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🩷

Massive congratulations @worldwidetravel2017, such lovely news and sounds like you’re being well looked after following a tough experience, full of admiration for you and hope you’re recovering well and get home soon. Welcome to your baby girl, baby number 2 of the thread 😍

Really pleased to you hear things have improved for you @Nosejug

good luck @Sara237 and to all having scans soon, and hope all goes ok with the itching and blood test @magpie234

all well here, was really pleased to reach viability, now at 25 plus 5. Checking my blood pressure regularly as high risk of pre-eclampsia due to existing hypertension but ok so far.

still unsure about birth plan. Thinking vaginal birth at the moment but opting for c section at 40 weeks rather than induction though want to do a bit more research. Have heard a lot of stories of emergency c sections after induction, that sounds tough @Sara237

Finding organising mat cover at work quite stressful at the moment. Colleagues are being supportive but I’m aware of potential loss of clients/income others have experienced so trying to set up as much as possible before birth. Trying to maintain perspective and remember that I have more important things to get on with, and that it’ll largely be out of my control/ I have to let go!

@SarahAndQuack sounds perfect! Is it plants and landscaping or predominantly the horticultural side of things? Must keep you so fit! I long to go out to my garden but atm am just watching things appear. I have so many questions haha but will keep to the topic at hand.

@Sara237 i “get up” (have oj and tea in bed) at 5/6 every day with some wakings in the night. I can’t keep awake past like 9:30 lol. First tri was 3/4am every night, and my body has just kept the rhythm. I woke up to my body crying from a dream where the worst happened :S I’ve never been so glad to wake up, and doubted the waking reality was real for a good wee while. Having to tell this thread was part of the dream!

good to get it checked out @magpie234 and hopefully it’s benign cause, but there’s treatment and monitoring to keep babe safe even if it is the liver issue. Most important things is that you’re aware of it. My skin is insanely itchy at night but generalised (and only 2nd tri).

@Sara237 your birth story is how my brain is imagining it will go if vaginal delivery because of various factors. I never thought of the epidural making it hard to push but now I’ve had a spinal block I can so imagine. I couldn’t even pee (and thought they’d put a warm furry blanket on my legs only to realise it was my hairy legs I was touching lol). It’s exactly the calm and control that I seek (also with medical trauma background).

good luck today with cervix and baby scan!

I am going to catch up properly later when I'm not teaching, but I wanted to pop in and send good luck to @Sara237 for the scan today.

Hi all, thanks for well wishes. Scan was perfect. All fine with baby and I'm having a boy! So happy and can't wait to tell my son when I collect him later 💕. Was worried about cervix but it is really long - 55 mm which consultant said is the longest she's seen so I've been really lucky given the FDCS. She asked about birth choice also which suddenly made it all feel a bit real. I've gone c section but will see how I feel as early days. She said being fully dilated last time meant I could do a v birth. Phew! Another hoop cleared. Xxx

haha wowww @Sara237 that's amazing, can borrow a cm from your extra long cervix please? so lovely to hear everything was great :D you must be feeling very excited, and a boy! lovely to have two brothers. congrats :)

@Nosejug Thanks! I'm in shock. Given my age, 48, i have a propensity to expect the worse...anything else and I'm extremely positive and full of beans but as you know, this has been a long time coming and I can't quite believe things might be ok!
I hope you have a better night tonight with pleasant dreams not hideous nightmares! 🤞 I'm already in bed. My husband thought I was joking but got to sleep more. 😴 Xxx

@worldwidetravel2017 biggest congratulations, ✨💛 that’s amazing news and glad you are recovering well!
@Sara237 glad your scan went well. That’s reassuring that your cervix is nice and long!
@pastelheart lol at your husband with his indecisiveness .. hopefully you can get your pram ordered soon ! Hope everyone else is good

Well all was well with anomaly scan, but my cervix is back to being 14.9mm so all the “progression” I felt is erased. It’s fully closed and not funnelling, though just entering the worst risk period. Another in 6 days. Cool to see the heart chambers and the valves opening and closing though, amazing really.

