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!

Thank you @Mountaingoat31 💐
I only noticed it because it was on my pessary applicator (sorry, gross to think of). I might call the midwives tomorrow, but I do think they'll probably say hormonal changes etc and I should keep an eye on it until my 12 week scan on Friday.

@CurbsideProphet a small amount of caramel colour at 11 weeks, after a good early scan is v v unlikely to be a problem. I'm sure you know that, but then nobody wants to see any colour from down there at all so it's normal to be worried. Do contact your midwife if it might help put your mind at rest.

Thank you @Holskey 💐 definitely agree that we just don't want to see anything at all! I realised today that 2 weeks ago I had to swap from cyclogest up the er, back door, to utrogestan which is is vagina only with an applicator (apparently a national shortage of cyclogest). I'm wondering if I've irritated my cervix by doing this. I've previously had ectropian cells which aren't cancerous but are very delicate and sensitive. I've read on mumsnet before that the cervix can become irritated by using the pessaries.

I have a friend who is a midwife and had had IVF herself, so I'm going to message her tomorrow. I suspect the NHS midwives won't have any idea about the utrogestan pessaries so I'll start with my friend and see what she says.

New to this thread but currently 8 weeks following a FET. I was just going to suggest @CurbsideProphet that the utrogestan applicator can put the capsule quite high and therefore more likely to irritate the cervix. Personally I just insert with a finger. Much messier to insert but less risk of irritation

@DaffodilSunshine welcome 💐
and thank you so much for your advice 💐 no more discharge today so I've been able to reassure myself that's what caused it. I've only got 4 more until my 12 week scan on Friday so will try your method.

@CurbsideProphet It sounds to me like it could be the TINIEST bit of blood mixed in with your pessary gloop on the applicator. After my SCH bleed, I had a sort of caramel-coloured discharge for about a week or so (I used utrogestan throughout). I wouldn't worry.

I've decided to stop the pessaries today rather than worry myself for another 3 days that I might have knocked my cervix again. Feels scary to set out on my own without any hormone support, but I think it's the sensible option!

Feeling sorry for myself this evening - I've got awful heartburn AGAIN. I've never had an issue with heartburn before. I'm only 18 weeks. Only thing I've identified that seems to trigger it is chocolate, but its certainly not just a consequence of that. Any advise other than to keep knocking back gaviscon?

@2mumlife oh you poor thing, it's awful. I've been suffering since 5.5 weeks and was prescribed omeprazole by my GP at 7 weeks. I'm still taking it now. It's definitely safe to take in pregnancy. I would also recommend not lying flat. I sleep propped right up on a complicated configuration of pillows. Lying flat allows the acid to splash up as the muscles weaken during pregnancy. Sorry that's not quite the medical explanation but hopefully makes sense.

@CurbsideProphet Think I will need to speak to GP as ended up so bad I started vomiting . It's not bothering me during the night (yet) so still sleeping ok, and it's starting evenings / sometimes afternoon if I'm unlucky. Just feeling sorry for myself now as DP is away until tomorrow so can't even get a cuddle

@2mumlife oh gosh definitely call your GP tomorrow, don't suffer. They gave me omeprazole without question as once it's bad it can take a couple of weeks to settle down even with medication. It can definitely make you sick. I felt like I was vomiting burning lava when mine was bad again a couple of weeks ago 😬 you poor thing being on your own. I have a tendency to be more sick in the evening and I do feel a bit better knowing DH is there if I need him.

@CurbsideProphet Thanks for the advice. I phoned GP so on the call-back list, so hoping I can get something prescribed today

Hope you got sorted @2mumlife?

@CurbsideProphet Ish. GP wants me to try liquid stuff first (I was using the chewable tablets) before trying omeprazole because its still so early to be getting heartburn. Problem being I tried some of the liquid stuff and its so digusting just taking it made me want to vom. So I think I'll probably wait a week to make them think I gave the liquid a fair shot and phone back and ask for the omeprazole (assuming I've not magically found some other solution!)

I'm not even 12 weeks and I'm on omeprazole 😬 I'm struggling to swallow liquid as it is and couldn't do the crunch able ones without retching so they gave it to me straight away.
My friend is a midwife and said the heartburn can start any time (even at 6 weeks like me 😬). I hope you can speak to a different GP next time. I would honestly recommend sleeping propped up a bit to make sure the acid can't travel up at night. Even something under the mattress can help.

