FET March 2023

[Rainbowpeach]

Hi All,

Looking for others starting their FET cycle in March. This will be my 5th cycle (after 4 cycles last year). I did PGT-A testing this time and my embryos went down from 13 to 4. Hoping for success this time round and just wanted to go through the journey with others.

Hello,

Sorry to jump on your thread! I had my frozen embryo transfer on the 31st and am currently in the dreaded tww. We went through IVF with PGD and had a FET in Feb 2020 which resulted in my daughter. We then did an FET in November, which failed. We think due to low progesterone as I started bleeding at 5dp5dt, which is unusual as I shouldn't have bled due to all the meds. I'm now on a really high dose of progesterone (intramuscular injections [lentogest], cyclogest, AND utrogesten). So I'm feeling pretty bloated and tired from all of that. My levels on the day of transfer were 189, so any symptoms I have are definitely due to that. I'm feeling pretty nervous about this transfer - if it fails, we have to put everything on hold again. I know you guys will all understand this feeling! Anyway, just wanted to join and say hi and congratulations to everyone with a positive and that I'm sorry for those with a negative. IVF is a f*king mind f*k. Finally, good luck to everyone else who is currently waiting... :)

@Jazsimone I've just got a new prescription for Cyclogest so I will let you know if i have any issues! Have you managed to find another pharmacy that have them?

@Wren123 welcome! I'm in a very similar situation to you (minus the extra progesterone!). I had a successful FET in March 2020 which also gave me my daughter :) and unfortunately had a failed FET in February. This round is my final frozen embryo before we need to do a whole new round!

Just got back from my transfer - when they froze it it was ungraded (well, a 2).. but since this morning it has expanded and now a 3AB so I'm really pleased with that as I thought it was going to be really low quality. Also the same Dr that did my transfer with my successful round did the procedure so I was really reassured it was her again! Overall feeling positive but really don't want to get ahead of myself xx

@laurapop Thanks so much for your message. That's great re the grade. I have no idea what grade mine were - my clinic don't ever really tell me and I always forget to ask. Hope you can have a relaxing day and treat yourself to something nice. Fingers crossed for you x

@Rainbowpeach I'm sorry to hear about your bleed. I don't know if this will help, but I had a bleed around 8 weeks with my daughter (first FET) and it was due to a subchorionic hematoma (can happen when there is a little bit of bleeding but then it stops and gets stuck in the lining of the womb). Apparently it is quite common and usually doesn't impact the pregnancy. We were reassured by the obstetrician and had no further problems for the rest of the pregnancy.

@Wren123 Thank you. I'm WFH this afternoon and little one is in nursery. Yeah I don't know why I bother asking as it doesn't really mean much and i just end up googling!

When will you test? How do you feel doing it all again after having your daughter? I found it really strange on the last FET, it didn't feel as pressured as such as we already have her and are so grateful. But then when it didn't work i was still devastated! its such a hard process emotionally. Trying to get my head around the fact she may not have a sibling but then just got to count our blessings anyway! x

@laurapop The million dollar question! :-D I caved and bought 6 super early pregnancy tests. I took one the other day, but I was only 3dp5dt. It was negative, but too early to know either way (think I just had a moment of madness thinking 'maybe, just maybe!'. However, doing that test and seeing the one line reminded me how stressful I found testing early in my last FET. I tested around 6 days for the FET in November and it drove me a bit mad, because I then had to keep testing, as I was plagued by thoughts about whether it was actually negative or just too early or wrong time of day etc. I think I'm finding it easier to cope by not testing right now, so will probably try to hold off until day 9 or 10. It just consumes my thoughts (even more than usual) otherwise. I have a lot of work to keep my distracted in the mean time.

I definitely found it a difference experience doing it after my daughter - I think partially because I'd been through it all before and partially because I had a more realistic idea about childbirth, postpartum recovery and looking after a child. There was a really small part of me that wasn't quite sure if I was ready for a second at that moment, so it all felt quite strange. However, the negative result and time that has passed since then has really confirmed that I am ready now, so I think there is definitely more pressure on this one.

@Wren123 Yeah totally agree i think testing early wouldn't be good for me as I would be thinking the same thing. I wait til day 9 as i figure it will be a definite answer by then. On my last one though I tested on day 9, it was negative and then i tested again on day 10 with a more sensitive test and it was the faintest line. I had a blood test and my HCG level was only 8 so it was a chemical. So that has made me worried about testing too early and potentially worrying about darkness of lines. All such a rollercoaster!!

I think the negative tests do really make you realise how much you want it - fingers crossed for our second babies!! I feel like life has just got easier again and we are in a good routine, which i think is when lots of people plan for a second but unfortunately for us lot its just not that easy as deciding!

