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🩷

Morning all!

@Sara237, scan is Friday. Time is going practically backwards! Good luck for yours Monday.

@Nosejug - that feels familiar! I tried to get someone to do our roof a while back, and one conversation told me he had no bloody clue! It's so annoying. I am jealous of your chemistry knowledge - I gave it all up after GCSE and trying to understand things is so slow! I need a bit of chemistry for gardening and it is not my forte. Still have to keep reminding myself which way is alkaline and which was is acid with Ph.

@SamVan, YY, next day delivery is going to be my saviour! It was fab with DD. FWIW my ex swears the Medela is what got her breastfeeding. A wonderful midwife basically comandeered it for her in hospital and she never looked back after.

I'm loving all the pram chat. I have a cosatto from when DD was born and I loved that pram! Still remember being on a bus when we'd just moved up to York, and there were two young lasses with their babies who were all impressed you genuinely can flick it open one handed while carrying the baby and your shopping. I lent mine to my friend who was hosting Ukraian refugees who'd come over with very little stuff, so it's currently in her loft - it'll have been thorughly worth the money by the time I'm done with it!

@SarahAndQuack Ooh thats good to know. Yes I've heard from lots of friends it's really the best way to make sure you establish a good supply and also reduce the risk of mastitis. I'm really hoping it works for me!

Can you ladies help me sense check? The Amazon baby wish list deal is similar to the JL one right? Thinking instead of trying to buy everything from JL at the same time we do our big pram order, we can just do the big pram order to get some discount (the over £1k) one and then use Amazon for the rest in a slower way, as you don’t need to do that in one transaction? This will help reduce my stress over savings and cramming in admin (and prob buying some wrong things or things I don’t use in haste!) but not convinced I have it right…

@SarahAndQuack ooh enjoy your scan today! Hope it’s predominantly a fun wonderful thing seeing every bit of baby!
and with yours on Monday @Sara237 ! Mine has been brought forward a little as the consultant checking my cervix said she’ll do it at my next appointment (Wednesday), my original was planned for just after 20 weeks so that’s nice. (19 weeks tomorrow). She showed me the bladder and kidneys the other week, it just blows my mind. And saw baby do a huge yawn!

my most recent cervix scan read 20mm which is still very short but a shedload better than 11-14mm at 16 weeks. Plus the consultants ant the preterm birth surveillance clinic in london are willing to try a more difficult stitch (with different risks) if it goes down again, which is a psychological cushion that someone will try something if things get worse. They’d do it now but then given my previous haemorrhage from a cervical artery they’re balancing risks which I agree with. Just entering to highest risk territory 🫣 but glad it’s with some encouragement.

Ooh good to read about the BF medela brand, I’d def be looking to rent one as I imagine the pump would be a lot better.

on that topic… are anyone else’s nipples ever extremely painful when they suddenly get cold? Like someone’s attempting to pierce them but it never ends? I have reynauds and google suggests it could be that (though only my fingers usually suffer) or is it a common thing?

oh and I haven’t looked into pricing end savings @magpie234 but if it’s not a massive saving I would 100% choose John Lewis over Amazon, as the aftercare will be excellent. Is there a way to split the costs over a few months with your credit card?

@Nosejug thats amazing news re your cervix getting a big bigger, how are you feeling ? I am sure it brings a little relief .. so happy to hear this ! 💛
@magpie234 sorry I haven’t looked into buying things just yet not quite sure how it all works, after our 20 week scan in a couple of weeks we will start to create an amazon list, so I’ll prob be asking you advice at this point 🤭😅.. hope you can figure it out.
@SarahAndQuack best of luck for your scan today ✨💛 will be so nice to see baba again, you will notice a big difference in size by now 🤩

I am just slugging away the wait for 20 week scan, 18 weeks today and have been feeling on and off movement/flutters every other day which is nice 😊

@Nosejug Great things are looking up and shall keep everything crossed for you 🤞🏻

@SarahAndQuack So hope your scan goes well today!

Doing well over here but definitely feeling bigger and more uncomfortable now with quite bad groin pain. Lots of grandma-esque groans every time I move!

I have just ordered our pram and car seat bundle though so that is now on its way along with some furniture. Makes it feel so real! Naturally anxious am jinxing it (and my bank balance is sobbing) but mostly feel more excited. I think particularly once everything is set up it will be 🤯!

