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]

@EmzieMurf1987 Congratulations!!!!!! Hope your both doing well.
Love his name too.

@LKSF the hardest part is not showing everyone, the stuff I have bought!
I get something and think oh that's cute let's show ...... but I can't 🙈.

How is everyone doing. I'm nearly 35 weeks and fed up now. X

@EmzieMurf1987 congratulations 💙💙 such wonderful news xx How are you getting on? Are you still in hospital atm? Hope you’re managing to get some rest xx sounds like your little one is a lovely weight, and a great birthday date xxx
what we’re you up to when your waters went?

@PMAmostofthetime all well here thanks. I’m 35 weeks on Tuesday and found the commuting for work was feeling hard last week, bumps def getting heavy! What is it you’re struggling with - the size / weight, lack of sleep, tiredness? Can you take some time to yourself to try and rest?

one of the girls in my nct class with the same due date as me had her baby yesterday so it spurred us on to get on with sone jobs. I ordered all the bits for my hospital bag & dh decorated the spare room 😆

@EmzieMurf1987 Aww that’s amazing news, congratulations and I’m glad you are all well. You’re the start of all of us and I can’t wait for more baby announcements 🥰

@PMAmostofthetime ha yeah that must be super hard. Do ppl know that you know or have you pretended you haven’t found out?

Im 35weeks this week too! I’m feeling very uncomfortable in the evenings but happy for him to stay in for another couple weeks so I can get everything finished.

@Agapanthus13 I ordered all my hospital bits over the weekend too and put some nursery furniture together so I think after this weekend I’ll pretty much be ready for him 💙

xx

Congratulations @EmzieMurf1987 so exciting to have the first baby here!

I’m 33 1/2 weeks and I’m feeling it. We’ve just vine to the end of half term and have had people to stay for the last 10 days, knackered now. I’ve been having really strong braxton hicks multiple times a day which has spurred me on to packed our hospital bag! Really feel like I need to start winding down now but the 2 year old has decided that 4.30am is the new morning get up time and it’s taking it’s toll on me and DH!

looking forward to more baby arrival news very soon!!

@Agapanthus13 my feet are swollen and I'm uncomfortable in anything but leggings, hoodies and trainers and I can't wear those to work.

I'm more uncomfortable in the evenings but sleeping ok aside from the need to wee.

That's made me anxious, I have everything but nothing is ready! 😳
I think I'll pack mine and the babies bags tomorrow and get the car cleaned and make sure OH knows how to put the car seat etc in. Should probably get the next to me crib up and Moses basket in living room too.

When do you finish work?

@LKSF they don't know we know, I think it w or I'd be harder if they knew.
I'd like the baby to stay in until 37 weeks so that I know everything will be ok and so that we have stuff ready.

@Happycroc that sounds tough, hope the sleep regression ends soon.

@EmzieMurf1987 how are you getting on? Hope you’re loving all your newborn snuggles 💙

@LKSF oh well done- look at us getting organised 😊 I’ve taken a day off today and am washing baby clothes and sorting through the bits I’ve ordered for my hospital bag. really enjoying it x are you pleased with your nursery furniture? After saying we weren’t going to do a nursery we caved last week and started moving the spare room furniture out. Baby furniture arrives tomorrow and I’m so excited x

@Happycroc are you having a more restful week? Having guests can be soo tiring, you must be shattered! Have your Braxton hicks calmed down? I had them pretty constant one day and started to worry baby was on the way, but have calmed down now x

@PMAmostofthetime how are you doing? Sorry didn’t mean to freak you out with the early arrival story! I don’t even have a crib or basket in the house yet so you’re already more organised than me 😆 I’ve got 2more weeks left at work, how about you? Everyone keeps telling me you get a burst of energy before baby arrives but I’m pretty tired so I’m taking that as a sign they’re not planning to arrive anytime soon 😆

@Agapanthus13 Aww I think I’m gonna do all my washing this weekend, I have my babyshower on Saturday so I’m waiting until after that! Ive only ordered a wardrobe, I’ve already got a chest of drawers in the baby room(with my clothes in lol) so I’ll just stick a changing mat on top of that. Going to put some pictures up on the walls this weekend too 🥰

I’ve got to go for blood tests today because my iron levels haven’t risen since week 12 despite being on iron tablets so they want to understand why my body isn’t absorbing the iron. Blood tests today are for Folate and B12 - a little bit anxious because I made a mistake and looked at dr google lastnight!

