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

Thanks choc, for me the nausea kicked in pretty much straight away from 6 weeks and it's still there now at 10.5 weeks. It lasts all day and evening. I haven't had much tiredness though so at least that's something. A holiday sounds a fab idea and will help pass the time nicely.

Hi all and welcome tiger rose and chocolate to post-barren land!!
Mist so sorry to hear, hope you are doing ok
Zenzie fab scan pic, looks like our Spring babies will be appearing around the same week, all very exciting!
Stealth glad your MW appt went well, one less thing to stress about..
Sammy and icy hope the cramping is improving, hopefully just those babas stretching and growing
Lucie GL for your test results
Hi to anyone I've missed, still reading through all your news
In the 6th month now hard to believe and I think I will be giving birth to a kickboxer, never stops moving!! Re the exercising, I ran up until 15 weeks (more jogging really) on a treadmill at half my normal speed and distance, about 20 mins three times a week. Now just walk to and from station to work at 5k a day which I find is enough really as starting to get puffed. Also do weekly pre natal Pilates.... Anyone come across nice maternity capes online that won't make me look like an oversized Sherlock Holmes??

Sorry wizzi but I had to laugh at oversized Sherlock Holmes! No useful suggestions for capes I'm afraid, although I did notice the TK Maxx had loads of poncho type things the other day - a whole rail in their scarf section. My tolerance for rummaging there is low but worth a look occasionally for a bargain.

Nausea back again this morning, can't believe I wasted a day yesterday worrying about feeling ok. Blurgh. Today's new worry is stabby/pinching pains in the pelvic area.

The wait is grim stealth and you are right, I just need to grind through it. On positive days that feels doable, but when I'm anxious I feel like I can't cope at all. I debated an early scan with DH yesterday and he is not keen. He proved we are not quite on the same page with a rather flippant - if it's bad news then at least it's on a Friday so we can get pissed.

rose how are you coping? Going slowly insane or hanging in there?!

Good luck with your test results lucie. My clinic didn't do betas so I had a late private blood test at 19dpt and it was over 9000 so the clinic told me not to bother with another one as it was sufficiently high etc and at that stage it wouldn't tell me much more.

chocolate, hope you're doing ok and that you have a fantastic holiday!

My face and neck look worse than ever. My clinic finally called back to tell me that they didn't know what it was but guessed high progesterone as it was already high a few days after transfer. Am working from home as can't face a 5 hour return trip to my client site today!

Grumpel Glad to hear that. Time feels like it has gone so fast when I hear you are 24 weeks! I'm sure it doesn't feel that way for you though. Have you starting purchasing bits yet?

Stealth Hello my lovely! 12kg gain and still 23 BMI- you must be cooking a chunky little boy in there I'm so excited for you. Your babymoon sounded blissful by the way. How long did you go away for?

Thank you Mist. So sorry to read your news. I really hope you will be back here soon. What is your next step?

MPP Hope your appointment goes well today. And you are able to get some tips on alleviating the pain.

Chocolate I've been the same- I have felt queasy in the evenings for a few days now and wondered if it was all in my head too! Then this morning I had to put all my energy into not throwing up on myself on my drive to work

Tigerdog I totally feel your pain re: waiting for the first scan. It seems to take a lifetime to come along. I was a total emotional wreck at both scans I have had so far and have been worried sick!!

Speaking of which, we had our 12 week scan yesterday. All seemed well, baby was wriggling around so difficult to take measurements for nuchal test. I was obviously a wreck as usual! They have dated me at 12+5 and baby due 11th May, two days after my Birthday...DH has told the whole of his workplace, he is a primary school teacher so has had lots of women clucking around him all day! I went into work and told nobody, can't seem to start telling people as still afraid I will jinx it! When did other people on here start telling and did it come easily?

Saw a consultant endocrinologist as I have Hashimotos who seemed very annoyed about the fact that my private clinic had put me on steroids, saying "there's no evidence that they have any impact on antithyroid antibodies and pregnancy outcomes." I beg to differ, having gone through infertility and an IVF CP and then getting a BFP with steroids but what do I know?! Not sure why it annoyed me so much really!

Also, they said that they would want to do a couple of things differently because I have had IVF. One is that I will have scans at 30 weeks and 36 weeks. The other is that I will be induced. Any other ladies who have had similar conversations with their midwives/medical professionals?

