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GENNET Graduates & Friends part 3

140K views 996 replies 75 participants last post by  RB76 
#1 ·
#2 ·
Hi Ladies

Please allow Theo to post here first with your Clinic Progress List, then the thread can continue as normal.
Thanks 

xx
 
#3 ·
COMPLETED FF CYCLES @ GENNET IN 2015:
(with some 2014 details)

Angel_Delight (Aug 2015 FET from previous DE chemical)
Anxiao (Jul 2015 +)
Apples2014 (Nov 2015 OE -; going again)
Bertil (Aug 2015 DE -; going again)
Cheesy (Jun 2015 OE cancelled; going again with DE)
Chocolatebox (Aug/Sept 2015 natural OE cancelled)
Cinnamon75 (Dec 2015 OE -)
Cloudberry (Jan 2015 DE +)
Dailyjoy (DE Oct 2015 -; going again)
Deeosull (Jun 2015 OE -; Dec 2015 DE twins)
Eiluj (Jul 2015 FET from previous DE + then miscarriage)
EssieJean (Jul 2015 DE miscarriage; going again)
Fairycake34 (Jun 2015 OE +)
Gailgegirl (Jun 2015 DE miscarriage)
Gpn (Mar 2015 DE + then -; FET from previous DE Jun '15 + twins)
Iklefeet (Nov/Dec 2015 DE +)
Itwillhappen2015 (Sept 2015 + twins)
Jelliebabe (Mar 2014 OE + then -; Sept '14 OE -; Feb '15 DE + twins)
Jumeirah (May 2015 DE +)
Katkat2014 (Feb 2015 OE -, Jul '15 OE -; Oct '15 OE -)
Kh80130 (Nov 2015 ...)
Kia-kaha (Jan & Feb 2015 OE/PGS with Apr '15 FET -; Jul '15 SFET +)
Lexan (Apr 2015 OE OHSS, Jul '15 FET +)
Maisie O (Apr 2015 DD FET +)
Mammy86 (Apr 2014 FET -; Apr '15 DE +)
Misty07 (Apr 2014 DE -; Oct '14 DE -; Feb '15 FET -)
Mrs Dreamer (Dec 2015 DE +)
Mummyatlast (Sep 2015 FET from previous DE -; going again)
Northern (Oct 2015 OE -; going again)
Offthewall (May 2015 DFET from DE in Jan '15 +)
PBAL (2013 DE -; Apr '15 DE +)
Peggylou (Nov 2015 OE -; going again)
RunnerBeans (Nov 2015 OE +)
Sfg29 (Apr 2015 OE -; Oct '15 FET -; going again)
Silverfern (Dec 2015 DE twins)
Super125 (Jun 2015 OE +)
Tash1 (Aug 2015 OE -)
Tracyev (Oct 2014 OE/OS -; Jan '15 FET -)
Tracey42 (Dec 2013 DE/ICSI -; Mar 2014 FET -; Dec '14 FET -; Apr '15 DE + then miscarriage; going again)
Twinkle toes 75 (Aug 2015 DE +)
Ugly (Oct 2014 DE chemical; Sep '15 DE -; going for 3rd free cycle)
Whatamerrygoround (Mar 2015 DE +)
Wulfin8 (Apr 2015 OE -)

cycled or may have cycled in 2015 but never posted again
Bellasmom (Jan 2015 DE - results unknown)
Chihuahua lady (April 2015 DE?)
Ddlzhaze (Feb 2015 FET from previous DE?)
Jesi (May 2015 cycle?)
Rapenn79 (Feb 2015 IUI?)
Sky84 (Aug 2014 DE + then miscarriage; May '15 DE?)
Thisistheyear (Jul 2015 OE?)

