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Conception

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TTC after baby loss / stillbirth

335 replies

ReeRi · 25/09/2019 15:07

I’m mid-thirties. My first child was stillborn at full term early this year. My second pregnancy, around 6 months later, ended in early miscarriage.

I’m now on CD21 and about 5DPO.

Anyone else?

I find some of the TTC boards hard to relate to as they’re either those who have never suffered a loss or those who have had early losses / RMC or general fertility issues. I am not trying to compare losses. Any loss is difficult but I know for me my miscarriage at 5 weeks did not even register compared to losing a baby at full term. It was disappointing but more so because I wanted to be pregnant and wasn’t any more.

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lunamoon1 · 15/10/2019 23:51

@ReeRi I'm so glad to hear that, through these awful times our partners really are our biggest supports, and vice versa, but bumps along the road are inevitable. That's good! No flashing for me yet, fingers crossed in the next few days. Seeing that empty circle is a bit frustrating! I expected a bit of a wait tho.

🕯🕯🕯 I thought of all the little ones in heaven tonight along with our son whilst lighting a candle, it's such a touching tribute and I'm so glad it's being more openly spoken about now than ever before.

Sending love!

ReeRi · 15/10/2019 20:42

🕯🕯🕯

@lunamoon1 Thank you. We feel a lot better now and have managed to dtd. I am on my third day of flashing smileys. Have you got your smiley yet? I hope you get some comfort and joy of being around your niece. I am surprised sometimes how wonderful I find being around babies and small children when I sometimes expect it to be painful

Hope everyone else is ok tonight

I am touched by the number of people who have sent me pictures of candles they have lit for our babies tonight ❤️

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lunamoon1 · 13/10/2019 22:00

@Pandora71 fingers crossed for you!

@OhTheRoses thank you for sharing your story with us, no matter how much time has passed we will never move on or forget about our little ones.

@ReeRi I'm sorry to hear everything is a bit all over the place at the moment, it's hard enough dealing with all of this never mind not getting along with DH & having unsupportive friends, there really is no excuse for that! I know some people struggle with what to say but even just to say anything is better than nothing. I hope you have other, more comforting friends who can be there for you! It sucks does it, it feels like the everyone else's world moves on and we are just left behind.

I had a lovely weekend with family which is what I really needed. My SIL had her baby and it was so nice to meet her. We are quite a close family so I'll be seeing a lot of her. It's hard as now we can see exactly what we are missing, but at the same time it's lovely to have her. I'm starting OPK testing tomorrow with the clearblue advanced, hopefully won't be too long until we get that static smiley! I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend.

ReeRi · 12/10/2019 16:45

While at the Sands stand I saw a friend who had been strange recently. I may have mentioned a friend who I’d been trying to make plans with but was being a bit non-committal (I think that’s just how she is). Anyway I ended up saying shall we just leave if she’s busy but I’ve been having a tough time and had just wanted to do something fun. I mentioned twice I’ve been feeling down and don’t normally talk about any of it to her. No acknowledgement. I saw her near the stand and said hi. She looked at me like she wished she hadn’t seen me and said she had to go. I could see she was in a rush but she still could have said hi in a friendly way or send a text from the train to say sorry to dash off but she had to get the train (which is what I probably would have done).

I hate people this week!

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ReeRi · 12/10/2019 16:14

@lunamoon1 I’ve been back at work since end of August. DH is really annoying me. At this rate I don’t know if we’ll even get around to doing the BD while I’m fertile which stresses me out more! As in it bothers me more that we’re arguing as I feel like I might miss my chance this month as a result.

@Pandora71 It’s understandable if you’re crying a lot, or even if you’re not. I’m struggling at the moment but I feel more up or down at different times. I definitely feel worse when at odds with DH. I don’t know how to make things better. He’s not very good at communicating with me generally and I’m not great when I’m as emotional as I now so it’s hard not to bump heads but then I feel double worse as I need his support and don’t have it.

