"Precious Babies"

[Thistle]

Hi All

My DH and I watched the program together last night.

Exchanging glances and knowing smiles, both trying our best not to talk over it about how different both their experiences were.

They featured 2 couples who after 2 upsetting and distressing attempts were pregnant. When they got their results their faces lit up with pure joy. I felt so pleased for them mixed with a feeling of pure envy. Never knowing that overwhelming sense of elation that all the treatment and pain wasn't in vain and had a purpose. Just to be able to say those words "i'm pregnant" or "we are having a baby".

That was the hardest part of the whole program. It broke me and not much was said after it finished but holding each other, I know I shouldn't feel like it but I feel like such a failure after three goes and another attempt starting soon.

We both said that we hope that our families will watch the whole series and not just last nights as although both couples had a rough time, I think it will be more interesting when the fairy tail ending just doesn't happen.

Now for me that will be more familiar.

Thistle

[bubblymichelle]

Hi Thistle

We watched it also and it brought all the memories of IVF back to us. We are so lucky that it worked 1st time for us. I can only begin to think what they must of been feeling when they was told they had a negative result. That one couple was expecting twins wasn't they and they lost the one and she said she found it hard knowing there was 2 and then she lost 1. I will certainly be watching it next week to see the next part.

Take Care
Love
Shell.
xx

[Kaylee]

Hi Thistle,

So sorry you've had 3 no-gos' - must have been very drustrating watching a programme so far removed from your reality. I'll keep all fingers and toes crossed for you with the next round!

I found out last week my DH and I would need IVF - so REALLY early days. Programme was a bit of a double edged sword - gave me hope but then today my friend was saying 'they only needed two cycles' and I know from these chat rooms that isn't very likely!!

Lots & Lots of good wishes

Kx

[Thistle]

Thanks for the wishes they are all gratefully recieved.

I have just got an e-mail from my mum who also watched it and apparently my dad kept asking "is that what she went through? "did she do that". Mum said she cried. The next few months are going to be the hardest times for our whole family as my little sis (ten years yonger) is expecting her 1st baby in June just as our 4th attempt will be concluding. My mum bless her is torn in two.

I really hope that they are able to portray just how hard all this is on your whole family.

Take care

Thistle

[LittleP]

Hi Thistle

I can relate to your frustrations only too well

We have had 3 previous treatments, 1 which was successful only I m/c early on so we are facing our 4th treatment.

I did not think the programme accurately portrayed the ordeal of IVF. I think it totally missed the point of the grieving process and the length of time it takes to come to terms with a negative result

It didn't mention any real side affects of the drugs - I know that my poor DH suffered with my mood swings when my hormones were flying all over the place

Anyway, it was a nice idea to see them tackle the subject I just wish it had gone in to the deeper detail that we all know.

Good luck with your next treatment - when do you start?

Little P

[Amers Or]

Hi there - just wanted to say that I also watched 'Precious Babies' last night - I too was hoping that my father was watching it cos I live 4 hours away from home and feel that my father is oblivious as to what we have been through!!! My mum came down to stay with us for a few days and we both watched it! It was very close to home for me as I have my first EC and ET last week and am doing the infamous 2WW now!!! Was glad that mammy saw it! When they were showing the EC and ET is was so vivid that I felt that it was me lying on the bed instead of the girls in the TV! Don't know if that sounds weird or not???? Had a bad night last night as my cousin rang me to tell me that they're expecting baby number 3 - I think was icing on the cake yesterday cos 2 of my other friends are also pregnant expecting their 3rd as well!!! Just keep on tearing myself up asking WHY ME - all I want is 1!!! I'm afraid my PMA has gone out the window at the minute!!

[Kaylee]

Amers,

I can really understand just how you felt receiving those phone calls. Sometimes it just seems to cruel when there are a spate of pregnancies that close to home. Its a weird feeling - I don't want them not to be pregnant - I just want to know what it feels like for me.

