Pregnant after IVF

[countrypunk]

Is anyone out there pregnant after IVF? I'm on an IVF thread but don't want to keep posting about being pregnant when women there are still going through treatment and also getting BFNs.

I had my first round of IVF in November and we got 2 embryos. My first fresh transfer failed and I'm now 5+2 after our frozen transfer.

I'm feeling a bit wobbly today because my symptoms (cramping and super sore boobs) seem to have disappeared, even though I got 3+ on a digital test yesterday.

Just fancy talking to other women who are pregnant after treatment and can relate to all the emotion and worries.

Yeah I've also been told that I'll have a scan at 28 weeks and I assume 34 weeks too because I did IVF. Other than the IVF my pregnancy is low risk. I think this is just hospital policy. They also have a policy that they will induce me at 40 weeks because of the IVF, which I'm not sure about. All my friends who have had inductions say it's really intense, I think I'd almost prefer a scheduled C section if it came to it x

@Laura23FE it's been a dream of 7 weeks. I cant even remember life before he arrived bow its so crazy. I'm so excited for all of you to meet your little bubbas.

@Dbop100 I was also told they wanted to induce my before 40 weeks and was induced at 39+5. Honestly it was horrendous.
It resulted in an emergency section and I wish I had just had an elective section instead.
My recovery from the section however has been really good and would take that 100 times over the induction experience. Obviously I know everyone experience will be different but I have heard from most people I know that were induced they would opt for a section.

Thank you for sharing your experience @Scarlett868 and congrats on your little one 💕I can't wait to hold mine in my arms already!

Honestly I have heard this about induction from so many women, it's crazy that they put us through this. I asked a (male) junior doctor about doing a planned C-section instead of an induction (unless I go into natural Labour first) and he basically laughed at me and asked me like I was crazy why I would prefer major surgery... erm sorry young man I'm going to take the opinion of women who've actually gone through it over yours. I replied saying I've heard it's like going from 0-60 and he said they could give me something else to slow it down... ok so just a really intense long Labour then great 👍

Anyway he's booked us in for something called 'Birth Options' next week which I think is a meeting with a consultant who will probably try to dissuade me out of a c-section because the NHS wants to save money... let's see!x

@Dbop100 @Scarlett868 yes I have heard horrendous things from friends who have been induced and majority of times end up in emergency c sections which sound traumatic, this is why I'm opting for an elective c section as I have only heard good things about them. My friend gave birth in January and at the hospital they were offering women c sections as they were so busy and understaffed and needed to hurry things up, crazy haha xx

@Laura23FE did you have any issues requesting a c section? I feel like my hospital are going to really push back on this. I'm sure they have quotas to avoid as many as possible, but also have to avoid letting women go past 40 weeks, therefore so many inductions, good for their numbers but it comes at our personal expense. I'm really considering it myself unless I go into Labour naturally before 40 weeks.

@Dbop100 my midwife has said it will be fine but I'm sure I will get somebody trying to dissuade me at some point but I'm just going to stand my ground, I will discuss it with the consultant tomorrow and let you know what she says 😂

@Laura23FE yes good for you stand your ground! Would be really interested to hear how the conversation with the Consultant goes, good luck!x

@Laura23FE I'm booked in for scans at 32, 36 and 40(!!??) weeks. I have a few risk factors though, so the 32 week one is to check my placenta location and the other two are growth scans. I would have had a 24 and 28 week growth scan too if baby was measuring small, but she wasn't. I think if you have no risk factors then you don't have any scans after the 20 week one.

@acaciabluebell ahh good to know .. I want more scans though to ease the old anxiety 😭🥰 xx

@Dbop100 I shall report back tomorrow haha xx

@Laura23FE I had a meeting last Monday with the consultant and said I only wanted an elective section. He was great and didn’t try to persuade me otherwise. He said I will have it at 39 weeks all being well or earlier (if I develop any complications).

I tried the induction process on my daughter. Ended up in a 6 day failed induction, emergency section and my daughter was taken to special care from theatre where she stayed for 3 days. I felt a lot of that stay was due to her being so distressed through the induction process. I also found it really hard as they kept me nil by mouth incase I ended up a section - I had fluids through a drip but I was exhausted from the length of the induction and had no strength left by the time they operated. My recovery from the section was great, no issues at all with my scar and was walking with my catheter out soon after. Definitely having a planned section this time and hoping it will be a much better experience 🙏

My consultant went through all the pros and cons of a c section .. she definitely focused more on the cons 🙄 and has booked me to see a birthing specialist after my next scan which isn’t till 32 weeks, I definitely expected a scan sooner than that.
I’ll definitely be booking a private scan in between now and then.

On my aftercare summary it’s made me find some concerns.
In trimester one I wasn’t prescribed aspirin even though it says it on the summary.
In trimester two it says about a growth chart but I haven’t seen or been told about one of those ?
My only other appointment in trimester two is a bloods appointment which I’m guessing is the week 28 blood tests. Should I be having any other appointments that you ladies know of ?

