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!

Will keep my fingers crossed the 35 scan is reassuring CurbsideProphet 🤞

Can’t wait for pregnancy and the related worries to be over, and to have baby here now.

@CurbsideProphet Yay for GD coming back negative! Growth chat should be based off your ethnicity, age, height and pre-pregnancy weight.

@GodspeedJune I recommend the links, as they really do help inform about the evidence base of 'big' babies. My first growth scan at 28 weeks they were talking about a "big baby" up on the 90th line (which was why I started looking into it so much), but if you look at growth charts the percentile lines really spread out as pregnancy continues, and at both 32 and 36 week growth scans baby was tracking a bit above the 50th line (I don't know exact percentage) and consultant hasn't referred to baby as 'big' since then. So the estimate can shift as pregnancy continues. I'm expecting baby will be around the 8lb mark at birth. I've attached my growth chart incase anyone wants a look to compare, as you'll see your percentile lines will be different from mine.

Godspeed June I feel exactly the same. It's exhausting isn't it. I have terrible pregnancy insomnia anyway and would much rather be up in the night with my baby.

2mumlife thanks so much for sharing your chart. Hopefully at my next scan things will even out. I wasn't weighed until my 12 week appointment. I had just had 3 weeks of only being able to drink Fanta lemon and nibble random shite, so I will have definitely put weight on compared to pre pregnancy.

I found out this morning that I have strep b 😔 means if he comes before 40 weeks I'm on delivery suite with IV antibiotics every 4 hours. Feeling quite sorry for myself as it seems like everyone else gets to choose when they have their baby and where they give birth. Will let myself have my little mope and then try to dig myself out of it.

Thanks 2mumlife that’s helpful to see, especially how the lines widen out later on. My hospital notes only have the charts for each individual measurement rather than overall percentile. Will ask the midwife for a peek next time I see her.

Oh curbside that’s rubbish and totally normal for you to feel down about it. Definitely take the time to have a mope, it’s another hurdle but you will get through it and hopefully it will all be a distant memory that didn’t matter too much in a few weeks time.

We had another growth scan this week, as my fundal measurement is higher than gestation. The sonographer was quite abrupt, and during the scan diagnosed polyhydramnios. Said the most likely cause is gestational diabetes but they’ll scan me again in 4 weeks to see if there’s any change. Walked out the hospital sobbing, telling my DP that I can’t even get pregnancy right after all this! 🫣 Took myself off to bed for the rest of the day but trying to take my own advice now that baby will be here in a matter of weeks and hopefully I can put all these worries behind me.

@CurbsideProphet Sorry to hear you have group b strep :( At least its better to know? I think a lot of people don't get to choose their birth really at the end of the day - just try to influence things to be as close as possible to the birth you would want :)

@GodspeedJune There was a woman in my due date group who got told she had polyhydramnios as well towards the end of pregnancy. Doesn't seem to have caused any issues for her so hopefully things will continue to be straight forward for you.

Saw consultant again this morning (different one than usual). It was much what I thought - got offered sweep which I declined, midwife had a feel of bump, FH measurement and heartbeat. As expected consultant said if I don't want induced they recommend weekly scans starting next week to check amniotic fluid level and placental function. Had a chat about continuing to decline induction past due dates which was good, basically said depending on scan each week will change how cautious they feel, especially if I wasn't to go into labour before 42 weeks. I'm just keeping everything crossed really that baby makes it on way in the next 2 weeks

2mumlife Glad the discussion went well and that they’re offering you extra monitoring. Seems like a reasonable compromise. I’m hoping to go the same way as you, declining sweeps and induction. How exciting that, fingers crossed, baby will be here in the next couple of weeks!

@GodspeedJune that sonographer sounded very insensitive. They could have done more than give you things to worry about, especially if they're not planning to book you for the full Glucose Tolerance Test.
I don't know about you but I'm finding it so hard being so close to holding my baby, yet also seeing so many hurdles before we actually get there.

@2mumlife yes the logical part of my brain knows that I'm very lucky it was found now, especially as it can be harmful for baby during birth. The non logical part feels a bit glum about the prospect of a cannula and antibiotics every 4 hours during labour. I'm seeing the Consultant Midwife this week so at least we can discuss how it would all work.

Hopefully not too long for you now! It's great they're supporting your decision.

Totally logical @CurbsideProphet. I was induced twice, cannula for the entirety, very few birth choices available. It's not the most important thing but it is disappointing. Both my birth experiences turned out to be a lost cause unfortunately, which is a shame, but I absolutely adore the newborn stage, so that more than makes up for it. Your birth experience could still turn out wonderfully though so keep an open mind.

@CurbsideProphet try not to be too disheartened. I have birth to my third almost two weeks ago- third induction and third requiring anti biotics due to GBS, all on consultant led suite. However with all three I had quick, unassisted births with only paracetamol/a few puffs of gas and air. No tear with my latest bundle of joy who was a healthy 8lb7! I hope you're as lucky as I have been 🤞

Congratulations @TeddyTonks! I'm glad you had a positive experience and I hope you're enjoying your new bundle of joy 🥰

@CurbsideProphet I can understand the glum side - after all the interventions to get pregnant, its frustrating not to have your choice of birth too. I'm almost glad they don't routinely test for it, as its so common, and so few babies would actually have an issue from it from what little I understand.

@TeddyTonks Congratulations!

