PAIF (Pregnant after Infertility)

lexidawg

Hi All  - Hope you don't mind but I see a lot of other IVF Mommas so I thought Id do a check in all the ladies who are pregnant after Infertility!

A little about me:  I was diagnosed POF at 38 and told we needed to use donor eggs.  My FSH was 57 the first time it was tested and AMH was .016.  I found an RE that would work with me to try to use my own eggs. I went through 4 cancelled IVF cycles because I never made it to retrieval due to no response and 4 IUIs all BFN.

*TW*

During the summer, my husband and I spontaneously conceived but it turned out to be a blighted ovum.  Never saw a yolk sac or fetal pole. We were able to do chromosomal testing and found out it was a girl with Trismomy 22.  

*End TW*

At this point, I had come to terms with my eggs being scrambled and came around to using donor eggs.  My first fresh donor egg transfer was successful and here I am, 5w1d. The PIO shots are going to be the end of me.

Now tell me your stories!

artemis618

Thanks for starting a month-specific PAIF discussion @lexidawg

I’m going to cheat and copy and paste from my signature (I know I’m always on mobile so pretty much never see people’s signatures myself):

About me:
***TW***

Married 6/18/16 (Me 40.5, DH 43), TTC #1
Natural BFP 8/10/16 --> mc our NIPT-normal little girl at 11w5d on 10/1/16
Self-benched Nov-Dec 2016 for
IVF #1 Jan-Feb 2017 (OCP, testosterone primed antagonist w/HGH - ER 2/2/17 - 12R, 7M ICSI'd, 3F, 0B )
IVF #2 Mar-Apr 2017 (testosterone primed agonist/luteal lupron w/HGH - ER 4/8/17 - 10R, 8M, 8F, 5B, 1 PGS normal)
IVF #3 May-Jun 2017 (testosterone primed agonist/luteal lupron w/HGH - ER 6/4/17 - 14R, 5F, 3B, 0 normal )
**New RE**
IVF #4 Sept 2017 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 9/28/17 - 33R, 18F, 10B, 4 PGS normals!)
FET #1 (medicated) of one PGS normal XX 11/2/17 - Beta #1 11/11/17 (153), Beta #2 11/13/17 (324), mc at 5w1d on 11/19/17
IVF #5 Dec 2017 - Insemination of 9 frozen eggs from 2012 (8F, 1B, 0 normal )
Jan 2018 - Natural cycle ERA (normal/receptive) & stimming for
IVF #6 Jan-Feb 2018 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 2/3/18 - 17R, 6M, 4F, 0 blasts )
IVF #7 Feb 2018 (natural start microdose lupron flare w/HGH - ER 2/26/18 - 19R, 9M, 9F, 4B, 2 PGS normals)
FET #2 (natural cycle w/o trigger, w/P4 support) of one PGS normal XX 4/5/18 - Beta #1 4/14/18 (67), Beta #2 4/16/18 (231)

So, basically seven IVF cycles (aka roller coaster rides) between December 2016 (when I started OCP for the first one) and February 2018 - four of which were fruitless with no blasts or no PGS normals.  We really didn’t expect it to be *quite* this hard since we got pregnant naturally the month/cycle after our wedding, but here we are (and glad to finally be here...hopefully to stay this time).  Unexplained diagnosis, but AMA tends not to help.

timesacharm

Hi ladies. Its's nice to meet some women on a similar journey. I'm 33, hubby is 35. We've been together 9 years, married 5. 

I was diagnosed with endometriosis in December 2014 which was right after my husband and I had been planning on starting to try. I had my first lap at that time. After the lap, the doctor didn't clearly reveal all of the information to us - he had amputated my tubes because they were so damaged. That was pretty heartbreaking to find out months later. We couldn't pursue IVF at the time because my insurance didn't cover it and we couldn't/wouldn't afford it. 

We are so very lucky that we live in a state that mandates coverage of fertility treatments for insurers based in the state. Once I was able to purchase a plan on the state marketplace to cover the fertility treatments we would need, we found an RE and started treatment.

With our first RE we did:
IVF round 1: 9 retrieved and mature, 8 fertikized, 4  blasts, 1 fresh transfer, 3 frozen. BFN.
FET round 1: 1 transferred, BFN
(I don't know exactly what the protocol was called, we suppressed with OCP then Lupron before starting stims with and then estrace/progesterone tabs, for the frozen I don't remember what we did.)