We had our Birth Options meeting today, but it wasn't with a Consultant it was with one of the head midwives. She was so SO lovely. I explained that I understood that the hospitals policy was to induce me at 40 weeks, but I really don't want an induction because it sounds quite intense and really unpredictable. Explained that I have anxiety after 4 years of infertility. I said I'd rather have a planned c-section instead of an induction, so she said no problem and booked us in there and then. We agreed that if I were to go into Labour naturally before 40 weeks I might try naturally but if I want I can tap out at any time and have a c-section. Feel so much better about everything x

@Dbop100 that sounds good ! Hopefully our meeting will go similar to yours 😊 I’ve been dreading/anxious about the birth options meeting but this makes me feel a bit more relaxed again. Our hospital induces at 39 weeks our consultant told me and I 100000% don’t want to be induced as heard it’s horrific and stressful for mum and baby from so many people 😞 just want him here and not feeling stressed💙

@Laura23FE yes I totally agree about induction. Don't feel stressed, just tell them how you feel, they might be receptive. I think ultimately if you stand firm they have to give you one. Let us know how it goes xx

How’s everybody feeling ?
I am 25 weeks pregnant today 🥰 feeling him and can see him move around so much, love watching my stomach moving 😭

@Laura23FE its magical isn’t it!

24 weeks tomorrow 😊 Still can’t believe the cycle worked tbh. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to carry this little one and I am loving having a bump. So far pregnancy has been going smoothly, only annoying symptom I have is eczema around my eyes (not had eczema since a baby so wasn’t expecting it). Need to start getting organised in next few weeks and actually start buying things!

Hope everyone else is doing well and feeling good!

@Laura23FE I’m 25 weeks today! 15 weeks to go!

I’ve been away working for 2 weeks which has helped the time pass more quickly and my OH has been painting and building furniture for the second bedroom. Still no baby things in there but it’s my favourite room in the house now!

@Laur0606 I’ve just started compiling my baby wish list on Amazon. It’s been great to tick off things on the checklist and I can send the link to friends and family when I’m ready. It makes me feel organised without actually having to commit to anything. I’m still very scared to have baby things in the house but it’s also exciting to pick out the things that will make up his world.

@Laur0606 @Feelslikeforever22 ahhh so exciting isn’t it 🥰 feel like the summer will fly by and it will be October before we know it ! Are you ladies having baby showers ?
I just measured my bump because I was intrigued how big I was and want to monitor how it grows and I’m currently at 38 inches ☺️ not sure if that is big or not haha
we are having the room decorated in 2 weeks so currently emptying everything out of it (it used to be my dressing room haha) can’t wait to get it decorated and new carpet down so we can order the furniture 😍
we have our pram as my brother got us that and lots of clothes (a few new things bought by us and a few bought by friends as gifts)
I have made an except spreadsheet of everything we need and rough costs haha I love a spreadsheet 😂😂😂

25.5 weeks... Having to spend the night in hospital as this morning I had a random heavy bleed! Was very shocking and scary. Doctors have said it's due to my low lying placenta. Have to stay in hospital 24 hours for monitoring. Baby still moving loads and bleeding stopped so things are looking good so far.

@acaciabluebell sorry to hear that, bleeding is so scary in pregnancy 😭 glad to hear that it has stopped and baby is still very active 🥰

@acaciabluebell so sorry you’re going through this. It’s scary to experience bleeding at this stage in pregnancy. Glad to hear baby is doing well and hope you were able to get some rest last night between all the obs checks and other patients.
The doctors warned me I’d likely be a frequent visitor after my bleed at 21 weeks and placenta previa but 4 weeks later all is well. Hopefully this is a one off for you x

@Feelslikeforever22 a very uncomfortable sleep but I made it through the night! It's so weird being on a hospital ward with all these other women who are being induced for labour. I feel very out of place.

That's amazing that you haven't had another bleed. The staff here are making it sound like I'll be in every other week 😭 I really hope it doesn't happen again. Feels like one thing after another! And just when I was starting to relax, too. But baby is doing well which is the important thing ❤️

@acaciabluebell It’s very strange isn’t it? I found it quite jarring to know that the women around me would most likely have a healthy baby in their arms in a matter of hours whereas if I went into labour it would be a very different story.
Also hard to hear that the women beside and opposite me were popping out for cigarettes. So frustrating to be following all the advice and trying to do everything right and it still not being enough to prevent these bleeding episodes.

On the plus side, I found it very interesting and comforting listening to the explanations about and preparations for the c sections. Hopefully it will make me feel more relaxed when the time comes.

Hi Ladies,

How is everyone getting on?
I’m 29+4 today and off to have a 4d scan later on.
Started to feel tired again this past week and even worse than the physical exhaustion is the mental exhaustion for me. I’ve found that too much social interaction and stimulation leaves me catatonic on the sofa for hours after. Very strange.

I had a second bleed at 28 weeks due to my placenta previa, literally 7 weeks to the day since the last one. Very different potential outcome this time though. There was a few hours where they really thought the baby might come early and I had to have steroid injections and a visit from the neonatal team.
But everything settled down and baby is still cooking and doing great! 😅

28 week growth scan revealed all is as it should be too.

How is everyone’s preparation for the babies going?

@Feelslikeforever22 awww let us know how your 4D scan goes 🥰😭 29+5 for me and we have just had new carpet done in the house and the babies room decorated, built the nursery furniture last weekend and slowly filling up all his drawers and wardrobes with everything we have so far :) starting to feel very very very real !! Can’t stop going into his nursery 🥰
your bleed must of been very scary 😟 I’m glad to hear baby didn’t come early and is staying out for the time being x

the nesting has well and truly kicked in for us, we are having the whole house redecorated over the next couple of months and changing all our living room furniture too 😂

in the first 18 weeks I woke up feeling hungover every single morning, and the same feeling has come back since last week 😭 a lot more tired early on at night than I was in the 2nd trimester too

when is everybody finishing work ?

I’ve started a list of what I will need to take to hospital with me too and I think I will start backing at 32 weeks. We have a scan on the 17th august so excited to see him again then, anybody else got extra scans booked in ?