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!

:)

@ttcsolomumtobe ugh! Mortgage is stressing me out! Im in Portugal, where our mortgages and interest rates are bound to the Central European Bank and the Euribor.
My mortgage was on the 12 month Euribor, which means that it is fixed for 12 months, and updated on the 13th month. When I first got it, Euribor was negative, so my mortgage was really low. It increased by 56% last year, and Im due another increase soon, as Euribor keeps on rising.
At my original payment, Id have zero issues affording everything. Now its becoming a bit tighter!
However, I will be remortgaging soon, and hopefully keep the rate Im on now for a while longer, on a fixed.

I too put money away every single month into my "Baby fund" savings account. So Ive been toping it up, and will continue to do so, as babies cost money, even after conception!!!

I have no idea, re spotting after ovulation, because I have never ever noticed my ovulation before. Mostly because I was on the pill for about a 1000 years, so no ovulation to speak of! But didnt notice anything last month when I was already off it.

Fingers crossed your period comes sooner, rather than later, so you can finally start!!!

Hahah yeah, youll definitely need the liners! I didnt put one on last night, as I figured since I was gonna be lying down it would be fine, but woke up in the middle of the night to leakage and put one on then!

Funnily enough, noticing a lot less leakage with the morning ones, so far (I am now at work, having walked here as well)

@ASGIRC the mortgage, well interest situation is ridiculous really. I hope you manage to get it fixed and atleast have peace of mind for a while. I was lucky at getting a 5 year fixed but know it could go up with a bang after that.

I really need to get a new car and have money in saves but see it as "baby fund" so just keep paying the little repairs hoping it will keep bigger costs or replacing it at bay 😂 would want a new one when I have a baby due to mine just being 3 doors.

In Portugal do you have good maternity leave policies? If it's something you have looked into, I didn't wanna look but my Manager sent mine when I did IUIs last year.

Ah fair dos, glad the bleeding has stopped, hopefully transfer day will come quickly for you.

Yea, I feel prepared whether my period arrive now or end of next week but would be nice to try started!!

I hope your working day goes well and it is a good distraction.

Hi everyone, it was my OTD today, and after a good result earlier this week, followed by a non existent one the day after, my Clearblue digital confirmed this morning that I am pregnant and 2-3 weeks, so by the NHS definition that’s 4-5 weeks along. Got to wait for Monday for my hcg test now, praying that it’s not going to be a chemical, but from what I’ve read about Clearblue to get the 2-3 week result my hcg urine levels have to be above 153.

My first transfer when I tested using Clearblue I got ‘pregnant 1-2 weeks’ so I’m feeling positive that at least my hcg levels are further along than last time!!

hope everyone is having a good day!

@IVFfirsttimer91 congratulations! That's such wonderful news, glad you have got the 2-3 weeks showing and hopefully all continues well for you x

@ttcsolomumtobe I dont have a car. I am gonna try to NOT get a car! Not sure how feaseable that is, but I do live in a major city, with a metro just minutes away from home. And I like not having to worry about a car (I do have access to a car, if I need to!)

As for maternity... its not great, but itisnt horrible. 4 months full pay, or 5 months at 80%. But, since last year, nursery is free for everyone (if you get a spot, which can be the tricky bit)
Im hoping that, since I am hopefully having an April baby, that I manage to get a spot in nursery for September, which is when kids move up! I might have to work in August, but its my moms usual holiday month, so hoping she might be able to help. But well see how everything goes.

@IVFfirsttimer91 OMG amazing!!!! Thats really great news!! You had your test today and you only get your result on monday? That sounds a bit like a long time... why not test on Monday then? I would be going crazy with that wait!

but CONGRATS!!

Thanks guys!! We are so happy about it. Trying to contain it until we are given the all clear hopefully on Monday after the HCG though. But it’s hard not to be excited xxx

@IVFfirsttimer91 That’s excellent news!!! Congratulations 🎉

@ASGIRC yes a car is defo an extra cost and sometimes stress so if you don't need it and feel you can manage with public transport then that's good, and nice you have access if needed.

Would you be due to return to work after the 4/5 months then or can you extend but it's unpaid?
Think I get full salary for 9 weeks and then stat mat pay which is £172 a week that will take me up to 9 months. Would be hoping to take the year off in total.

@ttcsolomumtobe I would have to return to work then. Unless I used AL on the back of Mat leave.
I wouldnt really be able to afford to not be paid!

172 a week is really not a lot!!! Have you been saving for that as well?

@IVFfirsttimer91 you deserve to be excited!! This is very exciting news!!!

Im sure your hCG test will confirm the pregnancy. And then when do you think youll have your first scan?

@ASGIRC Yea, I can tag AL onto maternity but I think I'd probably wanna keep it to have more extra days through the year and cut down on childcare costs.

Well I hope and pray the IVF won't take all my savings 🤞 and will then have some to cover the extra time off. I will be entitled to some benefit support aswell I believe, not alot when on Stat mat but would when on no income. Do you have state pensions in Portugal?

