Pregnancy After Infertility IV

[Blueroses99]

Pregnancy after infertility or fertility treatment can be a scary place, from scanxiety to unexplained bleeding to other random symptoms.

We are a supportive group of women across all stages of pregnancy who are used to being on the wrong side of the odds and still can't believe it's really happening.

Previous thread here:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/2755564-Pregnancy-after-infertility-III

Friends I'm glad the scan went well but sorry to read that you're back in hospital and must be kind of just waiting and wishing every day away. You've had such a tough pregnancy x

MPP good luck on Thursday - I bet you can't wait for your appointment alright. Sorry to read about the discharge but at least the hospital doesn't sound worried. I will be thinking of you on Thursday x

The waiting is so hard alright Trixie. It just feels like you get past a certain milestone like the 12 week scan and you're wishing the time away until the next one. I wonder does it ever end?!

I hope your chiropractor appointment went well Blue?

Friends hope everything is ok today

MPP hope the appointment goes well tomorrow

Trixie & Blueroses 19 weeks here today and still wishing time would speed up! I have my anomaly scan on Friday so currently trying to not let anxiety get the better of me.

custard know what you mean re time dragging and pre anomaly scan nerves. I'm 18 weeks on Monday and time can't go fast enough for me. Be thinking of you on Fri hope you get some good pics and all is well.
friends hope things have settled down for you and you're all OK.
blueroses how are you? Think you're a week of so ahead of me. Do you feel any movement yet?
MPP hope it went well with consultant today. Good to know that the discharge isn't a bad sign at least still worrying at the time though.
AFM - having lots of headaches called midwife earlier for bit of reassurance and she offered to listen to heartbeat. She heard it straight away was amazing really. Have been bit anxious as feels ages till next scan. Still can't seem to contemplate that all might be fine! Hi to all x

friends and MPP hope everything goes well from now on.

Seems like there's a few of us around 18-19 weeks! A friend of mine says it seems like it takes ages to get to 20 weeks then suddenly time speeds up and flies by - I can't wait for my 20 week scan! Everything's really busy at work so I've plenty to keep my mine occupied, but it's hard to think of anything other than the baby - I totally know what people mean by baby brain now! Fortunately year-end (I work in finance in government) comes after my 20 week scan so hopefully I'll be totally on the ball by then, can't afford to make mistakes.

Good luck today MPP. Xx

I'm still going but I'm still in hospital because still bleeding red/brown. Had a total meltdown about it yesterday because I was really concerned I had placenta abruption or something because of all the pain I was having, had to have an emergency scan to check he was head down because they was concerned he was coming. So he's certainly keeping us on our toes! Having another scan in the next day or so to make sure all is Okay and he's still growing.

Good luck with the scans hedgehog, Sara and custard. Those few weeks before are the worst! However it's amazing to see how much they've grown.

Hope you and baby Genghis are doing well. Xx

Mpp, hope all went ok with the scan yesterday and good luck to everyone with their upcoming 20 week scan. Time definitely does go quicker after that.

Friends, sorry to hear you are still in hospital. Good luck with the next scan.

I'm 30 weeks this weekend and all going ok so far. Enjoying the nct classes. Next midwife appt a week Tuesday so we will check little bean is still on track then.

Good to know that things go faster after 20 weeks. I am going to get my cervix measured again on Sunday, will be 18 weeks. If it is the same/longer I will then try and hold out until my 20 week scan(which is actually at 21+3)

Loving my maternity exemption, lost a filling the other day and got it replaced for free and have just collected a supply of clexane.

I don't think it does Genghis!

Hope your scan goes well today Custard.

Great that you got to hear the heartbeat Sara!

Glad all is going well Lucie

Sounds like they are keeping a close eye on you Friends good luck with your scan.

I hope you got on ok yesterday MPP

I hope you won't mind me joining

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Sara lovely that you heard the heartbeat, hope you're feeling a bit less anxious

Hedgehog sounds like you're going to be kept busy after 20 weeks

Friends sorry to hear you're still in hospital and still having a hard time, good luck for your next scan

lucie good to hear you're enjoying the nct classes, I've just booked mine

Trixie good luck with the scan on Sunday

Welcome Thirdeeye how far along are you?

