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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

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

811 replies

JessieMcJessie · 25/11/2015 11:38

A year ago today I started this thread

Any 40+ladies out there TTC #1?

and, 1000 posts later, it has filled up with the shared experiences of various fantastic women who find ourselves hoping to start a family after the age of 40. And listen out Daily Mail - not one of us deliberately "delayed motherhood" to concentrate on our careers or frivolous pursuits. By and large we just didn't meet the right person (or decide to go it alone) till we were quite long in the tooth.

Trying for a first at this age has its own special challenges. The old thread contains its fair share of sad tales of early miscarriage and disapointing test results. However it is also a great place for success stories and positive thinking and it has been a lifeline for me over the past year.

Although those who already have a child or children and are trying for more in their forties are welcome to join (and we absolutely understand the real pain of secondary infertility), part of the value of this thread is the opportunity to share experience amongst those of us for whom failure will mean no children at all, rather than a smaller family than we'd like. It's also a place where we all share a sense of total uncharted territory where pregnancy and childbrirth are concerned!

There are a number of stalwarts who have been with me from almost day one and I hope you'll join this new thread too, but we all hope to graduate eventually to the pregnancy boards so new joiners are very important! If your fortieth is looming it's fine to join a bit before.

A newish poster asked last week if people could post their "stats" and I think that's a good idea. So I'll kick it off (feel free to include whatever info you feel like giving):

Jessie McJessie 42, TTC since October 2014 (13 months) having only met my DH at the tender age of 38. 2 chemical pregnancies, one blocked tube, low AMH, one failed IUI, 1 failed IVF and about to start our second IVF. Just moved back to London after 6 years in Hong Kong.

So, off we go. We have a special skill at scouring the media for stories of celebs having babies over 40. And there's no such thing as TMI Grin.

OP posts:
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Cityzen74 · 17/10/2016 08:13

Congratulations Russkispy! That is lovely news to read on a Monday morning. Hope you are feeling OK?

maisybobbins · 15/10/2016 23:12

Been following you Russkippy - soooooo happy for you and your DH. Just brilliant. GrinGrinGrin

Russkispy · 12/10/2016 18:49

Thank you, flip! So so surreal! Can't even describe it!

Hoojimmaflip · 12/10/2016 18:47

Coming out of lurking to send CONGRATULATIONS!! Wonderful news Flowers

Russkispy · 12/10/2016 18:02

Had my second bout of HCG and progesterone blood test and got results. The levels went up significantly from yesterday. progesterone is 176.5 and HCG is 324.8. I know I'm pregnant but the news hasn't sunk in yet! Tomorrow will be seeing a GP and will take it from there.

Russkispy · 11/10/2016 11:45

Hola lovely ladies, had my HCG and progesterone blood tests today and results came to me after 3 hours! With a little message:

Please find attached your results which are indicative of a positive pregnancy test. You can print this PDF file and pass to your GP/Midwife team.
NORMAL Progesterone levels during pregnancy:
1st trimester (weeks 1-12):
32.6-140 nmol/L

And my progesterone level - 131.9
And HCG - 100.9

I can not believe it! And still can't believe it!!! I'm in shock, I think!!!
Called my clinic in Riga, chatted with my nurse (told me to carry on with my vitamins which I'm still taking after IUI), and then with my acupuncturist! DH is over the moon!
And I thought AF was coming as boobs became sooooo sore a couple of days ago! And nipples are sooooo sensitive! Don't even know dpos when I felt it as I've stopped following and monitoring symptoms. I haven't even POAS!
Yesterday's tests put me on CD27, 14 days post IUI.
My next HCG and progesterone blood tests are on Wednesday. Will report then.
And this morning I found a Boots cheapie test as I want to make itore believable and tangible for myself and I could see my BFP!!!

Forty and over trying for a first baby - join us here
Russkispy · 27/09/2016 11:51

Thanks Citizen! Will keep you posted and good luck with your appointment today and keep in touch! Fingers and toes are crossed for you!

Cityzen74 · 27/09/2016 08:31

Russkipsy - that all sounds very exciting and positive. Just want to wish you all the best and fingers crossed for a good result. Do keep us posted won't you?

I have got my second appointment at the clinic this afternoon. I'll get the results of my AMH tests and I assume they will tell us if we can go ahead with IVF. Feel really nervous. We only have one go on the NHS so it feels a lot of pressure. Anyway, I'll see what they say!

Hope everyone else is well.