Otherwise I've been doing little bits to try help, so I have some top up shopping vouchers for the main supermarkets that I add money to each month, they have around £500 at the moment, hoping to get to £1000 as this would hopefully cover food shopping and baby supplies for the 3 months unpaid period.

Also when I got a pay increase and a bit of a backpay I stocked up on a year's worth of toiletries/washing tabs/dishwasher tabs so each month I put money aside what I'm not spending it on that and when they start to run low will do another big shop. These probably sound like little silly things really but if I know I have them I will feel much calmer. Plus in the UK (and probably everywhere in the world) the general shopping costs have gone up so much so I tend to keep a look out for my products being on offer or they are on sale due to a change in package and replenish my stock up then.

@ttcsolomumtobe Doesnt sound silly at all!!!

In Portugal you get a meal subsidy, tax free, paid on a specific card, that can be used in restaurants and supermarkets. Im hoping to not spend much on that in the next few months, as I wont be getting it while on mat leave (because you only receive it for days worked), and it means I will have enough to buy food, nappies, formula, whatever! I should have easily more than 1k by the time the baby is born, if Im careful with spending on it.

We do have state pension. Our NI payment is also our pension, as well as subsidising our NHS. And in fact, it is Social Security who pays your Mat Leave (or any leave) here in Portugal, as opposed to your employer.

Stocking up on things also sounds like a good idea. Ive currently subscribed to laudry detergent sheets. I dont do a lot of laundry right now, but hoping to stock up on those, and then cancel when I have a fair amount, a hopefully that will see me through mat leave, as well, as I imagine with baby I will be doing loads more laundry (also, Im thinking about going for reusable nappies, so more laundry!)

@ASGIRC that meal subsidy is such a good idea (just googled it) and great that it can be used for others things too, as you say it will be a big help.

Apart from buying baby things (I have nappies but they were from free vouchers that needed cashing in by end of June) I'm willing to do whatever I need to to try get ahead and help give myself an easier maternity period.

I'm wise with money to the point that I don't have to worry if I need to buy something for the house or want to go away for a weekend but also I think being single, having that financial independence and self made security just makes you even more determined not to lose it or ever have to struggle again and wouldn't want to bring a baby into a situation where money was a struggle

Congratulations @IVFfirsttimer91wonderful news, really hope the blood test confirms and puts your mind at ease.

Just catching on on the thread, so many updates- hope everyone is doing OK. I am day 11 of stims today (but 10 doses as it's an evening one) and hoping at my scan today they might confirm our trigger tonight, at my last scan things were going in the right direction. However reading others' experiences here I realise there are no guarantees. Sending lots of good wishes to everyone.

I had my first transfer (an FET) on Friday and am already totally convinced it hasn't worked :( Does/did anyone else feel this way?

I'll start testing from Tuesday I think as that's the equivalent of 9dpo. If I don't have a positive by Thursday I can safely rule myself out. Not sure why they make us wait so long to test 🙄 It's not like IVF can make implantation after 12dpo viable 🤷🏻‍♀️

@ASGIRC my first scan would be around the 7th - 14th august mark I think, which is super exciting!

@TheBirdintheCave i 100% thought mine hadn’t worked, had bleeding, some clots, no symptoms at all really, don’t give up! You may be suprised xx

Got a call this morning to say that our 2 embryos have progressed to day 2 and are sitting at 4 cells and look good quality. Praying they keep going!! This has been the worst part by far for me, I’ve been ill since finding out yesterday only 2 fertilised from 13 mature eggs, terrified what todays call would bring. The next few days will be the same I imagine but trying to hold onto hope from todays call!

That's amazing news @21C
I am keeping everything crossed they keep going! Xx

@Jellyfish1956 thank you!! So grateful for groups like this that provide an outlet and you know everyone understands how you are feeling, it’s a godsend x

@21C great News! Im keeping everything crossed for you!

Sorry I checked out a bit there guys, busy few days! I'm so sorry to hear of the stresses @21C, it's such a tough road and just when you think you're on the up there's another hurdle. So so pleased to hear positive news on your two though! That's so amazing and I have everything in the world crossed for you!

HUGE congratulations @IVFfirsttimer91, what wonderful news!! Not long until your bloods now but sounds like you're well on your way with a 2-3 weeks on CBD.

@Raleighx - I hope you're doing okay. It is all so so overwhelming. Sending lots of luck your way!

@IVFfirsttimer91 amazing news - congrats on your BFP!

@21C so pleased that they are progressing. I know exactly how you feel I’ve felt sick waiting for the dreaded calls.

Got our day 3 update call from the embryologist today. Out of 4 - 2 are very good quality and 2 are average. Transfer is booked in for Tuesday. Just praying they make it until then and there’s something to transfer. She said it would be really rare there wouldn’t be (around 5% chance) but it could still happen if they stop developing. For some reason my clinic only do day 5 transfers even if you only have a few. So they will call on Tuesday morning if there’s nothing to transfer.

Anyone know what the chances of the average ones making it are? Not holding out much hope but even if I have 2 I’ll be over the moon. We’ve definitely beat the odds getting this far considering my egg collection was almost cancelled.

@IVFfirsttimer91 That's good to hear. And congratulations! :)