BFPs after IVF - part 3 (babies start arriving)

[HopefulllHolly]

Hi all,

SENSITIVE CONTENT - discusses pregnancy and birth after infertility

Continuation of previous threads for anyone with a BFP following IVF. This thread we should have some of us giving birth!

@anniestar12
@dippyduck19
@fluffyted
@leaf86
@loup87
@natty2
@thepeachgoose
@always28
@edf

Hi everyone - starting another thread! Will post the link in the other thread in case others still want to chat but for now have only added people who have posted more recently. 😊

@LouP87 hope you’re doing okay, and have managed to get some rest? Sounds like baby isn’t in a hurry! Have they not told you what they’ll try next?

@Fluffyted thanks for the reassurance. Definitely good to know we’ve all had the same panicked thought! How are you getting on? Is today your planned section?! Fingers crossed if you’re in hospital already 🤞

@AnnieStar12 got some sleep last night even if disturbed! Getting checked again at 1:30 to see if my body has done anything on its own that would allow them to break my waters. if not they’re going to use these jelly rod things that absorb moisture to expand my cervix - this takes 12-24hrs though!

@LouP87 Gosh that sounds rubbish! Have you got any good books or anything or can they send you home after the rod things? You poor soul! Cmon baby!!!

@HopefulllHolly I'm booked in for the afternoon, I'm at the hospital now & all gowned up and prepped & ready for theatre.

Awww @LouP87 that sounds hard! I hope you're ok and baby decides to come soon 🤞 the waiting is not fun at all. I hope you're not in too much pain and things start to hurry up for you!

@AnnieStar12 yes my c-section is today! Unless anything happens and they have to send me home.

Good luck @Fluffyted - can’t wait to hear about your little girlie! 💓💓💓

@LouP87 oh dear, what a time you’ve had! Really sorry to hear that you have to go through it all with this terrible cold; everyone seems to have it at the moment and it's not fun for us pregnant ladies, let alone you going through labour. And so sorry to hear that the pessary hasn’t helped as much as expected. At this point I hope it did enough so that you don't need the jelly rods and can go straight to breaking waters. Fingers crossed!

@Fluffyted by this point you must already have the baby in your arms and doing skin on skin! Hope that it all went calmly and smoothly and your baby girl is doing well. Can't wait to hear all about it!

@WhiskeyInTheJar33 hope the GD test went well yesterday, and that tomorrow's appointment brings more clarity.

@AnnieStar12 ah so pleased we could help with the NHS antenatal logistics. Yes, I’m working until 8th Feb as my due date is 28 Feb. Unless anything changes ofc. Provided my energy levels stay up, I need to finalise all projects this month, and then Feb should be quite chill. Hopefully all goes according to plan lol

@HopefulllHolly I think that when the time comes and when things finally start to happen, you'll know what to do as you're sitting on so much knowledge, you have the high-level preferences and the framework for decision-making. You just have nothing to react to right now and a million “what if” scenarios. Is your partner familiar with your birth plan / broad decisions as well?
I’m pleased that baby engagement made some things easier, though a strange thing to feel while weeing, that’s for sure lol
Glad you made it to the appointment, through all sorts of adverse conditions from snow to braxton hicks and double deckers following you lol
So pleased your baby is measuring well and engaging, and sounds like things are in motion for you starting next week, though I have no doubt you’ll go hard on the home remedies too to avoid that second sweep at least, if not both 😆

As for me, we had our first HPHB class last night and everyone was super nice. I was surprised to see 12 couples in there, quite a lot of people, but everyone was nice, around our age and live somewhat close to us. Quite a big range in due dates, starting from early-mid Feb to early April. I didn’t realise we were supposed to watch the videos beforehand, so during the class the midwife (who was also lovely) mainly showed us stuff (in reaction to which we all had terror in our eyes) and got us into discussions and q&a’s, but it was still helpful and she touched on c sections as well. Felt quite balanced between vaginal and abdominal birth as they call it. Now we just need to catch up on the videos and I'll tune into the live Q&A with the obstetrician tomorrow as well.

