IVF pregnancies - Spring 2024 (thread 2)

[thislittlebird]

New thread! Do tag everyone I've missed, I'm off out to see the new Hunger Games so can add more later but need to dash! @CazzyM1983 @KG1244 @countrypunk @Misty84 @ASGIRC @TheBirdintheCave @Summerishere83

@TheBirdintheCave sorry for the delay in replying. I got struck down with the cold lergy. Just a summary would be fab and I’m sure other people in the group who will be FTMs will find it helpful ❤️

@CazzyM1983 no idea about colposcopy. Maybe ask the midwife team. So my consultant has told me that I would be induced if I go past my due date as my hospital don’t like ivf patients to go past it. I don’t understand why though! I’m also a bit nervous about being induced…

@KG1244 I knew about this and my midwife went into this briefly and booked me in for a consultant appointment on May 8th to discuss induction based on advanced maternal age. I don’t think all NHS trusts treat ivf differently, but some do. It’s because there’s some research to say there is an increased risk of stillbirth with ivf if the mother goes over 40 weeks. They don’t really know why, but I think I read it’s the increased average age of mothers and existing fertility issues that they believe causes this.

This is why I want a c section btw, I don’t want to be induced. I do understand some people just say no to induction and wait it out, but at my age (turning 41 when baby is due) I’m not going to take risks. It’s entirely up to the individual and you can say no or yes to induction, but do your research and make your decision based on what you’re most comfortable with.

@KG1244 Alrighty :)

My labour was 36 hours long. 90% of that was at home with contractions 45 minutes apart. We ate as normal, played computer games, watched TV and went for walks. The contractions increased to around 10 minutes at 8pm ish and that's when we called to go in for the second time (had been rebuffed an hour before). I went through the transition period in the maternity triage waiting area which was the hardest part of the whole thing as the contractions became a lot closer but it was only half an hour. Once I got into the assessment room my waters broke and I was 10cm so was immediately wheeled through to the labour ward.

I found that the pushing stage didn't hurt at all as long as I went with what my body wanted me to do. I didn't need any pain relief and my son was born two hours later. I happily declared 'That was fine, I'd do that again' not long afterwards 😂

I had to have an episiotomy as my skin wasn't stretching and my son's head came out at a funny angle so I was unlucky and had a 3B tear on top of that. BUT I was repaired in surgery a few hours later and have no issues at all. Everything looks and functions as it did before down there. It's like it never happened.

I was a bit annoyed that I didn't get to use the midwife led unit like I wanted because they didn't listen when we said we needed to come in the first time. So I feel like I was cheated out of a water birth which could have helped to avoid me tearing. My advice re that would be to insist if you feel like you have to go in. Don't let anyone try to persuade you otherwise. They didn't want us to come in the second time we called either and if we'd listened then my son would have been born at home and we'd have needed paramedics.

But yeah, overall, it was great 😬

Did anyone else see this on Twitter (see photo below)? They can shove this lol. If I end up with a baby that comes early and they offer me water injections I might lose it 🫠

In other news, we picked up a second hand cot for £40 from Vinted at the weekend, my sister dropped round a breast pump and pads, and we cancelled our bathroom renovation because I got cold feet about being broke once my salary stops coming in after a few months on mat leave. I’d really like a couple of trips during that year off, so it’s on hold for now. On and we’re viewing a nursery tomorrow 😬.

@KG1244 I meant to ask if you’ve had your holiday yet? I’m still umming and ahhing about whether to go somewhere. Also, how was your JL appointment? I think you had that. We had to reschedule.

Link for further context to the image in case anyone is on there https://x.com/neuro_matt/status/1754224756360966363?s=46&t=NGXvLwSOPWl8DM7OXDO0Iw

@thislittlebird yeah, that would be a no from me! Give me actual drugs, please, and thank you!!!

I had my routine high risk appointment on Friday, and the nurse asked, as they always do, if I had contractions.
I said yes, whenever I move about a bit more, I do get some contractions.
They said that since that was the case, they would do a CTG, to monitor the contractions.

