TTC First Baby Thread 23

@Kiza Yep it’s really unusual but I’ve done 5 tests and all are negative. I’ve mixed between the FRER ones and the Clear Blue Digital just to see if it was the brand. I think I’ll retest I another couple of days and if still negative and no AF, I’ll book a GP appointment.
Also, I agree that booking in things to look forward to is a good idea for your mental health. TTC is very all-consuming but it’s good to try and enjoy life outside of that too. Easier said than done when you’re in this cycle though, I do realise that. But sounds positive that you have some events to look forward to!

@Kiza fortunately I'm back to normal today, i just never used to get so annoyed if we were ill. I'm working full time, doing an OU degree "full time" and doing physio half an hour a day for my knee at the moment whilst ttc so i know i should probably be kinder to my body rather than getting annoyed at it.

Do what's best for your mental health, sounds like doing something for yourself could be a great idea.

@Dippytique wow 10 days late? Is that unusual for you? Do you think it's worth going to the GP for a blood test to for pregnancy or are you going to hold out?

@1990shopefulftm I completely get that too! So frustrating as you see it as a wasted opportunity.

I've woken up in a really weird headspace today, thinking I'm tired of TTC and my life for the last 18 months revolving around it, popping pills, no alcohol, tests, focussed DTD, poas, anxious TWW. I feel like giving up and just going back to living my life and doing what I want until the IVF referral. I've already booked a festival for the summer and a gig in Autumn as a way of focusing on me/us and my life rather than desperately TTC

@Lottiepink Sorry to hear about the results. From close friend’s experience, IVF is brilliant and hopefully the next steps will be successful for you.

I’m now 10 days late. Have sore boobs & cramps so all the symptoms of AF. Still some really weird cramping in my right side- feels like ovulation pain. I’m avoiding doing yet another test though as they’re always negative and make me feel hopeful for a split second and then down again. I haven’t tested since Friday as I wanted to give it time to see if any signs of AF develop. May give it another 2 days to see if it arrives before testing again. It’s so frustrating- I just want it here to I can move on and start tracking properly.

Feeling very nauseous tonight, definitely not a pg symptom as I'm only on cd8 but in way too bad a state to DTD and I know its irrational but I m finding it difficult not to be annoyed with my body for being ill when TTC.

I didn't eat too healthily the past couple of days so fingers crossed it's just due to that.

Hi @ToCaden thanks so much for your detailed response. We've met with a consultant and to dates all results have come back fine for me (waiting on TV scan and Hycosy) but I strongly believe they will be fine also and she has said next step is IVF before I turn 40 in Oct.
I just want to try something before such an invasive treatment as IVF and we only get 1 round free and can't afford it privately.
She said she wouldn't give me Clomid as I ovulate (according to the day21 test) and my 18 month tracking of opks/ cervical mucus.
Just feel at a loss as to where to go next with limited funds. Our diet and lifestyle is perfect and she said we are doing everything right.

@Lottiepink sorry about your husbands results, but as someone else said at least you know the issues so you can work toward the next step.

I realise you and your husband are nowhere near this stage yet, and hopefully never will be, but if you guys find you are unable to get a pregnancy through his sperm I had an acquaintance who was in that situation and came up with an interesting solution.

They went for a sperm donor, but she put all the choices as to which sperm donor on him. He browsed through all the profiles and being the one who had the say as to which one to use helped empower him (as finding out you're unable to get your partner pregnant can be really disempowering). It helped him feel a real ownership over the sperm he chose.

He ended up choosing someone who had the same physical characteristics as himself and someone whose personality he felt he clicked with.

He went from being very despondent and disempowered when getting the bad results, to having complete confidence and utter love throughout the pregnancy and now toward the child.

I forget his exact words, but he said something along the lines of feeling like it was his sperm as he was in total control over choosing it and there throughout insemination, etc, so ended up feeling just like he'd done his 'job' as a husband and aside from the process involved no different to if it were actually his genetic material compared to one he picked out and gave to his partner.

@Kiza It really depends on what issues might be affecting you not conceiving yet. Which is really difficult if you don't know what issues (if any) you might have.

Clomid stimulates follicle growth which in turn stimulates ovulation. It is used in some cases where the problem is something different than not ovulating. For example if your follicles run on the smaller size it might help by plumping them up.