That brings us to March-June 2016 where we had started another FET cycle with that RE. I got very sick in mid-April and made two ER visits in two days before they admitted me basically at my request. The hospital I was at knew I had an infection but couldn't figure it out so they transferred me to a Boston hospital where they figured it out really quickly that it was an infected endometrioma, likely resultant from my previous egg retrieval. I was in hospital for 10 days total between the two hospitals and had drains places in the endometrioma for 6 weeks. Of course, that cycle was cancelled.

After all this, my faith in my RE kind of dwindled. We thoufht maybe we needed to look in Boston for someone with endo expertise. We couldn't go back to my first lap doctor, since we had felt lied to and misled by him after the first surgery. I got a recommendation from one of the residents at a drain check-up while I was sick. So we booked an appointment with that doctor. (Best decision ever...even though at our first consult she nearly broke my heart when she suggested a GC due to my complicated history.)

Also, my AMH had since tanked! It was 4.something in 2015/2016 and then 0.17 after another "clean-out" pelvic lap surgery in June 2017. But onward we went anyways with our and our doctor's hope that the AMH decrease was the result of all the trauma to my bidy between infection/surgery. We did:
IVF round 2: 6 retrieved, 4 fertilized, 1 fresh 3-day transfer, 1 blast frozen. (OCP, Menopur, Follistim, Cetrotide, Crinone gel, Estrace tabs.)
FET round 2: 1 transferred, BFN (Estrace tabs and PIO)

So...now what? Nothing is working. We did some immune bloodwork (at my request) and an endometrial biopsy, then planned to use a cervical sttitch for the next transfer to ease the doctor's ability to safely get the embryo/embryos on there. And, we FINALLY had the option to transfer two - before they only allowed me one because of the infection and my "risk."

After all that-
FET round 3: two transferred, BFP!!! (Estrace tabs, PIO)

And here I am, 6+4. I'm sorry for the saga but it feels good to write that all down somewhere. And, it seems like all infertility journeys are sagas, there is never an easy and direct path to the final destination. But alas, we made it, finally!

artemis618

@timesacharm I’m so sorry for your experience with those doctors - did you stick with your first RE for this last transfer?  We actually went through the exercise of driving all over town (current clinic’s main facility is 40 miles away) to pick up a dry shipper, to get frozen embryos from first (really second RE) then my frozen eggs from 2012 with another RE, then back up to the current clinic to drop it all off.  When will you graduate from your RE?

mag1cbeli3ver

@lexidawg Thanks for starting this!
@timesacharm Sorry you've had such a bad experience with your RE! I couldn't imagine going through that, on top of other IF challenges which are already more than overwhelming!

Since it seems like everyone's starting w/a general intro of their IF journey, I'll do the same! I am 33 and DH is 41.  We've been married for 8 years and TTC for 6 years. 

***TW*** We started seeing an RE in Feb. 2014. I have PCOS and DH has MFI (low sperm count and low motility). We did a total of 4 cycles w/meds (3 w/femara and 1 w/clomid) with ovidrel shots and timed intercourse. None of them worked. We then took a break for a few months while we waited for me to start a new job (that had insurance to cover IUI's, which was huge) and while our RE retired.

We moved to another RE in the practice in March 2015 and he was much more aggressive with our plan moving forward than our previous RE had been.  I was actually very grateful for this b/c DH was already 38 at the time. We tried 3 separate IUI's over the course of the year, all of the were BFNs. After a very emotional year from TTC and other life events like buying our first house and my brother and SIL getting pregnant with their 2nd (a complete "mistake", which just broke my heart to hear about), we took a much needed break from IF treatment. Plus we wanted to save up some money to be able to try IVF.

We tried our first IVF cycle in Sept./Oct. 2016. They retrieved 15 eggs, but only 5 fertilized and by day 3, only 2 looked decent. They transferred both that day and we waited. We had nothing to freeze, which was again heartbreaking! About a week later I started bleeding and turned out to be AF. We took another year off to once again save up some money and also started contemplating adoption. We decided we would try one more round of IVF and see what happened. If there were no improvements, we'd probably drop out of the TTC/IF game for good.

