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?

@2mumlife yes, I agree. But I also think it's because women who undergo IVF tend to be slightly older and the potential for chromosome abnormalities increases with age. If someone would be inclined to end a pregnancy if the results came back high then the thought is that it's easier at 11 weeks via a private test than at 16 weeks on the NHS. Which is the likely time as you have to wait for the screening results then have a NIPT.

Also, I believe the harmony test has been discontinued. I think the general term NIPT is the replacement but understand there are different variations / lab processes for the NIPT.

@LuxeBiscuit Very true about age (its often an issue I forget about as less relevant to our own situation). Totally agree if you would be thinking you might end the pregnancy based on the results I would very much want that information sooner than later x

@LuxeBiscuit I am swaying towards not doing a private NIPT but I might need to do some research before making a final decision. My baby is through egg donation and my donor is 23 so me and husband feel quite good about it.

I went to do a scan at the EPU today just to check everything was going well after the bleeding scare a couple of weeks ago and the consultant said that they'll do the check at week 12 and if they have any concerns the NHS will do the NIPT for me o any other necessary tests. as @2mumlife said I don't really want to get over checked, over scanned if not necessary. My body knows how to do what it needs to do!

I am week 8 today so I have 2 weeks to think about it!

@Francesmalin Great to hear your EPU scanned you again and (Im assuming?) all is well. Sounds like your local EPU is taking really good care of you :) Think building trust in your body is really important after fertility treatment. I need to find out at my 12 week appointment if I need extra cervical scans (with DD my fertility clinic consultant said he was concerned about my cervix length, and I've had a LLETZ procedure for early pre-cancerous cervical changes, so I get extra scans to check cervix length, but everything was totally fine last time so kind of hoping they are deemed not necessary this time). What I MOST wish though would be not to have to do the glucose tolerance test again 😩have to do it as my dad has type 2 diabetes, but the stuff they make you drink is absolutely foul and made me feel a bit sick trying to swallow it all, and then headachey after the sugar hit

@Francesmalin I had a similar thought process. The NIPT is done from weeks 10/11 weeks and I am already there. My NHS dating scan is next week Thursday so I wouldn't be gaining much from doing a private test this week so I think I'll wait.

@2mumlife thanks I’ll definitely check out that discussion you mentioned. I’ve managed to hold off private scans. I will end up having more with the NHS all being well at 12 weeks anyhow too due to my LETZ I had years ago. All was well with DD though so I’m not too worried about the cervix issues fingers crossed. Oh and I hear you on the glucose test - I think you have it too if you’ve had IVF as there’s greater risk of Pg diabetes - totally forgot about that test!

@TheYorkshirePudding i did have an 8 week scan but feels like it was such a long time ago and that scan revealed a twin heartbeat had stopped so it just concerns me a bit about the other that was doing ok, whether it’s still the case. Just going on nausea atm! I’m going to hold out for 12 week NHS scan though it’s more like 13 weeks as can’t get an appointment In the 12th week as they’re too busy!

Can see people talking about testing etc. I wasn’t previously concerned about this as I had a genetically tested blastocyst transferred but because it split into two, I’m not sure if this now affects things. And, given one twin didn’t survive, could it be that there was a genetic issue and would that now affect any results I have given dna stays in you? Planned to ask at my midwife appointment next week. I wasn’t planning on doing any other tests other than what nhs provide.

@Lindyloolou I’m really hoping I don’t need the extra cervix checks this time. At my booking in appointment I mentioned it and they said they would get consultant to check over my cervix lengths from DD and he’d decide it it was necessary or not, so hoping I’ll find out at 12 week scan what the plan is. I’m not aware of anyone who has had the GTT just because of IVF? Only I’ve they’ve had other risk factors? But it might vary between health boards? Told DP I want her there for it again as I needed the encouragement not to throw it all up and last time we went for a walk around the hospital grounds (they have wooded area and pond) whilst we had to do the wait for the second blood draw

@Lindyloolou Definitely not an area I know anything about definitively but as the embryo split and it was an identical twin any genetic issue one twin had the other would also have. Embryos split spontaneously and I don’t see it as being an indication of anything. The twin that was lost was probably the splitting off one - so might have been smaller and just less viable. I think there is a general thing that having 1 embryo implant actually puts off another embryo implanting (nature trying to protect you from twins). It’s worth asking a midwife though if you have concerns. If the blast was tested though the results won’t have changed

@Lindyloolou they didn’t offer me a GTT - they said as no close relatives have diabetes and I’m a normal weight that I didn’t need one….should I ask for one next time? I didn’t know that IVF/ICSI increased the risk.

