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 took advantage of the January sale and bought all the clothes and blankets. Only thing left is hats and mittens. We will buy the big furniture like pram and cot bed in the next month or 2.

My 20 week scan is next week I've been stressing about it but baby started moving lots this week so that has eased my anxiety a bit.

I'm going to start buying from my 20 weeks scan - just to try and spread the cost
I'm 16 wks now and have a few bits from my niece that we have to stay often which we've had since a baby. But I'll buy the bigger bits a bit later on I should imagine x

Yay @MrsC2018! 🎊 Amazing news! Welcome back 🙂

@TeddyTonks I hope the bleeding stops immediately for you. I've no personal experience but I've heard so many success stories, and you have your own success stories so hopefully this is another 🤞

Congrats on your scan @Cakecakecheese

I don't have to buy much as I have an 19-month-old. I didn't buy anything for him until gone 30 weeks. I gave birth at 35 weeks and I remember ordering the monitor and some other bits from the hospital! Remember your warranties for electrics and big items like pushchairs will be from when you buy rather than use them.

@Holskey good tips there! I bought my monitor ages ago and it's still in its box, hope it works! 😬🙈 Do you mind me asking if your first pregnancy was through ivf as well? I ask as we always wanted two and we have Frosties ready to go. I wonder tho, was it hard doing ivf again or perhaps easier as you'd already done it once before with success?

@Cakecakecheese Congratulations on the scan!

@Monday55 How exciting to feel movement!

@becarefuloutthere @paintfairy We're hoping to get most of what we need second hand / from local bartering groups (both for envirionmental reasons, and fertility treatment took longer than expected so has depleted our savings, so the financial side is a consideration too). Because of bartering I'm aware I'm going to need to start a bit sooner I think to have time to find most of what we want that way. I'm also hoping my sister will let us borrow a lot of stuff once we've shared news with family as she had a baby in November. I did actually buy 3 sleep suits with little rainbows on in Next after my chemical pregnancy - I just wanted to put out into the world that one day I'd have a baby to go in them.

@strawberrysummer19 I think I'm just so itching to get going!

@Holskey I wouldn't be able to wait until 30 weeks! I'm too much of a planner

I am 16 weeks and have had a look at some second hand stuff md thought about what we want but not brought anything yet and probably won't for another month or so.

But I do remember with my last pregnancy I was taken into labour ward at 28 weeks after a fall and they had me on monitoring all day as they thought I was going into labour. I spent the entire time panicking we had no car seat to take the baby home if I was in labour. So I made my husband go and buy a car seat on the way home for hospital!

I thought I had most things I needed prior to finding out they are twins. So think I'll start once we are happy they are both doing well at the next couple of scans and finding out the gender selling all the things we have which are not suitable suitable twins first and making space (I.e. pram)!

@becarefuloutthere yes my first was IVF too. I found it easier second time, definitely. I also had frosties so I only needed a FET. The process was really quick and simple. The biggest thing is emotionally I wasn't as desperate 2nd time. I was still desperate for it to work and really wanted my second child and the family I'd dreamed of, but I was already a mum with a young child so the stress and need for it to work wasn't the same.

When I got my bfp I was more anxious this time though because I thought I was pushing my luck and couldn't believe the success I was having. Still can't believe it really!

@Holskey thank you for answering so honestly! I feel like this is exactly how I will feel too. Did the clinic say anything about the gap between the two pregnancies or was it not even mentioned? I'm a bit worried I'll be discouraged but it's the kinda age gap I want too as age is not on our side.

I’m 20 weeks and still haven’t bought a thing! I need to go back next week for another scan, as baby’s position meant they couldn’t quite see the heart. I’ve been given some freebies (my brother has a two year old and four year old so is giving us all the big items - car seat, pram, cots- thank gods!) I think I’ll be like you @holskey and wait till about 30 weeks. But I love love window shopping and looking at all the cute outfits ❤️

@becarefuloutthere your clinic will be fine with a small gap if that's what you want. I had my IVF baby in Nov 20 and the first consult with them in April 21, agreed that I would redo all the testing for treatment (blood tests, ovary scan etc) in August 21 so that I went again with the period in Oct 21. That cycle unfortunately failed but if it had worked there would have been 20 months between the babies and that was with my daughter being my second caesarean. If she'd been a vaginal delivery they would have let me have treatment 6 months PP or first caesarean after 9 months.

