BFP after IVF - anyone want to join me in the wait for first scan?

[HopefulllHolly]

Sensitive

Hi everyone,
I’ve just had our first cycle of IVF and although we had very slim odds of it working (low AMH, low AFC, male factor, which led to only 2 mature eggs which thankfully led to one perfect day 5 blast). We are absolutely amazed and over the moon that it worked despite everything, but I am really struggling with the wait for first scan. I almost feel with infertility (we TTC for 6/7 years) that it does make you anxious and I’m finding the wait to my first scan (6th June) unbearable. I don’t want to seem ungrateful but I really wish I could enjoy it or relax a little but instead I am worrying about miscarriage and things I can’t control. For me this has been the worst bit of IVF so far, and I’d love to just be able to be happy so I don’t look back (if it does work) and wish that I hadn’t been so anxious and scared.

Is anyone else in the same boat who wants to keep me company? 🥹 Or can provide some tips on how to distract myself and cope better? I know there’s nothing I can do to change the outcome and what will be will be, but I don’t think I’ve ever worried so much in my life.

Thank you 🙏

@SETTC87 Awww I’m so pleased for you that the scan went well (and that you had a lovely holiday!) ☺️ When is your next scan or are you just waiting for 12 weeks?

@Natty2 Im 9 weeks today so I’ll be 9+4 on Monday 😊 hoping it’s still positive news and I can see baby moving around - that would be incredible. So nervous!

@AnnieStar12 Oooh I shall have a look at them when it’s closer to the time. Not too long to wait until your next scan - you can do it! Have you decided on how many you’re going to do between now and 12 weeks? I think this one on Monday will probably be my last before 12 week one, as otherwise I won’t have 2 weeks between them all. I might question them on Monday why the rules have changed. I wish I could do another at 11 weeks though tbh! Maybe they’ll let me. It’s rubbish that the anxiety comes back so quickly after the scans to be honest. IVF really goes you dirty! I was asleep by 8pm last night and I’m still so tired today, it’s like being really hungover all the time - not fun and haven’t missed the feeling after giving up alcohol ages ago!! 😂😂

@HopefulllHolly So I was reading that your hcg peaks at 9/10 weeks so hopefully the sleepy and nausea symptoms will taper off soon now your 9 weeks :) I have actually noticed in the last week that I have been able to stay up slightly longer without nodding off (9.30 yest- rock and roll!!)

also if some symptoms start letting up from here on out- this is a likely reason too, has made me slightly less anxious if I don’t wana nap as much or boobs don’t hurt the same everyday!

dunno how much of this info I’m using just to keep myself sane but 🤷🏻‍♀️

@HopefulllHolly My first scan was at 6+0. For the scan on Wednesday I will be 7+5, then I have booked in my NIPT private scan + bloods which will be at 10+1, and then my NHS "12 week" scan is actually booked in for 11+5.

I've already told myself that if I get anxious then I can add a private one in at 9+0 as then there is over a week gap between each scan.

From everything I've read, the best practice advice is to leave 1-2 weeks between scans, but there seems to be zero evidence that any scans have ever harmed a baby. So it is just precaution which makes sense, but I also know from my last pregnancy where I had huge amounts of bleeding the hospital were happy to scan me very regularly when necessary.

@Edf Yeah I did read that but mine mainly went about 8 weeks. My boobs don’t hurt at all now unless I’ve been lying down a long time and then get up. I’m absolutely shattered still though - my only symptom! I want to go back to bed already today and I fell asleep at 8 last night 🤣🤣

I did do a Google and it sounds like lots of peoples symptoms go around 8.5 weeks anyway so maybe it’s that! Can’t wait for the scan on Monday to know what’s going on in there! (Although terrified)

Yeah it’s weird @AnnieStar12 the window to the womb place near me said their new guidelines is 2 weeks between scans. So I’ll have to be 11.5 weeks before I can have another - which might as well just be the 12 week scan. Im going to ask about it Monday because it said on their website 1 week between but they’ve recently changed it and I wonder why. Jealous of you having so many scans!! 🤣🤣

Hey guys .. so I am 5+3 today .. I have read the heart starts in weeks 5 .. most commonly around 5+5 .. which will be Saturday for me .. just wondering what did you all eat around weeks 5 .. will I need lots of electrolyte foods ? I do have a healthy diet with lots of fruit and veg , fish, I cut out any processed / junk food and refined sugar since transfer .. but just wondering did any of you guys eat anything in particular? I have been eating watermelon everyday for electrolytes?! Or does it not matter much ?

@hopefullsosbry im a bad example as due to nausea I ate chicken nuggets potato smilies, mash, gravy, toast, anything else stodgy you can think of and only made it back to fruit this week… all was good though (so far anyways) 😊 I’m sure eating healthy is always advised but I’m not sure not eating too healthy will prevent it starting to beat if that is the way the stars are aligned 💕if that makes sense haha

Yeh I get what your saying .. I am just so cautious.. 😵‍💫🫣.. I said to my partner after the 1st scan, if all is well then I’ll have some chocolate and a pizza haha ! 🤣

@hopefullsosbry I think as long as you’re eating a balanced diet, then I really don’t think it makes any difference. You should enjoy a pizza!!
I totally understand the desire to have some control over the situation though as it’s so out of our control what happens.

@HopefulllHolly I will see how I go with scans. I am trying to have a decent space inbetween them, but also hard trying to juggle childcare, slipping out of work and when my partner can get off work too.

