Join The First Time Frolickers, trying to conceive their first child. Plenty of moral support, fun, dietary advice and most importantly, BFPs!!

Hurrah! See, all those MN-frolicker follicle-growing thoughts did the trick

So pleased for you Josie

Thank you all for thinking of me, it means such a lot the scan went better than I could have hoped! My lining is really thick (triple striped or something like that ) and I have, wait for it, 2 follicles at 15-16mm each So I'm booked in for IUI on Friday afternoon!! I'm so excited it's unbelievable! I nearly cried. I know I haven't been singing the praises of the clinic but the last couple of nurses I've seen have been really really helpful. The one who fought for us last Monday popped her head in to see how we were getting on and wished us luck

Sorry for hogging the thread recently! I hope you're all ok too?

Thinking of you today Josie

Fingers crossed josie xxxx

Hope the scan goes well today Josie

Goodness josie what a roller coaster few days.... if we can get you through to IUI/IVF on hopes and wishes, we'll do it, fingers, toes etc all very tightly crossed...

Congrats prickly how exciting!

Congratulations Pickle But sorry AF arrived. IUI is intra-uterine insemination, basically, I grow the follicles, they give me the injection to release them, then rather than taking them out during surgery and fertilising them in a dish, they insert the sperm directly into my womb with a catheter so that theoretically, both things are in the right place at the right time. They said the reason they'll not do IVF without three follies is because the risks to me during egg collection are too high for them to allow it to go ahead with less than three, but IUI has no risks. I'm so happy it's not over, there's still hope!

I'm thinking big growth thoughts for you Josie. Sorry to ask a dumb question, but what is IUI?

I've not been around for a while as I've been away on my holidays. My DP popped the question whilst we were away, so that was a lovely surprise . It also stopped me being too grumpy about the arrival of AF yesterday. I didn't really have high hopes for this cycle anyway, we didn't really get the timing right.

Well, I don't want to get my hopes up, but my left ovary has been a bit uncomfortable today, a bit like ovulation pains, which I'm hoping is the follicle growing. I can't feel anything on my right one though, so that one might have stopped growing, but even if we get to try IUI it's better than nothing, and you never know, it might be the one! I had a good chat to it to encourage it to grow yesterday

Oh fantastic! Everything crossed for you, Josie :)

Oh I'm so pleased for you Josie

I'm sending lots of follicle-growing thoughts your way!

Hi, just a quick post as I'm busy at work, yet again.

Had some good news yesterday! My scan showed that one follicle is now 10mm, the other is 12mm! My womb lining has also improved from 5mm to 6.8mm. The nurse went to get advice from the dr, who still recommended cancelling it but the nurse fought our corner and they agreed to continue the stims in the hope that one follicle will reach 16mm and they can do IUI instead of IVF! I was expecint them to cancel the cycle so I was incredibly happy There was also a 5mm follicle but the nurse didn't think it would grow anymore, but I've got a scan tomorrow and if the smaller one has grown I'm going to push to continue for IVF as we could theoretically still get three follies of 20mm. I can't believe they wanted to cancel after I've grown bigger follies in 2 days! So I'm praying it has grown again by tomorrow as they did say it could stop at any point, but hopefully it's still going and we can at least reach 16mm and go for IUI

I know what you mean, mrsmellow. I also feel irrational hatred of anyone I see who is pregnant, or with a small child. At swimming last night there was a pregnant lady tootling up and down and rubbing her belly when she stopped at the deep end. Of course, her belly was exactly at eye level when you're swimming fast (underwater, obv) and it made me so upset and angry - and so unreasonably so, too! I don't want to hate everyone, but it seems the envy is getting harder and harder to suppress. Hopefully it'll wear off

Every time I come onto the conception boards and see the waiting to try to conceive thread I have an unbearable urge to go on and shout - don't do it, just go for it - very unreasonable I know, but, if I'd know there would be this much angst involved I'd have started trying years ago

My cousin had her baby last night - and called her little girl by my favourite girls name -dammit! But I'm sure she'll be very cute, look forward to cuddles.

Big squeezes for you Josie xx

Oh Josie, I'm so sorry :(

Yes definitely look at other clinics and see what they are offering. Things definitely seem to vary a lot from place to place and you may find that you are better suited to another approach.

Be kind to yourself in the meantime though

Josie I'm so sorry, sending you strength and support and I know there's nothing we can say or do that can help or change things, but we're all here for you. I agree with cave , talk to DH and it is perfectly normal to feel sad/angry/frustrated/let down etc. I wonder if there are support groups (I know, I know but maybe?) of people who've been in your shoes who might help? Definitely look at other clinics, explore all options, I think essential for your sanity that you make sure you've looked at every avenue - and I think don't worry about being honest with the clinic that that's what you're doing too, I'm sure they'll understand, this must be the worst part of their job too. And frankly - bollocks to stupid ovaries!! Life, sometimes, just isn't fair. But, you'll get through this. You will be alright.

Thanks Cave. I'm actually looking into changing clinics, as I don't think it's fair that I'm not offered any different medications/protocols etc to try and change my response. There's a few NHS clinics near me that I'm going to contact and see if they can offer us any other treatments before I decide on the donor egg route. Obviously if the other clinics use exactly the same protocol it's not worth changing. but it's worth looking into surely?

Oh Josie I am so sorry
I am keeping everything crossed for you that tomorrow's scan has better news.

It is perfectly normal for you to feel sad and angry. Please do talk to yuor DH about how you feel, not towards him but in general. It is not good for you to bottle feelings up, and he may want to talk things through with you too.

Huge (((((hugs))))) for you my dear.

Hi, sorry it's taken me a while to update you all, I wasn't feeling strong enough. The scan wasn't good. I've grown 2 follicles of less than 1cm each but their criteria for EC is three of at least 2 cms. They were going to cancel the cycle there and then but we persuaded them to wait until tomorrow. So it's another scan tomorrow but I'm preparing myself for bad news. I'll have an appt with the doctor to talk about next options i.e. egg donors. My worst case scenario has come true, and now I have to come to terms with the fact that I'll never be a biological mother. I'm incredibly incredibly and at the situation, and tbh I'm feeling quite bitter towards DH, although he'd never know it because I know it's misplaced and I won't take it out on him. I just feel extremely jealous that he might get to know what his children will look like, but I never will. Anyway, I just have some issues to work through before I can decide if egg donation is the way I want to go

Any news Josie?

All quiet here, CD 6 so getting geared up for lots of sex over the next 10 days or so!

Any news from the scan Josie ?

how is everyone else?

Fingers crossed for your scan tomorow josie.
My lovely SIL had a beautiful baby 2 weeks ago and have seen them quite a bit. He's such a good little boy and im a very proud aunt :) good luck for all those waiting :)

I'm keeping everything crossed for you Josie (((hugs)))