When was your first ultrasound? Edit: I have to wait until 7 1/2 weeks?!

LO95

So:

How do we keep our sanity between beta and u/s?

Do we pee on sticks to be sure there's still a line?

Anyone get more than two betas? (This is my first IVF and so I think they're going the "traditional" route of just two betas.)

Does anyone think that September 15 doesn't sound right for a first ultrasound?  Is the first ultrasound at 8 weeks (six weeks from implantation) or is it six weeks pregnant total?  It just seems SOOOOO far away and it seems like people get earlier u/s than what I'm getting.

UPDATE: just got off the phone with the nurse and I'm sure she was annoyed with me, but I said, "Why am I getting an ultrasound at 7 1/2 weeks?" She said it's because they do u/s at 4 weeks from transfer.  This makes NO sense to me.  My SIL who went to the same doctor for IUI got one at 6 weeks.  SO frustrated.

Alicia_R1

We had ours 1 week after our 3rd beta and then weekly.   Our last with the RE is next week which would put me at about 8.5 weeks. Each RE tends to be reallly different about how they schedule those things.

For my friends that got pregnant without ART, they are going in at about 10 weeks for their 1st U/S. 

LO95

Weekly ultrasounds! Holy crap.  I want to go to your office. 

I'm just not impressed with the monitoring at my office.  Obviously if I'm pregnant it worked and I will be happy. But 7 1/2 weeks post-IVF?  I just don't understand!?  

I also don't get a third beta.

BabyKsMommy

I only got 2 betas with each pregnancy. Even with the twins my first was 14 and my second was 99. They said well it's increasing so we will see you at 7 wks for an u/s. I think it ended up being about 7 1/2. But hey at that point there should be a HB.

I've seen so many women on here post about not seeing a HB at 6 wks so I'm kind of glad my re waits till 7 wks because there are no questions then.

I'm sorry about the wait. I know it's hard. Try to stay busy

LO95

Wow! Okay, well at least I'm not the only one!  I just can't figure it out.  What's the difference between IUI and IVF ultrasounds with this clinic.  Screw the 2ww.  This is a whole different kind of bitch.

I'm thankful that this is my current worry, but wow... September 15?!

LO95

I guess the other thing I'm confused about is don't they want to make sure everything is where it's supposed to be?  I mean, I assume it is because I saw him put the embryo in my uterus, but it just seems "off" to me...

ksgsmu

I got my sonogram at 8 weeks at my RE then I was released to my OB... My office only does one sono unless there are complications or problems....  you don't want one too early becasue you will freak out if you don't see a heartbeat etc...

pblge

It does seem late to me, but I've realized in talking with others that they may bring me in on the early side because I had an ectopic. Honestly, I think my clinic wants to over monitor me. They're still testing my HCG for some ungodly reason, and they've wanted my scans much sooner than I have. Now that I know my dates, they wanted my first at 4+5, then another at 5+6, which would have been too early for a heartbeat in most cases. I pushed both back by a few days, just so that I wouldn't have to debate whether the lack of a sac or heartbeat was too early or a serious problem.

And I totally PedOAS every day until I maxed out the capacity of the Wondfos.

I think that you could potentially wrangle an earlier scan out of them via begging or lying. I'm not trying to encourage or advocate for this, but you are their customer and if you really throw a hissy fit they might give you a scan a bit sooner. Alternatively you could lie and claim serious cramps or bleeding, and most clinics would scan you for that.

@BabyKsmommy - Wow, they let you wait between an HCG of 99 and 7 weeks?! AMAZING.

LO95

I guess it makes sense to not overly worry by going too soon.  But hmm... I am a firm believer in facing things head on.  If this would not go well I don't want to go a minute longer not knowing than is possible. (I wish I was an ignorance is bliss kind of girl.  Too much anxiety.)

I don't want to borrow trouble and at this point, it sounds like that's the only reason they want to hear from me between now and September 15.  But wow.  No third beta and then waiting until September 15.  I hope my hormones are the reason I'm raging right now... 

