IVFers Due Mar & Apr 2023

[EasterBunny7]

Hello! Welcome to all who got their BFP after going through fertility treatment. Join here for a shared understanding of the struggles faced by some women to get pregnant. Due date: March 2023!
[Title edited by MNHQ at poster's request]

Hello IVF graduates! Congratulations to you all on your pregnancies 😊

@EasterBunny7 invited me over from a thread on the infertility boards but I’ve been worried about making the jump to the pregnancy board. I had a scan today at 7weeks and we saw a little bean with a flickering heartbeat which has given me a little confidence (just a little).

A little background, I’ve got two gorgeous kids, DC1 was conceived first try and born in 2016. In 2017 and 2018 I went on to have 3 miscarriages in quick succession and then nothing for months TTC. Following fertility tests my husband’s sperm count was found to be too low for natural conception and we were advised to have IVF (in fact on the day of egg collection his sperm count had dropped even lower, to 2million, and so we ended up having ICSI). In 2020 we had a fresh transfer and we were so lucky to be successful and have our amazing DC2. With 3 Frosties on ice we decided to have FET in Feb this year. Unfortunately the transfer failed because the consultant couldn’t get through scarring on my cervix which was caused by a LLETZ procedure to remove precancerous cells last summer. In May I had a hysteroscopy and cervical dilation and in June we transferred one day 5 embryo. Sadly on the 7th July my HCG was only 4 so I stopped progesterone and had a period 4 days later. Imagine our shock when, on the 9th August, I did a pregnancy test and got a BFP! Honestly mind-blowing! And now here we are, by some miracle!

I hope you will forgive me joining your IVF graduate thread, I don’t feel like I belong with the natural conception ladies as I have a head full of infertility anxiety!

hoping we all have a happy healthy 9 months and beyond x

Evening all, please can I join? I’m due 8th April! I think there are a few people here that I chatted with over on the infertility forum too. I’ve been a bit mia on the boards over the last few weeks as I’ve feeling pretty rough and being sick but would be lovely to chat in the in between times!
hope everyone is keeping well xx

@Happycroc welcome and so lovely to hear you've seen a heartbeat! The first, very big milestone. How is the pregnancy treating you?

@Agapanthus13 welcome and congratulations to you too! Is this your first cycle, fresh or frozen? Symptoms are always a good sign in my opinion, although I'm sure it does not feel like that for you. Is your viability scan coming up soon?

@thatismahogany thanks for the reassurance, my midwife told me nothing about getting the results back and I was so taken in by the moment, I didn't think to ask.

I had my last EPU scan yesterday at 11+3 and all still going well. They discharged me and I felt like a clingy toddler, I didn't want to leave. My placenta can definitely be seen but so can the yolk sac. I've been counting the days until I can stop taking pessaries and the like but now that I'm near, I'm also finding that hard to let go. Oh yes, I forgot the biggest news which is that the subchorionic hematoma has finally done a disappearing act! In hindsight, I haven't bled as much in the last couple of weeks but I had tried not to think about it too much.

How is everyone muddling along?

@Agapanthus13 @Happycroc so glad you ladies have joined us!!!! Welcome, it's great to have you in this group! Looking forward to hearing your news going forwards and great to hear your stories so far!

@thatismahogany ok I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt sick from the vitamins! That's reassuring to hear ☺️ I think am going to do the NIPT test, I think I'm scheduled for next week to have bloods done and then go from there?! Will let you know how it goes! They just offered it at my doctors clinic. Not sure the costs yet.

Thanks for the cheering words @EasterBunny7!

Hope your headaches are easing!

I've not got much news but my symptoms have quietened down again! I am obsessed with looking at my stomach everyday jn the mirror to see if it's grown! I seem to look pregnant later jn the day - probably still more bloat than anything! Have enthusiastically bought some anti-stretch mark cream which I am applying religiously every evening (partly because I love the smell). It's probably a bit early for the cream but I don't care 😂

Hope everyone is doing ok! Xox

@EasterBunny7 I think we posted at the same time! Congrats that your subchronic hematoma is gone! Amazing news you must be feeling slightly more relieved! I'm the same about the meds... will be weird to stop!!! I am 11+6 today! Xox

Hi all, welcome to all the new people! I'm not great at posting on here but I always have a read.

