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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Toot, Toot. Calling all dirty chicks! Jump aboard the charabanc with Barry & The Berries. Destination BFP" (thread 26)

997 replies

happylass · 25/02/2015 21:54

The smallprint –
Berries have a strict entrance criteria (TTC #1, over 30, TTC for 12+ months, NO instadiffers, must have a special pot and definitely no mention of baby dust or baby dancing).
Those not abiding by the rules may be escorted from the premises.

Current passengers:

Happylass, 37, TTC since Aug 2012. 2 failed ICSIs. Time to defrost the spare.
Beaky 35, ttc coming up 3 yrs, 2x failed iui 1x long protocol ivf cancelled due to poor response. Awaiting follow up with FC and possibly short protocol IVF next.
Minx, 34, both tubes blocked, 1 buried ovary, appointment with consultant early March.
Nolly, 33, TTC 2.5 years, BFP Christmas Eve, MC New Years Eve. Awaiting "spontaneous conception" before IVF starts, August 2015.
Wild 40 - TTC for three years. IVF double-stimms freeze all embryos cycle started in February - due to complete May/June.
HampshireBlues 36 TTC 3.5 years, unexplained. Cycle 1 chemical pregnancy, cycle 2 abandoned due to cyst, cycle 3 failed. Plan thrombotic profile, scratch and short protocol.
Lumen, 35, ttc since Nov 2011, unexplained, two IVF cycles in 2014, both bfns, waiting for lap&dye and results of numerous bloods, aiming for one last IVF cycle in the summer.
Tigerdog, 34 ttc since Jan 2013. Unexplained. Starting ivf in March.
Gillster, 40, TTC since Feb 2012. Had IVF in Feb 14 and had 6 one cell embies frozen due to polyp. Cancelled FET cycles in Sept 14 and Dec 14 due to more polyps. Awaiting hysteroscopy before commencing natural cycle FET. Hoping to be at least PUPO on the 4th attempt!
Smidge, 38, TTC since Jan 2013. Unexplained. IVF#1 Short protocol July 2014 yielded 1 blasto, BFN. IVF#2 in process - Long Protocol Oct/Nov 2014
Kuma - 40. TTC 2 years. Low AMH high FSH - DH antisperm ABs. Failed IVF June 14 and two cancelled IVFs Nov and Dec 14 due to poor blood results. Hoping for another try at natural cycle IVF end of Jan.
Jelliebabe - 40, Threw the pills away 8 years ago. Unexplained but have a very low AMH, 1st IVF with clinic in Prague, 2 embryo's, chemical pregnancy. 2nd IVF in London branch of clinic - 1 embryo, BFN. BFP Feb '15

OP posts:
tigerdog · 13/03/2015 19:14

Yay to getting going kuma! Fingers crossed for you.

That's all very annoying happy but the NHS is so disorganized that I would think that, unless you tell them, they'll never know you had two cycles. With insider knowledge I can safely say that very few parts of the nhs talk to each other let alone other organizations! Still that sort of misinformation is so annoying. I was told I had to have 3 years ttc until IVF so I took this job in London thinking I'd need a distraction for a year, then the next appt saw a different doc who referred us straight away.

Oh nolly that sounds painful re MiL. I hope it goes ok. Fuck the spotting that gets your hopes up, it's the worst. Wine to get you through it.

Well I'm on my way home. Whoop! If I was drinking I'd definitely be tempted to crack open the wine on the Friday night commute but instead it's a green juice Hmm

Original poster
happylass · 13/03/2015 18:35

nolly we will probably complain at some point but we're not even sure if the private FC inform the NHS so we may be ok. To be honest I think we probably would still have gone for the 2 cycles even if we'd known due to the ridiculous waiting times and the fact that we're no spring chickens!. I'm more annoyed at the lack of information and the messing around with people's lives. On top of that I'm not even sure that we'd go for the 2 cycles of NHS anyway as apparently the waitng time between the 2 is 6-9 months. We'll be lucky to get our first cycle this year so a second cycle would be late summer/early autumn 2016 at the earliest. I really don't think I can put up with this shit until then, think I'll want to draw a line under it all before then.
Apologies for the me, me , me post. I'm only just getting home as I went to reflexology after work so I'll catch up with everyone else later.