Russkispy · 27/09/2016 06:26

Meeting with my doctor last Wednesday went very well! Had a HSG check with dye for Fallopian tubes and they're both OPEN! My left which was blocked is absolutely OPEN!! And I'm growing 2 follicles, one is almost 10mm and the 2nd is 9x6mm! Waiting for a dominant one to grow up to 20mm. So far so good and relieved about the tubes. Oh and the doctor said I got a beautiful lining! She was very happy with it! A much better improvement from March and previous times when she checked.
Had my 2nd ultrasound on Saturday, and got 3 follicles in total! 18, 17 and 15mm. And tomorrow morning I'll be injecting myself with Ovitrelle And I'm scheduled for IUI on Monday, 1pm! DH flew over and we will use his fresh stuff. Doctor is very happy with my endometrium and lining. Thickness of endometrium was 10.5mm. she keeps saying everything looks so beautiful inside! Fingers crossed for me!
All went well yesterday. 2 follicles grew to 20mm each! 3rd follicles was around 15mm, I believe. Risk/chance/potential of twins, doctor said. endometrium grew to 14mm thick. DH's washed sperm was high class! Doc was very happy with everything! Then they put me on a drip, and gave me more drugs to take till testing 2 weeks later.
HCG and progesterone blood tests need to be done on 10th and 12th receptively. Told my dad about the procedure and ask him not to ask me for updates or raise hopes or expectations. I'm very calm about it all. Love all scientific side of it all. One of my friends called me a geek! Haha also told my acupuncturist and she's very pleased with the results. Asked the doctor if she thought that acupuncture made any difference in how things are so far, she highly recommended to carry on with acupuncture, and I will. flying home tomorrow night, resume my volunteering which I've missed and starting a little part-time job at the local NHS hospital, as an administrator. This part-time job will allow me to move freely if needed a second IUI as I'll definitely coming back here. The care is just outstanding! Positive thinking is a must but won't be too upset as I've got a plan B and C if/when it comes to it. We've been checked out and we're not infertile which is a main thing. We're just giving a little nudge to make things happen sooner/quicker. Fingers crossed for us

Good luck to all!!

SparrowSG · 19/09/2016 14:24

Congratulations Jessie, best wishes to you and your new bundle of joy.

Great to hear from you too Daisy, how are you managing the pregnancy with twins? Hope you are getting the chance to take it easy.

And fantastic news too Loueeza, glad to hear all is going well with you, I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes smoothly.

I am just in the middle of you both at 27 weeks Smile

Good luck to all xx

Russkispy · 14/09/2016 08:47

Thank you, Citizen. Got AF this morning. Not sure what ideas spotting for 5 days. Hmmmm. Anyway it's here now. I'm ready for Clomid+trigger and IUI for my next cycle. So I'm off to Riga next Wednesday for check ups, scans, ultrasounds etc to. Will keep you posted from there.

Cityzen74 · 14/09/2016 08:14

Russkipsy - that is very frustrating isn't it? Before my mc I used to get a few days of brown spotting but since the mc I just seem to come on. Don't know why. This is probably a silly question but have you done a test? Might you be pregnant? Really hope so for you!

Russkispy · 13/09/2016 08:51

think I'm CD30 and 5 days of brown spotting which never happened before! Usually is 2 days prior AF. So not sure what's happening here and why! It's not even on panties, but it's kind of sitting inside. Sorry TMI! Feeling extremely tired and there's a sharp pain in my back, on the right. But not muscles, I believe. I have no idea. No any other symptoms.
I'm also scheduled to fly to Riga to the clinic. To double check my Fallopian tubes and potentially have an IUI. But where's AF!?? Clomid is here but can't start till the bastard AF turns up. But is she!? As I said AF usually and regularly turns up 2 days after brown spotting/discharge. Has anyone else experienced this?
Also, made an appointment with a reflexologist (specialising in fertility) on Thursday. See what she can do for us. Has anybody else tried reflexology?

Loueeza · 12/09/2016 21:50

Hi Jessie!

Just left you a PM - so sorry, I didn't even notice yours as I've never sent or received one before!

I've checked out the pregnancy boards a little, but have just been lurking rather than posting. Was just reading an interesting one about maternity bras! (starting to need them)

Would love to see more piccies of Magnus on your profile.

Thanks again for writing :-)

Russkispy, glad things can progress again soon. :-)

Original poster
JessieMcJessie · 12/09/2016 20:13

Thanks also City , Clara and Russkispy.

Russki I tried IUI in Hong Kong but not with Clomid, with a low dose of IVF stimulating drugs (Menopur I think) aimed at producing no more than 2 eggs. It didn't work but they never really looked into why, then we moved back to the UK and went straight on to IVF which just seemed like a much more exact process. That said, they can be pretty precise when doing IUI so I was confident that the eggs and sperm did meet. It was likely just duff eggs, given that the majority of eggs harvested for IVF were also duff.

