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 🙏

@HopefulllHolly Yea, you’re right it can be just bloods. I think most places will want you to have done the NHS 12 week scan first if you don’t do a scan with them. It’s obviously much cheaper to do just bloods - that is what I did in my last pregnancy and was very simple to do (had to send them my NHS scan report).

I’m just so anxious this time round that I want it all done at the earliest possible time.

@AnnieStar12 The window to the womb near me just says you have to have had a pregnancy scan with them but I’ll definitely call and see what they say. I’ll try them tomorrow and let you know!

@HopefulllHolly Ha, I called window to the womb near me as they were the cheapest place offering NIPT and wanted to ask about it, but annoyingly they don’t do it at my local branch!

@AnnieStar12 oh no that’s annoying! I just assumed all of them do it! I think the one near me does standard and advanced so going to get the advanced one. Will be exciting to find out the gender! Not actually that far away now really (if I make it that far!)

@DippyDuck19 I don’t have round ligament pain but I have backache and like a pulling sensation. Not really cramps as such as not painful just aware of it if that makes sense?! Feels like I’ve done lots of sit ups or something!

It is like a constant hungover feeling. I’m happy to be in this position but nobody, not one person, warned me how hard the first trimester is!
I dread to think how I’ll cope by the third trimester (if I make it that far).
funnily enough I’m craving a potato today 😂 I think it was all the potato waffle talk making me feel like I’m missing out!

I feel so unprepared to you all like I didn’t even know we could book privately for extra scans or things 🙈 I just thought that people did it later in the pregnancy as the 20 scan being the last one before the birth seems like a loonnnng wait!
im getting so envious of all you all going for early scans & things. I think I might have to have a look at booking something in.
i guess I’m just so nervous to get to the 12 weeks that’s all I’ve focused on.

finding out the gender is super exciting!!! I had no idea that could do it so early, that’s amazing!! Such a happy thing for you to look forward to.

I started having round ligament pain last night!!
I thought it was trapped wind at first 😂 But it’s definitely not. Just below my rib cage on my front. Quite sore to be honest but I’m hoping it’s a good sign.

how is everyone today? X

@HopefulllHolly I've had lots of cramps too although wearing off now. I get a sharp pain low down every time I sneeze. It's agony!

@Fluffyted I felt soo unprepared for this stage! I never thought I'd get to this stage to be honest! I never realised how bad the nausea and tiredness could be. No matter how much I sleep, I feel like it's not enough. I'm just waiting for the "pregnancy glow" now!!!

Hi ladies, hoping to join this wait and have my 6 week scan on 21st June. This is our fifth FET and first positive so delighted but very cautious too. Just wondering how many times you all are checking your beta HCG before first scan? I had mine done at 9dpt and it had doubled by 11dpt so I’m thrilled with that so far but just wondering if I should possibly get it checked again tomorrow as it’s my official test date? Any advice would be great. Thanks and best of luck to all 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Hi @Hopefulsummer35 ☺️ Awww congrats on your positive! Especially after many tries! Not too long now until your scan. Quite a few of us don’t have clinics who do Hcg so can’t really help there, but you don’t need another one as it’s doubled - I’m sure you can ask though if it will reassure you! I’ve just gone of pregnancy test and then my 7 week scan, so now the wait until the next scan (I booked a private one) at 9.5 weeks. ☺️

Thanks so much @HopefulllHolly 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Congratulations on your positive steps so far and best of luck for your next scan 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 That’s a good point about the beta doubling being enough, I think it’s just nerves kicking in at this stage. Afraid to do any more at home tests 🙈🙈

@Hopefulsummer35 congratulations!!!

I had my booking appointment with the midwife. All getting very real now!!! I need to see a consultant at 16 weeks and probably start fragmin injections from week 28 up to 6 weeks after birth due to clotting risk 😭 I had fragmin injections when I developed mild OHSS as a precaution for 10 days. They're horrible injections that really sting. DP had to do them for me. So not looking forward to doing them for 4 months!

@DippyDuck19 Awww glad you had your booking appointment! How exciting! What kind of things do they go through? Annoying about the injections but I’m sure you’ll get through them knowing you are pregnant this time and it will help you and baby! Different than doing them without the reward of a little baba maybe?!

@HopefulllHolly we went through soo much. Bit of an information overload!!

Talked through my IVF treatment, my medical history, partners and family medical history, mental health, social circumstances. Talked about the trisomy screening and 12/20week scans, vaccinations etc.
I got a list of when to expect all my midwife/consultant appointments what happens at each appointment.
They also go through risk factors for needing blood thinners as well as some other risks.
Then had height, weight, blood pressure checked. Did a urine sample and had bloods taken to check for blood type, blood disorders and virology.

Won't see the midwife until 25 weeks now (as will see consultant in between) and then after 25 weeks it's every 2 weeks with the midwife.

Also received my certificate for free prescriptions and dental treatment.

