Aussies and Kiwis!

[LizS]

Hi all,

Haven't had a chance to read all the posts on this thread yet but thought I'd sing out from chilly Hobart.

I'm 37yo that has been ttc for nearly 3 yrs. IVF due to surgical issues (had major bowel surgeries and that is suspected to be the main problem) and had my 6th transfer on the 10th April.

Happy to report that it worked this time and so I'm now coming up to 4 wks pregnant (or 6 wks, if you use the pregnancy calendars!).

All very exciting and a bit surreal. I actually did a test again on Saturday night, just to prove to myself that it's still happening.

I think I'll feel a bit more secure at the end of the 12wks. Having said that, is the first trimester up when I'm physically 12 wks or do I go by the calendars that all take your timing from the beginning of your last menstrual period? I know that's how doctors normally calculate it but that's usually when they don't know the date of actual conception, let alone the precise SECOND the conception occurred *confused*

So when do I really relax..........my 12 wks or theirs?

Will go back and read all of the posts now but wanted to say hi first!

Cheers,

Liz

[Xrayem]

Hi and welcome Liz! And congrats on your pregnancy!

About your dates, you always count from the 1st day of your last period. I know that gets a bit tricky with us IVF girls as some of us did long protocols but at the end of your tww you are 4 weeks pregnant. Its a bit confusing as we know that you have only had the embryos for 2 weeks, but in medical terms, you count the whole cycle. So that means by now you are 6 weeks pregnant and your due date will be calculated based on that.

As far as relaxing goes, as soon as they see a heartbeat on your ultrasoud scan, there is only a very small chance that things will go wrong. Some people do feel better waiting until 12 weeks before telling people but I think its up to you. With the twins, I told everyone the day I got my test results. I never for a moment thought anything would go wrong (I'd waited too long for them!) and it didn't.

Congrats again.....thats now 4 of us Aussies/Kiwis that are pregnant! Jomae at 15 weeks, me at 13 weeks and yourself and Kery at 6 weeks.

Well done all of us!

Em

[Kery]

Hi Liz and congrads from me too!!! Em pretty much answered your question and I don't have much more to add to that. Anyway welcome aboard!!!

Hey Em, how ya feeling? God imagine if you had got prgnant with twins again!!! How are your boys?

[LizS]

Thanks Girls

I've been sick all week with viral pharyngitis. Thought it was a headcold but went to the gp when it seemed to be travelling to my chest. I figured the last thing I needed was a chest infection!

Seems to be clearing now so the all day sleeping, eating and drinking fluids has done some good.........on top of making me feel like a pyjama'd beached whale.

I've only told my family and a couple of really close friends about the pregnancy, other than a few internet contacts that I met through a facebook IVF site that I was a member of at one stage.

I'm feeling good about things but still insecure about it. I even did another preg test on Saturday night, to assure myself it was all real and still happening. That can't be normal!? Not sustainable either - I'd just about be keeping the peestick companies afloat if I kept that up throughout the pregnancy.

I think I'll feel a little better after the first scan...........hmmm, and then the next scan..........and the screenings..........will I actually ever feel 100% confident about it?

Ah well, I AM enjoying the knowledge that I'm finally pregnant and that it CAN work for us, whatever the future brings this time around.

My GP recommended I read Kaz Cooke's 'Up the Duff' as a good source of info, in a humorous way. Anyone read it?

Take care,

Liz
xx

[Xrayem]

Hi Liz,

Yep I can recommend Kaz Cook's book. I read a new chapter each week and it was amazing how accurate it was, even with my preg being a twin one.

Some people never feel confident while they are preg. I did, because I figured I had done all the hard yards and no-one was going to take this away from me. Seeng the bub on the scan will help you identify with it. If you are really stressing, perhaps you could buy one of those fetal heart monitors second hand on ebay. Then you can pop it on and listen to bub whenever you feel stressed.

Relax.....you have done it! Focus on each upcoming milestone as a goal. You know, "its only two weeks till my scan" then "only 1 week till I hit 12 weeks!". It helps cut down the time.

Em

[LizS]

Thanks Em,

I'm watching a couple of 2nd hand copies of Kaz's book on eBay so will get a copy soon.

I know you're right about relaxing and, yeah, after 3 yrs of trying, 6 transfers and all the crap my poor body went through before all that, I know I've done the hard yards and deserve for this to work.

I do predominantly feel very positive and very excited. To the point that I've bought some nursery stuff and thought of how I will decorate the room. But I do keep looking for signs and the fact that my boobs are very sore and I felt pretty nauseous for the first time this afternoon actually made me feel really happy today..........lol.

My Acupuncturist told me that I know well what can possibly happen so I'm not being unrealistic by being positive and excited. He told me to just enjoy the fact I am pregnant - enjoy the experience

So that's what I'm doing, most of the time

Twins eh........goodness me, that must be a handful! (well, two handfuls, even).

I was only having one embie transferred at a time. My doc didn't want to risk a multiple pregnancy with my medical history. I have no large bowel so there could be a problem with absorption and we always felt there may be a risk of me sustaining my own health, along with 2 little babies.