One more thing, I was told that the nuchal blood test would be inaccurate because of IVF meds. It would swing strongly in favour of the odds being higher of having a DS baby. Have other people been told this?

Sorry, so many questions...Really interested to know about other's experiences around this.

Evening everyone!

Midwife appointment today went well. She told me my pains were likely baby stretching everything and this is aggravating my IBS, but to keep an eye on it and if it became constant or very painful (its more discomfort than anything) to phone straight away so they can investigate. Other than that, if it stays at the same level I must wait til my 24 week appointment and if it hasnt gone away by then they will investigate further. She didnt seem too concerned so I guess I will try not to worry and see how it goes. Other than that, she said everything looked fine.

Chocolate, from what I've read its quite common mostly in the second trimester. Good luck on finding some of those sexy compression socks!

Lucie, I totally understand about time going so slowly! I have everything crossed for your results. Hopefully they will set your mind at rest and be another hurdle overcome.

Wizzi, I also had a giggle at the over-sized sherlock holmes comment! No idea on the capes though, I'm sorry!

Tiger, typical male comment from your DH. Mine comes out with some fab ones too. Hopefully the wait will pass quickly for you.

Thanks Rosebud. I hope you are doing ok. I would wish the nausea away for you, but understand it can be kind of reassuring!! :-)

Jenbot, I'm glad your scan went well for you. Personally, I wasn't told anything about the IVF drugs affecting the nuchal test. I've had a very quick, basic google and while I can see some posts saying the same thing, the majority of people don't seem to have been told this. Hopefully someone who knows more will be along soon.

Hope everyone else is ok. :-)

Wow Jen, why would you need to be induced because it is an IVF baby? I can't say I will be very happy if they tell me that! I also asked the question on here about steroids possibly affecting the outcome of the downs test as I had read it somewhere myself but lots of the ladies on here were on them and had no problem with their results. Mine are due back next week so who knows!

Jen I've also been told they'll induce me due to IVF baby. It seems to totally depend on what trust you are under. They said they would induce only if I went over 40 weeks though. There is a tiny tiny bit of research to say IVF babies are more at risk if overdue but it's by no means the norm. When I asked on MN most IVFers hadn't been offered induction. Remember you can refuse it if you want to.

Turns out I now I have late onset gestational diabetes now anyway so seems like a definite induction and possible Caesarian for me

Some really diverse information out there re induction, nuchal blood test etc, quite scary really as if we all haven't been through the mill already just getting pregnant in the first place.

AFM I have been advised I'm at no more risk than an natural preggo and my next scan all going well is 36 weeks i.e next Feb!!!
Either I have the most lax trust ever or they are completely rubbish and ill-informed re IVF patients, think I need to grill my MW at next visit.
Do you think it's linked to age? I'm 37, so not exactly a teenager..

On my mobile, so just scanned though. Glad everything is soundingn positive for everyone - it's comforting to read!

I'm having a very odd day - but helpfully none of it has been pregnancy related!! Laptop needs a £500 fix (fuck off apple), ate an amazing benugo sandwich, had to sack an agent we use which was awkward but then I did a poo for the first time this week which was cheering. Commuting now and this is the first time I've had a moment to stress and fret!

Wizzi - I actually think my trust are overly vigilant, I get loads of scans and the supposed induction. I'm also 37 so I think it's just random.

Icy - congrats on the poo!

I was told I wouldn't go past 40w. Don't know why but higher chance of stillborn if ivf and over 40w

Tho in my area if over 37 (gereactric) they like to induce

Plus first baby over 40 and had dvt and ivf so I red flag

Have 20w scan in a week or so

And have 28 32 36 all booked in as well

Just driven up to North Yorkshire to spend a few days at the ILs and things aren't looking good. Had a small bit of brown discharge this evening, then just now went to the loo and there was watery brownish blood when I wiped. Fuck it. Have had very achey back for last few hours. Feeling worried and not sure what to do.

Try not to worry tiger, I had brown at 10 weeks and everything was fine. They say it's bright red you should be more worried about and brown is old blood.

Hi Guys, just thought I'd pop in to say hello! Hope you are all well. Baby HP is a month old today and was just under 10lb when he was weighed on Friday. Missing you all and hoping that things are moving along smoothly for you. I will try and have a skim read and catch up on all your news shortly. Take care. X

Thanks lucie. It seems to have tailed off but I am getting a stabby pain on and off. Not severe but noticably different from what I've been aware of so far.

