Sensitive / Surprise Natural Pregnancy - Anxiety triggered

[XOXO13]

Hi all,

A long post so I hope you can stay with me!

It has been a while since I’ve written my own post on here but I’m always following others journeys and comment when I feel I can offer some support from afar.

A little background; I’ve experienced two miscarriages and went through 2 IVF cycles and four transfers before welcoming my twins in February 2022. For that last transfer, I was put on an immune protocol and was taking a lot of medication throughout my pregnancy including intralipids, dexamethasone, progesterone (a lot of it) and clexane and aspirin.

We started trying for a sibling when the twins turned one, and 17 months later and preparing mentally and physically to start IVF again in October, I got a positive pregnancy test a few days ago after missing my period.

I’ve no real symptoms other than the occasional nausea and heavy hayfever which started a couple of days before I found out. I called my new GP (we’ve relocated) who directed me to the maternity services. I gave them my history and they advised after speaking to a consultant that as it’s a natural pregnancy, I don’t need to take anything (I specifically asked about blood thinners). Feeling uneasy, I text my private gynaecologist who has cared for me since my first miscarriage and delivered my twins for advice and he said to ask the GP for 400mg progesterone twice a day and to start taking aspirin. I’ll call them Monday and hope they agree to give me a prescription. By not taking anything right now, I hope I’ve not messed things up?!

I am feeling very anxious, triggered and just totally out of my comfort zone. With IVF, I was so closely monitored every few days throughout those first few weeks of pregnancy and now I just feel very alone and left to trust my body which I do not!

Has anyone been pregnant naturally after IVF and if so, can you share some stories of reassurance and provide any advice for me to get through the next few weeks? Did you take any medication or did you just trust that time was different? I’m terrified of experiencing another miscarriage.

Lots of love xx

[Millbanks]

I don’t have any advice I’m afraid but I’m thrilled for you.

I know your anxiety will be through the roof and hopefully someone will have some tips.

If it makes you feel more comfortable though, I would definitely take the extra meds xx

[XOXO13 in reply to Millbanks]

Thank you lovely 🤍 I’ve got my aspirin and waiting on the progesterone 🙏🏼 xx

[Fruitandflowers]

Yes, this happened to me and I am feeding a newborn at 3am right now I'd just had a BFN on a FET and was waiting for my period so I could do a natural FET. I'd never in 10 years TTC had a natural pregnancy and I didn't think it was possible. I'd also had 3 losses on IVF transfers and approaching 40 I thought my one successful transfer may have been it for me and my daughter would never have a sibling. But fastforward and I had two under two! My anxiety when I found out was pretty awful. I wasn't on any meds and had been out for boozy weekends, started a new job and was travelling a lot, and with my then 16mnth old, I was getting very little rest let alone sleep. So I thought I had ruined my one and only ever miracle natural pregnancy. I also called my IVF consultant in a panic - he was so reassuring and said it was so common (he was practically expecting it) and that natural pregnancies are usually successful because nature selected everything. He also said I didn't need meds but I could take progesterone and aspirin if I wanted to. I got my progesterone done and it was really high so I held my breath and took a leap of faith and didn't take anything. Until it all got very scary in the last couple of months (waters started to go around 28 weeks - had placenta previa and nothing tio do with IVF) it was a textbook low risk pregnancy. Maybe you could get your progesterone checked just in case? And if you get any symptoms (like spotting) you could have a stash ready? The wait for the first private scan was tough and it's really hard adjusting to the uncertainty over dates when you've had the controlled timing of IVF. But from the 12 week scan that side of things gets easier. It's a wonderful terrifying thing to happen and feel free to PM me if it helps x

[XOXO13 in reply to Fruitandflowers]

Hello, thank you so much for your reassurance and kind words. Huge congratulations on the birth of your surprise miracle baby! Did you have an early scan? I think I’m going to book one of those to have something lined up. My GP said she’d give me the progesterone if the private gynaecologist can email her so hoping that can be sorted and at least like you say, I’ve got that stashed in case I need it! I’ve also started taking aspirin! I’ve done four tests now so I may need to just trust that this could actually be a miracle pregnancy too 🙏🏼🤞🏻

So happy to hear it’s all worked out for you after a tough journey xx

[Fruitandflowers in reply to XOXO13]

Yes I had an early scan, around what I was guessing was 6+3 and they saw the sacs and it was in the right place but they couldn't see much else and no heartbeat. They said it was behind my estimated dates but all fine and to come back in two weeks. So of course I freaked out Went back two weeks later and it was wriggling on the screen! Up to you but I'd be tempted on a natural pregnancy to wait until at least what you think is 7 weeks. You may be lucky and have an early implanter and developer, but it made me very anxious for those two weeks (although so did everything else so...) Great news on the progesterone!

[XOXO13 in reply to Fruitandflowers]

Thank you, that’s also good to know! I was thinking of booking a scan around 7/8 weeks as by then there should definitely be a heartbeat. The whole process makes me scared, having scans scare me still despite me having a successful pregnancy with the twins. My first miscarriage was a missed miscarriage so I think scans just take me back to that moment! Praying it’s all okay 🙏🏼 thank you for your reassurances xx

[K8dferXdder]

hi there, I was so happy to see your post about the pregnancy but so sorry you’ ve lost it you helped me a lot during my journey and I remember you, so thought of messaging you. Where you were monitored before, my friend managed to get just monitoring at that clinic.

Also I think you could safely take the steroids and the clexane without being monitored regularly if you had prescription or if you keep some extra medicines from the previous pregnancy (at least this is what I am planning to do if I become pregnant again).

[XOXO13 in reply to K8dferXdder]

Thank you 🤍

I think we are nearing towards just focusing on the IVF rather than trying naturally, so that we have the full support of the clinic and the medication to support the pregnancy itself. I don’t trust my body to stay pregnant on its own because it’s not been able to previously and once again now. I know they say miscarriage is common, but it doesn’t make it any easier to have to experience it multiple times. I know IVF doesn’t prevent miscarriage, but it offers more of a safety net than I have felt I’ve had with this pregnancy.

That’s a sensible plan to keep some meds aside or just line the ones up you feel you need. I hope you’re getting on well 🤍 xx