OP posts:
nolly3 · 13/03/2015 11:47

happy that's totally shit. Are you going to complain and insist that they stand by their written commitments? If they can't show they've shown you the policy explaining that in advance then they haven't got a leg to stand on. But how crappy to have to fight for that. Really sorry.

nolly3 · 13/03/2015 11:47

happy that's totally shit. Are you going to complain and insist that they stand by their written commitments? If they can't show they've shown you the policy explaining that in advance then they haven't got a leg to stand on. But how crappy to have to fight for that. Really sorry.

Original poster
happylass · 13/03/2015 11:31

So annoyed Berries. Just found out that as we've had 2 private cycles our NHS entitlement drops from 2 to 1. There's no mention of this on the leaflet we were sent (it just says 3 or more private cycles will exclude couples from NHS treatment). Also our NHS consultant told us we were allowed 2 private attempts. What a joke ??????

OP posts:
nolly3 · 13/03/2015 10:57

Hey kuma that's great news. Fx spring gives you a biological lift too.

barking, gil, how are things going?

IamKuma · 13/03/2015 10:01

I'm here, got all clear last night to do natural cycle this month, feels a bit odd having nothing to do yet. Cysts were all gone, antral follicle count actually better than Dec 13, which is pleasing. Go back next Thurs for scan to see how follicle is developing then daily scans and jabbing something to stop ovulation prior to collection which will be in about 2 weeks if my body wakes up ok after 2 months on the pill ....

barking hope the stabbing is going ok.

Gill fingers crossed for you op and FET shortly after, it's about time.

smidge loving the unicycle, rather unusual!

beaky hope stitches came out and it all heals ok, I'm sure it will look fine after a little while.

Feel a bit behind on everyone's news but wish you all a happy Friday and a good weekend.

nolly3 · 13/03/2015 09:55

I'm here! hi beaky! Hope you're getting that Friday feeling.

No spontaneous bollocks here. spotting pink 5 days early turned into AF this morning. Of course, I hoped it was IB and now feeling totally crushed. AND we have to go out with MiL tomorrow to have a serious family chat about how other people have needs/feelings/priorities too, other than her. Perfect timing as it is (a) mothers day and (b) her birthday. Will the boys stand up to her? Will she acknowledge she's a tyrant? Will this turn into the usual "sorry you've been upset MiL! No one wants that!!!!" ? Place your bets now Berries.

tigerdog · 13/03/2015 09:21

I'm here

Did your stitches come out ok beaky?

Thank crunchie it's Friday! Hope you're all doing ok.

beakybeak · 13/03/2015 09:03

Where is everyone?!

patch77 · 12/03/2015 17:22

Hi beaky
Unfortunately it's our third cycle of chlomid. Third time lucky hopefully.

Smidge001 · 12/03/2015 11:36

Oh berries I forgot to mention when we viewed the apartment on Saturday, we saw another one first - and guess what I found when I opened up the outhouse laundry room....

.... A unicycle!!!! We nearly bought that place instead thinking it must be a sign Grin

I took a photo coz I didn't think you'd believe me

Toot, Toot. Calling all dirty chicks! Jump aboard the charabanc with Barry & The Berries. Destination BFP" (thread 26)
beakybeak · 12/03/2015 10:11

Hi berries, hope everyone is ok. Catching up at the moment as been burying my head recently.

Patch that sounds good - is this your first round of clomid?

Tammy I'm so pleased you've cracked on with the bloods etc, Wild is right and you need to know the facts before you can make an informed decision.

Tiger glad you are feeling better and I'm really hopeful for you for this IVF! I do hope you also get plenty of frosties!

Barking how's the stabbing going? Have you got an estimate for EC yet?

Happy any thoughts on a natural v medicated cycle? I thought Wilds article was really good but makes perfect sense! And if you look at the berry frostie success rate so far, it's pretty decent! I remember Chloe and Spare both had FET's and got bfps.

Wild how are you feeling this month? Have you recovered from all of the drugs?!

