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 :/

That’s great news @TheBirdintheCave 💖

Thanks @countrypunk thats how I feel about early bonding!

@countrypunk Yeah, it just didn't make sense at my age to keeo throwing back possible aneuploid embryos that aren't sticking. So I saw the GP the same day in the end, which was unexpected. They called me right back and invited me in. Said not to worry too much and sent me for a couple of bloods, but offered to refer me to the obstetrician at 16 weeks if my midwife doesn't refer me.

@Misty84 I do think it must feel more real and like it's happening. Maybe I should find out on that basis, so that I have a good opportunity to get used to it and try to bond and familiarise myself with the idea, but DH is less keen than me I think. I'm a bit scared to getting to the point of telling family, feels like a lot of pressure. SIL is coming down after the 12 week scan, I'm guessing we'll have to tell her then or before.

@CollsR welcome aboard the thread!

@CazzyM1983 did you also do NIPT after the PGT-A? I know the odds are in our favour but can't shake the feeling I need to check. My stomach isn't too bruised, not sure why. I am switching between thighs and stomach though, that might be why. Glad your work place stuff is resolved!

@TheBirdintheCave great news, congrats!

@TheBirdintheCave fantastic news! ❤️

@CollsR Thanks. I’ve been trying to do the same but feeling a bit guilty as it feels like I’m just eating carbs and cheese at the moment and a bit of tuna but I honestly don’t think I could stomach much else. With the sickness, I don’t really now what the threshold is where I should be asking for anti sickness meds. Have they had any side effects for you?

@TheBirdintheCave ahhh brilliant news about your scan! Really pleased for you!

@thislittlebird i just seem to bruise immediately with clexhane it’s weird. Yes have done NIPT. Don’t get results of that til next week so hopefully all good and if it isn’t I’ll just have to deal with it! Can I post pictures on here or would that be weird lol I’ve properly got black bruises like when an old person bruises. It looks horrendous

@KG1244 Definitely ask about the anti-sickness meds. I don't think there is a threshold... and sickness is worth avoiding if you can! I asked but was reluctant but the Dr told me they have zero side-effects for the baby. I think the main possible side effect is drowsiness. I've most had plain mash potato, peanut butter on toast or pasta with a basic sauce of mediterranean veg. Definitely look at the Pregnacare Max. A mid wife suggested them over the basic ones as they have Omega-3 and more calcium. But even the basic ones will help I'm sure.

@thislittlebird Thanks :-)

@CazzyM1983 have you tried icing the area for 30 seconds in advance of injecting? That helped me but appreciate it might be different with different meds.

@CollsR thank you lovely. I’ve got an appointment on Tuesday so will ask then. Based on the nhs website, it eases for most people by 16-17 weeks so hopefully we will both be out of the woods soon!

@KG1244 brrrr I don’t want to be cold lol
it when it goes in I can feel it like burning me inside. It’s just yuck. And then it bruises and then by bedtime it’s a massive black bruise like someone’s whacked me. Think cos it’s blood thinner it probably don’t help.

@CazzyM1983 where on your body do you need to inject them?

I’m on the blood thinner arovi (like clexane) and Lubion each night, and I use an ice pack otherwise it’s too painful. And I bruise a little bit but not always and not large bruises. Feel free to share @CazzyM1983, you can always mark it as unsafe/spoiler whatever the option is on here!

@KG1244 fatty bits on stomach away from belly button. I keep doing left side because i can always feel baby on right side and I was worried doing it where I know baby is. I know that sounds daft cos it goes all through me anyway.

@CazzyM1983 same as where I injected my lubion. I found putting an ice pack on the fatty bit made a difference and it didn’t feel too cold. I bought these on Amazon and found them great! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hilph-New-Style-Pack-Fruit/dp/B07VVB69SV/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=2DMEM4XORI7MJ&keywords=fruit+ice+pack&qid=1698963851&sprefix=fruit+ice+pacj%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-4

@KG1244 thanks will take a look. I have to have these injections again from week 28 to end of pregnancy so I’ll need all the help I can get then.

