IVF/ICSI Support Group


Hi ladies,
Im going for my ivf in may. I just went for lap surgery for endo & blocked tubes. Is there any supplements to eat or pre-ivf preparation for the body? My gynae gave me 2 months to recover fully before trying for ivf. Any help/info is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
Dream : maybe you shouldnt analyze too much as it us not healthy for ur bb.. analyze only if bt says so ok. gd luck!!!! bb dust!!!

Blizzbless : i have always tested neg on cheapies n guardian brand all the way till i m way pass 6 weeks pregnant. i only tested positive on cb.. still got chance!!!
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Pinky : eat healthy n hv supplements n also pick up an hobby to keep ur mind off, as uvf us quite stressful for some. gd luck!!!
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Sasha, I wish too ... Sun discharge has a tinge of brown... But this morn discharge has a tinge of red... Almost as though Af coming but prob stopped by e med
 
Dear sisters, I have been a silent reader and am currently in my 2WW, 2nd fresh cycle. 
On 10dp2dt ( Sat), I started spotting brown then fresh blood . This is way too early for AF to come,  I suspect insufficient hormone support and insisted my Dr from SGH for a progesterone jab on Sun. it is more effective than oral support. Currently the spotting has slowed and I am having more hope. 

Please do not give up when u see fresh blood. It is very common to have spotting in Ivf pregnancies. Insist for extra support. If you put in more than 1 embryo, you could be losing 1 of them but the other embies are hanging on to you for their life. Don't give up. Given that Ivf is controlled with external hormones, all the more extra hormonal support is required during the 2 WW when u have spotting. 

Baby dust to all for the Snake Year 2013!
 
Blizz, I took blood test coz I tested positive with the clear blue digital and I am bleeding. The dr just say its on the low side and she cannot advise me much further coz that's the first blood test. I am praying that it will double on 14th.
 
Thanks, everyone... For ur encouragement .. I will hang on for a miracle but am mentally prepared. Cos i m spotting red in my discharge...Will prob call up clinic tmr to see if I can do an early blood test.. I will skip testing with cb digital...

Jackzel, dun lose hope ok...since u hav tested positive, I am sure ur babies are also fighting strongly along with u.. Hav more rest n I m sure ur reading will improved on thurs..jia you!
 
Jackzel, I haven't done any blood test.
Will be having mine tomorrow. No matter what, don't give up hope. Now that you have the jab support, bedrest till Thu and do blood test again. 11dp is still early. Hugs!
 
I am just worried about dropping hcg. Coz if my clear blue can detect yesterday morning, hcg level should be like 25. Was actually expecting like 30+. But I've got a 13 instead.
 
Reposting below info which i found in the history thread.

Implantation Bleeding 

What is Implantation Bleeding? 
Implantation bleeding is lighter than menstrual bleeding, and consists of pink or brown colored blood. Implantation bleeding occurs when the trophoblast, or tissue that surrounds the egg, attaches to the endometrium and slowly eats its way into the lining. As it does so, it eats through the mother's blood vessels, forming blood lakes within itself. When these blood lakes form near the surface of the trophoblast, they often cause implantation bleeding. 

Remember, the difference between period and implantation bleeding is the amount; implantation bleeding is considerably lighter than menstrual bleeding. Menses and implantation bleeding should be different enough so that you can tell. Here are some frequently asked questions about spotting: 

When does implantation bleeding occur? 
In natural conception, implantation happens around 5-12dpo so with assisted conception you need to take into account how old embies were when put back eg day 2 transfer, day 3 transfer etc. Only once embies have reached blastocyst stage at approx 5 days will they be ready to start implanting. 

What does implantation bleeding look like? 
Implantation bleeding signs are a light pink or brown colored spotting 

Can I still get a BFP if I don't have an Implantation Bleed? 
Yes.....absolutely. Symptoms vary enormously and there are many people on the site who have had BFPs with no spotting/bleeding at all. 

Testing 

Do I need a blood test or can I use a HPT? 
The BETA hcg blood tests are qualitative which means they check the actual level of hcg in the blood. 

An HPT detects to see if there's a certain amount of hcg in the urine...many will only show +ve if there's a level of around 25 miu or more, although some may detect as low as 10 miu, it depends on the actual hpt. However, even tests that say you can use early as they're more sensitive are only about 65-69% accurate when used early. 

With a blood test checking the level of hcg hormone in the blood they will be able to detect much earlier as they will obviously show the actual amount eg whether its only 1 miu or 301 miu etc etc so are obviously way more sensitive than a peestick !! 

The hcg hormone is released from the embryo once its implanted...so it would depend on whether early or late implantation (which happens around 5-12dpo in natural conception...with assisted such as ivf then you need to take into account how old embie was when put back). So if early implantation then some women may get +ve result on HPT early but if late implantation then may not show until at least 14 days after transfer (or ovulation if natural conception)...but with hcg blood test then would be able to detect the level of hormone even a day or so after implantation. 

