After an IVF Cycle, if it is successful, should I "feel" pregnant?

By mopeybuthopey Jul 22, 2014

Hi ladies -- for those of you who went through IVF cycles, successful or unsuccessful, did you just "know" what the outcome would be one way or another? I am telling myself that even hopped up on all those fertility meds, I felt no different (and even wondered if it was all working!) until the day before egg retrieval, when I could finally feel my ovaries.

Google is my nemesis, but this two week wait is driving me to insanity. I feel like everyone out there just "knows" one way or another, and here I am and I don't feel ANYTHING. I feel THE SAME as I always do. So I'm convinced it didn't work and sulking. I acknowledge that this is silliness.

For what it's worth, I'm 5dp5dt, so an equivalent of 10DPO. My test is not until the equivalent of 19DPO (UGH!!!) so I have a long ways to go

thanks in advance.

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Tags: IVF

62 comments

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Caly
nectarine / 2765 posts

Jul 22, 2014

Honestly, I didn't have a feeling/intuition either way. Being jacked up on so many hormones I don't think there could have been a way for me to pinpoint any symptoms toward pregnancy, not to mention, too early to really know for sure anyhow. As hard as it was to do, I tried my best to not take every ache/pain & boob twinge as good or bad news.

I'm so sorry your wait is so tough! It can honestly make you crazy. My fingers are crossed for you!
Caly
nectarine / 2765 posts

Jul 22, 2014

Also, google is the devil. Seriously, the devil.
LAZB
pomegranate / 3904 posts

Jul 22, 2014

I don't have experience with IVF, but I don't think you would necessarily "feel" either way. One of my best friends did IVF twice, the first time unsuccessfully, although she thought it had worked. The second time she was weary, didn't think it had necessarily worked, and she is now almost 26 weeks with twins.
Mrs. Pickle
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts

Jul 22, 2014

I felt the same all three times. Twice I got BFNs and the last time I got a BFP. The day after my BFP I started feeling mild symptoms.

Try not to google! Easier said than done, I know.

Also, test if it will put your mind at ease.
GreenThumb
pear / 1986 posts

Jul 22, 2014

@mopeybuthopey: I know the waiting sucks!! Looks like things worked this time around (I got a squinter yesterday at 6dp5dt), but I definitely don't feel anything in particular, intuition, symptoms or otherwise. I just couldn't hold out so I POAS. If anything, I would say I have bloating and some cramping like I would before AF! Definitely fingers crossed for you!! Are you going to wait until the beta or POAS earlier? You are not out until the beta says one way or another, so keep the hope alive!!
BSB
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts

Jul 22, 2014

I have only had experience with IUIs, not IVF. But I have my FX for you and lots of ! If this last IUI fails, I'll be on that IVF train soon.
LuLu Mom
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts

Jul 22, 2014

No advice, just fingers crossed for you to have a successful outcome!
mopeybuthopey
grape / 94 posts

Jul 22, 2014

thanks ladies. @greenthumb -- congratulations to you!!! I have zero bloating or AF like symptoms, but have not had them all along and I actually don't get AF cramping usually (though my bowels kind of hate me during that time -- TMI, haha, sorry). I think triggering with Lupron instead of HCG kind of spared me from some of the bloating that is associated with post-egg retrieval discomfort. My RE was afraid I was going to overstimulate if I triggered with HCG (we had over 30 eggs retrieved), so I was definitely at risk!!!

I'm not sure yet whether to test!! Leaning toward perhaps holding off, though 19DPO to test is crrrrrrrrrrrrrruel haha
twodoghouse
honeydew / 7230 posts

Jul 22, 2014

I didn't have a feeling either way. After the fact, I look back and think "oh, that was probably a symptom" but at the time I didn't think I was actually pregnant. Are you going to test at home before your beta? Fingers crossed for you!
Mrs Green Grass
pomelo / 5628 posts

Jul 22, 2014

It's probably hard to feel anything at all after all those eggs and meds! I felt really crampy but low in my uterus. That was the only difference from any other bfn cycle. The bigger symptoms didn't start until later.
bloved
persimmon / 1114 posts

Jul 22, 2014

I felt absolutely no different with my successful ivf cycle. I even had some pre-af cramping and thought I was definitely out. Fingers crossed for you!!
ShootingStar
coconut / 8472 posts

Jul 22, 2014

I don't know anything about Lupron triggers, I always had HCG ones, but I imagine it would be out of your system before 19DPO? I would start testing at home, the waiting would kill me. But I'm the girl who liked to test out the trigger at 6 or 7 DPO.

