Pregnancy 12 week + post IVF/infertility - general chat and support

[Janefx40]

I thought I would start a thread for those of us pregnant post IVF/infertility. There are lots of pregnancy clubs on Mumsnet but it feels like a slightly different experience having got here the hard way!

I've put 12 weeks + because there is another group for women who have just got their BFPs. That is such an anxious time and definitely needs support.

But I thought this group might pick us up a little further along - over the first panic but still learning about the experience.

Not being exclusive tho - if you think this is the group for you, come along in...

So come and join us if you would like to xxx

@hailseitan yes I did feel tender and still do a little. I've just had some more spotting but it's darker so should be the end of it I hope.

It's non stop worry isn't it. I always thought that once I got that precious 2nd line on a test that I'd be worry free but you just get a whole new set of anxieties don't you!!

@1Wanda1 Congratulations on getting to 12 weeks and good luck for your scan.
I stopped Progynova with no tapering but with progesterone I cut down at 12 weeks and took reduced dosage for a couple of days. It probably made no difference but made me feel a bit better!

@MarthaMe Omg yes, it's insane. I completely underestimated how worried I'd be all the time...!!

@hailseitan I'm so sorry you're going through this stress. It must be awful. As others have said, there are just so many women who have had bleeds and been fine especially at this point in the pregnancy. But obviously I realise that you are going to be worried until tomorrow's scan - I would be too. Sending you lots of love. Let us know how you get on.

@1Wanda1 welcome. I was worried about stopping meds too. I asked every doctor I could find and googled a lot. Everyone says it's fine. In the end I stopped estrogen dead and tapered progesterone over 2 weeks. I was originally on 3/day. So I took 2/day for a week and then 1/day. No idea if it's related but a day after I stopped estrogen I was sicker than I have ever been and couldn't move without throwing up!! Hopefully you're not as sensitive to estrogen withdrawal!! X

hailseitan I had pains in my left side but then I found out that’s where my placenta is so maybe it was just the placenta getting comfortable 😂 it was so annoying because I had no clue what was happening!
1wanda1 I stopped mine as soon as i got a positive test. You will be fine. Your body will be producing enough progresterone to support the pregnancy. Don’t worry. X

I'm feeling so crap. It's my third weekend in a row of migraine. I just about get through the week and then spend all weekend feeling hideous. The codeine the Dr gave me does literally nothing. I wish I knew that the baby was ok - it would be worth it then but I do sometimes worry that all this means something bad. And I feel like this has got loads worse as I came towards the 2nd trimester so I'm just hoping I don't have another 3-6 months of it. Sorry for the moan but it hurts!!!!

Sorry about your migraine Janefx. Is it a pregnancy thing or do you normally get them?

I have some progynova and Cyclogest left so maybe I will taper off a bit - just seems so odd to take them for 12 weeks and then stop dead.

Scan tomorrow morning. Bit nervous!

Good luck today @1Wanda1 let us know how you get on.

@Janefx40 your migraines sound awful. I did go through a stage around week 12 where I had bad headaches and nothing would shift them but thankfully they disappeared. I did read it was totally normal early 2nd trimester to get headaches so hopefully that extends to migraines.

I'm sure it doesn't mean anything is wrong though. Hopefully they will go soon!

Hey ladies. Just had my scan and baby is fine (biggest sigh of relief ever). They think the bleed is caused by a low lying placenta. So I guess it could happen again... but I'm hoping my placenta will hurry up and move to a normal position soon.

I'm so relieved. Pregnancy is hard!!!

@hailseitan yay! Oh what a relief. Yup pregnancy is definitely no picnic!!! So pleased.

Xxx

Hi all! Welcome and congrats on getting this far to the new members! And nice to see some familiar names get here too wombats, wanda
I’ve been on holiday for a week, so have to still catch up.
Just briefly though glad your baby os fine hailseitan. I had a few bleeds till about 14 weeks, never founds why but bubs was fine. I was however told to continue with progesterone pessaries for an extra 3 weeks, so till 16-17w to make sure my uterus didnt cramp too much.
Someone said about anterior placenta and movements ? Mine is high and anterior, and its recently i’ve been able to feel what i think are movements. I’ve also been getting a lot of pain in my lower abdomen which I assume are round ligament pains? Particularly bad at night, and only abate when i lie on my back, which of course we are not supposed to do!
Back to work tomorrow- not looking forward to commuting again in this heat.

Aw thank you @Janefx40 and @Decafplease xxx

I wondered if they'd want me to keep taking the progesterone but they told me my bleed wasn't related in any way to stopping... so I hope they know what they're talking about.

What a relief to stop taking them though, they were driving me mad!

Good news hailsetian I was so glad when I got to stop taking the progesterone when I got my positive they are horrible.

