IVF Pregnancy Club- Part Two

[pastelheart]

Hey girls!

thread number two for us, thank you again for all being so lovely and supportive. I still can’t believe, after all those years and all the upset… are babies are on their way ♥️

IVF pregnancy club Due Dates/Birth Dates

AmberRose- 3rd July (baby girl) 🩷
Sara237- 24th June (could be a week earlier)
Zirafica- 21st August, c-section could be 14th August
Magpie234- 1st May, could be 24th April (baby girl) 🩷
Nosejug- 27th June, may be earlier though
Fancygoose- 28th March- c-section could be 24th March
SarahAndQuack- 19th June
MintOwl- 14th May, (baby girl) 🩷
CloudyIvy55- 15th May
SamVan- 7th April (baby boy) 🩵
Pastelheart- 4th June (baby boy) 🩵

Dubkitten- baby girl born 8th January 2026 🩷

@pastelheart Oh wow amazing effort! I could never right now. Can barely do 10 mins tbh! Coconut chai latte sounds good though. Ooh I nearly got that one but have gone for the Tutti Bambini Cozee Air 2. They all started blurring in to one tbh. So many hiccups here! So funny. I always feel bad for her if it lasts too long though… I hate hiccups myself! Pretty sure I gave her them last night after eating an entire chocolate egg…

Eating too much chocolate over here! I’m a bit strict with myself and treats and have just gone wild haha, feel a bit sick 🙃

Massive congratulations to you @SamVan - wonderful news!

@magpie234 we have the snuzpod and love it! It’s a next to me crib and also on wheels so I can push him around from room to room as I move around our flat. It looks pretty minimalist too.

@pastelheart my baby hicupped multiple times a day in the womb and still does now he’s out of the womb. It’s normal :)

@MintOwl and everyone else thanks so much for the congratulations! I am a happy mama and excited for all you to have your babies soon too.

@pastelheartwell done on the walk! I experienced similar when out on a walk a few days ago. Can only think it was braxton hicks.... I had to find a bench to sit down and breathe 🤦‍♀️😂 baby also has ALOT of hiccups in my belly...midwife said its normal and that they also be hiccupy when they are born.

@magpie234we also have the tutti bambini next to me...but it's still in the box so no idea what it's like it. Also glad to hear I'm not the only one who can demolish a whole Easter egg atm 😅

Fun day today....we are picking up our travel system this morning!! Then I've got a midwife appointment this afternoon. A lovely baby focused day 🥰

Huge congratulations @SamVan! What wonderful news. I admit I got a bit teary reading your lovely post about the contrast between this Easter and now. And seeing @dubkitten's lovely DD! Isn't it wonderful?!

@AmberRose26 and @Sara237, sorry you are both struggling. I hope you both feel better soon.

I am doing fine with the actual pregnancy but, for my sins, last year when I was in a really low place I agreed to bring my DD on holiday with my parents this week. It is an absolute bloody nightmare. They're exhausting at the best of times, but I honestly thought when I was nearly 7 months pregnant they'd be a bit better, and they're actually being worse.

@magpie234 how are you feeling now with pgp ? Hope yours has eased ? Mine started to ease with using the tubagrip i definitely notice a small difference, and I have been doing the exercises and trying to stay active but just gentle, but then I lifted something last night and it got really sore again 🙄 I don’t understand how it can be ok sometimes then other times agony .. if it was a ligament that was pulled it would be sore until it heals then just get better, it’s the fact mine comes and goes .. sometimes I hardly feel it them others just moving slightly is agony ? Can it be the way baby is lying I wonder that puts more pressure on it ? It’s a strange one ? Mine is still all on the left side hip / deep in my bum check area 😫

Kind of an interesting morning. I always feel baby move before I fall asleep but last night I didn't feel them and somehow still managed to fall asleep. Woke up at 3am in a panic and spent 3 - 9am trying to feel movements but couldn't - rang the maternity unit who got me in and hooked up the machine....and baby was moving perfectly - even some big kicks 🤦‍♀️😂 I know it's better to get checked but still felt a little silly.

Don't think it helped as my midwife appt last week was cancelled due to a booking error and I definitely build myself up to those appointments and need the reassurance.

Cannot believe I am 35 weeks tomorrow!! Hope your all doing well!

Don't feel silly, @CloudyIvy55! You absolutely need to get checked out; that's what they keep telling us.

I think more of my June babies group have been in for reduced movements than haven't.

