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 like you said, you have done all that you can - let’s hope they do the right thing. Please try to not stress too much about the pregnancy - I had so so much stress through the whole blood thinner debacle but the scans after have been great (I know I don’t have a baby yet) but I think the embryo/fetus’s are pretty resilient to stress

So surprisingly they actually came back and said they considered it and I can stay with my original manager, I didn't actually think this was an option and thought my best option was to ask for the alternative, they said this would be temporary until I transition to maternity, which I mean is an age off and I would need things to keep going well. The only issue is the manager who made this decision refused to change it yesterday and is now on holiday and will be told next week that this decision has been made. I have it in writing so I would hope they don't reverse it. For now it seems to be resolved but at the expense of 36 hours crying :(

@Gardenlady543 great result, I doubt they will change their mind - they won’t want any legal issues with someone who is pregnant where they can avoid it and the manager will have to get onboard - try and get some rest tonight and tomorrow is a new day x

@Gardenlady543 great news!! Well done for advocating for yourself. You are amazing. What a relief!

Thanks guys, I definitely had a long sleep after that, what a pointless load of stress for 2 days for no reason. :(

Sorry you've had all this to deal with @Gardenlady543 but I'm glad it's been resolved for now.

Thanks @seven201 ❤️

We had the booking with the midwife this morning and she was lovely. I printed off my history. She said I will have consultant led care. She also gave me her number which she said she isn't supposed to do and told me to call if I'm worried. She offered the nipt but they don't tell people the sex and that's the main thing I want to know really! (I'm impatient) so I will send off my private one next week. I have my repeat LAD test back and the levels look good, just waiting on another test before I speak to Dr Gorgy again about the next step of the plan and I have another private scan booked for Sunday. :)

Anyone got any important appointments coming up?

@Gardenlady543 so glad it went well and you like her. Also glad your LADs are looking good.

Our next appointment is another weigh in on Tuesday but also is looking huge so am feeling hopeful he has gained weight. Sorry that isn't a pregnancy appt. Let me know if you want me to not talk about Leo on here. Not sure if it brings hope or seems insensitive!

@Janefx40 it's fine by me :) sounds like you should have a good appointment!

I just got my Th1/Th2 back as well, I've only had this done once before in early 2022 when it was normal. Both values are in range so I guess it's normal again. I have booked my appointment with Dr Gorgy on Tuesday so he'll tell me what to do next then I hope.

@Janefx40 its really lovely hearing your updates, glad he’s gained weight!

I have my 12 week scan on Thursday, it’s been a few weeks since my 9 week scan so I’m feeling a little nervous.

This question is a bit TMI but I’m still on 2 crinone gels a day until 12 weeks then 1 a day until 14 weeks - I have found it difficult to be intimate with DH and not pleasant with the crinone gel remnants down there - we’re going on holiday a couple days after the 12 week scan, do you think it’s too late to switch to back door use of it?

@AM08 I've seen people stop Progesteone from 10 weeks. My clinic want me to stop at 12 but Dr Gorgy wants me to stop PIO at 12 weeks and then cyclogest at 14 weeks. So I think if the blood level changes at the time your at, it probably won't have much impact. Can you use this type of progesterone rectally? I'm not familiar with this preparation.

I've had some weird discharge today, like solid stick jelly like mucus looking. Only a small amount, I'm hoping it was to do like a probiotic I put in last night but I haven't had it before that I can remember. I have my scan 10:30 tomorrow so I guess I'll just see how that goes, I'm a bit worried as I was so distressed earlier this week.

@Gardenlady543 good luck for the scan. I doubt the mucus is anything of concern and really the stress is fine too. Those little beans are fairly resilient.

@AM08 I've never used crinone but cyclogest you could switch how/where you insert it without any concern. It's just a different way to absorb it. You could always ask your clinic if you are concerned about it.

@AM08 and good luck for 12 week scan!!

Thanks re Thursday scan, weirdly we’re both the most nervous we’ve been for this one but just hoping things are ticking along nicely!

I will call the clinic regarding the crinone tomorrow - just feel like I want to get back to some normality, particularly with a holiday coming up.

@Gardenlady543 best of luck with the scan today - how many weeks are you now?

Thanks @Janefx40 ❤️

Best of luck @AM08 how long would have been before the last scan you had? I think this time is the hardest as symptoms ease.

I'm 9+4 scan went well I was a bit worried about the shape of the gestational sac but the technician said it's the amniotic sac that's the most important and that looked fine. I got various measurements biggest was 10 weeks so that brings my due date forward.

Baby was having a wiggle on the scan, it's here if people want to see imgur.com/a/81m8IJV

@Gardenlady543 what a lovey little video!! Having a lovey wiggly time there.

@AM08 if crib one can be inserted either way I'd just switch. I only do cyclogest rectally, as I find it annoying vaginally.

@Janefx40 excellent that Leo is looking bigger! I think definitely nice to have your updates on this thread.

No exciting appts for me this week. Got my glucose tolerance test tomorrow so I need to remember not to eat or drink. My nhs 20 week scan is next Monday.

@seven201 not long to go until that scan! How are you feeling? I'm really tired, just went out to the garden to do a really minor job and now out of breath and worn out, will this get better soon?

The first trimester is really tiring @Gardenlady543 , especially in the heat! It does get better. My issue is I can't climb stairs without getting breathless. I have some lessons two storeys up and I'm really struggling to make it up there (need a break half way up and when at the top), which is ridiculous at 19 1/2 weeks!

@Gardenlady543 what a lovely scan to have - so cute! Are you feeling a bit less anxious now? I had my last scan at 9 weeks so by Thursday it will have been 3 weeks without one - feeling quite nervous but going to try to keep busy! Symptoms all still here so hoping it’s all ok.

@seven201 will message clinic this morning but have heard so many people do the pessaries rectally, I feel it’s the way to go. How is your bump now? Any more obvious? It sounds like your doing pretty well fitness wise, obv not ideal about the steps but sounds like your keeping fairly active

@AM08 hope you get a good response from your clinic.

My bump is growing. The cleaner at work said I already look like a whale! I've had less movement the past few days, but trying (and failing) to not overthink it as I'm too early for there to be a pattern, and my placenta is at the front.

@seven201 can the school base you on the ground floor, I know schools tends to be a bit funny about that but they may allow it if it's temporary.

@AM08 you're a trooper for lasting 3 weeks, I am probably doing far too many scans though. It's just hard at this time. I hope everything will look great at 12 weeks.

@Gardenlady543 I love this scan! Your baby is a wriggler!!

@seven201 it's normal to feel tired. There's a lot going on in there plus the heat doesn't help

@AM08 let us know what the clinic say

X

@Gardenlady543 I've put on my risk assessment that I'll ask for a lift key if needed as I want to try and . Also asked to not have a tutor group on higher floors next academic year, so hoping they do that.

Just had a very embarrassing appt for my glucose tolerance test. I have a weird phobia of citrus fruit and the drink is orange flavoured. Last time I did this 7 years ago they gave me a plain but yucky flavoured one instead but now only have orange. I burst into tears when she told me. I haven't cried in any of my one million medical appts over the past 5 1/2 years, yet cried in this one! Not just a few tears, proper snotty crying. I did manage to drink it though. Now I have to wait around for 2 hrs before next blood test. I'm still a bit teary in the waiting room. Feel so silly!

@seven201 ah you poor thing. Mine wasn't orange coloured but it does taste of citrus. Lime I think. Sorry it was upsetting! You're entitled to a cry after all this time even if it is at an orange drink!