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!

@AM08 low molecular weight heparin eg clexane or inhixa, think they said they give it for 2 weeks, which I'm already on. Managed to order paracetamol using Deliveroo, higher mark up than a mini bar at £6 but I had none :( I was vomiting in the night too, but nothing but a tablet to come out errrggggg. I hope both of us get better asap.

Ah makes sense, I asked about taking inhixia as i have some in the house and I didn’t keep my aspirin down last night/have been vomiting today but Dr wasn’t keen. Basically she agreed the vomiting isn’t to do with the viral infection, she thinks the acid reflux is pregnancy related and then because I’m really tired I’m keep on wanting to lie down and it’s bringing the food back up.

hope you feel better @Gardenlady543 and hope everyone has a good weekend!

@AM08 I'm lying down in bed and have to run to the toilet to vomit, it's happening most nights and has been going on for a while now. I think my gut is slow and not emptying my stomach and when I go to lie down my body thinks, nope I'm not sleeping with a full stomach. It really is horrible though.

Hi ladies, sorry I have been quiet, I managed to work myself into a real state trawling Google/Mumsnet and then promised to limit myself on both if I had a good scan last Wednesday. I booked another one as spending this weekend with family and wanted to tell them as would be officially over 12 weeks. The scan went well, on track for my very original dates now! But I’m still too nervous to tell my family so I think they just think I’m really grumpy. I have my NHS dating scan next Wednesday - @Gardenlady543 i am definitely still in the race with you for most amount of scans!! I am also really sad about the pic and mix it was always such a thing from my childhood - the new sweets don’t taste the same, even Haribo aren’t as good as a big stripey bag of pic and mix. I’m going to the cinema next week so shall load up there. Honestly if we compared Google searches…..I would definitely also give you a run for your money there! Well done for making the London trip although really felt for you, I hate that feeling of knowing you will be sick. Totally get why you wouldn’t want to make that journey again. Thank you for that datayze link, I am now checking it every day. Isn’t is strange how before this in life I’d think 1.5% was a tiny chance and now I think it’s still a high probability…

So sorry to hear that both of you @Gardenlady543 and @AM08 have been feeling so poorly, there is so much around at the moment and @AM08 i think right call cancelling the baby moon especially given flight disruption although such a shame for you and DH. Will you be able to book again/still get a nice treat in for you both? Thank you also for your advice I have been trying to channel it on actually making it through every day between each scan/appointment. I think the fact I wasn’t actually even that relieved by the NIPT results showed me that yes I am just going to move onto worrying about the next thing.

Hope everyone has enjoyed some of this warm weather today xx

@Gardenlady543 how are you feeling now? Hope you’re starting to shake it. I’m just taking Gaviscon advanced after each meal and that’s helping with keeping food down but don’t want to become reliant on it. Also feel like the cold is on the way out which feels great!

@Jellybelly56 I agree, it seems that we jump from one anxiety to another but do try and enjoy those in between moments. One funny thing that has happened to me is that I’m ‘glowing’ in my second trimester and genuinely I have never in my life had so much attention from men (Dhs attention is all I need) but has been rather funny 😳

@Jellybelly56 I don't see people often so didn't need to tell people to early even though it was obvious had they seen me. My brother I told early as he knew about my IVF. My dad I was less keen to tell, so I told him at 20 weeks. So glad you have caught up on dates! I know what you mean my stats were awful before and I remember someone saying to me that I had like a 95% chance of a baby early on and I mean months ago I could have only dreamed of those stats. Lol I like clicking reassure me again and getting the same stat in a different format.

Glad you're on the mend @AM08 no luck for me yet, nights are the worse for me :( I have really bad reflux and vomiting at night, I tried not eating after 3pm but it doesn't matter I will still vomit even if nothing comes up, have ordered gaviscon to come today. My nose is completely congested and I woke up several times with the sorest throat, have ordered some mouth tape but I imagine that will either get ripped off or I'll wake up all night, I had night sweats all night and my window was full of condensation this morning, I also managed to knock a glass of water over in the early hours which went over a load of books etc. Very likely to be calling in sick from work tomorrow.