See page 1 of the current cycling thread for more 2015-2016 info

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

COMPLETED FF CYCLES @ GENNET IN 2014:
(with some 2013 details)

Andie175 (Aug 2013 DE -; '13 FET -; April '14 DE + then -; success @ another clinic then miscarriage; Nov '14 DE +)
Aussiebub (Sept 2014 DE+DS @ another clinic + twins)
Becksiow (Oct 2014 DE +)
Cali4nia_! (March 2014 OE + twins)
Calypso (April 2014 DE + twins)
DaisyAndBuckley (OE 2013 -; Oct '13 FET -; May '14 DD FET -; July '14 DE + twins)
Edinburghjenn (Sept 2014 DE + then miscarriage)
Fiona in welwyn gc (June 2014 DE + then miscarriage; surrogacy @ another clinic + twins)
Gailgegirl (June 2013 DE miscarriage; Dec '13 DE + twins then miscarriage; Aug '14 FET early miscarriage; Dec '14 FET low + then -)
Idlikemagic (Aug 2014 DE + twins)
Italiangirl (Feb DE 2014 -; May '14 FET +)
Jelliebabe (Mar 2014 OE + then -; Sept '14 OE -)
Jord190 (Nov 2014 DE +)
Jumeirah (Feb 2014 OE -; June '14 OE -)
Kjoris (Dec 2014 OE -)
Ladynewt (Feb 2014 OE -; May OE cancelled ER; Sept '14 OE -; Dec '14 DE + then -)
Lilirose (DE Aug 2014 +)
Linlou (Jan 2014 DD natural FET +)
Loki Girl (Jan 2014 DE+DS -; moving on to adoption)
Malman (Jan 2014 DE + then -)
Mammy86 (Apr 2014 FET -)
Marthakeithy (DD FET Dec 2014 -)
Minnymouse (Feb 2014 DE -)
Misty07 (Apr 2014 DE -; Oct '14 DE -)
Mrslocky (Jan 2014 OE -; Oct '14 FET +)
OptimisticV (Jan DE+TESE + twins then vanishing twin)
Pbal (Aug 2013 DE 6wk m/c; FET -; Oct DE -)
RB76 (Oct 2014 DE cycle with FET later on -)
Shazziebear (Dec 2014 DE + then miscarriage)
Shilltpo (July 2014 DE + then blighted ovum/miscarriage)
Sky84 (Aug 2014 DE + then miscarriage)
Sporty_girlie (Mar 2014 DE + twins then just one)
SYLSeattle (Mar 2014 DE +)
Teapot73 (June 2014 OE -; Sept '14 OE -)
Tinkerbell23 (April 2014 DE + twins)
Tracyev (Oct 2014 OE/OS -)
Tracey42 (Dec 2013 DE/ICSI -; Mar 2014 FET -; Dec '14 FET -)
Ugly (Oct 2014 DE chemical)
Willclementine (June 2014 DE + then blighted ovum; Oct '14 FET +)

maybe cycled in 2014 but never posted again
Gracie42 (FET from previous DE?)
Kes67 (DE Oct 2014?)
Millie13 (DD FET Aug 2014?)
Rosecolored (DE Mar 2014?)
Roxy13 (DE+DS?)
Sally76 (OE June 2014?)
Sweet123 (DE May 2014?)
Thornhill (OE Nov 2014?)
Wk26 (OE May 2014?)

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

COMPLETED FF CYCLES @ GENNET IN 2013:

Almond1 (April 2013 DE +)
Andie175 (Aug 2013 DE -; '13 FET -)
Angel_Delight (DE +)
BeDazzled (Jan 2013 FET +)
Bex360 (May 2013 FET + twins)
Cheesy (Feb 2013 OE - ; followed w/April OE +)
Constanza (2013 DE + twins)
DaisyAndBuckley (2013 OE -; Oct '13 FET -)
Eiluj68 (June 2013 DE twins then 8wk loss / cervical ectopic, Dec '13 DE +)
Furryrap (March 2013 DD FET -; August '13 DD FET +)
Gailgegirl (June 2013 DE miscarriage; Dec '13 DE + twins then - after miscarriage)
Greenbird (June 2013 DE +)
Herewegoagain003 (June 2013 DE +)
Izzy1234 (July 2013 DE +)
Jeanette2 (DE 2013 +)
Jumeirah (July 2013 OE chemical; Nov -; going again in 2014)
Kia-kaha (June 2013 OE + then ecoptic; Sept +)
Martakeithy (2013 2 x DD FET -; DD FET chemical)
Panicstricken (2013 DE +)
PBAL (2013 DE + then miscarriage)
RB76 (April 2013 DE + twins, severe pre-E so birth @ 24 weeks, 1 girl doing well)
Rory (Feb 2013 DE + then - @ 3-month scan; '13 DE -)
SophieMatilda (May 2013 DE twins)
Theodora (Nov '12 DD FET -; July '13 DD FET +)
Tracey42 (2013 DE/ICSI -; going again in 2014)
Valex (Jan 2013 DE twins)

maybe cycled in 2013 but never posted again
Althea68 (DE)
Greeney (DE)

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
 
#4 ·
Thanks bundles and theo.

