IVF sibling round support

[itsmschanandlerbong]

Just wondered if there would be any interest in setting up a support thread for those of us thinking about a sibling round. This could very much be a 'me' issue but I feel a bit awkward sometimes posting in other threads, it's a bit like being stuck between being very lucky and fortunate having had a successful round, but also struggling with the challenges of having to go through it all over again. I've found it difficult to know my place in this community now.

So yeah, is anyone else trying or thinking about trying for their sibling round yet? Ill post a comment with our story.

Hi all, transfer went well embryo retained 100% cells and was expanding so that was great news!! I’ve tried as much possible to not lift my son too much he’s about 30 pounds but I have forgotten a few times and even picked him up and twirled around when I got back from transfer just didn’t think at all, do you think that would have been detrimental?😬feeling a bit worried! How did you manage with your toddlers did you refrain from picking them up or just carry on as normal? X

@Bobbin83 Congratulations on transfer! I didn’t behave any differently at all with toddler after transfer - kept breastfeeding, picking up, twirling etc etc. picking up isn’t going to affect implantation - think of all the people you know with siblings born less than 3 years apart!

I know it’s so easy to overthink things, but I just focus on the embryo being either genetically viable or not, and if it is and it’s going to implant, it’s going to do it’s think no matter what 😊

Thanks @2mumlife that has really helped calm me down and stopped me worrying 🙏❤️ hope you are having a lovely Easter Weekend x

@daisypizza thank you - I hope that's the case. I think the impatience always wins but it's always so scary going again after a bfn. When are you thinking of trying again?

@Bobbin83 exciting times - I hope your wait goes nice and quickly. I've seen stuff about how it's fine to pick up your toddler, it's more lifting anything heavier. For my successful IVF I accidentally went on a really strenuous walk a few days after (my friends planned the route and I hadn't told them and didn't want to) and was full of panic but it turned out fine luckily.

@Bobbin83 How are you getting on after the weekend?

Had our 12 week scan today and everything looking good 🥰. Really funny this one already acting like my DD - spent the whole scan face down refusing to budge, so only image we have is upside down and pretty rubbish (just like DDs 🤦‍♀️) and measuring ahead like DD so think we’re on the trajectory for another longer/larger baby 😂

Back in next week to get cervix length checked and have initial consultant appointment

@2mumlife that's great the scan went well. So funny this one is acting the same as your dd.

@2mumlife thats great news that the 12 week scan went well, it’s such a big milestone 🎉❤️ I’m feeling ok, not feeling anything symptoms wise I’m 5 days past fet now feels like such a long wait, trying not to get worried and stressed but it’s hard, I just want to eat chocolate but trying to limit sugar… 6 days to go 😬

@Overlyanxious I thought they were going to be different as this one stuck straight away. But nope. Seems like I'm growing another stubborn one 😂

@Bobbin83 Feeling a lot better now we've had that scan and know everythings looking ok. I always think the second half of the wait is the worst / longest bit. Do you have things on this week to help distract and make the time pass quicker? Keeping everything crossed for you - not long to go, even though it feels like forever x

@Bobbin83 sorry to hear it feels like it's taking ages. The wait is the worst part. Sending you lots of luck.

@2mumlife did you ever have to have a repeat scan with your DD? I had to for the 20 week scan as my DS would not move enough. I found it really stressful as I just wanted to know everything was ok.

Hey everyone!

@2mumlife so glad to hear your scan is done and suted, and all is fine! That must be a huge relief, especially after your friend's sad experiences. And that's so funny that you can already see similarities in their characters 😂
Let us know how it goes next week!
It sounds so, so hard to know what to do after this, especially with donor sperm and a waiting list in the mix, but I would definitely hang on to that until you're sure one way or the other, especially since you had the foresight to store that extra sperm just in case.

@Bobbin83 congrats on your transfer and on surviving half of the tww! I agree, the second week is always a lot harder and I'm sending you lots of strength. I hope you have something to do to keep you away from the inevitable overthinking and overanalysing that comes with the wait.

@Overlyanxious I hope the preps for your house move are going well!

@daisypizza glad to hear you've got the go ahead and are planning for next month, I hope time flies till then. I totally get what you said about feeling emotionally bruised after a BFN... I feel similarly in that our successful round with our son had pushed the trauma of years of BFNs to the back of my mind, and then the one last Feb reminded me what it was all like again. But impatience winning here too...

After a few days of not knowing what was going to happen (cancelled and reinstated appt with the consultant, then being told that we couldn't get a scan in time because of Easter break but being slotted in yd, missing consent forms that we couldn't access online), we're going this cycle! Lining was 10mm yd and I got the positive ovulation test today, so we're transferring Tuesday! It almost feels a bit rushed but that's better coz I don't have less time to build worry, and the next few months would have been a scheduling nightmare. So it's all the emotions all over again 😅

@Overlyanxious We managed to avoid a repeat scan. I did have to do star jumps and all sorts at the 20 week scan as there was some final measurement the sonographer was really struggling to get to finish off the scan. We did manage to get there in the end though!

@beachbum85 Yes very much feeling the relief, and have opened the floor gates telling people now which feels so good actually. Feel like its all 'real' now if that makes sense? That's so exciting you're going again this cycle!!! As you say at least with having things happening quickly means you'll be transferring before you know it!