I start buying around 14-16 weeks, I also find out the sex asap too I have no will power to wait for anything 😂

I'm now 8 weeks and have got all my maternity clothes back out, nothing better than those jeans I'll be so sorry to pack them away again!!

Just came out of my scan and waiting to see the EPU nurse. Everything looks as it should so fingers crossed that's the drama over and done with for this pregnancy 🤞🙄

Regarding trying for subsequent children, my clinic has always advised at least a 12 month gap,but I've always been 'young' in IVF terms (though pushing it a bit now at 35). For us it has got easier-ish...the first felt quite existential- the difference between one kind of life and another, the second we really wanted a sibling for our son, both having been part of big so long groups ourselves, the third we've always referred to as the 'bonus baby' - we went for it as we both just didn't feel done. Third has been the easiest by far but probably because we're do busy with the first two, and also it happened a lot quicker. Number 1&2 took 3 X stims and 4 x transfers whereas 3 (all being well!) has been 1 X stims and 2 X transfers.

@becarefuloutthere I called my clinic when my ds was about 6 months just for planning purposes, and they said they had no rules about waiting at all. I was surprised tbh. They did say they wouldn't treat me whilst I was breastfeeding though, so I decided I'd wait until he was a year. But then someone on the infertility forum recommended a FB group for breastfeeding women undergoing fertility treatment. After looking into that, I decided to tell my clinic I'd weaned my ds even though I hadn't, and I had the FET when he was 15 months. I still bf now.

@LemonyT freebies are the best. I didn't get any at all with my first but loads of people are offering me all kinds this time now their babies are older. I obviously have poor timing! When is your rescan? I have mine Tuesday.

@TeddyTonks I'm glad your scan went well. Hopefully no more scares 🤞

Thanks @Holskey just hope this is it now, no more drama! Will you be done at 2 do you think or any chance of going for more?

@MrsC2018 welcome back!

@2mumlife I’m 24 weeks and not bought a single thing yet bar some baby books which the husband wanted to start reading to them now (super cute I LOVE it). I’ve felt really nervous about it, however we are going to look at some nursery furniture this weekend and we’ve chosen the pram and car seat we want, just waiting for our John Lewis appointment on 6th March so we can get the discount. We also have house renovations booked for 11th April to turn my office into a nursery and sort some other bits and bobs. Feel like it might be a bit late at 33 weeks but it was the earliest they could come.

@TeddyTonks good news on your scan

@TeddyTonks Great news with scan! What a journey you've been through to create your family as well!

@Donimo Yes twins must be a whole different ball game in terms of pram!

@JAR1981 That'll be exciting to go looking this weekend! I'm hoping to find some wooden drawers I can upcyle for babies bedroom 🤞

Its really interesting seeing experiences of trying for a second. Given how long it took us to conceive this one, I want to get an early start for a sibling.

@TeddyTonks congrats on your scan. :)

This is my first pregnancy after 3 transfers and 2 retrievals. (Not taking into account my miscarriages). We are v lucky in that we have 4 frozen embryos still.
I feel really greedy/ ungrateful when I think about those 4 embryos, when I’m so lucky to finally be pregnant after 4+ years of trying for my first. But I do sometimes wonder if those embryos don’t make it, when/ if I need to start thinking about another retrieval - it’s craziness! I’ve still got a ways to go until this baby is safely here - And I worry enough about that, never mind future planning!

@Holskey I’m back for another scan on Tuesday too. I already had my anatomy scan, all was fine but they couldn’t see all the detail they needed to with baby’s heart. Trying to tell myself it’s all good - just the position of the baby, and at least I get to see them again :) Good luck for yours! Xx

@LemonyT, I know exactly what you mean on several levels. I find it really hard to believe it's happening til I'm holding a baby at the end, I think miscarriages do that to you.