I know it probably differs NHS area to area but I had my 12 week scan and the blood test as part of the screening on a Friday and the results were back on the following Wednesday. If anyone else is having screening then I hope your results come back quickly too. DH is happy as all came back as low chance but my problem is that I like to know everything. A chance is not knowing. I’m from the camp that ignorance is not bliss and I’d rather know for certain.

@TheYorkshirePudding yep apparently higher risk of pg diabetes with ivf. I am also fit and of a healthy weight. I’m wondering whether I’ll need it this time around as I had it previously with DD and was negative. Don’t think you need to ask them - I’m sure they would have said if they felt you needed it.

Have my first midwife appt on Wednesday. I don’t remember them doing tests that early - will see what they say this time around though. Hope all goes well.

@TheYorkshirePudding I think you only need the GTT if you have family risk factors :) Sorry that the test hasn't reassured you as much as DH

@Lindyloolou They do some simple blood tests normally at the booking in appointment. If you have family risk factors you'll need to do the GTT again, as every pregnancy is different

Does anyone know when we need to speak to our manager about returning to work after maternity leave please? I’m full time, 5 days a week but would hope to return to part-time and more flexible hours ideally. When do you have that discussion? I want to leave enough time for negotiation as I’ve heard some others have been declined previously.

Hope everyone is okay xx

@TheYorkshirePudding How accommodating if your workplace generally? My workplace as a very good agile working policy with lots of flexibility. I went from working full time 5 days, to compressed hours (full time across 4 days with Fridays off) when I returned to work after DD.

I had my DD in September 2022. I first contacted by line manager about agile working in mid Feb 2023. She was very supportive. I did a bit of further consideration and but in my agile working request to HR in March 2023. I got a letter from HR confirming approval for my permanent agile working request in mid June, the week before I officially ended my mat leave (though I was on annual leave until August, and then did phased return in August, returning to 4 days a week in September). Because I was making a permanent change in my contract, the contractual changes were timed to start at the point I returned from mat leave, not to mess up any of the mat pay etc.

I found the process very smooth to be honest, but like I said I have a very flexible work place that has a clear agile working policy.

Had our 12 week scan today and everything looking good 🥰. Really funny this one already acting like my DD - spent the whole scan face down refusing to budge, so only image we have is upside down and pretty rubbish (just like DDs 🤦‍♀️) and measuring ahead like DD so think we’re on the trajectory for another longer/larger baby 😂

Back in next week to get cervix length checked and have initial consultant appointment

How is everyone else getting on?

@2mumlife Thank you for sharing about your working pattern. And amazing news about your scan! Also really funny that they already have their own personalities! How far ahead are you measuring? I’m measuring just a day ahead. How come you are under a consultant? I’m just having midwife-led care.

@2mumlife great news about the scan and funny that your baby wasn't cooperating!

@TheYorkshirePudding my midwife said I'd be consultant led due to IVF but I don't think this is standard for all trusts. I have an obstetrician appointment at the end of May.

@TheYorkshirePudding No worries at all. Compressed hours works well for me as I work from home so its doable. I'm also the higher earner, so it was a way of not having to cut the family income, making nursery a tiny bit cheaper only being in 4 days, and most importantly for me keeping a day a week that's time for just me and DD.

Measuring 3 days ahead this time (with DD I was measuring 6 days ahead if I remember correctly). It doesn't matter until the very end of pregnancy, where it made some difference to medical advice around going 'overdue'.

A lot of places will put you under consultant led if its an IVF pregnancy. So in my area IVF makes you an automatic consult-led pregnancy. It also automatically means I'll get extra growth scans towards the end of the pregnancy (there is some evidence suggesting IVF babies can be smaller for dates - certainly wasn't the case for me last time! 😂).