So glad to hear everyone’s scans are going well. Mine is Monday morning (12w+4) first thing & I am absolutely bricking it!

all my symptoms have disappeared and I don’t even feel pregnant anymore. Please help me through it xx

We had a scan yesterday at 6 weeks. We saw the heartbeat which was brilliant but I'm worried as the sonographer said its measuring 2.5 and it should be measuring 4-5. She wasn't worried but its left me feeling really worried and they've booked me for another scan next week and that's making me think I should be concerned too. Gosh it's all just worry worry worry every step of the way.

Meant to say that my lack of symptoms isn't helping either. My rational brain thinks that's probably the prednisone, but a little bit would be reassuring.
Is anyone else on prednisone and is it masking your symptoms too?

@IVFAlone I had my symptoms suddenly stop too. No more sore breasts, no sickness or nausea. Many told me not to worry but I did for 4-5 days until they started to come back. I wasn't full calm until my scan. Good luck with your scan. When is it? Take a good friend or your partner with you just in case. IVF is a special sort of hard. You go through so much to get to this point. Wishing you all the best & sending love xx

@MediaMinion I did IVF with FET. My "morning" sickness started around end week 6 or even week 7. It was just a bit of afternoon dizziness, tiredness and slight feeling of travel sickness.. but wasn't much until week 9. But everyone is different. I don't know about size. I was told at my 6 week scan that 4mm was average normal. I don't know what the normal range is. They still wanted me to come back at 8 weeks to be sure. How long until your 8 week scan? Wishing you the best.

@CollsR - my scan is on Monday. I had a scan at 9w3d and all was fine and baby was on track with a strong heartbeat. Symptoms stopped after that - do you think that it’s a good sign that we already had one good scan?

@IVFAlone thats a very good sign. Some do have pregnancy symptoms stop at 9 weeks and some have them stop suddenly. I googled this lots when mine became less. The placenta starts to take over from 9 weeks and can cause a sudden stop to symptoms. Every woman & pregnancy is different so I don’t think you have much to worry about.

Miscarriage is also a lot less likely after 9 weeks. The 12 weeks mark seems to be a false milestone set by men & male doctors who wanted the woman to stay quiet about pregnancy until they feel better.

Monday will be here soon. Treat yourself this weekend.

ahhh so stressful waiting for scans. Take it easy this weekend ladies and we’ll all have everything crossed for you x
We are all here for you if u need us. Ivf is so brutal. Had to do so much to get to where we all are so don’t be shy if you need support x we can muddle through together x

I had an early scan at my EPU at 5w+6 on Wednesday, so just a day earlier than you @MediaMinion and I also had CRL of 2.2mm. We saw a heart beat flicker and the nurse was satisfied with what she had seen.

I had no idea that the average is 4mm at 6 weeks! I've had a quick search online and it seems that's referring to an average of 6.5 weeks.....

https://www.nygh.on.ca/data/2/recdocs/5644_gestational-age-chart.pdf

I'd place my trust in what your nurse has said. They've seen thousands of scans.

But I know the worry still doesn't stop. I've got another scan on Wednesday and I already feel nervous.

Thank you so much @WhatTheFudge0 since you sent that link I've searched for and found a few other similar references too. It looks like the range for 6 weeks is really big as they grow 1mm per day so depending on which day in the 6th weekthe size will be different.
And that's great news that you saw the heartbeat going, fantastic.

I don't know why healthcare professionals aren't more careful in their comments or the information they impart.
Saying the average crl is 4-5mm without context would naturally be a source of worry for anyone hearing it.

Roll on week 7!!

That’s very true, some healthcare professionals should be more careful! Weeks before the embryo transfer a nurse left a voicemail that something was abnormal on a blood test so I’d need another test in a month. Took many calls and an afternoon of worry to find out IVF could go ahead & something was in the high range of normal.