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

Not at all, I read this before I got mine and mine is more for reassurance before I can feel baby moving too much. I have researching counting kicks in the third trimester so will deffo be doing that in any case. As far as I understand, the Doppler themselves are safe, it's people's interpretation of the results that's causes the trouble I guess. I think our babies are so precious, that I wouldn't want to ignore anything and would always check up with my midwife if I was concerned.
My midwife used a Doppler on me at my 16 week check in and it was a much clearer sound than the sound we could pick up on our home Doppler but was lovely for my husband to have the experience of hearing the baby and when it gets clearer, will be nice for both sets of parents to hear baby as we aren't taking them to scans etc but they want to be involved in everything with is lovely.

Totally understand xx

Thank you both

I just wanted to check if anyone has been in a similar position to me. I’ve had a fresh transfer and at about 4.5 weeks I was getting pain on my left hand side, the doctor referred me to the emergency unit and when they did an ultrasound my ovaries looked really enlarged and had a lot of follicles/cysts on them. When they examined my belly it was extremely sore on both sides but it was fine as I was fearing an ectopic.
I had an ultrasound done at my clinic on Thursday at 6.2 and my ovaries were still very large and there was a small amount of fluid. The nurse said she would check with the doctor and I got a call waking it’s all fine. However the last two days my left hand side has become extremely uncomfortable as it wakes me up at night and it’s very tender when I walk or move. And I’m extremely bloated.
Im not sure why it fluctuates so much rather than going down.
has anyone experienced anything similar or has any advice?

Could this be OHSS?

@gulph you're our guru. What do you think? X

@BrownXeyes aww so cute when the belly pops out it makes it more real :) thats how my hubby is his excited to tell everyone and to start shopping but am not ready. As am on bed rest not really seeying alot of people and am wearing buggy tops so gona try and get away with it for as long as possible I just don't want to jinx it!!

@FrostedFlake I had this as I have polycistic ovaries so I was over stimulated with the medication. It passed on its own after about 3 weeks but was quite painful even walking I felt I had stones inside of me and even going to the toilet was an ordeal. Warm showers made me feel better and I was told lots of rest to allow the ovaries to recuperate so I woulndt be adding more strain to them. I also had read drinking lots of liquids and eating salty things like bacon could help drain the fluid. I did this on my own as I only read thus somewhere online but if am honest don't know if it was psychological but it really helped.

I feel for you hope it passes soon hun!!

Thank you @CR7 and @Vallef !

I used to have PCOS when I was younger and when I was in the emergency department the doctor asked me if I suffer with PCOS so maybe I’m still more inclined towards getting overstimulated.

The only strange thing is that it seems to flare up rather than progressively get better. It’s been about 2 and a bit weeks since I felt this way and now it seems to have come back. Will try to eat salty things to see if it helps and also have rang the clinic and waiting on them to get back to me. Just don’t want anything to compromise the pregnancy 🙏
thanks for your advice! x

Oh bless you! At my 12 week scan I still had a large follicle in my right ovary but the sonographer didn't seem overly worried about it. I would speak to your clinic if you are worried as they were the ones that did the stims so should be able to advise you best. It should have any effect on bubs though, just uncomfortable for you 😩

@FrostedFlake I agree with @gulph speak to your clinic as they got you on the meds so should be more suited to advise better maybe even better than the hospital who deal more with normal conception rather than ivf. It shouldn't harm your baby though so try not to stress more than is needed

Thank you @Vallef and @gulph that’s very reassuring!
I rang my clinic and they seem to be done with me as they said I was feeling fine on Thursday and it could be something different as they have signed me off and to go to the hospital.
Let’s see if they can give me something to relieve the symptoms but glad it doesn’t impact the baby ❤️

@FrostedFlake hope you are feeling better.

How is everyone? We are on holiday at the moment which is a very welcome break. I've been in the wars a bit lately, I've got a horrible chesty cough I can't shift, had a painful new cluster of varicose veins appear on my leg and to top it all off fell over yesterday and have a big gash on my knee!

Just over a week to go until my 20 week scan 😊

Things always do come in threes!!! The excitement of your next scan must definitely be pulling you through though I'm sure!

All well with me; no news really just ticking along nicely. Baby is the size of a peach now which always makes me smile as I love a peach!

My next nhs appointment is July 26 but I may book a cheeky private scan for two weeks time. They really do alleviate the anxiety even though they are only a snapshot in time. Also really glad I did my NIPT private as that has removed some of my other anxiety as I'm 42. No more midnight snacking which is good although I do need a minimum of two wees a night!

@Stopthatnoisemummy oh it does sound like your in the wars! However I hope your having a nice holiday!

just a week until my scan too it’s on Friday 14th I’m counting down the days knowing we have got halfway will be such a relief!!

few odd pains here and there with me like period pains I assume they are stretching pains again? Trying not to analyse everything!!

waiting to be able to feel movement but nothing yet have you felt anything? Everyone says it’s feels like bubbles but I have no idea what that feels like 😂

enjoy the rest of your hol xx

@BrownXeyes @Stopthatnoisemummy every twinge, pain, stitch, tweak and I'm like ooooo what is that and is it bad haha

I am getting lots of palpitations so I've booked in with my gp. I do feel weirdly reassured by them as I still have no symptoms so makes me feel like something is definitely happening.

