BFP after IVF - the journey continues (part 2)

[HopefulllHolly]

SENSITIVE CONTENT

Continuation of previous thread for anyone with a BFP following IVF to support with anxieties and other worries that come along with pregnancy after infertility.

@AnnieStar12
@DippyDuck19
@DogMummy87
@Edf
@Fluffyted
@Leaf86
@LouP87
@Natty2
@SETTC87
@ThePeachGoose
@jas1996
@lemonyfox
@oliviagrace2307
@summerchild92

Please tag anyone else I’ve missed accidentally!

@ThePeachGoose The date of birth on the back is yours and your due date is on the front ☺️☺️☺️

@ThePeachGoose On the John Lewis discount - I tried it out on the bugaboo we want online and it’s already discounted and you get the discount on top - so maybe?!? That would be amazing wouldn’t it! The codes last for 2 months so I think you’ll have until end of December to use it so you might get Christmas sales too!
Oh and my gums are in an absolute state - they didn’t bleed at all all through ivf even when the dentist said they would but over the last month I have a mouthful of blood every time I brush which is horrible. Luckily my gums are ok in themselves, just very unpleasant! Had them all asking about baby names while I was there which is a very sore point for me at the moment. We cannot agree on anything whatsoever and it’s quite tense when we chat about it at home now. 🙃🙃🙃 Such a massive decision!
Baby is still being a monkey with movement - yesterday she wasn’t too bad, today I didn’t feel her whatsoever until I made myself a green smoothie (marks and spencer frozen aisle they are so good!) which I know gets her bouncing around. Felt her a little then but quite deep inside movements so she’s definitely facing my spine today. She did start kicking much more when I was on the phone to my other half on speaker so that was cute. I think they start recognising voices about now so maybe that’s what it was! Cute 🥰

@Edf nice chunky baby growing well! Maybe a little too well?? Fingers crossed it's not GD.

I tried to measure my fundal height yesterday (myself lol) because my bump feels huge. Will see if they measure tomorrow at my 28 week appointment. Can see me being sent for a GD test (I have a very sweet tooth!)

@AnnieStar12 thank you ☺️ vinted is very addictive too!!! I've put a temporary ban on myself buying anything until after my baby shower. Although I did buy a tuppence and crumble star wrap for £4 after seeing them recommended on here.

@ThePeachGoose thank you ☺️ I've gone for the tutti bambini Jonah nursing chair. Got a really good deal with it.
I'm going back to the place I had my 16 week gender scan. They did a sneak peak in 4d for 30 seconds at the gender scan and DP loved it! Usually find them a little weird. But this place has 3 levels of 4d - like standard definition, high definition and then super HD. The super HD is so clear so that's what we've gone with. We are bringing both our mums too, so will hopefully be nice. Also want to see his face to see if he suits his name. We may tell immediate family his name then as they want to buy some personalised bits.

In terms of your matb1 form, it's your date of birth on that top bit. That's what my midwife told me anyway.

@HopefulllHolly @DippyDuck19 thank you for helping with the mat b1 form. I assumed it was that, but didn't want to make any mistakes

@HopefulllHolly oh that’s good to know! hopefully the stuff we want will be discounted during Black Friday / Christmas sales and that they will add up. That would be grand! Aaaah sorry about the gums situation. At least they got cleared as healthy so less of a concern, but doesn’t sound like a pleasant experience at all. Definitely a good thing to stay on top of during pregnancy though! Aaaaaah sorry that finding the name is proving such a difficult and tense task! Do both of you have clear criteria for what you’re looking for in a name? as that might provide some framework to the whole process. E.g. my husband wanted a name that can create lots of nicknames, whereas I wanted a name that could be pronounced by my mum who doesn’t speak English very well. Neither of us liked American names. It may be worth looking through one of those baby name books too, who knows how helpful they are. But definitely a big decision and it might just be the case that you have a shortlist and when she’s here, one will just feel right. Could happen like that too! Or someone will have to compromise and accept their pick as a middle name, or you could double barrel it if it works. It's tough. Awww your little monkey is being very adorable, and it sounds overall that you’re more relaxed and you’re enjoying your time with her. So pleased for you!

@DippyDuck19 thanks for sharing, the nursing chair looks lovely and I can see that it’s on sale everywhere at the moment, nice! awww the 4D scan sounds like a wonderful experience for everyone. There will be soooo many tears going round that room lol

Morning guys - I’ve had the worst night sleep ever. I’m in quite a bit of pain and I don’t know if it’s normal! I feel like maybe it could be just pains from ligaments stretching or her just sitting very low down, but it’s all over my bump - and I can’t get comfortable or move very well. It’s not Braxton hicks as it’s not contracting pain or anything, just constant like I’ve torn muscles and am bruised in my bump. Baby has been moving a lot in the night but generally she’s been quieter since I went in for checks last week, so I think she’s just in a move established routine and is quieter now. But ouch, it’s so sore! I’ve only slept for about an hour in total. 😖
Has anyone had the same?

