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]

@LKSF once you start buying you can't stop! I'm bad for clothes and don't even know what we're having! But such good quality stuff in the sales it's hard not to resist!
I sat researching car seats while I have my glucose test...had a 2 hour wait and forgot my book! So scoured all the websites finding where the seat we wanted is the cheapest 😂
Do you find your baby moves a the same time most days?

@Coops0406 nope! O seriously underestimated the condition of the walls so we got some filling and sanding done but not even close to painting yet, let alone building furniture 😂
I have the dreaded GD too and had my first growth scan today. Baby girl is 55th percentile so if she keeps going like that then we're fine! I have some oddly low readings sometimes too (and oddly high ones for food that was fine the day before!)

@agapanthus13 I sound organised but in reality I did not get the nursery done haha I can't believe how tired I get so quickly these days. Plus some aches at the top of my legs if I stand up for too long now.
Good luck with your GTT, I actually enjoyed the drink, the midwives were surprised though as most hate it! Take a good book for in between the two blood tests.

@ChristmasJumpers have you changed your diet? I love that cheese is good!! What was your first appointment with the diabetes team like? Mine is next week, apparently I have 4 people to see, one is diabetes nurse and no idea who the others are!!

Oh no! Nightmare with the walls! I bet you just want to get that furniture built! I'll be honest, I mainly sat on the floor instructing and chucking over screws!

@Coops0406 it's doing my head in haha the more tiny holes I fill, the more I spot! 😂 and I'm frustrated because I'm "not allowed" to climb a ladder to do the top half of the walls, but DH just isn't as anal neat as me so I want to do it all myself!!!!

Today I saw a sonographer, then the midwife, then the doctor. I have no idea who the 4th person could be! It was very thorough. Somographer took loads of measurements and snuck me a print out. The midwife did the usual general wellbeing and then the doctor talked through the baby's measurements and my blood levels so far. She was very reassuring that the odd high or low reading doesn't matter, it's only if they're consistently high that I need to worry

@ChristmasJumpers I can imagine!! Hahaha! You just have to shut your eyes to the lack of neatness!
That's good and nice that they've been relaxed with it...would hate to go and feel under pressure! It's just another annoying thing...just as I was settling into enjoying my pregnancy finally!
Are you having to test until you give birth now?

@Coops0406 We’ve just put the pram together…couldn’t resist 🙈 I’m really pleased with it! My spare room looks a mess though, can’t wait to sort it out for it to look like a proper nursery!! Ha yes it’s so hard when everything’s in the sale! I bought an electric swing the other day in the sale actually! Next things on my list are car seat and next to me crib! What car seat have you decided on? Think we’re going to get the Duna as it’s been recommended by a few people…quite pricey though 😩
No I haven’t really noticed a pattern with kicks yet to be honest, I’m trying to be more aware so I can then tell if I get ‘reduced movements’ do you?

@Coops0406 Yes, I think it's all the way through now. Also, if your hospital is anything like mine, you'll see the same midwife each time now which is a nice change from seeing someone different every time pre-GD

@LKSF we've gone for a cybex one, 360 as they just seem so much easier! It's a lie flat one too so saves having to put the carrycot part of the pram in the boot when you're out and about as you can just use that. Then hubby will have the one that's fixed in your car until I no longer need the one that you take out. Had John Lewis vouchers for that one so ended up only paying £110 and for the other one just went on all websites to find where it was cheapest!
Can you see any movement on the outside or is it just inside? I've only had internal movements for a few days but noticed them while I was sitting at my desk at work quite a bit today! I normally feel them around this time but nothing so far tonight.

@ChristmasJumpers that's good to know. I'm in preston so I think the appointments will always be on a Tuesday when everyone is in. I have seen loads of different people so far, plus even though I am less than 10 mins from the hospital, and my doctor's is round the corner from the hospital, my address is classed as out of area so my midwife appointments were wherever they could find them! They cancelled my next one anyway as they are seeing me next Tuesday for my first appointment. Will hopefully feel a bit like the kind of care I had at the ivf clinic where people actually get to know you!