My 20 week scan went well, all looked ok (I had to go for a walk in the middle as she couldn't get some measurements due to position of bubs but thankfully managed to get them in the end). I asked about my cervix she didn't measure it but said it was closed and nice and long (I may wobble and get another private scan done before 24 weeks I'm not sure atm).

Also it's a girl!

Friends hope you and baby Friends are still hanging in there.

MPP hope you're doing well too.

Genghis yes thank you, in fact my new local chiro may even be better than my usual one I just need regular adjustments to keep my aches and pains in check.

Sara glad you got to hear the heartbeat! Yes I've been feeling flutters for a little while but now it's feeling a little more distinct. They say it's earlier after the first pregnancy and last time I didn't feel anything til almost 20w. I was told at 16w that I have an anterior placenta though so I'm not sure how that will impact feeling movement.

Hedgehog lol re baby brain. Hope you manage to get through year end.

Lucie good to hear everything is going ok.

Trixie hope the cervix scan goes well today.

ThirdEeye welcome. I saw your post on the other thread so I know you're early on. How are you getting on? Have you booked your first scan?

Custard another girl! Congratulations! Long and closed cervix is amazing too.

AFM my sick leave was due to finish next Friday but I'm signed off work for another 4 weeks which takes me to 24 weeks (Easter). I've been told there is no physical reason that I can't return but psychological. This will take me past the point at which I had my loss last time (21+3) and to viability. I'll see how I feel after that. My next scan is on 21st (20+1).

Congratulations on the baby girl news Custard! Will they check you again at24 weeks?

Welcome thirdeye, hope you have an enjoyable, stress free pregnancy. We're all here if you need us.

Lucie, glad all is going well with you and that you're enjoying all the classes.

Hedgehog, I've had horrendous baby brain. It's the dreams that get me, I don't know what's actually real or what I've just dreamt. haha.

Blueroses, I hope the next few weeks go quick for you. I know there's no physical reason why you can't got back to work but the emotional/phychological aspect of things are often the worse. Good luck with your scan.

Afm, I came out of hospital on Sunday. Just got to keep an eye out for infection or contractions etc.
I will be at hospital for weekly checks. I will then see the consultant next week. They've told me there's no reason I can't go back to work because they don't advocate bedrest at my hospital but I feel so much more pressure and pain stood up. So I've decided to go on maternity and bed rest anyway.

Scan was okay, all okay placenta wise ( but we knew that anyway because of the private one) However baby doesn't really seem to have grown much so we've dropped on the growth chart.

Having a lot of fanjo daggers, pressure and I think I'm losing my plug (not 100% sure )I'm 31weeks tomorrow so at least I've made it another week. Fingers crossed for another 3 more.

Big waves to everyone else. Xx

Awwwww a girl @custard. Congrats and yah for long closer cervix

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Friends so glad scan was OK and you're home now. Having break from work sounds sensible. Especially with how you feel standing. Good you're being monitored so closely. Fingers crossed bubs decides it's in the best place and stays put. I've had vivid dreams too. Some highly inappropriate! Take it easy. Plenty of 😴🌞🍫💟🛀

Great news that the scan went well, and hooray for another week down! I think you should definitely do what you feel comfortable with re. work/maternity leave, so sounds like a good decision with the pressure you're feeling.

Congratulations on the baby girl news Custard, and good news about your cervix!

Welcome Third!

That's great about your pain Blue, and I also think you've got the right idea about going back to work or not after Easter. I imagine the coming extra difficult for you.

How did your scan go Trixie?

I hope you and baby are doing well MPP?

Hello to everyone else!

Congratulations on your little girl Custard seem to be a lot of girls at the moment. And great news about your cervix

My scan went really well thanks Genghis cervix was 37mm where it was 31mm last time, she said it could fluctuate, if it had been that much shorter I would have been worried. Going to try not to worry about it now.

Great to hear you are home Friends, I would also be taking it easy rather than heading back to work. Fingers crossed that you last another 3 weeks.

Good news about being signed off for longer Blue, it must be so hard, roll on Easter for viability!

Welcome to the thread ThirdEeye

My 20 week scan is now going to be at 22 + 1....DH has been told he has to travel with work and it clashed with the scan so managed to rearrange it. Glad he is going to be there but its longer to wait.

Hello all!

