New thread

Hello !

MOB cant believe you are so close to meeting your boys Yep definately loving this heat lol I think its actually trying to kill me!!
If you have a fan put a big bowl of water with lots of ice cubes in and place it infront of the fan, it really does help

Jollybear Loving the washing up bowl idea and can totally understand the sunburn worries,DS gets plastered in f50 every 1/2 hour and must wear a sunhat and long sleeves when playing outside!

MOB just read your post - OMG your babies could be here so soon!!!! Am getting so excited for you (they must not want their mama to suffer in this heat any more ).

Hello ladies!

Apologies for lack of posting - i have spent the past few days in a sweaty heap, only moving when necessary!

Bucky Hope you are having a lovely time in Austria. Come back and start us a new thread - it has to be you!

RFN2&3 Crumbs, it's getting close for you as well! Assume you are loving the heat as much as me at the moment .

MrsH Naughty courgette getting you worried! It's awful when they do that. Glad she got wriggling again.

Caitni Sounds like you are being very restrained about continuing to POAS. I'm impressed. Don't think that lack of MS at this stage means there's only one - i didn't have any at 5 weeks... I also had bleeding gums early on...

GG Sorry - i have been slow to respond about the CD. I am a bit concerned it may be the same one / woman (it's called making babies and has a horseshoe on the front). I'm more than happy to send it to you though, just let me know. I am so that you saw all that fantastic tennis!! I was glued to the TV. I really think he can do it this year. LOL at Lewis & Jenson!! I think some people wouldn't be surprised if i did call them that!!! Good luck trying to hide your drug habit in the hotel!!

EI Lovely, summery new name Will you go and test woman!!!!

JB LOL at DD in the washing up bowl!

PnM How are things (and the hormones)

Thanks for the suggestions of big knickers post cs! Large quantities have been bought & packed! Had my last scan this week - all looking fine, and both breech, so definitely on for the cs. It's a week tomorrow I'm not sure the babies are going to wait that long though, as i've been losing a lot of the "plug", especially over the past 24hrs. Watch this space!

Wooo GG at wimbledon! It was a v exciting match. Does your friend know about the IVF? It might be hard to hide a fridge . Cardiff is such a fun place, DH went to uni there (where we met when I was visiting a friend) so has lots of lovely memories for me .

ei Love the name change. 17DPO and no testing . Nerves of steel!

caitni Honestly, get a non-wired bra and sleep in it. Keeping the girls under control at all times does help with the pain. I didn't get any nausea until 6 weeks and boy, was I sick! On the, ahem, blockage front, try some all bran or prune juice, mmm yum. You can't take most sorts of laxative whilst preggers.

R4n2&3 Ahh now very sweet. Hope DS has a lovely birthday.

DD and I are spending lots of time indoors as I'm scared of her getting burnt . She's been sat in the washing up bowl in the shade today! Only the best for my daughter . MNing whilst she has a nap!

hey ladies
R4N2&3 wow how exciting that you only have 7 weeks max i ordered cheapo tests and 2 CBD's as they were on offer and also one of the saliva ov predictors just in case so the jiffy bag must be HUGE!!
caitni lovely symptoms there lady maybe its boys in there as from most accounts of preggos having boys there is no MS but there again its early days and you will be wishing you could take that comment back after 3/4 weeks of no food and constant vomming i cant wait for my turn for the MS
xx ei xx

Caitni I had no morning sickness with either pregnancy and the only real symptom I had this time was extreme tiredness I agree with your DH

GG Sounds like a bit of a hassle being a legal druggie lol hope you have a great time and relax in time for EC

ButterflEI Great new name, cant believe you have resisted testing just how many tests have you ordered if they dont fit
through the letter box??!! Wishing you luck for testing x

Well I am being killed of by this heatwave I cant go out after midday unless I know there will be extreme air con lol.

I have a maximum of 7 weeks to go now and am getting really excited (and nervous lol) I wasnt going to bother with going home outfits this time but then I saw the cutest little outfits today and had to buy them
Need to have words with my DS though its his 3rd Birthday tomorrow and he is obsessed with the number 3 so has decided that we are now having 3 babies think he may be disappointed lol

Oh and JollyBear my scan is on 14 July so still a loong way off (days are slowly ticking by though ). My DH is still convinced that it's twins (has been saying that since we had two blasts put back) but the lack of MS makes me think it's just the one . Hope your DD is enjoying the sunshine . I bet she has some super cute sun hats .

Oh ButterflEi I LOVE the new name . And lady, you need to get some tests cos I cannot stand the tension! Am fervently hoping it's good news . Also the sooner you know then the sooner you can get the medication you need .

GG am so so of you getting to wave the saltire at Murray's match on Monday! Twas great to watch on telly and I'm rooting for him . Good luck tomorrow morning (what an early start [ouch]) - can't wait to hear how your lovely eggs are developing <<caitni massages her temples and sends GorgonsGin eggy vibes>>. Hope you get a good haul . What a hassle that your stim drugs need to be refrigerated - mine weren't, only the pregnyl trigger shot - but the ice packs should help. The hen weekend should be the perfect way to get a bit of R&R before egg collection .

So nowt new here...still no MS (and still kind of wishing I had some ) but had to have some tea this morning (first caffeine in aaaaages) as am so bloody knackered. Falling asleep on the sofa (and sometimes at lunchtimes ) is my new hobby...my boobs are so sore I'm tempted to sleep in a bra ...Also have bleeding gums, which my younger sister had in the early days with both of her pregnancies. TMI alert but am also quite constipated...to the point of considering looking into some sort of laxative . Can't shake the sort of Karen Carpenter connotations of laxatives but I think I need something in spite of gobbling loads of fibre ...

i decided to name change again
whaddya all think?? does it suit me?? <<<<ei does a twirl>>>>
xx ei xx

morning ladies
no news from me as yet im now CD36 and 17DPO i havent tested simply as i havent had any but im off to pick them up from royal mail depot later after work (i bought that many they wouldnt fit through the letter box from babymad and got a saliva ov predictor aswell just in case Af decided to make an unwelcome appearance!! i have been spotting very lightly on and off since saturday which is HIGHLY unusual for me as usually its 1/2 a day of light spotting then full whack AF so if im not up the duff god knows whats happening (its not like me to have a confusing period crisis is it
GG glad the stimming is going well have a great time on your friends hen weekend
hope everyone else is ok
xx ei xx

Hello everyone and sorry for being absent for a while . I am very busy being unemployed wink].

I was at Wimbledon on Monday and saw the Andy Murray five set thriller match with the roof closed . It was an amazing atmosphere and I could hardly watch it i was so excited and nervous for him. I'd taken my Saltire (Scotland flag) with me and waved it like a mad woman! The noise of cheering with the roof closed was incredible!

I've also had the family staying with me too so not a minute to myself as they want to do all the tourist things in London (yes, even in 33C heat ). Our computer is in the spare room and I didn't want to be seen logging on to Mumsnet in front of my mum, so I haven't been able to log on until now to post properly and check how you all are

caitni - so excited about your bourgening (SP?) pregnancy symptoms I shall be looking out in ernest for myself in a few weeks Have you come to a conculsion about the hospital for you? IT's great you have the choice and I;ve heard that Homerton is definitely one to avoid, from my friends.

Jolly - is your DD enjoying the sunshine where you are?

MOB- any sign of your two little trouble makers yet? Sooo excited for you!!! Let's hope the births don't clash with the Grand Prix, so you can have the best of both worlds. If they do turn up in the middle of lap 6, you'll have to call them Lewis and Jenson

ei - glad to hear you enjoyed sunny Stirling. Did you meet Mibbles? Hope your sister got some good ideas for her book? I have all my fingers crossed for a BFP for you thi smonth - any news?

Bucky - if you are checking in, did you hear back from the Hammersmith Hospital yet about possible start dates? Hope you are having a lovely time in Austria and the summer monsoon has stopped

MrsH - ahhh, your daughter's comment is adorable. What a sweetie! I hope the courgette is can-cannign away and moving lots. How is work with you?

Ooooh, I like the idea of a GFP <GG notes it for future use>! I want one! The stimming seems to be going ok, because my tummy feels very tender/swollen and sort of "full" like last time, so hopefully I'm full of lovely ripe eggs. Fingers crossed! I have my Day 9 Scan tomorrow (at 7am ) to check progress, so I'll know soon how many eggs there are and how I am progressing after that. Hopefully egg collection mid next week .

I have my oldest friend's hen weekend on Friday/Saturday in Cardiff. I didn't want to miss it despite the IVF (unless it was e/c or transfer of course), but I've had a high old time trying to sort out how to deal with all the drugs! The stimming stuff has to be refrigerated, so I've had to get the hotel to sort out a fridge for me in the room (no mini bar) and work out how to transport my super-delicate (and suspicious looking) drugs paraphenalia from London to Wales during a heatwave, without spoiling a £300-a-pop pre-filled drug syringe. A cool bag and some of those blue picnic bag chillers you keep in the freezer and use for keeping food cool should do it according to the doctor, but it's a hassle. I'm also sharing a room with my old flatmate, which I agreed to without thinking, so I'll have to sneak around at 7am and try not to shock her by shooting up in the bathroom

Hope you are all well. Come and post all your news here everyone!

GGx

Hello everyone,

Any news ei? I've got my fingers and toes crossed you join caitni in the graduate club.

I did chuckle at your noisy weeing/test story caitni. Great news on the test going up! Remind me, when you get a scan to confirm how many you have on board?

How are you two coping in the heat MOB and *R4n2? Hope you are both sat with cold compresses on your head and an ice pop.

GG Where are you up to? I bet you are thrilled not to be at work at the moment. Lots of glorious weather to enjoy.

Must dash, lots of tidying to do.

I love GFP . Fingers crossed for you Ei

Thanks for that MrsH . It's looking like the Whit for me too.

Big waves to everyone else

GFP clearly stands for Great Fat Positive, by the way...

I'm actually booked at the Whit!

I never really considered the Royal Free, not sure why. UCH was my other possible and if I was planning a section I would go there because it is spanking new and because when I had my second ectopics (and then my early scans with this pg) they were so good and helpful and kind. I mean, they don't normally see people without referrals at the EPAU, and there was no real reason for me to have a scan at 8 weeks, but they did all of that to help me stop stressing.

In the end what swung me towards the whit is that it is nearest to where we live and so is most convenient. If you are near a hospital you often get, for example, local clinics run by community midwives. If you fall out of the hospital's "catchment" my experience is that the care might not be so good (i.e. a bit more sausage-factory like than usual). My friend had a great time at UCH because they gave her a student midwife too follow her progress throughout pregnancy, but she lives about 10 mins from the hospital, so I doubt that would be available to me.

Anyhow, enough waffling. I hope all is well. I have to go wrestle sweaty DD into bed.

Ei I hope you get your GFP too. How cool that would be for the thread to get 2 back to back!

that should, of course read "...am now trying..." - so much for my so-called "attention to detail"

Afternoon ladies

Ei sounds hopeful for you - will be keeping my fingers crossed as would LOVE to be preggo buddies with you . Did you test again today?

I bought a couple of conception indicator tests at lunch time and it's now gone up to 2-3 weeks so I'm well relieved (I'm 5 weeks exactly today - not sure how long I'll manage before testing again to see it's gone up to 3+ )). Had a comedy furtive time testing at work as I saw not one, not two but THREE colleagues in Boots and then it seemed like everyone woman I know at work was chatting in the bathrooms while I was sneaking in with a paper cup in my handbag...cue much rustling plastic to open the test, the sound of peeing into a paper cup (it's loud) and then waiting minutes before emerging with a huge smile...suspicious? Moi?

GP appointment yesterday was a bit surreal - quite formal as the doctor, er, lacks a charming bedside manner (not quite rude, just odd). But he gave me my prescription for progesterone and told me to phone the receptionist once I choose which hospital to go to.

MrsH I can choose between Homerton, UCH, Whittington and Royal Free. I'm definitely not going to Homerton (have heard nothing but bad things about it) so am know trying to choose between the three. Royal Free has lots of bad word of mouth on MN but seems to be getting its act together. Was it just the midwife led care that swung it for you? Are you finding them supportive of your VBAC? How have you found the antenatal stuff generally? Sorry for all the questions, but erring on the side of the Whit at the moment, so will be easily swayed . But it feels very surreal to be thinking about all of this when I'm 5 minutes weeks pregnant .

Big waves to everyone else - hope you're all enjoying the heatwave (although MOB and RFN2&3 hope you're not suffereing too much).

hi ladies
caitni good luck at the GP's 4+6 eh!! if i get my BFP this cycle i will be 1 day behind you
AF hasnt arrived for me yet which makes me 14DPO and late by 2/3 days i tested this morning but it was BFN <<<shocker>>> i had a very small amount of spotting on friday night/saturday morning and then another tiny bit yesterday but as yet, no AF if im not preggers this month im pretty sure i will slip off my perch!! due to the fact that im totally bored of not knowing what the hell is going on!! ahh well enough whining from me!!
hope everyone is ok
xx ei xx

Actually MOB I think that should be CS date...when you're told it's the safest way to meet your little ones I don't think it's really elective (a small insight in my perpetual dialogue with my inner pedant ).

MrsH glad that courgette got wriggling again - must be scary when that happens!

MOB hope everything's good with you - do you have any more scans before your ECS date?

GG enjoy Wimbledon today - am super as you should get to see some fantastic tennis!

Big waves to everyone else - hope you're enjoying the sun wherever you are .

I'm off to see my GP this afternoon - am 4+6 today - and with each day it passes it makes it feel more real. Have resisted the urge to pee on another stick (only peed on two so far - am still a bit at my willpower!). No morning sickness/nausea yet but am knackered, sense of smell like a bloodhound, boobs getting bigger (and TMI alert nipple area getting darker) and feeling the odd twinge down low. So feel like something is happening. Just keep willing time to pass faster - roll on tomorrow when I'll be five weeks!

Hi ladies

Caitni I am still thrilled about your BFP. Just remember that the CBDs can be a bit unreliable so if it doesn't go up when you expect it does not mean anything is wrong. Do you have any symptoms yet?

GG I never did say anything to the person I recognised. She once was a very good friend but these days we really don't speak (and I haven't seen her in about 32 years) so I don't think it really matters. Well done on becoming a gym junkie. How is the stimming coming? How long does this bit last?

Bucky Hope you're having/have had a lovely time in Austria.

PnM if you are still looking for knives, I am a fan of Globals.

Not a lot going on here. Courgette frightened me by not wriggling for ages (and I was feeling guilty for having inhaled a pack of contraband parma ham) but then I drank a load of sprite and lay on my tum and she started up again, so yay! DD is being very sweet and says she loves "our baby" which just makes my heart melt.

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Morning ladies

PnM oooh knife set sounds like a lovely gift (but remember to have him "pay" you for them...just a penny or whatever...not that I'm superstitious or anything ). I know Henckels are a good brand...or those fancy Japanese ones...to be honest, I reckon spending some time in a kitchen shop trying out different ones would help. Good luck with the holiday cottage hunting (though I would also LOVE babington house ). We've got no major time off planned until September so am well jealous . Reckon I'm going to have to take the odd day here and there or else the summer will feel way toooooo looooong .

Bucky was LMAO at handing out spare babies . Have a lovely time in Austria...maybe you and your DP can make some playclothes out of curtains and wander around singing a la Sound of Music (one of my favourite films EVER btw...it's the main reason I'd like to visit Austria some day ). Hope this Hammersmith lady gets back to you soon. Am hoping the time flies until 15 July (for me too as I've got my first scan on 14 July!).

GG Was also LMAO at the scenes in Paddington - so many of my company are there it's like a ghost town in parts of the building . I loved festivals in my yoof but I went to T in the Park a few years ago and realised I don't like mucky fields and crowds and beer in plastic glasses all that much (even with VIP tickets and fancy wellies ). Am a wuss! It's normal to feel more apprehensive about last time but it sounds like you're in great shape mentally and physically. And you know you respond well to the drugs (which is a major advantage!) so just keep taking each stage as it comes. Have a super fun time with your family! Am also of your Wimbledon tickets. I'm all about the tennis at the moment (I love Murray too! Even with his boring monotone )

So I had to pee on another stick last night. I had a cheapy own brand pharmacy one (Rowlands maybe?) left from a pack I bought when I needed to test before downregging to make sure I wasn't pregnant. And was most relieved to see a thick dark line appear almost immediately - yay! My DH was delighted as he admitted that seeing the two coloured lines made it feel more real as that's what you see in TV/movies - which I thought was hilarious cos he's so rational I thought he would have loved the CB digi. Anyway, I've got another CB digi conception one that I'm going to save for next week to check it goes up to 2-3 weeks (or 3+ weeks). Nothing in the way of symptoms though other than bone-crushing tiredness. I haven't had any strange twinges down low since Monday (which probably prompted the need to pee on a stick ). But am only 4wks+3 so am not really expecting any symptoms this early.

Big waves to everyone one. Thank god it's Friday!

Good morning lovely ladies.

I hope you are all well this morning. Just logging on quickly because I have a super busy day and then all my family are decending for the weekend to visit and we're all off to Wimbledon on Monday (fingers crossed we land an Andy Murray match ) so might not post very much.

Caitni - are you feeling funny stretching/period type pains down below as the little one(s) bed in? Any strange cravings yet? LOL at distribution of spare babies to Bucky The Pram Diver . I was saying the other day that I am a lot more baby obsessed than i used to be (before it was all about MY baby and i wasn't terribly coo-ing over other epople's children. Nowadays, I go weak at the knees and cross roads to marvel at people's off spring. Clucky - moi?!

MOB - from me too about the birthday party phone call from that father! That's a world I know nothing about, but clearly people think way too much about these things. Also, thank you for your very kind offer of the hypno CD (ages ago now, further down the thread, i forgot to respond ). Was it any good? I'd be very interested if it is still going, but I completely appreciate you have other things to do at the moment than dash to the post office I tried a hypno CD the other day that I bought off the internet, but the woman had a reeaalllly reeeaaalllly strong Lancashire accent and she made me giggle and unfortunately, it worked so well at relaxing me, that i fell asleep waaaay before we got to the baby visualisation bit and I woke up 1.5 hours later wondering what the hell happened, but feeling mightily rested! However, I want to develop positive preganancy vibes and a welcoming womb, not improve my afternoon nap! Are your two children excited about the arrival of the DT's now? I bet they are on tenterhooks

picknmix - it's all hormones! LOL at your DH's band. When is their next gig and we can come down to the south coast and be groupies

MrsH - I meant to respond to something you said ages ago about recognising someone from RL on Mumsnet and what to do. Did you ever say "I know who you are"? I often think that if it is a distant acquaintance or person from my past, I may not say anything (unless there was a meet up and you would be "unmasked") but if it was a true friend, I probably would say that I recognised her. Tricky one though. I hope work is not too stressful. If they need a temp lawyer or locum, I'm free! Hope your DD is sleeping more and her sticker chart is full.

Bucky - I think Karen Nobbs screens her calls. I left a couple of messages for her in the past, but she does get back to you. You can usually nab her about lunchtime, but I think she sticks the ansaphone on during the morning to get on with her paperwork. Let us know how you get on with her and when she thinks you'll be treated. Really excited for you. I hope you and DP have a wonderful time in Austria and manage to get some sunshine. I think it's going to rain here too by the weather forecast, so bet it's goegous in Sound of Music land by the time you get there . Have fun Climbing Every Mountain.

Are you startig a new thread, Bucky? Tradition dictates it is the Bucky-meister who starts the new WIMBEWAINF threads. As for Botox, I've decided that come July, if it's not a BFP, then Botox it is for me

ei - have a wonderful time in Stirling. My best friend lives there and it's a lovely town. Have fun at the castle and the Wallace Monument and say a big hello to Mibbes from all of us. here's hoping for a BFP for you this month.

I live near Paddington Station and was walking through it yesterday on my way to the park and it was STUFFED with people all going to Glastonbury. It made me all wistful and want to go soo badly (I loved festival in my "youth" ), but also made me feel sooooo old ) They were all in their spotty wellies, cool clubbing gear and trilbies. British Transport Police had the sniffer dogs out and about three people (during my approx one minute walk through the station concourse) got nabbed for carrying drugs, as the police dogs bounded after them and started barking and pointing a certain folks. They reminded me of Finn, Bucky . When they were stopped, they started the whole "No,no, not me officer, never do drugs mate" and then feigning shock and awe when a baggie was pruduced from their pocket - "How did that get there!!!?? Not mine" I shouldn't laugh at people getting busted, but they were just kids and the police seemed to confiscate the drugs and then just send the poeple on their way, no questions asked, which seemed quite civilised.

Stimming is going fine. Only at Day #2 and at least the hot flushes are lessening. Just got to focus on getting my baby (ies? ) and getting in the right frame of mind. I am more apprehensive this time that last - more time on my hands to think and also more aware of what can go wrong , but also I am in better condition physically than last time and certainly have more time to pamper myself. I'm off for reflexology this afternoon - regardless of whether it is good for TTC, it feels lovely!

Must dash, I am off for another swim. I am becoming an exercise junkie

love ya all and have great weekends.

GGx

Evening all,

Am still grinning for you Caitni - it really is fantastic and you know that should the whole dividing twin thing happen, there are more than enough Wimbewaifers left on the bench to share them around (don't think you get first dibs Bucky, your loco behaviour doesn't give you special dispensation....)

Im currently sat listening to my husbands 'band' (I use the term in the lightest of senses) crucifying playing one of Snow Patrols finest... Its wrecking my concentration so apologies in advance for bad typing (although as anyone noticed how appalling my spelling is lately?! I realised I spelt courgette completely wrong - TWICE and also something else... I blame the hormones...)

How are you doing MOB? Can't believe you had a father call you about not inviting his son to your DD's birthday thats quite extreme! Hope the boys are doing ok and that your DD and DS are getting excited about the boys arrival!

Hope your first week is passing quickly MrsH, that new girl feeling is always a little odd so hope you settle in quickly. Oh, and hooray for the sticker chart and the consequential longer sleep!

How are you GG? That's fab news about the repression and the start of stimming. And the 5th is pretty close so will begin the eggy thoughts for you now! Your cooking sounds amazing - I'm a bit rubbish when it comes to cooking so am fairly of your ability . Speaking of which, tis mine and DH's 5th wedding anniversary next week and I still haven't got him a present.... I thought maybe a kitchen knife set (supposed to be 'wooden' so would make sure it was in a wooden block!!) - does anyone know anything about kitchen knives?!! I'm thinking Henckels but don't really know....

How you doing Ei? Hope you got to meet up with Mibbes and send her a big hi from all of us?! Did you get a cuddle with little Evan as well???

Pleased you were able to make a decison re botox Bucky. Austria sounds good, I;m just checking out the late deals as DH and I have a week off together coming up. We're heading off the west country, hopefully to little cottage somewhere although I have just discovered here which is appealing a lot to me at the mo (champagne tastes, beer money sadly!).

Hi JB - soooo wish I'd read your post whilst I was in Manchester cos I would def have come to meet you but sadly am back down south now... Although I'm back up there mid July for a couple of days so maybe we could hook up then?

Right, off to bed now, g'night all

xx

937!! Almost time for a new thread! . So much has happened on this one its almost sad to leave it behind. What shall we call it? Shall we stay with the WIMBEWAIF club?

I am most amused by the incredible dividing twin debate. I'm not saying which was I'm placing my money Caitni but I'm sure you'll be happy either way and if not you can always give the spare one to me . You know I'm only one pram from snatching currently. .

My appointment wasn't today or yesterday although I did get my letter for the 'form signing' appt through from Queen Charlottes. GG my Body of Knowledge has informed me of the process and though I called her GG, Karen Nobbs has yet to call me back. Maybe she is on holidays. Anyway, my appointment is on the 15 July and then we will be on the proper waiting list i guess.

MOB sneak your phone in and take stealth looks at MN whilst you are away so we can send you goodwill messages and higs. How exciting, I have so many cyber neices and nephews now. Its good to know that you are all getting positive outcomes even though you have waited so long, it gives me a bit of hope.

I didn't have the botox, just had a feeling I shouldn't so went with it. Although when I get my holiday snaps back I am so going to regret it. Off to Austria on Saturday. The land of wind and rain apparently. Leaving behind the scorchio land of England....Great .

Anyway, just thought I would pop in and give you all a shout out. MrsH Hang in there. I hate the learning curve at the beginning of jobs/projects, but I always look back and think 'what was I so stressed about' and you know you will too. Although you don't sound overly stressed you cool dude you. .

Laters gators.

Morning ladies

MOB I was giggling at your missing the F1 - it'll be a good story to tell them when they're older (and are probably F1 fans themselves!). A CS is a huge thing to contemplate but it sounds like JB and MrsH know all the (very big knickery) tricks in how to aid recover .