@Coops0406 oh that’s good you had some vouchers!! That’s a good idea to have a car seat in each car…I didn’t think of that! Yeah I’m seeing them externally too, every time I get my video out though he stops 🙈 x

@Coops0406 ooh how you finding the hypnobirthing? Is it a series of sessions you watch and practice along with? If it’s any good you’ll have to let us know the company! Friends have raved about hypnobirthing to me in the past. There’s a lady who runs a course near me which I was planning to sign up for, but my midwife said it might not be too useful as I’ll likely have a c-section so now I’m in two minds. Have you signed up for nct or similar?
gosh - 4times a day is a lot of testing! Hope you’ve got lots of options of where to prick?!
re movement, I don’t find it painful as such, sometimes it makes me feel sick but that’s when they’re really low so I’m guessing they’re catching the placenta in a funny way and other times they’re soo hard it like a bit of a punch, which is uncomfortable when directed at my ribs. Perhaps ask your midwife? i remember mine saying something about depending how they’re laying they can press on a nerve 🤷‍♀️

@LKSF oooh that’s a lovely pram. I had a look at that one in JL too, which colour did you go for? Did you get their car seat too? Love the test driving 😆 and I’m impressed you saved so much from shopping around too 👏 I’ve joined up to a couple of FB market places groups to keep an eye out for bargains, hoping a baby changing dresser might come up, but there’s been very few prams so thinking we’ll need to buy new. What’s next on your shopping list? Sounds like you’re raring to go!!
ps my ivf due date is 8th April so we’re basically the same! They just changed mine due to baby size!

@ChristmasJumpers it’s soo frustrating to not be able to do everything ourselves!! What colour are you painting the room? Im sure once you’ve got all your lovely furniture in you won’t even notice any little bits your partners missed, but I totally get your frustration!

@LKSF well it was probably the cheapest we'd get that one so just got it whilst we remembered we had vouchers!
Bizarrely, baby went mental just after I posted and hubby had his hand on my tummy and could feel everything!!! 😍 going to see if we can actually see anything tonight! Was so exciting!

@Agapanthus13 it's the positive birthing company which I've heard lots about, it's the videos so can skip a bit every now and then. I have found it interesting, especially the science of what goes on in your body during birth. Only a quarter of the way through. I find she repeats a lot, I'm guessing so it goes in, but it annoys me slightly so I skip bits. Good explanation of breathing techniques and why you use them at which times. All the positive affirmations stuff isn't really me but I get that lots of people love that sort of thing. It was £39 in the Black Friday sale, and came with a pregnancy pack of video, hypnobirthing pack, hypnobirthing book and box of affirmation cards so thought it was worth it. There's a section coming up on induction (which I think may be likely with gestational diabetes) so I'm interested in what she says.

My friends recommended NCT...it's costly though! We are booked on, 2 full face to face dates at end of jan and one in feb, then one online date. I know a lot of people who are good friends still with their NCT group so thought it may be useful...plus the nhs doesn't have anywhere to send you for antenatal help.

I found a decent I candy pram on fb market place with both parts, adaptors, maxi cosi seat plus 2 isofix bases for £150! It's worth browsing everyday!

@Agapanthus13 i think the colour was called Jordan…it’s like a slate grey colour! Next on my list is the Doona car seat and the next to me crib…deciding between the Snuz pod and the tutti bambini! What’s next on yours? Ohh they’ve bought you forward 🥰

A good site for bargains is U.K. baby centre - discountbabyequip.co.uk

Also is anyone superstitious about having their pram in the house? I’m debating whether to leave it round my parents 🙈

@Coops0406 Ahh yay how exciting!! You’re bound to start seeingittle motions now if he could feel it. Keep a look out!! I was spooning my partner the other night and he felt the baby kick him in the back 💙

@LKSF I've had the pram in my house for ages, use it for my niece when she's over as she fits in it, just! Plus I needed to test drive it off my gravel drive and down the roads I live on as near farms! Got loads of stuff that was in my mum's loft from my brother and sister in law just sat in a room...Moses basket, next to me cot etc...so it's all there! Not so superstitious about that stuff yet can't thrown my pregnancy tests away or take off my fertility bracelets I got given during ivf! 🤷🏾‍♀️

Ooh, he felt it in your back! It's such and exciting time! Can't wait to see it move!

@Agapanthus13 it is frustrating but I suppose it's good he's trying to look after me. Plus I suppose any bit I physically can't reach, I won't be up looking at very often either 😂
We're going for three white walls and one pastel grey, then using blankets, rug etc to add pink accents. What about you?