Wow that is a lot @DippyDuck19 but super helpful to see they are on it and organised! I’m dreading being weighed, I’ve put on over a stone since egg collection - I really don’t understand how apart from the constipation and bloating I haven’t really eaten more than usual, but I hadn’t eaten carbs in a long while and I have whilst pregnant as they make me
feel less sick. But still - a stone is a stupid amount very early on. I have a little bump (probably bloat and fat but it’s quite pronounced!), I hope it stays like this over the next 5 months and I plateau rather than continue to grow 😅😅

@HopefulllHolly I've only put on a kg so far which surprises me considering what I've been eating!!! I have a bump in the evenings which is all bloat! I have a bit of a belly usually anyways which is good as no one in work is noticing!

Did you manage to get your booking appointment sorted??

@DippyDuck19 ah great you’re all in the system now. Exciting it’s all real.

@HopefulllHolly I am not getting on the scales as I dread to think what it’ll say!! When I go for my booking appointment I will ask them not to tell me my weight as I don’t want to know the damage of IVF and now pregnancy!!

I am hoping I won’t show early as I plan to not tell anyone at work until absolutely necessary. I never lost my belly from having DD two years ago so that might actually come in handy now, lol!

@DippyDuck19 I wish I had only put on a kilo. Mine literally goes up by like 1.5lbs a day. It’s insane!! I don’t have a tummy anyway so it’s quite obvious, i wish I could hide it. All my clothes don’t fit so that’s getting me down but I guess for good reason! Yep my booking appointment is the 25th (and have a private scan on the 24th so if it’s bad news I can cancel the booking appointment. Probably shouldn’t be thinking that way but I can’t help it 😞)

@AnnieStar12 Definitely don’t weigh yourself! I do it out of habit every morning before my shower but now it depresses me every day!

@Hopefulsummer35 congratulations! This is such an exciting time.

@DippyDuck19 I can’t wait for the organic glow either, though I feel like I’ve gone the opposite - I look so tired & washed out, all the time 😂
Ohhh this is so exciting, you’ve had your midwife appointment. Gosh it sounds like you came away with sooo much info.
it must feel so good now, like so real! Sucks about the injections though - I hope that part goes ok & hopefully not so painful.

oh wow, i’m not looking forward to standing on the scales!! Last time I weighed myself was a month or so ago and I’d put on 4kg since starting IVF! I hate that part.
I’m blaming all the medications because I have no idea how I put on so much in such a short time as I was eating really well.
so I’m preparing myself for news that I’ve piled on lots of weight since I’ve been eating sooo much bread these past few weeks!!
@HopefulllHolly I know exactly how you feel. My jeans no longer do up comfortably! And I have a tummy when wearing any top of dress. I’m hoping it’s my baby bump coming through to make me feel better.

I spoke to my clinic today and they have booked me in for a scan on Friday when I will 6 weeks exactly. Argh!! So scared. I know it might be too early for heartbeat but I am hoping it'll give me some reassurance at least that things are growing properly and in the right place.
Been feeling the anxiety quite bad today - wish I could just fast forward the next few weeks.

@AnnieStar12 Oh bless you, it’s an anxious wait! Good that you’ve only got one more sleep to wait though. I think we’ll all be worrying at every stage to be honest. But I did feel much better after my first scan, so hopefully you will too xx

Oooh just realised I’m 8 weeks today! That feels like a nice mini milestone 🥹

@AnnieStar12 it's such an anxious wait to that first scan. 6 weeks is still very early so don't worry if you don't see much! I had a scan at 6+1 and it was measuring behind but saw a heartbeat! It's soo small at that stage it's hard to measure. So as long as you try and mentally prepare for that. Fingers crossed it will all go ok!

@HopefulllHolly a fifth of the way through!!! I'm 8+5 today and this has been the toughest week so far! Have been vomiting and the tiredness is unreal!!!

@DippyDuck19 Oh bless you. That’s rough! I hope it doesn’t last long for you. When did it all kick in? I still feel totally fine apart from the tiredness. I’ve started a new job and it’s very full on and I’m in back to back meetings all day every day, not great when you can’t keep your eyes open after 2pm 🤣🤣

Hey ladies, just been lurking and following your stories since my 7week scan, 9 week scan today and discharged from clinic woo! It is amazing the difference 2 weeks makes on the scan- arm and leg buds visible and baby moving around! Now the long wait for the 12 week!

@AnnieStar12 good luck for your scan tomorrow!

@HopefulllHolly i think your 9.5 week scan will be so cool to see progress!!

Yay @Edf congratulations!! You’ve made me so excited for my scan now. Thanks for sharing! Still feels like ages away but I’m hoping it goes quickly! How are you feeling? Do you have any symptoms? I’m sure the 3 weeks will go quickly for you! ☺️

@HopefulllHolly thank you ☺️ same as you guys really, soooo tired, often nap in the day (when work allows) and in bed by half 8 each night, want to eat anything that is stodgy and unhealthy, nausea but no sickness and just finding in general time is going so very slow! Like a week is a month!