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!

@JAR1981 I was hoping I would read someone like this as I have really started to worry!
Not that I wish this on anyone!that's reassuring to hear. My skin all over my boobs is so itchy also so hoping settles soon

Thank you, she has an aggressive form and it's such a horrible time for her and us but thank you - I've also been referred to the clinic due to the type she has and my age (39) so least I'll get early screening which is good. I think I just feel extra sensitive nor that she found any abnormality it was picked up at routine screening x

@notsofertilemyrtle just chiming in with 2 good induction stories- both of mine were induced at 38 weeks, for various reasons. Only required a pessary. Nothing much happened for 20 hours then had 3.5 hour and 40 minute active labour respectively with my first and second. Natural, unassisted birth with gas and air only. To be honest I think people talk about the horror stories more than the good ones so you never get a balanced view, but I would be very willing to accept induction again.

@TeddyTonks good to hear good induction stories. I'm booked in for a balloon induction at 40+1 and thinking about moving it bk a few days to get more sweeps in instead! Hopefully the sweeps do the trick anyway 🤞🏾

@TeddyTonks your firstborn was induced with only a pessary and came so quickly? That's so good! I'm hoping that I only need a pessary this time because it's my second (though if it's as early as 34-35 weeks again then maybe not). I believe it's the drip that makes inductions so painful for a lot of people. I had 2 pessaries over 3 days and nothing much happened unfortunately, but I think that's not unusual even amongst full term pregnancies. I would love to know how different it is without a drip so that's my big hope 🤞

Thanks @TeddyTonks ! So good to hear good stories too, you're right, in any situation you naturally hear more from those who've had a tough time of it as there's a lot to tell. And I guess my mind has probably remembered the scary ones more.

A big part of it is my mum having been induced with me and she had a terrible experience. She has mentioned it (prior to me being pregnant!) a few times and it seems like it's still awful for her to remember.

@2022babyhope No idea, this is my first rodeo! But seems like lots of IVF ladies end up consultant led. If there were complications and I needed induced then I'd do it absolutely if there was a medical need, but absolutely not if the only reason is 'its an IVF baby'. Twins is obviously a whole other situation entirely as there are a lot more risk factors and issues to consider.

@notsofertilemyrtle I'm absolutely with you - an IVF pregnancy by itself I don't think is justification enough. Obviously if there are other risk factors / complications then its a different story. My sister had an induction in November after her waters only partially ruptured - she ended up rushed to theatre, being told they would try once with forceps and if baby didn't come she'd get a crash c-section. Luckily baby came, but she ended up in intensive care overnight due to blood loss, with some weird boots squeezing her legs throughout the first night. Another friend induction made baby come to quick, before she was properly dilated, gave birth with a very nasty tear on way to crash c section. My diabetic friend was induced and took a good 3-4 days to actually get her into active labour. Her baby ended up in NICU for a couple of days (but because of jaundice and needing to stabalise blood sugars)

@TeddyTonks Its good to hear a positive induction story, particularly with a first baby.

So I am going to rant. Had my 16 week consultant appointment today. And feel more confused than before the appointment! I have been told I need fortnightly scan at both my local and regional hospitals, but she couldn't explain why this needed to be done twice. She wasn't aware I had an appointment already booked at the fetal medicine regional centre. She didn't even know it was an IVF pregnancy and didn't know what type of twins I was having.

I asked about birth options and told I would have a c section and would aim for 36 weeks but would be earlier if any complications. Also need injections from 28 weeks and weekly blood tests and BP checks from 30 weeks (so looks like I'll be living at at the hospital!) Also told there is a 95% liklihood I will develop obstetric cholestasis.

All of this information I only got by asking questions myself! Otherwise the only information she asked about was my previous pregnancy history.

What a rubbish experience @Donimo ! No wonder you're feeling disappointed. It's not pleasant to feel passed around from pillar to post ☹️

And the info about early delivery and cholestasis must have been a bit of a surprise to hear. Hopefully someone with twin or similar experience will be able to share how it went for them.

Sometimes you just need a bit of a rant!

@domino oh that sounds crap. You'd expect a consultant to have familiarised themselves with (or at least glanced over) your details before your appointment or what's the point? Completely undermines confidence in the 'care' you're receiving. Have you looked into birthing options with twins? Do you know if the policy is the same everywhere?

I'm literally just waiting for obstetric cholestasis. I actually got tested at 12 weeks because I had some itching. Didn't have it thankfully, but I'd be amazed if it doesn't come at some point.

I think that was my main annoyance is the lack of coordination care and her not reading my notes at all. All she knew was I was having twins, the first question she asked was "are these a natural conception or ivf"

The policy with identical twins who share the placenta (which mine are) is to deliver by 36 weeks. And if you have had a previous c section (which I have) then not advised to have a vbav with twins due to risk of rupturing c section scar. But I only know this through my own reading of midwife and nhs guidelines. And the consultant didn't discuss the reasons and to be honest I stopped asking as so annoyed.

@Holskey I didn't realise how likely it was for the obstetric cholestasis to return and I am now worrying how early they maybe. I was planning to work till 34 weeks as my job share is on honeymoon for 3 weeks and returns when I am 34 weeks- don't think that's going to be possible now!