@Nosejug that’s amazing news! I’m so glad things are looking more positive. How are you feeling?

guys I am not in a good way… I have had terrible rib pain (from stretching and growing) for the past week but it’s stopping me sleeping longer than an hour and since Sunday I have had about 4 hours total (but waking constantly) per night. I am a tired, emotional mess and I am trying so hard not to moan and have only really spoken to my partner about it as if you speak to anyone else they are always like “just wait until the baby is here” which then makes me feel rubbish that I am even moaning now and how will I cope when the baby is here… when logically I know I will as it’s different and I have done it before but oh my god I just want someone to punch me in the face so I get knocked out for longer than an hour… or a Valium… I’m not fussy

I hope everyone else is okay xox

@pastelheart Ugh poor you this is so hard! I relate! Not had rib pain (yet 🙃) but bad pelvic pain is creating similar issues. That and needing to get up for the loo at least twice nightly! So much broken sleep without long stretches which is apparently the worst for energy. Have you mentioned the rib pain to your midwife in case there is anything they can do to help? It might also be the position your baby is in in which case hopefully they will move soon! I had a huge Indian meal out last night and slept terribly… my own fault but oh how I miss my digestive system not being so squished!

P.S The Just You Wait! brigade can well and truly get in the bin and then the sea. Cannot stand those responses. I am a FTM and fully expecting to be tired with a newborn… but at least my body will be mine again! I have heard a lot of people say that while it is hard in a different way (and also amazing!) the sleep you do get is often better quality than preg sleep. Bring it on tbh. I am beyond grateful to be pregnant but have also found it a tough wild ride with pretty much every symptom in the book and cannot wait for it to be over (healthy happy baby in arms ofc).

Right?? The whole “just you wait” thing is stupid, you’d be not sleeping well but for the love of your long longed for little bairn calling for your help, totally different scenario to having your ribs/pelvis spread in ways before unknown to them! I’m quietly looking forward to (hoping for) the experience of night time feeds etc. and for what it’s worth, my BIL (very hands on dad of 4) agreed with my mindset, that there is peacefulness and love even in the most desperate of night wakings, that you somewhat miss them when they’re over. Just not a compatible situation!

Sorry to hear you’re both in pain :( I’m resting so much so am wondering if that’s why I’m ok so far… or just earlier. just round ligament pain which is familiar and short lived.

I did read online yesterday of a woman who’s babe was a little stuck at their ribs and causing extra pain, and that some positional encouragement can have them relieve you by moving… def worth asking your midwife @pastelheart

19 weeks today! And I’m def feeling less petrified. Still scared, but I don’t now believe I’m at high risk of imminent loss which before the serial scans was far more likely. I have an app that gives you a % estimate based on a few factors, I don’t have all the info to enter into it, but with my new longer cervix the % risk has come down and I’m getting gradually closer to viability. Gonna have a party at 24 weeks haha, even if just in my imagination.

@pastelheart so sorry to hear your in pain, hopefully it eases soon and you manage to start getting more than a hour at lest of sleep!
@magpie234 also hope your pelvic pain eases for you! I get ya in the pee’in through the night I can actually be up 5 times !! I do drink a lot though as I always feel so thirsty 😵‍💫 I wake up pee , then take a big gulp again before going back to sleep 🤔
@Nosejug so glad to hear your risk has decreased.. such the best news ! We can all party with you at 24 weeks 😅.. 🥰💛✨

@AmberRose26 so thirsty too!! I now have a jug of water along side my big glass of water by the bed! I even added a straw so that when I’ve just taken my progesterone I can remain lying down hah.

@Nosejug haha .. yup I take two glasses up to bed with me now also .. loving the straw idea .. very clever 😉

Hi everyone!

Thanks for the good wishes @Nosejug, @AmberRose26 and @magpie234. It was fine and everything looks good. Huge relief! I feel really silly because I felt really teary when I went in. It's the mix of being worried and not having someone else there, I think. It would be so lovely to have someone else to be excited about this baby. My friends are wonderful and my daughter is excited insofar as she understands it, but it makes me feel a funny mix of sad and happy. Hope it's ok to say that on here, and not too much of a downer!

@AmberRose26 those movements must feel lovely! Makes it all more real.

@Nosejug I'm so glad things are looking and feeling better! FWIW I've had painful/tingly nipples from really early on! I don't know if it's related by I've had some colostrum from a while back too (I'm 20 weeks; I can't remember when it started). It's really disconcerting when they suddenly hurt in public!