I only did TI, not IVF, but I'd say that for *anyone* that early in pregnancy you wouldn't necessarily feel a certain way. In hindsight you might be able to point to some feelings later as feeling the pregnancy, but IDK, I never really felt "pregnant" until MUCH later.
mopeybuthopey
grape / 94 posts

Jul 22, 2014

Hi @shootingstar, the Lupron trigger doesn't have to be tested out actually -- it doesn't result in a positive pregnancy test, unlike the HCG, which is what the POAS tests are looking for

The only bad thing about a Lupron trigger is that instead of doing the suppository progesterone, you HAVE to do the progesterone oil injections, since Lupron causes your whole reproductive system to be suppressed.

Also, you can only use Lupron as a trigger if you didn't use it earlier in your cycle, which is why most ladies still use HCG. But it's a good alternative if you are at risk of OHSS
mopeybuthopey
grape / 94 posts

Jul 22, 2014

Also I'm so glad so many of you didn't feel a darn thing!! Because that is definitely me right now!! the blast they put in there looked good and the embryologist liked it. It wasn't yet hatching, but its development over the five days had been right on schedule. So I hope that little bugger is still alive and implanted down there! Guess I just always thought I would KNOW. I am under this delusion that I am going to have a "mother's intuition."

But if this cycle is successful... then there goes that

xoxo
ShootingStar
coconut / 8472 posts

Jul 22, 2014

@mopeybuthopey: Girl, start testing then! None of that waiting for 19DPO ish
swedishfish
GOLD / coconut / 8266 posts

Jul 22, 2014

@mopeybuthopey: my breasts were heavier but that was my only symptom. Cramping and nausea started soon after my though. Good luck!
abdubbs
coffee bean / 46 posts

Jul 22, 2014

@mopeybuthopey: Try not to worry about it! Everyone is different. I definitely didn't feel pregnant after my IVF -- even now (i'm 8.5 weeks with twins) I really don't feel much other than being really tired. Trust me, having no or minimal symptoms isn't a negative sign - I saw and heard two very strong heartbeats this morning, so I'm proof that it doesn't mean anything if you don't "feel pregnant"!!

Fingers crossed for you!
msmug
apricot / 403 posts

Jul 22, 2014

I had 2 fresh ivf cycles and 2 FET cycles. The first 3 were bfn. The last fet was my bfp but I felt the same, more or less for all of them. Major difference with the fresh ivf cycles were that I overstimmed so I felt horrible and bloated. Now that I think back, with the FET cycle that resulted in the bfp, I felt some mild prickling around my ovaries, but I didn't associate that with the FET at all.

It's easier said than done but for my bfp cycle, I didn't test ahead and focused on ways to just be healthy, like modifying diet (eating more fruits and veggies, cooking more, not drinking) and ended up forgetting what day I was on until it was time to go get the beta test done.

Good luck!
mopeybuthopey
grape / 94 posts

Jul 22, 2014

thanks everyone. I really appreciate all this. I am trying to stay positive. I really thought this two week wait was going to be a piece of cake and I can't believe how difficult it's been!!! Hard to think I'm only five days in!!! But next Thursday will be here soon.

So glad to hear that most of you didn't have any intuition one way or another.
Mrs.Pinecone316
persimmon / 1316 posts

Jul 22, 2014

@mopeybuthopey: If the tww is really weighing on you then I would just start POAS:) Very hopeful for you, hang in there! I can imagine how tough it is. But try and stay positive.
FliegepilzHut
pomegranate / 3533 posts

Jul 23, 2014

@mopeybuthopey: Thought you might like this:

http://www.nyufertilitycenter.org/ivf/embryo_transfer

It helped me to keep my expectations realistic, since HCG is (theoretically) the only thing that would make you "feel" pregnant!

