9DPO Symptom Spotting

Sat in the "hotel" relaxing before we meet up!! I'm actually so exhausted. There's something about the sun that just drains my energy! I'll probably ask you this in real life but did you get up to anything this afternoon?

I was going to buy OPKs from Boots but I changed my mind. I've ordered the easy@home ones from Amazon so I'll start using those next cycle. I think if I did an OPK today, it would be +ve so I'm expecting to ovulate tomorrow. It's a bit of a late one but nothing unusual for me. We DTD yesterday but I think we're done for this cycle. Anything else would be bonus sex. How's your AF going?

I'd like to order some samples of the fabric to see what they feel like, but I guess that isn't possible. I'd have to buy at least one metre. I don't want something that feels plasticky. I guess with waterproof fabrics, it's hard to find something that feels and looks natural.

I drove 3 hours straight yesterday and it annoys me when DH then starts making requests for places to go. Like, no. I'm not your chauffeur 🙄 I'm kind of glad we took the train today, tickets were cheap and parking would have been a nightmare. Do you explore around Devon often?

I haven't seen my old neighbours in a while. Their little one should be 6 months now. I did see my friend and her kid a few weeks back. She was bored at home and came to randomly visit. Her son was very grabby. Everything in his sight he wanted to grab and he's strong! 😂 But he didn't make me feel broody either! I guess for me, it's less about seeing other babies and more about the fact my body isn't doing what it's supposedly built to do and it's annoying!

Just realised there's loads of colours for the lining fabric.

That's such good news! Now you can have a AF-free birthday party!

I definitely didn't wake up yesterday expecting one of my rabbits to be put to sleep. DH and I didn't even have time to come to terms with what was happening. The vet literally said, surgery or PTS and I had to make the decision there and then. My heart is broken 💔 I really wish it was dental issues like I first assumed. The good thing was I found the injury early enough so he didn't suffer for too long. I feel mostly sad for his brother, but he seems to be doing well. He's been completely himself. Binkying, running around, eat lots, snoring. Not sure he cares? He was already distancing himself from his brother because he could obviously sense/smell that his brother was sick. It was really sad just before grey rabbit was taken away. I brought him out of his carrier to give him some attention and he ran back in to snuggle with Float, but Float kept turning away from him. So in his last moment, he couldn't even get comfort from his brother 💔 I've cried loads and I'll definitely cry some more. I wish he was still here 💔 After they escaped the first time, I lined the bottom inner edge of their enclosure with wire mesh and I fear he may have gotten himself caught in it and injured himself that way 😭

Yeah, my OPK was -ve yesterday and -ve today so it's definitely still early on in my fertile period. I'm expecting it to turn +ve maybe tomorrow or Friday but I'll need to remember to take some OPKs with me!

My old GP used to be like that. They'd basically assign you whichever doctor was available during the time and date you selected. At my new GP, I have just one doctor that I have my appointments with, which makes it so much easier when I'm trying to get fertility assistance on the NHS and thankfully, she's female! Maybe you can send an email in to the surgery to make the all the doctors aware 😂

Looooool! I'm definitely guessing the latter! Because the average human would have no chance doing even a fifth of the Kama Sutra positions. You'd have to be a contortionist or a gymnast! 🤸‍♀️

I like that fabric too. I like that it's textured but I wish there were more colours. I'd have to see if another website stocks it with more colours. Maybe from next week, I'll start making practice products! I was going to set my table up in the living room, but I've put Float's enclosure there, So I'll need to think of somewhere else to work! Will you go back to sewing do you think? It would be cool to combine your card making with sewing somehow.

Haha! Nope! No effort to learn to drive 😪

😂😂😂 Babies aren't the most hygienic! You'd probably get over it because you'd love you baby so much you wouldn't care what's coming out of their mouth/nose/bottom. Haha did you feel broodier or the same?

Yes, put them in the same carrier and hope a fight doesn't break out!! Good luck 😂😂

Eeeeek! We're meeting in two days!!!

What a day. I have no idea what to do with myself. At least grey rabbit got to have a short taste of freedom.

How are your temps doing today? Any sign of AF? I checked my CM today. I did have some EWCM but I also had thick yellowy sticky like CM too. Weird. I've completely forgotten that I need to start taking OPKs today. I just haven't had a second to think about that. Hopefully it's -ve. Not sure I want to DTD today.