Sorry, I fell off the thread a little as I was desperately trying to keep up with my uni work, but have just had a quick catch up.

Friends Glad to hear all is well and you are home. Are you still having the red/brown bleeding? I dont blame you at all for taking the maternity leave. You've had such a rough time, I think you'll worry alot more if you dont take it a bit easy now. I'm with you on the fanjo daggers, pressure and plug! They think I've lost at least part of mine but apparently if you dont go into labour it regenerates itself. Hope you're ok.

Sara Lovely to hear the heartbeat! Its so reassuring isnt it. Hope the headaches have settled down. Try a cold compress on the back of your neck or on your forehead. I found that helped mine alot!

Hedgehog I would agree with your friend - it seems like time has sped up since 20 weeks, but it felt like forever to get that far!

Lucie Glad you'r enjoying the NCT classes. Did you say you'd found an aquanatal class too? I've had to give mine up on account of the bleeding, as a precaution, and I am missing it alot. Swimming was the only time I felt light and comfortable. Hope you're doing ok.

Trixie Glad to hear you are happy with your cervix measurement. That must be a relief. I think my 20 week scan was at about 22 weeks too. It must be frustrating to have to wait but obviously better for DH to be there with you :-)

Custard Congratulations on your little girl :-) Glad the scan went well for you and they were able to get all the measurements. Thats another milestone out of the way!

Blueroses I imagine the psychological and emotional aspects of returning to work are, as Friends says, worse in some ways. I think you should do what makes you happy and comfortable, and if that means staying off till baby arrives, then so be it! I hope you are resting and feeling ok. I will be thinking of you xx

Welcome Thirdeye and congratulations!!

Blondes How are you doing? Everything progressing well?

Ghengis How are you?

AFM, my appointment went well, I suppose. I'm not a big fan of my new consultant. I've had to swap to her as she's the diabetic consultant but she's been away since my diagnosis so thats the first time I met her. She spent most of the first part of the appointment telling me all the same things the diabetic nurse has spent weeks telling me, and I thought she was quite condescending about it all considering how hard I've battled to keep my blood sugars under control. I thought maybe I was being a bit sensitive but when we came out, I could see DH was quite mad about the whole thing as well and agreed with me, but he said he thought I would be annoyed if he'd said anything. Anyway, that's neither here nor there, I suppose. Consultant said she will book me in for an elective c section at 39 weeks but is hoping I will go into labour naturally before then. She sent me for another scan there and then but said she didnt have time for me to come back to her and discuss the results that day, and that I had to book another appointment for the following week (tomorrow) to discuss. She did say that, since I'd had a bleed, I should have a very low threshold for contacting the hospital and should feel free to ring for anything at all, no matter how small. At the scan, the sonographer said baby looked fine, and his growth has slowed down a little to a more normal rate, though he still has quite a big tummy and they will be keeping an eye on that over the coming weeks. No issues with placenta, fluid etc for the moment and he currently weighs approx 6lb 6. Then I saw the diabetic nurse who rolled her eyes and seemed less than impressed when DH explained about the condescending consultant, so that made me feel a bit better!
Friday morning, woke up to a change in discharge, from brown to pink and more contractions, so called the hospital and was advised to come in. They did an internal examination (ouch!), took a swab and hooked me up to the monitor to check baby but everything was ok and they let me go a few hours later with instructions to come back if any change/concerns. Bleeding/discharge finally completely stopped on Saturday, and (touch wood) have had nothing since. I did, however, have a phonecall from the hospital to let me know that I am positive for group b strep and will need antibiotics via a drip if I go into labour naturally, so no hanging about, especially if my waters break. Cue ANOTHER meltdown on poor DH as I was starting to feel like everything was going wrong, though I've since calmed down (again).
Latest news is that I saw my community midwife today (possibly for the last time!) and heard babys heartbeat again. Blood pressure/urine/etc all fine so next thing is the consultant again tomorrow to discuss last weeks scan, and the plan is that I will see the consultant weekly and be scanned every other week from now til delivery. I am 34+4 today. In other news, two more assignments left for uni and I am hoping to finish them off so I dont have to defer! Its all a bit mental!

Phew, sorry for the essay but I think thats everything and tomorrows update should be a little shorter! Hope everyone is well. Big waves to anyone I've missed!!

Hi all! Sorry for being AWOL again. Time is just flying by at the moment!

