Sibling round

[2mumlife]

Hi there,

Used to be part of a different thread for sibling round, but thought I'd start a new thread to see if there was anyone else considering a sibling round this year?

Thanks @2mumlife had egg collection today and got 19 eggs. Pretty happy with that but our drop off seems to be huge after day 3 so who knows! Waiting to hear tomorrow how many are mature and fertilised.
So pleased your clinic sorted things out for you! Although annoying it means you waiting another month

Thanks! And thanks for starting the thread. In all honesty I'm a mess, when I'm with my daughter I'm not thinking about it which is lovely but I currently work from home and am finding it really hard to not just go down rabbit holes of doom!

I just think it's failed, I am having cramps exactly like my period and I know it could be the progesterone but the cramps were different last time. But I can't switch off the little voice that thinks it might have worked and is going to be utterly devastated on Monday.

How is everything going with you? I read through your posts, so feel like I know you now 🤣🥰

@Magix86 thats a great number of eggs, hope you had an equally good fertilisation result!

@Keggles36 hope you had a positive result 🤞

we have finally jumped through all the hoops and filled all the forms (so many!) and medication is arriving tomorrow. I am currently on day 41 of my cycle so my period being this late has actually worked in our favour and I can start the meds as soon as my period starts. The only slight unknown is my smear test result, it was done a week ago and I am waiting to get the results back, we need a clear result or the clinic won’t do the transfer. I think we will take the risk though and start the meds anyway and gamble that (1) it will come back before transfer date and (2) it’s clear. I go back to work in October so we are keen to do the transfer before that so I don’t have to take time off for it.

@AMMxx thank you! It was our best round yet, we had a fresh transfer 2 days ago and they managed to freeze 6 embryos for us! Although the grades do vary and there are some lower grades mixed in.
I'm back to work in September so I also wanted this all done before I go back! I really hope you get your smear result quickly and you can get going. Are you going for a FET or a fresh round?

@Magix86 what a fantastic result, congratulations! Fingers crossed the first one sticks ❤️
We are doing a FET, we have 5 embryos left in the freezer. Following exactly the same protocol as we did last time which resulted in our son so praying it works again!

@AMMxx ohh amazing! That's a lovely amount of embryos. Good luck 🤞🏻🤞🏻

@Magix86 amazing! Really good luck that this one sticks, I have everything crossed for you!

@AMMxx that's a great amount of embryos - I really hope the smear is all ok and you can get on with it - I sometimes find jumping all the hurdles and the wait is the worst thing of all.

We had a positive on Monday (test day, 11dpt) and I was elated, but I had a bit of bleeding over the weekend and though it's stopped I just feel really anxious and like I can't be joyous because there's so many unknowns. It feels too good to be true to work twice in a row! I keep feeling mildly nauseous but not sure if it's the progesterone - and worried the progesterone would mask a loss.

Sorry, v negative ramblings, just don't know how to feel!

@Keggles36 yes the paperwork and ticking all the boxes is so tedious when you’ve had to do it once already and just want to crack on with the transfer… good news is though smear came back today and was ok so now just waiting for the period.

Congratulations on the positive test, that’s amazing!! The early days are the absolute worst with the constant worry and uncertainty, try not to let it consume you too much. The odds of success after a previous successful transfer are actually pretty good and you’ve passed the first stage which is getting the positive test in the first place. When will you have a scan do you know?

Aaah that's such good news I'm so pleased for you! If you've started meds do you know roughly when you might be transferring?

We have a scan on September 16th. It was meant to be 15th but I used to work with the sonographer on that day when I was a midwife and had some pretty awful experiences so asked to be scanned by a nurse/midwife at the clinic instead.

@Keggles36 thank you!
And congratulations on the positive!! Completely understand you're feeling anxious about things and it's hard when there's still nothing you can do but wait. Great that you have your scan booked in. Really hoping things continue to progress well for you

My period actually started the day after the smear came back so I’m now on day 1 of the meds, scan will be 8th August and then transfer a few days after depending on lining thickness etc. It has all worked out brilliantly even with the tight timing so I’m hoping that’s a good sign…

Good luck for your scan 💕 Good that you don’t need to have it with someone you are not comfortable with.

@Magix86 That's a fantastic round! Definitely gives you lots of embryos for the future in required.

@AMMxx Glad your smear came back ok. How are you getting on with the meds?