We started our second IVF cycle in Oct. 2017 and they did egg retrieval in November. Egg count was 21, 15 fertilized, and 3 were really strong blasts by day 5. Still not stellar numbers, but better than the previous cycle.  We again transferred 2 and still had 1 to freeze. I ended up in the emergency room the night before our transfer due to a gall stone attack. We were on the phone all night both with my primary and with the RE b/c they wanted to take out the gall bladder the next morning, but I really didn't want to miss my transfer. Since it was my first attack, they decided to wait on the gall bladder and i went int he next morning for the transfer.

Again, about a week later I started bleeding. I was devastated, of course! When I went in for my beta, it was a 12. RE said it was really low and probably wasn't viable. I went back 2 days later, and it was down to 7. Since it was still above 5, they couldn't definitively say I wasn't pregnant. Went back 5 days later and levels had risen to 96! Things were crazy! Levels continued to rise over the next week, but when I went in for an US, there was no sac. They ruled it an ectopic and I had to take meds to terminate the pregnancy. The ups and downs were unbearable! But, we made it farther in this cycle than we ever had before, so we were positive! I mean, I actually got to be pregnant for about a week and a half.

We decided to do a FET of our last blast and keep our fingers crossed. They transferred on 3/14, and 2 weeks later we got our BFP! HCG was at 966! We went back 2 days later and it was 2005! Since then, we've had 2 US's with the RE, and both have been great! We even heard baby bean's heartbeat! So now we've graduated from the RE and have our first appointment with the OB next Friday. Even with all the positives, it's still hard for me to be excited and to feel like this is the time it really is going to work! But, there's a baby in there and DH and I couldn't be happier! We love little bean so much already and just keep our fingers crossed! Glad to have this thread and the support of other IF mamas-to-be!

jrizzo425

Wow!  You women are amazing and I feel so blessed as my journey had a bumpy start, but nothing compared to you all. 
We were both 38 when we started our fertility journey in Sept 2017. My AMH is 0.2 and we also have MF (low motility). We did two
cycles of timed intercourse with Clomid, then an IUI in Nov. 
Due to age, moved to RE. Had consult in Dec and he recommended 1000 Vit D, 600 CoQ10, and Ovasitol. We started stims in Feb 2018 and I responded very slowly, so it took 18 days. Thankfully he never gave up and let me continue. We transferred 2-3 day fresh on 3/18/18 and I am 8w3d with a single. 

timesacharm

@artemis618 We used the third RE for the most recent three transfers (and IVF fresh and two frozen.) The first RE was the guy who did my surgery, the second was the one I ended up getting an infection while working with him, third is an endo specialist. She's great...doesn't sugarcoat anything (hence the suggestion of a GC at first meeting). We have an ultrasound at 8 weeks exactly and then will graduate at 10 weeks. On my to do list this week is to call a new OBGYN office and make an appointment. Also, I wish I had thought about transferring the frozen embryos myself! Paying a company to transport them was expensive.

@mag1cbeli3ver I'm so glad we finally made it here! That last BFP that was so up and down must have been so emotionally draining. I'm so glad this time around there was no question with those strong numbers.

lexidawg

@artemis618 -  I am also AMA at 40.  It surely does not help.  This will hopefully be our first and we definitely are going to want to TFAS with our frozen embryo when the time comes.  OLD. LOL!

@timesacharm Thanks for sharing your story.  You're right.  Most infertility stories are a saga! I know mine is.  I am so glad you found something that worked!!  Have you had any ultrasounds yet?  I am on estrace and PIO too.  It will be a happy day when no more butt shots!

@mag1cbeli3ver - I totally hear you on after all you have been through, it's really hard to be excited and feel like you're really going to get a baby out of this one. It's so so hard for me, but I am trying to think positively.  Not always easy for me to do.

@jrizzo425 - I am so glad it worked on your first IVF cycle! That is amazing!
 

ChristenMA83

@lexidawg thanks for starting the thread.

My story is relatively straightforward compared to many of you.  I'm 35 and DH is 41.  We've been together 16 years, married for 10.  We first started trying around 2010 with no luck.  We went to see our first RE in 2012.  We discovered our challenge was MFI (morphology) and we did two rounds of IUI without success.  We didn't connect with the RE or the clinic staff and felt like they were just taking our money so we sat out for awhile and considered our options.