MrsH glad to hear the new job is going well, though you must be totally knackered. I hope the star chart has it cracked with your DD and her waking - thank god your first week back is four days as at least the weekend will be here soon and you can recover a bit.

JollyBear that is totally wonderful about your transplant - and I'm glad to hear your pregnancy and birth went so well, though it must have been stressful for you.

GG hope the stimming is going well

Ei hope you're having fun North of the Border

And big waves to Bucky PnM & RFN2&3

I was giggling reading about the twins dividing - I remember that! Actually, I came across a woman posting her experience on FF where both embryos split and she ended up with quads!!! And she already had two kids and just wanted one more to complete her family! So from 2 to 6 in nine months...now that would be scary! But, since I'm a google queen, I had googled all of this during our one versus two debate and the risks really are tiny so I'm not bothered about it (and nor should you be GG!). I'm over all my twin worry - I think it was actually just freaking out at finally getting pregnant. I spend so long friggin' hoping it'll happen and then I finally see the positive result and have a panic - strange! But RFN2&3 is right - what will be will be at this stage (but am back to hoping it'll be twins ).

Hello everyone,

MOB I cannot emphasise enough how you need v large highwaisted knickers after a cs. I got some that I thought would be ok and they were not high enough and rubbed my poor scar. I got some pregnancy knickers that I never wore all preg but did get use out of afterwards!

MrsH You must be exhausted poor thing. Hope that sticker chart does the job tonight.

Ei Hope your trip is good fun and say a big hello to Mibbes. I miss her! She hasn't been around for ages.

caitni I've heard that although twins are hard work at first they quickly start entertaining each other. V helpful when you eant to go for a wee in peace or make some tea I expect. I'm sure MOB and R4N2 will keep us informed.

I did have a transplant, yes. I mentioned it ages and ages ago, you may not have been around on the thread. I was worried that my various consultants might tell me not to TTC but happily of course, they said 'go ahead' and it wasn't a problem at all during the pregnancy. It just meant I was monitored closely and had to have a cs. Good on you for being pro-donation. People can be v squeamish about the idea and of course, I don't like thinking that I have someone's liver inside me but there isn't really a choice when you are so ill.

Anyway, must go to bed, night all.

<Hangs head in shame> the culprit was me.  I saw one of those dreadful lite-documentary things called "Double Identical Twins".  The poor woman could barely walk by 30 weeks!

Caitni it is bizarre you are now fretting about twins, since you had your not-so-secret twin aspirations for so long.  RFN2 is right, if course, what will be will be, although my money is on a singleton. Not for any scientific reason, of course, but just cos I feel like it.

MOB are you ready yet for the chicks' arrival?  Have you bought giant knickers for after your section?  Have you had a section before?  I had an emcs with DD so if you have any questions let me know!  You might not be without MN, BTW- some hospitals have internet access through Patientline, and failing that can you get MN through your mobile? 

GG Am glad you are enjoying being a lady of leisure and the cooking sounds very impressive.  WIMBLEWAIF dinner at your place, I think.  (Caitni- can you teach me how to make french toast, please?  I reckon I would like it these days.)  And good news re the being suppressed (who would have thought there was a context where suppression would be a positive thing?!).  Hope the stimming goes well.

Ei have a good trip. 

JB porridge beard sounds lovely.  I love it when they are at that age.

Well I am knackered after 2 days of new job.  Unfortunately my return to work has coincided with DD deciding that it is good to be awake and shouting between 2 and 4 am EVERY FECKING NIGHT.  Fortunately with the aid of a sticker chart I may have cracked the problem, and not before time.  New job is ok, but hard because it is a completely different role to my last one so a huge amount to take in. 

Hi ladies

Caitni Hope you had a wonderful anniversary yesterday!! Bet you and DH are still grinning. Oh, and it's not just twins you need to worry about... do you remember when i got my BFP, someone on this thread (can't remember who the culprit was ) pointed out that sometimes after IVF, embryos can divide, and lead to MORE than the 2 that were put back . (Don't worry... chances are v. v. v. small - DO NOT START GOOGLING!!!)I am touched that you have the arrival of the mad old chicks in your diary, and i am delighted that i should be back home by the time you have your scan, so i can be infront of the pc ready for news!!

GG Glad you are now nicely supressed . Have you started the stimming yet? Your comments about arranging the cs around tv programmes etc was very apt - i was devastated last weekend, when i realised that there is a grand prix on 12th July, when i will still be in hospital!!! ( i am a huge F1 fan) DH was a bit concerned about my priorities ) All the excercise sounds wonderful, and you sound so chilled, which is great.

PnM LOL at your boss!! I feel quite put out that mine never offered his services Poor man, he has probably cringed constantly when looking back at the conversation! It's a good thing he knows though, and it sounds like he will be supportive.

JB Can't wait to see the porridge face photo! The babies are due to arrive on 10th July by cs, as no.1 is breech. It could all kick off before, i guess, in which case i have to get there ASAP!

EI Am sending loads of positive vibes your way for a good result for you in a few days. All that effort deserves a reward . Say a big hello to mibbes - hope she's well. What book is your sister writing?

Bucky Don't you dare stop coming on here!! I would miss your posts - they are always so witty and well written. Hope you had your botox. I think it's so important that you continue to be "yourself" throughout all of this (as it is for anyone). However, i am now terrified of ever meeting you in RL as you will be so gorgeous and wrinkle free!!

I had my pre-op assessment today. All went fine, although the reality of having a cs has now sunk in. Still, the way they are positioned, it's the safest way to get them out. It's just the thought of all that time in hospital. I go in on a friday, and they said that because it's twins, i may not get home until monday or tuesday . i'd just rather be in my own home, than stuck on a ward. All that time without MN

Caitni Completely understand that the thought of twins is making you feel petrified (I still have moments of lip quivering lol)
I have always believed that everything happens for a reason so if it is twins then it meant to be
Hope the next 3 weeks flys by for you and trust me once you see that healthy heartbeat on screen it wont really matter if its 1 or 2

Morning all

Ei have a super time in Stirling (and say hi to Mibbes!). I'll keep my fingers crossed that you get that post-HSG magic BFP

MrsH hope day 1 of the new job went well. I always think the first day is quite tiring - all that trying to take in loads of info and all that! Sounds like your DD had a lovely birthday though it does sound knackering...

PnM I think your boss sounds lovely...although bet he's mortified at his inadvertent offer of his, er, "services" . My boss has been very understanding, so I think it's good that you have the flexibility to take time off for appointments/scans etc.

RFN2&3 hope things are good with you xx

MOB hope the boys are still growing away. I've got 10 July provisionally marked in my diary as "mad old chicks arrive" - god, if anyone ever saw it they'd think I was (in the words of the lovely Dizzee) bonkers!

Bucky I've no idea about botox and ttc but I'd be inclined to say do it. Keeping yourself happy is important as the "what ifs" are no way to live. And the first two weeks aren't so bad anyway (think of all those perfectly healthy babies born after their mums spent the early weeks of pregnancy drinking and smoking away!).

GG yay for the start of stimming!! Sending you lots of eggy vibes m'dear! I quite liked stimming (nursey cronin and her sharps box) mainly for the lying around with hot water bottles! at that playing in the waiting room btw. The radio was full of it as we drove to and from ET - cue lots of black jokes about us getting someone else's embryos from my DH - but the clinic was reassuringly thorough in all of its checks (although it was surreal when they waved the glass lid of the dish they'd been in in front of me when I was legs akimbo with the embryologist rootling around with his catheter!). And yum at your menu - you sound like an amazing cook! As someone who (literally) learnt to make French toast at the weekend I doff my hat at your expertise

JB bet your DD thought Yo Gabba Gabba was better than cricket (although don't tell her grandad ). I think those bumbo things are fanastic btw . And, sorry to be nosy (and feel free to ignore me ) but did you have a transplant? I'm very pro-organ donation (almost a bit preachy about it tbh!) and have been since I was about six and learned what it was about (that's when I freaked my mum out by telling her if anything happened to me she was to give all my organs away!).

So would you believe I'm now petrified of twins - typical eh? My DH can't understand it but then I was convinced that it wouldn't work where as he "thinks twins are more likely than not at this stage" (that's about as close he gets to saying he's convinced it's twins!). I'm booked in for a scan on 14 July so guess I just have to bide my time (and hope the next three weeks fly by!). I actually asked for one at 7 weeks rather than the usual 6 weeks, as I'd like to see a heartbeat(s) if possible. I'm going to see my GP on Monday too (mainly to try and get the rest of my progesterone on the NHS!). Still all feels very unreal to be honest.

hey ladies
just a quickie to say...

WOOOOOHOOOOO!!!! caitni massive congrats!! i reckon its 2 in there aswell
GG yay for the start of the stimming
hello to everyone else
im only 8DPO oday so no news yet but AF is due on saturday so we will see we are off u to stirling on thursday for research for my sisters book meant to be meeting mibbes for coffee thursday afternoon
speak soon
xx ei xx

Ooops do pardon my double posting - one congratulation message for each mini caitni perhaps

PnM I just felt a bit about my chart reading skills. Very at your boss's comments! How v amusing. He sounds like he'd be supportive if you do need some help to get your BFP though, work wise that is, not seed wise! Are you in Manchester for long? If you are around for a few days let me know, we could have a mini meet up!

ei Any news from you?

mrsH How did your day go?

bucky Now come on lady, of course you are concerned about your appearance (what girl isn't!), if I had the money I'd be temped to a bit of botox myself. Is GG right about your IVF appointment being today?

R4N2 Awwww how lovely a boy and a girl. I can't wait for all these twins to arrive. 2 (maybe 3) sets on the same thread.

MOB When should we expect news of your boys? I'm v excited for you and your family.

GG I've been thinking about chocolate pots all afternoon since reading your post. So yummy. The waiting room tv sounded terrible. I had a similar thing when I was in hospital on the transplant waiting list and an episode of Holby City came on and you can guess the theme of the episode. Urgh, the rest of the ward wanted to watch it too, madness! Anyhooo, glad things are finally switched off, leaving you good to go. Lots of swimming and cooking sounds very relaxing. I love cooking which involves the gentle stirring of a pan, custard or risotto.

Sadly we have no pics of DD in the sea. I will post some soon of her attempts at eating though. She had a porridge beard this morning!

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Congratulations caitni and MrCaitni. I'm soooo pleased for you both. Have a fantastic day!

I really must go but will be back later to post properly. I just had to pop in and see if caitni had tested. DD is currently sat in front of Yo Gabba Gabba in her bumbo . She's never seen any 'kids' telly before (cricket with her grandad usually!), I must not let this become a habit .

GG Great news on this mornings scan. All systems go! Your dinner sounds fantastic!

Oh and I meant to say good luck mrsH, sorry. Hope your first day has been enjoyable.

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Congratulations caitni and MrCaitni. I'm soooo pleased for you both. Have a fantastic day!

I really must go but will be back later to post properly. I just had to pop in and see if caitni had tested. DD is currently sat in front of Yo Gabba Gabba in her bumbo . She's never seen any 'kids' telly before (cricket with her grandad usually!), I must not let this become a habit .

GG Great news on this mornings scan. All systems go! Your dinner sounds fantastic!

Oh and I meant to say good luck mrsH, sorry. Hope your first day has been enjoyable.

Now for that long post I promised. Let's hope this one doesn't disappear like the last one, before I've managed to stick it on the thread!

MrsH - wishing you lots of luck on your first day in your new job. I hope you are settling in (and can check MN in your spare minutes ) and its as stress free as poss for you and the can-canning courgette. I'm glad your DD's birthday went brilliantly and she had a lovely day!

Caitni - I posted above, but I am all teary for you and so, so thrilled. I suppose the only key question now is......one or two?! I bet it's two, Mrs! How exciting! This is turning into a multiple birth thread with MOB and Readyfor2and3 both expecting double trouble and maybe you too . I hope you are having a marvellous day in the sunshine enjoying your anniversary and that your lovely DH is planning to spoil you rotten tonight.

Jollybear - how are you and your DD? Any other holiday (or even TTC ) plans?

MOB - how are your two little troubel makers doing? Any news on whether they are going to appear soon? Well done you for keeping them tucked up and safe for so long! LOL at being able to decide their birthday - "hmmm, can't do Tuesday because that's Yoga and I don't want to miss that new drama on BBC2 on Wednesday, so shall we pencil in Thursday then, hmm?" It is not long at all until you will have those two bundles in yoru arms and then the fun begins !

picknmix - LOL at your boss Ha,ha ha! In some ways, I suppose that's quite sweet that he is offering a sperm donation if you really needed, but how and weird too . Glad to hear you are feeling less hormonal now, but I totally get the hot flushes They are doing my head in and I keep leaping off the couch in the evening, throwingopen a window and gasping for air while fanning my face. I think they should die down soon, but they are horrid. You hang in their girl and make sure your DH goes to the car for you if you TELL HIM TO [grin. I have instructed DH that he will have to be nice to me when the stimming starts and super understanding if I throw a wobbly Oh, and I'm definitely on for a south coast meet up if there are any suitable dates?

Bucky - posted a big long thing about me going loco on hormones, so I can really empathise with the momentary madness. Glad to hear you are feeling less nutty now and i hope the janitor isn't feeling stalked any more What TTC news with you? Do you have an appointment at the IVF unit at Hammersmith today (or am I getting my days mixed up? Very possible!)

ei - hello to you too. Any updates?

I went for my query suppressed scan at the very unsociable hour of 7.40am this morning. better than last week in that (a) I am officially now suppressed (DH reckons it takes a LOT to put me down ) and (b) they did't have Robert Winston on Breakfast News on the telly in the waiting room banging on about embryo mix ups, childless heartbreak and failed IVF attempts . Everyone was sitting there shifting from buttock to buttock and looking stricken, but not daring to be the one who marched over switched channels to Mr Motivator. Anyway, stimming injections start int he next day or so - i am waiting to hear how much and when from the hospital when they call this afternoon. Looks like egg collection for the week beginning 5th July and transfer of blastocysts if everythign goes ok, on the week beginning 13th July

Being a lady of leisure is brilliant although how long DH will let me be one is a matter for debate . He's still away a lot, so I have been trying to catch up with friends as much as possible, which is great. I have been swimming every morning, bashing out 50+ lengths which should help me lose a few (much needed) pounds and I am feeling much better for (oh, and the cold water helps my hot flushes ). I feel that this time that I am relaxed and I can really concentrate on being as calm, fit and healthy as possible for cycle #2. I also think it helps that this attempt is in the summer - I know Zita West always recommends doing IVF in warmer months, if there is a choice.

My cousin's coming around for dinner tonight and I have spent ages making red pepper and sweet potoato soup, moussaka and chocolate pots with langue chat biscuits. I used to be quite a good cook, but when I was working mad hours I rarely had the time, but now I am a lady of leisure, I'm getting back into the kitchen and exploring my inner Stepford Wife

we knew it!! Congratulations!!

I have been thinking about you all morning and a huge HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to you and your Dh for today. What a fantastic anniversary present! I am soooo thrilled for you both.

GGx

Yay Caitni . Fantastic news. Happy anniversary to you and yours xx

Thanks ladies

And good luck again MrsH - you'll knock 'em dead (they're very lucky to have you!). Hope you're not too knackered tonight .

Caitni I knew it!!!! Wow, what a wonderful anniversary present for you both - have a fantastic day

Lots of love to you and DH. What a happy, happy, day.

Back later.

A massive congratulations Caitni what a fantastic anniversary present
Hope you enjoy the rest of your day but go easy on the champers now

How long till you have a scan to find out if you will be joining MOB and myself in the multiples stake?

Good luck MrsHappy Hope your first day goes really well x

PnM lol @ your boss offering his services

GG Good luck for you scan hope that you can start your stimming x

Waves to everyone else Bucky EI JB MOB and anyone else ive missed x

Off to new job now, (no personal internet until after my probation!) but Caitni.

Sat in a service station on the M40 but had to check in and see if u'd tested...

That's incredible news!! I am genuinely chuffed for you - am now sat here muffling my tears in my Latte.

Have a fabulous anniversary, biggest hugest higs to you and your DH xx

OK ladies...drum roll please....I tested this morning (with the lucky test MrsH sent me ages ago ) and IT'S WORKED - I got a BFP!!!! Or rather "Pregnant 1-2 weeks" as the lucky test said

We're both in shock (but happy shock ), as despite my suspicions about the pains down low, I was very negative about our chances. So pretty much the best wedding anniversary present ever. Except we were so nervous about this that we don't actually have anything planned for today so looks like we will be heading out to celebrate tonight!! Yay!

Uploaded a pic of the blasts on my profile .

Will catch up properly later but just wanted to thank all you lovely ladies for all your support (and patience!)

LOL at your boss PnM. Poor man. I have never forgotten the happy day I told one of the bosses at work that I was having surgery on my uterus. The red he blushed was beautiful!

Bucky don't worry about the botox. Natasha Kerplinkyplunk managed to reproduce and I reckon she must have a massive botulism habit. (Disclaimer: IMO only. I've actually never met NK, but I have seen her close-up in Fulham Starbucks, which is practically the same thing).

PnMdid I read that right? , your boss offered to impregnate you?? OMG!! I'm sure he meant well but that was a bit beyond the call of duty LOL...

Caitni good luck poppet, let us know how you get on. [higs], try to focus on the postives. Easier said than done I know. [higs]

MrsH You'll be fine tomorrow, you can reinvent yourself as a SATC babe, not that you weren't before obviously, but you can be adifferent one now if you like...hee hee.

GG Hope the appt goes well, let me know what happens and lets have lunch again when I get back from hols wc 6th July. Do you want me to post the phone?

Love love love to all the rest of you. I am being Little Miss Shallow once more. I have my botox top up tomorrow and I am freaking out because I am taking the clomid. Not sure why as I never get pg.... But I feel like I have to stop 'what iffing' as its a slippery slope and I never want to be back on the 2ww bandwagon again, it makes me miserable. I don't think it does any harm pre BFP from what I have read...and I am obsessed with my forehead to the point of considering putting a bag over my head. I'm not sure if I am more afraid of the problems it might cause if i do get pg, or how obsessed I will become if I don't do it about a) getting a bfp and b) the wrinkles....

I really think I shouldn't post on here these days, I don't feel like I am one of you anymore. . You must think I am ridiculous when you are all going through such emotional times and I am shoving botulism in my face.

Sorry EI and R4N2+3, thought I said hi to you both but I waffled too much and didn't write what I really wanted!

Hope you're both doing ok

Hi there,

Lots of big things happening tomorrow....

Best of luck on your first day back at work MrsH, hope its as stress free as poss for you. Glad your DD's birthday went without a hitch, hope she;s able to dine out on tales of merriment all year long now!

Hope the scan goes ok tomorrow GG, and that the stimming can begin on Wednesday . How's life going as a lady of leisure? Are you finding lots of things to do to fill your days? I deffo think we should have a Wimbewaif trip to the seaside this year!

Am sat here thinking about you Caitni, can only imagine how you must be feeling right now. Be as negative as you like, thats what we're here for. I really do have everything crossed for you for tomorrow xx

JB, I meant to say ages ago, you apologised for reading my chart wrong but you didn't need to - I would've read it the exact same way as you had I not have been so sure I wasn't pregnant! Anyway, quite irrelevent now but its been playing on my mind for some reason! Hope DD is doing ok, and awww at her first toe dipping experience!

How are the boys doing MOB? Wow at 5lb each! Thats incredible - well done you for keeping them safe for so long! Its also amazing at being able to decide their birthday - not far away at all now!

Glad to hear you're feeling less loco now Bucky . I have to admit to have played the 'hormone' card one too many times this past weekend, think it might be wearing a bit thin for my DH now! I hope you're doing ok?

The side effects really aren't that bad, I'm such a hyperchondriac... I just have stupid hot flushes all the time, its embarrassing! I just pour sweat for about 30secs and then feel fine. Also emotional - cried watching Transformers at the cinema - they're robots ffs!!

I'm off to Manchester tomorrow, not looking forward to the drive! Found out my boss and his girlfriend are expecting a baby. Yay. Although, I had to tell my boss I had a hospital appt last week and when he asked if I was ok, I told him everything. Ooops. He was incredibly understanding and asked loads of questions and then said "well, if there's anything I can do... well, obviously not anything becuase that wouldn't be right....not that I'm saying I wouldn't....I mean, if it was your only option and you needed...no, no, what I am saying...you know what I mean, I'm here if you need me". He's a man of many words!

Caitni You been on my mind all today. I know there's nothing i can say that will make this last bit of waiting any easier - but i am sending masses of positive vibes to you and your little passengers . Will be with you all the way whatever happens. GOOD LUCK for testing, whether tomorrow or the next day.

MrsH GOOD LUCK to you as well as you become the "new girl" Sounds like DD had a wonderful birthday. Children's parties are ALWAYS stressful!!! I remember my DD's 5th birthday party - it was at somewhere where numbers were restricted, and so she could only invite some of her class. I actually had a father ring me up and complain, because his son was apparently so upset that he hadn't been invited .

Hello

Caitni you're completely right to wait until at least tomorrow so you can be sure of any result that you get. I doubt I would be able to wait longer (I'm like MOB and always wanted to be put out of my misery). Whatever the result, I'll be here to celebrate or commiserate (although clearly I would dearly love it to be the former).

MOB there were supposed to be 5 children at DD's party (in addition to her) but one didn't turn up (no phone call either). It was fun but I was knackered afterwards, even though we hads a lady come and play games with the kids. It's just that DD loves her birthday so much I really want it to be perfect - she lives off the memory for the next year - so I find it a bit stressful. I guess this is a sign of not having enough to do...

Which won't be a problem from tomorrow. I am pretty nervous and have spent the day figuring out which of my clothes I still fit into, buying a train ticket, digging out my make up (not worn any for months ) and my paperwork etc so now I feel organised if not exactly prepared. Hopefully it will be ok. And although they know I am pregnant I look a lot more pregnant than I am so I reckon they are in for a bit of a shock!

Hope everyone is ok. Am especially glad to hear that normal Bucky service is resumed. . Oh, and good luck for the scan tomorrow, GG.

Afternoon ladies

I've not tested yet - been too chicken to test decided to just wait until original test date like a good girl (though think I've gone mad with the waiting). Am getting very anxious about it but will be out of my misery soon. No sign of AF (but then the progesterone will be keeping that at bay). Don't feel remotely like it's worked (but then if this was done naturally I'd be totally clueless at this stage anyway). Have the odd twinge down low in my tummy (but that could be nerves tbh). Am actually feeling quite down cos a BFN tomorrow will be truly horrible. Just trying to brace myself for the worst IYKWIM.

I had sworn blind I wouldn't post on MN until I knew one way or the other but I have no will power! Sorry for being a bit negative - will get over myself soon.

In the meantime, good luck to MrsH starting your new job tomorrow and good luck to GG with your down reg scan - tell your ovaries that they better have switched themselves off this time or I'll be 'round to give them a little talking too .

Big waves to everyone else xxx

Just bobbing in v quickly to say caitni, I have got my fingers, toes, etc crossed for you whenever you decide to test. I'll pop in tomorrow to post more and see if there is any news.

Hello to everyone else! Back later.

hello everyone. I did a HUGE post and I have lost it!! I have to dash out for a while, but I will come back later and post properly. Hope you are managing to take your mind off the testing Caitni. I know how hard it is. Everything crossed for you

Hello ladies

Caitni Hope you had a good weekend and that everything you had planned had you occupied enough! I can totally relate to what you said about trying to be positive but also thinking a bit pessimistically to better cope with any bad news. Have you decided when to test yet? Tomorrow should be fine - i did loads of research on when the hCG from the trigger shot leaves the body (as i was tempted to test early) and if you had the usual dose it is gone by 10 days post EC. Also, if the clinic have said go for it, then i'm sure it's fine. It's whether you want to do it on your anniversary... that's a difficult one. I think that i would be so taken up with the thought of it, i'd need to get it out of the way, but that's just me. Let us know what you decide. (Of course, you could always do a sneaky one today -)

MrsH Hope DD had a lovely birthday & party. I bet you were exhausted. How many children did you invite? So i guess it's your first day back at work today? Hope it goes really well for you. Did you find anything to wear? Let us know how the new job is.

JB That first dip in the sea is so exciting (even if it is just toes!)

EI Glad to hear you have ov'd - hope you and DH are enjoying a bit of a rest now!! Do post your chart so we can mull over it!

PnM How are you feeling? Hope things have settled down a bit now, and that DH has been spoiling you.

GG Hope you are now nicely down-regged. Good luck for the scan tomorrow.

RFN2&3 Definitely sound like your two are going to be as big as mine appear to be!!

