Forty and over trying for a first baby - join us here

Thanks chewy! Yes he is looking after me as much as he can I feel. He's going to ring me tomorrow afternoon with the blood (HCG) and urine results when he comes back from his home visits.

Anniehoo - I'm so sorry you're having a worrying time. However, the fact that you've already got 2-3 weeks on your Clearblue test is very positive. Don't worry that the line at the GP's was faint - (a) the Clearblue tests are quite probably more expensive & better than the ones that GP's bulk buy and (b) at this stage it just comes down to concentration of urine (how much you drank beforehand/volume/time of day). I would wait and see what the lab says - if there IS actually tiny traces of blood in your urine, it could be for any number of quite benign reasons - like residue of implantation bleed, cervical irritation or even as result of a minor UTI like cystisis. Generally it sounds like your GP is being very supportive with HCG tests and referral to consultant. Have you had your first blood test taken yet? I do hope it all works out for you - you deserve a break.

Just back from GP and he did a urine test. At first he said it was negative and then a faint line. I did a Clearblue digital this morning and it said 2-3 weeks so i was a bit taken aback. Then he said "do you have your period?" I said no and he said "of course no sorry, but you have blood in your urine so I'll send it off to the lab". I'm really concerned about the blood in my urine now.

It's not sounding good. He's going to test my HCG and test it again next week and then discuss referral to ob/gyn for support. He was very supportive and kind. I don't think this is going to last very long sadly. The good thing is that it's so early I haven't got my hopes up.

anniehoo my clinic tested me initially for thyroid - all fine, then tested again in December - put on meds, then again a few weeks ago - had to increase meds again.
Vit D - I know I have had a deficiency in the past so I take 1000 whatevers a day - they tested for this too and I was fine.
My variables were CoQ10, vit E, new magic potion donor, a hysteroscopy, oh yeah and IVF!!!!

ahh the old "just relax and forget about it" solution. If only we'd thought of that! I find that such a thoughtless thing to say.

cityzen I'm glad to here you've got a plan of action. I have found that changing the variables can help you learn about what might make a difference. It's a huge "might" though. So dtd every other day starting early is one of them. Pillow under hips is another. It's also possible that the DHEA helped this month. Those are the 3 changes we made in this cycle. I'd tried every other day before and hips on pillow before but not for ages as couldn't be bothered anymore and was totally half arsed about it. My best friend's pg announcement really gave me the boost to properly go for it for one last time.

kwick, not been tested for thyroid for years but has been fine in the past (6 years ago maybe). Possibly was tested more recently as part of initial fertility tests but forgot. Thanks for your help with this. I'm also going to get Vitamin D levels tested as read something about that.

Annie - my cycle buddy - congratulations!! I am so happy for you! I'm sorry for the late response - I've been away and I've just read this now. I hope you are feeling well. I will be thinking of you in these coming weeks and months.

Am just catching up but congrats to others too who have their bfp.

My AF came bang on time as usual but I was expecting her. Have been for my day 2 blood tests and have the day 21 ones booked in. DH has his sperm analysis booked in as well for later in April so at least we're trying to find out. Am coming up to fertile period so have decided to try that sperm meets egg plan this month to see if that makes a difference! We've started already so that's good.

I've had quite a lot of people this weekend telling me to 'just relax and forget about it and then it will happen'! They don't really know me very well I must say as there is no way I'm able to just forget about it!! Anyway, I know they mean well I suppose.

Jessie and Daisy I hope you are both well too and good luck to everyone else.

My progesterone is tested at least weekly with a blood test.
Also have they checked your tyroid levels?

I think you could be right kwick, I think I need to be tested to see if I need progesterone. What test would I get for this? I'm going to try and see the gp this week and ask for it.

I also have facial hair (sidies) that I've mostly had lasered off but no doctor has ever asked me about it. My IVF consultant asked me if I had especially hairy legs and I said no because I don't. I've always been a bit overweight but not sure if that's connected. I have very thin hair on top of my head too that I manage to hide well. I would say I have mild symptoms of PCOS but not the full on syndrome.