Hey everyone!

It's been a while since I've been on here and there's lots to catch up on so sorry if I miss anything.

@worldwidetravel2017Massive congratulations! So happy for you!

Been reading about people buying stuff. I've just ordered the tutti bambini next to me cot. Apart from that, I love a FB Market place/charity shop find and also have very generous family who have got us a few bits. Main thing we need though is a car. Mine is a rubbish, little three door car which I've been very reluctant to replace in recent years incase we needed the money for IVF. Trying to buy a car is hard work! Then we'll look for prams, car seats ect.

Someone wrote on here about having raynards and very sore nipples!! I can totally relate...whenever I go outside they are like shards of ice!

Can also relate to the pregnancy insomnia. I do sleep in shifts as part of my job and yesterday told them that I'm not sure I can carry on sleeping at work because I'm barely sleeping. They've weren't exactly very understanding.

25 weeks for me now!! 🥳

@Nosejug Glad scan went well though that's annoying re cervix though good signs it's not funnelling or opening. I'm really rooting for your cervix and glad you're being looked after closely. Are you still on progesterone?
@CloudyIvy55 Glad all is progressing well, sleeping at work does not sound fun. Can you alter your hours? Trying to buy a car is hard work at the best of times but agree 3 doors is a squeeze though not impossible. I'm also trying to economise as so in debt and want a year off. Second hand is key!
On that note, has anyone been on UK kids X .com? Something like that anyway. Has some great pre loved prams for sale with free delivery. I need something that folds small for little boot. Bit early for me but nice to peruse! I nearly just got silver cross cove pram and buggy set for 190 pounds but will leave it longer. Think icandy folds smaller and loads on there.

@Nosejug hope you are feeling ok, that will be a bit worrying but glad it’s not opening as you say, can they up your dose of progesterone at all ? Or does that not make a difference? Really hope it stays put now and doesn’t get smaller for you !

I have Covid, tested today as had a bad cold the last few days but got ‘the smell’ today so that made me test, when I google it just says it doesn’t cross the placenta so should be fine for 2nd trimester but to contact midwife, I tried to call them but no surprise it’s an answer machine (always is) I have had Covid a few time before and I was always fine each time so I don’t think I need to be worried at all ?! I just hope wee baba is ok in there I still have two weeks to wait till my next scan 😩 I still am feeling and have felt movements the last week and today so that makes me feel better!

@Sara237 so glad the scan went well!
@Nosejug sorry your cervix has gone back but good news it's closed. Keeping everything crossed for you.

I had a growth scan on tues which was a bit concerning. I have polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid) and I am just in the moderate range - rather than mild, but nowhere near severe. They also said the baby's stomach was a bit small but still within normal parameters and that the stomach wasn't as full as they would expect - although they could see some amniotic fluid in it so it has been swallowing, which is good. On top of the heart positioning we had picked up at 20 weeks I can't help but panic that there is something serious underlying everything we have going on.

I am having a gestational diabetes test Mon though as that can be one cause. I was referred back to fetal medicine too but that's not until 3rd March and at a more local hopsital (whereas last time they saw me within leas than 48 hours and I had to go to St George's in London so I'm assuming this means that it's not been triaged as as severe/concerning which is a good thing). I haven't got another scan for 4 weeks though which worries me as looking online, most trusts seem to scan fortnightly to check the fluid levels are stable - I might ask my midwife if they will book me in for an extra one to ease my anxiety.

This also means I am at a higher risk of PROM which would be a medical emergency incase of cord prolapse. If it happens, I have to lie on the ground with my bum in the air and ring 999 🤣 not sure whether to just wfh over my last 3 weeks as I don't fancy that happening in the office or on my long train commute or whether I am just being overly anxious! My boss will be supportive either way.

