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]

@EasterBunny7 i was told I can lift anything I’m used to after I’ve tested… as in my situation it can’t be avoided

@Justhopeful how was your second beta. Feels reassuring to have those handy. My clinic just go by your word and then the viability scan around 7 weeks.

So, apart from the exacerbated cramps from too much heavy lifting yesterday, my twinges have actually calmed down in the last three days, hardly anything at all. So, that's something else I'm worried about? Is little bean calling it a day?

@birdbybird i did because I noticed that is what people are doing. Never been pregnant before and at my age, constantly paranoid.

@EasterBunny7 Got the result today. Beta 3137 at 4+5. 15dp5dt.
still having twinges today, quite mild though. And your little bean is definitely not calling it a day😁

How is everyone doing today?

Hi everyone. I was on the Medicated FET thread and only just built up the courage to move across to here.

Today I am 10dp5dt, I did another test last night just to be sure. I’ve been pretty much testing daily since 4dp5dt when I got my first very faint line.

This is my second FET after more than 5 years of infertility. I feel like we’ve had quite a run of bad luck with initial investigations delayed because I’m outside the UK and there was an 18month wait for my first appointment. After years of investigations and clomid cycles and no explanation we decided ourselves to go down the IVF route and pay privately…. Then COVID hit. Last June we did our first egg retrieval and I ended up with OHSS which led to an all freeze cycle and a further 4 month delay.

October 2021, we went for our first FET and I got to the 7 week mark where I was referred to the government hospital as no heartbeat was found. What followed was a really tough MMC with multiple removal procedures. In April I finally got the all clear!

We went down the medicated FET route and embryo transfer was 28th June- this time we opted for 2 embryos. Because of my previous experience I’m not really letting myself feel anything just yet. I have my Beta HCG scheduled for Sunday but then no follow up until the 8 week mark.

Currently taking estrofem x2 twice daily, endometrin x2 3 times daily and a progesterone injection twice weekly (which isn’t used in the UK).

Sorry for the long ramble! Here’s to a successful pregnancy for us all!

@Justhopeful that is a great HCG level!!

@Raspberrydelight welcome to this thread and congratulations again! I read through your history - you truly have had so many unexpected setbacks so I really hope this one sticks! I'm so desperate to get to a heartbeat.

@EasterBunny7 Thanks! Yes getting to hear the heartbeat is now the next milestone and hopefully at that point we can all breathe a giant sigh of relief.

@Justhopeful congrats that’s an amazing beta! My clinic don’t even do them! Just urinary HPT 🤷🏼‍♀️

@EasterBunny7 I’m sure you didn’t do any damage at all carrying the shopping, most ppl don’t even know they are pregnant at this early stage and go on to have pregnancies. Its only because we are doing IVF and we know exactly what should be happening each day. Those embies we have are strong little things, I’m sure it’s making a lovely home for itself xx

@Raspberrydelight @Lilyduke welcome both! Lovely to see some more successful cycles 🎉🎉

@Raspberrydelight im so anxious for this first scan I still can’t quite believe I’m preggo!!

no major symptoms here really, OHSS is slowly resolving but still got a massive belly full of fluid, I totally panicked when symptoms started getting better and did another test 😂😂 super positive but I guess it’s still a worrying time! Also my skin has gone super sensitive! Had a shower yesterday and instantly after using my shower gel which I’ve used for years I went itchy all over and have a rash on my stomach, so have had to get super sensitive shower gel and moisturiser 🤞🏼🤞🏼 It works xx

I've forgotten how stress inducing internet cheapies are! Keep waking up each morning thinking I'll see a nice solid line and yet there's not really much of a progression. 😥

@EmzieMurf1987 has your Dr recommended eating a ridiculous amount of eggs? I was told to eat at least 5 a day and drink 2 litres of water. I have no idea if it actually sped up the recovery or not. Hope you feel better soon!

@Raspberrydelight wow that’s a lot of eggs! That’s like breakfast, lunch and dinner 😂😂 no they never gave any advice other than rest and drink lots, so used Google as you do 😂😂 to try and eat/drink the best things to help with the OHSS. Thanks I’m getting there slowly, I just look pregnant when I shouldn’t at this stage and I’m having lots of ovary pains. But I will take this pain all day every day if it means having a happy healthy pregnancy. How are you doing? Xx

@EasterBunny7 Thank you for creating this thread! I am 42 y.o. Had two egg retrieval cycle and only one embryo to transfer. I am 6 week +1 d pregnant. Feel like it's my only chance. Freaking out right now about slight cramps and beige discharge. I read that it's common but every little thing makes me nervous

Welcome @aprilblueberry and congratulations for getting to 6 weeks with your embryo! Wish you a happy, healthy baby at the end of it.

The cramping really are pregnancy signs as the uterus is stretching so see it positively.

In fact, yesterday afternoon for about an hour or so: I felt fluttering in my tummy. I could only further describe it as flips or jolts. I googled it later and it kept telling me about movement at 20 weeks. I couldn't get a straight answer about what it could indicate in early days. Anyone else got those?

I cannot comment on the discharge as that is not one of my symptoms but I am sure that as long as it's not green, it should be normal.

You must have your viability scan soon?

Today, I am officially 4 weeks (9dp5dt). Finally, my internet cheapie turned a darker shade to before.

I was just going to sign off when I sneezed so hard, it felt like my insides would cave in. It was incredibly painful! This has happened to me each time I'm pregnant and I freak out about it being such a huge contraction that it might have dislodged the embryo.

How is everyone coping with the heatwave? Anyone have viability scans this week? Anyone shared the good news with friends and family?

