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🩷

@magpie234 @Nosejug @AmberRose26@SarahAndQuack@Sara237thank you all for the solidarity and listening to me moan! I actually slept for 5 hours last night and only woke up twice during that so even though it’s still crap, it’s the best it’s been all week… you should have seen all the extra things I had to take to bed with me… pillows, blankets, hot water bottle, heat packs, eye mask. My partner was like are you camping on the floor or something? 😂😂 I used to take melatonin for sleep before falling pregnant and I have asked ChatGPT about 20 times if he’s 100% sure I deffo cannot take it now… he still says no lol 😂

@SarahAndQuack sorry I didn’t wish you well for your scan I must of missed that, I’m so glad it went well! Like @AmberRose26i also did my first pregnancy with no partner (for much the same reason, @AmberRose26 so weird how similar our first pregnancy stories are!) the best thing for me was the decisions were mine to make… I have had to re-program my brain this time after 12 years of making all the decisions and I have tripped up a couple of times and my partner has had to remind me it’s not just me lol soz my bad! For example… I chose the colour of the pram we are getting 3 months ago but have I been able to order it yet? No I haven’t as he still needs to decide… decide on what I’m not sure as I made the decision 3 months ago 😂😂🤨🤨

@Backtotheicsi I’m so sorry your nausea is still bad ☹️ I hope you have had a better end to the week 🩷 here if you wanna chat xox

When I played at being a mother when I was a kid I was always a single mother, I think I just wanted the world to be my baby and me. I have to be careful to let my partner in! I can imagine all the benefits and closeness you could get, and absolutely, def such a strong woman to decide on it. Had it taken me any longer to find a fella I could love id have attempted it. But I can also imagine missing that part you described @SarahAndQuack , just someone as invested as you. I was thinking though, that even though your daughter is young now, your baby will become one of the most important people in her life as she grows up. It’s pretty great that your baby is arriving into a family.
and cooool @AmberRose26 how amazing having a daughter so close in age :)
woop woop on the 5 hours @pastelheart ! My campsite is on my bedside table (and strewn around the bed in the night), I’ve always been a tricky sleeper and need a lot of conditions to be able to sleep! Last night one of my earphones got trapped in my pyjama top and kept waking me up along with partner snores 🫣

@Sara237 is your scan Monday? I can’t remember if you said there was a reason you were worried about cervix? There are def things they can do though to help it, I was just unlucky stitch wise. Well… “unlucky” = a surgeon removed my entire external cervix and told me he’d only taken 1/4. Medical records en route… will be keeping everything crossed yours is nice and long, but don’t panic if it’s not :)

@Nosejug such great news your cervix is looking a bit better. 🙏 and imagine it's a relief having the next step planned if things were to worsen too - although hopefully you won't need it of course!

Sorry everyone is struggling with sleep - I am too, think it is so common! I know everyone says it will be worse when the baby is here but at least there will be the best reason for tiredness and we will be able to lie down without discomfort and roll over in bed without it feeling like a workout 🤣

I saw my consultant last week and think I am pretty much set on an ELCS. He said it was all my choice but I did feel like he was subtly pushing me towards one - he said why don't we just book one in and then you can always cancel it. And he said he was going to mark it so a weekend date was not an option as he wants full staffing just in case, given I have had the fetal heart concerns and a single vessel umbilical arterty. Which made me even more lean towards a CS as with a vaginal birth, that obviously can't be controlled. He did say if I don't do ELCS, he would want to induce at 39/40 and that is standard practice in our trust for IVF (sharing as I know some others weren't sure on what IVF might mean for timings but ofc every trust is different and you always get the final say anyway!) I am sad to think I won't get to experience labour but I feel quite certain it's the right decision for me in the circumstances.

