should’ve just so they could cool down 😂

@Spin101 yes I’m recovering well thank you. Again the first two weeks it was all quite sore and tender but feeling okay now 😊 scar is healing well. But I don’t like how it is all numb 😬 again I never knew this would happen. It’s so strange. I hope I get some feeling back. Planning to book a c section scar massage and hope it’ll help 🤞

Sending lots of love and hope everybody is doing well 😊❤️ xx

MinBins · 26/08/2025 09:39

A bit late to the mix but wanted to say big congrats @Honeybunie- the early breastfeeding journey sounded tough but you got through it like a champ!

it’s lovely to hear how he’s adored by all of his family, so many great memories ahead!

MinBins · 26/08/2025 09:41

We’ve began our journey again and we had our FET late last week. We’re going in with the mindset that if after our stored embryos it hasn’t happened, then we are content and grateful. But if it did happen, we’d be extra lucky to add to our family. I think after that we’d have closure. So here’s to doing it all over again 🫣😅🥳🫠

Tinkerbell098 · 07/10/2025 01:21

Hi girls, I have been MIA for a while but you have all been in my thoughts. Hope everyone is ok.

@MinBins hope the FET went smoothly. How are you getting on?

We have also started our second journey with a fresh cycle as we didn’t have any frosties. I am three years older and turned 40 last month! Can’t believe we are here again. Really hoping for the best. I was meant to trigger tonight but have been asked the carry on for another couple of days on a lower dose. Fingers crossed it all works out ok.

Sending love to you all ❤️

Decaffe · 07/10/2025 12:22

Hi everyone, I have been thinking about this thread too. Now that DS has turned one, we have both said that if we were to go for a second, it would only be with our frozen embryos. We are both into our 40s so I don’t think we could or should do it naturally again.

I agreed with DH that I would schedule an appointment with our old consultant to see what he thought, but I don’t even know if he still works there! Obviously I am presuming the transfers would have to be privately funded now as well which is another huge consideration. So much to think about. Sending plenty of good wishes to you @Tinkerbell098 and @MinBins xx

MinBins · 07/10/2025 13:27

Lovely to hear from you @Tinkerbell098and good luck for this round. It’s strange going through it all again isn’t it.

We had a transfer last month but it didn’t stick, and so since then I’ve held a healthier diet and lifestyle and we have another transfer this month. If this doesn’t take, then we will wait till next year to reassess.

Fingers crossed for you! I was 40 when I did my first collection, and now I’m doing the FET transfer all these years later.

I forgot how much of a pain in the a the cyclogest pessaries were. Just thought I’d throw that out into the ether 🤣

MinBins · 07/10/2025 13:28

Good luck to you too @Decaffe, there’s definitely still time, but appreciate it’s a big decision especially with funding too.

Tinkerbell098 · 09/10/2025 13:14

@Decaffe @MinBins lovely to hear from you again. Glad you both have some frosties that you could use.

@MinBins sorry it didn’t stick last month, wishing you all the best for the upcoming transfer Xx

My stims haven’t gone too well this time, but I did trigger last night and planning for EC tomorrow morning. My AMH has massively dropped since last time. Really hoping we’ll get a good collection tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Imisscoffee2021 · 09/10/2025 16:27

I've just been thinking about this thread and you ladies recently so it's lovely to hear from you again :) @Tinkerbell098 best of luck tomorrow! Will be thinking of you x

@Decaffe we've said the same about our frosties but atm looks like sticking to one kiddo. Think of them often though in the 2 years since having Reuben.

@MinBins got my fingers crossed for a sticky next transfer for you!

OP posts:
Tinkerbell098 · 10/10/2025 08:13

@Imisscoffee2021 thank you! I’m just in the waiting room ready for EC. It’s so strange being here three years later, with all the same emotions coming in.

Imisscoffee2021 · 10/10/2025 08:24

Tinkerbell098 · 10/10/2025 08:13

@Imisscoffee2021 thank you! I’m just in the waiting room ready for EC. It’s so strange being here three years later, with all the same emotions coming in.

So hoping the best for you! The waiting room of clinics is such a strange place, I remember it feeling so surreal at times! Got everything crossed for you x

OP posts:
MinBins · 10/10/2025 11:30

Good luck @Tinkerbell098you've got this!

Tinkerbell098 · 11/10/2025 10:19

Thanks girls, they collected 9 eggs, 6 mature and 4 fertilised. Given my follicle count, I take it as a win. Now really hope we’ll at least get a couple of blasts out of that.

Imisscoffee2021 · 11/10/2025 11:46

Tinkerbell098 · 11/10/2025 10:19

Thanks girls, they collected 9 eggs, 6 mature and 4 fertilised. Given my follicle count, I take it as a win. Now really hope we’ll at least get a couple of blasts out of that.

That's a great result! Will be thinking if you and your four embryos this week, really hope they grow into healthy blasts for you xx

OP posts:
Tinkerbell098 · 12/10/2025 14:55

@Imisscoffee2021 thank you! Transfer is booked for Wednesday afternoon. Fingers crossed we get good quality blasts!