IVF Pregnancy Club- spring/summer 2026

[pastelheart]

Wanted to start a thread for anyone expecting after IVF and due next spring/summer

I am finding it quite daunting after infertility for 4 years and then a round of IVF to now be FINALLY expecting in June 2026, can hopefully chat with anyone else in the same boat

@backtotheicsi🩷

@zirafica Love the sound of the vintage recliner! That will be perfect with the preg pillow. Not got another chair I could use so tbf I think this new nursing one will be used a lot. Is also just a nice chair to take with us and use in future homes. I can imagine that with the toys as is always the case with our cat… his favourite thing to play with is bottle tops and actually… tampons tied to string! Though not sure I should be admitting that…

@zirafica 100% agree there, I’ll just be buying minimal also, my 1st child is now 23 (had her at 18) so been there and know exactly fine well how much you buy that just goes to waste, for the sake of them being in /use things for a year or two then you have to replace, it’s pointless buying top of the range, which are exactly the same as the cheaper items anyways ! 😅.. like you i would rather save and go on a nice family holiday together than fork out on unnecessary things.

Hey @pastelheart thank you for checking in again lovely! And congrats to @zirafica so exciting!

I have had a huge return of nausea and I am miserable and gaining so much weight from constantly grazing! On top of that my house sale has been pushed back months so far and looking like a possible pull out from our second buyer as they wanted a last minute drop in price so the stress of living in a house of boxes (we have been at the point of choosing dates twice now over recent months) isn’t helping the stress but I’ve told my husband it’s now or never and we need an answer this week as I’m generally super organised and need to get my stuff together. If we are staying in our current house we need to think of storage solutions asap as we were due to upsize dramatically. But I’m sure it will be fine I just want to know now so I can get sorted for baby girl! I want to feel prepared as I was induced at 37 weeks last time and time is flying!

I hope everyone else is well I have tried to catch up with the thread but it seems much too long since it last checked in!

also incase anyone else is having this and I did mention it previously thinking it would be a passing symptom but my boobs at random times of the day still feel absolutely on fire 😂 honestly want to cry it anything touches them. Ahh the joys, how amazing for us to be feeling kicks tjough, my placenta is at the front so I’m not feeling super regular ones but at my last appointment the midwife said 28 weeks for that and then the consultant in the next room said 24 weeks so hopefully soon 😂

@magpie234 I know, they make all the baby stuff so nice nowadays it really can become part of the normal furniture as time goes on! Your comment about the cats made me laugh so much, we have two and they’re exactly the same! Give them a box or a paper bag and they’re in heaven. Don’t even get any toys anymore as such a waste of money! Going to definitely try your tampon trick, I bet my partner is going to love that hahahah

@AmberRose26 omg thanks for confirming I’m not being insane here 😂 I think it might be due to my age as well, I know how hard money is to come by and how easy to spend especially if you get overexcited like one would normally with a baby! Especially since it’s our first (and only) but I’m just trying to keep a rational mind. Other than clothes and diapers and bottles I suppose there’s nothing that they might need that can’t be bought in the space of a day. It’s going to be fine! Let’s just get it out nice and healthy and the rest can be figured out.

@Backtotheicsi oh dear this house stuff sounds so stressful I am so bloody sorry you’re going through it. Especially in a period when you just want to calm things down and nest in peace!! I’m glad you’re putting your foot down - you do need stability for the next year or so so even if that means staying in the current place at least you know what you’re working with. House sales are stressful and tend to draw out in the best of times… fingers crossed it all works out ok ♥️

Midwife just called to say I have low iron and ferritin so am popping in to collect some 200mg supplements today. Now to try and avoid constipation… I am naaaaat going to want that - at all but especially after a c-section 😳. Has anyone else had this? Makes for quite a stressful Google but also says is common so am trying not to worry too much.

@magpie234 yes, I was told the same at a recent appointment and now on 200 mg 2 x day. So far no constipation but it's quite annoying as you can't take it too close to drinking tea or eating eggs, milk or wholegrain or the most annoying thing - antacids! And I have non stop heartburn 😫 I think it's just because it effects the absorption rather than anything else. I have a follow up test in a couple of weeks to check the levels have gone back up.