Sporty,
What a big decision. Options and possibilities don't half complicate things sometimes. I haven't a clue what the best thing is but I can't help feeling you are adding pressure with times and speed of decision-making. But maybe I'm wrong. Do you need to try your blasts to get closure and avoid regret? If so maybe it's your answer. But like you said, you probably moved on when you progressed with DE. I don't know what to say on the testing of OE. I am now 40 and I won't do any pre ET. But I guess doing a modified natural and knowing I'm lucky if I get any eggs and it'll be a 2dt if I have a fertilised embie makes that decision for me. If your previous donor would go again, would it make the decision for you?

I do relate to need to stop bf to cycle etc and my AF returned the day of my last feed but I'd tapered lots over the previous 2 months including stopping the one before work and the night feeds which I guess made the difference. I don't envy you the decision but I hope having baby sport takes some of the pressure off. Ps sorry if what I said on other thread about OE and appearance was unhelpful. I know what you mean because I wish i saw myself in pickle, but I dont!
 
#5 ·
Please allow an 'old' and infrequent reader to pop on and say a huge congratulations to mammy86! Very happy to stumble across your lovely news. Wishing you well xx


And best wishes to all of you currently in the midst of your treatment  ^reiki^
 
#6 ·
Cheesy - it's true what you say. My DH doesn't look like his mother either. He is the spit of his father. Baby Sport is the spit of my DH. I think there is a very strong gene there. I also don't my know if this wouldn't have been the case had it been my OE. I think I'm just sensitive as he isn't from my eggs and so when someone makes such a comment....  I tend to be more defensive and hurt.

It's also interesting your experience around BFing and AF. I'm pretty much where you were with just feeding at night now. All that said I think we're fairly agreed not to proceed with my OE frosties. It's so expensive and if it were Prague prices for a transfer we'd just do it, but the price for the London transfer is halfway to a whole fresh DE cycle, should we need it. We'll give it next week as a cooling off period, but then I think we'll book an appointment with CF to get that ball rolling.
 
#7 ·
Mammy!  Brill Scan news!  Yes its just one long wait from one appointment to another isn't it!

PBAL and Cheesy - It was my 16 week midwife appointment.  We wont be able to tell gender until the 20 week scan.  We're scheduled for that on the 12th of June when I'll be just over 19weeks.  We are hoping to find out though...  If not I will have to have another and find out then.

Cheesy - OMG that's so quick!  A FORTNIGHT!  EEEEK  Gawd I'm going to go bandy keeping everything Xd!

Sporty - I think I would agree with your second to last paragraph.  It may be giving up on your genetic child but not giving up on another child which is what you want.  Are the frosties in Prague from the same donor?  And I can see that comment was a throwaway one but it just happened to score a bullseye.  Try not to dwell on it...

Aussie - How're you getting on?

Bundles - How's it going with you???

Right I have my first hospital appointment Friday.  I've got to start Fragmin and continue until 6 weeks after birth (booooooo) but at least I'll be able to see who is more than likely be taking control of what's going to happen and when.  right - one more day of the weekend to go!  Love a long weekend.  Gardening tomorrow and going to see my Mum... Lovely - Happy weekend everyone  ;D
 
#8 ·
Hi all
Great to read the updates from mummies to be. Well done ladies seems like your pregnancy milestones are progressing nicely

Sporty - I think you're right in your thought process - if it were cheaper or if your own embies were in Prague then it would be a clear it decision but when you weigh up half the price of your real chance with de I would be heading down that route - is there any way do you think you could kat the emphasis on prague how much you'd really love the same donor. I know she's at capacity but if she was approached and agreed to?!?