@FancyGoose Oh my goodness that's a lot to be getting your head around. I've not heard of polyhydramnios - I didn't even realize babies swallow amniotic fluid...but as you say, if they've not booked an urgent rescan it sounds as if they're not overly worried. Then again, you are understandably anxious so asking for another in a fortnight for reassurance seems perfectly reasonable.
Good that your boss is understanding . I think I'd wfh if I could; I'm with you on wanting to avoid being in a train, on your knees, bum in the air ringing 999...just imagining the commuters' faces 😂 Though obviously it's not inevitable but just a lot to be on your mind when you've got enough to think about. When is your due date? Can you go and have a chat to your midwife? Sending a handhold and hope you can get some rest or do whatever is needed to feel a bit more settled. Xxx

@AmberRose26 Sorry to hear you've got Covid again. Glad you don't feel too bad with it and as you say, baby is nicely sealed up and oblivious to how rough these viruses can make us feel! Hope the next 2 weeks don't drag too much; it's like being in a different time zone waiting for scans. I've taken to extensive decluttering including areas of my house that will make no difference to space for the baby like the cutlery drawer but hey ho it's good for killing time 😂 rest up xx

@Sara237 thank you, I do feel ok, was just worried incase it effects wee baba in any way but I got a hold of the midwife and she basically just said plenty fluid and if body temp goes up take paracetamol, if at all I feel out breath /struggling to breath then thats when I would worry. De cluttering if def something on my to do list .. just waiting for my 20 weeks scan then we are starting to clear the spare room and the nursery transformation will begin 😅..

@FancyGoose oh gosh so sorry you are having this ontop of your pervious worry, best of luck for the diabetes test, and hope it can give insight into the reason, can I ask what is PROM? Hope you can take it easy and sending you hugs 💛

@Sara237 thank you! I am due to have a ELCS 24 March which is at just under 40 weeks for me, although they said they might bring that forward a bit depending on what the scan on 3 March shows. Seeing my midwife next week so yes think will talk it all through with her and ask for the extra scan to ease my anxiety and see what she says.

@AmberRose26 sorry you have covid. My friend had it, followed by the flu, when pregnant and her babies (twins!) Were absolutely fine. It's always worrying though but I think baby is nicely protected in there. And thank you for the well wishes! PROM is premature rupture of membranes - apparently the extra fluid increases the chances although still more likely not to happen than to happen 🙏 i am almost hoping it is diabetes as then there is an explanation for it and a way of managing it but equally I don't know enough about the potential complications it can bring. But it seems fairly common and therefore somehow less scary if that makes sense!

Hello everyone! no I still haven’t slept much but we move

@worldwidetravel2017 congratulations on the birth of your daughter! I hope you are both okay

@FancyGoose I am sorry your scan wasn’t straightforward, I hope you are okay

@AmberRose26 ah no covid! Would you believe I have never had it? Well not that I am aware of 😂

@Nosejug sorry to hear about your cervix length changing, I have everything crossed it stays the same/gets longer. How many weeks are you now?

@CloudyIvy55 I need a new car too as only have 3 doors but the thought of giving up my fast, red car makes me sad. I think my partner is going to get me a new electric car through his business though so that’s fun!

@Sara237glsd your scan went well too! And yay for the boy! I think it’s been mostly girls in this group so far!

I have really noticed baby getting stronger this week, some of his movements stop me in my tracks and honestly this morning he would not sit still when I was in a meeting I couldn’t concentrate it was like he was doing star jumps!

xxx

Thank u

Also question (that kept me awake last night lol)

if I am planning on exclusively breastfeeding… do I need to buy a steriliser? I have bought a UV dummy steriliser but do I need a big one? When I had my son, I planned on breastfeeding but I had bottles/formula/steriliser “just in case” and then one difficult night about 1 month in, I caved and swapped to formula so I want to avoid that temptation tbh x

@pastelheart aww star jumping baby hehe! I’m 20 weeks today, how far are you now? I feel like we should have a chart as I keep forgetting everyone’s gestational age heh. I remember you being a few weeks ahead as we met on a different thread where someone was just discovering their ivf had worked and I was about 2 weeks in. Does feel like ages ago now!

