Pregnancy after infertility III

[stealthbanana]

Spotting, cramping, "is my clearblue digi accurate?",* viability scans, measuring behind, measuring ahead, high hcg, low hcg, morning sickness, lack of morning sickness, anomaly scans....

That's right, folks, it's the place where scanxiety really means something, where the feeling like you're always going to be on the wrong side of statistics nevers go away, and where moments of sheer terror are par for the course ...it's pregnancy after infertility.

Join if you want to hang out with a supportive group of women across all different stages of pregnancy who can't believe they got here and are hoping like hell its all going to be ok.

Previous thread here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/2679146-Pregnancy-after-infertility-II

*hint for newbies: it's not

Sammy hope scan goes well Tim. Also have scan 31/4

Blue enjoy last few days of work

Hedgehog. Hope you had a nice Holiday

Sara horrible waiting for results. If there was a leibkemsure they would have called you

Mpp moving and doing coursework. Impressive !!!

Gengis. Sorry to hear sickness back :(

Sammy hope the scan went ok yesterday

Grumple congratulations on maternity leave

Blueroses sounds like a good plan to stay with your parents for a few days, good luck for Friday and hope the move goes well

Sara I had the NHS equivalent of the harmony test. Have you had your booking in appointment with a midwife yet? Should be mentioned then if it's offered in your area but she might not have mentioned it if you said you'd had it done privately. I didn't get offered sexing though!

Gengis sorry to hear the sickness is back

Hedgehog when I've asked about exercise I've always been told not to do anything high impact and not to start anything new but if you've had an exercise regime to keep it up.

I'm now 13 + 6 my sickness has gone and I feel more myself (I keep being told this is normal so trying not to worry!). I had an appointment with a consultant yesterday as I'm asthmatic, he was totally unconcerned about that as its mild and controlled. As it's an IVF pregnancy they've decided I should have 2 growth scans at 28 and 34 weeks, which I'm trying to see as reassuring.

Ooh, I haven't been told I'll need extra scans, I'll ask about it at my next MW appt. We were planning to pay for a 28 week scan just for reassurance, but maybe the NHS can do it.

I'm reassured that your sickness has gone custard, I feel rotten but am straining to see light at the end of the tunnel!

We had our nuchal scan today, all fine and low risk. So relieved I cried!

Custard - glad you're feeling more yourself. Sounds like they're being thorough so good thing. I can't wait for the sickness to go - have chest infection at moment and the endless coughing makes me sick even more. Just had to run to bathroom but not before being sick all over my hands, landing, bathroom rugs and sink. Sorry tmi but jaysus!
Still waiting for harmony results. Hopefully tomoz.
Women that tell me they've never felt better than when pregnant cannot mean this bit surely! Its horrendous.

Hedgehog I was a bit surprised they wanted the extra scans to be honest, I've always been told there was no added risk but I think the extra scans could be reassuring for me. Glad your nuchal scan was low risk.

Sara that sounds awful, hope it calms down for you soon. I think women have selective memory when it comes to early pregnancy! Fingers crossed you get the results tomorrow

Hello there sorry I haven't posted on here for ages. Really need to read back and have a good catch up. Good luck with everything Sammy can't believe you will be giving birth soon and meeting your girls. It all seems to have gone so quickly.

I had my 24 week midwife appt today and everything was fine. I have to go back in a couple of weeks for her to measure me. 16 weeks to go now!

Hi everyone,

I have my 12 week scan tomorrow. Have been freaking out a bit the last week. Basically the reason for our infertility was that I had high levels of Natural Killer cells - all a bit controversial - and had to have treatment to suppress my immune system. Obviously it worked but I had a retest a couple of weeks ago which I assumed would come back ok but it showed that one of my levels is very high.

