FET/IVF/ICSI July 2023

[Olivia199]

Hello!

Just wanted to start a thread and see if anyone was going ahead with a transfer in July.

I've just had my nurse consult and hoping to have my second FET in July (my first was successful in Jan 2021 and I had my wonderful DD).

The first time around I was of course beyond nervous, excited, terrified it wouldn't work etc. This time it feels like that's doubled! I'm a private patient so I've saved everything for this but should it fail, it'll be a long long time before I could afford to try again.

To add some nerves, I'd need to be cycle day one no later than the 6th July to go ahead, as my clinic is moving locations. I'm currently due on the 5th...! So every chance it's moved to a Sept cycle.

Would be nice to have some company!

:)

@Olivia199 someone on another board was selling leftover sets of the cheap tests. But I kinda wanna be strong!!!

Do you know what the grade of your next transfer is?

Mine is a 3AA, from double donors, so Im hoping for a positive straight away, but also bracing myself for a possible disappointment.

@wtawtaw 5AA is amazing!!! Im sure it will go well for you!!

@wtawtaw - Wow! That's so exciting!
Yes everything seems to drag. Though admittedly less so this time around. So far anyway..!

@ASGIRC - Sadly I know I am absolutely not strong enough. I also prefer the slow let down rather than a shock on test day. So I'm just embracing it!

Oh that's amazing! Got everything crossed for you.
I've got no idea. I know it's a top grade embryo, and I know only one of mine was 5AA. So I think it might be a 5AB? Or 5BA? Unsure. I'm going to have to dig out the paperwork!

@Olivia199 yeah, I get you on the "slow let down".
Like I said... im very undecided!!
How long after the transfer can you test for a positive?

Also, there is also the possibility of me doing ovitrelle, which can give false positives if done too soon. Ive seen reccs for not testing anywhere between 7 to 14 days after the injection...

Wow so much to catch up on from last 2 days.

@wtawtaw welcome!

@Lauralozzle hope the pain has eased and stims starting goes okay.

@ASGIRC exciting to hear progress for you and hope you are feeling okay with things.

@Olivia199 that's so exciting that you found out about transfer day when you wasn't expecting anything.

@AnaS86 @ASGIRC @Olivia199 thats so exciting that you are all so close with your transfer day and love the hype around testing. My clinic sent me a pregnancy test with my meds, it's a Clearblue blue dye one which I've only heard terrible things about tbf so will likely get some FRER ones but atleast try hold out past the trigger getting out my system.

I'm tracking ovulation and it seems to be later this month, which makes everything drag as so egar to get started but think the extra few days will work better with time I have off around OTD. Apart from that just staying busy giving the house a deep clean and organising lots so I don't have as much to do. Guna do some healthy meal prep too this week so I have lots of yummy meals and try not to avoid dashing to the shop when I feel the slight bit hormonal ha.

Has anyone gained weigh before starting their treatment and do you know how much of the med is calculated based on weight/BMI. I've gained 6lb since my appointment where they took my weight... Worry incase it impacts my outcome but being realistic if I can stick to healthy stuff will hopefully shift most of it before starting meds

@ttcsolomumtobe Thank you. Yes pain much better today. It’s normal today!

I’ve gained quite a bit of weight. It’s just hard, and then there’s emotional eating…

First Stims injections done tonight. Not too bad at all.

@ASGIRC - Ah yes I've heard the trigger issue. I didn't do a trigger or a fresh cycle so I've never had that problem. I tested VERY weakly positive in the evening of 4DPT. Then drank lots overnight and tested negative the following morning.. which was unfortunate.
Soon turned positive again though!

@ttcsolomumtobe - Wow that's super prepared! Well done! I need to do some cleaning and tidying, I've got one hell of a two weeks coming up with transfer now towards the beginning of that. I'm on annual leave at the moment so if little is well enough for nursery tomorrow I'll have a day to crack on.

I'm absolutely certain that 6lb, especially gained through and on the lead up to treatment, really won't make any difference! You're eating well and you're absolutely fine. The meds will do that to you anyway!

@Lauralozzle - so glad you're feeling better and congrats on first stim! You've got this!

@ASGIRC I would check the leaflet of the trigger you get for guidance on how long it stays in your system, I looked at one of the online leaflets for mine and think it says 10 days so I will likely test after that. My clinics OTD is 16 days after transfer which others agreed seems a long wait.

