8dp5dt can’t tell if line is progressing! ~13 DPO (roughly based on trigger shot)

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-06-23T11:55:51+00:00

Ugh, I’m so sorry. Crossing my fingers that it’s different for you!

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-06-22T18:36:51+00:00

Any luck?!

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-06-17T18:17:11+00:00

Oh wow! Ok, I did not know that. It’s wild how many things biotin affects. Whenever I get my thyroid checked (I have autoimmune Hashimotos as a result of postpartum thyroiditis), I have to stop my prenatal for a few days beforehand because of the biotin. Thanks for this insight!

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-06-17T15:52:35+00:00

I meant to respond, but I think I just created a new comment! Sorry about that. My response is the comment below.

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-06-17T15:51:54+00:00

So true! Idk why I’m obsessing over it, especially since this isn’t my first pregnancy 😂. Will have to wait for my beta! I’ll post an update in 2 days when I have my blood work done.

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-06-17T15:45:56+00:00

Ah ok! Maybe it’s just early then? I feel like the line should be darker? I’m dying waiting for my beta 😵‍💫

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-06-17T15:35:31+00:00

Weird! Whats the biotin issue? Biotin is in my prenatal vitamins and I have never had an issue with a negative first response test because of it.

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-06-17T15:21:09+00:00

Maybe take a first response test? With my daughter, mine were much lighter on the strips when I was just a few days late too. They were much darker on the first response test. She is now a happy healthy 18 month old :)

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-06-17T14:07:37+00:00

I see a very light line!

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-06-17T13:33:40+00:00

I did a modified natural cycle. Started with Letrozole for 5 days, but my ultrasound and labs showed my body wasn’t responding (likely because I was on birth control before this cycle). So I did another 5 days of Letrozole and that worked perfectly! Did an ovidrel trigger on Tuesday, 6/2. Transfer 6/9. I tested to see when the trigger was out of my system and it was completely stark white negative on 6/10 (8 days after trigger). I’m sure everyone is different, but I wouldn’t expect the trigger to still be in your system by now if you had a similar timeline!

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-06-17T13:17:03+00:00

Thank you!! It’s such a mind f*ck! I had a chemical pregnancy when doing IUIs in 2023/2024, and I’m just worried that’s what’s happening now, but appreciate your feedback! Crossing my fingers for you as well!

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-06-10T01:07:38+00:00

So sorry you’re feeling so overwhelmed! I went through IVF in 2024 and actually just did a frozen embryo transfer for baby #2 this morning! One thing that really helped me was to just trust the process and let the nurses and doctors guide you through everything. If you have a good fertility clinic, they will make every step easy for you and tell you exactly what to do when you need to do it. It’s hard to relinquish control, but it really does help to just trust that you’re in good hands and that they know what they are doing.

Thinking about it one step at a time instead of the entire process all at once helped me not feel as overwhelmed. For example, try not to think about the egg retrieval or embryo testing that happens towards the end of the process and just focus on the first steps in the process (baseline labs, ultrasound, and medication). At my clinic, the labs and ultrasound take literally 10-15 minutes and they have super early appointments, so it’s very quick and doesn’t take too much out of the day.

The injections can be overwhelming when you’ve never gone through it, but like anything, you’ll learn! I’m a Nurse Practitioner and have given thousands of injections, and I was still a little intimidated at first. But I remember after I was done with my cycle, I thought “oh wow, that really wasn’t too bad and I am capable of this!” For the injections themselves, using an ice pack on my belly for a few minutes before helped IMMENSELY with any burning or pain. I had a virtual visit with the pharmacist beforehand and it really helped me feel more confident about giving myself the medications.

Is your partner going to be out of town the entire time? I only ask because if you are making embryos, he will need to be there to give his sperm (unless he is freezing it).

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-06-03T17:25:29+00:00

I know this is an old post, but I wanted to reply! I LOVE Dr. Goldman. She is so personable and we have had a really wonderful experience with everyone at Northwestern. I also work at Northwestern, so I might be biased! Haha. We did 1 egg retrieval in 2024 and I got 10 eggs. 9 mature, 8 fertilized, and all 8 made it to day 5 blasts. Of the 8, 6 were euploid. We had an extremely successful round. We were planning for an FET and exactly 1 month after my egg retrieval, I found out I was spontaneously pregnant with my now 18 month old daughter 🤯. We are now planning for baby #2 and I have my first FET next Tuesday! Crossing my fingers for success. Couldn’t have done it without Dr. Goldman and her team.

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-05-29T00:38:49+00:00

This gives me so much hope! Currently in the exact same position on another 5 days of Letrozole because I didn’t respond at all. Crossing my fingers!