Bucky Pleased to hear that you sound on more of an even keel now, although i don't think there is anything wrong with lusting after the office boy! Hopefully DP has now been able to address your "needs", so to speak

Insanity has passed. Phew, normal service is resumed. That said, the office boy is still looking super hot, so its a challenge not to drag him off somewhere LOL...DP is back though so Bucky is under control once more.

Hi all

Bucky i hope things have calmed down and that you are not currently dragging the boy from the mail room into the stationary cupboard...

PnM I hope things are settling for you t0o.

And mostly I hope for both of you that clomid does its wonder drug stuff.

Caitni that's quite a dilemma re the testing. I think I would decide not to test until the 24th, but then I would not be able to resist it and would end up doing a sneaky internet cheapie on the 23rd (while saving a more official CBD for the next day!). Follow your clinic's advice on when you can test. You can always leave it longer, but they will have told you the right date I am sure. I mean, it's the Lister, not some shonky outfit.

RFN2 how lovely that you are having one of each. I rather fancied doing that with ym first pregnancy, so that like Margaret Thatcher I would only have had to do it the once! Alas it was not meant to be...

JB did your DD like her dip? We took mine for 2 weeks in Mauritius last year and she flat out refused to go in the sea until the last day!! since I doubt we'll ever be able to afford that sort of holiday again she's blown her only chance!

GG I hope that you get to the stimming part soon. How is the bathroom looking?

Ei I have my fingers crossed that you caght that egg.

Waves to MOB -hope you and the chicks are feeling well.

Am frantically busy here because of my imminent return to work (and trying to figure out if any of my old work clothes are capacious enough for the bump), sorting out a new nanny contract, making food for DD's birthday party which is this weekeend etc. And I thought my period of being a SAHM would be a doddle...! Actually it probably would be if I hadn't left my organisational skills and brain behind when I left my last job! Courgette is still can-canning nightly, which I love. I really can't wait to meet her.

hi ladies

Bucky hope you haven't been committed! Your posts are so funny but I know that it's a nightmare for you too. Hope that they're subsiding a bit and that your DP's back so you can get on with the shagathon fun bit of ttc

PnM how very dare your DH not getting your tablets from the car! Doesn't he know that the first rule of ttc club is that your missus needs to be spoiled rotten (especially when she's the one necking the crazy drugs!). Again, hope the effects are subsiding a bit for you. I had no idea that Clomid was so bad so I'm not glad I never had to take any, as sounds horrible and worse than the IVF stuff. Still, if it means you catch a nice egg then all these horrible side effects will be forgotten!

GG I was lol at that dvd cover - I find it freaky anytime (I have a "thing" about eyes watching you...). You sound so busy with all the flat decorating & sorting. It'll all be lovely when you get your BFP . Enjoy your last weekend before starting the stims - am getting really excited for you as things just go into warp drive once you start stimming! And then they slow right down on the tww (man, time is draaaaaging for me).

MOB over 5 lb each but that's brilliant news. Well done on doing such a good job of growing them! I got a bit of a lump in my throat at you deciding with the doc when they'll be born - it's such an amazing thing to think that so soon you'll have your two little boys .

JB I bet your little girl was very cute with the dipping her toes in. And at North Wales - we spent Easter there and I'd love to go back (and will, once we can sort out a weekend to head off camping!).

Ei yay for the high chance on FF!! Am really hoping all this nookie gives you the BFP payday that you so deserve

MrsH enjoy your weekend lady, as back to world of work next week. Bet you knock 'em dead but it's always a bit scary being the new girl.

RFN2&3 lovely to hear that your twins are growing away as well. Well done to you for doing such a good job of growing them too! And phew that the consultant confirmed it's a boy & a girl

Big waves to anyone I've missed.

Not much to report here other than I'm fluctuating between excitement (I might be pregnant!) to dread (it hasn't worked). It's hard to explain but it's like the power of positivity is great but thinking negative thoughts may help me cope with bad news on Tuesday. Anyway...I'm too nervous to even buy any HPTS (i'm like a shoplifter in boots - hovering around the HPTs but too chicken to buy any - that's been the highlight of my lunch break these past too days btw - exciting times or what ). Have a pretty low key weekend planned but with enough stuff to keep me occupied. I'm possibly doing to delay testing until Wed. DH wants me to test on Tue but lots of people on FertilityFriends (where I'm lurking) are told to test 14 days past embryo transfer so it's got me all confused. But our clinic said 14-16 days past egg collection and Tues is 14 days on the nose but I'm just so nervous and I don't want to wreck on our anniversary with bad news...but DH (very rightly) points out that I'll just spend the whole day knicker checking and obsessing anyway so why not test. Bloody men and their rational arguments!

What would you ladies do?

Work is being a right PITA today as well. Looks like a late night for me so need to stop internetting and get on with things!

xxx

MOB I was a size 12-14 when I got pregnant but have to wear size 18 maternity clothes! I am all bump and need the extra stretch on the tops especially lol.
I had my 30 week scan yesterday and twins are weighing 3lb 8oz and 3lb 4oz so looks like I will be following suit with big twins

Jolly I remember DS having his first paddle in the sea and it is such a special thing to see x

PnM I think you were well within your rights to have wanted DH to fetch your pills lol

EI Very impressed with your efforts if you are falling asleep at work

Caitni How are things going? I know you wont want to get your hopes up too much but any symptoms? When can you test?

Bucky Hope the hormones are calming down a bit now x

GG Hope you get to start stimming asap x

MrsHappy How is your little courgette doing?

No real news here apart from the consultant confirmed yesterday that she agrees we are having a boy and a girl (which is handy as I have bought a mixture of pink, blue and white clothing lol)

Bucky - don't worry about being mad - TTC dies this to us. How are you doing today? I think i am having a mental failure, but I am blaming boredome during the day and the buseralin for my nutty behaviour. i was sitting in a friends flat and she had a DVD propped up against the telly of "Memoirs of A Geisha" which had two very stare-y eyes leering out from the cover art work and I had to go and move it because they were disturbing me too much . Someone call The Priory for me . TTC does drive us all slightly potty and fixating on the handy man at work sounds close to normal for being hormonal. I agree with MrsH's assessment that "this one isn't getting me pregnant, so I shall shop around". I keep having naughty dreams about my (very fertile) ex-bf after looking at all the photos of him on facebook with all his gorgeous children and then feeling really guilty for my poor, lovely DH!

PnM - In your newly very hormonal state it is every DH's duty to fetch and carry and generally pamper their partner when they are on fertility drugs. It is THE LAW so he should have fetched the stuff for you from the car without even being asked. Have the symptoms subsided? Don't go googling them or you'll panic yourself to death

MOB - 5lbs each at this point is great, so all being well they'll be a great weight by the time they put in an appearance. How are you feeling now? It must be quite uncomfortable if you are getting very big.

Caitni - I can't believe that you can test so soon. That's so exciting for you . I found the 2WW very hard indeed (see old posts of nervous anticipation!) Your feelings about the two that didn't make it are completely understandable. I have fingers and toes and everything crossed that you get a BFP. Such an exciting time for you. How are you feeling? I found myself obsessed with symptom spotting and had none at all. Thanks also for the details of your accupuncture guy. I will probably call him tomorrow and find out more. How quickly did you have to dash to see him after transfer? Hope the progesterone side effects are subsiding

ei - have you posted your chart this month? Good for you getting in all the BD-ing in and it's great that now your DH has a new job, he is fully being the TTC-ing again.

jolly - glad you had a lovely time. Awwwww, how sweet at the paddling in the sea. Did you take photos? My parents have an old, and very embarrassing cine film of me aged about 18 months toddling along the beach in Scotland and falling into the sea. I'm only wearing an old terry towelling nappy and a sun hat and I was a right little porker. I have a very fat tummy and squishy arms and legs like the Michellin Man . Ha,nothing changes! Mortifyingly, my dad thought it would make the perfect illustrative backdrop for his speech at my wedding I am only now getting over the shame of all my friends seeing it.

MrsH - how is the can-canning courgette? Is your daughter excited about the baby?

Nothing much to report here. Just down-regging away and cleaning and sorting out the house (nesting? ) like a woman possessed. Hopefully the stimming will start on Wednesday after my scan on Tuesday. DH is not working abroad again this week, which is brilliant.

Take care everyone and I'll be back to "see" you all later.

GGx

hi ladies
just a quickie
mob fab news the boys are doing welland that you know when they are going to be here its the day after my cons. appointment too...and my sisters birthday
bucky & PnM awww poor hormonal girls <<<<<higs>>>> i feel like that sometimes and im not even drugged up i hope things are doing all they should and you both get lovely BFPs in a few weeks
GG not long til you get to be all stimulated oh we all will be getting our BFPs this month with any luck!!
i Oved- finally- on monday/tuesday going by my high temp tuesday morning and by FF it says i have a high chance what with the massive amount of nookie i have partaken in so we'll see
hi to everyone else
xx ei xx

Hello everyone,

P&M I'm sure everything will be fine. Stop reading the leaflet! It is horrible to feel at the mercy of your hormones.

GG at your stepmother. What a dreadful situation. Sounds like you handled it really well. Hope things are progressing well with you.

bucky Poor you with raging hormones too. I'm sure it is just like MrsH says and your womanly hormones are attracting you to another man.

caitni Hurray for your super developing embies. It is sad the other two didn't make it but having super developed embies sounds just fantastic. When are you allowed to test? Sending so many good vibes your way. Hope you're taking it easy.

MOB It is weired knowing their birthday in advance, I felt it was slightly bizzare having that chat with the consultant saying things like "we won't bring you in on the Friday, you don't want to be in at the weekend do you?"! 5lb is really fantastic, well done you for cooking those boys good .

Ei Any sign of that egg yet? You must be exhausted!

MrsH Have you started your job now? I'm sure you've said, sorry if I've missed it.

R4N2 Hello! Nice to hear from you. Glad things are all going well. Not long now...

We had a lovely weekend, thanks for all your good wishes. DD dipped her toes in the sea for the first time. It being N. Wales, it was rather too cold for a swim!

Bucky you poor wee fruit loop. I think TTC has a tendency to drive us all mad. As for your janitor fixation, it's not that unusual. When we were ttc I would find myself sitting on the tube strangely drawn to the straggly-haired youth opposite. I reckon it's nature way. Your hormones think "this one isn't getting me pregnant, so I shall shop around". Which is fine - just as long as you don't act on it!

PnM relaaaaaax. I am sure that the clomid is not going to do anything awful to you and that a numb finger will not prevent you from conceiving. And your DH is terribly unreasonable - how could he want you to walk to the car? He should go out an by you a mobility aid and for every pill you pop he should take 2! (At this point I have to confess that the first time I took the contraceptive pill I swear I felt blood clots forming...)

MOB Hurrah for the twins. 5lbs at this point is great, so all being well (and the measurements being correct) they should be at least 6lbs by the time they are born, yes? Fab - that is as much as plenty of healthy singleton full-term babies. BTW, can I suggest you reschedule your section for the next day which is my birthday!

Caitni I can quite understand your feelings about the two that didn't make it, but how great that you can test so soon. I guess having had your transfer on day 4 reduces your post-transfer wait a little! I have everything crossed that you get a very big fat positive .

Back later.

5lbs MOB that's quite big isn't it for their age? . Hope the other twin does a flip soon. Did you say if you knew their sex?

Caitni how exciting that you can test so soon.

All still mental over here. Just had the two cries this morning so far, one because I convinced myself that I should move my 11.00am meeting today to Friday because the guy was sure to see I am insane and then I had an argument in my head about the fact he could not possibly see that unless I acted weird so I should just leave it. The 'in my head' argument upset me so had a bit of sob. The second was because I convinced myself that like baby birds at birth, I, following the influx of hormones, have imprinted on someone other than my DP (because he has not been around since I took the Clomid) and have decided that it is really the office maintenance guy who I want to have a baby with. Then I felt disloyal and cried because I am obviously a bitch.

I HATE THIS!!!!!!!!

Morning ladies

Caitni am so pleased to hear ET went well, and that you have 2 little passengers on board!I know i keep saying it, but i am so excited about it for you Shame the other 2 didn't make it, but at least you know you definitely have the 2 best in there, and stand every chance now. The other good thing about you having blasts transferred, is that it's less time to wait until you test.

RFN2&3 lovely to see you, and to hear that things are going well with you. How's the bump? I am shocked at the size of mine - i have grown out of a lot of my maternity tops

MrsH Enjoy your last fews days before you are back in the work routine! (for a bit anyway)

EI LOL at you nearly falling asleep at work! You are clearly putting a lot of effort in How's DH bearing up

GG Sorry to hear you can't start stimming yet. Hopefully the next few days will fly past, then you can start cultivating those eggs!

PnM & Bucky Well, what can i say to our clomid junkies? I am sorry to hear you are both suffering side effects etc, although you have made me chuckle with your antics. It must be horrible to feel so hormonal though. Hopefully it is a good sign that it is having an effect on you both, leading to lovely BFPs.

News here - had a scan yesterday, both still looking very well & healthy, and appear to be measuring over 5lb each . I'm not quite 35 weeks yet! No.2 has turned, but No.1 is the presenting twin, and is still breech. Therefore saw the consultant after, and booked a c-section for 10 July, it felt really weird for us both to sit there with diaries, deciding when their birthday will be! Have been hoping against hope to avoid a cs, but it looks inevitable now. Still, i shall be 38 weeks on that day, and i think, by then, i shall just want them out, nevermind by which method!

Oh and PnM I do hope your numb finger has resumed normal duty and the walk to the car was not too arduous. . I find it helps to have a good cry before you set off for the car, whilst in the car, and then when I get back from the car. Crackers with cheese and caramelised onion then soothes my distress.........see, loop the loop! xx

PnM , I took Clomid for three months before and apart from it making me super sensitive to alcohol I was only slightly more psycho than normal. This month I am cuckoo...totally loop the loop and it is horrid. I have just got of the phone to DP who is away again and, after crying because my toenail polish has chipped after my pedicure on Saturday and announcing I will never leave the house again because I am insane now and it will obviously never wear off, I proceeded to declare that the dogs obviously hate me because they are sleeping in the hall and not in the living room. Don't be surprised if I am committed tomorrow.

GG am so self involved I forgot to mention that your step monster quite obviously needs a good slap. I love MrsH she always says what we're all thinking.

Hello to RFN2&3 nice to see you after so long. Bucky waves to MOB, Ei, JB and the rest of the possee.

Evening all,

Bucky what have you been doing to the poor man?? I am sooooo with you on the hormones thing. I am, by nature, a bit hypersensitive (!) and after just one tablet (just about to pop another and am scared!) I am already assuming the whole world is against me, nobody likes me etc etc. I truely am shit at taking medication cos I begin to assume I have all the side effects going - no joke, today I had a numb finger and started to panic I was going to be paralized in one arm for the rest of my life . Keep telling myself its all for the greater good and nothing in comparison to what Caitni, GG, Mob etc have all had to/are going through.....(but I'm still making sure my DH knows it is a Big Deal and to look after me *see below).

Caitni, I really am pleased to hear the transfer all went so well. Can understand the ness at the other 2 embies not making it. Am thinking sticky thoughts for you all the time, I'm really excited for you

MOB hope the two boys are staying put for the time being and that you are able to rest a bit. Wow at the hair on the scan before! How did the growth scan go today? Was thinking about you so hope all is ok x

GG am and at your step mother!!! Thats incredibly horrible for you to have to deal with - well done for keeping so calm and for not reacting to her. Sorry to hear you have another week to go before you can start the stimming, the hot flushes don't sound great at all, am in awe of both you and Caitni, as I said before, I am a total wimp with medication, don't usually even take nurofen!!

How are you doing MrsH? Have you got some exciting things planned for your last week?

Lovely to hear from you R4N2+3! Can't believe you're 30 weeks already! Wow!

Hello EI, hope those little swimmers will be waiting around and ready for OV when it happens

I'm off to bed now as have a breakfast meeting tomorrow and am knackered.

*Case in point: have just shouted at DH because (and I quote) "its ok for you, you can just sit there whilst I have to walk all the way to the car [car is parked literally just outside the house] to get my tablets and then I have to actually swallow one as well"

Somebody stop me I am being so psycho I am embarrassing myself. I am totally paranoid and acting like a loon to this bloke at work. I keep making it worse and worse by trying to 'sort' it out and now I look like a crazed stalker and its all the stupid hormones...Aaaarrrghhh...

Bucky sorry to hear your hormones are all over the shop - bloody fertility drugs! It's just the nurses went on and on to me about drinking lots of water - about helping the follicles and trying to prevent the headaches. Otherwise you're just going to have to ride through the hormones and make sure your DP spoils you rotten (and wish I could switch off your work stress for you). Higs for you m'dear.

Caitni I am soo hormonal I am a psycho...dont think water is going to help I feel dreadful. .

Bucky and PnM yay for the Clomid!! Hope you both manage to avoid side effects - lots of water may help? Sending you both eggy vibes and fingers crossed that you both catch the egg this month

GG sorry to hear of the downregging side effects and sorry that you've got another week to go before you can start the stimming. Naughty ovaries taking their time to switch off! Still, glad it doesn't interfere with your trip up to Scotland for your friend's wedding. Meant to say and at your step mum - what a piece of work!! Ian is very flexible (and works a few days a week at a clinic in Harley St) so hope you can get to see him.

RFN2&3 so glad to hear that all is well with you and the twins!! 30 weeks already - not long to go . Hope they stay safely tucked up for as long as possible

Ei almost falling asleep at your desk - now that is good to hear . Also sending you good vibes that you catch the egg this month

MrsH make the most of this last week - it'll all feel like a distant memory once you get back into the work grind! But at least there isn't the crazy rain like yesterday....our courgette plants have started blooming and I was thinking of your can-canning courgette when I saw them today

MOB & JB big waves to you both

So things all fine with me. The embryologist didn't call yesterday so our other two didn't make it - they would only call if they were suitable for freezing. They were quite a bit behind the two blasts on Sunday so not really surprised but still a teeny bit . But am generally feeling quite good although the progesterone has given me the worst wind ever . They warned that constipation was a side effect of it but am still a bit - time to ramp up the fibre as it's no fun!

Congrats Caitni , fingers crossed for good news soon.

Picknmix I started my Clomid again this month too, last Tuesday, so we can be Clomid buddies now...woo hoo.

I am being unbelievably rubbish with checking in. I am so busy at work I am having a nervous breakdown, but i try to check in and get the headlines.

xx

and hello to Mad Old Bird, of course. i pressed send too quickly before I had time to ask you about your two little fighters

Another very quick post to say HURRAH for caitni and the transfers of your two little blastocysts. So excited for you. I bet the 23rd will be a very exciting and happy day. Did you freeze your other little ones? Thanks again for the tip about your accupuncturist. I am in W9 - do you think that would work for him?

I'm getting nervous now myself . I had my query suppressed scan this morning and, just like before, I am not suppressed enough yet, so another week on Buseralin for me before I start with the stimming again. I had a panic because I have a very close friend's wedding in the north of Scotland on 17th July, and I htought that another week might scupper that, but looks like it won't clash.

picknmix - LOL at you side effect spotting on Clomid. Have you noticed abything or just owrried about them? I have been in a permanent swoon over these IVF drugs and what they are doing to me. Last night I was having horrid hot flushes. I looked like this..... (literally)!

hello to Bucky ei ready MrsH and the others

Morning,

Just a real quick message to Caitni to say woohoo for a successful transfer! So pleased for you, will be keeping everything crossed for you.

Will be back later, have to go as hotel stops serving breakfast in 30mins and I still need a shower! Started my clomid last night so now I keep imaging I have every side-effect going (me, a drama queen? Never....).

Hope you're all ok, big love x

hi ladies
just a quick one to say to...
caitni YAY for the transfer you will have your BFP in no time i know it
RFN2 good to 'see' you glad all is well with the twins
MOB glad to hear things are going ok
mrsH hope all is well bet you cant wait to get back to work for a while
GG not long before you will be joining caitni in the IVF BFP stakes
hey to everyone else
not much going on except ALOT of BDing i nearly fell asleep at my desk today lol i havent Oved yet but i think i am about to so hopefully il be in the BFP club by the end of the month
xx ei xx

Wow Caitni that's great that they are safely tucked in there. Now I have everything crossed for you that they stay put. Did you put any others in the freezer?

RFN2 It's nice to see you again and to hear about how the twins are coming. 7lbs each would be brilliant. . It's funny that you've got everything sorted at 30 weeks. I expect I will be as rubbish as last time about baby-related stuff (especially as I can't quite convince myself that things are going to be ok this time, even though I should really believe it by now) but no doubt we will have a stunning living room by D-Day!!

bucky hope work is not too full-on.

Higs to all. No news at all from here. Can't believe I am starting back at work in a week, but I think it will be good for my atrophying brain...

Hi all just wanted to pop in and see how everyone is doing

Caitni Wow on how quick it all seems to be happening for you, I really hope you get a fab anniversary present this year

GG Hope that round 2 is going well and that its a big success x

MOB Cant believe you are nearly there Glad that twin 2 is still growing nicely and that they get to cook a bit longer

MrsH Hope your little courgette is wiggling around nicely, I know what you mean about nesting as I have been doing it since about 20 weeks lol. Have got everything bought and set up and even packed my bags

PnM That nurse sounds fab and it goes to show what a difference an email can make! Hopefully you wont need the IUI though

EI Hope things are good for you too

Bucky The appointment does sound like quite an anticlimax but at least things are moving along for you x

Waves to anyone I have missed x x

Well not much to report here, I am 30 weeks on thursday and will be having my next scan on thursday too, so far things are going great and my consultant has said that if I get to 39 weeks they should weigh in at atleast 7lbs each

Thanks for all the good wishes ladies - two blasts safely on board .

Had the transfer yesterday morning, with acu before and after. It was utterly amazing, watching the ultrasound screen as the catheter put them in made me tear up . Definitely the best bit of the whole process so (plus got a lovely picture of them both as well a picture of them as a tiny white dot in my womb).

GG just another plug for my acu if you're still looking - he was excellent through out tx but went above and beyond on ET day by actually arranging the pre & post sessions in his house (he mostly goes to the clinic but my clinic wouldn't let us use a room [annoying] and he also often goes to couples' houses but the north/south divide was a bit much for us). It's Ian at Balance Acupuncture

Now just have to get through the next week or so until I can POAS. My test date is actually our wedding anniversary (23 June) so it's either going to be a very happy one or a very sad one .

Good luck Caitni [higs]

Around for lunch GG if you see this...no BFP miracle has occurred either....

Mad busy at work, soz for super quick post.

Love Bucky x

good luck Caitni - thinking of you

Thinking of you today Caitni. I hope it all goes smoothly.

Caitni Great news you have decided on having two transferred! I (and DH) are so excited for you!! I guess it is happening today, so i hope it all goes really well.

GG Sounds like you had an awful time at that party - she sounds like a hideous woman . However you obviously remained very calm and controlled, which hopefully was the exact opposite of what she wanted to achieve . Hope the scan goes well tomorrow, then we can get our "egg" words out again!!

MrsH I have been told that 37 weeks is considered term for twins, although it does seem to vary. Last time the consultant said that getting to 38 weeks would be ideal. Anyway - it's not going to be long - i don't think reality has set in yet!!

Hello to everyone else

Caitni well done for making your mind up about how many to transfer. As I have said I am sure I would go for two (there are twins in my family anyway - identical ones at that - so it holds no fear for me!!) So is the transfer tomorrow then? Will have my fingers crossed that all runs smoothly.

MOB I think that with my DD I didn't have the nursery ready until I was about due. My mother was worried that I would produce the baby and have nothing ready (but seriously, you can internet order a moses basket in 24 hours...) but I knew she would be late anyway. I guess with your though they might be cooked soon. Isn't 37 weeks average for twins and 35 weeks term? Ooooh, it's getting close!

GG your Dad's wife sounds like a piece of work. I don't know what to say apart from well done for not smacking her...

Hope everyone else is ok, back later.

Caitni - I am so pleased you and your DH are going for two embies . I was worried about posting anything negative about the 1 v 2 debate, because i didn't want to be discouraging in any way to you. Thinking positive is so important for us IVF-ers. On the other hand i thought I should tell you what we were told, even though that was purely my experience. I hope you didn't mind.

I think going for two is utterly fabulous and you could have gorgeous twins like MOB will have very soon. For our cycle #2, DH is determined that we should go for two blastocysts, if it all works out two again (he has a twin obsession too ) so despite our first experience, we probably will go for two again. It is so exciting for you and your DH! Are you going to freeze your other two embryos?

Bucky - are you about I saw a post of facebook and wondered if you had possibly got a BFP or am I totally barking up the wrong tree...?? I also remember that appointment really well when they take you through the paperwork. Such an anticlimax, but it is the start of IVF for you and while it's a rollercoaster of emotions, it is also strangely statisfying and positive, because you are finally doing something.

