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 🩷

@SarahAndQuack I know! I absolutely still can't believe it... 😂 I don't know at which stage I'll take it as a given, I'm guessing from about 38 weeks! The other day, I had blood when I wiped and felt utter terror then realized it was from other end due to a little tear I think, sorry TMI, but I did immediately panic.
In other news, I'm still stumped on a name so resorted to chatgpt the other day. I was so specific, gave syllable preference, first letter preference, meanings I like, feel of name etc and it gave me the perfect name! Amazing.
Do you have one yet? Here's to feeling better, sunny days and growing beautifully. Xx

Happy 24 weeks @Sara237 ! 🌞

yeesh that must have been scary with the blood! Must have felt good when your heart un-plummeted 😬

YY, congratulations on 24 weeks @Sara237!

That's so nice about the name. I think I have one. My counsellor gave me a bollocking (!) and said I really should, and I couldn't find anything I liked. Then it just popped into my head. I am going to wait and see if it feels right when the baby is born, though.

It's funny how bodies trick us. I never tracked my periods (not really relevant in same-sex relationships!), so I always just figured out when I was due because I knew the signs. Now I keep thinking 'hmm, I feel a bit heavy, must grab tampons' and then going 'duh, silly woman, you're pregnant!'

Heh @SarahAndQuack thats funny, I only the other day put the tampons away, long delayed out of superstition.

we have a name that I’ve thought about for years and dp likes too, but I don’t want to land on it till meeting baby. I’ve realised there are so many names I like objectively, but I’m like, I don’t suit having a child names that. Helped to cull the long list!

I always had Zack and Leah as my kids names when growing up but when I got pregnant they just didn’t feel right and I then landed on Noah and Callie.

@SarahAndQuack so glad you've had some better news and feeling better!

@Sara237I've had spotting throughout the pregnancy (tbh sometimes I'm not entirely sure what end it's from 🤦‍♀️😂) so I can totally relate to the instant heart sinking panic. I've been checked a few times and even being told by my doctor that it's fine and nothing to worry about...it still sends me spiralling at times.

We are going to have to narrow down our name choices - we've got a few ideas but nothing we are set on yet.

Picked up a new car yesterday - so exciting! For years I've had a little three door that just wasn't going to work for a baby so finally getting the car sorted feels like a big step forward! Our pram is also ready to collect!! And Ive only got two and half weeks left of work!! Life is good right now! 🥳 hope everyone else is good too!

What an uplifting message to read 😻 @CloudyIvy55

I’ve just ordered this book from Amazon - you can get different versions based on your situation - SMBC, Mom & Dad, Mom & Mom etc

Just back from my 32w growth scan which was a bit worrying. Her tummy measurement had dropped a lot so now need to go for weekly monitoring as they are concerned my placenta may give up the ghost too early. Made it feel super real that she will be here soon and maybe a lot sooner than planned. Really hoping it was just a dud measurement though and will be fine next week. So overwhelming all of this isn’t it. Glad to read all your positive news below, keeping me going.

@AmberRose26oh I’m jell of the baby box! I only realised this week that in Wales the free childcare you get is very different to England… I was thinking we would have 30 hours from 9 months like in England but apparently not! I only moved to wales two years ago so that’s slightly annoying. I never knew how different things could be between, Scotland, wales, England, Ireland until I move away from England

@dubkitten she is beautiful! I hope she is feeling okay after her jabs too x

@SarahAndQuack glad everything went well with your scan!

@Sara237 yaaaay for 24 weeks! I also find sitting on our sofa uncomfortable and we have the comfiest sofa ever!

we have had a name picked up for the last 5 years, my partner started to wobble on it and I said you can’t as I have used this name in my head for 5 years so I can’t change it. Luckily he loves it again now

@magpie234 ah I’m sorry you had a worrying scan, at least they are keeping a really close eye on baby though. And hopefully like you said this weeks measurement was just off

I had my 28 week midwife appointment today, all went well. Apparently my urine did show signs of infection but I don’t have any symptoms so they weren’t worried. My blood pressure was on the very low end of normal… but I’m thinking that’s better than it being high? They couldn’t find a vein for blood so I have lots of holes in my arm but eventually did get a vein in my hand… so that also hurts 😂🙃 baby was all good! Bump measuring at 27cm and baby was kicking the midwife when she was trying to listen to his heartbeat lol like my whole tummy was moving from side to side so he wasn’t impressed 😂

scan tomorrow! Can’t wait! Hope everyone else is good?! X

Ooh, that looks good!

Mind you, I realised my older DD will be terrifying on the ball with this subject. I had a babysitter for her last night and the poor lass explained gamely that DD (who is rising 9) explained that mummy was out at pregnancy yoga; mummy is one of two mummies and the other one is her biological mummy, but this baby that's coming now is from mummy's egg and 'some donor dad, like mine'. Poor babysitter!

I don't know if this helps, but we were talking about this last night - room with about 20 pregnant women in second/third trimester, and almost all of us had either been sent for growth scans or had had it booked in for later. It made me realise that it has become such a normal thing - they do it for almost any reason. I find it really scary too (I also had the dire warnings about placental failure and early delivery). But I honestly think it is just them being very careful and perhaps is the way pregnancy assessments are going for everyone?

