Page 22 | 9DPO Symptom Spotting

unCliche · 2020-11-22T11:31:22+00:00

Hey *@ButterscotchBabe*! Continuing our chat here 😁 I loooove that your temps did exactly what mine did too. So good that AF hasn't arrived at CD26!! Happy for you! When your temps increased last month, was it is to a gradual high or did it jump up again and then AF started? Because if this pattern is new, it could mean good news! Ours definitely look like the beginning of a triphasic chart. My temps last month started dropping at 7DPO, so it still being high at 9DPO is such an achievement for me and no sign of AF either although my vulva feels AF'y in a weird way. My pulse and breathing rate have also continued to shoot up!! If temps don't tell you AF is coming, pulse rate defo will because it always starts falling a few days before AF for me. I do suspect chemical but no BFP so can't confirm and nothing else changed that cycle so I can't explain it. Hormones were defo the reason I never took the pill, it plays such a big part in changing your reproductive cycle that of course it would have an affect on cycles after you come off them! 45 day cycles sound like a nightmare - especially when TTC too. I do have a FRER! I'm always so scared to use it though. I always use rubbish ICs which probably aren't the best thing but I will use my FRER with you! I like predicting what my temps will do with DH. What do you think will happen tomorrow? I think both our temps will go up again 😆

Original poster

unCliche · 09/01/2021 17:23

I managed to create a FF homepage for myself so I don't need his phone anymore 😈 fertilityfriend.com/home/uncliche
So much for giving away control. I'm terrible 😂😂😂

I think your temps already look better than last cycle's. There's a clearer difference in temps in your FP and LP. Hopefully it leads to an 11+ day LP. I don't think you should expect AF for at least 5 days. Do you find you're reluctant to buy period pads/tampons just in case you end up pregnant? I was so sad when I had to stock up on menstrual products a few cycles ago. So I bought a HUGE pack of pads so I wouldn't have to do so for a long while.

I'm still so tired. My head feels so muffled and I don't have energy to do anything. Ouch, 5:30am 😱 did you get out of bed then too?

Nope don't have any progesterone symptoms today, unless the exhaustion counts. Boobs and nipples feel fine so far. 4dpo is usually uneventful anyway. But you're in the crucial phase so I'm excited to hear about all your symptoms (or lack of).

Yeah seems like on FF many people get their BFP early. Like 8 - 10 dpo. But I think 10dpo would be a safer bet than 8dpo, even if you implanted at 5/6dpo. Only 4 days to go for you! How many FRERs do you have? I think I have 5 🤭

Yeah, I learnt a lot of my coding during uni. Did a bit before uni too. I actually did apply for software engineering roles, but I was competing again people who actually studied software engineering so obviously they were more knowledgeable than me. But I love my current job, so it's fine. How is your brother finding the job? It can be quite isolating sitting at a computer all day.

At the moment my sister is still studying so not qualified yet. She returned to the Czech Republic today. Luckily they're still allowing people into the country.

Oh no! Has he been in contact with you recently? Sorry to hear that but glad he isn't experiencing any adverse symptoms! Does he know how he caught it?

Yeah, I think March is still feasible. If not the beginning, then at least the end but I think we'll really push for late Feb/early March. It'd be so exciting to finally start moulding my home into what I want.

Maybe I'll take a course in rabbit behavioral training so I can train them myself. They're intelligent animals so I hope it won't be too difficult 😅 did you ever teach your rat any tricks? Rabbits are good at hiding too!

Yeah, DH went in and managed to get most of it off. But I had to pick him up to get the rest off. I think maybe it was just mud but he has been pooped on before and I had to cut off a peice of fur with scissors because it was stuck on. And it's always the same rabbit! He's always a hot mess! His brother never manages anything like this!

OP posts:

ButterscotchBabe · 09/01/2021 16:26

Temp has gone back up 😊 but based on my history I've only got a couple of days left till af arrives 😬.

Whoa 11 hrs! Maybe you'll find you're not as tired this evening. Yes most of the week I woke up around 7 but annoyingly woke up at 5.30 today, typical at the weekend!

I'm either lucky or my progesterone levels are not getting high enough 😕. Are you feeling any different today?

Good idea to write a list! I guess the main concern for me is around short luteal phases and what can be done to lengthen them, thanks!

😂😂😂 maybe you can go back to having control from next cycle? Do you know what your temp did this morning? No more cramping for me, only had a bit yesterday morning then it stopped and no other symptoms so far. I saw recently on here some ladies saying they got a BFP at 8DPO, it's tempting but must hold out till Wednesday!

Yeh DP's current role involves lots of large data spreadsheets, data analysis and report writing. How did you learn coding? Was it part of your engineering degree? My brother is a software engineer so he does loads of coding.

How is your sister doing, the one who is a junior doctor? Is she involved with Covid patients?

My brother has tested positive for covid, he's 24 and only has mild symptoms at the moment, so hopefully it will stay that way.

That's frustrating the solicitors aren't processing the move quicker, do you think you'll still be able to move in March?

Rabbit school 😂😂 I think you might be outta luck there 😂. Yes we'll probably get a pet when we buy our own place, to have a rat it would have to be somewhere without little nooks and crannies where they could hide, so it will depend on the building.

Aww did you manage to catch him and get the poop off? Catching rabbits is always difficult and scary when they start kicking!

