At Home Insemination - Buddies?

[H8624]

For several reasons hubby and I are going down the route of at home insemination. It can be quite a lonely process I think - does anyone want to join me and we can go through it together/share tips etc?

Bit of background - we've tried for 2 months now both unsuccessful. I'm using clearblue ovulation detector to get my peak, and we've been doing the insemination every day from when I get my flashing smiley to the day after the peak, give or take the odd day! Using 10ml syringes and laying down afterwards for 20-30 mins.

Finding the 2ww a real struggle, and my heart breaks every time AF comes! I know it's only been 2 cycles and could take a lot longer so need to be patient! Altho feel like everyone around me is having babies which doesn't help!

Anyway sorry for going on - anyone want to join and share their experiences/tips? Need some motivation and hope!

[Waiting2BAMummy]

How old are you @H8624? Only asking as you say you are inseminating up to your peak but if you’re young you may want to do it for the 2 days after your peak too.

From what I’ve read the older you get the shorter the time between your peak and ovulation and by the time you’re 40 it can happen on the same day. Some women may have even ovulated before the peak.

I am a single female and have been doing this now for 16 months. I’m using a donor who is awesome but it’s still more difficult as I’m relying on him to be available.

Lots of women get pregnant this way so it definitely does happen. I’ve tried all sorts, I started off buying the stork OTC but at £70 (and it’s single use) I gave up on that. I bought soft cups and had my donor make his donation straight into the cup which I would then insert. After several months of this I started to worry that the swimmers were being exposed to the air for too long between the time that he finished I’d seen him out and could then insert it. I then bought a kit that cam with extenders to get the sample as far in as possible but I found it difficult to use the speculum on my own and it seemed that I ended up with a lot of the sample on the ends when I took it out or it had dribbled out (sorry TMI). This month I have just been using a 10ml syringe. I was told by someone who has been successful that you need to draw the sample up really slowly which is what I’ve been doing this month and so far no air bubbles. The instructions that came with the previous kit I bought said you should draw up an additional 2ml of air to ensure the entire sample is expelled, which I was doing, but adding air to it cannot be a good thing so I’ve stopped doing that now.

I hear you on how hard the TWW is and it’s soul destroying every month that AF arrives. I’m in another thread on here and 3 women have got their BFP’s while I’m still trying. I am really happy for them but it is heartbreaking.

Where are you in your cycle? I’m currently on CD13 and my donor visited last night and will again tomorrow. Last month I got my positive on CD15 so just waiting for it this month.

[H8624]

Hi @Waiting2BAMummy thanks for your reply!

I am 28 so relatively young trying, but according to my BBT chart last month my temp rise was the day after my positive opk so I assumed I ovulate quickly after my surge! Thanks for the tip tho I will defo try later as well to cover all bases.

Sorry to hear it is taking you so long! Glad to hear you have a good donor though. Have you been to the docs to make sure everything is ok or to get help/support? How old are you?

Fingers crossed this is the month for
You! I am currently on cycle day 3 - AF is just ending so I have about 10 days before I expect to ovulate!

[Waiting2BAMummy]

I’m 38 @H8624 so running out of time!

I haven’t been to the doctors as yet but my donor is moving so if I don’t catch this month I’m going to wait a few months and look into doing IUI abroad.

I got my static smiley face on my clearblue ovulation test this morning so donor is visiting again tonight.... and then the dreaded TWW begins!

I’ll be almost due to be taking a hpt when you’re due to ovulate.

Feel free to PM me if you need a chat and hope the time until ovulation passes quickly for you.

[MissSparkles81]

Hi ladies ... I am also trying this method. 1st month ended with a bfn and af is just finished.

I am 38 and we sadly had a mc in November at 8 weeks and my oh is feeling the pressure when dtd so hoping this method helps take some of that off him.

Looking forward to following your journeys xx

[H8624]

Hi ladies sorry I've been a bit AWOL this week! Trying to spend less time on here to take my mind off things!

@waitingtobamummy how are
You getting on in the TWW?

@misssparkles81 welcome! When are you due to ovulate? I'm using CD 13 which is next Wednesday! So will try Inseminations Sunday through to Thursday depending on opks!

[Busybee143]

Hello, i am in the same boat, we are on the 5th cycle now but we had a miscarriage on our second cycle. This is also my second cycle in a row i am getting spotting about a week before glow says my period is due so its very frustrating during my supposed 2ww which is actually more like a 1ww this last couple of months. Me and my partner are same sex and we have a lovely donor, my partner gave birth to our little girl june last year and now its my turn, il be 29 next month

[Waiting2BAMummy]

I understand that @H8624 TTC can make you obsessed and coming on here definitely exacerbates that but nobody in my RL knows what I’m doing so I have nobody else to talk to about all this.