The hospital will know what they are talking about. Hopefully you don’t get anymore bleeding. Always used to know when I would get some, the ache in my left side would start up again! I got told pregnancy is the best time of your life. That was a lie 😂😂

Xx

@heilseitan, brilliant news!

@Liverpool19 - such a lie, I accidentally told someone at work (client rather than co-worker) I was pregnant as she said something along the lines of "obviously I enjoy being pregnant", my jaw dropped and my response was "REALLY?" so I had to explain rather than sounding very offensive but... really?

@Janefx40 what do you normally take for headaches prepregnancy? Be a bit careful with the codeine as it can cause headache if you are taking it regularly. It sounds really miserable for you. Hope it gets better.

I'm only on progesterone vaginal stuff, really looking forward to stopping as it's pretty gross. Really hoping symptoms get better off the hormones as (wishfully or not) I'm convinced they are making things worse.

emalady my friend told me she misses being pregnant I’m like 😳😳 progesterone 100% makes you feel worse.

Oh jane hope your ok, try upping your water intake that may help. I used to get headaches up until about 17 weeks. X

@hailseitan Fab news about your scan. I burst into tears when I had my scan, the relief is immense isn't it!

I'm loving being pregnant and apart from the anxieties I think it's such an amazing time and something I've longed for for so long.

Thanks for the sympathy folks! I needed it..@emalady I normally just take ibuprofen which works fine for me. I had another period when I wasn't meant to take ibuprofen and headaches were a similar nightmare. Codeine worked for me then but not this time.

I'm not even bothering to take it now. I took it over the weekend and it didn't help so no point putting drugs into my system.

@MarthaMe I love the fact that I'm pregnant, and before these headaches kicked off I loved being pregnant too. But this past few weeks has been horrid.

Hoping tomorrow will be a better day...

Brilliant scan news, @MarthaMe and @hailseitan! Love that all of these little babies are just swimming along Fingers crossed the placenta moves up. Were you told to avoid sex?

Sorry you're suffering from migraines, @Janefx40. My consultant said aspirin and triptan were safe in pregnancy, not sure if yours would say the same?

My bub has been moving more and more every day, helps quite a bit with the anxiety to know he's doing alright, but of course feel more bonded and worried about a late loss Today though, too hot to be anxious so just laid on the sofa feeling him poke me in the tummy

@Janefx40 fingers crossed you will pass the migraine stage soon! I've had nausea since 6 weeks and literally have no appetite at all but I think I've gotten off lightly compared to you & some others. Small price to pay I suppose 

@wombats Yes I was told no sex at all because I had bleeding up to 8 weeks then haemorrhaged last week so think it will be way into next year before DH even gets a look in!!!! 😲😲

@Janefx40 ugh migraines are the absolute worst, I feel for you! If I have one, I just try and sleep, but I know that's not always practical.

@wombats Thanks! No I wasn't told to avoid sex, but if I'm completely honest... I haven't actually had sex since I started IVF treatment (much to my husbands dismay). I'm too scared it'll cause problems. I really can't see myself having sex whilst pregnant since this scare... is that awful? Am I being silly?

Hey girls,
@hailseitan I’m so happy your scan went well! Let’s keep fingers crossed for placenta to move up 🤞
@Janefx40 I’m so with you about these horrific headaches. I had them every day when I was about your stage. EVERY DAY! And nothing really helped. I was allowed paracetamol but it only took the edge off, and at times the feeling was so claustrophobic that I could feel walls closing in. It’s a lot better now. As @Liverpool19 said, drinking a lot of water actually helps. But it will get better 😊
I’ve been winging about my baby not being very active (or being able to kick through my high antherior placenta) but wow... for the past 3 days I think I’ve been kicked non stop. I mean my belly is shaking! If I listen carefully I’m sure I can hear her having a party or something 😁
After week off I got back to work today... my dear, I can’t wait to go on maternity leave! Only 2 months left... time is flying!!!

@hailseitan and @MarthaMe, I told DH no sex until after baby was born, I was so nervous I think we finally had sex around 8-12 weeks, after a couple of scans and Harmony said everything was okay. I didn't have any bleeding though, so your worry is completely understandable!

Not sure if this is true for anyone else, but I was quite dry despite being eager, so might want to have a bit of lube handy when/if you do have sex. Now that I'm over 20 weeks though the libido has gone through the roof, took me by surprise really, but happy to have some spontaneous urges after the faff of timed TTC sex and all that stress xx

@wombats Same here! My libido has returned with vengeance! But I think my DH is too worried to try. So I’m left waiting lol

@wombats :'D that would be my husbands dream I think!!

Just got back from midwife appointment! I’m so so happy that all is good 😊
Such a relief but I know that by this evening I will be panicking again. I so wish all this would be less stressful 👶

Great news! Glad all is well @Fox23

@1Wanda1 hoping your scan went ok xxx