IVF pregnancies - Spring 2024

[thislittlebird]

Anyone here in a similar position? I'm feeling a bit of an odd one out on forums now where I don't feel pregnant pregnant and I don't feel infertile infertile, and thought I'd see if others were in the same, tentative situation. I don't feel like I'm ready to join the main May 2024 gang until I'm more confident this will continue.

I'm only 4 weeks 5 days :/

@thislittlebird i just ordered a baby on board badge a couple of days ago, I’m so excited for it to arrive 😊 I generally work from home but will be good to have for the days I do go into the office.

@KG1244 good luck with your midwife booking appt today. I had mine last week. The midwife I had was super supportive and understanding regarding fertility issues and IVF. I’ve been booked to have extra scans too due to my “abnormal uterus” 😂 plus I spoke to her about the anxiety and depression I’ve suffered with through the infertility and she’s said that there will also be extra support on hand for my mental health, should I need it. I got my NHS exemption certificate too so I now get free dental 😊

@CazzyM1983 i had a scan last week and they brought my days forward as the baby was measuring bigger than expected so I’m now 12 weeks today too 😊 it feels weird to think I’m now officially in the second trimester 😳

@IVFAlone i barely have any symptoms either but seeing the baby move in my scan last week really reassured me. As everyone else here as said, I don’t think the symptoms mean anything. I have enlarged ovaries from the egg collection so I get stabbing pains there from time to time which I’ve been told are normal. Also if you’re on any pessaries, they can cause those symptoms too

@IVFAlone I would think so, I’ve had stabbing pains a few times. They haven’t lasted long, just a minute and then gone again.

@Doughnut89 congrats on 12 weeks! And yeah, same, I’m mostly at home and I’m glad tbh because it can’t be fun doing busy commutes each day when pregnant. Also I’m on prednisolone and really don’t want to catch anything because I have a suppressed immune system.

What counts as an abnormal uterus? Mine is retroverted, I know that much. I guess I can get the dental and prescription stuff too, I pay annually for prescriptions so I wonder how that will work.

@thislittlebird Thank you. It feels very surreal to have gotten to this point!!
Thats great you’re mostly at home. Completely understand you not wanting to risk catching anything.

Retroverted uterus means yours is tilting backwards right? My sister had that and they did sometimes struggle to see the baby on the scans 🙈🙈🙈 but she’s had a healthy baby girl now so all fine. I think it’s very common.
Mine is anteverted so is tilted forwards which, along with the fact I have a very short torso, is one of the reasons I think I’m going to show early. The position of the uterus doesn’t really make a difference/ cause any complications though.

The uterine abnormalities include a bicornuate uterus, unicornuate and then septate uterus, which is what I have/ had. I think there might be some others but I can’t remember them all. I had my septum removed at the beginning of the year but there’s a chance it could grow back which is why I need the extra scans to check on that

@Doughnut89 yey! 12 week crew! Isn’t it mad.

Also how do you all know if you have funny uteruses? Will they tell me if mines weird?! New fear unlocked! 🤣 it never stops lol

I have a short torso and I am defo showing already. I did store a lot of extra fat in the front from early on but then I went Boof over night and it looks more like a bump than fat now and I am in maternity leggings because who wants to be uncomfortable?!

@CazzyM1983 if they didn’t pick anything up when you were having your IVF scans, you’re probably alright 😊 I found out about mine last year on a fertility checkup.

I know what you mean about being comfy. I’m just living in trackie bottoms and sports bras these days

Mine are a niggling pain on the right ovary side! It’s not severe pain or like really bad pain but is worrying me a little. EPU won’t scan me and doctor keeps saying not to worry but Google and other forums tells me this is how most miscarriages start!

@thislittlebirdThats it! 15 weeks and still no bump whatsoever!!!

My uterus is supposedly tilted very forward. But Im not showing at all. Not even a hint. Sometimes I wonder if baby is ok and growing nicely, since I have put on zero weight, and have zero bump.

Not that I want a bump, mind! I hope I dont really get a big one (or at all).
And I do have a doppler, but because my placenta is anterior, I cant find a heartbeat, only the placenta, and thats not a very good indicator of fetal health!

@Doughnut89 yeah, that's right. I've seen people say they've had trouble with transfers with a retro uterus, but I haven't, they've always been very easy and painless. My torso is short too, I'm going to be a barrel shape at the end of all this. Sounds like it's good that they're monitoring you!

@CazzyM1983 I was told on the first fertility check up I had in early 2021, so if they haven't mentioned it you're probably safe!

I ordered a few new pairs of jeans to try (yes, I'm stupid) and they were all a bit tight. Probably more to do with the fact I'm eating like a maniac again than a baby. Well, tbf to me, I've been constantly hungry since a couple of days after the transfer and I feel better when I eat something, but I'm going to be the size of a house at this rate, really want to try to do some safe exercise. I've been too nervous to do much so far.

