IVF Graduates - A place for pregnancy menkulling

[BeetlingAbout]

A chat thread for those who have conceived via assisted conception.

Come and join me egg buddies!

ferrero that must've been frightening, glad it all checked out ok in the end.

My scan went well today. I was measuring 13w1 (I am 12w2) but they don't change the due date for IVF pregnancies in our trust. NT measurement was low but had blood test too and will get the combined results back in a week or so. Amazing to see it wiggling about, really would love another one to watch it for longer!!

Phew, glad all is ok ferrero! Sounds like the little chap was just chilling out/trying to keep you on your toes.

moggle that's exciting! What my IVF clinic did was alter the date of my last period, and then the midwife worked out due date from that. I bet you can't wait for the next scan!

I always gave the LMP date as14 days before the egg collection date, as my bleed during down regulation was about 5 days later than I expected. DH was a big fat newborn so I guess it's following in his footsteps!!

Ferrero, that must have been really nerve wracking and what a relief to then know everything is OK. No more extended lie-ins baby!

Moggle, glad that all went well at the scan. I am also measuring a week ahead now, EDD 14/11, but sticking with the IVF dates also.

Time, the consultant seems to be really focused on me having a TVC. Whenever i question whether a TAC would be better he just keeps saying it's major surgery and should be done pre-preg. We've decided to wait and decide on the day but i suspect he'll steer us towards a TVC. It does worry me though...i wish i had a crystal ball. Frustratingly they wouldn't measure my cervix at the nuchal scan today either and i've been having some funny feelings down there

If you are worried Beetle is it something the EPU will do for you?

Cervix length that is, not a TAC!

Hello all. I hope you get the outcome you are happy with beetling. It's annoying that they wouldn't measure your cervical length today.

ferraro mine decided to have a quiet spell when I was a few thousand miles away and about to get on a plane for an overnight flight. Luckily, the little started kicking again in the departure lounge, having resisted all the cold drink tricks, etc. Grrr. They do like to worry us.

I had my 24 week mw check today. All seems well and centime has managed to do a full 180 turn since my 20 week scan. My funny turn last week (throwing up suddenly for the first time in the pregnancy and feeling "odd" all day) has a cause - my pee test did show a urine infection. But I feel fine now, so we are going to repeat it before I take antibiotics.

Beetle did you get an indication from the Nuchal test today on the measurement? Hope all went well. Did you get some nice pictures of the baby?

Nick did give me the "you should have done this pre-pregnancy" talk, but did the TAC anyway. Perhaps he will make an assessment depending on your cervical length. You should know in advance though - just for practicalities, as the recovery is very different for the two procedures. He told me to take 4 weeks off work, which was probably 7 days too much, but still a long time. The recovery isn't great, but after two weeks or so it's done and you just put it behind you, but take Nicks advice as he knows your case best.

As an aside - It's really frustrating to be told you should have done it before. We are IVF people, so it's not like this is a surprise pregnancy! I was never advised in advance, how was I to know!?! Maybe the clinic secretly though the IVF would never work.

I only had my cervical length checked as part of the Harmony test, but at extra cost. No-one else ever actually measured it before. Including Nick. Since then I'm on 3 weekly checks.

Morning all!
I'm having a minor panic. I've just read that you're not supposed to use some essential oils when pregnant, and I used one of them mixed in an exfoliating scrub on my feet the other day, and put a few drops on a tissue to sniff when I was feeling nauseous. Any ideas/ recommendations? Apart from chucking them in the bin, of course!

Hey all.
Well I'm 29 weeks tomorrow, and not entirely sure how I'm feeling. We started NCT classes, but yesterday was all about natural childbirth when I am likely to need a c-sec. It seems even at giving birth my body is a bit of a failure.
I'm thrilled I'm going to be a mum, but just a bit depressed that it's been such a hard and difficult route to get there.
Also had a conversation with DH about if we could ever fund a second DE IVF cycle for a sibling, and the conclusion is probably not.
Ah well, blessing counting time, and pregnancy and birth is such a small part of parenting really.

Hi bugs! It was juniper oil which is on the don't use in pregnancy list. And yes, I'm avoiding all oils now! Will sniff a lemon if I feel vommy again!

How unhelpful of people to tell you you don't look pregnant! Maybe they got really massive in their pregnancies and are jealous Safe travels and good luck with scan next week.

I'm sure it will be fine nobeer. I haven't come across anything about essential oils in the nhs literature and nothing mentioned at booking in. There are so many 'no no's' but for many the risk is minuscule. I bet your feet are smelling lovely!

Hope you are enjoying your holiday bugs despite the unwelcome comments. I woke up to no bump yesterday and freaked out but all was well.

talulah, it's understandable that pregnancy after ivf will be bittersweet. It's hard to get into the baby buzz and excitement that others have when it has been such a difficult journey. I think only when you reach the end of the roller coaster can the healing begin.

time it is very frustrating to be told it should be done pre pregnancy when we weren't ever sure that we would be able to get pregnant! I have read that in the USA, it's about 50/50 on pre and post pregnancy, but then it is a more common procedure there. I'm surprised it's not fortnightly Scans....is there a short cervix / miscarriage clinic at C&w?

