IVF Pregnancies (thread 2)

[Holskey]

@LemonyT
@strawberrysummer19
@Etonmess20
@IamnotwhouthinkIam
@strawberrysummer19
@paintfairy
@2mumlife
@Starbeach
@TheSnufflet
@Novavee
@Donimo
@Monday55
@Cakecakecheese
@Porridgeislife
@JAR1981
@Hufflepuff1
@2022babyhope
@becarefuloutthere
@notsofertilemyrtle
@RiverRiot

I've definitely missed people, but hoping I've got everyone who's been active recently. Apologies if not!

@womaninkent aww thank you 😊 I would agree with that. We struggle so much to get there so when you actually see a baby at the end it's amazing!! Yeah day by day it feels like it is. Hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well ☺️

@becarefuloutthere she's absolutely beautiful 😍❤️
Glad you're not doing too bad & seem to be getting better, I bet it's so strange she's here now. I still can't imagine my baby actually being here, seems a bit of an abstract concept 😂
Aww enjoy showing her off to everyone but definitely make sure you take care of yourself & rest!

@womaninkent thinking of you today, let us know how it goes x

Thanks @Mountaingoat31

@womaninkent sending good thoughts today x

@Etonmess20 I keep feeling being pregnant feels abstract, nevermind the concept it might actually end in a baby! I'm still waiting for a bump (I carry my weight round the middle, so I just look more fat/bloated than usual) and keep thinking maybe it will feel real when I can actually feel movemment, but that still seems a long way off

@2mumlife how far along are you? I've felt like it the whole way to be honest, I don't think it's helped that we haven't found out the sex either as I almost can't imagine them as a person if that makes any sense?
I also think with the IVF you're so aware of what could go wrong that you're constantly waiting for it to get snatched away from you so don't want to get your hopes up too much perhaps?
Nearly 31 weeks & still doesn't feel real 😂 I'm in for a shock I think!

I also think with the IVF you're so aware of what could go wrong that you're constantly waiting for it to get snatched away from you

They broke my waters at 34+6 and my baby had passed meconium. His heart rate was dipping and there was talk of an emcs. I really thought at that moment it wasn't going to work out and that of course it was too good to be true. IVF definitely scars. But great things can happen, and the happiness my little boy brings me is everything I dreamed of and more 😁

I know what you all mean. I actually allowed myself to buy some clothes today (although don't really need many). And felt a mix of excitement and appreciation all together!

Can I ask how you all coped with the wait for the 7 week scan? Mine is on Thursday and I'm so anxious 😔 I've been here before and the scan went very badly, so obviously I can't stop imagining that the same will happen again.

Thanks for all your good wishes, the scan went well. Now just to work out how not to loose my mind before the 12 week scan!

Congratulations @womaninkent. Glad it went well 💕

@CurbsideProphet I never found a coping mechanism. I just dwelled, feared and hoped. Only two more days of anxiety. I really hope it goes well for you 🤞

I had my 20 week scan today and all was great!

After finding out at 4 weeks after 2 failed ivfs and 5 yrs secondary infertility I couldn't believe my luck - I still can't.

The only advice I can give it to take one step at a time to get to the next milestone

For me it was early scans - one at 7, 9 11 to get my through to my 13 wks nhs scan
I found after my 12 week I was a little less anxious

The 2 week was enough to get reassurance rather than wait is everything ok?

Then from 13 we had a 17.5 gender scan but my bump was growing and I was so ready by the time I had next scan

Then I had my 20 week scan

Telling myself I'm pregnant TODAY and no worry or stress is going to change the outcome
To have faith and a firm believer on what will be will be....it isn't easy but for me early scans and extra scan where I could was worth the money

Today seeing bubs at 20 wks and all was well was absolutely magical and one of the best feelings I've had yet in pregnancy

I know I'm still half way but I'm happy to get to this stage

Xx congrats everyone xx

@CurbsideProphet: I don’t manage very well, TBH. Much nerves and worry and sleepless nights. I do find that after some reassurance and progress in a good direction I feel a bit better, but it is simply a very worrying time.

@womaninkent: so happy to hear this update, congrats!

@strawberrysummer19: congrats on a healthy scan, you’re halfway there.