When should I test? 
Most clinics advise to test around 14 days after ET although they do tend to vary. If you have had blastocysts transferred you will probably be asked to test after approx 10 days as the embryo is older when it is transferred. 

How long before HCG is out of my system? 
The HCG injection can stay in your body for approx 10-14 days but obviously we all eliminate the drugs from our systems at different rates. As a very basic approximation, 1000iu of pregnyl eliminated from body per day so gives you a rough idea. 

Can I test early? 
It doesn't matter that the hcg injection may have left your body...its whether theres enough hcg released from the implanted embryo for the HPT to detect. Implantation happens around 5-12 dpo and only once its complete will the hcg hormone be released. If you have late implantation then it may not show up on an HPT. The reason clinics give you testing dates is because you're far more likely to get an accurate result then. The possiblity of a false result may cause added stress at an already anxious time but it is ultimately up to personal choice. 

Useful links: 

http://www.peeonastick.com/hpts.html 
http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/hpt.html 

Food and Drink 

What should I eat on the 2WW? 

The usual advice is to eat as though you are pregnant so a fairly healthy balanced diet. It's also important to drink 2-3 litres of water. This helps flush out the empty follicles which will keep filling with blood & helps prevent OHSS as well as flush out all the drugs from treatment & during EC...and obviously ensure you're hydrated. 

http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/life02eatingwhenpregnant.pdf 

Why do people suggest Pineapple Juice? 
Pineapple contains selenium...and selenium (an anti-oxident) helps promote a healthy womb lining which is why it is thought to aid implantation. Pineapple also contains an enzyme called bromelain which is contraindicated during pregnancy as it may cause uterine contractions (many people, especially in Asian cultures, suggest eating fresh pineapple to induce labour if overdue)....however, during processing this delicate enzyme is destroyed which is why its ok to drink pineapple juice in moderation when ttc or pg but not to eat fresh pineapple/pineapple pieces etc . 

The preferred juice to drink is fresh, pressed or "not from concentrate"....although not the best, its still ok to drink "from concentrate"...all this means is that the pineapple pulp has been frozen or freeze dried for exportation and then reconstituted with water. 

A small glass of pineapple juice a day is supposed to be good but there are also many other food sources richer in selenium than pineapple (brazil nuts included!) 

This link provides some info on selenium & a list of food souces: 

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/selenium.asp 

Pregnancy Symtoms 

We're all guilty of it, in our 2ww - as we know we have our lovely embies on board, we assume that our bodies will suddenly start kicking out all the pregancy hormones and we should all be feeling something 'positive' to say 'YES' we're definately pregnant! 

Well, I've been trying to think a bit logically about this (OK, have the occasional blip - where logic just goes out of the window!). Lets face it, we have our embies put back between 2-5 days post EC, well the day of EC, is classed as the day of Ovulation, so you then need to allow 6-10 days post ovulation, for the embies to implant (or there abouts anyway!). Once implanted, it's not suddenly going to produce mountains of hormones, these will build up over the coming weeks, or months, at which point you may then expect the various symptoms (bare in mind, many women don't experience any symptoms at all!). 

I think we are all so desperate for some sign, that our imaginations run wild, we analyse every twinge, every bit of tiredness etc...... 
So, not sure if this is helping anyone, but I've found the following information about Early pregnancy Symptoms, which I think has to be the most down to earth stuff I've read; 

Q: What are typical early pregnancy symptoms and pregnancy signs? Can I feel the pregnancy signs and symptoms before missing my period? 

Many women have typical pregnancy symptoms even before they miss their period. However, most of the typical pregnancy symptoms and signs are directly related to the pregnancy hormone hCG. Small amounts of hCG enter the blood stream several days after implantation, about 8-10 days after ovulation. Thus, typical pregnancy symptoms typically do not appear until the hCG has reached sufficient levels which is about 1-2 weeks after you miss your period (3-4 weeks after ovulation, or 2-3 weeks after implantation), at a time when the hCG has risen enough. Nothing will really confirm a pregnancy except a positive pregnancy test. 
The first symptoms and the time of their appearance are listed here: 
� Temperature drop (dip) on Implantation day 
� Implantation bleeding or spottinga slight staining of a pink or brown color on average 8-10 days after ovulation)) 
� Lower abdominal cramps 
� A positive blood HCG pregnancy test: About 10 days after fertilization/ovulation 
� An elevated bbt curve for 15+ days without a menstrual period 
� A missed menstrual period (amenorrhea): 
� A positive urine pregnancy test (HPT): As early as 10-14 days after ovulation/fertilization or 3-4 days after implantation. The more sensitive the HPT the earlier the pregnancy test will be positive. 
� Nausea: as early as 2-4 weeks after ovulation (BrJObGyn 1989b;96:1304)
� Nipple or breast tenderness: 3-4 weeks after conception 
� Fatigue: 3-10 weeks after conception 
� Vomiting: 3-10 weeks after conception 
� Food cravings: 1-2 months after conception 
� Frequent urination: usually after 1-2 months 
� Softening of cervix: usually not before 6 weeks after LMP 
� Constipation: later on 
� Lower back pain: later on 
� Darkening of areola (breast nipple): After 14 weeks 
� Fetal heart beat on sonogram: 8-9 weeks after conception 
� Fetal movements: 16+ weeks after conception 
The Link for this site is; 

