Clearblue Fertility Monitor Support Group Buddies Vol 4!!

Hi Everybody,

Welcome to Owlshoes - i'd suggest you just go with it hun, there isn't any wrong or right, strange or normal response from the CBFM especially on your first month of using it (in my opinion). It tends to vary quite a lot from person to person. I found that I got highs quite early on for the first 2 months and then peaked around CD14/15. But now I find that my highs don't start until about CD11/12 - I think you just need to let the monitor get used to you. Just perservere.

Boba Glad you finally managed a period, even if its not what you'd call a normal one.

Choccie thanks for the list, especially impressed with the only lying still comment and not necessarily needing to put your legs and bum in the air - my DP thought it was hilarious the first time I got up against the wall with my legs in the air and my back on the floor. I felt like a right prat LOL . Good news too that you got the consultant you wanted hun. Good luck withn it all.

Hi Lychees I'm so jealous of your spending spree.......I think I may have to go out and splash some cash on myself soon especially if it's a BFN at then end of this cycle.

Tango sorry AF got you hun.

Hi to anyone else I missed......

Well I've been having a bit of a rough time of it emotionally of late.....and suffering unbelievable migrains in the process. Its all down to stress I know it is, I just need to find a way to relax and remember not to put oo much pressure on myself.

I wasn't impressed with the counselling, I'm not sure if its right for me, but I will give it another go as it was only the first session. I didn't really connect with the counsellor TBH and her house smelt like CATS. Eeeeewww!!!! I think my counselling needs to be more specific, one of the girls on the 'TTC after termination due to abnormalities' thread mentioned that maybe I need genetic counselling, which sounds much better. I've also booked a session Reiki so hoping this will calm me down a bit.

Also, and I am warning you TMI.....I was woken up the other morning with very painful cramps in my lower abdomen. I am on my period at the mo so its not unusual but I passed a huge clot. Now I do clot but there are only very small normally. I'm worried that it was something more sinister but there has been nothing since. Considering the positive PG test and then my period coming could it have been an MMC do you think?

Sorry for the huge post and thanks

XXX

Hello lovelies :)

I've just bought one of these CBFMs and so I hope tis okay if I join you. So far it has baffled the hell out of me by giving me a high on day 8 (RTD only finished day 7, usually ov. around day 13 I think). Can I be cheeky for a first post and ask if anyone else has had this happen? Or have I just got an evil CBFM that is going to instruct me to shag poor DH to death every month?

Choccie that list of answers was ace :)

Today's stats: (have corrected by CD)

FlyingCat TTC#1, cycle 26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD79
Rach879 TTC#1 cycle 7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD46
BabyHoping TTC#1, CBM cycle 4, age 33, ucl 31-38, CD 44
PinkCustard TTC#2 Cycle8 CBFM Cycle3 age 33 UCL 30-35 CD 40
Emmylou30 TTC #1, Cycle 2, CBFM cycle 1, age 30 UCL 35 CD35
Ses TTC#2, cycle 2 CBFM cycle 4, age 37, UCL 30 CD26
Jenni4 TTC#2, cycle 5 CBFM cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26 CD26
chocciechip TTC#1, cycle 7, CBFM cycle 7, age 39, UCL29, CD23
ljg TTC#3 Cycle 4, CBFM cycle 3 age 38 UCL 28-30CD22
Lychees TTC #2, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 7, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD20
Starlet22 TTC#1; cycle 13; CBFM cycle 7; age 33; ucl 25; CD14
Hairytriangle TTC#1 cycle 10, CBFM cycle 1, age 42, UCL 28/29, CD12
Rosieposey TTC#5, Cycle 10, CBFM cycle 2, age 38, ucl 29-3, CD11
Keziah TTC#1, cycle25, CBFM cycle 13, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD 11
Missyraines TTC1, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 6, age 33, UCL 32, CD11
MrsS2136 TTC#1, Cycle 12, CBFM cycle 1, age 31, UCL 28, CD9
Stormbird TTC #1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle #4, age 28, UCL 28 CD5
TangoTime TTC #1, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle #2, age 32, UCL 28 CD3
Boba82 TTC#1 cycle 16, CBFM cycle 3, age 28, UCL ?, CD3
Headbanger TTC #1, Cycle #9, CBFM cycle #2, Aged 30

GRADUATES

Harry2007 BFP 01/08/10
Vnewmummy BFP 19/08/10
Row78 BFP 07/09/10

Just thought I'd add Headbanger who posted on our old thread.