I’m 3/4dpo got my positive opk and ovulation cramps on Sunday. Don’t really feel anything at the moment but it’s still really early days. Trying really hard not to get consumed by it all and most of the time I’m doing okay with it but every now and then I get caught up in it all.

How are you doing? Sometimes the waiting for the positive opk is as stressful as the TWW. Just feel like you’re constantly waiting for something and even when you’re doing all the right things nothing is guaranteed.

[Waiting2BAMummy]

Are you using a clinic or a known donor @Busybee143?

[H8624]

@Waiting2BAMummy I find I'm better after AF as there's nothing I can do / could have done to help. Whereas post ovulation the TWW I'm constantly thinking am I aren't I etc. If that makes any sense?

Luckily this week works been busy so has taken my mind off it all, but every TWW I just have so many thoughts of what if it drives me mad! Every ache/ twitch I think oh this is it! And I don't normally get any symptoms for AF (lucky I know!) apart from spotting a few days before.

[Waiting2BAMummy]

Absolutely makes sense @H8624. I remember the first time I tried I was convinced I was pregnant for practically the entire TWW every twinge was a sign!

After 16 months I’ve calmed down a little now and this month I feel really relaxed I think because I’m so expecting AF to arrive in 12 days. I don’t even test anymore as somehow it’s easier for AF to arrive than to see yet another stark white pregnancy test.

[Busybee143]

Known donor.
8dpo spotting and a bfn, early period i think

[Waiting2BAMummy]

Sorry to hear that @Busybee143 I know how disappointing that is. That said, at 8doo it could be implantation bleeding and it’s super early for a BFP

[Busybee143]

I know its early but i got spotting for 5 days before my period last cycle (only a week after ovulatoon) so i figure im out. I was very heartbroken last cycle because i did assume stupidly it was implantation bleeding but as the days went on i got more run down and the bleeding got heavier followed by some excruciating cramping! Wasnt fun!

[Busybee143]

You may have been right, ive had a positive pregnancy test!!!!

[Waiting2BAMummy]

Congratulations @Busybee143. Great news.

[Waiting2BAMummy]

Just checking in to see how you’re doing @H8624? Any sign of a positive opk?

[Busybee143]

You must be good luck, lets hope it sticks, had a miscarriage in November so I feel very on edge but im trying to relax.
@Waiting2BAMummy how are things going on your 2ww? Wishing you all the luck in the world!!

[Waiting2BAMummy]

I can imagine it must be nerve wracking @Busybee143 fingers crossed for a sticky bean for you.

I’m 9/10 dpo not testing because I find it easier for AF to arrive than to keep seeing negative tests. No symptoms so will be expecting AF to arrive early next week. Don’t really know where I go from here.

[Busybee143]

@Waiting2BAMummy you sound like youve got a good grasp on it to be fair. I used to wait for af but i said to my other half i was going to test every day from 10dpo this time because i hated waiting for af but id never been a tester so i think a change of habit is always good.
Just because youve no symptons doesnt mean youre not pregnant, you could be being so relaxed about it your not letting the symptons get into your head which is a good thing.
Im really worried right now cos id be overdue af now and i keep getting scared its going to happen, cruelly enough pregnancy symptons are very alike to af symptons so even if we do feel like af will start it could be a good sign.
Hope this is your cycle too!

[H8624]

@waitingtobamummy good luck! Well done on holding out. When is AF due so u can test?

I got my peak OPK at lunchtime today (negative this morning!) I'm on CD 13 of usually 24. Had DTD every night since Monday but tonight it the last night I can for the next few days which is a shame. According to FF and my temps tho last month I ovulated on the same day as the peak opk so I guess we'll see!

[Waiting2BAMummy]

Thanks @Busybee143 I think I’ve just been trying for so long now that I’ve resigned myself to the fact that it isn’t going to happen. I understand your fears but a miscarriage generally happy because the pregnancy wasn’t viable. There is no reason to suspect that this one will have the same issue. Try to keep the faith x

[Waiting2BAMummy]

AF is due around Tuesday next week @H8624 we’ll see what happens.

Glad you got your positive opk (had mine on CD13 this month too!). Hopefully you’ve done enough remember that the swimmers can live up to 5 days so I think you’ve covered yourself. I’m here to listen and try to prevent you driving yourself crazy over the next 2 weeks.

[H8624]

@waitingtobamummy thank you! Well done to you on waiting - I would be testing from the weekend if it was me! Have you had any symptoms?

[Waiting2BAMummy]

No nothing @H8624 but I’ve had a lot going on at work so I probably haven’t been obsessing like I normally do. That said, I’ve had earache that has gradually got worse over the last couple of days and (yes I googled it 🙈) apparently some women have reported blocked ear(s)/ earache before their BFP but that really could just be coincidental.

[H8624]

@waitingtobamummy fingers crossed for you!

I'm going to try not to symptom spot in this TWW and I've got a lot going on at work and home next week which will hopefully take my mind off things!

Please keep us updated :)