Original poster

unCliche · 09/01/2021 14:02

Also, I think one of my rabbits has pigeon poop on his face so now I'll have to catch him to clean it off 😪😪

OP posts:

Original poster

unCliche · 09/01/2021 13:59

I'm sure I've just had 11 hours sleep! Woke up at 1pm! I've been so exhausted recently. I've had very good sleep but I never feel well rested. Annoying! Did you easily adjust back to normal sleeping times this week?

Hmm you're right actually about not everyone gets PMS. I'm going to do a search on that.

"The severity of PMS and PMDD is linked with a sensitivity to cycling concentrations of oestrogen and progesterone" - So I guess it depends on how susceptible you are to hormone changes. And for you, you're probably not susceptible at all! Lucky lady!

I'm going to put together a list of questions I want to ask the consultant so I don't forget any. Do you have anything you want answered?

How are you feeling at 6DPO? Are you still cramping? I've attached yesterdays chart. I hacked into my FF and now DH has completely locked me out of his phone 😂 But I shall get my fingerprint reestablished! 😂

Ah, I see, so he works alongside data scientists, preparing the data in a way that can be used. He must have to work with loads of spreadsheets - smarty pants. I like coding but I'd hate to work with spreadsheets too so I wouldn't do either role!

I'll ask DH about data architects and see what he says. He probably has people like that on his team so might be familiar with the role.

Actually, with how things are changing and the nature of his role, he'd probably be able to find something that's purely WFH and then you guys can pretty much live anywhere! But a lot of people have been made redundant so he'll be competing with those guys too. It's so annoying what COVID has done.

Nope, no move in date yet. We're still chasing the solicitors to get stuff done on their end. We're paying so much money to them, I thought they'd be more competent.
🐇🐇 We'll keep the rabbits and see how they adjust to living indoors. They're not terribly destructive but they are hard to catch and I don't know if I can train them to come to me. Might have to take them to rabbit school and train them in obedience.

Does your DP like animals? And would you get a rat when you buy a house?

OP posts:

ButterscotchBabe · 08/01/2021 22:11

Hahaha good thinking 😂 I find asking for something I want right before we DTD often works too 😉.

It's odd because I think PMS symptoms are related to progesterone but you can have no PMS symptoms and still have good levels of progesterone. I've never had PMS symptoms and I don't think my Mum did either. So I wouldn't worry that your lack of boob pain means low progesterone, your temp is clearly rising nicely 🙂.

You'll have the answers to your first two questions about sperm on Monday. With regards to the luteal phase, you could ask the consultant about it? Might as well get your money's worth and ask lots of questions! There's no logical reason why your eggs wouldn't be healthy and there's plenty of unhealthy people that have lots of kids!

Ah I got the job description wrong, it's Data Architect not Scientist, I think Data Architect is less coding and more designing and modelling for data analysis, I found this description:

Data architects have the capability to “put order in data chaos.” Without this, enormous piles of business data are useless. Data architects design the “blueprint” for organizational Data Management. Each Data Science team requires a data architect to visualize, design, and prepare data in a framework that can be utilized by data scientists, engineers, or data analysts.

I don't know if you understand that but it blows over my head 😂. Thank you for the offer of your DHs help, does he know about the Data Architect role or does he mainly manage coders? DP can do some coding but it's not his strong point, he's better at the data architecture.

That's really handy you have flexibility with your role too! He's not looking in the West Midlands yet as we need more time to save a house deposit. Ideally he'd get a National role but the jobs market isn't exactly flourishing at the moment!

Do you have a move in date yet for your new place? Have you decided what's gonna happen with the rabbits?

Original poster

unCliche · 08/01/2021 20:13

Well if you were in pain from ovulation then you wouldn't have been able to DTD anyway so it's good you were able to get as much sperm in as possible beforehand. And you only stopped with DTD the day before you ovulated so that's more than enough to get you pregnant.

When he asked me for a favour, I blackmailed him by telling him to give me the info I wanted or else I wouldn't do it 😁 I win! I was also able to get more info from him; FF has confirmed ovulation at CD15 and I have my cover line at 36.4.
I just assumed PMS was progesterone-level dependant and since they are higher, I thought I'd feel the symptoms earlier. You don't get any PMS symptoms do you?

Yeah, I guess you are right. I should be thankful that I'm ovulating too and that I'm producing lots of EWCM. It could definitely be worse. I just want to know where things are going wrong. Are the sperm swimming? If they are, are they swimming far and surviving long enough. Is my egg receptacle to them? Is it healthy enough to be fertilised? Is the fertilised egg finding it difficult to implant? Does my period start too soon for it to implant? Do I have enough hormone to even sustain it? I wish I knew.

Yeah he is 😊 He's always working until late and he's forever stressed. That's why I'll never take up a managerial position. I think one of us needs to not be stressed and I'm lucky that my job is pretty chill. Your DP is making a smart decision going into data science. It's such a relevant field and there's lots of opportunity there. I could get my DH to talk him through steps to get into the role but I hope he gets the interview too! What languages does he code in?

Ah that's perfect then! I'm also not constrained to a certain location for my job so that gives DH and I flexibility if he wants to change his job. Is your DP searching in the West Midlands then? Or still in Devon?

Yes, for a circle skirt you can fold the fabric into a quarter and draw quarter circles. Easier than drawing full circles. That's how I made the green dungaree dress. I have a tutorial on it on YouTube actually. You'll need A LOT of fabric. At least 2 or 3 metres for the skirt alone.

No, I haven't started. I've been so consumed in my book!

Yaaay! You even bought a bias binding tape creator thing! Yes, if you create a back seam and add a zip at the back, that should tighten things up. Good luck!