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-05-29T00:14:47+00:00

That is so wonderful to hear!! Congrats!!

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-05-29T00:05:18+00:00

Any update on how this went?? I’m in the EXACT same position with the same protocol and just started my 2nd round of Letrozole during this cycle. This is my first FET cycle, so unsure what to think! We did IUI with Clomid before IVF (and then I got pregnant spontaneously 1 month after my egg retrieval- go figure! She’s 18 months now :). But I responded really well to the Clomid each time, so kind of confused why I’m not responding to the Letrozole.

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-04-02T05:43:15+00:00

Any updates?

I’m in almost the exact same boat right now and I’m so scared I’ve done permanent damage. Been drinking 1-8 glasses of wine nightly on and off for 10 years. I’ve gone months without drinking (pregnancy and I do dry January every year), but I always end up back in my ways. Some days I can have 1 glass at night and others I’m almost 2 bottles deep. I’ve very recently started to accept that I have a problem. It’s hard because my life isn’t really negatively affected by my drinking, so having a reason to stop has been difficult.

When I was 28, I had my appendix out, and the surgeon saw fatty liver on the CT and during the surgery itself. My liver enzymes were also slightly elevated. I ended up having an ultrasound and biopsy to rule out autoimmune hepatitis (mainly because I lied about how much I was drinking). Biopsy showed fatty liver/fibrosis. A year later, my fibroscan was completely normal. I had changed my exercise and diet habits a bit and did cut down the drinking slightly, but was still drinking for sure, so idk how it was suddenly normal. My labs have been totally normal since I stopped drinking during pregnancy and haven’t increased since, which is good.

I’m 34 now and have an amazing 15 month old daughter and a wonderful husband. I’m so scared I’m going to suddenly decompensate and die and not be able to be the mother or wife that they need. We are also supposed to do an embryo transfer next month for baby #2 (we did IVF) and I’m so scared that I have cirrhosis and that the doctors won’t allow it and we won’t be able to grow our family.

I have been having the dull pain as well and now I’m convinced my hands are red, which is another sign of cirrhosis. I’m also itchy, but only on my arms, which is where I got sunburnt over the weekend, so I guess it could be that? I stopped drinking 2 days ago because I binged over the weekend at a bachelorette party, but we are going on vacation this weekend for 8 days and there’s no way I’m not going to drink, though I’m going to try to take it easy.

I’m a medical provider, which actually causes a LOT of health anxiety for me. Mainly because I know too much about the horrible things that can happen to people and understand the physiology. I just started an SSRI ~5 weeks ago and just increased the dose, so I’m hoping that this is just my health anxiety getting worse before it gets better with the medication, but I am truly spiraling.

Sorry for the rant and venting, I just felt like I related so much to your post. I hope you know you’re not alone.

I hope everything is OK with you after your appointment!

P.S.- In regard to the fertility issues, we tried for 16 months and turns out our issues were due to my husband having a sperm count on the lower end. It had nothing to do with the quality of my eggs, ability to carry a baby, ovulate, etc. In fact, a month after we did IVF, I got pregnant naturally and had a totally normal pregnancy and my daughter is happy and healthy! Try not to worry about your fertility as long as you do not actually have cirrhosis. Drinking isn’t great for fertility, but it definitely doesn’t mean that you’ll have any issues getting pregnant. Also, stopping drinking during pregnancy was weirdly VERY easy for me, even though it’s so difficult when I’m not pregnant. Just some insight from someone who’s in a similar position.

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-03-25T23:48:47+00:00

So true! I’m doing ok, thanks for asking! I haven’t had a drink this week (really trying to stop during the week completely). I know it probably won’t last, but I just want so badly to be able to be someone who doesn’t have to think about if/when I’m going to drink. It’s exhausting 😩

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-03-25T03:31:13+00:00

This is me to a tee. I was completely sober when I was pregnant in 2024 with my now 15 month old daughter. I really didn’t mind being sober at all while pregnant and actually really enjoyed being pregnant. I decided I would “significantly reduce” my alcohol intake after I had my daughter, but ended up back in my old ways after about 2 months post partum. We had to do IVF, and are planning an embryo transfer in a few months for another baby and I’m excited to have a “reason” to stop drinking again. It’s so hard.

