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 thank you! And yes you're absolutely right, I've been trying to reassure myself with the stats out there now which lower a lot once a heartbeat is seen ❤️

@ThePeachGoose what hospital are you at?
Yes at your 12 week scan you’ll have a scan and blood tests which then feeds in to your combined screening which tests for three chromosomal abnormalities, most common being downs. Then they tell you if you’re high or low risk. And if it’s high then they offer you a NIPT on the NHS. A lot of people just go and do the NiPT privately beforehand from 10 weeks as it’s way more accurate than the combined screening. It’s just a blood test, but some places do it with a dating scan too.

Im based in London and went with Concepto which isn’t a clinic it’s just a blood test place and it was the cheapest in London at £300. My results were super fast and included the gender. Initially I was going to have it with the Fetal Medicine Centre which is £400 but that includes a scan.

Goodluck getting the cyclogest prescription. I asked my doc at todays scan and she said I can wean off it from today now I’ve had a positive 12 week scan. But I think if you have bleeding they say continue to 16 weeks, so sounds like you've been told the right thing.

@AnnieStar12 i went to St. Thomas in the end for my peace of mind.

Aaaaah thanks for the info on the trisomy and the nipt, as well as the places you found. I swear I kept reading about it and it just didn’t stick. Maybe there’s still some brain fog involved 🙈

Also good that you were told the same thing on the Cyclogest. I was a bit uneasy initially going from 3 x Cyclogest + 1 x Lubion a day, which has clearly worked swimmingly, to 2 x Cyclogest a day, but my IVF consultant explained that after 12 weeks the placenta should be formed and not as much progesterone is needed, something like that.

@ThePeachGoose yeah, I think that's why they like to wait for the 12 week scan as they can see the placenta is all good and then you can drop the progesterone. I defo had a placenta on my scan yesterday - it was a grey blur on the screen. I'm feeling nervous about dropping mine, and think I'll wait until the weekend to start dropping to one a day and do that for a week. Then take one every other day for another week. I have one box left so that should use them up. But I'm also very happy to stop shoving pessaries up my butt twice a day, lol!!

@AnnieStar12 @ThePeachGoose info differs so much doesnt it 🙈 I didn’t have to wait till 12 week scan (I had it at 12+4) clinic said I could stop cold turkey (or wean myself off for peace of mind) from 12 weeks, they said the progesterone it was supplying to the body at that point was a drop in the ocean compared to what the body was now doing naturally, agree it’s a nerve racking change tho!

i just booked a scan for 7th aug to find out gender 💙🩷 exciting!!

Hi all, on the pessaries chat, did anyone have a natural modified FET?

My clinic said I could stop at 10 weeks, which is today, but following a chat with the midwife I said I'd feel better taking up to 12 weeks, which they agreed with and clinic have prescribed more meds. I know I'm probably being overkill as technically I ovulated naturally so should have been producing my own progesterone but I'm scared about stopping abruptly in 2 weeks! Anyone been in a similar situation?

@Edf that's exciting, I have my 12 week scan that day, counting down the days!

@Natty2 oooo super exciting day then 😊😊 less than 2 weeks to go!

i had fully medicated fet I think… I mean I took oestrogen from day 1 and progesterone from day 14

@AnnieStar12 @Edf now that I think about it, I think that the consultant said that by 12 weeks the placenta should be fully formed and producing the progesterone you need. But they'll obviously continue giving me a little more for the haematoma, as they have a study called PRISM or something like that, that shows it prevents miscarriage I think? Anyway, I can relate to both the anxiety of coming off progesterone or downgrading, as well as the excitement of stopping the injections in my belly every night and shoving things up my butt 3 times a day. I'll be so grateful to even do it only twice a day lol

@Edf 7th August will be here in no time! whoop whoop

@Natty2 I think everyone is anxious about coming off their progesterone at any stage, as you can see in the posts above. If I remember right from reading all sorts of stories on mumsnet, most women stop progesterone at 8 weeks after fresh transfers and 12 after FET? Either way, if the midwife didn't protest it's probably not an issue, and the placenta should take over after 12, so good for you that you asked for more.

I was really nervous coming off it at 8 weeks but i honestly didn’t notice a difference apart from my bloating went away. I was terrified I’d bleed or start losing baby (also have a haematoma - it’s just never caused any bleeding touch wood!) but it was totally fine. I weaned myself off them so I think I fully stopped at 9.5 weeks 🤭

Just when I thought I was past the nausea - it’s back!! 🤢 So annoying!

Hows everyone today??

Thanks all, that's reassuring!

@HopefulllHolly oh no! How many weeks are you now? I must try to keep a track 😅

I hit 10 weeks yesterday and panicked when I felt better but feeling sick currently and not looking forward to lunch 🤢
My bloating is unreal atm, I'm quite petite so it's really sticking out. I really struggled to find clothes to hide my belly today!

@Natty2 Awww sorry you’re feeling sick! Are you having food aversion too? Thankfully that’s gone for me now - I just feel sick if im not constantly eating 😅
Eeeek 10 weeks that’s exciting!! A quarter of the way there ❤️ My bloating is bad in the evenings but in the day it’s a little bump now. Hopefully yours will go too soon! I was 14 weeks yesterday so exactly 4 weeks apart. I want to say it’s going quickly and it is to some extent but then each week seems like it takes forever to pass 🤣🤣

You should see the looks my other half throws me. I cannot stop burping 🤣🤣🤣

@HopefulllHolly the nausea is back for me this week to but only if I don't eat. I was also sick on Tuesday. Haven't felt ok for the last 2 weeks so it's come out of nowhere.

