FET in November

[IVFgothope]

We're planning on having our first FET in November. Anyone else as well?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on natural vs medicated. My clinic prefers medicated but I'd rather take the least amount of hormones. Succes rates seem to be similar.

For context, after the stimulation phase 22 eggs were collected of which 16 were mature and I did a share program in which they were equally divided. So I received 8 mature eggs and 4 fertilised of which we got 3 embryos. As I was at a risk of developing overstimulation, the embryos were frozen. That's been a huge relief and I hope I can help someone else as well.

As I'm sure many of you have experienced, it's been challenging to get through the first stage. I've had quite a lot of physical and mental side effects. Does anyone else still feel bad a week after egg collection?

@Elkly88 thank you! We're travelling abroad to see family; I checked and in Belgium and the Netherlands they're more conservative and do scans from 8 weeks.

Good question; there used to be a dedicated website called nhs choices but they've merged it with the main website now. See for example: www.nhs.uk/services/hospital/king-s-college-hospital/RJZ01/ratings-and-reviews

The problem is that people mostly either have a very positive or negative experience. It's hard to decide based on those reviews. There is more nhs patient survey data that I need to look into.

@Elkly88 forgot to say that you can also read the reports on the cqc website, I find them really interesting.

Thanks for that link @IVFgothope ! And how lovely to be visiting family for a bit. Its so nice to have a change of scenery after all the ivf stress.

@S1234P you're right, and worrying won't change the outcome (says the rational part of my brain). If/when we do this again I really don't want to do quite as much testing.

@S1234P thank you for the information and your experiences. That's really good to know. At least I know to try not worry too much if the early scan doesn't show a heart beat.

My local hospital asks for a GP referral - as they're well known I think they're struggling so they're trying to limit numbers a bit. With the London hospitals I've seen the intake forms. Didn't know some do parent days!

Hello everyone, how are you doing?

My symptoms feel like they've hugely lessened and I'm freaking out a bit! I usually feel nauseous and it didn't really feel it last night or today. I also think I'm feeling a bit crampy.

I am 7dp5dt and got a BFN. Do you think it is too early or should I just give up on this one? :(
My OTD is meant to be Tuesday.

Hi Ladies 👋 Works been mental and I've not managed to log on for a couple of days, so just trying to catch up now.

It's really hard to say @Ccp7 . FET's can be a lot later to implant than a fresh cycle or a naturally conceived embryo, so it could still be too soon. When's your OTD?

@S1234P mine come and go too. The same happened in my pregnancy with DS, so it's not necessarily a bad sign. And it's not long until your scan now! Have you got anything nice planned to distract yourself?

@LuckyPineapple , I was thinking of you and hoping that your scan went OK? 🙏🏻

@BambiOnIce80 it’s meant to be Tuesday 12th so in 5 days time..

@Ccp7 keeping my fingers crossed for you. Agree with @BambiOnIce80 that 7 days can be too early.

@S1234P as @BambiOnIce80 said, symptoms come and go. Hope your scan goes well

@BambiOnIce80 how are you feeling? Hope you can keep yourself distracted before your scan.

I'm doing OK @IVFgothope , thank you 😊 Works been super busy, so that's kept my mind from getting to obsessed with symptoms (or lack there of!). I've got a reasonably busy weekend planned too, so next Friday's scan might roll around before I know it 🤞🏻 I've just got to get through dinner with friends Saturday night whilst not drinking and avoiding all the non pregnancy friendly foods on the menu without raising suspicion! 🤦🏻‍♀️

How are you doing? Have you made any progress with choosing where you're going to book for your antenatal care?

It’s good you’re keeping busy @BambiOnIce80! I feel your pain trying not to raise suspicions; my friends suggested going for drinks Friday nights and since I usually drink I think it’ll be too awkward. Also I’m pretty exhausted. Have you told anyone yet?

I’ve decided to try my local services first. Despite the ‘require improvement’ rating, I’ve read many people really liking the midwives and hospital. The travel to London will be a pain, especially with nausea and fatigue. I can always change later on. I’ve booked a 6w4d scan at ultrasound direct so that I have something before Xmas.