I will be keeping my fingers tightly crossed that the next scan is reassuring!

Ahh @magpie234 sorry you’ve had a worrying scan. But it is good that they’re aware of it. I hope very much that it’s a dud scan, but even if your babe does need to come early, 32 weeks (well, later by the time they’d be with you) is the holy grail gestation to reach. It’s the week I’m truly hoping for. And I keep telling myself, it’s the week Albert Einstein was born nearly 150 years ago! My midwife cousin keeps saying too that if they come early you’ll have time to get essentials that you don’t already have, and all you really need at the start is a car seat and basic clothes. Here’s hoping they’re still cooking for a good few weeks yet though.

Thanks all - and @Nosejug that Einstein fact really cheered me up! I so hope you keep going strong too 🙏🏻

Aw @SarahAndQuack thats cool :) I love how kids can get confidence from having knowledge on a subject that someone else may not, and getting to explain things to adults like that. Nice to have a book to introduce the subject @dubkitten .

I’m considering getting a photograph album to put in my almost weekly images of the baby from blastocyst to ~22 weeks (by which time they’re too big to get a photo that’s not a bit of their body rather than discernible feature). I can’t tell if the bairn would want to see that or not though heh.

can I ask—those with trouble sleeping, has it remained? I feel like I’m awake most of the night now and it’s irritating. Between dp’s snoring and the howling wind I got rather stroppy at 2am haha. Had to remind myself it’s cause I’m preggo and to be grateful!

It’s pinned to the fridge in my head @magpie234 !

@pastelheart ooh great your midwife appt went well, and congrats on reaching 28 weeks! A very great milestone. As I’m on red alert for all things infection I probably have a very low threshold for what’s acceptable… are they going to keep an eye on it? Not that you’d want antibiotics unnecessarily, and sounds like it’s low enough they expect your body to fight it off. Plus a normal cervix protects baby anyway.

and poor you with hands! I’ve been threatened with feet before. And I refuse to have it done from my hands now too. The last time I had a sore hand for weeks (was getting bloods every second day due to ectopic). It just takes a skilled person to do it when your veins are hidden. I wish I could learn, I loved the (private) ivf phlebotomists, I still think I might send them a card to say thanks for making that part a breeze!

sorry for writing so many messages everyone! Quiet morning in bed

@Nosejug yeah I think so, they said that they will send the sample off to the lab to be tested and let me know what that says. They asked if I had any symptoms of a urine infection and I really don’t but I will keep a closer eye on it and call if I notice anything.

I don’t even think my veins are that bad, but some people do struggle with them but then some people get it straight away… but my wrists and hands are deffo the best place, the midwife commented yesterday that she could see little scars where they have used my wrists and hands before for blood/IV’s lol 😂

in regards to sleep- I wish I could say I sleep like a baby now but I would be a liar liar pants on fire. Some nights are better than others but no night is a good sleep. I am getting about 4-5 hours actual sleep and that’s disrupted. (I have an Oura ring so can track it accurately) I currently have over 6 hours of sleep debt. I have had to ask for adjustments at work, which is mainly having a nap in the afternoon as I can’t function otherwise but I didn’t give them much choice as it was either let me have a nap or I’m starting my leave 😂 I work from home, so I’m not napping in the office!

my sleep is being impacted mainly by my bladder now, I cracked being uncomfortable by getting the momcozy pregnant pillow (highly recommend) but my partner has already said I can’t keep it after the baby has come and that makes me very very sad 😢 xx

4D scan day OMG IM SO EXCITED, I am worried that baby boy won’t sit still long enough though as honestly he is such a fidget 😂😂 x

@pastelheartso exciting about the 4D scan!!

Hey @magpie234sorry you've had a bit of a worrying scan - love the Einstein fact though. At least your being checked regularly so you can be reasured that if she needs to come early, they'll know.

My sleep is very hit and miss. I tend to have one terrible night followed by an OK night. Mainly heartburn and hip ache keeping me awake.

Had my second hypnobirthing class last night. Couldn't help but notice all the other ladies have much bigger bumps than me...even the ones not as far along. I know it's a silly comparison but it's got me worrying a little about growth and I'm also not convinced that measuring fundal height is that accurate. Would love another scan but been told the NHS will only offer one if there's reason for it.

Could you go for a private one for reassurance?

@magpie234 hopefully your next scan is fine. Do you have everything you need just in case they come early?

@dubkitten No…! Doing a big order this weekend and will get bag packed asap

Don’t panic - all you need at first is a few vests and baby grows, nappy stuff, somewhere for them to sleep and car seat. Not sure how you’re planning on feeding but if bottle then those too. These days anything else you need you can usually get for next day delivery

Guys… just got back from our 4D scan and omg it was amazing! He’s sooooooooo cute!

Aw @pastelheart he is adorable 🥰

@pastelheart Oh wow! He really is very cute indeed. You must be exploding with excitement to meet him! So mad thinking this is what all those kicks and rolls are… my brain is still struggling to compute the magic