@Coops0406 oh I'm in Preston too, I think I might remember you went to Chester for IVF? I never felt like I got to know any of them there but already feel like I know my midwife after two appointments which is lovely (if you have Kelly, she's really nice!)

@ChristmasJumpers yes! Started at Chester but moved to Liverpool for my 2nd and 3rd cycles! My first booking In appointment wax with a bank midwife! And my app shows a named midwife but no idea who she is! Then I'm sure the consultant I saw at 16 weeks was a locum! Be good to just see the same person a few times 😊

@Coops0406 sounds like a good package, and good if you can skip the bits you don’t need to hear again. Anything pregnancy related seems to be so expensive! Thank you I’ll take a look!
so exciting your husband finally got to feel a kick! I bet he was thrilled! You’ll prob find you notice if more as you tune in. Re seeing movement, I find a tight grey top or similar really helps them stand out, my husband struggles to see them but I think our perspective, looking down on our bump is a pretty good one! Ps I still have our pregnancy tests too (and the positive ones from previous cycles- I jist can’t bare to part with them!)

@LKSF thanks for the site, ill take a look at that. I had a look at the snuzpod when in JL too- they seem like a nice product and lovely to be able to see baby whilst laying down ourselves. My sister has her old Moses basket & stand so I think I might try that in the first instance and then buy the snuzpod if it’s not working for us. We haven’t brought anything yet, first on our list is a second car (plus we’re house hunting ), atm we take it in turns wfh and the other has the car but I’m worried about going into labour or having an emergency when at home car less! Then we’ll focus on pram, car seat, clothes & hospital bag. I totally get your feeling of not wanting baby bits in the house, or at least not visible. Do you have anyone who can store them for you until you feel comfortable? Or see how you feel after a week, you might find once you get used to it being there it doesn’t bother you so much xx

@ChristmasJumpers nursery sounds lovely 🥰 is your furniture white too?

Morning ladies, so glad I logged on there has been a lot of updates and action! Lovely to see everyone starting to buy bit and pieces, I put it off for sooooo long but once u start u can’t stop!!

sorry to hear a couple of you have GD hopefully with all the extra monitoring you are in safe hands and things continue to go smoothly!

@LKSF we have the same pram 😍 I fell in love with it in JL. We got the green one with a black frame, although I’m not particularly superstitious my family are so ended up having it delivered to my parents address where it will remain in the box until we bring baby home. The car seat arrived yesterday 😬😬 gone for the cybex Z2 as it attaches to the UPPAbaby frame and has a lie flat option and 2 isofix bases - one for each car.

anyone else really feeling the stress of being solely responsible for their babies wellbeing and tracking movement?? I am constantly worrying about it it’s very draining.

cant believe this year we will meet our babies!! Also cannot believe I’ve only 8 weeks of pregnancy left!! Where has the time gone??!! Although I’m not due till 6th March both me and DH think baby will arrive in feb 😂 is it bad to actually hope baby does appear earlier naturally as really want to avoid an induction!

Just catching up on everyone's updates here now. Sorry to hear about the GD @ChristmasJumpers @Coops0406. Such a pain but sounds like ye're both being well looked after. Sod's law though as you've both taken more than enough needles already through IVF. All worth it in the end though.

I've bought that same hypnobirthing course too @Coops0406. Halfway through the book that came with it and so far love how reassuring it is on how natural (in theory) all of this is meant to be. I have a dodgy back anyway so I'm hoping to avoid an epidural. Time will tell but I figure it's a good skill set to have no matter how it ends up going. I'm also 19th April so think we're right around the same day.

@LKSF my friend has the Uppa Vista and loves it. She got the maxi cosi 360 car seat with the adapters so it sits into the uppa vista frame. Seems to be a good system. Like Coops I have my eye on the Cybex 360 one as I love that it lies flat. Have gotten an out'n'about buggy second hand (also country based here and so many friends recommended it for that) so need to make sure whatever car seat we get has adaptors that can fit into that frame. Also picked up a second hand coat over Christmas so well on the way. Best but about second hand (besides the price) is they all come fully assembled. Yeve all given me pause for though about a second car seat for my OHs car though.

@Agapanthus13 still have all the tests here too. Still all laid out in the bathroom drawer in order of progression too. Can't bring myself to even move them. I'm debating whether to get a next to bed crib or to just have the cot next to the bed. Might depend what I see pop up on fb marketplace and my other sites. Sounds like ye have a lot on. How is the car/house hunting going for ye?

