TTC baby #1 Threat #2

Hi ladies, so this month my period was 3 days late, I didn't have the familiar painful cramps this month only small cramps that didn't last long at al bear in mind that I usually have heavy and painful periods thus month my period only lasted 3 days and was Brown all the way through. It's not stopped completely, well it stopped yesterday and started Friday afternoon. Having negative pregnancy tests so I'm not sure what's happening x

Hi all! I’m keeping well, struggling with work motivation a bit as into week two of wfh, but overall getting used to this weird new normal. Appreciating not having a commute so doing more exercise than normal - and my work is amazing and putting on free exercise classes every day with a different instructor, so that’s been fun. Getting used to living with my parents again too!

Had a group zoom call on the weekend with girls from university, and had yet another pregnancy announcement. There’s two in that group due in August and September, which is a bit upsetting as we started TTC in October so we would have been due then if it had worked in first few months. Someone asked how long it took them to conceive and I’m so glad they did - one was first month () but the other took 7-8 months so that made me feel better. I’ve also got a friend due in two weeks whose parents won’t even be able to visit so feeling very sorry for her, especially as she lives abroad. Her DH is on paid leave for months though so at least she’ll have him there full time.

We’re still TTC as I’m starting to worry something is wrong so can’t face taking time off. It’s not very romantic in my parents house though... having to be quiet and worrying the mattress is squeaking...

Hi @CurbsideProphet 👋 and everyone. I'm feeling stressed too. We've decided to stop TTC for the time being as being at work is important for me at the moment (NHS, patient facing role) and the uncertainty is too much to deal with. However not sure if we 'stopped' in time this cycle - we DTD a few times before I was supposed to ovulate as hadn't decided to stop then. AF due this weekend so will have to wait and see. This is all so difficult and in some ways I'm glad to park the TTC fiasco and focus on work. But it makes me sad we are going to have to wait longer than it is already taking.

How are you all? Hope you are keeping well and safe. Difficult times all round at the moment. I'm keeping going running regularly and have found some good 15 minutes yoga videos online which I'm trying to get into. My mum is loving PE with Joe 😂

How is everyone getting on?
Life just feels so stressful

@camha perhaps you ovulate much later than you thought and have been missing the window, so to speak?

I'm sorry about AF @notalwaysalondoner ☹️ It's such strange times I don't know when we'll be back to normal.

We've only had 4 cycles of trying at the right time. 1 definite chemical pregnancy and 1 possible. I'm 35 at the end of the year, but my ccg don't fund ivf anyway. My DH is in the NHS (not clinical) and thinks gynae clinics are still going ahead (mostly by phone), so I would still get referred if I have another chemical.

That sounds like you might have some useful information @camha - maybe you missed the window previously as it was later than you thought?

AF started last night, only 22 day cycle. Was very upset as hadn’t really started thinking about it yet this month... and last month was 30 days. We only DTD every 2-4 days due to jet lag, travel etc so didn’t have high hopes but I thought maybe being distracted by everything going on might help.

I’m also worried that if this goes on we won’t be able to get access to ivf etc. All clinics are putting new cases on hold which means there will be a massive backlog once everything starts again. I know it’s only been six months TTC for us but it’s been 8 cycles pretty actively trying to DTD in the right window etc and I would have done some private tests this month but now the clinics aren’t taking new cases. Oh well, let’s hope it happens naturally before we need that...

@CurbsideProphet I can understand how stressful that must be, especially if your DH is stressed too. Keep dettol-ing everything though, hopefully it'll do the trick 🤞🏼

As mentioned before I've been doing the ClaireBlue OPKs this month. I finally got my static smiley yesterday, on CD17. So likely to ovulate today/tomorrow (I think??), CD18/19... This has made me quite worried that I might have a short luteal phase. Looking at previous cycles, if I ovulated on CD18, my luteal phase has been between 7 and 13 days. They say anything under 10 is considered short...

I've also always thought I knew when I ovulated as I get pains on one side, normally over 1, sometimes 2, days. This cycle I got them on cd14, 16 and 17 🤔 so across 4 days. So now I'm very confused.

That being said, if I've ovulated later than I thought it might explain why I haven't had a BFP yet 🤷🏽‍♀️

@notalwaysalondoner I also did a test at day 28 and regretted it too 😬

I'm incredibly stressed at the moment. We had to go ahead with our bathroom renovation / replacement and DH keeps freaking out that we're going to get CV from the plumbers. There are only 2 of them and they're upstairs while we're working in the kitchen. We're all keeping away from each other and I've been dettol-in everything in sight. Fucking stressful. We need to just get through it now 😬

@Maddy0405 I’d also wait - really regretted testing at cd28 last month even though that’s a day longer than my longest cycle for more than a year, getting a bfn is so depressing.

All mad, isn’t it?! We’re still roughly DTD every 2-3 days, no idea if we caught it this month, although I’m a bit moody and have sore boobs which often starts one week before af. But maybe the moods are from moving back in with my parents!!! I’d love to see their faces if we got a BFP during quarantine! Not sure if they’d be thrilled or tell us we’re being highly irresponsible trying TTC at this time!

@Maddy0405 I would wait if you've had long cycles previously, just to save the disappointment if you've tested too soon.

@MGee123 sounds like your cycle is more settled now, so 🤞🏻🤞🏻 this is your month. I think things like iron and vit D deficiencies are v common, but we wouldn't know what impact that's having on our bodies.

@MGee123 no idea when/if I’ve ovulated!!