Afm - we are getting on swimmingly. The girls are 7 weeks now and just beautiful - such different little personalities - my calm little Ava and tenacious little beatrice
Unfortunately both girls tongue ties have re attached 😁 so we are back down to London in a fortnight to have them re lasered - it's still effecting their feeling - Breast feeding not as efficient as it should be so not stimulating my milk fully. They have Breast milk from me every day combined with aptimal formula feeding there after - I'm still only able to express about 50-60mls but keeping this supply going hoping it will increase when they can latch properly

Aside from the feeding we are getting out and about lots, mums and baby groups. Seeing friends and some solo shopping trips. I can put my apple to pear up and down in the same time as solo mums 😊 so alls good there. The girls started smiling at 6 weeks just melts our hearts.

Daddies challenge for this week is to learn how tj give the girls together as he's still most comfortable running solo with one of our little ladies at a time / gonna start booking in some me time out and see how he copes. No point being a wonder mum withou a wonder daddy 😉

Fee / Aussie how you both getting on mamas ???
 
#9 ·
Morning All,

Apologies for not being able to post sooner - I have found it very difficult to find the time to concentrate (when I am not sleep deprived  ;D ;D )


Lovely to be back on the thread.


Will try to respond to everyone but since it's been so long since I have been on here please accept my apologies if I have missed something ..


Cheesy - very interested in the grow bags - I would love to get them in one as soon as possible - I know someone on the NCT mentioned that there were some that you could get from birth but I am apprehensive about this.  Any thoughts ladies?


Theo - I see your little one is just one years old - do you feel the time has just flown?  It sounds like you have a lot going on with him, which is his favourite


Jelly - I can't believe you are at 16 weeks already.  I remember all too well, the first 8 weeks to 12 weeks went so slowly and then it just sped by and next thing I knew I was gazing at our twins.  Would also be interested, have you been told gender or will it be a surpass.

Cheesy - so exited for you chick - not long now ... how many will you put back?  where are you staying in Prague?


Sportie - I really don't know what to say about OE vs DE - I agree that costs of frozen in the UK are ridiculous.  Seems a shame not to try with these eggs but depends how much cash you have and if OE would then preclude DE.  Just wondering if you could get them transferred to Prague and then pay their frozen rates?

Aussie - lovely to see how your little ones have grown.  just as a matter of interest how much weight are they putting on per week, what is your feeding/sleeping pattern??  Would like to compare with UK expectations.  How many times a day are you feeding them?


PBAL - massive congratulations - I did read about your bleeding and really wanted to post but i just couldn't seem to get to the computer for any more than a nanosecond.  bleeding in pregnancy is so awful .. glad all worked out for you.


Mammy, I am thrilled for you ... really am ... it's so lovely to see when the 'die hards' finally see the end of the rainbow.  How are you feeling?  are you starting to believe it is real yet?  how is sickness etc?




AFM - well the last few weeks - all the days seem to merge into one.  Things have been a little fraught as my hubby to be was not granted paternity when we wanted it and so I was going loop the loop with limited support.  The crazy thing is that my mum could have come down if I had known ... I still don't really understand the paternity leave thing - there's some form you fill in which states that a/ you have to state a date you want to start your leave or b/ you want it when the babies are both.  Trouble is, this doesn't really work when babies are born premature because you don't want your hubby having parental leave whilst babies are in special care.  Anyway, mum is here now so that's ok.


Scarlett and Josh seem to really suit their names.  Josh is the most laid back baby I have ever come across - I have yet to hear him cry properly.  He just kinda whimpers a bit when he has his nappy changed or if he is starving hungry.  You can hold him up with your two hands and he doesn't wake up - just gently keeps on snoring.  Scarlett is now known as 'Scarlett Stroppy Knickers'.  She is a very good baby but she screams when she is changed and if she is hungry.  Guess that's pretty normal.


Other than that, we got them into four hourly feeds and sequentially which has really helped.  We keep trying to get them into 6,10,2 as these feeds enable Richard to do the 2am and still go back to sleep.  it can take up to one and a half hours to feed the two of them which does tend to mean that you are fully awake by the end.  having said that my mum has done the early morning feed for one of them which has really helped.


