Early Pregnancy: Fatigue, Hope, and My Seven-Week Scan

In my last post, I shared the incredible news — I was pregnant. The second embryo transfer had been a success. I felt so grateful and truly happy. Still, I knew these were very early days. At just seven weeks, I was cautious but hopeful, reminding myself to take things one step at a time.

In those early weeks, just shy of the seven-week scan, I was utterly exhausted. I didn’t have morning sickness, but the fatigue hit me hard. At the time, I was doing a three-hour round commute for work and spending my days fielding call after call, supporting a steady stream of clients. For someone who usually needs a full hibernation period after too much people interaction, it was a lot. Normally, I would have turned to caffeine to get through, but I’d limited myself to the recommended 200 mg (or less) a day. Let’s just say, the struggle was real — and I have a newfound respect for anyone powering through early pregnancy fatigue with limited caffeine.

Even so, the thought of the upcoming seven-week pregnancy scan kept my spirits up. I couldn’t wait to see that tiny flicker of life on the screen — to have some reassurance that things were progressing as they should. When the day finally arrived, I ducked out of work for the appointment during my lunch break. I remember sitting in the car park of the imaging clinic, lost in thought. I couldn’t quite believe I was here — that this was happening. It felt surreal, just like it had during the embryo transfer. You hope for things, but you never really know what the outcome will be. But this was it — I was actually here.

When I arrived, I asked whether I could get copies of the scan. The receptionist advised that I could create an account on their client portal and they’d upload them afterwards. Perfect! Soon after, I was shown into a room and met the lovely sonographer who would be doing my scan.

During the scan, I looked up and saw my tiny little embryo and its flickering heartbeat. It was amazing. I didn’t get to hear the heartbeat, but seeing it was more than enough — my cup felt full for the day.

While chatting with the sonographer, I mentioned that I had conceived through IVF. I didn’t say anything about using a donor — not because I was embarrassed, but because it didn’t feel necessary to bring up. I made a passing comment about having left things a bit late, being 40 now. I’m not sure why I said it — maybe it’s my way of softening the situation with humour, or of managing my own insecurities about being older and single during this process. There are moments when I still feel a quiet sadness about not having a partner through it all.

The sonographer smiled and said, “Well, you can’t always control when you meet someone.” I chuckled internally — she meant well, and I didn’t feel the need to correct her assumption. Instead, I just appreciated her kindness and warmth.

All in all, the scan was a beautiful experience. Seven weeks in, I was tired but so grateful to be exactly where I was.

In my next post, I want to talk about sharing pregnancy news — that unspoken “timeline” many of us feel we should follow, and why it really comes down to what feels right for you.

📖 If you missed it, you can read my previous post about IVF, Work, and Finding Support Where You Least Expect It.
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