So they hooked me up! I was there for 40+ minutes, I think, which is about normal.
However, what was not normal, was my contractions! Turns out they arent just Braxton Hicks. Or rather... i also have those, but I dont feel them. The ones I do feel are MUCH stronger, and are regular, so they are proper pre labour contractions.
Fortunately my cervix length was still good, at 4cm, so no one is overly worried about my baby making an appearance in the very near future, but they did tell me to take it easier, still, no walking, no lifting, no doing anything strenuous.
So not bed rest, but very very reduced activity, and lots of water, to slow the contractions down and prevent a pre term labour!

@ASGIRC Oh gosh that's so scary! I'm glad they'll be keeping an eye on you and got you checked out. Fingers crossed your young lady stays put for a lot longer yet!

@TheBirdintheCave right?

When I checked the numbers on the CTG and then googled the "normal" values I was like... hmm... thats... a lot!

Basically the CTG goes from 0 to 100. Obviously baseline is important, it should be 0, but it might not be.
Anyway, if baseline is 0, Braxton Hicks go up to 25, normal labour ones go up to 60 and expulsion contractions for up to 80.

My "Braxton Hicks" were up to 60. And I had levels of 10, so even if that was my base line (I couldnt see the screen, so was taking pics with my phone, so it wasnt constant), that was still well above the 35 that BH would have gone to.

And apparently they are regular (about 10 mins apart!)
But since the cervix is long, all is good, for now! They told me to go to the emergency unit if anything changed, otherwise I have another appointment in 4 weeks! And an OB appt in 2 weeks!

Wow @ASGIRC glad they took you seriously and got you checked. How many weeks are you? Wishing you well!

I'm due late spring, so weeks behind many here at 27 weeks. I'm still having a little "morning" sickness and working my office job from home. I feel guilty I haven't been walking much. Maybe go out twice a week.

I moved in December. My partner runs a small business with his business partner. They both work everyday for 10-11 hours. They have been trying to get staff so he can have a day off but no staff stick around long enough.

I've been struggling just to keep up with a bit of cleaning, cooking every day and my office job. Still haven't unpacked completely. Mostly the second room has all the mess and boxes but as I keep trying to unpack or declutter the rest of the flat has a few boxes. We should get a regular cleaner for a few hours as that would help. I've got my list for what to buy before baby comes but haven't bought anything yet. My heart wants to nest, clean and declutter but I haven't the energy. This weekend I was very sick Saturday with vomiting and needed to nap, and then Sunday had a massive headache.

Doing my best to keep sane. Crossing all my fingers my partner gets staff before the baby comes. I can't do this alone and he knows it.

@CollsR I'm sorry you're so sick :( I hope it passes soon! We're around the same time by the way (I'm 26+1) so you do have some contemporaries on this thread :)

@CollsR It wasnt really a case of being taken seriously... I was just answering a question, didnt even cross my mind they would go straight for the CTG, but I guess this is the kind of thing that happens!

I am almost 32 weeks now, so over most of the danger, though I wouldnt want this baby coming out just yet!!!!

Oh I cant imagine having to unpack a whole house while pregnant!
Though I have made a lot of moving stuff around when my lodger moved out in December!
Fortunately it is all done now, cause I cant be moving furniture around anymore!

Dont worry about walking... Honestly... Look at me! I am literally forbidden from walking! And even when I wasnt, I couldnt do it for longer than maybe 5 minutes without loads of pain! Dont feel guilty. Its not worth it!

You are doing great!!
Im sorry you felt sick... thats just not what you need this far along! Hope you feel better now!

@TheBirdintheCave Thanks for sharing your birth story. Very good advice to advocate for yourself during labour. I don't understand why there are so many stories of women being ignored or told no. If one part of medicine should just listen to women it's during birth, surely?

@thislittlebird I haven't heard of sterile water injections in the back but I also don't like this idea.

@TheBirdintheCave thank you for sharing ❤️ I’m really hoping for a positive birth and nervous/excited to see what the pain is like along with all the other feelings etc. that go alongside.

@thislittlebird Water for pain? Not heard of that one! Holiday was so lovely. If you can, I think a little break before baby comes is definitely worth doing. We are off to JL tomorrow. I’ve started googling prams and oh my. So much choice!

anyone got a pram recommendation? My initial thoughts are lightweight and one that works for different terrains so I can use it for walks in the woods etc.