I've hit 10 weeks today and had my last pessary yesterday, I'm so nervous but equally happy to be free of them!!! Was anyone else advised to stop at 10 weeks?

Current symptoms:
Nausea when hungry
Indigestion when I eat 🙄
Constipation
Complete lack of enthusiasm for pregnancy (which I feel terrible about having worked so hard to get here)

@ChristmasJumpers aww I totally get you - pregnancy is way harder than what I was imagining! All worth it in the end! I've been told to stop mine end of week 12, but I do know that some people get told to stop a lot earlier if that helps! I guess every clinic is different and every woman is different? congrats on hitting 10 weeks! Wooo!

Thanks all. @EasterBunny7 this was my 5th transfer and was frozen. I’ll be 9weeks on Saturday 🙌 I had a scan at 6weeks and saw a little heartbeat which was awesome, we were away last week and had a bit of a scare (bleeding & cramping) so had another scan and thankfully all is ok and got to see the little heartbeat again. I’ve got my nhs scan in just over 3weeks so just trying to book in for a harmony scan & bloods privately for a week or so- anyone else had this?

hows everyone getting on with symptoms? I’ve been so sick & feeling rough. I’m trying to work but find it’s not until 3/4pm that I start to feel well enough. I really don’t want to tell work yet but I don’t see how I can not? Is anyone else struggling with low blood pressure? I totally agree with you @flowersinmay @ChristmasJumpers , I didn’t expect pregnancy to be so hard, how does everyone else manage? It’s like a continuous hangover - spinning room & vomiting!

re meds, I’ve been told to continue with pessaries & enoxaparin jabs until 12weeks, but terrified to stop the jabs incase it results in a miscarriage. Anyone else taking the jabs? If so when do you continue until?

Hi @Happycroc @Agapanthus13 lovely to see you here. Yay for a lovely flickering heartbeat Happy croc! I'm on injections too Aganpanthus and have been told take all injections tablets etc til end week twelve and then stop.

So happy for those of you who have had good scans the last week or so, sounds like everything is progressing nicely and yay for the disappearing SCH @EasterBunny7 hopefully you can enjoy some anxiety free time now for a change.

You're very good with the cream already @flowersinmay my version of that is flossing my teeth religiously every night as hormones play havoc with my teeth. I'm still too superstitious to invest in anything actually pregnancy related though 🙈🙈

Still relatively mild symptoms here so considering myself lucky. A week since we saw the heartbeat last Wednesday so just waiting on our next scan at 8w5d Monday week. Seems a long time away but think if all is well at that I'll relax a lot more. Still at the point of checking the odds on the online calculator every morning and thankfully getting better every day. Anyone else still do this?

@Gracie2021 are you on daily clexane jabs? If you don’t mind me asking- what did they prescribe them for? I’m worried sick about stopping them at 12 weeks. X

@Gracie2021 whats the online calculator you keep checking?

Hi all, thanks @Gracie2021 for the link to this.
Just hopping on as we got our first ever BFP a few weeks ago finally after over 3 years on this fertility journey! 3 egg collections and 3 failed transfers later and our 4th transfer, the one that had the least chance, is the one that gave us our positive! And our official test date was my 40th birthday so made it the most amazing birthday ever! 🥳

Our scan booked in next Wednesday, I think I'll be 7 weeks + No major symptoms at all, I wish I did have some just to feel like I'm actually pregnant! Just tired all the time and sore boobs from the progesterone.

Still in the stupid mindset of doing panic pregnancy tests, not really sure what benefit there is but I keep getting the urge every few days! Don't know if anyone else was like me with that?

I haven't read everyone's posts yet but am going to make my way through them properly. @Agapanthus13 I noticed about you being worried about stopping the progesterone...I am definitely in that boat and worried that I've needed a big boost of everything so what if my body doesn't produce the right amounts itself from 12 weeks!
Is anyone on clexane or other blood thinners? Is that the same in terms of stopping at 12 weeks too?