@pastelheart Glad you had somewhat better sleep. I have a vision of you with all your bedtime equipment! God, the things we have to endure.
@Nosejug Thanks for the good wishes; my scan is Tuesday morning now. I'm worried about my cervix because I had a FDCS which is a c section when fully dilated as was an emergency one with my son, 8 yrs ago. Because cervix was fully dilated there's high chance it was cut and weaker/shortened. They say it needs to be above 25mm or can get stitched up. Getting measured at the scan then see consultant. Everything crossed and for you.
@SarahAndQuack I tutor English. It's my side hustle and given the pittance I've saved thus far, I think it'll come in handy when mat pay stops. Did you find the scan ok? Am I imagining this, or does it take 30 minutes. I'm getting my usual sense of dread though think I felt some movement this weekend
I have a head cold so been a rough weekend, not slept much. Cried a lot. Been a complete cow to my husband and generally feeling a bloated mess. The joys! Here's to a good week for us all xx

Ah yeah @Sara237 I’ve heard about that, I do partly worry about needing an emergency section while my cervix is engaged but too scarred to open. Ok, well it’s good that it’s getting looked at. I’ll be thinking of you. My cervix and 20 week scan is the day after you! Good luck us!x

Oh no sorry I replied too soon, I hadn’t read the last bit, sorry to hear you were crying lots. I hope it’s a cloud that will pass.

@pastelheart I'm so sorry you're struggling so much with the sleep! It sounds relentless. Your description of your partner and the pram made me grin! Come on, man!

@Nosejug, thanks, that's such a lovely way to put it, about my DD. I'll hold onto that. I think probably as I get further into it I will feel less bad about not having someone else to be invested in it.

I am so shocked about your surgeon! WTF?!

@FancyGoose remind me, how long have you to go now? My consultant said I needed to decide re. sections by about week 35 so I've got a while. But your post makes me think about the positives!

@Sara237 I think they say 30mins is about standard, but longer if the baby is being a pain! Mine was fairly quick; she said it's just luck but the baby was in the right place. I think she was also pretty brisk, too, which I appreciated. (I know everyone is different - another woman I know had a sonographer who kept telling her 'oh how cute ... he's waving ... oh how sweet, look at that nose' and she liked that, but it'd drive me nuts! ).

Hope Tuesday comes round really soon for you. I'm sorry you're feeling so tired and crying. It's hard! I'm sure you're not being a cow to your husband and if you are being a tiny bit in that direction, well, he can take it! And I hope he can give you a big hug/buy copious chocolate/do whatever it is you need!

@SarahAndQuack I'm 32 weeks- the apppointment wasn't specifically to discuss birth though so think I could have had the discussion at a later stage and of course I can still change my mind if I want to. Do you know which way your leaning? It's so hard as it feels such a huge decision!

@worldwidetravel2017 how are you getting on? Are you out of hospital now? You must be close to your due date now which i imagine is a relief with everything you have had going on!

She was born on 26th jan

Shes delightful

Born @ 33 w ..

Gave birth monday 26th

She was born @ shift change ! .

I was then whizzed to theatre
As lost 3L of blood..

Then - thurs am - hard to breathe 4 me - went to high dependency unit for 4 days

Had scans etc ...

Now back on hosp ward

Baby girl thriving in special care / nicu

Shes in a cot - graduated incubator

Oh wow!! Congratulations! So glad she is here safe and sound. Is she in NICU for being prem or have you been able to get home? Hope you're both doing well!

@worldwidetravel2017 Wow! Huge congratulations and so glad you're both ok though you've had such a rough time of it. Got to rush out as school run but just wanted to wish you both all the best and am so pleased she's thriving now and you're recovering. Lovely news xxx

Thank u

In nicu as prem

Thanks so much

Oh, goodness! Huge congratulations. I'm sorry to hear you both had such a rough time. Very glad she's doing well now!

Ah really hope you can get her home soon, I bet you can't wait! Hope you're doing okay too and finding some time to rest. Congratulations again, such wonderful news!!

It is a big decision!

