Please help - 6w pregnant and panicking

[giraffesauce]

I’m 6w today after IVF (euploid embryo). Had two very good betas - 601 at 12dp5dt and 1500+ at 14dp5dt. Two prior losses with untested embryos. My first scan isn’t until Tuesday (I’ll be 6w4d).

I’m having crippling anxiety because I think I might be losing the baby and I need some advice on what to do.

Two days ago I had a minuscule amount of pink spotting, and then strong period like cramps for 2 days. Since this, one symptom that had started very strong after my FET, frequent urination, is now completely gone. The thirst/dry mouth I had since started taking progesterone is also almost gone.
With my other two pregnancies I had started feeling nauseous and having sore boobs by this point, which I’m not feeling at all now.

The last time my symptoms disappeared so suddenly I had a miscarriage.

The wait for Tuesday is torturous, I’m not sleeping and having constant palpitations from the worry. I thought I would ask the clinic to scan me today; but I’m aware it might be too early to see anything. Perhaps I could ask them to draw my HCG again which might give some clues.

Please help - looking for some reassurance, and advice on what you would do in this situation.

Hi OP, IVF is a scary time, isn't it? Especially so after that positive test. I did IVF in April/May and had bleeding/loss of symptoms just before 6 weeks. I was devastated. However, I managed to get an appointment at the EPU the following day where they diagnosed me with a subchorionic hematoma which was causing the bleeding.

The bleed came back again a few weeks later, then disappeared on its own - I'm currently awaiting baby's arrival end of Jan.

Please stay positive, be good to yourself and don't count yourself out until you've seen the consultants. Best of luck and do update as and when if it's helpful - the knowledge shared with me on here has supported me no end lately.

With my first pregnancy I had no symptoms whatsoever other than a missed period. I couldn’t actually believe I was pregnant as I felt exactly the same, no sore boobs, no sickness, not tiredness. I longed for all the symptoms to make it feel real. I now have a very active 2 year old.

My second pregnancy I needed the toilet constantly till about 6 weeks and that eased off. I then had on and off spotting from 6-8 weeks which was horrible. I had to wait for scans which i understood but the wait felt like the longest time. During this all symptoms stopped and I had period like cramps. I’m now nearing my third trimester, there was no explanation for the spotting. They just put it down to possible implantation bleeding. The cramping did continue till after 12 weeks but my midwife said period like cramps are normal, any more severe cramping isn’t.

i’m sorry you’re in this position, I really hope the next little while goes in quickly and you have a positive scan!

Thank you @DiscoStusMoonboots my last IVF pregnancy ended in TFMR and it’s taken another 1.5 years of treatment to get this positive test, which I think is fuelling my anxiety.

I’m torn on whether asking to be scanned today would help put my mind at ease or potentially make things worse if it’s too early to see anything

Thank you @Hiddenvoice that’s reassuring to hear.

Does anyone know if an HCG draw done today could indicate whether the pregnancy is progressing? Perhaps better than a scan which might not show enough as I’m only 6w?

Ah I really feel for you.

I've also had first trimester miscarriages and been through IVF. My pregnancy that did not end in a miscarriage had light pink spotting (which was implantation bleeding) and also no symptoms - no sore boobs, nausea, nothing. Then around 8 weeks I had a small feeling of nausea, then it went again. Obviously this sends your mind into complete overdrive but sometimes pregnancies such have no symptoms.

Impossible I know but try to occupy your mind with something (eg a jigsaw or tidying) to help relax. I had some counselling from a fertility counsellor in my first trimester to stop me completely losing my mind with anxiety and also found the IVF mindfulness app helpful (it has some 1st trimester mindfulness meditations on there).

@giraffesauce i had a scan at 6+1 and was able to see a heart beat but my friend had a scan at 6+4 and was asked to return a week later so I guess it’s different for everyone.

You could ask for your hcg levels to be checked but it would need to be repeated at 48 hours, would they be able to do them on a Sunday?

I’d recommend you contact your early pregnancy unit to explain what’s been happening and how you’re feeling. I’m sure they would do an HCG blood test. Good luck ✨ xx

hope you’re ok OP.

I am similar to you in time and my only symptom is the intense cramps, they’re like a period and so disconcerting - apparently very normal!

Thank you everyone, I’ve spoken to my clinic and decided to wait until Tuesday’s scan.

I feel completely normal today, even the bloating has gone. It’s incredibly hard to believe there can be a positive outcome, in my head I’m already preparing for the worst.

Honestly i found having low/no expectations the best way to manage all the stress. Of course you want to know what is happening asap but that won't let you know what is going to happen over the next few important weeks, so i think you are right and waiting is the best thing. Symptoms in eatky pregnancy after ivf are a menace because of all the drugs etc you have had so i think impossible to read in to

I’ve not been in your specific position but just to reassure you, with my first pregnancy I had every symptom under the sun from really early on, then miscarried at 7wks. With DD I had virtually no symptoms at all aside from a slightly hungover feeling for some of the first trimester, pregnancy was super straightforward until an induction at the end and she’s now a happy and healthy 11mo. So ultimately while it’s easier said than done, try not to stress too much over symptoms.

Hey all.
backstory- mmc 3 years ago, mc in August. Yesterday had a scan at 6w2d - all looks good, heartbeat present.

however, symptoms disappeared this morning. Boobs no longer sore, no nausea. Nothing.

please can I hear others’ experiences of similar? Don’t want to worry DH but driving myself slowly insane all morning touching boobs hoping for a Sting.

Hi everyone, I wanted to share an update since I had my first scan yesterday. All was well, baby was measuring at exactly 6+4 and we saw a strong heartbeat. My nausea also really kicked in a few days before so I went into the scan feeling a bit more reassured.

Thank you so much everyone for your reassurance! I’ll keep reminding myself that it’s normal for symptoms to come and go.

Hi, just asking if anyone has experienced this. I rang the early pregnancy clinic yesterday and they told me to go to an and e with really bad cramping all day from 9am (worse than a bad period). I got my bloods checked and my HCG is only 200. I think I am between 4 and 6 weeks pregnant, not sure of the exact date. Has anyone else experienced this and what was the outcome?

Just a note - no bleeding or spotting at all, got my first positive test on the 13th Dec and my LMP was the 7th Nov. Tested today and yesterday, lighter line on todays test