Preparing for 2nd Transfer

[TazG101]

Hi All, I had a failed FET transfer back in September and I am now prepping for my 2nd transfer middle of November. I was so so so positive back in Septmeber and our world crashed when it did not work. I am struggling to keep positive for this transfer as both me and my husband were absolutely heartbroken when we got the call to say our last transfer was not successful.

I am 32 with PCOS and have 3 embryos left. We did not get them tested which I am regretful for now, but my clinic did not recommend it due to my age and the fact our only issue was PCOS.

My lining only made it to 6.3mm before transfer last time, but the clinic were happy to proceed as they said this could be my 'normal' and it only reached 6.8mm during egg collection. However, they have decided to put me on patches this time round to see if the lining grows a bit thicker. My hormone bloods after the transfer did not indicate a reason for the transfer not working so we will probably never know.

I am feeling so anxious , nervous and angry, and I am kind of rebelling a little e.g. enjoying my takeaways, I love exercise so I have been running and spinning and plan to do an adventure race next weekend to feel 'alive' again (which I know is probably not advisable as I will probably have started the patch). I did everything right the last time, and were just met with grief.

Advice, uplifting stories welcome!

TIA XX

[JA-fnuk Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Sorry to read your post and sending you good luck wishes your future treatment cycle Have you asked the clinic if they can suggest any supplements that maybe beneficial for you ? Make sure having a healthy diet - wholegrain bread /pasta /brown rice Fresh colourful fruit and veg especially green leafy ones Avoid too much sugar and processed foods Drink plenty of clear fluids - cut back on tea and coffee Try fruit teas and decaff coffee

Take care

Janet-Partner

[Eloquentia]

Hi TazG101! PCOS here too though a bit older than you. I was in a very similar place as you after our first transfer with our top embryo, which failed. We took a break from it all for a few months to grieve and then went on a holiday abroad to live normally for a week, with no rules and anxieties. It helped us a lot! I was quite hopeless and negative in the run up to our second transfer, which worked despite my fears and gave us our baby girl. I went to a few fertility reflexology sessions before the FET, which really helped me relax. Like you, I had thinner lining for the first transfer, so I drank a glass of pomegranate juice a day in the run up to the second one. I don't know if it was the pomegranate or something else, but my lining was a couple of cm thicker the second time. I also took oral and vaginal probiotics and baby aspirin. Did they test your progesterone levels before the first transfer? Mine was on the low side the first time, as well as two days before my second transfer and on the day of the second transfer, so the clinic ended up tripling my dose. Very best of luck the second time! I hope it is your lucky one

[TazG101 in reply to Eloquentia]

Thank you so much for the reply! Can I just ask, did you request that your progesterone was checked before transfer? They told me my hormone bloods looked fine when they took the blood test for HCG. I also asked about aspirin, and my consultant told me that it would not be something she would consider for me at this stage (maybe because of my age?).

I have buckets of pomegranate juice from my previous transfer so I will definitely take that. I am hoping that the estrogen patches increase my lining for this transfer and hopefully we will get our BFP right in time for xmas

[Eloquentia in reply to TazG101]

You are very welcome! I had to insist in the strongest terms that my progesterone was checked two days before my second transfer and on the day of the transfer and I am very glad I did, because I think it made the difference. I also insisted that it was checked with my first transfer (we are NHS funded and my clinic doesn't routinely check progesterone)- they checked it on the day, it was low so they gave me a bit more but I think it was insufficient given the low results on the increased dose during the second transfer. Aspirin is not age-related at the implantation stage, it increases the blood flow to your uterus, which could help implantation. I believe the jury is still out on that. It is also a two-edged sword as I discovered because it increases your risk of developing a subchorionic haematoma, which is already higher for IVF pregnancies. It is an internal bleed that can cause a miscarriage. Luckily, mine didn't. Aspirin given later on during the pregnancy can be age-related because it is intended to mitigate the risk of preeclampsia, which is higher for older women. I hope this is helpful. I got my BFP right before Christmas, I was due to test on 24 December. All fingers crossed you get your Christmas miracle!

[TazG101 in reply to Eloquentia]

Thank you so much, all of this information has been so so helpful! I will push for progesterone bloods before transfer - we are HSE funded so I may have to fight a bit. Good to know about the aspirin. I had heard it can lead to haematoma and ultimately miscarriage and all of the above makes sense now. So happy you got your BFP and here's hoping the next few weeks will go well for us as well. Appreciate it!

Tara

[AnnanyaBiswas]

Even my 1st transfer in last year Aug was unsuccesful. Went through ERA +hyst test. Been through 2nd transfer this april....and got BFP. I know its quite hard...but try to be positive as it really affects the hormones which play major role in this. Also, with our experience we got to know that 8mm endometrium is optimum for implantation. Currently in my 8th month pregnancy. Baby dust to all wud be moms.... Please pray for me and my baby...❤

[Toffeepudding99]

I followed all of Janet’s advice after my first cycle ended in an early miscarriage. I ate as clean as I could for all three meals, drank water like I expected a drought and paired with making sure I took my folic acid and vitamin D daily. I also made sure that I took plenty of time for ME; to make sure that I felt rested and de-stressed - by that I mean I carried on working in the usual way but after I would take myself to my bedroom and lay and listen to some calming music for 45mins to an hour; just to picture a healthy pregnancy - this really helped with positivity - I kept telling myself that my body COULD DO THIS and never let that thought waiver.

My clinic sent me for a progesterone test the morning of both my transfers so they knew whether to increase my progesterone - the first cycle I took 3 x Cyclogest a day and my second, although my result was marginally lower my progesterone was increased to have prontogest every three days on top. I also took aspirin.

Im 40 - 41 in early January and expect the arrival of my baby boy around that time.

You can do this! ♥️

[TazG101]

Thank you for the reply, this is really positive! The clinic do not want to out me on aspirin, but I dont know why. And they were not keen on testing my progesterone the day before transfer as they said there is 'no indication to do this' but I might push for them to do it.