@Wren123 thank you, your message couldn’t have come at a better time. I’ve had a really down day today just thinking im actually not pregnant and the blood confirmed it. I started brown spotting today and it’s just flash backs from my miscarriages and failed FETs. I’ve never had a child and im just panicked what if im never going to and there is no hope because I don’t understand how I could be trying for 3yrs and no luck, this is my 5th try, maybe I’m just deceiving myself that it could ever work. I’m just spiralling today and I’m just in a really bad mood and exhausted. As much as I want to be optimistic it’s just so hard when it’s never happened to me to have a successful pregnancy :( I really don’t know how people just carry on with life, Im practically destabilised, Ive had to be signed off from work because I’m not in a good state of mind :(

@Rainbowpeach its totally understandable how you are feeling and I don't think there are many people that could just carry on as normal after so much heartache. Your natural response will be to protect yourself and not let yourself believe it! Some time off will do you good.

I just wanted to add to what @Wren123 said about the hematoma - I know 3 people this has happened to and its all been okay. I also had brown spotting when i was 5 weeks pregnant with my daughter. Its obviously the scariest thing ever but it is fairly common. Try and breathe, get something nice to eat and watch something easy on the TV. How many more days til your next scan? could you ring the early pregnancy unit to see if they can do anything to ease your mind? My friend to had spotting a few years ago ended up having a blood test at around 5 weeks too.

@laurapop I think that sounds really sensible re the testing - sorry about your chemical pregnancy. It just seems so cruel to give us that little bit of hope and then take it away. Fingers crossed for us :)

@Rainbowpeach I'm so sorry to hear you're feeling like that. 5 cycles is a lot for anyone to cope with, so I'm not surprised you're feeling the weight of it all. However, this definitely doesn't mean the end. I can count 4 women that I know had early bleeds and successful pregnancies straight off the top of my head. When the bleed happened to me, I paid for some private scans at regular intervals for the reassurance - I don't know if this is an option available to you, but it definitely helped put my mind at rest. Do you have anyone to talk to about this? or is there something that helps calm your nerves? Sounds like you could use some support and some kind of calming distraction. Take care x

Thanks @laurapop for the kind words. I really wish I could just relax but I’ve been down all day. Maybe it is common to bleed, it’s just annoying why I need to go through this, it’s bad enough we need to suffer with IVF and now I need to be at a thin line between pregnancy and miscarriage. I’ve called my clinic, all they say is just keep taking the meds and see you at the scan which is in 7 days, April 11th. It just feels like the longest wait of my life. Sorry for the moaning, just feel so lonely as I can’t talk to any family or friends cause they don’t understand and will just say the generic things like it will be fine. Thanks for listening :)

@Wren123 thank you so much. When you had the early bleeding, was it bright red and for how long? I had bright red bleeding but only once and I’ve done a scan and blood test after that which they said was fine. However I’m brown spotting today again and just panicking it is the beginning of another bleed, hopefully not. I have 2 scans lined up next week and the week after so hopefully that helps. I just have to wait this next 7 days and unfortunately I just don’t feel like being social and spending Easter with anyone cause some members of my family know about my IVF journey and I can just feel this constant pity on their faces. Anyway enough ranting for today!

@Rainbowpeach it's not fair at all is it 😩. You just want everything to be plain sailing once you get that positive but it's just more worry.

It may be worth ringing your local hospital if the clinic won't do anything? Are you 5 or 6 weeks now?

It's okay to have down days! It will pass eventually. It's hard when people don't quite get it

@laurapop literally, you get it! Lol does that mean it’s constant worry for 9 months!!! Gosh this is a lot, stress.com. I’m so glad to have this group 💞. I am 5weeks and 4 days, my last 2 miscarriages happened between 5th and 6th week so I think this is why I am freaking out, it all started same way, brown spotting then bleeding :( so just praying badly I can scale through this week

@Rainbowpeach I was quite anxious the whole 9 months but it definitely eases after the 12 week scan! You feel such a relief.

I had a scan at 6 weeks. Could you pay for one privately for in 3 days time or would you rather just wait for your clinic scan? Fingers crossed for no more bleeding xx

@laurapop yes I was thinking about doing one earlier but my clinic said it would only give me more anxiety as there might still be no heartbeat at that time, I should just wait the extra couple of days as there’s a higher chance of a heart beat so I told them il wait. I need to find a distraction and just stop spotting! Gosh you had anxiety for 9 months damn hahahahah, thats not even funny! Okay the good point is that after 12 weeks it’s more relaxed :) I can’t wait to get there gosh, I’ve never wanted anything more in my life.

@Rainbowpeach i guess that does make sense and its only a few more days. I agree distraction is key and the longer you don't bleed for the better you will feel!

