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!

:)

@TheBirdintheCave yeah that's a good idea. Is this your first successful test? How many transfers have you had? So pleased for you 😊

@wtawtaw So I have a toddler conceived naturally after 1.5 years of trying. We were just about to start our first IVF round as we found out my husband only had 13% sperm motility so it was a complete shock. Our son is now 2.5.

We started trying again when he turned one thinking it would be easier. We got pregnant twice last year but had MMCs both times at nine weeks. We decided to go for IVF rather than wait to see if it happened again and speed things up as we're 36. During this process we found out that my husband's sperm motility was now 60% (!) which is classed as normal. Another huge shock there. First IVF round was in May and we ended up with six frozen embryos as I was at risk of OHSS so they wouldn't put a fresh one back. This is our first transfer and the 'bubble' as we've been calling it is a 5AB embryo.

What's your story? :)

@TheBirdintheCave oh wow, that's really lucky you got pregnant naturally the first time with his low number. Also great that your first transfer worked too!! And you have more in the freezer should you need them. Did he do any changes to improve his sperm?

We've been trying naturally for 3 years without one sign of a pregnancy. Found out after 2 years into that that I have stage 3 endo, had that all excised. All other tests came back normal. Started our first round ivf in Jan this year but that failed and we had no frozen embryos. Had second round this month and transferred one 5AA embryo and have 6 others in the freezer - all A's and B's. Praying I'm successful this time!

Sorry, I’m finding it hard to keep up with everyone!

So lovely to see positive updates here- @TheBirdintheCave and @SH998 huge congratulations xx

@ttcsolomumtobe I’m very impatiently waiting for my period, I think it’ll be here tomorrow! Are you in the same boat?

Good luck to those going through transfers and those in the 2WW xx

@wtawtaw He had his gum disease treated finally which we think is what was causing it. The only other change we made was taking high dose vitamin D as one of my investigative blood tests came back suggesting I had very low levels of it.

Stage 3 endo sounds awful. Sorry you had to go through all of that plus a failed first round. Your second round sounds amazing though! I have everything crossed for you getting a positive with your 5AA! :D

@Caroline2023 yes... Very impatiently waiting for my period! Got all the usual dull cramps and upper thigh pain I get and have had it for the last 2 days but no sign yet! Doing that obsessive going to the loo every hour 🤣

Thank you 😊

Crazy that gum disease may have affected his sperm 🤯

@ttcsolomumtobe ah it’s so annoying isn’t it, the only time in the last 2 years that I’ve wanted my period to arrive haha!

We are exactly the same in this regard! It was my game plan last time and will be this time too!

@wtawtaw gum disease can have massive effects on female Fertility and during pregnancy too.... It's mind-blowing how people actually get pregnant with all the things to consider.

@Caroline2023 haha yes exactly.... One part of my mind is just all geared up and ready to go and get on with these injections, the other is seeing it as more chances for swims (can't swim during period as clinic advise not to use tampons during the IVF cycle just to cut down risk of infection and never tried a mooncup or anything) and classes and trying to get in a healthy place before starting but yes, never been so keen for it to arrive! Hope we both get it soon and we can be starting, seems like it's been such a long wait but lots of great outcomes on the chat to give us hope 🤞🏻

Funnily enough, very similar here too (though no partner so no sperm issues).

I had IVF and came out with 6 frozen embryos due to OHSS risk, first fet of a 5AA was successful and resulted in my daughter whos nearly two. And I've just transfered my 5AB!

I've just gotten home after transfer. That was... uncomfortable. But also lovely and they said it went really well. 5AB hatching blast transfered safe and sound!

I tried IUI before my IVF which failed, but I bought an outfit on the way home from that attempt. I did the same after my FET last time. Seeing my DD in those outfits was absolutely magical. So I decided to keep it going and bought a little set in tesco today which is adorable. Knowing that, god forbid this doesn't work, I'll hopefully see a child in it one day.

I also did the most "tell me you're potentially pregnant without telling me" shop. On the list was:

A pregnancy test.
Pantiliners (damn you pesseries!!).
An "up to one month" outfit.
Alcohol free beer for a little toast tonight.
Ginger beer for the nausea from drugs.
A huge amount of healthy food.
Pregnancy vitamins.
And the kicker:
A 12 pack of chocolate bars.

Not sure I got it past the cashier...

@Olivia199 I'm glad it wasn't too bad for you and your wee one is on board! Buying an outfit is a lovely hopeful tradition 🥰 We bought one for the pregnancy that resulted in our first MMC and it's still at the back of the cupboard. I so hope I can dress a tiny baby in it in March 😍

How old is your daughter?

@TheBirdintheCave - Thank you! Yeah, I worried it just hurt to have an outfit if it didn't work, but found it gave me more hope. And seeing my little scrunched up newborn in it, finally, after all the waiting (through covid clinic shut down etc) was just everything. So I love this little reminder.
I've everything crossed for you that the little outfit will be well loved by baby bird!

