IVF babies due Summer 2025

[loulamay]

Hi - I wondered if anyone else had recently found out they were pregnant after IVF or loss? I am 4w6d today, waiting on some beta blood tests and have my first scan in just under 3 weeks.

We are very lucky to have a daughter who is 3 born from IVF and have been trying for a sibling for 2 years.

Had forgotten how utterly terrifying and anxiety-inducing (or as I also like to call it, 'knicker-watch') this first part was so if anyone else is in the same boat and wants to swap stories then that would be lovely.

@teetwenty20 - what, her first scan at 13 weeks? That's terrible! Yeah, I figured if it all went wrong then I would just cancel my appointment, but I am anxious enough without having delayed scans so thought I'd get in the system. I called my GP and they gave me link to the local midwives and there was a form to fill out - they called me 2 days later.

With you on the tiredness. It's next level!

@Nic28j those pesky applicators! I think that's what caused my spotting. Am just inserting the pessaries with my finger now so they're a bit lower down.

@Feliciacat haha, I mean the 'mc diarrhea' may have not helped, though I'm definitely having tummy troubles regardless of that. I've done some dr googling, enhanced progesterone can make your bowel lazy, for most that's constipation though can cause the opposite.

I'm slowly coming off progesterone supplements now. Clinic said I could stop completely from 9dp5dt which seems really soon compared to other clinics, or finish the pack. I've got about a week left of the pack but I'm not sure if it's doing anything anymore?

The idea of waiting 13 weeks until your first scan seems like hell. Mines in 16 days which seems like forever. I think reading this ours are all roughly the same time? That's going to be a tense, yet hopefully exciting week 😬

Has anyone been getting much in the way of nausea? I have but seems to come in waves as opposed to being consistent. I struggled to eat all day yesterday till about 8pm when my appetite returned with a vengence. I think i feel less sickly today which is concerning me.

Hello brave ladies
I'm also the one waiting for the first scan to be sure that I'm pregnant 🤔 its due on 25th Nov. I'm curious if anyone is diet conscious like me after the transfer day? I am trying all that healthy diet and keep on googling dos and donts everyday 🙃

I dont have any symptoms at all is that normal? I did the test on 10th day and 3 days later but the line was pretty same.

welcome and congrats @BrownBlossom

I am a bit diet conscious, but as my appetite is quite poor, I'm just focused on getting calories in. Some people spend weeks in the first trimester chucking up all the time and go onto have a healthy baby, so I don't imagine diet can have that much impact. (I mean, obviously its best to be healthy - I just mean don't beat yourself up for enjoying the odd indulgent meal or unhealthy snack and don't get obsessive)

I wouldn't worry about the symptom part too much either, from what I have read and heard from people I know a lot of people don't have symptoms.

Do you have a picture of your tests? I suppose the worry would be is if it got fainter, more so than if it stayed the same. I have been testing daily (tried not to) and I think my tests 12, 13, and 14 dpt all look the same.

I once read a real life story about someone who had an anorexia relapse whilst pregnant. She was so ashamed but all her doctors reassured her that the baby would take what it needed from her bones and organs if she wasn’t eating. The baby ended up perfectly healthy. So it’s true that diet doesn’t matter so much for the unborn child as they’ll leach what they need from you.

I feel like this is a huge humble brag but it’s not meant to be; my cravings are so healthy. I’m shocked. I usually crave beige food and takeaways so I was convinced I’d be like that pregnant. I’m eating nothing but protein and veggies though. I’ve lost half a stone since starting IVF a month ago. Total shock!

Ahh Seriously thank you @wateringcanface @Feliciacat I am just so curious to see this little thing on scan day and hear something positive. Days are passing so slowly 🤣.
@wateringcanface its now letting me upload the pic of it but yes it's still the same clear line on test. 🤞

Welcome @BrownBlossom and congratulations! My scan is also on the 25th of November :-)

@Feliciacat I wish mine were like that. All I want is 'hangover' food haha.

Had a difficult morning. DH and I had sex last night for the first time since the embryo transfer and I had some very light pink bleeding this morning that carried on until lunchtime - I think it's trailing off now and it's more brown than pink, only when I wipe. No cramps, no red blood.