@FancyGoose Same boat as am on omeprazole and that will need prising from my cold dead hands… just going to try and split them up and hope the levels have improved when they re-test in a month 🙏🏻. Hope yours do too!

huh they put me on iron prophylactically (I learnt that word this year and I love using it hah). luckily I am still obsessed with OJ and start each day with a glass, which is a recommended pairing with iron tablets. Might not be nice on the tummy though for those with acid issues. I have barfed a couple of times when I failed to eat anything 30 mins after (sorry if tmi!)

I read through the thread earlier today but now can't remember who said what, but I was glad to hear there are a few not worrying about getting their baby's room all set up before hand. As I basically can't use my body in any reasonable way for the foreseeable I won't be able to decorate (which is how i usually spend my time between self employments) and also we had this bizzare situation where we were very close to being scammed-ish by some sandstone renovators who pretended to know how to repoint etc (we need to fix a damp wall in an old house for baby's room), but it turned out I knew far more about lime mortars and products than them, and turns out they vastly overcharge (like double) and do a really really shitty job and have screwed people over in local towns! I found someone who knows more than me about lime renders and we kicked the semi-scammers out and have hired the new guy, but work won't start for at least 3 months and for all I know (and hope) I'll be in hospital already with a baby by then. The best laid plans...(A burns quote for burns night!)

oh and to the person who was getting worried about not knowing about things people knew about here, I only got told that thing about the placenta by my consultant a few weeks ago in the context of 'you are now old'. I know a fair amount about IVF and reproductive systems and embryology but I have zero idea on what i need for a baby or how to actually look after a newborn or how to give birth, and am putting that off to learn a new shitload about cervixes and the many varying reasons people have issues with them and the reasons why worldwide advice differs and why its still probably correct in its context. Just to say, I've been studying fertility part time for 5 years! but I know very little about pregnancy and motherhood.

I am utterly failing to keep up with this thread! @Nosejug, I was wondering how you were doing. With your mention of lime, it sounds as if we perhaps have similar houses?! I am constantly worrying about mine. I've done some internal plastering with lime but I can't find anyone I trust who'll repoint it. And the roof is frightening me.

I wish I knew more about embryology etc. How did you come to be studying it? I keep reading up on it, but I'm really limited by basically not being a sciency type at all.

I have done nothing in preparation for a baby. I have a lot of stuff from when DD was a baby, but I can't face buying new things yet. I'm definitely expecting that, if this baby comes along, s/he will be in with me for a good long while.

oh hah @SarahAndQuack I meant it a little tongue in cheek that I'd been studying fertility, but the embryology side of things I found sooo fascinating. I started looking in to whether my (arts) degrees could be converted towards a short emrbyology masters but noooo. I dropped out of a chemisty degree when I was 17 (scottish system meant both free education and entering uni extremely young!) I do change my mind about what I want to be/do all the time despite having employment I love! Gardening is one of them btw! I am obsessed with growing things from seeds/cuttings :) but bizarrely for a person who studied painting have no ability to design a garden!

and lime! yes! I have some lime plaster to patch up two walls, and bought lime mortar and agrical to do some repointing myself before baby brought an urgency to things actually getting done and well (i've also considered a course in brick laying haha). I found my guy through first of all word of mouth, then looked at his website which demonstrates his obsession with his subject matter, and have now had 3 hours of chat with him basically giving me a crash course in historic stones and mortars in west of scotland. was so interesting! my advice would be finding someone who knows more than you! when the first guy didn't know what I meant by nhl 3.5 or 5 I was like...wtf.

We're also not sorting out the nursery. I just can't bring myself to do it yet, still feels too scary but as you've all said, baby will be in with us for at least first 6 months so it doesn't matter. Also have bought very little- mostly just babygrows and vests from vinted. I do think I need to bite the bullet soon and buy some of the more substantial bits but keep moving the goalposts haha. Originally I said by 24 weeks, then third trimester, then 30 weeks, now I am saying 34 weeks 🤣 Ideally we'd just buy the bare minimum ahead of time (car seat and bassinet) and get the rest once they're safely here but then to make the most of the John Lewis discount code, it makes more sense to buy everything in one go...

I’m also not really buying anything yet. Currently at 29 weeks. @FancyGoose I keep moving the goal posts too 😂 now I’m thinking surely we can just order stuff while in hospital since I intend to stay for 3 days. I almost feel like it’s jinxing it to start shopping after so many failed attempts. I have picked a breast pump and pram but just haven’t actually picked any of it up. Frankly with next day delivery on so many things there isn’t really a big need to buy in advance.

is anyone noticing a lot of baby hiccups?! My baby is hiccuping multiple times a day and it’s a bit concerning as it feels like a ticking bomb in my belly.