As it stands, I'm thinking this may be the one and only as time is marching on and I'd like to enjoy the time with this first child before thinking of another one. That being the case, I'd be looking at conceiving again at about 40, which I'm not that keen on the idea of.

We have 8 more on ice (I hyperstimmed and had a bumper crop of 27 eggs harvested, 15 of which made it to day 2 and freezing - we only lost one in the thaw process), so if we decide to leave it at one, at least I know I can donate them and possibly help someone else have a child or that they will aid the research into infertility.

It's all good

Take care and have a great weekend!

I've told my husband I'm eligible for Mother's Day gifts already.......but I don't think he's taken me seriously

Liz
xx

[Xrayem]

I didn't qualify for mother's day last year apparently. But I tell you I've earned it this year!

We also have 9 embies on ice. Very concerend about what to do with them. This pregnancy was such a shock to happen naturally after all we had been through but I know that we will not be having anymore after this. Its so hard to decide what to do with my embies. Thinking of them as "mine" doesn't help the situation!

[ozstock]

Hi everyone!
Sorry it's been so long since I've dropped in. Had a quick squizz through some old posts and looks like things are really happening over here! Congratulations Kery, am so happy for you. And welcome and congrats to you too Liz!

I am in the home stretch now at 37 and a half weeks. The doc thinks I will be over, which is the last thing I want to hear. I guess the bub will come when it wants.

Tiger, i hope you're enjoying your move to Sydney. Sorry about all that rain earlier on, I guess Sydney wanted to make sure you had an easy transition from Melbourne (although Melbourne weather certainly beats Sydney this year!)

Anyway, hope this message finds everyone well.
Take care
Ozstock

[Lula]

Hi All

I'm a 26yr old first timer from sunny Brisbane. My hubby and I are about to start our first cycle in July. We're nervous, scared and anxious to get started.

Is anyone else using QFG in Queensland?

[Kery]

Hi everyone

Welcome Lula sorry I am over in WA so can't help you there. I'm sure someone here maybe able to help you out. We were all nervous, scared and anxious when we first started out. Many women here have all had different experiences so just ask if you have any questions.

Ostock - Wow not long now!!! Do you know what you are having? You are right they come when they are ready. My boy was three weeks late.

I had my scan this week and there's just one little beanie tucked away. So my due date is 2 Jan. Isn't the scans these days just amazing? I couldn't believe how clear it was.

Anyway how is everyone else doing?

[Xrayem]

Hi Lulu and welcome. I'm also from Brisbane and I used QFG to have my twins. We haven't been anywhere else, so can't really compare but we found them all to be great and very easy to organise cycles with. Which Doc are you seeing? We went through David Lingard and he is now my obst with this pregnancy (which happened naturally!!!!).

Best of luck with your cycle and look forward to keeping up with your progress. Feel free to ask any questions you need!

Em

[Susan72]

Hi ladies - just touching base. Welcome to all the newies and hello to all the old.

Just an update from me - egg collection was on Wed and we got 12 eggs of which 10 fertilised. ET is scheduled for Monday as a day 5 blasocysts. I have to say i find this part the worst which is waiting to know if any of the embies survive until then. I actually think the 2ww might be easier than this!!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Susan

[Lula]

Good luck Susan! Waiting sucks.

My specialist didn't really recommend trying to get 5 day blasocysts. She recommended putting them back in as 2 day embyros and if we had a lot that fertilised, then try to for blasocysts. We weren't sure what our preference would be. We are waiting to start our first cycle in July. Are you intending to have a 2 day embryo transfer or wait for the blasocyst?

[Susan72]

Hi Lula - im too late for day 2 transfer which would have been today hence will stick with Day 5 unless i get a call from my FS nurse who tells me to come in earlier. From what i've read if any of the embryo's get to day 5 then its a good sign for a sucessful pregnancy - so fingers crossed.

Best of luck for your cycle in July - on the whole i have found the process fairly ok - the injections didn't hurt and i didn't go too pyscho with the drugs - just felt a bit uncomfortable at times as my ovaries were growing. The hardest part for me is the waiting....... Please ask any questions if you need you.

Susan x

[Tiger]

Ladies,

Kery - CONGRATS to you!! Sorry this is my first visit to the thread in a long time and so now I know. I am so happy for ya, 2nd Jan .

Our Newbies - LizS and Lula, Welcome to the thread (albeit I know my timing is totally out - you have been here for a while now yes? ). Lula, I wish you both very very good cycle and very successful one at that!! LizS, well done for BFP!!

Susan, I am sure your ET will go fine and you will get a BFP outcome. I have my fingers crossed for you.

Ems, Jomae and Ozstock, your bubsy's coming soon - WOW. This thread is really a lucky thread... we soldier on don't we.

Well, I just wanted to say hi to all and really - I have no news to share. My life circumstance hasn't allowed me to go back on tmt.... what can I say. Life was never meant to be easy. I just have to manage this sadness somehow and carry on with my chin up. I know one day I will have my own BFP...... right?

Love, Tiger xx