Being seen early though as when I was TTC DD there was a concern from 1 of the fertility clinic consultants that my cervix was shorter, and I have previously had a LLETZ procedure for pre-cancerous cervical changes. So my fertility clinic consultant wrote a letter to give to my NHS consultant suggesting my cervix length should be monitored. It was a bit on the shorter side with DD, but nothing serious - so there was never discussion of needing a cervical stitch of anything. It just meant I had to go to get my cervix length checked and make sure cervix wasn't opening at all (ultrasound) every couple of weeks between 12 and 20 weeks (roughly - I can't quite remember any more!). I'd asked if I needed to do that again this time at my booking in appointment and midwife said they'd flag to consultant I was pregnant again, and at todays scan midwife said the consultant had left a note on my file asking me to do a cervix check at 14 weeks and have an initial consult. So will see what they say next week about whether I need the monitoring this time around or not.

@LuxeBiscuit My DD didn't either. I'd totally forgotten until I was in the scan room today that with DD the sonographer literally asked me to jump up and down at the 20 week scan to try to make DD move so they could finish doing all the measurements! 😂 Today just involved me trying to lie on my right side and then my left side, and sonographer asking me to put me feet on the bed and do hip thrusts to try to get baby to move, but it wasn't for budging. Preparing for another stubborn one 😂

Great news @2mumlife a huge milestone to hit 🥰 I’m measuring ahead 2 days but the sonographer said he wouldn’t change my EDD as I had ivf which are exact dates of ovulation etc

I’m also under consultant led care because of ivf but also I have an endocrine disorder. I don’t have my first consultant appointment until 23 weeks though. I’m now 15+1 and definitely showing now, it’s getting hard to hide!

@IVF23 Your sonographer is sensible!!! Both times with me even with it being ivf they’ve gone with their measurement dates. I don’t think a few days is so much of an issue but felt more of an issue with DD as we were a week apart in our conversations about inducing etc

Think in only seeing consultant so early because of the potential cervix issue. The midwife I saw actually didn’t notice the consultant note at first, and had said I’d see the community midwife at 16 weeks and next scan at 20 weeks, and I’d actually started leaving the hospital when she ran to catch up with me after noticing the note and got me to come back to make the appointment for next week instead.

@2mumlife sorry to hear about the potential cervix issues but it's good that you'll get extra checks to make sure everything is okay.

@IVF23 are you waiting to tell work? I received a letter about the obstetrician appointment. I would be 19 weeks.

@IVF23 I was going to ask about bumps and when we’ll get them. I’m 14 weeks but I’ve lost about a stone in weight and inches too so you can’t tell at all. Might also be down to the fact that my uterus was retroverted (it isn’t now though). In my area they keep the IVF dates the same too.

@TheYorkshirePudding Bumps vary massively. Even at 20 weeks with DD a stranger wouldn’t have known for sure if I was pregnant or just a bit fat 😂 but then I never had a huge bump and everyone was surprised my daughter was 8.5lbs even though the growth scans were showing she was a good size. I’m definitely noticing everything is firming up and had my first instance of feeling like a tshirt looked tight the other day. I’m hoping for a smaller bump again this time as we’re taking the chance between babies to finally get round to getting married in June 😂

Hi all, sounds like you're all doing well. I'm going to be under shared consultant/midwife care due to IVF. Our scan is next Weds at 13w. I'm looking forward to getting that done and being able to tell people at last with peace of mind. Nothing much to report from this side, not really had any symptoms except we went on a long uphill/downhill cliff walk on holiday and my thighs hurt for about 3 days afterwards! At 12w I have no obvious bump, I just look the way I do after Christmas 😂

@2mumlife good they are checking you regularly. Lovely that you have your wedding in June, how exciting!

@LuxeBiscuit my current work know but I am changing jobs within the nhs next week and my new one does not, so I didn’t want it to be obvious straight away!

It’s definitely lots of bloating but my lower tummy is definitely growing, so I think it’s going to be getting more obvious soon! I am quite slim so I just feel it’s obvious me no longer having a flat tummy. My work colleagues who know have commented on it growing haha

@Custard7891 good luck with your scan!