Also, what is the NIPT test? Sorry for my ignorance but I haven't heard if it

@Coops0406 awww congratulations that’s wonderful news!! What a fantastic 40th birthday gift
if you’re tired with sore boobs those are your pregnancy symptoms 💕I doubt it’s just the progesterone pessaries, it will be your body producing hormones too xx . Although I totally understand you wanting to feel more though, from speaking to others some get sickness week 8/9 and others never get it. I’m currently in bed with my sick bucket so would happily trade right now 🤣

re clexane, I’m doing daily jabs and those are the ones I’m really worried about stopping. My consultant said to take them to 12weeks but I’m going to ask again. Are you on them too? Xx

@Agapanthus13 ahh, thank you! It was the best 🥰
I always just presume it's the progesterone as I've had it with every failed transfer too. I half want more then reading about how you are all struggling with sickness I feel I should be grateful 🤣

Yes, I'm on progesterone pessaries and injections because my levels are too low on just the pessaries, and on clexane. Bizarrely I started on 20mg and they've now given me 40mg. I know people who have had them with none ivf pregnancies so when I'm close to a certain point I might ask them how long they were on them...surely you would continue throughout the pregnancy? Unlike hormones that maybe your body takes over in producing, your blood can't suddenly change it's consistency 🤷🏾‍♀️

Lovely to see lots of new members joining the group 🎉🎉 congratulations to all of you!

I've seen a few of you are a bit concerned about stopping meds but I was on lubion and pessaries until 8 weeks and told to stop then. I finished the lubion at that point but I continued the pessaries against my clinics advice as I was scared and had lots left over. At 9 weeks I had a bleed and continued to bleed/spot until 11 weeks and once I stopped the pessaries the bleeding stopped. There was nothing on scans to show why I was bleeding and I truly believe it was the pessaries that caused irritation so if I’d stopped when the clinic advised I would never have gone through all the anxiety the bleeding caused. 13+3 now and all is well. It is super scary stopping meds but I’m proof everything is ok!

I was also on enoxaparin and finished at 12 weeks but that was due to OHSS and being high risk of clots. Now on nothing other than my pre natal vitamins. Might be worth asking for your clinics rationale for stopping at this point if you are worried.

@EasterBunny7 amazing news your SCH has resolved that must be a massive relief! So happy to hear this.

I thought I was super lucky until 8 weeks when the nausea hit! I founds gin gins chewy ginger sweets and ginger tea did help so might be worth a try to those feeling poorly, it’s super rough hoping you all have better days 😘😘. Now suffering from reflux and heartburn which makes me nauseous instead typical 😝😝

I’ve booked a private scan for 16 weeks as I can’t go 8 weeks between scans 😂😂 it’s sooooo long! Need to see that little munchkin bouncing around!!

has anyone brought anything for baby yet? I’m still too scared!! but I did pick up some free packs from bounty and Emma’s diary so now have 70 odd nappies stashed away 😂😂

Just catching up and lovely to see everyone's updates and see more people joining! Great scan pic @handslikebirds amazing how much you can see at this stage!

Hope this helps but my progesterone results were always rubbish in blood tests, too low even when I had ovulated. I was only on progesterone pessaries until my OTD and then the clinic told me to stop and everything seems to be fine!

@flowersinmay headaches have disappeared, thank goodness. Pelvic pain have ramped up though. What anti-stretch mark cream are you using? I'd better get on with it too! When is your next appointment?

@ChristmasJumpers well done for getting to 10 weeks! If your clinic has advised you are ready to stop progesterone, I am sure it will be ok. I was supposed to stop at 10 weeks too, it only got pushed to 12 weeks because of the SCH.

@Agapanthus13 I'm on enoxaparin until 20 weeks, when they will review it and double aspirin until 36 weeks. That's because of clotting issues that they identified.

@Gracie2021 I use the miscarriage calculator too. It made me feel more anxious actually but it was hard not to look. Even though the risk dropped, I always feel like I will be that other percent that doesn't make it. Good luck with your scan on Monday!

@Coops0406 congratulations and welcome! I may have read your posts in other threads. Good luck with the scan next week. It's funny you mention the obsessive pregnancy testing, I surprised myself when I grew fed up of it several weeks back!

