BFP through IVF. Thread to calm the nerves!

[BeHereNowx32]

Hi!
I very recently got my positive result after a FET. (This is my second child. First one conceived through a fresh cycle). Just wondered anyone in a similar position wanted to join, and help keep us calm until scan day!

I am only 4+2 weeks. Still so, so early. Can’t wait for my 7 week scan!

@takingthistooseriously

Could be Braxton hicks without the hard bump? I think they are supposed to feel like period pains? Or the baby has moved position and is pushing down on something x

Thanks @ivfbeenbusy Hopefully it will just go away eventually like most of the various aches and pains!

@ivfbeenbusy glad to hear your little girl has caught up a bit and you’ve made it to 30 weeks. I hope they stay out safely for a bit longer!

@takingthistooseriously sorry you’ve been uncomfortable, hopefully it settles soon.

@RosettaR how r u doing?

Not much going on here, I’ve definitely got a bit of a bump now at 16 weeks. It seems to get bigger on a daily basis! Thankfully both the NIPT, NT and NHS screening have all come back low risk. Now it’s the slightly uncomfortable stretch until the 20 week scan. For everyone with twins, when did you start getting uncomfortable with the size of your bump? I’m just thinking about when I will realistically have to think about wfh and going on mat leave. X

@Lemongrass1

I'd say from about 18 weeks onwards My pelvis hips and bump started to hurt and I struggled to be on my feet for a long time or walk the distances I used to - bump wasn't that big but obviously the additional weight was making it hurt

Really kicked in about 24 weeks - relying on the car for small journeys. I'd need a day or two on the sofa/in bed if I walked too far/on my feet the day before

30 weeks now and incredibly uncomfortable - my bump is definitely bigger than it was full term with DD. My weight has exceeded what it was the day before my DD c section. And the bump feels "heavy" - when I wake in the morning from lying on my left my stomach is solid on that side as the babies have migrated that side due to gravity. My DD has to help me with my shoelaces and shoes as can't bend down - struggle to get up from lying down like a beached whale and can't bend over to shave my legs! I move between the sofa with my feet up and bed and not much more ! Luckily I can work from Home - my normal job involves a lot of travel up and down the country - long days in the car/train/plane but covid has been good to me in that sense as my usual work has had to change

Generally absolutely knackered!

But I'm very petite - less than 5ft3 and (was) a size 10

@ivfbeenbusy congratulations on getting to the 30 week mark, that's great! And so glad your little one is growing well. Sorry to hear you're so uncomfortable though. I guess I have this to look forward to! I'm not so bad now but I do get days where I'm in too much pain sitting or standing and i have to lie down - just muscle pain I'm pretty sure though.

@takingthistooseriously it's so difficult isn't it to work out whether a pain is something you should be worried about or not. I've been to the doctor unnecessarily probably three times now with various pains, I feel bad to be taking up so much of their time but I just feel like I don't know. If you're worried you could calm the triage line or equivalent in your area and see if they want to see you.

@Lemongrass1 I'm not too uncomfortable so far at 25 weeks, although I do have my bad days. But then I am working from home and able to be very sedentary, which is very lucky! My maternity cover is starting in January and I'm aiming to finish writing handover notes over Christmas just in case I can't work too long in January.

I'm doing OK, I'm 25 weeks and feeling lots of movements now! We had a major scare last week though because at our scan last Thursday the consultant thought we were showing signs of TTTS. That's such a dangerous condition and might have meant surgery or delivering them imminently! At our next scan though on Tuesday this week they were convinced they are OK and its not TTTS, so we're back to expecting delivery at 34 weeks. I don't think I've ever been more relieved! But at the same time it's left me so aware that disaster could strike at any moment. Just trying to tell myself each week further along now improves their chances of good health when they are born!

@RosettaR

Sorry to hear about the TTTS scare! So you do think you'll finish around 30 weeks?

I'm intending to work up right to the end as I can only take 18 weeks leave - but carrying over about a weeks worth of annual leave this year so assuming they don't come before the c section date I'll finish the week before - around 36 week

@ivfbeenbusy all being well I'll have a c section at 34 weeks which will be mid Feb, but anything could happen before then as you also know! They generally deliver by 34 weeks for sIUGR which is still our diagnosis. I've got 30 weeks in my head though because if you deliver then the babies will have a great chance of being perfectly healthy after their NICU stay.

I'm planning to work until the end of January which will be 32 weeks. I'm lucky to have good maternity leave and I said I'd take a full year, because of the possibility of NICU time, I want to have a reasonable amount of time at home with them too.

