Ladies! Talk about the TWW with me!

[tattyjade]

Here I sit with my full and painful breasts and sore nipples, my cramps, my fatigue and my nausea, hoping that this will be the month for me and my gorgeous man!
But alas, symptoms of pregnancy and PMS are so painfully similar I just never know!

I am a huge symptom spotter I must admit, every month I sit here and hope and pray but it just hasn't happened yet :(

The fact we are TTC is kept quiet as I don't like to drag my friends into my obsessive ways..because I have done that before and I think they got a little bored of my symptom spotting!
So any of you lovely ladies out there in the same frustrating boat and want to vent? I am here and ready!

[Curlypop]

It's the longest two weeks ever! I'm symptom spotting too. Boobs have grown at least a size and are so so painful and my nopples are constantly sticking out! This happened with my other two pregnancys. One healthy baby one unfortunately a mc.
When are you going to test?

[LillyLeaf]

I only have a 10/11 day luteal phase so I don't even have to wait for a full 2 weeks but that's hard enough! I tend not to symptom spot but the waiting does drag. I check FF app a few times a day just in case I have jumped forward a few days

[tattyjade]

I really should wait until at least the 16th or 17th as then my period will officially be late, but I know what I'm like, always testing early!

I have never been pregnant before, so just don't know that pregnancy "feeling" that other people sometimes get. But today I am starting to feel that this is actually PMS, it's all a little too familiar. My periods are a bit of a nightmare as I suffer quite badly with symptoms for a week and a bit before it arrives, but I have been to the Doctor and all is fine and regular as clockwork! She said the pain and the general despair is just how it is for me..!
The whole TWW theres always that little glimmer of hope, and it's so easy to cling to!
When will you be testing?
I did consider those first response tests? But I think they are more of an American thing?

[KimRobs87]

You can get those tests in boots (I got sind today) x

[tattyjade]

Can you?! Good to know! Thank you :) x

[Owlpatrol]

Snap. Joining this tww is gonna be long. Been ttc for 16 months now and never gets easier and I still find a new symptom to Google!! Haha....currently about 4 dpo, sore nipples and fatigue but first week doesn't mean anything let's see what next week brings!

[dee7409]

Hello ladies is it ok if I join? I am currently in my TWW dont know exact dpo as dont know which day is dpo1....had +ve opk on the 6th...

[Lovewinemorethanhusband]

I'm currently 8dpo and obsessed with symptom spotting and poas !! I even did it today even tougher I know it's stupid as far far to early but I just can't helpyself !

[tattyjade]

It's such a struggle isn't it ladies! All this doubt but all this hope!
Everyone around me seems to be pregnant at the moment! I find myself noticing my friends boobs are bigger or something and I'm like NO ME FIRST STOP IT haha!
I could definitely learn a thing or two from all you ladies too with all this special lingo that I'm still getting the hang of :)
I am currently 10dpo and haven't seemed to have any implantation bleeding, and I know not every woman gets it but it does have me doubting myself, I keep inspecting my underwear and tissue! Sorry for the TMI but its honest haha

I have definitely been there before! Doing test after test and getting a negative and being like..well its too early anyway I'll just do six more tomorrow
I have had lower back pain and have been feeling a little faint and nauseated today, and sometimes I wonder if I ever actually noticed all these things before ttc! It's so nice to have people to talk to about these things, and I am excited to see how it works out for us!

[LillyLeaf]

I'm 8dpo too. Having my usual mild pre AF cramps, but of course I'm googling 'AF cramps before BPF'. I know how this will end.

[tattyjade]

I am a bit of a Google warrior myself these days! Any little thing I'm like "could this be it?!"
Do you ladies have any way of coping with the feelings when you realise this month just wasn't your month?

[LillyLeaf]

I have got to the stage where the hope has pretty much gone, if it was going to happen naturally why hasn't it? I have regular cycles, I ovulate, i'm not overweight, don't drink or smoke. I just try not to get my hopes up which helps. I have a fertility appointment in June so just waiting for that.

