cramps after embryo transfer

Hello.  This is my first IVF cycle.  I had my embryo transfer on friday 7/22.  I started having cramps last night and more today.  Not painful just mild constant achy cramps.  Almost as if I am going to start my period.  I am really worrying that the embryos did not take and I am going to start my period.  Has anyone every had this happen to them after IVF?  Any advice is welcome.  thanks!!

[Hopeful4aBlessing]

Yes this is common! Hang in there!! When is your beta?

[jacksbaby]

My beta is 8/4.  I have a feeling this will be the longest wait of my life!!  Have you done IVF before?

[sarbear11]

I did ivf in 2008 and had twins....yes cramping is very common.
I am beginning my protocol for a frozen embryo transfer and begin shots on aug. 10.
Hoping this round goes as well as my last (and 1st) round did.
The 2 week wait is the worst!!!

[kmb8307]

I just did a FET on friday 7/22 as well and I have had the same thing! I remember having this last time which resulted in my baby boy! so I'm really hoping that this is normal, although this time my cramping is way more noticable, which makes me nervous. how many did you put in and were the 3 day or 5 day? I put in 2 blastocysts and am really hoping they stick! I'm freaking out because I want to know so bad. This is the worst part, the 2ww. I have my beta on 8/3. are you going to take a pregnancy test before you go in for the beta test? sorry if I sound like I'm rambling, I'm excited to see someone else on basically the same cycle as me! we can wait together :) sending sticky baby dust your way!

[jacksbaby]

Thanks all for your help.  How exciting that you did it on 7/22 as well.  Mine was a 3 day transfer. I  had 2 8-cell embryos transferred back in.  there were 3 other 8 cells that are being frozen.  I am super nervous.  The cramping is starting to subside, but the whole idea of it just made me nervous.  I am glad to hear that you had the same thing with good results :)  I am really freaking out because I want to know so bad if they implanted or not.  I found this thing online that said that with a 3 day transfer, they dont start to attach to the uterus until 4dpt (which would be tomorrow for me).  Who knows how accurate that is.  I feel like I just can't stop researching online and obsessing over this.  I want it to work so bad and I'm just so nervous.  Yes I plan to do the pregnancy test, even though my dr told me not to!  I think I will start doing that on sunday or so.  My beta is 8/4.  Since you have done this before, do we get the results the same day?  or do you have to wait for the results? uugghhh I hate this wait!!!

[jacksbaby]

I actually took a test today. 4dpt  it was a BFP!!!!  The second line was faint, but def there!!!!!!!  sooo happy :)

[wantitrealbad]

I had lots of cramps also.  Doctor siaid this is normal.  Tomorrow is my BW.  I am not hopeful!  Took 4 pregnancy tests and all say negative!  Im already planning my next cycle  =(

[kmb8307]

I hate the waiting to, I cannot stop researching and I have done this twice before! I don't think you ever get use to all of this! I know it can work though, I got a baby boy and I have a friend who is due in nov with a little girl! that was her first round and it worked for them. I don't want to bring you down from your BFP high, but did you by any chance have a trigger shot, because if you did that could cause a fasle positive if you test to early! I'm praying that you have a BFP and I'm not trying to make you worry anymore than you already are, but I just wanted to let you know that the trigger shot is HTC which is what a home pregnancy test is designed to test for. I saw a post earlier that was really helpful I will try to find it and repost it on your thread. I found it very helpful for a timeline! I'm parying for BFP for the both of us!

[kmb8307]

here is that timeline I was talking about that I saw on another post. I think it is very helpful on know what is going on with our little embies!

What Happens After an Embryo Transfer?
Once you complete your embryo transfer, you will have approximately 1½ weeks to wait before a pregnancy can be detected. The following tables outline an approximate timeline for what happens during a successful pregnancy after a 3-day transfer (3dt) and a 5-day transfer (5dt).