I'm stressed out not knowing how the baby is so used the worlds cheapest Doppler, managed to pick this up just now, I don't think the counter is that accurate I count it as 150bpm which is what the baby had on the scan on Tuesday. imgur.com/a/0aWJgfk that's a video with sound if anyone wants to reassure me that it's the baby. I have rented a better Doppler as I don't want to buy another and that should come on Tuesday.

@Gardenlady543 so sorry you caught covid and are feeling really poorly. I watched the video with sound and though I haven’t heard a baby’s heart beat yet in any of my scans it sounds really reassuring to me! I hope you feel better very soon! Is the vomiting reflux related rather than covid?

@Jellybelly56 glad your scan went well! I think you’ll know when the time is right to share your news. I plan to after my 12 week scan with immediate family but then I have a feeling I might change my mind, though I think I am starting to show now at 10 weeks.

@AM08 I hope you feel better soon. How many weeks are you? Has the reflux just started?

I forgot to ask, did anyone have any issues with high white blood cell count in their urine at the first midwife appointment?

@Spin101 they are looking for asymptomatic UTIs so if leucocytes or nitrites are present they will send to the lab for culture. UTIs in pregnancy are pretty common.

@Gardenlady543 thank you. I had to do a second repeat so hoping it comes back ok. The midwife did say if I’m asymptomatic, and there’s no sign of infection in the lab, they won’t do anything further. I started reading about NK cells being white blood cells and started to panic but I guess I’ll always find something to panic about.

how are you feeling now?

@Gardenlady543 how are you feeling? Did the Gaviscon work at all? If your not better today I do think you should go in to see your midwife/GP, it’s awful being sick but then also worrying about the baby too.

@Spin101 nearly 23 weeks! I am a bit suprised at all of the bloating acid reflux as I thought it was more a third trimester thing but apparently being on extra iron isn’t helping. I had one of my booking appointment, white cells counts come out as slightly elevated, they repeated them and they were still slightly out of range from where they wanted them but had moved in the right direction so ‘got signed off’. Not too long until your 12 week scan now!

@Spin101 I think if that was a worry the reproductive immunologists would be dipsticking everyone's urine. Hopefully the lab test will be normal.

@AM08 the gaviscon helped I had it with my last meal and then before I went to sleep and I didn't vomit last night. I'm still feeling unwell, obs are ok, I called in sick to rest and I'm pretty sure I won't get paid because I took 4 weeks of sick leave to recover from my fibroid surgery a year ago and it's in the 12 month window still. Wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have an urgent work issue and ended up working for half the day anyway.

Sorry everyone for being awol! I've had this cough for nearly 3 weeks so not been sleeping and been back at work, so just trying to make it through each day! I'm in the out of hours waiting room at the mo to see if they'll give me antibiotics or something as it's now hurting my ribs.

@Gardenlady543 thank you very much for the shoe advice! I did get some Nike trainers in the end that seem to be doing the job and I can just about still do up my tevas on hot days. Bunny wallpaper sounds so cute - have you got a pic?! So sorry about covid! How are you now?

@AM08 so sorry your holiday was cancelled. How are you doing now? Can you do a weekend break somewhere instead?

@Jellybelly56 sorry the anxiety is still there. It's definitely not an easy 9 months. Just tell people when you feel ready, don't feel pressured either way.

@Spin101 sorry, no advice but hope you are otherwise good.

I too have acid reflux but am on omeprazole for it which makes a huge difference. I recommend.

How is everyone doing in this heat? It's so uncomfortable and I am already a sweaty person, so now I just drip sweat off me 

I've been given inhalers as he thinks it might be the baby squashing everything. Blooming pregnancy!

Oh dear @seven201 sorry to hear you're unwell too, it's rubbish isn't it. I'm in second trimester and this is supposed to be the honeymoon trimester and I had a 2 week cold at the start, followed by Covid :( you know I noticed my shoes were rubbing yesterday so I'll need to get a wide version I think.

