Sept / Oct 24

[Nevergiveup]

Woohoo I tested positive this morning. Clear blue digital showed 1-2 weeks. I’m so happy but equally so nervous especially with what happened with Rebecca and also scared because my last pregnancy ended with me delivering my baby at 16 weeks as he had stopped growing around 14 weeks due to an illness so I’m so worried that even the reassurance scan and 12 weeks scan is not actually going to help because I had those last time and everything looked perfect then.

I have a scan booked for 8th November. When is yours Lucy and Cheshirekat? The nurse said I’m 4 weeks and 4 days in the real world but that can change every scan.

I really want to be able to enjoy this pregnancy but I’m just so worried about something going wrong. I’ll test again in a few days/week to make sure the 1-2 moves on to 2-3 or 3plus.

How are you feeling Lucy/Cheshirekat?


Rebecca I wish I could give you a big hug. Let us know what your clinic says. See if you can get bloods done. My clinic won’t do bloods though x

[LucyAvalon]

Hey never give up, that’s fantastic news, congratulations!
I know that pregnancy after loos is really hard, it takes the joy away doesn’t it? Especially after what happened to you last time try to relax as much as you can. I keep telling myself, worrying won’t change anything so just got to focus on today being a good day.

My scan is on the 28th. I did a clear blue digital weeks this morning just to see what it said and it said 2-3 weeks since conception. I believe the threshold for 2-3 is 153hcg and 3-4 is over 2753 (although they are know for being very inaccurate!).

Rebecca - my clinic said they’d do blood HCG for £60. Last time I used a place called one day tests which do the hcg blood test either by walk in (if you have a local branch) or by post.

[Nevergiveup]

Lucy your scan is really early compared to mine. They said they scan at 8 weeks but I’m sure I was between 6-7 weeks last time. Even though we are all with the same company it’s strange how they all work totally different.

Do you know how many weeks/days you are? Did your clinic tell you how far you are? Have you booked your midwife appointment yet?

I know what you are saying with trying to relax etc. I think if I make it to 10 weeks and have the additional testing I’ll hopefully get (was told I would because of last time) and everything comes back low risk for Edwards, Patau’s and Downs then I’ll start to enjoy it, until then I’ll be a nervous wreck I think x

[LucyAvalon]

So I am 15 days post 5 day transfer, so I thought that would may me 4 weeks and 6 days - but I didn’t ask them. So at my scan I would be 6wks 6 days.
The clinics do seem different. A lady I spoke to on my last round had a scan at 6 and 8 weeks.
I guess maybe the clinics are all franchises under the banner of one name!

Really good news that you will get extra testing at 10 weeks. I’m sure that will help with the anxiety.

No I haven’t registered with the midwife yet, not sure if I was supposed to wait until after the scan! I think at my NHS trust anyone who has done IVF is consultant led, rather than midwife. Are you going to register with yours?

[Nevergiveup]

When the nurse from care called me she said to book with a midwife and they might even see me before my scan but when I called my drs they booked me for 13th November so a few days after the scan. The nurse also said that the midwife would refer me to get the extra testing and support needed for this pregnancy.
Yes ivf are consultant led. My natural one was too because I’d previously had an ivf pregnancy but I had major complications at birth where me and baby both nearly died so they wanted to monitor more and have a plan which was good.

It’s not really seeming real atm but I’ve noticed I’m weeing more today. Have you got symptoms yet? X

[Cheshirekat]

I hope things start to make sense soon, Rebecca. Just make sure the clinic knows you had that one positive.

Congrats on getting to then next step, Nevergiveup. I feel like the time after a BFP is almost more stressful, especially for those with previous losses. All we can do is keep calm. Wishing you the best!

My scan is on Halloween, so 7w4d. It would have been a few days earlier but my husband couldn’t make it then. It feels ages away.

No morning sickness yet, but the tests are still strong and we are at 5w4d. Time is dragging.

[Nevergiveup]

Hi Ladies how is everyone feeling?

Rebecca how are you doing? Did your clinic get in touch and give you some answers or explanations? Hope you are feeling better than yesterday but I’m thinking of you, which probably isn’t any consolation but I have been in your position many of times when others have that positive and you just feel the world is against you. I really feel for you, remember we have all been there so you aren’t alone, sending hugs x

[RebeccaMoorphy]

Hi Ladies how is everyone feeling?

Rebecca how are you doing? Did your clinic get in touch and give you some answers or explanations? Hope you are feeling better than yesterday but I’m thinking of you, which probably isn’t any consolation but I have been in your position many of times when others have that positive and you just feel the world is against you. I really feel for you, remember we have all been there so you aren’t alone, sending hugs x

Thanks nevergiveup.

I'm really sad. I'm a bit better than yesterday. I can't talk about it without crying but I'm better able to get on with things without thinking about it. The protocol with the clinic is to take meds for another 48 hours (until tomorrow) then test Thursday morning. I took a test this morning and it was negative. The nurse (who was so lovely) said false positives do happen sometimes. Honestly it's just shocking...it just feels like an impossibly cruel thing to happen in a 5 year saga of cruel awful things.