Fast forward to 2017, we decided it was time to go back to an RE.  So we started with the new RE in November, did all the tests again.  Again MFI with morphology and DNA fragmentation (a test not offered back in 2012).  So the RE recommended a slightly different pre-retrieval protocol and supplements for DH.  The new RE said IUI would be pointless for us and we should move directly to IVF.  Thankfully my insurance agreed (though with our high deductible and no med coverage we still had a ton out of pocket).

We did my first retrieval in February (Gonal-F, Menopur, Cetrotide Antagonist).  9 retrieved, 8 mature, 5 fertilized, 2 made it to blastocyst for freeze (RE does not do fresh transfers).  We had gone into retrieval expecting around 18 - 20 based on the ultrasounds, so only having 9 eggs dwindle to 2 frozen was very disappointing.

Transferred 1 on March 20th and got our BFP confirmed 10 days later.  So thankful to be where we are on our first IVF/FET cycle.

abowls

I'm pregnant after IVF followed by FET.  We did three unsuccessful IUI cycles first but the first IVF cycle did the trick and we have 2 more embryos frozen away for the next go.  I'm 40 and my husband is 50 so we can't afford to have too much time between kids.  

lexidawg

@ChristenMA83 - So glad you were successful your first IVF transfer!

@abowls So glad you were successful your first round of IVF and you have frozen embryos! We also have one frozen and are both almost 41 so we won't wait too long to transfer our frozen embryo either.

mamajudec2018

I had my first surgery on endometriosis in October of 2015.

We started going to our fertility clinic in June of 2016. We did two rounds of IUI and on the second one I got pregnant. However, it was an ectopic and I had to have emergency surgery. I almost died and was kept in the hospital for 2 nights and received blood transfusions. I also lost my left fallopian tube.

In January 2017 we did our first IVF cycle and got a boy and a girl (we do testing to make sure they are viable embryos). We transferred both frozen in April 2017 (FET) we found out in May 2017 that they did not take.

In August 2017, we did another IVF cycle this time with omnitrope with is HGH (my doc said he thinks I have poor egg quality due to the failure of the FET). We got two embryos again, a boy and a girl (again, we do testing to make sure they are viable embryos). We decided this wasn't enough and wanted to make sure we banked embryos. So I retrieved again the next month and got three more, all boys. One embryo is low confidence, which means he most likely has down syndrome.

In November 2017, we did an ERA biopsy which showed we need to transfer a day later than the standard protocol. In December 2017, we did an Integrin Biopsy. These results showed that I needed to have another surgery on my endometriosis. So, in January 2018, I had surgery.

We then did a FET with one embryo on March 26th and we got a positive pregnancy test! We are on cloud nine! Also, scared just praying so hard that each step goes smoothly. But we are so praising Jesus for our miracle baby! I'm due 12.12.18!

mag1cbeli3ver

@mamajudec2018 Wow! What a journey you have been on! Welcome to the group and congratulations on your little bean! Hoping we all, finally, get to make this journey together!

mamajudec2018

@mag1cbeli3ver Thank you! Yes I hope so too!

artemis618

Happy Friday!  Question for you ladies:  If you’ve already “graduated” from your RE, did you get your clinic staff anything as a thank you gift (or if you haven’t, do you plan to?)?  I’d like to do something (fx I get there), but I also acknowledge that the 10s of $1,000s we gave them (3 retrievals, 2 transfer with this RE alone) is gift (not that the staff sees that directly).  Thanks.

mag1cbeli3ver

@artemis618 That's such a sweet thought! I graduated from my RE about 2 weeks ago, and I did not get the staff anything. I am planning on sending flowers to the office once baby bean is here with a birth announcement and thank you card. Maybe I will send one bouquet to the doctors and one to the office staff? I know we paid a lot of money, but I think it would be nice to recognize the staff who really are on the front lines, so to speak, with hearing about our concerns, anxieties, fears, failures, etc when we call the office. Plus, the ladies at my office were extremely comforting and optimistic - I didn't wanna graduate! I think you have a great idea though, and I will prob do flowers. Or an edible arrangement or something like that.