http://www.babymed.com/docs/english/21.asp
 
Blizzbless, do u usually hav such bad cramps when having AF? if not, mayb call up TFC tmr and ask abt it?

For myself, strangely, the red spotting stopped since this afternoon..and i am not sure if it is for the better or worse...now in a dilemna whether to call up tmr for a blood test cos actually i hav a deadline tmr to rush..
 
Gals,
If u all started spotting before ur bt, please ring clinic up to inform them on condition. If possible request for an early bt.
n also do complete bed rest. I had a similar experience on my first Bfp. Also cook glutinous rice with lotus roots n eat till spotting stops.

As for beta hcg, fo a healthy pregnancy to sustain, our beta must be more than double our previous readings in every 2-3days. If beta did not increased gradually based on the above, a loss will occur in a matter of time.

Hence for those Bfp ladies with low beta, please also request ur clinic to monitor ur beta till it has reached to an acceptable range.

Good luck to all cycling folks n loads of baby dust to you all.
 
Thanks, Positive. I hope they open earlier than 830 so that i can avoid having to rush down since their blood collection is at 10am.

By the way, does anyone know if utrogestan delay AF or stop AF spotting?
 
Juz had my blood test n will hav to wait for results.. Nurse seemed a bit shocked that I tested hpt twice n negative.. So seems like low chances..

Jackzel, dun give up hope yet.. Nurse was telling me there r some with Af bleeding but yet preg.. So hang on there.. Rest more...
 
Hi All,

Happy Chinese New Year to all. I just started on my jab on 12 Feb, which is yesterday. The jabs are ok, not as painful as I thought it will be. I am on Gonal, 300IU dosage. Have to see doc on Sat again. I am crossing my fingers with my first IVF cycle and trying not to be stress and think positive!
 
Sisters going to do BT or did BT > Hang on there ya. You all have done your best and you deserve a pat on both shoulders!

Muff > Which doc are you with? Wow, your 2ww will come soon and before you know it, it will be your BT le
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Dream, I'm recovering well fr my lap. All side effects r gone except a little bloatedness. Stay positive.. u should b receiving ur result between 12-1pm. Stay hopeful n keep us posted k.
 
Good to hear that, Yvejen...would drinking ginger water also help with your bloatedness?..hope that u can now strike naturally... my fren went for lap and succeed the follow mth naturally..

yah...i am trying to remain hopeful despite knowing chances are pretty slim..but the waiting is still driving me nuts...but luckily, i hav a deadline to rush todya and can distracted me a little...now is noon...so can start counting down to the call...this is almost like back to school day when we were waiting for A & O level results...
 
Dreambear, I am with LC Cheng from Thomson Medical. Quite anxious with the extraction! I am feeling abit dizzy from the 2nd jab today.

Anyone on Gonal has the same experience?
 
sad...my pinkish spotting has returned...i suspect is actually AF but the flow is restricted by the medication.. yet to hear from TFC...prob not that urgent since i dun need to obtain additional support..

sorry...i am just venting here...
 
Blizzbless: KKH benchmark is 250. in what unit i not too sure. Jia you.

Jackzel: for me i having bleeding at Wk 12 of my pregnancy. I took the jab and Dr Tan HH up my dosage of pills. and it take me 4 weeks to clear out the bleeding.
 
Dream, I totally understand how û feel. We are praying so hard for miracles to happen.

Babysmurf, at least ur bleeding is at week 12 where u can see the little heartbeat. But for me, hcg so low at 13 and I am praying so hard for it to double tml and I don't dare to move ard today.
 
Dear Jackzel, try to trust your body and relax. Are you getting bed rest, try to lie down on the bed. And get sufficient water to stay hydrated to prevent contraction.

My AF is coming on. My hubby and I told ourselves, we have tried our best and have come to terms with our negative result.

Wishing a BFP to all the sisters here.
 
I couldnt wait at all...so i just called TFC...the results arent out...will only be out ard 3 plus to 4..so the torture continues...hahaha..

Jackzel, hang on there...mayb urs is implantation bleeding and the reading will continue to spike..so dun lose hope!
 
Dreambear > yes thanks! Looking at it positively that it's better to be negative outright without having a precarious pregnancy for 9 months.
 



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