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!

@Sarahk20000 thank you 😊

Welcome and congrats @Sarahk20000. My ivf clinic only prescribed me Clexane to 12 weeks. My midwife then put me on 150mg aspirin until my consultant appointment at 18 weeks. He put me back on heparin (inhixa this time but believe they’re pretty much the same thing) in addition to the aspirin. I had a review last week and they’ve kept me on it but referred me to haematology to confirm if I need to continue.

@Porridgeislife good to hear natural baby shower we’re good in store. We’re looking at ordering the pram from them online as it’s slightly cheaper than John Lewis and were reassured there’s a physical shop if we have any issues. Also saw they have a 90 day returns policy which calms my nerves if anything goes wrong.

All - I thought I should share the latest with me incase any of you have had miscarriage experience. I have found black clots (just one or two quickly in shower last night - sorry for sharing too much information) and some light pink/brown bleeding when wiping with toilet tissue. I am in week 5 to 6 of pregnancy. My husband (he is a GP) thinks it’s a threatened miscarriage so am bracing myself for the worst. The notes from the clinic clearly say not to contact them but EPU in the case of any bleeding but do you know if the clinic may provide a scan before the 6 week one or should I just wait and see what happens between now and my heart beat scan on the 22nd and confirm any miscarriage at that appointment. This was my first pregnancy so I have no experience of pregnancy or miscarriage. Thanks for any advice.

@Sarahk20000 Fingers crossed everything continue to go well for you!

Just finished booking in appointment (over phone). The questions were all a lot more intense than I'd expected (but I have some mental health / sexual abuse in my history - not really stuff I was expecting to need to talk to a total stranger about...).

I'm not needing to be consultant led yet..... but I am getting a priority consultant appointment because of my short cervix, likely an extra scan at 16 weeks to check cervix, GTT at 28 weeks because of my diabetic father, and have been told I'll be given an extra growth scan at 28 weeks because its an IVF pregnancy - I don't know if they're expecting a larger or smaller baby though!

@Sarahk20000 Oh Sarah I'm sorry, I was posting at same time as you're update. I had a chemical pregnancy in June, and a BIG bleed with this pregnancy (think gush of fresh blood, soaking through underwear and trouser before I could get to the toilet style). I had a next day scan with fertility clinic and they found a heartbeat and a subchorionic bleed. I had a repeat scan 10 days later and everything was still progressing normally despite the bleed and haven't had bleeding since.

Bleeding is very, very common, so I would try not to worry if you can - its good news its more brown than bright red. A lot of EPU's wont see you before 6 weeks. Maybe see how things go over the next 24 hours or so. Keeping everything crossed for you

@Sarahk20000 I'm sorry to hear you're bleeding. You can try your EPU. From listening to lots of other people's experiences, some will allow you in for a scan, some will allow you after 6 weeks, and some will offer nothing at all and advise you to wait and see. There seems to be no standard across the country, but worth a try if you don't want to wait. I would try EPU before the clinic. I personally think waiting is often the logical choice, just because of the number of people who go for an early scan and find it's inconclusive (e.g. there's a gestational sack but no heartbeat) and you have to go back anyway with no reassurance. And there's nothing you can do anyway. That said, I appreciate it must be such a difficult wait and most people want even the potential for an answer. There's often a positive outcome to bleeding so fingers crossed! You don't mention any cramping/pain?

@2mumlife the booking in appt is very personal! I hope it wasn't too difficult for you. And yay for extra scans 🙂

@Holskey I've been googling and apparently fresh transfer babies and small, and FET babies are big... of course ours is a blooming FET baby...

@Sarahk20000 I had a big bleed with my IVF pregnancy the other year at 5+3, fresh red blood, clots and cramping and she's now 14 months old. No reason for bleeding was ever found and it carried on and off until I was about 9weeks with her. I had to wait until I was 6 weeks and pay for a private scan (covid) where I was very lucky that they found her heartbeat. I've also had bits of brown blood throughout this pregnancy and when I rang EPU they just said brown blood is old blood being pushed out and not to worry. I've had a private scan again where the heartbeat was found, but again that was after 6 weeks. I feel for you, there's nothing worse than seeing blood, but it doesn't always mean miscarriage

Can anyone tell me if a really itchy bump is normal? I know there's something dangerous with itching in pregnancy but this is more of an ongoing feel itchy around bump and boobs
I mentioned it to my midwife at my 16wk app and she said it's where the skins stretching but I feel it's getting unbearable and I'm itching all the time I can't help it
Mainly on my bump but also on my sides and boobs
I've tried creams like e45 and bio oil

Should I be calling midwife or gp?

Here's a pic but hard to see
It's like little red rash but maybe where I am itching or it's what's making me itch

I'm 17wks

I'm now 21+5 and the reflux is back with a vengeance (already on the top dose of omeprazole) and I've been vomiting the last two days so my throat feels like it's filled with razor blades. I've also got terrible baby brain and I'm exhausted.
Ended up having a bit of a cry earlier because I feel so ungrateful when I feel miserable. I feel so lucky to be having our little one but physically I feel dreadful again. Anyone else?

@strawberrysummer19 that's sounds horrible. Have you tried calamine or an oatmeal bath? You may want to rule out obstetric cholestasis but because it's just where your skin is stretching and it's the second trimester, it's unlikely to be OC.