Or simply to increase your changes by producing more eggs (not all will fertilize, and less would implant). This might be used in situations where the womb is more inhospitable and so less would implant, which if you've only got the one egg doing the trek every cycle means you only have the one change, whereas if you have a few (clomid often results in more follicles being ovulated) and a womb where each egg might have a 1 in 5 chance of burrowing in successfully it would help by having a few more rolls of the dice than usual.

I've even seen it used in cases where doc doesn't know what is wrong and is doing it due to above increasing chances of one making it.

There are some conditions where it's very unlikely to help. If for example your issue is your endometrial lining being too thin to sustain a pregnancy producing more or bigger eggs won't help.

Clomid can also decrease your chances. It thickens cervical mucus which makes it more difficult for sperm to reach their destination. Sperm friendly lubricants are said to help with this. Pre-seed is a good one. And sometimes it can even cause eggs to grow too big which again is not good for pregnancy.

And then there's the risks. If you're considering clomid make sure you read up on ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. This is rare but can be fatal so it's important to know the signs just in case.

So it might help, but it might not.

Do you have any doctor input on your issues conceiving?

I've just been researching Clomid for the last hour to use even though I already ovulate. The information is so conflicting! Some Trusts prescribe and some don't? 🤷🏼‍♀️ also in the
I know you can buy it privately also so I'm leaning towards but not sure if it's a good idea...

@orangeloo yeah I agree, so this spotting of mine I think means AF will be on her way near the end of the week. Have you heard/read much about luteal phase defect? I researched it last year when I was getting a lot of spotting but then Accupuncture stopped my spotting, however over the last few months I've noticed my spotting starting again. Just wondered if LPD could be something you could look into for your difficulties?

@Kiza I spotted from 8DPO usually 6dpo so it's better and slightly lighter. Think I will up the cream next cycle.

I'm also cynical about implantation bleeding I'm sure some people have it but I read a doc said the egg implanting is happening on a cellular level so the chance of you getting noticeable spotting from this is doubtful. I think people just have spotting and are pregnant but it's not from implantation.

@ValidUser exciting times! 🤞🏼 hope the timings work out well for you and it doesn't feel too rushed trying to get all the logistics sorted.

@orangeloo Holding out hope for you, I agree that sometimes the NHS tests are rather generic and not enough time is spent investigating individual circumstances. As great as our NHS is, it's underfunded and over strained. Have you had any spotting so far in this cycle or is it looking good in that regard?

@Lottiepink so sorry to hear of the SA results, we are also awaiting his 2nd SA results after the first batch showed 1% morphology despite him doing everything he can to make it good. Is your appointment on Monday with the GP or a fertility consultant?

I've woken up with a sore throat and thick head so wonder if the extreme tiredness is related to that? Also woke up to light spotting (9DPO) so perhaps early AF as I'm due on Friday? I'm cynical about implantation bleeding as I've yet to hear of a woman actually having it! 😆

@Lottiepink I didnt see your message before I posted. Sorry lovely that must be hard news :( the good news about male infertility is that usually IVF works very well as they can select good sperm (in basic terms)

Still really difficult to process though :(

@orangeloo it's so interesting how much we learn in this process. This time last year I didnt even know what progesterone was haha

@Lottiepink sorry about your news that must be hard to take. As hard as it is though it's bringing you a step closer to your baby if it's ivf and icsi you need just remember it's the end goal that matters not how you get there. X

Actually my progesterone has been tested twice and come back fine however I'm sceptical how effective day 21 test is as progesterone needs to be enough for more days at time for implantation and I just got fed up of every gp and gynae saying my spotting won't stop me getting pregnant. If all my other tests are coming back fine it's looking increasingly likely that it could be a problem. I don't know if it is the issue but I thought it was worth a shot and I will now try anything. Going to try it next month too.

@Anny27 I think so yes maybe it wouldn't stop it completely but I definitely think it would delay so I'd rather just get AF out the way so I can move on rather than have longer cycles. I'm glad your feeling more relaxed about this upcoming cycle. TTC definitely takes the fun out and I think it's quite a difficult part of the journey so bear of luck for your more relaxed approach.

Morning everyone:)

Cycle day 7 for me - not DTD yet as been shattered but will get cracking tonight or tomorrow morning haha! Definitley feeling more relaxed about this cycle already and I feel happier not doing OPKs this month.