Trixie great news about your cervix length. Lovely for it to go up a bit when you were dreading it going low.

Custard congrats on your scan and finding out you are having a girl- bet it makes it feel so much more real!

Friends How are you doing? Great that you have come on another week- one step at a time. You are doing great in the circumstances.

MPP Woah! What a lot for you to take in! Not helped by the crappy consultant You are also doing amazingly well in the circumstances and I am in ore of you still pushing on with your uni work- incredible! Did you test for the strep b privately? Is it something that I should consider too do you think?

AFM- 25 weeks and had my midwife appointment today. Bump is measuring 2 weeks ahead so all the "oh your bump is so small" comments that Ive been received are total crap- I'm going to learn to ignore them from now on rather than worrying! Heard heartbeat again too, which was fab.
Nursery is coming together nicely now and makes this all feel super real (and a bit exciting)

Wow MPP, you've really been through the wringer! Glad BabyMPP is well though, it sounds like it won't be long before you get to meet him/her! Sorry about your crap consultant, I do wish people would read a patient's notes before launching into advice (when I was miscarrying last time a 'helpful' junior doc suggested trying vitamins to conceive again - gosh, if only I'd known that a few packs of vitamins would solve our fertility problems at a stroke, we'd never have needed to spend >£10k on IVF! )

RoseBud totally agree about ignoring the small bump comments, I'm 19 weeks and people keep looking shocked when I say that I'm pregnant - I freaked out a lot about it earlier but my lovely consultant said to ignore it, I just have strong abs and a long torso that are keeping BabyHedgehog tucked up inside. People will always say you're either too big or too small, if you're a woman there's no such thing as 'just right'!

Yay for baby girl Custard! I'm really excited about next week's 20 week scan so I can find out what we're having.

Lucie I'm jealous of your aquanatal, I can't find a convenient one so am just swimming as usual.

Welcome ThirdEye! How are things?

Blueroses definitely take it as easy as you can, if that means staying off till the birth then so be it.Take no chances with BabyBlue.

Sara I feel you pain re headaches, I've been getting them too, they're awful! Never had this kind of headache before pregnancy, it was actually my very first symptom. Paracetamol or cocodamol, cold compresses, lavender oil if that helps you, plenty of rest, and most importantly stay hydrated.

Glad you're back home friends, it must be so stressful pinging back and forth, I hope DH is treating you like a precious snowflake!

to everyone else! How are you doing Ghengis? Trixie?

Hi everyone,

So I am six weeks and had a HCG blood test yesterday reassurance the levels were very good, so I was pleased.

At the mo, symptom wise I've started getting a weird taste in my mouth, cramping and oddly I feel as though I've pulled a muscle in my stomach! Last week I yelped, because it was actually quite painful.

I've stopped testing everyday and just trying to stay calm. I had a chemical during our last round I was also five years younger.

Hope everyone is well and sending positive vibes

ThirdEye don't worry the cramping is completely normal, it's only if there's blood that you need to worry. When is your first scan? Must be pretty soon (assuming IVF)?

My scan is next week and yes we had IVF.

I'm trying not to stress about the cramping as it's not all the time.

The cramping sounds totally normal, I had it intermittently too and it was pretty sore but midwife and the wise MNetters on this thread assured me it was fine and most likely ligament pain and uterus expanding.

We just put an offer on a house in Grindleford and have had it accepted! Squee! No chain, so moving in June to simultaneously complete the sale of our flat and purchase of house

Thirdeye - just to second what hedgehog said. Its normal to be crampy and it comes and goes as time passes. Congrats on your bfp and enjoy the scan! We found it so surreal to see that heartbeat going 166 BPM like the clappers yet so miniscule!
Hedgehog- well done on the house and no chain so even better. Things are developing nicely!
Mpp81 - thanks for headache tips cold flannel defo helping! Sorry you've had so much stress and know what you mean re consultants - mine is very cold and detached. Midwives much more empathetic, and I want a home birth can't wait till I tell her that!
AFM - bit up and down had to leave work today as movement made me sick. Only twice a week sick now but wipes me out. Colleagues are kind and supportive but feel guilty all the same. Made right twat of myself crying today!
Have nice weekend everyone going to put flannel back on head now!
Shouldn't complain really 19 weeks on Mon and haven't had any probs! X

Blueroses glad you've been signed off for another 4 weeks, sounds sensible to see how you feel after 24 weeks

Friends its great that you've gone another week. I don't have any more NHS scans until my growth scan at 28 weeks

Trixie great news on your cervix

MPP sorry to hear about the consultant being hard work and about the strep b but at least they know and will treat you

RoseBud I don't think a woman can ever be the right size!

