Heartbeat ultrasound tomorrow-Worried sick

[Anonymous]

I found out I was pregnant 2 weeks ago(IVF) and have had 3 blood tests that showed my levels are doubling and high(my first beta was in 700s). 5 week ultrasound showed sac, yolk an dfetal pole. I am scheduled to have ultrtasound tomorrow for the heatbeat and I am just so nervous right now. I cant help but think about worse case scenarios. anyone else have been so pessimistic going into the ultrasound? I just need to hear others experiences with this to get through the day. I know I wont be sleeping tonight
Thanks

[Anonymous]

I totally think that the whole infertility/IVF process messes with our minds. You get so used to hearing negative things that you just start to expect that it will never go well. I am 10 weeks from my third round of IVF, and every time I go in I expect them to not be able to find the heartbeat. So far, so good - but now I'm terrified of what they will find at the first trimester screening. In your case, seeing the sac and fetal pole and having doubling betas is a great, great start! At my first ultrasound they saw such a faint heartbeat (was just shy of 6 weeks) that my RE basically said to prepare for worst case. It has gradually gone up and was 178bpm last week on my final ultrasound with the RE, and my OB was able to pick it up yesterday with a dopplar - still nice and fast. Two things have helped me. The first is talking to my baby every night. It sounds a little silly, but I tell him/her how much I love them and want to meet them and to keep growing big and strong. The second thing is to remember that there is truly nothing we can do (aside from eating right/staying healthy) to influence things... so whenever I start worrying I try to just stay in the moment and remind myself that right now I am pregnant after all of our struggling, and to love this baby as much as I can while they are in me. Good luck! I'll be looking for an update tomorrow !

[Anonymous]

I remember being a little jumpy before my ultrasounds, too, post-IVF. (They all turned out fine and now I'm 16 weeks.)

I don't know if this is helpful, but whether you're pessimistic or optimistic will not change the outcome. So why not be optimistic? Looking at what you've written, there is no reason not to be. You've met every milestone that is appropriate at this point.

[Anonymous]

Thank you both for your responses. I guess by being pessimistic, I am just trying to protect myself from being hurt! I decided to just go out and get some fresh air and not to think about it as much as possible. I will keep you posted as soon as I am back from ultrasound tomorrow. Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

Just take it a minute at a time. Keep busy and have a plan for each day, what your activities are, etc. I won't be trite and say "don't worry", "stop thinking about it", etc., but I will say that you've got to find a way to cope. The worry never goes away. I had along road to having my first (now TTC #2 via IVF) and I understand how it is. At a certain point, you've got to develop a good coping mechanism because the worry never ends. I didn't believe I was going to have a baby until he was out and in my arms, and even then I had the realization that it was just the beginning of worry.

[Anonymous]

I guess by being pessimistic, I am just trying to protect myself from being hurt!

It's not working. You're nervous, obsessing about bad outcomes and you won't be able to sleep tonight. That's actually causing you more pain, not protecting you.

Being pessimistic isn't doing much for you, so try and see what optimism can do! Say, "I can't wait to hear/see my baby's heartbeat for the first time. It will be such a joy." And please post tomorrow! Wishing you the very best.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP. I've been where you are. I was in an absolute panic at the first one at 6 weeks. Really nervous and didn't sleep the night before. I was relieved to see that everything was progressing normally. Just had another one at 8 weeks and the panic was much less. Now, I'm not even counting the days to the next one.

I think it gets easier as time goes by. Also, you should remember the statistics. With IF treatments, the odds are not really in your favor. There's a higher chance of failure than success.So it's a good idea to be cautious in your emotions.

However, once you get a BFP, the statics ARE in your favor. There's a much higher chance of success than failure from that point. So you should keep that in mind. You're over the hump...try to enjoy it.

[Anonymous]

OP Here, Thank you all for your responses.
I went in for the ultrasound today, there were two sacs with fetal pole measuring right were they should be(6 weeks) but no heartbeat. The doctor didn't show concern and said to come back in a week. My levels however is 90,000. Should I have seen the heartbeat at this hcg level? I am also panicking about the prospect of having twins(though the doctor mentioned that one may vanish). Any thoughts about the HCG levels and Heartbeat? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

As far as I know, it's not the HCG level that has anything to do with whether you see the heartbeat -- it's just whether the fetus is developed enough in terms of age. In a week you'll know. But today its good news! Everything is measuring according to schedule.

[Anonymous]

we didn't see a hearbeat at the 6 week mark either. i have a 14 month old. i agree with the poster above -- you get so used to negative/bad news that it's hard to be optimistic. try to think that there's no reason to be negative -- doctor is not concerned, numbers are going up -- things are looking good. i remember when i was in my early stages and slowly my thoughts started to switch from, "why can't i get pregnant?" to "why shouldn't i be pregnant." does that make sense? i had conditioned myself to thinking i could never be pregnant to thinking why couldn't i be?

and i'd be freaking out about twins too! take care.

[Anonymous]

It's common not to see a heartbeat that early. If they are measuring on schedule, relax as best you can! Pregnancy is a waiting game. Practice deep breathing and positive visualization, it'll help as you hit each milestone throughout the pregnancy (12 weeks, 20 weeks, 3rd trimester, etc).

And congratulations!

[Anonymous]

Congratulations! Good news so far. Minute at a time, day at a time. Take care of yourself.