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!

I’ve got some catching up to do here but just wanted to say @Gardenlady543 I’m sorry you’ve had a stressful day and there are a few things concerning you. Hope you get more reassurance on Tuesday

@Gardenlady543 sorry things have been so stressful, on our 16 week scan the femur length was a bit under the 50th percentile which I was a bit surprised at as DH is tall and I’m shortish but have long legs but by the 20th week it has caught up and was at the 50th mark and the sonographer did say at this stage a lot can change or be down to the babies angle when they scan, she also mentioned sometimes femur length might just be that the baby might be slightly shorter than average if the parents are shorter. Did they offer any type of rescan or what are next steps?

@AM08 this was my 20 week scan though and it was 21st centile :( me and DH are both tall so it's a bit strange. Other things were 50th centile. Baby's weight m was low though which is weird as I've gained quite a lot of weight.

Thanks @Spin101 and for myself all worked up and didn't sleep last night.

Have bought first class rail tickets at least for my trip to London on Tuesday.

@Gardenlady543 I’m sorry the NK results and the scan were so worrying. Did Dr Gorgy say anything else about why you should be concerned? You will be in the best hands with him and even if it does mean more regular IVIG hopefully with being halfway there that’s manageable like you say. I’m really sorry I don’t know about the femur length but if they say they only worry under a certain amount then that is positive for your figure (I know it’s so so hard to trust that though). When are you having your next ultrasound direct scan? Would they be able to advise? Or whilst you are in London could you have an anomaly scan with the Birth Company for a second opinion? They are close to Dr Gorgy I think and very good. Good plan on the first class-anything to make it more relaxing. x

@Gardenlady543 my baby is on the lower end for femur on 12, 16 and 20 week scan but as she's on the chart I've not worried about if. We're both average height. The lowest one on the chart we have is the doppler cord one and that does worry me given my pre-eclampsia last time. I'm seeing my consultant on Thursday so at least can ask him then. So sorry about the NK cells but Dr Gorgy is definitely the person to be under for this. Sorry it causes more worry and more IVIG! I've not had mine re-tested since a year pre-pregnancy. Sorry about shitty work too.

@Jellybelly56 what great news! I found the NIPT test wait the absolute hardest (but I did have to have re-tests) so that's a really big milestone and great that the scan measurements have caught up.

@Janefx40 great about Leo getting some sleep. I remember those days of jerking awake while sat on the sofa (as dd only slept upright) and then realising there's a sleeping baby on you and feeling terrified! So if co-sleeping is helping then that is the right solution for now.

@Jellybelly56 he didn't really say much other than it's best to have IvIg. I think Dr Gorgy will do a Doppler of the uterine artery when I am there on Tuesday and then I have my ultrasound direct scan on Saturday. They said if I wanted images at my NHS scan I would have to pay, the images didn't look good and I prefer the videos anyway. It's a bit stressful as I like to watch the videos to keep me calm.

Thanks @seven201 some people say immune stuff doesn't mean that much at this point but then there are people in the immune group with second trimester losses. So I just want to do whatever Dr Gorgy says is best. I didn't sleep Friday night because of the stress of it all, but did get a good nights sleep last night and I guess there is nothing more I can do until Tuesday now.

@Gardenlady543 glad you got a good night’s sleep, you are in the very best hands with Dr Gorgy and hopefully he’ll give y you some reassurance and a plan. Then it won’t be long to wait until your Saturday scan (although I say that appreciating how each day does drag!). Is it a morning or afternoon appt with him tomorrow? You seem like you have a very good approach in how you view things outside your control, I wish I was as measured as you. I keep loading up my Kindle with more crime books to keep myself distracted! I have also run out of Haribo so am going to try your suggestions. I was really sad when Woolworths shut as loved their pic n mix , I hope they don’t do the same with Wilko’s too. As a ‘treat’ drink I like the Lucozade Zero pink lemonade. God knows what’s in it but it’s refreshing!!

I have booked another scan for Wednesday as I don’t think the NHS one will come through for a while given I only self-referred at the weekend. I should be 12+2 by then. My boobs aren’t sore this morning so I’m already panicking something has gone wrong since my scan last Thursday and wondering if I should move it forward but equally I know I can’t live that way the whole time. Surely that would be really bad luck for the heartbeat to stop in the four days after good NIPT results and the best scan so far? I thought I would be more relieved/reassured than I am but instead I realise my anxiety just finds something new to cling onto. Were you guys like this or is it just me? I am seeing a counsellor I’m just not sure if she’s the right fit as it hasn’t really helped. Has anyone tried hypnotherapy?
In my head I just want to get over the 12 week mark. Although the sonographer did say a 11+3 scan and good NIPT was effectively the same as getting to 12. Sorry I am rambling! Hope everyone enjoys some sun today. xx

@Jellybelly56 oh I think you'd think I'm less measured if you looked at my google searches! Distraction is a great strategy, I have taken up so many crafts, but then I get worried about harm from chemicals etc, at the moment I'm trying to make something from the vials I saved. But DH has told me to stop as it involves 99% isopropyl alcohol and he's worried about the fumes from it. I really hope Wilkos don't close, I have seen videos of empty pick and mix, I think people have cleared it out :(

Nothing happens at 12 weeks, the risk just goes down all the time. I was told the technician at my clinic did some research and found a scan with a good heart beat at 8 weeks is as good as 12 weeks. Have you tried datayze.com/miscarriage-reassurer

I found that I would constantly change goal posts, as soon as I got to 12 weeks, I thought I'll feel better at 20 weeks, now I got there I want to be at 24 weeks, it never ends!

