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.

@VenusStarr I hope your retroverted uterus just means it’s been harder to view! Fingers, toes and everything you can cross, crossed for you 🤞

@VenusStarr I hope your retroverted uterus just means it’s been harder to view. Fingers, toes and everything you can cross, crossed for you🤞

@RosieLeeD thank you, will keep everything crossed for your scan Monday!

@VenusStarr I’m so sorry for the rollercoaster you’ve been on, but it sounds like there may still be hope, fingers crossed it all goes well and your scan clears things up a bit more x

@RosieLeeD did your ivf clinic put you on a cushion? I usually have one and they didn't do it yesterday. To be honest the first doctor was a bit rubbish, but they got another one in and he rescanned me and just said he was sorry, it was empty. Neither commented on it being hard to see. But the epu put me on a cushion and the first thing she said was you've got a tilted uterus and it makes things difficult. Just scary to think the ivf clinic said stop everything... The epu scan means this little one has a chance now.
I hope you're doing OK today ❤️

Thank you @LemonyT 🙏

Thank you @Frenchie86 trying to hold onto the hope.

How's your sickness @Holskey? When is your scan?

Hope everyone is doing OK today. I collected 2 weeks worth of meds today, I missed a lubion yesterday but took 3 cyclogest instead and another this morning, hoping that's OK. I haven't spotted or anything.

@VenusStarr I can't believe they told you to stop everything without the caution of a rescan first! They were wrong about there being nothing there. What did they say when you told them?

My scan is 23rd, day after yours. Seems ages away. My sickness is truly awful now, but here isn't the place to dwell on it! Just grateful to be pregnant 🙃

The second doctor took control and was very firm that it was a failed pregnancy. He said they could do blood tests for hcg but that it wouldn't show good news but we could do that. We declined because I didn't want to pay! But we've been under the epu before and I just thought we needed their support for management.
I'm really numb and tired, but the more I think about it the angrier I become. I feel like I probably will complain. I'm my first ivf cycle, my hcg was 5.2 and I had faint tests at home and the same doctor told me it was a failed cycle, but when my tests got darker (on my urine Otd) they did my bloods and found my hcg had tripled. They seem very quick to call it over both times.
I think 6 weeks is far too early anyway to confirm a miscarriage, based on my past experiences. I just don't know I have the energy to fight.
The nurse who sorted my meds today sat with me and listened but obviously didn't say anything incriminating for them, not sorry or anything. Just congratulations. She took a copy of my epu report and said she'd speak with the doctors but no one has called this afternoon. She just said they are there for me. She did ask if they'd booked me a follow up scan at the ivf clinic and I said no, they just told us it was failed and needed to be managed.

Sorry that's so long.

I'm sorry you're so sick @Holskey You are having a long wait ❤️ hopefully this time passes quickly xx

OMG @VenusStarr what a crazy heart-wrenching day you had! I’m sorry it was so brutal but so pleased the EPU were able to find baby and I have absolutely everything crossed for you and your little one.
If/when you have the energy for it you may want to give some feedback to your clinic (even if you don’t want to complain officially) as surely the know you have a retroverted uterus and should take that into consideration etc? And as you say, not be so quick to dismiss things. That said, I know how draining just the thought of it is. I had to make a massive complaint to my clinic about my care during my MC but afterwards they were very apologetic and definitely seemed to take what I said on board. It might not be something you’re up to just yet but may help you process things later down the line. It helped me anyway. Thinking of you and hope you’re treating yourself to a much more relaxing day today.

@RosieLeeD So pleased your haematoma/clot is shrinking, they’ve sorted your meds and baby is looking ok, long may it continue! Have they put you on bed rest for the next couple of weeks?

@39yearoldwantbaby So happy to see your little one is growing as well and have everything crossed for you too.

We seem to have some little fighters in this group! 💜

Congrats on your scans as well @LemonyT @lucyinthe and @Frenchie86! Great news. 🤗

Oh and sorry you’re feeling rotten @Holskey, it’s totally allowed to be fed up of it. Hopefully it passes soon and your scan comes around quickly.

@VenusStarr my retroverted uterus didn't appear to cause a problem with visibility and therefore wasn't offered a cushion but I think it's different for everyone and if they have offered you a cushion before they should have this time! I have certainly heard it can affect visibility and that's why I was conscious of it before my scan. I believe I read that it may depend on where the embryo implants. It also appears to make embryo transfers easy for some and more difficult for others - more was more difficult.

I'm not surprised you are angry, doing IVF is challenging enough without being let down by those you are trusting with something so precious. It shouldn't have been on your shoulders to decide to go for another scan but thank goodness you did. I think you should complain but completely understand how emotionally draining it must for you be so do what is right for you. You don't necessarily have to do it straight away.

I hope you are doing ok otherwise, try to stay positive and take one day at a time. X I'm ok, just trying to heed my own advice!

