The Turkey Baster Gang (gobble gobble)

Hello all and thanks so much for the well wishes. It is all very new - only did the test yesterday and it said 2-3 wks from conception so it’s about 5 weeks since last period. Super super early days but trying to relax and hope it sticks. Contacted the doctor this morning to see what next.

Re the method, we SI’d the most that we’d ever tried before! 4 times which is like loads for us. I didn’t do any OPKs this time, because Ive been using them for all of 2020 and wanted a break! So we just started SI from cd7/8 every 2 days. I tried to feel my cervix in the shower and *think it felt softer the last day we tried but not 100%. Tried to do one more SI the night I thought I was ovulating but we couldn’t manage it. Tried to take temps as well but put the thermometer away after the last try. We used a cup and a flat syringe. I put a bit of preseed inside me then waited a bit for the spermies to liquify then did the syringe. I think I left the syringe inside for about 25 mins with my legs up and like 3 pillows under my hips while watching bit of tv! I preferred squeezing syringe slowish and then leaving syringe in there for a while as the times that I took it out immediately I found loads of leakage which freaked me out!

For the softcup - I put a bit of preseed on the edge so it would help going in, squeezed the sides and popped it in. Kinda going diagonally upwards towards bum? I got everything ready around me and did everything lying down! I don’t really know if it was in the right place but it was behind the bone so I’m guessing it was. I tried to O after I put the cup in but can’t remember if I did everytime. I left the cup in all night - not saying that this helps, it’s just me being lazy and just wanting to sleep! Then had multiple accidents getting it out the next morning... maybe tmi but still a lot of liquid the next day... I found the softcups much better than the fertillilly cup that I was using because i found it hard to push the fertililly up there if you know what I mean! Hope that helps everyone. Sorry for the essay x

@primrosechill Have a look at this re: baths

www.romper.com/pregnancy/can-you-take-a-bath-when-youre-trying-to-conceive-science-weighs-in-76130

Unless you are using boiling water, you should be fine!

All this talk of things going “in but not up” is freaking me out 😂 I really should give a cup a go at some point - surely if my vaginismus allows me to get a syringe in, it should be okay with a cup too? 🤔

Quick question: I love a bath but always wonder if I should avoid during the fertile week. I will expose my ignorance here but is there any chance it can genuinely harm my chances? Thoughts? xx

🤣 I'm not doing it THAT incorrectly.
It definitely isn't going to work for me 🤔 I can get it "in" but not into a position where it holds its place and I can feel it from the entrance. I'm giving up for now until I've ovulated and I'll play with it a bit more after that. 😊 Thanks so much ladies for your advice and patience!! Very much appreciated even if I have failed lol

@Lori23TTC I was about to say, you ain't getting pregnant if you're tucking it under the tailbone, that's the wrong entrance! 🍑🤣😂🤣

Public bone not tailbone haha don’t try and put it behind the tailbone 🤣

@MrsKin90 it’s only because I have been using the soft discs this month and it’s the same motion. I have to do it really slowly tho and need to either be on your AF or use lube, don’t think I would get it up there otherwise. I find it easiest on the loo - not sure how to explain but really push your tailbone down as if your sticking your boobs out and that’s the best position for me personally 🤣 and kind of wiggle it in very slowly - once it’s mostly in I have to push quite hard to get it fully in and behind the tailbone. Keep trying with it and maybe try it lying down see if that helps as you will be more relaxed. X

It won't go any further 😂 I managed to get it all the way 'in' so none was poking out of me but literally no room to push it "up" to go behind the pubic bone 🤨

@MrsKin90 Had a proper laugh at your sketch! 😂 What exactly happens when you try to push it in? Does it 'hit a wall' halfway through, is it painful?
Mine arrived today too, it's very similar to the soft discs, went in and out without issues. About to SI for the first time this cycle, it's CD8 so stakes are pretty low and it's an opportunity to put the ziggy in action!

@Lori23TTC I can't believe you've found it so easy. I have tried four times today. 🤔 Ahhh. I'll be gutted for the waste of money if I can't get it to work. It's such a pretty colour but hardly the thing people buy second hand...

