IVF Scotland - thread 6

[IVFlife]

That last thread filled up quickly without us noticing. So here is a new one for Scotland.

@2mumlife congratulations! That's amazing news. And a home birth sounds like the ideal birth. Hope you and baby are doing well and you've managed to get some rest when baby boy is sleeping x

We had our first scan for FET today and all looking good. Lining is already thick enough and lead follicle is 14mm. They schedule trigger when over 15 so think will be doing trigger wed/thurs then transfer start of next week!!! Excited!

@2mumlife oh wow!!! I didn't realise you were almost ready! Ahhh that's so exciting! So many exclamation marks hah, I'm very happy for you and your growing family. Welcome baby boy 🥰

Exciting @LT103 ! It's a nice moment of the ivf journey, esp as it's nearing the end of injections. It felt really like getting the results on an exam I'd worked really hard studying for. Whatever the results, you know you did your best :)

I love autumn @IVFlife . I've been going on walks in woods where I can find them. Still waiting to miscarry, I have a vac surgery booked for next Wednesday but started showing signs the last few days. I'm now pretty up for my body doing it itself. Just very afraid of haemorrhage. I'm in a very rural location this week getting work training so hopefully I remain safe! Looking forward to having a go naturally as I've heard you're way more fertile after miscarriage. Nice to find I'm still hopeful. Long way off booking next round I think, given how slow the mc is taking.

Thanks everyone

@LT103 keeping fingers crossed for you 🤞

@Nosejug Hoping the mc passes smoothly for you soon xxx 🌸

I’m out here, period just started last night (11 days post transfer). Pretty gutted even though it was pretty unlikely to be successful the very first time! My husband is finding it difficult to deal with it - I think I was more pessimistic. But I’m still feeling sad.

We have frozen embryos but the next realistic transfer they said wouldn’t be until the new year so that’s also very hard to hear, Christmas will be quite difficult I think 😓

@He11oKitty so sorry to hear that. Sending hugs

@He11oKitty Sorry to hear it’s not been successful this time. I guess just try to enjoy the festive season - have a glass of Bailey’s, indulge a bit and go into the new year with all the Hope that next year will be the year for you xxx

Aw @He11oKitty sorry to hear that. I hope you and your partner can process and heal. I also find the idea of Christmas without trying quite hard. But that's really good that you have frozen embryos to try with, I'm low amh so will likely not get to that position, but I'm sure it's a lot swifter and less arduous (though of course still same emotional) process. Is it a queueing reason that you can't get FET sooner?

My OH also seems to process it differently to me too. I always leave room for hope but I am very guarded with my feelings. It must be helping because I'm coping better than I'd thought with MC. I suppose we're closer to the reality of it all bc it's our bodies doing the work. Would feel so abstract to be the spouse/partner not carrying the bairn/embryo

Thanks ladies, you’re all so wise 🌷 good idea to focus on the things which are positive of course.

yes just queuing, but need to first do the test and confirm negative tomorrow (brutal!) then we can get a nurse appointment in a couple of weeks and we’ll know more then. It’s nhs funded so we’re a bit at their mercy. But also very grateful of course!

relatedly my husband works in a medical setting and had to help with a newborn so he’s taken some days off work to process. Gosh it’s tough! I also wish people didn’t ask us if we want children at work, it’s so hard to come up with non committal answers in the moment.

how’s everyone else doing?

@He11oKitty I do find FETs much easier - you don’t have all the physical side of collecting eggs, or the emotional side of wondering if there will be an embryo to transfer. FETs have worked really well for us, so hoping it’s the same for you!

Started bleeding pretty heavily from the miscarriage so am currently on the antenatal ward for the night..hah. Everyone's been so kind. I think I will listen to shows/music all night (earphones) to avoid hearing the wee babies. Though I must admit I'd actually love to go look at them in their cute newness despite what's happening. Operation planned for tomorrow if I don't pass the sac tonight. I'm so tired from today's drama I'll probably sleep well.

@Nosejug so sorry you’re going through this. Hope everything settles down for you.

we had our FET today so I’m stuck in the 2ww

Aw @LT103 pleased for you that you've an embryo inside you, all the very best for this one ♥️

I managed to pass the tissue about an hour before I was due in surgery which is (despite the context) great. I did though have to take the prep drugs while I was waiting to be scanned to confirm all was gone. I've had pretty bad cramps and quite heavy bleeding since which I think isn't normal for once the tissue is passed. I just want this moment to be in the past, particularly with my fear of haemorrhaging. Not really writing this out other than to feel not alone!

Awww @Nosejug so sorry you’re going through this. We opted for surgical when had an empty sac previously and even with that the cramps after were awful. The medication also gave me a funny tummy. It’s awful but it will pass. Be kind to yourself and let people look after you the next few days while you take it easy.

@Nosejug I’m sorry you’re having a terrible time of it. It must be really hard to be placed on antenatal ward as well. Hope you’ve managed to get home now x

Yeah home now and bleeding has finally calmed down, think it was a few stuck clots. Thanks for the support both :) feeling much better now. Hope your newborn is settling happily into life outside the womb!x

So glad you're ok @Nosejug . Hope you can feel more able to move forward now the physical side of things is over.

We're doing well thank you. Just embracing the newborn sleepy cuddles whilst they last

I thought I'd help my mind reposition and call up the GRI clinic to see what they'd need for me to book our next round (like a full period cycle and negative pregnancy test). They were like, you need a consultation with a dr, and there's not one till February. That can't be right.. right? I've been approved for another round already and was in a position to book one when we fell pregnant. I'm thinking my call to the nurses line was a bit breathless and maybe they misunderstood me... or would that be a thing? It was only aug that we got next round approval.. surely that doesn't reset? Panicking here!

OTD isn’t til Monday at 13dpt but I’ve tested today and got a positive though it isn’t as dark as I’d hoped. I know it means nothing but have had 2 previous transfers. First had low/slow rising hcg and ended in an empty sac. Second had great line and great hcg and resulted in my little boy. Todays line is somewhere in between the 2 and I’m trying to stay positive and not spiral.
Thoughts?

Aw @LT103 that's a brilliant line to look at! At 13dpo it's def still early so it'd be normal for a line to be faint? I did clear blue tests once a week to check the weeks indicator progressed as expected. Was reassuring for the first three weeks (doesn't go beyond). They're cheaper online. I did test in the first few days to see the line get stronger (and to glory in finally seeing a line!) but after that just once a week. What's the aftercare like at your clinic? Do they do bloods or scans? My EPU said if I get pregnant again they'll do a very early scan as I've had a failed ivf and a miscarriage. Sad little silver lining. Maybe you could wangle one for reassurance. Whatever the line.. just amazing that there is one! Congratulations:)

Oh and my last message about the huge delay and being made to rejoin the treatment queue... it sent me spinning, I didn't stop crying for hours, it was awful. A week later I get a call and yeah, I think it was a mistake. 🙄

@Nosejug Hope it is a mistake and you can get an appointment sooner

@LT103 That line looks super promising to me! Do your clinic do blood hcg check?

@Nosejug thats great news if it isn’t so long a wait!!
@2mumlife I have hcg bloods on Monday. Will just be single sample as they don’t routinely do them any more (though I asked and they were happy to just book it in) and then it will be a scan at 7 weeks. Its just a constant waiting game

last time I had hcg bloods done at 10dpt but its changed to 13dpt now so will be hard to compare my levels. Trying to stay positive but been here before and had it not work so being realistic too

@LT103 hcg varies so much between pregnancies too. Know my clinic used anything greater than 75 at 10dpt as a positive result, keeping fingers crossed for you