@Agapanthus13 it was the kick up the butt I needed.

Plan to get everything in order this weekend as in double check bags and crib downstairs, next to me in our room and car seat fitted in car.

I did have lots of energy but I'm really tired today my maternity leave starts 2 days before due date 4 days if you count the weekend 🙈.

We are reviewing this end of next week though.

@LKSF I had bloods Tuesday for the same reason the lovely midwife that done them ( not my usual one) told me to drink fresh orange juice to take the tablets ( at least half a glass) to help absorb the iron.

She also explained that if the levels are really low they will offer a day patient iron infusion.

Hey, hope everyone’s doing well!!
I can’t remember who was asking about tens machines but this is where I’ve rented mine from:
www.homebirthsupplies.co.uk/Elle-TENS-Hire?PPCT=1652092046&gclid=Cj0KCQiA9YugBhCZARIsAACXxeJapEZO4mtTZ6qMaQ1q7RjdtbR-WvUkh7yggwzpcz8LX7wlz9ATYQYaAlU_EALw_wcB

x

@LKSF did you have your blood results after? What were your levels I get mine tomorrow.

A lovely midwife that I had never met told me that orange juice helps you absorb iron- so to take the tablets with orange juice and ear fortified cereal with a glass of orange juice.

I really don't like orange juice but 100% pressed I can manage atm.

@PMAmostofthetime yes my results were 105 (I think they like them to be above 102) they said they’re fine…they were just more concerned on why they hadn’t gone up since week 12 despite being on tablets, but my b12 levels came back fine so that was good 😅

Thanks-I do take with orange juice but only a tiny bit just to wash the tablets down so I’ll have a glass of it instead and see if that helps. Hope your results have gone up from last time x

@LKSF I had a call to say they are still low and they forgot to check my Ferratin ( iron stores apparently) so they will discuss it tomorrow at my consultants appointment.

Probably means more blood tests 🙈 you think I'd be used to needles by now.

Glad yours are not too low, apparently we have to take the tablets until the babies 6 weeks old?

@PMAmostofthetime Ah sounds like you’re having the same issues as me then! Hopefully your Ferratin levels are fine, mine were fine, that’s why they weren’t too bothered about my actual iron Levels being low. I’ve also started drinking those little spatone sachets! Oh really, guess that makes sense because we’re only going to lose more blood after birth 🙈

Oooo what are those sachets? Where can I get them from?

How's everyone else ?

X

@PMAmostofthetime I ordered mine from Amazon but think Holland & Barrett, boots etc do them too x

I have been asked to consider a planned c-section at 39 weeks.

I really don't want an emergency C-section which is a possibility if I don't take the planned one.

However they can't tell me how likely that could be only that it's higher risk than most pregnancies.

Any advice ladies?

What should I consider? Any websites I can look at to help my decision. They want to know as soon as possible so they can book it in.

Thanks

@PMAmostofthetime why do they want to book you in for a planned c section? Are you high risk just because of IVF? Baby might come naturally before 39weeks 🤞🏼

@PMAmostofthetime did they explain why they recommend a planned c-section and run through the risks if you decline it and the benefits if you accept it? If you have more questions then you could ask for another appointment to go through them.
The RCOG has a good section on planned (non emergency) c-sections, I found that good to read through to understand the various risks. Your consultant should also have the information on risk that you asked for, totally feel for you trying to make a decision on ‘its higher than average’. Tommys also have a few articles on how to plan for a c-section and what’s involved etc, might be worth a read too xx

we had our appointment this afternoon to go through the info on my c-section (my placenta is still too low for a virginal birth) and I agree with you it can feel quite overwhelming.

@PMAmostofthetime why are they suggesting a planned c section rather than induction? Have they given a reason?

@LKSF @Agapanthus13 @Happycroc

So I have gained more clarification since I posted- I have a cervical condition which means they are not sure whether I will dilate. Induction is not going to support this, they'll just find out sooner than if I spontaneously went into Labour.l so they are not offering this.

So the options are sit it out and see go into labour naturally hope for the best and if I don't dilate over a number of hours emergency c-section if I do great.

Or Planned C -Section.

They could not provide me with any statistics of successful and unsuccessful vaginal births of people with my condition and advised that everyone is different and in some women pregnancy can change the cervix- however until the time comes there's no telling what will happen.

I advised that I didn't want a c-section and I would wait but then they advised me to consider it and think it through and get back to them.

