IVF early pregnancy December 23

[charja100]

Hello,

I wanted to start a thread to see if there were any ladies out there who have recently got their BFPs after being on an IVF journey. Also if there are any IVF new mums who can share their wisdom.

I have just tested positive... I can't believe it I got my BFP! But now I'm worrying about all the next steps. We only had one embryo make it to day 5 so we opted for a Fresh transfer on December 16, obviously this means that it isn't PGTA tested which we had intended to do. Now I'm worried about the likelihood of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy etc. I've heard that IVF mummas worry most of the way through their pregnancies and would love a safe space to talk through all those things!

Welcome anyone who wants to jump on the train ✨

Massive congrats on your great news :)
Im an IVF mummy to be after 4 transfers and it doesn’t get any easier I’m afraid.
I had 5 scans and 3 privately paid HCG blood tests all before my official NHS 12 week scan.
The worry and anxiety for those first few months is unreal, you will worry about every little twinge/spotting/ symptom/non symptom!
It’s only once I got to 21/22 weeks and I started feeling the baby move that I started to calm myself a little. By 24 weeks I started to really enjoy and am now currently 27 weeks.
I think I will continue to have my worry days until the very end and until he’s here safely.
As this will probably be my one and only due to my age I want to enjoy the experience and am finally doing that.
Wising you all the best on your pregnancy, I’m sure all will be fine :)

Thank you so much and a huge congratulations to you too!

Im realising that it really doesn't, it's been a couple of days and I'm already realising this. I've spent a small fortune on HPT and have become a POAS addict. My lines aren't very dark for 11DP5DT and that was my first worry. So today I paid for a private HCG today and have one booked for a follow up on Friday already. I'm also really considering a scan to check the location of the pregnancy.

I've been getting this pain in my left side low down and I'm so paranoid that it's an ectopic, or beginnings of early miscarriage. I've fallen into a Google hole and that's never good for anyone! I think if my pregnancy is viable I'll be the same and it will be a lot further down the line that I actually relax a little. I'm glad that you're able to do that now.

It'll likely be my only one too as I'm 38 so I also want to enjoy it but right now I'm so worried it might not even get to that point. How did you get through each milestone and each wait, and tips or tricks to calm my anxiety? X

Sounds exactly like myself and I’m sure many other women, each scan was gut wrenching as the fear each time really does get the better of you. I cried at the first 3 scans (1 before even entering the room)
I received the HCG results which were standard numbers and convinced myself they weren’t good enough.
At the 12 week scan they were too late to get the measurements they needed to confirm all ok so was a week of tears until they were able to carry out further testing, again I was convinced the worse happened.
At the anomoly scan I again stressed about the measurements not being within the recommended limits (obviously they were but anything slightly smaller than the norm set me off again).
Each milestone id hit id be over the moon but within days of a scan or that milestone id convince myself something had gone wrong.
Even when he started to move I convinced myself that he wasnt moving enough and have been on the phone to the midwife several times.
Google became my worst enemy but I still couldn’t stop using it which on times made the anxiety 100 times worse.
I really haven’t got any advice on how to get through it apart from if you feel a scan or a blood test will help calm your nerves then do what you need to do. It does get easier as time goes on and a new milestone is hit. The only thing that has helped ease my stress is time, the further along you get the realisation that your miracle could be coming home with you sinks in.
When that feeling hits you it’s absolutely amazing 🥰
I have a 28 week growth scan next week and I know come this weekend I’ll be panicking again!
Try not to worry about the colour of the tests, everyone is different and as long as you get slight progression every 48 hours then all is good.
As hard as it is please do your best to enjoy this experience, your body has done something absolutely amazing and you deserve happiness and enjoyment (easier said than done I know coming from myself who has experienced it first hand lol).
These forums were also a massive help to me. I really do wish you all the best, feel free to ask anything, I’d be happy to help if I can x

@SH998 I got my HCG back and it's not good, it's only 36.9. I have another Beta booked for Friday but at this point have accepted that I am probably out now.

I really hope it isn't ectopic. Really worried at this point it might be.