Mostly I would say that having the twins is much easier than I ever imagined, mainly because I have heard many women say "nothing prepares you for it" but weirdly it is exactly as I expected it to be , except I thought the sleep deprivation would be worse..


Question for you ladies - it does seem that if we leave them, they can often go five hours without being fed.  So I am now wondering what to do.  Do I try to feed them four hourly during the day and then leave them at night?  Any ideas ??


Hope everyone is okay - apologies if I have missed anyone.


Fee
xx

 
#10 ·
FEe sounds like you're doing great hun!

Quick answers

Grow bags - we used these from 4/5 weeks - you can use as long as their head wouldn't slip down into the bag they're great and save all the blankets

Sleep wise - ours still wake 3 hours from the end of the feed but now if they do go longer I leave them Id say it depends on your little ones weight - do you need to keep waking them to feed to keep their weight up if not then let them go longer

Your comments on personalities struck a chord we have just the same here 😉 except we call Bea firey mouse 😉
 
#11 ·
Hi Fee - re: your question on waking them to feed before five hours...are they gaining weight well? And remind me how old they are now? My doc said we could stop waking Baby Seattle (real name is Fisher, which is much easier to type!) once he was properly gaining weight and he was 6 weeks old. Prior to that, it was recommended that he eat no less than every 4 hours, and preferably 3 hours.

I hope that helps! So good to read your update on sweet Josh and sassy Scarlett!
 
#12 ·
Hello everyone,

Sporty, I went though the same as you regarding my daughter looking the spit of her dad and not me.  There have been a couple of times where someone has said she looks like me and then I feel like a fraud.  She is almost a year and I'm getting used to it.  My daughter looks so much like my DH that who's to say, if we conceived with my OE, she wouldn't look exactly like she does now. 

Sounds like you're doing amazing Fee.  Grow bags are great, especially when they start to roll in their sleep.

Good luck Cheesy.

Hello everyone else, bedtime!! :D

 
#13 ·
Fee - lovely to hear you worrying about mothering things now and not the stress of the last few months. As Baby Sport came early we received the same advice as Seattle, and set an alarm to make sure we woke and feed him. We did this for around 4-6 weeks. After that from weeks 5-10 we hit the windy stage, so that just took over and meant winding could take up to 40 mins. You're lucky with a bottle though that you can get 4 hourly feeds. With BFing it's about every 2 hours. All that said once they get bigger, say 4 months, you won't get 4 hour windows, we dropped down to 2 hour windows even with a bottle.

We're also a fan of grobags. We used them from about 6 weeks in. Friends told us about how their babies had slept better as they were warmer. BS was a winter baby and I was never convinced that the cellular blankets kept him snug enough. Sure enough when we put him in the bag he did slept better. We put a cellular blanket over the top as he likes the weight and associates it with bedtime. If you have to get them up in the night they're brilliant as they keep the baby warm and also mean they're not going back on to cold sheets, which again in the winter woke him up.

If you look at some of the 0-6 month bags (eg grobags themselves) they have extra buttons under the arms which make the arm holes smaller. This makes them safe to use on newborns. Just check the weight for each bag before you out the babikes in them.


Thx Angel - it's weird as I do see myself in him. It's just other people's comments. At what point do you stop thinking about the DE side?  I wonder if you never will if we all stay on these forums.

Magic - sorry to hear about the lasering, but nice to hear you get the swing of being a mummy.

 
#14 ·
We also used gro bags from birth (we even borrowed one in the hospital), altho as I posted earlier we've pretty much stopped using them now. I found that often the bags are too hot for our boy, but you can get them less padded. The optimal temp for a baby to sleep is actually quite cool (18°C)...

Sorry to hear about the tongue ties. We also had to recut, was annoying but the 2nd time was the charm. We also had to religiously do the exercises to ensure that the healing was done with the cut part stayin unattached, he HATED them but it seems to have worked. I am so bummed for you that this affects the feeding & thus your supply, I am sure this will get fixed with the new lasering. In our case it just meant that bf'ing hurt like heck, but my boy was gaining weight all right (since he nursed like mad forever & ever -- once the cuts were done again he stopped nursing so long).

