Nov/Dec Cycle for Baby #2 attempt?

[alexis]

Hello out there ladies!
It's been over 2 years since I've been on this page, but I'm back. This page was so helpful to me the very first time going through IVF, I wanted to come back for additional support. My name is Alexis and I am currently starting an IVF cycle (start my Lupron tomorrow night!). I've been on the BCP the last two weeks.
I was super lucky the first time we did IVF (in 2009) and we have a beautiful son who will be 2 in February. My husband and I would really love to have another child, but we are having a much harder time this time around. I've now been through 2 failed IVF attempts and so I'm hoping this 3rd one will be it!
I remember when I was on this site the first time around, it was hard for me to read about moms that were having trouble with attempts for a 2nd child. I didn't understand that infertility at any point is just as painful as it was before ever having a child. It's different in ways because you've experienced the joy of pregnancy and the amazing experience of being a mother. I thought maybe starting a string with women in my same position might be helpful? Is there anybody out there starting a November/December cycle that is trying for baby #2?
I'm not very tech savvy, so please forgive me if I'm not up to speed with all the cool stuff the ladies are doing on here. Hopefully I can learn or you guys can teach me along the way!
I am having such a hard time going into this 3rd cycle this time around. I feel like I am so emotional and I haven't even started the meds yet! I know I need to remain positive and as stress free as possible, so I'm truly hoping that talking with you ladies will help all of us! Will anybody join me with this string?

I can't remember how to create a signature, so I need to do a little research on that. I hope to hear from you gals soon!

My History:
unexplained infertility
35 years old, have wonderful husband and 21 month old son
With first child, 3 failed Clomid cycles, 2 failed Clomid IUIs, then BFP with first IVF attempt in June, 2009
This time: 2 IVF cycles with BFN (July and August of 2011)

[WeHaveHope]

Alexis-I wish you all of the best for this cycle. Most of the ladies doing a cycle in Nov/Dec are over on the Fall/Winter Board. I invite you to join us over there. Best of luck.

[Neffi211]

Alexis--

Dh and I are doing our last IVF attempt for baby #2. We have a son from our third attempt but this will be our 9th and final attempt and we will using donor embryos. We are also waiting on adoption, we have been with an agency for 18 months and have had many birthmothers change their minds
So I was suppose to do my transfer Nov 2nd but my lining deteriorated in the middle of my cycle...dont know why, so now it is scheduled for Dec 9th and I am adding vaginal viagra in hopes of a good lining.

When are you shceduled for transfer?

[claud662]

Hi Alexis! Thanks for starting this thread! My daughter is turning 1 in just two weeks and DH and I are planning to do a natural FET in late December or January depending when I get my period and if I'm back from our holiday vacation!! We were hoping to get pregnant naturally after having ds but we have been trying for the past 7 months with no luck! I'm going I to the FET more relaxed than my year of ivf attempts but I'm also anxious it's not going to work!! I will be following your journey and will update my journey as well!!!

[alexis]

Thanks so much for the messages ladies. I've never wanted responses so much before! I know there is a thread for fall/winter cycles (wehavehope, thanks so much for inviting me to it also!); I am a bit intimidated by how many people are on there and trying to keep up with so many pages of messages! I may try to post over there too; we'll see.

Neffe, wow you've certainly been through so much. That's wonderful you are in the midst of adopting, but I'm sure that whole process brings on new and different stressors than your journey to conceive. What kind of medications do you take for a donor embryo cycle? Do you have start dates for everything yet? Please keep me posted. I will send lots of positive thoughts your way! Your signature says you have an almost 3 year old? Was he conceived through IVF (I'm not good with all the abbreviations...I've found I need to relearn them)?

Claudia, that's so awesome your little girl is almost one! Do you have plans for a big b-day party? I know how frustrating it is when you hope to get pregnant on your own after having a child. I totally wanted to be one of those success stories too:) How does a natural FET happen? I've never had any embryos make it to freeze, even thought I've had a good number of eggs each time (I have no idea why none make it far enough to freeze...anybody have any thoughts on that one?). How does a FET work? Do you still have to do a lot of injections?

After my 2 recent IVF BFNs, I had a phone consult with my MD and we decided to go back to the original protocol that worked when we conceived my son in 2009 (why we didn't do that in the first place makes NO sense to me). These last two cycles we used Gonal F and then Ganarelix. This time we are going back to Lupron and Gonal F. It seems like there are so many different protocols out there, whenever I've tried to research them all, I start to get anxious and question whether we are doing the right one and if we aren't how do we get to the right one. Do you guys have any insight into the different types of protocols and when they are used for different patient histories? We have unexplained infertility.

What are your thoughts on requested embryos to be frozen on day 3 vs. later? I have this gut feeling that my last two cycles, when I transferred day 5, that my embryos were outside of me for too long. Have any of you felt that before? I feel like I know my body really well, but who knows if this is really true? We are already planning to do a 2 or 3 day transfer with this current cycle (which I'm very excited about).

AFM, I started my Lupron shots in a hotel room last night (i was traveling for work). I've learned how to travel with meds and keep them cool and get through security just fine. This isn't something I ever thought I'd have to learn, but it's been ok. Tonight, I had my husband give me my shot. He did a GREAT job! I was so amazed. I barely felt the needle go in. I've gotten to the point that it's getting harder and harder to stick myself (and I'm a nurse of all things!). I may make him help me as much as possible with this shots this time.

One other question for you guys; any thoughts on which is better in terms of progesterone? Is the vaginal gel just as effective as the injections?

Thank you so much for your support on here. I already feel so much better by getting on this site again and reading everybody's stories and all the positive support out there. You ladies are all amazing!