That sounds very odd @Donimo, and a waste of your time and NHS resources . Is your care between two areas? I'm going to a hospital which is outside my local NHS area (though it's actually nearer to my house than the alternative 'in' area) and it does cause some confusion

I had a quick private reassurance scan today at 10+3, very relieved to see baby has grown and heartbeat going strong. Measured 11 weeks which is pretty consistent with my prior pregnancies where my dates have been moved forward 3-4 days, I obviously grow slightly larger than average babies! That's fine by me! Every day that goes by where things are progressing is a positive so if I get a few for free then great!

@Donimo was your 16w appointment in person or over the phone? I'm consultant-led as well (and they've already told me they want me to have a planned C section no later than 37 weeks) but I don't think I get anything other than a call from a midwife next week...

@TeddyTonks glad your scan went well and all looks good. I live really rural and my local hospital is quite small. So I have been referred to a regional city hospital for care but not sure why I am still seen by my local hospital too!

Yesterday's appointment was over the telephone with a consultant at 15+6. But then have a face to face consultant app and scan next week too! Hoping this appointment will be more informative and also looking forward to seeing the babies too.

I’ve been told that I’ll be consultant led as it’s ivf - but no extra scans, no induction and I can give birth in birth centre or however I want! So weird that you guys have so many more restrictions.

On the other hand, I had my 20 week scan yesterday. And I have low lying placenta so they want me to rescan at 32 weeks. Does anyone else have experience of this? Also my babies head (circumference and BPD) were only in 11th percentile 😕 I hope this is ok?! He’s overall quite petit. Might explain why I have so little weight gain and sonographer didn’t seem bothered l, but still can’t help but worry… of course!

Had the second half of my booking appointment today and the midwife said I have glucose in my urine sample 🙃 I've got to have additional blood tests but has anyone else had the same thing and it's not been a big deal?

I also have to up my folic acid apparently because I'm having twins but seems a bit pointless now I'm nearly 12 weeks!

Congrats on your reassurance scan @TeddyTonks. Glad everything is well.

@LemonyT My sil had a low-lying placenta. She was actually praying it would remain low so she'd be offered a ELCS, but it moved with plenty of time to spare. I believe they often move upwards as the womb grows. And I'm sure they would have said if your baby's measurements were an issue. They're still in normal range. Sounds like a positive scan overall. I have mine on Tuesday and I'm praying there's nothing wrong. Great that you have birth choices too!

@2022babyhope do you have to have a glucose tolerance test?

@Holskey just a blood test at the moment but I guess if that comes back high also they'll send me for the glucose test.

Counting the days down now until my scan next week!

@2022babyhope I had glucose in my urine with my last baby 3 times, did the tolerance test and it was fine. Still not sure what was going on, just treated it as a warning to stop eating Krispy Kreme doughnuts 🙈

Thanks for all your thoughts ladies, the scan was yesterday and all was well with baby, it was as we'd hoped and the heart had just started beating when I was scanned last week so needed some time to stabilise. We're now cautiously optimistic and worrying about how we'll fit another baby into the house again!

I know quite a few friends who've had glucose in their urine multiple times and it's not turned out to be GD. Often they get told off by their midwife for having something sugary for breakfast before their appointment, honey nut cornflakes were mentioned a few times!

After my reassuring scan yesterday I had some bleeding this morning nothing heavy and I've bled in every successful pregnancy I've had...but also a lost twin and 3x miscarriages too...so a bit stressed really! Been told to rest and referred to EPU for a scan on Friday morning.

@2022babyhope no experience of glucose in the urine (although I am surprised because at the time my diet was 80% mince pies 😂) but I got told to up my folic acid to 5mg (which is more than 10x the normal dose!) because of twins. However my GPs are arseholes and refused to prescribe me anything, so I just carried on taking a double dose and I was subsequently told by the midwife that it's pointless taking it after 12 weeks unless you're anaemic, so 🤷‍♀️

@MrsC2018 that's fantastic news and it's so lovely to see you on this thread

@TheSnufflet I was told the same! But at 11+3 so it was a bit late at that point 😅 I just doubled my normal dose too because I can't find 5mg anywhere!

Strangely though I asked the midwife today when I should stop and she said they advise to take it all the way through now so I've no idea what information to trust.

@TeddyTonks congratulations on scan! I must say it feels forever since my clinic scan, but we're holding out another 3 weeks until my 13 week scan. I keep trying to take feeling exhausted as a good sign.

@Donimo Sorry you had a bad experience..hopefully the next appointment will be better

Can I ask, at what stage are people daring to start getting stuff to prepare for baby? I'm worried about doing things too early and losing the baby, but I also feel like at some point you have to assume it might happen and starting preparing!

@2mumlife I felt brave enough after my 20 week scan but everyone is different. I just started with a mass clothes order as next had a sale on and I could get cute summer clothes for half price. I didn't buy bigger purchases like pram, cot etc until I was about 25/26 weeks or so I think.

I had my 12 week scan on Monday. All fine. The relief is real.

We're starting to look at furniture etc as my partner is the planning sort, he's probably going to look at every single item available and look at all the reviews before deciding anything. I'm happy to let him choose all that!

I've started looking about and deciding what I want. I'll get most stuff second hand so I don't want to be rushed. I wouldn't rush to buy anything new though yet. I'm 16 weeks.