Gill fx for your op and the FET on the next few weeks, as Tiger says, it just has to be your turn. I'm getting my stitches out later, if it's healed ok I don't need any further treatment but need to keep an eye on it in case it comes back etc. I know this is totally vain but I'm worried about what it's going to look like as it's much bigger than I expected and in a very visible place. I need to get that in perspective though!!

Smidge that's a great move, and very quick - it sounds more like Scotland's system to me. We work the other way round longer at the start quick at the end. I'm hoping to my pension via investment properties! Hope you are ok otherwise.

HB good to hear from you! I hope you're managing to keep your chin up. This malarkey really tries us, especially on top of all the usual crap eh.

Nolly how are you? No sign of spontaneous combustion diffage?

Hope everyone else is ok! Brew Cake Grin

nolly3 · 12/03/2015 09:15

Petition for you ladies to sign:

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/70037

equal access to IVF

patch77 · 11/03/2015 19:08

Had my 12 day scan with chlomid, 3 folicals hopefully something will happen this time

WildflowerMarmalade · 11/03/2015 18:42

It's great that you have got your blood tests underway Tammy. You're putting yourself in a position where you can make an informed decision about whether you want to have treatment and what that should be. Facing up to the harsh reality that you need to look at medical help to get pregnant is a big thing to do. I put it off for ages, hoping and hoping that I would get my BFP like a normal person and not have to grapple with the fear of infertility and having tests and maybe getting news I didn't want to hear. I think in the end you will feel better for having taken some positive steps to help yourself and make some decisions armed with knowledge.

TammySwanson · 11/03/2015 15:07

Hi All. I had my 'day 21' (really later as my cycles are longer) bloods taken this morning and nearly burst into tears again at the doctors and all the nurse asked me was about my plans for fertility treatment. Wish I wasn't so fricking fragile all the time. I guess it's bloody Mothers' Day coming up that's not helping (and thinking that if I didn't have that blighted ovum last January this would be my first one). I guess the semi good news is that I'm getting my pre-AF cramping which means that the bloods have been timed right and my day 2/3 ones next week should be at the right time too. Have asked GP to retrieve my AMH results from a few years back too so I can get a fuller picture of the situation. As I head closer and closer to the big 4-0 (nearly counting in weeks rather than months) me and DH really need to decide if we want to pursue this privately.

tigerdog · 11/03/2015 06:59

Interesting article wild there seems to be a lot they don't know about ivf success and failure. Interesting about the frozen cycles too happy as you can see that a number of clinics have a better success rates with frozen. It seems logical to give our bodies time to recover. I'm just keeping everything crossed that I'll produce a good number of eggs so that I get some frosties from our one funded cycle.

Definitely avoid over thinking barking - just go with the flow easier said than done

Hi hb hope you're doing ok.

smidge sounds like a good plan to me, at least you're on the property ladder and investing your cash. So quick! Good to have projects on the go too.

gill I will be keeping everything tightly crossed for you over the next few weeks, it HAS to be your turn!

I'm feeling much more positive today. Af has left the building after several heavy days and it's just the face full of spots that are left Hmm

barkingtreefrog · 10/03/2015 22:38

Hope you've got your heating sorted!

smidge that is mindbogglingly quick!!! Quite scary actually, not a lot of time to consider what you're doing, not like the painfully slow, drawn out process here!

HB mother's day stinks. It'll be the 4th I won't even be pg for since we started TTC!

wild there is a very simple poster that comes with it to explain all the steps, so I'm sure I'll be fine. Just would have preferred some company!
That article is hopeful for the future but kind of depressing to read while I'm due to have an embryo (hopefully) implanted in a couple of weeks, without the clinic having a clue whether it's the right 'window' ?! Shock I wouldn't even normally ovulate until CD 19-22, so it's probably safe to say that if I have a window at all it's a lot later than when they'll be putting it in! Having said that, the iui must have implanted, or I wouldn't have got pg, would I? Or is a mc still classed as possibly implantation failure because it didn't 'stick'.