Welcome Headbanger. Hope you can find us in our new home.

Just realised that I didn't read a couple of the posts, Choccie, glad your appointment went well and that you are on the waiting list for IVF.

I've been thinking a lot today [I finally agreed to visit my SIL this weekend who is pregnant and probably eager to talk about babies] about what my consultant said. Basically, I have to go for a HSG next month but after that he suggested IUI with Clomid. Now, I guess we could afford to go down this route but we're taking money out of our "doing up our house" budget so I am in two minds about whether to carry on trying or to go straight down the assisted conception route ... any thoughts?

Row, hope you're okay.

Hairytriangle, I wouldn't worry. I have been using the CBFM for six months and during that time my cycle length has always been about 32-34 days. However, I have got my peaks anywhere from CD12 to CD18 and on two occasions, I didn't get any highs at all, I just went from low to peak. It just goes to show that you can't pinpoint ov date by cycle length.

Hope you get your highs/peaks soon.

Today's stats: (have corrected by CD)

FlyingCat TTC#1, cycle 26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD79
Rach879 TTC#1 cycle 7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD46
BabyHoping TTC#1, CBM cycle 4, age 33, ucl 31-38, CD 44
Hairytriangle TTC#1 cycle 10, CBFM cycle 1, age 42, UCL 28/29, CD12
PinkCustard TTC#2 Cycle8 CBFM Cycle3 age 33 UCL 30-35 CD 40
Emmylou30 TTC #1, Cycle 2, CBFM cycle 1, age 30 UCL 35 CD35
Ses TTC#2, cycle 2 CBFM cycle 4, age 37, UCL 30 CD26
Jenni4 TTC#2, cycle 5 CBFM cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26 CD26
chocciechip TTC#1, cycle 7, CBFM cycle 7, age 39, UCL29, CD23
ljg TTC#3 Cycle 4, CBFM cycle 3 age 38 UCL 28-30CD22
Lychees TTC #2, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 7, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD20
Starlet22 TTC#1; cycle 13; CBFM cycle 7; age 33; ucl 25; CD14
Rosieposey TTC#5, Cycle 10, CBFM cycle 2, age 38, ucl 29-3, CD11
Keziah TTC#1, cycle25, CBFM cycle 13, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD 11
Missyraines TTC1, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 6, age 33, UCL 32, CD11
MrsS2136 TTC#1, Cycle 12, CBFM cycle 1, age 31, UCL 28, CD9
Stormbird TTC #1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle #4, age 28, UCL 28 CD5
TangoTime TTC #1, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle #2, age 32, UCL 28 CD3
Boba82 TTC#1 cycle 16, CBFM cycle 3, age 28, UCL ?, CD3
GRADUATES

Harry2007 BFP 01/08/10
Vnewmummy BFP 19/08/10
Row78 BFP 07/09/10

Today's stats:

FlyingCat TTC#1, cycle 26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD79
Rach879 TTC#1 cycle 7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD46
BabyHoping TTC#1, CBM cycle 4, age 33, ucl 31-38, CD 44
Hairytriangle TTC#1 cycle 10, CBFM cycle 1, age 42, UCL 28/29, CD41
PinkCustard TTC#2 Cycle8 CBFM Cycle3 age 33 UCL 30-35 CD 40
Emmylou30 TTC #1, Cycle 2, CBFM cycle 1, age 30 UCL 35 CD35
Ses TTC#2, cycle 2 CBFM cycle 4, age 37, UCL 30 CD26
Jenni4 TTC#2, cycle 5 CBFM cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26 CD26
chocciechip TTC#1, cycle 7, CBFM cycle 7, age 39, UCL29, CD23
ljg TTC#3 Cycle 4, CBFM cycle 3 age 38 UCL 28-30CD22
Lychees TTC #2, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 7, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD20
Starlet22 TTC#1; cycle 13; CBFM cycle 7; age 33; ucl 25; CD14
Rosieposey TTC#5, Cycle 10, CBFM cycle 2, age 38, ucl 29-3, CD11
Keziah TTC#1, cycle25, CBFM cycle 13, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD 11
Missyraines TTC1, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 6, age 33, UCL 32, CD11
MrsS2136 TTC#1, Cycle 12, CBFM cycle 1, age 31, UCL 28, CD9
Stormbird TTC #1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle #4, age 28, UCL 28 CD5
TangoTime TTC #1, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle #2, age 32, UCL 28 CD3
Boba82 TTC#1 cycle 16, CBFM cycle 3, age 28, UCL ?, CD3
GRADUATES

Harry2007 BFP 01/08/10
Vnewmummy BFP 19/08/10
Row78 BFP 07/09/10

Forgot to say a big welcome to MrsS.