JB - I hope you have a great weekend away!

*MrsH_ - PMSL at the can-can-ing courgette . I am glad that the meeting with the NHS midwives went well. I was wondering what hospital you're booked into too. If it happens to me, St Mary's Paddington is within pregnancy waddling distance for me, so i have already said to DH "If this IVF works, then it's the Lindo Wing for smoked salmon sandwiches and champagne for me, sunshine!"

MOB - LOL at all that hair your boys will have . When my sister was born, she had masses and masses of black hair, which is v unusual in pale skinned, Celtic north Scotland . All the other ladies/their DH's in the ward wanted to look at the baby with all the hair. I love that you are nesting. That's probably what i should be using all my free time for

PnM I am so glad the app has given you progress, and three cheers for that lovely nurse getting you onto the IUI list. I agree with caitni that the nurses during my IVF have been the sensible ones. Fingers crossed the Clomid works and you have no need for IUI. Maybe we should have a south coast meet up? I love that idea. Is there a date we can do?

Ei - big wave to you! Come and tell us your news.

I've got my suppression scan on Tuesday and then it's (hopefully) onto the Gonal F to put my ovaries into warp drive and produce (fingers crossed) lots of eggs. After the last haul, I wonder how my poor body can keep up with the relentless pace of egg production. I feel like a battery hen

I am also in a v bad mood this morning after I went to my lovely cousin's 40th birthday party last night. I was there on my own because DH is working in Spain and my sisters live in Scotland so it was too far to come . Anyway, I got accosted by my stepmother after 6+ pints of Stella (that's her, not me! ) telling me that "you" meaning me and "you" meaning me and my sisters collectively, treat my dad terribly and I was a "cold hearted b*tch" and general disgrace to the human race. I was sober because of the IVF and brushed it off saying that she didn't know a lot of things, that she was drunk and I didn't think it was appropriate or the time/place. I said it all really politely and that I wasn't going to have an argument or tell her anything in the middle of a lovely party (I maintained total dignity. Pat on back GG ). But then she started chanting "Bring it on, GG, bring it on!!! Go on, tell me everything!!!" into my face. I was so shocked and terrified it would decend into a fight (and she was waving her full pint glass at me which I thought could go over my head) that I grabbed my handbag, said a hasty goodbye to my dad and cousin and had to leave the party and came home, upset. It's only the second time I have ever met her and I thought we were getting along really well - lots of laughing and joking with her at the start of the evening, but I now realise that was in front of my dad and everyone else. And now she's prevented my dad from seeing me all weekend when they are in London because they were "too busy" She's only six years older than me, no kids of her own and she is very, very insecure, but I can't believe that she waited until she could get me alone in the corner and then her whole manner changed and I was ambushed. It come totally out of the blue and it took me a moment or two to realise that she wasn't still laughing away with me, and was trying very hard to pick a fight and make me lose my rag. I was enjoying the night too

Oooops, sorry for the post. I'm on the wrong thread for that stuff. I should go and post that in "Relationships"

Evening ladies

Thanks for all your advice on the one vs two issue - we've decided on two now . After a lot of talking and googling (and reading my DH what you've written here ) we've decided that two gives us the best chance of having a baby, which is what this business is about after all! According to the lister's stats if we get a positive result our risk of twins with two blasts is <whispers nervously> between 50-60%.

MrsH lovely to hear of nesting . Sounds like the perfect time to start, before the new job eats up your time. Thanks for the tips re local hospitals - the Whitt is nice and close, which is a HUGE factor in my book (getting stuck in London traffic while in labour - er, no thanks!).

MOB also v lovely to hear of your nesting . Thanks for sharing your wisdom about twin pregnancy - I appreciate an honest take on all of this . Especially as you can compare your pregnancy to your earlier ones. I bet your DC are getting excited about the babies' arrival - your DD is going to love being the only girl (apart from her mum!). 34 weeks - the countdown is really on now (caitni starts to hum The Final Countdown)

GG thanks for your wise words too. What happened on your first cycle was just one of those (very sad ) things - luck seems to play far too much of a part in IVF - but this cycle is looking good for you. You'll be producing eggscellent eggs in no time that fertilise into lovely strong embies and there's no work stress to get in the way this time either . I'm trying really hard to keep my feet on the ground through all this (and keep my very optimistic DH's feet on the ground ) but I know that IVF will work for both of us someday - I just want that day to be as soon as possible for both of us .

Anyway, I'm off to do some tidying up and get dinner on - what an exciting Sat night eh? But we're booked in for acu at 9am tomorrow in the depths of sarrf london so an early night for us in store...

Caitni I am so, so pleased that it's all going so well for you. To get 4 top grade embryos is brilliant. No wonder you and DH are proud of them I don't know a huge amount about blasts - our clinic only routinely went to day 3 embies unless there had been a problem in previous cycles, so it wasn't something we were offered. However, it's fantastic that you have been offered it, as i understand it leads to greater success rates etc.
As for the transferring of one or two, well, ultimately only you and your DH can decide, but i'm happy to share what our thoughts and feelings were, and what carrying twins has been like so far!
We did discuss it quite a lot beforehand, and even when we were driving to the clinic i asked DH again if he was happy to have 2 put back, as there was a reasonable chance (about 25% at our clinic) that it could be twins. We agreed that we would go for it. In our case we wanted to maximise the chance of getting pregnant, bearing in mind that i am getting old! We also felt that we were happy to cope with twins should that be what happened. The consultant had also said that he felt i was healthy enough to be able to cope with the pregnancy.
Well, you know what happened after that . It was a shock when we had the scan, but a nice shock. I have been healthy and well through the pregnancy, and even though we have had a few worrying times along the way (the bleed just after Christmas where we were initially told we may have lost them, and the concerns over number two's growth) it appears that both babies are well and healthy. You have to be prepared that a twin pregnancy is much more "medicalised" - you have to be under a consultant, have extra scans etc. However, i have to say the care i have received has been fantastic, and i feel very looked after. Don't forget as well, if you do end up with twins, they will, more than likely be DCDA (two placentas / amniotic sacs) and a lot of the risks you read about are associated with identical twins.
I can't say that i have experienced any "downsides" as such, but i now have a really huge bump, have swollen arms & legs, and sometimes need help out of the car / up from the sofa Oh, and i think even my stretch marks have stretch marks Basically all the usual pregnancy things, but a bit more intensified. However, the thought that we will soon be welcoming two new little people in to the family makes it all absolutely worthwhile, and i have to say, looking back, i have NEVER regretted the decision to put two back.

Crumbs! I've really rambled on, haven't i?! I just wanted to give you our honest thoughts etc about the whole thing. As i said, though, it is a very personal decision. Everyone's circumstances are different - you are younger than me (i am 39 in a couple of months ) and so you may wish to spread your children out - if you see what i mean!! GG has also given a very important perspective on the risks of putting 2 back.
Anyhow, good luck with whatever you decide - and i'm getting so excited for you!!

MrsH I'm 34 weeks now. I also have it in my diary so i can keep track. LOL at you getting the living room ready for the baby. I have been obssessed with the fact that the garden must be completely tidy and looking it's best before these two arrive! Why, i don't know What makes it worse is the nursery isn't even ready yet!

JB Hope you have a lovely weekend away. You are getting as bad as GG with all your trips away

caitni - just a quick post again (sorry - i thought I had all the time in the world when I was made redundant but stuff has erupted around me to do). I wanted to say THAT IS BRILLIANT that you are going to blastocyst stage!!! . <<GG does a little dance for you>>

The embryologist won't lead you on! Huge congratulations to you and your DH . Not sure what to advise you on the two v one embryo - and it is a very, very personal decision and i am sure that MOB will give you the benefit of her very sage and more experienced advice - she is a lot more knowledgeable than me.

We went for two, which was the right decision for us at the time, but as you know it didn't work out for us. It was ONE OF THOSE THINGS though! I think I might go for two again - it's soooo tempting. Double the chance and possibility of twins is fantastic. BUT....

On the down side (said quickly ), one view expressed by the doctor (which for some reason did ring true with me, because, as we all know, some doctors talk a lot of twaddle and we ca feel free to ignore them) was that when I got the BFP followed by BFN and all the upset and confusion, it didn@t work out for us because one embryo wasn't strong and when it went it took the other one with it. i do think there are fewer complications with a single, but you have almost a ready made family with two. It;s very difficult and very personal.

lots of love and good wishes whatever you and your DH decide
GGx

OH MY GOD. I WROTE A MASSIVE POST AND MY COMPUTER ATE IT

Here we go again [sigh]...

Caitni hurrah for the embryos doing so well. Am I right in thinking that the "risks" of putting 2 blasts back are the normal risks associated with twin pregnancies (assuming that they both take)? If so, I would probably put 2 back. You are young and healthy and if you conceived twins and they needed extra medical stuff you could go to the Royal Free where that Nicolaides fellow (the one who is an uber expert in foetal medicine) works. Otherwise NHS hospitals we get offered around here are the North Mid (not my favourite because a lot of the buildings are old - surgical wing looks pre war- and while they looked after me very well in March last year they seemed v under-resourced to me. My GP said they are one of the busier hospitals in London), UCH (which I love but as I am planning a VBAC I couldn't stand the thought of the cab ride all the way into central London in strong labour) and the Whitt (where I am booked, organisation seems an issue but they have just opened a nice new 5 bed birth centre with 4 pools). In the end I went for the whitt really because it is nearest, so they have local midwife clinics in my area etc.

MOB that is lovely to hear that the chicks are ok. How far along are you again? Sorry to keep asking but I am lousy at keeping track. When people ask how many weeks I am I say "ummm" and have to consult my diary!

GG I hope the argument is over and you are back to relaxing as every good leisure expert (as I like to style myself when between jobs) should.

Jollybear Have a lovely weekend away. Are you taking the cub or is it a grown-up weekend?

Picknmix fantastic news about the appointment. OK, so the doctor left something to be desired but you stood your ground and got her to engage which is great. And hurrah for the nice nurse - October is not very far away [eyes October-due bump with trepidation]. But hopefully you won't need the IUI anyway!

Bucky that appointment does sound like an anti-climix. I hope that lots of people drop out and you get bumped up to the top of the list even sooner!

Ei is everything ok with you?

NHS midwife seemed sensible, thanks. And I appear to be nesting - all of a sudden I have an overwhelming urge to redecorate the living room, change all the light fittings, sockets and switches and acquire an armchair. I'm sure the baby will appreciate it. If only I had time to change the avocado (bleaugh) bathroom - it has carpet on the floor (vile - especially around the loo [sick emoticon]. Sprog is currently doing a can can and is putting me off my typing... I have a busy couple of weeks coming up. New job starts soon and DD is turning 3 as well. Funny how I can sit about contemplating my navel for months and then everything happens at once!

Hi ladies

Just a quick note from me as still in internet avoidance mode!

JB have a great weekend away!

MrsH hope the meeting with the NHS midwives went well. I was wondering the other day what hospital you're booked into - I have no idea what the hospitals are even called in North London!

MOB so glad to hear that the boys are still fine for the moment - at the hair - wow! Am hoping the docs allow them to cook for as long as possible, although it's going to be super super exciting when we become cyber aunties two times over

PnM glad the app has given you some definite progress, especially that nurse getting you onto the IUI list so quickly - praise the lord for nurses (the nurses during my IVF have been my lifeline, as they're the sensible ones who know what they're really talking about!). Fingers crossed the Clomid works and you hit the jackpot before you need the IUI

Bucky was more than a little at your app but at least you're in the system. Fingers crossed that you also hit the jackpot naturally . Hope time flies for you but also that you can enjoy your summer, and your time with your DP before babybucky arrives

Ei yay for MrEi getting another job! Hope things are good with you xx

GG hope your DH has made things up to you and that downregging is going well. I really do not miss my downreg sniffs - so am a bit at your injections (I found the injections the easiest stage as only had to remember to do them once a day).

So things going well with us. We were booked in for a day 3 transfer today but after a lovely call from the embryologist this morning we've decided to go to blast - the four embies are top grade and seem to be dividing well. Of course there's a risk none might make it but am not going to dwell on that (embryologist was v v reassuring that it's a tiny chance that they won't all make it - said she wouldn't recommend it if that was a significant risk). We honestly didn't expect to get the chance to go to blast so those little embies have already made their parents proud . Had a lovely day with DH as he had booked today off work so now just going to chill out until I get those little fellas on board.

Though now our discussion is whether to have one or two blasts transferred - MOB, GG, anyone else what do you ladies think? There's statistically not a huge amount of difference in terms of pos HPT & live birth rate between transferring one or two but the risk of twins increases dramatically with two blasts...we had decided to have two day 3 embies put back so this blast thing has thrown a spanner in things somewhat. I've always kind of (not so secretly) wanted twins but DH is much more freaked out by the risks...much discussing to be done methinks!

Anyway, sorry for the ramble. DH has just cooked up some steak (pampering still going on chez caitni ) so time to log off for the night.

xxx

V quick stop in...

P&M Glad things are finally getting moving for you with clomid and on the waiting list for IUI! . Hurrah for your email.

My chart reading skills are obviously rubbish, sorry for saying your ov was so obvious . Your old bathroom sounds swell . Not offended at all by the peach bathroom comment. I hated ours when we moved in but it has grown on me!

bucky Hello! Sorry to hear your appointment wasn't more helpful.

caitni Hope all is going well, sending lots of positive thoughts your way although I expect you are sticking to trashy mags and avoiding the internet.

MOB Hurray for your boys!

Hello to everyone, sorry not to speak more. We're away for the weekend and I must pack.

PnM Don't apologise for the long post - it is great to hear how your appt went. I'm so pleased that things are finally happening - 'bout time too!! Sounds a bit of a clueless doctor, but at least you came out with an action plan, and the IUI is not far away, with the hope that the clomid works in the meantime. I'm feeling excited for you Definitely sounds like the email played a part - so it was well worth it.
The scan was fine, thanks, both babies looking healthy (could even see that they had hair ) We have another scan on Tuesday, where they will look at the growth, then the drs will decide if they can be left cooking for a bit longer.

Morning all,

It does seem a little weird how quickly your appt went Bucky - its a shame they don't offer phone consultations if thats all they had to say to you. But good that you have now been seen, you're in the system etc etc. I still want to come up to London at some point, I was just rubish at replying to FB things. Although, if you ever want a trip down south, let me know and I'll do a bbq or something (or we could [finally] have chips on the beach!).

Are you ok GG? Hope you got things sorted out with DH?

Don't blame you for being internet wary at the moment Caitni. Have you heard from the embryologist yet? Hope you are managing to relax at home and that DH is looking after you.

How did you appt go with the NHS mdwives MsH? Hope it was more useful than expected?

I can't believe Jollycub is nearly 6 months old JB!! Apologies re the peach bathroom comment, hope I didn't offend too much!? I take great comfort in the fact that my peach bathroom is WHOLE load better than the aubergine (and yes, really it was marroon, like ribena) bathroom in our last house - the bathroom suite was aubergine, the tiles were aubergine, the carpet was pink and one wall was covered in smoked glass tiles. I kid you not, it was like weeing in a [retro] womb.

How did the scan/check up go MOB? Hope all was ok with you and the boys?

I'll say it again cos its such good news - well done MrEi for getting a job . I did discard that temp and FF has put ov at 31st as you and MrsH predicted. There was action about 5 days before then as was away for work, but who knows!

Thank you all for your kind wishes for my appt. Went ok, better than expected I guess... Didn't get to see the consultant again (I've never actually met him) so was seen by one of his team. She hadn't read my notes properly (surprise surprise) and said "well all your test results have come back clear".

She stressed this about 3 times until I said "well how come I have this email from Mr Ibrahim saying I have signs of mild PCOS"?

She then flicked through my notes hurridly and said "oh yes, very slight PCOS".

She's obviously been taught to smile when in doubt cos thats all she did, smile inanely at me...

Anyway, the upshot was they've put me on Clomid - a 3 month trial, to be taken over 6 months (so alternate months). Its a really low dose so they're not monitoring me ( - I did check 3 times that this was ok and she said I wouldn't need monitoring).

They've also put me on the list for IUI ("as you've had such a long wait to see us Mrs PnM, we'll bypass the rule that you have to wait until you've finished Clomid and the waiting list is 6-9months").

However, when we walked out the room, the nurse (who is the only one who talks sense there - she was also the lady who did all my scans for the miscarriage) ran after us and said shes put us on the the register for the next lot of IUI which is in OCTOBER as we've been waiting so long.

I noticed a copy of my email in my notes so I wonder if thats why they did this? Hope so.

Your questions were used and I'm so pleased I had them in front of me so thank you again for all your pointers.

Sorry for the ridiculously long post....

Bucky Sorry to hear your appt was an anti-climax. But at least you are on the list, and hopefully the wait may be a bit less than you were anticiptating.

GG Hope the argument is over now, and that DH has made it up to you (financially and perhaps with a nice gift as well )

Caitni I have been cheering on your embryos (pom poms and everything). Am thinking you may be having ET today? Hope it's all going well for you.

Hope everyone else is ok.

XX

hello! I'm dropping in very, very quickly to say hello and say that I have read everything, but I've not much time to post because DH and I are arguing because he's made me go overdrawn .

caitni - hope you are not too sore and don't worry about avoiding the internet. I ducked out of the Wimbewai(n)f Club for about six months, so I know the feeling about wanting to stay focused and not worry yourself

Bucky - I remember that anti-climax appointment well. I couldn't believe that was all ther was to it! Are you abotu for lunch next week?

picknmix - GOOD LUCK for your appointment and the other ladies have given you some amazing questions. Come and tell us how it goes.

hello to everyone else.

PicknMix good luck today! . Go get em and make sure you leave with all the answers you need!! Looks like the girls have been pretty helpful so I hope it goes ok. [higs]

Caitni congrats on your successful EC. Let us know how thing progress.

I have only scanned I am afraid, will have a proper read later to see how everyone is getting on. I'm so unfocussed on TTC, that I feel a bit of a fraud coming on here at the mo. Sorry I gave up on the meet up, but everyone seemed so busy and I didn't want to harrass, so I thought I would abandon it for the time being.

My appt was a bit of an anticlimax. I'm not sure why we were even needed to attend it literally went like this:

'Hi'
'Hello'
'I see you are making progress now, have you had all your tests done?'
'Yes'
[nurse checks records]
'I see that is the case, all ready now then, I'll fill out the forms and send them off. Is Hammersmith ok for you? You can go to Oxford, Leicester, Cambridge or Barts if you'd prefer, although we recommend Hammersmith as we have links with them.'
'Hammersmith is fine.'
'OK thanks very much you'll get a letter in a few weeks inviting you for your first consultation with Hammersmith, any questions?'
'Is the wait still 6-9 months?'
'They see our patients quite quickly usually so should be relatively quick'
'ok thanks, bye'
'bye'

See, boring. On the list now it seems. 6 months or so to wait!

Caitni Lovely to hear from you. Don't blame you with the internet avoidance! Sound very sensible. So pleased that EC went well & i hope you are feeling ok today. I also hope you don't have long to wait for that 'phone call from the embryologist.

PnM & Bucky You both have your appts today, don't you? (Or has my hormone-addled brain got that wrong?) If so - hope it goes really well for both of you. Look forward to hearing all the news.

JB Crumbs - time is flying by - nearly 6 months already!

EI Great news on DH's job. Hope things have settled down in your household now.

GG How's the bathroom coming along? (If you run out of things to do, you can always come and do ours...)

MrsH Hope the appt this morning is ok. A nappy advisor is someone who sells a whole range of reusable nappies. We weren't planning on going down that route, but when we saw how easy they are these days we had a re-think. Obviously there are the environmental issues, but they will also work out a whole load cheaper They look really sweet too. I just thought that if i got them before the birth then we will use them, whereas i might have put it off afterwards.

Right, off to the hospital now. I look forward to lots of news from everyone later on!!

PnM some good pointers from MOB there. I reckon that the pushier you are the better. Make sure you remind him what a long haul it has been!

MOB what the heck is a nappy adviser? Is it for reusables? (If so: you brave woman!)

Ei congratulations for your DH. It's brilliant that it didn't take him long to find a new job.

JB I can't believe the cub is 6 months old either, but then time seems to be absolutelty whizzing by these days...

Caitni I'm so glad the egg collection was successful and that your DH is taking care of you. I think you are right to avoid google. LOL at the image of eggs and sperm getting jiggy in the petri dish . Have you heard from the embryologist this morning?

Hello to Bucky (have you had your appointment yet?) and (GG I hope the piglet cold is shifting).

Today I have a date with the NHS midwives (who I am sort of staying in touch with in case it helps me get round the hospital policies on VBAC). Am not expecting much though...

oh i forgot to add
PnM i think your chart looks FFAAAHHHbulous!! i also think you may have oved on 31st may which would make you 9/10 DPO i would maybe discard the temp that FF says you oved onand see what that does to your chart as it can always be un-discarded iyswim if you dont agree with what it is sayingwas there any action around then?? your chart looks very promising IMO
xx ei xx

hey ladies
not much happening here except DH did indeed get a job which he started yesterday so we can relax a little bit at least for a few weeks
caitni im glad the EC went well i hope you dont have long to wait til ET and you get the result you want
MOB glad the boys are doing well
JB OMG!! i cant believe jollycub is 6 months old already!!
bucky did you have your appointment today?? if so i hope it went very well
GG hope your swine flu has died down and you feel better soon
mrsH hope all is well and you are relaxing before you start your new job
hello to everyone else
xx ei xx

Evening everyone,

Firstly, P&M I've had another look at your chart and it just looks so good. Unless you have reason to think that the temps were unreliable, I agree with FF on the ov date. How does this months chart compare with other charts where you have ov? Are your post ov temps usually so high? I'd be googling symptoms if I had a chart like that! Re your appointment, MOB and MrsH have given you a great list of questions. I understand what you mean about feeling flustered etc. Oh and I have a peach bathroom too, I'm hoping coloured suites will make a return to fashion!

ei Woooo for clean tubes and heightened fertility! Great news on your DH's job. Has that put a stop to the dickheadadry?

GG Glad you are feeling better now and the piglet cold wasn't too awful . Have you done anything fun to celebrate being free yet, apart from planning a wonderful new bathroom?

MOB You are planning washables with twins . I'm still using disposibles , naughty me <slaps hand>.

Caitni I love the idea of the sperm and eggs getting jiggy to BW . Having a rest with mags and treats sounds perfect for before and after the ET. Let us know when you have news on egg development. So very excited for you.

Jollycub is very well, sleeping soundly at the mo. She's 6 months old on Monday .

Evening ladies

Sorry for the silence - am in internet avoidance mode as was stressing myself out googling all the things that can go wrong .

So EC was today and despite being convinced there'd be no eggs
(more ) I got a good haul of fairly good quality eggs. Feeling OK - bit sore but reckon I'm playing that up for DH's benefit (he's making me a hot water bottle as I type ).

Now the next step is whether any fertilise - for some reason I have the very unscientific image of the eggs and sperm getting jiggy in the lab to sound of Barry White with soft lighting ( - that is not, I repeat not, a reflection of me and DH's sex life btw ).

Naturally worried that none will fertilise (hence the internet avoidance!) but just have to wait and see. Am stocked up on lots of crappy dvds and magazines and treats and am going to just relax until ET. And Home and Away is just starting (I am in cheesy TV heaven with Home and Away!).

Sorry for the me ramble. I'll catch up properly soon. In the meantime,

PnM the Qs people have suggested are good and comprehensive - great idea to be prepared. Will be thinking of you and hoping you have a good app.

Bucky your app is around now too (was it today?). Hope it goes/went well. Can't wait to hear what the next stage for you is

Ei yay for good HSG - my SIL conceived her first the month after her HSG (had been trying for over two years). Fingers crossed for you my sweetie!

MOB thanks for the good wishes . I did not even know nappy advisors existed! You must be getting excited getting ready for the boys now

GG sorry for the lurgy but better to get it out of the way now . How long are you expecting to downreg?

Sorry to anyone I've missed - my hot water bottle's just arrived so am off to veg on the sofa!

Caitni Hope things are ok with you and it all went well? Have been getting a bit worried as we haven't heard from you.

GG Sorry to hear that you have been poorly. It's a classic sign that you are beginning to let go of all the stresses and strains of recent weeks. Hopefully this will mean that you are nice and chilled and feeling on top form once you reach the "crucial" bit of the IVF (well, it's all crucial, but hopefully you see what i mean)

EI I'm so pleased to hear that the HSG went well, and i have everything crossed that you do indeed succumb to the "risk" of increased fertility

PnM I have been thinking about what you could ask at your appt. MrsH has already drawn up a fantastic, comprehensive list, so there's not much i can add. But i did have a couple of thoughts -
- perhaps open the consultation by stressing how much this is taking a toll on you and DH (is he able to be there with you?) I know you mentioned this in your email, but i think emphasising it again can't hurt.
- ask outright if you definitely have PCOS
- If it is NOT PCOS, then WHY no conception?? (There may not be an answer to this of course, but it doesn't hurt to ask)
- If IVF is not mentioned then raise the issue yourself. Assuming there is a waiting list, ask to go on it NOW, whilst pursuing other options in the meantime. (It doesn't cost them anything to put you on a waiting list and then remove you if you get pg). If IVF is not going to be considered, then on what basis is this decision made?