@beachbum85 that's so exciting it's happening so soon. Sending you luck. Thanks - still have so much to do for this move.

@2mumlife with your frostie how did it work? Do they just thaw it and transfer it and if so how many days between thaw and transfer.

@2mumlife that must feel so nice being able to tell people

@Overlyanxious So we had a medicated cycle - so took a down regulation injections at the start of the cycle to stop ovaries producing anything, then estrogen to prepare womb lining. Once lining was thick enough / had the trilinear appearance then started progesterone. Once you start the progesterone it’s like the same as ovulation, so you transfer the embryo 5 days later for a day 5 blast. They do the thaw on the morning of transfer, check it’s survived and hasn’t degraded too much and doing ok and then transfer. You have to keep going with the progesterone and estrogen until 12 weeks. It’s quite straight forward really :)

@Overlyanxious if you’re doing a non medicated cycle, you just have to do ovulation tests and then transfer is 5 days after you ovulate naturally :)

@2mumlife thanks. This may sound like a stupid question but does unmedicated mean no medication at all? I took estrogen when my period started last time and then took progesterone shortly after until 12 weeks last time - does that count as medicated? Sorry for the questions but I stupidly didn't ask any of this for the consultation.

Hi. Can I join please. I’m currently in my tww. I test on Monday.

I have a 13 year old son from a previous relationship. He was conceived through IUI. He was born at 32 week due to me having pre-eclampsia, he has cerebral palsy and epilepsy. I have a 3 year old daughter too I love the thought of them having a little team around them (providing they all get along as siblings as they get older)

we went to the clinic to use our final frosty in June last year, but polyps were found on my lining, so had to have them removed before going ahead. Went back last month and the last scan before transfer showed another potential polyp, they had a meeting but as it was tiny, not in the lining (below entrance of uterus/top cervix) they were happy to go ahead. Bit worried about if it will hinder implantation (consultant thinks not) or cause problems or in a pregnancy but we would need a BFP first.

where is everyone else at?

@Overlyanxious There are some people who do partial / supported natural cycles that involve some medication. So they might do ovulation tests and but then have progesterone support after ovulation/embryo transfer. I think its normally only every progesterone though, but might be wrong.

If you took estrogen and progesterone, and they gave you a scan to check your lining, and you didn't do any ovulation predictor tests at home, then you were on a completely medicated cycle. It sounds like you were on a medicated cycle from what you've said. There is normally the addition of something to stop your body from producing its own egg that cycle, like fyremadel injections as well, but I guess this is only needed if you are ovulating?

@charliegirl77 Welcome to the group :) Was your DD an IVF pregnancy too? I've no experience with polyps, but hopefully everything goes smoothly. How are you finding the TWW so far? I have a 19 month old DD from a FET who took 4 failed IUIs, 2 egg collections, 1 fresh transfer and 2 FETs to conceive! I'm 13 weeks pregnant after another FET (our first try this time!). Wishing you luck for Monday!

@2mumlife congratulations on your recent FET that’s amazing! Totally deserved given all you went through to get your DD. You had your scan and all good?

Yes my daughter is FET. We got two day 5 blasts, she is one and I now have the other on board. I feel so much more anxious this time as not like we have any back up, or another attempt. Feel lucky my daughter stuck the first time round and almost feel like this one won’t. We have decided of it doesn’t that’s fate saying our family is complete, I’d be gutted though, naturally,

@charliegirl77 Yes had my 12 week scan on Tuesday and all good :) I can understand taking that decision to give the last frostie a try and see what fate decides, still tough though when you've made the decision that another child would be welcome, to then stop trying. All you can do is wait and see and keep everything crossed

@2mumlife such a relief to get through viability then 12 week scan. I know the waiting is the worst, you all most forget how long the tww is. I’ve never tested early. I’m 7dp5d transfer and I am so tempted this time around. Not that I’d even know the earliest you could. I’m super emotional today, hoping it’s the meds and not a sign AF will be arriving next week. The constant symptom checking is real but super unhelpful.

@charliegirl77 I have a superstition about not testing early now, as the 2 cycles I didn't I got BFPs :D I sent myself insane during a chemical pregnancy testing early so I promised myself I'd never test early again. The TWW is awful though especially the second half I feel

@2mumlife i can imagine on the chemical that’s awful. I just have never tested early knowing that by the OTD that what ever is on it is right. Where if it was earlier I’d be left wondering. I agree on the second half. As of tomorrow just 3 more sleeps haha.

Thanks @2mumlife grateful for your knowledge on all of this.

@charliegirl77 welcome and good luck for Monday. I really hope it's a positive for you. It's so tough going down the IVF route as it feels like the stakes are so high

@charliegirl77 hi! congrats on your transfer and very best of luck with the last days of your tww and your test on Monday. The last few days and symptom spotting and everything is so, so tough but hang in there! 💪I tested early on my last FET in Feb and swore I'll never do that again... so stressful.
That's amazing that your daughter stuck on your first FET, and I really hope it'll be the same this time xxx

@2mumlife you had me laughing at the star jumps at the scan 😅I can totally understand how it now feels real, especially once you start telling people... I loved that part of it with our son! Also can't believe you're already half way there! It feels like just a couple of months ago that this thread started and a transfer was still an idea/plan...

@Overlyanxious thank you very much! I'm on an unmedicated cycle (only progesterone) so happy to answer any questions about that, if I can 😊