Congratulations @TeddyTonks! 🎉 Hope all is going well

Congratulations @TeddyTonks 💐🙂
That's great to hear 🙂

My DH is feeling so stressed and overwhelmed at everything we still need to sort 😔 IVF and miscarriages seem to have stolen our ability to just be happy. We didn't start getting sorted until August out of fear and now I'm 35 weeks we've not got time for that lovely leisurely nesting I keep hearing about 😔
Had anyone else experienced similar? We don't have anyone IRL who understands. My sister just keeps telling me what I should be buying and my mum implied our antenatal classes were silly as they managed fine without 🙄 so I don't feel like speaking to her about any of this.

Curbside I’m a couple of weeks behind you but we only put our big order in for things just over a week ago. Still need to sort a car seat. I had a consultant appt and discussed the possibility of a C-Section at 39 weeks which could mean less time than expected too! Do you have the big purchases in hand or still need to sort them? I found those not much fun and wish I’d done it in the 2nd trimester. But going to the shops and choosing some clothes and blankets has given nesting vibes and been enjoyable.

Hi everyone. Quick update from here - after a bloody show around 5:30pm last night, I went into early stages of labour a few hours later at home. TENS machine kept us going until this morning when we came onto the ward already 7-8cm dilated and enjoyed the birth pool until fully dilated. Unfortunately though baby had some mild meconium, changed into a non-idea position for pushing stage and I was getting tired, so we had an assisted forceps delivery in the end with a spinal anaesthetic. Turns out we were expecting a (not so little) girl! Born at 5pm exactly she’s weighing 8lbs 7oz with a big head (they had to try 3 hats to get one to fit!) and very long. Still a bit in disbelief (had to get partner to confirm she really did come out of me in theatre!). She’s not latching yet but taking hand expressed colostrum from a syringe so really do recommend familiarising with expressing colostrum as it’s been great

GodspeedJune we had the crib / pram / car seat delivered last week. The main issue is that we needed proper fitted wardrobes for years, but were busy trying to have a baby / having IVF. After my 20 week scan I decided we should definitely do it as we really didn't have enough storage anyway, never mind space for baby stuff. They should have been finished by the bank holiday weekend but instead were only finished last week. We had our clothes in suitcases / boxes for the whole of August 😭 and spent last week manically trying to put everything away (plus pack away my work stuff, move furniture round etc) while DH was on leave, instead of doing nice things.

DH is back at work feeling like he's had no rest and there are still things to sort in the house. I just feel like crying 24/7 from pregnancy hormones and guilt that DH is knackered. We had a nightmare setting up the pram this afternoon as the instructions made no sense; as we're both feeling a bit crap right now we couldn't just laugh and leave it for another day.

It's probably all so trivial, but even knowing that we still need to touch up some paintwork and paint some skirting boards is stressing out DH. I was so afraid to start doing anything too soon, but now we're just rushing and it's not enjoyable at all 😔

@2mumlife that's amazing to read 💐 congratulations 💐 Hope you get good support with baby's latch and are home soon.

Congratulations @2mumlife 🎉 ! Amazing news. Hope you're healing well. Forceps delivery can be brutal (I've had 2).

@CurbsideProphet you'll want everything to be perfect, but in reality you'll cope no matter what. I didn't buy anything with my 2020 baby until 30ish weeks. Got a call 34+3 to tell me to come into hospital straight away to be induced. I was so unprepared. My dp had to go buy and wash clothes for the baby! No nursery because our extensive renovations had been halted due to covid. Nothing was as it "should" be, but I have such lovely memories of my son's newborn days. We got done what needed to be done and nothing else really mattered. Babies are really simple despite all the masses of shit you can buy for them. They don't care about your chipped paintwork. Don't let these imperfections cause stress or ruin this time.

@Holskey oh I know it's all so trivial in the light of day. I think we're still trying to accept that our "journey" to having this baby isn't what we initially expected and definitely isn't how we would have wanted. I know that when he's born everything will pale into insignificance, it's just this time while we're still anxious about everything being ok and how to deal with that anxiety.

Congratulations 2mumlife how exciting that she is here! Hope you aren’t too sore from the delivery and that you’re both doing well

Curbside It doesn’t sound trivial, the works being delayed is stressful and of course you want things just so, ready for when baby arrives. It’s not your fault so please don’t feel guilty, but I know what you mean about not enjoying annual leave. DP is off this week and we were hoping for a short break away but realistically that isn’t going to happen now, there’s too much to do at home. If your DH is having paternity leave, hopefully you’ll have that special time together then and it isn’t too long to wait now.

I think the anxiety is relentless and perhaps won’t go until the babies are here. Don’t beat yourself up about it, it’s been a difficult enough journey and who wouldn’t be anxious after that? I didn’t feel my baby move the night after we ordered her things, so naturally(!) jumped to the conclusion we had jinxed the whole pregnancy by doing that and had lost her. It’s still a difficult time, the end is in sight now x

Congratulations and welcome baby @2mumlife!

I definitely understand the anxiety. I waited until after 28 weeks to buy things and put bigger things like the cot off until 32 weeks. I go back and forth between worrying about stillbirth and feeling relaxed. My current worry is that somehow all of the screening testing has missed something and baby will be born with a severe disability. I am just so eager for baby to be here safely, soon.

Thank you @GodspeedJune and @begoniagal3 💐 Everyday is like a marathon of emotions isn't it 😬 I'm 36 weeks now. I saw my Consultant last week and she agrees that 40 weeks should be my limit - for baby and for my mental wellbeing. She has booked me a cesarean for 39+1 if I haven't gone into labour by then. DH is as ready as me for baby to be born. I think he's worried about me being in pain etc and him not being able to do anything. Bit like with the IVF etc. He's making up for this by batch cooking up a storm ready for afterwards 🙂