Sorry to have put you off @Makingnumber2!! I'm sure I'm probably an anomaly as use a menstrual cup usually I'm just used to something easier 😊

Oh yes @bigsweetpotato would be lovely to know how far along you are and hear all about the process you went through! Did you keep your feet warm in the tww and how much pineapple core did one eat?! 😁

Congratulations @bigsweetpotato amazing news!! So happy to read this today. Xx

@bigsweetpotato Congrats to you, so exciting to hear good news on the thread

Thanks @eloiseislost that is really helpful I didn't know that about the contact with air etc.

@bigsweetpotato Huge congratulations, I'm so happy for you!! Just the news we all needed, most of all you of course! 😄❤️❤️❤️ Wishing you a healthy 9 months and a beautiful, healthy baby at the end! 💝

@Makingnumber2 DH deposits directly into the disc and I try to get it in in less than 30 seconds. Sperm tends to weaken and die when it comes into contact with air and the more you handle it, the more swimmers kick the bucket, which is why I decided to go with soft discs -to make it as direct as possible. Having said all that, it only takes 1 sperm and your mileage will vary depending on sperm count, morphology etc. So don't panic if soft discs don't work for you or your DH. 😉

@bigsweetpotato BIG congratulations! This is wonderful news and I hope it's a sticky one and that you have a happy and healthy 9 months Please can you share your frequency of SI during fertile week? And also method of SI - syringes, cup/disc, or syringe then cup in after to keep in place??

@ComebackQueen so pleased the practice manager was kind and helpful and listened fully to what you were telling her. I hope now you have found out what the issue was with the referral and what things look like going forward you at least have managed expectations of what's next and what's to come.

@MrsKin90 your google image cracked me up! A career in graphic design calling perhaps?! It's also given me the fear even more about the ziggy cup though and I've chickened out and am now looking at more of a moon cup design/soft discs.

@eloiseislost I know you use the soft discs and sorry because you've probably said this before on the thread, but does your husband deposit direct onto the disc or do you transfer from a cup to the disc? And if you go cup to disc do you just tip it out or syringe it out??
Sorry so many questions!

@MrsKin90 so I tried the Ziggy cup as it arrived today - I inserted it like I would the soft disc and no problems at all! Went in first go... its pretty much the same size as the soft disc which I was so happy about when I saw as I was expecting a monster of a thing from your diagram (really made me laugh that post) so see how I go! I think with some practice you will be fine!
@primrosechill good luck with your SI! How lovely to have a lunchtime go lol that’s when I like when my fw falls on the weekend 🤣 good luck! X

@bigsweetpotato that’s AMAZING news, so chuffed for you! How far along are you? (i know you said you tested when AF was 3 days late but wasn’t sure when that was) Love hearing positive stories, congrats 🥰

As seems to be customary nowadays, I’m once again checking in while my legs are up 😂 cheeky lunchtime SI today, at CD9.

@ComebackQueen so glad you got to speak to someone both kind and resourceful - Even if it does seem like a bit of a wait ahead now, at least you know where you stand. Big love.

😱 @bigsweetpotato I'm so so happy for you. Congratulations on your BFP. Will keep everything crossed for you for a lovely sticky bean and a healthy nine months ahead ❤️ that's really lovely news and has properly cheered me up 🥰

@ComebackQueen well done getting in touch with them! I'm glad the manager was helpful and had some clear information on what to expect and what's reasonable for you to do in regards to following up - how would you ever know that if you hadn't asked?! That's crazy. Even though it sounds like a bit of a long wait ahead, hopefully you feel better knowing what to expect going forward?