Morning @HopefulllHolly - a colleague of mine who is a bit further a long than me had what sounds like similar pain a month or so ago - it turned out to be position baby was in causing it but she did go and get checked out - worth a visit I think! Hope it gets better quickly

Thanks @LouP87 I think it is just stretching or her position but oh my gosh it’s so sore!! I’ve decided to work from bed today with a warm hot water bottle which helps a little, wish I could just go to sleep though.

Sometimes this can be gas or constipation for me, but never so painful to disrupt sleep. I would definitely go and get checked. X

@HopefulllHolly oh dear, that sounds horrible. How are you feeling now? Hopefully hot water bottle is helping.
Maybe you should get checked out as it sounds like quite severe pain if it’s stopping you sleeping. There might be something you can be offered to help.

@AnnieStar12 It’s a lot better today but still have pangs of pain when I’m too active (walking the dog). Baby is moving away though so I’m not too worried, I just hope I can sleep tonight and this isn’t my third trimester 😅🤣
On a brighter note, I’ve had the nursery furniture delivered (at 6:45am!!!) and it’s made it very real, I’m so excited!!

@HopefulllHolly glad the pain is getting better.
Is the furniture in boxes or all up already? How exciting! Im waiting for a few bits and bobs to arrive for the baby room and then it’ll be largely finished! It is quite exciting going in there seeing the baby clothes and things all ready.
I’ve still got the next to me crib in the loft but I will get that out closer to the time as it’s going in our room and I don’t want it to take up the space for months unnecessarily.

@AnnieStar12 Thanks for the support and advice! Oh no it’s all in massive boxes all over our downstairs still. Going to paint the nursery this weekend and then assemble it. The cot is one that turns to a toddler bed so it’s pretty big so there’s no point in opening that kettle of fish yet!
Awww yeah it is exciting! I’m not even as far along with preparing as you and I’m giddy. My other half keeps catching me in the nursery just imagining what it’s going to be like. Bought some cute bedding and stuff today too to make it a bit more interesting - can’t wait to make it look pretty! 😍 Definitely dont get the cot down yet, we’re buying ours end of November but im not planning on assembling it until January.

I’m all ahead of myself after my John Lewis appointment this morning. Got everything being delivered from next weekend to the weekend after and I’ve no space to store, so it’ll all have to go up as soon as it comes! I’m absolutely exhausted 😂!

On arrival I was adamant we were having the Silver Cross Tide, we’ve walked out with Cybex Balios ☺️

@HopefulllHolly I hope the pain is a little better. I have no answers for you. The top of my bump feels like it's severely sunburnt! And gets worse when I lie on my right side. I think I have rib flare.

Exciting you are painting the nursery and hopefully putting together the furniture! Can't wait to see your nursery!! I bet it will look gorgeous!

@LouP87 baby shopping is exciting? What else did you get besides the pram?? I loved the Cybex balios too! Was on my short list.

I've spent today getting the spare room free of baby stuff for MILs arrival tomorrow. We built the next to me cot and have rearranged our bedroom to put it situ. My dog doesn't like change, so wanted things in place by 30 weeks so she can get used to things being different before baby arrives. Pram built and car seat is in the car. again the car seat is where the dog likes to sit lol she's not happy about having to sit on the other side. she'd be in the car seat if I let her 😂

Don't think I updated after my 28 week appointment on Thursday. Ended up seeing one of the consultants junior doctors and didn't fill me with confidence. Just listened to baby's heart beat. Didn't measure the fundal measurement and Had to ask for my 28 week bloods to be done. On the plus side, he noticed that the dermoid cysts I have on each ovary have doubled in size since I've been pregnant. They were 3x3cm and are 4x7cm now 🤦🏻‍♀️ which may interfere with a natural delivery. He's sending me for growth scans at 34 and 36 weeks (so extra opportunities to see baby). After the 34 week scan I will see the consultant again, and if the cysts have continued to grow or have moved down into my pelvis, I will have to have an elective c-section.

Awww @LouP87 thats so exciting getting all your stuff! Baby shopping is fun but I think my partner felt overwhelmed (and still does - our whole ground floor is full of giant boxes of all the furniture 🤣🤣 I’m sure when deliveries arrive you’ll be better than us who just leave them where they are until we’ve worked out what we’re doing 😅

@DippyDuck19 Good plan getting everything ready! Our dog is the same (did you say you have a dachshund too?). He’s got a giant bed on my side of the bed (THAT HE DOES NOT USE) that I’m going to have to move or swap out for one of his smaller beds (he has 4 all over the house, talk about spoilt). So I think we might get the bedroom and next to me cot sorted sooner than I thought - good plan!
That sounds really annoying about your consultant - good that he spotted your cysts though, how do you feel about having a caesarean? I guess for me it’d make me feel ok as it takes all the choice out of your hands really and you can just relax and wait for the date to come around. Hope you’re ok, great you get to see little babe a few extra times though, silver linings to having naughty cysts! Sounds like you’re having a nice productive weekend.