OP posts:
Original poster
JessieMcJessie · 12/09/2016 20:06

Hi Loueeza! SO nice to hear all is well with you. I sent you a couple of PMs and was a bit worried when you didn't reply. I won't bang on about having a baby on this thread as it's not appropriate but I'd love to stay in touch and hear about the baby when s/he is born. Are you on any of the ante natal threads? I'm also going to try to add a few pics of Magnus to my profile on here.

OP posts:
Cityzen74 · 12/09/2016 10:43

Congratulations Jessie. Am so happy for you. Magnus is gorgeous! Hope you are all well.

Lovely to hear from Loueeza. Glad all is well with you. Wow - 21 weeks that is so great and am very pleased for you.

Russkispy - I'm sorry I don't know anything about Clomid or IUI either so can't give any advice. Have you considered creating a new thread about it and someone might be able to give you some advice?

Hope everyone else is well.

Just had my booster shot of the MMR jab today so that's all the tests done and now just waiting for my second IVF appointment in a couple of weeks.

Loueeza · 12/09/2016 10:14

JESSIE!!! Congratulations! What a joy to see the photos of your handsome chappy (with his very cool name, I might add!).

Absolutely over the moon for you, and I'm sure you're relishing every second of this long-awaited-for new phase of life. :-)

I'm at 21 weeks now, and all is well. Had our second scan last week, and baby was doing a great impression of an Olympic boxer, in between stuffing his (or her?) fingers in his (or her!) mouth. Adorable.

All the very best to everyone else on this board who's still on the journey. just a bit of encouragement. ttc was the most frustrating time of my life, but the memories of all the frustration and upset is already fading. Just keep going girls - there's still so much hope. :-) xx

Clara101 · 10/09/2016 08:05

Congratulations Jessie, how wonderful!!

Russkispy, sorry I don't know anything abt Clomid and IUI so don't know what to say. Wishing you luck and hope someone comes along soon.

Russkispy · 07/09/2016 16:52

Congratulations Jessie!

Cycle 5 (yet to find out if BFP or BFN)
Not much to report otherwise but have a dilemma!

In November 2014 got polyps removed and the same time discovered my left tube is closed/blocked which was a bit of a shock. Had some checks done in March 2015 and not sure how and why but thought the tube was open. I'm not from here and all of the above was done in IVF Riga clinic.
Anyway, we've started TTC in April but no BFP yet. I told the same clinic I'd try IUI after 6 cycles,so they took DH's sperm and stored in the freezer and gave me an equivalent of Clomid. As I always knew I'd get it done over there, I'd then start taking the drug on CD5 here and then fly over. But here's my question, do you think I should try Clomid and natural intercourse or straight to IUI with Clomid? I read all morning today and can't work it out what to do! I'll still take the drug on cd5 as they told me and then fly to check my tubes again and at the same time they can do ultrasound on cd 10-11 to see how I respond to the drug. But then what? Shall fly home for natural dtd or stay for IUI?! I can do this trip while still unemployed. And can afford being off of work for a while. And it's so much cheaper in Riga! Would like to hear your thoughts as breaking my brains here and can't figure it out by myself! And is anyone have any experience with Clomid or similar? And what would you do!? I'm 40 and don't want to keep trying for 12 months before seeing a specialist. Big sigh

Original poster
JessieMcJessie · 06/09/2016 17:14

Thanks so much Crispie and Juan 😊. Best of luck Joey.

OP posts:
crispiecrunchie · 06/09/2016 13:20

Ah its daisy. Best wishes for the last few weeks of pregnancy. Look forward to your announcement. My son is 11 months already and he arrived when I was 42. Big sister about to be three!!! Goes so fast xxx

crispiecrunchie · 06/09/2016 13:18

Yay, I've been checking this thread the last few weeks to see if there us any news!! I'm sure someone else is due a few weeks after you too.

Congratulations!! He is absolutely gorgeous. You just be besotted and delighted (and exhausted)

Xxxx

Tableforjuan · 05/09/2016 22:16

I have delurked to say that I have been following your story, Jessie, and how inspirational it was. Many congratulations - what a gorgeous little reward for all the struggles.

Joeypotter1 · 05/09/2016 11:53

Congratulations Jessie and all the best for the future.
I've just booked my treatment plan meeting with my IVF nurse , then it's my antral follicle scan and hopefully I'll be having my first IVF cycle soon. Hopefully I'll be able to post a similar message as yours one day too.