Googled it and the most likely cause is an irritated cervix because of intercourse, which is very common. Totally terrifying though. Hoping it continues to lessen and go away because the knicker-watching is exhausting. Have told him he'll have to fend for himself for a while because I can't cope with the stress!

Congratulations @BrownBlossom !

I was trying to eat "clean" since we started TTC... which was 5 years ago 😑, but I do crave all sorts of unhealthy food and if anything, my appetite has increased somewhat 10 fold.

@loulamay sorry to hear about your spotting, hopefully its just irritated cervix and those nasty applicators. I tried putting them by finger and scraped myself with fingernails 😤 Its like there is no winning!

We have avoided sex since the transfer, despite that I have mild spotting today. Combining this with the fact that I have no nausea whatsoever, I am crossing all my fingers that things will work out. The days are passing so slowly arghh!

@BrownBlossom I think if the line has not got lighter, it is okay.

@loulamay I think if the spotting is light, brief, and not accompanied by any cramps you sound ok. How long ago was your transfer? when they did mine, she apologised halfway through and told me she accidently cut my cervix, so to expect some spotting/irritation. With the collection, transfer, pessaries, and having a soft cervix due to early pregnancy it makes sense why sex may cause irritation it a bit.

It's such an anxious time @teetwenty20 my nausea has settled a lot, which I find weird as surely this is the time it should be getting worse? Sorry to hear you are spotting, as said above, most of the time it is nothing. How is it today?

Officially 5 weeks today. I had extremely sore nipples last night, they felt like they were burning. I also constantly have a sensation in my pelvis, like a very mild dull ache and heavy feeling, worse if I move suddenly or stand up after sitting for a while. Apparently, this can be 'round ligament pain'. Though I seem a bit early for that.

Morning Ladies!

Please could I join in with this? Today I am 5 weeks 1 day after a fresh ICSI transfer of a 3 day embryo on 25th October.

The googling and stress is unreal! My 7 week scan is 28th November which feels so long away and can’t stop looking at other people’s ‘line progression’. Please tell me I’m not alone in this?

I did have some bloods done as we had a chemical pregnancy in our previous round, so feeling slightly more reassured but still terrified.

Due date (if we get that far) is 15th July 🤞🌈

Welcome and congratulations @Jcm1985 I'm also 5 weeks and 1 day with an estimated due date 15th July!

I'm in the exact same boat, plenty of googling and comparing my line progression to others. I'm hoping by week 12 (if I make it to there) my anxiety will reduce

Thanks so much @wateringcanface

It feels reassuring to know others in the same boat, especially with the exact same due date!!

I had some very very light spotting since the day before official test day so am CONSTANTLY checking with every twinge that it isn’t progressing into anything else.

So much admiration for everyone going through this, it feels almost cruel that we can’t have the excitement of pregnancy and instead it’s just pure angst.

One step at a time!

When is your 6/7 week scan?

@Jcm1985 have you told the clinic about spotting? they might want to increase progesterone. I've had no spotting, but I do feel concerned that my nausea seems to have gone away, but I'm not reading too much into it.

My scan is 26th. Less than 2 weeks now, woo. I think all of us on this thread have the scan the same week, which is nice, I just really hope we all have good news.

Welcome and congratulations @Jcm1985
Tell me about the stress and spiralling anxiety!

The spotting did stop but every time I insert the pessaries the applicator comes back with tinges of pink. My clinic said it's normal but I am so worried!

On top that, one of my best friends just announced that she is 12 weeks pregnant. She & I were the only once TTC in our group and I feel so lonely in my journey now. I am very happy for her but I am so scared for myself and my fragile little 5weeks baby. I have been crying since morning and do not seem to have any control over my emotions.
IDK whether this is pregnancy hormones or I am just having a breakdown.

@Jcm1985 The universe is so cruel, isn't it? Why does one person get to be ecstatic and hopeful but another one has to go through such horrible traumatising times!

@wateringcanface yes have told my clinic. They thought maybe irritation from the pessaries so have been instructed to take them “the other way” (the joys!!). It’s the trendiest tiniest bit of something and does seem to be easing off but still obsessively checking to make sure it’s not got worse!