( 

@pblge Congrats again!

pblge

Ducky719 said:

And fwiw, i have known many women who continued to poas...during their whole first tri.

I know someone who TEMPED their whole first trimester!! )

LO95

Hell no to temping. Gave that shiz up a LONG time ago.

@Ducky719, Gosh, I don't know.  It does make me worry.  I Facebooked a staff member from my clinic (she's awesome because she works there and has been a patient) and asked about why the late u/s and she said because at 7 weeks we will definitely see a heartbeat if there is one.  So, in that way, I understand the reason.  But looking at it from a pessimistic view, is it better to go early for the purpose of seeing what's going on vs ensuring a heartbeat?!  

Normal pregnant people never think about this stuff.

KT416

I had three betas back to back and then had an u/s at 7w5d and then was graduated from my RE via phone call. It kind of caught me a little off guard because I thought I would have at least one more u/s and/or see my RE in person.

You don't want to go in too early for an u/s because you may not see anything yet and may get worried for no reason. I know it's hard waiting but try to think positive thoughts!

Sha259

No idea how they would normally do it, but my office did only 2 betas, and then an U/S at 6 wks.

They originally didn't plan to do bloodwork, but once they saw my OHSS, they ordered labs and scheduled me for another U/S at 7 wks. Depending on what they see, they may change how often they see me.

I have it on authority of a friend who also cycled at my office that they will release me at 10-12 wks, but that seems really late.

southernyankeegirl

Staying sane sucks in early pregnancy, for realz.  My anxiety was sky high.

I did 3 betas, but my insurance apparently is refusing to cover the 3rd, which both the lab and I are fighting, so I sort of wish I had only done 2.

My first ultrasound was at 7 weeks, then 9 weeks, then I switched to my OB and had one at 11.5 weeks.  I wouldn't want an ultrasound before 7 weeks because you can't always see the heartbeat that early and I'd worry (we've seen SEVERAL girls come on here and freak out because they do an early ultrasound and don't see a heartbeat - I wouldn't want that worry).

Also, I will warn you on pee sticks - if you use Wondfo, at a certain point, they actually start getting lighter.  I don't know why, but when I freaked out and Googled it, it seems it's pretty common.  So I'd say stop peeing on tests, or just digitals that say "pregnant" or "not pregnant".  Seeing the line get lighter gave me a heart attack, but everything is just fine, and I'm not the only person who experienced that.

Sorry you're freaking!  May I suggest yoga, meditation, mantras?  I kept repeating, "Unless and until a doctor tells me otherwise, I am pregnant.  For today, I am pregnant, and that is awesome.  I will enjoy every minute that I am pregnant."

Hang in there!  This part sucks, but I swear you'll blink and it will be half over (tomorrow is 20 weeks for me, and I seriously don't know where time went).

bayareagirl2011

I got my first one at 6 weeks, and then a 2nd one at 8 weeks and "graduated" after the 2nd one. At 6 weeks, they are looking for the flicker (heartbeat), but if they don't see it then, they will have you come back at 7. I think it's more common to see it at 6 weeks than not.

I'll be the first to sheepishly admit that I continued to POAS weekly between the ultrasounds to help me keep my sanity. I wouldn't recommend it, since it doesn't really mean anything, but somehow at the time it seemed like a good idea...

Pretty much everyone here will remember the hellish 2ww, and then the next few weeks of waiting to get the first ultrasound. I recall being almost positive something had gone wrong due to my zero pregnancy symptoms other than fatigue/appetite loss. Hang in there, try to keep yourself busy, eat well, and get plenty of rest! Remember - you have your BFP already, and it helped me to wake up each day being thankful for that

BabyKsMommy

pblge said:

It does seem late to me, but I've realized in talking with others that they may bring me in on the early side because I had an ectopic. Honestly, I think my clinic wants to over monitor me. They're still testing my HCG for some ungodly reason, and they've wanted my scans much sooner than I have. Now that I know my dates, they wanted my first at 4+5, then another at 5+6, which would have been too early for a heartbeat in most cases. I pushed both back by a few days, just so that I wouldn't have to debate whether the lack of a
@BabyKsmommy - Wow, they let you wait between an HCG of 99 and 7 weeks?! AMAZING.