OP posts:

ButterscotchBabe · 08/01/2021 17:38

Try not to think negative thoughts, it's very likely your DHs sperm test will come back fine but if it doesn't, there are things they can do to help. So whatever happens you will end up with a baby!

I'm hoping DTD lots has given us a good chance but I'm a little worried we might have used up his sperm to far ahead of ovulation. If his sperm count and motility is normal then it should be fine but we don't know yet, we'll have to wait and see!

😂😂 Haha how did you blackmail him? Oooh I wonder how high your temp is! I'm not sure around the lack of boob pain as I don't get this but maybe it will come in the next few days, as you don't normally get it on 3DPO? I don't think there's an exact science that links progesterone level to certain symptoms because symptoms can change every cycle.

Oh no that's a shame you're feeling so down about it all, you're still very early in your TTC journey, you really don't need to worry. Hopefully you'll get good news on Monday and that will help ease your concerns. I do sometimes think negatively but I have to remind myself, I know I'm ovulating and getting EWCM, so the sperm will be able to get through the cervix, it's just a matter of time!

I see on LinkedIn your DH is Head of Data Science & Products, my DP is a Senior Data Analyst and has just applied for a role as a Data Scientist, he's just waiting to find out if he's got an interview. Unfortunately his team are going through a restructure and lowering pay of roles, so he's looking for something else.

Thanks for the LinkedIn tips! My current role is National so I can live anywhere, so if I can secure the permanent position that will be great, as it will be much easier to move.

With the black dress I'm going for a more sophisticated, evening look, so I'll have a look into the fabrics you suggested 😊. With the strapless dress skirt part, can I cut out the fabric by drawing a small circle (waist area) and then a larger circle (end of skirt) around it? So the skirt would be one whole piece. Thanks for the other tips, I'm not starting on this one yet so I might come back to you for more advice!

Have you started on your new design yet? The one where you were going to do a black and white version.

My sewing order arrived today, I don't know if you can tell in the pic but there's shimmery/sparkly gold and silver bias binding 😍. To finish off the attached dress I want to add a zip in the back because the neck and shoulders area is a bit baggy, so I'm hoping I can tighten it slightly with a zip, do you think that would work?

Original poster

unCliche · 08/01/2021 13:03

Implantation can happen as early as 5DPO (although rare)! And maybe that's an implantation dip??! And that's why you're cramping!! Oooo exciting! Wednesday isn't too far away either. I'm looking forward to your results. I haven't thought about when to test yet. I'm not really holding out much hope, if I'm honest. I'm scared we'll receive bad news from the consultant on Monday and then all my hopes will be dashed. Either way, I really hope this is it for you!! Maybe all that extra DTD helped??

I blackmailed DH into telling me if my temps went up or down today and he conceded and told me they went up. So I must still be hovering around the 36.6 area or maybe higher!! I'm just wondering why my boobs aren't hurting when my usual peak temps are around 36.6. Maybe when progesterone hits its peak, other hormones get involved??

I'm just thinking worst case scenario - early death of egg. Very few sperm that die early too 😔 I can just imagine DH and I being very unlucky. Are you ever scared to think or say bad things out loud in case they come true? Like if I'm searching symptoms online and a cancer website comes up in the search results, I always immediately scroll past in case I cement it into my future by accident. I don't want to say or think negative things but it's how I feel sometimes 😔 Sometimes I ask DH if we're bad people and the universe is punishing us somehow. I feel silly.

Thank you! LinkedIn definitely helps with job hunting. I absolutely recommend you keep it up to date. I do get a lot of recruiters approaching me on there but this particular role I'm doing didn't come from LinkedIn, I just applied directly. And yes, I'm so glad I left my last company. A lot of previous colleagues there were made redundant. It really sucks.

To pad out your LinkedIn profile you can think about adding some projects you've been involved in. Maybe detail some of your day-to-day activities with keywords that recruiters search for. Treat it like a CV basically. Now is a terrible time to job hunt but would you start looking for jobs in the West Midlands?

Yeah, definitely being able to see things in your mind's eye helps with the creative process. I've been looking at your design and depending on the sort of vibe you want the dress to have then different fabrics can work. What I can see for a sophisticated look is a thick sateen (satin too, if you'd like) but also a nice luxurious velvet will work. For a more casual day dress/less formal feel, then the fabric you linked works nicely for that. Also, if you want to play with stretch and are brave enough, a scuba fabric will give it a sexy look/feel.

The strapless dress, if you want poofiness at the skirt, You don't need a heavy fabric but you will need one that's more stiff than flowy. Cotton is good for that but you'd need lots of fabrics to either pleat or gather or cut into a circle to create the shape. Poofy skirts are my thing 😉 other alternative is to go for a flowy fabric and buy a petticoat for underneath that'll help it flare out.

OP posts:

ButterscotchBabe · 08/01/2021 11:04

Temp went down a bit this morning but I've had quite a lot of creamy CM which I don't normally get, normally after ovulation it dries up and goes sticky. Also got cramps in the middle which I don't think are related to anything else! Although I don't think an fertilised egg would reach the womb by 5DPO, I think the earliest is 6DPO, so trying not to get my hopes up too much! I think I'll do a test at 10DPO which will be on Wednesday, when do you think you will test?

The sperm should have still been alive from CD12, so when the egg was released they should have been there waiting. If not, you've at least put some fresh ones up there on CD15. The egg survives for a maximum of 24 hours, you know you hadn't ovulated at 9am, so it's likely that you did DTD within time. You may not have ovulated until the evening of CD15.

