FET March thread

[Copenhagener]

Hi all 👋

I have a failed first transfer (fresh) and have one embryo banked from my first retrieval.

I’ll be doing my first FET with it in March. Anyone else joining me for the wait?

I’m still waiting to find out what went wrong with my fresh transfer. Hopefully next time is the charm!

@Shroedy thank you so much for the clear explanation. That really helped😊

I’ve been in such a day-by-day mindset. So this is the first time I’m even thinking into the future.

I don’t know if they’ll do a second beta (the booklet said to go back only if it’s above 5 and below 75. I will know more tomorrow.

No worries 😊 - my clinic doesn't do a second HCG test, I don't think any do as a matter of course. It's the sort of thing the EPU look at if there are signs things aren't going well but not standard monitoring.

We had FET on Wednesday, the wait is horrible 😫 We was really lucky with our fresh cycle back in 2020 and have a little boy, but wasn’t as lucky with our last FET - really hoping this one is successful as it is our last embryo

How are we all getting on?

Best of luck @Ems93!

Are you getting a second beta @Copenhagener? hope you’re feeling better.

Our 7 week scan is booked for the 22nd. I’m so anxious and just expecting the worst. I just have sore boobs at the moment. Almost wish I would get morning sickness so it feels real 🥲.

Good luck @Ems93 please keep us posted!

@JulesIVF thanks for checking in! I’m feeling incredibly anxious too. I always thought once I got my positive test / blood beta, I’d calm down, but like you, I’m now waiting anxiously for the US scan in week 7. Mine is 25 April, so we’re really timeline buddies!

There’s no standard second beta if you’re over 75 IU/L, but I may ask for one on Monday, as I need to call the nurse for a new Cyclogest prescription anyway. I’m debating whether it will calm me, or stress me during the 3 week US wait.

I took my last pregtest this morning, and that calmed me down a little as it’s much darker - finally! My boobs feel quite normal, but I am SO bloated (bought new clothes 2 weeks ago, and none fit now! 😐) and the one-sided pulling / cramping sensations have subsided. I think that’s a good thing.

One symptom I am getting suddenly is feeling very ‘wet’ down there. The first time it almost felt like I’d peed myself, but I googled it and apparently it’s quite common. Symptom-spotting is not so fun though, and do you know what I mean when I say I wish I could just relax and enjoy it, rather than anticipating the worst?

@Copenhagener wow, now that’s a dark line ❤️!!!! That’s really exciting - so hope we get there and have our little Christmas baba’s 🥹🤞🏻.
I feel the same - I wish I was excited and enjoying this moment like when we fell pregnant naturally last summer but it was at our 7 week scan that there was no heartbeat and I’m so scared to go through that again. This whole process really takes so much from you.

Im also feeling like that as well but had just put it down to the pessaries - they are awful.

@JulesIVF I’m so sorry to hear that, I didn’t know you’d already had a loss. Did they find out why it happened?

Have you worked out a possible due date yet? I’m too scared to think that far ahead, but the Flo app automatically showed me one, and now I feel kind of excited (and terrified). Funnily enough, all the women in my dad’s side of the family have had babies in December!

I guess next week the symptoms will actually start kicking in more, and it will start to feel a bit more real.

Have you told anyone yet?

@Copenhagener thanks. No, have no ideas. It took us a year to fall pregnant and then when that happened we continued trying for a few more months then decided to get tests done. Only issue was my husbands morphology which was very low and is why we ended up going for IVF. I know MC are really common but can’t help worrying that there is some other underlying issue .

My clinic said 8th December! If both embryos stuck then I think around 20th of November. I just feel like I would have more symptoms if there was two growing in there though haha.

Our families know just because they were in the loop through the whole process. Have you?

Honestly, bring on all the symptoms cause I need reassurance that this is happening. Careful what I wish for 🤪.

@Copenhagener and @JulesIVF, if it’s any consolation I feel exactly the same way! I had a few days feeling so happy but now the worry has really kicked in. I had some very light pink discharge on Friday night and immediately burst into tears. Luckily it has stopped and there was no cramping but it’s in the back of mind that it could be the start of something. I’ll talk to my clinic on Monday. I already have a follow up blood test booked for Tuesday.

My clinic does blood tests at weeks 5 and 6, and then a 7 week scan.

I also don’t really have any symptoms except feeling tired. But I think it’s very normal not to have any until at least 6 weeks.

@Ems93 good luck! How are you feeling?

I remember being worried all through my pregnancy with my successful FC, I was always counting down to the next scan. I never had any symptoms when I was pregnancy, I think if i did it would have put my mind at rest a little bit.

@JulesIVF We haven’t told our families this time, wanted to have it as a surprise as they went through the full process with us last time.

@Runner77 whens your 5 week bloody test?

Hi @Ems93, it’s on Tuesday. I’m feeling nervous about it of course!

Whats your OTD?

It’s on Friday, it seems like a lifetime away 😒

Had a scan at 6+2 and gestational sac as expected but no measurable fetal pole. Pee sticks seemed slow to rise and first HCG was low but then more than doubled after the next test so assuming it’s taken a while to get going? Although that’s a bad sign I think. Having another scan in a week hopefully. If there’s no pole or sign at 7+2 then I guess that’s it.

