IVF/FET Pregnancies due Oct 2024

[2mumlife]

Hi, thought I'd start of thread for those of us who have been through fertility treatment and are due in October 2024 :-)

I'm 6 weeks today after FET. This was our first try for a sibling (also a FET pregnancy).

Nausea is kicking my butt this time around. How is everyone else feeling?

How is everyone feeling about their early pregnancy scans?

Hope everyone had a nice weekend ☀️

sorry to be a anxious Annie but I feel like my anxiety is spiking after after temporarily feeling some reassurance after our 13 week scan. I'm 16 weeks tomorrow and between 11-14 weeks I was having pretty constant twinges throughout the day felt like growing pains/ aches. But this last week I haven't felt any really. The odd one or two but not as regular as bedore. Did anyone else have this experience this around 15/ 16 weeks? I have a private scan booked at 17+4. I wish I had booked it earlier now!

@peardeer Id try not to worry, everything is moving around and growing and it will feel different at different times. Only time in later pregnancy is be worried is once you start feeling baby movements regularly if they then stop. Most likely everything is fine.

I know it’s really hard not to worry. I’ve still not felt baby move properly and at nearly 18 weeks and I would have expected it by now with a second pregnancy and a bit anxious about it in the back of my mind, but have my next cervix check on Thursday so hoping for some reassurance that everything is ok then

@peardeer I'm the opposite of you. I'm 17 weeks and for the last three days I've had constant pain on my pelvis - every 5 to 10 minutes it's a wave of pain. I know if I could even get through to a midwife they'd just say if there's no bleeding then pain, twinges, no pain, no twinges are all absolutely normal. So I'm trying to put it to the back of my mind.

I know it's difficult but I felt very un-pregnant at 16 weeks so try to enjoy being pregnant without any weird symptoms for a few weeks!

@peardeer I completely understand it’s hard not to analyse everything, but just to assure you I’ve had aches, twinges etc come and go throughout as @2mumlife and @LuxeBiscuit said.

@2mumlife I’ve heard a few people say that they didn’t actually feel anything much earlier with second pregnancy. I’m sure everything will be ok and you’ll have your reassurance on Thursday.

@LuxeBiscuit sorry to hear about your pain. Have you been getting it when you’ve been doing particular things? I have pelvic girdle pain and just wondering if it may be that

We have our anomaly scan tomorrow 😬😬

@IVF23 all the best for your scan tomorrow! Keep us updated.

I had a Google and it sounds like I have round ligament pain (but maybe mixed with something else). I had it at some point in the first trimester. It feels like an inflammation - a bit like sciatica but on the front.

@IVF23 Just feeling really impatient now for feeling movements. DP thinks it’s because I don’t have the luxury this time of sitting quietly during the day with bump so I’m not picking up small movements. I’m expanding and have heartburn already so everything feels right otherwise but it’s just a niggle in back of my mind

good luck for 20 week scan!

@LuxeBiscuit @2mumlife @IVF23 thank you for the reassurance. I appreciate it so much. I had my 16 week midwife apt today and got to hear baby's heartbeat which was such a relief

Thanks @2mumlife @LuxeBiscuit . The scan went well, all was looking as it should. Big relief. They said next scan will be 36 weeks unless obviously something crops up before. I’m seeing my consultant in a few weeks too.

Ah @peardeer so pleased 🥰

Do you know if the NHS offers additional scans after the 20 weeks scan? It seems like a long time to go without a scan until the end of pregnancy! How does the midwife know that everything is going well just taking some measurement? I am in a bit of worrying mood today and looking for a bit of reassurance

@Francesmalin i’ve had my 20 week scan and because everything was fine, my next scan is 36 weeks which I understand is just standard. If there’s any complications you have more frequent ones. Re midwife I’m not entirely sure as this is my first, but yes I understand they do measurements to track growth etc. I was very anxious at the beginning but I’ve found that since I’ve felt baby move consistently over the last 2 weeks it’s eased a lot, so I feel like this is part of the reassurance from now.

@IVF23 great news that the scan went well!

@Francesmalin As IVF is considered a 'risk' factor you may be offered an additional scan.

The midwife checks the heartbeat and fundal height after 25 weeks and I believe beyond this time, you're suppose to monitor movement to check everything is okay. I agree though that 20 weeks without a scan is a long time!

@peardeer Ah so lucky to get to hear baby's heartbeat! Its really nice to get that kind of reassurance

@IVF23 So pleased to hear everything is looking good. Is the 36 week scan a growth scan?

@Francesmalin The 'standard' care package is no more scans after 20 weeks. Quite a few people though will be offered something though if they have a reason. So, if at a midwife appointment they are concerned about babies growth from your fundal height (length from your pubic bone to top of your bump) they will send you for a growth scan. If you develop gestational diabetes they'll offer you a growth scan. So quite a few people end up with an additional scan/s for one reason or another.

It really depends on where you are though - in my NHS area, because its an IVF pregnancy, I am deemed 'consultant led' and automatically offered growth scans at 28, 32, 36 and 40 weeks. Was offered the same with my DD. And its entirely due to the nature of conception (I've no other risk factors). Its nice to get the extra scans, but I found with DD it meant I didn't have any consistency in care in terms of seeing a midwife - I just saw a random midwife at the hospital after each growth scan to do blood pressure and urine before seeing the consultant. When normally you would get to build a relationship with your named midwife.

