SIL and IVF

[nut]

Heya! Hope it is OK to post here... I haven't had any experience with IVF myself but my Brother and Sister in law are starting their first cycle at the moment. They are very excited and seem very confident that it will work out for them first time. They have been trying for years with different things like injections and IUI and I just really hope it works out for them. I guess what I want to know is how successful is IVF in general? She is 33, if that is relevant, and they have non-specific infertility.
Also, do you have any tips as to what I should say or not say, do or not do in order to support them the best way possible.
TIA!:)

[cindyc]

Hi Tia, from all of the information I have read success rates vary. But the http://www.mivf.com.au site is a good place to have a look. Cindy

[Cian's Mum]

Hi Nut .

I'm going through IVF at the moment and it's not something that I have told to a lot of people .. mainly because before starting the treatment , it's hard enough to go through it with my hubby and myself and also because I don't want people to ask me questions all the time .
My family leaves overseas and we basically don't talk about it only when I feel like and that does not put any pressure on me at all ... I appreciate that my Friends and family respect that ...
I think the best thing to do is to let them know that you are here ... it's something very personal to go through and unless you have been going through yourself , it's hard to "understand " ... Your Sister in Law will be happy to find someone to talk to when she will feel the moment ...
I hope those few words will help you .. but that's the way I feel about people while I'm on the other side ...
Good luck .
Beatrice.

[nut]

Thanks, gals! My SiL lives overseas too, so we have that wierd awkwardness about whether to ask or not over the phone. Thanks for your insights. We have been not mentioning it unless they bring it up, but we were concerned that it might seem as if we don't care. I have emailed long ago saying that we are in their corner and if they need anything to call on us, so I think i'll continue to take a relaxed approach.

[Cian's Mum]

Hi Nut .

I guess it's a fine line between " Of course we care , but we don't want to bother you as well ... " .
Play by ear but as I said , let them know that you are around and internet is very good for this ... you say what you went to say !!! :p , and same for them on the other side of the world .
Believe me , if your SIL feels like she needs to talk , she will find the way ...:) ... because that's what I'm doing ...

[cindyc]

Hi Nut and Beatrice,

we haven't told any friends or work only family. My sister went though IVF five years ago and had her first boy after 6 tries. She was finally successful on her last egg. Then two years later she conceived naturally. My family are very hopeful for me which is nice, but I also don't want to feel too disapointed if it doesn't happen for us now. We will tell our family if we are successful but they will be sworn to secrecy until we clear the first trimester. Cindy

[nut]

Well, as an update, the IVF went very well for my SiL! She is pregnant on their first cycle. We have been over the moon, but today she emailed to say that the Hcg readings are not panning out the way they should be. They have an ultrasound on the 9th of March, and won't know what is happening until then. Does anyone have any experience with this? What does it mean? Should I be worried? I have an awful feeling in the pit of my tummy all the time now. She said she hopes that the fact that her blood is oddly concentrated is meaning that the readings are wrong. Does this sound familiar to anyone who has gone through IVF? She also said that she is very swollen from a "ovarian hyperstimulation".
Reassure me please!!!!

[cindyc]

Hi Nut, sounds like I could have written your last post. I had OHSS as well as really low hcg readings. I've just had my first scan on Friday and saw the little heartbeat on the screen, so everything looked good. Had an appointment with my Dr afterwards and asked him what relevance low hcg has and he said nothing now because we had seen the bubs. Only a 10% chance of not having a full term pregnancy. They use hcg as the indicators for a progressing pregnancy, but when you've had a good scan that all seems to go out the window. I think it's really only if the hcg starts to drop there is a chance of m/c. It was really a horrible rollercoaster ride every week when we got the hcg levels, but everything can work out well. Oh, it was our first IVF transfer as well, hope this helps you. Cindy

[my babyemmy]

hello, i want to tell you about us, the IVF worked for us the first try, i also have 20 spare frozen embryos, so when this happened the Dr's couldn't tell me the percentages.Anyway thanks to the IVF we have our little miracle baby:hugs:
best of luck to your brother & sister in law:fingerscrossed:

[Cian's Mum]

Hi Nut ...

That's a wonderful news ...

Cindy went through this same experience ... so you can trust her :thumbsup:

Talking about the " hyperstimulation " , I have been VERY hyperstimulated : I could not sit properly for few days , I thought I was sitting on eggs or balloons ... not even been able to stand up ( feeling like I was 6 months pregnant !! ) . Everything is normal and it will go away . They say that it can take few days to few weeks to get this out for your system ...

Take care.