July BFPs after IVF

[lemonyfox]

Hello! I wondered if anybody else has recently tested positive after a transfer and would like to chat and pass the next few nerve wracking weeks with me? 😊

I had my FET on 27th June and my OTD was yesterday 🎉

I know there's other similar threads out there at the min with really lovey ladies on there, but they all seem to be 8-10 weeks ahead so I thought it might be nice to share a new one.

The Birth Company in London do private scans. They're very thorough and will talk you through everything and most of the time it's put up on a big projector for you to see. It's pricey, but I used them for all my tracking scans and bloods when I was having ivf overseas and I also used them for my 6 week scan

@ScullyLyf our private one today was with Ultrasound Direct because we get two scans included in the IVF package we paid for with Access Fertility. I used WTTW with my first pregnancy and they were really great too - actually better than USD I think because they're warmer and more personal.

Our scan today went well! Good heartbeat and still measuring exactly on 9+1 as it should!

@IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday oooo exciting, well let's see if we both conform to the statistical norm then 😂 and no our little boy was a nice normal weight at 7lb15oz. His blood sugars did drop a few hours after birth, but it turned out when he was latching nothing was coming out so he was just very hungry! I had to have hourly blood sugar monitoring through labour which was so annoying, it made me soo scared to eat anything in case the midwives went all fussy about my sugars! So that probably didn't help either as I just didn't eat

@IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday Oh I didn't know the PCOS is also a risk factor for GD. I've had it, so I should either mention the GTT to my midwife
I'm in the same situation with the private scan. I was about to persuade myself not to go for one but we are announcing to my in-laws at 11 weeks as we won't see them again for a few months. So, I prefer to go for a provate scan a few days before.

@lemonyfox Oh I hope your scan was very well and it reassured you even more xx please let us know how it went on. It's very good that your IVF clinic offer those 2 additional scans.
I know, NIPT is very expensive. I'm glad that both you and @IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday don't need it. I will be 40 soon so I'm sure my normal NHS screening will come as high risk. I'm just not sure if I should do it private beforehand or wait and be referred after the high risk result.
@Always28 You do the best, I used to always be the one who was criticising everyone for having tones of unnecessary scans 🤣
I'm also searching for some prenatal yoga classed but they are all once a week which I don't find it enough.
@IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday About pilates, one of the studios where I used to go offers the pregnancy ones but only from the 2nd trimester.

Hi everyone,
I'm wondering if any of you has already attended their first midwife appointment yet. I just attended mine and it was far from my expectations and what I read on NHS website. It last less than half an hour, not many questions and no urine test as mentioned on NHS website. Can you please explain how yours was if you had it? Thanks a lot.

We had our 12 weeks scan today and booking appt with midwife! I'm technically 11+4, was brought forward a couple of days due to scheduling at the doctors office but baby looks amazing, measuring a day ahead still! Hematoma nearly gone. Starting to actually look forward to this pregnancy 💕💕 although I'm still vomiting 🤮🤮

@GOL I'm in Ireland so not sure if it's different here but today midwife went through my history, reviewed my bloods I got from GP, did urine test and took blood pressure. Sorry to hear your experience wasn't as expected.

@hja62 may I ask how the bleeding has been for your hematoma. Size and when it was discovered. Glad to hear went well with the first appointment and baby, so exciting !

@gol could you give some feedback to the hospital. I haven't had mine yet, but when I visited EPU last week they said my first appointment could take upto an hour and there would be lots of questions and information gathering.

@Rosequartzz I've been very lucky, my hematoma was very small. I actually had two, each one measuring about 1cm. I had no bleeding thank god x

That's a relief 🙏 mine is just over 2cm, to me that's quite small but I guess at this stage it is seen as a reasonable size. I'm sure it'll pass soon as per what the drs have advised.

@Rosequartzz yeah mine was spotted at the 7 week scan and have nearly gone now by 12 weeks. Should be completely absorbed by 16 weeks. Did you have any bleeding with yours?