The feeling greedy thing too- you're not greedy! People who don't go through infertility don't think twice about it being 'greedy' to want another child...but once you've had success it's almost like there's a guilt to it because you know how it feels to struggle and feel desperate and sad. I really battled with whether we should try for a third as felt we were being greedy and pushing our luck, but really if we could do it naturally it'd probably be barely a fleeting thought and then we'd have gone for it. IVF just gives you too much time to think.

Hey all - I wonder if I can join you please. I tested positive for pregnancy on 8 Feb 14DP5DT. Very early right now so need to see if I get through the next few weeks etc and am feeling quite anxious about it all. I have never been pregnant before, am 41 and since Nov 2020 have had 4 egg collections, 1 failed transfer, 2 ERA/ALICE/EMMA cycles and then the current transfer that led to this pregnancy. I have one remaining D6 euploid blastocyst in storage. I have my 6 to 7 week heartbeat scan on the 22nd. I had a question for those of you on clexane or blood thinners, did you stop taking it at 10 weeks or continue. If I get past the scan, I am tempted to put in a follow up with my consultant to check if she thinks I should be prescribed these for longer. With my age, relatively inactive lifestyle and high BMI I think maybe I would be a candidate to continue. Grateful for any views.

@Sarahk20000 I stopped Clexane at 12 weeks (along with Lubion) & I’m 39, but I know my clinic has prescribed it longer (maybe 26 weeks?) for women with previous miscarriages.

We went to a baby store today and tried a few different buggies and car seats. I think we are going for a Joolz pram but need to do a bit more research first! Would recommend Natural Baby Shower near Bracknell if you’re anywhere nearby, they were very helpful and not at all pushy.

Thanks @Porridgeislife for the clexane info. I think I will definitely check with the consultant again if I get further. How exciting that you are the stage of researching and buying stuff now! Good luck with it all. And very grateful for you sharing your insights. I live in central London near Marylebone so a bit far from you by the looks of it.

@Sarahk20000 good luck! If you transferred a euploid embryo you have a good chance of getting to the heartbeat stage. My clinic quotes 70% implantation, 60% live birth rate for euploids. Our baby is a PGT-A normal (and also a day 6) and my consultant was extremely reassuring, very positive that all would be ok and that our miscarriage risk was a lot lower than the day by day calculators I was obsessively checking as she was euploid, so that helped a lot.

I’m currently 18w (nearly 19w) but I’ve heard there can be really long lead times for buggies & we’re tied up for the next month or so, so I wanted to do a bit of research so we can order it once we’re past 20w. Are you planning on having your baby at UCLH?

@Porridgeislife I am glad your pregnancy is progressing well and consultant reassurances are helpful to hear too. it’s great to be on this thread, if this proceeds I might have found myself at 30 plus weeks not having arranged anything in time!! I think we may have been at the same clinic as mine quotes the same stats. I am with CRGH and did transfer a euploid (the grading felt a bit lower at 6B-B- this time but the 6B+B+ failed to implant last July - we added steroids and intralipids this time so maybe that made the difference). I am trying to opt for St Marys as it’s local too and seems to a bigger maternity department.

@MrsC2018 thanks for sharing, really interesting to hear how clinics operate when it comes to second pregnancies.
@TeddyTonks I'm 35 too, will be 36 in March so by the time we're ready for number 2 I'll likely be pushing 37. Amazing you've had 3 from ivf! 👏🏾 great to hear scan went well!
@Holskey ah ok, good to know! I want my amh rechecked and they've already said to do after that BF. Good luck for Tuesday!
@LemonyT it's very hard not to worry when you've been through infertility and ivf. We don't have the same luxury as ppl who've had no fertility issues so it's only natural for us to future plan (as much as we can anyway!)
@Sarahk20000 hey, can't help with your question but just wanted to say hi 👋🏾 and welcome to thread. Congratulations on your bfp! Your scan is the same day as my due date so let's hope it's a good day for us both! 🤞🏾

@becarefuloutthere thank you so much for the welcome. I hope your due date and birth when it happens goes well. Everything crossed for you and the baby 💕