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

@UrbanParakeet DREADING IT. They will try to take all my clients away. I am a good size 12
At the moment side due to steroids so I reckon I can hid it for a while if I get to there.

Thanks for the reassurance I really appreciate it! I have booked a blood test for £39 tomorrow which will take a few days for the results to come back
And then I'll book a second one for Tuesday just to make sure numbers are heading in the right direction. I've never had a positive before so this is a whole new world of unknowns and new worries (absolutely not complaining after a four year journey BTW!) there's a load of talk on the threads I'm on about blood tests. My consultant said I don't need one providing I'm not bleeding but I decided to treat myself as I didn't test during the 2ww so I've saved some imaginary money 🤓

@CR7 you made me laugh with the imaginary money thing thanks lol!! Least we can provide some comedy for each other amongst other things!

@UrbanParakeet that's soooo exciting! I think you can get away with not telling them until your 4 months but maybe have a look to see what your work policy is. I think for example mine says I need to tell them 16 weeks before giving birth whatever that works out to. Each company has a diff policy I assume but maybe some flowy tops can help in the meantime if you can in your line of work?

Hey, I had a private scan this evening at 10+6 and everything looked great, couldn’t believe the difference vs 3 weeks ago!
although it’s very reassuring I’m now worrying because baby is measuring 4 days ahead, they said that’s completely normal but of course I’m now obessing over it - anyone had a similar experience? X

@UrbanParakeet really exciting you have a bump already! Time to invest in some baggy tops if you want to hide it.
@CR7 where did you book the blood tests? Tempted to do the same just to get me through to my scan next week (though no imaginary money, but at this stage it pales into insignificance compared to our IVF bums ha No more blood today thank god and overwhelming nausea this eve so hoping that’s a good thing.
@Hopewishprayer thats great news! I can’t see that there would be any issues with measuring ahead. It’s not an exact science. Obv not quite the same but with my DS they told me he would have a giant head (and I agreed to have a c section as a result) and it turned out to be perfectly proportioned 🥰

IVF bills! Not bums 🤣

@LottSE20 at a private clinic in Manchester x let me know if you are local and I'll send the details

@CR7 I paid privately for a scan with Window to the Womb the first one was £80 I have another booked in next week which is £67 at the same place. I’m in the northeast but I think their prices are similar nationally and they offer scans from 6 weeks I think.

@UrbanParakeet i have actually already told work purely because I work in healthcare and could be classed as a risk going into care homes. Work have been fantastic and are just saying anything I need just to let them know. Pretty lucky!

Ladies I'm having no symptoms at all. Today according to clinic is exactly five weeks. I had my OTD several days ago and confirmed the positive results with four tests. Silly me ha!

What I have had for the last week is an absolutely raging hunger in the middle of the night which is keeping me awake. The thought of going downstairs and making a snack and then trying to sleep on a full stomach doesn't sit well with me but last night I almost couldn't breathe with hunger. I am eating a proper dinner as I always do. Anyone had this? If so what do you eat to remove the hunger but also be able to sleep after xx

@CR7 I’ve definitely heard others talk about that as a symptom. Have you tried something light like a cracker? Or warm drink? I am getting quite bad nausea in the evenings and I find drinking and eating makes it go away.

@LottSE20 I've tried nothing as yet as desperately trying to will myself back to sleep but maybe a cup of tea and a cracker is a good idea. I can't have another night like last night.

Because I've cut the junk food out of my diet since transfer, I've actually lost 3 pounds since transfer day. I normally weigh myself every other week but couldn't face it as I feel ginormous from all the steroids and extra drugs I'm on (and also I didn't plan to give a toss about my weight if I was lucky enough to get pregnant - I'm a curvy size 12 and happy about it) but this morning after I cleaned my teeth I just stepped on the scales out of habit and was pleasantly surprised. Food is my weakness (I don't drink) but obviously cutting out the takeaways and processed food has made a small difference.

@CR7 i had awful nausea from 5 weeks until now - am 9 weeks and it seems to be easing off. I didn’t throw up thankfully as I think the steroids do a lot to dampen down the symptoms but I felt like it constantly, like being hungover without the party the night before!