@hja62 I had spotting and bleeding last week and the 7 week scan confirmed all well with baby and bleed is from hematoma. They said the bleeding can last upto 2 weeks, sometimes there is no bleed as the body absorbs it, and by 12 week scan it should be fully gone.

I had no spotting bleeding for 4 days and started again yesterday so I'm back to fully resting. It's scary when it's on and off and you think it's all done.

@Rosequartzz I'm so sorry you're going through that. Even though you now know the bleeding is caused by the hematoma, it doesn't really stop the worry. You're doing the right thing though but just resting and letting your body do its thing x

Thank you 😊 feels so good to have this little group of support, especially as we've not told anyone. Thank you for your understanding and support. The resting is helping as the spotting has eased up alot.

How are you doing ?

@Rosequartzz it's been so nice having this little group, especially when no one else knows in the first trimester. It's been comforting seeing that the worries, anxieties and concerns have been pretty universal and we're not alone 💕

I'm doing good, starting to relax into the pregnancy now and believe this little baby is really coming home with us! I'm officially 12 weeks tomorrow (not sure am I now into the second trimester or does that happen at end of 12 weeks 🤔)!!

We told our family, friends and colleagues yesterday after our scan on Monday - I was quite anxious to say it out loud as it made it real, I was struggling to accept it was really happening before that. But I'm so glad we did, everyone was thrilled for us and was so lovely to have their support and well wishes 🥰🥰

Mines on Saturday, so I'll let you know afterwards! My booking appt for my first pregnancy was over the phone as it was Covid, so I don't really have a "normal" point of reference. I do remember it took quite some time though and a long detailed medical history.

@GOL oh your booking appointment doesn't sound great! I was there just over an hour for mine, I don't feel like I talked loads, but there were so many questions from the midwife and I had bloods, blood pressure, Co2 test and a urine test so I doubt it could have been much shorter. Hopefully things are just done a little differently in your area and you feel things are a bit more thorough at the next appointment.

@hja62 congratulations on your 12 week scan! I hope you're just a week or two away from no more vomiting, you poor thing. I'm so glad you felt good to share your news, hopefully it all feels a bit more real now!

@Rosequartzz really sorry to hear you're having the stress of a haematoma. I had a 4.9mm one show up at my 7wk scan, which explained a bleed I'd had at 6 weeks. I had about 5 days of brown spotting during week 8 too, which I hoped was it going away, and sure enough at my scan yesterday at 10+3 it's gone, just a very small line showing up where it was. The midwife did tell me at the 7wk scan that I could have more episodes of bleeding because of it, that I shouldn't be too worried given it was so small but to go to EPU if I had red blood or pain. I think resting is definitely sensible, but don't be afraid to get a check up if it would put your mind at rest. I hope it's all stopped now.

I had a scan at WTTW yesterday at 10+3 and it was lovely to see a 'proper baby' on the screen instead of the little blurry 7wk blob with a heartbeat! Baby is measuring 2 days ahead and looks absolutely fine, they stayed nice and still for measurements and photos and then jumped about a little and stretched out, we could even see their little toes ❤️ it still doesn't feel real tbh (although the 4am wake up for yet another wee and then feeling sick enough to need a bowl of cereal by 5am says otherwise!) A lovely weekend ahead of sharing the news and, with it being first time grandparents on both sides, I think it's going to be quite emotional.

I hope everyone else is doing really well, @lemonyfox I hope your booking appointment goes well on Sat! And thanks for sharing re GD, hope you avoid it this time it's a shame it gave you extra stress for birthing your son but at least he was a lovely healthy weight!

Aww absolutely fantastic relay of your scan 🥰 I've got a good few weeks until my 12 week scan and not feeling like I need to get further checks as the spotting has heavily reduced. Just some tinges on the cervical mucus every now and then. The resting helps.. which with the other symptoms is much needed. Last 4 evenings I've been vomiting as which is so gross

@IWouldRatherBeOnHoliday oh please let us know how you get on telling family......how exciting considering it's the first grandchild on both sides 🥰🥰

Our immediate families know all we have been through over the last number of years. Unfortunately IVF, among many other things, robs you of that huge "surprise we're pregnant" moment if you have told family/friends what you are going through.