@BambiOnIce80 Ah thanks. The scan went well. Everything was there that should be there and we got to see baby's heart beating 💓. Although I am measuring one week behind which has given me real anxiety. The nurse didn't seem too worried about this, but that didn't settle me. Despite seeing the little heart beating my clinic likes to be able to hear the heart rate so I've to go back in 2 weeks as baby was too small to hear it this time.

It sounds like you've been kept busy with work, which can sometimes be a good thing. A good distraction. I fell down the Google rabbit hole last couple of days. It did not help one bit! Time will fly in for your upcoming scan! Fingers crossed for you 🤞🏻

Sorry to hear your scan caused anxiety @LuckyPineapple but it's wonderful that you got to hear the heart beat 💓 I hope your next scan will be more reassuring.

I asked my clinic about the Covid booster and my clinician said not to take it until at least 12 weeks. It seems that she's more conservative/careful than the NHS.

Excellent news that there was a heartbeat @LuckyPineapple !💓 I know it's difficult to step away from the Google rabbit hole, but please do! From bitter experience, that way madness lies. I'm keeping everything crossed for your next scan in 2 weeks 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

I'd definitely give your local services a go first @IVFgothope 👍🏻 I'm lucky that we've got a major teaching hospital 20 minutes from us and that came in handy in the last week's of my pregnancy with DS when we were in and out of triage with various bits and bobs. It would have been even more stressful if we had had significant travel to do to get there.

Are you going to go for the drinks tonight or side-step it? My friends hopefully won't be too suspicious because I'll use DS sleeping terribly at the moment as an excuse for not drinking. If they clock that I'm side-stepping the shellfish and rare meat that I'd normally wolf down, then I'm in trouble!

I'm very lucky to have the support of a couple of friends IRL who are fellow IVFers, so they know what's going on with me. If I make it past the 12 week scan and trisomy screen unscathed, then I'll tell my line manager. We'd wait until getting past the 20 week scan before telling anyone else (I know that's pretty unusual, but it's what we're comfortable with!). When do you think you might start telling people?

@LuckyPineapple aww amazing there was a heartbeat 💗 wonderful news.

my symptoms have been on /off as well, and haven't had any sickness yet. really hope everything is OK on my scan on Wednesday, it can't come soon enough!!

@BambiOnIce80 I walked away from Google. Such a horrendous idea, and I feel better for it. I need to not get so caught up with online stuff some of which isnt even accurate. Easier said than done 🙈 When is your scan date?

@IVFgothope I spoke to my clinic about covid/flu vaccines and they have said anytime is safe in pregnancy and recommended before 28 weeks. However, I think I'd be more comfortable to wait to after the 12 weeks.

@mjet it is so lovely seeing the little heart beating. My clinic sent me through images and videos which show it beating away. It's made me feel much better.
Dont worry too much about symptoms. It's common for them to come and go. Some to get some and not others. I have found changes this week, in that I feel so nauseous when I'm particularly tired 😴 Then I have days where I don't feel that tired or nauseous. It just depends on the day.

@BambiOnIce80 hope you have fun with your friends tonight! I ended up going home early from work as I felt sick and so tired all day. My hgc level was higher than they expected it to be so that might explain part of why I’ve been feeling rough early. I’ve been reading up on how to reduce the nausea and hope ginger and regular snacks will help.

It’s so personal when you start telling people, I think there’s no right or wrong way. We’re seeing my family for 5 days over Xmas and will tell them. Unless I pretended to be ill, it would be really hard not to raise their suspicions. To not leave my partner’s family out, we’ll also tell them.

@LuckyPineapple I feel the same about waiting until after 12 weeks for the vaccines. Interesting that your clinic said it was fine to have it earlier though.

So glad to hear that @LuckyPineapple ❤️ Definitely easier said than done though! And lovely that you've got a video to watch 😊 I'd definitely find a lot of comfort in that ☺️ My scan is on Friday, so che sera, sera 🔮 I've got a fairly busy weekend and very busy work week, so shouldn't have too much time on my hands to dwell 🤞🏻 I bet I'll find time though! 😏

Sorry to hear you're feeling rough @IVFgothope 💐 Reassuring to have some symptoms though! How high is your hCG? Are we talking potential twins high?! 😃 Sounds like it'd be really tricky to keep it from your family over Christmas - I bet they'll be crazy excited for you! 🤩 I'm pretty low contact with my family and DP's are in a different country, so it's easy for us to wait until we're clear of the scans and their potential bad news.