I'm absolutely broken from the whole thing.

[LucyAvalon]

Rebecca you have been on my mind too. It is incredibly cruel and messes with your head. I’m sure you are incredibly sad and angry. Sending you and your partner big hugs!

[Nevergiveup]

At least you have a bit of a plan Rebecca but with all the negative tests you have done I get why you feel the way you do. Do you have a long term plan for trying again when you have got your head around this one?

I don’t know why in this day and age they can’t make a test that is completely correct that we can do at home. I had the one on Monday that left me more confused than ever.

I decided to do another test today to make sure it was still positive. It was one of the cheap thin strip tests and I tested about tea time and hadn’t been to the toilet for 2.5 hours but it was negative. Now I’m worried!!!!!! I’ll test again in the morning but do I use another of the cheap strip tests or what? I’m dreading getting another negative x

[LucyAvalon]

Never give up - don’t know what the hcg threshold of the thin tests is? If I were you I’d prob do one of each tomorrow to compare! If you have enough tests of course.

[Nevergiveup]

Lucy the thin strip ones say 20. I’m not sure what the clear blue digital ones are though.
I was reading at 5 weeks the hcg can be as low as 19 but I would have thought at 4 weeks 5 days the level would be a fair bit higher than 20

[Nevergiveup]

Well looks like I’ve lost it and had a chemical pregnancy. Both a strip test and digital test have both said negative this morning.
I was so convinced everything was going to work. Not only have I lost my ‘baby’ I’ve lost all my hope of having it.
When you see the pregnant 1-2 you start to wonder and plan and it’s gone, absolutely gutted. I have 2 children but equally lost 2 now. How things can change in the matter of 24 hours and what’s worse is having to go over and over it with my clinic, drs, family that knew the process worked.
Absolutely devastated!

[LucyAvalon]

Oh I’m am so so sorry to hear this, devastated for you. So cruel and unfair. I’m sure you are distraught
An awful experience to go through.
Take some time to process it all and look after yourself. Sending big hugs.

Hope you are doing ok today Rebecca.

An awful unfair week for both of you

[Nevergiveup]

I’ve had a nurse call and they want me to continue with meds and test tomorrow morning. The normal is to retest in 2 days so wanted me to restest Monday when they are there. I said that I can’t see it would change back to a positive after 2 negatives today but with not having any worrying symptoms etc they want me to test tomorrow and they will take that result as what we will go with so I’m not in limbo for too long

[LucyAvalon]

That makes sense and well done for being vocal about the fact you don’t want to be in limbo until Mon!
Maybe get a sensitive premium brand non digital test - if there is anything you feel you can trust!

[Nevergiveup]

Well we are going away next weekend and I don’t want to be heavy bleeding still and it usually takes 3 days after I stop meds to get a withdrawal bleed.
I didn’t take my meds this morning so I ended up having to take them 1.5 hours late because they still want me to take them today but that is fine as I’m on high meds anyway so there’s not going to be nothing in my system.
I have a digital one here but maybe I should try a sensitive one.
I’m not sure if it makes a difference but my faint positive on Mon and digital positive on Tuesday I weed on the stick and all the negatives I dipped in a tube from drs.

[RebeccaMoorphy]

Well we are going away next weekend and I don’t want to be heavy bleeding still and it usually takes 3 days after I stop meds to get a withdrawal bleed.
I didn’t take my meds this morning so I ended up having to take them 1.5 hours late because they still want me to take them today but that is fine as I’m on high meds anyway so there’s not going to be nothing in my system.
I have a digital one here but maybe I should try a sensitive one.
I’m not sure if it makes a difference but my faint positive on Mon and digital positive on Tuesday I weed on the stick and all the negatives I dipped in a tube from drs.

I'm so sorry nevergiveup. It's just such a shit sandwich. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you and sending you so much love.

I had my last negatives this morning so have stopped my meds. Just want my period to arrive. Been bursting into tears randomly all week.

I've also emailed another clinic about getting a 2nd opinion on our case.

Going to set up a review with our consultant also.

[LucyAvalon]

Don’t know if you’ve come across Dr Tim Child, he sits on the HFEA board and does free q&a on Instagram, as well as sections on the BFN podcast.
He does consultations, impartial to being associated with a clinic, might be worth a look - https://www.drtimchild.com/private-consultations

[Nevergiveup]

Rebecca I get about the tears etc. I can’t even plan to see my consultant until tomorrow when I retest. She did say about a couple of tests if this didn’t work but it’s about immune system I think and something else but she said given I was 16 weeks when I gave birth earlier in the year that it should be fine as I got that far.

Lucy I’ve heard of Tim Child

[Nevergiveup]

So I’ve done what was asked and tested again just now on the digital one I had left and weed on the stick waiting for my negative. But got the biggest shock ever and it says pregnant 1-2 weeks.