@Holskey dwelling, fearing, and some hoping 😬 yep that probably covers it 😬

@Begoniagal7 it's really hard isn't it. I think we know too much going through IVF and being well aware (and in my case experiencing) what can go wrong. It's lovely to see those in the thread who have progressed past this time, gives me hope.

@Etonmess20 I'm only 14 weeks, so quite a way off. Plus I don't have a bump and its too early to feel movements, so I feel like there isn't anything really....tangible to be like "ok, I'm pregnant' lol. I was hoping it might feel more real when I can see a bump and feel it, but maybe not! Really not long for you to go! I'm having an extra scan at 16 weeks to check cervix length, and I'm hoping I might get to have a little look at baby during that as well.

@Holskey I google how likely I am to have a late misscarriage basically weekly still

@CurbsideProphet I didn't learn to cope - I had a SCH and started bleeding heavily, and had a complete breakdown in my bathroom. My clinic did an earlier scan day ater my bleed and saw a heartbeat, and then did my scheduled scan 10 days or so later and pregnancy was still going. We've not paid for any additional private scans, becuase I think if I started that I wouldn't be able to stop! I was nervous before 12 week scan, but everything still seems to be ok and the SCH has complete reabsorbed. After I had the bleed I just tried to focus that every day I got through a day without bleeding was a good day. I've also been trying just to focus on trying to make it to the next milestone.

@strawberrysummer19 Congrats on making it to a successful 20 week scan! This is the next milestone I'm focussing on x

@strawberrysummer19 congratulations on your 20 week scan, such a milestone!

@womaninkent glad your scan went well! Whereabouts in Kent are you? Purely nosey as im Greater London/Kent borders & planning to have baby at Darent Valley

@CurbsideProphet I agree with most others, I don't think you really can do anything to ease the anxiety other than private scans (& they only help for a short period). The best thing to do is try to be positive & keep busy but it's easier said than done. I've been nervous before every scan & every wait has seemed like a lifetime. Even now, baby moves loads but if they have a quiet hour or two I'm anxious to feel them again, I don't think it ever really goes away fully, you just have a different set of worries I think. Not much longer until your scan now 🙏🏼

@2mumlife I definitely felt the same, I had a private scan at 17 weeks for that reason as it is a long gap between 12 & 20 week otherwise but hopefully they'll give you a look at baby when they do your cervix length scan. I have found my pregnancy has gone fairly quickly really but I guess everyone's different, having so many appointments kind of makes it easy as it breaks it up as you're just aiming for the next one. The midwife will also start to listen with a Doppler from your 16 week appointment (I think) which is reassuring!
No really not long to go now at all 😬 don't even want to think about the birth 😂

@strawberrysummer19 congratulations on your 20 week scan! Such a lovely milestone to know your baby's looking healthy.

@2mumlife I had that miscarriage calculator permanently open on my phone until it ran out at 20 weeks. Feels like graduating or something 😂

@Etonmess20 I know from other groups I'm in that some areas have stopped using the doppler at 16 weeks, which is such a shame. My area includes it and it's lovely.

The best part of pregnancy is when you feel regular movements. I find it still causes some panic now and then when you wonder if they're moving enough etc, but that aside, there's reassurance constantly.

@Holskey oh that is a shame because it's a nice regular(ish) reassurance isn't it?
But yeah I do agree regular movements are the best reassurance, these babies love to worry us though don't they & every so often mine decides to have an extended nap 😂

@CurbsideProphet very best of luck for today

@CurbsideProphet sending so many best wishes for today ❤️

Thank you so much @womaninkent and @Etonmess20 💐💐 baby measuring perfectly at 7w 4d and heart beating exactly as it should be ❤️

We had a very tense few minutes at first when the doctor scanning me couldn't find the sac which felt like an action replay of our heart breaking experience last year. The nurse took over and there was the little prawn baby, heart flickering away ❤️

We've never made it this far before. I can't think too much about how much further there is to go. I'm just trying to think that today baby is perfect and has a heart beat ❤️

@CurbsideProphet oh I'm SO happy to hear everything went well, been keeping an eye out all morning for you to post!
Definitely don't need to think any further ahead at this point, just enjoy knowing that baby is in there nice & happy growing away with a lovely heartbeat cooking away ❤️

Thank you 💐❤️