@pblge‌ yes, my clinic is super serious about the 7wks rule. And I took comfort in the fact that my doubling time was 17hrs which is super fast. And it ended up being twins, so I'm proof betas have to start at 0.

LO95

bayareagirl2011 I've heard of this appetite loss, but I've yet to experience it.  I thought I was going to die if I didn't get a Wendy's cheeseburger on the way home from work yesterday.  I'd like to believe that's a craving, but my guess would be it's just me...  :-/

cls78

I had U/S's at weeks 5, 6, 7, 8 with my RE and graduated on week 8. Be prepared once you graduate the RE to be a normal pregnant lady and to have them even less. (unless you are high risk). I got a doppler to hold me over.

GL.

LO95

cls78 At what point can you start using the doppler?

southernyankeegirl

LO95 said:

cls78 At what point can you start using the doppler?

You can try around 9 weeks. Some don't find it until later. I bought mine from a fellow PAIFer at 13 weeks and have found it every time I use it.

sandollar1010

Congratulations!! I had three betas and then I was just over 7 weeks for the first ultrasound.  My doctor said they want to be able see a strong heartbeat, and earlier than that, it isn't always possible.  I was released to the OB after that appointment.  It did feel like forever between betas and US though.

Milagros315

Congratulations!

My clinic does betas until they reach 2000, so it's usually about 2-4 draws. They do one ultrasound when you are 6 weeks and 8 weeks along. I had three betas. My first ultrasound was 6w5d and the second was 8w4d. Then I was released to my OB.

I agree with the others - the waiting sucks, but I thought that it was nice to go to the first ultrasound knowing there should be a heartbeat. You already have to go through so much uncertainty that it's nice to remove as much room for doubt as possible. 

I was absolutely a nervous wreck those first few weeks, but I tried to get through it by reminding myself that "today, I'm pregnant". Stay occupied by picking up a book and reading about what's going on in those early weeks and what you can do to make sure the baby is being taken care of. If you're able to (I wasn't because of OHSS risk), start/keep exercising to keep busy. Or better yet, turn your mind off and take a nap

I also used a doppler once I became a "normal" pregnant lady. I got mine around 9 weeks and I think I heard the heartbeat at 9w4d or something like that. Those things are awesome, but it's important to keep in mind that some people can't hear it until later on and that's perfectly okay. The instructions actually recommend waiting until 12 weeks. I'm 19w2ds now and I'm still using mine!

runawaylaurel

Congrats! You've gotten a lot of good responses, but I'll chime in- I had an u/s at 6 weeks (we were very fortunate to be able to see a heartbeat at that point) and again at 8 weeks. I stopped POAS but you better believe I was wishing for symptoms every day. 

Praying4Miracle17

Congrats to you and welcome!!  I will also just share my experience, but it sounds like everyone's varies.  I had two betas (a week apart) and then had my u/s at 6w.  I came in weekly until 9w because of complications (SCH and vanishing twin) and finally got released to my OB around 9w.  I did POAS in between betas (since mine were a week apart) to ease my mind.  Good luck to you!

ktupiak

I got mine at a little over 8 weeks and I agree ot was stressfully...my hubby kept making me take tsts to make sure I was still pregnant. It is a long wait when you practically know from the first moment you are pregnant but it is worth it to wait.

Kitty Holland

Each clinic is different, but mine was at 8w4d and there was no beta at all. The thinking is that if a m/c is going to happen early on, there is nothing they can/should really do and that by this point you should see a HB. The wait sucks, but maybe there's less stress over betas doubling and early Ultrasounds. Good luck!!