Thank you so much for highlighting this and reminding me to pursue it with GP.

Thanks for sharing Anniehoo and you are DEFO amazeballs!!!

In my novice mind I thought it could be progesterone - only because I am having to take so much of the stuff to sustain my pregnancy - I am now on an injection a day, pessaries 3 times a day and gel twice a day...

I have PCOS - so I have cystic ovaries and also many of the syndrome symptoms (copius amounts of hair where it is not wanted, weight gain, insomnia, dry eyes, and so on). I also only have one ovary (other one eaten by a cyst when I was 19).

Aww thanks Kwick, I don't think I'm amazeballs but I do look back sometimes and think "bloody hell what an effort! At least I can say I've tried".

I don't mind you asking me anything, like I said, I'm an open book. There is no reason they can find. DH has had two sperm tests, both normal and he's been tested for HIV and Hep C (for IVF). We've both had Cytogenics testing for abnormal chromosomes and came out normal. I've tested normal for Coagulation test, Cervical Smear and negative for anti-cardiolpin antibody (anti-phospholipid), Anti-cardiolipin, Lupus Anticoagulant, Gonorrhoea, Rubella (immune), C,trachomatis, my progesterone day 21 and 28 levels were normal.

In july 2014 my AMH was at 14.5 which was above normal for age 41. Sometimes I think there could be something in that - maybe polycystic ovaries? My IVF consultant did once say 'right side polycystic' and i questioned him about it. He said you have cysts but you don't have the syndrome so PCOS is not an issue. I still wonder about this but he was an excellent consultant from Edinburgh Royal Infirmary so I completely trust his judgement and think he would have seen something if there was a problem. I gave both him and my local consultant our full medical details and they've had a good look around up there on many occasions and neither of them came up with anything.

I believe it's my age but I've been told by others not to be fobbed off by this. So this leaves me with nowhere to go but Coventry for testing for NK cells and I didn't have the strength of heart to go to Coventry at age 42.

anniehoo I can only imagine the pain you have gone through - and get you are still standing strong.
Have you had any indication why they happened? Sorry dont mean to pry into something which is extremely personal.
Remember: you are amazeballs!

I know jessie I was having a wee laugh to myself at how unrealistic it was to last until 11weeks! He probably knows already as I'm an open book.

Hi Sparrow - thank you for recommendations I will definitely start yoga again I used to love it - I'll make a space in the spare room for it, it's so good for you, even just the breathing.

kwick - early scans, I'm just scared of them because they are very traumatic for me, it's is advisable to go though and I'm sure I will if the time comes. It's just the fear for me of the sonographer not finding a heartbeat or saying are you sure your dates are right, these things mean miscarriage to me and it's the shock of finding out when you're so vulnerable in that room. I would rather avoid it but I know that it's not wise to as I need to keep and eye on things and I've got to go through it so I can deal with it sooner rather than later.

jessie I told mum today. Tried to tell DH but the words won't come out. I'll try again tonight. I do have to tell him though.

Anniehoo you are an amazing woman and I can only imagine what you have been through. Thank you for sharing - you give inspiration and hope to us all.

The spa break sounds amazeballs - I am glad you were able to do that and that you found some inner connection again. This is really important. Like Sparrow I would recommend yoga too - something restful like Yin yoga or even Yoga Nidra - I can recommend some tracks for that if you want (it is yogic sleep).

Sparrow this is very good news indeed! So have you had an ET of 3 blastocysts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My advice for the 2WW or TWOT (two weeks of torture) is to keep as busy as possible but pamper yourself too - I was really lucky in that I was away on a business trip for 4 days of my 2WW - which was intense and I only just had enough time to take my meds each day. I am actually finding this time now hardest (although not as hard as when I was stimming)... I do not feel pregnant and I am worried that it is all a dream and I will suddenly wake up...

