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 :/

Sorry to hear so many of your have drifted away from friends. Do you miss the friends who drifted away? If not then hopefully you make new ones.

I live in a big city, far from where I grew up, so have made a few new friends over the years… as I was child free it was usually with other child free people who were younger or didn’t want children. I think that has made it easier but I’ve definitely been lucky. My closer friends have all been very supportive… even though they never want to travel my path. They knew how difficult this was for me. I had cancer in an ovary 11 years ago so I always knew this would be a struggle.

That said I’ve just a handful & just a couple who live nearby.

Nothing from @IVFAlone for a while. I fear she got bad news. If she logs back in, she has been in my thoughts.

@CollsR Yes, I was thinking about her a lot yesterday :(

@WhatTheFudge0 I hated the pessaries! By the end even the smell of them was making me gag!
How long do you have of then left??

@KG1244 honestly, theres really no point in getting a private one. They are all the same. They check the DNA. I would save your money, cause you will get the exact same result with them!

@TheBirdintheCave yeah I was thinking maybe we could do a Eurostar or European trip for a weekend, but definitely something with a spa. We’re staying in a holiday accommodation (long story…) at Christmas and there’s a hot tub, I’m unclear if I can use it? Think it depends on the temp? I said to dh we might go and stay at a hotel with a pool somewhere on the way back from the christmas stay.

@thislittlebird You can use it.
The danger is only in the first few weeks, when the neural tube is developing, and even then you actual core temp has to raise more than 1 degree.
That would mean you feel like you have a fever, which would be extremely uncomfortable.

It is fine. You can also time it. Be in it for like 20 minutes, 10 minutes outside, rinse and repeat, if it makes you feel safer!

In the nordic countries they continue using saunas with no issue!

Can I sneak on and ask a little question?
I'm not brave enough to join you properly (also definitely not spring 😊).
When do people refer to the midwife? I was going to wait until viability scan results?
When you do refer, it asks for LMP, do you put the actual LMP or what it would have been without IVF? E.g. I'll be 7 weeks on my viability scan but LMP would make me 8 weeks 2 days. Does it matter really? I don't want to have a 12 week scan and be 'behind'.
Sorry for popping in for a cheeky one off Q.

@IVFKinster Give the the "actual" date. So make up a LMP. And tell them it is IVF.
You can refer to the midwife as soon as you have a positive test, I think. Then they will book you after 8 weeks. You can wait until your viability scan, or you can do it now! Completely up do you!

@CollsR @TheBirdintheCave She has never once updated after a scan, so I wouldnt jump to conclusions just yet! Im sure all is fine and shes just celebrating and living life!

@IVFKinster i just saw you when I was nosing around another thread and I was going to DM to say congrats! But you’ve landed here so…congrats! I hope you’re feeling ok. I did my viability scan and then self referred because I had had a bad scan at the EPU in a previous cycle, but it’s entirely up to you. Some of the folks here have had a bit of a wait for their appointment but mine was fast and they saw me a couple of weeks ago.

If you want to hang out in the spring gang you’d be welcome, looks like there’s no other big ivf threads as of yet. When would you be due? I put my actual LMP but I did natural modified, not sure what the medicated gals do? I know that online calculators are massively confused by my due date and stage of pregnancy.

@ASGIRC thanks! I have been having baths and I think that’s fine, no fever has been had. The hot tub is outdoors too and heated by logs so I can’t see it being a huge issue.

@thislittlebird I did a natural cycle (only took ovitrelle when I had a LH surge), but I ovulated late, so my IVF due date did not match my LMP.

However, my dating scan put me back at my actual LMP, as I was measuring 2 days ahead!

Also, I saw you said youd be surprised if you were measuring ahead, but I measured 2 days behind at my 1st scan (I was 6+6, but measuring 6+4), about right at my 9 week scan, and then 2 days ahead at my 12 week scan! So it can definitely happen!!!

Ah lovely news of hearing heartbeat and reassuring NIPT results @CazzyM1983

All this talk of spa holidays has got me dreaming of a holiday.....we're in the middle of selling & buying a house so I think there'll be nothing left in the budget to go on holiday with!