[tattyjade]

Oh no I am so sorry you feel that way! If you're into reading I would definitely recommend Mind, Body, Baby! It's a really good book that puts the focus on helping you overcome these sorts of feelings.
And I really hope your appointment goes well!
Such a horrible way to feel it must be very hard

[MaGratgarlik1983]

Hi can I join? Currently 9-10 dpo, longest wait ever!! Mad symptom spotting going on! Got cramps, back ache, hungry... Hmm, all like pre af then really. Something feels different but I think it's probably my mind playing tricks!

[MissG2MrsB]

Hi everyone, writing my first post and feeling a little sad. Have been TTC since January but been tracking my cycle since getting married last summer (we went on honeymoon to a place with active Zika so had to wait 6 months before TTC). My cycle is 33/34 days so it’s more of a 3 week wait and... it... just... drags! I’m due my period tomorrow and I am getting all the usual swellings so I know it’s about to appear, and I just can’t contain my disappointment. I’m 32 and have been with my husband for 7 1/2 years and starting to feel this irrational sense of ‘missing the boat’. I know it’s only been a few months and I feel like a terrible person complaining when some people are trying for years, but we are both only children and my mum took over a year to conceive with me when she was 27, only finding out she was pregnant during a hospital appointment. Basically, the genetics don’t exactly scream ‘fertility’. I’ve never experienced any symptom of pregnancy before TTC or since, and never had any ‘near misses’ which further worries me. I took a CB ovulation test this month and only had ‘high fertility’, not ‘peak’, suggesting my LH levels were too low or I didn’t ovulate. I told myself that would lower my disappointment by knowing there’s no real chance of conception this month but I’m still upset. I’m so sorry for the length of this but really need to vent my frustration on someone other than my poor husband. I’m starting to come off social media as well, as I’m sure you can imagine being in my thirties, it’s babies galore and I’m starting to feel this horrible sense of ‘it’s not fair’ when there’s plenty of people in worse situations than me. I hope we can all look back on these posts in a few years and realise the worry was for nothing!

[Smoothieyummy]

@MissG2MrsB we also went to the Caribbean in the summer so also waited 6 months to make sure no risk. I think 32 is still young so don’t stress out too much about the age factor. Don’t just measure LH using the OPKs, best thing to track ovulation is the basal temperature chart so you can be sure whether you ovulate or not, obviously it’s not helpful to know when O is coming but at least you can confirm you do O. You mentioned “near misses”, do you mean miscarriage? Trust me, it’s better not able to conceive than conceive and then lose your little bean.

[MissG2MrsB]

@Smoothieyummy

Thank you for replying, I’ve never actually tracked my temperature so I will have a look at that. I’m aware there’s also the people who say you shouldn’t really do anything, just have sex when you want and it takes off the stress but it’s hard to get that ultimate goal out your head. Oh no sorry, I didn’t mean miscarriage, I can only imagine how painful that would be and wouldn’t wish it on anyone. I just meant that I’ve never had any ‘pregnancy scares’ where I’ve maybe not been so careful and my period has been a day or so late. I know that’s a really stupid way to think as it doesn’t matter if your period is late, if you’re not pregnant, you’re not pregnant. I’m definitely overthinking things as per usual and probably not even making any sense. Thank you so much for your advice again, I’ll definitely look into monitoring my temperature.

[LillyLeaf]

@MissG2MrsB I had to wait 6 months after visiting a Zika county, we were ready to start TTCing before we realised, so I feels like all this has been going on for ages. Social media is hard sometimes, if I'm having a bad day I don't go on it. Temping is great to see ovulation but don't stress over every dip and rise. You're still young and it's normal to take up to a year to conceive ( trying to take in my own advice too ). And having a vent on here always helps. Good luck.