And yay for 35 weeks!

I'm 30 weeks tomorrow. I had my first NCT class on Tuesday (oh my goodness, but they're all young!). I am well aware of how NCT is but ... am I utterly mad to vaguely think about homebirth? I must admit to being mildly tempted.

@SarahAndQuack congratulations on being 30 weeks! I do feel that time is whizzing by. I wanted a home birth with my son but waters broke with meconium in them so couldn't proceed. I kept my birth plan really loose though; I was always wanting a home birth but happy to be transferred to hospital if need be. And we're close to our hospital so wasn't too worried. I read so much about it as getting actual facts over opinions was important to me. So, no, I don't think crazy at all! I know so many people who've had the best experience.
@CloudyIvy55 I've had a few times where I've felt movement has decreased and it's a horrible feeling so you did absolutely the right thing. I went in a couple of weeks back too and you just have to remember that's what they're set up for as only we can pick up on things feeling odd. Glad all good and you're so close now! Exciting!
@AmberRose26 Sorry you're still having all this pain, I wonder if you're right re the way the baby is positioned, mine feels really low compared to last time and I get some really strange feelings! When I had awful pgp with my son, physio said ligaments are continuously being pulled and stretched so it does come and go. In years gone by, they called the 3rd trimester the 'brief siege' which seems apt. Hang on in there.

It's been boiling hot where I am and I suddenly felt I had no cool maternity clothes so had a little shopping spree today as had some birthday money going spare...felt a bit extravagant but all things I can wear after pregnancy too as not actual maternity clothes more loose fitting, linen bits which as soon as I put on, I felt happier! Hope you're all staying cool and as comfy as we can be!

No harm in getting checked out. Just think - 2 more weeks a baby be fully cooked 😁

We are moving to the big girl cot tonight 🙈

Put her in it earlier to get the baby monitor positioned right, she was tired so left her there to see what happened and she fell asleep. The longest she’s napped in the last few weeks is 30 minutes - she slept for 2 hours 🤣🤣

@dubkitten awh that’s really good, she must like her cot anyways 🥰

well my pgp seems to have really eased today which I am really grateful for, but I have been really nauseous the last day or two .. 28 weeks today so that’s me officially in the 3rd trimester.. really hope the nausea doesn’t hang around for it 🤢.. just feel like a wana spew all day , I thought I was past this 🫣

hope everyone else is doing good 💛

How's everyone doing?

@CloudyIvy55, I hope the hospital visit was reassuring?

@AmberRose26 how are you doing with the nausea today? Hope it was a blip.

@dubkitten - oh, my goodness, how is she getting so big?! It must be lovely being able to get out with her now the weather is so nice.

Hope the other new mamas are doing well too?

Hi ladies, I don't have enough time at the moment to keep up with the full thread but hope everyone is doing well.

We are still in the hospital but moved out of the baby unit to the children's hospital which means I can spend the night with him which is just amazing. Baby is doing quite well but still not sure how much longer we will be in for - depends on how some things go over this next week or so. It's all a bit overwhelming but just focusing on the fact that he is here and he is recovering and we can still be together. The love is just something else - I could burst into tears just thinking about how much I love him 🤣💙

And definitely don't feel silly about going in for reduced movements - I really believe it saved my baby's life. And even if baby meets the CTG if you still feel like something is off then just say - they have to admit you regardless. This happened to me with our first episode of RFM and it was 100% the right thing to do as the CTGs later that night ended up being abnormal and I needed some closer attention (it was all okay that time but I was relieved I trusted my instinct and didn't go home even though that first CTG seemed normal).

Best of luck to everyone still awaiting the big day!!

@FancyGoose yay for baby unit! How are you feeling?

how is everyone else? Sorry I have been quiet, tbh I’m just counting down the days for Mat leave (12 more days in work) and I just cba with anything 😂😂😂 I think the iron tablets are starting to work now though as I don’t feel like death anymore but everything is just such an effort now.

33 weeks tomorrow! 🩵

@pastelheart Happy 33 weeks! Glad you're feeling better with the iron but I know what you mean re the monumental effort of everything atm ...just realising I'd left my water downstairs last night nearly made me cry 😂 it's good you've only a few days left of work and can see the light now!
@SarahAndQuack Have you recovered from the holiday with the parents?! I think people forget how knackering this all is and expect too much. I found this with a friend on a day out with kids in hols. She was driving and didn't want the day to end. I just wanted to go to bed after 10 hours of being out!
@FancyGoose Your post about being together at night and your overwhelming love for him seems to have triggered my hayfever 😜 distinct watering of the eyes... 😭 Really beautiful. Enjoy.
@AmberRose26 Good to hear the pgp is easing but not that you've now got nausea again...why can't there just be a clear run of feeling good for a while?! Are you on any new meds that might have triggered it or do you think it's just the physical strain of it all? Fingers crossed it eases up.

