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!

I have no idea, I don't think so x

@strawberrysummer19 when I called to chase mine (mine came straight to me rather than to the midwife) I called the antenatal screening team at my hospital though you could maybe call antenatal & see if they can point you in the right direction

@Etonmess20 ok thanks I'll try that x

Just called and spoke to someone lovely who initially said results will be discussed at 16 week app but she will see if she can get my results! That she used to be a midwife and retired this year but can read them to me

She reeled off loads of numbers but said was all low risk something about one in 2421 but a letter will come out

So I feel so much better as I've been worried

Thanks ladies glad I called!!!
X

@strawberrysummer19 that's odd to leave it 4 weeks to discuss them with you. It's all well & good them saying they'll call sooner with problems but in my case they wouldn't have done as they'd recorded that I didn't want the test performing 🤦🏼‍♀️ so they wouldn't have call as they wouldn't have known 🤷🏼‍♀️
Least you've got your results now though, one less thing to worry about x

@Etonmess20 I thought so too, maybe she meant all the other bloods as she was talking about thyroid and iron but I don't care about those particularly it was the screening!
But said all low risk to all so yes I feel better

She did explain that any high risks will get called first and not left until 16wks but they go straight to fetal medicine not midwife's and the normal ones gets discussed at 16wks which is understandable but like you say you had to chase yours and they were never going to tell you! So I think it's a long time - 4 weeks just for think I hope alls ok!

Anyway yes one less thing to worry about at least

It wasn't a huge worry just been niggling at me a little bit like waiting for the phone to ring! But it was never going to ring all along.

I had to call up at 10wks for my 12ks scan

They are obviously very busy xx

Not amazing news for me unfortunately- everything is there that should be, but the heartbeat is a little slow so they've advised I go for a rescan next week to see if it's ok or whether it's a miscarriage. Feel a bit numb really, wish I didn't have to wait a week but I can't complain too much. I've only known about this possible baby for 2 days so it's not at all like the torturous IVF process at all. Going to bow out of the thread and distract myself with my beautiful family.

Best of luck to you all ♥️

I'm so sorry @MrsC2018. To see a heartbeat and for it not to be enough is so cruel, especially with it being such a miracle pregnancy. Keeping my fingers crossed for you xx

So sorry @MrsC2018 take care of yourself

I am due a scan at fetal medicine when I am 17+2. I know they can tell the gender at this stage. I am just wondering whether they will actually tell me? As they will be too focused on checking other more important details.

Has anyone had a nhs scan with fetal medicine at this stage and know if they will tell me? Part of the reason for wanting to know this is I will be having fortnightly scans so my husband won't be able to attend all of them with me. And we want him there to find out the gender.

@Donimo not sure they didn’t offer to tell us at our 20 week (not a problem as we don’t intend to find out). I think it very much depends on your CCG and probably the sonographer themselves.

@strawberrysummer19 that’s rubbish you had to wait four weeks on the screening but great news all is low risk.

I’m currently waiting for my first consultant f2f. Will see if they want to keep me on blood thinners or not 😬. Are any of you still on them?

@MrsC2018 I'm so sorry. 💐💐

@MrsC2018 I'm very sorry to read this
Still keeping my finger crossed for you x

Popped back and saw @mrsc2018 s cruel news. I'm so sorry.

Hi everyone. I called my hospital as I hadn't got a scan letter yet, following booking appt 2 weeks ago. They said it's this Thurs. I just got the letter and apparently it's with antenatal as I'm consultant led due to IVF (no other issues).

I'm gutted, I was told at booking appt I could consider a birth centre if I remain low risk and she couldn't see any factors at all that point to high risk at this early stage (aware things can change). She warned me that my local trust prefer IVF mums to be induced at 38weeks and give birth in the main hospital. The hospital one town over don't have this policy. It's just down to "mentality" in her words.

So I'm gutted that I don't even have a scan date yet, and also that I am being possibly led down the path of a very different pregnancy and birth than I hoped for.