9 dpo cramps are stronger this morning, feels like AF might come early, which will give me very short luteal phase.

[LillyLeaf]

@tattyjade I don't necessarily feel down all the time. I think I'm trying to think realistically rather then get my hopes up to protect myself from feeling awful everyone a cycle doesn't work, if that makes sense. Thanks for the book info, I'll look into that.

[tattyjade]

I didn't know we could tag people in our replies! How exciting
@MissG2MrsB
You poor thing going through all these feelings! Sounds very difficult and I feel for you!
I know you said you think you’ve missed the boat but you most certainly have not! There’s this huge stigma around women having babies in their thirties and how it’s impossible or unhealthy or whatever and it really isn’t! I read somewhere that past 35 it becomes a little difficult? But everyone’s individual, and plenty of women have successfully conceived around that age!
So if ever you feel you want to speak to a Doctor go and do it, they will probably be able to reassure you that if you’re happy, healthy and with a wonderful and loving partner, this is the perfect time to ttc :)
Or if there was something making it difficult they could help with that too!
And also please don’t say you feel bad for moaning, all problems are relative and wether you’ve been trying for 5 minutes or 5 years, we’re all here to give advice and help!
I was scrolling through FB my phone one night and my partner was resting on my shoulder, he said “why are there so many pictures of babies on there?”
And I just shouted “BECAUSE EVERYONE MY AGE HAS BABIES ALREADY” hahaha poor bloke

I’ve also only been ttc since January, and I haven’t gotten the hang of this emotional rollercoaster yet!

[tattyjade]

@LillyLeaf
I can totally appreciate that! Like a defence mechanism! I really do hope it all works out for you. I struggle myself with the fact that I don't want to be anything else but a Mum. I don't care if I never move up to a management position, I don't care if I never have a big house with a lovely view, all I care about is being a Mum to my very own little creation So it does consume me atm

[Flatwhite32]

@MissG2MrsB I'll be 33 in October and I'm nearly 30 weeks pregnant with baby number 1! I fell pregnant at 31, but had a MMC sadly. I, too, was worried about age, but 4 out of 5 work colleagues who have been pregnant in the last year (including me!) have all been in their 30s! I know more people who have been pregnant in their 30s than in their 20s.

[MissG2MrsB]

I don’t know how to reply to people either but this is aimed at everyone anyway. Ladies, you are like a breath of fresh air, I can’t thank you enough! I’ve always been a worrier and over dramatic (can you tell?!) who puts in 100% effort for things to be ‘perfect’ and this is one thing you can’t control as such or put in ‘a bit more effort’ to get it right. To hear there’s other people in the same boat with the Zika issue is comforting too, I think that’s one of the main problems, it’s been since January but it feels longer with a 2 and a half year engagement and an extra six months on top of that.

@Flatwhite32 - Congratulations on your pregnancy! I’m so sorry to hear about your MMC though and thank you for the words of wisdom. My friend conceived when she was in her late 20’s quickly and now she’s 33, trying for her 2nd but is struggling. She had said she didn’t expect that because conceiving her first was fine. I know a lot of it is just luck but she was worried it was due to being that little bit older so it’s lovely to hear positive stories.

I’m taking up half the thread with my long-winded responses but you’ve all been so great. I wish I could just call upon the stork and send bundles of joy your way!

[MissG2MrsB]

Oh I’ve just realised you don’t reply to people you just tag them, which is what I’ve been doing, what a clown! I’d love to say that’s ‘baby brain’ but it’s just me being daft

[LillyLeaf]

I work in an industry where no one has babies in their twenties and even early thirties is usual. I'm 35 and most of the woman I know have given birth older than me so I still feel 'young' to be TTCing. A fertility doctor recently told me I was not old at all in TTCing terms, he said that lifestyle and being healthy is just as important as age. I also live in a very yummy mummy area in London, I mostly see women with babies in their mid thirties and older.