@Agapanthus13 have they given you a date yet? How are you feeling?

X

@EmzieMurf1987 huge congratulations!!! So pleased for you! How are you settling into motherhood? 🥰

@PMAmostofthetime strangely I am the opposite to you as in I am booking in a planned c-section and have told my consultant that I do not want to be induced. So if I go into natural labour then that's great, but if not I will have a date where I know the c-section will happen. I have so many people who have told me such positive stories about their planned c-sections too which helped confirm my decision. The can also do something called a gentle c-section which may be worth looking up (it's all still the same just they try to mimic natural birth for the baby I think, well as much as they can in that situation). I'm just waiting to 36 weeks to check that the growth of baby on the scan is still okay then can plan when, but it will likely be my due date as they ideally want baby out by then due to being quite high risk. They've also ruled out the birthing centre for me and will have to be on the delivery suite for monitoring which again made me lean more towards planned c-section.

@LKSF is it your baby shower this weekend? Hope it all goes well. Mine's in a couple of weeks! Very excited although no idea what to wear with this ever growing belly! Already feel like a whale!

@Agapanthus13 @Happycroc so do braxton hicks feel like period pains or cramps? I get really strong stitch like pains but I'm guessing that's more muscular maybe?

How is everyone else doing? I'm nearly 34 weeks now, baby was over 4lbs at 32 weeks so I think it's gonna be a big one, which is funny as I'm only just 5"2 and very petite! Better get exercising my arms a bit ready to carry the baby round 😂

@PMAmostofthetime Ah ok, that’s not something I’ve heard of before. Did they give any indication how soon into labour would they know whether or not you’re dilating enough if you do want to try for a natural birth? it’s such a personal decision, I guess it depends how much you’d like to try for a virginal delivery. I’ve a sister who had an emergency c-section followed by planned and another sister who had a virginal delivery using hypnobirthing and no pain relief and both had really positive experiences.
I’ve got mine booked in for 28th March bang on 39weeks, but I think I can change the date slightly at my pre-op meeting next week if I want. Overall I feel positive, but of course it’s major surgery so the nerves are still there and I found it stressful signing the consent forms yesterday.

@Coops0406 for me Braxton-Hicks my whole tummy goes rock hard, I find it uncomfortable, not painful as such, but not enjoyable 😆 It seems to happen more when baby is very active or I’m really busy. I nearly called the midwife the other day as I did start to wonder if it was labour starting 🙈 I totally get your decision over the c-section, I felt the same with induction. Just wish there was a way to speed up recovery!

@PMAmostofthetime Ah ok I’ve not heard of that. It’s such a personal decision and what ever decision you decide, will be the right one for you and your baby. I’ve only ever heard positive stories with planned c sections.

@Coops0406 Babyshower was last weekend…it was really lovely! Just tea and cake in a hotel down the road from where I live with my family and close friends! Felt very surreal after all these years attending other people’s and just wishing one day it would be me 🥰
ha I know what you mean, I managed to squeeze into one of my jumper dresses!

I’ve got my 36 week growth scan on Friday so I’m looking forward to that as I haven’t had a scan since 20weeks.

@Coops0406 I completely get that, I thought I'd want the planned section but i have decided to just wait and see what happens naturally which is completely not me I like to be in control and have a plan.

@Agapanthus13 they have said that as soon as I'm in Labour I ring the triage. I will then go done and be checked when contractions are 5 minutes apart, they will then check me and check me again 4 hours later if no progress they will arrange for a c-section.
I'm happy with this as it won't be hours and hours and then a rushed emergency c-section.

@LKSF That sounds lovely 🥰
How did your growth scan go?

How is everyone?

TMI sorry but I'm having some tummy/ bowel issues. Not sure if it's the liquid iron they have put me on or Labour is near?

I have also never been so tired ever. I sleep well aside from wee breaks, but I have to nap throughout the day and I'm still tired.

@PMAmostofthetime that sounds like a good plan 🥰I feel you on the tiredness…did you bring your maternity date forward? I finish on Friday so all I plan to do next week is nap 🙈

Scan was all fine on Friday and seen the consultant yesterday, I’m booked in on the 5th April to be induced if he hasn’t arrived by then, but fingers crossed I go into labour naturally🤞🏼I started on the raspberry leaf tea last week, and this week started eating dates and doing perineal massage! The midwife is also going to give me a membrane sweep at my appointment next week! Pretty much finished the nursery and hospital bags last weekend!! All getting very real now!!!