@ASGIRC oh my! That must have been such a shock! Do they know why it’s happening? Take care of yourself xx

@CollsR sounds like we are very close in dates. When are you due? I’m 11th May ❤️And sorry to hear you’re still sick. That’s so rubbish. Have you told your midwife? I had it up to about 18 weeks and then since then just a couple of times when the acid reflux has been really strong. I’m also starting to panic that I haven’t bought anything but I keep reminding myself that the priority items to buy in advance are a car seat and crib and ideally a pram. Everything else you could buy on Amazon and get delivered next day. Some of the lists I have seen though are quite overwhelming so I’m planning to just buy what I think I will need in the first month. It’s also the level of choice now which is insane. I feel so clueless!

@KG1244 Apparently it is just something that happens! But since my cervix length is still very good (4cm), theres no immediate danger, so I only have to take it a bit easier and drink plenty of water! Not even back on the dreaded progesterone, so calling that a massive win!!!

But it was definitely a shock! I was not expecting the contractions I was feeling to be real proper ones, as supposedly, real contractions hurt!

Im still having the contractions. Every time I move about, or is I stand for a while (when cooking, for instance), they start. So the doctor warned me that they WILL shorten the cervix, but if I minimise them (by not going on walks, not lifting weights, just resting as much as possible), then it will all be fine and she will come at term!

As for prams, I got the Cosatto Giggle 3. It is really light, and fairly all terrain (has 4 wheels, but the front 1 are together).
However, it is BIG. It wont fit just any car boot, so if that is a consideration, it might not be a good option for you.
I wanted the Giggle 2, as in that one the bassinet turns into the baby chair for when they are older, and it meant 1 less bulky element, but unfortunately, that model is not available in Portugal.
Plus, the cosatto prams are COLOURFUL AND PRETTY , which was really important for me LOL

Thanks for all the sympathy & support ladies ❤️❤️

I have told my midwife and she suggested I could ask my GP for more antisickness drugs.

@ASGIRC That does make me feel better about not walking. Before IVF worked I thought I’d do everything the doctor suggested to stay healthy but not I’m pregnant & tired it’s harder.

@KG1244 We are close! My due date is 4th May.

I haven’t purchased a pram yet but have done research. I’m thinking the Joie Versatrax. Bit pricey but not the most expensive. Seems to be easy to fold. You can get a car seat that can slot onto the pushchair base. Had big wheels and a good storage under. Do need to check it would fit into the car boot! Good advice @ASGIRC

@KG1244 Thanks for the calming words. Very true that most things can be bought on Amazon & last minute. I’ll buy a pram soon online. And look at other big stuff soon. I do have a list of stuff to buy (copied from this thread).

I am now mostly done with the buying of the stuff.

I have literal TONNES of clothes (mostly hand me downs, and some presents. I bought literally 6 items!), the next to me, pram/travel system and bathtub have been bought as well.

I have a nappy changing mattress, newborn disposable nappies and then regular reusable ones for after the first few weeks.

I have all the nursery furniture, apart from the "grown up" bed, which has been ordered and will arrive in a few weeks (then will need to order the mattresses, as it is a atrundle bed), and a rug, plus some decorations.

I have now asked for bottles, thermometres, food containers, baby wearing things, nappy bucket, etc for my baby shower!
My diaper bag and baby monitor are also on its way from amazon (not next day, sadly!)

Most of these things were gifts.

@ASGIRC Kudos on the reusable nappy choice 👍🏻 Which ones did you go for? 😬

@TheBirdintheCave I have 20 Pop-In ones. Also 4 from Temu, that my mom got. I think I need to get at least double that, otherwise I will forever be washing nappies (considering a 10 a day usage, particularly at the start)
But Im buying them 2nd hand (to keep in with the sustainable theme, and also cause its cheaper!, so need to check for deals on Marketplace. And I dont mind having different types, but I want them to be the same in numbers, you know?
So like, ok, I have 20 pop in, then I want to get another 10/12 of the same again, even if from a different brand, but not 1 of one brand, 4 of another, 3 of a different one, etc, if that makes sense!