You have an impressive LinkedIn profile! Did you find it helped you get work? Probably good you're not working for that previous company anymore as the UK is starting to distance themselves from them. I need to update my LinkedIn in but I don't think there's much more I can add to it.

Haha I have a few examples but some fit multiple capabilities, so it will just depend on the day what questions they ask and I'll have to quickly choose which example best fits each one.

Yes it was very nice going many weeks without af!

I haven't read books about Henry VIII but I've watched lots of documentaries and read articles online, glad I wasn't alive in those days! I think you having quite a visual mind probably helps with thinking of new clothing designs, it's much better if you can imagine it in your head beforehand, rather than having to start making something and hope it works out!

I've started sketching some designs, what do you think about this fabric for the black dress attached:

www.fabricsgalore.co.uk/collections/dressmaking-fabric/products/swiss-knot-black

I like cotton and viscose, I would prefer to avoid plastic fabrics but I'm struggling to visualise what fabric would look good with this dress. The other dress I couldn't decide what colour to do, so I might just see what fabrics are available.

Original poster

unCliche · 07/01/2021 21:23

Yeah, CD12 and CD15. I just hope we got to the egg in time. My scan was at 9am and I hadn't ovulated then. Ovulation must have started maybe around 3pm. So I hope we got it before it started dying. I don't want a dead egg 😭😭😭

Haha life definitely knows the right times to start messing up! Yeah, I'm a consulting engineer, so I teach people about our technology and also create technical solutions. If you search me on LinkedIn you can see the company I work at.

Ah, understood. Sounds like a convoluted job application. But practising definitely helps. Your DP can mock interview you to give you a chance to practice out loud. Do you have lots of examples of those capabilities? I guess not having to send in a CV takes away some of the stress but I've seen loads of job applications ask for similar things, like "give an example of a time when you..." I never bother with applications like that 😂

Yeah, I started job hunting around Jan 2019 and started at my current company Aug 2019. Then 6 months later, COVID happened. But I was mostly working from home before then anyway. So not much changed for me. I just wasn't able to meet customers anymore.

Wooooow 6 weeks with no AF? To be honest, I shouldn't complain because mine really aren't terrible 😂 but I still wouldn't choose to bleed monthly!

Haha do you read books about Henry VIII? I haven't done anything history related since school. Hmmm, good question because it's either fantasy helps my imagination or my imagination helps with fantasy. I've heard some people can't visualise what they read but I see everything in my mind. I even find myself remembering different visuals and thinking about the characters and seeing it all in my mind. Like it was real life and I saw it with my actual eyes. Sometimes I think about the characters and feel sad about what they went through 😂😂

I hope Trump gets permanently banned from twitter and no longer has access to people who can easily be manipulated.

£25 isn't too bad and FF has proved very useful. If I didn't have hopes of getting pregnant every cycle I'd buy it too! 😭

OP posts:

ButterscotchBabe · 07/01/2021 20:45

I forgot to add, I decided to upgrade my FF account and paid for a yearly subscription. I quite like the extra features and it only cost £25 for the year, which isn't too bad for something I use daily. Unless I get pregnant this cycle..

ButterscotchBabe · 07/01/2021 20:43

Ooooh naughty! 😂😂 Your temps are looking great for 2DPO! Are the two times you're referring to when you DTD on CD12 and CD15 or CD15 and CD16?

That's annoying about the cough, I don't have to do presentations very often but when I do I can guarantee I'll end up with a tickly cough or hiccups 😂. Does your role involve a lot of training?

I work in the public sector so the recruitment process is a bit different, we have to meet certain capabilities, we can't submit a CV we have to demonstrate how we meet each capability. So the capabilities this role will probably have are 'Data & Information Management', 'Communicates Effectively', 'Makes Decisions & Solves Problems' and 'Achieves Results'. I have to think of good examples in the work I've done, where I can demonstrate I meet each one. Thank you for your offer of help that's very sweet! Unfortunately they like to make it difficult! The only prep I can really do is to go over my examples and practice explaining them in the best way. HR is outsourced to another company so they don't know me, the hiring Manager does as he's my current Manager but there will be two other people interviewing to keep it open and fair. Do you work in the private sector?

If you were job searching for most of 2019, you must have got your role not long before the pandemic? If so, that was good timing!

Yes you can actually schedule your periods, it was great!! I used to have them start on a Friday so the worst part was always at the weekend, not when I'm at work. Yes so 3 weeks on, 1 week off but you can do 6 weeks on, 1 week off. You can take packs back to back, you don't have to have the break after 3 weeks. That's one downside of TTC, lots more periods!

Yes and I also think with the current situation, students studying and adults working from home, that people will look more towards online learning.

Haha I find Henry the 8th quite interesting, especially the antics with his 6 wives! Do you find reading fantasy helps with your imagination?

Hopefully once Trump is out and doesn't have that platform and the protection, he'll become irrelevant!

Original poster

unCliche · 07/01/2021 18:32

I was naughty and reset my FF password! DH is not pleased 😁 quite surprised it's already at 36.6 at only 2dpo! Did you create a new FF account? I can see you have all the extra info on your chart. You're also almost at 36.7 at only 4dpo so that's amazing news! Maybe this'll be our lucky month! I only DTD twice but I hope it was enough 😔

Just during the presentation mostly. I was just really phlegmy and had to constantly clear my throat to get a word out. But this is the nature of my job so I should have known better and had water with me! But yes, apart from that, it went really well!

