BFPs following IVF to take symptoms & scans

[Justawannabemam]

Hi everyone.

I've started this group for us to chat about our symptoms, scans and any other pregancy related issues after getting a BFP following IVF/IUI/ICSI.

It is by no means to leave anyone out of the previous groups we have been in, where we all offer advice and help during an IVF cycle.

We all know hearing people's positive pregancy news can be heart breaking. I just found on the group that we are talking scans, symptoms, signs and positive tests I'm very conscious that those currently mid cycle may get upset.

We can all still give advice but maybe we could use this group as our pregnancies progress.

I've tagged who I remember from the last group, please feel free to add others as they join us on this next phase of our journey or if I have missed anyone.

@W1ngingit
@Millymillymillymillymilly
@womaninkent
@xreadytoglow
@Bluehawaii29
@Bryterlayter1

@xreadytoglow thank you yes my husband was suggesting pizza delivery. Might do it since we didn’t really have much of an annual leave day together after that scare. Feeling a bit better now so appetite coming back slowly x

@Bluehawaii29 glad you are feeling a bit better and sorry about your scare. Hopefully you feel up to a nice meal soon.

Thanks @xreadytoglow.

Thank you x hope you get to see your baby again soon @Overlyanxious

I'm finding mumsnet is playing up when I @ people so apologies I'm just going to bold names today!

Bluehawaii29 Great to hear all that safegaurding nonsense got sorted. Congratulations on graduating from the clinic, and your healthy little one. Hopefully the sporadic bleeding stops once you're off these pessaries. You'll be on abdominal scans too from 12 weeks which will help I'm sure. Pizza sounds like agreat choice (and now I want some at 8am!). I've never been to Majorca (though DP has) so looking forward to it :)

xreadytoglow That must have been a reall scary expeirence, but great to hear everything is ok :) I wouldn't worry too much about the Anti-D thing - my friend also had to have injections during her pregnancy and she said it really wasn't a big deal (well, comapred to all the other hoops she had to jump through as a Type 1 diabetic I guess!). I'll be 26/27 weeks - went early June so it'll be not as warm and so I wasn't travelling after 28 weeks. Hope your scan today goes well :)

IsabelHerna Tentative congratulations!

bajanbump Are you on estrogen tablets? I found my nightsweats went away when I came off the meds. I also had some nightsweats last night after my Whooping Cough vaccine.

Overlyanxious Ah hope you have a great time in Spain :)

Bryterlayter1 My booking in appointment was over the phone, took about 45 mins. I had bloods etc done at 12 week scan which took longer (more just because of the wait to be seen)

We passed another milestone yesterday evening at 20 week scan. Everything was measuring normally. It was great actually to get to spend more time getting to actually look at every part of fetus (my last few cervix checks I've got a quick look but nothing in detail). Scan took about 30mins so longest scan I've had so far, and for once fetus was lying of back giving us the views we needed, other than the last bit of getting a good look at lower part of spine. I'm still in completely awe at seeing this clearly definied 4 chamber heart - I just can't get over it when I think back to my first post-transfer scan and the heartbeat was just this tiny white flicker, and now you can now see this heart in detail on the scan and see the blood flow and everything. Its completely mindblowing to me how much its grown and how far things have progressed. I didn't realise before scan our NHS board is one of the few that wont tell you the sex at the 20 week scan - luckily though wasn't an issue for us as we don't give a damn, just grateful that everything still seems to be progressing well. I did think it perhaps should be something that gets mentioned - I imagine it could be upsetting to some people if they went thinking they'd get to find out the sex and they didn't.

@2mumlife congratulations on getting to the 20 week mark and glad all looked good at the scan. I found the jump from the 8 week scan to 10 week felt quite big in terms of what you could see so 20 weeks must be so different. Majorca is lovely - so I'm sure you'll have a great time. I’m also having issues with Mumsnet today

@Overlyanxious and @2mumlife thanks for the info about the initial midwife appointment. I'll prepare for an hour. Still really unsure about whether to have a nipt and I know they will ask if I want it. So many things to weigh up.

@Overlyanxious Its completely mad being able to distinctly see diaphragm, bladder, kidneys, heart, upper lip and nose, cerebellum etc at the 20 week scan. Amazing to realise just how quickly they really develop.

@Bryterlayter1 So the NHS will offer you the combined test (rather than NIPT) to start. I don't think I was asked about the combined test at all at the booking appointment - pretty sure the only asked when we were actually at the 12 week scan itself. We went ahead with the NHS combined test, but didn't pay for any additional testing (some women choose to have the NIPT done privately for instance). I found it useful to decide beforehand what we'd want to do with different results - I saw the combined test more as 'information', but I found it useful knowing what we'd use that information for, when deciding if we wanted that info or not.

