TTC and a teacher?! Join me!

Thank you so much for your kind words. We are cautiously excited . Thanks delilahbelle for letting me know about the thread I will get myself on there.

I'm on this thread marshmallow, loads of IVF support. Congratulations on your referral. :-)

That's great news marshmallow! Really pleased for you. Sorry you had to keep pushing for it though - it shouldn't be that way.

laura sorry to hear this is not your month it's always a disappointment.

I have had a bit of good news today. after 3 years of TTC and lots of heartache dealing with the NHS we heard today that we have been referred for IVF. This thanks to pushing for a second opinion and referral to a different hospital. I know still a long way to go but feel we have made it over another hurdle. If anyone has any advice or experience to share it would be gratefully received.

Hope everyone has a good weekend and fingers crossed it doesn't snow!

Sorry Laura, not some half-arsed version of your name!

Oh Laurea- gutted for you. It's horrible when you really think it's your month and it turns out not to be. It's weird isn't it, because you feel so sure. It's so .

I've just been thinking lots today about the convo earlier up this thread about whether to apply for jobs while still TTC and I'm just wondering, if you say got a job now and in the meantime got upduffed, what would happen? Nothing? Of course I'm sure people would be quite annoyed at you, but I just wondered what if???? Any thoughts anyone. Of course, the whole thing would be so much easier in some ways if recruitment didn't have to happen so far in advance, but anyway ... I've seen a job I want to apply for and am now in that dilemma situation, but am not even going to think about it until if I get offered an interview.

Happy Friday everyone!

Well ladies the dream for this month appears to be over. Woke up feeling cranky and there's fresh red blood. I'm a bit gutted. I really thought this might be it. Oh well at least it's half term next week.

Laura, I'm really glad everything went well for you! That's fab. Hope the other stuff starts getting sorted out too.

ILoveMy and Thatsso - I keep thinking the same about starting jobs but lots of people on MN and DH keep telling me that you can't put your life on hold in any direction. Those people who might judge that it's not great planning obviously have no idea that TTC is not something you have much control over unless you're one of the lucky few. If I did have any control then I would have got pg in August 2011 when we very first started not using any contraception. Life just doesn't work that way though and sometimes unfortunately it's a bit messy. Schools cope though and that's the way it is sometimes. That's my humble opinion on it anyway.

Goosey - good luck for feedback tomorrow!

Ilovemy - hope you get to the bottom of it all soon.

Hi all, haven't been on for awhile... I mostly access MN from my phone and managed to lose the thread til today. Keeping everything crossed for you Delilah. I remember when I was pregnant with DD I did loads of Internet cheapie tests for the first couple of weeks and the lines kept getting darker so hang on in there! Our first attempt at TTC DC2 has not worked, AF actually came a few days early to surprise me!! It's worked out well though cos we have to visit family for a wedding on 16th Feb and I will be well past ovulation then otherwise would have been a nightmare trying to get the privacy for DTD!!!! Work v stressful for me at the moment, am hoping it won't start affecting TTC. Also had obs today which didn't go great but it's SEN school so behaviour issues affected things, less said the better. Feedback tomorrow... Eeeek!!

Yay Laura! Was thinking of you, so glad it went well.

thatssofunny my career dilemmas also revolve around the worry of turning up somewhere and being pg soon after or already being pg etc. I've come to the conclusion that this is not the end of the world. Employers have to find mat cover all the time. You do not have to sign a non pg agreement when you accept a job, after all! I have known teachers falling pg soon after joining a school. A good friend started a new job (not teaching) already pg, but didn't know at the time. She wasn't entitled to enhanced mat pay, and is main earner, but they survived and have a gorgeous little creature. She returned from mat leave to a promotion and had time off for post natal depression. Immediate pg did not harm her career. The main thing is your happiness. Nothing stopping you applying for jobs now & withdrawing if you find yourself pg before offer stage. No worse off, but at least feeling more positive about doing sthg to change your situation. Keep ttc and apply for jobs that you want. I'll be doing the same, so can compare notes!

DH's first suggestion to my medical dilemmas after GP was that I need to do more exercise!!! He doesn't have a clue. He's also suggested that I might be diabetic! After a bit of reasoning from me, I have booked myself in for a private blood test tomorrow. I want to know one way or the other as I want to apply for a job I've seen.....