Oh gosh! I thought the role was guaranteed for you. I really hope you get it. Are you doing any particular preparation for it? If you need any CV help or anything, I'll be happy to give suggestions, look over yours or send mine over. I was job hunting for a lot of 2019 so somewhat familiar with the whole thing. Do HR know you already? Or at least the hiring manager?

Whaaaaaaat you can schedule your periods??? Is it the pill where you have 3 weeks on and 1 week off? I wish we had a button we could press to turn AF on and off.

Yup, it definitely should be free but now it's a business and they're making so much money from it that I don't think it would ever be free. Companies like Google have created courses that essentially certify you in the industry and I think that will be the future. A lot of virtual learning, gaining degrees in things like IT and being able to get jobs with them. Then university will become redundant.

I'd say I have a short attention span too but books are the only thing that really keeps me grounded. I love it! DH loves history. I just don't get it. What's so fascinating about the past? But then again you could probably ask me what's so fascinating about imaginary worlds 😁😂

It's ok anyway, at least you're keeping your life moving and not waiting for lockdown to be over before taking new steps. Making a baby is a good plan as you're not holding your life up. Getting married - this you can do at any time.

Trump is a terrible person but I was not surprised. He has his fascists eating out of his hands and I don't think much will be done about it 🤷‍♀️ so I pretty much just mind my business where Trump is concerned.

OP posts:

ButterscotchBabe · 07/01/2021 17:18

Had another rise this morning 😀 and I have more creamy CM this time, so things are looking good so far!

Oh no, do you have a cough at the moment or was it just during the meeting? Did the presentation go well other than the coughing?

The job advert hasn't gone live yet but expecting it any day. So assuming I pass the application stage, interview will probably be towards end of January. It's an uncomfortable situation as there's 3 of us in the team currently doing the role but only 2 permanent jobs are available, so we're competing against each other 😕. At the same time anyone in the organisation can apply so none of us might get picked!

Hopefully FF will confirm ovulation tomorrow as you should have 3 higher temps then. The test instructions are probably based on a standard 14 day luteal phase, so I agree I think 6DPO is probably a good time .

When you're on the pill you only get af when you stop taking it, this is called a withdrawal bleed. It was quite handy because I could choose when to have my periods and I often went a couple of months without one. I think the pill works by making your body think it's pregnant, so that you don't ovulate. Then when you stop taking the pill the hormones suddenly reduce and it causes your af to come.

Ah balls that's rubbish, I think university courses should be free and made part of the main education system. It would cost the government initially but it would make it's money back through an improved economy with a more skilled workforce.

I tend to mainly read the news, I have a short attention span so I get bored if I try and read a book 😂. I like being able to quickly switch to reading something different. I also like reading about history and murder mysteries!

Aww you couldn't tell that from the video, it looked lovely! Yeh we've not really discussed wedding plans since last March, as we have no idea when weddings can start again and some businesses may not survive ☹️.

Did you see the news last night? Unbelievable what happened in America, I hope they impeach Trump!

Original poster

unCliche · 07/01/2021 12:38

Haha! It's so funny how we share such weird and gruesome things about ourselves!!

Just finished giving some technical training for work. I had to cough so badly during the presentation, so annoying! How are you feeling about your interview at work. Is it next week?

Yeah exactly 😂 I don't mind so much seeing my FP temps as they don't mean anything, but LP is a lot more nerve racking. So now that I've ovulated, I think it's best I stay away from looking at my chart. I did ask DH to let me know when FF confirms it. But I should know when I'm about 6DPO anyway as that's when my boobs start hurting. I just assume that's when progesterone peaks for me. The instructions say take the test 7 days before AF is due, but I don't know when that is as it keeps changing (it could be now with a 9 day LP 😱 which I think is ridiculous) so I think 6DPO is a good bet.

Oh, I didn't know the pill stops ovulation! Then how do you get AF?? Was it regular?

Ah you're so lucky! Last time I checked, my student loan was at £25,000 😅 And now a big chunk (~£200) comes out of my pay every month. Horrible.

Definitely fiction. I love fantasy. All I read is fantasy! How about you??

Thank you!! It was a nightmare of a day but at least the video showed the best parts. So definitely go for a video! It captures a lot of the emotion and vibe of the day. We have photos too, which are somewhere 🤷‍♀️ But right now, the wedding industry is in tatters so not sure when you can properly start planning again.

OP posts:

ButterscotchBabe · 06/01/2021 21:20

Haha I used to just run without tissue and if I got there within about 4 seconds it was okay... but sometimes I didn't get there in time so now I hold tissue and walk there 😂. Sex is gross!

Ah yes I think I do remember now yours having a slower rise. I just thought it might be useful to keep an eye on temps so you know if you've ovulated but I suppose that was the whole point of this cycle, you werent supposed to be looking 😂.

Yeh that probably isn't normal to get spotting 3 days before af. For most my cycles that have been 8/9 day LP I had 1 day of spotting. On the 1 cycle where I had an 11 day LP, I didn't get any spotting, it went straight into full blown af. So that cycle my progesterone must have been higher. If you're taking the progesterone test at 6DPO, will your DH tell you when that is?

If it was wind the pain would move around, so if it stayed on one side it probably was ovulation pain. I didn't get it the first month I came off the pill but I think I've had it every cycle since then. The pill stops you ovulating so that's why I wouldn't have experienced the pain before.

Yeh I had to get a job after leaving uni, luckily at the time the government were paying for student nurses to study, so I didn't have a student loan to repay!

Yes reading definitely helps me sleep, I tend to read the news on my phone with the blue light filter on. Are you more of a fiction or nonfiction reader?