In re the waking of babies in the night every 4 hours, that is ONLY for newborns in the first week or so, or for babies who aren't gaining weight. Afterwards you can just leave the babies be & thank heavens that they sleep!

Our boy looks nothing like me. I don't think he looks like my husband either, but folks often say he does. Waiting to see how he changes as he grows out of babyhood, as it will certainly change. And as he gets older he will have more & more of our mannerisms, so even with double donor he will look more like us than he does now. I hear what you are saying Sporty about being on the forum reinforcing thoughts about donor, but in my case at least this doesn't affect anything. He is still totally mine!!

Our boy is a total button pusher, he loves anything he can press. I am so glad our clothes washer has a child lock! And I thought having a cold-front oven was silly when my husband insisted on it years ago, now I am thankful.

Cheesy in re music players, our friends have one of these & they use an SD card to put songs on it, our boy tried it out Sunday & loved it http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soundmaster-Portable-Stereo-MP3-Playback/dp/B00I0D4YMY (much cheaper in a local shop but they are out now). I have instead decided to buy an Ocarina as it is less complicated & we don't need karaoke! I used some of the christening gift money for it, as the Ocarinas are expensive. I hope it is good, as he is all about music & sounds these days.

Magic, what does "I can put my apple to pear up and down in the same time as solo mums" mean?!

I am so impressed with all the twin moms here, you go girls!

OK this mail took me 3 hours to write, must go take care of Mr Bored!

/links
 
#15 ·
Just read some of your posts about the subject of 'appearance' which I found interesting as it's something that sometimes preys on my mind. DS doesn't resemble either myself or DP (used own sperm) and I rarely get anyone saying he looks like one of us but have had some curious people saying things like 'which one of you would you say he takes more after' kind of tactfully throwing it back to us. In some ways if he looked more like DP I think it would be easier as people would be less perplexed.  I have a feeling he probably takes after the donor's father but it's impossible to know for sure.  I did pick a donor that had similar physical characteristics to me, but guess genes can be slightly random and throw up anomalies. Like you Sporty, I'm a little sensitive when remarks are made - the one I usually get is gosh you're so petite and he's so big, also whose the fair one in your family as I have v dark brown hair as does my DP. Anyhow it's something I'll have to live with and hopefully grow a second skin. I know epigenetics is a new science but wonder with a donor egg if it was implanted into another female with same sperm whether the baby born would look different?  I was probably going to tell him one day about his origins but hadn't decided for sure. However think my hand might be forced as he'll wonder for himself when he gets older - funnily I am the image of my mum and my brother, my dad and do sometimes wish there was the tiniest resemblance but having said that he's so perfect wouldn't want to change a thing.     

Fee - lovely to hear you're faring so well, must be a great help having your mum there & sounds like you're in a good routine already.  As others have said as they're a bit older now think you can space out the feeds more overnight if they're sleeping peacefully but check with your health visitor to be sure.
 
#16 ·
Interesting thoughts Jeanette.  My niece was dark like my sister when born, but is now as blonde her dad and I can't really see my sister in her now.  Although my sister and I do look like our parents.  Me, my mother and my sister is like my dad.  We don't plan to tell either, but don't know how time will change that.  Certainly whilst there are still so much misunderstanding around it and dare I say....  prejudice; we don't plan to say.  My friend had DE about 4 years ago and was very open about it and I heard separately what people, including my sister thought about it.  I would hate to see anyone, including my family treat Baby Sport differently than another grandchild or nephew.  Perhaps in 10 years time when it's more common place we may feel comfortable letting him know there was a nice "egg lady in Prague" who helped us, but he's still my baby. 



Just managed to get Baby Sport down for his afternoon nap in his big cot.  Very happy about this.  I tried this a few months ago and he just saw it as a place to play so we had no luck.  Over the last 2 weeks I haven't put him in there after a nappy change.  I've put him on a mat on the floor whilst I clear up.  I worried this was going to be a problem and I'd eventually have to sleep in there to get him into it, but it turned out to be surprisingly easy today.  Popped him into this sleeping bag, rubbed his hand for about 5 mins and that was it!  Yay!  Guess he may have just been too small for it before and needed to grow and fill it to feel comfortable or the play disassociation worked.  Either way I am happy as he starts nursery next week and will have a big cot there.  Plus he is getting a bit too big for his Chicco Next-to-Me and we were wondering what to do next.  Can't believe it's already time for him to start nursery and for me to look for a job.