Well done Laura! That's great after all that stress. :)

Anybody got any thoughts on a little issue I've got at the moment? Jobs are coming up at schools around me (my current commute is about an hour each way...but I only started at my school last summer; I was at my previous one for several years, so I don't change schools frequently) and I am very tempted to at least try and get something closer. Thing is, if I manage to get pregnant, I'd have to go on mat leave in November (or the months after...). I don't feel it would be right to go off on mat leave straight away, but I also don't want to stop ttc again. We've been trying for ages, it seems, and I don't get any younger. We did take a break for a while for my current job, to avoid me getting pregnant within the first academic year. Would it look really, really bad, if I went off so soon after starting? Not sure what to do, really...

Well done you Laura that's an excellent result for your obs :-)

The spotting sounds very promising too, pleeeeease POAS before Saturday - I think you need to go out and buy one tonight!

ilovemycats It's so frustrating when you don't have any answers. Is there anyway of getting a private beta-HCG test? I know I just tell my GP I'm willing to pay (for multiple blood tests, drugs...) and most of the time he doesn't make me...

My beta-HCG came back as 212, and I'm feeling slightly sick. Hopefully good signs although I'm still scared about what the next test on Monday will show.

Well you were all right and I was making it worse in my head. The obs was good, result was a good with outstanding OMS. I am pleased and feel so happy. I know I'm a good teacher and they agreed!

My spotting continues to be very very mild and brownish. Not sure what it means. But I plan to wait til Saturday to test. If my nerves can hold out!!

I haven't caught up with all your news but I will read soon and send some personal thoughts.

Thanks again for all the support and kind thoughts.

How is everyone? thanks for your support.
Managed to to get a GP appointment today. I told her that af is 9 days late and poas is negative. Explained that although cycles are usually long, they have not been this long before. She said that as the sticks are v accurate, they do not normally do blood tests to confirm pg. I then told her that i've been feeling dizzy, sick and have been peeing a lot. She then got straight on the computer to order blood test! BUT, the lab does not let them do a HGC test for pg, only for tumours and ectopic pg. So I can't have it. She said several times that I could be pg and that the dizziness is due to that. She also said that i am not pg when i told her that i've done 6 test in the last 9 days. I said I was concerned by the dizziness & asked for thyroid function test, which she ordered along with full blood count. Asked about pcos, but she said it was too early in the process to look into that. She took my blood pressure, which was high. I have NEVER had high blood pressure!! Ended with me asking if I should test again in a week if no af. She agreed and that was it! I have very mixed feelings about it. Although she listened to me and ordered the tests she thought relevant, I don't feel as though I have any answers. She did think I could be pg, enough to look into blood test (which she admitted, she rarely does), but couldn't take it any further. Eurgh!
Sorry for the essay. DH doesn't really know what to say about any of it & I haven't confided anything about ttc to anyone in rl. I could cry with it all going round in my head.
to you all.

laura how did it go today? Hope all well.

deliah stop feeling a fraud, this is the most important thing in your life right now, your classes will be alright x

laura good luck with your obs today. Half term soon, just focus on that.

bequick acupuncture sounds relaxing. I have a Zita west relaxation cd which has a similar effect on me, it makes you realise how stressed me get.

ilovemycats I hope your doctors appointment goes well today and you start getting some answers.

Anyway, I POAS and got a darker line this morning. Still no real symptoms to write home about though. Just waiting for the next blood test and results to see if its actually viable. Still off work, feel a big of a fraud, but this (possible) pregnancy is too important for me to risk for bottom set yr 11.

That sounds horrid Laura - you shouldn't have to go through this. It sounds to me like you and your colleagues might need to have a word with your union who might at least be able to advise you on how to deal with the SMT. Make sure you keep records of everything that happens as much as you can, just in case. It could be useful later on. Keep good records of your planning too so that you can prove what you have been doing. You shouldn't be put under so much pressure especially as you are doing your best. Also that kind of stress doesn't produce the desired results - everyone knows that. Sounds to me like they are pointing the fingers at everyone but themselves.

I agree with ILoveMyCats that you should try to go out and offload/support each other and come up with some coping strategies or a plan of action. Maybe try some acupucture???

Try to pretend they aren't there for your obs - this works for me. Also, you can only do your best - remember that. And be prepared to justify yourself and the decisions you make in the lesson in the feedback session. You'll be okay - don't cry. I really hope it goes well.

Delilah - I really hope you feel better soon too and can find out what's been going on.

BeQuick - acupuncture sounds good - might have to give it a go myself!

ILoveMyCats - hope that you find out what's going on soon too. I really hope you get your BFP.

