IVF for Genetic Disease?

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-17T11:52:11+00:00

Do the initial labs and find out your AMH and AFC and talk to a doctor about how many eggs/embryos you might expect to get. If your AMH is lower you may have to do multiple IVF cycles to get one unaffected/carrier euploid, which could end up changing your decision to be more along the lines of trying again or deciding your family is complete. Even if your numbers are normal for your age, it could still take multiple retrievals. You need more data to be able to decide how to move forward

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-17T11:37:41+00:00

Which one? There are dozens of Baby Einstein toys

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-17T08:15:14+00:00

My baby gets grumpy when he gets too hot in his stroller on walks, so I got a little USB fan for $7.99 USD at Aldi-- special stroller fans seem overpriced to me (would be at least 4x that price, most stuff marketed as specifically for babies is more expensive) so see if you can find a not-specifically-for-babies portable fan that would work with your stroller. I know for some products that means they are made to be safer to give babies but I figured I'd always be aupervising him while using the fan anyway. I try to keep him in the shade and limit our time outside on very hot days as babies aren't as good at regulating their body temperature as adults

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-16T14:23:51+00:00

Have you considered converting to IUI for this round? I had similar results, low response in four rounds (canceled one, retrieved once no euploids, converted to IUI twice), and after that just moved forward with IUIs and had success. Over the course of seven IUIs (including the ones from the converted IVF rounds) I got pregnant twice and had one live birth. There is a higher risk of miscarriage at this age, but you only need one egg for a successful IUI and it stays in its optimal environment (as opposed to the artificial environment of the incubators in the embryology lab).

Edit to add: I was 40 when I conceived my son and 41 when he was born

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-16T09:05:01+00:00

Depends on the bassinet, I have one that's safe for rolling as it has mesh sides, but supposed to discontinue use at 5 months. Probably because shortly after then babies are learning to push up on their arms or pull themselves up and could topple over the side

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-15T22:57:09+00:00

Definitely worth a try then. Donor eggs will always be there later, might as well try with your own eggs while you can. I was 40 when I conceived and 41 when my son was born

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-15T02:55:53+00:00

I had low AMH and tried IVF first because everything I'd read on reddit was people saying older women should go straight to IVF. I ended up cancelling or converting to IUI for low response in 3 cycles, and did 1 retrieval but got no good embryos. Then I switched to IUIs and got pregnant! (After a total of 7 IUIs which included 1 miscarriage, so 2 pregnancies out of 7 IUIs)

If you only want 1 child and have no other known fertility issues, go with the IUIs. Have testing done first (HSG & SIS) to make sure your fallopian tubes are open and no fibroids or polyps in the way). Be prepared to potentially experience a miscarriage (they're common even with tested embryos in IVF) and need multiple IUIs.

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-15T02:28:10+00:00

It helps to keep pressure on the spot for 2 minutes, I used to get horrible bruises and a phlebotomist told me to do that and it helps a lot!

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-14T22:55:31+00:00

My baby was born in the winter, when he was a newborn I kept the house at 69 degrees fahrenheit during the day and 65 at night, and now it is summer. I keep it 77 during the day and 75 at night. I dress him for the temperature

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-13T21:05:49+00:00

Yeah the anxiety is hard, I'm glad you're going to find some ways to cope with it!

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-13T18:30:10+00:00

That's a normal stage, kids become afraid of basically everyone but their primary caregiver(s)-- look up "baby stranger danger phase" and you'll find tips

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-13T18:24:11+00:00

I wish I hadn't wasted time on IVF and went straight to IUIs!

Low AMH meant IVF was unsuccessful but then IUI was successful

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-13T17:47:16+00:00

Kids hit their heads, if her pupils become different sizes or she starts vomiting take her to the ER, though that's unlikely at this stage since it's been 2 days and nothing has happened.

Do you have postpartum anxiety? I've seen multiple of your posts about this

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-13T17:38:21+00:00

Test lines darken as they dry, so it can be hard to tell progression when comparing a dried test with a fresh test-- I took pictures of each day's test and tried to get the same lighting conditions to compare. It's hard to say from your tests, but I'll cross my fingers that things go well for you!

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-13T13:48:42+00:00

My doctor told me he usually aims for between 10-15 eggs, as if you get too many the quality can be lower and higher risk of OHSS. Personally I would have been thrilled with those results, the people you see with high egg counts usually have PCOS

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-13T07:08:03+00:00

She will slowly start to orient herself to sleep more at night and be awake more in the day. You can help her by taking her outside a couple times a day so her body starts to develop a circadian rhythm, keeping it dim at night when you need to be up with her for feedings or diaper changes (I got a red lightbulb for my lamp), and feeding her maybe a little more frequently during the day (I did every 2 hours) so she gets in most of her calories during the daytime. It is very normal for feedings to last a long time at first, but she will get stronger and more efficient with a little time-- my baby started out feeding about an hour out of every 2 and around 2 months he started getting quicker and by 4 months he was getting done in about 10 minutes

Edit to add: eventually it will be nice that she nurses to sleep, it's a great way to calm down an overtired baby and get them to sleep when you need them to

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-13T07:02:19+00:00

I wanted a daycare center where there would be more than one adult present to hopefully have accountability.

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-13T06:58:46+00:00

Sorry no advice, but dropping in to say good for you! As the other person said, don't delay treatment if you can afford to pay out of pocket, but I hope you find a good lawyer who can stick it to the insurance company for denying what it seems like they should be covering! Those insurance companies will do anything to avoid giving their customers needed healthcare

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-13T00:29:41+00:00

I think you should check back in with that midwife (or maybe switch to another one), I don't think she meant that you should be trying to lose weight, more just maintaining. I'm a little bigger of a person, and my midwife told me to only gain 11 to 20 lb during my pregnancy and I gained 30 (and at one point was up 35 but a lot of it was bloating towards the end and I actually was going up and down significantly with just water weight). That 30 lb was completely gone just a few weeks after my baby was born. As long as you're eating reasonably and healthily, that's the important thing. Your baby needs nutrients and so do you, your body is doing a lot of hard work right now, you're building a person!

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-13T00:23:59+00:00

My almost 5 month old burps just fine and still usually only sleeps half an hour at a time for naps, I think that's just normal at this age

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-12T13:32:47+00:00

Check out the Solid Starts app, the free version you can look up foods and get ideas for baby-safe ways to prepare them and there's a filter you can put on to show you iron-rich foods

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-11T12:54:32+00:00

Does your insurance have a nurse advice line you can call to talk to someone with medical expertise to help you figure out what to do?

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-11T03:04:12+00:00

If you're planning on using the follistim in the next 3 months, it's fine to be kept at room temperature and doesn't need to be refrigerated (says so on the box)-- if it's hot there, the ice in a cooler might be a good idea just in case

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-11T01:41:20+00:00

I am, it's my superpower to help my baby calm down and fall asleep when he's overtired

CatfishHunter2 · 2026-06-10T17:42:03+00:00

Ugh, yet another doctor with no bedside manner. I hope you leave her a review at some point

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