@IVFAlone I had that and turns out it my my corpus luteum. Did you ovulate from the right hand side?

My scan was all fine. Baby measures a day ahead still :)

I ordered a baby on board badge last week but won’t be wearing it until I’m showing otherwise I’ll be getting daggers on the commute😂 Good to have up my sleeve when needed though!

Finally bit the bullet and ordered maternity trousers as my work attire is so so uncomfortable now. Digging in to my belly so much.

I feel like everything I buy is tempting fate though!
Nearly 14 weeks and it’s just as surreal as 4 weeks…

For exercise I’m doing Zumba and Aqua aerobics (I’m the youngest by about 30 years in the aqua aerobics class!) and I do quite a lot of walking to and from train stations for work. But I’ve stopped all my higher intensity workouts.

If this is true then I’ve been miscarrying since the start! I’ve had a niggling pain on left side, I think it’s just ligaments stretching etc. All fine on all scans.

@Misty84 I can't wait to go back to Zumba. I'm just still too sick 😓

Aww that’s rubbish @TheBirdintheCave😢Hopefully not too much longer until you start improving🙏 I still have nausea (my breakfast came straight up this morning), but luckily it’s all very swift and as soon as I’m sick I feel ok and can go to work as normal.
At Zumba I’m not putting in the same effort as before- more just flouncing about 😛

@Misty84 Oh yeah I'll be acting like an old granny once I go back. I'm normally a Duracell bunny 😂

Oh my days. There I was thinking I can have a nice rant and a moan about feeling shit and I had a half hour wait annoying in the waiting room and then the midwife I was seeing was still with someone so I had to see someone else who I didn’t know. Who then wanted to ask about my mental health but i was sat in a very not very private room I really wasn’t feeling it to go into details. A curtain isn’t sound proof is it! So I came out of there and bawled my eyes out 🤦‍♀️

Feeling better after a good cry tho lol

@CazzyM1983 was it at the hospital?

Oh god, you all sound very active, I feel like a lazy bugger. I have tried to walk but usually work out at home in between working from home. I was going to pilates but the instructor said I can't attend until I'm 16 weeks :/

I'll have to find something online that seems safe, or look for a gentle class like @Misty84 with the aqua aerobics, but I can never be bothered to drive to classes. The pilates is near enough to walk.

It can get very overwhelming and it sounded like a good cry was needed @CazzyM1983

@thislittlebird It’s only 2 classes a week so not that much, and I’m easily swayed if someone suggests a better offer 😝
Is it pregnancy Pilates that you’re waiting to do?

Omg my maternity trousers have just arrived (I ordered 3 different pairs from Shein for a cool £30 total) and they are BLISS!! I think I’ll be wearing them permanently, whether pregnant or not!

So when did you all think your clothes got tight? I don't know when I expected to need this stuff

@Misty84 Normal pilates class near me, she said it's ok to come from 16 weeks onwards. I'm going to try to find a low impact work out to do tomorrow, hope I'm feeling ok then, have felt crap for a couple of days. I've had neck pain and a headache, been attached to a hot water bottle. Maybe some low key exercise and stretching will help.

@thislittlebird I moved into maternity stuff at 14 ish weeks last time. I was FAR fitter than I am currently though so it will probably be earlier this time 😂

@thislittlebird At 12 and a half/ 13 weeks I started getting increasingly uncomfortable.

Thanks all for your support. All ok this afternoon. Other than my BP being high but unfortunately that’s just me. I get very anxious and nervous so it wacks it up. Midwife has referred me to see the consultant as I’m in thyroid meds and the high bp so will see what they say.

@TheBirdintheCave how was your scan? X

@KG1244 It went well! Baby is all good and measuring a day ahead still 😍

@TheBirdintheCave ahhh yay ❤️

@TheBirdintheCave really pleased to hear your scan went well 😊 and @KG1244 on your midwife appt. That sounds good that they’re keeping an eye on the high bp

@CazzyM1983 sorry your appt didn’t go as well but a good cry always helps. Hopefully you can speak to someone soon about how you’re feeling

@thislittlebird i really want to find a pregnancy yoga or Pilates class near me. I feel like some gentle stretching would be useful right now

@Misty84 i love Shein stuff, I’m definitely going to check out their maternity wear now I know they do it!

@IVFAlone i would trust your doctor over Google, they’re the expert. When was your last scan and when is the next one?
if you’re struggling with regular anxiety throughout this pregnancy have you thought about asking your gp to refer you to a counsellor/ therapist? I see a therapist weekly and find it really helps