I’m going back to work tomorrow. It’s going to be manic so I think that’ll take my mind off it all.

Hello ladies. @CurbsideProphet I'm confident we'll either be pregnant or have babies by this time next year 🤞😊

@Maddy0405 that must be really hard having such variable cycles, and hard to know when to test. Do you know when you ovulated?

I'm on CD13 and my cycle seems a bit clearer this month. I've got more CM and clear EWCM today. I'm wondering if the iron tablets have given my system a good kick. Feeling a little more optimistic. we're going to DTD daily for the next couple of days and hope for the best 🤞

I hear ya but I don’t know that I will be able to hold out for 2 weeks 😂

@curbsideprophet how are you feeling? As if periods aren’t awful enough you don’t need to be dealing with horrible clots and extra pain!!

Mother’s Day is a tough one when you’re so focused on becoming a mother isn’t it!!

AF not arrived for me yet. Thought it would come today but nothing. DH has tried to advise me not to test for a couple of weeks 🤔 where do they get these strange ideas from?!

How is everyone today?

I'm sorry for TMI but AF has been very painful and yesterday I passed quite an unusual clot. Not like a normal period. Luckily the bleeding has calmed down now.

DH told me that he's confident we will have had a baby by mother's day next year. It's a weird time, as there's a pandemic and yet my brain is still fixated on wanting a baby 😬

@MGee123 not sure if I’m late though that’s the thing. Since I’ve come off the pill most of my cycles have been around 36-38 days which would make me due on this weekend but over the last couple of cycles I’ve had a 56 day cycle and a 42 day cycle. I’m in self isolation and don’t have any tests at home so if I’ve had no period by the time I’m allowed out again I’ll get one 😂 I highly doubt I’m pregnant as I don’t think we dtd enough this month 🤷🏼‍♀️

I can’t wait to feel well again and be able to leave my house! I’m going stir crazy 😭

@camha hope you're husband stays well. It is such a worry. The financial impact must also be very stressful.

I've never used the clear blue tests so am not sure what to advise, sorry 🙈

Hello ladies.

So sorry about your trip @notalwaysalondoner - difficult times all round. Glad you're home safe.

@Maddy0405 have you taken a pregnancy test if you're late?

@CurbsideProphet that's how I felt about my low iron. Clutching at straws really but maybe it will make a difference 🤷‍♀️🤞

We are also too desperate for this to happen to stop. I feel I am being irresponsible as I work in the NHS, but everything I have read (a lot) suggests there isn't really any risk to pregnant women. I think it highly unlikely we'll conceive this month anyway (not enough DTD due to work). I've basically talked myself into it and we're just going to keep on.

I'm heading to the shops shortly to see if we can get hold of some of the basics and some fresh stuff. It's madness here too!

@Maddy0405 luckily I'm now working from home full time, so I've not had the worry about what to do. DH and I have agreed that he'll pick up a few bits tomorrow while I stay home to monitor my phlegmy cough throat clearing!

Our bodies are such tricky things. I imagine all you can do is monitor the cramps and see what happens.

I had a text from my GP to say they received my blood test results and have issued a prescription for vitamin D. I've been low before so I'm not really surprised. There's a bit online about how low vit D can increase the risk of early miscarriage, so I'm hoping that my levels will be boosted for my next cycle. Clutching at straws really. AF is kicking in and the cramps are intensely painful, more like my chemical pregnancy at new year. I don't know what to think really. A weekend on the sofa with the telly for me 🍫

@CurbsideProphet totally agree - some days this week I have felt really quite well and would normally go to work but really don’t want to risk it. Imagine if it WAS corona and you infected a whole load of your team!

Agree with all of you ladies, selfish or not, we also want it too much to take a break from TTC.

I thought AF was definitely on the way but nothing yet... just seem to have having on and off cramps and pains inside (my cervix maybe?!) weird.

Hello all 👋🏻

I've got cramps and AF is likely to start any minute. Day 28, so it is late for me to only be starting. But here we are. DH and I have agreed to keep trying through all this. He is NHS (not clinical) and at his trust all out patient clinics are going ahead as normal (with precautions). @camha we also both want a baby too much to stop now, especially when there would be no way of knowing when we could start again.

Gosh @notalwaysalondoner that was an abrupt end to your trip. I think you made the right decision. There are Brits stuck all over the world now unable to get on a flight and no idea how long they will be away from home.

I've been feeling very anxious this morning. I feel a bit congested and like I'm starting with a snotty cold and cough. DH is adament that I don't have a dry cough - (sorry TMI I have a lot of catarrh stuck in my throat). In normal times I wouldn't be worried at all and would just be annoyed, but these aren't really normal times 😬

I'm self isolating as well, as you @CurbsideProphet I work from home most of the time anyway, so business as usual.

My husband has underlying medical conditions and is immunosuppressed, so obviously a worrying time. He's also a supply teacher and now out of work as schools are closing, so money is a worry too. Trying to work out what benefits he can claim, but because I have quite a good salary it doesn't look like we'll get much, which is frustrating as we'll struggle massively with rent and bills and just being able to afford food...

We're still TTC though, even though we should probably take a break... I just want it too much, so, selfishly probably, don't want to take a break. I've also been doing the ClaireBlue smiley OPKs this month and I keep getting blank circles even though the app is telling me I should ovulate tomorrow. Should I be worried??

So sorry your holiday was cut short @notalwaysalondoner - it's such crazy times, isn't it...