My friend was weird. I don’t know her super well. I met her at a Sands meeting after we lost our babies in Jan and Feb and have seen her 2-3 times after that but she seems very nice. She obviously was itching to tell me. She laughed when I said it and can’t have meant it but she laughed and it was so weird! She didn’t say she was sorry or anything. She then just asked if we were TTC so I said yes and then asked her and she just gave me a cheesy grin! And then said she pregnant and proceeded to tell me she’s feeling sick and about how she doesn’t want to do all the stuff she did last time but it was a bit much and a weird way to tell me in my opinion.

Thanks for your post @OhTheRoses I am sorry for the loss of your son. I was out trying to raise awareness for baby loss awareness week this week and one woman came over and said it had been 26 years for her. So heartbreaking. I bet she knows how long it has been to the day even now.

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OhTheRoses · 12/10/2019 10:27

I do understand. Pg 1, 17 weeks failure of placenta, DS1 36 weeks - all fine, Pg 12 weeks, DS2 27 weeks and he died within a few hours of birth - 20 week scan had identified significant heart problems, Pg after first period and list v early, gynae problems arose and gynaecigist established minor infection had prevailed and to cease trying until all resolved. Got pg by mistake (we had a mind blowing row over whether to try again and then made up). DD was born 51 weeks after DS2 died.

I completely understand the stress and desperation and anxiety over waiting for af, being able to try again when she comes, the desperation to be pg and the terror of what might happen when one is pg. Of the feeling different, of the putting on a brave face at christenings, and crying silently on the phone as a friend gently tells you they are expecting, and at thecsame time enacting a tinkly little laugh and delight for them, of crying oneself to sleep and reliving bad news.

I think of DS every day, he'd be my slightly darker boy, the quieter one with a bit more empathy who probably would have given up sport for music, rather than music for sport like his big brother. He'd have done the rites now of Reading, Malia, a gap year and brought home his first girl friend. But he didn't, he was ill and died soon after birth. He would be 22 now and I still think of him every day but I promise you with all my heart it eventually stops hurting.

Sometimes I look at the two children I have and if the losses hadn't happened, I'd have different children and that becomes another albeit unimaginable complexity.

I am glad there are fora nowadays, I am glad you all have each other and shared experiences and can provide each other comfort. I remember some very dark days, in fact I have voids when I was pg with dd such was my despair.

I wish you weren't hurting so much.
Flowers

Pandora71 · 12/10/2019 10:05

@ReeRi she laughed? Hopefully a nervous-don’t-know-what-to-day laugh at least? Try to put it past you and have a bit of distance from her until you are (if you are) ready to deal with her.

Is there anything you can do to reconnect with DH? Me and my DH have been on a few date nights recently doing things we used to do when we were in our twenties - we felt like “us” again and it felt nice. We are also talking a lot about our lost DD and trying to stay on the same page roughly by sharing how we are feeling. What is making you feel distance from DH?

I’m kinda ok. I’m in the 2ww without knowing exactly when I ovulated on my stupid long cycles. Still cry nearly every day. I’ve got a couple more months till I go back to work.

lunamoon1 · 12/10/2019 10:00

Hi @ReeRi , I'm so sorry to hear about your friend being dismissive about your miscarriage, I can't imagine anyone ever thinking it's something to laugh about & even more so when you have experienced a loss the same! It's fair to say just because you'd had a similar experience to someone doesn't always mean they will 'get it' which is sad! I hope it doesn't get you down too much. How long have you been back at work? It's the furthest thing from my mind much at the moment but know it will be upon be before I know it (some time next year). Like you said tho, good distraction, just remember to take the time you need on the days you need it, grief is a strange thing!

I hope your DH starts to feel a little better soon, it's a hard ride for them too as they can be a little pushed to the side after loss by others, as everyone thinks about the mothers straight away. Maybe a little chat with a glass of wine or something might get him to open up a bit.

I'm CD 7 so just behind you, we can agonise in the TWW together!

ReeRi · 12/10/2019 08:37

How is everyone doing?

I am still struggling. A friend who lost her baby around the same time as us told me yesterday she is pregnant and I’m happy for her as she knows a loss like ours and deserves some joy but she laughed when I said I’d had a miscarriage and then told me she was pregnant. And then went on to tell me every fear she has and worry about antenatal classes etc. It was a bit much as it was out of the blue and I don’t think I could really be sympathetic although I can understand.

