Anyone been trying for 5 months plus and want to chat?

Hi @8LPS, this thread was actually moved over here (hope this works!)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/4102448-Magic-dust-for-2021-5month-crew-continued

On the hot water bottle question, I’ve wondered about this too as I get quite bad cramps leading up to AF! I read that it’s fine during the TWW and pregnancy, as long that it has a cover/towel around it obviously so it’s not too hot for the skin :)

Hello everyone, I hope everyone is ok and had a good break over the Xmas period?

I just wanted to ask if anyone had any opinions on whether using a hot water bottle on your tummy during a TWW is safe or not..? I usually put it on my tummy cus it’s cosy there lol.. I’ve seen mixed opinions on Google. It’s just soo freezing cold lol and I can’t do without my hot water bottle!

Hope you are all feeling ok, and ready for 2021 being our year! Xx

Oh sorry @Kirby173 I must have mis-read! I feel like all of you are on really similar cycles and I am a few days behind you! Hmm, I mean it could be implantation couldn't it, but then if you are used to a bit of spotting before your period then I guess you know your body by now. Ugh why is it so hard. My method this month has been the BBT charting (take my temp before getting up every morn), and then I am also using the CB OPK kit, It was about £30 which I was not impressed with! So far it has been negative each morning, but I am hoping from tomorrow I will get a flashing smiley (ov due Sunday)... We are planning to DTD every 2 days anyway, so there isn't much else we can do! Are you gunna test or just assume you're out now? I can't help but be a little bit optimistic for you!

@AKcheer I know what you mean, after the disappointment of AF I do get a bit excited about the next cycle! I think threads end after 10 pages, Thanks so much for creating the new one, I will be joining for sure, I feel I am quite invested in your TTC journeys now! Defo ditch the OPK's if they aren't working; I was using cheap strips and they are useless. Only ever got a dark second line when I didn't drink anything for 3 hours before! I just can't do that so I am binning them.

@Molsy Oh nooo - I swear since TTC my periods and hormones have been all over the place, I have never had irregular periods or strange symptoms but the last few months, every month I have struggles with late AF, sickness or fatigue or something odd! I had bad spots last month but haven't noticed oily skin, is that symptom for AF for you? Come on girl don't give up !!

I have a day off work tomorrow so got that Friday feeling! Hope you all have a good day x

Tested yesterday afternoon and was negative and AF started again. My skin is still really oily and breaking out though and I feel like a just want to cry all the time (maybe it was my bad day at work) but just feel like giving up today😭😭😭

Just an update... I’ve had some bleeding so I think I’m out this month. It’s usually a sign of AF looking at what I’ve noted before.

I’m weirdly okay with it like I’m sad but just want to move onto next month really.

Hope you’re all okay. I’m off to look into new ways of measuring ovulation because Premom OPKs clearly aren’t working for me 😩 xx

Morning everyone. I hope you are all feeling okay?

@Lynne425 just seen the news about AF I’m so sorry. You are right though what a way to potentially start the new year eh if you got a BFP!

@AKcheer bless you yeah too right if you to remind him!!! You feeling better today or still down? Yeah if your GP can’t help then getting checked to just make sure you are both okay might be a good idea. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with you it will just be worth every penny for reassurance that everything is okay or flagging if something is wrong I guess. My SIL and partner after years of trying got checked and discovered his sperm count was low because he plays rugby so had been damaged. They went in for IVF and was successful first time 🥰 I agree about the OPK obsession I just can’t stop them I just like to see that positive confirming the LH rise has happened. Wish I could I think it puts more pressure on you when TTC.

@Rose2108 aww hi I am unsure if you’ve tagged me accidentally above but not out just yet but feel I might be by Saturday! (That’s when AF is due for me) I’m 11DPO today so just waiting as long as I can to test now! Just saying to the other ladies I’ve got Prosecco waiting for me if a BFN at a friends house so it won’t be a bad conciliation prize I guess.
With your femometer and CB tests that just sums up how difficult it is to figure out our bodies doesn’t it!!! So frustrating!

@Molsy sorry if I missed an update but how are you getting on?

How is everyone else doing? I’m unsure on what’s going on symptoms of AF that I usually get like tender breasts keeps starting and stopping and I am just trying to ignore everything right now! This feels like the longest cycle ever probably because I havent tested 2DPO onwards or something hahaha 😂🤦🏽‍♀️

@Kirby173 :( I'm so sorry. I know how you feel. Every month comes the feeling of failure and then or worry! I always send him a WhatsApp too as it seems easier to deal with it on our own and then come together. I know we've said it 100 times but you have a 20% chance each cycle which means an 80% chance you won't ... Which sucks but might help reassure you that it's normal to take this long to TTC.