Its a bit complicated cos this cycle was on the NHS and I was lucky that one of the Drs does some immunology work and was happy to prescribe the treatment I needed. I've sent him the results and he says that I don't need any further treatment. The NHS don't do Natural Killer blood tests so I had these done through a private clinic and the consultant there said that I needed to have a really expensive treatment called IVIG which is a blood product 'to give me the best chance of keeping the baby'. After a lot of googling and speaking to DH we decided not to have the IVIG but I had some more intralipids (cheaper, not a blood product) which I had already had. Terrified that it's not enough.

Was feeling positive following my private 10 week scan but now I am scared!

Also, just had a vm from my GP re the flu jab. This wasn't mentioned when I went to see them to tell them I was pregnant and midwife didn't say anything at booking in so I assumed that I was too late in the flu season to have it. Has anyone else had it?

Hope all goes well with your stitch Blueroses

Glad all is well Lucie

Waves to everyone else - weaning off my meds including steroids at the moment and feeling so so tired!

Hedgehog - I have extra scans due to ivf dvt and age (43)

It's nice and reassuring - from 25w I've had 3w

I don't know about bloods but I would try and get what I could via NHS and then pay private

Just Trixie - sorry you feel so anxious, i thought by 12 weeks nk cells wouldn't be an issue. I had intralipids too never had cells measured just thought would give it a go. I'm still not convinced and my clinic said most women don't have them after 8 weeks. I can see why you're worried after what the private clinic said but remember that once you get to 12 weeks, the miscarriage risk drops significantly. I think given that the Dr who prescribed you before thinks you don't need it is reassuring. Stressful though. Re flu jab, I'm having mine next week. Midwife recommended at booking session. Then whooping cough a few weeks later. Would have had it yesterday but too sickly. Take care.

Just got harmony results! 1 in 10,000 risk which they say is low risk and normal. Thank god for that. And its a boy!

Hi all!

Scan was good thank you, they're estimating them at 3lb5 and 3lb10 now. We will be meeting them on the 10th Feb! My c section is all booked. Terrifying that they're coming at 34 weeks but can't wait to hold them. 10 days to go!

Custard - glad you're feeling better now :). I had lots of extra scans because of twins and I found it very reassuring. Think I would have spent a fortune on private scans otherwise!

Hedgehog - glad your scan went well.

Sara - you poor thing. How many weeks are you now?
Great news on the harmony result though

Lucie - glad everything looked ok for you! 24 weeks!! So exciting. Remind me of your due date?

Trixie - so what does your doctor say about the level that is raised?
Can you get another opinion from anywhere? Obviously the private clinic want you to buy the expensive treatment.
Or can you just get the intralipids privately?
Re Flu jab, I had mine at 22 weeks... I thought you had to be 20+ but I could be wrong. I had my whooping cough at around 24 weeks after we got out of hospital. Xx

Oh wow Sammy that's no time at all! So excited for you. I'm due on 21st may.

Trixie, i would try not to worry too much about the nk cells. From what I remember when I was researching things after 12 weeks the levels don't matter so much and you've had an extra dose of intralipids now. Good luck with the 12 week scan I remember how nerve wracking it was. It's a lovely feeling when it's done and all is well though.

Trixie don't forget that private clinics need to make their money somehow, I'm sure if you needed IVIG your doc would tell you.

Sara hurrah! I'm so pleased for you. Such a relief!

Lucie glad everything is going well

Trixie good luck for tomorrow, I don't really know anything about natural killer cells but if the DR you saw for your treatment doesn't think you need anything further I would take that as a good sign. Sorry your stressing out though. I was asked by my midwife about the flu jab but I had it back in Oct because of my asthma (it's fairly good as far as jabs go, no dead arm or anything!) I was also told they recommend whooping cough from 20 weeks

Sara that's great its such a relief and a boy! Lovely news

Sammy sounds like the twins are growing well

Congratulations on your boy Sara and the Harmony results must be such a relief. You are right re the immunes. It looks like most clinics don't retest and stop immune treatment before 12 weeks.

Sounds like good weights for your girls Sammy 10 days wow! The Dr didn't actually say anything, I've been discharged from the clinic but emailed the results to him and he just said to taper off my steroids as planned.
There's a Dr in America who answers questions online and he also said I should be fine by now.
I'm due to see a Consultant at the hospital on Friday so going to ask him re the vaccine.

