Any ivf pregnancies ?

[whataglouriousthingtobe]

I'm only 6+2 and super paranoid about absolutely everything. Had my fet on the 28/09, it was our second fet after the first one failed, I had bleeding before I even got to the otd. My scan is this Thursday and it's fair to say I'm bricking it.

Would be nice to chat with some ladies who've done ivf, I have been keeping an eye on the June 2022 thread but sometimes I find I can't relate.

@holskey are you in London? My midwife told me to start taking 150mg aspirin daily from 12 weeks to 36 weeks too! I asked why and they said because it’s an IVF baby- no other reason. I went to the pharmacy (in Essex as I’m here for hols) and they were v reluctant to give it to me without a letter or prescription. I had it written in my maternity notes but the pharmacist said I should really be monitored if I’m doing something extra. Even the box says not to take aspirin if pregnant!

I’ve looked online and read a couple of studies which suggest there’s no harm in it- but am still bit cautious. been taking 75 mg instead of 150 - I don’t know 🤷‍♀️. What dosage were you recommended?

@RiverRiot its bizarre isn't it? I was told they tend to measure small but I really don't see why? I've actually got a consultant appointment the week after my 12 week scan though and it appears to be because its ivf and will go over risks. I'm not sure what the outcome of that will be. But to just randomly take drugs because its ivf (if no other issues) does seem random.

@paintfairy Yeah it is strange. I don’t really understand it either but I think it has something to do with how the eggs are fertilised, especially if they’re ICSI. And also if you have a frozen transfer this can apparently affect the epigenetics of the embryo.

For example, I read somewhere that identical twins in IVF are slightly more likely to happen if ICSI was used and/or the embryo has been frozen. Still incredibly rare though, obviously, but it raises the chances by like 0.4% or something, if I remember rightly.

@LemonyT I’m also in London so it does seem to change by very localised areas or even hospitals. I’m with a research hospital and based on their studies they don’t like to do the 20wk scan til as least 21wks and preferably closer to 22. Apparently they’ve found it’s more reliable to do it slightly later.

It would be nice if there was either one rule for all IVFers or it was purely based on our own circumstances but I guess the Drs have their reasons. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I certainly wouldn’t mind more scans though! I don’t think I’ll get another one after my 20wk one where I am unless there’s some kind of issue.

Thanks everyone. I feel better about not taking it. I do have some risks but none that would be helped by aspirin (last time I got gestational diabetes and obstetric cholestasis in late pregnancy). I've a healthy bmi, 38 yrs-old (embryos from when I was 36 yrs-old), no prior losses. I just can't account for it. Funnily enough I actually lost 1.3 litres in child birth (likely a complication of obstetric cholestasis) which makes me even more reluctant.

@RiverRiot my baby actually measures 2 days ahead currently, and my first was born 35 weeks exactly at 6lb 10 so a very good weight.

@LemonyT I'm in Lincolnshire and she didn't actually say what dose. I would have asked but I already knew I wasn't going to take it. She also said from 12 to 36 weeks, but my last baby was born at 35 weeks because of a condition I'm likely to get again, so it's not at all appealing.

She also said I get growth scans from 32 weeks. I'll certainly take that 😊

I'd be very interested to know what others are told by consultants at around 12/13 weeks as they come up. So strange how they all have their own research they rely on.

@Holskey same for me, I have to take until labour but now I've moved trusts they've said I can stop it at 36 weeks or downgrade to 75ml rather than the 150 I currently take. I was also told it was due to it being an ivf pregnancy and it was to prevent preeclampsia. I guess we're more prone to it?

@becarefuloutthere Interesting. I had some sort of test along with my combined bloods that checked for risks of preeclampsia (again standard for all women at my hospital) and mine came back low risk for it. I didn’t think much of it at the time but perhaps it’s quite a new thing.

@RiverRiot yeah must be?! I didn't question it n just did as I was told. My other risk factor is age (I'm 35) so maybe they do it for ivf pregnancies for those over 35. No idea tbh. It's gross tasting but at least I haven't suffered with headaches so far! 🤞🏾

I am an ivf pregnancy I was on metaformin during and up to 12 weeks . When I seen the consultant he wasn't happy I was on it and took me stright off it. I never been given anything eles I am monitor all the time with hospital and midwife she been really good. She said that with ivf baby they tend to be low birth weight and that some time the placenta can just stop working in later pregnancy and thats why ivf come earlier. That's why I have loads of appointments in 3 trimester xxx

I love how that they never tell you any of this when going for ivf? First I'm hearing about most of it. I've been offered nothing yet but maybe I will be after my 12 week scan? Who knows. 🤷‍♀️ I'm over 35 too.

I'm on 150mg aspirin until 36 weeks too. But then I'm 40 as well as having a baby through IVF (plus slightly overweight unfortunately due to PCOS which doesn't help). To be honest I never considered not taking it when the midwife said to - it's such a low dose anyway and many women take it during IVF itself in order to help blood flow (although I didn't as my clinic doesn't think it makes a difference to success). 75 mg was the old pregnancy dose btw - if you google recent research papers now, most think that's far too low to do anything much at all.

