IUI & Fertility in SSC

[solanks]

Hi everyone,

I've struggled to find any groups that are focussed specifically on same sex couples trying to conceive (that do not have any fertility issues).

My partner and I are currently on round three of IUI using donor sperm. The first two tries we did we attempted the natural route (so no medication and no ovulation trigger injection). We decided to go down the medicated route on our third try and are currently in the two week wait, waiting for our results today!

This whole process has been emotionally, physically and financially challenging, so much more than we ever expected, and we would love to hear from other same sex couples on this topic who are in a similar situation to ours. We want to exchange stories, offer each other support, give advice and also recommendations (as there is so much conflicting information out there and each clinic's protocols vary too, which we found bizarre).

Looking forward to hearing your stories; be they successful, unsuccessful, or even if you are completely new to this journey ✨

@Quickdraw23 thank you so much for your reply, I really appreciate it, and it’s really reassuring to know you had success on your fourth transfer - that gives me hope. Massive congratulations on your pregnancy! That’s so wonderful, especially after it being quite a long process for you from the sound of it. That’s interesting you had blood tests for clotting issues, my dr hasn’t mentioned that so I’ll ask about it. I’m a similar age to you, I’m 34 at the moment and my wife was 34 when we made the first batch of her embryos. We’re just about to go into another egg collection for her but she’s about to turn 37 now, hoping it won’t impact too much how many eggs we get… and hoping for quality over quantity!
Our consultant has also referred me for a biopsy of my uterine lining, so it’ll be interesting if that shows anything.

@strawberrylaces12 thank you so much! Following our meeting with our consultant last week we’ve decided to go for PGT-A testing this time on his recommendation. It’s painfully expensive, but will hopefully avoid any further transfers with embryos that don’t have a chance. I’m just scared now that there won’t be any at the end of the it! We’ll be starting stims next week if all goes to plan.
And congrats on your second transfer working!

Good morning, everyone!

I can't believe how quickly time has flown—it’s been a while since I last checked in! I’ve just been catching up and reading all of your messages.

A warm welcome to you @Sunnydaysahead1, and thank you for sharing your journey with us. I hope your recent egg collection went ok? I wanted to ask if you have had any tests to check your vitamin D levels?

How’s everyone else getting on with their journeys? ✨

Our little girl will be eight weeks old on Tuesday—seriously, where has the time gone?! I’m not sure when I last posted, but our elective c-section ended up getting pushed back, so she arrived on 31st December instead, weighing 7lbs 5oz. We were initially really upset since we had mentally prepared for the original date, but the hospital had an influx of emergencies, so we completely understood.

The procedure itself and the aftercare we received were absolutely incredible. My partner has also healed really well, which is great—especially since my sister’s recovery took longer after her emergency c-section.

Baby girl is doing wonderfully and is in good health.

Lots of love to you all. X

That's a lovely update @solanks Congratulations!
Sorry things are difficult for you @Sunnydaysahead1 , I know we were very lucky having things work first time.
I've had my 20 week scan now, after a scare with pain and bleeding last week. All is well which is lovely. We've got a second hand birth registry sorted and am now trying to figure out which car seat to get. But the car is on its last legs, so we will likely need a new one sooner rather than later (garage has said it isn't worth fixing once it properly goes].

Aww congratulations that's so lovely to hear 🥰

@Sunnydaysahead1 that sounds like a good plan with the testing. Fingers crossed you have a good outcome as I suppose it's better to know than transfer ones that would never have been successful? Wishing you so much luck with it all 😊

Just catching up with this thread @solanks congratulations on the birth of your baby girl and welcome @Sunnydaysahead1

How is everyone else doing? @strawberrylaces12 @Quickdraw23 and @rivierliedje how far along are you all now?

We are 29 weeks, and I am booked in for a maternal request C-Section at 39 weeks so the 10 week count down begins!

xx

@Twomumfamily A real countdown! How did you decide to go with a section?
I'm 26 weeks now and all seems fine. Had a bit of a scare a month ago and ended up admitted to maternity for observation but all was okay thankfully. Currently in full on research mode for carseats and cloth nappies.

@rivierliedje Oh gosh that must have been scary, I am glad everything was okay. I have quite bad health anxiety and felt a C-Section was the best option for me. It was easily approved by my care team which was a relief as I was worried I would have to fight!

We have mostly purchased everything now, we went for the Joie Babyi-Spin Safe i-Size Car Seat as it's Swedish plus tested and I will be a very new driver when he's here! It isn't pushchair compatible though so that is a downside. x

@Twomumfamily That makes a lot of sense. I'm glad you didn't have to push for it.

I'm hoping the car seat will fit on the pushchair and also on to the bike adaptor, which is complicating the search a bit.

All good here, thank you! I'm 20 weeks tomorrow (although measuring a bit ahead at each scan). Had the 20 week scan this morning which went well and everything is looking good 🥰

Wow how exciting! Have you been getting stuff ready? 😊 xx

Thanks for touching base @Twomumfamily

so pleased to hear of everyone’s updates!

I am 33 weeks tomorrow, so on the countdown now. Feeling very ready for mat leave, I’m getting quite tired at work now.

we had a 32 week scan yesterday and had a bit of a shock as the baby is measuring really big, above 99 percentile big. So I’m being sent for a gestational diabetes test and will have another scan at 36 weeks to assess and discuss options, which is a little stressful.

It was a bit of a shock as my bump isn’t measuring big, I haven’t particularly gained a lot of weight and I don’t even look pregnant from behind, so I just wasn’t expecting it. I felt disappointed yesterday that I will likely have to be consultant led rather than go to the lovely homely midwife led unit, but I’m trying to keep things in perspective as I’m lucky to have access to care that gives me management options etc and the baby is otherwise well, so I have to be thankful for that!

