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

That's great @FrostedFlake!

I didn't have any appointments between 12 weeks and 16 weeks. Had my 12 week scan and all the standard nhs tests at 12 weeks and then had a check up with my midwife at 16 weeks so I don't think you will be missing out on anything.

I've got a migraine today so I've been in bed most of the day and I have definitely been feeling baby move today 🥰 I'm 19 + 2. Can't wait for my 20 week scan to make sure everything is growing as planned. My hubby is desperate to feel baby move but knows it may be longer due to anterior placenta but doesn't stop him constantly having his hands on the bump 😂

@FrostedFlake I'm the same as @gulph - no one gets anything between 12 and 16 xx

@FrostedFlake am so glad to hear everything is well :) try not to worry now and just relax. The nurses/midwife will know what tests you need to do at 12w and you can always follow the nhs website as well they have a week by week section during pregnancy so might settle your mind reading up the info so if you have questions you can be prepared and ask them during your appointment.

@gulph ahhh I never realised what an anterior placenta means!! I have one of each according to my paperwork. Does this ever change/move do you know or is that it now for the duration of pregnancy? I do feel for the hubbi3s their so desperate to be part of it bless them. Mines been sticking his head on my tummy every night although I have told him is to early and he keeps saying I hear bubbles lol I haven't had the heart to tell him yeh that's probably me nothing else!! That's amazing you have started feeling it is it like butterfly feeling like we read or more different? 😀

20 week scan for me tomorrow 😬 time has flown by I can’t believe we are here already! So anxious about it, still have not felt any movement and have had period like pains over the weekend and now like a pressure in lower abdomen. I know these things can be normal, but I think the ivf process has made me so anxious 😕 hoping after tomorrow I can relax and enjoy remainder of this pregnancy and start to buy some things! X

@Hopewishprayer how exciting!
I am the same mine is Friday and I still haven’t felt movement just aches and stretching pains here and there and had that pressure feeling in my lower abdomen too. We have used a home Doppler to check the heartbeat which seems to be working however it’s saying the baby has gone from being on the left side 3 days ago to being on the right side now so hoping the bloody thing is working properly haha! Not sure wether they move that much at this point!
try not to be anxious I am sure everything will be fine and exciting if you are finding out what your having!! Keep us updated if sure it was be a lovely day for you xx

@BrownXeyes thank you! Yes keep telling myself odds are for once in our favour!! Which is a strange but amazing position to be in!
I think they do move around a lot at this point as they have so much space so probably your Doppler is working 😊
we were decided not to find out since this journey has not had lots of surprises and everything being so planned out - BUT last night DH mentioned maybe we should find out so now I’m swithering 🤣🙈

@Vallef I was told that it would unlikely 'flip' to the back but it tends to get higher up as the pregnancy goes along so it's out of the way just in case you need a c section!
I wouldn't say butterflies as much, more like someone pressing my belly in certain areas but can't quite make out what it is. I can feel it now whilst I type! It started with feeling like you are going over a hill and your tummy does that dropping feeling.

Im really worried about my scan on Friday! So silly at this point, but I think hearing horror stories has made me really nervous. We haven't had a scan since our 12 week scan and as I can feel movements, my fear is more linked to if they say the baby hasn't developed in some way that doesn't make it viable if that makes sense? No issues came up at the 12 week or at any of the tests but whether it is rational or irrational, who knows! I love this baby so much already and can't imagine having to say goodbye at this point. I think it's our ivf brains that will forever worry about the what ifs as it's such a battle to get to whatever point we are at.

@BrownXeyes which Doppler did you get in the end as we've only found a heartbeat once!

@Hopewishprayer aww it will be a nice surprise! You will have to let us know how you get on!

@gulph we got the one from mama Doppler however the first time we used it where we put gel on the Doppler it didn’t really work but then husband smothered my
stomach with gel and kept tilting and angling it and we found it twice - well if it’s working that is im not gonna use it now unless I feel I really need to otherwise I think it could get obsessive! Got my 20 week scan on Friday so I’m just hoping everything is ok. Like everyone is saying this is just pure IVF brain of not wanting to hope in case it all goes wrong x

So excited for Friday for you all ♥️♥️♥️

@Hopewishprayer and @gulph good luck on your scans so exciting!! Keep us updated :) am sure everything will be great it's such our ivf brains. I worked myself up so much for my scan just now and took a long breath out when I heard the heart beats and heads both facing down this time so clearly their busy flipping about all the time !! I think until they pop out it will be a worry and its because of everything we have all been through to get to this point so don't beat your self up at all!!!

@Vallef thank you! Glad all was well for your scan, it’s a shame the ivf process I feel takes away a lot of the joy of being pregnant, I haven’t fully let myself think about it too much as I’m so worried about something going wrong, anyway not too long now tomorrow lunchtime I have my appointment 😬💙💖

My friend said to me today.

Charlotte. You have spent years trying to get pregnant. Please try to enjoy it a little bit!!!

But it's hard. So hard not to worry when it's been such a long road. But I need to try xx

Amazing news @Vallef 😍😍

@Vallef great news. They have plenty of room to flip about at this stage! Hate to say it but once they pop out a whole new set of worries take over!

@Hopewishprayer good luck tomorrow. My scan is half 3 on Fri, going to be a loooong morning...

@Hopewishprayer I fully agree the IVF process is just a stress from start to finish. I keep seeing sappy msgs from my brother in law and his wife on FB how they have an uphill to climb with rhein 2 kids and as much as I love them I want to say you have to clue what uphill is. It's not making love and natural getting pregnant it's all the medication and the money and the being poked every other day until you get that positive and the egg collection process and the trf and then the waiting. No one fully understands.

@Stopthatnoisemummy @CR7 thank you :) gd luck on your scans soon!! My parents are visiting me in Greece on Friday so I can finally tell him as other than my mum and MIL no one else knows. Have a feeling my belly will be the deciding factor because over the past week my belly has really popped out!!

@Hopewishprayer good luck for today! Are you finding out what you are having? Xxx

@Vallef ahh that will be so lovely to share your news. Whereabouts in Greece are you?

@Stopthatnoisemummy well in Athens but now moved to somewhere called Saronida and its so beautiful and relaxing :) mins the bloody mosquitos and cockroaches. I will be booking to hopefully come back to the UK end of September I think. I have missed my home and dogs as I've been here since March when we started the process but just feel calmer here for the moment being.

@Hopewishprayer how did you get on yesterday? Hope everything went well xx

@Hopewishprayer hope everything went well! What do they do? I'm so nervous for Friday!

@gulph im nervous for my scan on Friday too I almost don’t want to go in case they give me bad news or something has gone wrong. X

@BrownXeyes exactly the same. Almost like not knowing and staying in my little pregnancy bubble is better than having to face up to something maybe being wrong! How stupid that after all this time, we just can't get over the fear.
In a horrible way, I'm glad it's not just me though! I thought I was being overly pessimistic! But sorry you are feeling the same! Xxxx

@gulph honestly I can’t enjoy being pregnant because I’m just waiting for something to go wrong - when people ask me about it I just shut down. I’m being awful about it I probably sound so ungrateful to people but I just don’t want to let myself get attached until that baby is safely in my arms! It’s just crazy like you say what the process and toll of IVF can do. I suppose you go into it with the mindset it won’t work just to save your feelings and it’s hard to get out of it x