I don't know really. My ex had a horribly rough time being induced and it was really frightenening, and she ended up having an emergency section which was really the worst of both worlds. So that makes me lean towards a planned section. OTOH I'm quite fit and healthy - I spent today doing fairly heavy garden work and it's fine; I'm still lifting stuff and doing lots of squatting and moving, so I think my muscles are probably in a decent state, and that makes me think the other way. Obviously it'd be great to avoid a section just because it means no driving for a while, and I'm on my own so it's really useful to be able to drive. I'm only 20 weeks though, so plenty of time to decide!

Aw huge congratulations @worldwidetravel2017 💕💕

Oh @worldwidetravel2017 congratulation and welcome little baby girl! Glad to hear she’s doing well. Are you feeling better? Sounds like it must have been pretty scary. Hope you’re both being wonderfully cared for.

@SarahAndQuack i might not get a choice as I guess I could labour whenever, hopefully much much later, but also trying to think about this in case I do get to decide. They’re talking about induction, but also saying my cervix might not open (certainly if it reaches 30odd weeks it would seem likely). I only ever seem to hear about induction being horrible. And then to go from that to cervix not opening properly… it makes me want section, but then for some reason I feel guilty for thinking I want that? Very confusing. (Also read a few messages ago you were a uni English lecturer? Cooool!)

Oh, sorry, I feel bad posting negative experiences of induction! TBF I do know a ton of people who found it absolutely fine. And my ex had other complications that might well have caused problems anyway.

I definitely don't think you should feel guilty for whatever you do!

YY, I used to be a lecturer. Then took a total change of direction and got into horticulture. So now I split my time between tutoring and publishing, and scrabbling around in the mud!

I am requesting a c-section. Not for a medical reason per say (or not yet anyway - hopefully not) but def some mental health factors thrown in. I think just wanting one due to preference (they have to come out somehow and no way is easy!) is enough of a reason to have one though and that nobody should feel guilty about choosing the birth route that feels right for them and their family. Easier said than done though for sure. Still feels like there is stigma around choosing a c-section - or at least I have noticed that attempting a vaginal delivery is assumed. If asked for my reason I plan to simply say that I want a controlled and calm birth experience that reduces my anxiety. I feel more excited than I do anxious at the thought of a c-section birth but the other way round at the thought of vaginal and especially induction. Totally appreciate this will be vice versa for others!

@FancyGoose It sounds like a good move for you. Interesting about the IVF protocol in your trust too. Not sure what mine is. @Nosejug So glad things have improved for you and really hope they continue. @SarahAndQuack Time to mull it over though hopefully you might not need induction? @@worldwidetravel2017 I already said congrats on the other thread but double congrats and hope you can get home soon!

It's interesting to read about all the birth plans. I wanted a home birth with my son and had everything ready. Then waters broke with merconium so wasn't able to have. At the same time, I had a completely open mind to switching to hospital if I felt I needed to. Then, once contractions really kicked in, I went for epidural. Dilation was very slow so they induced me. I then found it really hard to push as couldn't feel anything, forceps failed so then at full dilation they did emergency c section...so not quite the birth I'd envisaged! My point being that until you're in the thick of it, you just have ideas about birth really. I still have an open mind to it and have never felt any stigma about whether to go for elected c section or try the other way. All being well, I'd want the control and reassurance of a c section this time, I do not want another saga like last time but who knows?! Anyone else wake at 4 every single day? Scan today is on my mind and can't wait to see baby again!

I am awake! Best of luck for your scan today @Sara237. I obviously hope everyone gets the birth they want but you are so right about the best laid plans. Sorry yours was not what you wanted last time but it sounds like the open mind served you well. Def makes sense to want an ELCS this time in your shoes!

I am feeling a little anxious as have had quite bad itching on my hands and feet tonight so am going to have to request a blood test for bile acid. Hoping it is just my skin being sensitive but better to be safe than sorry.