When I get overwhelmed with everyone elses 'good news' I close the door - cry on DH and open the biggest bar of chocolate I can find.

It doesn't improve my situation, it doesn't change how I feel - but I find its better to face my feelings than to always 'try to be brave'. I do enough 'being brave' in front of all my pregnant friends. I don't have to behind closed doors!!

K
x

[Amers Or]

Thanks Kaylee! Nice to know that someone's out there to listen to me complaining!! I spose I'm not just as bad today as I booked mum and myself in for a facial - it was lovely!! Take care xxx

[debbieed]

Hello All,
I too watched the programme - not good timing for me with test day today (-ive result ). This was our second attempt at IVF so it was hard to watch two successful couples with so few attempts!!!! It would be nice if they were more realistic as I guess more people have experienced the -ive results.

It is very hard when people want to give their 'good news' that they are pregnant. I too try to be brave (most people don't know we are even trying let alone going through IVF!) so I try to keep up the front. It is getting harder the longer it goes on though.

Lets hope that next weeks programme shows more of the hard times. It is compulsory viewing though.

Love
Debbie

[Thistle]

I have my initial appointment on the 24th of March (next week). I am suffering with AF at the moment.

They will have to work out the dates from there I suppose. I am not looking forward to the regime that I seem to fall into, but at least this time I am not working so I can keep the stress down as much as possible.

On the last attempt I lost three big sales £££ at the same time as injecting and the pressure was just too much.

Back to the program I still can't believe that the two couples could do the filming, when it didn't work for us the first time I don't think we stopped crying for a week. Not good telly I suppose!

Thistle

[LittleP]

Thistle

I agree that crying might not make such good TV, but for me has been the reality of failure

You appointment is on the same day as ours. We are going to a new hospital this time so it is our first consultation with them to see how we are going to go forward I am very anxious about the whole thing.

We have had 6 months off from the last treatment and now I am ready to go forward, but I am worried that this new place with want to run various tests which will mean waiting another two months - I can't bear it

I too am not working at the moment as my DH and I decided that with the new hospital wanting to do blood tests daily it would be difficult to keep it a secret I still feel too ashamed to tell anyone

Good luck on Thursday, I will be thinking of you.

Little P

[Thistle]

Good luck to you too, Littlep.

I too feel ashamed, espescially for feeling so jealous of other women all the time.

There are places that I now avoid and monday morning in town is one of them, full of pregnant women, babies and stuff. Way more than any other day of the week. I still can't walk through baby departments.

I started my first treatment three years ago, the last one was last summer. We have decided to wait until now, 1 because of the money and 2 because I needed to destress.

Thistle

[lumi]

Hi!

After watching precious babies I thought thought the couples did well but like you Thistle I was picking holes thinking it didn't go in enough detail and put across how emotional the process is.

However, at work my friends had found it very emotional to watch and were, rightly, full of admiration for what the couples (and dh and I!) went through. IVF is Sooooo far removed form their experiences of pregnancy that they were shocked by what we actually go through! I guess the next episode maybe more realistic? Now that would shock them!

love Lumi xx

[CC]

Agree with all that's been said but I am glad that something like that has finally hit mainstream TV. I too have had people really amazed about all the ins and outs of it and maybe programme makers are easing the General Public into more traumatic experiences and less 'fairy tale' stories because whilst it all felt very mild and day-to-day to us - I was amazed at how shocking my friends, family and colleagues found it.
Cherylx

[wendy30]

Hi

I watched this last night as well, I thought it was well done for a mainstream telly programme (rather than discovery health) but was disapointed that both couples got positives on their second attempts(not for them obviously but just for realism).

I'm waiting to start my 7th in August and obviously starting to consider other options, so I think it would be good for them to explore the 'what happens when it just doesn't work'. I think next week is about surragacy.

Anyway I'm all for anything that raises the awareness of what we all go through.

Wendy