@Keggles36 Congrats! Keeping everyhing crossed for your scan 💛

The amount of paperwork is crazy - we definietly didn't have nearly so much to do with importing sperm a few years ago. They've definietely got more hoops to jump through. Our sperms at the clinic but I'm still waiting them to sign off after yet another form. The process seems to have really dragged on. Period due to start end of next week so just want everything in place now. Bit frustrating as its a really busy time for us at the moment both work and family stuff and my wife is away for a week which will overlap with potential IUI dates now

@2mumlife thank you. Unfortunately our transfer seems to have failed. 8dp5dt today and negative tests. We'll be going for a FET as soon as our clinic confirm things. But they won't even book a consultation in for us until after our OTD so just another waiting game now!
We haven't had a FET before so feeling a bit apprehensive about it all.

The paperwork is so frustrating and it seems endless doesn't it! I do hope things get sorted ASAP for you. Sounds like you have a lot going on atm

Hi everyone. We had our consultation with the clinic. They advised we will likely only get one embryo as we only had two in 2022 and I'm 36 now. Has anyone had a cycle with more embryos or do the number of embryos always decline as you get older? I'm better prepared this time, eating well and on more supplements. Thank you

@HappyMamma2023 our first round was in 2024 and we got 2 day 5 embryos. We then did 2 back to back rounds this year and on the first we got 1 day 5 and 2 day 6's. The second round we got 3 on day 5 and 4 on day 6. On both our rounds this year I asked them on day 6 to keep watching them until the afternoon instead of the morning and we had 4 make it by the afternoon that wouldn't have been frozen in the morning. We weren't given this option on our 2024 round so I do wonder if we might have had a few more back then if they did!
The only difference between our rounds was that in 2024 I was on ovaleap 150 and this year gonal-f 175 so a slight increase in stims. I also took ubiquinol 400mg for the final round.

I do hope that makes sense! Essentially we got more embryos on both our rounds in 2026 compared to 2024, although I will add the grading of these more recent embryos are worse than those from 2024!

@Magix86 I'm sorry to hear its not looking hopeful this go. When is OTD? If it helps, I've found FETs far easier mentally, emoionally and physically 💛I think a lot going on is just the reality of 2 under 4 and trying to work full time compressed hours 😂though I think this is probably the last year I'll maintain working full time and cut down next year as once school starts something if going to need to give I think. Thats really interesting about the day 6 issue - my last egg collection we have 3 embryos frozen on day 5 and 3 left until day 6, but none were frozen. I wonder what would have happened though if they had left them a little longer....

@HappyMamma2023 I had 2 cycles but within the same year. My second cycle was better than my first, but I still only had 3 embryos to use but that gave us our 2 little ones. To be honest, my rubbish response to stims is one of the reasons we're doing IUI rather than IVF for our final attempts. I'm 37 now, and my last egg collection was 5 years ago, so I imagine my response would be even worse now.

@2mumlife the meds have been fine thanks for asking, done 5 days of injections and tablets and now just on the oestrogen tablets. Feeling a bit bloated but otherwise ok! I have a scan on the 10th to check the lining and book the transfer hopefully a few days after that.

@Magix86 so sorry to hear that 😔 How are you feeling about it?
I’ve only ever done a FET (fresh wasn’t possible due to ovarian overstimulation) and found it fine. It was, and is this time, a medicated FET where you take the meds for a couple of weeks pre transfer to prepare the uterine lining. Not sure how that compares to a fresh transfer tbh!

Thank you @2mumlife OTD is Monday so not too long now! That does help knowing that. I go back to work on Monday as my mat leave is over 😢 also doing full time compressed hours so I feel it's gonna be a tough one to get back into...

@AMMxx thank you. I feel OK. It kind of makes our timeline a bit more tricky having things delayed by another couple of months but what can you do?! I did have 19 eggs collected this time round so I wonder if I might have been a bit overstimulated and if my body just wasn't ready for a transfer. I've heard FETs can feel much easier on your body so thats reassuring. I'm glad your meds have been OK, that transfer won't be long for you now!