Beetling I'm getting ante-natal care at Queen Charlottes (Hammersmith) under Prof Bennett's team, not at C&W. They would do it more frequently if needed I think but they decide after each scan. My cervix is currently 22mm, which is short, but much longer than expected. And looks well closed with no funneling. They always warn be to be ready for bedrest/progesterone and increased monitoring, but so far so good.

The Centre for Fetal care look after me there. They seem excellent, and have a prematurity clinic which specializes in women likely to deliver early for whatever reason. So the medicine is good, but the admin is terrible!! The booking system is simply disastrous, and the only real way to make appointments is to physically go in there. Drives me crazy.

Hammersmith is just more convenient for me, no reason not to go to C&W.

Talulah sorry its still difficult for you! The road is hard, but remember it's behind you now. I just think that each step was needed to get here, and here is a good place to be. I will also need a C-section and decided to stop reading anything about the benefits of vaginal vs C-section, as there just isn't a choice.

Hi all

No beer: I can understand your concern but am quite sure that the essential oils on your feet will only have s the effect of soothing and relaxing. Try not to worry about it. Having said that I do totally get the worrying. I went to a neighbours BBQ on Monday and the only meat they served was lamb chops (which I'm love!) but they were quite pink. We haven't told them about the pregnancy yet (but I think they guessed as I wasn't drinking) so I felt I couldn't really say anything. So I ate them .... I was starving! I did feel concerned, but I know of so many women eating the 'wrong' thing and their being no issues I have stuck my head i the sand on this issue and am hoping for the best...

Tallulah: hope you are feeling better about things. IVF pregnancies are different from normal ones. Be kind to yourself, especially about having to have a C-section (I think I will have too as well...). It really doesn't make a jot of difference in the whole scheme of things!

Time: sounds like it is going well on the cervix front, which must be reassuring.

Bugs: I would rather be in your 'not looking pregnant' position as rather embarrassingly, I do but am only 9 weeks (tomorrow). I am a chubster right now and no mistake! If I was there (where ever you are) I would be the flabby Brit of whom you would think: she's eaten a lot of pies .

Beetle: pardon my ignorance but what is a tvc and a tac? I can see its to do with cervix but not sure what ...

TAC is a transabdominal cerclage, and a TVC is a transvaginal cerclage. It's a stitch put in to help support your cervic, and it just depends how it is put in. A TAC means a cut like a c-section cut and they go down to your womb and put in the stitch, and the other is done vaginally.
It's done if you have a weak cervix - either from previous surgery, or often people find out sadly by having a late term miscarriage/early delivery.

Thanks time. So they clearly need to monitor closely don't they! Best of luck. Xx

Hi all, had my 4d bonding scan today.

Abit disappointed as the scanner was rather abrupt unlike all the other scanners I have had at the same place over the past 15 weeks. She complained that he was curled up and facing away and was just not very friendly which killed my "bonding experience" abit.

Anyway, here is my 28 week IVF graduate!

Ferrer I'm on my phone, but even so that picture is amazing! ignore the grumpy scanner!

Wow - that's a lovey image!

Thanks. He looks peaceful there. Although he has his foot up by his nose and was kicking himself I the face half the time. Not comfy!

Morning all,

Did everyone have good weekends?

Nobeer, are you feeling OK about the oils now? When is your next scan?

Time, it's great that your cervix is doing what it should, and everything i read about TAC's points to them being indestructible! I'm not working at the moment, so if he decides on a TAC on the day, then it should be fine. I'm still getting brown spotting though, so I am worried they might postpone the surgery altogether.

Lovely picture, Ferrero. How sweet he looks! It's a shame the scanner ruined the experience for you, it may be just a job to them but they are responsible for creating a good atmosphere etc... and shouldn't be so grumpy! At least you have your lovely picture to keep hold of, and in a couple of months you will have your darling baby in your arms.

Bears, don't worry about the chops. If you were going to get ill from them you would have known very soon after. I bet they were delicious...the thought of them is making my mouth water!

Vall, how are you doing?

Our NT results were good, so we told my immediate family this weekend, and DH called his family (abroad). Happy tears from all and it was lovely to just enjoy the moment without thinking about the past, or worrying about the future. Of course, plenty of nerves again today, so a short respite! That's it for now with regards to telling people.

Awh, ferrero - lovely picture . So sorry someone else's attitude ruined it for you

I'm not doing so great Just so, so anxious. My symptoms come and go...mainly go. I am so, so scared of another MMC. Still 8 days until my viability scan. I feel horrendous

Hi beetle and everyone else.

I'm feeling much calmer now thanks. I think the nausea is quite distracting My next scan is at 12 weeks, so three weeks today. Eek! In general I'm feeling excited, but every now and then there are little nagging thoughts at the back of my mind reminding me not to take anything for granted.

Val what symptoms have you got to cling on to? How many weeks will you be at your scan? I won't tell you not to worry, and it'll be fine, because I think everyone here knows what you've been through and it's quite understandable. I'll send you a hug instead.