**Sensitive** 12 weeks pregnant, coming off IVF meds and nervous - advice needed

Hello

I was wondering if anyone else has been on the same drugs regime as me and come off them at 12 weeks without any problems. We had a FET in May, and we’re lucky enough to get our BFP. This is the first time we have got this far after a missed miscarriage at 7 weeks previously. I also had a big scare with this pregnancy as I had a heavy bleed at 5 and a half weeks and was convinced we had miscarried. By some miracle at our scan at 6 and a half weeks our baby was there with a heartbeat. My clinic put me onto lubion injections once a day, cyclogest pessaries 4 times a day and 4x progynova tablets a day… so it felt quite a lot. I had my last lubion jab 2 days ago and I’m weaning off the other drugs over this next week. I am just scared and so nervous, as far as the clinic is concerned I am no longer under their care and the NHS don’t monitor or seem to care that I’ve been on these drugs to sustain my pregnancy so far. I’ve never had my progesterone levels tested so no idea what they are.

Has anyone else gone through this? Did you feel any different or have side effects from coming off the meds? I swear I can feel more constant cramping all the time, whereas before it was on and off. Any advice on what I should do or is it all anxiety in my head?

I had to go for a NIPT test today as our odds for Down syndrome came back at 1:136. We would keep the baby either way. Also added to anxiety is I had my Covid jab yesterday and just hoping that was the right decision and won’t harm the baby (I know rationally it won’t have) and we are moving house in a week. Midwife has offered me a reassurance scan next Tuesday. Just struggling whether to listen to my head, my heart, my gut. Should I just go to A&E and get a scan now? But then what could they do if it was bad news anyway.

Any advice/reassurance/help would be soooo appreciated! Thanks Tilly xx

[Chiefy]

I remember the panic of coming off the progesterone (I was a different regime to you) and finished at 11+4. It was so frightening because in my mind that was what was sustaining my pregnancy.

The thing is, you are now at a point in your pregnancy where the placenta is sustaining your baby. You have had your scan so they will have checked your placenta, and unless you have been told otherwise it must all be looking good.

Infertility steals so much joy and innocence from us but please try to start to enjoy your pregnancy ( I know it's easier said than done). In my experience A&E won't always scan you, and given the covid levels at the moment you are probably best staying away.

There is nothing to suggest your pregnancy will be anything but a success now you are at the 12 week point.

Congratulations on your pregnancy x

[Hidden in reply to Chiefy]

Thanks Chiefy for your experience and words of wisdom - what you say makes total sense. I think it is more my anxiety playing havoc with me, will try and listen to some mindfulness. You’re right it’s infertility and bad experiences that leads me to expect the worse all the time. Thanks for taking the time to reply xx

[Jonesy84]

Hi lovely, firstly congrats on your pregnancy.it’s so normal to feel like this when we have been through a lot to get to get to this point.I had different meds but was on tablets and pessaries. The hospital started to lower the dose from week 10 so by week 12 I had stopped it altogether. Like you I was nervous as it feels like a protection blanket but I agree with Cheify that the placenta by now will have taken over I think that starts from wk 8 or something.

Weather you want to get a scan is your choice but tbh I know my hospital wouldn’t scan unless they felt it was necessary so maybe run it past them to give you peace of mind.

As for the covid vaccine I recently had my second jab and bubs is still very active.

I know it’s hard as we always manage to find something to worry about but try to enjoy the pregnancy too and I wish you all the best xxx

[Hidden in reply to Jonesy84]

Thanks so much for the reassurance Jonesy - I think I just needed to hear from another few women that had been through the same thing. Feeling a bit calmer tonight. Think I will keep the scan on Tuesday just as a bit of extra reassurance but will try to keep out of A&E unless I had bleeding or anything. Good to hear everything is good after your second jab too. Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy xx

[Jonesy84 in reply to Hidden]

No worries! This forum has been so handy when I was going through IVF na dat the beginning of the pregnancy when my mind would go into overdrive and like you say it was just good to hear other people were feeling the same or going through the sameGlad you are feeling calmer tonight and yes keep the scan more so the you can say hello to baby.

Thanks lovely 10 weeks left here can’t believe how fast it’s flown xxx

[Hidden in reply to Jonesy84]

You’re so right this forum and community has been a god send throughout the rollercoaster of IVF. Wow how exciting, enjoy your last 10 weeks and welcoming your little one into the world! Xx

[Lou1616]

Congratulations! My clinic told me to come of my meds at 9 weeks. I was very nervous but have been fine and felt a lot better in myself. I had my progesterone blood test checked and will continue to do so weekly to check my levels are ok. 🌸 x

[Hidden in reply to Lou1616]

That’s great to hear thanks! Great they’re monitoring your levels too - my clinic and midwives don’t seem to offer that. Fingers crossed mine goes ok too xx

[ChloeDE]

I was the exact same. I think I started reducing around 8-9 weeks and stopped completely by week 10-11. I was particularly apprehensive about coming off progesterone but, just before I started reducing, I did a progesterone test and my level was ridiculously high (almost 1000). That put my mind at ease that my body was doing what it needed to and I didn't need to supplement anymore.