@Jellybelly56 i’m so sorry to hear your feeling so anxious. I had an incident with the NHS prescribing me medication (in error) early in the pregnancy which could have caused issues with the baby so had quite a bit of anxiety between scans. What I’d try and remind yourself of is that you’ve cleared 2 of the biggest hurdles with the heartbeat scan and the NIPT test. For me what helped was deciding when I would book scans throughout the pregnancy to give reassurance, and in the time in between the scans I have decided that I'm going to enjoy every moment of being pregnant and with my baby regardless of the outcome. This won’t work for everyone but it’s how I’ve managed anxiety so far.

@Gardenlady543 glad your feeling a bit better about things and trying to find distraction

This is a big first world problem, but sharing in case anyone has any advice. Me and DH have a trip booked on Wednesday for our babymoon (2 hour flight). He’s been quite sniffely since Friday and yesterday took a bit of a turn for the worse and had a bad head and sore throat (covid test is negative)
I have been with him since Friday until this morning and have felt ok, like 5% unwell but wonder if it’s in my head. He’s going to stay elsewhere tonight and potentially tomorrow night but I’m a bit scared I could catch whatever he has at a later time and then be ill abroad.
I think the sensible thing would be to try and get a doctors note tomorrow just in case I’m ill tomorrow evening/weds morning and then take a call but it all feels a bit high stakes. Any advice?

So I went down for my day in London, they told me on Friday that they’re sure they can do the scan while I’m there but they are only able to do scans up until 13 week, so they booked me in down the road and by the time is gone there and come back I was put on the IvIg it was quite late. I did get to see the baby who is fine and the uterine Doppler was fine too. Unfortunately I was worried about missing my train and so asked them to speed up the infusion, I got really hot and started vomiting. I felt awful as there were other patients by me, I had luckily given enough warning for the nurse to grab a vomit bowl. I’m now on my way back and feeling rough, really lethargic, I just want to go home and go to bed. They had told me if my scan was fine I just needed 1 x IvIg but he then said I should do another in 4 weeks, in 4 weeks I will be 24 weeks at the point of viability and I don’t feel I can do this again. It’s not just the treatment but the actual journey, I’ve really struggled and all it’s done is caused a lot of stress.

@AM08 how I feel sat on a train for 2 hours right now, I honestly would get the info you need in case you have to cancel, I can't get comfortable and I feel so rough and I just want to get home. If you're feeling well enough then you could go though.

@Gardenlady543 that sounds like such a difficult experience to go through, I hope the journey home wasn’t too bad and your feeling better now

We have cancelled our trip, DH is feeling worse today and it felt like we were cutting it too fine, a bit gutted but will book something else and hopefully the travel insurance comes through

@Gardenlady543 sorry your felt rubbish. How are you now? BTW I've alga's odd measurements at scans. Both mine had huge stomachs and Leo's head was over 99th centile. He seems normal enough now he's here! It's hard not to worry but measurements do vary and it is usually fine x

@AM08 good call - it's a shame but if it's become a stress then better to rebook.

@AM08 honestly with what I'm seeing in the news with flights right now, I think you've made the best decision, especially if your partner isn't feeling 100%. I had really wanted to go away for a week in September but I don't think we're going to go. Firstly I'm too stressed and feel more comfortable being close to the people who can help me if needed and secondly my husband has a bulged disc in his lower back and has been getting worse over the last few months. Think I'll just be staying here.

@Janefx40 I had some more vomiting before bed but did manage to get off to sleep ok. I'm not feeling 100% but think I'm better than yesterday. I need to mull over what to do now. Dr Gorgy recommended another IvIg in 4 weeks but said I could do intralipids instead and I'm not sure what to do, does it really matter that much at 24 weeks especially when all the scans and the Doppler of the artery look good.

@Gardenlady543 how are you feeling now? Sounds stressful.

@AM08 so sorry about your holiday.

@Jellybelly56 sorry you're feeling the anxiety. I don't know really; might be worth trying a different counsellor. Or if it's really bad anxiety meds? You have reached a really good point to get past pregnancy wise.

Not much news from me. I'm 30 weeks today and just had my anti D injection. Got my flu vaccine booked for in a few weeks and the midwife said I should also be offered a covid vaccine at some point. Still on the hunt for some cheap work shoes that will fit on my swollen feet

@seven201 so I swear by Clark's Sillian Paz which has been discontinued (boooo) but you can still get them from Amazon and eBay. I have wide feet and manage with the normal width but you could try the wide version?

