Natural pregnacy post IVF failure

[RPPs]

Hello All
Thanks for sharing your experiences it is so helpful at this stage when you can't really ask anyone else.
I started the IVF process early 2018 and after one of the internal tests, I got pregnant naturally. Most likely because I was relaxed on holiday.
Unfortunately I had a missed miscarriage at 10 weeks but knew from 8 weeks. We started IVF again earlier this year and it was just a catalogue of disappointments and ended in failure in August. I was gutted because we both gave up alcohol, we've been taking Zita West suppliments 8 months and feel like we're doing everything right. So off we went on holiday and drank and ate whatever we wanted and most importantly relaxed by the pool and beach. Coincidentally it was the perfect time to try. However, due to the IVF treatment I ovulated 3 days later than expect so DH was almost burnt out ;-)
Last week I was upset when I thought I was starting my period after seeing some light pink mucus (need to find a less repulsive word). I got a bit upset. But the next day I had accepted it and when I seen some more I just acknowledged it but got on with my day. The next day there was nothing so i thought Id wait until 14 days post ovulation to test. I tested alone as not to get my husband worked up. I used cheap tests but got a faint second line. So I did 3 more all with faint second lines. I then realised that the cramps I had 6 days previous must have been implantation. As Ive had a MM i don't want to get carried away but I'm having symptoms such as terrible sleep, back ache, bloating and nausea. I'd love to hear of any similar experience, what I should expect and what I need to avoid other than the food side of things. Also if I can be of help to anyone going through a MM or IVF, please let me know. Thanks

Hi op, sorry to hear of your loss.

I've had many miscarriages, missed and miscarried. I also had failed rounds of IVF.

I don't believe relaxing played any part in anything for me.

I was discharged by all clinics December 2018 and referred to a miscarriage specialist in Coventry, I was to take up that appointment when offered with a long waiting list. I fell pregnant in the February and DD was born October. Nobody has been able to explain why, the consultants were as baffled as me. I took aspirin 75 dose every day. I has done that with the previous missed miscarriage though.

I had a planned section on consultant advice. Due to my history I also had weekly scans to fourteen weeks then two weekly. That was due to the multiple previous losses.

I would imagine you would certainly be entitled to ask for one early scan, I would say around eight weeks then go from there. Day by day was my motto.

Eating wise I just followed nhs guidelines, no alcohol etc.

I hope it works out for you.

Hi Moobar
Im so sorry to hear you have been through this too but delighted you have had the best result and therefore it's all been worth it. Ive decided not to have a scan until at least 8 weeks because last time I scanned at 6 weeks and although the foetus was in place it didn't have a heart beat and the consultant advised it was probably too early. I have my IVF followup appointment tomorrow so I'll see what the consultant says.

Oh that's good timing! I hope all goes well for you.

Congratulations! I have a similar history - 4.5 years of Ttc, 6 rounds of iui with one ending in miscarriage at 6 weeks in January. Last iui failed and was booked in for egg collection this month. We spent two lovely weeks in Italy - I ate what I wanted, drank alcohol and coffee and left the massive pile of supplements at home. My period started suddenly then stopped and I just tried not to think about it but eventually took a test as was feeling tired, sore boobs and nausea which I've only had with the fertility meds so far.
I had an early scan at the epu as I had some cramping painful cramping and was worried (terrified) about another mc. Fertility clinic also gave me a viability scan at 7 weeks and I've just had my 12 week scan.
It's so hard to believe that it is going to work out but I'm trying my best! I have had so much support from this forum and really couldn't have got through it otherwise.
For what it's worth I don't think being relaxed was necessary for us either. I've been relaxed plenty of times over the years with no luck. It was just the right sperm and egg 🙂

Best of luck xxx

If you got pregnant so easily both times I would question the advice to move onto IVF. Was it for specific fertility reasons?

Anyway I was ttc for 5 years before I got an NHS IVF cycle. First one failed after one transfer. Second one worked in that blastocysts were able to be frozen and I got my BFP after 2 transfers. To echo a previous poster relaxing played no part in my BFP - but getting treatment for conditions the NHS can’t / won’t treat did.

Janey15 maybe Italy has the x factor because Ive conceived their twice. Its so reassuring to hear your story. I guess everything happens in its own time. I hope all goes well.

Teddybear45 it took 2 years to get pregnant initially and its been a year since the mc. I guess for 40 (later this month) it not too bad. All my results were good except at the end when the ran the AMH it was lower than they'd like it to be. Down reg sniffing didn't work so we had to start again. I bled for 4 days after starting the stims and had only 2 mature folicals 2 days before collection. I ended up with one viable embryo which didnt work. It's a mystery how with such bad results in IVF that I can now be pregnant naturally.

OP same. Low amh, zero mature folicles, baby.

It's a total mystery.

TTC for 6y. IVFs and MMC/MC 4 times. This year we decided to take a break - got off all the extras except Vit D. A month later I was late and now I'm 30w pregnant. It happens!!!!

Ah ok. The low AMH explains it. My clinic doesn’t offer IVF if it’s below a certain amount as the chances of a natural pregnancy is higher than IVF working in that situation.

If it helps - in addition to food guidelines, I was religious in taking vitamins (Pregnacare Max). Also I was advised to minimise bending over, crouching and lifting anything heavier than 5kg. That was a bit more difficult to follow but as long as you minimize it - it should be fine. Walks were recommended and I made sure to walk about an hour every day.

@RPPs how did you get on today. Been thinking about you.

@moobar ahh thank you. I agreed with DH to hold back on telling the consultant until Id asked all my questions around the AMH. She explained my 5.4 indicates a low reserve for my age but it has no bearing on the quality. I finally told her that I had a BFP but then she brought up the fact that I had a fill but no spill on my hycosy so that may indicate a blocked tube. So she's writing to my Dr to recommend an early scan. Now all I can think about is an ectopic. Will need to do the scan soon so they can deal with it medically if it is. How early did you have your first scan? Last time I had the first at 5+6 gestational sack in place but no heart beat. It really knocked me so I was reluctant to have one before 8 weeks this time but Ive been advised sooner rather than later.

@aneley Im impressed you walked an hour a day. Think its inspiring me. I need to get back to the gym. I started in Jan but stop during the TWW and now I am not sure what to do... maybe swimming. Defo not kettle bells ;-)

Just looked back at messages to dh to figure that out. So got BFP first March and bled mid March badly So about seven weeks. Now I went to hospital because I had such a bad go with the missed one before I wanted to be given the treatment as early as.

I was a total nightmare patient throughout this and it's left me with a lot of mental health issues. I refused all pain relief at all times until section. I also refused to stay in the hospital with the previous missed one as I think, after counselling, I wanted to punish myself.

Anyway I had tentatively arranged an early scan for nine weeks but started bleeding seven and went in. Heartbeat was seen at that one with internal scan.

Day by day.

Hi @moobar Im so sorry to hear you went through all of that. It's definitely upsetting and Im sure with each pregnancy following the first miss you prepare yourself for the worst. I didn't feel I needed councilling because I spoke to several friends who had been through it and in some way that made me feel like I wasn't the only one. And in each case the were lucky enough to have babies after. Also Id watched my friend have multiple failed rounds of IVF so in a way I felt it would be unfair if suddenly I got pregnant naturally without any issues. Strange how we process things. Coming from a family who dwell on the past a lot, I tend to deal with these things by crying it out and talking it through and then parking it and looking forward. Because you can't change the past. But its not easily done in every situation.
So thinking of positive things, is your DD just born or 1 this month?