Thanks Lucie. I've got a prescription for 2 more intralipids so may have those just in case. The thing is my levels weren't actually that high in the first place so maybe it is a pregnancy thing.

That's what DH said Hedgehog (he also says I shouldn't have had the retest in the first place). You can get the drips administered elsewhere so the private clinic don't always make money from them but they must make a fortune from consultations and the retests.

Thanks Custard my midwife said about whooping cough but not flu...good to know it's ok if I end up having it.

SARA. Yah for low results and a 💙💙💙💙

Sammy. Good weights for twins sure all will be fine and not long now

Trixie. Actually after googling I do rem stuff about the bloods. Sure there was an undercover ivf programme - thread on here somewhere - and the ivf doctor said there was no real evidence they helped or worked. Same Ruth high image camera or glue or scratch. But offer them and many of us think wow if there's a chance this can help then we pay more ..... :(

Forgot to say had scan and consultant Tuesday. Bubs is almost 32w and 4lbs 11oz. Gulps

Newborn stuff friends brought us aren't going to fit at this rate ....

They will 99% induce me 39ish weeks if no appearance from bubs so that I don't go past 40/40

PLUs Bubs has turned again and breach so needs to turn or cs

Wonderful news about the results and having a boy Sara - congratulations!!

Thanks for the sympathy Blondes, and that's a great weight! Hopefully she moves again. Will you remind me again why you won't go past 40 weeks? Was it the IVF? Sorry, my memory is shot.

Good luck with your scan today Trixie. Sorry to read about your stress, it's the last thing you need xx

Delighted that your scan went well Hedgehog! I had also heard what Custard says regarding exercise. At the start I stopped everything as I was so ill and just didn't have the energy, but recently I've started walking again in the evenings as well as prenatal yoga - not very taxing but makes me feel like I'm active

That's great that you're feeling better Custard, and also that you get the extra scans. I never even thought to mention my asthma to my doctor - whoops (though it seems like it wouldn't be an issue anyway!)

I was wondering how you were getting on Lucie, so am delighted all is well. 24 weeks!! Great news.

Good luck for 10th Sammy...can you believe it's actually happening?!

I had my 32 week appointment yesterday and all is well. Baby is growing well and is head down. Now to just get rid of this sickness...

gengis ivf mainly but also first baby over 40 and seems my area don't like going past 40w if 40yrs old first time mum due to very small risk of stillbirth 😱😢

Not sure why or how ivf drugs 9/10/11 mths ago make a diff but they've always said they don't want me going past 40w

Yes hopefully will turn again. She was breech think 23w but turned tho obv less room now

Keep Forgetting we are due the same time baby brain lol what weight is your baby? Bubs has always been slightly heavier on scans but they said as daddy is 6f2 that's possibly why

Thank you everyone!

Genghis - no I really can't. After everything we went through to conceive, then the TTTS I genuinely never thought we'd get this far. It's a weird feeling. 32+5 today.

I'm jealous of those heavy weight babes! My little light weights would have been well behind even if they'd gone to term! Xx

But you are cooking two Sammy so usually twins weigh less as two of them iyswim

Your babies are just fine and as you said amazing got this far due to their op and clever doctors

Are you semi organised with nursery and bags packed etc?

Ahh, thanks for the reminder! One good thing about that Blondes is knowing that by X date you'll definitely have your baby. Mine is coming in at 4.5lb :) I don't know whether to be concerned or not that his head is measuring at 35+1

It's been a long old road for you alright Sammy Xx I don't think I'll truly believe I'm having a baby until he's actually here. I find it hard to even look at the stuff that I've got in preparation though I know I'd best get over that before he arrives :)

Oh yes, and second what Blondes said about the weight x

Indeed. I Should be a mummy by 30/3 :) and you near that date as well

Assume you are younger then me ?

You are only a few oz less then bubs so seems we are both on similar weight graph :)