@Lemongrass1 thank you! Feeling much better now

@RosettaR I know! I heard myself say the dreaded 'but I don't want to bother them, they're so busy' today! I ended up going for a walk around the village in a kill or cure move which actually helped loads and I was ok by the time I got home thank goodness.

I think maybe it was Braxton Hicks but who knows

@ivfbeenbusy much respect to you for working right up to the date. I'm struggling even working from home I'm so uncomfortable sitting at my desk all day. I have also been diagnosed with anaemia which doesn't help but mostly I think I'm just a snowflake!

@Lemongrass1 hi 🙋‍♀️ I remember you from other thread we are around about same date wise. Am 17 weeks on Sunday. 20 week scan booked for 11th of January. How are you feeling about your scan.

For me past few days I’m feeling overly anxious I have no reason why but am I think it’s scan plus first Christmas without dad.

@ivfbeenbusy well done for getting to 30 weeks. Am glad your little girl has caught up a bit.

@RosettaR that sounds terrifying! I hope all goes ok with your next scan.

I think I’m starting to feel flutters of movement but not consistently.

Merry Christmas everyone - hope everyone is still ok and managed to enjoy Xmas even with covid and pregnancy worries

I'm 32 weeks tomorrow! Feel like I've reached an important milestone. Now to reach 34 weeks! I got lots of lovely baby related gifts yesterday so my hospital bag is packed and ready to go. Put the pram together to make sure it was ok - it's a beast of a pram for twins but hopeful it will sort my bingo wings out in no time pushing that around!

Feeling chuffed that managed to get a couple of half price Chicco baby bouncers on the John Lewis website today too 🥳

Another growth scan this week and may even get a date for the c section then too 😬🤞

@ivfbeenbusy congratulations on getting to 32 weeks, that's such a great milestone!

I'm waiting for covid test results so not having the most relaxed time. I had a very mild cough starting last Sunday, really just throat clearing. I hoped it was just anxiety as I've had similar before, plus it started the day after the tier 4 / new strain announcement which I found really worrying! Then last night I got a headache too. I've had so many panics this pregnancy and so far they've all been OK in the end, I'm really hoping this one is too!

Happy Christmas all! Having an actual baby seems a lot more real now it's nearly 2021 😬 I have just over 7 weeks left all being well, I don't feel ready at all!

@ ivfbeenbusy glad to hear another good milestone has passed for you, roll on 34 weeks!

@RosettaR fingers crossed for your test results and I hope you're feeling ok.

@RosettaR

Oh no hope it's nothing to worry about!

@takingthistooseriously

I swing between feeling ready and complete panic!

It was negative luckily! Still a bit concerned about this cough but its not getting worse at least.

@takingthistooseriously I'm also about 7 weeks away from the latest likely date for the babies! It is pretty scary, I can't really imagine having two little babies to look after!

@ivfbeenbusy would you recommend getting baby bouncers, are they useful? I don't have much if a clue what to buy besides the obvious...

@RosettaR

My DD was more of a cuddly baby and preferred to be held/carried than sit in a bouncy seat all the time but it was good for when I was in the shower or cooking dinner etc as could put her in the seat in the bathroom/kitchen - whatever room I was in etc and she'd also nap in it too. I have several cats and wouldn't trust them not to jump in the Moses baskets if I wasn't looking so easier to use the bouncy chairs and move them around. Also they grow out of the Moses baskets at around 6 months whereas bouncy chairs are suitable for much longer

Also good if you are visiting people overnight as you can pop the chair in the car as they usually fold flat and have a little carry bag and the toys keeps them occupied

@RosettaR

They can be expensive though for what they are (Especially when you need to buy two!) so I'd check out the sales - the Chicco one I've ordered was £70 reduced to £35 (sold out now though 😬)

Hey how is everyone?
I'm back in hospital after another bleed - these babies are going to keep my stressed out to the end I think! looked like early labour this time but they are hoping it will settle down and stop. I'm 33 weeks now - pretty sure not going to make my c section date at 37 weeks 😬🙈

If anyone is packing hospital bags I finished mine at the weekend ironically after washing all the new baby clothes ready. I've got one hold-all for the babies and then have a separate one for me with pyjamas, spare chargers, wash bag etc and big pants! Was a god send in the middle of the night as was able to just pick it Up ready to go leaving husband at home with the baby bag to bring in if they did decide they were going to come out

oh goodness so sorry to hear you're back in hospital @ivfbeenbusy has the bleeding stopped at all yet?

I am just collecting stuff for my hospital bag, need to work out where to get big pants from now it looks like we're going into a proper lockdown again!

@RosettaR hope you're doing ok now we are both another week closer! eek!