I’ve just stopped painting for the day - only painted the top half of the room above the panelling so far, it’s quite fiddly with the cornicing and it was on top of a dark grey colour so I had to do a few coats. The colour is slightly darker than I’d planned for the top half, more of a warmer neutral but it’s hard to judge whether it works ok with the green as we don’t have a light up in there until Monday. But so far I like it! Doing the green tomorrow and then I need to assemble the new light fixtures and then we can start with the furniture. I’m massively excited about that part! I bought some really cute bedding too which will look lovely hopefully!
Im so so sore now after painting all day, baby is very quiet again 😕 I had to stop for a while today as I was getting that stabbing pain again which worries me but I think it’s just a stitch or something. Hopefully she livens up now I’m resting this evening. I absolutely cannot wait for next weekend when we’ll be done with decorating and I can have my house back 🤣 I’ve promised the dog he’s going to get lots of lovely walks now and we can spend time together before baby comes. Saying that, I do have a list of things I want to deep clean - so I think I’m in nesting mode now. I feel like everything needs doing before she comes. My other half is getting annoyed at my list of things to do 🤣🤣🤣 I can’t help it though!

@HopefulllHolly I have a springer-poo. She's such a diva and very spoilt too!

As for c-section, not quite sure how I feel. Initially when I found out I was pregnant, I had a lot of fears around giving birth. I've done a lot of research and now have very much come round to the idea of a natural birth with as little intervention as possible. I'm put off by the recovery of a c-section. Ultimately though, as long as baby boy is here safe and healthy, I really don't mind. I hoping they don't grow too much more (damn pregnancy hormones!) or at least stay out the way of baby's route out!

Sounds like your nursery is coming along nicely. Make sure you're not overdoing it though! Hope baby girl starts moving a bit more too once you start resting.

@DippyDuck19 we got car seats (my dad was adamant we buy the 2nd for when baby boy is bigger at the same time), cot with mattress and accessories, monitor, sling/carrier, bouncy chair and some random bits like more muslins, swaddle bag. We were there for two hours but felt like days, glad to be home now with my feet up!

Have you been booked in for the growth scans purely because of the cysts they’re monitoring? Or is for baby boy’s size too? I have two schedule too, at 32 and 36 weeks but they were because of low lying placenta (which has already moved up to high) I’m just keeping them in to be cheeky and see little one again! My first fundal heigh measurement was big, almost at 90th percentile, but the 28 weeks one was bang on 28cm, so think his growth has slowed down to a normal rate now

@LouP87 nice! A proper shopping spree!
At my 18 week appointment the consultant said there would be no more scans after the 20 week one usually but would offer me one after 34 weeks just because I'm an IVF pregnancy (no other reason). As far as we were aware at that point my cysts were still 3x3cm and no bother. But on the latest appointment, the doctor said the scans are purely for the cysts so they can decide best way to deliver. No concerns with baby's size at the mo.

Fingers crossed for you that they don’t get any bigger then and stay out the way. At least a good chance to see baby again without having to pay for it. Think I’m steering clear of the 4D scans, they’re so pricey but also would be nice to keep what he looks like a surprise!

Hey everyone! Hope you’re ok?

@DippyDuck19 Haha sounds like we have 2 diva dogs. My main worries have been about logistics with the dog when I’m in labour and how he will cope with less of my attention. 😅 Hes been my baby for 3 years and he’s such a sweet little soul.
Oh bless you on the caesarean front - must be difficult when you’ve made tracks with settling on a vaginal birth. But like you say, as long as baby is safe!

@LouP87 Wow that’s a great haul!! Sounds like you had a productive shopping trip! I wish I had as much stuff bought but honestly the state of my house right now we’d have no room for it anyway 🤣🤣

On my front:
We’ve now painted the top half of the nursery above the panelling THREE times 😅😅 because non of the colours look right in the room. We’re now committing to the final colour which is farrow and ball ammonite. Honestly you couldn’t make it up. Every colour in samples looks ok and then in the room looks totally different. I had a total wobble yesterday as I was very hormonal and everything was making me cry but today I feel a bit better. I did assemble the changing table drawers last night which was lovely and it’s really pretty, very pleased with it.
Last night we went to our first antenatal class which was good, everyone was lovely and we learnt quite a bit. I felt more confident leaving as I seemed to know more than others there just from doing my hypnobirthing classes so that was nice. The midwife was also from Harrogate hospital where I’m giving birth and was a lactation specialist who has two boys from IVF so I had a good chat with her about lots of things I wasn’t sure on. So the day ended nicely.
Had my 28 week midwife appointment this morning and was good. Baby is measuring big though 😅 She’s currently around the 85/90 percentile. Glad she’s growing nicely but hopefully she stays in her lane and I don’t need to have her any earlier or with any intervention. My sister was 10lbs10 so she could be a big girl but me and my partner were only 7lbs so hopefully it’s just a big bump and not a big baby!

