ERA/Alice/Emma infertility thread graduates/pregnancies

[seven201]

If you are a regular on the infertility board you may have seen the ERA/Alice/Emma threads for those going through those tests after lots of unsuccessful IVF or recurrent losses. This thread is for the ladies from there who are now pregnant. We can share our worries and joys.

I am useless at remembering who is pregnant from which thread so please do add yourself or tag others. @Janefx40 and @Faithhopelove83.

Also, if anyone who has fully graduated/had their baby, then please feel free to join if you wish. I don't want to tag individuals as I don't want people to feel obliged.

If you've also just had lots of failed ivf and/or recurrent miscarriages you are of course welcome too!

A little bit about me. I have a naturally conceived nearly 7 year old dc. Have been trying for dc2 for 5 1/4 years. One natural early loss, 5 failed ivf, 3 surgeries (main one being an adhesion removed), 2 natural pregnancies and early losses, 1 ivf pregnancy that got to heartbeat stage. This pregnancy is a letrazole round and I'm 9+6 (although measuring 9+0 but that's been consistent) so due early November. I've been spotting brown for the past 3 days but my scan was this afternoon, so reassuring (although still worried). I'm under the CRP clinic in epsom due to the miscarriages.

Good luck to us all!

@Gardenlady543 oh no, I am so sorry to read this about your surrogate. How devastating. When is your scan?

@seven201 thanks, I know I was prepared after Friday, but Friday's news was so out of the blue, I didn't expect it at all. I booked in on Saturday for a private early viability scan for me, I think I will be 6+3 then, I am 5+5 today.

@Gardenlady543 ah that’s such terrible news about your surrogate - it does go to show that the BETA research isn’t 100% correct so whilst your doubling time might be slower it’s quite clearly not an exact science - have my fingers firmly crossed for your scan and have a really good feeling about it! Sending you hugs xx

Thankyou @AM08 I hope your feeling about my scan is right, I didn't expect this in the surrogate at all. At least I have done all the immune treatment to give myself the best shot.

@Gardenlady543 you have thrown everything at this pregnancy so keep the faith.

@seven201 @AM08 @Gardenlady543 Thank you for asking. It's been a weird one. When I get poorly, I normally get really (abnormally) poorly, but it's not been as bad this time. I've felt rotten, but it's probably now within what's normal. I think my immune system has previously been overreacting. Annoyingly, I felt I was getting better on Sunday, then got worse yesterday, so my intralipids today have been postponed until tomorrow - they can't do Thurs and we don't want to do Friday as we're travelling to go on holiday (UK).

Update from me: My dating scan yesterday went well. It was an immensely difficult day, but we had a lovely sonographer and all was well with baby. Measuring 2 days ahead, so EDD is now 1st December.

@seven201 When is your EDD?

@Gardenlady543 Really sorry about your surrogate pregnancy loss and the additional anxiety this must be causing in the lead-up to your own scan. I really hope everything goes well for you on Saturday x

@Faithhopelove83 I've been feeling a bit ill on and off, I was feeling really hot yesterday, my thermometer sucks so I don't know how accurate it was but it suggested my temperature is normal. It does make me worry if it's some kind of sign of a immune reaction, but then I guess I can't do anything else, I'm on all the right treatment.

Had a bit of a freak out today, with what happened to our surrogate, it is just the worst thing that could happen when it comes to the anxiety I was already feeling. My only symptoms seem to be breast changes that come and go and a hypersensitive sense of smell, one of my dogs is near me and I've come to the impression that she absolutely stinks, I think I would normally tune this out. I decided to do reassurance urine tests and they look as I expect them to look by now (22dp5dt), so just need to wait out Saturday now.

Oh God so I just had the worst update, the clinic had stopped all medication on Friday in our surrogate without telling me. I only found out as I asked for a repeat Progesteone level yesterday and it came back very low. So basically they told me there was still hope and I spent the whole weekend being reassured by friends that it could be the loss of a twin and still viable and based on one beta result, a decision was made which effectively terminated what might have been a viable pregnancy. I'm just so shocked by all of this, I cannot believe all medication was stopped without me being informed. It's just a shit situation to be in as this is making me angry and upset and that's the absolute last thing I need right now :(

@Gardenlady543 omg that is so crazy! I’m so so sorry to hear that’s happened, it’s just ridiculous that they left you with hope whilst stopping the medication on Friday meaning that there wasn’t really a point to the weekend of anxiety/ the anxiety of the scan on Monday.

Argh, I feel like your pregnancy is the one you can control and I know it’s going to be really really difficult but you need to dig deep and try and find some calm, but also don’t be harsh on yourself if your stressed, it doesn’t mean you will lose your pregnancy, lots of women have lots of stress early pregnancy with things like bleeding or thing that I had at 5.5 weeks and all is ok and they go on to have a healthy pregnancy xxx

@Gardenlady543 Sorry to hear you're not feeling well either. Feeling ill/hot could be pregnancy symptoms though. Ah yes, the heightened smell! I had that for a bit, but it's settled now.
So very sorry you've had more upset from your clinic. They shouldn't have withdraw the meds without your consent. I can imagine how angry and upset you must be. Try hard to focus on your pregnancy and do whatever you can to get through the next 4 days to scan day. Really hoping you get good news and reassurance then x

Thanks guys, yeah didn't expect this today at all :( I have an appointment with my psychologist tomorrow so will talk it through with them. I think they will get me to focus on my own situation and help me see the positives, that if things go well in me it will be a lot less stressful for me to give birth in the UK. But obviously devastating to lose what looked like an excellent prognosis pregnancy and puts a lot more pressure on me, today was going to be the heart beat scan, and in the space of 3 days it is all over.