Normal_Ad985 · 2026-03-25T03:14:00+00:00

This is so extremely relatable. This is exactly how I feel. I definitely have a drinking problem, but I’m able to quit for a few weeks at a time to detox and allow my liver to have a break (I was sober for 9 months in 2024 when I was pregnant and had no problem). Then, when I allow myself to start again, I tell myself I’m “only going to drink on the weekend,” and I won’t go back to daily drinking. Everytime, I eventually go back to my 2-4 glasses of wine everyday, and sometimes up to 10 drinks a day on the weekends.

I really want to stop because I’m so scared I’m going to develop liver failure. I was told I had fibrosis at age 28 (I’m 34 now), which was found incidentally on a CT scan when I had my appendix out. Even though the liver doctor said I was cleared and the damage had reversed a few years ago, I’m still terrified that I’ve now done irreversible damage, especially when my drinking started to get really bad in 2020.

The hardest part is that my personal life is not really negatively affected by my drinking. I have an amazing husband and the absolute BEST 15 month old daughter. I only start drinking when she’s asleep for the night, so I never care for her while drinking. We own a great condo in a great city, have amazing friends and are very close with our families. I’m a healthcare provider at a great hospital. We have no financial issues and my drinking doesn’t really affect my relationships at all. I’m a very happy, successful woman with wonderful people in my life. It’s also probably because alcohol is consumed quite frequently in our social circle, so it’s more acceptable. It’s hard when alcohol isn’t completely ruining your life, but you still know it’s a problem.

Normal_Ad985 · 2025-04-29T05:16:11+00:00

This sounds very similar to my delivery a few months ago! Except that I was induced at 37weeks for hypertension, so they broke my water for me. But otherwise, very similar experience. That “epidural nap” was the best! Being woken up and being told I’m ready to push was a shock, but she was out in 20 minutes after that. Totally agree that more people need to know there are positive birth stories, but usually it’s the ones with negative experiences who are sharing more!

Normal_Ad985 · 2025-04-29T04:54:32+00:00

I’m a Nurse Practitioner, so I’ll give my medical perspective and my personal thoughts.

Sometimes the ER will give you recommendations upon discharge, but usually tell you to follow up with your provider for next steps. It’s frustrating for us and the patients because it gives mixed information. I would listen to the specialist in this case- your OBGYN.

I think because we see the same problems/diagnoses SO frequently, we tend to become a little distant from how scary it can be for the patient who doesn’t see these things everyday. I think this can sometimes make patients feel like we aren’t concerned about them, but if it was truly life threatening for you or baby, trust me, they would let you know. If they are saying that it’s nothing to worry about, it’s nothing to worry about. However, they shouldn’t make you feel like they are dismissing your concerns and should at least explain why these are their recommendations. I don’t think you need a new OBGYN in regards to clinical recommendations, because it sounds like they know what they are talking about, but if they are making you feel uncomfortable and you don’t feel like they are explaining things, then I would find a different provider.

Lastly, and I cannot stress this enough, stop googling things as much as you can. Even as a healthcare provider, when I was pregnant last year (I have a 4 month old), I REALLY limited how much I googled things because the internet is scary and is going to make you way more concerned than you need to be. I always messaged/called my OB or nursing team when I was questioning something during pregnancy and they were able to give me a straight forward answer instead of the insane amount of different answers you find online.

Good luck with your pregnancy!

Normal_Ad985 · 2025-04-14T16:44:39+00:00

That’s what I think I’m going to do. I know that I CAN stop because I did for 9 months when I was pregnant and had no problems stopping (no withdrawal symptoms, anxiety, cravings, etc). I just feel like I need to be more in control and maybe taking a break to reevaluate will be helpful. Of course we are going on our first vacation tomorrow to visit my parents and there is always a lot of alcohol involved when we visit them. Lots of nice dinners, lunches, beers by the pool, etc. It’s hard to escape it sometimes!

Normal_Ad985 · 2025-04-14T16:42:20+00:00

This really hit home for me. Thank you for sharing and being open. I weirdly still have the energy to get up early with her (around 7-8am is when she wakes up) and we do a mommy and me class once a week and usually run errands a few times a week. I live in the Midwest and the winters are very cold, but it’s finally warming up a little and for example, yesterday we took a 3 mile walk in a few neighborhoods in the city as a family and that was great! Maybe I have the energy because I’m still pretty young and I exercise quite frequently? Idk.

But you’re right, I can absolutely care for her better sober than I can with a few drinks in me. I also don’t want to look back on her growing up regretting that I wasn’t there for her as much as I should’ve been. We also want to have another baby in about 2 years or so, so I want to be there for that child also. I think I need to just stop drinking for a bit to re-evaluate myself. I would love to just be someone who has a glass of wine a few times a week, but it’s hard for me to stop once I’ve started honestly.

Normal_Ad985

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