IVF and Insecurity after miscarriage

[ETsJourney]

Dear all,

Today we are 8 weeks pregnant after a frozen embryo transfer. We already had the first ultrasound and everything looks good. However...
Last summer we had a miscarriage (missed) after a healthy embryo was observed with the first ultrasound. The baby stopped developing at around 8.5 weeks. We only discovered it was deceased three weeks later. Looking back the only indications was the sudden decrease of symptoms.
My pregnant partner is experiencing the last few weeks extreme exhaustion but nausea keeps coming and going every few days. Also she is thirsty all the time.

My first worry has to do with the fact that the last few days she hasn't experienced any nausea. She is till tired and thirsty.
Have you experience this sort of fluctuations in symptoms and especially nausea?

My second worry is about the medication prescribed from the ivf clinic. Only 200mg progesteron twice a day. In the first ivf pregnancy they didnt prescribe it and it ended up in loss (they said that this wasnt the cause).
I read everywhere that clinics usually prescribe twice that dosis together with estrogen. Im very worried because Im not sure I trust our clinic anymore.

Have you had any experienced with the aforementioned medication during IVF?

We would greatly appreciate ANY insights to our situation.

With kind regards,
E & T

Sorry to hear about your missed mis carriage, it can make the next pregnancy such an anxious time.

I don't have ivf experience but with regards question 1, symptom fluctuation is normal and expected. Some days I'd feel normal and others I'd have crazy morning sickness. I think for most people, symptoms aren't constantly there.

Sorry to hear about your miscarriage. I have been through multiple miscarriages and IVF. It is totally normal for symptoms to come and go. Every pregnancy is also different so try not to worry. In my successful pregnancy, I had hardly any symptoms and when I had missed miscarriage, I still suffered with nausea and other pregnancy related symptoms. The body reacts differently each time.

In regards to progesterone, it really depends on the protocol you're doing and your own natural levels of progesterone. The clinic would have checked your lining thickness at the embryo transfer stage and this often determines how much progesterone is given. The body will also naturally start producing progesterone at the implantation stage. Estrogen isn't always necessary depending on the protocol you're following. If you're are still worried, I would contact your clinic for reassurance.

It is difficult not to worry but just try and take each day as it comes. Wishing you the best of luck

I'm in a very similar position. Currently 8 weeks with IVF pregnancy. I had a miscarriage last September and a missed miscarriage last May. I was devastated by both and am riddled with anxiety about this pregnancy, so I can completely sympathise.

My nausea definitely comes and goes. I have bad days and good days. With my first successful pregnancy I was very sick from 8 weeks on. Every pregnancy is different but I think the key with my miscarriages is the symptoms went and never returned. This time it does come back with a vengeance.

I'm not sure if I can help too much with the progesterone. With my first successful pregnancy they weaned me off all progesterone support at 8 weeks. This time they have kept me on it until 12 weeks. No blood tests either time, just different doctors and different opinions I guess. I've never been on any oestrogen post transfer.

I hope all goes well for you, I really sympathise with the worry xx

I should add, while the nausea comes and goes, the exhaustion is consistent though. My symptoms sound very similar to your wife.

Thank you very much for your answer. Im sorry to hear that you have been through multiple miscarriages. It sounds very traumatic.
Really glad to read it worked out in the end!

Thank you for your reply. Very similar indeed. Also miscarried last September and it took some failed attempts to get pregnant again.
It's terrifying! Even after the positive ultrasound we are very worried. Hope it goes well for both of us 🍀 🍀 🍀

Yes, lots of similarities! Do you already have a baby from IVF, if I may ask?

I just thought I'd comment as I totally understand. I had an early miscarriage, 2 failed transfers and now I'm (hopefully still) over 15 weeks. I had very little symptoms at 8 weeks and had no sickness and I found it really difficult with the symptoms coming and going...they still do! There is nothing that can ease nerves other than constant scans. I had one every week and even now I had one 9 days ago and don't have another for another 6 days and I'm like IS IT STILL ALIVE?!

Progesterone wise I had a natural cycle so it was only progesterone and I was due to stop it at week 8 and I kept taking them until wk 14 as I knew for certain that the placenta took over. The nurses had no issue with continuing but I wouldn't worry about the lack of estrogen as the body should produce enough through the pregnancy.

I had a counsellor via ivf but didn't find them any good but now I have a maternity one and she's brand new and says that this is all normal feelings and understandable. She said that if you are worried about getting passed a certain mark, you then worry about the next mark eg 12 weeks then the NT/NIPT then the anomaly scan and then babys placement and then stillbirth and birth. There's always something to worry about and it's totally understandable and just try deep breaths and speak to those who help eg friends or family and avoid those that tell you to enjoy it more. Best of luck and honestly it doesn't really get much easier, sorry x

@ETsJourney yes our first daughter was IVF! This is my third IVF pregnancy - first was DD, second ended in MC at 6 weeks and now this one. Our missed miscarriage was a surprise natural pregnancy.

I was bursting with excitement at my first pregnancy. The thought of miscarriage or anything going wrong never even entered my mind.

Unfortunately miscarriage ruins pregnancy for you, it makes you so apprehensive, convinced it's going to go wrong at any moment. I hope this works out for both of us, but I hope we are able to relax and enjoy the journey too x

Oh @Reddy01 I can so relate. I had my first scan last Thursday and I nearly booked another one for Monday because I convinced myself the baby had died over the weekend. Miscarriage steals all the joy.

It is horrible and no one prepares you for any of it. A lot of people still have symptoms too so I always think not having or having makes no difference. I also had bleeding for 3 weeks, brown and red, from 7 weeks and it really sent my anxiety through the roof! I didn't know bleeding was normal but not normal at the same time. I swear no one really understands what pregnancy really is other than a miracle!

Hi OP, congratulations on the successful transfer. I'm currently 24 weeks with my second IVF pregnancy. Both times I've been on 200mg of progesterone 2x a day, so sounds normal to me. Symptom fluctuation is absolutely normal as PP have said.

The first trimester is hideously anxious, especially when you've experienced previous loss. I wish you all the best for the coming weeks x

So relatable! Before this process I had the idea that the science behind all this was more or less exact (medicine, biology etc). But we have encountered sooo many perspectives, opinions and contradicting advice from professionals. No one knows for sure. As someone that used to experience a sense of control from knowledge and science, this has been a big shock. It even makes me superstitious, something I've never been before 😅

So true.. During our first pregnancy we were sooo excited, designing the nursery, buying little things, looking up names. We told our friends and family. Now we are scared to do any of these things.
And the constant worry if we have done enough (nutrition, vitamins, progesterone etc) to minimize the chances of miscarriage. I personally really feel the need to have some control over this. Unfortunately, any idea of having control is largely an illusion.