@2mumlife thanks. In the pre paper work I was given to fill in and bring with me, it askes if I want combined testing at 11w and it also asks if I want Nipt if combined testing shows high risk (presumably that question can wait ?). TBH I probably won't fill that in tonight and talk it through with MW tomorrow.

hi guys sorry I’m not used to this new mumsnet format. Just had my midwife appt, all went well 😀finally have my own wallet they gave me for rest of the pregnancy. Urine test and bp/ weight were all good and she told me to chill so gonna try that haha. Hope you’re all good x

@2mumlife congrats on your 20 week scan! Sounds amazing to be able to see that much, so exciting! Have a wonderful holiday xx

I've had so many problems posting on here today!!

2mumlife - congrats on 20w! Glad you had a good scan and got to spend time seeing everything. I love the 20w scans! I spent time shadowing sonographers when at Uni and those were always my favourite. The best part for me was seeing their little lips and nose! Some were even sticking their tongue out and yawning and drinking the amniotic fluid. So so amazing. That's a shame they didn't tell you the sex, although good that you're not bothered about finding out. They definitely should pre-warn people though, like you said. I know a few sonographers hated the fact that people only thought of the 20w scan as the gender scan and got a bit uppity about it.. but people are just excited to know if they have a son or a daughter. It's only natural. Couldn't understand it myself. Let them have their joy, even if that's not the purpose of the scan.

Bluehawaii29 glad your appointment went well.

I had my scan this morning at EPU. Lasted all of 60 seconds with a 5 sec glance at baby but all is well so that's good 🥰 still have some spotting today but just have to tell myself over the next few weeks it's only my cervix!!
My booking appointment was today also. Had my bloods taken but forgot to ask when I'd get results.. my urine also showed high protein. I know you're a GP Bluehawaii29 - can this just be a UTI? She said it didn't show up for her as blood but it could also just be a bit of blood from my spotting. She said it's unusual so has sent it off to be tested.
And my 12w scan isn't until the 9th of May where I'll be one day off 14w... 😫😫 such a long wait. We're waiting to announce after this too so a bit disappointed it's so far away.

Hey @xreadytoglow glad your scan went well :) yes that sucks about spotting still but we just have to bear with these pessaries a bit longer! The isolated protein in urine could well be associated with a trace of blood from the spotting but would expect there to be a trace of blood showing as well if that was the case, and isolated protein doesn’t usually indicate uti unless you have nitrites and leukocytes in addition. It’s most likely just an insignificant finding and the lab result will hopefully show no growth so try not to worry about it. That’s annoying your next scan is near 14 week mark. On the Midwife system they had me down as 10 week+2 instead of 9week + 2 but she said they won’t be changing it until the dating scan so most likely I will get my next scan around 9th may too but just waiting for the date in the post

@xreadytoglow glad to hear everything was good on the scan. That's so annoying you have to wait till 14 weeks for the NHS scan. I was told if my bloods are fine I'll get the results at the scan or next midwife appointment. If there is an issue I'll get a message but wasn't given a timeframe. Hopefully the urine sample is just showing some blood -But hopefully will hear back soon.

@Bluehawaii29 aw thank you for all that info!! Hopefully it doesn't mean my kidneys are crap 🙈 my BP was 96/65 aswell. They said it's good but seems pretty low to me.
That's great that you get the scan earlier! Less waiting around for you. Wonder why that is that they've put you a week ahead. Are you measuring a week bigger?

@Overlyanxious ahh thank you. I figured I probably wouldn't hear until then.

Now just to count down the days again ...

@xreadytoglow na they just inputted it wrong on their system and now can’t change it for some reason. Really weird

@Bryterlayter1 I'm sure whatever you say now you can change your mind right up until the scan / point of testing. I'm sure your midwife will also be able to chat through it as well at the booking appointment - whatever you choose will be right choice for you :)

@Bluehawaii29 The new mumsnet format is weird isn't it? Chill sounds like a good plan (though it definitely gets easier to do that after the 12 week scan I think). I've heard loads of stories about women being given wrong dates at booking in - seems they don't cope well with going off your tranfer date rather than LMP. Don't be surprised if they fiddle your dates at 12 weeks as well - at my scan the sonographer couldn't get my measurements to come back as any lower than 3 days ahead of where I knew I was, so my NHS 'due date' is earlier than my IVF due date.

