Anyone else beyond bloated from IVF meds??

I'm a little over 6 weeks pregnant through IVF and have already probably put on a quite a bit of weight (quite frankly, i'm afraid to step on the scale) . I'm not eating that much more so it has to be from the meds I'm still on to support the pregnancy until my dr thinks it's safe. I'm on progesterone suppositories, estrogen patches, prednisone (this is probably the biggest culprit) and baby aspirin. I am a bloated mess. My jeans will not button. It is way too early for me to be showing yet. Anyone else having this problem? i know i can't complain because i'm so happy this IVF worked, it's just crazy the amount of weight and or water I'm retaining that's making me look and feel like this.

[seattleview]

I'm in the same boat. Although a big part of my problem is that I stopped running when doing the stims (as recommended) and haven't started back up again because I'm afraid of harming the baby. I'm aware there are differing opinions on the exercise issue, but I figure it can't hurt to play it safe even if it results in me being HUGE, so I am only walking until baby arrives. I'm actually wearing unbuttoned jeans with a rubberband around the button right now.  :)

[llayton2010]

I am very bloated! I have put on at least 6 pounds.  My pants won't button either.  I'm not sure if it's swelling from the meds, the water retention or the heat??  

[kris71]

ok i feel much better now that I'm not the only one. I also stopped exercising once i started stims so it's been a while since i broke a sweat (except for the occasional hot flash i get :)). this is really bad though. With my son i  didn't need bigger clothes until end of first trimester.

[tharper6]

I was worried I was the only one, so happy I am not!

Put on an unbelievable amount of weight since started IVF.
Had ET at day 5 yesterday and really hoping one embbie makes it!
I am very bloated  and can't fit in any of my clothes!

Are you a first time success story? xx

[saraann07]

this is very comforting to know that im not having some kind of horrible reaction.  i had my transfer on saturday and my belly has been so bloated! ive been keeping a food journal for the past month to make sure im not gaining weight due to poor eating habits. i did gain two pounds since my transfer and my stomach is very bloated, but i know it doesnt have to do with the amount of calories im consuming. i also am very constipated, wondering if thats from the meds? does anyone else have really sore muscles from the progesterone shots? ive been using a heating pad and it helps a little. some days i cant walk up stairs my butt hurts so bad. any suggestions to help my bloated belly and sore muscles?

[tharper6]

You are not alone, I was aching all over so bad yester that I as in tears, especially my upper arms, shoulders, lower back and then the bloated cramps around the front xx xx

[amy217]

Kris,

Congrats on the pregnancy.  I am not pregnant yet-I am due to have my embryo transfer on Thursday or Saturday but I can say that I am bloated beyond belief!  I had my egg retrieval yesterday and everything seems swollen/bloated.  I think it is due to the IVF meds.  I just started the suppositories-what we do for a baby!  Good luck with your pregnancy!

[happynifer]

i gave into stretch pants before the egg retrieval and went to full maternity at 6 weeks pregnant with IVF....
definitely alot of bloating that didn't go away until the baby started showing,.,,,

[trh0819]

So glad to know I'm not alone. I've been bloated and very tender since the week of transfer. I'm 5 weeks now and cannot wear my regular clothes that were actually fitting loosely before I started IVF last month. I'm trying to be thankful for the extra weight but had been losing weight leading up to IVF and now about 9 pounds have come back... just enough to make everything uncomfortable. I promised I wouldn't wear maternity clothes for months, but I made a trip to Target Saturday and bought some cute jeans with a lovely little elastic waist. Ironically, I've decided they are my favorite pants. Most comfortable thing EVER!  I asked doc when bloating would go down. He said about the time I started showing. So I've decided to embrace my bloated tummy and fat pants and be happy I'm pregnant!

This is my first IVF and my first BFP in our 18 month journey.

[jnabradford]

This is my first IVF..we started about 8 weeks ago and I have gained a good 10 to 12 pounds. I am really trying to not let it get me down, but when nothing in my closet fits, it's really hard. I just had ET yesterday, so I really don't want to go out and buy any new clothes until I am confirmed Pregnant. So until then I guess I will continue hideout in my house!! I think the gain is definitley from all the drugs and also I have been noticing that I have been doing alot of emotional eating. This while process has taken a huge toll on me and my body.

[seattleview]

I have tried to go shopping for "fat" clothes but am having a hard time committing. I told myself "after the BFP", then "after the third good beta", then it was "after the 6 week ultrasound", and now it's "after the 8 week ultrasound"...today I just noticed how freakin' fat my FACE is. YUCK. I really hope people are suspecting I'm pregnant and not thinking that I'm just a big fat pig!

[tones99]

I was bloated from IVF until about 8 weeks .. at my 9 week u/s the sonographer said that my ovaries were finally starting to go down .. I started to feel like I looked a bit more normal .. but now at 11 weeks, I have a fat gut again .. it doesn't look like pregnancy .. just like I've been a pig!
with IVF you miss that nice build up that others who've conceived naturally get .. we just go straight from bloated from drugs and huge ovaries to looking pregnant .. oh well .. soon we will all be noticably pregnant and won't care at all how big we are!

[sjsmiling]

I was in the same boat!  I went through the same protocol as you did, minus the prednisone.  I was surprised though becuase the scale did not reflect my bloatedness.  My symptoms tapered off around 7 weeks.  I too stopped exercising but have started walking, not the same has my regular routine.  However, I'm feeling more comfortable at 10 weeks and think i'll start back soon!  Good Luck!

[kris71]

LOLOL! I feel the same as you. I almost went shopping for fat clothes too (because it's really too early for maternity) but i said the same as you - i'll wait till after my next u/s just to make sure everything is ok.  AND my face looks bloated too! People are going to start looking at me funny when they see me in the same stretch pants and bigger t shirt every day.

Glad to hear from some of you further along that the bloating feeling goes away.

[trh0819]

I love that the style of many of the summer dresses is loose and boxy. I can wear those and look halfway normal  :-)

[seattleview]

It's all about roomy dresses for me. Too bad I noticed yesterday that now I can even see my fat stomach showing under those! AHH! My husband thinks it's hilarious. I think it's NOT. I totally don't mind getting big and fat once everyone knows I'm pregnant, but I won't be sharing for a good long while so right now it's just embarrassing.

[kris71]

AND it's fine getting big and fat when you should but this is sooo early to be getting like this and if we're like this now - god know what we will be like in 9 mos!  I know it's the meds and the IVF process etc. With my son, I didn't have this until 2nd trimester... I already look about 3 or 4 mos along... protruding tummy etc but it's like someone else said- i just look like a pig. AND the bad part is that i'm bloated everywhere. face, arms, legs too. Bras are tight. just gotta keep saying that I'm happy i'm pregnant and who cares.. right?  If it was a normal situation, i would still be working out. i used to see women that were like 7 or 8 mos pregnant in my cardio class. Ok - they were definitely die hards but i can't even go for a walk until my next u/s.

[hopeitsmymonth]

I just want to jump in here...I am sooo bloated!  I must have put on 10 pounds from the IVF meds!  I found some jeans on clearance today that are a couple sizes bigger than what I usually wear so at least I can be comfortable.  I refuse to buy maternity this soon...I'm only 5 and a half weeks!  I completely agree with you ladies....I don't mind putting on the weight because it is totally worth it but it is a little tough that not many people know about the pregnancy and probably just think I can't stay away from the desserts!