Boba, good news about arrival of AF.

Choccie, thanks for the additional info, it makes interesting reading.

vnewmummy, great news about the scan.

Tango, sorry AF got you.

ljg, I'm also on the 2ww and have no symptoms at all yet not even the sore boobs taht I normally get pre-AF but perhaps its still a bit early for me.

Did I tell you that I splashed out a bit on my girlie shop last weekend? I figured that if I don't get my BFP this month then I have a few new clothes to wear and if I do ... yippee! Its a win-win situation .

Hi can you advise? Day twelve abd I usually get positive opk but just showing "high" yesterday and today. Second month of using cbfm and last month had three or four high days and one peak day (12)

Should I worry ? Thank you.

Choccie - glad to hear things went well at your consultation and thanks v much for all the useful information (our first consultation is in a couple of weeks. Not sure what will happen with that but your info is v useful!!). I can sense you are feeling more positive about the next few months which is fab. Hope it means you can relax a bit now and feel comforted that you are finally getting somewhere in the system after all your troubles.

Row - hope spotting clears up soon.

Hi to everyone else.

thank you all for your congratulations, it is really lovely of you all. I know some of you have been trying for a long time and it's just really kind of you all.

boba - I'm glad your period has finally turned up. I believe that PCOS is a hormone imbalance, and that different things works for different women. It seems that a lot of time it's a sugar/insulin thing, but I always knew that it wasn't that with me. I'm now convinced it's booze with me. What I am saying is that if you find the problem item it should become easier, hopefully.

choccie - great list, I've memorised it all!

I had a little pink bleed earlier today but it stopped after that. If it starts again I think I'll call the doc.

boba It will be a few months - at least six months waiting list - but DH and I felt best to get on the list asap and tbh, six months with Christmas in between is enough time (I hope) for me to come to terms with it ... because I'm still not comfortable with the idea at all.

We don't qualify for NHS funded IVF because of my age so I think the list for that is probably much much longer. But the ERI self-funded option is cheaper than private clinic by around £2000.

Also, I saw in the news recently that two hospitals in England have stopped NHS funding for IVF because of all the budget cuts. A nurse seeing us today told us how things were generally being tightened up hugely at ERI as well because of cuts in spending). So with that in mind, we thought even more reason to book our space now, just in case the same happens at ERI and all the people on the NHS list move onto the list we're about to go on!

boba It was the lovely Dr Duncan. DH and I spent yesterday evening writing questions and we had an A4 page worth (spaced) when we went in. So often we go for these appointments and come out feeling unresolved or still confused. I nearly had to drag DH out who was determined to leave no question unasked . Those are the more general ones (I torture myself every month with the 'details' and not knowing if we are helping or hindering, so I thought others might too). I was going to come on yesterday and tell people it was tomorrow, but was too sick with nerves to spend much time on MN. Exhausted today - all the build-up. The thing is we are now hoping like crazy we conceive before IVF time comes up. (I didn't realise that IVF knocks out three months of naturally TTC). So hard to know what to do.

Hello all! great news Vnewmummy! so glad all is ok.

choccie sounds like you had a good chat, and thanks for posting all the info!.

Hope everybody is ok?...nothing to report here, so bored on the 2ww...boobs are MASSIVE! tho?? was getting all excited! but then thought maybe it's a hormonal thing as had chemical preg last cycle?, hope not..who knows? just a waiting game...Again!!! x

boba Good news about AF. At last! and vnewmumy I'm so glad your scan gave you positive news.

EVERYONE I'm just back from my fertility appointment, and we've started the ball rolling for IVF, but hoping still to get PG in months before then. I asked a lot of questions, including some I think he probably didn;t hear a lot. I thought others might be interested to hear some of this:

PRE-SEED: Consultant said he hasn't any way - either for or against this. Didn't seem to have heard of pre-seed. So I am really not sure about this

HIPS IN AIR AFTER SWI: Not necessary to do this at all.

