Pg after LT TTC - What did you do differently?

[Hollybolly]

Hi Danyelle,

I know you sent me a PM a little while ago with a link to this thread, so I apologise for taking so long to reply

My issues were a little different to most, so what helped me may not have anything to do with helping someone else with different issues to mine - but I'll post what I think is relevant

Basically we did 6 IVF stim cycles... we always had embies that grew to blast but only ever enough to put 2 good ones back, and the rest were never good enough to freeze.

Cycle #1 - 4 - Were done with a local clinic & FS that really didn't look into any issues as major problems (everything had the 'oh you'll be fine, you've already had a son naturally' attitude).
After 4 failed stim cycles & no glimmer of any changes, I did a stack of research on FS (especially those that dealt with recurring implantation failure) - found one & made an appointment.
He diagnosed what he thought was the issues straight away (my tubes were ruined- which I knew, but he believed they were dripping toxin in to my uterus, therefore expelling any embryos before they had a chance to implant).
So he advised to remove the tubes - I had that done about 10 days after my appointment with him (Dec 2008).
Did our first stim cycle with him in June 2009 - great results although I started bleeding way too early - had my progesterone checked & it was ridiculously low... too low for the embies to have had a chance to implant. (This was an issue in previous cycles, but my last clinic had failed to put it in my file )

SO - stim cycle #6 August 2009 (the current pregnancy), what we did;

* Antagonist cycle - had pregnyl boosters throughout to help with the progesterone level, along with double the usual pessaries, twice a day.
We also used the drug Luveris to help with egg quality.
For the first time in any of my cycles, I asked to have a day 2 transfer - I've only ever had day 5-6 blasts.
FS was hesitant, but I was persistant - so to compromise, we put two back in at day 2 & grew the rest to blast.
The others all grew to blast but had a little too much fragmentation to freeze - from the 2 put back, one took & my little IVF miracle baby boy is currently 23 weeks growing.

* Along with the medicated cycle, I had weekly acupuncture sessions & had all of my levels checked (iron, iodine, etc etc) - and was on a heap of vitamins depending on what the naturopath said my body was needing. (Along with Blackmores conception tablets).
I also took fresh royal jelly from the beginning of the cycle until I got my BFP & levels had risen enough to get to the first scan (6 weeks).
DH took royal jelly tablets, as I knew he wouldn't take the fresh stuff... it doesn't taste that fabulous
He also took whatever vitamins the naturopath prescribed... along with menevit from about 3 months beforehand until the day of our BFP.
I also had acupuncture immediately after EPU & then both immediately before & immediately after transfer.

I think thats about it - my issue was mostly with an undiagnosed issue with my tubes, so I'd like to believe it would have happened before a 6th cycle had I been seeing a decent FS previously

The only thing differently I'll do for next time is to ask for all embies to be frozen at day 2 instead of growing to blast - but everything else I'll do the same as cycle #6.

Good luck, and sorry this post is sooo long!