This is the pink bunny wallpaper www.therugseller.co.uk/into-the-meadow-wallpaper-112632-by-harlequin-in-powder-pink/p-2124-52165-79681-0?gclid=Cj0KCQjwuZGnBhD1ARIsACxbAVgnfABIU60l3UJ1PogMf0WyZmfASaMdYqTLpsxUiOEsbI1pXjqpw18aAhVQEALw_wcB
It hasn't gone up still, because of the Covid.

I went back to work on Friday it was from home but I struggled and I've just had a nap, feeling really tired.

Funny you say about the heat because I keep seeing pregnant women doing TikToks about the heat, with the sound of Jack Whitehalls dad saying "oh hi how was your day... and I think... fuck off". Still it's supposed to be over soon, we have been pretty lucky this summer that it has generally been cooler.

@Gardenlady543 that wallpaper is so cute!! I'm glad you're starting to feel better but do take it easy. Agh, the fat feet - so annoying! I've just ordered myself a washing up bowl and epsom salts to see if that helps. It's meant to be cooler from tomorrow where I am. Can't wait!

Sorry to hear a few of you are feeling poorly/experiencing symptoms. Looking forward to it cooling down this week.

@AM08 thank you for the reassurance! Sorry you’re experiencing bloating and reflux. I hope it passes soon!

@Gardenlady543 really hope you feel better soon!

@seven201 I hope the inhalers help!

I vomited for the first time this afternoon at 11+1 and have had a bad stomach the last few days. I don’t know if it was dodgy berries I had for breakfast or if it’s the start of pregnancy related vomiting

Did anyone do an NIPT/harmony (think there are other names for it) privately at all? I’m contemplating getting it done before my 12 week scan but not sure of the benefits.

@Spin101 I did it through CRP I think just after 10 weeks and it was inconclusive the first two times (they take two lots of blood at the same time but don't test them at the same time) so then had to have a re-test. It added a lot of time and worry as by then I'd been told I was high risk for downs at the 12 week scan. So just don't do it very early.

I'm sorry @Spin101 I didn't start vomiting until later on, I had none in the first trimester because I was on steroids. My uterus is now quite high up and pushing on my stomach. I used this company for NIPT
which was the cheapest I found, they sent me a kit as I wasn't near any of there clinics www.conceptodiagnostics.co.uk/nipt there was enough fetal fraction for them to provide a result at 10 weeks.

@Spin101 sorry about the vomiting.

I did harmony first time at 10+1 and got results a week later. Second time I did Panorama at 10+1 and got no result. Had to repeat which caused stress. Then the doc screwed up the second test kit and we had to repeat again but that was just bad luck. If you are doing it I would suggest Harmony as it's done in the UK so quicker turnaround time if there is an error!

@2021ivfagain @Gardenlady543 @Janefx40 thank you. I honestly feel the vomiting was a random event. Well I’m hoping it was.

@Janefx40 did you do your harmony test in person or did you have a kit delivered?

i’m really reluctant to go into London for a test as I don’t want to risk covid. If they send a kit out, I don’t really have anyone to take the blood for me. Will give them a call to check

@Spin101 I’m pleased you’re doing well. I’m not going on to this thread anymore as it is too difficult due to the missed miscarriage at 8w 1d which was 18th August. I have 5 day 5 blastocysts left frozen but it’s been difficult. It’s great you’re doing well.

I did nipt test for my son at CRGH at 10w 1d.

@2021ivfagain thats completely understandable. I’m so sorry you have been through such a traumatic experience. Life really isn’t fair. I hope you’re able to find a way forward. Speak to you on the other thread.

Sorry for all you've been through 2021ivfagain - sending love

@Spin101 I did mine at a place local to me. It's a private medical practice and the NIPT testing is done by a consultant at UCLH who does some private work locally. Mind you, consultants are far worse at taking blood than nurses or phlebomists! But he does know what he's doing overall.

Have a google and you may find a local place. I wouldn't be able to take my own blood either although you can get bloods drawn at private medical facilities eg if you do Medichecks tests they will give you a list. But Medichecks doesn't do NIPT I don't think x