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

I will admit I have avoided having a bath....up to today. Having felt so poorly from covid the last few days, I needed to get clean but couldn't bare to stand up in the shower so I ran myself a bath and stayed in for about 15 mins and made sure it wasn't too hot. I am going to be 12 weeks on Wednesday so I'm hoping I haven't done any damage but it was the only thing I could think about this morning so I did it. I think if I had done it before having a couple of positive scans, I would forever wonder if it had effected anything so to be on the safe side, but I would say after about 10 weeks, you should be ok if it's not too hot.

I don't think being in water has any effect as you can swim in a swimming pool for an hour if you wanted so I think it is just the rise in body temperature that you need to avoid.

@CR7 I haven't had any extra tests as of yet. What is the purpose of them? (Sorry if you have already explained) I'm just having the tests my midwife has recommended at this point

@gulph because of my age, even though I did PGTA, I will be having NIPT

www.manchesterfertility.com/treatments/fertility-testing/non-invasive-pre-natal-testing-nipt/

@gulph providing I get to nine weeks!

Interesting, not heard much about it before. I think for me personally, I wouldn't have the test. Obviously if you have a family history or have markers that mean your child could have a massive life limiting condition that means they wouldnt live a long and happy life then I guess that comes down to personal choice as to what you would do in that situation.

Yes of course @gulph , it's a very personal choice x

@bringmesunshine99 I was also advised to avoid baths and long hot showers. Am 6w +1d so am triying to be as careful as possible don't want to risk anything happening at this stage! I would say think of the hot baths you can hVe after with your baba for company :)

@gulph how you feeling hun? My sister caught covid twice when pregnant and 2nd time was at 7 months as well so be strong and take it easy xx

@Vallef my fever broke last night which wasn't nice to wake up as a sweaty mess at the time but does mean I feel a bit better today. Still exhausted, snotty and cough/sore throat but managed to spend most of the day out of bed today (on the sofa but still a win 😂)
Oh your poor sister at 7 months. I read that at that point the baby can get the virus as well. How worrying for her!
Really hoping I'm negative by Thursday as meant to be having my 12 week scan 😩 need to let my midwife know tomorrow that I tested positive according to the nhs email when I reported it so she might be able to let me know the criteria as to whether a its 2 negative tests or whatever.
It's definitely hit me harder this time than it has previously. It made me laugh actually as the day I started having a sore throat, my 'pregnancy tip of the day' on my tracking app said 'wash your hands, you are more likely to pick up coughs and colds as your immune system is compromised when pregnant as to not attack your baby' thanks for that!

@gulph sorry you have been feeling so unwell 😕 the week I had my bfp I also tested positive for covid - couldn’t believe it, didn’t realise it was still doing the rounds! It also hit me harder then previously, I’ve been in bed most of the weekend feeling unwell and sore throat etc - hoping it’s not covid again, we must be close in due date as I will be 12 weeks on thur 😬
I hope that you start to feel better soon as can attend your scan this week x

@CR7 looks like we are at the same clinic ☺️. I had those tests last time and think I will again. It was from 10 weeks last time though.

There were quite a few different levels if I remember, going from quite a basic test to testing for quite a lot of genetic diseases. Have you been given any further info? They told us about it at our 7 week scan

@CR7 also I've been taking a banana to bed in case of middle of the night hunger! It's got a bit better now but between 5-6 weeks was definitely the worst, I was so hungry all the time!!

@laurapop I'm at care in Manchester but heard good things about Mfc. Got my 6w6d scan next week so will ask more about it then.

Stomach last night was back to being ravenous again xx

@CR7 ahh okay! Yes they have been very good in my experience. The hunger is a good sign if nothing else ☺️ xx

@gulph her baby boy is now a lil red headed healthy 18 month old so all is good but was worrying at the time as she was struggling to breath and stuck in the car until A&E would see her. But anyway whatever doesn't break us makes us stronger! That's great your sweat broke that means your on the mend which is great! Maybe email your midwife this morning so if you need to change your scan date you can do it as early as possible so it doesn't get moved too far due to not having an appointment available. I think that's one of the things that panics me coming back to the NHS. In Greece anything happens you go straight to a private doctor specialising in the issue you actualy have pay 40 euros and your all done and dusted you know? No waiting to see if GP has availability this week or the next etc

I showered for my whole pregnancy, but I don’t know if that was necessary. x

Hi all, a bit of a rollercoaster day for me. I started bleeding this morning and (sorry for TMI) had a few clots. Given my recent miscarriage I was convinced it was happening again. My clinic offered to bring my scan forward and I went in this afternoon. Miraculously I saw a heartbeat and measuring ok, though they could see that the bleed was coming from something called a sub chorionic hematoma near the sac. She said unfortunately it can mean higher chance of miscarriage so not out of the woods yet, but back again next Tues for another scan. So scary, I was a mess!

re baths, in my last pregnancy I waited until I was 12 weeks and then used a baby bath thermometer to make sure I didn’t have one that was too hot - I think that’s the main thing

@LottSE20 omg what a day!!! Have they told you to take some time off work? Amazing to see the scan! xx

@CR7 no Dr said other than usual pregnancy dos/don’t there’s nothing I can really do that would affect the outcome. But I’m going to be really careful from now on about exerting myself - hard with an almost 2 year old..

@LottSE20 that must of been scary for you but at least you got some good news fingers crossed the bleed stops and everything is ok next week too. Try and rest where you can when you’re not running rings around your 2 year old! Xx

@LottSE20 very hard xx but a lovely position to be in also xx

@LottSE20 gosh am so glad to hear everything is OK hun. Did they say how it was caused? I think in this group we have heard of something similar quite a few times maybe via IVF it may happen more? I know it's difficult with a 2 year old hun but I'd you have help mum or sister maybe now is the time to ask for help with the lil one maybe picking the lil one up or anything like that could be bad? Please take it easy snd look after your self xx

@Vallef apparently it can be more common with IVF but I only know that from obsessive googling on the way home! Yep my husband is being really good about making me be careful and my mum is up on Wed.
@CR7 absolutely, I’m so grateful to have him. He was the result of many rounds of IVF so I have hope it can work out

@LottSE20 wasn't being funny. I realised it sounded like I was so I'm really sorry but it wasn't meant to be I promise ♥️♥️

@CR7 Not at all, I didn’t take it in that way. But I am very fortunate and I remember thinking just the chance to have one would be all I would wish for. And if it doesn’t work out, I will try my best to remember that xx