I was nervous to tell our wider family and friends because I was a bit in denial it was happening - I guess a mechanism to protect myself after all the heartbreak. Saying it out loud made it real, and made the risks real too if that makes sense? But everyone was so excited for us it was instantly worth it!

I had my booking appointment today. It was LONG, 1hr 20min in total.

She said IVF makes you higher risk for pre-eclampsia which is a new one for me. She also said they don't generally want IVF pregnancies to go past 39 weeks, so either an induction or section by 39 weeks. Has everyone else been told that?

I'm also going to be under the pre-term labour team because I had incompetent cervix in my first pregnancy, as well as an emergency section once I was already fully dilated and pushing.

PLUS I had gestational diabetes last time which is another high risk thing.

A bit overwhelming tbh as I feel like I'm a walking red flag list this pregnancy, but it is what it is!

Sorry to hear you feel like a walking red flag, however, if you Flip that view you are under more scrutinised care which can feel more comforting.

I've not yet had my midwife appointment so the pre eclampsia is very new news to me! I am aware of the IVF pregnancies not going past 39 weeks, although i dont think anyone disclosed why. 2 of my friends both chose elective c sections for theirs.

@Rosequartzz that's very true!

I don't mind going at 39 weeks, it's one less week at the really uncomfortable stage 😂

How is everyone getting on?

How you doing @lemonyfox ? I'm doing alright, got the usual tiredness, nausea, sometimes vomiting, hunger pangs, heartburn sometimes. Sometimes I've had back pain and lower abdominal pain. We went for private scan on Thursday and they said as I have a tilted uterus the ligaments are shorter so the pulling, cramping and back pain is a result of the ligaments trying to stretch as the uterus grows and I'll feel it more over the coming weeks until the uterus tilts forward.
Bloating and belching starts in the evenings too. As grateful as I am to be here after so many rounds of IVF there seems to be a whole host of symptoms I wasn't aware come with pregnancy 😅

Also, for anyone on progesterone pessaries, lubion and/or aspirin at what week have you been advised to stop taking these ?

@Rosequartzz ah I'm sorry you're feeling rough, it's not glamorous is it. My sickness thankfully has been fading away since 9 weeks, but I'm still bloated and have heartburn. I'm also SICK TO DEATH of lubion and progynova and cyclogest. I've been having terrible insomnia and mood swings since I started them before FET and I'm just fed up of it. I'm surprised my husband hasn't walked out by this point because I'm so exhausted and angry all the time 😅

My clinic told me to stop cold turkey at exactly 12 weeks, which will be this Saturday for me. Can't bloody wait. What have you been advised?

Though my booking midwife told me to start taking aspirin at 12 weeks, so if you're already taking it I'm not sure on stopping that at 12 weeks. Though I have "moderate risk factors" for preeclampsia (first being IVF, second being BMI) so if you're low risk then perhaps you can also stop that at 12 weeks too.

Feel like we rattle when we walk with all these pills in us!

hey :)

I’m also feeling really sick constantly. Some days are worse than others but it’s always there. I also have heartburn.

I had a scan on Tuesday which was all good. I’m still feeling quite anxious and worrying about the next scan - but trying not to, and to enjoy the loveliness of actually being pregnant. I think I just find it hard to believe it can really be happening after so long waiting and all that’s gone into the journey.

I had originally been told to stop progesterone at 12 weeks. But after having a small bleed about 10 days ago (hence the EPU scan on Tuesday), I’ve now been told to carry on to 16 weeks. However, I’m a bit stressed because of the cost - particularly the pinion. I’m trying to get an NHS prescription for it but it’s proving difficult as my consultant is on holiday and the GP isn’t allowed to prescribe it - the system literally won’t let her. I’m not sure if maybe the EPU can help me.

Oh and I have been told to carry on with aspirin right the way through the pregnancy. Clexane until 16 weeks.