Hey @Runner77 and @JulesIVF what’s your progesterone situation? I’ve been taking 2x400mg of cyclogest since before the transfer, but the clinic says I can stop now. This seems different to some other people, so I was curious what your clinics’ approaches are?

I’ll be 5 weeks tomorrow. My FET was unmedicated; but I think I have a luteal phase issue, so I’m a little concerned about going cold turkey! I’ve got enough left for 2 more weeks.

My clinic won’t do a second blood test as they said my first result was fine. Debating whether to get one privately, or take a step back and accept knowing won’t change anything anyway and wait until 25 April for my viability scan.

Today I have a dull headache, a constantly dry mouth however much I drink (going on for 3 days) and tiredness. No other symptoms yet - except the continued bloating.

@GoldenDoor wishing you all the best! If you feel up to it, I’d love to know how it goes with your next scan. What was your first Hcg result? 6 is still super early for a scan, so fingers crossed you’ll see what you hope for next week.

@Copenhagener hey. I started it maybe 4 days before my transfer and I’m on 3x400 a day. Our clinic keeps you on it until week 10 though. Is it something you’re able to get more of? I haven’t heard of them taking you off it that quickly before but I know things vary so much between different clinics.

@GoldenDoor really hope your next scan goes well! I had to wait a week between scans to confirm viability last summer and wouldn’t wish it on anyone. The uncertainty is awful.

@Copenhagener I did a medicated FET so progesterone support is needed for a while still. I’m on 2x400. It could be that some clinics continue progesterone for natural cycles for longer than is needed ‘just in case’, while others don’t see the value in continuing. Are you able to discuss with your clinic further?

@GoldenDoor must be such a stressful time for you. 6 weeks is very early and it’s really only an approximation - some embryos implant later than others. Best of luck for next week, everything crossed for you.

@Copenhagener that's not ideal if you haven't had a proper explanation. I know that there's a difference between heavily medicated and natural cycles as to what support you need, progesterone-wise. Like @Runner77 I had a fully medicated FET and am on progesterone until 12 weeks as my body won't be doing anything until the placenta takes over. I think for fresh transfers after a stim or natural cycles it's different as your body has gone through a cycle of producing an egg etc and will be doing some of the work itself. Definitely speak to your clinic and get some assurance.

Did anyone do a home test before they had a blood test to confirm outcome? My blood test is on Friday but the wait is driving me crazy. Would a home test pick a pregnancy up at 6dp5d? Could it be a false positive with the medication?

@Ems93 I did - as my blood test wasn't until 10dp5dt, and I wanted to process the outcome beforehand.

I didn't test six days past, but I had a faint line on 7dp5dt, and a very clear one on 8 days - and so did a few of the others here. No guarantees, but I think it's quite likely you'll see something if you use a decent test (not blue dye if you can help it, pink is typically clearer).

@Shroedy hi again! There's a bit of a language barrier unfortunately, and they aren't super communicative, but from what I gather, it's because it was a natural cycle and I ovulated, so I should be producing progesterone. I've decided I'll use up what I have left, which should last just about to week 7 and my viability scan. I may also get a second beta for hcg and progesterone levels done privately later this week to help me decide. I feel my symptoms have subsided a bit the last 24 hours, so I'm a little nervous. But then again, I also have read many times that a lot of women have no/fluctuating symptoms until week 6/7 at all, and I have no bleeding or cramping. How's your pregnancy going?

I had my 5 week blood test yesterday and thankfully everything was looking good. However today I’ve had some minor spotting and a bloated feeling. I understand it’s quite common between 5-8 weeks but I’m still nervous that it’s an ominous sign. This is such a hard journey! I really thought I’d be able to relax a bit at this point. Of course I’m still feeling incredibly grateful to have had a BFP and to still be in the runnings.

@Ems93 I ended up testing at home with a First Response test on day 9. It was quite clearly positive at that point, although I didn’t really believe it until the blood test. How are you feeling?

@Copenhagener that sounds like a good plan. Perhaps you could then ask the consultant after the 7 week scan about continuing with progesterone?

@Runner77 glad everything was fine with your blood test! I remember being worried all the way through my pregnancy with my fresh cycle, was always counting down the days for my next scan.

Not done a test yet, due for my blood test on Friday 🤞🏼feeling really sick this time but when I’ve looked it up, it is probably the Medication rather than a good sign.

Good luck today @Ems93 !

I have my second beta this morning. Having to get it done privately, but it’s cheap enough. I’m so nervous - hoping I get the results today! If the results are okay, next up is my first midwife meeting at 7 weeks, where they’ll do another blood test and go through everything.

New symptom of the day: gagging when I brush my teeth. My stomach is flipping around everytime I smell toothpaste.

how’s everyone doing?

Thank you. I have my blood test at 8am, then have an appointment at 2:25 to find out the results.

That sounds promising, I hope everything goes ok for you today as well. ☺️

Good luck @Ems93 and @Copenhagener, hope you both get positive results today

Thank you - unfortunately it hasn’t worked again and was our last frozen embryo