Have you ladies been referred to consultant led care purely due to IVF? Do your trusts also induce regardless of how well things are progressing?

@MrsC2018 Keeping everything crossed for you for your rescan

Finally have my 12 week scan date for the 1st March, just before I turn 13 weeks. I still can't believe I have a whole month more of waiting! Anyone else feeling like the first trimester drags? I guess the nausea etc doesn't help!

@notsofertilemyrtle I keep crossing all my fingers I'm not consultant led, I am adament about not being induced (everyone I know who was induced had a horrific birth) and I want to give birth in the alongside unit which is less medical (this process has been so medicalised, I don't want my birth to be like that if I have any choice in the matter!)

@notsofertilemyrtle I had the same with my first pregnancy. Consultant-led, induce at 38 weeks. I was told what would happen, no discussion. I looked into it myself and decided that I would see how my pregnancy developed and if the baby's weight seemed good and no other issues, I would potentially decline to be induced and give him more time to come when ready.

It was irrelevant for me anyway - ended up with severe obstetric cholestasis and gestational diabetes and had to be induced before I was even 35 weeks. My baby had already passed meconium inside, and during birth I lost blood, so I've got several risk factors now. No birth centre for me, sadly, but when it's for understandable reasons it's not difficult to come to terms with.

I would push for the birth centre if that's what you want and there are no issues. Speak to the consultant. You certainly don't have to be induced. That's absolutely your call. Ask them why they recommend it (because not everywhere does - you can see that amongst the ladies on this thread) and see what you think.

I do think it's important not to be too focused on your ideal birth though, because shit can happen. You could go overdue, for example. But yeah, it's a bit shit to start off with the birth you don't want without a good reason.

@notsofertilemyrtle you dont necessary stay under a consultant for your whole pregnancy. In my last pregnancy (although not ivf) I was referred to the consultant at my booking appointment. Who saw me at 16 weeks and then discharged me back to midwife only care. I was then planning a birth centre birth right up until 37 weeks. But unfortunately that never happened due to developing preeclampsia and obstetric cholestasis so had to have a c section at 38 weeks.

But I would echo holskey, you need to have flexibility in your birthing plan. I was set on a water birth in the birthing centre. However when I developed complications at 37 weeks I was given the option of either an induction or c section. I definitely didn't want a c section so opted for the induction. I then took every drug going. And spent the entire labour angry at myself for not having my "dream birth" and feeling like I was failing myself and baby. Unfortunately the induction failed due to fetal distress and I ended with a crash c section. So I literally did everything I did not want/plan. But once you have a healthy baby in your arms it really didn't matter.

@notsofertilemyrtle I've just found out I'll be consultant led due to IVF and having twins. If there's no any increased risk factors I'd ask them to explain why you can't have the birth you'd planned for, sorry it's put a spanner in the works 

@2mumlife do all consultant led pregnancies end up being induced? I've had my booking appointment but my midwife didn't mention anything other than I'll be consultant led. To be honest I was hoping due to twins I'd be booked in for a planned C Section. Just think it'll keep me calmer overall but I've had friends who've been induced and you're right, none have had a great experience so I'd rather avoid it if I can safely!

@2022babyhope ivf pregnancy does not mean you need an induction. But some trusts are more cautious about you going past your due date.

With a twin pregnancy it depends on the type of twins you are carrying on how long they recommend you carry for. For my MCDA they won't let me carry past 36 weeks as they are sharing 1 placenta. As I had a c section and complications in my last pregnancy it's not recommend to try a vbac for a twin pregnancy. But I think (could be wrong) a DCDA pregnancy the risks are slightly lower so you can have a normal delivery.

These are the NHS guidelines for twin births www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/what-happens/giving-birth-to-twins-or-more/
It says over 40% of twin births are vaginal deliveries.

Have you also been referred to fetal medicine for specialist monitoring and scans? I have my first appointment with this consultant on 17th Feb. But also under a consultant at my local hospital and have an appointment here on Monday.... really not sure why I need to be under 2 consultants?!