Just my thoughts of course - feel free to ignore! I would urge you to take a written list of issues with you, and have it out during the consultation to refer to. That way he will see you mean business.

All ok here. I have a scan / check up at the hopsital tomorrow. They will not do another growth scan until next week (as a week is not long enough to see any real changes) but they will check that the boys and i are ok. I went to see a "nappy advisor" this morning, and put in a big order that will hopefully see us through until they are potty trained. There is such a lot of choice out there, i don't know how i managed to make my mind up!

God, I know what you mean. A perfect chart rarely meant anything much for me!
Good luck with your appointment.
Just make sure they tell you what happens next (and that it is not just go home and wait - you have waited long enough!).

MrsH thank you for those questions - thats exactly the kind of thing I meant as I just have no clue what to ask. I'm going to print them out (and any others anybody wants to suggest) to take with me so I don't forget - when it comes to Dr's I have a tendency to either clam up with nerves or act like a biligerent teenager depending on their attitude.

WRT my chart - There was indeed sex the day before and the day of ovulation (according to ff) so yes, in theory it could be very well timed BUT 2 bfns (one this morning) and I'm not holding out any hope. Hence why I think FF has got it wrong and the 31st was exactly when I was thinking as well. This is why I gave up charting!

Thank you for your thoughts though x

... I meant 31 May.

Picknmix - DD is asleep so I have had a think about what you might ask the consultant. Assuming he still thinks you have mild PCOS...

- are any further steps are needed to confirm the diagnosis? What is the wait for them?

- if it is PCOS (or if they are going to assume that it is) what is the treatment?

- if the treatment involves clomid do they offer cycle monitoring or HCG trigger shot?

- is there anything you can do to help things along (e.g. eat certain things, lose some weight etc) [Disclaimer: I do NOT think you need to lose any weight, but this is something I would ask about.]

- if the treatment does not work what is the next step?

- If possibility of IVF is raised; what is the waiting list? what are clinic's stats/success rates.

HTH

Oh. also, I had a look at your chart and while you could, I suppose, have ovulated on 1 June instead, was there no sex in the days before FF thinks you ovulated??? If there was I think that looks like a good chart...

Morning all,

How did the EC go yesterday Caitni? Was thinking about you all day so hope all is well

GG am chuckling a little over your Piglet Flu - naughty DH for accusing you of being over dramatic . Although I know exactly what you mean - the minute I go on holiday you can be sure I'll get a cold as my body sort gives up! Yay for the new bathroom - very envious as our bathroom is peach <<boak>>, and in true cottage style, is wood pannelled!

MrsH - yay for a gorgeous girl courgette How fab for you. How are you feeling at the moment? Can totally understand why you were concerned about her measurements but its great news the hospital were able to reassure you.

Glad to hear the Hsg went ok Ei - hope its flushed those tubes out properly ready for baby Ei! Not long until the 9th of July (although hopefully the Hsg will give you super fertility and you wont have to go to the appt )

How are the boys doing MOB? Hope twin2 is doing ok? (and twin1 as well, obviously!!!)

Is your appt tomorrow Bucky? Hope you're doing ok at the mo???

Hi JB, how is Jollycub doing?

Feeling quite emotional over here in PnM land. Think FF may have got my ov day wrong - its too complicated to explain but think I may have ov'ed later than I thought as there is no way I'm pregnant and also no way my temp would still be this high at 14dpo. I actually found myself symptom spotting the other day - haven't done that for months. All futile speculation though.

Thnk the stress of the looming appt is getting to me now. Please can someone give me some questions that I should go armed with? My brain is mush and I just have this feeling its going to be a waste of time.

GG I hope you are feeling better and starting to enjoy your leisure time! You sound very organised - in the last few months I have only made a list of what needs doing; I have not actually done the things!!

Caitni are you ok? The lack of news from you has me a bit worried...

Hope all is well with everyone. Must run but will be back later...

Good morning lovely ladies!

I have been awake since 5am because DH went off to Amsterdam on an early flight for work and he woke me up at the crack of dawn for a slice of toast and my injection [exhausted emoticon]. Sorry that I have been away for a few days and not posted on the thread, although I've read through everything and all your exciting news! I've had a rotten, stinking, bl**dy cold This is not how it is supposed to be! I should not be ill during my free time away from wage slavery - only at work (when I am getting paid for it)! It's typical for me though - it happens every time I work extra hard or long - I come down with some dreadful lurgi as soon as I manage to relax again. In a fit of drama queen bahaviour at the weekend, I wailed to DH that I definitely had swine flu, because I felt like crap and I've had a craving for bacon sarnies all weekend . DH just laughed at me and thinks I am slightly over dramatisting . He's calling it Piglet Flu, or Swine Lite to wind me up

caitni - is is EC today? Time has absolutely FLOWN past . I am so excited for you and your DH. I have EVERYTHING crossed for you and I love the phrase "eyes on the prize". You have done everything right and I have such a good feeling for you. I hope you managed to have a lovely relaxing weekend before yoru big day. Any more gardening? Please come back later and let us know how you are doing. I'll check back later to see how you are doing. It looks like my EC will be right at the end of the month.

MrsH - A little girl courgette!!! . How is absolutely lovely <GG goes all swoony over all the little girl clothes you are going to buy> I am so pleased that the hospital was reassuring about the size of the baby's head. When do you start work again? Do they need a temp?

MOB - how is twin #2 - is he growing away in there and staying put? I hope so Hope you and the family had a lovely weekend and that you are enjoying as much time with your feet up as possible.

Jolly - wow, your daughter is a stunning wee girl! She is going to have everyone wrapped round her finger, she is so cute. I bet you're stopped by old ladies in the street cooing over her in her buggy.

Bucky - I have replied "yes" to the meet up invite. I have a googlemail address now, but my facebook updates go to my old work email address, hence me not relaising for a while! Did you have a good weekend? What news with you? When is yout Hammersmith appointment?

Ei - did I read correctly on facebook that your DH has got a new job? I am so thrilled for you both - does that mean that another little ei is back on your DH's agenda? It's brilliant the HSG went well - I hope you didn't find it too uncomfortable and beware that hyper-fertility ahead

Picknmix - ha ha ha, you didn't sound like a moody cow at all! It sounds like you are working to death at the moment, so hope you managed to have some time to yourself at the weekend. Did you go running again? Fantastic!! - that looks like a great chart! I agree with jolly - there is no sqinting or guess work to pinpoint ovulation there . Fingers crossed for you!

Sorry for the mega-post and sorry to anyone missed or any lurkers out ther Must dash! I have to go and measure up the bathroom. We are finally getting it done (oooohh, the excitement!) after living with peeling tiles and flaky grouting patched with agffer tape for a year. I chose all the tiles and fittings at the weekend, so we're good to go. We're going modernist, dahling

GGx

Caitni Is it EC today? If so, hope it goes really well. Thinking of you. X

Ei I'm glad your HSG went ok. Let's hope it gave your tubes a good clean out and they are extra-efficient from now.

Caitni and Mob what a hormonal pair you are!

Mob I wasn't at all upset by what you said - don't worry about that. I have been anxious about the scan results because it is not really a growth issue - all other measurements are normal - my concern was more that there might be something wrong with the baby hence the odd-shaped head. Anyway, I got a second opinion from the hospital yesterday and am reassured that the baby is probably fine and I figure that after everything that we went through to get her this baby has got to be ok. I hope twin 2 is behaving.

Caitni Crying over Gordon is lame. The man is a politician and dishes it out often enough. This is just proof that your ovaries are currently taking all of your energy! Good luck for Monday - are they collecting then? I know it is a bit scary that things might happen a bit faster than expected, but as we said to Mob when she did her IVF "eyes on the prize"; everything that happens brings you one step closer to your baby.

PNM That is a lovely chart. Would LMAO if you got pregnant this month just as your appointment is finally coming up!!

GG How is freedom from wage-slavery so far?

Hello to Bucky and JB. Hope life is treating you both well.

hi ladies
just a quickie to say...
YAY mrsH for a little girl excellent news
its been so busy in here what with all the needling and caitni's basket is full of eggs GG's stimming and all that jazz!! its so hard to keep up
MOB glad to hear things are well with you but BOO! that boy#2 has slowed down a touch!! boys really are trouble from day one eh?!
JB your little baby is so gorgeous!! looks very cheeky
PnM hope you are ok and you didnt sound at all like a miserable cowbag
bucky how are you??
hey to all others
i had my HSG this afternoon which went well the lady said it looked like i might have ahd a touch of mucus on my left tube which was flushed away by the xray fluid other than that it all looked ok i have my cons. appt on 9th july to discuss things further and get my blood test results but hopefully as there is a 'risk of heightened fertility' (as the hsg woman said) i will be taking a tiny passenger to my appointment well see though
see you guys later
xx ei xx

MrsH just wanted to say, hope it didn't appear that i was dismissing your concerns after the scan. I know only too well how worrying it is when you don't get "textbook" scan results. I just end up attempting to make light of things as a way of dealing with it all.

Had to say all that - i woke up in the night worrying i may have upset you.

MOB XX

Just had to pop in for news from MrsH - Yay for a pink courgette . It is the measurements of my twin 2's head that are small as well, so maybe in many years time we should introduce the two of them and they can produce some nice small headed WIMBEWAIF grandchildren for us!!! I think you are wise to keep your name choice to yourselves, we are too, because if anyone puts us off the 2 names, we have nothing else we agree on!

JB am in agreement with everyone else - our jollycub is beautiful

PnM that really is a fab chart. I think it can only be a good thing if you are all hormonal for your appt - you can go and sort that consultant out

GG I am raising a virtual glass of bubbly to toast the first day of the rest of your life!!

Caitni Glad your blood results were ok - and hope the scan goes well tomorrow. I laughed at you getting all emotional over Springwatch - i suddenly remembered having to turn off Autumnwatch last year when i was stimming, as it was just too upsetting!!

Hope everyone else is ok.

MrsH Congrats on a baby girl . Absolutely fab news. I'm delighted for you. Measuring on the lower centiles shouldn't be a problem (best things come in small packages after all ) and glad to hear that it's still looking good for your VBAC.

JollyBear of course you're biased but you've really got a cutie so you're totally right to be so proud

PnM that chart is lovely. I'm in fact a little in spite of my charting days being behind me as my charts nearly always had dips below the coverline that used to infuriate (and slightly depress) me. Fingers crossed that your temp stays nice and high . I did indeed go to Woodies - we lived quite close to it - and I've definitely missed the cool sea breeze over the recent mini-heatwave!

GG was snickering not just at your over(y) drive (officially my new favourite IVF pun!) but at your DH addressing last year's card. I reckon if my DH didn't have the fear of my nuclear reaction he'd do the same . Hope you enjoyed Les Mis and being spoiled on your birthday. And glad to hear you being positive about redundancy although nothing wrong with a good old weep. Now the IVF has started again you're the most important person and need lots of spoiling . Speaking of weeping, I weep easily at the best of times but these hormones have me wrecked - I was sobbing at Springwatch when DH arrived home last night (all the poor fledglings!). I then cried during the 10 o'clock news because "everyone's being horrible to Gordon and they should just stop cos I like him". I think my poor DH is looking forward to EC so the hormonal madness can stop .

Not much new with me except I finally understand what bloating means as I'm bloated as a bloated thing. Am guzzling the water so am at risk of turning into a barrel . DH thinks I look pregnant but I just think I look like I've eaten all the pies . Am taking MOB's advice and trying to relax as much as possible. Except that work is mental busy and more stressful than normal .

My estradiol level was apparently fine (quite high, but that's normal with all the follicle action going on down there) so I didn't have to change my drug dose. I'm now mentally preparing for EC on Monday, but won't know for sure until tomorrow.

Hi all

Popping in really quickly because I have to go buy biscuits for a post-natal friend. Scan was good and courgette is..... a girl!

I am surprised because I felt so different to how I felt with DD that I was sure it was a boy, but we're very pleased because in our experience little girls are lovely! (and I have a little girl's name already, but am not telling until she is born).

The only downside is that she seems to be a bit small, but all measurements are around the 25th to 50th centile except for one which is smaller and suggests she has a tiny flat head! Never mind, will be rescanned in 8 weeks and anyway maybe she is growing a helpfully small head to fit out of my pelvis. The very good news is that the placenta is high so it is full steam ahead for my VBAC.

Right enough waffling about the courgette. will pop back later to say hello properly.

Thanks for all your kind words about DD. I think she's lovely but I'm v biased!

I meant to say yest, thanks bucky for telling me how to get the pic up. Oh and GG I'm not on facebook, I know... I'm odd!

Wow PNM what a great chart! No sqinting and struggling to pin down ov there. I won't say what I'm thinking but sods law would dictate... mmm. Anyway, fingers crossed!

MrsH Can't wait to hear whether you're having a girl or boy.

God, I sounded like a moody cow bag in that last post - I'm a happy person really, I promise!!

Morning all,

Sorry, I do keep disappearing at the moment. Work is just non-stop . Had a meeting yesterday in Brighton though so had a little walk by the seaside and then stopped at an all American diner called Woodies Diner (did you ever go there Caitni?) and had an AMAZING ice cream sundae! Yum!

JB your DD is truely gorgeous

Can't wait to hear if the corgette (altho prob much bigger than that now!) is a little boy corgette or a little girl one MrsH! Will check back tonight to see. Hoep your DD enjoys the experience as well - very special moment for you all.

V sorry to hear twin 2's growth has slowed again MOB. Am pleased the hospital are being thorough with you though. Hope you're able to take things easy in the next few weeks.

Hello to both the brave little soldiers of the thread GG and Caitni! Yay for a lovely (although probably bitter sweet) last day at work GG, good luck with the start of your downregging. Hope you had a fabulously Happy Birthday and enjoyed Les Mis

Wow to fast cooking eggs Caitni! I can understand why you are concerned but it sounds like you won't know anything for certain until tomorrow so will be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Hellooooooo Bucky I'm truely of your trip to Bournemouth, the photos looked fab - can't believe that view from your room was in the UK! am counting down the days til my appt - yours is the day before so kinda appt buddies!

Hi Ei if you're about, hope all is going ok for you at the moment?

All is fine in PnM land at the mo - stressed, tired and a little bit downhearted but thats nothing unusual! Although, check out my chart - I think I might finally be back on track again! Although this does mean period is due 2 days before appt so will be nice and hormonal for it [sarcastic yay!]

Jollybear your baby is beautiful. Really - I think most babies look like Yoda (except mine, of course ), but she is lovely.

Caitni stop worrying about your eggs, Missus. I seem to recall from other people's IVF stories that it is often a bit quicker than you might expect. Plus, don't you have short cycles anyway? Maybe your eggs are extra-quick cookers! Anyway the folks at the Lister know what they are doing and it will all be ok (I command it!).

GG Happy birthday and I am glad your last day went ok and that your leaving drinks were nice. Now, let's hope that redundancy has the same result for you as it did for me!

MOB I'm sorry to hear that you're worried about twin 2 again, but it sounds like the hospital have it well under control. 34 weeks is virtually term for twins, isn't it? I can't believe you might have them in your arms in only a couple of weeks. It seems to have absolutely flown by. Oh, and I start my new job in a few weeks (and then will be stopping again 12 weeks or so later!)

I have my 20 weeks scan tomorrow and hopefully we will find out if blob is a boy or a girl, so will pop in and let you know when I do!

Higs to all.

Just a flying visit to say Jollybear - your daughter is just gorgeous!!!

Hello everyone,

I can show my face and be proud as I <fingers crossed> I've managed to put a pic of DD on my profile. It was taken about 8 weeks ago (the more recent ones aren't on the computer!) but she looks the same, just a bit bigger! Still 5 teeth GG, the dribbling has stopped so I think she's having a teething break. Phew!

I did laugh at the worries about bubbles in the injections etc. Mrs H your sister must have been very amused! caitni GG and MOB have said some reassuring things about your over egging. It must be a bit for things to be moving so fast. Nice big reassuring <<<hugs>>> for you.

GG It must have been a hard decision to not pursue for unfair dismissal but not having work stress will make such a difference to you I'm sure. I'm glad your leaving drinks were so lovely. Now you can take time to relax into the IVF (easier said than done I'm sure!), read all those books on your bedside table and enjoy the summer.

PNM I cannot believe how insensitive that woman was . What a cow! Hope work isn't too busy, you always sound like you are rushing here, there and everywhere.

bucky Really glad your weekend was so nice. The weather was fantastic to be beside the sea. Not long to the app now.

MOB Sorry to hear twin 2 has slowed growth again, hopefully things will pick up again. I did laugh at your DH talking about no 5!

MrsH Are you finding out whether you are having a girl or boy? What is DD hoping for?

ei Have things resolved with DH? It must be hard losing his job but no excuse for being an arse.

I do hope the pic worked.

hello there

Today is officially the first day of the rest of my life, because yesterday was my last day at work. I am hoping that redundancy and short term unemployment is as fertile for me as it was for MrsH . I was sad to leave and my colleagues took me out for drinks before I left and I got lots of birthday and leaving presents, so I got a bit tearful (mainly because a couple of friends did and they set me off - I am such a weepy person ), but actually I am pleased and excited too. All the redundancy people are leaving on different days, as they gradually get finished off, so it was a bit wierd to have my day.

caitni - sorry to hear that the stimming is going too well, but try not to worry too much. I remember that the same thing happened to me on my first cycle. My ovaries went into over(y) drive initially and i had 14 big ones, but then they seemed to settle down and take their time to produce ripe follicles in the end. I think some people react uber quickly to the stimming drugs int he first few days. Sending lots of good vibes to my fellow sharps soldier . DH calls me his "Brave Little Soldier" (quite sarcatically I think ) every morning after I get jabbed in the tummy and my birthday card was addressed that way too . That was better than last years card when DH wrote the card (not the envelope!) to "To Gorgon [my second name]" - he'd written it in a hurry in the office !

Bucky - I am at your trip away to Poole for your birthday. I was trying to get my DH to take me away, but no luck, although we are going to Les Miserables tonight. The big joke in our house is that I'm the only woman DH has slept with who he hasn't taken to see it! DH has seen it about 8 times (he really likes it ) although hopefully he's not been to see Les Mis in the last 8 years .I may have to show him your post and hope that he gets the hint that a trip away would be lovely to celebrate my birthday and to get over the trauma of redundancy

MOB - I'm so sorry to hear that twin #2 is slowing down again, but as caitni said, 34+4 is great going for twins, especially with two such troublesome little blighters . And breech too! You should be very proud of yourself and it must be hard in the heat, so I hope your DH is rubbing your feet and bringing you lots of cool drinks Have you thought of any names yet?

MrsH - LOL at the bubbles in the drip story. I am with you and caitni, panicking about bubbles. I make DH flick the syringe about 15 times all the while wailing "Nooooo, I can still see bubbles!"

picknmix - are you about m'dear? How are thinsg with you?

ei - come back and tell us all your news.

jolly - how was your holiday?

take care everyone and keep the updates coming

GGx

Thanks MOB .

X-posts again - see, i took the vibes back!!!

Caitni sorry to hear it was mixed news - sounds like you have very eager ovaries. No wonder you are feeling a bit to think that EC may be so near.

Take care of yourself, and try to relax as much as possible (difficult i know). See what Friday brings. I seem to remember i had a couple of follicles that raced ahead, but in the end they slowed down whilst the others caught up. In the meantime i am taking back all the vibes i sent you earlier - and all the "egg" words - your ovaries don't need any encouragement!

Just x-posted with you MOB

Thanks for the eggy vibes (though after this morning I reckon my ovaries could do with slowing down a bit )

Sorry to hear that twin 2's growth has slowed again but I'm glad they have a plan. I hope those babies get to stay nice and comfy for as long as possible but 34+4 would be a lovely time for them to arrive

Firstly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the lovely GorgonsGin . Hope you have a swell birthday, my fellow jabber!

Secondly, had a bit of a mixed bag at my scan this morning. My lining is great (10mm), which is definitely A Good Thing. But my ovaries seem to be sprinting away as I've got 6 follies at 17mm or above (2 at 19mm ) with about 6 more at 12-15mm and lots of small ones. I've only taken 5 stim injections so these puppies are way bigger than expected (they plan on doing the trigger shot for egg collection when the follicles are 17-18mm or more). Please can someone give my ovaries a pep talk and tell them to slow the hell down? I was a bit upset, as my worry is that the eggs won't mature properly and I'll be left with lots of big follicles but no good eggs. But I'm trying to dismiss those fears - the nurse was clear that there's nothing to do but wait and see and I don't have any control over what's going on down there. Should have a better idea after the next scan on Friday morning but egg collection could be as early as Monday (double ). I'm also waiting to hear my estradiol level to see if I need to change my dose of the menopur or burselin.

I had a good session of acupunture right after it, although he didn't do anything specifically for my lining or eggs, as they actually need to slow down more than anything! Also told me to stop with the hot water bottle. It was good to just talk it through with someone who knows what he's talking about. There's a very good chance that my next acupuncture session will be on the day of embryo transfer (triple ).

Sorry for the massive ramble! I feel like someone just pressed warp speed as things suddenly seem to be happening sooner than I thought...Hope everyone else is well

Hi everyone

Caitni I am eggsstatic to hear that you are now stimming! I am sending you lots of eggstra special eggy vibes (by eggspress delivery, of course ) Was it this morning you had a scan? Hope it went well - do let us know. I secretly enjoyed all the needles / meds etc as well .

JB Hope you had a lovely holiday!

EI How are things with you at the moment?

MrsH Hope the scan goes well this week. Your pregnancy seems to be flying by - i swear you are catching me up! Have you started your new job yet? (apologies if i've missed a post about that...)

GG HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Hope you are having a lovely day - although it's not quite so sunny today. Good luck with the downregging.

Bucky Glad you had a lovely weekend away - i am originally from that part of the country, so i was rather to hear that you had been down there - and stayed in such a fantastic hotel!!

PnM How are things with you?

Well, i think i am in the minority for being grateful that it is cooler today!! (Am still a swollen blob though!) Had a scan this week, and twin 2's growth has slowed again, so i have additional scans booked for next week and the week after, then they will decide what to do. By then i will be 34 +4, so it won't be the end of the world if they have to get them out. They are both still breech as well - these boys are going to be a trouble, i can tell...

Thanks for that MrsH - glad to hear I'm not the only one who sometimes thinks they're starring in their own episode of ER

God, it's so sunny...I just wish I was at home sunbathing. Freakin' work is so busy though [sigh] and I just cannot be bothered with it and wish everyone would leave me alone [double sigh].

Caitni - a quickie to say I am sure your DH is right!
When I was in hospital waiting for my op last year I had a drip in which developed an air bubble in the tube while I was sitting in a windowless room wondering if staff had forgotten me. I ended up phoning my sister (a doctor) to ask her if the air bubble was going to kill me and shrieking down the phone "it's getting closer!". She stifled her laughter quite well, I thought...
God, ER has a lot to answer for.

Quick salute from this sharps soldier to comrade Bucky. Well at your fancy schmancy weekend away! And Poole must have been de-vine in this weather

MrsH you can keep your pedant card as your one little ' is way better than the random words missing from my earlier post - I'm blaming the menopur!

Tonight's injection was a bit trickier, mainly as I couldn't seem to get the air bubbles out. DH was cooking dinner and I burst into the kitchen brandishing the needle and saying "it's got air bubbles that won't budge, make them go away, I don't want the air bubbles to kill me" (too much ER/Casualty over the years has somewhat skewed my perception of risk ). After a bit of flicking and plunging from my auxiliary nurse DH and I was jabbing away again. As he said, if air bubbles could kill me then the nurse would have been like "whatever you do get rid of all the air bubbles...do no, repeat do not, inject yourself if there's even the smallest air bubble". Since she didn't I can only assume I was being a drama queen

GG hope all goes well with you and your (hardcore!) downregging injections .

And night night to everyone else. Got to take my last sniff of the day!

I am just dropping in to say hi and good luck to the sharps soldiers . Obviously nothing happening here. Hospital appointment is on the 10th.

I did have the best weekend ever. DP took me away for my birthday to the Harbour Heights (Poole Harbour) it was sooo nice. I didnt want to come back.

Hope the scan is fab Mrs H.

Yoohoo PicknMix where are you???