LYING STILL IN BED FOR A WHILE AFTER SWI: For a short while, but probably not as long as one might think. Ejaculate apparently first comes out 'coagulated' and then 'liquifies'. By the time it liquifies he said most of the active sperm will have headed off in the right direction anyway. He said the legnth of time it takes to liquify varies for men, and you can figure out your length of time by getting your guy to test a sample and time how long before it gets runny. (Basically, if you start 'leaking', its OK to get up then).

HOW OFTEN TO BD: He said research had shown that the first few sperm that come out of ejaculate are often the good ones. So, provided count is healthy, doing it often will send more of the good sperms up because more sperm that get to 'front of queue' can also 'leave the building' (my words, not his). But doing it often might reduce volume so still maybe not best for men with low count.

EWCM: He said its a very inconclusive area - so much so that they don't run a bunch of tests in relation to it anymore at ERI. He said they found that women who apparently had totally the wrong CM still managed to conceive, and women who the right CM, sometimes not. i.e. a lot of uncertainty around what is the 'right' and 'wrong' CM. More important than this, he said, was having sex at the right time regardless of CM.

STRESS: The only impact stress has on conception is through changing hormones and preventing ovulation. I consider myself seriously worried and stressed about TTC, but I know I am ovulating, so I am obviously not as stressed as I think. And there is very little evidence it has any impact on MCs at all.

SPOTTING BEFORE AF: Most spotting takes place between the neck of the cervix and where the womb lining, which is thicker, meets it. i.e. not at the 'business end'. i.e. its not automatically a luteal phase defect or a sign of progesterone dropping. He said it is very rare for spotting to be coming from the 'business end' (but I am going to be checked anyway because I have a fibroid and that could be it).

CHARTING: I took along all my charts. He confirmed that charting conclusively indicates whether a person has ovulated or not in a cycle. I thought ladies who weren't sure if they were ovulating might like to know this (i.e charting does the same thing a Day 21 progesterone test does then).

vnewmummy - great news re your scan - hopefully you can relax a bit more now. Good news that they're keeping a close watch and that you get another scan in two weeks.

Boba - v happy that you got AF and really hope you have a great holiday; get lots of rest and that you ovulate this cycle

I just found out that one of my close friends has had a miscarriage. She had a scan but there was no heartbeat. It's heartbreaking

Hope everyone else is okay?

Hi Boba I am so pleased for you that AF finally showed up. Good time before your holiday next week. Where you off to hon? Boba there is a PCOS book by Collette Harris which is a good advice book if your interested. Just thought I would mention it. x

Well good news from me. I had my scan this morning and all is ok, baby in right place with heartbeat,feel so relieved. They can still see the bleed and it might go on for a few days more. They want me to go back in 2 weeks for another scan to check everything is still ok.

Thanks Starlet for your good luck wishes too. x

What a lovely new home we have here

Anyway, CONGRATULATIONS ROW!! What fantastic news (it makes me so happy when someone on our thread gets a BFP - it's made my evening!!!). Hope everything from hereon goes smoothly. Do keep us posted.

Tango - so sorry AF got you - I've updated the stats for you. On the positive side of things you're only now onto cycle 2 of the CBFM so am sure you will get your BFP soon.

Boba82 TTC#1 cycle 15, CBFM cycle 2, age 28, UCL 35, CD120
FlyingCat TTC#1, cycle 26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD77
Rach879 TTC#1 cycle 7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD44
BabyHoping TTC#1, CBM cycle 4, age 33, ucl 31-38, CD 42
Hairytriangle TTC#1 cycle 10, CBFM cycle 1, age 42, UCL 28/29, CD39
PinkCustard TTC#2 Cycle8 CBFM Cycle3 age 33 UCL 30-35 CD 38
Emmylou30 TTC #1, Cycle 2, CBFM cycle 1, age 30 UCL 35 CD33
Ses TTC#2, cycle 2 CBFM cycle 4, age 37, UCL 30 CD24
Jenni4 TTC#2, cycle 5 CBFM cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26 CD24
chocciechip TTC#1, cycle 7, CBFM cycle 7, age 39, UCL29, CD21
ljg TTC#3 Cycle 4, CBFM cycle 3 age 38 UCL 28-30CD20
Lychees TTC #2, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 7, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD18
Starlet22 TTC#1; cycle 13; CBFM cycle 7; age 33; ucl 25; CD12
Rosieposey TTC#5, Cycle 10, CBFM cycle 2, age 38, ucl 29-3, CD9
Keziah TTC#1, cycle25, CBFM cycle 13, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD 9
Missyraines TTC1, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 6, age 33, UCL 32, CD9
MrsS2136 TTC#1, Cycle 12, CBFM cycle 1, age 31, UCL 28, CD7
Stormbird TTC #1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle #4, age 28, UCL 28 CD3
TangoTime TTC #1, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle #2, age 32, UCL 28 CD1

