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!

:)

Welcome Mind and good luck!

I am just tootling along taking my Testogel. So glad we go on holiday in a week and a half to distract me from all the waiting.

@MindatWork welcome to the group. Sorry to hear treatment and pregnancy was difficult for you. Do you have a few embryos? As you say there's a reason you've been paying it and hopefully will feel like you know more of what to expect but I'm sure it doesn't get easier, just more nerve wracking.

I have a question and would love to get people's opinion on it, regarding buying baby things. At what point will people start buying things? Or have you already spotted the odd outfit and grabbed it? I went into boots this morning and noticed the big baby sale, I quickly walked down the isle and feel like I really look forward to the point when I feel like I can safely buy this stuff. I have got a few hand-knitted blankets, breast milk pouches (new) and also nappies which I got free vouchers for so cashed in before the expiry on the voucher. I don't feel those items are too emotive but not sure about how I feel about clothing.(obviously I hope to use them all but if not I will donate to a food bank for others to benefit from)

When I was in my early 20s (now 35) I got a little t-shirt from a charity shop with a Mum and Dad in scrolls hearts, like an old sailor style tattoo.... I only parted with it last year and although it wasn't too hard by that point as I very much knew I wanted to be a SMBC now it still hurt to think back to that naive girl who thought having a baby was the simplest of things x

@ttcsolomumtobe - I think this seems to be a complete divide. I did things a little differently, admittedly.

I had a spare room and in the months prior to treatment got the odd thing here and there which sort of snowballed.. I was completely kitted out in furniture (bar carseat) when I started stims. But it was things like seeing a cot for sale for £20. The grandparents had bought new in the hope of having grandkids come stay but then covid hit and by the time they had sleepovers, the cot was outgrown in favour of a single bed. So I got a cot bed, brand new, for £20.
I also knew I'd be hunting for bargains to keep costs low so when I saw them, I couldn't help myself. I was honestly totally thrilled that I did it this way because for me I knew a lot of it would mean rushing out to collect, heavy lifting and assembly and as it turned out, I was in no fit state once I got pregnant (horrible morning sickness and then SPD!)
However it meant I could shut the door to that room and it wouldn't surround me when times got tough.
I had a little vest that I kept in the cot so when I needed a boost I could go and see it and know what all this was for.

I also had the added extra of a very young niece, so she could use the room until I was ready to bring my child home.

Then I got pregnant and couldn't bring myself to buy anything until I was around 28 weeks. Then I started adding things like nappies, cream, wipes etc to my weekly shop to get some stock up.

Managed to get so many hand me down clothes so I made boxes for each size so I could grab them out when needed. Though if you do this, be aware that they don't always grow on track. It made perfect sense for me to buy wintery stuff for 12-18 because obviously she was 12 months in September. Turns out she only just fits it now when it's scorching!

@ttcsolomumtobe I’ve not purchased anything. Been TTC 4 years now, and honestly, if this round works, I don’t see myself buying anything until I’d be past 24 weeks/point of viability. I daren’t jinx myself. I might feel better about it if it ever works and I ever get pregnant (I’ve never been pregnant) but it seems like such a massive ‘if’ at the moment, rather than a ‘when’. This probably has more to do me protecting myself though.

@Lauralozzle - This makes perfect sense and I think have have thought more along these lines if it weren't for the fact I had a child using the room and therefore it felt a bit more detached if that makes sense?

@Olivia199 & @Lauralozzle thanks for your replies.

@Olivia199 yea that makes sense when the room could be used, more as a guest room for small people ☺️ then later personalised to a nursery.

Like you I like a bargain, also really big on limiting waste and landfill, have been since I was little going carboots etc so kinda grown up with that mentality, there would definitely be some stuff I would like to buy new.

I love charity shops / clothes swap so have got the odd bit of maternity clothing very cheaply or free and put it away in storage bags, same for some of my bigger size stretch clothes from a couple of years ago.

Financially wise being single and self funding is definitely hard and have been saving along time so feel any bits I can do now that will help are worth it but definitely resisting the small baby items or anything that I think will upset me if I had to get rid.

@Lauralozzle I also have never been pregnant and absolutely understand the protection thing. Sometimes I say "when", other times "if", it's hard isn't it when you want to be so positive and hopeful yet also realistic. I think the 24 weeks onwards for starting to buy is a good thing and probably something I would take on too. A couple of my friends have had babies in the last year and it's made me realise you don't need as much stuff as you think for them, maybe that's just my being a little naive to it all as I don't wanna look into too much about pregnancy and baby requirements till I hopefully get to that point

@ttcsolomumtobe I’m definitely in the camp with @Lauralozzle and I’ve never bought anything baby related! Been TTC now over 3 years and although last two transfers have implanted it didnt feel like a real pregnancy tbh because of the outcome. I think I would be super wary of getting anything unless I was really far along as currently just seems like we have many milestones to get past!

would be amazing to get to that stage though 🥰

Im not buying anything yet either, and not for a long time.