@Holskey sorry to hear you are so sick but as you say, a positive sign at least x

@Frenchie86 thank you, Monday isn't far away but I definitely feel like it's dragging. I hope you are ok x

@RiverRiot thank you and yes certainly keeping fingers crossed for things to keep moving in the right direction. I have been told to take things easy, no exercise, limit stress etc but not strictly bed rest. I'm off work for a few days but fortunately I'm still able to work at home. How are you? X

@VenusStarr I’m so sorry you’ve had such a poor experience, I am sometimes shocked at how little empathy ‘caters’ have. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, see how you feel. My termination was poorly managed, I didn’t complain. But then the fertility clinic referring us for IVF was shocking, they lacked empathy, lost our file twice, blood tests etc and I despaired that we would never be put through for funding. I ended up making an official complaint and low and behold my file was sent the next day but we defo didn’t need the stress! They usually have an email to complain too and it was pretty straight forward for me, they called me very quickly to investigate and I got an apology and hopefully they took my feedback on board for future couples.

@RiverRiot thank you! Sorry you had to make a complaint too, you’d think they’d take into consideration the fact that we’re already all emotionally drained already. IVF isn’t anyone’s first choice!

@RosieLeeD hope all the resting isn’t making you go stir crazy, good that you have a bit of time off work. Even a day or two can seem endless when you’re waiting for that all important appointment. I find watching silly movies on Netflix helps!!

Thank you @VenusStarr, @RiverRiot, @RosieLeeD ❤

@Rosie I hope you're managing to rest. Still keeping everything crossed for you 🙏

@Venus I didn't realise it was your decision to go to epu! I was surprised enough they told you to stop taking meds before rechecking, but the clinic literally told you it's completely over, stop taking meds, no need to double check?! At just over 6 weeks?! I'd be furious. I can well imagine you have a lot going through your mind right now, and anger may not be at the forefront, but their error was terrible. Thank goodness you sought help elsewhere!

Hi all I’m in abit of a panic as I’ve had brown blood this morning. I’ve never had bleeds with my previous pregnancy but trying not to panic. Should I be trying to find an epu?

@BuffyFanForever is it a lot or just spotting? Are you crampy too? I had brown discharge throughout 1st trimester with light cramps & I am now 14+2 - how far along are you?
It really worried me as well but I did find a couple of paracetamol really helped me to calm down as it stopped me feeling the cramps. I used to try & do very little/lie down a lot if I was crampy just as I didn't want to make anything worse. Definitely get yourself checked out if you feel you need to though

@BuffyFanForever I was getting some brown blood and my IVF clinic increased my progesterone as a precaution and I had a blood test to check levels. I was also asked to come off aspirin, not sure if that is relevant to you. For me it did turn out that I have a hematoma which is now being monitored however this was identified by the EPU after I got some fresh blood following the brown.

Brown blood discharge can certainly be normal I've heard of many cases throughout pregnancy and the pessaries can cause irritation.

Visiting the EPU would help to put your mind at rest and to check there is nothing in particular causing it xx

@Holskey Thank you, I'm doing ok, trying to rest as much as possible and just hoping the scan tomorrow shows a continued decrease in size. I hope your managing your sickness this weekend and getting lots of rest too. X

@Frenchie86 my husband has been off work too so it's been nice to have the company. I've been watching plenty of TV and even getting a head start with Christmas shopping online to keep my mind occupied. You are so right though, time is really dragging! Hope you are having a good weekend. X

@RosieLeeD ah that sounds like a nice weekend, hope everything goes ok today! I know we shouldn't wish time away but really want to be at 20 weeks so I can relax a bit.

@BuffyFanForever I'm sorry I don't have much advice other than like the others said, perhaps find an EPU if you want to put your mind at rest? At least you'll be able to sneak in an extra look at your baby x

@Frenchie86 scan was ok thanks, baby is still fine but the blood pocket hasn't reduced much is size, just a couple of mms. Perhaps I'm just being impatient since it's only been a few days since the last scan. I have another on Friday. I know what you mean, I can't believe my transfer was only 1 month ago, it feels like it's been such a long time already and funnily enough I said to my husband today I just want to fast forward to 20 weeks! I hope you are managing to keep yourself occupied too, you have another scan quite soon to don't you? X

@RosieLeeD I'm glad the scan went ok but sorry to hear the blood pocket hasn't reduced much, did they mention whether it was good that it had reduced by even a small amount? Yes in some ways it feels like forever ago since the transfer doesn't it? Hehe great minds, I do wish it was the 20 week scan already but just need to take it a week at a time. Yes we have our next one on the 24th so not long at all, and then we've booked for a harmony test at 10 weeks, so at least we don't have long between each one and in the meantime trying to keep busy with work, seeing friends etc x

Thank you @Frenchie86. Tbh I didn't really ask them only questions. At my IVF clinic it's a sonographer that does the scan and then a nurse that speaks to you afterwards, I.e. not the actually consultant that I'm under. They do keep him updated and they will communicate his advice but I find it a bit disjointed. Because I am also under a miscarriage specialist (who I saw last Thursday and will see on Friday) I'm more interested in what he has to say. I really only went to the IVF one because I thought I had too (as part of the package) and as an extra check on the size etc.

