Anyone starting IVF soon? First timer here …

Question

Hey everyone. Today is CD1, so I call my clinic tomorrow to start birth control in prep for stims/ egg retrieval and I am having ALL the feels.

I don’t want to do <a href="https://glowing.com/glow-fertility-program">IVF</a>. I don’t want the shots, the stigma, the price tag (no coverage here - fully out of pocket)…. But I’m also tired of the loss and disappointment from miscarriages and ectopic.

I’ve got :

✅ a great husband

✅ a fantastic therapist

☑️ friends and family who want to support me, but don’t always get it ….

Now all I need is a tribe who gets it …. Please reach out if you want to connect !

Answer

I’m sending you a big hug. I did three rounds of IVF and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, BUT it sounds like you have great support in your husband and therapist. Both my husband and therapist were the best supports for me. Some of my friends got it and other never will, but that’s ok. Please remember you’re allowed to need space and it’s not your responsibility to “teach” everyone in your life about IVF or explain every step of this process IF that is not helpful for you. It is so key to put you and your husband first right now. In the beginning, it was hard for me to verbalize what I needed (there is no way to know until you’re in it) so my advice is to be very open with your husband. Please take time for you and give yourself grace. This is also an AMAZING community support and knowledge that will help you through. Best of luck to you!!

Answer

Hey there! I had my first retrieval in February!! I was a bit of a mess before starting stims. I think it was a combo of bcps because I’ve never been on any birth control and the rollercoaster of hormones and just like you said all the emotions! I didn’t wanna do the shots either! I hate shots and my Menopur was IM daily! I did my shots at 3am and 3pm to accommodate my night schedule as a nurse and before my hubs leaves for work. It was a bit hard. I also didn’t tell my family specifically where I was in the process. But just general we were ding IVF… no timeline etc. I told a couple very close friends and that was it! It’s great you have a therapist! I didn’t have one prior so I didn’t feel it would help me as they wouldn’t know me before. At times I felt like my hubs didn’t get it, but I know he did his best to support me in the way he knew how, plus he saw all the shots and was a trooper and had to give me some of the 3am ones before he went to work or if I wasn’t at work and couldnt have my nurse friends do it and we had to wake up and do them at 3am. I felt like it was such a rollercoaster!We also paid all out of pocket!! That was also stressful with the price tag and knowing this likely is my only shot and almost no way we could do it a second round. I’m sooooo glad that part of stims and retrieval is over! You’ll get through it!!! Reach out here if that helps, lots of people are at the same place as you! Find something that helps you relax and unwind. Trying to keep busy isn’t always easy! All the best and you’ll get through this!! One day at a time!!! Best of luck

Answer

started ivf last year in may did shots all in my own before egg retrieval had 12 follicles get pulled 6 went on to fertilize all boys, only 3 made it normal 2 AA embryos 1 AB. we had two transfers fail and i was having a nurse friend to my progesterone shots. third time we transferred on the 20th and i had my husband participate and do all my shots this time. it made him feel more apart of the process and honestly i felt more connected to him. was so much less stressed. we just had a successful pregnancy test 4 weeks and 2 days. so honestly while i was deeply terrified of shots in the beginning and this was our last hope. i’m super happy that this made my husband a father. and we’re over the moon with it. my advice is don’t give up hope, and ask lots of questions double check and confirm  meds. if it fails keep going.

Anyone starting IVF soon? First timer here …

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