But then I've stayed on Metformin too, so am not that nervous about taking meds during pregnancy (plus I take other vitamin supplements like fish oil and Nac which also help with blood flow). Basically when I finally got pregnant after years of IVF, I googled as many research papers as I could find about medications and supplements that could help prevent loss and continued taking the ones they mentioned were okay during pregnancy.

I guess doctors don't always know everything, as they unfortunately often seem to go by "standard practice" rather whats right for each individual sometimes - they wanted me to stop taking the Metformin (which I've been on 15 years for the PCOS), saying that while it wasn't harmful it also wasn't necessary now I'm pregnant. But I've just found out I have gestational diabetes anyway at 29 weeks, which I knew I was at risk of as there is a history in the family. God knows how much worse my sugars could have been if I'd listened to them and stopped it!

I had my NHS 12 week scan today and the midwife was very surprised to hear that I wasn’t on aspirin and only slightly mollified when I let her know that I had been on Clexane for the first trimester.

The scan was great though. It’s finally starting to feel a bit more real and we could relax once we heard the heartbeat as we had a private NT scan last week. Baby was upside down & very uncooperative though and simply wouldn’t stop wriggling so the scan took ages - a lot of getting up/down off the bed and shaking my tummy to coax them into a better position.

@Porridgeislife have they told you to take it now? Funny isn't it.

@paintfairy She didn’t ask me to take it but I’m wondering if maybe I should

@Porridgeislife I'm not even sure who decides? But my midwife at my booking appointment asked what I was taking and never mentioned it.

@paintfairy When I did the booking appointment they ran through a computer checklist and said I was one risk short of needing to take it. I just assumed it was the same everywhere.

Hi. Those of you who are taking aspirin when did you start it? I am expecting it will be recommended for me. As I had preecasmpsia and obstetric choleosasis with my last pregnancy which my liver never recovered fully from. And I am also pregnant with twins who are sharing 1 placenta. (Thinking this maybe a complicated pregnancy). But at 10 weeks I am still waiting for my booking telephone call which I chased up today. (I have had my bloods done 2 weeks ago). Just thinking should I already be taking asprin?

I am almost 27 weeks, ivf, 35 year old and no one suggested that I should take aspirin. I have an appointment with the consultant in 4 weeks time so will ask him them. It seems like the recommendations vary from trust to trust. I did hear that they won’t let me go past 40 weeks but that’s it really..

@Donimo ,I think aspirin is usually prescribed at your first in- person booking appointment, so around your "12 week" scan (although mine wasn't till almost 14 weeks) - when the midwife asks you questions and fills in your maternity book and online notes about your medical history (as pp noted they go through a checklist and you have to tick 2 or 3 boxes I think - things like age over 35/40, IVF conception, first pregnancy, BMI over 30/35, family history/own history of pre-eclampsia, multiple pregnancy etc, but as pp says the exact criteria seem to vary from trust to trust).

Hi ladies happy NYE! Party central here watching Graham Norton in my PJs. How times have changed 🤣
I was prescribed aspirin (150mg) from 12 weeks. My midwife organised it at my booking appointment. Up to 12 weeks I was on Clexane from the IVF clinic. As others have said it was prescribed on the basis of risk factors - you need two in my CCG (Northamptonshire). Age, IVF and APS (blood clotting) antibodies in my case.

Happy New Year everyone. All being well, it should be a very special year for us! 🥰

Interesting aspirin chat 🙂 I definitely asked in the right place and I feel better knowing I'm not the only one asked to take it.

Another difference between hospitals it seems is that none of this was discussed at the booking in appointment for me; I had a consultant appointment a week following the 12 weeks scan, so if you've not heard anything about this and not yet had your scan, it may or may not be coming!

@Holskey I've got a consultant appointment the week after my 12 week scan. So I'll let you know! But surely by then its a bit late to be taking it, if you weren't already? I mean, you've got this far without? 🤷‍♀️

Happy new year everyone!

Happy New Year all! I’ve been feeling a bit guilty about all the crappy food I’ve eaten over the holidays starting the healthy eating as of today!!
Also does anyone want to guess the sex of my baby if I upload a pic from the 12 week scan for fun? I find out in a couple weeks so would be fun to have a few guesses?

@LemonyT can you tell that early? I have to admit I have zero clue what I'm looking at. But exciting you don't have to wait long to find out!

I went for a private scan today at 10+6 and it was amazing to see that it now looks like a baby and everything! 🤣 My 12 week one is at 12+4.

You can upload all the baby scans as far as I'm concerned 🥰 I think coming from infertility, we're all so used to sharing bad stuff that it sometimes doesn't come naturally to share the good stuff too, but we should definitely celebrate the positive milestones here 🙂

@LemonyT I agree with @Holskey I love to see everyone's scans - I don't claim to know anything about nub theory or anything else though so can't be much help on that front 😂