@IVF23 The scan at 36 weeks is likely because its IVF and they want to just have a check on babies growth. I found once you had movements though it was really reassuring. @Francesmalin change in baby movements is another reason the NHS might scan you after 20 weeks FYI

Thanks @LuxeBiscuit @2mumlife . It seems most people are offered a 36 week scan where I am 🤷🏼‍♀️ I am consultant led because of IVF and endocrine disorder, but I haven’t got my first appointment with them until 23 weeks so I’m not sure what that will entail or how often they’ll be. It’s amazing how different every trust is!

@IVF23 It can vary a lot area by area. You might just find most people in your area are offered a 36 week scan because most people have something medical / in their histories 😂 I'm seeing my consultant quite often but that's only because of the cervix issue. I find talks with the consultant are normally really fast - first one is just to agree your care plan, then after that I've always found its a 5min chat after each growth scan for example to say 'everythings fine, any questions?'. The conversations got a bit longer closer to due date as consultant wanted to discuss induction at due date, but I declined those with DD and will do so again. Only difference it meant was I would have got extra growth scans at 41 and 42 weeks, but I went into labour before then :)

@IVF23 I don't have a known issue but I'm consultant led due to IVF. My first appointment is the week after next at 19 weeks. You're further ahead than us so it may be around the same time as yours.

I'm not impressed at all with my midwife. Not sure I can be bothered to request a change though. The 16 week appointment was a waste of time tbh and my GP had been far more knowledgeable and helpful than the midwife.

@LuxeBiscuit - what are the issues with your midwife? Was it that you had questions they struggled to answer or that they were dismissive of you?

@muddlingthrou she was quiet dismissive and when I asked about my persistent UTI's she told me to book a GP appointment and couldn't answer any my questions - told me to do research when I asked about eating certain fish! Plus she couldn't tell me about hospital plans and just said to discuss with the consultant. It just felt like she was rushing to tick boxes in the notes. She didn't listen to the heartbeat either even when I asked so it may have well just been a telephone call.

I mentioned on the main thread that I'm fortunate to have private medical insurance through work that included GP appointments (seeing a GP within 30 minutes of booking) so I haven't had a lot of interaction with the NHS for a while. It may be just the way things are and I've forgotten lol.

@LuxeBiscuit - I'm sorry, that sounds frustrating. Your GP experience definitely doesn't sound typical to me, but I'm glad you're getting the advice you need from somewhere.

I had recurrent UTIs with my last pregnant, and ended up going on prophylactic antibiotics for almost a month. They screwed up my digestion, but did finally end the cycle of uti after uti... hoping I avoid that this time! Good luck x

@muddlingthrou ah thank you, also interesting to know about your antibiotic treatment.

Hopefully, your midwife is a lot better!

@LuxeBiscuit I'm sorry you feel you've been dismissed by your midwife. It does sound like she could perhaps have been more considerate in answering your questions. I never got to hear the heartbeat at the 16 week midwife appointment with either of my pregnancies - its really not guaranteed you get this. The experience you have with different NHS staff varies a lot place to place. I know I'm 'lucky' in that I've never had a problem getting a same-day GP appointment, but I know in some areas its very difficult getting in to see a GP. I've also have no complaints really about my NHS consultant. Midwives I find a bit hit and miss, but again generally not really had an issue. You can request a change of midwife if you would like to.

Had my 18 week cervix check today. Cervix is still totally fine, and got to see heartbeat and baby wiggling about. The sonographer took a bit more time to take a look at baby than they usually do at the cervix check which was nice, so checked things like babies stomach and bladder and said everything looked good that baby was swallowing etc normally. Never had such a thorough check of baby at a cervix scan before so that was nice to feel like I could get a bit of a proper look at baby. Have my 20 week /anomaly scan on the 28th May (at 21 weeks but oh well) so looking forward to that now :)

@2mumlife great news that everything is looking good and you got to see baby!

I think you're right and I just got unlucky with the midwife. On the positive side I'm happy with the care from the new GP.

Not that I want anything to go wrong but in my trust if you have any issues before 18 weeks you have to go to general A&E but after that you can go straight to the antenatal ward. Other than the standard checks I shouldn't need to go to the midwife.

Is anyone in maternity wear yet? I had some trousers and jeans delivered yesterday and they're so comfy!

@LuxeBiscuit I'd glad you like your GP. I've no idea in my trust at what stage they send you to antenatal - I just kind of assumed it would be from 12 weeks? Maybe I'm totally wrong! You'll see the midwife lots the first week or so after birth (they do quite frequent home visits before they pass you over to your health visitors care) so maybe still worth asking for a change.

Yup I cracked out the maternity wear already, so the past 2 weeks. I like the stuff that has the 'over the bump' bit of fabric. Sounds stupid but invest in comfy underwear to - throw away the underwired bras and embrace a bigger knicker (I found midi style briefs more comfortable)

Glad everything went well with your check @2mumlife and lovely you got to see baby there happy wiggling!