How? How on earth can it be pregnant after 3 negatives?

How is it if I wee on the stick I’m pregnant but if I dip in the tube it’s negative?

The 2 digitals were from the same pack so now I’m thinking faulty batch but then there was the faint test the day before.

I was that convinced yesterday it was negative I stopped taking my meds and had to take them 1.5-2 hours late.

I think we are going to go to a different shop to get a range of tests because this is getting daft. I was so convinced I was wasting my time yesterday and that I was just going to get a negative this morning. I came out the bathroom looking confused and then telling my partner he looked confused too lol.

Well I’ll message my clinic in a bit as nothing makes sense. I did read yesterday that collecting the first part of your wee maybe contaminated with skin cells which is what I do so I’m either thinking that is the reason or Asda has faulty clear blues. Either way I’m in this waiting game a bit longer.

I even cancelled my midwife appointment yesterday but won’t be rebooking it for a bit now even if our wishes have come true.

If it’s a false positive then this is just being so cruel!


What do you ladies think? I’m a medical mystery lol.
How are you doing/feeling?

[LucyAvalon]

Wow this is crazy - I’ve never heard of some many different results in the space of a few days!! I agree going and getting a range of tests is the only option! Maybe if you speak to the clinic they would do an hcg blood test? I think sometimes they charge £60 but might be worth it.
I’m crossing my fingers that you get positive results today!!

I’ve been feeling like this isn’t real and surely it won’t work. I tried to embrace it a bit more so booked a midwife app yesterday.
Then I had some pink discharge last night and feared it was all over it seemed to stop fairly quickly. I did have bleeding at exactly this same point when pregnant with my son and I’m sure it lasted a week or two on and off so I’m hoping it just hormonal changes or something. The pregnancy tests are such a strong positive so at least that’s a comfort.

How’s everyone else?

[Nevergiveup]

Lucy try not to worry. I bled with both my successful pregnancies and some bright red too maybe around 6-8 weeks but a few days on and off, earlier with one and later in the time period with the other.

I had my call from the nurse at the clinic and she said to not test at any other time other than first thing in the morning and after a minimum of 6 hours without going to the toilet. She said only get the same brand and get the digital that says pregnant or not pregnant but not a week indicator because sometimes they still show 1-2 weeks at scans but everything is ok at a scan. She said it’s pointless doing a blood test because at this stage it doesn’t give reassurance even though I keep saying I just want the reassurance it’s ok and progressing ok because I don’t want to go through an experience like last time.

I’ve been told to not test until Monday and then if I want to do weekly tests until my scan to do that if it’s positive. She also said that getting a positive today was reassuring that it probably isn’t a chemical pregnancy because I wouldn’t have tested positive today if the levels of hcg were coming down.

She also told me not to use the cheaper thin dip tests as dip tests don’t seem as accurate although went on to say all tests now are super sensitive.

Anyway I went to Tesco’s this morning and the only digital tests they had were the weeks indicator so had to get that. She said avoid the line tests because you can wonder if it’s positive or negative whereas the digital is easier to read.

The trouble I have is waiting until Monday, that seems such a long time to wait if it’s going to be negative and then the added hassle if it’s negative then stopping meds then and then my withdrawal bleed after meaning I’ll be on when I’m away and I have extremely heavy periods where I have to change every 45-60 minutes for the first few days so it’ll just ruin my weekend away.

I best put my alarms back on because I switched them all off yesterday convinced I was going to get a negative this morning. I’m sick of being in limbo and it messing with my head x

[Cheshirekat]

What an effing whirlwind of a week we’re all having.

I had a tiny tiny bit of discharge earlier this week that was just tinged with a bit of brown. Read that it was normal around 6w so tried to ignore - it disappeared as quickly as it came. Returned yesterday a little lighter pink, but again only a small amount

This morning was a completely different level - though still not quite like a period. Local Early Pregnancy Units are all booked until next Friday but the receptionist said it can be normal. Feel a bit stuck - I can probably request HCG bloods from the GP to monitor, or wait it out. At this point, I feel like I can do is hope and wait.

[LucyAvalon]

Never give up - such conflicting advice about pregnancy tests given mine said to use a strip test and not a digital! Glad you got some more, even if it is the weeks one. Will you wait until Mon? I guess they want to give hcg some time to develop to give you a definitive answer but I agree it’s a long time to be in limbo.
I’m surprised they wouldn’t do hcg. Obviously it doesn’t guarantee success but it at least tells you if there is hcg and if it is rising.

Cheshirekat - sorry to hear you’ve had some spotting too. Has it continued throughout today or stopped? Even though I know it’s normal it’s still disconcerting isn’t it! Will you get bloods done? Are you still doing pregnancy tests?

I’ve had no more spotting today. Feel so exhausted though so feel my body is telling me to try and rest this weekend!