@pastelheart, I'm so sorry to hear you're having a rough time. FWIW, I want to smack people who say 'just wait until the baby is here'. It's right up there with 'sleep when the baby sleeps' in terms of stupid, unhelpful comments, in my book!

I am still not showing really, and I am trying to cram in all my big garden jobs before my clients catch on - had a funny day on Thursday with two lovely but clueless older gay men who had no idea, and their gorgeous dog who clearly knew something was up! She kept coming to have a sniff and nudge and my belly while I was working and they were totally oblivious.

@SarahAndQuack I'm so glad to hear all went well at scan. It's not silly to be emotional, I'll probably cry throughout. It's such a mix of feelings. In fact I spent most of this morning weeping. For me, it's exhaustion. And you wanting the other person with you, who feels equally invested is also completely understandable. Pregnancy makes us vulnerable in many ways. I long to have my mum but I lost her a few years back. It's a beautiful time but tough in lots of ways too.
That's funny what you say about the dog sensing the baby. The dog in one of the houses where I tutor is always sniffing me, she's obsessed! Can they really tell?
@pastelheart I find sleep deprivation the worst thing, I literally cannot function without sleep. It was the hardest thing about having a new born so I don't really get all this wait till baby comes! I really hope you get some relief soon 🤞.
@Nosejug That's great news re your cervix, so pleased you're doing well. I get mine measured Tue at scan and feel pretty nervous. You are giving me hope!

Thank you, that's such a kind response. I can absolutely understand you missing your mum, too. I think that's very normal and it must be very hard.

I was thinking about yours! It's Monday, am I right?

What do you tutor in, btw?! I tutor a bit of English and History on the side, so I'm just being curious (I used to teach English/History at university).

I definitely think animals can tell. One of my cats is very aware. The other one probably does know, but she would consider it far beneath her dignity to let on! I would imagine to them it's very obvious as we must smell different.

That’s good you scan went well @SarahAndQuack totally understand you will be feeling emotions, my first child I brought up myself from pregnancy as her dad cheated on me when I was early pregnancy i chucked him out and done the whole thing myself, so I get that it would be nice to share it with, but also it’s so magical you get this all to yourself✨💛 , you don’t have to compromise on names for baby, sometimes things seem easier as there is no one to argue with over who’s doing what, you have no annoying inlaws 😅 there are lots of plus things to raising a child on your own I guess and it takes a hell of a strong woman to decide to do this so just remember how amazing you are! 🥰

Thanks so much, @AmberRose26. That's lovely to hear - and it's so nice that you feel so positive about that! That makes me feel better.

I hope this isn't too off-topic, but is there anything you'd recommend/bear in mind, for someone doing it on their own?

(Oh, and grrr at your ex! What an absolute waste of space!)

@SarahAndQuack Oh not sure to be honest, I was 18 at that point and just had to roll my sleeves up n get on with it, but I loved it and wouldn’t change it for the world, my daughter and I are like sisters now and we have an amazing relationship, she’s 24 next month so we get to do lots of fun ‘adult stuff’ together now , but I can’t think of anything specific to bear in mind, I also think I got lucky as she was a good baby /kid .. never not much trouble from her .. fingers crossed this one is the same 🫣😅.. just remember your doing twice what some others have to do with partners, so try not be too hard on yourself when times get challenging (as all mums have challenging times /self doubting etc) just keep in mind your doing double the workload so your doubly amazing 🤩 so you have double the love to give to baby 💛✨

Oh, that is so lovely about you and your DD! And goodness, you must be very strong! A powerful woman.

I love that idea about having double the love to give to the baby. That's a really good, helpful way to think about it!

Thank you so much.

You will have such a special bond 💕

Thank you! You've really cheered me up. I'm so grateful.

Ahh, glad for that 😊… I think the hardest part for me this time round will be letting my guy have a say in decisions etc 🫣 I will be so use to being independent in the decision making for my 1st child. I will need to learn to zip it and let him take a lead also, I need to try not take over too much 😅

I can imagine!

I guess at least it must be reassuring for him that one of you knows what to expect.

Yeh, to be fair,he will prob be quire happy to sit back and let me take the lead .. 😂.. he will have it easy 🙄 typical man huh 😂 hehe