Higs for everyone else. JB you just have to sign into your account to post the pics. MyMumsnet at the top of the page and then if you scroll down I think there is an option on your profile page. I am advising without looking though so might be talking crap!.

Will sort the invites GG.

Laters dudettes. x

OMG, that ' should not have been there. I'll have to hand in my pedant card .

GG I agree it is probably a smart move not to push things if it's going to make you unhappy. With employment stuff you always have to balance the misery of fighting and possibly getting a bit more dosh against the idea of going quietly and accepting that your pride's a bit bashed. Personally I think that health and happiness come first so FWIW I reckon you've done the right thing.

Happy jabbing, downregging ladies'

Hi ladies

GG yay to hear that downregging has started!! Well done to your DH for injecting you - I reckon I'd be too micro-managee to let my DH inject me (it's that inner nurse thing ). How long do you downreg for? It sounds like you've made the right decision re work. It's hard, but you're prioritising yourself and your chance to have a family. And you won't be tainting your birthday with such memories!

MrsH thanks for the eggy vibes . Oh I bet your DD will be fascinated by the scan - what a lovely way to include her in the excitement of the pregnancy

JollyBear hope you had a good holiday (and don't worry, I also don't know how to upload photos )

Ei hi lady - hope things are good with you.

MOB hope the twins are growing nicely and you're not suffering too much in this heat.

Hello to Bucky PnM and anyone I've forgotten.

Not much going on here - managing the injections fine (quite proud of having no bruises yet) but am a little worried that it's not working. Roll on Wed morning when I can see what's actually happening to my ovaries . Am eating brazil nuts and drinking tons of water and trying to stay relaxed and happy (DH is being great and is really letting me laze about chill out). Keep forgetting to play the relaxation CD I bought last year - d'oh!

xxx

oooh, sorry for all the typos - done in too much of a hurry!

hello everyone!

What a lovely sunny day it is (well, it's lovely here in London - I hope it's great wherever you are too . Lifts my mood no end

Caitni LOL at your "inner nurse" comment. Youa re so funny . Who would have thought it could be so fun playing doctors and nurses with your other half [grin. DH does mine for me (amazingly! he is so squeamish, but i htink he sees it as "doing his bit") I too am not proud owner (user too!) of a sharps bin. I strated the buseralin injections (no sniffing for me - I am HARD core ) on Sunday so i am at day two already. Where does th etime fly to?! I love the idea of a Pimms in the sunshine - I hope you succumbed and really very good for you with all that fruit

MrsH - yes, I am still at work, but working my ass off so I can (hopefully) exit stage left by tomorrow. I am afraid I have given up the fight on discrimination after a LOT of soul searchign and debating. The firm were holding firm and up for a fight. I am pretty tough and not easily swayed and any other month I would be up for a fight, but starting injections again for IVF cycle #2 means that I am lacking gumption and really can't handle the stress at the moment . Also Wednesday is my birthday, so i am trying to sinish before then - I am not having my lovely sunny birthday tainted with memories of redundancy for ever more.

Jolly - can i add you as a frien don facebook, so I can see piccies of Jolly Cub? I bet she is gorgeous. Ho many teeth does she have now?

hellooooooo to MOB Bucky and ei and all the others who lurk or look in. ei - I hope your DH is ok and not takign out his redundancy stress on you and that you have found a way through. It's tough and dare I say it possibly harder or men/main breadwinners to accept...? he will coem round to another child soon and you concentrate on looking after you Thinking of you both.

Bucky - are you going to organise another meet up? I'd loev to see everyone soon (<GG divests herself of all organisational responsibility and leave sit to the Mistress of WIMBEWAI(N)F to do >

take care and I'll look in again later

GGX

Hi all

JB I hope you had a lovely holiday.

Ei it's good to see you and I hope things have settled down a bit.

Caitni how eggciting about the needles. I guess that must make it feel like IVF proper IYSWIM. I am sure the scan on Wednesday will be eggcellent and will show eggstraordinarily fine developing eggs!

GG have you stopped working yet? Are you stuck for things to do or have you realised that you have a 10 year backlog of personal admin to do?!

Hope everyone else is well . Not much to report from this end. I have a scan later this week which I am looking forward to (with some nerves). I am probably taking DD with me to this one so will see what she thinks about it all.

hi ladies
just a quickie to say hi and i will catch up properly tomorrow
love and hugs
x ei xx

Hello! I dare not show my face until I work out how to post a pic of DD on my profile. I haven't worked it out yet . It's shamemaking.

But I couldn't read the thread without sending eggcellent vibes for caitni and GG. My fingers and toes are crossed firmly for you both.

I'll pop in v soon to say hello to everyone properly, love to all.

GG so I totally managed to not see your post until today . Hope the client lunch went well (I'd have found it hard to bite my tongue around clients if I was in your shoes!). I was also at your worries about alphabetising and colour-coding.

MrsH god, total dilemma. I don't think I'd want someone to tell me if they recognised me...would make me all paranoid and I'd possibly want to go back through all my posts and delete anything too personal...which would be a shame cos I love MN (and would have gone cuckoo without it I think).

Well ladies, good news from me - I'm officially stimming . The scan was fine - all shut down, nice thin lining (and plenty of follicles already). And my first injection was amazing - totally painless. I was so proud of myself (and DH was too ). Though I expect I'll be ages assembling all my bits and bobs tomorrow - honestly, the bag of kit is better than anything my inner nurse could have dreamed off. The sharps box is the best (my own sharps box!) but am also rather taken with the little cardboard tray and all the needles and what have you (I feel like a walking episode of casualty...).

Also had a good session with the acupuncturist this morning - feel so much more comfortable with him than with the last one. Which definitely helps keep the old stress levels down. We had a great chat and he's helping me feel quite calm about everything.

First scan on Wed morning so am hoping those follies grow and grow...lots of eggscellent vibes please ladies

Big waves to everyone. Hope it's as hot as London wherever you are! Am tempted to make myself a sneaky pimms (the ripe strawberries are like sirens calling from the garden "caitni, caitni please put us in a nice cold glass of pimms" ).

xxx

Evening ladies

I hope the birthdays were good and that cocktails were had.

PnM at that rude woman. How stupid can anyone be? Even if you hadn't had an issue TTC it defies common sense to think it is ok to make those sorts of comments. Well done on the fitness kick, though. Am sitting here devouring home made chocolate chip cookies so could use a jog...

GG when is your last day? Am that they would have you on client schmoozing when you are on the way out. Hey, not long to go and you can concentrate on your IVF. I used to be one of those busy people too but you would be amazed - or maybe appalled - by how quickly I have slipped into a life of sloth...

Caitni Your scan is tomorrow, isn't it? Lots of luck with that. Be sure to come tell us how it went. of your strawberries. My garden is such a total mess who knows what's in there!

Hello MOB, hope all is well.

Well I have a Mumsnet dilemma! Today I was reading a thread and realised that I recognised one of the posters from RL. She's not someone I know now, but we were at Uni together, were pretty close and sort of lost touch (and in fact ended up not speaking for years). Do you think I should drop a couple of hints so she realises who I am? It seems unfair for me to have identified her and for her to not realise, but then I would be mortified if someone I know in RL found out about my secret MN habit. Oh, complicated...

Rushing in to say....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Bucky & EI!!!!

Hope you lovely ladies have good days.

Back soon to read & catch up with everything!

Happy birthday to Ei and Bucky . Hope you have fun times celebrating!

PnM am totally of your raised beds (I day dream about building raised beds with railway sleepers). You'll be enjoying home grown veggies soon enough (our strawberries are just ripening up now so we've been having a little bowl each night ). Your bank holiday weekend sounded lovely, just what you need when work is crazy busy as well. Did you get to see any of the painted lady butterflies currently migrating? We were in a park in Highgate on Monday and counted about 40 of them in one flowerbed! And well done on the health kick - I wish I'd actually managed to get my pre-IVF health kick off the ground (instead I've actually put on weight ). But I'm sorry to hear you're still feeling down. Please please don't worry about that on here - you never come across as moaning and it's really important to have an outlet for the sadness you feel about ttc. I was sneakily reading this during a work conference call this morning and it struck me as very sensible. I'm not one for "self-help" type stuff usually but her columns generally struck me as good sense. I've had depression in the past and now do my best to try to avoid things getting on top of me again (and I do worry I'll get PND but will just have to cross that bridge if when I actually get a baby). It's probably why we went into IVF relatively quickly - I don't think I could have coped with waiting much longer before tackling our infertility. Anyway, enough rambling...hope you feel better soon <<hugs>> ps WTF about that awful woman . Where the f**k does she get off sticking her nose into your business like that? Her behaviour is what's weird. God, I just want to shake people who are so insensitive .

Bucky I am at the behaviour of the dildocam operators. I've only had one scan so far and she was lovely - pointed out my ovaries, explained about the follicles and pointed them out, showed me the womb and the lining etc. She didn't give me an official "diagnosis" so to speak but said not to worry, things looked healthy etc and the consultant would review the results properly (she's doing my scan tomorrow too and am glad about that). There should be no surreptitious whispering that makes a woman feel uncomfortable - it's especially annoying considering how much we pay for this (and that's on top of the fact that, er, it's our reproductive organs doing their thing on screen). Hope you get your results quickly.

MrsH I was at what you said to your boss when you were made redundant. And I'm glad that your daughter got to hear the heartbeat, she must have been amazed! Hope you get a lovely view of the little courgette at the 20 week scan (and can't wait to hear if it's a boy or girl ). I'm glad you're nearly half way .

GG yay for being practically cycle buddies [excited][excited]. You picked the best time for falling off the wagon, though my consultant assures me that drinking in moderation throughout treatment is not a problem. Since I've always been terrible at moderation () I've sort of unofficially decided to avoid it during stims except for a friend's birthday celebration on 6th June.

Big hello to Ei MOB JB and everyone else

p.s. - yes yes yes for a meet up! I have LOTS of time on my hands starting next week

Big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ei and bucky

PnM - i forgot to say hello to you on my earlier post. I am very impressed at the health kick. After my drunken slip up on Tuesday, i am now purely on healthy eating and no drinking. Feels great (so far )

I am sooooo for you at that bloody woman's comments!!! Really, I am stunned. i cannot believe that anyone would think that was an acceptable comment to make, implying that she thinks you've got "ishoos". In know people can be insensitive and make comments like "when are you going to start?", but her nosy judgments were outrageous!

mrsH - you have to post a picture of your 20 week scan on your profile here.

I am off out on a client lunch today - last one before I leave the building and wash this office outta ma hair . I am now really looking forward to the rest and relaxation of not working while undergoing ICSI cycle #2, although i am usually a super busy can't sit still person and i am worried I'll get so bored I'll start putting my tins in alphabetical order or colour coding my wardrobe in my descent into madness

hello to caitni MOB jolly digital an danyone else I have missed. I'll check in again later

GGx

Such a long post and yet still I forgot to write a massive HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Ei and Bucky for tomorrow

Hope you both have a lovely day xx

Oh, and did somebody mention another meet up? Would love to make another trip into town again if anybody else is up for it? You coming down this way anytime soon Ei?

Hellooooooo

Apologies for not being around much. Am truely exhausted, work is pretty awful at the moment, finishing at silly hours most nights

I'm so sorry to hear about your job situation GG, sounds like you needed to let off steam yesterday. But yay for the start of down regging soon

Ewwww at the dildocam Bucky - hate those things. "Just relax" has got to be the most ridiculous sentence ever uttered to me whilst enduring the dildocam. Grrr at the whispering and pointing without actually telling you anything though.

Sorry to hear about DH's job Ei, rant away as much as you like. Has DH had any luck with finding another job?

Hows the garden growing Caitni? We built a raised bed for veggies on Sunday and step dad brought round some of his home grown veg for us to plant. Yay for the arrival of af (does feel very weird saying that ), its good to hear the drug sniffing isn't affecting you too much. Will be keeping my fingers crossed for your scan tomorrow. Weather was beautiful down here at the weekend, had 3 () BBQ's and visited a beautiful gardens on Monday with DH - felt about 60 yrs old wandering round but was really nice not ot have to rush anywhere!

Wowsers MrsH, 20 weeks already??? When did that happen?! Seriously, I didn't realise you were already 20 weeks. Awww, was DD excited to hear the heartbeat? I know of someone who allowed her eldest child to name the new baby - maybe DD could come up with some boy name suggestions

Hope you're having a lovely holiday JB - don't forget we want to see some pictures of Jollycub on your return

Pleased to hear you're finally putting your feet up MOB and that the boys are doing well. at DH thinking about #5!!!

Am on a serious health kick at the mo - have been jogging and/or skipping most nights for the last 2 weeks, not that its made much difference yet! Cycle is still all over the place - think I might have ov'ed yest/day before as temp has just shot up but wouldn't surprise me if it goes back down again tomorrow...

Feeling terribly despondent at the moment (another reason why I haven't posted, feel bad for continually moaning). Think its because of the appt looming. Had my little bubble burst yesterday - a woman I was working with said "so why haven't you had kids yet". I just tried to brush it off ('not the right time' etc) but she kept pushing it until she said "well you've been married ages, its a bit weird you haven't had kids yet" (didn't realise people thought I was weird!)

Best go - I can smell dinner burning!

LOL - am being quite the cow these days so some people might say that this baby is Hitler's baby...

Happy birthday for tomorrow. It's going to be a sunny evening. I predict cocktails outside after work...

Our birthday is tomorrow...woo hoo . Actually, not woo hoo, as I am getting super old.

MrsH the dildocam people didn't say anything. I asked them what they could see, if they could see any follicles etc.. And was quickly told that no, they could not tell me anything until they have reviewed the pictures afterwards.

If anything they freaked me out with all the whispering and pointing.

Glad the midwife visit went well...LOL at 'any baby will do' . Perhaps not 'just any' baby...the alien baby wouldn't be too great, nor hitler's baby. I'm glad its all going well hun. xx

Bucky did they tell you anything after dildocam? My scans always took forever too. Even at the one where they could have said "theres a gestational sac in the right place" right away the woman said not a word and spent 20 minutes (or so it seemed) trying to get a good view of my left ovary which was hiding behind some gut (ouch). I don't think those things are ever quick. And once the sheet fell off just as the consultant and a trainee midwife wandered in...

GG hope the head is ok. The first time I got made redundant I spent the afternoon drinking vodka and cranberry and when my boss called to see if I was ok I told him I was too drunk to care and that he should try it too. Ho hum. I think it is a good idea to let off steam now, before you have to go all virtuous for the IVF.

Caitni yay for the period (don't get to say that very often). I hope it is all full steam ahead for you - I like hearing about people's IVF adventures.

MOB I am glad to hear the boys are doing well and I hope you are getting a chance to put your feet up.

Ei I hope you had a good birthday (Bucky too) and that things with your DH are looking up.

PnM how are you going poppet?

Not much news from here. Lovely midwife was round this morning and, as the nanny is away, DD was here to listen to the baby's heartbeat. I am convinced that this one is a boy which is a pain in that I am not really grabed by any boy's names (although of course any baby will do - won't complain because it has a dingle!) and the midwife thinks so too because of some old wives' tale about the speed of the heartbeat or something. Well I have my 20 week scan next week so will soon find out!

Hope everyone is well.

I had a date with the dildocam today. Don't all get jealous now..LOL . I went on for AGES. Like half an hour?

Never thought I would say this but congrats Caitni on your AF .

And GG glad you let off some steam you defo needed to.

Hurrah Caitni! That's fantastic your sort-of-period arrived. The dildocam will become second nature after a while . I wasn't fully shut down so they put me on Buseralin for a little longer in cycle #1.

On dates, I think I'll be about two weeks behind you [exciting emoticon]. My down regging drugs start on 31st May, which is why i am rather at my alcohol binge last night. I blame the stress of work etc for falling spectacularly off the wagon, but no more for me now. I need to get healthy as possible.

I couldn't believe it when I checked in this morning and found I had posted at 11.30 last night. I remember having TERRIBLE hiccups though and trying to stop the room spinning

hello to everyone else. Big wave!

Ei - how is your Dh? Is he coming to terms with his redundancy and I hope you are ok and can convince him to have another little one.

GG

Your poor head indeed - bet it's thinking "yomorrow is another day" . Still, nothing like a good drunken night/awful hangover to clear out the cobwebs and relieve some stress

MOB am glad to hear that you're well bar the tiredness. I hope those little boys are growing away. I've been lurking on the Multiples board (can you tell I'd love twins!) and mothering twins sounds great (once you survive the exhaustion!).

So period finally arrived today - I practically yelped with glee in the toilet just now when I wiped. So I'm in for my date with dildocam on Friday afternoon - fingers crossed for everything being shut off and my lining being thin!

Big waves to everyone else

arggghhh, don't shout. My head, my poor head

will pop back in later when I feel better

GOOD MORNING GG!!!!

(Did that hurt? [wink}

How's the head GG?

oops

got hiccups

pissed

speak yomorrow

GGx

Hi Ladies

Caitni Hope the "period" turns up - there's still plenty of today left for it to arrive, but hopefully if you are able to speak to the clinic they can put your mind at ease. I can't wait for you to start stimming!

GG So sorry to hear about the ongoing work hassle. Hang on in there for the best deal. I've just realised that i have a copy of a "IVF support self hypnosis and relaxation CD" that i used during my cycle, that may help you to relax etc? I certainly found it benficial. I would be very happy to send it to you (you can let me have address etc via FB). I won't need it again - despite DH muttering about #5!!

EI I hope things are a little better with DH & that you managed to have a good weekend?

Bucky Hope the scan goes ok tomorrow. Not long 'till your appt now.

Hello to PnM, MrsH & JB & anyone else i may have forgotten... my memory is really shot to bits at the moment!

Am relieved to not be working any longer, as i am now officially huge, and get very tired (But otherwise extremely well). I'm just looking forward to the babies arriving now, although we still don't have everything we need for them! I have a scan and clinic appt next monday, and i will be interested to see what position they are in, as last time they were both breech. Still, as long as they are both growing then that's the main thing.

GG sorry to hear there's still all the stress at work - but keep on fighting it, the payout will make a huge difference. I decided on Ian Prytherch at Balance Acupuncture and, although it's early days, I recommend him.

Still no sign of AF...getting anxious so may just call the clinic for some advice. Am worrying that the downregging hasn't worked...

Caitni - can you let em know your accupuncture guy. i am thinking of trying somehting new and you are reporting such good things abouthim. i could do with starting sooner rather than later with the stress of redundancy and the drug injecting beginning again on 31 may.

Bucky - will text you back very soon. Apologies for not doing so. i thought I had, honest . Everyone has been so lovely recently that i have lost count of the number of texts and with everything else going on I haven't responded as quickly as i shoulod have. Am i forgiven.

Also, Ei and bucky - can't believe you have the same birthday. All hail to my fellow capricious Geminis . It's my birthday on Wednesday next week (yet another year older ) and now all I have to do is persuade hard working DH to take the evening off to take me out on the razz

MOB - i saw your photos on facebook and you look gorgeous! Hope the little ones are behaving themselves and staying put for the time being. How are you enjoying maternity leave?

MrsH - LOL at you laughing at your friend getting swine flu. i had a giggle too, but only on the basis that she is not terribly ill, i hope When do you start your job?

My news is that I am still fighting my firm on the redundancy basis, which is quite stressful. i won;t have a job, btu the pay off is still nto decided and it will make a big difference to me in the long term and obviously, I don't want to job hunt for a month or two, especially with IVF cycle #2 about to kick off. I do need to get my stress levels down though - I have been researching yoga classes this morning and trying to get an early night of sleep.

hello to jolly or anyone else I have missed off. i will need to have a long read back through the posts to make sure I haven't missed anything,

GGx

Hi ladies

Hope everyone had a lovely long weekend. God, I wish we had more bank holidays!!

Ei and Bucky sounds like some HAPPY BIRTHDAY wishes are in order for the pair of you . Hope you had fun times...

Ei hope things improve with your DH...you really have a way with words btw (I know you say your sister is the writer but you've got the talent too ).

Bucky hope the scan tomorrow goes well. Have no idea what a diagnostic scan means by the way - seems like just when you think you know the lingo they whip out some new terminology . I'm glad that things are progressing for you - BabyBucky will be here soon!

MrsH and MOB hope you're both doing well

GG hope the work stress is easing?

PnM hope things are good with you. Did you get the lovely scorching weather over the weekend? Being in London made me wish we were still on the south coast!

JB hope you're having a good holiday!

Things grand with me. Sniffing away and the drugs don't seem to be having much in the way of side effects, which is good. I'm supposed to get my "period" today but no sign yet, so a bit anxious about that. I've been told to expect it today (though it's probably going to be very light) and then go in for a scan and blood test on Thurs to make sure everything's switched off and my lining is thin. If it's worked, then I should be able to start injecting on Thurs!

Had a great session with the new acupuncture guy on Fri. He really knows his stuff, not just about IVF but ttc in general, and it was great to talk about things properly and be taken seriously iykwim (and he's reassured me there'll be no more burning of moxa for me ). Wish I'd gone to him earlier (and in fact wish I'd gone to him before the whole assisted route!). Am hoping to see him again tomorrow, depending on whether this "period" arrives...

Anyway, have a mountain of work to do and have just about zero motivation [sigh] so best head off and at least attempt to get some stuff done!

hey ladies
bucky i didnt realise we were birthday buddies and dont lie...you know you are my FB stalker you doing anything nice for your birthday??
hello to everyone else
xx ei xx

Anyone with the same birthday as me can rant as much as they like Ei.... I saw it on FB, I'm not a crazy stalker honest . x

hey ladies
thanks for your comments about DH i know he has got all these feelings about his redundancy so im making allowances for that but he knew it was coming and has done nowt to look for another job (burying his head in his arse) and all he goes on about is how i am basically the worst in the world because i spend time with my friends (once in a blue moon), because i (shock of shocks) think that spending money once a week on food shopping is acceptable and replacing our DDs shoes as her last pair no longer fit is a good idea (IMO preferable to her going to school barefoot) he has always had a measure of idiot in him but recently it has been kicked up a few notches!! (sorry for ggoing on but it seems to help ranting here rather than at DH tell me to shut the frig up and i
will)
hope you all are ok
xx ei xx

You lot crack me up . Whilst I am so sorry to hear about your DHs redundancy Ei I am particularly taken with the work 'dickheadery' and will be introducing it to my day to day vocabulary . In all seriousness, I hope that things get better, its a horrible thing to have happened and stress and upset make people act in ways they would not ordinarily. Ask my DP, I've been mental for months now .

I have also had a snigger at MrsH laughing at her sick friend!!! ...Although when I was ill the other day somebody asked me if I had 'Pig Flu' which i thought sounded decidedly disgusting. .

Today I am mostly very sleepy and hungover and counting the minutes till BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND...woo hoo.

Caitni good luck with your cycle, hope that a BFP is at the bottom of your IVF rainbow. (higs).

GG pull your finger out and text me back you lazy cowbag .

Have a great holiday JB. And PnM Wassup dude??? Are you going on a staycation? Apparentely that is a cool way of saying are you holidaying in England?

Hola to everyone else!!!!

Well, it seems that all was not as simple as I though and I have to have another scan because the one I had before was diagnostic. Heyho...so I am going for a private scan next Wednesday so I can have the results in time for my appointment with the hospital on the 10 June!

That's about all my news! Have a uber weekend girlies...see you soon. x

Ei I am sorry to hear about what has been going on with your DH. Redundancy is such a kick in the teeth, even if you know your employer has no choice and I sometimes think that men take it harder than women because often they are a bit less flexible and a bit more defined by their job. The best thing anyone can say about redundancy right now is that there is a lot of it about and it is not personal. I hope he pulls himself together soon and that things start looking up for you both.

Have a lovely holiday JB.

Hope everyone else is ok. I have just had the hilarious news that someone I know has swine flu (she's fine, BTW) - although she is not in this country so we're all safe!

Hi everyone

Ei so to hear of your DH's redundancy but to hear of his selfish behaviour. GG put it better than me about his own hurt/anger at losing his job but still, the last thing you need is him acting like a child. Hope things are sorted out soon xx

JB have a fab holiday (I'm not in the slightest...NOT!).

GG hope things good with you chica and that the work stress is abating.

Waves to everyone else - work is quite busy (annoyingly) so not much time to MN. When all i want to do is idly google IVF stuff (some more ) and generally not work!

Caitni xxx

oh no ei - I am really sorry to hear about your DH's redundancy. It's an epidemic at the moment. I can sympathise and I hope that his totally understandable hurt and anger at being let go is not getting in the way of your relationship. take care of each other.

Big hello to everyone else. I'm just checking in quickly to say hello to all you lovely ladies.

