Need to hear success stories please!

[Quinn]

Good morning ladies! A friend of mine told me that I'd find some IVF success stories here, so instead of hunting for them, I'm just going to ask straight out to hear about them! I think this site is wonderful and supportive and I appreciate it! I could use all the positive reinforcement possible and REALLY need to hear about the first IVF "positives" to give a little hope. I know they're out there. The last time (which was few months ago) I asked a question, someone responded that "not many people get pregnant on their first IVF----it's a "practice run" for the RE's. Crush. Well, I'm not sure that's true or not, although I did ask my RE who said "we don't practice on anyone----we treat everyone individually and not all treatments are the same." At any rate, while I'm not fooling myself that everyone has ideal outcomes, I just mentally need to focus on the good right now!!

ANYWAY, I am in the middle of Lupron shots now. I finish birth control TODAY, and they have me taking a baby aspirin and nightly low dose dexamethasone (steroid). I have a miserable sonohyst and "transfer trial" procedure on Feb 9. Then we start stims and they are giving me a tentative retrieval day of around 2/23 and blast transfer around 2/28 if all goes as hoped. This is our first attempt at IVF and my husband, while wonderful, isn't really able to talk about it much because he's petrified of getting his heart broken...and he watched some reality show (with that model---can't remember her name) and they had a terrible outcome, so he's petrified now, even though he knows there are no guarantees. SOOOOOOOOo, I need to find some good news for him too.

We'd both love to hear your good stories and any tips for a ROOKIE IVFer that you have. Our "diagnosis" is unexplained.... we both check out fine. (sometimes low sperm counts, but it's highly variable) Many failed IUI's in our past. We're both optimistic, but also can't afford to do this 5-6 times either. We're both ok with the idea of trying it twice----and maybe 3 times, but that's all we can borrow!!

Thanks in advance for the positive words. Have a super day and good luck to you ALL in your efforts to become mommies!
Quinn!!

[jenbethk]

Hi Quinn,

After 3 unsuccessful IUIs, my first IVF cycle was positive and I was pregnant with twins!!! It can absolutely happen and you should have every reason to feel positive that it could happen for you, too! Unfortunately, I m/c at 7 1/2 due to what I now know is an elevated level of homocystine. It is a blood clotting problem and I am now on baby aspirin and Folgard (Folic Acid and Vitamins B6 & B12). My 2nd IVF was then negative, but I'm about to have my transfer on Wed., 2/2 for my first FET and I'm feeling very positive about it!

Aside from myself, I know several other girls who got pregnant on their first IVF cycle, and they're several weeks along. So it is definitely the real thing!

I wish you the very best of luck!
Jen

[jenbethk]

Just to clarify, I m/c at 7 1/2 weeks. Just proof read that and realized I made a boo boo.

Jen

[Quinn]

Thanks so much Jen! I'm terribly sorry to hear about your miscarraige. We've experienced one as well (at 12 weeks) and I know well how devastating it is.
BUT, good news for you----the transfer is this week and I'll keep you in my prayers! GOOD LUCK! ??How many frozen embryo's did you have?

(My name is Jenny too----too many "jens" when I registered, so I use my niece's name, Quinn. So, from one Jen to the next----many good wishes!)

THANKS for the optimism and good news story. We need to hear these things!

[DianeCA]

Quinn/Jen :

After a few IUIs, we were successful with our first IVF and now have 2.5 yr old DD to prove it! I have never heard of the "practice run" concept - my RE has very high success rates with 1st IVFs, so don't listen to that old advice!!!
I am starting lupron on 2/20 for our 2nd, and hopefully it will be just as successful as our first!
We are unexplained too - so you can give your DH our example to make him feel better. We were so scared the first time we ended up in counseling - it really helped!!

Anyway, good luck to you and I am sure you will get a lot of fist IVF success stories here!!!