@takingthistooseriously

It's slowed a bit but they've pretty much said even if go home tomorrow they'd be surprised if i make it to c section date now and with it looking like schools being shut from tonight I'll have a 4 year old home and I'll worry about having another bleed/going into labour when she's home 😬

I got my big pants from Sainsbury TU range - full brief ones - went for a size up than normal. They are really comfy! 🤣

@ivfbeenbusy sorry you've had another bleed. If it helps, 33 weeks is considered a really great gestation for the type of twins I'm having ... not as good as 37 weeks obviously and they'd need to be in the NICU but most likely not for long at all. I'm aiming for 34 weeks and I'm 28 weeks today, so I'm slowly getting there ... only 6 weeks to go!

I need to get going on a hospital bag. I've taken a bit of a random approach to buying things so far because I just didn't know where to start, so I now have two cots, a chest of drawers, a breastfeeding pillow, sheets, blankets, nappies and cotton wool. But I still need to buy cot mattresses and all their clothes as well as ideally a breast pump. We've got the pushchair and car seats and they're being held for us by the shop, we will pick up later in January.

@takingthistooseriously yes I need the big pants! Aren't we supposed to get special maternity pads as well for all the bleeding? So glamorous ...

@RosettaR

Thanks! I'm hoping to hold out a couple more weeks to at least get them over 5lbs!

Yup you need maternity pads but I also take in my usual period ones as much lighter and comfortable. You have to constantly show them to the midwives though which makes me feel 🤢
Also disposable maternity pants but I don't remember using many as still have loads left over from DD

@ivfbeenbusy how are things today? are you still in hospital? hope you are doing ok.

I bought a pack of maternity pads but my local hospital trust has a maternity facebook page which suggests taking 2 packs!! I also bought some really sexy disposable pants but think I will try and buy some proper ones a size up as I think that might feel nicer.

@ivfbeenbusy how are you, are you out of hospital now?

I need to do some serious hospital bag packing. My husband's been off work this week and he spent this afternoon putting together baby furniture, we now have a chest of drawers, two cots and a changing station! It makes it all feel a bit more real although I don't really think it will feel real until I see them. I have got some work to do on the hospital bag though....

@RosettaR @takingthistooseriously
Yes home Now thankfully so I can finally get some sleep without either blood pressure being monitored every 4 hours or the babies going on the heart trace machines every 4 hours 🤣

If it helps this is what's in my maternity bags

Babies
Muslins
Cotton wool balls
Hats x 2
Scratch mittens x 2 (but baby grows for small babies should have inbuilt ones anyway which you roll over their hands)
Baby grows x 3 each (I've gone for 5lb baby ones for my little twin and tiny baby for large twin)
Baby vests x3 each
Cellular blanket - 1 each
Pack of size 0 nappies
Baby wipes
Nappy cream
Baby milk newborn starter pack x2 - in case problem breastfeeding (online only from boots - can't buy in store) as not allowed to mix up formula etc in hospitals and they come with the teat already on them
Going home outfit

Me
Slide on slippers easy to get on
Flip flops for the shower
Maternity/nursing Nightdress
Maternity/nursing pyjama top and bottoms as comfier
Dressing gown
Pillow
Nursing pillow
Big pants
Disposable pants
Maternity pads and normal period ones
Kindle/iPad
Charger with long lead
Toiletries case with the usual - mini shampoo/conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrush, spare hair bands, brush. Wouldn't bother with contact lens etc as you can't wear them for the c section and if you'll want to get some naps in whilst babies are sleeping
Camera (took one last time but camera phones so good these days probably won't bother this time)
Snacks (biscuits mainly, cereal bars etc)
Water bottle with straw as it's so hot on the wards you'll be thirsty all the time
Headphones
Eye mask (lights always on all Bloody night)
Nipple covers and nipple cream
Hand held breast pump
Mini fan
Phone and purse etc
Going home clothes - but to be honest I'll just wear what I arrive in as not like I'll be walking out in my skinny jeans from 9 months ago 🤣

For when you get home - something to help you go to the loo as they give you medication to stop you going and it took nearly 5 days after my last c section and felt like I was actually giving birth 🤣🙈

Also my pre op notes for my c section came today and they don't give you painkillers to take home anymore so have plenty of paracetamol and ibruofen in the house

Hey all so back in hospital after another massive bleed and passing a huge clot - house looked like a crime scene 🤣. Just being kept in for monitoring at the mo not in labour or anything so no plans to deliver early

Anyway I would definitely add snacks to your hospital bag - I'm getting 3 meals a day but I'd kill for some biscuits right about now 🤣 - I'm adding some rich tea biscuits or something to my bag when I get home next