Anyone constantly ravenous! I'm literally eating every hour! I had my breakfast this morning (Greek yoghurt and fruit) and have since had 2 rounds of crumpets 🤦🏻‍♀️

That should be "have" felt ok. Not haven't.

The nausea comes & goes for me too! I've also noticed that I can control it if I keep eating (touch wood this doesn't change!!)
I'm not sure if it's 2nd trimester thing or just that's it's starting to settle down 🤞🏼

@DippyDuck19 yes!! I'm so hungry all the time. I don't know why 🙈 most people say they can't eat much when pregnant and then here's me constantly nibbling away, always thinking about food, packing snack bags with me even if I'm only popping out for an hour 😅😂
I'm guessing it's normal 🤷🏻‍♀️ maybe baby is just super hungry!?

Also the burping is hilarious @HopefulllHolly 😂😅 (I'd rather it be burping than the other end! 💨)
I seem to burp after I've drank or ate anything

A little late to the party here but @AnnieStar12 congratulations on your scan 🙌🏼🎉❤️ I'm so glad it went well for you!!
& your screening results! A little confusing but sounds like it's all ok.

@lemonyfox so exciting you saw the little heartbeat - that's such a magical feeling & a big relief!
(Sorry late to the party here too!)

@HopefulllHolly yes food aversions started by week 6 which has probably been the most toughest thing as I love to cook and eat and can't stand both! 😂

I'm with you all on the hunger, definitely been eating little and often as really struggle with full meals, but it's hard to snack sometimes when I'm put off food! Sounds like the hunger continues in the second trimester then!

I was 9 weeks yesterday and (touch wood), I’ve still not had any nausea at all!!! I am having food aversions though, I just don’t fancy anything unless it’s juicy & fruity (could be worse😂)

So great to see everyone trucking through the weeks 😀 Can’t believe I’m only 3 weeks away from the 2nd trimester, the days are certainly long but looking back it does feel kind of quick .. kind of 👀😂

@DippyDuck19 Yeah I’ve been ok recently too it’s only back this week. Usually when I’m hungry but it’s fairly constant. Im constantly hungry but only for really specific things - today all I could think about was ham from a very specific butcher, crusty white sliced bread (I don’t eat white bread ever), lettuce and loads of salad cream. So my partner had to go get it for me. 🤣🤣 I have also got extra for emergency sandwiches as we’re going to
my other half’s family house and his mums not around and there’s never any food in the house. 🤣

@Natty2 Oh bless you. I love cooking too but didn’t cook until last weekend when I made a roast (selfish reasons, I wanted Yorkshire pudding 😅). Hopefully it’ll get better for you soon! I still have strong aversions to certain things (especially those things I used to eat regularly), but mainly it’s just very intense cravings for weird things I wouldn’t usually want.

@Fluffyted It’s honestly horrendous. I am not a gassy person (gospel truth I probably burp once a year 🤣🤣 I just don’t do it) so it’s very weird just burping constantly. I must have burped about 100 times today. And yes I totally get you on the snack bag! We’re away this weekend and I’ve packed a bag for the journey, a bag of snacks for when we are there and had a proper cry wobble at my partner when he was listing our plans because he hadn’t mention when we’d eat 🤣🤣🤣 Another good symptom atm - insane upset at stupid things. I cried because he wouldn’t give me a back rub the other day. Really bad ugly weeping. But it worked, I’ve been allowed foot rubs and massages every day since without even asking! 🤭 The poor guy!

@HopefulllHolly I have a thing for salad cream too! I'm literally running out of things to eat - at the mo I'm craving crumpets, quavers, prawn cocktail wotsits, and chicken nuggets. Also liking juicy things so always have strawberries and grapes in the fridge. I've got a supply of crumpets but they need to last me the weekend! Am meant to be going out for dinner this evening with a friend but I find dinners hard. No matter how hungry I am, after a few mouthfuls I feel like I'm going to be sick so have to stop eating. I think this is why I haven't put on much weight yet! But then I'm hungry again as I'm getting into bed! It's never ending.

Can't say I'm burping more that usual though! I get back reflux anyways so can be quite gassy from that.

Eeeee I'm 6+6 and hit by my first bit of nausea today! Weirdly relieved as the lack of morning sickness has been throwing me.

I can also second the need for juicy fruit. I'm not normally a grape person, I think they're fine, but oh my god big fat juicy crispy green grapes at the min are the best!

Hey girls, I don’t want to be a downer on this group and toying with whether or not to post, but just in case anyone now or future comes across this I think I wana let people know it’s ok not to be ok and it’s ok to ask for help. I’ve been struggling a lot and putting on a brave face but have now been referred to the antenatal mental health team, everything touch wood is good with the baby but I think years of fertility struggles and some rather hard personal circumstances have meant I’m not coping to well with things at the moment, I hope it’s ok to share this- sometimes talking on here is easier than real life, I feel incredibly guilty feeling like this especially as I am aware how lucky I am. I don’t wana hijack with the negative stuff and looking forward to hearing all the awesome scan news and gender reveals to come 💕