Ivf pregnancy - first trimester

[gulph]

Hi lovely's

Starting a new thread for those that have gone through ivf and are in the early stages as appreciate we have different anxieties maybe to other groups.

I'm Gayle, I had a fresh transfer on Monday the 13th March and I am currently 5 weeks 4 days pregnant. First test showed 1-2 weeks, last weeks test showed 2-3 and next test due on Wednesday (clinic have recommended a test a week until early scan) early scan is on the 14th April.

My husband and I have been trying for a baby for nearly 10 years. We fell pregnant naturally 6 years ago, however after some bleeding at 8 weeks, i went for an early scan and was only dating between 5 and 6 weeks so had to go back in a further 2 weeks to check if any development and the night before, I had a miscarriage. We haven't fallen since and following some tests, it was put down to make factor infertility and ICSI and was recommended however we could not proceed (privately) with my bmi so I started the hard work to lose 5 stone in May last year and hit my target in January 2023 to start our treatment.

I feel like there have been lots of barriers in our way so far. Nhs said no, due to my weight it was a no, due to the financials it was a no so to have anything with a yes now without having a massive battle, feels strange and like it's not quite true!

Symptoms so far - sore boobs, cramping, so hungry, feeling little bits of nausea but not sure if it is my mind or it is real

Feel free to tell me about your battle and how you are feeling

@Banbi @greentreeseverywhere

@greentreeseverywhere gosh that sounds so stressful!! Did the doctors say how it may have been caused? Could it have been the plane? So glad the baby is OK though!! I was going to say little bean but at 11 weeks it's bigger than a bean :) I know you just had a trip not sure if it was a holiday but maybe you should take this weekend and the week or some of it to literally just take it easy feet up and netflix give this a chance to kind of heal? Xx

Glad everything is ok @greentreeseverywhere.

I took to my bed yesterday with a cold and fever and have tested positive for covid 😩 literally not been able to get out of bed as felt so rough. Hoping it passes quickly! Apparently can't pass to baby until 28 weeks so all good there but we do go into the vulnerable category as our immune system isn't able to fight it off as well so not surprised I have been feeling so rubbish!

A friend of mine had it twice during pregnancy and her little one is absolutely fine but does make you worry when you are a worrier anyway 😂

@gulph oh god I hope you get better soon and it passes quickly for you! Just shows it’s still everywhere doesn’t it!!

@greentreeseverywhere so glad everything is ok for you! X

Literally said to my friend 'who the hell gets covid now' 😂 me apparently!

rest as much as you can xx

@gulph ughh poor you! I’m sure that’s the last thing you need. Hope you feel better soon.
For those of you feeling pukey, I’d recommend gin gins. They’re a ginger flavour sweet, apparently recommended for chemo patients too. They seem to take the edge off for me (though you do have to like ginger!)

@greentreeseverywhere oh wow. That’s quite scary. Glad to hear scan confirmed that everything is ok.

@gulph Oh no! Sounds terrible. Hope you get lots of rest and feel better soon. If you have been vaccinated, it will hopefully only last a few of days

@CR7 When I wake up in the morning I am famished but haven’t woken up in the middle of the night. BUT … I do have about a pint of ovaltine + scoop of collagen/protein before bed every night. I’ve had a meat aversion since getting pregnant so know I’m not getting enough protein so top myself up in the evenings. Maybe it’s keeping me full through the night.

@UrbanParakeet not been so bad the last couple of nights I'm pleased to say. Hopefully I'm over the raging hunger. I take a collagen supplement. Started last year and it's defo made a difference to my skin and hair xx

@LottSE20 so you recommend the ginger sweets? How about this thing I read it's heartburn but like a milder annoying form? Any tips for that? Xx

@LottSE20 bought in the hope I'll need them soon xx

@Vallef yeah Im getting a bit of that too. Maybe some rennies? I also find it’s worse if I excert myself

@LottSE20 remind me where you're up to. My brain is foggy xx

@CR7 im exactly 6 weeks today. First scan on Thurs x

Ah you're four days ahead of me! I have my first scan on the 24th when I'll be 6w6d xx

@CR7 if I don’t eat something just before I go to bed I wake up with hunger about 3-4am! It’s the worst! I have found that yoghurt and oat clusters are doing the job and now I have some grapes and a cereal bar by the bed just in case!

@UrbanParakeet i am with you on the meat aversion can’t eat it, can’t smell it, cant look at it! So I am filling up on protein yoghurts, milk etc to get my Protein. Also milkshakes are going down well so extra protein there.

@BrownXeyes been better the last few days. Hoping I can avoid the midnight snacks for a bit longer xx

@CR7 Mine stopped then came back at 4am the other morning I was crying into a bowl of cereal as insomnia had also kicked in! I assume the hormones were also kicking in! I have found a nomadic yoghurt just before bed has helped it’s just natural yoghurt with oats they are handy to grab and eat x

I didn't sleep a wink on Friday evening. Well I slept until 1am and then it was game over. Last night was better. Having an hours nap this afternoon to tide me over as I'm back in work tomorrow and don't want to sleep so much today that I cant sleep tonight xx

@BrownXeyes

@CR7 i was the same slept 11-12.30am then I was done just wide awake and nothing I tried got me to sleep! However I ran myself down yesterday tried not to nap and slept so well last night so I’m hoping it was a one off thing. I can cope with everything else but when I get no sleep that’s when I’m useless! X

@LottSE20 I was 6w yesterday so we're all around the same weeks which is nice :) we made fish today and I thought I was going to embaress my self infront of my in laws the smell I couldn't stop gagging and holding it down so I woulndt puke. I think one of the nasty symptoms this nausea business. Hoping to find those ginger sweets in Greece as am still here!!

Has anyone received any advice re having baths in the first trimester following IVF? I am 6w 4d following my first cycle and soo scared to have a bath I've read about not having them too hot; but I usually soak in them for far too long... is this a no no? Anyone received any advice? Thanks x

Ladies can I ask if any of you are planning to have NIPT after you hit 9 weeks? xx

I was advised by my clinic to avoid baths and to shower instead (and for the showers not to be very long or hot, if I remember rightly).

This wasn’t very convenient as I didn’t have a proper shower, only a handheld shower head over the bath. Also, like you, I love long, hot baths. But it was OK for a few months.

Thanks @Cattenberg - I think it'll only worry me if I do have one so I'll just stay away! Is that for the first trimester only? x