[claud662]

Alexis-when we first did our retrieval last December they got 25 eggs and after a fresh cycle and a frozen cycle each using two embryos we have 9 frozen embryos left!!! A natural FET is when you get your AF naturally and go in day 3 to make sure you shed your lining and your levels look good and then you don't go back in for monitoring until around day 9 when they measure your lining and take bloodwork! Then depending on how things look you go in until you have your natural lh surge and then they defrost your embryos and you transfer three days later!!! They may have me take some oral estrogen and progesterone since I always have issues getting my lining thick enOugh and I tend to spot/bleed usually 7-9 days after ovulation but hopefully no shots this time!!!
I'm also thinking of transferring one embryo if it looks great to perfect but will transfer two if they both only look ok!! Ideally I want to get my AF around New Years so I can start everything in early January!!!

It feels so strange but yet comforting to be back on the boards!!!

[claud662]

Neffi-I have been following you on your thread and I truly hope this time works for you since I know from reading your post this is your last attempt

[Neffi211]

claud- thanks.. I hope it works too! I also am having lining issues so this time we are trying Vaigra vaginally. I will let you know how it works

Alexis- I know what you mean about having a lot of people on the fall/winter board. Its hard to keep up, but they ladies there are great. As for transfer days...we have always done a 5 day transfer, but I understand where you are coming from and thats great that you will do a 2 or 3 day transfer this time. I did do progesterone vaginally once and RE wasnt happy, so I have done PIO injections ever since. My DS was my third IVF attempt. The cycle for donor embryos is the same as an FET. I start my meds next saturday for my lining, I am already on Lupron and my transfer is scheduled for Dec 9th. When I did my fresh cycles we did both protocols, but my BFP was a Menopur and Ganirelix protocol.

[alexis]

Hello again ladies! Sorry it's been a few days since I've been on. Life can gets so busy sometimes!

Neffi, how is it going on the Lupron? Do you have any side effects? If so, how long did it take for them to start? I did Lupron with the cycle we conceived my son and I remember that my chest was so tender. I've been on Lupron now for 5 days and so far I don't really notice any tenderness. Is your FET still scheduled for December 9th? Any updates on the adoption process?

Claudia, you'll have to keep us posted with your progress and how you are doing with everything!

Do you ladies have any great infertility book suggestions? I just bought a couple on my Kindle to try to help me cope with everything better.

AFM, today I've been feeling crampy. I was on BCP for a few weeks and stopped it on Saturday. It feels like I'm getting my period (and I'm spotting). I have my baseline on Wednesday, so I'm curious if I will start my Gonal F at that time. I am always anxious before these appointments because I feel like I never know what the next step in the plan will be.

Talk to you soon!

[brit1612]

Hi ladies!!! Hope y'all don't mind if I join you. We are not sure exactly when we will be trying for number two but I am hoping for Janruary. Our little one is 19 months now and I would love for them to be as close together in age as possible. But who knows considering it took us 6 total cycles to have number one!!! We have four frosties left, so two more attempts and that will be it.

Anyone else a little worried about how they will afford another little one?? That part is a little scary to me! Good luck to everyone!

[kerpupples]

Hi ladies, I'll join you here too. I agree with you Alexis, it gets a little hard to keep up over on the Fall/Winter board. Good luck starting the Gonal-F. I was on that protocol previously and on Menopur, Bravelle, and Ganirelix this time. The Gonal-F and Lupron was definitely easier on my body, but I produced SOOOOOO many eggs (36!) with this most recent protocol. It's funny how differently everyone responds.

My story - We have a 2 1/2 year old DD conceived via a successful FET. Prior to that we had 1 failed fresh cycle, 1 successful fresh cycle with a m/c, and 1 failed FET. I was nearly ready to give up myself. Now we're part of a clinical trial where I'll be transferring 2 blastocysts that have undergone CCS (full chromosomal testing). I'm starting BCP tomorrow in preparation for that transfer.

Brit - I do have that worry, especially since DD is in day care. Should we happen to have twins, I'm going to need to sit down and look at whether it makes sense for me to go back to work after they are born.

[Neffi211]

Hi ladies!

Yes, my transfer is scheduled for Dec 9th

I am also scared financially for another one, especially if it would be two! We would be fine if we hadn't spent every penny of getting pregnant!

As far as the adoption, no news from the agency but a birthmom that changed her mind did contact me yesterday and said she might want to place her now. She is 10 weeks old....but I'm not holding my breath.

[CT_Michele]

A big hello to all the familiar faces on this thread! So nice to see some of you and I promise later I will be back for some catching up and personals and background for those who don't know me.

That being said....I'M BACK!!!! You knew I would be, I can't stay away for too long. The plan is to cycle yet again for baby number 2 in December, as long as I ovulate by Monday (bw today showed I hadn't yet). I promise, after I put baby #1 (who is now 3 yrs old!) to bed, I will be back!

[Neffi211]

Michele! I am so excited to see you on here! This is it! We will have our second babies together! I have everything crossed that you ovulate by Monday....did they say how your bw looked? Is it close?

[dixilquintero0371]

Hello ladies, My name is Wendy and I would like to join this page. I don't have any children yet but my husband and I will be doing our first IVF on February of 2012. First I would like to say that I am glad to have meet you ladies since this is something that we have in common. I know this page is for mothers who already have childrenand are having a hard time to try to conceive a second child via IVF but its one of the best pages that I have found. I am very excited/ nervous/ scared about my procedure but have faith that everything will be ok. I am having this done in Matamoros which is located in Mexico with Dr. Garza. I have been trying to prepare my husband and I on maybe what to expect when we start our IVF but I don't think you can ever be too prepared. Do you ladies think that I should stop reading articles about this or if I should continue to learn more . I hope to hear a responce soon from you ladies.


Thanks,
Wendy