 
#17 ·
Boo to looking for a job sporty the time has really flown!

Theo Apple to pear is a twin pram and hence I could put it up as quick as the Jim with one baby 😉 I was feeling proud!!
 
#18 ·
Sporty - my mum is the only member of family on both sides who knows that DS is from a DE and sees him every much her grandchild as her other two.  I'm not sure what the reaction of DP's family would be like as they are quite traditional and to be honest i wouldn't relish them finding out. I do worry though about not saying anything and DS having any medical problems in the future as docs always ask about family history and he wouldn't be able to give accurate info or even worse could mislead them. Thankfully it's not a decision we need to make for some years and as you say attitudes may change in time to come that will make it easier, let's hope so. 
 
#19 ·
Hi, hope you don't mind me joining in re DE and family resemblances! As someone who had twins through DE almost 3 years ago, it's been interesting to see how the boys have looked at various stages. One of them is the absolute image of his Dad and paternal grandad, which is lovely, but the other one is quite different! I find that people see what they want to see, and have been told he is like me (!) or 'my side of the family'! Obviously nobody knows about our ivf or DE (with the exception of a close friend in a similar position) so I don't think the idea of donated eggs would enter their heads! As I also had a natural pregnancy in my late 40's, everyone has assumed, as we hoped, that this pregnancy was the same! Interestingly, I also have older children from my first marriage and I would say that only one of three looks like me! I also know lots of families with naturally conceived children who look nothing like their parents so I'm not a all worried. I think you do tend to put these things to the back of your mind once your babies start growing up and these two little chaps couldn't possibly feel any more 'mine'  :)  It's a fascinating & amazing thing though isn't it!
 
#20 ·
We were just at the pediatrician's for vaccinations. TBD is a few days past 13 months & is 84cm tall already!!!! (99.9 percentile)

Anyway, the point is that the doc kept exclaiming & asking if we had tall people in the family, & we finally said you know it was double donor IVF & she apologized twice & said it is written in the initial notes but she keeps forgetting. It never even occurs to folks that we did donor, & I forget about it most of the time myself. Some folks know, we are not at all secretive about it, but I find that folks that do know we did donor still default back & say the boy looks like us or takes after us... which I like since they also keep saying how good looking he is!

I haven't encountered any prejudice against donor, even with the most ultra Catholic folks who are on paper against this sort of thing.

In re the family history thing, I think this is overrated. First of all, most health problems can also occur spontaneously even without a family history. For instance, my mom died of ovarian cancer, & neither of us have the BRCA genes that are usually tied to that. And I don't have any idea of the medical or even genealogical background of my mom -- her parents were ultra secretive -- & only have sparse info on my dad's side. So even I who am not adopted don't really know what to say when asked if there is a family history of this or that.
 
#21 ·
Loving reading all the stories and especially about resemblances and peoples assumptions.

Theo, I know first hand how tall and gorgeous tbd is? But still, 99.9th - wow. Amazed by your doc but glad she had the good grace to apologise. Good point re family histories etc. wish we had a washer with a child lock. Ours is an old but (so far) reliable one that came with the house. The door locks of course but not the programmes and my little button pusher has a nack of changing the cycle and temp when I'm not looking.

Courgette my ds isn't as old but I totally relate to the evolving features and it's definitely just as relevant in OE though I appreciate I don't have the background thoughts say that sporty described.

Jeanette, lovely to hear from you as always. Hope you either get that second skin or that the comments don't register so harsh in the future.

Sport, good luck with nursery and the job hunt. It's a transition all right. I know bs will start nursery a couple of months sooner than pickle but I bet he takes to it and thrives. Pickle loves the sociability aspect, the food for sure (he loves eating in company) and the messy play. If bs starts before separation anxiety really kicks in that's fab timing. Be prepared for illness - we got hand foot and mouth from the first settle in day then months of coughs and colds. Sorry, I know I'm stating the bleeding obvious.