Best of luck @Fluffyted Once you’re in there and they start, baby will be out in less than 10 minutes. Such a special day. Keep us posted! 💕

@LouP87 good luck! Sounds like they have a sensible plan. Hopefully not too long before baby will be in your arms. 🥰 At least more time to recover from your cold! Hope you’re not feeling too rotten!

@WhiskeyInTheJar33 sorry to hear about the GD concerns. It’s a minefield re induction vs c-section. I had the same dilemma with my first. There’s some great advice from others on the thread, so I won’t repeat or add my thoughts per se, but I do understand the conflict completely and really sympathise! it would be so much easier if we could know what each choice would bring and/or remove the uncertainty.

Largely all fine on my side although we have been back and forth to the hospital to check baby’s jaundice levels (she’s a bit jaundiced but it’s clearing) and my blood pressure (a bit high so I’m now on medication). She’s still in that sleepy newborn phase so it’s relatively easy at the moment, waking every 2-3 hours for feeds.

I’m still here 😅 I ended up being 2cm when they checked so the plan is to break waters, but delivery suite is too busy at the moment so will likely be tomorrow morning now. The midwife did give me a cheeky sweep when she did the examination which has made me also lose my mucus plug now. So who knows, maybe something will happen overnight on its own!

@LouP87 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 that things are underway now. How’s the maternity? It sounds pretty busy from what you’re saying. Do you have your own room hopefully? And are you keeping yourself busy and entertained with some books / tv shows? You’ve been extremely patient and such a trooper and hopefully things will pick up tomorrow and you’ll get to meet your baby very soon 🤗

@Leaf86 poor little thing, hope that the jaundice clears quickly! Pleased to hear that they’re monitoring both of you closely though

Morning ladies!

@LouP87 I'm so hoping you've had some more progress through the night 🤞 how are you feeling?
If you're having your waters broken today - good luck lovely!! I'm so wanting your next update to be about cuddling your little baby 🥰

Thank you for the good luck wishes guys, a little update for me - our c-section was cancelled in the end last night! 🙈
We were at the hospital at 11am and I was all gowned up and ready to go to theatre by 12pm, even had my canister in for the anaesthetist. I was supposed to be number 2 on the list to go down but there ended up being lots of emergencies from the delivery suite. We waiting until 7pm then the consultant came down and told me he had ran out of time so they had to cancel it.
I hadn't eaten since 6am in prep the operation so to be fair by that point I was happy to be sent home!
So I've been told to prep for a c-section today and so just had my breakfast & need to wait for a phone call later this morning to say yes or no.
If not then it will be tomorrow!

@Leaf86 ohh that's good to hear! I was slightly nervous whilst waiting yesterday so it's good to know the baby will be out within 10 mins!
Awww lovely, it sounds quite hard & scary with your little one having jaundice! She sounds like she is coping well, hopefully it won't be long until it's fully clear.
Awww sucks about your blood pressure levels! Glad they picked up with super fast though - hopefully with the meds you'll be back to your normal self asap. The newborn sleepy snuggly phase sounds so dreamy!! 😍🥰 I really can't wait for those snuggles.

@ThePeachGoose oh amazing your first class went well & everyone was lovely! That is quite a lot of people, quite a good turnout I'd say! It's nice for you to meet couples so close to home as well & all in the same boat, I'm so glad it went well for you.
I'd probably have been the same and not realised the videos needed watching first 😅 i bet that happens all the time. I hope the Q&A goes well!

@Fluffyted ah that's so annoying that it was cancelled in the end! Hope you're not left in limbo too much this morning and you'll be with your baby soon!

@LouP87 hope you are getting on ok! Fingers crossed for today 🤞🤞 hope you get to meet baby today! Hope the cold eases too 🤧

Can't believe you might both have your babies here by the end of today! 🥰

@HopefulllHolly nice to hear you had a lovely baby shower. I'm having one next weekend too 💕
Your thoughts about birth are completely natural! I think everyone starts to feel the same towards the end, I know I am! Can't believe you'll be having your sweep next week, feels surreal for everyone to be getting so close now!

@WhiskeyInTheJar33 hope your consultant appointment goes ok today. Did they confirm the GD in the end?