lexidawg

@artemis618 - The donor egg program nurse has been SOOOO amazing to me.  She talked me through all of my fears going the donor route, she answers all of my emails within mins.. she has been fully invested in the process with me so I plan on sending her something individually.  I have no clue what yet. Maybe edible arrangements or something.

artemis618

Thanks @mag1cbeli3ver and @lexidawg.  I’ve got another week and a half to
think about it (at least till planned hand off).  Edible Arrangements is great because it’s pretty, edible, and not as unhealthy as a lot of other edible things I could bring  

lexidawg

@artemis618 i was thinking the chocolate covered fruit or something. And I was going to have it delivered. 

mamajudec2018

Is anyone else so unbelievably done with progesterone in oil shots? My back is so done! I start weaning off of mine on Wednesday but will be on them until the 26th! Cannot wait for that day!

abowls

@mamajudec2018, OMG yes!  I'm so sick of the progesterone shots.  I'm 7w2d and I have to continue until 10 weeks.  It's gotten to the point that no matter where I stick the needle, it spurts blood when I take it out.  All of my pregnancy symptoms happened really early too (at 4 weeks I started with nausea) and I wonder if the progesterone had something to do with that.  Only 19 shots to go

lexidawg

@mamajudec2018. PREACH.  Soooo over it. I still have a couple of weeks since I’m 6w3d.  Y entire backside hurts! 

mamajudec2018

@lexidawg and @abowls I am so glad to hear it's not just me! I have to be on patches through 5/14 and injections and pills through 11 1/2 weeks which will be 5/26. My entire back hurts too! And I am bleeding almost every time too! I keep telling my husband that I think we lost our spot because this is ridiculous! But now I know I just need to hang in there because it's normal! That actually does give me some relief.

timesacharm

Err comment error...

timesacharm

Can't post comment....getting really frustrated. Gah. Going to grab laptop. Stupid mobile Bump.

timesacharm

@abowls "spurt blood" Idk why but this cracked me up. I've been dribbling a mix of blood and oil everytime and I just keep wondering...if some of the oil appears to be leaking out straightaway, is this really super effective at this point?

@lexidawg Yes, unfortunately I had to have a surprise ultrasound on Friday the 3rd.

I woke up bleeding and was terrfied I had lost the baby. We had an ultrasound and saw the baby was a-ok and measuring right on track with a HR of 146. However, they also found a subchorionic hematoma (SCH).  A "large" one. I'm so worried this will cause placental problems and I will end up losing him or her. It was such a relief to see that little flicker, but I've been pretty down this whole weekend thinking this could end in the next few weeks. I'd be devastated, after what it took to get here. 

Trying to stay positive, but it isn't easy. I'll just keep praying and hoping we have a little fighter in there.

lexidawg

@mamajudec2018 I had the nurse draw circles to indicate the area the shot should be done in.  My husband redraws them with a sharpie when they start to fade. It has made it so he’s never drawn blood! He also massages the incision spot for 10 mins and I haven’t had any of the lumps I hear so much about.

@timesacharm I am really sorry about waking up bleeding! It is so so scary.  Happened to me last week. So glad the baby is doing well! I know the SCH is scary. I know quite a few women who have had them and the babies have been just fine! I will keep everything crossed for you!

LLynde5

@timesacharm staying positive can be so hard. I had bleeding issues with my daughter and it’s terrifying.  It didn’t stop until after my first trimester but I do remember my doctor saying every.time.we.talked.  Staying calm and looking forward to Baby was the healthiest choices I could make. 

mamajudec2018

@lexidawg Yea my nurse drew circles on me too but this is our third time doing progesterone shots so we let them fade. My husband feels like he's definitely got this haha! I'm on baby aspirin so when the nurse did my trigger even she drew blood. I think I just need to get tough for the next 20 days haha!

mamajudec2018

The mid-level I met with yesterday at my fertility doctor told me because we've seen a strong heartbeat twice that I need to start exercising. (I'm 9 weeks.) So I went for a slow walk yesterday and today. But it's making me so incredibly nervous. I'm afraid I'm pushing myself too hard. It was so hard to get pregnant. Is it worth the risk to exercise? Like I said it's not fast walking but I'm also a little overweight and didn't exercise before so my body isn't used to it.

ChristenMA83

@mamajudec2018 I would do the activity level you're comfortable with - it should get easier with time.  Maybe start with a short distance and go a little further every day.