Jolly - have a wonderful holiday!

hi ladies
sorry i havent been around
been quite busy with work and everything so...
i hope everyone is doing well
GG nice to see you
mrsH im so happy you got your job well done
caitni sounds like all systems are go for your IVF-operation caitni's baby
MOB how are the boys?? are your older kids excited for their brothers on the way??
PnM hope you are ok
hello to everyone else lurking around or otherwise
well nowt happening here except DH has been made redundant and he has started acting like a big selfish idiot the way things are looking we will definitely not be in the game this cycle and if he keeps up his dickheadery im on the verge of kicking him out things are most definitely not good on the relationship front at the mo
xx ei xx

Hello everyone,

Just wanted to let you know I'm off on my hols for 10 days so won't be around for a bit.

Much love to everyone, I'm so sorry not to say hello individually but..

Sorry to hear about your job GG.

Hurrah for mat leave MOB.

Must go Jollycub is smelly and crying!

Oh GG so sorry to hear of all the work stress . What a total nightmare for you. It is the last thing you need at the moment. But remember we're here to listen and support you as much as we can (so please do come and rant away as much as you want!). I'm glad MrsH is able to give some advice. Sending you massive ((((hugs))) in the meantime. And I'd also be up for meeting up - anything from a post-drink work to a weekend coffee/lunch. We'll also practically be cycle buddies, as I should just have started stimming by the time you start downregging, so we can keep our chins up together about IVF. Try not to stress about the IVF - LondonLottie just got her BFP after some really stressful weeks and a cycle that wasn't as "good" as her Norway one...

MrsH good to hear of greenhouse take two . Hope it works out! My second attempt at peas has resulted in a lovely little shoot so I'm going to plant some more this weekend. Now I just want my ovaries to take a leaf (geddit?!?) out of the book of all my lovely little salads and herbs and veggies and grow lots of eggs ...So exciting to read of the first flutters of courgette's movement by the way . And of course you feel more nervous - oh for the halcycon days when ignorance was bliss! - but things are going well so far and you're doing all you can to try to avoid a stressful birth (well, beyond the obvious stress of the labour pains ).

GG I have sent you a message via Facebook. And if you want to contact me to chat through your options, please do. I have quite a lot of experience fof redundancy (both professionally and personally (unfortunately)) so it might be helpful. Or you can just vent if you want! I'm sorry you are having such a tough time. I am not at work until the end of June so if you want a coffee or whatever give me a shout.

MOB that's great being on maternity leave. Are you managing to put your feet up lots? Has there been any update on little twin?

Caitni I have managed to buy a replacement cover for my greenhouse so plastic greenhouse mark two is going up in the garden today (assuming the rain stays away). Yay! It's so exciting that you are starting the downregging already - seems not very long since you and your DH went to the Lister for the open evening.

I think that I can feel movement sometimes, but it is very sporadic and I wish I could feel it more often as it is very reassuring... I have a scan at the start of June so will get to check that all looks well with the courgette. Can't wait, to be honest. I don't know whether it is because this baby took so long to get but I find myself a bit nervous about it all (compared to DD where I was oblivious to the idea that things might go wrong).

Big hello to PnM, Ei and Bucky. Hope everything is ok with you guys.

Hello ladies

Sorry for the recent radio silence - i have been having a pretty stressful time at work. i am being made redundant and I have a feeling that a lot of it is to do with the IVF. I haven't had a minute to post anything recently and I am trying to fight it. MrsH - do you know a good employment lawyer you would recommend? This really is not the stress I need when embarking on cycel #2 and - typically - Mr Gg is working abroad again, so I feel lik I am doign everything on my won again. It's scary and I feel so angry abotu my career and the way everythign is being handled.

Hope everyone had a good weekend and didn't get wet in the showers. It was very busy in the Gorgon household, as it was my MIL's 60th birthday and we had a busy weekend of London Things planned for her when she visited, so I am thoroughly exhausted! We did Afternoon tea at the lanesborough, then Billy Elliott at the theatre and then the whole family came round for Sunday lunch, so I was knackered by Sunday night and I had a manic week last week.

MOB woweee, so excited for you!!! I can't believe that you are off on maternity leave already! I'm thrilled that the stress of work is over and the count down has officially begun to having two little babies. So exciting for all of us.

caitni - can't believe that you are on the pill already, so that's the start of downregging and really getting on with it. I have the Buseralin injections i my tunny which is what hammersmith like to use apparently, so no sniffing for me. I begin again on the 31st with Buseralin, although I've hardly had a minute to think about it all.

MrsH - huge congratulations on the job!
I agree with MOB and Caitni about waiting a week or two and then tell them. How are you feeling - can you feel any movement yet?

let me know if you ladies would like another WINMBEWAI(N)F-er at the meet up for coffee or herbal tea as it looks like I will have a lot of time on my hands this summer!

PnM - And MrsH is right about the squeaky wheel getting the grease - it is definitely those who shout loudest and make the most fuss who get what they want (which is what i am trying to do at work at the moment!), which is not always easy if you are generally a polite and accomodating person, but it does sound liek it's time to shout.

Bucky, Jolly and Ei - hope things are good with you and come back and let me know all your news!

GGx

Hi lovely ladies

Hope everyone had a good weekend. Twas quite quiet in the caitni household, although I did have my first ever home grown salad (spinach) which was very nice and tasty (SUCH an exciting life I lead - NOT!).

MOB wow - maternity leave already! I'm so happy for you that the stress of work is now over and the count down has officially begun. So exciting . Have you started nesting yet? I'm on the pill already, so that's the start of my downregging. I then have to sniff some burselin (sp?) for about 5 days and, depending on when my "period" arrives, I should be good to go to start the stimulating injections. The sniffing is one sniff in each nostril three times a day (I'm going with 7am/3pm/11pm as that should be easiest for fitting in with work) and I have to do it all the way through til the trigger injection...I keep thinking that in a month I should know whether it's worked or not (gulp!). Was also fnar-fnaring at your front jungle double entendre

MrsH big congrats on the job! Yay!! Am also loving that bean has graduated to a courgette and was at the mystery of the missing cats (methinks some mad gardener has been tipped over the edge by cat vandalism...). I'd agree with MOB and say wait a week or two and then tell them about babyhappy. Although with my current job I was really stressed out about telling them I was getting married two weeks after I was due to start...I ended up telling my line manager when we met for lunch before I started. So maybe telling them in advance would be better? I'd love to meet up for a coffee btw (or herbal tea, as my IVF health kick is in full flow ) as we're practically neighbours. My weekends are pretty free for the next few weeks so any day that works for you. We can even be all 21st century innit and arrange it via Facebook . The Kite Clinic does the same type of acupuncture as my current guy (5 element - so copious amounts of moxa burning and talk of pulses and the like). I did think of Zita West (to try and invoke the power of Zita in my tx ) but the prices put me off slightly. I'm thinking the balance clinic that LondonLottie used is good as the guy seems very sensible and is v experienced in IVF/ICSI preparation (she went to the Kite clinic in her first tx and preferred balance).

PnM you got some excellent advice about the email. And MrsH is completely right about the squeaky wheel getting the grease (which is my new favourite expression!). Injecting some emotion is no bad thing...I'm so glad that you're doing everything you can to chivvy them along and make this appointment as productive as possible.

JB Ei & GG & Bucky hope things are good with you

Not much going on with me apart from being manically busy at work [sigh] when of course I just cannot be arsed with any of it...

xx

Evening ladies

I haven't gone AWOL, i promise! I've just been really hectic with work, however i am now officially on maternity leave

EI How are things with you! I was so to hear your HSG was cancelled - that's awful. However have fun leaping on DH this month

MrsH&courgette I was sorry to hear that your appt with the consultant didn't go well - can you find another one who is more prepared to listen to your wishes? Great news that you have another job. Perhaps tell them about courgette after a week or two once they have seen how wonderful you are I sniggered to myself when you said you were going to tackle your front jungle... with the use of the term "lady garden" on MN, i have visions of you going off to do some person grooming Apologies for the way my mind works!! I have to say, though, i can't see to tackle my front jungle any longer

Caitni Great news that you are to start down regging so soon! What does that involve? (Just curious as i went from the pill to stimming) You'll soon be getting to the exciting bits (eggciting...) I can't wait!

JB Get those photos on to your profile

Bucky Fab name!! I'm so pleased to hear it sounds like things are progressing for you.

PnM at your consultants response. I agree with MrsH on adding a bit of emotion into your reply. You could even add a bit about wanting to start appropriate treatment ASAP, and that you were worried about old test results jeopardising that. It then emphasises that you don't want to get there, have a chat, and then wait another few months for anything else to happen.

Have a nice weekend everyone!

MOB XX

Hi PnM, I like your email and think there is no harm in being the difficult patient. The squeaky wheel gets the grease etc.

The only thing is I would probably rejig the second para to really stress how important this is, and to play up the emotional side a bit (sometimes that really helps get people on side). Something like...

"I appreciate email is not the usual lines of communication, however I wanted to be certain that I had done everything I could to prepare for our appointment and to make it as constructive as possible. I'm sure you understand that after nearly 3 years of trying to conceive and a 7 month wait to see you, this appointment is extremely important to me. "

Hope that helps.

Am now stressing about when to tell future new employer about the courgette. What would you ladies do?

Pleased to hear about the job situation MrsH, must be a big relief. Happy Bean is already 13cm long?? Wow! I'm sure it hasn't for you but that seems to have happened really quickly!

Wow, next Saturday Caitni! That's really close! Agree that finding an accupuncturist who specialises in the ivf field would be a good idea, especially if you've lost faith in the one you see currently.

Glad you all found the email from my consultant a little bit as well! Thought maybe I was being a bit too sensitive about it. Have drafted the below reply but haven't sent it as don't want to be thought of as 'that lady who makes a fuss'. What do you all think?

Many thanks for your reply, unfortunately I think it's a bit late to have another set of blood tests before our appointment with you but if you say the original ones will be ok then I am happy with that.

I appreciate email is not the usual lines of communication, however I have had difficulties getting hold of the correct person in your department in the past so felt an email might by more succesful. I'm sure you understand that after nearly 3 years of trying to conceive and a 7 month wait to see you, I would like our appointment to be as constructive as possible.

Kind Regards

Hello everyone

Caitni I always love reading your posts - they're invariably so long and chatty, it's really nice. Yes, my cherry eating days are set to end in the next few weeks (although am sitting on the sofa having some now, as it happens ) - will tell you all about it when I see you next. Perhaps we should have a separate North London meet up since I bet we both live not too far from the W3 bus route (judging from your choice of garden centre ). We've got pesky cats around here too and my front garden stinks, so I have bought some of that Silent Roar fertiliser with lion dung so see if it frightens the little blighters. I have noticed, though, that a local cat goes missing each week and it makes me think that someone else hates the little buggers. If you're giving up your current acupuncture person, have you looked at the Kite Clinic? They mostly specialise in fertility and so I am sure would be up to the IVF challenge. An alternative would be Zita West, although when I went there they also wanted me to see someone to discuss CM etc (obv. not understanding that I am an expert in such things ) and a nutritionist which annoyed me. Neither place is cheap (ZW was over £100 for my session iirc) but it is a limited number of sessions for IVF because there is some protocol that they follow, so they might be worth a look.

PnM My eyebrows shot up at your consultant's email too, but there are 2 really positive things. Firstly, he knows you mean business and that you are likely to be demanding. And secondly, even though he is not due to see you for a month he went and looked at your file and formed a view. And judging from your chart and your cycles PCOS does not sound completely out there. You're going to get your little jelly baby, I am sure.

I forgot to say before but it is good to see you again Ei. Hope you're ok and that the HSG appointment disappointment is not too bad.

Higs to all, Bucky, GG, MOB. Have I forgotten anyone? I hope not, but if I have I'm sorry.

No news from here (other than the job thing which is a relief). I have developed an addiction to ginger beer (the spicy kind) which has my DH kind of appalled, but he will live. Bean is now 13cm long so is not really a bean anymore.... more of a courgette. Right, must go tackle the front jungle.

Hi Ladies

PnM I had to raise an eyebrow at the line "Thank you for your email although this is not our usual way of communication with patients" - because usually there's practically no flippin' communication with patients! Anyway, I think MrsH's advice is good re not leaving until you've got a treatment plan (so go in armed with questions and take lots of notes!). The email can only help with this as the consultant is already more "aware" of you than just getting a pile of case notes right before your appointment, so you're off to a good start. And I know "a degree of PCOS" is infuriatingly vague but PCOS can and is overcome so it's better than lots of other diagnoses. It's natural to feel sh*t and apprehensive because you've had your confidence in the whole NHS undermined by your crappy doctor but this consultant could be the man who gets baby PnM to stop shanging out with all the other babies waiting to make their appearance...but big <<<hugs>>> to you in the meantime. I wish I could give you a RL hug...Perhaps we're due another meet-up?

JollyBear oooh please post some jollycub pictures! Bet she's a total cutie . Sorry to hear about your mouldy bean pots...reckon my peas (attempt no. 2) will be joining them...and this morning I found a big cat poo in between two of my carrot rows (lucky DH got to clear it up since he's the "cat lover" in our house!). Ruddy cats! The adventures of gardening . Thanks for the finger crossing for the IVF btw - I appreciate every bit of support I get on here

MrsH sorry to hear of your ill-fated adventure with the plastic greenhouse as ours is great...though I'm starting to harden off the tomato and courgette plants this weekend as there's a little flower starting on the tomato and there's no way any pollinators will get into it in its plastic palace . Your garden sounds lush! Ours is growing well but it's got quite a lot of yawn lawn so I doubt we'd get the jungle effect even if we tried! And it totally does NOT sound selfish to talk about birth options on a ttc thread. I love hearing about it (I second PnM that it's as good as hearing about CM ) in the same way I love hearing about pregnancies and babies. Someday we'll all be in that position and it'll help us to have read your thoughts/experiences (this ties into stuff I've been thinking about with an excellent book I recently finished called RISK, a lot of psychological stuff about how humans calculate risk...fascinating stuff but I really won't bore you with any more waffle about it!). And I was giggling at the image of your trying to do the hypno CD and enjoying your wriggly baby instead! PS You had an interesting FB status recently missus...Are the cherry-eating days soon to end?

Bucky woo hoo for the progress! Glad to hear that the Dec scan & tests are fine and I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for your funding appointment (hope you get the 27 May one ). And PS I love the new name!!

Ei hope you're doing OK lady xxx

GG hope the appointment went well - do you have a timetable for the new treatment? Looks like we may well be cycle buddies .

OK ladies, I got the call from the clinic today and I officially start downregging next Saturday! Which means, if downregging works, then I should be able to start my stim injections around 28th May (less than two weeks away!). I'm already mentally dusting down the old egg puns as I want a bumper crop (am hoping my ovaries will be inspired by all the strawberries forming in the garden ). I'm not going to think about egg collection too much though, as I think I'm going to just take each milestone as it comes. I'm also thinking that I'm going to ditch the 5 element acupuncture guy in North London as he's got no experience with IVF and all the research about acupuncture and IVF is with TCM. It's also because I realise I've been spending a fortune to basically have a guy say my pulses are strong and let's burn some herbs (can you tell I've lost the faith ). Since the reason I want acupuncture is to get my body as ready to carry a baby as possible I think I'd rather go with someone who knows what works for IVF and what doesn't...

Sorry for the marathon rambling post - work is a bit mental and I have yoga this lunch time so have been drafting this post for too long!

Happy friday to everyone

it cut half my post off!

Haven't got time now but will retype it later - apologies to those not mentioned, you were in the original post!!!

Morning all,

How did it go yesterday GG*??

*Bucky I'm chuffed that your hospital seems to have pulled it around for you. Thats fab news that they'll accept the results from December . And the appt dates sound v close, so again, fab! Fingers crossed postie brings you the letter tomorrow before the weekend!

Def think its time for some photos JB! Would love to see the jollycub

Am pleased to hear the sickness is on its way out MrsH - you mustn't feel selfish for 'waffling', am just as interested now as was when you were talking about cm . Home birth is the way to go surely? I hope you're feeling more empowered as a patient this time round and that your choices are listened too as your last birth sounds like it really affected you (physically and mentally).

I finally got a response from my consultant, but in true NHS fashion (almost on par with most politicians) he didn't really give a proper answer. Its also far too late for a blood test now as am on cd6. I have no faith in him and, although I'm fine most of the time, I just keep wanting to cry at the moment as its taken so long to get here but I really can't see I'm going to get anywhere if all he thinks I have is a "a degree of polycystic ovaries". See below for copy of reply.....

Thank you for your e-mail although this is not our usual way of communication with patients. In answer to your question, it is not necessary to have another blood test for FSH and LH as the test was done only a year ago and you are young. If you want to have another test in this cycle it can only help. It seems from your long cycles and your hormones that you may have a degree of polycystic ovaries and I will discuss this with you when you attend the clinic.

Good morning all

Bucky I love the new name. That's great that progress is being made. And yay for the appointment - I hope it comes together quickly.

Jollycub let's see the photos... The sickness is mostly gone, although I am addicted to ginger beer (which I normally loathe) so that might be helping. I know, it is stupidly early to be thinking about the birth, except my last one was so bad (and probably resulted in the damage to my tube) that I am determined to avoid going through that again. At the moment am mulling over the risks of homebirth to see if I can live with them... It probably sounds really selfish to be waffling about birth options on a thread for ttc. I know I am lucky to be pregnant, but I just really really want to preserve what's left of my fertility.

GG if you're around pop in and tell us how your appointment went.

Caitni wow your gardening sounds great. I had this plastic greenhousey thing which fell over and tore and broke all of my plants, so I am back to square one. And my garden grows so fast that it looks like a flipping jungle. If you like the gardening that much perhaps you want to head up the hill and look at mine!! I've been trying the hypno thing on a CD but every time I listen to it the baby starts doing a jig and I sit there groping my tum and grinning instead of concentrating, so I am not getting very far!

PnM I am really pleased that your appointment is earlier than you had thought. Just don't leave until they have formulated a decent plan of action for you. If they suggest more tests ask them how long it will take to do and to see them again to discuss the results and emphasise how long you have been trying. I really hope you get someone good who realises that they need to help.

Are you around MOB? How are the boys?

Apologies in advance but this is all about me

Massive progress afoot...

I already had a scan and tests in December which the nurse at St Albans is accepting...hurrah.

They are sending us an appointment for an appointment for the funding application on either the 27 May or 10 June...have to wait for appointment in post.

So then its just the six month wait for treatment...phew.

Caitni sorry AF showed up but exciting stuff that you are getting going...

PnM we might be appointment buddies

JB Bucky waves like a mad woman, get those photos posted so we can all swoon at Jollycub .

Bucky waves to everyone else and runs out the room...

P.S. GG is having her appointment with the hospital today so fingers crossed for her that it all goes ok. xx

Evening everyone,

How are you feeling ei? I'm so sorry. I really felt for you after you had such a roller coaster of BFN, great chart, BFP. Big <<<hugs>>>

caitni What a mean merry dance your body led you. Sorry AF arrived, but hurray for starting off IVF. How very exciting. It goes without saying that my fingers will be firmly crossed for you throughout the process.

PnM Boo to your chart, what a rocky one. Glad you checked when your appointment was, not long now. Don't forget to take your charts along to your appointment.

My beans failed, not a single one germinated. I just got mouldy compost.

bucky I second MrsH's idea about setting finn on the PCT. Hope you got it sorted in the end.

MrsH Birth options, wow it doesn't seem two minutes since your BFP! How are you feeling now, sickness gone?

Hope the twins are still doing well MOB.

<waves> to GG, how are things with you?

Everything is fine in the Jollybear household. DD is lovely and sunny. I need to work out how to add pics to my profile so you cyber aunties can have a nosy.

Night all.

[phew emoticon] at checking your appointment date! Good news that it's actually two weeks closer (which helps with the time flying ). Up to CD 5 is still fine for the bloods so fingers crossed the consultant gets back to you today/tomorrow and you can get a blood test...I'd recommend getting estradiol (sp?) done as part of your day 3 tests if you can...wish I'd had mine done back in November as then wouldn't have been so stressed out last month about it!

Veggies doing well though am worried I thinned them all too much . Am having a second stab at peas (the first lot were lazy and didn't even germinate!) and am going to stick some more salady stuff in pots (post-thinning I reckon we'd munch our way through the rocket, lettuce, chard and spinach that's left in a weekend!). Lots of strawberries forming though so wish we'd just bought more plants now (as all this weeding, watching, netting for about two punnets of strawberries ). Now just willing my flowers to grow and bloom . How's your own garden doing?

Hi Caitni, sorry to hear af arrived after holding out on you until cd28 . Must feel weird being back on the pill again? Am thinking positive thoughts for you - love you pma re no natural af for at least a year!

How're your veggies doing?

Found out today that my appt is on the 11th June not the 26th . At least I checked now and didn't turn up nearly a month late! Sent the consultant an email but fear I've missed the boat for my bloods as am already on cd4/5 (can't remember) so if he doesn't reply today then I'm stuffed.

Hope you had a lovely time away GG and hope everyone else is doing ok today?

How are your two boys doing MOB??

Morning ladies

Ei good to see you back on MN (we missed you!) but at your cancelled HSG appointment. What a pain...but hope you enjoy pouncing on your DH instead

PnM I know the 26 June seems like ages away but hopefully the time will pass quickly (I'm still in shock that it's nearly mid-May!). Good idea on the bloods - I was told that anything older than 6 months isn't really ideal (especially as your cycle length has changed so dramatically). You're right to try and protect yourself from the risk of getting to your app only to be sent away to have day 3 and day 21 tests again...

MrsH how annoying about your chat about birth options. But I think you're right to just do your own thing on the day, but I'm glad you're thinking about it now so that you can be armed prepared with information . Have you ever thought about things like natal hypnotherapy? I think I'd like it but reckon my DH would find it beyond annoying

Bucky crikey, sounds like your hospital has got crapitis from PnM's one! Sorry to hear about all the stress, hope it's getting sorted out now. And you WILL have a baby - PMA and all that .

GG hope you had a good holiday - bet it's a distant memory by now though!

And big waves to our pregant ladies and graduates

So I'm officially "resting my ovaries" (ie on the pill ) as AF arrived with a horrendous bang on Saturday. I'm sorting out with the clinic when I can actually get started on sniffing the down reg drugs, but fingers crossed it's soon. I'm glad I can start straight into this after my 28 day cycle last month (ironic that the only time I get a 28 day cycle is right before starting IVF). Am generally feeling pretty positive about things though, as decided to look on AF as potentially (hopefully) my last naturual bleed for at least a year if IVF works!

Caitni xx

Morning all,

Ei! Lovely to see you back - can't believe the hospital cancelled your appt. Everybody seems to be having really bad experiences recently with their hospitals etc... Well, as you say, best make the most of it until next month.

Sorry to hear the appt was less than useful MrsH. Can they make you have the birth you don't want? I don't know how flexible hospitals are when it comes to birth plans etc. But I'm a bit after you had such a bad time with your DDs birth that they're not being more proactive in helping you have the birth you want this time.

Can't believe how sunny it is out there this morning! Might have to go work in the garden in a sec.

x

hi ladies
sorry for not posting for a while i was having a strop and decided to avoid the TTC threads to get my head back in the game
but i am now wanting to get back in the saddle as i have (yet another) cycle to wait before i get my HSG as the hospital called and cancelled it on thursday and had nothing to offer me this week so i have to wait until CD1 again so i might aswell make the most of the delay and jump on my DH at any given opportunity
hope all is well and everyone is having a nice weekend
bucky well done finn dog for scaring away the baddies and gggrrrr at your PCT i hope you got a reply eventually
mrsH good plan to do what you feel is right on the day you go into labour
PnM did you manage to get your bloods done? or have you not been the gp yet? i had mine done the week before last and my gp has said she will do them again if they need doing before i see my cons. that isnt until 9th july
hope everyone else is well
xx ei xx

PnM emailing the consultant sounds like a really smart move. I'd ask him whether it is a good idea to get your bloods repeated. If you turn up at the GP brandishing an email that says they need doing your GP is hardly going to say no. One doctor I saw said they would ignore anything from over a year ago, but he was talking about laproscopy so I guess it's possible some of them might prefer more recent blood results. Anyway, good on you for being proactive about this. It's just a shame that it has dragged on for so long.

Bucky on your behalf about the disorganised buggers at your PCT. I reckon if they carry on you should speak to PALS and get them on the case. If you make a formal complaint maybe they will pull their finger out. Hospitals are often not the most organised places (the number of clinics I have seen where the patient's files are not available, for example...) but time is of the essence with ttc and they need a kick up the bum. Maybe you should set Finn dog on them?

Well, I had my meeting at the hospital and it was a bit crappy really. I am afraid they are going to try to make me labour on my back with monitors all over the shop again. I was going to try to thrash this out with the consultant before the birth but I have just decided to do my own thing on the day which I think should be waaaay less stressful.

