Natural FET - any positives?

[MonkAK]

Hi All,

Its been a while since I posted here but, after our first shot at IVF ended in a chemical pregnancy a few months ago, we are all set to go with a natural FET this month. I had a scan yesterday and everything is progressing naturally as it should be and I am now waiting for my ovulation tests to tell me I am surging so that I can let the clinic know and they can get me in for transfer.

I was just wondering if anyone here has had any positive experiences of a natural FET as everyone who I've mentioned it to in real life looks at me blankly!

Best of luck to everyone, Xx

[Sprinkles86]

I haven't had one before but am hoping to have one in January.... sounds like it's a lot less stress on your body! I am at the recurrent miscarriage clinic next week for further investigations before we do the FET... this was my third miscarriage so they want to check there's nothing else affecting our chances xxx

[MonkAK in reply to Sprinkles86]

Hi Sprinkles,

Yes, I was really pleased when my consultant said that she didn't think there would be any difference in success rate between a natural and assisted - the natural really appealed to me as all the drugs and hormones made me go a bit crazy last time, plus I think all the preparation makes it such a big 'thing', which just adds to your stress levels. I have been able to take this one in my stride much more and generally be so much more relaxed which can only help. I'm sorry to hear that you've suffered so many MCs, I hope you can get some answers soon. Xx

[Sprinkles86 in reply to MonkAK]

Yes the stress really takes its toll on you doesn't it?! Thank you I am hoping we can too, I am just praying one of our frozen embies is the 'one' xxxx

[Bumpwanted]

Yes me I am now 15 weeks pregnant after a natural FET no scans no drugs just tested my ovulation and then had transfer 6 days after my peak was detected! my last natural one before this one ended in a chemical pregnancy so I think natural FET's are great, much less stressful and they work just aswell your body knows what to do, it doesn't know if you have had drugs or not all it does is react to the embryo that lands inside it it doesn't know how it got there..

Everything crossed for u X

[MonkAK in reply to Bumpwanted]

Hi BumpWanted - congratulations on your pregnancy! I am hoping that my body will know what to do. I have certainly felt so much less stress this time round due to not taking all those crazy hormones and not having to take so much time off work. I should 'surge' in the next couple of days and then they said they will transfer 7 days after that as our embryos were at 5 days when they froze them.

What advice can you give in terms of what to do to improve our chances after transfer? Last time I totally detoxed for 3 months prior; gave up caffeine, booze, ate all organic and massive amounts of protein, brazil nuts, etc. This time I have not been quite so militant, just because I think I am generally more relaxed about the whole thing. I have given up caffiene, am eating a (fairly) balanced diet, have limited myself to a couple of glasses of red a week and am drinking tonnes of water. I'm also having acupuncture. Anything else you think I should do?

Thanks for any tips you can give and wishing you a wonderful and enjoyable pregnancy! Xx

[Tugsgirl in reply to MonkAK]

May I ask how many blastocysts are you having put back at transfer? x

[MonkAK in reply to Tugsgirl]

Hi Tugsgirl, we only have 2 and are having them both put back. We can choose one or two but they both have to be thawed at the same time as they were frozen together so we are going with them both. X

[Bumpwanted in reply to MonkAK]

Hey Hun I was relaxed like you I still drank some wine even on my peak day and ate well but ate what I wanted too, I tend to avoid caffeine anyway.. I had acupuncture pre and post transfer and listened to zita west relaxation during IVF everyday during the first week of the TWW. Someone advised me to eat warm foods and keep your feet warm so I did that too I rested but also tried to walk everyday too as I thought it was good to get blood circulating to the uterus

Good luck Hun I will have everything crossed for you!

Lou X

[Tugsgirl]

Following. Hoping to have one in January or February at the latest x

[MonkAK in reply to Tugsgirl]

Good luck! I can recommend it so far but time will tell whether it is successful or not... I'll keep you posted. X

[MommaBear16]

Wishing you lots of luck and sending lots of love x x x

[MonkAK in reply to MommaBear16]

Thank you lovely. Same to you! Xxx

[Datak]

Hi sweetie, I had a positive with both my natural fet cycles. My first one didn't last but this one is doing well (fingers crossed ... early days and all at 10 weeks). I thought that the natural fet was so much better (for my mental health at the very least) compared to even the fresh transfer!! I go along totally with bumpwanted's advice ... including th ekeeping the fwet warm thing Take care, try to keep as relaxed and balanced as possible. ... all my best wishes are being sent your way xxx

[MonkAK in reply to Datak]

Thank you Datak and huge congratulations ...I have dug my thermal socks out on your's and BumpWanted's advice! Wishing you all the best for the rest of your pregnancy. Xxx

[Hk12]

MonkAK, I appreciate this is an old post but would appreciate your help please.. I’ve just had a failed medicated FET.. I’m having a bleed now after stopping all the medicines and thinking of jumping into another FET straight away but natural this time... my period used to be regular but I have no idea how the IVF would have changed it.. did you get normal period before starting natural FET? I’m just hoping i didn’t make a mistake by choosing natural over medicated.. I just like the idea of letting my body to deal with things but then having said that, it’s the body that never been able to conceive naturally if you could share any experience with natural fet, it will be really helpful!!

[MonkAK]

Hi Hk12,

Sorry to hear about that your last cycle was unsuccessful. This post was a long time ago now and my memory of that time is a bit fuzzy, but my natural cycle was successful and we now have a 3 year old daughter, Margot.

I would completely recommend a natural FET over medicated and if we were to venture down the IVF route again, I would no doubt go that way. Yes, my consultant said I needed to wait until my next natural period to have it after the failed medicated one, but it arrived on time as usual. We ended up waiting an extra month to go on holiday, which I think was really helpful in preparing my body as I just relaxed for a week.

I did follow all the advice on this thread - kept my feet warm (my heating was up SO high all winter, my house was boiling!) Etc. For me, I’m sure a more positive mindset and lack of stress was key in it being successful. I found the medication of IVF really tough and it made me go a bit mad.

I hope that helps, please feel free to get back in touch if you want to ask anything else, and good luck. Xx