First pregnancy post…please be kind 🙏🏻

[MrsBP15]

Hello! So I still can’t quite believe I’m posting on the pregnancy forum but hopefully the first of a few at least!

I found out on Thursday that I’m pregnant following ivf. We had an early scan and I’m 6 weeks. We even saw a heartbeat which blew my mind! I do have a sub chronic Hematoma (please forgive spelling) and had some bleeding last week. I’m going back in two weeks for another scan by which time we are hoping it will have gone or at least not grown any more.

im posting because today I’ve been experiencing twinges and cramping like feeling. Sometimes in my abdomen and sometimes in my lower back. It very much comes and goes and isn’t painful but a little uncomfortable. With this being my first pregnancy I have no idea if this is normal or not? I’ve not had any bleeding today just a tiny bit of brown spotting but I think that is the Hematoma and (tmi alert) was because I went too the loo!

I’m not freaking out as such but I’d rather not be worrying unnecessarily if that at all possible. Thank you so much ❤️

Congratulations on your pregnancy. Everything you’ve described sounds completely normal at that stage. I’m currently pregnant following IVF and had the same, I was worried too but not as much as I would have been if I hadn’t experienced those pains, twinges and spotting in my previous pregnancy which was natural conception and went successfully.

The pains and twinges can be caused by stretching. Mine were mostly on the one side this time and I think it was mostly corpus luteum pain because I knew from the 6 week scan I had a cyst on that side. I read lots of similar posts on here which put my mind at ease, it really is worrying in the early days!

Congratulations OP! I have two DC and felt very like this in the early weeks of both pregnancies if that's any reassurance- light cramps and the feeling like your period's about to start?

No advice but I just wanted to wish you all the best. My youngest child's best friend was conceived by IVF and she's brilliant, it's so amazing that it's an option. Science is incredible.

I had lots of twinges, aches and pains for most of the first trimester. I had some sharp pain too that came in waves about three times a day and lasted about 30 seconds, and an almost constant dull ache. Everything was absolutely fine and now 22 weeks with a healthy baby - hope this is reassuring because I spent a lot of time panicking about it! Congratulations by the way!

Huge congratulations! ❤️ I am 6 + 2 today and I’ve had period like pains and light cramps since I found out at 3 + 3! A few quick lighting shocks as well. They are worrying because I associate pain with negative but from everything I’ve read they’re totally normal and a good sign that the embryo is bedding in and your uterus is growing already.

Every time I feel worried I try and consciously turn the thought around in my head and say thanks to the little dot for letting me know it’s there! Might sound mad but it’s helped me a lot.

@LeafyGreen24 thank you so much and congratulations! Hope ivf was ok for you? I think that ivf pregnancies have an added layer of anxiety with them which is super fun! I feel like we know too much 🫠 I’m feeling better about it all already thanks to all these kind posts, just got to get used to posting on the “Pregnancy” board rather than the “Infertility” one!

@OctoRay01 thank you that’s very reassuring. They’re not exactly like period cramps but definitely in that vein. The back ones were quite intense yesterday but they definitely come and go so I feel like that’s a bit better than it being constant? It’s just another thing that no one tells you about and turns out it’s super common!!

@bakewellbride thank you so much. I agree it’s absolutely mind blowing especially when we got to see the embryo going in and then got to watch the embryo hatching when we got home….seriously cool! We are some of the lucky ones (so far) unfortunately it’s not always like this but we are lucky to have the option!

@LilyJane95 thank you and congratulations to you too! Yes that’s super reassuring and I’m definitely getting some sharp pains here and there. Its amazing how many people experience these things but don’t know about them until they happen, why would you I suppose!

@DragonflyRuby thank you so much and big congratulations to you too! That is so reassuring and also such a good way of looking at it all. My tummy has been gurgling away the past week or so and I’m imagining it’s the little bean talking to me when really it’s just gas 🤣 thank you for your kind words I really appreciate it x

Hi @MrsBP15, I think we've crossed paths on the infertility forum before! Congratulations on your pregnancy! I did IVF in September, and like you felt frequent cramps which started shortly before my BFP and continued for the first couple of months of pregnancy. I asked the nurse about it at my viability scan at 7 weeks, and she assured me it's all normal, and it's caused by a combination of the uterus expanding, hormone supplements and general recovery from the process of IVF. I'm now 13+5 and had a positive dating scan on Thursday in which the baby was cooking nicely. Wishing you all the best for a healthy pregnancy ☺️

Hello @xMsXhX and congratulations on your pregnancy! Thank you so much that’s super helpful. I hadn’t even thought about the body recovering from ivf! Are you still taking progesterone? I’m on the pessaries and Lubion injections still. It’s hard to know what are pregnancy symptoms and what are side effects from the meds!

Aw massive congratulations to you OP ❤️ the twinging and cramping I had with my first and was so worried that I called 111! They told me it was completely normal as everything inside me was growing and stretching! I'm now pregnant with my second and had exactly the same around 6 weeks. It can be scary though if you're not expecting it! Everyone always talks about morning sickness and lightheadedness but I'd never heard of the cramping!

Thank you @MaltipooMama it has been so reassuring to hear other people’s stories. It just seems to be one of those things that no one really tells you about. Also I’ve only ever really heard “oh you won’t feel anything until three months. It’s too small etc” and here we are. Cramps and bleeding super common 🫠 I’m feeling pretty ok about the cramping and twinges. I’m now just worried about the hematoma until our next scan…fun times! Congratulations On your second pregnancy!