@Kitkat247 I think many of us feel that pregnancy is a privilege, but that doesn't mean you have to enjoy it! I don't enjoy it at all. It's like an illness for me the whole time - just one thing after another. I'm glad I'm pregnant, I love growing my baby, and there are highlights (baby movements and I like the big bump) but pregnancy does not agree with me. You don't have to be grateful for feeling like shit. Hope you feel better soon 💐

@Holskey good idea on the calamine I'll try that and I do think your right just to rule oc will
Be good then I'll just happily put up with the itching knowing it's not anything nasty x

Hello, mind if I join here? I’m 5+4 following an FET of our last embryo. Have one DC from our first FET, with two miscarriages and an ectopic before that! We have a scan on Monday and I’m on tenterhooks waiting. I’ve had some nausea on and off though that seems to be generally improving, some fatigue and dizziness, mild cramps, and minimal nipple soreness. I had written down lots of my symptoms with our DC so I know I didn’t have much before 6-7 weeks, so I’m trying not to panic that everything seems mild still. I had an HCG done last week that consultant said was promising, so I’m trying to find some reassurance in that.

I’m overanalysing every twinge (or lack thereof) and absolutely panicked about a missed miscarriage. I’m 40 and we have decided if this pregnancy doesn’t continue, we won’t pursue any more treatment. So I’m finding it hard to find a balance between cautious optimism and worry.

@strawberrysummer19 No advice, but wanted to say hello bump!

@Kitkat247 Please don't tell me reflux will come back! I'm only just starting to feel better!

@Begoniagal7 Most you can do at the moment is try to relax for your little one. Keeping fingers crossed that everything looks good on Monday for you

@Holskey thanks I just feel terrible and then worse for feeling terrible 🤦🏼‍♀️
@2mumlife mines calmed down from week 15 until now. I knew it would come back as the baby got bigger but I'd really hoped it would be in the last trimester at the earliest. Last night I took my cyclizine again for the first time in weeks and I've started probiotics. Lost my voice for a while today and I think it's just from the retching and the acid irritating my throat. I really hope yours stays away.

Can I tentatively join. I got my BFP on Sunday at 11dp5dt. We have a DS age 2 from a fresh cycle in 2019 and this was our second FET, the first one was unsuccessful. The BFP was quite faint so i didn't let myself believe it, but I repeated this morning and it was stronger so I'm trying to relax and stop panic googling.

@Kitkat247 Urgh, hope you start to feel better soon. I'm just at 11 weeks and starting to feel a bit better with everything - will enjoy it while it lasts!

@womaninkent Tentative congratulations! When is your viability scan scheduled for?

Welcome @womaninkent and @Begoniagal7 and congratulations! It's so hard to believe it's happening, especially if you've had failures/miscarriages etc before. I never really believe it til I have the baby in my arms!

I'm 12 weeks this weekend but NHS dating scan isn't til week after next. Sort of wishing the time away, but also have next week off work for a little break with the DC so want to enjoy that really. I had my covid booster today, hoping it doesn't make me feel too rough!

Congratulations and welcome @Begoniagal7 and @womaninkent! This is also my second ivf pregnancy 😊 Have you got scan dates yet?

@TeddyTonks I'd be so impatient if my 12 weeks scan wasn't at 12 weeks. How lovely you're having a break with dc though 🙂

@LemonyT how was your scan on Tuesday?

Glad to have you here @Begoniagal7 and @womaninkent

I just had my 20week scan today and everything was perfect. They also confirmed again that we're having a girl.

Thanks @Monday55 and congratulations on your 20 week scan.
Thanks @Holskey @TeddyTonks and @2mumlife. The viability scan is on the 8th March. Is it just me or does anyone else find the wait between BFP and the viability scan so much worse than the TWW?

@Holskey the scan went so much better than last week! The sonographer had such a better bedside manner, answered my questions, and was so much more reassuring than the previous one. Me and hubby def felt like that was the first NHS scan with someone who actually cared about our scan experience and didn’t treat me like I was on a conveyor belt! She was so nice and said baby was absolutely fine - heart looked good! (Phew!) Thanks for asking - I hope yours went well too? 🤞

Welcome to all the newbies! It does get a bit easier I found the further along you get (but I’m only in my second trimester- the third does not sound fun)

@womaninkent - I found each wait was quite torturous, especially in the beginning. After the tww, there’s viability scan, then the 12 week scan and trisonomy tests, then the anatomy scan at 20 weeks.. I know it’s so easy to say and hard to do- but worrying wont make any difference, so try to assume all is well for your own mental health! I’ve only recently starting to believe that I’m going to have a baby!! And that’s mainly because I can finally feel him move!

@LemonyT Ah movements are the best 🥰 well, until later on when they're punching your bladder and kicking your ribs 😂 I'm so glad your scan went well and you enjoyed the experience. Mine went well too. She spent ages looking at the heart and I was starting to get worried, but all looks fine.

Congrats on your scan too @Monday55! My baby was in a bad position and the sonographer said if she had to guess she'd say girl, so I'm glad I had the private scan done because she wasn't sure enough to say definitively.

@womaninkent so many waits and they're all hard. The 2ww is the pinnacle of impatience and desperation for me, but the nervousness of the early days when your mind races with all the potential bad outcomes is very tough!

@womaninkent congratulations on your BFP! & you're right, the TWW is horrendous but the three week wait for viability scan seemed to last a lifetime!

Hope everyone is well!

I'm officially in the third trimester as of tomorrow & am entering it with covid (ugh!)

@Etonmess20 congrats on third trimester but boo to entering it with covid! You poor thing! Hope you don't feel too rotten?! I can't believe I've not caught it yet, hope I don't in the next week...Kinda a crucial time for me now 🤪

Agree, I remember the three week wait from
Bfp to viability scan was the worse! Doing the digital helped get me through as I did that at 5 weeks to get my 3+