But yeah, lots going on. Hopefully the top of the nursery will be finished today and we’ll do the green the next day and then get the nursery furniture in on Friday/Saturday and I can relax as I had planned to. I’m absolutely knackered though and very glad I’m off work next week tbh. ☺️

Hope everyone is ok! Everyone’s quite quiet which I’m hoping is a good thing!

@HopefulllHolly my dog is 10 years old so she's in for a shock at having to share us!

I love the ammonite colour - we have this in our bedroom! I'm sure it will all come together very soon and will look lovely 🥰

Sounds like baby girl is growing very well! Exciting you've started antenatal classes, bet that makes it feel a little more real! We start ours next week with the hospital but they're online, would have liked face to face but hey ho!

A little update from me - we went to our 4d scan yesterday. We brought both our mums with us. However baby boy wasn't playing and refused to show us his face 🤦🏻‍♀️ his head was snuggled right into my placenta and the umbilical cord was covering his face. Was nice though to share the scan and hear the heartbeat. The clinic have given us another appointment on Saturday for a free rescan to see if we can get a better view of his face! Shame DM and MIL won't be there for this one though.

@DippyDuck19 Aww bless her. Well hopefully when you’re having some time to yourself she can stay with you for extra cuddles while daddy and baby go on a walk or something. That’s my plan currently! 🙂I’m sure they adapt anyway, just sad to think they might feel pushed out, but then I am hyper emotional atm!!
Oh gosh, haha little boy is playing hard to get! What was the rest of it like? Hopefully Saturday he’ll be better for you to see him.
Yeah antenatals were great, good for meeting lots of local people too! We start the NHS ones next week too so we’ll be on 2 a week - I’ll report back where they differ if it’s helpful! The one we’re doing privately is half in person and half online, so on Mondays it’s in person for 5 weeks and then Thursday nights there’s online sessions with lactation specialists, obstetricians and other stuff so I’ll probably join those when I can after Pilates. Feels like it’s very busy and time is going very quickly!
Are you off next week too @DippyDuck19 ?

@HopefulllHolly that's a good idea about spending some time with her when baby with daddy.

Don't feel like I enjoyed the scan. The sonographer had me rolling in all sorts of positions, wiggling, jumping around lol and because we couldn't really see him it put a downer on it. Hopefully Saturday will be better. The appointment is earlier on Saturday when he's usually a bit more active so fingers crossed.

I'm off work this week. Just getting the last few bits of nursery and hospital bag sorted. I needed a rest before the last 4 week slog at work!

@DippyDuck19 Awww well hopefully you’ll catch him in a better position on Saturday, not long to wait! I know my baby is head down currently so I don’t reckon I’d see much of her either 😂 Fingers crossed! Oooh that’s sooooo exciting you will only have 4 weeks left, that will absolutely fly by!! So excited for you. Proper time to yourself as a couple and rest ready for Christmas and little man to make his grand entrance! I can’t wait to finish so I bet you are absolutely buzzing!

@DippyDuck19 sorry to hear your 4D scan wasn’t what you hoped - fingers crossed that baby boy is feeling more extrovert on Saturday!

@HopefulllHolly how is your pain now? Sounds like it’s better ? Glad to hear you’re making progress on the nursery, even if the paint choice has been a process!!

Interesting that you were told your centile fundal measurement @LouP87 @HopefulllHolly I wasn’t told when I had mine at 25 weeks, just that it was fine. I have growth scans booked too so hopefully will be able to track things that way.

We’ve had a busier week in terms of nesting than normal for us! We have had some fitted joinery installed in our bedroom to give us more storage upstairs. We have moved a lot of our books upstairs and it has made room for our toddler’s toys / books downstairs, which has freed up the nursery for space for both babies 😂 The joys of a small house! I have also got down all of the newborn clothes and sorted them into a pile of re-use / donate. Not all are suitable to be re-used; my toddler was a summer baby and this one will be mid winter. I’m going to hold off sorting the keep pile out, washing them and noting any gaps until we are a bit further along. I’ve also managed to source a great deal online for a second hand double buggy (definitely a bit sooner than expected, but didn’t want to let it go).