@AnnieStar12 hope you are feeling better from your cold! There's so much going around at the moment. After my last couple of appointments the hospital have said they won't book in c sections until after the 36 week scan, so it may be similar for you? When is your scan?

@ThePeachGoose glad your first class went well! Sounds like quite a few couples so will be nice to have a good local support network!

Update on my end, I'm still struggling along with GD. My morning fasts have still been coming up high which hasn't been helped with the extra evening tablet or cheese snack before bed! So I got a call yesterday to go to hospital and pick up insulin. Bringing back all the IVF memories of having to inject myself nightly now!

@Fluffyted I’m sorry to hear you got bumped from the queue yesterday. Hope you get called soon and they make you a priority today.
I can remember after my last C-section overhearing the women in the bay next to me being told then same as you - after a day waiting nil-by-mouth they had too many emergencies so she was sent home. I felt quite sorry for her having to come back the following day. But it is useful to know this happens so we can prepare for the possibility!

@Natty2 oh good luck with the insulin. Fingers crossed that sorts out your sugar levels. My scan is tomorrow so yea hoping I’ll get the date after that.

Good morning! Hopefully we have two little babies to welcome today after what sounds like rubbish days yesterday! Hope you’re both ok @LouP87 and @Fluffyted! How frustrating!

@Fluffyted I would have been climbing the walls with hunger if I was you! Glad they have only moved you to today, hopefully no emergencies so they can get you in. Hope it all goes well if they have you in today!

@LouP87 Hope you’ve had some progress overnight and if not I hope the waters being broken goes ok! Take some paracetamol before as I’ve heard it can be quite painful (hopefully not in your case though!!).

@Leaf86 Oh poor babe with jaundice! And you with high blood pressure! Hope it’s a quick fix. Good to hear that the first few days have been ok with her, and a sleepy baby, how dreamy! 🥰 You make me so excited to
meet my little lady!

@ThePeachGoose Yeah partner is all clued up - well as much as he can be with me yo-yoing around choices constantly! I think the obstetrician appt on Monday will finalise it and then I can print my preferences off for him to manage. I think to some extent I just need to be open to all scenarios so im not disappointed (and therefore stressed due to lack of control!). Spending today practising breathing techniques and going back through antenatal class learnings to calm myself back down! 🤣
Yeah it was a weird sensation, and it felt like a click when her head went right down. I felt it in my back?! So I touched my back instinctively and I’m sure I could feel something there 🤣 very weird! Anyway, the midwife said she’s there and locked in so I think she’s quite well engaged from what I could tell? So just have to carry on with my ball and tea (still not been on the date eating as they make me feel ill 😂). I hope the sweep next week does do something but I do have my own suspicions that she’ll come after her due date to be honest! I was exactly on time but my partner was 2 weeks late. I think I’ll be ready to kill someone if I’m overdue by 2 weeks!!
So glad your HPHB class went well! Ours were quite spread out in terms of due dates too - I think some were as early as November DD through to end of Feb/March. I thought you picked them based off of due date so it confused me! It’s been nice with the girls having babies before me though as they’ve sent lots of tips and things to buy I hadn’t bought. I also didn’t know we were supposed to watch the videos before (and tbh I didn’t until the week of the first aid course because we got told we absolutely had to for that as it was a lot to take in!). I wouldn’t worry too much if you don’t watch them before really, I found the practical baby tips (class 3) and first aid (class 4) were the ones where it was better to watch them before as it was an info overload and quite overwhelming, plus we wasted a lot of time asking her loads of questions because we hadn’t watched them (the whole class not just us 🤣😅). When do you start the second classes? You’ll be experts by the end of it!

@Natty2 Sorry to hear you’re struggling with GD and on injections now, what a nuisance! Might be easier to manage though really as it sounds like it’s a bit confusing? Plus at least you know how to give yourself jabs already, which is one benefit! Wow - how long ago giving ourselves IVF injections feels now. Crazy! I can still remember my mindset of being so detached from the whole situation as I was convinced it wouldn’t work. Crazy! Are you feeling ok otherwise?