I'll hopefully be 7 weeks on Thursday 🤞🏼so will have another 4 weeks of pessaries. I'll probably use the "back door" 🙊

Hi all, 12 week scan went well. Baby was very active again, kicking arms and legs and turning over and over! I’m measuring 6 days ahead now so due date might be nearer the start of May for me now. I’ve also stopped the meds now (progesterone pessaries and oral estrogen) so physcologically I am feeling better for that as the awful oily discharge is gone and i’m not worried about sicking up the pills. Still feeling quite nauseous but only being sick once every 2 or 3 days now. 16w midwife appt and 20w scan booked now too!

@CazzyM1983 lovely news ❤️

Also looking into a 3-day get away between Christmas and my 20-week scan on 29/12, it would be perhaps the last opportunity to treat ourselves. Considering driving down to Lyon and the Alps although the hubby will need some convincing 😅 I'd really like some proper snow and crisp fresh calm air though but I know it's a bit unrealistic.

@IVFKinster I self referred before my viability scan, had my 12-week scan last week and they only called me to book first appointment the day after, as if waiting to see if I'll make it to 12 weeks 😐 so my first midwife appointment will be when I'm 13+5.

I guess it can wait although it doesn't feel right you have no one to turn to meanwhile, however, EPU is always there and the one in my area are quite good.

You should book a flu jab with your GP and a covid vaccine by yourself, everything else they're going to do at the booking appointment can wait I suppose.

Congrats @PollywithaP , it is such a relief isn't? I'm now a bit more confident and telling everyone, work including:)))

About the harmony test...since NHS will do it, no point I think in paying for the same just to get a quicker result. If they didn't offer it, no question about having to do it then.
I'd be more tempted to do this other test that tests all chromosomes, not only 21, 18 and 13, however, it's really pricey, something like £640+.
Better save that money for maternity though and hope natural selection has done it's job by now and everything will be alright 🤞🤞🤞

@ASGIRC thank you. That was my thought process so I'll do that!

Thank you @thislittlebird . Feels very surreal. I'm thinking maybe if I'm not showing obvious signs of loss this time next week I'll be brave and refer then. I will probably loiter around here regardless of due date but am too scared to feel pregnant currently! Looking up my due date felt like a huge leap of faith but it's 11th July apparently.

@Summerishere83 so you've not seen anyon since your viability scan to your 12 week scan? That feels really shocking! I really haven't looked ahead of the viability scan in terms of "what next" for care so I feel a bit blind about what I should expect. Thank you re. COVID and flu jab. I can actually get them done free through work so I'll probably do that after the viability scan.

I really appreciate the advice and knowing what other people have done. Thank you 😊

Thanks @ASGIRC ! I hope she is celebrating!

@CollsR thats what I like to think as well! I was worried the first couple of times, but then realised it was a pattern, so I am hoping this is another of those times!!! She will be back in a few days, Im sure!

@PollywithaP Congrats! :D

@IVFKinster My booking in appointment was three days before my 12 week scan 🤷🏻‍♀️ Seems all trusts are different. Apparently mine was just really busy, which doesn't bode well for May 😂 Congrats by the way! I self referred around 8 weeks.

@ASGIRC Oh interesting 🤔

@IVFKinster I was seen at the EPU a couple of times when I called because of pains, both times they just said they should scan to check. I do have fibroids though so that's the explanation for me and also not knowing what's normal and what isn't:)

@CollsR & @TheBirdintheCave - thank you so much for keeping me in your thoughts. The baby is fine and the scan went well! Me and my partner took the day to celebrate. He’d already booked a spa day to help me relax whatever the outcome so we just were in our own little bubble! Oh it feels so good to finally hit the mark that we all dream of! It feels like a weight off my shoulders! God is so good.

@ASGIRC - I don’t know if your comment was meant to come across so blunt but if I don’t come back after a scan on here it’s probably because I received some news that I wasn’t ready to share. My scans up until yesterday haven’t always been positive and I don’t like to add to peoples worries when IVF is already such a precious and vulnerable process. I have sometimes read comments about things people are going through and then stress about them happening to me. So if I get bad news I try to keep it to myself.

I hope everyone is doing well and looking after themselves xxx

@IVFAlone No, it just meant that it doesnt necessarily mean it was bad news, just that you were probably celebrating yourself and it meant nothing!

Im really glad your scan went well! I hope you can now enjoy your pregnancy a bit more! (Though the doubts and anxiety stay a bit, but hopefully passing this milestone will relax you a little bit!)

@IVFAlone Oh hey that's great news! I'm glad you had a lovely spa day too :)