Not going to over think this, it's not healthy right now!!!!!

nolly probably before your time but a former berry potentially outed me by using my real name on here to address me! I have a very common name so I wasn't bothered and a lot of what I've posted over the last couple of years would clearly identify me to anyone who knows me anyway!

happy I'm going to pick more drugs up after the scan. The nurse said as long as I'd taken all the others at the same time a one off late dose an hour later didn't matter.

Gillster · 10/03/2015 20:13

Ooh,interesting article Wild, thanks for sharing.

Beaky, what's the next stage with the melanoma? Will you need any future treatment?

Original poster
happylass · 10/03/2015 16:28

I too thought antagonist was a different name for short protocol but the cycles I've done have been quite different from Barking. I started the Buserelin on cd2 then added the stimms a day later and carried on with both until trigger. I could choose when to inject so went for 10pm. They did say to try to be consistent but it wouldn't matter if I needed to do it a few hours earlier.
Wild my consultant spoke about the 'window of opportunity' last week. She suggested that a natural cycle may be better for us for this reason. Didn't really know what she was talking about but the article makes it far clearer! Makes sense as my natural cycle is quite short and the IVF prolongs it by over 10 days which can't be good! The consultant said there's also a lot of research at the moment in to fresh v frozen cycles and it seems at the moment that frozen are more successful. The findings aren't due to be published until next Jan but she said it could well be the end of fresh cycles.
Barking hope your first set of jabs have gone well and you managed to sort out your drug supply. Nice road by the way!!
HB hope you're ok, thinking of you
Flowers
Hi to everyone else.

OP posts:
nolly3 · 10/03/2015 14:01

wow, wild. In my ignorance I imagined they already knew that. Well - isn't that good news.

HI HB - hope you're doing OK. I'm a fellow anxiety sufferer, manifesting in insomnia and poor concentration mainly. Good news that you've had your bloods - when will you get the news?

oMG i nearly just signed this with my RL name - clearly done too many emails this morning.

WildflowerMarmalade · 10/03/2015 13:34

By the way, did anyone see this Guardian article yesterday?

WildflowerMarmalade · 10/03/2015 12:37

It’s great that you have got stabbing underway Barking. I hope the first injections have gone ok. I was also on antagonist protocol and I found injecting the antagonist drug much less of a faff as mine came pre-mixed in the syringe. I even stabbed with it in the train station toilets a couple of times because, as you say, you have to stick to a strict timetable. With any luck yours will be just as straightforward and your Saturday injection will be fine.

Tiger I hope your hellish AF has eased and you are feeling better. It’s exciting that you are close to starting too! You’ve waited ages to get any treatment and now it is finally here. I found it hard to accept the fact that we would need fertility treatment and hoped against all rational hope for an FUFC. It’s totally understandable to hope you won’t need treatment and to feel a bit sad at having to go through it all when not everyone has to in order to get their baby. Once the treatment started though I was happy to be doing something proactive —so caught up in obsessing about every little detail and result— and I just felt glad it was all happening at last.

Gill I cannot comprehend how you have managed to be so enduringly patient while waiting to get your frosties on board. I am seriously in awe of you lady. You should get a sainthood. I can quite see why you don’t feel excited after so many let downs. You will get there though.

Smidge that is super exciting about buying a place. Is this what they call ‘renting-to-buy’, where you live in a rental property and buy another one to let it out? Sounds like a good way to keep your foot on the ladder while you can’t afford somewhere you actually want to live. And that is one quick transaction turn around!!

Hello HB good to hear from you. Definitely wise to try to keep on an even keel as much as possible. If you've got any tips for how to do it then pass them on!

HampshireBlues · 10/03/2015 12:29

Hi all,
Sorry for the silence recently, I am definitely turning into an ostrich and burying my head in the sand especially with Mother's Day approaching! And my anxiety is back so I'm just trying to keep it in check and not let it get on top of me like it did over the summer (I can't go through that again!). I have been keeping an eye on progress but will catch up properly in the next day or two and will then pull my head out of the sand and crack on.

However, I have had my bloods for the thrombotic risk profile done and am awaiting the results, and am waiting for AF so that I can book in for the scratch.