I realised I had to eat it through it. I generally snack on fruit, crackers, crisps and other boring kiddy food things to get me through. I put on 3kg in 2 weeks because I went from only really eating 2 meals a day to 3 square meals plus constant snacking in between with zero exercise because I feel so tired and sick.

Do what you need to in order to get through. I felt so rough I would even sometimes eat a sandwich at 11pm and feel much better for it. Just listen to your body, even if it’s telling you to do mad things that non-pregnant you wouldn’t dream of!

@graygoose thank you so much for your kind words. I've been through the mill for the last four years trying to get pregnant and my third cycle of ivf has finally done the trick!

I imagined I would feel different and I really feel exactly the same apart from this weird hunger. I googled and morning sickness usually kicks in around week six (next week for me). I am being kind to myself just need to be more kind in the middle of the night it seems 😂😂

@CR7 i have taken to going to bed at like 12.30 as i take my last progesterone pills around 12ish so around 10pm I have something to eat. Yesterday like a pig I made a wrap with cheese turkey boiled egg tomato avocado and cucumber and omg it was so nice lol that stops the night time cravings for me. But like you since transfer in the hope it would help and to be a healthy mummy for hopefully the bean I cut out all the snacking and junk and I actually have lost 6 pounds (probably because am a curvy 14 so can afford to lose more) I was worried that it might not be healthy though? I did read online first trimester is the only time you can lose weight and not affect the baby.

Does anyone else have any thoughts on this topic? I find no one really talks about nutrition and reliying on the Internet isn't that great!

Thank you @Vallef ! I don't know if I could go to bed so late but I could defo try to have a snack later on in the evening so I will try that tonight and keep you posted xx

Ladies is the cramping at 5w+5d normal with some dark red blood when I wipe? Am triying not to stress again but everytime I settle down after a couple of days something happens to make me feel somethings wrong again. How did you handle the cramps?

@Vallef sorry that you’re worrying again. I am definitely getting cramping - not really painful but frequently during the day. I remember that from my first pregnancy too but it really is normal. In terms of the bleeding i think provided it’s not getting heavier it should be fine. But I know how hard it is to keep your mind quiet x

@LottSE20 thank you for the re assurance and that the cramps are normal. I think their more uncomfortable not painful painful. It was spotting really and its turned brown again thankfully. Just hate this roller coaster. Was hoping someone would say eventually gets easier lol

@Vallef at 6 weeks I had brown spotting and cramps which paracetemol wouldn’t touch I went
for a scan at my ivf clinic and they scanned and everything was fine. They said the pains were stretching pains but because I have scar tissue from a previous eptopic it won’t stretch as
well so to expect this throughout, do you have scar tissue? As it could be similar?x

@BrownXeyes that makes sense actually. I was having hysteroscopies every 3 months for 3 years and I was told all the scratching could cause scared tissue in the womb so maybe it could be that? Had an uncomfortable night this morning I passed abit of brown goo and seem to feel better. Hope it's all OK every time I see goo I panic. What's started since yesterday as well is this slight burning sensation in my chest and a feeling of am going to puke and I can't decide which sensation it actually is. Am having to hold in my tantrums from frustration of not even being able to identify what the heck am feeling lol am even starting to wonder of its psychological as I read nausea starts at 6 weeks.

@MrsBF77 we haven't heard from you in a while and was wondering how you are? X

@Vallef yes it might be worth mentioning when you see someone because I genuinely thought I was miscarrying because of the pain. when they said it to us both me and my husband had a lightbulb moment and was like that makes complete sense! Not sure with nausea I think everyone is different - I remember my sister feeling sick with her pregnancy from week 4-8 then she was fine I have suffered since 5weeks and it’s still not gone at 10 weeks so I think everyone is different and if you are putting hormones into you as well that won’t help with different symptoms xx

Does anyone else pass brownish/black clumps of gooey stuff out of curiosity? Just had some again 2nd time today and my minds going to the worst

I started bleeding on the plane home last night and epu saw me this morning. All is fine and said there's a small bleed near the babies sac? So I may bleed on and off and to keep amn eye and go back if it's worse. Have 12 week scan next week so they can check again then. I'm also back on the cyclones twice a day....yay

have done some latenight googling on it and apparently bleeding due to haematoma in ealy pregnancy is more common in ivf pregnancies , and I know a fair few of us have had bleeding before 12 weeks