@Faithhopelove83 I'm glad that your dating scan went well but I'm sorry it was difficult. A December baby! My nhs due date is 9th nov but prof A (who I trust more) put it as 7th. Sorry that you're still poorly - I hope the intralipids can go ahead tomorrow. Have a lovely holiday!

@Gardenlady543 I'm so sorry to read your update. How upsetting to learn that. I'm glad you have a psychologist session tomorrow. Focusing on you and your pregnancy now is a sensible plan.

The tiredness from the anaemia is really getting to me. I need to iron tablets to start doing their thing as I'm pretty useless most days!

@seven201 hope you start to feel less tired and the iron supplement starts kicking in for you asap. Has your anaemia gotten a lot worse with pregnancy? I’ve been told to expect mine to get worse - what have they given you medication wise for it? For now I’m just on pregnecare but I’ll need to increase at some point.

@seven201 ah I’m so glad your scan went well and lovely to have a proper due date to look forward too. Online mine says the 4th of jan but know that can change. I hope you’re all good for your intralipids tomorrow before you have your hols.

@Gardenlady543 so funny about your dogs smell, my sense of smell has gone a bit crazy too. Glad you have a therapy appointment tomorrow and every day is that bit closer to your scan.

@AM08 I'm not usually anaemic, although I was in my pregnancy with dd. I'm on 200mg x 3 a day of ferrous sulphate, which I think is the standard dose. I read online it takes between 1-4 weeks to feel a difference, so hopefully that will happen soonish. Mine's prescribed but you can also buy it over the counter. Do keep an eye on your levels.

@seven201 makes sense, hoping that all kicks in for you soon and your energy levels perk up.

I’m feeling pretty rubbish, like nothing extreme but quite sickly, very random food likes and dislikes, strong sense of smell and always tired - just need to remember that this is what I wished for 😂😂 I’m 8 weeks Friday, every week does feel like a milestone

How's everyone doing?

@Faithhopelove83 how are you feeling and did you get the intralipids earlier in the week?

@Gardenlady543 good luck for tomorrow.

I had my professor Akolekar scan and the fibroid hasn't grown and the blood clot seems to have gone. Baby looking good too so I don't need to see him again.

@seven201 you've got to see the baby a lot recently! Glad everything went well.

Really hoping my scan goes well tomorrow, I don't have many symptoms but I hear that steroids can suppress them, especially sickness as it's used as a treatment in severe morning sickness.

@Gardenlady543 yes I have! Getting fed up with the millions of appts. I like the seeing the baby ones of course!

I didn't have any symptoms (except tiredness and in this one slightly sore nipples) in any of my pregnancies, including dd, so don't worry about that. Will be thinking of you tomorrow.

@Gardenlady543 good luck tomorrow. Will be thinking of you

@seven201 glad prof Akolekar gave you the all clear. I honestly think he's the best professional I've seen across all of the different treatment I have done.

@Janefx40 he is really good and Dr Olivia who did the appt with him is lovely. How are you and baby boy doing? How is it being a family of four?

Did you have the cervical length scan? I had my 16 week appt with dr edge and she said I needed to book in for a cervical length scan at 20 weeks as it can help prevent late miscarriage (I don't think I have risk factors for cervical issues). I thought 16 weeks was the last appt so was a bit surprised but booked it anyway as no one wants to risk a late miscarriage. I think I'll just go anyway, Just curious if most people do it

@seven201 yes I did have it although also low risk but I wanted to be thorough. I also did a 22 week scan with Prof A mostly just for interest. My NHS 20 week scan was a bit crap - just bad luck as I know someone on the sonography team and we just got allocated someone who doesn't explain stuff.

Little boy got weighed yesterday on day 10 and has lost weight since day 5. Am totally gutted as I thought breastfeeding was going well this time. Now I'm back into the cycle of pumping and being prodded by professionals that I was in with my daughter. Have been feeling really rubbish about it all

@Janefx40 thank you for that. Sorry you had a rubbish nhs sonographer - I don't think some realise how important their job is to reassure the parents.

Sorry about the weight. My dd did the same and eventually weight got so low I had to start giving her formula as well as breast milk. I was gutted, but looking back I don't really know why. Looking at photos she was very chunky when she was born but at about one month she looked really skinny, but I just didn't realise at the time, so adding in formula was right for us. Good luck with the pumping.

When picking up my dd yesterday a fellow mum asked me if the baby was planned. I didn't think anyone actually asked that question in real life!. I just told her yes and that is was a great question! She is South African and I think they're just more blunt than Brits. It's really tickled me.

Good news guys, scan went went, I think I'm 6+3, they measured up to 6+2 but the technician said this is fine and there was a strong flicker of a fast heart beat. I only expect bad news, didn't expect this to go so well!!

@Gardenlady543 oh my goodness, that's amazing news!!!!!!!! Woweee. Let it sink in. What did DH say?