@ASGIRC Yep! Totally get it. We cloth from birth and have bought lots (of the same brand) from cloth nappy resales on FB groups in the past. I still haven't decided what to go for for newborn this time. I managed to shrink all of our son's old terries and they were a tiny 40cm to start with 🙄

I currently have 23 btp Easy Peasy Bumbles which are still in fab condition and washed every other day with that amount, then every three days once my son started holding his wees longer.

Our friends went with Pop-ins and liked using them :)

@TheBirdintheCave I have decided to wait a couple of weeks get my bearings before starting the cloth nappies (and also not dealing with meconium on cloth)
So I got a few disposables for the first few days, newborn size.

Im in a cloth nappy group on FB, and it baffles me when people are selling a couple of units of each brand. Like... WHY? HOW?
Im currently eyeing a set of 12, of the same, but the price is ridiculous.
She advertises that they are 10 each, new, and is selling them for 7.5 second hand! PLUS shipping! I[d rather buy new for that price! So we shall see!

It’s great to hear some of you are considering cloth. I used the tots bots systems last time which we found really easy. Although used disposables for the first month or so until we had got into a good daily routine.
I had my consultant appointment yesterday and have to have a gestational diabetes test. Apparently i’m high risk, goodness knows how. Also have discussed an elective c section as I had an emergency c section with my first. Consultant thought this would be sensible!
I have extra growth scans now too (currently 26w) due to my age and IVF. Not much else to report really, just waititing now for appointments and concentrating on eating well and growing the baby!

@ASGIRC Sorry you're having those contractions but it's good they monitored you. This happened to my friend on anther thread, I think, she had to take it easy for a few weeks and baby came on time (by c section).

@PollywithaP I was told I'd probably have consultant appointments but I haven't, other than one they booked for 8th May about induction :/

I'm considering using some cloth nappies too but not heard of the ones you've all mentioned. I'd seen these recommended but don't really understand how they work, do you put an insert in them? I need to read more on this.
Will use disposable as well and if anyone is interested, Aldi are doing a voucher giveaway for a pack of their nappies.

I'm also having a gestational diabetes test in a few weeks @PollywithaP, the nurse who did my bloods this Monday said it takes 2 hours???? Something like that, another thing I need to read up on.

On a similar topic, I went for bloods for standard diabetes and cholesterol bloods on Monday. I should have had them done weeks ago but between christmas and sickness I didn't bother. So I finally went and then I get a text today from the GP today to say she'll call me tomorrow evening to discuss results . I would bet it's my cholesterol, I've known it's high since my 20s, it's in my family, and it's gradually crept up as I got older. It was 8 in September when I weighed about 58kg, and I'm now 10kg heavier so I bet it's sky high. I'm a little worried about what she'll say, but I won't pretend I've eaten fantastically well the past few months. I was sick almost all of January and a number of takeaways was had, then Christmas before that, and then excessive hunger before that so I ate a lot. And not much exercise compared to normal, which won't have helped, plus cholesterol gets 50% higher in pregnancy. Anyway, I guess I'll need to try to move more and eat less if it does turn out to be bad, but it's not the easiest right now. I did re-start pilates last week.

@thislittlebird Yeah, thats what im doing. Taking it easy until my c section at 38 weeks and hoping she doesnt come earlier than that. Should be fine!
While I cannot wait to not be pregnant anymore, I dont want her coming out too early, as that would mess up my maternity leave and nursery situation!

The bambino mio ones are great! And yes, you do put inserts in them. They come with one insert, and then you can add another insert, for night time pees!

My GD test was also 2h long. Basically they take your blood, you drink the sugary drink, then after an hour they take blood again, and again after 2h!
Be aware this is a FASTING test, usually, so make sure you ask them for confirmation on this!

I am glad I havent been testes for cholesterol at all. Mine is also on the high side, and I definitely eat whatever I want, so it is likely still high!

@thislittlebird Ok so, these are known as all in ones (AIO) as in, you don't need to dismantle the nappy for washing in any way (no inserts to remove etc) because its all sewn together like a disposable nappy.

Pluses to AIO: No dismantling necessary.

Minuses: Inferior poop containment to two-parters.

ASGIRCs Close Pop-Ins fall into the all in two category which means an outer layer with a pop in booster layer (hence the name).

My Easy Peasy Bumbles are a two parter system which means you need to buy a separate waterproof wrap to go around the fitted cloth nappy.