@teetwenty20 it’s so good to find a group of people feeling all of the same emotions! No idea whether it’s stress, pregnancy hormones or just general anxiety but feeling all of it 😂

Also just to confess, I am v much still testing every day!!

I was going to ask if anyone else is testing - I haven’t tested since OTD last Friday as I’m terrified to see a lighter test or even worse a negative. My ‘symptoms’ are relatively minor, sore boobs (could be progesterone) and slight nausea (could be anxiety).

Welcome @Jcm1985 😊

We were at my parents for a long weekend and got back yesterday. I purposely didn't take any tests with me but couldn't help myself and took a FRER and Clearblue digital when we got back. FRER was a dye stealer and digital said 3+ weeks so hoping that means all is well but my god the wait until the first scan seems NEVER ENDING.

Did throw up this morning however! It's such a rollercoaster 😓

@loulamay I did the same, we visited my dad at the weekend and I held off testing, so just carried that on when we got back. I have been ok all week but today I am feeling so anxious that something is wrong. I might pick up a digital on the way home from work tonight, I am hoping for a 3+ as I’m 5+2 today. Congratulations on yours, definitely a sign it’s looking good so far!

@loulamay such a weird sentence to type but I would be absolutely thrilled if I threw up 😂

I’ve been testing daily, but yesterday I decided to try every other day. Now I’m regretting it, as I feel anxious today without any symptoms. I’d consistently felt a heavy, pulling sensation in my pelvic area, but that’s completely gone today, along with my nausea. Though in hindsight, I'm wondering if I ever did have nausea, and it was just anxiety.

As for whether it’s a good idea to test frequently or not, I think it really depends on what you’d prefer in a worst-case scenario (as grim as it is to think that way). Would you rather have an indication that something may be wrong and be gradually disappointed, or would you rather not think about it, accept it’s out of your hands, and only face concerns when necessary (e.g. scan day, or if you get any bleeding? Personally, I’m in the first camp, though I know testing isn’t a 100% reliable way to know that everything is okay.

Great @loulamay that is definitely good sign.
@wateringcanface I also felt heavy pulling sensation in my pelvic which is on and off. After last Friday I control myself not to test every other day but now I cant wait to test tomorrow morning. I have some weird heart burn like sensations as well which doesn't seems normal.

@loulamay - I got 3+ weeks today (5+2) and am feeling much more reassured now!

developed some lower back pain this afternoon too which is hopefully a symptom. Maybe just progesterone though 🤷‍♀️

Hi all,

Hoping I can tentatively join, as would be lovely to be around some people also in this nerve wracking period. Got my BFP this week (on our third cycle of IVF) and whilst feeling super lucky and pleased, am also a bundle of nerves (particularly as our last round ended in a chemical and I can’t let myself belief that this might not be too). Lines looking pretty good though, although not much progression..

I wanted to ask, to those of you testing, are you just using the cheaper strips? I have used FRERs for my official tests, but will probs go bankrupt if I keep using them!

Also, how is everyone feeling symptom wise? My main symptom has been nausea, but this evening have also got really bad lower back pain which has made me feel a little worried. I swear I never notice what’s going on in my body quite so much!

Sending positive vibes to you all!

The FRER detect 6mIU/mg of hCG and the cheap tests usually detect 25mIU/mg of hCG. Between 6 and 25mIU/mg is questionable territory for whether someone is pregnant or not so I’d switch to the 25mIU/mg because then you can be sure.

The Clearblue digital how many weeks tests are expensive but I treated myself to a box of two. They can measure 1-2 weeks pregnant, 2-3 weeks pregnant and 3+ weeks pregnant. So perhaps (in addition to some cheap tests) you could do one Clearblue weeks at 2.5 weeks after conception (and it should say 2-3 weeks) and one at 3.5 weeks after conception (and it should say 3+ weeks). No point using those ones each day so just get two of them to supplement your cheap tests. Btw, you add 2 weeks to the Clearblue result to get how many weeks you are in total.

I’ve been out of my mind with worry as this is my first pregnancy ever and it’s ivf and I have endometriosis. I tested with a Clearblue how many weeks today and it says 2-3 weeks. My embryo was created on 26th October so it looks like it’s at the right rate of growth. So that’s what I mean about using them being quite a good idea at 2.5 and 3.5 weeks after your embryo was created.