They have some wide ones here, with the prices massively varying between the different sizes for some reason:

Clarks Women's Sillian Paz Slip-On Loafer amzn.eu/d/21daS3C

I like these as they have soft insoles, although I have removed them to put my orthotic inserts in (as I'm really cool like that). They are also fabric, so nice and soft round the feet. These were highly recommended by vegan nurses who are on their feet for 12 hour shifts.

Otherwise you could try going into Clarks, they won't have these but they have good options for wide feet. Hotter shoes are also known for accommodating wide feet.

I am doing ok, I may win the competition for most scans in a short period of time having had my 20 week scan on Friday, my scan with Doppler on Tuesday and my ultrasound direct scan is on Saturday. The only potential movements I feel are upper abdomen which is weird as I am just past 20 weeks so the top of my uterus should be at belly button level. The sonography on Tuesday did say my anterior placenta is low down and so maybe things are transmitting, she told me there aren't any rules to this. Every scan I have they comment on how much the baby is moving about which I expect is a good sign. Just got my MAT1B form which was a struggle, so will be formally filling in work stuff soon. And my dad is coming at the weekend to hang up the pink bunny wall paper on a wall in what will be the nursery (goodbye dressing room).

I've just tested positive for Covid :( was just feeling a bit achy, congested, cough, headache only really started today. Never had it before.

@Gardenlady543 oh no, it’s really going around again! I hope you feel better soon! What a pain! I did a test today and negative but feeling rubbish. It’s good they are saying that there is lots of movements during your scans. With your anterior placenta being quite low down, did they mention wanting to see you at 28 weeks to take another look? I’m in the same situation and they mentioned reviewing my placenta again then and potentially needing a c section.

Very glad I didn’t go on the holiday, today I seem to be feeling a lot worse so glad I’m not away now - there are so many horrid bugs going around atm, feels like it’s going to be another year like last year where people were ill none stop.

@AM08 you know aside from the IvIg making me feel a bit off on Tuesday I was feeling fine until about 5pm was on a teams call and was feeling unwell all came on quite suddenly. Did a covid test just in case and it lit up. When I took the train to London a guy got on and sat on the chair across the aisle from me coughing and I jumped up and moved to the end of the carriage straight away, there's been more in the media since about this new strain, had I known that I would have worn a ffp3. I'm in bed now. Sorry to hear you're still feeling off but glad you are home where you can be comfortable. During the anomaly scan she actually said the cervix looked good and placenta wasn't near it so I was surprised when the sonographer on Tuesday said it was low down. I need to have an elective c section anyway because of my fibroid surgery last year. Erg I feel really off, have taken all my meds and for myself into bed.

@Gardenlady543 i live in fairly central London and I’ve never seen so many ill people, it feels like every other person is coughing or sneezing which is just awful. I’ve just ordered some good masks and more tests from Amazon, through ivf I have developed quite bad OCD around catching illnesses (haven’t seen DH since Monday morning).
It’s good news on your anomaly scan and the cervix, when will you have your next nhs scan?
Hoping we both get a good night sleep and start to feel a bit better tomorrow.

@Gardenlady543 oh no! Covid now too. You are going through the mill! Still I had Covid when Leo was small and would rather than had it before he was born. So the immunity may be useful in the end.

You know I had exactly the same thing with early movements high up and then thinking that couldn't be possible as my uterus wasn't that high! So maybe it's a thing!!

@seven201 can't believe you are 30 weeks! It seems to be flying by but probably not to you!

@AM08 sorry you're feeling sick too!! Hope you feel better soon x

Thanks @Janefx40 hope you guys are doing well!!

@seven201 30 weeks!! You’re really getting into that final stretch now! Great you have the flu jab booked in, I wonder what will happen with the covid vaccine, last time I asked my hospital they said they weren’t advising pregnant women have it if they have had 2 jabs and a booster but maybe it’ll change now we’re getting into autumn/winter

@Gardenlady543 sorry just seen I did a confusing typo. I meant that I would prefer to have had Covid before Leo was born than after when I had a young baby and he caught it too of course. Either way I hope you are ok

Thanks guys, have had a terrible night chills all night and now a fever this morning and my head is pounding. I have this online external training I don't want to miss it's a half day thing so I think I will try and do that from my sofa the thing is noise hurts my head. My midwife has asked me to call the emergency midwife number to let them know.

Called the midwife line, they said I'm now on the virtual Covid ward and they're sending a pack out to me with a sats monitor, they put people on LMWH but I'm on that already. She said she's only been on shift an hour and I'm not the first to call and report Covid :(

@Gardenlady543 ah I’m sorry you had such a bad night last night - mine was fairly similar, have been having bad acid reflux (think caused by pregnancy rather the illness) so was vomiting before bed and then feeling awful with the infection through the night.

Well done on attempting training today, I’m not doing much at all. The docs have asked me to go in today at 1.30 to check everything is ok. Maybe a silly question but what is LMWH?