@bigsweetpotato AHH this is brilliant news!! Congratulations it’s so nice to finally hear some good news!!! Especially doing it this way!! Really happy for you xxx

@ComebackQueen I’m glad you have had more clarity on this now and started the ball rolling - good job you spoke to someone else and they were helpful! I wish everyone was nice all the time would make the plant a lot nicer place to be but hey ho! Hopefully it won’t take a year... xxx

@MrsKin90 mine is getting delivered today so I’ll try it after work 🤣 not sure I’ll get it in as I’ve been told when having my smear that I’m quite small lol but if I succeed then I’m sure you will with some practice xx

Hi ladies

Thank you to all who suggested speaking to my surgery’s practice manager. I explained the situation yesterday and she was lovely and much more sympathetic and kind than the receptionist. I did voice my concerns about how this is impacting my mental health and how I feel like I don’t live a full complete life and obviously the baby is my dream but I desperately want my vaginismus cured.

today I received the call back from her to say they have sent the referral as unfortunately, the doctor referring had started it and went off sick that day and it was assumed the referral was sent but obviously hadn’t as she was unwell and left suddenly.

The practice manager also said I should not wait three months to follow up. There is a massive back log but I should follow up end of January directly with the fertility clinic and get this triaged so at least I join the waiting list.
She said someone from the surgery who was referred in early April 2020 did not follow up and even though the referral was sent unless it’s been triaged to a consultant you won’t get on the official wait list. That person only followed up in September and it was then triaged almost six months after the original referral and that was only for the wait list.

The practice manager said, unofficially, I’m not realistically looking at my first appointment until maybe end of the year. The first appointment also isn’t actually anything to do with IVF per se, she said it’s usually them asking about condition, ordering tests and then when all is collected, a decision will be made if iui/ivf is suitable.

The practice manager was so lovely and helpful.

Also, for anyone who’s surgery is dealing with Covid and long term issues only, it is true that NHS England have directed GP’s not to refer to hospital until further notice. But she said that’s for new conditions, if you’ve been about a condition before and it’s not improving you CAN still make referrals only because all avenues to a GP has been exhausted. But as covid patients will take preference appointments will go to them for obvious reasons.

Hi everyone, sorry i have been awol - I took a break off posting over the holidays. Been catching up on the posts and good to see you're all ok!
I have some good news to share - AF was late by 3 days, we did a test and I finally got a BFP - I literally can't believe it still and I know it's early days so I am trying not to get too excited. But I wanted to share with you guys as we really couldn't have done it without all the amazing advice and support from everyone here. Fingers doubly crossed that it sticks but this method clearly does work! Our last try was only SI. Wishing you all love and good luck baby dust xxxxx

Right, I'm going to wait to see how you get on with the ones you've ordered because for the life of me I've no idea how to get it in. I've tried squatting, leg up, leg up and into a squat and sitting on the toilet. I haven't tried lying down on the bed with my legs akimbo... But think that would make it even harder.

I've added a representation of my Ziggy cup to this stolen-from-google picture for funsies 😂 I've made it realistic to how big I think the cup is in relation to the space available. I always thought I had a bigger than average vagina (😳🤣) and assumed that was adding to the issue of husband not being able to perform. Maybe I have a smaller than typical one and that's the problem?!?

We usually have some intimacy/fondling before we collect the swimmers , and I can imagine it might be easier going in after that, so I'll try again this evening 🤔

Please feel free to interrupt my ramblings dominating the thread with my spacial issues with anything else 😂

@MrsKin90 Angle is everything! For some weird reason I always assumed the vaginal canal was a tube that went straight up (I know, I know, I should know better…) so when I first tried to insert the soft disc, I was trying to push it up -and it wasn't going anywhere! The reason squatting helps is because it brings your vaginal canal parallel to the floor. Remember, you're pushing IN not up! (TMI doesn't exist here indeed 🤣)

Oh for god sake lol! Sorry about the confusion haha.. I wrote a post about you ladies being brave with the soft cups as they terrify me! I just about managed to use the ferti-lily cup and was so fiddly to use!

Easier said than done but try stay calm and relaxed, the minute you tense up it won’t work or fit. Good luck xx

@Sydney1986x I'm not sure what you're correcting?! 😆 Have you posted but it hasn't appeared??

@Bluey18 haha don't worry I had giggle hysterics when I couldn't get it in and made lots of innuendos at my hubby 😁 I've approached the whole SI thing as a bit of an experiment with lots of giggles to try and take the awkwardness away. Some deep breathing before I give the cup another go is a good idea!!

The videos of putting these cups in make it seem so easy, however I do think I was definitely doing an incorrect angled-push 😳😂 what is TMI anyway?!