TTC FIRST BABY - Thread 11!

Another two week wait, another round of symptom spotting. 🙄 are those cramps I can feel? Is my lower back a bit sore or is it just my chair? Did I feel faint this morning because I'm preggo or because I hand yet eaten 😂. Can someone put me to sleep until Sunday please and wake me up when it's over?!

Just wanted to say a big thank you for all your lovely replies to my last post. AF is due either today or tomorrow. Thought I'd do a FRER this morning to find out once and for all and I got a bloody evap! Talk about rubbing salt into the wound. I really felt positive about this cycle but it obviously wasn't to be and I feel heartbroken 💔

Went to the doctors this morning about an unrelated issue and mentioned that I wasn't pregnant again this month (she thinks we've been trying since September but it's actually June) and she said for my age you need to be trying for 2 years before you get referred but because I've got PCOS they might refer after a year. I know I'm getting way ahead of myself but that's just good to know.

Hope you're all doing okay today. Xx

@FlapJackered I'm not sure if it was the tea. I can't complain about 16-day LP though. But that'd be one crazy potent tea. I had it for only three days. And it's just a few herbs. I'll see how this cycle goes.

@Nextchapter19 it is normal to get lighter periods with age. I want from 5 days plus five more days of spotting (ugh) to two days and 2-3 days of spotting. I had to look up if I even had enough "coming out". Normal is considered at least two tablespoons or two soaked tampons (sorry for the gross image). Number of days doesn't matter as much.

@19bee2 yes, the ovaries do alternate. Not always one after the other every month, it's possible for the same ovary to go twice in a row. I can usually tell the side when I ovulate. So interesting.

@FlapJackered That is interesting to know and I definitely think I am affected by stress so I'm going to just try and see how it goes. Hate having no control. Such a learning curve for me!

Thanks for your reply @KittieKath I am going to keep my eye on it. Do you mind me asking why you went to the doctors initially and if they have any advice/medication or is it just a case of continuing to try and see how it goes?

@Jessikka I have been trying to cut down on the caffeine and alcohol, not that I’m a drinker but always good to get into the mindset and won’t be such a shock to the system.
@DayDreamer1707 I’m halfway through the tww, predicting af should arrive Thursday so may test at the weekend to rule out if she doesn’t appear!

Morning Lovely Ladies, do we have anyone who is thinking of testing or has the feel they maybe up the fluff?

I am currently on CD 15 and I'm guessing at 1/2 DPO. Not sure we DTD at the right time or if my cycles are even right but still trying to be relaxed about it all. Anyone else around then?

@Jessikka I try and just act normal, obviously not going crazy on the drink etc. May seem silly but when I got pregnant last time I was still drinking and eating what I wanted. We wasn't really trying then so I don't think it will make a massive difference, all it does is puts etc pressure on yourself but you have to do whats best for yourself.

CD14 for me and third day of flashing smileys on my Clear Blue OPK. Testing twice a day now and hoping for static smiley. DTD most days but I’m very prone to cystitis, so also having to be mindful of that- so much to think about!!

@FivexFive which one is it that remembers your levels? I've just had the Clearblue smiley ones before and I don't think that one does that- it basically just reads the results for you. Sounds cool if there is one that is better than that!

@19bee2

I believe you do switch ovaries each time, so your guess may be right. I notice a definite alternating pattern, and have a 'good' ovary and a 'bad' ovary. 🤣

I had ultrasound scans, and they found just one of my ovaries had many cysts.

Typically, this FW is my bad ovary, and next month I am away for work during my FW. 🙈

@Nextchapter19 I had Mirena coil removed in August and since then whilst my periods have been regular they have been a lot lighter. I have 2 days of proper bleeding then a few days of spotting. Have done some research and apparently it's quite common for them to get lighter with age so I think it's probably ok.

@PinkFizz19, keep the same reader! When you buy a new pack, it will have a new reader in but keep using the same one. It 'remembers' your levels I think. Have you read all through the leaflet that comes with it? There are FAQs etc on there, so pretty useful.

