Met with RE and an IVF/Holiday Hosting Question

Met with our RE yesterday. We have a plan in place for our first IVF cycle. I am starting BC today and I believe we will be starting this cycle some time during the 2nd or 3rd week in November - just waiting on some final test results and then insurance approval.

My question is this: We are supposed to be hosting Thanksgiving for the the first time this year. My in-laws normally do it but this year we were going to take it on. There's a bit of pressure to make sure it's as good as it's always been (mostly self-inflicted but also from my FIL lol). I'm not sure exactly where we'll be in our cycle by that point - egg retrieval, transfer (if we're even able to do a fresh cycle), etc. I responded very well to the follistim during our medicated IUI cycle and have this feeling I'm going to be overstimulated (which I guess could be good/bad). If* it turns out that I may be more uncomfortable/crabby or in the middle of the transfer when I'd like to stay as relaxed as possible I'm thinking I would rather not have extra stress of hosting. However, at the same time I also don't want to fall into our old ways where TTC/infertility dictated our lives - changing certain things around because of it, etc. (which we now understand isn't the best idea since this is all such a roller coaster and you just never know how the cycle will progress). This is our first IVF cycle so I'm not 100% sure what to expect. WWYD?

Met with RE and an IVF/Holiday Hosting Question

It's so hard planning these sort of things because you just never know when you will have to trigger, when you'll go in for retrieval and whether you end up doing a 3/5 day transfer. It will def be very close to Thanksgiving and you don't know how you'll feel. I personally wouldn't want to have to deal with the stress of planning & hosting a dinner for my family - however, my family is HUGE. Minimum of 20 people. I would maybe consider it if it was small. Can you ask to host Christmas instead? Whatever you decide, good luck!

Re: Met with RE and an IVF/Holiday Hosting Question

Does your family/in laws know what you and your DH are going thru? If so, be honest; and let them know plans may be up in the air right now.

I hosted Easter last year right before my IVF cycle. I ended up having my retrieval 4 days after Easter; but I knew it was going to come close.

One year we hosted Christmas. I ended up finding out I had the flu; but was basically on the couch the entire time; and sat at the table for 10 minutes each time there was a meal served. Then back up on the couch. My family (and in laws) are very hands on though. They were so helpful; and basically took over. The preparing; the cleaning, etc. I was so thankful for that. If you need to relax, I am sure your family will chip in what needs to be done.

Re: Met with RE and an IVF/Holiday Hosting Question

IVF didn't make me change any part of my life. But that being said, I was more stressed during the process. If you're worried, why not just ask to stay on BCPs for an extra week (or whatever) so you can guarantee your retrieval would be after Thanksgiving?

Re: Met with RE and an IVF/Holiday Hosting Question

Thanks for the responses! It would be about 10-12 people I think so not too bad. My sister is a little crazy and a bad influence on my mom in terms of her anxiety and it stresses me out a lot when we're all together. Both families know we've been having trouble and a bit about our history but we wanted to hold out on sharing the IVF details for right now at least. Maybe I will just go with it and as we get closer I could always stay on the pill for a little longer like one poster mentioned. The RE's lab does close mid-end of December but I believe the RE mentioned that wouldn't affect us with a fresh cycle. We know if we have to do an FET it would def be early next year because of the lab.

I'm just feeling overwhelmed today. One of my coworkers who knew I had to leave early for a doctor's appointment yesterday just asked me how it went and "Are you pregnant?" Ugh, nope! lol - I laughed it off and referenced how we were all at happy hour on Friday so I'd hope not.

Re: Met with RE and an IVF/Holiday Hosting Question

I would continue to move forward with all your plans as is. If you hyper stimulate and it's close to thanksgiving, you can ask for Lupron instead of HCG. I was much more comfortable when I did the lupron trigger. When I triggered with HSG I couldn't stand up straight for 3 days.

Message edited 10/27/2015 8:27:23 PM.

Re: Met with RE and an IVF/Holiday Hosting Question

Re: Met with RE and an IVF/Holiday Hosting Question

Last year I was in the same boat as you. My IVF calendar had me with a possibility of retrieval the week before thanksgiving but ended up retrieving Wednesday before Thanksgiving.