I’m stressed with work but it’s a good distraction.

I am not getting on great with DH. We seem to be at odds. That is the worst bit.

I’m on CD9 so expect I should be in my fertile period soon.

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ReeRi · 09/10/2019 10:01

@lunamoon1 It is. It helps to have other things to focus on whether work or whatever planning fun things but I am feeling a bit rubbish tbh.

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lunamoon1 · 08/10/2019 08:48

@ReeRi no, for sure it is AF, but ready to face this new opportunity and hoping for the best! That's good, it's hard not to wish your life away during this journey isn't it.

ReeRi · 07/10/2019 13:49

I hope you have a nice time at the party @Pandora71 It is difficult always feeling someone is missing.

@lunamoon1 That’s rubbish if it is AF (any chance it is implantation??) but on the plus means a new cycle and another chance. I’m coming to the end of AF now so thinking about fertile week.

I’m ok thanks, bit tired. Hope everyone else is ok xx

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lunamoon1 · 07/10/2019 11:02

Also having a down day. AF arrived out of nowhere yesterday, after my positive OPK's and temp rises I was a bit shocked, but I guess my body had a different plan. Trying not to dwell on it tho and looking to this as my body 'resetting itself', I hope!

Hope you are feeling better today @ReeRi

@Pandora71 I hope the party isn't too tough to you, well done for getting out and being part of it, very brave!

Pandora71 · 07/10/2019 07:45

Hey. I’m off out to a family birthday party today. Always without my DD.

Somehow also trying to dtt. My poor brain...

ReeRi · 06/10/2019 11:21

@lunamoon1 Oh that’s tough. I’m having a little bit of a down morning. Just feeling a bit sad about little one but I’m sure I’ll be ok when I get up and do something.

It’s a nice day today anyway.

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lunamoon1 · 05/10/2019 08:31

@ReeRi it's horrible how long it's dragged out for it seems! Doing okay thank you, my SIL is due this coming week so that's playing on my mind a bit, it's hard to come to terms with but trying not to think too far ahead! Easier said than done mind you.. apart from that just trying to relax as much as possible

ReeRi · 04/10/2019 14:34

I’m still hormonal but spotting do AF is definitely on the way - worst of both! It’s Friday though!

How is everyone else?

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lunamoon1 · 04/10/2019 10:17

@ReeRi thank you, they stayed up this morning but not by much, hopefully tomorrow it will shift upwards a bit more.

How is everyone doing?

ReeRi · 04/10/2019 06:38

Fingers crossed for you @lunamoon1 🤞

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lunamoon1 · 03/10/2019 08:39

@ReeRi sounds very productive, also had a house clean yesterday, always feels good after! got a temp rise this morning I think so here's hoping it continues🤞🏼

ReeRi · 02/10/2019 18:32

@lunamoon1 Yeah see how it goes. I have had a good day thanks. I have worked a bit but I’ve also been to Zumba this morning and I’ve given the house a good clean which makes me happy 😬

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lunamoon1 · 02/10/2019 17:23

@ReeRi Its okay, I find it's more of a headache that a help, going to see if it helps this 'cycle' (if I can even call it that), but will probs not carry it on much longer if I just keep getting a plateau of temps... I didn't use it when we were last TTC so don't know why I started this time round! Did you enjoy your day off?

@Tazzle2007 hopefully you see a darker line in a few days!🤞🏼

ReeRi · 02/10/2019 17:16

Thanks @Tazzle2007 If only! Well I’m assuming it’s AF and if it isn’t then that’s a bonus. If PMT does disappear today then it probably is AF... x

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Tazzle2007 · 02/10/2019 17:10

Don’t lose hope yet! Spotting can be implantation! After that hcg takes 2-3 days to show in a test! I didn’t even know I was pregnant with my daisy as I had a full period at 4 weeks pregnant xx

ReeRi · 02/10/2019 17:09

@Pandora71 Well I have been to the bathroom recently and a hint of spotting so think that will be AF. At this point I’m relieved the PMT will be gone soon

@lunamoon1 How do you find temping? I found it such a faff having to do it at the same time and before you move around much etc...

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