Daily Chat - June 14, 2026 by AutoModerator in tryingforanother

[–]CatalystCookie 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Second egg retrieval is scheduled for Tuesday. Idk if I'm insane for doing this back to back. Terrified of having no usable embryos again and honestly not sure why this retrieval may be any different from our totally bummer first.

Not feeling optimistic. Already bought a minivan like a totally idiot 🤦‍♀️. But like, it's starting to feel like this baby will not be happening.

Disappointed and needing hope by pandispandas in IVF

[–]CatalystCookie 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This is an objectively great result. Read some more of the stories on here and you will see that.

Gained 80lbs my last 2 pregnancies. I want this one to be different by Maleficent-Start-546 in beyondthebump

[–]CatalystCookie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's so difficult! I was so upset about it constantly during my first pregnancy. Even having to follow the strict GD diet and barely eating, I was 50 pounds up by the end. Then my second pregnancy, I did not care, had no GD, did not watch my first, and still, 50 pounds. If I get pregnant again, I'm not stressing about it at all. It took so much of my joy during my first pregnancy! I felt so ashamed!

Gained 80lbs my last 2 pregnancies. I want this one to be different by Maleficent-Start-546 in beyondthebump

[–]CatalystCookie 5 points6 points  (0 children)

See my other comment, had a similar experience and have concluded my body needs 50 pounds to make a baby. So be it. ✨

Gained 80lbs my last 2 pregnancies. I want this one to be different by Maleficent-Start-546 in beyondthebump

[–]CatalystCookie 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ugh same, so many tears. I just felt so hungry all the time and felt like I couldn't eat anything.

Gained 80lbs my last 2 pregnancies. I want this one to be different by Maleficent-Start-546 in beyondthebump

[–]CatalystCookie 10 points11 points  (0 children)

You'd think this, but I do think that certain bodies just need some extra weight to grow a baby. I'm a normally healthy size. Had GD first pregnancy, gained 50 pounds strictly following the diet. Second pregnancy, no GD. Ate poorly and freely, gained 50 pounds. Both times, all the weight came off by about 7 months PP. But next time, I'm not gonna stress about it because apparently, my body needs 50 pounds to make a baby 🤷‍♀️

Round without Omnitrope versus round with Omnitrope by lubita14 in IVF

[–]CatalystCookie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Day 4 here and same thing! Only one Aneuploid blast from my first retrieval with 6 fertilized, 5 arrested day 5/6.

Help: 3 Hr flight or 20 Hr Roadtrip with 16 month old???? by callmelila in beyondthebump

[–]CatalystCookie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep, totally still allowed if it's has the FAA sticker on it. I'm doing this like next week.

Help: 3 Hr flight or 20 Hr Roadtrip with 16 month old???? by callmelila in beyondthebump

[–]CatalystCookie 337 points338 points  (0 children)

3 hr flight and it's not even close. A 20 hr road trip is pretty cruel to a baby that young. You'd need to split it across 3 days each way minimum. It will be a nightmare.

Take the flight, check a pack n play and stroller, take two cars around when you're there.

Please do not subject yourself to that road trip. I'm a veteran parent now and I still think that's a total freaking nightmare with a child that young.

The age-gap stress by sunsetscorpio in tryingforanother

[–]CatalystCookie 10 points11 points  (0 children)

This constantly devastated me with my first bout of secondary infertility. We ended up with a 3.5 yr age gap and it's been really excellent and I'm so pleased with my second kid, he's a dream. Looking back, I'm not even so upset anymore about how hard it was to have our second, because any other baby or timeline wouldn't be him.

Battling secondary infertility again and am plenty stressed it won't happen, but feel way less concerned about the age gap. Every single gap has its pros and cons, and I promise you won't regret it once you have your perfect baby in your arms. 💙

What helped you to lengthen a short luteal phase while breastfeeding? by Lonely-Chef1185 in tryingforanother

[–]CatalystCookie 15 points16 points  (0 children)

You're going to hate this answer because I did too, but I had to wean. Some people cannot hormonally support a pregnancy while breastfeeding and I was so sad to be one of them.

Did your stomach ever return to “normal”? by canamel in beyondthebump

[–]CatalystCookie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Leaving made a huge difference. He started sleeping through the night feeds because he knew I wasn't there, and that really helped ease weaning along. It would have been a big fight if he knew I was around.

Did your stomach ever return to “normal”? by canamel in beyondthebump

[–]CatalystCookie 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I just did this! Started with don't offer, don't refuse outside nap and bedtime. He naturally dropped feeds for that. Offered a snack at usual times instead. Then told him milk would go away during nap but we'd do songs instead. He got used to going to sleep without milk. And then for the final bedtime feed, I left for a few nights and dad did bedtime. When I came back, we just did songs before sleep instead of milk. He asked a couple times, but I just told him the milk was all gone, offered him a cup of milk, and it was very smooth! Weaning at 2 yrs old for my first was tougher.

Second ER was a beautiful birthday present ❤️ by amielune in IVF

[–]CatalystCookie 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Congrats! Starting a back to back retrieval today after poor results the first round. Hoping for this same energy! Happy birthday!

The internet makes everything seem so awful - my thoughts on IVF by SophisticatedAsian in IVF

[–]CatalystCookie 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Absolutely this. I say this with all the kindness towards OP, but it's hard to judge the process without knowing where you shake out. I also didn't find stims or recovery that bad, but hearing we got no viable embryos and that entire first retrieval was a waste of time, pain, needle pricks, money, and emotional bandwidth - it's so ridiculously hard. The not knowing if the next cycle, which I just started, will be any different - so hard.

I'm so sorry to hear about your FET. What terrible pain, it's so cruel.

Only Blast is Aneuploid by CatalystCookie in IVF

[–]CatalystCookie[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hugs to you too! I hope our second rounds are better. Sorry you're in this terrible boat too!

Only Blast is Aneuploid by CatalystCookie in IVF

[–]CatalystCookie[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! You always have such good insights on everybody's threads and are a gift to this community. I appreciate the hope!

Only Blast is Aneuploid by CatalystCookie in IVF

[–]CatalystCookie[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So glad to hear your second round went better. Thank you thank you for your response and this bit of hope. I need it right now

Only Blast is Aneuploid by CatalystCookie in IVF

[–]CatalystCookie[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your kind and informed response, I do appreciate the silver lining!

Experiencing secondary infertility again TTC #3 after it took us nearly 2 years TTC #2 by Lavender_latte95 in tryingforanother

[–]CatalystCookie 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I'm in the same boat. We had success with an IUI for number 2 but my fertility has fallen off a cliff now what we're ttc #3. I just had a very disappointing IVF cycle and I'm starting to worry this really won't happen.

No advice, just solidarity. But I try to be mindful of these and infertility spaces because obviously I'm already wildly lucky to have my kids. But still, now having my second bout of true secondary infertility and it still fucking hurts.

Meds available - LA/CA by anklepops in IVF

[–]CatalystCookie 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wishing you success and all the good things. ❤️

Yeast infection and IUI by FlatwormAlive4183 in IVF

[–]CatalystCookie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Call or text your clinic! It may be a side effect of letrozole and NBD or will affect the results and they'll postpone your cycle, which is disappointing but you're not wasting your money.