@AnnieStar12 Good luck with the scan tomorrow 🙂 Hope you get some answers, and if not a date, at least a date to expect a date!

Nothing to update on my side - very boring! Just hanging some pictures and a mirror in the nursery today, giving it another clean 😅 Might practice putting the baby wrap sling on too as it’s been a while since I did that! Haha anything to pass the time. Yesterday I went through every kitchen cupboard and drawer and cleaned them out and reorganised. Totally batshit behaviour 😅😵‍💫 Feels good though when it’s done though!

@Fluffyted how frustrating you waited all day yesterday. Fingers crossed it goes ahead today!

@LouP87 hope all goes ok today and won't be too long before you meet your baby boy 🩵

@Natty2 sorry to hear your sugar levels aren't controlled and now on insulin. I've been on fragmin since 28 weeks and that reminds me of the IVF stimulation days! Fingers crossed it helps though!

@Leaf86 hopefully baby's jaundice levels improve! And glad that medication seems to be helping you! Hope you're enjoying having your LO at home.

@AnnieStar12 good luck for your appointments tomorrow.

@ThePeachGoose glad your classes are going well.

@HopefulllHolly I love your "batshit" cleaning! 😂 I was also going to get the wrap sling out and have a practice. Have been watching some YouTube videos and worried about dropping baby while I try and put him in it 🤦🏻‍♀️

Update from me - the glucose tests came back normal so no GD although am close. So for now no particular reason why baby is measuring big (it's just him or the scans are inaccurate). The consultant wanted to induce me this afternoon or tomorrow morning. I discussed how I'm feeling with being induced early and we went through everything. He was really good and offered to do an internal examination. Apparently I am 2cm, cervix is soft and "favourable". He did a sweep! Well as much as I could tolerate anyway as it was rather painful!
The labour ward is full so they were unable to book in an induction until Saturday anyway, which I have accepted as I feel like things are probably heading in the right direction and hopefully the sweep will get things going over the next 2 days.

@WhiskeyInTheJar33 Oh that’s great news! 2cm and favourable sounds like you’re on your way! Sorry to hear about the painful sweep - I’m dreading it on Tuesday. Had a wax last week to try and prep myself for downstairs pain 🤣 and because it was a bit worse for wear down there! Sounds like a plan for induction on Saturday is good to work towards. What did he say to manage your worries about interventions around it? I suppose by Saturday you’re only 3 days before DD and it sounds like there’s a good chance your body is ready anyway so fingers crossed it’ll happen before then! So exciting!! 🥰😍 Really glad to hear there isn’t GD anyway, he’s just a chunky monkey (or maybe not!), a beautiful healthy baby! Bet you are excited to meet him now!

@HopefulllHolly he spoke about the % of things /interventions happening and risks of c-section etc. I felt happy going with induction knowing things are going in the right direction and will be 39+4 on Saturday so not much earlier anyway.

I was annoyed at myself for asking him to stop the sweep but it felt like his hand was inside my bump 😂 I tolerated as much as i could. Hopefully your sweep goes ok.

Am just about to repack babies hospital bag. Am now confused as to what size to pack. If he does come out the size they are expecting, newborn is not going to fit. Am pretty sure I bought some 0-1month and may pack some 0-3 month just in case 🤦🏻‍♀️

@WhiskeyInTheJar33 Thats good! Glad he helped put you at ease and gave you some facts too. Good you have a plan, I think that makes things much more manageable and stressfree!
Oh bless you - yeah I think I’d do the same. Freaks me out they go around the babies head 🙃 I’m really not looking forward to it! Hope I can tolerate it. Was your partner with you? I’ve told mine to stay at home for it, not sure why?!
Yeah it’s hard with baby bag isn’t it - mine is estimated to be 8.5lbs at due date so I’ve packed both newborn and 0-3 sizes in vests and sleep suits. Her going home outfit is just newborn though. I’ve read a few threads on here and lots of people said the 0-3 swamped their baby even though they were bigger, so I think newborn should still fit to be honest! Unless they are especially long maybe? (I won’t have this issue because both me and partner are short, but I know you’re taller)

@HopefulllHolly DP was with me for the appointment so he could help take in some of the information but outside the curtain during the sweep. He said to me afterwards it must have been painful for me to ask them to stop as I do have a high pain threshold. I've been told by friends it needs to be painful for it to be successful! It was meant to be my community midwife doing the sweep this afternoon and I was planning on going on my own (as DP would have been at work). But because of the reduced movements over the weekend and growth scan ended up seeing the doctor instead. I still kept the midwife appointment just in case they wouldn't do this morning. So have had to call to let them know.