Rough times here. Been signed off work since mid December with Covid which then turned into flu. So thankful to be able to feel baby movements to know that all is good with the wee man no matter how rubbish I'm feeling. Mind yourselves out there ladies, seems to be sicknesses round every corner 🙈🙈🙈 thankfully squeezed in a scan between Covid ending and flu hitting and wee man is perfectly average for his size and all on track.

@EmzieMurf1987 Ah do you, it’s so lovely it’s it, and I loved all the colours! We really liked the light grey/blue colour but it only came with brown handles which we didn’t like, so had to settle for the dark grey to get black handles! In hinds site it’s probably better as won’t show as much of it gets dirty! Ohh nice maybe I’ll have a look at that car seat then instead of the Doona as quite a few ppl have said about it!

Yes I’m constantly worrying about baby movements, thinking ‘if I don’t get a movement in the next hour I’m calling the midwife’ 🙈

has anyone been told they won’t let them go overdue becasue it’s IVF? I’ve been told that and have it in my head I defo won’t go passed the 7th April and now I think maybe I’m going to be disappointed if they let me go over 🤦🏻‍♀️

@Gracie2021 so sorry to hear you have been unwell covid and flu that’s a double hit! Bless you and over Xmas as well! Hope you are on the road to recovery now. It’s great news all is measuring well and you could feel baby moving - so reassuring! Totally agree there is sickness everywhere!! Nearly everyone that comes into A and E has either flu or covid 🙈 so il be glad to finish up work 12 days, but who is counting 😂😂

@LKSF yes the brown handles put me off a bit at first too but you can buy handle covers that are black for about £20. I also took the plunge yesterday and brought the matching baby bag 🙈🙈 it was sooooo expensive though compared to other ones that are at least half the price!!

lol that was me this morning with movements!! And nearly every other hour if I don’t feel anything!! Luckily every time I’ve started to feel concern baby has made their presence known! Thank god!!

yes also been told this at my 16 week consultant appointment which seems like forever ago! Was told I’d be induced at 39+4 due to IVF as there is a higher risk of placenta failure 🤷🏼‍♀️ but no one has said anything since!! I have a consultant appointment at 34 weeks so I’m guessing this will be to discuss a birthing plan etc, who knows 🤷🏼‍♀️

@EmzieMurf1987 Oops I didn’t know you could get handle covers 🤦🏻‍♀️ Never mind I’ll pretend you never told me that lol. Ohh that’ll be nice that it matches! I got the Tiba+Marl one! I’ve got a midwife appointment on the 16th so I’ll ask then about going overdue! I have a scan and consultant appointment at 36weeks so I’m guessing the same it’s to discuss birthing plans etc! Eek exciting!! xx

@Agapanthus13 I thought it was cheap enough to try out, and lots of people say how good hypnobirthing is. Ooh, I'll try wearing one of my lighter tops tonight! Honestly baby been doing all sorts today, I love it!

@EmzieMurf1987 I can't believe March is only 8 weeks away!! You must be getting so excited!
I had to wait in town for an hour for something to be fixed and came home with a bag full of half price mothercare and Marks & Spencer's baby clothes! I'm obsessed and I don't even know what we're having!

@Gracie2021 you have been in the wars! I hope you're on the mend though, sounds like a tough couple of months!
Hypnobirthing stuff honestly sounds amazing...in reality I'm not sure whether I could be as relaxed as that and manage to keep the fear subsided! But if you could then childbirth sounds like a wonderful experience!
Ahh yes, we are similar due dates, although I know lots of women with gestational diabetes end up being induced early, which I ideally don't want!

@LKSF re: ivf and going over, my original due date was 22nd April, they changed it to 20th April even though it was ivf and they had the exact dates! And I won't be allowed to go past that due to ivf apparently. But also likely baby will be out even earlier depending on how this GD goes and baby's growth.
As @EmzieMurf1987 said too, I have in my app that around 34 weeks they will discuss birth plan so will know what they are thinking by then.

@LKSF I've been told different things depending on who I speak to. Most recently that they will look at sweeps from 38 weeks to try and bring on labour before my due date (they changed my due date at the 12 week scan annoyingly - brought it forward by 3 days)