Thirdeye good luck for next week

Hedgehog congratulations on the house!

Sara sorry you're still feeling rubbish, it's great your colleagues are being supportive but get what you mean about feeling guilty, at least it's Friday!

AFM I've had a bit of a wobble this week, I think it's because I have no appointments until after 24 weeks (25 week midwife appointment) and it feels like ages off I'm 20 + 2 today. Keep telling myself that I've had my cervix checked 3 times and it's been ok. I'm still hoping time will speed up!

Waves to everyone else

Evening all!

Rosebud Glad to hear you are doing well! Echoing Hedgehog, I think no one is ever happy with a pregnant womans size. You are either too big or too small. Ive had the opposite to you with the 'oh my gosh, how many have you got in there' comments and if I'm having a stressy day they get to me quite alot. I do look pretty huge as a result of large baby, plus I'm short so I think that makes me look bigger cos baby can only grow out!! I'm glad you are ignoring and not worrying! Exciting about the nursery!! Wont be long now! As for the strep b, no they just did it because I was in with bleeding so apparently they check for anything and everything in that situation. To be completely honest, I have never heard of it before but after extensive googling, my conclusion is that I cant believe it isnt tested for as standard considering that 1 in 4 women have it and how much lower the risks are once its been diagnosed. I appreciate that the health professionals in this country believe testing as standard might lead to an increase in unneccessary antibiotics and that most babies dont contract it, but then I also think that, if it saves even one baby, isnt that worth it? Most other countries test as standard between 35-37 weeks. I certainly intend to learn more about it, but at the moment, I've no idea if/how you could go about testing privately or if its something you should look into privately. Definitely food for thought though!

Hedgehog What an arse of a doctor! Bloody hell, how can someone be so dense. I'm sorry you had to go through that. Good luck with the scan next week and brilliant news on the house!! How long before your due date will you be moving?

Thirdeye Also echoing about the cramping being normal, but its always worth getting checked by/talking to your midwife if you're worried, even if its just to set your mind at rest. Good luck with the scan next week! :-)

Sara Glad the cold flannel helped! I hope telling them about wanting a home birth goes well, though sorry about the sickness. I hope it eases off for you.

Custard Big gaps between appointments suck. Would it be an option to look into booking a private scan or something? Do you think that would help? I hope time flies by for you.

Friends How are you doing? Hope you're hanging on in there and doing ok.

AFM, I jinxed myself the other day! Wednesday night, I started pink spotting again. Contacted hospital and told to come down for a check and the CTG showed I was having contractions again. They decided I probably had a UTI and that was causing them, so I was kept in overnight so I could be given antibiotics while they waited for the results of my urine analysis. Thursday morning at 10.30am, I saw the hospital consultant who said he recommends bringing my elective section forward a week to 38 weeks because I keep bleeding, but he said the final decision on that was with MY (not so nice) consultant and I should talk to her at my next appointment. He said I could go home but I had to wait for a prescription for more antibiotics since my urine analysis wasnt back yet and they wanted to treat it so we had to hang around in the hospital and they kept saying they'd get to us soon. At 3.30pm, the midwife came in to tell me the analysis was back early but showed no UTI, so no antibiotics needed and I could go home. Of course, this meant I had missed my appointments with my diabetes nurse and my consultant (who had been planning on talking me through last weeks scan) so now I have to wait til NEXT thursday to see her and pass on the info about bringing my section forward. I'm getting quite frustrated now because all I want is my son here safe and sound, and I just wonder how many times they are going to let me come back and fore with unexplained bleeding before doing anything about it. Still, if consultant lets me go to 38 weeks, thats only 3 weeks left to wait. In the meantime, I have been told that I have to go down the hospital for any kind of bleeding as I have been and to carry on with my weekly appointments.

So thats another big update from me!! Hope everyone else is doing ok, and that you all have a great weekend!! :-)