When I saw the gp at 7 weeks with dreadful morning sickness, she would only prescribe prochlorperazine. I said specifically that the burning sensation was the worst, that I'd always suffered with indigestion and is there anything she could prescribe for that. She flat out told me to my face that there was nothing more effective than gaviscon! I've since spoken to approximately 384 people who are on omeprazole. I would have requested it had I known better at the time. It was a significant factor in my morning sickness. I still have a lot of acid now but it's just about manageable with a bottle or two of gaviscon a week.

I've been diagnosed with obstetric cholestasis again and it's at severe levels. I also have gestational diabetes again too. It's not been a good week.

Really sorry to hear about the sickness some of you are dealing with. You are so strong getting this far and battling through it.
this week so far I have received a letter telling me the hospital made a mistake with my blood tests from last week and I need to go back and get them done again, but this letter (almost apologising) should allow me to jump the one hour queue. Separately I’ve had an appointment confirmation come through for what will be a 13 week scan, stapled to another patient’s letter for a different hospital and completely different condition - I spent best part of an hour trying to get through to the trust to get them to fix this… I despair (note I’m currently working for part of the nhs). Have been quite spoilt by the private clinic experience… definitely all keep persevering if you’re not getting the support/answers you need.

@Holskey isn't it infuriating that the level of care in early pregnancy is dependent on how helpful a GP is 😡
Sorry to read you've got obstetric cholestasis and GD. Hope you're getting good care and support.

@Mountaingoat31 😯 that's really awful. How could someone make such a mistake with the letters?! I know what you mean about feeling spoilt by private care for IVF and the difference once you're into NHS maternity care 😬

Thank you @CurbsideProphet ❤️

@Mountaingoat31 that's shocking!

Welcome and congratulations @DaffodilSunshine!

@CurbsideProphet Mine really isn't a night time issue - I get to sleep totally fine and wake up feeling fine. It's in the afternoon and evening it's a problem. Going to try keep a closer eye on diet to try to find what else is triggering it to see if I can at least try to reduce it that way in the meantime.

@Holskey I do wonder how much my morning sickness was more about heartburn - never had heartburn in my life before! I'm sorry you're having a tough week - you don't have too much longer to go though right?

@Mountaingoat31 Offt. My area uses BadgerNotes and whilst it's rubbish it seems at least better than your experience! I'm not sure I can say I feel "spoilt" by private clinic - more disappointed in the NHS for not funding us because we're same sex.

18 week cervix check this morning and still looks fine. Scan was super fast but got a quick look at fetus, who is keeping up trhe tendancy to awkwardly positioned so was facing my spine this morning, but got a really nice look at it's spine and a perfect view of bottom of a foot - looks like it's going to have really long feet!

Random Q but I'm badly craving ready salted chipsticks to help my sickness, but obviously they haven't been made for a long time 😬 are there any suggestions for similar stick crisps in ready salted?!

@Holskey, goodness that is so much to be dealing with! How far along are you? Are youquite itchy and uncomfortable?

@CurbsideProphet: would the saibsurys salted potato sticks work? www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/sainsburys-potato-chip-sticks-150g

Sorry to hear about all of the anxiety and heartburn, both dreadful to deal with. I agree you’ve got to be proactive and don’t be concerned about coming off demanding. The pressures on the NHS right now are massive and I’m afraid it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil. I was massively anxious when I was pregnant with DC1 and that turned in to postnatal OCD, it was awful. I wish I’d recognised the signs and gotten help whilst I was still pregnant.

I’m happy to say I’m 12 weeks now and had a normal NT. waiting for Harmony NIPT bloods, hopefully wil be back in a week. But the doctor who did the scan said all of our measurements were spot on. I’m massively relieved and feel we can start sharing our news now.

Sending good thoughts to everyone c

@CurbsideProphet You should be able to get supermarket brand equivilents. Or the "frehcn fry" crisps? I craved picked onion monster munch for a bit myself lol

@Begoniagal7 Glad everything checked out well. Are you doing the NIPT as you're particularly concerned? We just left it with the combined test result.

@Begoniagal7 I'm just waiting for my 12 week scan next week and for my harmony results too! Exciting but nerve wracking times. Good luck.

Congrats @Begoniagal7 💐 12 weeks is such a milestone.
12 scan for me today and all measurements are normal 🙂 very wriggly baby, took the sonographer ages and she had to keep tipping the bed down!
I had the bloods too, hopefully nothing to worry about as the nuchal fold (is that the right term?) was well below the maximum normal. We bought a babygrow and little vest set to mark the occasion 🙂 my anxiety is much better today.

@2mumlife I had some ready salted French fries out of the hospital vending machine and they were delicious! Definitely a good call!