@AMMxx Sounds like everyhing going well so far :)

@Magix86 Monday will be crappy :( You'll adjust to going back to work though. I always think the worst bit is just that first 30mins when kids are home after being in childcare and they need your attention and reconnection but you also need to get everyone dinner. FETs really do feel more relaxed x

Clinic finally asked us to pay for meds and confirmed we're good to go with next bleed 🙌 part of me doesn't know why we're doing a medicated IUI any more as my last 2 cycles have been 28 days since I started up the myoinisotol and ubiquinol but oh well. I'll do the meds for this cycle and if it doesn't work can talk to the consultant about doing unmedicated for our last shot maybe.

Thank you for explaining. Happy for you, good luck

Hey I posted the other month about starting to think about a sibling round at some point, now our little one has turned one (but in no huge rush!). I went really back and forth on the whole coming to the end with breastfeeding but I did fully stop just over a week ago. Thankfully it was really smooth and although he would usually feed when offered I realised he was never seeming like he was requesting it and it doesn't seem like he's missed it. I'm enjoying cuddles with him at night instead.

Anyway so we knew we'd need to wait 3 months from the end of breastfeeding for the tests and just thought we'd wait a bit to contact the clinic. However they actually called end of last week to say there was currently an offer on for those with embryos in storage for a free consultation. And they said we can have that and the initial scan sooner than 3 months after breastfeeding and it'll still be valid for a year and the blood tests can be done at a later date. So we've booked that in towards the end of this month and probably will think about a FET in the new year if that timing etc works.

Sorry that was a lot of waffle but basically we're sort of starting the process again but with a slow and steadiness to it (last time it was like go go go 😂).

Did anyone else feel a bit weird about the idea of a sibling round? I feel a mix of excitement but also like oh gosh having another child is a lot, even though I know I'd love more than one if we are able to!

@strawberrylaces12 I feel very odd about it. We're currently considering bringing our "timeline" ahead a bit but I feel a lot of nerves for doing the first few years again. I have a friend who described choosing to try for a second child as "decided to grit my teeth through the first year" and that pretty nearly sums up my feelings about pregnancy and newborn days! And the usual fear of how my absolute perfect firstborn will feel about it 🤣

About your clinic I'm curious about them saying the scan is all valid for a year but blood tests later. Surely even scan results might change?

Yeah, it's such a weird feeling. The first time around I was so desperate for a baby I didn't care how hard it would be. And to be honest, as newborns go he was pretty chill and a good sleeper (before some sleep regressions). But it's still a lot isn't it. Although somehow I feel ready to do it all again in the near future.

I've actually realised since posting that maybe some of the nerves are actually about the fertility process rather than all about the nerves of potentially having a second baby/child. I think because the first time around was so stressful, emotionally draining, and with a lot of disappointment. I look back on the IVF process as so bittersweet because it took so much from me but also gave me such a beautiful little boy. At least because we have embryos in storage that's a huge hurdle already done, unless none of them take. I did have a difficult birth too so maybe that's part of it. Typing all this out makes me think maybe I need to take up some of the free counselling sessions that come with each cycle 😂

I think maybe because with the anatomy scan not a lot changes as often as maybe hormones would? And they're scanning quite a lot through the process anyway. I'm not sure but ideally we wouldn't be leaving it too long between the scan and FET anyway, all being well!

@strawberrylaces12 I think its really normal to feel more anxious / hesistant during a sibling round around. You know what fertility treatment is like, and pregnancy, and birth if you didn't have a great experience and newborns and all the difficult stuff, and now you're looking at doing it all again but with another still really small human in the mix as well. You don't need to minimise that its a lot, because it is, and you're allowed a moment (or several!) to have all the mixed emotions.

Take it 1 step at a time. You only need to make a decision about each step. Decide on the consultation, then decide to do various tests, etc etc. I think having stored embryos is easier, because a FET is less intensive than an egg collection, and you only need to decide about a FET right now.

Theres 25 months between my 2, and yes there have been challenges, but my kids are about to turn 4 and 2 and they have such a lovely bond and its all been worth it.

Its been hard for me deciding to try for a third again, because things ARE good, and I love my family unit right now. Its hard to try again knowing if it doesn't work I'm going to need to grieve again not having any more. And if it does work, of course theere is going to be hard bits along the way too. But also how amazing to get to see who another little one would be as a person.

You've got this, and hopefully a transfer will work and 2 will become your normal :)

Thank you, really appreciate that! ❤️

Obviously it was challenging but I did overall enjoy the newborn stage (I think we got quite lucky with sleep etc) and even my pregnancy was pretty good. Well aware it could be very different another time around but also can't imagine not doing it again!