I watched your wedding video (hope you don't mind!) it was beautiful, your wedding looked amazing! Lovely colours and sparkle! I definitely want to have a wedding video, I think it really helps you relive the day. Photos are great but it's not the same.

Original poster

unCliche · 06/01/2021 20:42

Yeah, I think I feel much better laying down for a while to give the sperm a chance to get to where they need to before I stand up. Hehe, does your cum run involve you plugging yourself up with some tissue to stop it all falling out? Because mine does! Waddling with a tissued hand between my legs running to the bathroom 😂

I never have a sharp rise after ovulation. If you look at my previous charts, you'll see my temp barely goes up. It's always very gradual, so I won't be able to tell for a few days. But I think I won't look again because I don't want to start obsessing over them.

My AFs never gave me any warning, they'd just start out of nowhere. Last cycle I spotted on CD26 and CD28 before AF started on CD29. Not sure how normal that is... You just get one day of it right? Regardless of the length of your LP??

I'm starting to think maybe it was just trapped wind. It felt like wind. A very sharp stitch feeling to just one side. I have no reason to start getting ovulation pain out of nowhere. But maybe the poking around did exacerbate it 🤷‍♀️ Do you get the pain every month? I wonder why the pill prevented the pain. Maybe it's all connected to hormones or something.

I think we'll get them tutors to supplement their education and raise them to be good people and keep them from joining a bad crowd. Best we can do as parents!

Oh no! Did you go straight into work after leaving uni?

A MMC sounds like a horrible, horrible thing to experience. It must be so traumatising. I don't know what I'd do with myself if that happened! Oh, I just hope we both get pregnant soon whilst we're still young. I can't imagine going through years of TTC.

I've started reading before bed. I think it helps. I've been sleeping like a baby. I literally dozed off the moment my head hit the pillow yesterday. I've read about 300 pages since yesterday and I think I'll continue reading through the evening until bedtime now. Do you have a bedtime relaxation routine?

OP posts:

ButterscotchBabe · 06/01/2021 17:47

Yeh there might have been less as he'd already ejaculated that day but like you said, it only takes one! After DTD I lie down for around 20 mins and then do the 'cum run' to the toilet 😂😂. There's conflicting information about whether you need to lie down or if you can get straight up but I think it's safer to give the spermies a hand, so they're not fighting against gravity straight away! Haha DP said to me this morning 'are you going to get dressed today?' maybe that's a hint 😂.

I'm not sure whether you ovulated yesterday as your temp has gone up but only a little bit, although I can't see what the number was yesterday. What do you think? Have you done an OPK today?

I think a small amount of brown CM is normal one day before af arrives as it's the start of the womb lining being shed but its brown as it's coming out slowly. If you're getting spotting for a few a days before the heavier red stuff comes then that would probably indicate an issue with progesterone. Let me know how you get on with the Agnus Castus.

Haha I don't think the ultrasound waves would cause the pain but if your ovary was already inflamed due to being about to release an egg, then them poking around in there (assuming it was an internal scan) could have made the area sore. I've researched ovulation pain and apparently it's normal, I'm just unlucky ☹️. Because I'd been on the pill for 4 years and don't remember experiencing this pain before, it's come as quite a surprise.

Aww thanks, I don't know if DP would always say I'm lovely 😂😂.

Yes I'd actually looked up the costs of private schooling as I think they offer students better opportunities but we can't afford it unless both DP and I get big promotions! However there are benefits to non private schools as you've mentioned.

Haha thanks! I studied nursing at uni but I left after one year, I was living with a bf at the time, so I didn't have any support from other students which made assignments and end of year exams harder.

😂😂 I think I'd be obsessed as well and be worrying a lot, especially up until the 12th week. That's why I want to have lots of scans, to keep reassuring me it's still alive! I've seen lots of ladies on here saying they had a missed miscarriage, that sounds so awful, your body not realising your baby has died and so you're carrying it around for weeks. I'm just hoping that because we're still young our chances of a miscarriage would be lower.

Original poster

unCliche · 06/01/2021 12:11

But what if less semen means less sperm 🙁 Yeah, I usually lie down after DTD. Sometimes I put my legs up but nowadays I can't be bothered since that clearly hasn't gotten me pregnant. What do you do?
Haha! It's so hard to maintain the sexy during lockdown. There's no longer a need to dress up or look nice. Thank goodness they love us for more than just our looks!

Yaaaay!! There's already a clear temp shift from FP to LP. I think it looks really, really good!! Most of your FP temps are under the crosshairs and all your LP ones so far are above it - perfect!
I logged myself into my Ava account instead. My temps have been going up and down, especially during my fertile window. I'd be interested to see what it looks like on FF.

I just thought there's nothing to lose. Angus Castus helps with low progesterone and although my LP has increased, it's also brought about spotting, which I never had before, so I'm not sure if my progesterone is improving or not. I've had spotting twice at 10dpo so that doesn't seem like a longer LP to me...

Haha well I guess the pain confirms ovulation before your BBT chart can! Yeah, I sometimes do get ovulation pain but it's rare. Maybe once or twice a year. Perhaps the ultrasound waves vibrated my ovaries too much 😂 that's probably not how it works but that's my theory (says the girl with the engineering degree 😂) Have you ever been able to find a reason for your ovulation pain?

😞 Sorry about the bullying. Having a lack of confidence can be so debilitating sometimes. Especially as a child. No one deserves to suffer through it but I know you're a better person for it since you're so lovely! School was fine for me. I mixed with pretty much everyone and didn't have much trouble with the social side of things.

