Pregnancy after infertility

[bananafish81]

Thought I’d start this thread as I find myself feeling quite out of place on the ‘normal’ antenatal club threads - find it difficult to relate to being upduffed after 'just' having some sex, and thinking ahead to buying maternity clothes, how much maternity leave to take, where I’d like to give birth etc

I realise it’s entirely my own issues and that infertility world has clouded my views, but I want to scream ‘DON’T YOU KNOW EVERYTHING THAT COULD GO WRONG!!’.

There’s a thread for pregnancy after previous loss, but thought there might be some kindred spirits who are navigating the world of pregnancy after infertility

I must be unusual in that I didn't have an HCG at all 🤔 If I'd have known about it, I would definitely have asked. My view is the more tests the better so they know what's going on in there and keep monitoring.

Fingers crossed for you Kate

Hi everyone,

I am gatecrashing this thread prematurely I suspect. I got BFP yesterday after a frozen 5 day blastocyst transfer a week ago. Had brown discharge (tmi) since yesterday so I am not getting to excited. Beta is next Tuesday. Can't stop googling!

More anti d for me today after some spotting last night. Any more news Hopefulkate?

I have just spoken to him. They are rising but not quite doubling so he wants another test tomorrow and then we will take stock based on that. He says it can mean absolutely nothing - a third of all healthy pregnancies have low HCG levels - but it can indicate an ectopic or a chromosome problem. I think our second MC was due to chromosomes so I am v worried. But he told me to try and relax. I guess it is good I am seeing him and they have picked this up. But still pretty bloody worried.

Thanks for your support xx

Hope tomorrow's test brings good news Kate. I didn't have a HCG either, my clinic doesn't do them as standard.

We saw a heartbeat this morning! So far so good. And... a second sac which is a surprise, as only one embryo was transferred. They couldn't see a heartbeat on the second though, but said it might be too early but it is a good size so they will scan me again next week. It can't come quick enough! I am trying not to even think about it... just one would be amazing. I am going to enjoy being happy for today though, this is a rollercoaster.

Welcome vixx

Sorry for the bleed HP. You'll be awash with anti d soon

Kate try not to worry (easier said than done I realise). These early days go so slowly and painfully, hope you get good news soon.

Wow hello, great news about the scan.

Welcome Vixx I meant to say I had several days of spotting around my bfp and although it's still early and feels fragile we are hanging in there. Hope you get good news this week. These early days are so slow and stressful.

Vixx, welcome to the board. Fingers crossed for you.

HP, sounds like your taking anti-D in your stride now. BTW it turns out I'm O+ so didn't need any after my bleeding episode. Definitely good to know my blood type!

Kate, try to relax! I know it's easier said than done.

Hellotree, that's amazing! How exciting for you. Congrats!

This week I have started to get lower back pain, which means my feet, ankles and knees also ache. I thought that this might happen as I have history of spinal issues but wasn't expecting it quite so early. I'm seeing my chiropractor on Thursday, he said he sees this quite often.

How's everyone else?

Thank you for the welcome

I've googled so much and it seems it can happen. But as you all know it's worrying enough without spotting / bleeding / cramps.

What stage is everyone at?

hello wow! 2 sacs! How amazing. So pleased you had a good result.

welcome! Hope your stay is lengthy.

kate what the others said - try not to worry (hollow laugh). Hopefully it's just a slow starter and is powering up as we speak. Whilst generally I agree with blue's stance on more monitoring, I think betas are a bit of a double edged sword - there is just so much variation in them it's hard to know definitively how to interpret them.

blue sorry to hear you're in pain. I've got horrid hypermobility related stuff too and am dreading that all kicking in. Not fun!

How's everyone doing?

Hi HP. I'm OK, got a cold and time has slowed down again! Can't believe it was only yesterday I had a scan and I have to wait a whole six more days! Plus I think it's psychological but I feel ENORMOUS. Big fat bloaty belly.

How are you?

I'm still suffering from lower pack pain and trying to do things to manage that. I have signed up for pregnancy yoga and looking for aquanatal classes after HP mentioned it but I can't find any in my area! I wonder if regular water aerobics classes are safe? I'm going to try an alternative journey to work which is slightly longer but will mean less changes / walking up and down steps. Ironically my pain got worse after I switched to flat shoes after I felt a bit wobbly on my 2in office shoes last week! Takes my mind off worrying about the pregnancy anyway!

Hi blue sorry you are suffering. Normal aqua classes should be fine as long as you are mindful of not pushing yourself too hard. If the pain gets worse later in pregnancy you might be able to get a physio referral,but whether it does any good is another matter. (I'm a trainee mw and that's what we do in my area)

Not too bad today thanks. Just feel a bit heavy in the bump, baby must be laying low down. Hope your back eases up Blue.

Hi everyone so glad I have fount this thread.
I have read through everyone's stories and you are inspiring and strong. I would love to join you all?
I have quite a long story off infertility but I won't go into every detail.
I have just finished my 3rd round off Ivf this was a FET,I had 2 embryos put back in on 5th May and had a positive result on 13th may. We were in complete and utter shock and we assumed it hadn't worked as I've been bleeding for well over a week now (10th may) I had my Hcg done again on Monday 16th and it showed it was going up which is positive they say.