@AmberRose26 i suppose one good thing about having covid is that your baby will get some antibodies and have a level of protection for the first few weeks of life (if I can conflate what NHS say about the whooping cough vaccine with Covid antibodies. Small silver lining 🙃 Hope you’re feeling better now.

@Sara237 haha cutlery drawer decluttering is about the level I can do without being afraid atm, but hey, it still feels good to do the small bits!! I want to sell clothes on vinted to start clearing the baby’s room but I’m equally thinking… charity shop!

@FancyGoose ufft sorry you’re also in the worry boat. I would interpret their non-urgency the same, like they’re more checking everything’s ok rather than expecting things to be bad. And also like you say, better the beast you know, so if it could all be caused by a treatable common pregnancy issue then it seems right to hope for that. I’m fairly versed for my own part in cervical insufficiency now, and there are different reasons for late loss/preterm, and honestly I think I’d rather be in the surgical reason side than the less certain irritable uterus, somewhat unexplained side, as at least there’s a chance my cervix is still functioning.

thanks everyone for wishing strength to my cervix hah. 4 more weeks to viability and then I’ll enjoy each day passing a great deal.

@Nosejug honestly, he doesn’t sit still! I am 23+2 today so just a little ahead of you.
I did try and edit the first comment on here like someone suggested to add in everyone’s due dates but it won’t let me edit it for some reason! If anyone has any ideas on how then let me know and I am more than happy to do it!

i know! I was saying to my partner the other day that IVF feels so long ago now! X

Thanks everyone for the well wishes. Baby is a little acrobat in there these days so I am just focusing on the fact that they seem happy and safe in there for now 🤗

@pastelheart like you, I am hoping to exclusively breastfeed. I haven't bought anything except some of the ready made bottles to pack in my hospital bag just in case. Then if anything changes, I will just order with next day delivery or send my partner out :) although I am hopelessly behind - baby will be here in 6 weeks at the latest and so far all I have is baby grows/vests and a bassinet stand (but no bassinet 🤣). I just have a real mental blocker/terror around it and am trying to work out whether it would be okay to literally leave it until I've given birth. I understand with a section you're in for 24 hours at least so with next day delivery, it might be okay?! Or maybe that's silly and I should at least get the car seat and somewhere for them to sleep beforehand so we're not caught short.

@pastelheart With my son I exclusively breast fed so didn't need a steriliser but I had a couple of the mam bottles that self sterilize in microwave that came in a free baby pack. I didn't need any pumps or anything else either as I had whole year off so just fed him. Breast pads are good though as you do leak.
I'd say the necessities are a car seat and a moses basket - if they fall asleep upstairs and you want to move them downstairs without waking this is handy. Other than that, nothing is that urgent.

@FancyGoose wow only 6 weeks! One little thing to think about (but I’m not convinced it’s real so probably shouldn’t even be saying it but…) is it wise to purchase things that will be brand new a little beforehand so that they have a chance to breath before baby goes in them? I’ve heard (not from science but online so pinch of salt) about people wanting to “off gas” brand new stuff for a few days before baby uses them. I guess it makes sense as things can have a “new” smell that might be plastics previously sealed up. But I recognise this is coming from a brain trained in infertility rather than a normal person having a baby and not being afraid of tiny stuff! Edited to add: I meant like the sleeping cot kinda stuff not every little thing

Oh and on BF, this is small fry worry but to the other reynauds sufferer here, I think you’re right that it’s reynauds of the nipple that’s causing the severe pain atm and it can apparently make BF very painful indeed. I found a thread I saved on here about managing it a bit, so if you’re interested I’ll try find and share. Hopefully spring/summer babies will help!