But I agree, instilling confidence into our children from a young age will help them in later life. I was considering private school for them as I know that helps but I wouldn't be able to stand the entitlement of their peers and their parents plus a normal comprehensive school would teach them more about real life and privilege by allowing them to meet people from different walks of life. Have you thought about schools yet? I'm aiming to get them into a grammar school.

You're very intelligent yourself! Very articulate too. What did you study?

Hahaha you've planned out all your scans! I've only gotten as far as the first one, which I thought could only happen from 10 weeks, but 8 weeks sounds even better!! Haha oh no! Hopefully she doesn't send you anything scary and cause a panic! I think I'd probably get quite obsessed with every stage of my pregnancy. I'm already a perfectionist and a control freak so I'd be googling about anything and everything. What sort of hormone monster do you think you'd be? Cool, calm and collected or in a perpetual state of paranoia?

OP posts:

ButterscotchBabe · 06/01/2021 09:49

Haha good work! I wouldn't worry about there being less coming out of you, that's just the liquid the sperm live in, the sperm should have shot straight up and began their journey! Do you lie down after DTD or do you get straight up? Haha I don't really seduce him, he tends to instigate sex quite a lot 😂. Nowadays I live in my pyjamas unless we're in bed, then we're naked! 😂

Thanks it would be interesting to find out what they can do to fix luteal phase defects. I had another small rise this morning so still looking positive 😊. Haha I don't know, depends how mad he'd get! Can he tell you what your temp was, so you know if you ovulated yesterday?

How come you started taking Agnus Castus? It's probably better not to take things that might change your cycle because any changes you won't know if it's a change in your body or due to the Agnus Castus.

Yeh the ovulation pain is awful, I still have it today albeit a bit milder. It's nice as another sign to confirm ovulation but as I use OPKs and BBT monitoring, I don't need the pain to confirm ovulation! Do you normally get ovulation pain or is this the first time?

The bullying had lowered my confidence but this has improved with age. It's important to me to make sure my kids are happy and confident individuals, as this will set them up well for adulthood. I think confidence makes a huge impact on all aspects of a person's life. How did you find school?

You've both got good heights, so your children should be tall and you're clearly intelligent so your kids will definitely have height and brains!

I'll definitely get an early scan at 8 weeks, then the NHS one at 12 weeks, then a private one at 16 weeks to find out the sex, then the 20 week NHS one to confirm it 😊. Haha well if she buys lots of things for you that will help out with the costs! My mum would be very pleased and excited but she's obsessed with conspiracy theories and reading misinformation online, so I will end up receiving countless messages of links to websites telling me what I should and shouldn't be doing! That's why I wanna leave it as long as possible before announcing it.

That's good you managed to get a Tesco slot, I often can't get one. Yeh luckily there was enough left to get what we needed.

Original poster

unCliche · 05/01/2021 21:34

Husband was successfully seduced 😂😂 I feel like there was less semen though. A lot less than usual came out of me. Anyway, we'll give it another shot tomorrow. Is going underwear-less how you seduce your DP? 😉😂

No, the lady who did the scan was just a sonographer, maybe she was a doctor too but I'll be speaking with the consultant on Monday so they'd probably be the best person to ask about LP defects. I'll let you know what they say in case it can help you too.

Do you think I should reset my FF password and check my temps 🙈 DH won't be too pleased with me if I do 😁 I'll just pretend your temps are my temps instead. I'm so happy at how high it's gone at 2DPO 0DPO! Yay to my temps!

I've started taking vitex (angus castus) and not sure if that's impacting ovulation. That random blood streak in my EWCM and today's ovulation pain!! It felt like an intense stitch on one side and DTD hurt too so I completely get why you didn't appreciate much bashing around during ovulation day! 😂 But yours must be really intense if you have to take codeine for it and it lasts 4 days!! It must be a curse and a blessing (when TTC).

That sucks to hear! Kids can be quite mean. Hope it didn't affect you too much?

I think I'd love my kids to have my curiosity and creativity and my husbands intelligence and kindness. Physically, I'm an ok height, 5'4" 5'5" and DH is apparently 6'2" but I reckon 6'1". I think his nose is cute, so defo his nose, maybe even his lips. But 100% my lack of interest in food. Imagine being surrounded by foodies and not understanding the fuss over a generic piece of mushroom.

I agree. I think you can get a scan at 10 weeks, so once I have pics to share I'll probably break the news. I know the moment I do, my mum will make it an excuse to starting shopping for anything and everything baby related... God help me. So yes, again, lockdown has its advantages. How do you think your mum would react?

I managed to book a delivery slot on the Tesco website last night for the 24th Jan. There may start being long queues again. Did you at least manage to buy what you needed?

Haha I searched Jive on YouTube and that was the first video but the one you linked is completely different and I now get what you mean that it's similar to salsa. I like a little bit of sexiness in dancing.

OP posts:

ButterscotchBabe · 05/01/2021 19:05

😂😂 good luck! If that doesn't work, maybe try without any underwear?!

That's good the PCO isn't an issue, did you discuss luteal phase defects and what can be done to improve it?

Maybe the special condom would be better, at least then you can do it in the comfort of your home, rather than him doing it in a hospital 😂😂.

I don't think I've ever reached 37.8 but 37.7 would be good, that's pretty high for me. Although your temps shot up last month to a new high, so who knows! I don't think taking less vitamin C has had any impact, I'm still taking way over the RDA. That reminds me I need to order some more!