@AKcheer. @Lynne425 - sorry it's not your months either ladies. Must be something in the air for us all! Be kind to yourself and enjoy some prosecco :)

Good for you @Birchybirch and yes please do let us know how you get on!

I really feel like my husband and I will struggle - I'm not sure why - but just get the feeling it won't be any time soon for us. I've told myself we will go to the Drs in March which will be one year of TTC. Weirdly I feel quite content that we have something to work towards and then a plan if all else fails. I'll still only be 31 then.

I've just used one of those CB OPK's, my femometer app says today I am "highly fertile" but on the test it says no way José! A plain boring circle, no smiley in sight. I'm glad I've done these tests, I am starting to think I don't know my cycle at all... and starting to wonder if I've even been ovulating !!

Hoping you all have a good day xx p.s we need to make a new thread this one will end soon I think!! X

Hey All

As expected AF arrived this afternoon!! Gutted as I did think deep down there may have been a small chance but it's obviously not meant to be!!

I'm gonna cuddle up tonight with some comfy pjs and try to focus on myself over Xmas!!

According to Glow my next AF is due 5th January so you never know might be a nice wee start to the year but I'm taking a month off from opks etc as they don't obviously work for me!!

Hope your all doing ok and 🤞🏻🤞🏻 for all still waiting this year xx

@Birchybirch aww bless you I’m glad you are feeling better after submitting. As you say you have got the ball rolling now! Let us know what they say. I got my implant removed early this year because we decided to start trying and the doctors were super helpful even through the pandemic. Their stance was you are fully entitled to start a family and you shouldn’t have to delay that due to current circumstances so I hope they are the same with you and they act quickly!

I didn’t realise they impacted so much to be honest! For now I am happy on these anyway but I’ve had others that have made me feel nauseous before so just grateful they don’t make me want to hurl haha.

Aww @AKcheer I know what you mean when you say you feel like you are a let down but you absolutely are not. It’s not like you are doing this on purpose but I felt exactly the same when I saw that BFN and you do pick up again. You’re probably at your lowest right now especially with hormones from AF. How was your partner after telling him? I hope you are both okay. Fully entitled to feel rubbish though I think every single one of these girls has felt the same at some stage. Cry as much as you want maybe have a glass of something nice tonight too. Maybe reach out to your doctor too as they might be able to offer some general advice?
Also PDG are progesterone tests I think. I don’t know much about them as my tests I buy only measure LH but I’m willing to try anything really.

@JLP256 I hope AF is a no show for you! Please keep us updated. I’m due AF Saturday but going to test Friday. Everything crossed for you.

@AKcheer ah please don't think of yourself as a letdown. The situation is a letdown, but you certainly are not! I told my husband I was broken before and he told me off (in a nice way). Please remember, this is not our fault.

Yeah I'll definitely keep you all updated on what happens next! X

I've bit the bullet, and sent an enquiry to my doctors surgery. Through their app, you can submit a form listing your issues/queries/etc and within 2 days they are supposed to give me a call. I thought this was a good option for me as I realise they'll be really busy I presume with covid vaccines and things.

Cried all the way through filling out the form, but now feel a sense of calm, that I've got the ball rolling on any medical interventions I may need (of course this is all dependant on how well the app works and if they get back to me...).

Anyway, the reason for the post is just to say, if anyone else is struggling too, please remember that it's OK to ask them for help 🙂

Ahh my thread has only just refreshed after I posted for some reason! @AKcheer so sorry to hear AF has arrived. I know how disappointing it is and we are all here for you, please feel free to vent on here - this thread has helped me so much. I hope you can take your mind off it a bit and next month is luckier for you 💗

Hi everyone, just checking in! On CD25 now and I’m getting some of my regular PMS symptoms now like clockwork...so I assume I’m out but will wait and see if AF turns up by the weekend! Will be pretty gutted but hoping it just comes early if it’s going to come at all.

Hi @8LPS, I know what you mean with not knowing when to DTD, everything I read says something different! I think generally every few days around the fertile window should cover it. We’ve tried the sperm meets egg plan this month which is fairly full on but luckily I ovulated earlyish (for me - CD15) so we weren’t too worn out haha.