I was told that the starting point wasn’t as important as seeing the increase every 48/72 hours. Wait and see what the outcome of the next test is before you go into full on panic mood.
I really feel for you as I know how hard this is for you. Every hour seems like weeks. Fingers crossed all will be fine.
If you have any concerns or pains, call your clinic asap x

Hi

@charja100 Congratulations on your positive! Wishing you all the best. X

Like you, I also only had one embryo reach day 5 but I had a FET as I had to have hysteroscopy first. I got my first BFP but it's been a constant worry since and I haven't been able to enjoy. My blood test result was good. However after that, I've been spotting a lot so they called me for an early scan and unfortunately CRL was measuring smaller than expected and there was no heartbeat. She did say its early so things could change and you can't always see a heartbeat so early. However, today I've been bleeding which means I have probably miscarried. I have a blood test booked tomorrow to confirm. I really wish for a miracle change and really wish it isn't a miscarriage even though all the signs are there.

@SH998 Congratulations on your pregnancy! Good luck for your growth scan next week x

@FMRBEC thank you although it looks like my BFP might not end up with a happy ending as my bloods aren't looking good and I've started to get much stronger AF like cramps this evening. I wonder if might start bleeding soon and if the strong dose of progesterone I'm on is the only thing holding this off at this point. At this point I'd hedge a bet that the second line on a HPT will be lighter tomorrow too.

I'm so sorry you've had such a constant worry and that you're bleeding. It really is the hardest journey to be on. Praying for a positive test for you tomorrow. I've read lots of comments from ladies who have bled and it hadn't impacted the pregnancy.

@SH998 I know to wait until Saturday for the beta HCG result from tomorrow but the odds aren't looking good. At this point I feel I just need to protect my heart. I don't want to cling on when it's unrealistic. 💔

Thank you for being here today. And I hope you can take your own advice and finally really enjoy the end of your pregnancy.

Thank you x

Oh no, fingers crossed for you still 🤞

Wishing you both all the best, it’s a long, emotional and stressful journey.
I miscarried on my first transfer and it was absolutely devastating but what I have been told which I did take comfort in is that ‘you did get pregnant so that’s a massive positive’ so it can happen. I hope you both take great comfort in that also x

True. Thank you @SH998 ❤️

Hello, newbie here and I'm a few days behind, keeping fingers crossed for everyone

Today was OTD at 11dp5dt from a fresh transfer, but after a previous missed miscarriage from our first round earlier in the year we're worrying if it is too faint a line to get excited about, especially as we only had this one that made it to 5 days and was a lot darker last time round.

Trying not to fall down a google hole or stress about it too much as I know there isn't much we can do at this point. I've not had any spotting or bleeding, just a fair bit of cramping and trying not to go completely nuts until the clinic reopens on tuesday.

@Wibbles64 Congratulations on your positive! Try not to worry too much (I know easier said than done). Will your clinic be offering a beta hcg blood test?

@charja100 how were your blood results?

@FMRBEC not good end im afraid. Spent four hours in A&E last night. Having an early miscarriage.

@Wibbles64 congratulations on your positive it's definitely there. Everything crossed for you that it was a late implanter and that your HCG doubles.

@charja100 I'm so sorry to hear that, thinking of you and hope you're being well looked after

@FMRBEC they don't usually do bloods, will hopefully find out more on Tuesday, but expecting it will be wait until wk7 scan

@charja100 So sorry to hear, sending you lots of love and hugs xx

@Wibbles64 Oh okay

Heard back from the clinic today - was told to retest, and as was still positive they're not worried about the strength of the line, just been told to watch out for any pain or heavy bleeding (in case ectopic).

It's going to be a long couple of weeks until the scan, just keeping fingers crossed

@Wibbles64 that's good news🤞

I'm also just having to wait until scan date. My clinic decided it wasn't worth having another blood test as HCG levels can still be present after a miscarriage so it wouldn't confirm anything.

@charja100 How are you doing? Been thinking of you xx

@FMRBEC thank you for thinking of me. It's been a year of tests for us to explore why things weren't working. EMMA, ALICE, ERA, bloods for immunology etc.

We found out I need an immune protocol with intralipids, steroids and blood thinners and I am currently on that now. We just had our third and final round of egg collection with my own eggs. It's been our most successful yet. We sent 6 blasts for PGTA and did one fresh transfer.

Currently 4dp5dt and losing my mind

How are you?

@charja100 lovely to hear back from you. That's good to hear you've had tests so that you can have a protocol which is best for you. I hope your PGTA testing gives you good results and hopefully a little baby in your arms very soon. Sending you baby dust and lots of love. It's a tough journey, look after yourself. Wish you all the best xx

I'm good thank you. I was blessed by the Almighty with my miracle baby after many years of trying and ICSI with a FET.