Yes sometimes the ovulation pain is awful, it can either be a sharp, twingey pain or a sore dull ache. I get a mixture of both and it starts before ovulation and lasts for about 4 days afterwards. One night a few cycles a go, I was in agony and had to take codiene. Also DTD makes it worse, the ovary must get quite inflamed, so his willy bashing around down there makes it very painful 😂😭.

I didn't like being the youngest, especially as I'm quite short, I was an easy target for bullies ☹️. I'm hoping our kids will get DP's height! Are there any features you would choose from you or your DH if that was possible?

No I would keep it a secret for as long as possible, a minimum of 12 weeks but hopefully longer. Also then friends and family don't have as long to wait once they find out. Keeping a pregnancy hidden during lockdown will be easy so hopefully it will happen soon for us!

We went to Tesco last night during Boris's speech, hoping it would be quiet. It was fairly quiet but the shelves had been raided! People obviously went shopping earlier, knowing the lockdown was coming.

I'm not sure what dancing that is the video you shared but it's impressive! We do modern jive, more like what's shown in this video:

Original poster

unCliche · 05/01/2021 15:47

We'll be speaking with the consultant via web conferencing on Monday about our results, so just under a week to wait. I'm wearing sexy lingerie around the house in hopes that that will convince him but we've been cracking up laughing instead. I'll figure it out!

I googled it and PCOS is due to a hormonal imbalance and PCO is apparently "considered a common variant of normal ovaries" and doesn't really impact fertility. I think the problem with PCOS is that woman don't always ovulate but I ovulate every month so that part of my fertility isn't impacted. I also think my follicles are maturing nicely so I reckon, if there is an issue with me, it's probably more to do with my luteal phase rather than my follicular phase as my uterus lining is nice and thick. My progesterone kit arrives today as well so I will test at 6DPO.

If he has an issue with his sperm, he may have to do it again! Awkward!! 😂 He told me that in his paperwork it said that if he wasn't able to ejaculate, they'd give him a special condom to take away and use while DTD. He said that sounded even worse! 😂

Oh wow! Look at your temps go. That looks awesome!! Fingers crossed for 36.8 or 36.9!! Do you think cutting back on the vit C has had much impact?

Does your ovulation pain get bad? I'm not even sure I feel anything. My left side feels more sore than my right but I'm ovulating from the right side, unless I got it wrong??? Oh I don't know anymore. I'll ask the consultant on Monday. Actually I think I'm ovulating right now because it's a bit sore on my left! I need to up the seduction!

Haha me too! 😂 I got out of a 5 year relationship in 2017 and was back into another one 3 months later. That lasted 4 months then I got with DH 3 months after....! Hopefully this one will last forever 😆

I wouldn't mind a July baby! What was it like being one of the youngest in your year group?

Oh would you tell people you were pregnant straight away? I'd like the enjoy the secret with DH for a bit but I'd probably let it slip to someone. Maybe my chosen godmother for my first born.

Yeah same here. I'm at home day in, day out so nothing will be changing for me either. We went to Tesco today after the appointment. It was around 10am and was quite empty! I thought people would go crazy again.

For thicker/heavier fabrics, a denim needle is always a good shout. You may need to adjust the tension on your sewing machine too but it's pretty simple to sew. Not all machine can handle very heavy fabrics though, I know mine can't so you'll have to take it slow and be very careful with thick layers. When I did bra making, my sewing machine sucked at going over the thick bits and always skipped stitches. So annoying.

Hehe that's cute!! I'm going to watch jive videos now!!

Wow look at that legwork. Can you do this too??

OP posts:

ButterscotchBabe · 05/01/2021 13:12

Ah I didn't see your last message before I sent mine! So is the left one polycystic?

ButterscotchBabe · 05/01/2021 13:10

Yay go left ovaries! I ovulated from the left ovary too, I always get ovulation pain on either side so I know which one is ovulating. That's great to know it hasn't happened yet, hopefully you can pursuade DH to DTD later! If his sperm count is normal then it shouldn't be depleted as you haven't DTD for a couple of days. When will you get the results?

With your right ovary being polycystic, what does that mean for TTC? Did they say if it would make any difference? Does that mean you might release more eggs?

😂😂 Aww poor guy! Hopefully he'll recover soon 😂. He shouldn't need to do it again unless you have IVF but hopefully that won't be needed!

Had a good rise on my temp this morning so feeling quite positive about this cycle 😀. Unfortunately due to ovulation pain we didn't manage to DTD on ovulation day or the day after, so I'm really hoping there were some sperm up there already waiting!

Same I've hardly ever been single either, I think the longest time is probably 3 months 😂. If I hadn't found the right person then I probably would go down the sperm donor route but luckily neither of us need to 😊.

Ooh yes if you got pregnant next cycle that would be getting close to a November birth! I'm July so there's no chance of a baby being born then, unless I got pregnant this cycle and it was premature.

Aww that would be so lovely to announce it on your wedding anniversary! I like the idea of keeping it secret for as long as possible, so I don't have to deal with other people's views and opinions 😂 but I don't know if I'll be able to!

Yeh I'm not sure what to do about the holiday, I keep checking the price daily hoping to grab a bargain. Who knows what will be happening by June 😕. The new lockdown doesn't really change anything for us as we've just been at home all the time anyway. How about you?

I never thought of wearing upholstery fabric but I also like clothes with structure so maybe I'll give it a go! How do you know what needle to use?

Haha love the random dancing! We can't dance at home as there isn't room but if we go out for a walk, DP sometimes starts spinning me and trying to include some jive into the walk 😂.