Annie you said the early scans were a stresser - may I ask why?

Hi Annie I can definitely recommend yoga as something you might want to add to your list. I find it difficult to relax my brain and so didn't think I'd get much from it, but turns out I love it I've even started doing mindful relaxation breathing during this IVF process to help me get to sleep.

Keeping my fingers firmly crossed for you.

Had my transfer this morning. There were three good blastocasts ready today so they went in. Dr said he was happy they had progressed well over the five days and we might have one or two that can be frozen, will find that out tomorrow, but I'm happy with today's outcome.

Looking forward to going home on Wednesday and sleeping in my own bed! Also lots more to distract me there during the wait till OTD on the 6th.

Hope everyone had a lovely Easter break.

Sorry about my mega-post don't want to scare everyone off!

Happy Easter everyone! Hope you have lots of Easter eggs. I got none. I'm away staying at dads so haven't had the chance to tell DH yet about BFP and thinking I might not tell him for a while to save him the worry. Haven't told anyone in RL and feel it would be so good to keep it to myself (and the TTC no1 at 40+-ers ) and maybe try to wait this out out until 11 weeks. I just can't bare the worry and stress of v early scans again.

The reason I'm away on my own is that I was upset recently at best friends pg announcement (I was last to find out by text at 6 months because she was scared to tell me). I was so shocked and upset that she saw me as someone she couldn't tell and it made me realise I had to work on myself and look after myself better. So at the start of this week I travelled down to a lovely health spa for 3 days on my own. It was absolute bliss. You don't realise how stressed and wound up you are until you completely truly relax.

During that time I read about nutrition, mindfulness, giving up alcohol ("Mrs D is going without" is a fascinating book!). I can't say this without sounding like a hippy but I got in touch with my core being again. I decided that I'm going to concentrate on making myself healthy and strong this year and everything else is secondary. TTC can ruin you (I believe it has ruined me) but if I work very hard I can build my body up again and my emotional strength will follow and I'll reach full recovery.

I caught up with old school friends in the week who are mums and they are both on the same anti depressant and say loads of mums they know are on it. I decided that I need to go to the GP when I get home and ask for something. I did this before and they showed me a link to a wellbeing website but I was so stressed from the Clomid that I developed shingles. I decided I would like to try to build myself up with good nutrition, giving up alcohol and gently building muscle.

In the meantime I've got this BFP and it might end up in another MC like the other 4 which I'm prepared for. I won't hesitate to get a D&C this time and that will be it. Infact that is it. No more TTC from now on. If it's another MC then I think I'll recover quicker this time and then i'll be free to move on and plan lovely family holidays, spa breaks and second honeymoons with DH and I'll be very happy with that life!

There is of course the remote chance that there could be an Actual Baby. I just can't begin to believe that could happen to me.

Do you think I sound like I need counselling? I do!

city how you doing? Any signs of anything?

Lovely lines anniehoo!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations again!!!!

Aww thank you all for your lovely responses. I'm in total shock here. I just took another test and it's also positive. V v v v early days though. Not even due on until tomorrow.

Wow!! Annie, that Defo looks like a line!!

Kwick, I know it can go both ends I was just a bit confused when you said you had adopted a new approach, up the Fanjo, I wondered where it was going before. The way you described it I wondered it it was a cream rather than a soft tablet.
Good luck with it, I find if I can't lie down for the lunchtime one at work I make sure I do for the morning and evening one.
And get well soon!!! I never know if I am feeling poorly or if it's symptoms.

I am a bit worried about the lack of symptoms actually. No sickness for over a week, less cramps and twinges.
The spotting has even stopped!! (Glad about that!) I guess I just have to wait and see!

OMG indeed Annie, amazing news.

Welcome totalnamechanger

I had another horrid night - my lurgy is now in full force and I am feeling very sorry for myself :(

anniehoo are you gonna test again? Please share next steps you wonderful lady! BTW I have been wishing for this for you so much!