[Hidden in reply to ChloeDE]

Thanks for the reassurance Chloe, it’s really helpful to hear all these positive experiences. I have no idea what my progesterone level was before, during or after! Hopefully everything will be ok xx

[Twiglet2]

I was worried about it and was told to stop all meds at week 12 but like you I weaned off the progesterone over a week or so. I had also had a previous early miscarriage and bleeding in my pregnancy up to 10 weeks. Everything was fine though when I came off the meds, your placenta and body has now taken over and we actually don’t need the meds past 8-10 weeks but some clinics keep you on a little longer until 12 weeks to be extra safe so we’ve already had that extra time too 🤗 totally understand your fear though I was the exact same. Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy xx

[Hidden in reply to Twiglet2]

Thanks Twiglet that makes total sense, just wish the clinic/midwives could explain it as well as you did! Reassuring to think I’ve had that but if extra time too, that’s really helped my anxiety. Thanks for taking the time to reply xx

[Bluedolphin1]

Hi Tilly. I am in the same position as you. I am 12 weeks tomorrow and have been told to come off the meds completely but am so worried about doing so. I have been told that the baby will be getting everything it needs from the placenta now and so the meds are doing nothing to help the baby anymore. Doesn't stop me worrying about coming off though, to me they are my comfort blanket that have kept my baby alive up up this point! I also had a miscarriage last time at 6 weeks and bled quite heavily this time around too. I am on 1x lubion, 3x cyclones and 3x progynova. Xx

[Hidden in reply to Bluedolphin1]

Hi Bluedolphin ahh welcome to the club! Yeah you are right and hearing everyone else’s positive stories is helping my anxiety too. It’s so tough that you just can’t switch it off sometimes! Feeling a bit calmer today, still feel very different but then I have no idea what being pregnant feels like, or coming off meds so just trying to roll with it and grateful I have another scan on Tuesday. I guess we have come to a point where we have to try and trust our bodies and we have reached the first major milestone. Really hope everything continues the way it should for the rest of your pregnancy xx

[Bluedolphin1 in reply to Hidden]

Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy too! X

[Whatarollercoster]

I was on very similar medication to you, just slightly less. 2 x Lubion, 2 cyclogest and 4 progonova. The clinic told me to start weaning from 10 weeks. I cut my lubion to 1 a day for 4 days and then alternative days for another 4 days and keep my cyclogest the same until I had a few days clear of Lubion. Then did 1 a day and then alternative days for a week each one. The proganova I cut to 2 a day for a week and then stopped. The anxiety is difficult but your body has got this 💪💪! Just do what feels right for you. It's great you have the reassurance scan.

I'm 28 weeks today had both vaccine and am feeling great if not slightly large 🤣. Just keep reminding yourself that everyday that passes your closer to holding your baby. I wish you the best for the rest.of your pregnancy xxx

[Hidden in reply to Whatarollercoster]

Thanks so much for your kind supportive words, means so much. So helpful to hear all these positive stories it has really helped my anxiety. Wow not long now for you, hope you have an enjoyable rest of your pregnancy and like you said we’ll be holding our babies soon enough xx

[Lapinblanc88]

Was on a lot of meds until 11weeks

From week 4 for a month I suffered everyday with bad cramps which reminded me of my previous miscarriages symptoms so lived my first trimester in fear as opposed to enjoying my little miracle ( I'm due any day now btw!)

Your body is already producing all these hormones and your placenta is getting quite big now.

All I can say is that I felt so so much better once I discontinued all the meds

Had my energy back, no more cramps etc.

I went for extra private scans just for my sanity

[Hidden in reply to Lapinblanc88]

Thanks so much, huge congrats to you and bet you can’t wait to have your baby in your arms! That’s positive to hear how much better you felt off the meds, fingers crossed the same happens for me. Yes good shout about the private scan, we have had one already at 10 weeks, but I could think about it in the future if I needed reassurance again xx

[courage2021]

hi, I am 25 weeks . honestly you will be ok. meds are not needed due to placenta taking over. its very scary I do understand I felt like you. but in fact I felt better coming off medication

[Hidden in reply to courage2021]

Thanks for your reassurance. I’m feeling so uncomfortable at the moment, I’m waddling around like I’m 8 months pregnant, feel so bloated, think I have lots of water retention, I’ve had a 5lb weight gain in this last week and hands are swollen and just constant pulling/cramping. Maybe it’s just my body readjusting, hopefully I will feel more comfortable next week! Thanks for your advice x