Fee, so good to hear how you're doing and about your twins and their personalities. I know you've had answers now on feeding. I never really encountered that prob as I had a constant grazer and short napper. are you getting to enjoy any of the pleasant weather with them outdoors?

Magic it sounds like you're flying. Thanks for explaining the pushchair thing. Like your attitude to involving your dh. Very wise! I should've done that a bit more in early days but have to say he's a v hands on dad now. Isn't it great seeing how our partners change?

Angel, Seattle, hello. Hope you're well.

Jellie, how's it going. Have you had your appt yet?

Mammy, pbal. How are you.

Aussie, how are you settling down? And bundles?

AFM just on way home from day 5 scan. No cysts and 3 small follies so I'll take that with lots of gratitude. Starting low dose menopur today. Likely EC late next week. Feels quite surreal.
 
#22 ·
Hi ladies

apologies no personals - I have had brown bleeding today with cramping - I am 8 weeks 6 days today. Im hoping it is just the crinone as I had (sorry TMI) lots of clumps of crinone come out today which was speckled brown.

I have to be honest, the brown blleding is not as bad if i didnt have cramping.

I had my progesterone checked 2 weeks ago and it was 477nmol - so very high, so I dont think it is a progesterone issue. I keep on feeling my period is about to come.

EPAU will scan me tommorrow - so I hope all is well.

Sorry this post is about me, but would love to hear some positive stories

Thanks

PBAL xx
 
#23 ·
Oh pbal, I'm sorry to read this. The cramping can definitely be uterus and ligaments stretching. I was lucky and only got slight brown spotting around 6-8 weeks. Couldn't call it bleeding but I know so many who have bled and it's been fine. I know personal stories and reassurance will be best but I want you to know I thinking of you. I'm glad you're being scanned tomorrow and I hope you can take it easy today. xxx
 
#24 ·
PBAl. I swear the first 10 to 12 weeks of this pregnancy has been so scary!  I've only really now stayed to relax.  I had bleeding weeks 4 to 9 and nearly Always felt like my period was on the way too.  I how everything us okay for you tomorrow.

First hospital appt tomorrow so I may see the consultant (,more likely to be a junior though I guess).  Going to talk to them about coming off my steroids and my arthritis and prolly pick up my fragmin injections.... (Booooooo). Hope they have a listen for then while I'm there!  😀 anyone know what else the look at?
 
#25 ·
Hi Pbal, so sorry to hear this. Although I don't have any advice, I have tried to calm myself by reading about how normal spotting / discharge is, even more so in IVF pregnancies and even on a normal one. And the period-like cramping I actually have come to appreciate and interpret as there is something growing and my uterus is stretching. If I don't have it for a few days I get nervous. Not that I am not anxious. I am super anxious, especially since the next scan is only in four weeks.

How did your scan go? How bad are your cramps in comparison to period-related cramps? Keeping my fingers crossed.

xx
 
#26 ·
PBAL, I hear your anguish. I'm betting that the feeling is just your uterus stretching. I had the same feeling, & it sure wasn't my period -- I haven't had one now since a few weeks before our transfer & my boy is now 13 months! When you go thru such hell to get & stay pregnant, once you are really there it is hard to let go & relax. But pregnancy is not an illness!! As things go along you'll have less & less meds & worries. But IVFers I think never quite get used to not having constant treatments & problems....

Sorry Jellie, each country has their own system so can't say how things will go for you. For me, we did ultrasounds only at 12/22/32 weeks, & I had a monthly appt with the ob/gyn where he did an internal exam to check the cervix, external exam which mostly meant he measured my belly & we chatted briefly, plus there is always a urine test each time one goes in to the hospital. Pretty easy really, altho I never loved the cervix check, especially as we were at a teaching hospital so a student always got to do it a second time.

Cheesy, I am so behind in correspondence, I owe you a letter!! I am watching your stimming posts eagerly. If I could uncross my fingers I could send you a better message, but methinks fingers crossed is better for you for now!  ;)
 
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