@SamVan im too early for feeling hiccups but I read a few days ago that it’s a good thing! The baby’s lungs are getting a workout :) poor baby though, I hate having hiccups!

@SamVan That's how I feel about buying stuff ATM too. Baby hiccups sound so cute even if they do feel like a 'ticking time bomb'! Not felt anything yet. Today I have right side cramping which makes me a bit nervous but hopefully just ligaments.
@FancyGoose @magpie234 @Nosejug Hope you all feel better on the iron tablets. I'm on my 2nd month of them now. My iron went from 28 to 48 so still lowish but I think I have slightly more energy. At first I thought they were making me sick but could've just been pregnancy hormones. Feel fine on them now. I'm on aspirin for preeclampsia risk too which I've learned reduces iron levels 🤔 all good fun!
@SarahAndQuack Is your 20 week scan next week or this week? Mine is next Monday and time is DRAGGING! Urgh!
@Backtotheicsi How is the nausea? Sorry to hear it's bad still. Mine was rough till about 17 weeks then just cleared. That said I cannot go into a public toilet without gagging. It needs to be very very fragrant for me these days! Hope you get some relief soon.

@SamVan So right about next-day delivery! Which pram and pump have you chosen?

@Sara237 So annoying how the different drugs interfere with each other 🙄. Glad you are feeling a bit better on the iron pills. I was told my iron is 107 which is borderline but my ferritin (iron storage I think) is 13 and it is usually around 100. Good luck for your scan next Monday. I hate how time drags when there is something you are anxious for but zips by when you are having fun!

@Nosejug Thanks! I did read its a good thing too but it's just so frequent its making me nervous..

@Sara237 I've had a lot of random cramping too. Often i think it's just muscular or ligament related. Have you been having it for long?

@magpie234 I'm going to rent the medela symphony from Medela. My friends who have used it say it's head and shoulders above the rest and its what they use in hospitals. Unfortunately it's only available for rental - although they do give you a new pump set for hygiene reasons. I'm getting the Joolz aer 2 with the bassinet and the nest to seat as my pram set. Have you decided on what you're getting yet?

@SamVan Think we have settled on the Silver Cross Cove as we live in the countryside but will prob get a smaller travel job too.

I am now also experiencing some cramping - more like shooting pains - on my left side. Can feel her kicking so hopefully all is OK but it is so worrying feeling anything round there!

@magpie234 we are getting the Cove too! We just need to decide on the colour which will hopefully be this week and then we can order xx

@magpie234 the cove is so beautiful! Lovely choice

@pastelheart Oh fun! Same with ordering this week hopefully. Most colours are sold out on JL (I expect as they just had a sale) but think we are favouring the pewter which is still in stock in the bundle we want atm 🙏🏻. Which colour are you leaning towards?

@SamVan It is… I hope it is also practical 😬

@magpie234 we can’t decide between the Champagne or the Pewter too! I went to JL and saw the pewter in person on the weekend and it is so lovely… but so is the champagne!

you know it says “in stock online” on JL, does this mean it would be delivered in a few days like normal delivery? As lots of the pram shops we went to had said 11+ weeks for delivery on the cove x

Just a word of warning from someone who has spent her day rearranging her wardrobe to make room for Callie’s clothes - don’t buy too many!! The amount of clothes I got as gifts was unreal- she is dressed for the next few months 🙈🙈

I am sure it’s been mentioned here before but if you are buying anything on Amazon then add it to your baby wish list first and then add it to the basket from there for an extra 15% off

I pushed my neighbour’s silvercross cove the other day while she comforted her baby (it was light enough to be safe for me without a baby in it) and it pushed very nicely :) hers was the champagne. She says she loves all beige type colours. I’d probably go for something darker so that selling on would be easier, in case of stains.

my cousin says she’s kept her bugaboo for me (we both have gone through infertility so she’s championing this pregnancy). Is that a good one? I know nothing! And those making lists and spreadsheets… feel free to share them with me ha, I’ll need a crash course.

@dubkitten good to have intel from the other side :)

@pastelheart I think it means ready now yeah? Oh dear that has scared me with the 11+ as that is nearly baby time for us!

@Nosejug Bugaboo is a very popular brand yes! Think I agree about the darker colour especially as we are in a countryside town though I also love beiges.