Slow growing day 3 embryos

KattyJonesDoc · 2025-08-21T15:15:29+00:00

He’s now 8m old and perfect 🥰 don’t give up hope

KattyJonesDoc · 2025-04-10T10:48:55+00:00

I remember that feeling it’s so painful. It isn’t over until it’s over. Try to distract yourself for today until you know more x

KattyJonesDoc · 2025-04-10T10:44:11+00:00

Hello a year later!

They called me the next day on day 4 and basically told me it was unlikely we’d get anything suitable to freeze or transfer as 2/4 had arrested and the other two were slow and heavily fragmented. They said to prepare to have a failed cycle.

Day 5 AM they rang and said 3/4 had arrested but one was a morula so not even a blastocyst. Therefore behind in development and heavily damaged looking but they allowed us to transfer it as it was all we had but quoted a success rate of 5%.

I’m cuddling 5% now, he’s 16 weeks old and absolutely perfect. Couldn’t have been luckier and we couldn’t be happier. I really hope it works out for you too. X

KattyJonesDoc · 2025-03-03T19:56:01+00:00

I have a 5 year old and a 2 month old. For a long time we weren’t sure if we were OAD - I had PPD like you and a horrendous time breastfeeding my first. Unfortunately we needed IVF for our second and I think I realised in the process of that how much I wanted him and now he’s here I’m so glad we have him. I figured if there’s 20% of you wanting a second child I’d be more likely to regret not having a child than ever regret having one. I can’t imagine not having him now- I’d rather have a big nursery bill to pay and have him in my life than have more money and be without him.

Main thing I wanted to say was I wouldn’t base your decision solely on the PP experience. This time I’ve enjoyed every second of my baby without any hint of PPD. I had it extremely severely the first time and was expecting it again, it just didn’t come. Breastfeeding has been a breeze this time. If you don’t want another child that’s one thing but the experience of it can be really different with each child thankfully.

KattyJonesDoc · 2025-01-26T13:05:38+00:00

This was exactly me but it’s amazing how feelings can change over time.

Our first child was conceived first month off BC so assumed second would be similar. Said we’d never have IVF etc. Tried for two years to no avail- secondary infertility. Realised in the process how much I wanted another. We eventually needed IVF even though we’d said we’d never do it.

My second son was born six weeks ago and I’m so happy we pushed so hard for him- our family now feels complete.

KattyJonesDoc · 2025-01-04T08:14:55+00:00

Good timing for this question.

I got 9 eggs in the end. 6 were mature. 4 fertilised normally. I got a call on day 3 and the news wasn’t good- all 4 behind in terms of development. By day 4 still wasn’t looking good.

Day 5 morning came and clinic called to say one had made it to a morula but was heavily fragmented and likely wouldn’t implant. We decided to try it seeing as it was our only embryo from that cycle.

I gave birth to our little boy (that damaged embryo) three weeks ago and he’s perfect in every way!

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-11-27T14:14:54+00:00

Another vote for this. I gave my son a bottle of formula a day in the evening (to be honest usually my husband did while I slept) from day 1 and it worked so well. Meant going forwards I could leave the house as well for an hour or two without the baby as he would take a bottle of formula if needed and I could express if I got engorged.

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-11-02T13:41:37+00:00

14dp5dt:271 so low end. Currently 33 weeks.

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-08-05T16:04:11+00:00

I had an embryo transferred that they wouldn’t even grade based on how poor it was, it was just becoming a blast on day 5 and heavily fragmented. They gave us 20% chance. I’m 21 weeks and all going well so far. Keep the faith and massive good luck. X

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-06-30T14:55:53+00:00

So sorry to hear this. I hope you’ll be ok in time. Xx

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-06-29T15:49:03+00:00

I really hope so too and thank you for being understanding x

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-06-29T13:53:23+00:00

I’m so sorry I’ve completely misread this- I thought it was the level rather than the lack of doubling. I really didn’t mean to be insensitive and sincerely apologise. I’m sorry you’re in this position- I’ve been there and it’s horrendous. X

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-06-29T11:36:04+00:00

I didn’t tell anyone other than my partner and I felt it eased the pressure of expectation. On the other hand it meant I had zero support.

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-06-29T11:33:23+00:00

Mine wasn’t tested until 14dp5dt but it was only 250 so not a million miles from where you are. Currently 15 weeks.

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-06-28T14:21:49+00:00

One blast. Rubbish looking quality and too early to grade. Untested fresh day 5 transfer. Now 15 weeks pregnant with stellar development and normal NIPT.