@hopefullsosbry Ive been as healthy as I can but I’ve gone off a lot of healthy stuff I’d usually eat 😂😂 hate the idea of salmon, salad, most vegetables (apart from aubergine and potato). I make a lot of fresh juices and smoothies so been having those, but mainly the only stuff I want is stodgy or red meat. Very strange because it’s the opposite of what I’d normally want. Been eating a lot of pineapple and watermelon because it’s juicy too but I don’t particularly want it as such! 😂 Baby seems to like potato, spicy food and juice most 🤣

Is anyone else really out of breath? Mine started with the progesterone but it’s out of control now. It’s really annoying. It’s like I have asthma but I’ve never had it before and can usually run miles without being puffy, but now I can barely get up the stairs 😮‍💨😮‍💨

@AnnieStar12 Oh totally! I want to be able to go more times before my 12 weeks as I know I’ll not cope at all. I’m sure they would scan me if I was worried though I guess.

Just catching up with all this mornings posts!

@HopefulllHolly have you had bloods done to check for anaemia as that can cause increased breathlessness.

@hopefullsosbry my diet has been soo bad! I'm living off carbs and fruit! Everything else makes me nauseous or sick.

@Edf I wish my symptoms were getting better. Am 10 weeks Saturday and the nausea/vomiting is getting worse. Was sick 3 times yesterday. However I do feel slightly less tired and don't need a sleep at 2pm.

@SETTC87 glad your scan went well and had a lovely holiday.

@DippyDuck19 haha I know it’s just something to hope for 😂 im
10 weeks today and do feel slightly better, which in turn does make me more anxious so just ignore me coZ I’m talking gibberish 😂

@DippyDuck19 No I haven’t - thanks! I’ll mention to the midwife on Tuesday. It’s really bad.

Not good news for me there .. I just got my beta results back from Tuesday .. and it’s not doubling well at all .. on Thursday last week it was 106. On Tuesday, 5 days later is was 241.
I have another booked for sat which will be another 4 days time, but that is very low, taking just over 4 days to double .. it should double 48-72 hours so looks like it’s a non viable pregnancy .. maybes blighted ovum or hopefully not but could be ectopic, I called the clinic and they said to hang off till my 7+1 appointment anyways but I called the early pregnancy clinic and they are happy to scan early next week once I get the Saturday results and I will be 6 weeks by Monday so they will see what’s going on .. 😔

You know I kinda knew from that 5dp test that was really faint that it wasn’t going to turn out good .. I know sometimes things can turn around but I just knew at that point the HCG wasn’t right .. 😐

Oh @hopefullsosbry I’m so sorry my lovely. That’s the worst news. Maybe it could just be slow to rise (not to give you false hope or anything but I saw a girl on mumsnet who had a very slow rising HCG and got told it was unviable and everything but she’s now quite far in to pregnancy - I think it was maybe on the Create thread potentially? She really went through the wringer but baby was fine just took a really long time for HCG to rise). Sending you big hugs, I can’t imagine how upset you must be xxxx

To be honest am not as upset as would think, have been here 6 times now so it’s not as sad each time you just roll your sleeves up and get on with it .. would just rather know exactly what’s going on so I can deal with it . It’s the not knowing that gives me anxiety.. I should hopefully know early next week after the scan and see .. we have two frosties still also so have another couple shots this round !

@hopefullsosbry Really glad you are ok and not totally in pieces. You’re very strong! Will keep my fingers crossed for you until Monday, and hope you get some answers either way. Have you had anything like this happen previously?

Yeh, don’t really wana go into details as not to worry people, I think I told you my story the other day when I had low HCG the last time 🤐.. I have never had ectopic before .. not sure if anyone has had experience and if I would be feeling pain or any symptoms by now ? They only thing most say with slow and low HCG is blighted ovum or eptopic ?! 😩.. I put my results into the chart and it’s pretty low .. (see pic) 😔

Sending you lots of love @hopefullsosbry 😘💜

@hopefullsosbry Sorry I can’t be more help or comfort for you. Try and hold out hope until your scan on Monday - I didn’t have HCG numbers tested and I’m kind of glad as it would cause me more worry, so try and hang in there and just wait and see. There’s plenty of stories of people who have very slow to rise HCG without it being ectopic or a blighted ovum. Must be so hard just waiting bless you, hang in there xx

Thank you @HopefulllHolly for your kind words .. it’s really appreciated, you are such a hunni ! 💖 sorry the scan will be next week sometime might not be Monday .. just when they can see me, have to call on Monday once Saturday blood results are back .. ✨🤞🏽🙏💖 I wouldnt have gone for bloods if my test lines had been dark, I just went as I knew from the light lines it was low and wanted to confirm with blood tests as urine tests can’t be accurate.. anyways fingers crossed it’s a total miracle but it seems really low and too slow rising if I am honest with myself! 😔🤷🏼‍♀️

Sending big hugs and positive thoughts for your next tests and scan. I don’t think one thing like hcg can give you the full picture anyway, it’s only a piece of the puzzle. Like lots of women don’t get positive tests for ages because their hcg is low. I think a more recent study says anything 35% over 48hours could be a viable pregnancy (according to a few articles on Google), so until your scan try and stay calm and hope for the best. I know that’s easier me saying that as we all know I would be going mental (as I have demonstrated my whole journey 😵‍💫). So sorry you’re going through this xxx

Thanks @HopefulllHolly yeh I have been reading and seen the 35% thing .. mine is 36.8% rise .. will just have to wait till Saturday and see what that blood draw is and take it from there .. thanks again for the support. 💖