@Olivia199 hope your little one is better so it gives you the day to yourself, whether that be that you crack on with housework or have some winddown time before the manic 2 weeks ahead.

And yea, I may seem organised but it's almost like a coping mechanism, like you I like a plan and things to run to plan 😂 when things dont, especially over something so important like this it can knock me so feel like I'm getting what I can done out the way now or plans in place for any barriers I may face.
Have a few lists on the go, pre IVF/during IVF and will likely set up some kinda spreadsheet to keep track of my treatment/medication and even the basics such as good self care. My clinic has also provided a helpful booklet for filling in how appointments went/info from scans etc.
Feel like my approach to IVF is almost business like, sounds strange I know but when emotions start to come into it my head can quickly catastrophes it so hoping having these will help me bring it into focus and remind me "I got this! 💪deep breath! "

@Lauralozzle glad your first injection was okay and yea emotional eating can defo be my downfall. Trying to remind myself too be kind during the harder times too.

@ttcsolomumtobe yeah, I will.
Not sure I will actually need the trigger, though, I'll find out tomorrow after the scan. If I do, I will have it tomorrow, anyway, and my transfer will be a week later.

I don't have any cleaning to do, so will need life itself to keep me occupied.

I'm also not telling anyone the transfer is happening next week.
While everyone, and their dog, knows I'm having a baby on my own, via donors, I don't want anyone to know when it's happening, so that I don't have their anxiety on top of mine.

So you guys are gonna be my outlet foe the next couple of weeks.

It's even hard trying to disguise my lack of drinking and smoking, which I've started, in prep.
With family, I've managed to "blame" the not drinking on having work after (though that has never stopped me before), or having just a little bit.

Today was out with friends and had a couple of beers, which tasted amazing, and had to answer no questions!
A few days ago I asked for a non alcoholic beer at my local and nearly had a full blown police interrogation, they were so shocked 🤣🤣🤣🤣

@ASGIRC I agree on the not telling people, same as you people know I'm hoping to have a baby by IVF but the dates and finer details are not being discussed apart from with a friend who will pick me up from sedation and my Dad, because I need him to not be stressful and if I turn into an emotional wreck then he knows why. He has recently located near me from 250 miles away so we are still getting used to seeing each other often and finding our routine. (Would see him once a month for last few years and about 3 times a year for the 13 before that).

During IUI I was telling all my closest friends but exactly as you said it was just hard having their anxiety on top of mine.

We can defo be your outlet and it's nice having people like on this group who understand more of it and can familiarise with the process.

Bet that was so nice! It's strange how pubs find it odd that people ask for non alcoholic drinks even though they sell them 😂 I feel luck that alcohol is something that's never bothered me, think I've had about 3 alcoholic drinks in the last 15months and always made sure they have been amazing cocktails or a cider on a hot summers day but do imagine it can be a sure give away for anyone who is super social when they change to non alcoholic.

@ttcsolomumtobe I told people it was likely to happen after May. So obviously, people keep asking me whats happening. I tell them things are ongoing, without giving any details.

I told my mom about the embryo, but not when things would happen.

On sunday, when I had my bloods, I took off the plaster they put on my arm as I was meeting family for lunch and didnt want questions about what that was about.

I will probably tell my mom after the official test, as when I told her I would be keeping things hush hush, she expressed disappointment that I wouldnt share with her.
Obvioulsy she said she wouldnt put any anxiety on me, but thats easier said than done! So she ll be the first one to know (in real life, you guys will probably know before!), and then tell the rest of the close family after the first proper scan. Rest of the world, probably after the 20 week scan!

@ASGIRC yes, after May/into June was my date too. One of my best friends unexpectedly fell pregnant last year and I wanted to wait till she had her baby (and till nicer weather arrived) to start IVF just so I didn't run the risk of me testing negative and her baby arriving and it being harder.

Bless your Mum, Yea no-one would want to add extra anxiety but even the fact of them knowing and IVF feeling all consuming is a pressure in itself. I've just said to friends that I may have some busy weeks coming up across next few months due to work and "other things" so will catch up when I can, decided I'm not putting the pressure on myself to be a super social one when all of this is going on. It's getting that right balance of occupied and seeing people but giving yourself the space and time to digest what's going on as it is. For my first 2 IUIs I think I was just in denial that it didn't work and you are kinda straight back into it without any time to reflect so the 3rd one really did me over.