Haha yes great minds but to be honest if I fast forwarded to 20 weeks, I wouldn't want to stop there! Great you have the harmony test booked and not too long to wait until 24th, it's good you are keeping occupied. Im back at work tomorrow (from home), not really looking forward to it but it does serve as a distraction. I will need to research the Harmony test a bit more, we did genetic testing so I'm not sure it will give us much more information than we already know other than the gender of course! I want to know but my husband doesn't so I'll have to battle that one out with him first! 😏 xx

Hi @RosieLeeD that makes total sense, the miscarriage specialist will be a bit more aware of your history as well. Do keep us posted, fingers crossed it's all positive.

Haha true, if he/she could be born already that would be amazing! Sorry you have to go back to work but good that you can WFH, I am too and makes a big difference. Oh that's interesting, which genetic testing did you do? We asked about it at the clinic but they didn't recommend it as they didn't do it themselves and would need to send the embryos to London and said there was a risk they would be damaged in the process. I don't really know whether the harmony would be any different to what you did, it's mainly for Down's, Platau etc but definitely excited to know the sex, before we did it last time I had no idea you could know so early on. Tricky that your husband doesn't want to know. Do you think he'd mind if you knew and he didn't? Although it would be hard not to slip up! xx

@Frenchie86 Thank you, I'll certainly let you know how its does on Friday. The genetic testing we had was called PGT-A and it checks that the embryos have the right number of each chromosomes I.e. 23 pairs and should therefore rule out Downs, Edwards and Pateu. It was recommended to us as we had previous miscarriages (the cause of which was unknown) and I was late 30s (think I was 37 first time round, I'm now 39) and husband in early 40s.

I don't think I would be able to keep the gender quiet if i knew and husband didn't. I think he'll come round though, we haven't discussed it too much because we are trying to take things 1 step at a time but my mind goes a mile a minute thinking of everything and anything to do with the pregnancy! Given that we had the genetic testing someone somewhere knows the gender but the information is not released (even after a successfully pregnancy) because of strict laws preventing gender selection.

I was looking online and there is a test called SneakPeak which is a blood test you can do at home which claims to be 99.9% accurate from 7 weeks! I might try and research that a bit further too as it's very tempting!!

Hope you have a good week, I don't know how I would cope if I couldn't WFH and had to commute everyday, I'm just so tired all the time! Xx

@RosieLeeD yes that's the one we mentioned and the one they couldn't do, so you probably aren't better off doing the Harmony as they would've tested on those things before the transfer.

I know what you mean, hard to project yourself but equally hard not to. Wow 7 weeks, that's so tempting as you could do it soon. Definitely try and convince him hehe. I have a couple of friends who didn't find out the sex and I wish I could be that patient as it would be a lovely surprise, but I just couldn't do it.

Thank you, you too and good luck for the scans x

Had my long awaited first ultrasound today at 7weeks+3. I was measuring 7weeks+1 but they didn't seem concerned, obviously I can't help but worry, what if the embryo has already started to stop growing and at my 12 week scan they'll be telling me I'm only 8weeks instead of 12weeks gone?

I know I'm truly my own enemy. I have finally made contact with a midwife today as I was waiting for this ultrasound to make sure everything was fine before going ahead. I have 2 appointments booked with midwife for next week and will be finding out when my next scan will be at one of those appointments.

Hi @Monday55. It's completely normal for there to be a little bit variance so try not to worry, easier said than done I know, especially bearing in mind the journeys we have found ourselves on. Hopefully you'll get your next scan date soon then take it one day at a time until then x

Congrats on your scan @Monday55. I know the slightest potential for an issue is magnified, but 2 days difference isn't a problem. These things never give you quite enough reassurance do they?! But still good news.

How's everyone else doing?

@RosieLeeD and @VenusStarr how are you both coping?

I booked a private scan today ahead of my clinic scan next week. My morning sickness is just so bad that I needed to know that it was for good reason, and that I wasn't going through it for a molar pregnancy or a blighted ovum. I couldn't see much: it was an abdominal scan, bladder wasn't full (struggling to drink) and apparently I have a retroverted uterus (though nobody has ever told me that before and transfers/scans have always been easy). I'm not sure the person doing the scanning was an expert because I asked what was the normal range for heart rate and she had "no idea". But I could make out a heartbeat so I'm happy for now.