Ive even decided that im not gonna make up the nursery until long after the baby is born. The baby will stay with me for quite a few months, so theres no need to have a proper nursery until the baby goes into their own room.

Ill just get a chest of drawers and make it into a baby changing station to start with.

Did some bloods today, to find out what my LH, estradiol and progesterone are like (day 11 of the cycle).
Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a clinic that is open on a sunday to do blood collection?!?! 😂

Tomorrow I have another scan, to check for eggs!!

@tttcsolomumtobe - finance was definitely a big thing for me too. Spreading the cost made it easier (and cheaper because I could grab a bargain!)

I totally get the other side though. I'm wondering whether I'd have been the same should it not have been for the fact I had use for the room pre-baby. As soon as I actually got pregnant, I struggled to buy anything.

Hi guys,

Quick question, hope someone has a positive answer! I’ve been having very light pale peach spotting for a few days now, but this evening, I passed a tiny watery stringy red clot type thing.

is that part of implantation? There’s only been the one, but I’m stressing out about it! Has anyone had similar?

thanks!

em

Are you on pesseries at all @IVFfirsttimer91 ?

Yes I take 4 cyclogest a day, but I take them anally as recommended by my consultant :(

@IVFfirsttimer91 - Progesterone can do all kinds of strange things to your body. It's not uncommon to have unusual discharge while on it. It could well have been implantation, or it could have been nothing at all. I know it's easier said than done but try not to stress lovely. Not long now until test day x

Thanks lovely, 6 days to go, but I’m not hopeful if I’m honest. Had another small clot this morning and some dripping blood. It was quite dark, but still. Told my partner to prepare for not good news.

@IVFfirsttimer91 I'm afraid I've lost track a bit of who is on what day post transfer! But when I was pregnant with my daughter I had spotting from 3dpt onwards that varied in colour from pale red to brown. I suspect it was implantation, but I also had spotting further down the line and I freaked out - did a lot of reading up about it and found out that it was SUPER common. I also had mild cramping which again, scared me, but like @Olivia199 said, the progesterone has a helpful way of producing these scary symptoms. I totally understand how stressful it is - the checking of your knickers every time you go to the toilet becomes absolutely exhausting. Hang in there! I found that getting to small milestones and not thinking too far ahead helped me stay a bit calmer. x

@IVFfirsttimer91 hope you're holding in there! I did have a little bleed with my last transfer, when I was pregnant with my DS.
I also bleed throughout the first trimester of my pregnancy from week 8-12. Which was very scary, as it was heavy at first. The midwife told it me it was VERY common with IVF pregnancies due to progesterone pessaries. I did go on to have a completely normal, uncomplicated pregnancy.
I know it's so worrying when it happens, but like @loulamay and @Olivia199 said, just try and take it one day at a time. I can imagine your mind will be going on overdrive, but not long until test day

@Justkeepmoving1234 - I'm another one who had big bleeds throughout the first few weeks. Beyond terrifying but she was happy and healthy!

FET ladies... sorry, TMI here but... talk to me about cervical mucus? Please? 😂
I'm assuming it's the progynova but man, it's like I'm ovulating but tenfold?!

It’s CD1 today. Stims start tomorrow, scan on Monday.

This is worse than buserelin period. It is worse than failed cycle period. I’ve been so heavy today, the pain is radiating to my hips and down my thighs. Honestly one of the worse periods ever and it usually gets worse on cd2.

But, at least we’re starting stims tomorrow!

@Olivia199 loads here too. Don't worry!

I had my first scan today - I've been injecting since last Monday. Things seem to be progressing nicely. 18 follicles so far and if things continue as they have been there will hopefully be about 9-10 eggs ready for collection on Friday

@Lauralozzle - Oh you poor thing!! I hope it eases off. Hopefully one last period to really kick you in the womb before it becomes home to a happy healthy Embie!

@AnaS86 - That's amazing news! So glad your scan went well. I've got mine tomorrow, though it's early so not expecting much other than "see you again in a few days".
Unfortunately my DD isn't feeling so great, so having some calm cuddles in bed with the little radiator.

@AnaS86 That’s great news! 9-10 eggs is a great number, fingers crossed for you.

@Olivia199 don’t know if it’s an ivf thing in general- the cm. I remember I had tons last cycle and was sure I would ovulate!!

Hope your little one feels a bit better soon.

Given how heavy it is, it better be having a bloody good clear out. I’m trying to do this without my usual pain meds, because you can only really take paracetamol in ivf cycle and I know paracetamol won’t touch it. It doesn’t touch a normal period so really there’s no point but ouch! I feel like a proper wimp right now though.

@Lauralozzle - it definitely feels excessive!

Thank you, she's fast asleep so I'm considering the ninja walk outta here. Mainly because I need a wee.

I'm sure it's having a proper clear out but it sounds so uncomfortable for you. I'm sorry it's so rough!! The lack of pain relief really does suck.