I'm sending positive vibes to everyone.

laura that's shit on all counts. We spend our lives trying to develop children and young people by being positive and supportive only to have our own efforts shot down in flames at every turn. Does anyone ever praise a teacher?? The only upside to your story sounds like the fact that you are not alone in your school. Could you arrange to meet your friends outside school for some support? Or agree to do something together to take your minds off it? Sending you lots of good thoughts for your obs.

Thanks for the acupuncture feedback, bequick. I'm still researching, but am determined to try it!
Night all

Hi all, seems like everyone is doing ok this week. Probably the promise of half term!!

Well it's inconclusive if the spotting is AF with a very slow start, or inplantation. I am desperate for it to be implantation but trying so hard not to get my hopes up.

I am dreading tomorrow, I feel quite sick really, I have my lesson obs and the 3 friends from school who have all had theirs this week have had satisfactory or less and phoned up in tears. They all also had a staff meeting about how rubbish we are all being and how we need to do more. I just don't know how to give anymore. I get to meet with head tomorrow to get the bollocking the others did on Monday at staff meeting. I am so so stressed about tomorrow, I just want to cry and hide. Knowing my luck this spotting will develop into AF tomorrow too

Hi Everyone,

loves and anyone else that is interested...I had the most amazing acupuncture session today. It was my first one and I was a bit sceptical about it, I am not in the slightest bit 'woo' (although I love a good ghost story!) but afterwards I felt like I do after about three weeks of the summer hols - really relaxed, like all my muscles had let go. I felt like a weight had been taken off my whole body, and I was quite emotional as I hadn't realised the tension I was carrying around.

The acupuncturist was shocked by my lack of work life balance but said loads of her clients are nurses and teachers. I am going back for more next week - it doesn't hurt, and it made me feel amazing, and I still do now, after an hour and a half of staff meeting!

I am hoping she can help me shorten my erratic cycles as they have been getting longer and longer...I went to my GP first for blood tests to rule out anything else, but they are all clear and the GP is saying STRESS in a big loud voice.

Bfn . What is my body doing?? Going to do battle with the receptionist and get a GP appointment tomorrow. Am so fed up. Don't even care if I'm not pg, just want this cycle to end so that I can start the next one!

Hi bearface thanks for asking. Well I've not had any more spotting, but the increased progesterone should be keeping AF away. No idea whether I've had another chemical or not, and nothing to do except wait for my next beta-HCG and then the results. I am having a few v minr cramps, and my boobs are slightly sore again, but no other symptoms.
I'm staying off work - even though I'm physically fine, mentally and emotionally I'm not and I wouldn't be doing my classes any favours. I'm not even sending in cover work, told my HoD that it needed writing by them. Although I did finish writing my reports today.

ilovemycats I hope your Doctors appointment is useful. I know what you mean about job hunting. Although I am in a permanent post, I really want to leave my current school as I'm no longer happy there. There's lots of observations and pressure, and it seems to be about box ticking there now rather than education.

Laura was it AF arriving early? One thing that is guaranteed is the witch turning up when you don't want her.

bearface, I've done 2 ICs, 2 FRERs and 2 CB digis - all bfn. Last one was on Sunday though and have been reading that it can take a few days for the hormones to develop even if af is late. I've now got a GP appointment for next Thursday in any case. My last two cycles were both 43 days, so although they are long, they had been consistent....
I hear you about job situ. There's a vacancy I want to apply for, but want to know if I'm pg first before I go declaring my intent at current school.... I know it wouldn't be the end of the world, if I had to withdraw applications and stay where I am, but I hate any messiness. I withdrew an application from this school in November as I wasnt well at the time, so don't want to mess them round again. Coming to the conclusion that you just have to do what needs doing and ttc in the background, iykwim.
What news laura? Hope it's good.

Not sure either Laura - early AF? I really hope not for you. fingers crossed.

How are you feeling Delilah?

ILoveMyCats - yes go on POAS! How many have you done though? And are they ICs? Are your cycles normally that long? (Sorry - I know I should flick back but there's quite a few pages now!)

Had one of those days yesterday where I had training and felt like I was being taught to suck eggs, so they were wasting my time when I had better things to be getting on with like the 50 controlled assessments I needed to mark! Grrrr.

Had a bit of a wibble yesterday as I don't want to stay in my current school at all. I'm not on a permanent contract anyway, but I just know that I'll get a BFP and my ideal job will come up or vice versa. But I can't keep hanging on either as I'm not getting any younger. I wish it was all a bit easier with these life choices thingummy-stuff.

Hope everyone else is well and having a good day.