@Donimo aah that's good to know! I don't know the acronyms but they're in their own sacs with separate placentas so I think low risk (as far as twins go!)

I've got my consultant apt on the 17th as well right after my scan!

So far I haven't been told too much but I just presumed I'd have the one consultant! My plan was just l discuss the c section at that appointment!

Thanks so much for your thoughts everyone!

@2mumlife same! I do appreciate anything could happen in the meantime but I'm worried about that possibility being taken away before we've had a chance to see how the pregnancy progresses.

@Holskey ok, it's good to know you still felt you had options until it was medically not possible to fulfil them. Sorry you had cholestasis though, I've heard it's not fun. I'd just hope to entertain the idea at least until we can't if that makes sense!

@Donimo good to know about it not necessarily being set in stone. I didn't know that! Sorry you didn't get the birth you wanted...I know the baby could end up breech or something and need a C-section and all this worrying is for nothing 🙈 I'm actually not too bothered if a c-section is required, just really not keen to be induced. I've yet to hear of an induction that hasn't gone to assisted delivery or emergency section. Hoping to find good stories there too though 😅

Thanks @2022babyhope it's a bit confusing when my midwife at booking said I'm unlikely to be consultant led too. Perhaps she was just being reassuring!

I hope I don't sound naive as though I can pick a birth! I'd absolutely do whatever's necessary to get baby here safely. I just want to be assessed as an individual and not a statistic due to IVF. Fingers crossed for a good chat with the consultant to figure things out!

Now to find out why they've not booked my scan yet...apparently there's nothing in the system and I'm 12 weeks next week.

@notsofertilemyrtle I’m consultant-led due to IVF but also a few other risk factors (I’m 40, on thyroid meds and blood thinners due to clotting issues). My consultant was lovely when i spoke to him and also being consultant led means growth scans at 28, 32 and 36 weeks which I find reassuring. He mentioned I would likely be induced around my due date (not early) however said we don’t need to talk about birth options until around 30 weeks.

As others have said I’m trying to keep my mind open about birth at the minute as so much can happen that is out of our control. You will have choices though and as the mother it’s your decision - so just speak to your consultant about risks, alternatives, your own hospital stats etc. I’m reading The Modern Midwife’s Guide to Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond at the minute which I’d recommend to help get your head around how to make a birth plan and what to expect in different scenarios and it’s an easy read.

I hope I don't sound naive as though I can pick a birth! I'd absolutely do whatever's necessary to get baby here safely. I just want to be assessed as an individual and not a statistic due to IVF

Not naive at all. I felt exactly the same about the plan to induce without it being anything to do with my actual pregnancy. And if you're well, why shouldn't you have a nice birth experience that you've chosen? Just be prepared that it might go differently. Obviously if there are any complications you'd only care about the baby's safety anyway, but it's worth thinking about things like induction vs ELCS and pain management etc just in case.

My induction was not a good experience at all. It was almost an EMCS (baby's heart rate was dipping) and I did need an episiotomy and forceps (though that wasn't the worst bit). I would do it again if necessary (probably will be) but I would want an epidural immediately this time. It had the best outcome so I'm just glad everything went exactly as it did.

Does anyones nipples look/feel different?

I've had itchy skin around boobs and bump for weeks and got some e45 and seems to be better - my nipples and skin in general is really dry but last couple of days my nipple partially on the left feels really itchy and sore - worried I suppose as my mums just been diagnosed with breast cancer and and I suppose its only my mind that ordinarily you would see gp for any changes but because of being pregnant and hormones really hoping it's that

Im seeing my midwife Wednesday for my 16 wks app so will speak to her but anyone else have anything similar?

X

@strawberrysummer19 yep! Mine were so sore and dry from about 14-20 weeks. They’ve gotten huge (sadly unlike my boobs which haven’t grown at all 🤷🏻‍♀️) went all bumpy and then scabby (gross) so I resorted to putting my handcream on them before bed and sleeping in a non-underwired bra for a few nights and they’ve thankfully got a lot better.

Sorry to hear about your mum hope she receives good and quick treatment x