3-Day Transfer

One
The embryo continues to grow and develop, turning from a 6-8 cell embryo into a morula

Two
The cells of the morula continue to divide, developing into a blastocyst

Three
The blastocyst begins to hatch out of its shell

Four
The blastocyst continues to hatch out of its shell and begins to attach itself to the uterus

Five
The blastocyst attaches deeper into the uterine lining, beginning implantation

Six
Implantation continues

Seven
Implantation is complete, cells that will eventually become the placenta and fetus have begun to develop

Eight
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) starts to enter the blood stream

Nine
Fetal development continues and hCG continues to be secreted

Ten
Fetal development continues and hCG continues to be secreted  

Eleven
Levels of hCG are now high enough to detect a pregnancy



5-Day Transfer

One
The blastocyst begins to hatch out of its shell

Two
The blastocyst continues to hatch out of its shell and begins to attach itself to the uterus

Three
The blastocyst attaches deeper into the uterine lining, beginning implantation

Four
Implantation continues

Five
Implantation is complete, cells that will eventually become the placenta and fetus have begun to develop

Six
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) starts to enter the blood stream

Seven
Fetal development continues and hCG continues to be secreted

Eight
Fetal development continues and hCG continues to be secreted

Nine
Levels of hCG are now high enough to detect a pregnancy

Hope that this was helpful for you and stay positive and we will both get bfp!! good luck and keep me posted!

[jacksbaby]

that was too long ago to still be present.  positive thoughts here please. no negatives!!  :)  ya i seen that chart on another site.. fortunately i trust my dr more then something i read online!  let me know how your test goes.  im hopeful for you.

[kmb8307]

I'm hoping I get a BFP too! I was not trying to be negative...I love see that little positive sign and I just didn't know if you knew about the trigger shot or not. on a FET we do not have that, but I guess we will see what we get! I'll let you know what I get when I take a test, probably going to do that on monday or tuesday! I pray your number all go up and that you get the best outcome of all  and beautiful little baby! I'm sorry if I bummed you out or anything that was not what I was trying to do...all of this is so hard and not fair! why is it the ones who really want babies struggle and those that don't deserve them reproduce like rabbits :( oh well, it is going to work for us! and we are going to have beautiful healthy babies :)

[sarbear11]

Have u tested again? I want to know!! So excited for u!

[kmb8307]

I have my beta test tomorrow. I took a test this morning and it was negative. I'm not very hopeful that they stuck. it is not the surprising to me, I did not feel like I did the time that it worked. this cycle felt more like the one that did not work. I guess I will find out for sure tomorrow, but it is not likely! I hope your little babies are growing strong and getting big! can't wait to hear more about your journey...they greatest part is knowing that it does work! I pray everything goes smoothly!  take care and keep me updated!

[worththewait78]

I'm not being negative at ALL, but kmb is completely correct in saying that just 4 days after your transfer, the HPT could still be picking up the trigger shot levels of HCG.  With our first transfer (the fresh cycle when I took the hcg trigger shot), I tested 5 days post transfer and got a BFP.  I was SO SO SO Excited!!  But a few days later, another HPT was negative and my beta was also negative.  The doctor told me that I had tested too soon with the hpt the first time and the trigger shot was still in my system.  

With our second IVF procedure, though, we did a frozen cycle, so I didn't have a trigger shot.  In this case, I tested on day 5 again with a hpt and it was negative, but turns out my beta was positive and I again tested too early!  Now we're 26 weeks pregnant!

The chart that kmb posted is SUPER accurate and REALLY helpful!!!  My friend shared it with me when I was going through the two week wait and it put my mind at ease and helped a lot.  

I don't think kmb8307 was being negative.  You asked for the advice, after all!  AND you told her "fortunately i trust my dr more then something i read online!"  In that case, why did you ask about this in an online forum?  I think kmb was very positive and encouraging and only trying to help you!!

And kmb - GOOD LUCK tomorrow!  Sending happy thoughts and baby dust your way.  I LOVE you positiveness in saying "the greatest part is knowing that it does work!"  You are SO right.  Even if it takes a few tries.  It IS possible!  For us, we had to try twice (after seven years of trying to conceive without IVF) but it only took one little frozen embryo to stick!!

Lots of love!!