@Lynne425 has AF appeared for you? I’m also planning on just enjoying Christmas and not ‘properly’ trying next month if it doesn’t happen this cycle. Hope you are feeling ok!

@Molsy keep us posted, hope this is your month x

@Kirby173 ah yes going to take vitamin d with it too (definitely not enough sunshine in the North of England at the mo!). The pregnacare ones put me off slightly as they also are meant to adjust your hormones slightly, like the ss ones. I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing, but I think I'd rather put my body back to basics, and have a doc see if I'm deficient in anything.

Aww @AKcheer it's horrid telling them. I couldn't help get upset when I told my husband this morning. Like the others have said, take care of yourself. Have a good cry as/when needed, but then come back fighting! We'll get though this! 💪 X

Hi @Louisa199 I have tried PdG but I test daily even after peak to check LH levels stay down. I might look into this for this month if unsuccessful though! I’ve attached a pic from my Premom app for this month and I don’t think we could have really done anything else to increase our chances but it’s like this every month 😩 I had the CM, cramping on side everything!

@8LPS aww it’s fine it’s just hyping myself up to be let down month after month. I aren’t feeling too bad this month though but keep getting waves of “ooh maybe I am” 🤦🏽‍♀️ Genuinely feel like there’s two halves of me, one that’s super reasonable and sensible and the other is very unrealistic 😂

Yep AF due Saturday and my plan is to hold out until Friday for testing! I will keep you all posted of course. As if you have that much willpower to wait for AF I’ve probably spent thousands on tests I’m obsessed with peeing on sticks 😩

@AKcheer I’m so sorry about your arrival of AF. You’re allowed to be upset it’s horrible every month and it never gets easier when AF arrives or when you see that BFN. If I were you I would tell your husband ASAP because not telling him and delaying it will make you feel worse. You’re in this together and you need support. Allow yourself that cry and to be upset this is an awful time. As one of the ladies said above though, the reason it’s so hard to try and get IVF is because people sometimes don’t fall pregnant naturally right away. How long did you say you have been TTC now? Sorry I can’t skip back without losing my comment! I feel horrible for you this journey is so hard.

@Birchybirch I’m so jealous I love a new piercing! Yes definitely treat yourself this year has been horrible! Might be worth looking at a multivitamin because I was advised by GP to take vitamin D too. I’m taking the pregnacare ones and my husband is taking the ones for him. You can get them in a combo pack but aside from yellow wee we have both been fine on them!

To you ladies that have mentioned this was a goal of 2020 and you haven’t achieved it please remember this is totally out of your control and you have done all you can. It’s so sad to hear you feel like you have failed but actually, this year in general is an absolute write off. Be kind to yourselves, we’ve all had to completely overhaul how we are used to living because of a worldwide pandemic. You haven’t failed at all 💕

I hope you’re all okay. This is a horrible time for us all but we will support each other. xxx

@AKcheer I'm so sorry AF has come. You're right, the journey is so painful at times, but please be kind to yourself. Try not to take the burden all on yourself and think that it's you with the problem.
I know myself that there's not a lot I could say to help you feel better right now, but please do something nice for yourself tonight - a hot bath, funny movie, something you enjoy doing.
This feeling really is horrible and it hurts, but we are all here with you XX

Ah yep I feel you all! I've been spotting for a few days myself, and now got my pre-af headache, so af is happening.

I've noticed I've not really had any ewcm since I started taking 7seas ttc bits, so I'm swapping them for just basic fa, and will see if that changes. I'll also look at what my heathcare through work covers (I'm 36 and a half now, so I think need to seek medical advice as we've been trying since the summer). I would just see my gp, but think they might be quote busy at the mo with covid/this new vaccine.

I bought a voucher during the last lockdown, for a piercing/tattoo shop. I think I may treat myself to an early christmas present and get my ear done with something pretty and shiny.

Here's hoping 2021 is kinder to us all! X

@Leavingitlate - I totally get you. Every month, I'm thinking - oh no, I'm getting closer and closer to 1 year of trying, which means we may have to actually take this further with a Doctor. Didn't think conceiving would be a walk in the park, but never thought it'd be like this! Our train of thought in April was - well we're in lockdown, we've got nothing else to do so let's be productive! Thought I'd be at a different stage right now but sadly not. Part of me thinks it was just pure naivety - the first cycle that we tried, I actually thought about baby shower themes! How dumb! :(