Sigh. So we're all having a lovely time right now...

Crikey Bucky your pct is starting to sound like mine!

If ringing them really does get no response then maybe actually going over there is the best bet? My friends mum used to be a clinical secretary and she's the one who recommended emailing the consultant to me so maybe thats worth a shot? She said they're more likely to actually look at and respond to an email.

Am very on your behalf though. Why does this all have to be such a struggle?!?

Said it before but I'll say it again - yay for Finn Dog! Can't believe the bastards tried burgling you again!! Truely shit time for you

Hola Chicas .

PnM How mean was that dinner guest . She's lucky it was you and not me, I would have felt it necessary to shout in her face 'I cannot have a baby you stupid witch, stop going on about it!!!' But then manners aren't always my strong point .

Caitni News? Sorry you have had a bit of arollercoaster week .

Me, well as usual these days just a quick check in but, in short, the hospital has well and truly buggered everything up. I have left 8 messages requesting a call back so far and NOTHING. Because they sent my scan appointment request (the request form for which you may recall they sent me home with first) to Watford General who promptly lost it and now I am on a waiting list for an appointment which once issued will be about 5 weeks later. So, I spoke to Watford and said, 'I have private healthcare I can get the test tomorrow but will St Albans take the results from them?'. To which they responded you will have to check that with St Albans. So I left a message at St Albans. Then I went for the blood tests at my doctors. The nurse told me that they could not blood test for all the things listed on the form and that I had already been tested for them in December anyway, so to ring the hospital. They took blood for the things they could test. So I left a message for St Albans to ring me back. Then I needed to make the appointment with the fertility nurse at St Albans and again they have sent me back with the original forms...not sure what I am supposed to do with it .... and the STUPID hospital won't ring me back!??? I am thinking of driving over there...not sure what else to do!??

Anyway, the whole palava has depressed me more than I knew I could be depressed. I will NEVER have a baby. They are all evil people who deserve to never taste anything delicious ever again in life...so there. .

Sorry for rant but I have had a big cry last night and now I am just f*cked off...

Oh and the burglars came back and Finn dog scared them away, so hurrah forthat at least. Go Finn Dog !!!

Hope the birth options discussion goes well Mrsh - would you prefer an actual homebirth? Do you get that option after your em cs? I don't know enough about it but I think that some pcts won't 'allow' you to stay at home after a cs, is that right?

Cruel cruel body Caitni - why do they do this to us . So horrible for you, big cyber hugs if you need them.

My hospital appt isn't until June 26th..... Its getting nearer but still feels like years away. You know when you just feel like there's a weight on you - thats what this all feels like at the moment. Like everything is a struggle. I'm thinking of getting my bloods retested as the last lot I had are nearly a year old now (I first visited the dr about all this last JULY ffs) but not sure if my dr will agree to this. I might email the consultant in advance of the appt to make sure I have everything possible up to date so there can be no 'lets get this tested and then you can come back in 2 months time' etc....

Oh, and Ive been tested for thyroid issues as well MrsH but it came back normal.

Morning ladies

PnM I'd echo what MrsH says about getting all your questions ready for your hospital app - forewarned is forearmed and all that. Glad to hear you're on a health kick - my own diet has been awful, too much meat and cheese and wine and snacks and cakes . So need to take a leaf our of your book and get back to a low GI diet...

MrsH hope you had a good chat with the consultant - how exciting to be discussing birth options!!

My body is still being cruel - day 28 and still spotting when I rummage (nothing when I wipe). Though when I checked just now it was more red than brown and seems to be gettng heavier so I reckon it'll just start properly soon . My DH wanted to get some tests at lunchtime (as I'm supposed to be at yoga) but I've just left him a voice mail saying not to bother. Am so glad it's Friday as I just want to get away from work (I work within sight of 6 pregnant women and three of my close colleagues have babies under 1).

God, sorry for self-indulgent ramble - hope everyone else is doing well!

PnM you're right; that one looks anovulatory to me.  Now, there are examples of charts which looks anovulatory but the woman got pregnant anyway (on the Ovusoft website, for example) but with a chart like that the obvious thing that springs to mind is PCOS or something else capable of throwing your hormones out of whack (thyroid?).  Your consultant appointment is soonish, isn't it?  I really think you need to play a bit of hardball.  Ask for your test results to be fully explained and don't leave until they are.  Make sure that any tests your GP did are forwarded to your consultant before your appointment so he/she has everything and don't be fobbed off.  Cry if need be - they have got to understand how long you have been trying and how hard this process is.  You deserve better care than you have had so far.  I hope that otherwise things are ok, and and at that silly woman and her baby obsessed brain.  In my meaner moments I sort of wish that people like that would have a wee taste of what it is like to want a baby and for it not to happen to order, but IME those types of people always get what they want in 10 seconds flat...

Caitni any news?  I totally understand you not wanting to test and burst out of your "maybe I am" bubble, but obviously I want you to test!   

Right, am off to discuss birth options with a consultant. Little does she know I am quite happy to stay at home if need be!!

Take care. Hope everyone is having a lovely day in spite of the rain.

Feel like I'm prob waffling to myself a little here but if anybody's about check out my totally nonsensical chart. Tis all over for yet another month for me but looks like the egg never even made an appearance. Woohoo for totally wacked cycles and [sarcastic emoticon]

Hiya Caitni - I'm not going to say anything about your being on cd27 but will be quietly crossing my fingers until saturday for you.

Not sure if its of any use to you (or anybody else) but I found the following article the other day which I thought was extremely concise and easy to follow. I'm on a health kick at the moment as feel like a whale and have had difficulty finding a healthy diet recommended for vegetarians who are ttc. Any other plans I've found have been far too extremist for me but this just lays it out (all common sense but its nice to have it written in front of you!).

Totally agree with Caitni, wrt the age gap MrsH. Children don't know any different - I never really thought about my sister being 3 years older than me, she just was. Having watched my SIL with her 3 under 3 I'm 1) in awe of her ability to function like a normal human being and 2) fully sure that 3 so close in age is, personally, not something I would ever like - the eldest went from princess to having to grow up fast when middle child came along (she was 1.2yrs). Middle child then missed his 'babydom' when youngest was born (he was only 1.2yrs). But then again, they know no different so its normal to them.

How are you doing at the moment MOB? Hope those boys are behaving themselves

Hope you're having a fab time away GG?

How is little Alfredo doing DG?

Hi Bucky if you're lurking - feel free to come squark with me about ov anytime, however boring it may be - I'm totally sick of my own stories as well (as I'm sure are most of you!).

Must get on with work - I'm just so unmotivated today!!

Hi ladies

PnM what an absolutely horrible and insensitive way your DH's friend's wife behaved - . She sounds utterly self absorbed. Hope that you had a good long w/e otherwise though. And hope that you don't have to see this woman again for a very long time.

DigiG sounds like you had an amazing midwife! That's the sort of care I'd like

MrsH I think the gap between your DD and your new baby will be lovely. I think the most important thing abotu age gaps is that the parents are happy with it (as then the kids will be) so am glad you're feeling good about it .
Ei hope you're doing OK.

GG Hope you're having a good holiday!

Waves to Bucky MOB and anyone I've forgotten.

Having a bit of a weird time here. Am on CD 27 and (TMI alert) just spotting lightly when I rummage (nothing when I wipe). My cycle is usually 23 days (sometimes 24 days, once 25 days) so the only other time I got to this stage was the CP back in September. I haven't tested yet though as I can't face a BFN. I also can't face a faint positive, as when AF gets here I'll be popping the pill for IVF and don't want any sadness to deal with when it's been hard enough at times to get my head around the IVF . So I'm just trying to tell myself that AF will arrive soon and that my body is just being cruel . I've told DH that I'll wait until Sat before testing.

I've been avoiding MN in my attempt to not think about this. But I bet that just by posting this AF will arrive!

<<PnM peers round the door>>

Helloooo-ello-llo-o [echo]

Hope you all had lovely bank holidays?

I managed to be in a stinking mood for the Sunday and Monday due to some really hideous wife of DH's friend who came over on the Sat for a BBQ and insisted on talking babies the whole time. I mean literally, the whole time.

What made it worse was that this couple knows what we're going through (the husband is one of DH's best friends), yet still she persisted . They've only just got married and she's obsessed with the idea of becoming pregnant - she's also a nanny so her whole world revolves around kids. We were talking careers/money/houses etc and she said "oh, but what will you do when you have children" (in ref to my travelling for work) so I replied "well we've put our life on hold for so long and it still hasn't happened so its time to try and make something of my career instead" to which she replied "oh, how odd, well when it does happen will you send them to a nursery or get a nanny" - sorry, did you not just HEAR what I said?!!??!

I didn't know how else to put it so I said "after 4 years of waiting for it to happen, it hasn't so the decision between nanny vs nursery really isn't very high on my agenda atm" and stalked off to the kitchen.

At one point, the conversation was no where near children/babies etc, she suddenly came out with "oh, another thing thats good for when you're pregnant is to take Arnica" wtf??? I don't doubt that it is extremely good but I AM NOT PREGNANT LADY AND NEITHER WILL I BE ANYTIME SOON. So now all DH's friends probably think I'm the size of a hippo because I am 'with child' but when in fact all I am growing is a food baby. Fab.

Grrrrrrrrr

So, that off my chest, how is everyone else

How are you feeling Ei? Have been thinking about you these past few days. Hope you're getting some rest and you and your DH are ok? xx

Best go do some work but hi to all and everybody x

MrsH I think that's a perfectly respectable gap (there's 6 years between me and my Dsis which I think is too much). I had such a brilliant midwife who actually read my birthplan and allowed me to remain upright, waited for contractions to finish before examining me and at no point asked if I wanted an epidural even though I was screaming the place down (I'd written I would only want to consider an epidural if I'd been labouring 24 hours plus). Mind you I had a textbook labour, waters broke spontaneously, contractions started, DS's heartbeat did very well throughout the entire thing so there was never any risk.

Sorry for the thread hijack. Hope all you Wimbewaifers are keeping well.

DG it will be 3 years and 4 months. Quite a bit bigger a gap than we were hoping for but, as I say, now we are here it seems like a good gap. I don't think having a second baby will make anything easier, since then you have to spend all of your time making sure DC1 does not kill DC2...

The Active Birth Centre is near the Whitt and they do ante-natal classes, yoga etc. They sound a bit hippy dippy, so I was wondering if it would do for a cynic (attempting to convert though) like me!

I am booked in at the Whitt too, but if they don't agree to let me VBAC my way I think I may just stay at home!! Post natal care is always a bit dodgy I think but a friend of mine who had a good delivery at the Whitt tells me that someone appeared very often to help her lift the baby. Contrast this to QC where I was left with a catheter in to cope with DD alone after my section while vomiting green stuff and the whitt sounds far superior! It is a grim building though and gives me the heebie jeebies...

Hope everyone is ok.

MrsH what will the gap be between your DD and lo? Today I was thinking, wouldn't it be nice for Alfredo to have a little sibling to play with - then I wouldn't have to sit here on this playmat when I have so many chores to do today...but I don't think having a second baby necessarily makes it easier to get chores done!
I went to Whittington Hospital, pre-labour ward refurbishment so I don't know what it looks like now. The labour ward midwife was brilliant and very encouraging. I couldn't have asked for a better 'delivery service'. If Alfredo hadn't developed jaundice I probably would have been happy with the post-natal ward too. As it turned out I ended up staying a second night, depressed because I was having to bottle-feed and not being given enough breastfeeding support. But I imagine second time round I'll be a lot more confident being left in charge of a newborn and the post-natal ward will be the least of my worries.
Are you referring to the Active Birth Centre in Edgeware? If so StarlightMcKenzie (from my ante-natal thread) went there and had a brilliant experience. You could ask her about it, I'm sure she'd be happy to share.

DG I am not due until the end of October. I've been meaning to ask you, did you go to the Active Birth Centre and if so what did you make of it?

I know what you mean about wanting a second but it being a bit soon. We started trying for DC2 when DD was about 10 months old and although it has been a looong wait with hindsight I am quite glad it has been a longer process. DD knows about the baby and is actively interested in buying baby things, finding a name etc. She understands what is going on (if not what it will be like living with a baby!) and will have had a good long time being the centre of the universe before I go and ruin that for her! I have a friend who is about to have her second so she will have two under two and to be honest the thought of that now makes me quake!!

EI glad to hear things are moving along, hope you're at least feeling physically better.

MrsH and MOB when are you ladies due? I've been very sloppy and not lurked as consistently as I've been meaning to.

And not quite planning number 2 yet, although part of me would love love love to and there's that theory that you're more fertile in the first 12 months after giving birth, so might cut out a lot of the frustration I had when ttc first time round. Reasons for putting it off: I have plundered my savings on this maternity leave and am back to freelancing so have no juicy benefits to fall back on; am only just back into my skinny jeans; Alfredo still wakes in the night 3-4 times a week; am still breastfeeding so cycle still all over the place; would like to enjoy Alfredo on his own a bit more.

caitni Must be so strange for you to be taking the pill. I've still got packets left from over two years ago.
I'm actually really enjoying getting back to work, I'm working part-time partially from home and only going into the office for meetings and stuff, so no hanging around unnecessarily. I don't think I'm destined to be a SAHM.

Anyway...supposed to be working. Funny how I spend even more time on MN when I'm busier.

Oh Ei I'm so sorry to hear you've lost this one . I can't believe you've had to suffer another m/c . It's good that you're being proactive about the tests but still...sending you massive [hugs]

MrsH I think it's perfectly understandable to have not kept up with old friends entirely but it's great that you can now move on from the "bubble phase" of struggling to conceive (I tried to get out of my self-absorbed bubble after Christmas when I realised that my little sister hadn't told me she was pregnant til 11 weeks so as not to upset me. Made me fee but actually made me feel for being so wrapped up in our own problems!). Your DD is very funny about not wanting to share but I think she'll love it!

MOB glad to hear the chicks can stay put - they're being such good boys already

GG sorry to hear things are manic at work but hope you have a good holiday. I'm well at your Belgium/France adventures. Enjoy the wine!

Bucky fingers crossed for good test results for you both. It's good that things are moving along for you. Hope work eases up for you, but at least it helps time pass quickly.

DigiG hope the return to work hasn't been too much of a shock, but bet your DS is loving granny's!

And waves to PnM RF2&3 JB and anyone I've missed.

So I picked up my prescription for the pill this morning - now just need to wait for my period to arrive so I can start (due sometime over the next few days, I've not been calendar watching so a bit hazy about it). Such a strange feeling but hey ho...all my little seedlings are thriving and we're having a BBQ on Sunday so plenty to distract me...

Ei I wish I could give you a RL hug too. It's good that you are finding things to be proactive and upbeat about but I know how tiring and infuriating successive losses can be and I wish I could make it easier for you. I hope Mr Ei is ok and is looking after you.

Bucky 'tis ok, I ran out of things to post about my cm a while before I got this BFP. Blood tests sound like a positive step though.

MOB I am glad the consultant was happy with your scan results. Honestly they seem to get a bit excited about something in every pregnancy. The fact that yours is twins surely means that it'll get a bit of extra attention! Actually, I hate all the tests cos I end up feeling like if you look for something wrong you will find it eventually, but better safe than sorry where the chicks are concerned.

GG I hope you had fun on your trip.

DG Good to hear that Alfredo is doing well You must be getting ready for number 2 about now?!?

Not much going on here. I've got the midwife coming around soon which should be interesting. DD has this morning informed me that "Daddy thinks I am going to share with the baby but I am not going to share". It's a good thing we have months to educate her on this!

I had a bit of a jolt a couple of days ago. I was at lunch with an old friend who I don't see that often and she told me that another friend is not only pregnant but about to give birth. I had no idea about it, but I guess this just serves to show what a bubble I was living in at the back end of last year and start of this one. I feel a bit guilty for being such a crappy friend but then if she had told me last year that she was expecting and that she was due around the time when ectopic number 2 was due I would have just cried all over the place and then spent weeks apologising... and although it is unreasonable of me, everytime someone got pregnant and was due when I would have been I felt like my baby had been stolen. Stupid, isn't it? So maybe it is just as well I didn't know. But now I have to make much more of an effort to stay up to date with people.

Right, will check in later. Hope you all have lovely weather today.

hi ladies xx
well the news here is its all over (TMI alert) i passed some smallish clots and an odd little ball of clear jelly-like something which was streaked with white. i can give a good guess at what that was and i have also tested and it was a categorical BFN i had my blood taken yesterday by the gynae in LWH which was negative aswell so there we go. im back on the bench now and im a tad pissed off for obvious reasons
i have also quizzed the scanning dept about criteria for HSG and they said that as a 'potential' CP wouldnt have made enough progress then a HSG is still a possibility especially seeing as how it is unconfirmed in their books so im booked in for 8th may at 10.45. i feel like im doing something proactive now especially as DH handed his sample in on tuesday and they took my fsh etc yesterday aswell so progress is being made towards some answers for us
hope everyone else is ok
xx ei xx

When I said squarking about ov, I didn't mean I minded everyone else talking about it incidentally. I just meant that I have now announced about 36 times that I have ovulated and I am tired of my own voice! . Just thought I would clarify that!

Feel guilty that I have been neglecting you all. What with all the ups Caitni and downs Ei I'm sorry I have not chipped in my two pence worth. Ei let us know how you are doing and if the bleeding slowed at all (higs).

Much waving and hugs for everyone else...I have been scarce for a couple of reasons really. 1. Am uber busy and stressed at work, 2. Am a bit confused about life at the moment and the potential 9 month wait has me overthinking life generally as I feel a bit like I am suspended in another dimension waiting for the life that I wanted 3 years ago when all this started and 3. I don't really think I have a great deal to contribute these days. . There is only so many times I can squark on about ovulation and bding (not that i do much of that these days).

Having said all that. I lurk and I think about you all often and send positive vibes your way. In fact I was thinking we should have another meet up soon. Our last one was quite a while ago now no? Can't remember....Maybe I'll send out an invite on FB and we can see how we get on .

DP and I had blood tests this morning and I am waiting for my scan date. The hospital buggered up the admin for my tests and sent me home with all the original forms so nobody knew I was waiting..... So I have sent in the scan appointment form now and have to ring the clinic to make the appointment with the fertility nurse to fill out my funding forms.... Nothing happening quickly over here.

Gotta dash. I have done hardly anything today...and I have LOADS to do.
xx

EI so so sorry , please take care.

GG Alfredo is doing very well. I started work today, so he's been with his grandma all day and not missing me at all!
Your last minute trip to France/Beligum sounds lovely!!

Hope everyone else is ok!

Oh EI That is so so sad I wish I could give you a RL hug. Please remember we are all here for you. Lots of love to you and DH. XXXX

Consultant was happy with the last scan results - so i will see her again next Tuesday after another scan. I was at the hosptital again yesterday for a GTT (to check for diabetes) basically because i am old and fat and carrying twins . What with being there quite often for work as well, it feels like my second home!!

Ei <<higs>> I'm so sorry to hear your news. How are you feeling today? Have you called the hospital? Take care of yourself, xx

picknmix - sorry you didn't get any lines . It does sound as if they ar eanovulatory. Do you have post ov symptoms like tender breasts or anything that could indicate whether you have ov-ed?

hello everyone

another quick post from me. I have been reading everything, but have had no chance to post properly and respond to you all. It's been manic at work and at home and I haven't had a minute to think .

ei - I am so sorry for your news. You must be absolutely gutted and it is so, so hard to deal with. I can really sympathise because it sounds similar to what happened to me a few months ago - a big clear BFP and then I started to bleed and all the disappointment of being so nearly there. I really have my fingers crossed for you and hope it is not the same for you. We're here for you on the thread and HUGE (((((higs)))))). i hope your Dh is being extra lovely to you - I am sure he is

There is absolutely nothing to report with me at the moment. DH and I are off on holiday on Friday for a week. It'a a bit last minute but we both managed to get the time off and we are taking the car and ferry and heading to France/Belgium for a week to drive around and (quite possible ) pop into some vinyards

hello caitni - your sister's children sound adorable! Good practice for you

MrsH - hope you are well and feeling ok and not feelign too sick.

*MOB - I hope your two little fighters are ok and you have good news form the hospital. Thinking of you

Bucky - the invisable woman - come back!

hello digital - how is Alfredo?

big hello to everyone else and sorry for not mentioning everyone by name, but love you all!

Ei I am so so sorry to hear that. I was really hoping this one would stick for you. Huge (((((((higs))))))).

Caitni a mahoosive post indeed! I'm glad that the vits made it and that your DH is impressed with the bottle. They seem to have stopped packaging them like that now so enjoy the extra-medicinal effect of the jar while you can! You'll be to hear that I have managed to kill all of my seedlings already. Yes, one sunny weekend in the propogator and I now have cripsy-fried sweet william seedlings, with a side order or crunchy sage...

MOB did you see your consultant yet? Is all ok?

Hello to all. Hope everyone is well

hi ladies
not good news for me here unfortunately spotting started this afternoon and i have quite bad pains so not good here at all bleeding seems to be getting heavier aswell so im pretty sure its all over before it even got much of a chance to start im going to call the hospital tomorrow to book my hsg and get my bloods done thursday morning i think. im not bothering with the gp as theres no point now im absolutely gutted
xx ei xx

hooray ei

Morning ladies

MrsH thanks so much for the vits and CBD - my DH picked them up on Friday for me as they didn't fit through the door. My DH was gazing at the bottle of vits this morning and sagely told me that the smoky glass effect just makes them look like they'll work . I've decided the CBD hpt can be my lucky test and I'll hold out on using it til the IVF [excited emoticon]. And I bet your daughter's a total treat!

GG hello lady! Hope things are good with you

Ei yay yay yay for the BFP . And from what RFN2&3 says those cheapie tests are the job . I'm delighted for you but shall be keeping my fingers crossed for you that this little bean is burrowing in nice and snugly.

PnM So I guess my ov predicting isn't too shoddy after all (though actually I think it's just cos my own temps are a bit off too so can sometimes guess what FF will say!). Double at your cycles...have you ever been tested for thyroid function? That could be a useful test as hypo-/hyper-thyroidism can impact on cycles/ttc and your GP would have to give you the test if you hoodwink him properly (ie don't talk about your cycles in terms of fertility but as one of a list of symptoms that could indicate thyroid probs...you could even say that you spoke to NHS direct who recommended you ask for a thyroid bloodtest from your GP). I'm a bit at even having to suggest subterfuge like this [honestly, I don't routinely lie to my GP!) but your doc sounds so so rubbish () that you need every trick in the book!!

MOB hope you're doing well. Are you seeing the consultant today? Hope it goes well xxx

Bucky hope you had a good weekend

RFN2&3 hope you're thriving and the twins are going well

Waves to JB (any more teeth for jollycub?) and anyone I've missed.

Well we had an utterly lovely weekend. My little nieces are great fun, so even the odd teary outburst or whatever was fine (comedy moments included the younger one pooing in the bath - she's just turned two and definitely isn't ready for potty training yet!). We went to a children's farm on Sat and then took them to a picnic by the river yesterday (as the thames is at the end of their road). The glorious weather helped .

And my seedlings are starting to come up. Tis quite amazing to follow their progress, especially as when I left on Friday morning there were no courgette seedlings up and when I got back on Sunday night there were two with such big leaves that they look like proper plants already! I'm a convert though am still convinced I'll manage to kill everything in the end .

And my SIL had a baby boy on Friday night - Ultan Xavier, 8lb2oz, with mum and baby doing well (though he may have a heart murmur but the docs are saying not to worry about that apparently). Ultan's a fairly unusual Irish name and Xavier was my dad's middle name. Rather selfishly I was glad they didn't call him Richard!! That was my dad's name and I've wanted to call a son after my dad since I was a little kid. Can you tell I still spend far too much time imagining what we'll call our kids

OK, enough rambling from me. Sorry this is such a massive post!!

sorry i have been absent - there is SUCH a lot to read through

EI!!!!! That is utterly BRILLIANT news for you. Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy BFP!!! [gri n]

Ei Yay for another BFP! I'm so glad this one seems to be burrowing in nicely. Fantastic news. .

Caitni I hope you enjoy the babysitting. When you are done, there's a fractious nearly three year old here who could use some attention from someone other than her mother...! It's exciting news that you'll be getting the pill and doing all of that pre-IVF stuff so soon. and hurrah for your AMH result. Sounds like you're good to go to me!

PnM That is a long time to be ttc so I am not surprised that realising that made you a bit , but don't you have your consultant appointment in a couple of months? I'm hopeful that at last someone will pull their finger out for you and get to the bottom of this.

Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend. I have the burps and so am confined to the house so as not to scare the neighbours...

Fab news EI
(DS and the twins were both detected with ebay cheapies so I trust them completely lol)