@TheBirdintheCave - Oh and my daughter is 2 in September. She just met her baby cousin for the first time and the photos are just beautiful. She's with my mum at the moment and she said she was absolutely besotted and so so gentle. Little one started crying for a feed which elicited a "oh no! Baby sad!" From my daughter. Baby was also honoured with a cuddle from my daughters favourite Teddy, who hasn't left her side since she was about 10 months!

Congrats on your transfer @Olivia199 and I love the shopping list! So important to stay positive and hopeful :)

Amazing!!! Whens your OTD???

Thats one shopping list, for sure!!!

I still havent bought alcohol free beers, but will have to.
I will also have to buy some pantyliners... Im currently using my resusable pads, but theyre not gonna last!! I dont do laundry that often!!

Yesterday I ended up buying fruit juice, as opposed to coke zero. While it doesnt seem like caffeine is that bad, in moderation, I decided to go for the juice, as it might be a bit healthier, at least for the first couple of weeks. I will be back on coke zero by the next shop!

@Walker12 - Thank you! I'm very much going into this HUGELY positive that it absolutely is going to happen. The fall may be harder if sadly it doesn't work, but I also know it's a long long time before I can afford this again. So I'll be dammed if I don't enjoy it.

@ASGIRC - OTD is 31st July! Though I've no intention to wait. Alcohol free Heineken is really nice, the bottles topped off in a pint glass with lemonade.
AF Corona is also quite nice!
Never been a fan of AF wine and for the most part I just do without. But I fancied a little toast today so decided to go for it. Especially as they're on clubcard.
There's also something really nice about coming home from those longest days and cracking open a cold beer. Alcohol or not. So I've got a few in the fridge for my remaining days at the other hospital. Which I absolutely and categorically do not want to do. In fact, I'd give a lot to not have to go back tomorrow. I just wanna stay in bed and thinking sticky thoughts!

Yeah the pantiliners definitely stop a lot of the discomfort that comes from pesserie mess. Which I very much appreciate. Though I hate them too!

Fruit juice sounds like a good shout! I limit myself to one cup of caffinated tea or coffee per day. In the morning. I only limit that far because otherwise I lose track and go through tea like no ones business. So the rest is decaf.

I drank so much Pepsi max in my last pregnancy... mistakingly thinking it didn't contain caffeine.

Thank you 😊
I'm SUPER bloated, like I look 4-6 months pregnant, we're you the same? Wondering if it's just the progesterone

@wtawtaw - Oh I'm so sorry to read of your endo struggles.
Got everything crossed for that super 5AA.

If it's any consolation. I am also insanely bloated. To the point none of my jeans fit. The progesterone did this to me last time too. I was in maternity trousers from 8 weeks because I was so uncomfortable in anything else. Stopped meds at 10 weeks and it all went away and I was comfortably back in my size 10 for a good few weeks!!

@Olivia199 loving this shopping list and buying an outfit for hope and feeling positive. I may have to do this if I feel up it after my transfer.

Feel like I have everything else stocked and ready to go... Far too egar to start ha

@Olivia199 im glad you are feeling so positive. I’m the opposite, I feel sure that it hasn’t worked and it was all for nothing. my last embryo was a 5aa and didn’t work, so how could this one that isn’t even as good work? Sorry having a bit of a low here!

@orchid29 - Oh please don't apologise, we all have low days and high days. I totally understand the fear but I've heard time and time again how people get their babies from lower quality embryos after their high quality didn't take. What grade was yours? My clinic always said that if they transfer it's because it has a good chance. The stats seem to be over 30% chance for the poor quality. It might not feel like much, but I'd consider it 1in3. Which is good enough!
Unfortunately even the best 5AA is only a 50% chance. And that 50/50 shot just sometimes doesn't go our way. It definitely doesn't mean this one won't. X

@Olivia199 I definitely need some beers in my fridge!! I have a cupboard FULL of regular beers and wine, but I wont be touching them until April (fingers crossed), so non alcoholic ones definitely need to be purchased.
And I soooo know what you mean about cracking one open at the end of a long day!

Ive never tried AF wine, and Im willing to give it a go. If its rank, then I wont bother again!

Well, Coke/Pepsi have little caffeine, when compared to coffee or tea. So you have to drink a lot more of them to get the same amount! And you can drink about 3 cups os coffee a day while pregnant, without adverse effects, so it should be fine! Unless you were literally mainlining it!! LOL

I tend to drink it at lunch, or when Im out for dinner and not drinking alcohol. So that will definitely be within the limits.

When you talk about being bloated from the progesterone... do you mean the pessaries?

Sorry youre not feeling optimistic @orchid29. How far post transfer are you now? It must be a few days. Are you planning on testing any time soon?