Sounds like you have it clear in your mind around the right time for you which is good 😊

@ttcsolomumtobe haha for me is the avoidance of a Christmas baby! There is nothing I would hate more than to have a Christmas baby! It would be one thing if I was getting pregnant naturally, but if Im planning it? Im "choosing" my due date!

Some friends know loosely it is happening now-ish. But not in detail enough to ask me for dates or anything.

I work shifts, so my social life is impacted by it. Which also means I can be "busy" if I just want to not be available.

I do have a girls weekend planned in what I imagine will be days after my test day. If all is well I shall celebrate with them, with many mocktails/alcohol free beer! Or, if its negative, I wont mention it at all and just have regular beers and cocktails.

@ASGIRC may I ask why the avoidance of a Christmas baby? 😂 No judgement, just genuinely curious! And yes if it can be planned then defo use it to your advantage. I do feel Christmas could be a hectic time to be in hospitals and having someone not drink as a designated driver etc or the weather depending where you are based.

I remember my friend flipping out that if her baby was late it would be a Gemini and she didn't like Geminis, the comment angered me so much cause when you are trying and having fails and it's costing you thousands you would not care what the star sign of your child is to end up with a health baby 😂 turn out she was 2 and half weeks over!

I think if I was going to avoid a due date it would be January, because I was born in January and remember presents being Xmas sale stuff or people being too skint ha such a silly reason I know! Don't care as an adult as birthday money buys more now, but remember asking to change my birthday to June as a kid 🤦🏻‍♀️

You seem to be taking it all really well which is wonderful 🩷 nice that you have that break away to look forward to. I have the week after my expected OTD off work and then 2 weeks later a 4 day break away by myself so that will be good too to process whatever the outcome is and just do some nice things that are not IVF related.

@ttcsolomumtobe Ha! Im also a january baby, but that has never been a problem to me! My birthday was far enough away from christmas that is was never really an issue... it is only as Im older that is is, as friends are always skint!!

The Christmas baby avoidance is that I REALLY REALLY REALLY LOVEEEEEEE Christmas. And i cannot think of anything worse than spending the msot wonderful time of the year in hospital, even if it is having my beautiful baby.
I wouldnt mind having a baby a week before or after Christmas. But thats really impossible to plan, so I want a due date that is not in any way close to mid/late December!
That means nothing after end of November or earlier than February!

I know it probably sounds OTT, but I just feel very strongly about this. And again, Im able to choose when I do treatments.

@ASGIRC haha yes, December to January pay month is for sure the longest, defo don't realise these things when kids.

Christmas is a wonderful time so totally get your thinking there, I love the lead up to it, going to Xmas markets so would probably be gutted if too heavily pregnant to be in the mood to do that. No definitely doesn't sound OTT and as I say, no judgement on it at all 🩷

Think the IVF process makes you consider things you wouldn't under normal circumstances, no matter how big or small they may seem to others, if it's something you feel strongly about then it's important that you work around it as much as you can and for you it's a fairly easy one because of being able to pick treatment date

@ttcsolomumtobe I also want to avoid being heavily pregnant in the summer!!
I'm not in the UK. I'm in a Med country. Summers are HOT!
I already imagine that I'm gonna hate being pregnant as it is.
Being pregnant in 40 degree heat seems like too much!!

So I'm really banking on this time frame! I'd go for up to a September cycle, I think.
And then stop all play until April 🤣🤣

BUT! I'm so optimistic! I really feel like it's gonna work out straight away. And if it doesn't, there's a couple more months to try it, before the hiatus!

@ASGIRC you do have quite a set window of time, but great that your optimistic for this cycle and fingers crossed it all does go to plan especially with the great grade embryo you have.

It's good that if it doesn't that you are willing to take the 6 month break, as you would likely want some time for yourself aswell.

So many things to consider isn't there!

So I caved and tested early…. Day 9 today…. Hoping this isn’t an evap line!

So turns out my period arrives if I wear a white dress and white pants 😂I'm happy though (but at least my dress didn't get ruined!) the nurses confirmed this morning when to start taking the ovulation tests 🤗

@Ellenn thats exciting!!!! Sorry about your dress though! Glad it’s not ruined. Mine always seems to come for me in the middle of the night!

Looks promising IVF congrats!

@ttcsolomumtobe If it doesn't work this time (though I'm sure it will), I'd have 2 more cycles to try, but it also depends on whether the clinic would have an embryo for me, as I'm using donated ones.

@IVFfirsttimer91 that looks like a positive! Did you check it within the specified time frame??