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!

@Donimo blimey that's a long time of injections! I'll see what my consultant says x

@strawberrysummer19 no daily injections have been prescribed for me, so as @Donimo says, depends on your risk factors. I wouldn't have thought you'd need it for your age or because it's IVF (because I don't and I'm 38). I'd be interested to know what they say about being induced as it seems to vary so much from area to area.

@Holskey I've just had enough of injections to be honest! 2 rounds of ivf then recently having covid and having to inject daily for 2 weeks but obviously will do if I have to.

I'm quite interested in seeing if they would induce in our area
I hope so. I just know full term that if she hasn't come I know I will be anxious so for me it makes it less daunting but I know being induced isn't exactly a walk in the park either!

From a pain relief free birth with my 1st which left me traumatised I was considering elective c section but now im thinking I do try natural again (but WITH pain relief!) if I can be induced but I will discuss with the consultant and see what they advise

X

I had my consultant appointment a few weeks back over the phone. I’ve been advised not to have a midwife led birthing centre birth and should go to a hospital :( I was also told I’d need to be induced at 40 weeks. I pushed back a little as they due date they’ve given me is earlier than my ivf due date. They said they would discuss with me and maybe we could ‘meet in the middle’. Im a bit bummed out as was hoping for a water birth and no induction - as no other risk factors for me other than this being an IVF pregnancy. Blood pressure, BMI normal, under 35… so yeah a little bummed out.

@LemonyT you do not have to accept being induced. You don't have to meet in the middle at all. This is your choice 100%. See how your pregnancy goes and how your baby is measuring, how you feel etc.

On the birthing centre I would certainly try to push for it. Ask them outright if they are refusing to allow it, and if so, if there is someone you can speak to about that. I don't know if you have the right to insist, but it really is unfair if you have no issues.

@strawberrysummer19 I'm hoping I can be induced without the drip this time because it's my second baby and I'd see how it goes. But if they get the drip out, I'm demanding an epidural immediately!

@Holskey yeah I think I’m going to def push back harder about the induction- unless they can give me more than ‘ivf’ as a reason.
I’ll see about the hospital - I’m afraid of going against my consultant in case something does happen, and I was an idiot not to take their advice. Thanks! Let’s just hope babies arrive before then :)

@LemonyT If it helps, I was told at my first midwife appt that our local trust doesn’t classify IVF pregnancies as a risk factor. She said some trusts also induce at 37(?) weeks with IVF, but again, not here. So there doesn’t seem to be a general consensus.

Holskeys has given very good advice about seeing how things go. Good luck.

@Donimo What are the injections for if you don't mind me asking?

@strawberrysummer19 I know my medical notes say induction should be considered at term (not something I asked for), and I'm 32 with no risk factors other than a potentially dodgy cervix, so I can't imagine they'll have an issue with you asking for an induction.

@LemonyT This is exactly what I don't want to happen with me. I've been put down for growth scans from 28 weeks at the high risk unit. I want to go to the alongside unit which is in the hospital for the birth. Birthing units have better outcomes so its worth pushing for it in my opinion (I'm certainly going to push for it if they try to tell me if I can't go to the alongisde unit). Keep remembering its YOUR choice and YOUR body, so they can't do anything without YOUR consent. If you don't want to be induced at 40 weeks, that is your right.

@GodspeedJune @2mumlife you’re both right yes. I never want to seem like one of those ppl who think they know more than the doctor, but considering it’s so different all over the UK, and they can’t give me specific reasons why I need to follow certain guidance, I will def be pushing for what I think is right for me and my baby. Thanks!

@2mumlife they are heparin to reduce the risk of a blood clot. I think the risk factors that mean I need to take it are- a twin pregnancy with only 1 placenta, I had preeclampsia in my previous pregnancy and I will be having a planned c section at 36 weeks.

@LemonyT in my last pregnancy I was 36 and it was an IVF pregnancy and the birth centre were quite happy for my to go. It didn't work out like that but nobody ever suggested to my that ivf alone was a reason not to go to the birth centre. If they go down that route I would at least ask them to explain why they consider it such a risk factor.

Birthing units have better outcomes
I agree you should be able to go to a birthing unit, but they only have better outcomes because they only deal with straightforward cases. There's generally nowhere safer than a hospital.

I was going to argue against being induced with my first. At the time everything was straightforward except ivf and I would have loved a pool birth in a birthing centre. Didn't get that far though and had to be induced before 35 weeks. I've accepted the lovely pool will never happen for me 😭

I'm not convinced IVF on its own is a good reason to induce. Fair enough if it's what you want but it's perfectly okay to refuse if your pregnancy is going well.

Hi ladies, I’ve been on Clexane/Inhixa practically the whole way through. As @Donimo says it’s dependent on risk factors. I have blood clotting (APS) antibodies. So was on them up until 12 weeks via the ivf clinic, then consultant put me back on at 18 weeks. Had my referral appointment with haematology finally on Monday and I will stay on until 6 weeks post delivery. None of us like injecting but we do what we have to do!

My consultant also recommended I’m induced at 40 weeks but I will talk to the team about this further as my personal preference is not to have the drip. Hoping I can have a mild induction or if not an elective section if labour doesn’t start naturally by 40 weeks. Also would prefer the midwife-led unit if possible for privacy (my local labour ward only has one private room :( ) but i suspect they may advise against given the blood thinners. I don’t think my consultant makes the birth plan until 36 weeks.

@2mumlife did I read you’re having a cervical check this week? Hope it’s behaving and doesn’t cause you any drama!

@Donimo Ah ok. I can't see any reason they'd suggest heparin for IVF alone without additional risk factors.