I called the local EPU as it is self referral and 24/7 and they advised that they wouldn't scan, unless I was actively bleeding. They would recommend an 8 week scan, which I already have booked at my own clinic.

So, I just have to sit tight and hope for the best really. Argh.

Tiger Sorry to hear you have bleeding and brown spotting. It's so worrying when it happens.

I had brown spotting for 5 days in the run up to OTD and was told to rest as much as possible until it stopped.
I also got my progesterone level checked and it was lower than it should have been (33nmol) so I upped my progesterone just in case that was causing the problem.

Just telling you in case it's worth upping your progesterone too. Could be worth asking your clinic.

Hi all.
I'm currently on my phone so can't see much, will do a proper catch up later on.
Just wanted to give you a quick update. Had my 12 week scan, everything looked okay, baby was wriggling and waving away. They can no longer see the haemorrhage so that's good news. They said the NT measured at 2.8. I know I shouldn't Google things but I did, and it said that was on the high side? I'm panicking a bit now because I also had high hcg levels at 6 weeks. Can anybody help, does the hcg level contribute to the overall score.

Hope everyone else is doing well and a big Hi to everyone. X

Friends, I haven't looked into it that much but I thought anything under 3.5mm was normal. I don't know about the hcg sorry. Did they take bloods as well? When will you get the results of those?

tiger I had exactly that type of spotting at 7. Wateryish and in the pants. Couldn't eat for 2 days out of fear. I did a shag to try "clear it out" which seemed to work. Holding breath it's the same for you xxx

tiger understand completely why you're worrying but really hope you're ok and that its just one of those weird things X

Tiger I hope the spotting has stopped for you.

Friends For my screening, they used hcg, NT and papp-a results. I also had very high hcg levels early on but by the time they were taken at 12 weeks they seemed to be 'normal' - still high but not outrageously high. It's just a non-stop worry isn't it?

HP it's lovely to hear from you, and I'm glad all is going well for you and HPBaby!

Hello to everyone else - sorry I have been absent. I have my 20 week scan on Tuesday and the nerves are kicking in. I've been feeling quite a bit of movement the last couple of weeks - I find it rather reassuring but of course put myself in a spin when I can't feel anything!

Hey tiger, I've had that constant stabbing pain all the way through and In my back. I hope your spotting has gone?

Lucie, she said I would know in a week and if I've not heard out then I should expect a good news letter. It's just the way she said "lets take a look at your results and then said oh well I don't actually know" ( I was like I remember every word you say and how you say it to me) Google seems to think it's the higher end of normal at 12 weeks. I'm thinking of taking the harmony test but I'm away for two weeks now. Does it have to be done in a certain time frame? I hope your better after your scare. The count waiting for results is awful isn't it.

Genghis. It certainly is one thing after another. You set yourself goal post and then you promise yourself you will be happy, but it never happens like that. I wish you all the best for your scan on Tuesday.

Jenbot. I totally get you, my husband wants to tell the world and I still don't want to tell anybody. I feel so bad because he's happy and positive and my constant negativity must be bringing him down.

Gosh I'm so glad I have this page.

Hope everyone is staying sane. Big wave to everyone.

Pretty much all my mates know, along with a load of acquaintances - mainly bc I've been very open on the IVF/FET front so it would be weird to clam up now. And I don't want to imply it hadn't worked as that doesn't feel like good karma.

Difficult to temper people's happy reactions though without looking like a miserable ungrateful bitch. "When do you think you'll stop work" eh?! EH?! Are you joking? Stop saying that you will jinx it! The other one was a friend saying "so you have a 12 week scan then a 20 week and then blah blah" - I said I don't have a clue mate. I've never set my horizon further than a bfp and readjusting my settings is just impossible. The clinic nurses asked which hospital I'd give birth at - again - stop jinxing it you bastards!

I'm still in barren mindset. Are any of you lurking on here who now have kids but the mindset hasn't changed? Or does it? Just out of interest really.

Happy Friday anyway, thank god it's weekend x

Well I'm 35 weeks and still fearful of jinxing it. I still say "if all goes well ...." And I will only say I'm so many weeks pregnant if i have actually hit that day (so still say 34 weeks plus 6 as I'm worried if I round up to 35 I'll jinx it and never get there )