Have you had this ladies? @gulph ? Xx

@CR7 I haven’t experienced palpitations however a stabbing pain every now and then in my boobs! Haha so no idea what that is! I am just waiting with bated breath to feel movement and I’m worried I won’t notice it! X

I reckon when it happens you won't be able to miss it! Xx

@Stopthatnoisemummy enjoy your hols hun and hope it heals quickly!my next scan is on Monday il be 14w+2d.

@BrownXeyes omg I've been having that every night it's been so painful it feels like my boobs are on bloody fire with a hundred knifes being stuck in. Horrible feeling :( if am lucky it passes within 30 min but there's been times its lasted longer I've literally had to resort to taking a bag of frozen peas out! So in regards to baby moving. I think you will be able to tell. I've been having bubble feelings for past week and abit but mine is my intestines as I also have constipation on my list. Apparently when baby starts moving snd kicking its exactly rhe same feeling to the point where at the beginning alot of mummy's think its gas rather than the baby lol

@FrostedFlake how are you feeling hun?

@CR7 how you feeling? I experienced palpitations between week 7 and 12 but at very random times it wasn't consistent and it hasn't happend again since I hit 12w. I was told by the doctor it was normal and due to the extra blood you pump around your body at the time I was experiencing it. Good to get it checked out though just to feel re assured :) you sre absolutely so lucky not to have any symptoms hun seriously I feel from the start of my pregnancy I've experienced every bloody symptom going. The boob things is the most painful at the moment and being constipated is bloody no fun either. Had to be prescribed milk of magnesium and to take suppositories at the start of the week as was having really bad pains which made me worried it was the babies but in the end its a form of colitis caused by not going to the toilet. So all fun fun! Talk about really suffering for motherhood lol. Have you started any vitamins yet? I've been given extra vitamin d and magnesium and probably will start iron as well next week. I've stopped the eostrogen tabs but still on progesterone which il be taking until the end apparently which Is another bummer as they are still zonking me out. Making it difficult with work when I take the afternoon tab. I ended up falling asleep and not being able to lift my head up for 2 hours yesterday.

@Vallef aww thank you and I know some people don’t feel their first baby until 24 weeks but I just think once I feel it move the anxiety might just calm right down. I keep getting trapped wind but it actually is trapped wind 😂no denying that! How exciting that you have a scan on Monday! I can’t believe I’m nearly halfway! I still don’t think I quite believe it!
oh you sound like your having it worse than me mine is like a minute then it’s gone! No idea what it’s from though. However the second trimester
constant sneezing and in turn weeing a little is a treat!!! 🤣 x

@Vallef I went to the chemist and got lactulose. I was very careful with how much I took. Just took it for a couple of days and haven't needed it since.

The palpitations are several times an hour so going to check. Google said it's totally normal but I just want to check to be sure.

I've been taking pregnancy supplements for years. Since we started trying really. I am switching up from Vita west to pregnacare max as it was on offer at boots so cost me 40£ for three months instead of £27 per month. Got no idea what difference they make but wasn't going to chance not taking them.

By Monday I will have finished my steroids and then only need asprin.

Maybe ask your doctor about lubion. I was on it because my body wasn't absorbing the progesterone from the pessaries. It is injections and they are a bit stingy but defo much easier xx

@BrownXeyes they say any time from 16 weeks but it is often much later if it's your first child.

A lady in one of the threads was saying she definitely felt it from 11 weeks and another lady hammered her saying

• you have gas. And is it's not gas then you're imagining it because blah blah blah something to do with your uterus.

Amazing how mean some people can be on MM

@CR7 oh wow really? Why do people feel the need to even comment if they can’t just comment in an acceptable way! honestly people hide behind keyboards don’t they!

well hopefully we shall see I’m just really hoping that once I start to feel movements my anxiety lays to rest where as at the moment I think i have shares in my local private scan clinic! 🤣

@BrownXeyes I've had two private scans but one was included in the NIPT. I would have one every two weeks but my husband wants me to try to relax ha! My next scan is at 16 weeks which is only a couple of weeks away. Feels like an age though xx

@CR7 im the same! Husband has been pretty
leniant with me and just said whatever you need to keep anxiety and stress low but I feel like at some point like you say it’s need to stop and just relax. So hopefully once we start getting movement it will. Aww I bet you can’t wait for the scan! Not
long to wait x

Hi everyone, I’m doing good. Thanks for asking @Stopthatnoisemummy @Vallef

The doctor did another ultrasound and I have a couple of 5cm cysts on each of my ovaries which are causing bloating and discomfort. it’s nothing to worry about unless it gets twisted so should be okay.

I have booked my midwife appointment for 12 weeks but I can’t get in with the doctor who will be looking after for the duration of the pregnancy until I’m 15 weeks as he is on holidays. Is there anything that I need to be mindful of that can only happen between week 12 and 15 and would the midwife’s do all of the checking of dates etc at my booking appointment? Just wish I didn’t have to wait about three weeks on top of that for the Dr.

Hope you have some lovely plans for the weekend x