@NextChapter19, since going into late 20s and now being 30 my periods are a little shorter, so I think they can change over time. I think as long as they're semi regular and are longer than just a day, it should be ok. But you can call and ask a dr/nurse to advise if you're worried.

Hope everyone has a good day... for a Monday! Xx

Well that temp drop was AF arriving 2-4 days early! Horrid! Such a short 26 day cycle, my shortest ever?! Onwards and upwards to next cycle I suppose... it's so hard to get your head around the fact you can do everything right and it still doesn't work. It makes you give up all hope.

How are my cycle buddies @stormtrooperjulian and @MrsAW2018 doing? Hoping for some better news for you than it was for me.

Morning all!
@FlapJackered I am sharing your frustration. Pretty sure I'm having an ambulatory cycle. Temps are low of CD19, very limited CM this month and I would have ovulated by now I believe. I had the same thing happen two cycles ago.
Does anyone known if you are meant to switch ovaries each month. I'm wondering if this is the beginning of a pattern emerging and perhaps I have an issue with one side. Feeling pretty low as this was our first month ttc and it's taken the excitement away a little but onwards and upwards!
Happy Monday all. Wishing good weeks and plenty of good luck for everyone.

I am just wondering if anyone else has lighter periods now with age/coming off the pill. Im 34 and my periods are now much lighter than in my 20s. I came off the pill in August and have had a period every month in a regular 28 day cycle. This is promising but am just worried they only last around 4 days, are very light with really only one day of ‘bleeding’ as such. Anyone else experience this?

@FlapJackered what CD are you? I truly hope you ovulate at least no later than before. Did I mention I tried fertility tea last cycle? Got ewcm early on, then started tea same day, ewcm went away after two days, and I swear my opks were semi-dark too and then got lighter. I stopped the tea after three days. And I ovulated on cd16 instead of 13. So I'm not going to play with that anymore.

@KatBeCool my HSG actually didn't feel too bad at all. Worst bit was the speculum. Good luck x

@Jessikka until ovulation I don't limit myself, although I almost never drink alcohol and drink only tea, but after ovulation I don't ever take ibuprofen or antihistamines, that's my only limitation.

@FlapJackered any news with opk? Are you sure you haven't already ovulated? Are you temping?

@ValidUser good luck at the gynaecologist! My HSG is this Friday. I'm scared. Too bad there's no anesthesia (not that it's good for my body).

And thanks again everyone for your support and listening ears. I love you women! X

So my fertility monitor was being inefficient but it turns out I can use its sticks as advanced opks.

Next week for the gynaecologist.

Feeling more positive.

I haven't even been trying a year until August and I already know my problems and how we'll fix them.

Life is good.

@FlapJackered - sorry for the slow response, the chat moves fast! I like your idea of chatting through the things we can do to help our fertility with DH. Had a wee look at the NHS website as seems a good place to start. He’s off work this week so once he’s a bit more chilled out I reckon we’ll have that chat, once I definitely know I’m out this month.

@stormtrooperjulian - thanks for asking how I’m doing and again sorry for slow response! No spotting over the weekend so flicker of hope returns, but feeling crampy tonight. The stop start to my period each month is annoying enough, but since TTC it’s turned into an absolute rollercoaster. Friends baby was being very cuddly with me at church this morning and I just kept thinking how much I wanted one of my own! And DH and I have been talking about holidays and stuff, just so hard to know what to do with such a big unknown. Hope you’re doing ok and tomorrow is alright.

@ValidUser glad to hear your positive news!

Sending hugs @MrsAW2018. Hope this is a better week.

@Jessikka I’m living my life pretty normally. I’m not a big drinker, and don’t drink tea or coffee anyway. I don’t think there’s much I do that would be high risk, but I haven’t thought about it too much. I’m trying to just take this all a stage at a time, I guess.

@FivexFive Thank you so much...that's really helpful. I remember reading now about the static smiley staying for 48 hours. If i reach my static smiley and haven't used all my sticks can I use the remainder next month (hopefully i won't need too and I'll get a BFP but I'm being realistic) or once you've had a static do you need to buy a new test reader set?

Can't believe it's work again tomorrow. Where do the weekends go? Wish the tww went as fast.