GRADUATES

Harry2007 BFP 01/08/10
Vnewmummy BFP 19/08/10
Row78 BFP 07/09/10

Welcome to MrsS.

vnewmummy - all the best for your scan tomorrow. FX for you - do let us know how you get on.

Hi to everyone else!

Hi everyone.

Congratulations to Row.

Please can you reset mine to Day 1. AF turned up late yesterday so I've reset the CBFM this morning.

I'm afraid to say that I got slightly "emotional" on Saturday evening when I discovered that a friend has just found out she's pregnant. I was pleased for her but felt very sorry for myself. To make matters worse she was going to come round to cut my hair but had to cancel and go to the doctors. So not only was I feeling sorry for myself but I now also look like a shaggy dog . It was quite funny in hindsight though as DH was genuinely bemused by the hysterics. Bless him.

Hi WRT to position after sex Boba and vnewmummy could both be right.

There was a study published in the British Medical Journal at the end of last year which looked at mobilisation vs immobilisation after IUI. Women kept immobile in a supine position for 15 minutes were found to be more likely to conceive. However, the trendelenberg position was also used - this is when the operating table is tilted so the patient's head is lower than her feet.

Sadly the same results haven't been found after normal BD - but that could be because of lack of good data or maybe because sperm not deposited in same place

BUT that said I still think anything's worth a go to increase chances so I guess tonight I'll be lying still on my back, pillow under backside with legs in the air

WOW congrats row

Updated stats:

Boba82 TTC#1 cycle 15, CBFM cycle 2, age 28, UCL 35, CD120
FlyingCat TTC#1, cycle 26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD77
Rach879 TTC#1 cycle 7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD44
BabyHoping TTC#1, CBM cycle 4, age 33, ucl 31-38, CD 42
Hairytriangle TTC#1 cycle 10, CBFM cycle 1, age 42, UCL 28/29, CD39
PinkCustard TTC#2 Cycle8 CBFM Cycle3 age 33 UCL 30-35 CD 38
Emmylou30 TTC #1, Cycle 2, CBFM cycle 1, age 30 UCL 35 CD33
TangoTime TTC #1, Cycle #5, CBFM Cycle #1, age 32, UCL 28 CD31
Ses TTC#2, cycle 2 CBFM cycle 4, age 37, UCL 30 CD24
Jenni4 TTC#2, cycle 5 CBFM cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26 CD24
chocciechip TTC#1, cycle 7, CBFM cycle 7, age 39, UCL29, CD21
ljg TTC#3 Cycle 4, CBFM cycle 3 age 38 UCL 28-30CD20
Lychees TTC #2, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 7, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD18
Starlet22 TTC#1; cycle 13; CBFM cycle 7; age 33; ucl 25; CD12
Rosieposey TTC#5, Cycle 10, CBFM cycle 2, age 38, ucl 29-3, CD9
Keziah TTC#1, cycle25, CBFM cycle 13, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD 9
Missyraines TTC1, Cycle 11, CBFM cycle 6, age 33, UCL 32, CD9
MrsS2136 TTC#1, Cycle 12, CBFM cycle 1, age 31, UCL 28, CD7
Stormbird TTC #1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle #4, age 28, UCL 28 CD3

GRADUATES

Harry2007 BFP 01/08/10
Vnewmummy BFP 19/08/10
Row78 BFP 07/09/10

Ps. Forgot to say I was told by my accupuncurist to lay flat on your back and not move after sex rather than your legs in the air. It seemed to work!