@timesacharm That is so scary.  Glad the HB was strong in the ultrasound.  Hope everything goes smoothly moving forward.

As for PIO - I am so over it.  My original prescription sheet had me stopping at 10 weeks (Today) but the physicians assistant changed it to 12 weeks just in case (not based on bloodwork or anything)...so I'm a little frustrated with that.  It was so hard to bring myself to order another vile.  Like I never minded the shots, I flew through the IVF shots no problem, but after about two weeks with the PIO I was just so over it....but it's all worth it if it supports the pregnancy (that's what I keep telling myself anyway).

abowls

@ChristenMA83, if they try to extend my progesterone to 12 weeks, I will definitely cry.  I don't think they will though.  I told my nurse that I might have to get a refill for the last couple days because I might run out and she said not to bother just stop when I run out.  

I think I might have been flexing the muscle when the blood was spurting out after.  I checked for blood when I put the needle in and didn't get any but after injecting and taking the needle out blood shot out.  Now I'm reminding myself to relax the muscle completely and I just get the small mix of blood and oil that @timesacharm described.  

@timesacharm, I bled one day 2 weeks ago too.  Apparently what I had is considered by my clinic as "spotting".  It was way more than I typically think of as spotting.  My nurse said that it's fine unless it's so much that I can bleed through a pad in less than an hour.  

I also had severe cramping without bleeding two weeks ago on a different day.  It scared the hell out of me but apparently that's also nothing to worry about unless you are bleeding with it and it doesn't stop.  Mine stopped after about 20-30 min.  

mag1cbeli3ver

@lexidawg
@artemis618
@timesacharm
@jrizzo425
@abowls
@mamajudec2018
Hi ladies! Just wanted to bump this up and also let you all know that there is a BMB devoted to PAIF. https://forums.thebump.com/categories/pregnant-after-if Some of us are already over there and it's a great place to check-in every week and chat w/others who have gone through IF. The main activity happens in the trimester discussions. And it's great to get advice from other PAIF's who are further along, in their 2nd and 3rd trimesters! I just wanted to invite all of you to join us over there too! You can never have too much support...

hbmama21

Thank you for so much starting this @lexidawg. Since it’s bumped, I’ll just say hi. We did IVF (after failed IUIs for my LO. I have PCOS, husband has MFI (morphology). First cycle was 26 retrieved, 25 mature, 21(?) fertilized, 1 implanted (DS), and 10 frozen.

We’ve been trying unassisted for 10mths while we wait for approval to do an FET cycle, but this cycle worked! My husband had a urology bleed 3 months ago and this is the only cycle I ovulated, not sure if the urology issue upped our chances, but it feels pretty miraculous. Our odds were very low so we are excited and cautiously optimistic. I won’t have much time to stalk multiple boards, so I’m really glad this cohort is here. You are all some incredible individuals. Thank you for sharing your stories. 

mamajudec2018

I'm wondering where you all stand on eating chocolate? With everything I have been through to get pregnant, I have been too scared to eat chocolate due to the caffeine. I thought PAIF Mama's would be more likely to understand this worry which I'm sure to some seems silly.

artemis618

@mamajudec2018 I’m with you on not eating chocolate because of the caffeine.  Yup, some women will have a cup or two of regular coffee a day - I won’t even touch decaf espresso (but still love smelling it).  I did have a vegan chocolate avocado truffle (maybe two) that my DH made with cacao powder for a dinner party at about 5 weeks - but haven’t had any chocolate/cacao since.

mamajudec2018

@artemis618 I'm so glad I'm not the only one. There are days when I am like I'm just going to eat chocolate. But I mean it's just not worth it. Maybe once I'm in the second trimester.

mcgeeva

Jumping in to say congrats on your pregnancy @lexidawg and all you other paif ladies! I didn’t want to leave the IF board but figured it was time to venture out.

yeah glad to see you on here @artemis618!

mcgeeva

What did you ladies do with leftover meds?

mamajudec2018

@mcgeeva I didn't have any this go around but I would either give it to your clinic or keep it for next time depending what the expiration date is.

lexidawg

@mcgeeva I know it can be frowned upon.. but I gave it them to a friend who couldn't have cycled without it because she didn't have the money for them.  Im extremely fortunate that my insurance covered my meds so I was happy to help her!