FX for you!!!
Jenn23
persimmon / 1085 posts

Jul 23, 2014

I'm optimistic for you!! Your beta is so far off, you can probably test (if you want) well before that and get an accurate result. I got my BFP where you are now, but it is on the early side. You could probably test in just a few more days and find out. Most women don't have symptoms yet or know whether the symptoms are from all the hormones or pregnancy at this point. My only symptom as I said on your other thread was a keen sense of smell. Other than that, I didn't feel any different. Hang in there. I know this is a tough wait!!!!!
FliegepilzHut
pomegranate / 3533 posts

Jul 28, 2014

@mopeybuthopey: How are you doing? Have you decided whether you will test early?
mopeybuthopey
grape / 94 posts

Jul 28, 2014

hi @fliegepilzhut -- thanks so much for checking! I have decided to wait until Thursday. I really do not feel pregnant sadly -- I have zero symptoms whatsoever and today I am an equivalent of 15DPO, so I'm trying not to get my hopes up.
Shutterbug
grapefruit / 4703 posts

Jul 28, 2014

@mopeybuthopey: the fact that you don't have AF at 15dpo is a good sign by itself! Good luck on Thursday!
Caly
nectarine / 2765 posts

Jul 28, 2014

@mopeybuthopey: @shutterbug: is right! Try not to lose hope. Most people have no symptoms & no clue so soon that they're pregnant...good lunch Thursday!
FliegepilzHut
pomegranate / 3533 posts

Jul 28, 2014

@mopeybuthopey: I will stay hopeful for you! FWIW, you sound a lot like I felt at the end of my TWW. I'll be thinking of you on Thursday!
mopeybuthopey
grape / 94 posts

Jul 28, 2014

thanks guys. I am on the PIO injections so I think they keep AF away.
kentuckygirl
pear / 1786 posts

Jul 28, 2014

@mopeybuthopey: I didn't feel pregnant. Hopeful for you!!!
mopeybuthopey
grape / 94 posts

Jul 28, 2014

thanks @kentuckygirl. I think really I am feeling blue because I am sleep deprived (my dog was up all night with explosive D from something he ate -- great!! and even if he hadn't been up, the PIO is giving me severe intestinal issues (constipation anyone?? Sorry for TMI), so the cramping was painful enough that I couldn't sleep) and on my way into work I was unable to avoid hitting a squirrel. I'm hormonal, stressed out from work (which of course has got me crushed and I have a huge project due Thursday, along when all my inlaws are arriving in town, and the same day I get my results, ugh), and sleep deprived, so I spent part of my morning crying over this poor squirrel.

The good news is this is all temporary and I will have a resolution one way or another on Thursday.
Mrs Green Grass
pomelo / 5628 posts

Jul 28, 2014

@mopeybuthopey: it sounds stressful, but busy is great to keep your mind off it! Good luck with this week!
Mrs.Pinecone316
persimmon / 1316 posts

Jul 31, 2014

hope you get your BFP tomorrow!!
TheSwissWifeStyle
nectarine / 2600 posts

Jul 31, 2014

@mopeybuthopey: sorry you are so stressed! It sounds like a lot. I would have cried over the squirrel too, hormones or not! Thinking of you today!
mopeybuthopey
grape / 94 posts

Jul 31, 2014

well ladies... I cannot believe this but ...

MENTS...

My test was +!! At 19dpo our read is around 450ish! I am in shock! I truly feel NOTHING. I have no intuition that I am pregnant (feels weird to say that!), and I totally thought I would just "know" -- TOTALLY thought I would know. But I can safely say to those of you ladies who are out there worrying about symptoms that it is possible to have NONE and have no clue one way or the other (and even be feeling a little bit negative about it) and end up with a positive test!

I go back in a week to check the number and hopefully it will be doing what it is supposed to be doing. If so, I have an u/s at around six weeks. fingers crossed.

Thank you so much all of you for your support!
swedishfish
GOLD / coconut / 8266 posts

Jul 31, 2014

@mopeybuthopey: congratulations!!!
travelgirl1
cantaloupe / 6630 posts

Jul 31, 2014

Yay! Congratulations!
theotherstark
pomegranate / 3045 posts

Jul 31, 2014

@mopeybuthopey: Ahhh, congratulations!!
Mrs. Pickle
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts

Jul 31, 2014

Congratulations!
mrsjyw
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts

Jul 31, 2014

@mopeybuthopey: congratulations!!