LO95

This really is the WORST two (three!) week wait I have ever experienced.  It makes me feel physically sick.  And then I see other women posting about their betas going from 100 to 1,000 and then I really want to throw up.  Is mine bad?! I mean, in theory I know it doubled in 48 hours, but shit.  Like, I want a third beta but my clinic is acting like that's never something they do.  I guess I'm having issues with the idea of believing I'm pregnant for almost a month if I'm not.  

I know every pregnancy is different, but IVF is just so emotional.  Today I had shoulder pain.  It went away.  Then I had cramping.  It went away.   Off and on and that'd be okay if I were a normal pregnant person. But IVF messed me up and when every moment of your day is an analysis of your body it's hard to function.  I'm trying to be distracted, but I just can't stay distracted long enough to be productive.  

LO95

Kitty Holland No beta ever? Oh girl.  You are a better human being than I am.

Canuck13

My clinic only did one beta at 12dp5dt and now I'm waiting for first u/s at 7 week...I know how you feel, the waiting is really hard

Kitty Holland

LO95 said:

Kitty Holland No beta ever? Oh girl.  You are a better human being than I am.

Nope. I've done 2 fresh cycles and 3 FETs - 2 BFNs, 1 chemical, 1 live birth, and am 31 weeks pregnant and I've never had a beta!

southernyankeegirl

@LO95‌ - yes those early weeks suck to wait and not know.

What I will say is that's doubling time of 48 hours or less is fabulous - the number doesn't matter, just doubling time (anything under 70 hours is considered normal). And if you aren't bleeding AND experiencing serious cramping, it is incredibly likely you are still pregnant with a healthy growing baby.

I don't know if it will help you, but in those early worried weeks, it did help me to think that the normal fertile girls on my BMB had to go as far as 12 weeks before even seeing a doctor, with only an HPT to tell them that they're pregnant. So lots and lots and lots of women are pregnant and stay pregnant without betas and ultrasounds to confirm!

Sophistikitty

I only had two betas this cycle but they spaced them four days apart so in essence the value of the second beta was equivalent to a third. My first ultrasound was at 6w2d which was 10 days after my second beta. I didn’t have any blood draws in between. It was a long ten days but I POS every few days in between for reassurance. I had two more ultrasounds (@7w2d & 9w1d) before being released to my OB.

I know it’s stressful. Hang in there!

gldnbearz

I had to remind myself during the wait weeks that if I were a "normal fertile" who got pregnant without the journey through IUIs, an IVF, and a FET, I would have to wait 8-12 weeks to see an OB.

Who might or might not have done a beta for confirmation. Who might not do an u/s until 12+ weeks for NT scan.

I had to comfort myself with I am getting some information sooner than a fertile.

penad5

As PP have said every clinic is different - mine didn't even want to do my first BETA until 14dp5dt!!!  .and they only do 2 BETA's - they said they only do more if you don't double

As for US - again every clinic is different - I had my first at 6w4d.  I'm speculating but if there is no chance of twins so all they are checking is HB and to ensure it's in the right place I can see why they would wait to make sure they can see everything and then they don't have to bring you back in (imagine the cost if you don't have benefits -and the emotional side).  Then my next wasn't scheduled till 10weeks... I had spotting so i went back at 7 and when everything looked good they graduated me at that point.  I don't get to see baby again until 20 weeks!!!  

I hope you find a way to calm your nervousness... I was a wreck for my whole first tri... still have to fight it off sometimes.  I ended up going to talk to a social worker and that really helped just having someone to let it out to who was outside the situation

I will pass on one piece of advice - the best piece I've been given.  Enjoy every minute!  you may be worried and anxious or sick and tired... but try to take a moment and just be in the moment and enjoy because in a blink your baby will be born and then all grown up.  That helped calm me on my worst days

Anyway i'm rambling  Congrats! 

MKateG

My RE did frequent monitoring, my first u/s was at 5 weeks then u/s every week after till hb and then every two weeks until he releases you which for me was 12wks and they do betas until its at least 1000. Which my second beta was 4,000 (twins). I think he does such frequent monitoring so that if the preg isn't viable he knows asap. But it seems that all REs monitor differently. I know I would have gone crazy had my RE not done all the u/s