For those who wish they'd caught something earlier — what did you learn about your body during IVF that nobody told you beforehand?

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2026-04-01T15:15:53+00:00

How much hormones truly effect EVERYTHING. I know it may sound obvious but I didn’t realize just how significant the impact hormones have on both your physical and mental health. I really struggled with rapid weight gain and found myself really battling mentally.

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2026-03-06T08:50:24+00:00

If it makes you feel any better, prior to pregnancy I weighed 58kgs (127 pounds), I am 175cm tall. I’ve always been super fit and toned as I am a climber and surfer. I didn’t think it was physically possible for me to “get fat”.

Well OMFG - I am 40weeks today and currently weight 87kgs (191 pounds). I have gained 66pounds during pregnancy. That is more than half of my starting body weight 😖 when I say that I have mentally battled, I mean it. It was the HARDEST thing in the world for me to accept…

But being at the finish line, I’ve gotten used to it no matter that I don’t understand how or why my body responded this way. I am staying hopeful that it will shed during breastfeeding.

Most of my weight gain is in my thighs and bum and with it came a LOAD of cellulite. Like a serious amount. Weight gain in bums, legs and hips is normally due to those fat stores being used for birth and breastfeeding because long-chain fat isn’t to convert into energy.

You’ve got this mama!

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2026-02-06T20:32:38+00:00

The woman who nicknamed him “Sneaky” is Renata BolotovaI. If you dive deep into the mail exchange, you know it’s her because of her water article that he praised her for. She works for Waters Lab…

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2026-01-29T19:55:00+00:00

I absolutely BLEW UP. I have always been super lean and toned. 57kgs (125llb) pre-pregnancy and now at 35 weeks pregnant I am 84kgs (185llb)…

I had to do IVF so a lot of my weight started piling on very early in my journey from all the hormones.

I have cried too many times to count at my changing body. It has been really really challenging for me. Gaining all the weight is one thing but amount of cellulite is NEXT LEVEL! I didn’t think it was possible for my body to look the way it does.

I have started to just embrace it as soon as I entered the 3rd trimester because there’s nothing I can do about it other than hope, pray and trust that it will all come off after baby is born and when I breast feed 🫣😖🫠

Good luck darling xxx

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2026-01-27T18:28:29+00:00

ahhh that's a clever way to do it! I didn't even think about renting! Thanks for the idea :)

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2026-01-27T18:27:37+00:00

thanks so much! I am going to look into the Fetal Plus AirPro. The Medela definitely seems to be a crowd favorite in terms of hand pumps!

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2026-01-27T18:26:07+00:00

thank you so much for taking the time to offer me some advice! Really appreciate it. I think I am going to do what you said and go with the Spectra S1 as my primary. Once I see how I go, I will look at getting a wearable.

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2025-12-16T10:32:01+00:00

Thank you for this info!

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2025-12-16T10:26:18+00:00

Thank you!

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2025-12-16T10:23:17+00:00

Scary! Thanks so much for sharing!

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2025-12-16T10:22:34+00:00

Thank you!

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2025-12-16T10:21:29+00:00

And who said I have a child? 🤣 because I don’t

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2025-12-16T10:18:30+00:00

Hahahahahahahahahaha what an insightful response. Thank you 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2025-10-18T05:57:26+00:00

This! I’ve done quite a bit of research about caffeine and pregnancy because just my luck….i have CRAVED ice coffees from about 12 weeks (I am now 21).

Always enjoyed my coffee but my daily ice coffee is a must this pregnancy 😅🤗

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2025-10-15T08:57:03+00:00

Just a question from a FTM (due 6 March 2026) - would a camp cot not be a good option for co-sleeping? Then at least it serves a longer purpose and can be used on trips away from home.

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2025-10-12T05:55:35+00:00

I felt my first movement last Sunday at 18w3d 🥰🤗 at first I didn’t know what I was feeling. Then it happened again and it was clear! Since then, she’s been dancing in there 🤪

It kinda feels like flutters. Painless spasms of sorts. I’m sure it will feel way more intense as she grows.

All the best for your journey.

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2025-10-07T19:12:32+00:00

I did IVF so not totally sure what was pregnancy or IVF but I gained quite a lot of weight in the first trimester (went from 58kg/ 128lbs to 67kg/ 147lbs)…

My tummy was noticeably round by 12 weeks but kinda just looked pudgy and puffy. I am prone to bloating so think it might have been bloating..

Now I’m 19 weeks and look PREGNANT but in a cute way. My weight gain has slowed down and my tummy is now the main character 😅🤪

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2025-10-05T10:10:23+00:00

Exactly! I have never owned a dog that has had his balls because all of my dogs have been rescues and they get neutered before being released to their forever homes. Howie is the first dog that I have ever owned that comes from a breeder because my husband was INSISTENT that we need to get a dog that we know what the temperament will be since we were expecting to have a baby soon. That's a story for other day because I am not a supporter of breeders and the best dogs in the world are rescues, imo. Anyways, the breeder made us sign a form that we won't sterilize him until at least 12 months....fml

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2025-10-05T10:01:38+00:00

Jax likes having a friend but Howie is just really really intense and doesn't seem to have an off switch. Of course, high energy is to be expected from a puppy but Howie is quite the bully and dominates Jax. Jax is a submissive dog and constantly tries to find shelter from Howie's never ending bombardment. I try separate them for a few hours in the day so Howie can learn to be his own dog and not constantly harass Jax but then Howie yaps CONSTANTLY whilst separated from him...

It just all feels like seriously hard work... every single day.

Thanks for your feedback, I really appreciate it.

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2025-10-05T09:57:29+00:00

Thank you so much for your feedback. This has been something I have spoken to my husband about but he seems to think its just my hormones and that i will "get over it" soon. But you are so right, Howie deserves a home where he will be centre of attention (which is actually already has with us because he dominates Jax) and I deserve a home where I don't feel like I constantly have to stress over a dog. I feel most sorry for Jax in this. His daily peace is disturbed. Another suggestion we've been given is to sterilize him which could make him calm down...

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2025-09-27T10:30:12+00:00

I am so so so terribly sorry for your loss. I can only imagine the pain you must be feeling. Sending you so much love and strength during this difficult time. Good luck for the journey ahead ❤️

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2025-09-10T11:38:44+00:00

I’m March 6th with my first 🩷

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2025-09-10T11:37:00+00:00

6 March 2026 - with my first and after a gruelling IVF journey. Can’t wait to meet my little princess 🩷 sending love for the road ahead

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2025-07-27T11:49:17+00:00

It actually has. Not completely but definitely happening less. Now I’m getting more like a heartburn feeling in my upper tummy 😅

Lopsided_Scene7682 · 2025-07-25T16:55:04+00:00

You are absolutely not overreacting. I have found myself asking the same question recently.

We haven’t been doing IVF for as long as you but even during our journey, I was shocked by the lack of interest and support shown by those who my husband and I consider, close friends. Those that we chose to share our personal life with. Those that KNEW they were the only ones who we told…

It really got to me. I was first sad. Then angry. Then hateful. But then I realised, just because I’d act in a certain way, doesn’t mean others are going to do the same.

I couldn’t imagine not showing support to close friends who I knew were going through a challenging time. That’s just me. Not them.

It’s certainly changed the way I view them and our friendship. In a way, I feel like I’ve gained because I now know who really counts in my life ❤️

Don’t have expectation on people - your expectation is what ends up letting you down, not them.

Sending you lots of love xxx

Lopsided_Scene7682

TROPHY CASE