Just wanted to update, now we've told family and close friends, that we found out a couple of weeks ago at the 20 week scan that we're having a boy 🥰 I started feeling little kicks within a couple of days of the 20 week scan and then the last few days they've been even stronger and more frequent, so exciting!

How is everyone getting on? 😊

I hope all sorts itself out for you. Scans are notorioulsy bad at measuring how big a babt is near the end of pregnancy. They have quite a large margin of error.

Congratulations @strawberrylaces12 . Did you have a feeling beforehand or was it a surprise?

I was convinced it was a boy from the start, like from 5-6 weeks! Although of course it's a 50/50 chance. I'd said it so often to family that I think they were all also expecting it to be a boy 😂 obviously we would have been thrilled either way!

How are you getting on? 😊

How is everyone getting on? 🥰

I'm now coming up to 30 weeks pregnant and we've just bought the pram and cot etc. eek! Baby boy is very active and I'm feeling so much movement throughout the day which is lovely 😊

Oh @strawberrylaces12 thats so exciting!! How are you feeling? That’s so lovely you’ve bought the pram and cot etc, must make it all feel so real!

My period is due this week and I’ll then be going into my fourth FET, hoping this is finally the one! I had a laparoscopy to remove quite a lot of endometriosis in April, so I’m hoping I’m in a better position now. Dreading the 2ww though 😭

How is everyone else doing?

Thank you! Yeah I'm feeling really excited. Very tired currently not helped by low iron but all worth it of course! 😊 got some antenatal classes coming up soon which I'm hoping will make me feel more informed and prepared especially around birthing because I don't feel like I know a lot yet 😅 although currently living in ignorance is bliss 😂

Ooh good luck for your FET! How are you feeling about it? Fingers crossed the laparoscopy will have helped! The tww is horrible, definitely try and have some nice distractions planned in if you can x

@strawberrylaces12 So fun to have got some bits and bobs in.

@Sunnydaysahead1 Good luck with your FET! I hope all goes well.

I'm almost 36 weeks now and am in full nesting mode. I've never done more cleaning! I'm slowly wrapping up at work as well, as I have some annual leave to take before maternity leave. We're getting a delivery of most of our baby things next week, so looking forward to that and then hopefully on to putting everything up, washing and storing clothes and cloth nappies ready to use. And antenatal classes coming up soon as well.

Ooh so exciting!! How are you feeling about it all? Not long now 🥰

Hello everyone!

I hope you are all doing okay in this heat!

Our son was born on Sat 7 June by elective C-Section at 39+1 - genuinely cannot believe he is here.

The birth was wonderful and calm and I am two weeks out and feel pretty well recovered (just very tired aha).

We are settling into the sleepless nights and getting used to be Mummies slowly, obviously obsessed with him.

Good luck @Sunnydaysahead1 for your next transfer, we are rooting for you!

@rivierliedje and @strawberrylaces12 I hope you are doing okay in this heat! It must be a lot being pregnant.

@Quickdraw23 How are you getting on?

I have been reading back over this thread and it’s been so lovely to see how far we have all come - what a journey.

I know this is an anonymous forum, but you all have been such a supportive place during this journey I was wondering if anyone would be up for a meet up at the end of Summer. We are London based (unsure where you all are), it would be lovely to meet you all and the babies IRL.

Let me know if anyone is up for it and I can make a WhatsApp group maybe?

Obviously completely understand if anyone isn’t keen though of course.

xx

Awww congratulations!! So glad to hear all went well and is going well. Any tips for surviving the first couple if weeks of parenthood? 😅

I'd definitely be up for joining a WhatsApp group! But I think in terms of timing for meeting up end of summer may be too soon for me as I'm due mid August (assuming he's on time!) but would be up for a future meet up. We're Midlands based so not ridiculously far but still travel to consider if it was a London meet up, I assume that's often a good place for many. But yeah I'll message you my number anyway if we are having a WhatsApp group I'd love to join or even just to message in general xx

Edit: oh yes and the heat hasn't been great. Have felt quite uncomfortable but thankfully we were on holiday this weekend by the coast so the sea breeze did help at times. But I finally got swollen pregnancy feet and ankles due to the heat! Thankfully they are going down a bit now with it getting cooler. I just drank plenty of water and kept moving when I could!

Congratulations on the birth of your son, @Twomumfamily🥹✨ Glad to hear that the birth went well and that you are both adjusting ok 💜

I would love a meet up and think this is a wonderful idea. Happy to be added into a WhatsApp group too! X

Huge congratulations @Twomumfamily! It’s such wonderful news, I’m so happy for you!

And thank you - transfer is tomorrow eek! Currently riding the rollercoaster of hope and dread 😅

I’d also be up for a WhatsApp group and a meet up, that’s a really lovely idea ❤️

@strawberrylaces12 oh wow not long to go, that’s so exciting! I hope you can keep as comfortable as possible in this heat, how are you doing?

@Twomumfamily Congratulations! How lovely that you are feeling well and all is going well for you and baby.

I'm home from work now and I'm feeling both very overwhelmed with the things that still need doing and also at a loss to actually do them! I'll be 39 weeks tomorrow and am not ready.
The heat isn't helping the swollen feet, but otherwise doing well.

I would be interested in a meet up, but don't live in the UK, London would very easy to get to but it would be for a proper trip rather than a daytrip, but on maternity leave, this could definitly be arranged and we have people we could stay with and visit.

How are you getting on? 😊 xx