Good luck for yours on Tuesday and hopefully you find it ok!

I'm short and DP is average height. But baby has long legs so hoping he should still fit in newborn. If not I've packed some socks so may just cut the feet off then sleep suits and put socks on instead 😂 MIL has bought his going home outfit (newborn size) and is upset it may not fit him. Not much I can do about it though.

Haha @WhiskeyInTheJar33 Im sure the newborn will be fine in that case! No need to take scissors! I’ve packed 4 newborn and 4 0-3 months of vests and sleep suits, just in case I end up in hospital a long time for some reason. Probably a ridiculous amount but I’m always an overpacker. It looks like we’re moving in the to hospital - I have a wheely suitcase for me, a hold-all for baby and hypnobirthing stuff (neom waterless diffuser, lights, pillow from home etc) and then partner is taking a small bag too in case he has to stay near to the hospital for some reason. Plus the dogs stuff and my nursing pillow 😂😂😂 they are going to think I’ve totally lost the plot when I rock up.

@HopefulllHolly 🤣🤣🤣. I feel the same. I have a cabin size suitcase for baby. A weekend hold-all for me. DP has a rucksack (mostly with my snacks). He will now need to bring a pillow and blanket and probably another change of clothes. He's allowed to stay with me 24/7. Id like to be able to let him return home so he can sleep but I know I'd be anxious about him missing the birth or getting parked and I just don't want to be in hospital on my own!

Is your DP allowed to stay with you?

@WhiskeyInTheJar33 Haha oh good I’m glad I’m not the only one taking loads! Last time we were at the hospital we saw some poor guy running up the corridors with tonnes of bags 🤣 he looked so terrified the poor thing!
Yeah he can stay with me while I’m in labour but it doesn’t matter much as my parents and friends live 5 mins from the hospital anyway so he can sleep there or just drive home if I have to stay overnight after the birth, I’d imagine he’d probably drive home though so he can have a proper sleep if that’s the case though! Im not sure if I’d send him for sleep while I was in labour as no doubt he’d miss it but depends how long it had been tbh! My mum could always take his place. I’ve not really thought about it and neither has he really! But I’d want him to get a proper sleep before taking us home anyway so I think it’s a play it by ear thing, like everything else 🤣

Hi guys- sorry been mega quiet but lurking and keeping up to date with peoples progress!

little update her, baby girl arrived at 5.33am this morning 7lb 3 after a super quick induction- 2 hours from waters breaking to arrival! Back home now and enjoying a new chaos 🥰

@Edf Huge congratulations! Glad everything went well (and very quickly!!) and you’re all home safely! Enjoy your new little family xxx 😘

@Edf wow, big congratulations 🙌 that’s so exciting and well done for getting home
again same day. Enjoy your first night with your baba xx

@HopefulllHolly @WhiskeyInTheJar33 I’m probs having a big baby too! Im nervous about what size they’re gonna say my baby is at tomorrow’s scan as last time she was on 80th percentile 😬

Have you seen a few shops do a size that’s “up to 1 month” which is handy as it’s in-between newborn and 0-3 months. You would have to have a mega newborn for them to fit in 0-3 months at birth. I have a few sets in up to 1 month size from my last baby, so may end taking those + newborn size in my hospital bag.
I do have a bag of small baby clothes that I had thought would be useful if my section is at 38/39 weeks, but I think I may just give those away now as very unlikely to have a small baby!

Am trying hard not to overpack, but it’s hard! Got a cabin size backpack for me, and a holdall for baby. Trying to keep at just those but keep thinking of more things to pack!