@mjet , solidarity on the symptoms coming and going ✊ If it's of any comfort I had very little nausea with DS and never to the point of actually needing to throw up, so it's not necessarily a bad sign.

On the vaccine front, I think the only concern is if you were to throw a high temperature afterwards. I never have, but I know some people do. Fevers can cause miscarriage (albeit rarely), so I can sort of see the logic in being cautious about the vaccine. That said, catching flu and/or covid (or any other number of viruses!) can cause a fever, so it seems a bit damned if you do, damned if you don't 🤷🏻‍♀️

Thank you @BambiOnIce80! yes the symptoms are a constant reminder and reassurance of being pregnant 😂 I had the bhcg test 12dp5dt and my clinic said they expected between 200-750 on that day but it was 1520. Personally I think the highest likelihood is that I naturally have a higher level and/or it being a girl. That’s based on my mum having had terrible sickness and assuming she had a high hcg and there being a genetic link. She ‘accidentally’ got pregnant aged 40 (unbelievable!) with my younger sister when I was 13 and I vividly remember her being sick until month 7…My partner though said he wouldn’t be surprised if we had twins. They only transferred 1 embryo so I think chances are still small.

Good point about the temperature! I think I only had a temperature from the AZ vaccine, not from the mRNA ones that they are currently using but I’ll wait and hope I don’t get ill in the meantime…

Has anyone used travel sickness tablets whilst being pregnant? The pharmacist wouldn’t give me any of the over the counter ones unless a dr prescribed them. Even the one that the NHS and bumps website say that have not shown to cause issues. I have 2x 7 hour car rides ahead and normally get sick so I’m expecting it to be worse now 🙈

@BambiOnIce80 I understand it makes sense for you to wait with telling them. Family can be so tricky! I think our parents will be thrilled as it’s the first grandchild on both sides and my mum has (annoyingly) been going on about wanting a grandchild for about 10 years…

Hi everyone, how have your weekends been?

@LuckyPineapple - so pleased you saw the heartbeat :) when is your next scan? Ours isn't until the 21st and I feel like it's even longer than the 2ww.

@IVFgothope - I've been prescribed cyclizine by the doctor and I think it helps or you can try sickness bands on your wrists.

Thank you very much for the recommendation @S1234P! I’ve spoken to my GP who was so lovely and understanding and my partner is just picking up the meds.

I’ve not felt this bad in a long time; continuously feeling sick, strong headache and very tired. I’ve had to call in sick which I hate and I feel pretty useless now 🙈 My GP said it’s normal and said she had it badly too. Hopefully the meds will help.

just an update from our scan today, thankfully it went well and we seen the heartbeat. so so relieved, I've been really anxious waiting for this scan. measuring 6.3weeks as it should be and they didn't have any other concerns. we have another scan booked in with our fertility clinic for two weeks time and then we will be promoted to maternity services.

symptom wise.. I've been feeling more nauseous last couple of days but still not too bad and really tired. tender breasts have subsided a bit. I had a tiny bit of brown discharge yesterday which worried me but everything I read online and the nurse wasn't concerned today.

hope everyone else is doing OK xx

@mjet - that is such a relief!! I’m so happy for you :) my scan is next week and it’s so nerve wracking. My clinic provide counselling sessions and I had my first 1 today which has been really beneficial. I've also had brown and pink discharge but it's mostly gone now.

@IVFgothope - how are you feeling? Like you I've been feeling so rough, constant nausea and tiredness. I'm surprised at how strong the symptoms are so early!

@mjet glad to hear your scan went well, that’s such a relief.

@S1234P im so sorry to hear that you’ve been feeling so rough as well. How is the cyclizine working for you? I got prochlorperazine and it takes the edge off my nausea which is nice but I’m still not able to function. We’ve had to cancel our family visit abroad because I don’t think I can cope with sitting in a car for 7/8 hours. Also I can’t stand smells, including hot food, and I don’t want to put others off from enjoying their Xmas food.

My GP shared this website which you may find helpful too: https://www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/

Aldo today this study showing a link between a hormone and the risk of pregnancy sickness came out in Nature which is so interesting. I really hope someone develops a safe medicine to treat this better: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06921-9