Everyday is a struggle and a worry as my bleeding changes from hour to hour,I have scan at 7 weeks which is on 2nd June . The wait is awful but I know there is nothing I can do.
I had my first Ivf back in 2012 after suffering a miscarriage then a ruptured eptopic and my right tube removed .my first Ivf resulted in my beautiful son and I thank my lucky stars everyday . I then went on to fall pregnant naturally to my suprise but sadly again ended in eptopic And my last tube being removed. I went on to do a FET and that sadly failed :(

i thought long and hard before starting this Ivf cycle again and thought I was ready and strong enough for any outcome that may happen but sadly I'm finding each day harder and harder because off the constant bleeding
Just reading through all your stories has up lifted me so Thankyou .

Welcome Rachel - glad you found us. Waiting for the first scan is really horrible but we do have many testimonies on here of bleeding which has proved to be harmless. I'll try not to offer too many platitudes, but we are here to hand hold through the early stage waiting game.

As for me well I'm 13 weeks and already huge, I've got a proper bump now. From Google searches apparently most women dont show until week 12-16. but I think I was showing before that. I'm still on progesterone suppositories for another week, could this be it? Or am I growing a giant, mutant baby? The 12 week scan had the baby 3 days bigger than it should have been. Stupid thing to worry about! But has anyone else had a proper bump at 13 weeks? Do people really not show until week 16. For what it's worth I'm size 12 so not particularly skinny.,

Boris I started showing at 12 weeks. Not massive but still definitely the start of a bump. Today I have more bleeding. When I saw the midwife on Tuesday she told me because of my history if I had another bleed before my consultant appointment at the end of this month then I needed to call the hospital and ask to see a Dr so that is my task for today :/

And welcome Rach. I am the epitome of bleeding during a viable pregnancy. I'm 22+2 today and have had more bleeds than I can shake a stick at!!

Thankyou for replying boris and HP07.
Just reading through everyone's stories has made me feel a little better already so Thankyou boris .
HPO7 how is your bleeding now ?
I had bright red blood at the beginning which lasted few hours and now over a week later it changes day to day,sometimes heavy sometimes light/spotting and changing in colour.
Has yours been like this ?

Welcome Rach.

Boris I am also 13 weeks and have already had a very rounded belly for weeks, now definitely a bump. I thought it was very obvious but my colleague say that they didn't notice!! I think progesterone plays a big part, I have been cutting down over the last week or so and my bowels are getting back to normal-ish (sorry TMI!). I'm sure that progesterone has caused bloating and sluggish digestion over the weeks and made me feel enormous! I haven't been able to wear my regular jeans for 6 weeks! I'm also size 12 normally.

Welcome Rach , Vixx and Kate.

Boris - I think it's common for the progesterone to cause bloating and water retention so that might be contributing to your bump. Some people do just show earlier than others though.

Hope all the spotting and bleeding stops for everyone, it really is miserable. I've spotted in every one of my pregnancies (this is number 4 but only one DC).

Kate have you looked up your results on www.betabase.info/chart/doubling/single? That can sometimes give reassurance.

I had my booking in with the midwife yesterday which was very surreal. I'm still feeling like this isn't really happening to me. I think I need to get through some of the genetic testing to feel like I might be in with a chance.

Just spent 4 hours in the hospital waiting to see midwives and Dr's. It was not the most fun I've ever had. The Dr did have a look at my cervix thoough and there is a small ectropian on ot which is probably contributing to my bleeds but she said it is impossible to tell whether the placenta is also causing an issue with it being low lying. Therefore I have to carry on as before with the anti d injections and blood tests. I am so tired as I worked last night and haven't been to bed yet.
Rach I've had brown spotting, red and pink!

HP do you need the anti-d injections due to your blood type.

I'm RH neg so have been told I need the injection at 28 weeks but have no real idea what to expect.

Hi everyone,

I was on this thread at the beginning, but haven't looked in for weeks. I'm 23+4 and I have a question for HP07 Yesterday, I had my 24 week appointment with the midwife and just before we went, I went to the loo to do my urine sample and I had bright red drops of blood on the toilet roll upon wiping. We went to the MW appointment and when I told her, she booked us in straight away at the hospital for tests and the anti-D injection (obviously I'm rhesus negative).

So we spent 3 hours at the hospital yesterday and they did all the usual tests except an ultrasound scan on the baby. They listened to the heartbeat, which was good and strong and I had a blood test to check for baby's platelets in my blood. I also had an internal from a junior doctor, who said that my cervix looked tightly closed and she couldn't see any cause for the bleed. I had the anti-D and we came home. I've had some pink tinges today when wiping, but then have just been to the loo and it's red blood again! A few drops. My question is.. will I need to go in again and get checked out and have another anti-d injection? I feel fine physically. Will the injection from yesterday still work for today's bleed, or will I need another top-up?

Apologies for the 'me, me, me' post and for not reading back. x x