@EmzieMurf1987 I've been asking myself why I don't feel inclined to buy any baby clothes - it is strange for me because I was much more eager the last few times and bought things much much too soon. I suppose I've been knocked down one too many times and lost that feeling. Will you be finding out the gender in your 16 week scan?

datayze.com/miscarriage-chart?mode=table

Miscarriage probability calculator taking into account your personal profile

@EasterBunny7 I’ve been so scared to buy anything in case anything happens but I said to DH yesterday that I’d like to buy one outfit when we go shopping on Sunday as we will officially be in the second trimester on Monday so feel that deserves a little celebration and make it feel more real 💛

you are not too far off the second trimester either and maybe once you have had your official 12 week scan you might feel differently? It’s totally understandable you wanting to wait given previous experience though.

we are definitely going for a surprise so won’t be finding out the gender. I just booked a fetal health scan for when I’m 16+4 as I can not bear not seeing munchkin for 8 weeks between NHS scans and it will be nice to know what’s going on. They do a general health check - it’s not as in depth as the 20 week scan but will be able to check for basic abnormalities. Il also get to hear the HB for the first time too ❤️❤️ 21 days to go!! But who’s counting 😝😝

I also got my results back for downs 1 in 1886 and Edward’s and patau’s 1 in 7578 so classed as low risk which is reassuring. So no plans for any further tests unless anything shows up on future scans. I really do wonder how they come up with these exact numbers its very specific!! No rough estimates 😂😂

hope everyone is doing ok and you all have a fab weekend 😘😘

Sorry for the silence here guys, but ropey I'm afraid but all in a good cause. Still waiting, another week and a half til my next scan so for now feeling rubbish is my only evidence that things are performing well and I'll take it!

@Agapanthus13 I'm on lubion injections for progesterone. No clexane but am also on tablets for steroids, baby aspirin and estrogen and basically stop everything cold turkey at six weeks. Going to feel very strange just down to a couple vitamin tablets a day. The online calculator I use is the one @EasterBunny7 linked. I actually find it reassuring seeing the figure creep up every day.....

Great to see you here @Coops0406 and yay for the scan next week. Not long now. I took my last test the day we got beta results. Heard that lines can get lighter as you get further into your pregnancy even if things are going well and didn't want the mind games so haven't taken any since then. Also have seen people with mmc still have high hcg so they wasn't sure what reassurance they'd give at a certain point anyway.... but think we all do what we have to do to keep ourselves sane from scan to scan.....

Terrified to buy anything @EmzieMurf1987 but necessity may dictate some new bra purchases..... assets are growing by the day 🙈 so glad you're well into the second trimester now and low risk. Hopefully plain sailing ahead.

@Agapanthus13 stop cold turkey at twelve weeks not six. Sorry head is not great 🙈🙈

So great to hear everyone's positive updates, pregnancy and scan news!!

@EasterBunny7 www.boots.com/weleda-stretch-mark-massage-oil-1-x-100ml-10116882. This is the stretch mark oil I've been using - I really like the smell, from a brand called weleda!

Congrats @Coops0406 what a lovely story! Keep us updated!

@Gracie2021 you just reminded me I need to book my next dentist appointment 😂 thanks! I also was checking the miscarriage calculator every day for weeks but since it went below 5% I've stopped!

@EmzieMurf1987 excellent results on your tests - you must be super relieved? Congrats! I've got my test scheduled next week so I'm really hoping I can be in the same position as you soon 🤞

I am definitely planning to buy some maternity leggings / trousers soonish as I'm already feeling a bit uncomfortable in the normal ones I've got! Luckily I've got loads of big wooly jumpers so hopefully they will work with the bump in winter! Will avoid buying baby stuff until late this year / early next year.

I really want to find out the sex of the baby as soon as I can, I feel like with all the ivf stuff I had to get through I've had enough surprises in my life and I don't need any more 😂 if I know the gender me and my partner can start discussing (arguing!) about names 😂. Maybe if I can have a second child I will keep it a surprise?

On thé day I hit exactly 12 weeks, I had now started with the worst nausea ever. I have suffered throughout but now I have started actually being sick.

is this normal?

i also went swimming the day before and have now stopped my progesterone and my prednosoline? Should I have gradually come off the progesterone?

12+2: Headaches are back with a vengeance. Slept for 12 hours yesterday night and still wanting a nap. Stopped progesterone cold turkey and it's felt very odd missing my dosage times. Ordered myself a pregnancy pillow, getting regular aches and pains now whilst sleeping. I've also been having vivid dreams to keep me company in my sleep.

@flowersinmay thanks for sharing your stretch mark cream.

@EmzieMurf1987 how long did it take to get your results after the test? Glad everything came back ok.