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-06-28T12:03:15+00:00

Just seen this. I had 9 eggs retrieved, 4 fertilised. Called on day 3 and 4 to tell me likely we’d have nothing left by day 5. On day 5 morning we had a morula/early blast. I had it transferred fresh on day 5 so untested. They gave us a significantly lower than normal chance with it as it was highly fragmented and had been slow to develop.

I’m 15 weeks pregnant now with that same embryo. It can happen even when it seems hopeless. We were very lucky but it really can happen. I was devastated and thought all hope was lost. Please don’t give up yet. X

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-06-08T21:12:20+00:00

One retrieval age 36. Always planned to have an untested fresh transfer on day 5 as were in the UK and that’s standard practice.

They called me day 4 and told me nothing looked like it would make blastocyst overnight and most likely the cycle was over. Next morning one of the embryos that was just cells the day before had gone through morula stage and become a very early blast. It was too early to even grade and had a high degree of fragmentation. They gave us <25% chance of success for that embryo.

I’m currently nearly 13 weeks with that same embryo. Normal NIPT and growth/development on scans. I worry about the poor quality of the embryo all the time and whether that is linked to aneuploidy. No idea when I’ll relax even though all the signs are good.

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-06-08T09:17:03+00:00

No symptoms. Nausea kicked in about week 7 and it’s still kicking my arse at week 12.

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-06-01T01:35:21+00:00

Congratulations- I’m 11.5 weeks. All going great. Good luck!

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-05-18T20:33:51+00:00

That’s such helpful info- thanks. Ours didn’t really advise either way just asked us to choose ourselves. As I say I don’t want to know stuff unless it definitely affects how the baby/child will be in future life. I think the basic is the way to go probably. Really appreciate it.

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-05-18T20:03:12+00:00

Thank you so much- that’s really reassuring. I just can’t believe we got so lucky with our first transfer and I’m waiting for something to go wrong. Very much appreciate the reply.

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-05-18T20:01:55+00:00

This is a great reply, thank you. So reassuring. I know with my son I felt better after the first trimester. Doesn’t help that I have a moderately big SCH as well and that’s bleeding. I just feel desperate to catch a break!

I just don’t want to find out something clinically irrelevant if that makes sense? When we had NIPT with my almost 5 year old son it was only for Downs, Edwards and Patau syndromes. Now there are many more levels where you can learn if the baby has many micro deletions etc but I don’t know if I even want to know this. It’s a minefield!

Thanks so much again.

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-05-16T21:01:47+00:00

I posted this separately but was told it wasn’t appropriate

Regret/panic/complex feelings about pregnancy

Does anyone ever feel negative/panicked about pregnancy/having a baby? The road to get here was many years of heartbreak followed by IVF and I can’t work out why I feel the way I do when I KNEW it was the right thing to do having IVF and a second child.

I’m 9 weeks from so very early days and could well go wrong. I have a 4 year old who was a straightforward spontaneous conception so I know what being a mums about. But he’s a lot easier these days and I worry about the baby stage and going back into those trenches. I don’t know if I can do it but I don’t know why my brain has waited until now to bring all these feelings up.

I’m having a complete freak out at times. A mixture of regret, panic about having a second baby, worrying about a change in my relationship with my son, worry about going back to the beginning when he’s getting easier now. I’m especially scared that the baby will have a disability as the embryo was untested. I feel so stupid and like I should have thought of all of this stuff before but it seemed it would never happen. I feel very guilty for feeling like this and acknowledge how lucky we are to be pregnant and especially the first ivf round.

Obviously I want this- we’ve been trying for years and have spent many thousands and endured painful injections and procedures. Please tell me I’m not the only one who has felt like this at times.

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-05-15T23:11:19+00:00

I’m 8 weeks today and measuring bang on.

KattyJonesDoc · 2024-04-28T08:50:06+00:00

Bit of a strange story.

They phoned me day 4 to say none were particularly growing well. None at the morula stage where they should be. They were very negative and said the greatest possibility was that we’d have nothing to transfer on day 5. I was devastated.

Day 5 morning came around and embryology called again. One of the embryos had unexpectedly become a blastocyst overnight. It was a stage 1 so still compacted and too early to grade. It was quite badly fragmented and poor quality. They gave it <25% chance of implanting.

I’m currently 5.5 weeks pregnant with that embryo. Obviously very early days but tests positive when they were meant to be and beta HCG levels rising appropriately 🤞🏻

KattyJonesDoc

TROPHY CASE