@Sara237 honestly the worst is when you drop something on the floor and just leave it there as cba 😂😂

who’s due next?? How many April babies are we going to have!?

Hehee I’m so glad to read that I’m not alone in, ahhhh crap, oh well, when something gets dropped on the floor! I pick up some stuff but I knocked off a fridge magnet and it’d involve hands and knees to retrieve… it’s gonna be under the fridge for a few days yet.

nothing to report from me which makes me very happy, was grinning on my evening walk just being like holy shit it might all be ok. The consultant yesterday (who I hadn’t seen for 4 weeks as someone had been filling in for her) was like wow! Even she’s so happy we are where we are. She said the worst that can happen now is premie, but that I’ll get my baby.

went to antenatal class 2 where they taught about birth, goodness that birthing pool sounds sooo nice. I’m unlikely to open as it seems that my cervix is just a lump of scar tissue and that’s why the pregnancy has lasted so long (so probs eventual ccection) but not complaining! Anyone opting for the birthing pool if they can? There’s apparently a dooket for your bump to slot into. Oh and a top tip was to get grippy feet type socks/pool socks so you don’t slip about.

Hey@Nosejugwhat a lovely positive post! Glad your grinning and feeling good.

I'm planning for a water birth. Good tip about the socks and didn't know they had a bump slot 😂 well aware that it might not go to plan but I'm feeling positive.... I've been doing daily positive affirmations and birthing hypnosis tracks on YouTube and I highly recommend them to anyone feeling worried or anxious!

@CloudyIvy55 I found it soothing just hearing the room described! I think I might create a little soothing space in my head so that even if I’m having section I’ll pretend I’m in that lovely water birth sitch! She’s referred me for online hypnobirthing and someone in the class (39+5!) said it’s so useful and that accessing the calm mindset gets easier and easier. Cool about your affirmations! I’m a terrible shallow breather so I might have a shot of those YouTube videos in the meantime!

@Nosejug 100% recommend hypnobirthing classes...I learnt so much about birth, how important my mindset is and how to keep myself calm in whatever situation I find myself in. They can be expensive to do in person but I've seen some really good online classes and books you could read to see if its for you before committing to a course.

My birth plan is…

•epidural
•catheter
•sleep for longer than 30 mins, which I haven’t done in 7 months
•wake up as the baby is about to be born

thats it lol easy peasy no episiotomy please 🙏🏼

I didn’t really have birth plan - was just gonna follow baby’s lead and do what was necessary.

I was booked in for an induction at 39 weeks due to high BP. My waters went the morning before but 24 hours later still no major contractions so still needed the induction. As my waters had gone they went straight to the drip and the contractions were instant!

I suffer with a bad back and once the contractions starred they were mainly in my bum and back so I asked for the epidural straight away. Ended up having to get it inserted twice as didn’t work right first time (only numbed one leg 🤣). After that I felt absolutely nothing - even when I was pushing!!

I was on the drip for nearly the max of 12 hours so was looking likely to have to go a c section but luckily I dialated in time.

I had an episiotomy but that was due to a previous surgery I had and they didn’t want to risk me tearing close to my scar so I knew it was going to happen.

I had a PPH - they said it was a lot but I felt fine during it, took them a while to stop it and then stitch me up.

The one thing I didn’t expect with the induction drip was the adrenaline shakes - they were intense!!

Overall it was a positive labour and delivery and the end resulted in my little princess and that’s the main thing!

Great to hear everyone is doing well at all the varying stages 😊. I have less than two weeks to go till my section now 😳! I turn 38 weeks tomorrow and am booked in for 29 April (39+5 so I hope we make it!).

I feel mainly excited with a heavy dose of diving-board anticipation… ready to start our new chapter and get learning on the job now really. But trying to savour this last bit of time as just a two with my husband and also enjoy taking long showers and naps!

I am finding feeling so incapacitated annoying and am now up to 4 loo trips a night 🙄 but it is certainly easier knowing the end is in sight!