[marya]

It's not so much that first IVF cycles are "practice runs" but rather, if it doesn't work the first time, that you shouldn't get discouraged because though the cycle may have failed, your RE will learn a ton about the particulars of your body and your embryos. Plenty of women get pg the first time around. Personally I didn't, but I did get pg on my second fresh cycle and my 1st FET, so that is 2 out of 3 treatments -- very good odds.

One thing you may want to look into if you don't have insurance coverage is a shared risk program. The way most of them (but not all) work is that you pay the equivalant of two cycles upfront. If you get pg that first time you've double paid. However if you don't, then you are usually given 2 more fresh cycles and any frozen cycles. If none of them work then you get either all or a good percentage of your money back so that things like adoption or moving to another clinic are financially available to you. It really takes the stress off of you while cycling -- you don't feel like everything is riding on one cycle.

Good luck!

[Miriam]

(Child, pg & m/c ment)

I had 6 iui's all BFN. My first IVF was also neg. From IVF #2 I now have DS. IVF #3 was also BFP but I m/c at 7 weeks. I'm now starting lupron tonight for IVF#4 and our final one.

I do know 2 people who are PG from their first IVF. So it does happen.

Looks like we are close in our cycle. My estimated retreival is been the 19th and the 23rd.

Why don't you join the lovebug babies group. We are all cycling in Feb.

We are also unexplained.

Miriam

[Quinn]

Thanks everyone for your input. My husband is at a meeting this afternoon and I can't wait to let him read this stuff to give him some "good vibes" from you all!

Mayra: 2/3 is AWESOME and hopeful in itself! Many congratulations to you and thank you for sharing. Re: the shared risk program, it is something that we struggled with in this decision making. We ultimately chose to "risk it" for this first one with cash (borrowed). Our decision was agonizing but basically determined because my husband would positively commit to 2 trials, and "maybe" 3.....and as you know, you've both got to be on the same page. If we were to get pregnant after twice, it was almost a "wash" in expense with or without the shared risk plan. If we had frozen embies, that would have obviously given us a little edge, but there's no guarantees that will happen either. I think the shared risk has its pros/cons....but, the only way you really save money is if you have to do it the 3rd time. Basically, we are "going for it" this time and if it doesn't work (god forbid) then I'll revisit the issue with my husband and see how many times he truly IS willing to try this after experiencing it once. Thanks though for your advice----sincerely appreciated!

Miriam: also congrats on your #2 cycle success!! What a blessing. And, my heartfelt sorrow for the m/c. What is the "luvbug babies group?" I'd love to join. Thanks again!

Diane: YIPPEE. THat's what I wanted to hear!! I hope your second attempt here will be as fruitful and I tremendously appreciate your sharing your story! Many congrats and thanks to you!

I LOVE to hear good news and NEED it right now more than ever! THANKS! Jenny (quinn)

[AtoZduo]

Hi Jen/Quinn-
After having 2 uterine m/c's several yrs. ago and an ectopic pregnancy in the fallopian tube that ruptured, I was left with one open tube.
When my DH and I were ready to start a family several yrs. later it was discovered that endometriosis had taken over, blocked my remaining tube and damaged it along with lots of endo attached to my ovaries and uterus. Oh, and a big fat cyst!
Last year I went to a fertility specialist and in 9-04 I had a lap to remove the cyst, completely close my remaining tube and removal of the endo scar tissue.
Here comes the GOOD news! We did our FIRST IVF in early December -(which was our first fertility treatment- since IUI wouldn't help due to the eggs not being able to go anywhere..)
and on 12-22- we got a BFP!! Our RE told us we had a 50% chance. We oinly implanted 2 embies-(on day 5 and they were at the blast stage). They BOTH took!! I am currently 9 1/2 wks. pregnant with twins and they are doing great.
I hope this story helps you and DH. It can happen on the very 1st try! Best of luck to you.
Andrea

[Erin26]

After 2 rounds of clomid & 4 IUIs (resulting in 2 ectopic) I am 19 weeks pregnant with a single baby from IVF #1. I had 20 eggs retrieved and only 4 make it to day 3. We implanted 3 of the 4.

Erin
Dx PCOS
Age 27 DH 27