Hey @EasterBunny7 god it’s sooooo hot! Nights r the worst though! Trying to stay out of the sun where I can and luckily have a fan for the bedroom, still melting though! How are you doing?

my scan isn’t till next week 😱😱 I’ve only told my best friend as she knew we were doing IVF and when transfer was and unfortunately I had to tell my parents - we weren’t planning to until the viability scan, but because DH works away and I was so bad with the OHSS I had to tell them so they could bring me food and generally look after me lol. Also had to tell my manager at work as I’m off due to pregnancy related issues - it means it doesn’t count towards sickness targets - plus she knew about the IVF too. Gosh that actually sounds like a lot of ppl 😂😂 won’t be telling anyone else till after 12 weeks 🤞🏼🤞🏼 We get that far!

does anyone know your doing IVF? Xx

Hiya. Scan is tomorrow, I still feel it's too soon as I will be 5+3.

Only told my sister, brother. FIL and MIL, no one else. If I start to get sick will tell my employers and then rest of my family at 12 weeks. 🤞🏽🤞🏽 I get there.

You guys having any symptoms?

@Justhopeful aw best of luck with your scan tomoz, hope it all goes well for you xx

ive been getting lots of ligament pain, super sensitive skin, my nipples have changed size and colour and I’ve had a watery mouth - no major nausea symptoms though - hope that one stays away I absolutely hate being sick . How have your symptoms been so far? Xx

Oh and needing to pee every hour!!

@EmzieMurf1987 I'm terrible at keeping track of how many days everyone is? Please remind me?

Laughing about your list of people. My list has grown over the years, I have a loose mouth! I regret telling some but it can't be undone now. Funnily, my manager knows before a lot of close friends and family, simply because I have had to disclose that I'm doing ivf with all the impromptu leave that I take! This time round, it's just my manager and my mum. I just couldn't get excited/giddy about it. Of course, I'm glad for it, just quietly optimistic.

Has your OHSS calmed down now? That must be anxiety inducing to deal with on top of worrying about a sticky embryo!

Your symptoms sound like positive news to me. So far, I've had the ligament pain most days, as described with my painful sneezing! And some fluttering on one or two afternoons. No other bodily changes for me.

@Justhopeful good luck with your scan tomorrow! Yes, your clinic seem to do it much more sooner than mine do. In fact, I'm considering getting them to book me beyond 7 weeks. I think a part of me is scared to hear bad news, to be honest.

@EasterBunny7 soooo hot! I usually love the heat but can't hack it. I'm so lethargic, can't make it through a day at work at the moment.

@EmzieMurf1987 totally agree with needing to pee all the time, I've drank about 2.5l of water today and peed at least once an hour.

@EasterBunny7 I’m 6 weeks today. I’m so anxious as I had my MC at 6+4 so getting past this week will feel like a victory. I’m the same I’ve had to tell my manager so they can change my shifts last minute for scans etc.

yea the OHSS has deffo calmed down from what it was but it’s so anxiety inducing - I worry when my symptoms get better but then they come back and I worry again what the pain is, then have to tell myself it’s the OHSS 😂😂 annoyingly pain is always worst in the evenings and at nighttime!

ooooooo I had lots of flutters in the beginning and still do occasionally! Hopefully you will get good news soon! When is yr OTD again?

@Justhopeful yea that’s a lot sooner than my clinic too, mine usually scan at 7/8 weeks. I still find it so intriguing how each clinic does things differently .

@handslikebirds and the peeing all through the night! I’m up at least 2/3 times 🙈🙈 when are we meant to sleep 😂😂

@EmzieMurf1987 yes I literally never pee in the night and now up and down in the night

Just got my 14dp5dt blood results back.
Beta HCG 1218 (increased from 536 at 12dpt)
progesterone is 7.1 which I’m concerned about as last time (MMC) it was 10.6 and was considered low.

I’m taking suppositories every 8 hours (endometrin) and an injection twice weekly. I’m coming back to the UK tomorrow and desperately need to find somewhere I can go for follow up treatment- all the IVF clinics I’ve contacted has said no to me. I’m wondering if my GP will be able to assist with monitoring progesterone or prescribing medication for me. What is everyone else using for progesterone? Any advice for getting my numbers up?

@Raspberrydelight some great news and some worrying news there too, I'm sure. Why won't the clinic that you undertook ivf with not provide you with supplementary medication based on your results? Can they at least write up a treatment plan for your GP? I know that my clinic will provide medication up to the viability scan and then a letter detailing everything I need to carry on with the GP. They don't do beta bloods so there's no such thing as checking progesterone levels for me, unfortunately.

I am on 2x progesterone pessaries and 1x crinone gel per day.

Sorry, can't think of how one goes about increasing progesterone in other ways, e.g. food. Would be interested to hear myself.

@Raspberrydelight surely the clinic you are with should provide you a prescription? I assume they provided you with one for all your current IVF meds? Or as Easterbunny suggested get them to write up a treatment plan for your GP? I’ve found most GPs do not have a lot of knowledge regarding fertility meds so that would be a good idea as prove of what you need and what follow-up care might be required.

im on utrogestan 200mg pessaries 3 times a day and 1 lubion injection 25mg sub cut daily at the moment. As far as I’m aware, after my viability scan they will supply my final prescription for my progesterone until stopping at 10/12 weeks. I wouldn’t really trust my GP to prescribe anything as the clinic already wrote to my GP to prescribe my enoxaparin due to the OHSS and they never did it - I got the clinic to add it to my private prescription instead.

oh it must be such a worrying time for you I really hope the clinic you are with give you some answers and help you asap! Also as far as I’m aware progesterone can only be supplemented via medication - it’s a hormone so can’t be improved by anything you eat unfortunately.

I’ve also heard of women using an increased amount of pessaries so inserting more than One at a time? Could also be an option? But it’s all depends on how well your body absorbs it I suppose 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️