@Holskey Absolutely right - sorry, of course the risk of patients makes a difference :)

@JAR1981 I guess its always a bit different when there is a real (i.e. not just 'you're IVF') reason for suggesting a ward birth. Yeah having first cervix scan tomorrow. I think I'm pretty much garaunteed my cervix isn't going to be great, as consultant at IVF clinic said cervix was visibly short (in the middle of a transfer - NOT THE TIME!). They wrote to my GP twice saying I needed to be monitored. So either they are overly cautious, or (more likely) I'm about to go a notch up the high risk rating :( At least its being checked and monitored though, which is the main thing.

Hi ladies, I hope it's okay to join. I'm 5 weeks pregnant today from a successful FET. My fresh cycle failed and my first FET ended in a chemical so as you can imagine my anxiety is sky high. Did any of you ladies experience spotting in the early weeks? I have had brown discharge (sorry tmi) for the past couple of days, however this morning there was bright red blood when I wiped which sent me on a downwards spiral, however it has now gone back to brown. I know bleeding in early pregnancy is common, especially IVF pregnancies so I'm just hoping for some reassurance.

TIA x

@ForeverHopefull17 I'm just under 10 weeks now with my FET. I had dark brown discharge until 8 ish weeks and at 5.5 weeks I had red blood for 1 wipe, same as you.

I've had another scan today and everything still looks good with baby. I had 2 previous fresh embryo transfers so I know the anxiety well. All I can say is be very kind to yourself. It is a nerve wracking time.

@ForeverHopefull17: cautious congrats! I had a couple of days of brown/pink spotting around 5-6 weeks with my first FET. That pregnancy turned into my 3 year-old! I haven’t had any with my current FET (now 10 weeks) and scans have been fine. It really is quite common and hopefully not significant for you. Ive heard some people switch from cyclogest vaginally to rectally because they think it might be irritating the cervix (if that’s relevant for you?)

@ForeverHopefull17 Tentative congratulations! I also had a failed fresh, CP on first FET and then a BFP from second FET attempt :) I had a massive bleed at around 6 weeks with my BFP and thought I was out - turned out I have a subchorionic hematoma (SCH). By my NHS dating scan it had completely self resolved and (fingers crossed) everything seems to be progressing ok. When is your viability check?

@2mumlife good luck for your scan today. Remind me how many weeks are you again? As you say good that it’s being monitored and there are treatment options available if it’s found to be short.

@ForeverHopefull17 welcome! I had a couple of days of spotting around 5 weeks pregnant. So it can definitely be normal. I know the anxiety well after a miscarriage from my first transfer at 8 weeks and a chemical just before this one. Take it one day at a time. When is your first scan booked for?

Hi all- can I very very tentatively join you? I recognise quite a few names from my many many months on the infertility forum. I have just done my third fresh cycle of IVF and got a BFP for the first time in my life about a week and a half ago.
Obviously was delighted, but then immediately became worried about making it to the next step, did way too many FRER and panicked they weren't getting dark enough, stressing about lack of symptoms etc.
Egg retrieval was 28th Feb, so I think I'm 5w3d today. Scan with clinic is booked for one week today

Hope everyone is doing well and things go smoothly for us all

Thank you so much for your positive stories ladies, it's so reassuring. I went to EPU yesterday and everything looked as it should at 5 weeks so that was a massive relief. Not out of the woods yet but taking it a day at a time.

@CurbsideProphet thank you for sharing, thankfully I've had no more red blood so hoping that was the last of it

@Begoniagal7 thank you so much! So happy to hear your success story from spotting, I hope I have the same luck. I've heard about cyclogest causing irritation so I've used it rectally from the beginning as I was hoping to avoid any unnecessary spotting

@2mumlife thank you so much! I actually remember you from a previous board when you had your CP so I'm so happy to see that you've now had a successful transfer.
I am back at the EPU next week for a 6 week check due to my history of miscarriages and then at my clinic for a 7 week scan. I'm just hoping to make it that far and beyond

@JAR1981 thank you so much and sorry for your losses. It's so reassuring to see that so many ladies have experienced spotting around the same time. I'm back at the EPU next week and then my clinic the week after, I would absolutely love to see a heartbeat next week although I know it could still be early

@JAR1981 I'm 16 weeks :) Scan went well - very exicitingly, the sonographer said as I was skinny (ha! God love her for the compliment!) and still early on we could try an abdominal scan rather than transvaginal, which meant I got to have a look at fetus again today which was lovely :D Unfortunately my cervix is measuring shorter at 31mm but not dangerously short and was still completely tight shut. But they've decided to keep monitoring me - so every 2 weeks now until 24 weeks I'll be in being checked again. Trying to look on the bright side I might get to check up on fetus more often and its better they're cautious. The consultant was great actually, and we talked about the growth scans they want to do from 28 weeks as well which was useful. He also talked about my notes saying to consider induction at term, so we discussed this not being what I wanted unless there was a reason other than IVF, which he said was fair, and that if I did want to go past term they'd potentially offer some extra scans to check everything was ok. He also said that there was no reason I couldn't go to the alongside unit for the birth at the moment if thats what I wanted which was good. So all in all feeling pretty positive about things

@KatRee Welcome to the thread :) The waiting for viability scan is worse I think than the TWW. Just try to stay positive, and take each day you continue with no worrying symptoms as a win.

@ForeverHopefull17 Its great when we you see a familiar name "graduating" to this thread. It must be so worrying given your history, but it sounds like you're being well monitored. Hopefully everything keeps progressing the way it should.

Great news @ForeverHopefull17 and @2mumlife. Nice to see so much lovely news today.

20 week scan today and all measurements were good. I still have moments where I can't believe this is actually happening .