I think after you've been through IVF its obviously going to result in anxiety throughout but I am just a worrier in general! Most days i was fine tbf once i felt her kicking but you do just get those moments of panic and what ifs! well I did. Oh and also throwing covid into the mix!! I did really enjoy being pregnant too though once i have myself a talking to that all is okay! the scans are just magical. will keep every crossed for you this week! xx

@laurapop yes I’m currently scrolling through Netflix looking for a good show to distract myself haha :)

IVF is the absolute worst, gosh with Covid as well! That’s crazy, all worked out and you had your beautiful baby! I can’t wait to have mine too, I’m excited about all the scans and watching baby grow 🥰 okay I’m feeling slightly optimistic now. Thanks so much @laurapop @Wren123

@Rainbowpeach I bled bright red blood in the evening and thought it was game over - id had a miscarriage about 6 months before, so was familiar with it all. I actually had a scan booked for the next day coincidentally and decided to go anyway. We saw the fetus and heard a heart beat and were reassured by the clinician. I had some brown spotting a few days after too. It happened just before i was 8 weeks pregnant.

I really hope you've had a chilled night and have been able to take your mind off it for a bit. Sounds like you need a bit of a mental break from it. Keeping my fingers crossed for you x

Hi all, I hope you don’t mind if I jump on this thread too.
I am 4w+5 after a positive beta this week. I transferred x2 day 3 frosties. The entire IVF process has been incredibly overwhelming and isolating for me, so much so that I actually took a 6 month break after my EC last year because I was at the end of my mental rope.
My FET was on 21 March and the 2ww was awful so all you ladies currently going through it, I sympathise hugely, hang in there!
I started spotting at 10dp3dt and just freaked out, texted my clinic and they agreed to let me have an early beta which was positive. Follow up beta showed rising HCG.
I am very very grateful for this result and can hardly believe it but I’m also completely riddled with anxiety. I’m hoping connecting with other ladies in the same IVF boat and supporting each other will help :)
For reference, in case it’s helpful to anyone, I am on 200mg utrogestan twice a day plus x2 duphaston tablets, x4 oestrogen tablets (can’t recall the brand right now) and x2 prednisolone. I was on aspirin but was told to stop after my spotting. I’ve also had x2 intralipid drips but jury is out on whether those actually do anything.
My progesterone support seems quite low compared to everyone else but just trying to have faith in my doctor who has got me this far I guess. Stick baby dust to all of us 🙏

Hi @graygoose ! Firstly congratulations, such good news after what I'm sure was a very scary/anxious day!

I had spotting in my last pregnancy early on and all was okay - its reassuring your HCG levels are rising :)

I'm not sure what all your medication is but I'm only on 2 x progesterone pessaries a day (400mg) and 3 x 2mg oestrgoen tablets so I'm sure they would up your dose if they needed to xx

@Wren123 @graygoose Welcome ladies to the IVF boat! We all are here for you 💕 sharing our feeling here is far better as we all understand the real pain.

First of congratulations @graygoose it's such a great news 😊

I'm on 2 X 400 cyclogest morning and night and 3 X estrogen tablets.

@Rainbowpeach have you watched anything nice on Netflix last night? It's better to watch a show or series so we won't think too much. However, mood swings will happen as i was so down yesterday and this morning! I'm only 4 weeks and I have to wait 2 more weeks for a scan. May be after my scan I should be fine (I think! 😉).

@laurapop hey Hun, how are you feeling? What progesterone passaries you use? Are you on cyclogest or utergentrone?

All the best lovelies and lots of baby dust.

@Wren123 gosh thanks so much for sharing cause somehow it’s made me feel better that I can bleed and possibly still be pregnant! That must have been so nerve wracking for you then, you made it :)

@graygoose welcome to the group! The more the merrier, it’s so lovely to have people going through the exact same thing. congrats on your BFP!! First step ticked off, now on to the next worry of the scan haha (nervous laughter!), wishing it to go well for you. I had bright red bleeding around week 4 so I get the escalated anxiety, Im also nervously waiting for my scan next week. I’m on 3x 200 Utrogestan and Lubion injection, 3x Estradiol, 20mg clexane and 2x 5g Prednisolone, I feel like a druggy at this point! I’ve had too many failed transfers so I think my clinic just threw in everything this time round, and still I had bright red bleeding! So who knows what is going on inside my tummy

@Zus Thank you! I think IVF really is a ride that you can't understand unless you've been on it yourself.

@graygoose Congratulations! That's great news. I think spotting is very common and if you're HCG levels are rising, this is the thing to focus on as its a good indicator everything is moving in the right direction. I'm sure you will feel so much better after your scan in a few weeks. However, I understand how 2 weeks can feel like a life time in this context! It's like another tww after the bloody tww.

I'm on lentogest intramuscular injections x 3/week, utrogestan x 3/day, crinone x 1/day and cyclogest x 2/day. Then I'm also on estrogen x 5/day and inhixia x 1/day. I honestly don't think I need all this progesterone, but with my history I think they just throw everything at it. But the downside is that I feel pretty awful on it. I wouldn't worry if your clinic have you on a lower dose - they will have checked your levels and will adjust your dose if needed.

@Rainbowpeach Hope you're feeling a bit better today

@Zus girl I found nothing good last night lol but a recent good shows I’ve seen are Night manager and Love is Blind lol, not sure if it’s your cup of tea! Recommendations are welcome 🤗