@xreadytoglow Firstly - great to hear everything checking out ok at the EPU! I've never had them pick up anything in my urine but I imagine if you are still having a bit of spotting that would throw things off. Is protein in the urine not more a sign of diabetes rather than a UTI? I might be totally wrong! My results came back in dribs and drabs but my NHS trust use the Badger Notes app (not physical notes) so they were added electronically onto that system. I got my FBC, blood type etc faster (maybe a week later?) - the last thing to come in was the combined screening results - I think it was about a 2 week wait for those. My 12 week scan was also a little later (between 13 and 14 weeks), but I only registered with the midwife and did my booking appointment late so I felt that was fair enough - after that everything has been done 'on time'. That would be fun shadowing someone for 20 week scans! We only really got a good look up nostrils when they froze the screen for checking for a cleft lip, so didn't get to see any sweet little lips unfortunately. We did get a yawn at one point though - funniest bit was when they started the scan and fetus turned face completely to face where the scanner was in a sort of "oi! I'm in here if you don't mind!" fashion. I've got quite mixed views on them not saying sex - on one hand we wouldn't have asked to know even if we had the choice, because its so unimportant to us - we just want a healthy baby, and the idea that the sex is important or would change what you buy for a baby or the colour you buy it in is just honestly just a bit ridiculous to us (though I know we're in the minority view here rolling our eyes when we see parents parading a pink explosion for instance - and don't even get me started on people referring to "gender" rather than sex, and blooming gender reveal parties... ). But the bigger thing for us I guess is because we want SOMETHING in this pregnancy that lets us have an element of surprise, because I feel thats been totally taken away with fertility treatment. On the other hand, I don't see the harm in telling those who want to know and I understand a lot of people do feel that they need to/want to get different clothes/whatever depending on sex - or like my sister felt it would help with bonding to know. Not telling people the sex doesn't make them appreciate more the puprose of the 20 week scan as being for medical reasons - it probably just pisses them off! Its interesting, as looks like there are a good 4 or more NHS boards in Scotland where they don't say the sex. Not sure if its the same elsewhere in the UK.

Hi all.

I really must apologise for being so quiet on here. I have been catching up.
@Bluehawaii29 good news on your healthy baby, and sorry to hear about the twin that didn't make it. Its a tough time think of the future.

Well we had our 12 week scan yesterday, and it wasn't as good as we thought. The 2 together haven't grown and developed as much as they would have liked to see or as much as the singleton. They were so lovely. And ended up doing the NT screening for us. They expect the probability to come back high bc of my age when they work out the equation so in anticipation have booked me in for 27th for the amniocentesis test. So we aren't telling anyone just yet they will rescan me again and see what's happening with the twins. They have told us the chances of them catching up are quite low. 😪

We always knew there was going to be a High risk of miscarriage. We have every faith that they know what they are doing and talking about and we will see what happens when we go back next week.

Sounds a bit doom and gloom, however the singleton is growing really well and the stage where the expected to be. X

@2mumlife awww that's so funny that they turned around to look at who was prodding them! So cute. Love the yawning 🤍 I imagine my little bean will be looking pretty big next time we see them at almost 14 weeks!
Yes I'm definitely not in the team blue or pink camp. Even if we have a little girl she'll be running around in little Dino dungarees instead of flowery dresses but that's just our personal preference. I think it just would make it feel more real to us and we can call them by their actual name and start to imagine them. It is a shame that they don't say in certain trusts but I imagine most probably go private now before the 20w scan. We will be.

@Justawannabemam think we posted around the same time. I'm sorry that it wasn't the news you were expecting but amazing news about your singleton 💗
I hope the rest of the scans and tests go well. I think once we've been through this gruelling process, just being able to take one baby home feels like a win but I'm sending so many condolences for the two that may not make it. Keeping everything crossed for you x

@Justawannabemam hey it’s good to hear from you again. Aww you must have been going through hell poor thing. It’s so hard when you get attached to the idea of 3. Our twin was taken away at 7 weeks but can’t imagine how hard it must be for you not knowing still what outcome is going to be. Stay strong and really glad your singleton is shining like a star ✨

@xreadytoglow thank you for your lovely words. I think the fact we know we can get pregnant is a good thing for us. I agree if we walk away with one we would be more than grateful for that.

@Bluehawaii29 thank you also. In our heads we already have an inclin what the outcome will be here. And unfortunately the odds aren't working in our favour. We will go with it for now and see what happens.

Thank you both. X

@Justawannabemam yeah totally understand. We had an incling too which we just accepted during the wait between scans and changed our expectations so it was so difficult when we heard about it this week even. She said do we want a photo of it but we said no. Just need to focus on one healthy baby and you are doing really well x

*wasnt

@xreadytoglow hey I totally understand why you want to do the private scans. Personally I’ve gone off the idea now as was just causing too much worry and so just going to be doing a 12 and 20 week scan with nhs now. We aren’t that bothered about knowing gender but have a gut feeling it’s a girl. Don’t mind if they don’t tell us at the 20 week scan though

@Justawannabemam I'm sorry to hear about your mixed news. It must be such a stressful and confusing time. Good that the singleton is looking good though. Keeping everything crossed for you x

@xreadytoglow @2mumlife I think a lot of people find out the sex just because it's on offer. Having a baby is exciting and it's exciting to know everything about them. Some people are very lucky and don't have the anxiety that something could be wrong so I can see why they may see the 20 week scan more as the one to find out the sex and I'm sure they love seeing their baby and all these extra features.