@orangeloo glad you are back after your little break. And the progesterone cream sounds a good idea tbh - do you have to stop taking it in order for your period to arrive?

@ValidUser not long now then :D

@1990shopefulftm we are cycle buddies - cd7 for me :)

@whatsthecraic91 how was your trip?

@ToCaden sorry that AF arrived :( but yes, can start planning this months now 🤞

@Kiza tiredness sounds a good sign! And yes we are awful for burning ourselves out from too much DTD in fertile week and then none atall in TWW haha. I am hoping because I wknt know that I have ovulated until afterwards (temping) that it will be more relaxed.

@Lozzlepop yep it will be interesting to plan around potential baby! Would you get married pregnant or would prefer to wait till after/ do it before pregnancy?

@Lottiepink I CBA to get back to the whole DTD routine if I am honest haha! Ttc takes the fun out of it a bit which is why I have decided to be less regimented this month in the hope that its less scheduled and purposeful haha. Cd8 for you?

@Dippytique totally, I have become VERY broody this past year haha!

@lozzlepop hope it goes well when the time comes 🤞🏻Hope you're having a great time in London!

@orangeloo did you get told you had low progesterone from your bloods, sorry if you've already explained this. Just interested about the cream 😊

@ToCaden sorry af arrived 😕

@ValidUser that's great that you have a rough date in place, bet it's nice to have your mind at ease a little 🤞🏻

@whatsthecraic91 did you ring for your DH sperm results?

We got ours back Thursday, the GP actually got them the same day, but didn't ring, I rang and asked for a call back!
They weren't good. Ph was now in normal range, motility was normal (was last time) sperm count was low previously at only 5, it's now dropped to 2, and morphology was low last time at 2% but now it's 0%

Been a crap few days, DH took it really hard at first, we have an app on Monday and I think we will be told that we won't conceive naturally. On googling, it says ICSI or IVF possibly can work. Hopefully we will get more info on Monday 😭😭

@ValidUser that's great you have a timescale planned. Must feel so good to have a clear plan.

@kiza AF is due Wednesday but might be delayed cos of the progesterone. I will test day before to see if i should drop taking it. Although I've already had a bfn on a FRER so I think that's quite conclusive 🙁. These days are the worst, all the time I have hope I'm okay but in the bfn and first AF day it's just so shit. And to top it all off I feel quite poorly today. FX for you it would be great to get a BFP naturally when you tried for so long.

on CD8 so think I should probably start with the OPk's again tomorrow. been a busy week at work but got a good rota with mostly early shifts for the next couple of weeks which should be good for DTD.

@Kiza hope being so busy keeps your mind off the wait at least, and that you get some wonderful sleep this weekend. I find the two week wait one of the most difficult times because I just want to test already.

AF has me. Relieved as now I get to calculate next attempt.

@orangeloo no problem, I just think we do what we feel like we have to do. I'm currently on the TWW on cycle 17 and feel like I've exhausted all my options of everything we are doing so just have to try and remain hopeful that one month it's going to be our turn 🤞🏼when is AF due for you?

@ToCaden I know the feeling well! When it gets to that point where you just want to know one way or the other!
Currently 8dpo and soooo tired but think it's more to do with compressing 5 day's into 4 at work and then travelling to Nottingham to see family.
Hope so catch up sleep this weekend sorts me out!

Hello guys. Just waiting around here for AF to turn up. Did have a slight temp drop this morning, but also no hints of cramping since Wednesday. Feel like my body is playing around with me as usually my luteal phase doesn't go past 12 days. Tapping my feet impatiently as can't schedule next try until it's arrived.

@Lozzlepop I'm using a private donor. Lovely guy, but need to travel up to London each time which is around 4 to 5 hours from my place to the hotel using bus and underground. Since I only get one shot I need to get the timing right which I managed to do so well last time which is why I'm so disappointed. Even got a picture perfect implantation dip at 5dpo so guessing the bean tried to implant but wasn't successful.

@Lozzlepop my friend said hsg is painful- I'm not bothered about the actual procedure being painful but I think if I'm gonna be uncomfortable afterwards I will take the day off work.

Hey @kiza I don't have a date for dyetest yet, I hope I dont have to wait too long. Thanks to the cream I needed to hear that and may actually up the dose next month if no joy this month so FX for us both.

Had a tiny bit of spotting yesterday and today though so guess I spoke too soon 🙄.