Ah yes, I remember you saying you were honest because you were on the pill. You definitely went the right way about it then. If you ever see your GP again, you should let them know they did you a disservice so that they don't do the same to someone else in the future.

Haha Nope! No way! I also don't have the upper or lower body strength for wheelbarrow! Kama Sutra always seems like a fun idea until you realise your body doesn't bend a certain way 😂

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll think of a few crucial questions to ask. I might also ask if I can be referred to a private clinic for treatment as there's a few in my area. Maybe even go back to the one I went to initially but via the NHS this time.

Greek food is very mild. They have meats and lots of veg, like aubergines, peppers, etc. Food with pita breads and some rice dishes. Dips and salads. We'll have to serve you Greek food when you come to visit!

All of the fabrics that I ordered from China have arrived. I like 2 out of 3 and will probably start making practise products with some calico before cutting into these fabrics. I'm still waiting for the samples from the expensive place. I'm leaning towards using those fabrics and selling my products at a premium price. Hopefully there's a market for it. I'm also looking into nice looking waterproof lining fabric for the makeup bags. I've seen these:

• www.selfmade.com/en-gb/p/woven-oilcloth-golden-brown-5204/870361
• www.selfmade.com/en-gb/p/woven-oilcloth-with-powder-white-arches-5207/870364
• cameleontextil.com/waterproof-fabrics-c-8/waterproof-fabric-with-pu-coating-p-57.html

I need to decide on hardware too, like zippers and fastenings and stuff. Lots to think about for sure!

4.5 hours each way in one day??!! 😱 I actually saw some photos on Facebook. Lots of babies! How was that for you?

I hope you can bond your boys after the neutering. Definitely take them on car journeys. They'll snuggle right up to each other in fear 😂

Haha the one time you actually want AF to come early! Have you started spotting? If it does start within the next couple of days then it may well be finished by next weekend 💃

At this point, I'm just happy we were referred quickly. I guess if we waited until the right days for the tests we'd still be waiting for a referral. Do you think if you'd done your referral via your GP, you'd still be waiting to have blood tests done? You definitely did the right thing going private first.

Haha those are our two positions too!!! 😂 DH definitely prefers doggy. I don't really care, it always feels the same for me regardless. Sometimes I am on top but then we'll finish in either of those two position. I'm not even sure if it's worth trying any other positions while TTC. Maybe wheelbarrow 😂😂

I think our cycles will. But it probably won't last long. We'll be in sync for a cycle or two and then probably go out of sync again.

Do you think I can ask the NHS fertility consultant approximate timescales? Also is there anything else worth asking from your experience? I'm in half a mind to list them all my infertility theories so they can investigate each one 😂 They'll probably think I'm crazy.

Haha well done on backing up your phone. It's worse when you have valuable photos that you can't get back. All of mine on my phone are backed up too and I sometimes get memories from like 3 years ago and it's so nice to see.

Yesterday, a friend and his parents and sister came to visit us. We hosted them with Greek food, not sure they were fans though. They're Indian so probably prefer things a lot spicier. Then I've been working on the website as well as doing research into fabrics. It has been crazy hot. Inside the house is relatively cool so we haven't suffered much. Coventry is quite a drive up! How long did that take? Do you have AC in the car. I'd hate to be doing a long drive in such heat!

My grey rabbit is unwell. I checked them both over today and grey rabbit had hardened eye crusts stuck in his fur, I had to cut it off! He also has dried blood under his chin and the fur there is all gone and his skin is red and sore. I think he's having teeth issues as his teeth sort of sound like they're crunching together and it looks to me like his face may be swollen. We'll have to take him to the vets ASAP. It's always him that's unwell!!! And I know it's because he's stubborn. He must be in pain, poor baby. I don't know if it'll be classed as an emergency, he's not dying so probably no need to call the emergency line but I will try and get an appointment for Monday or Tuesday.

How are your rabbits doing? Are they dealing well with separation?

Oh poo, no birthday sex for you. I'll be ovulating around the time of your birthday so maybe my child will have your birthday as their conception date. As we're staying in uni halls, DH and I can pretend we're students getting up to no good and surprise... "accidental" pregnancy! 😂

I hope they accept our private results. The SA is pretty up to date and we've asked the GP to add it to DH's medical file so hopefully it'll get relayed to the fertility department. I spoke to my GP about the LH and FSH tests being on the wrong day and she said it didn't matter as they were just initial tests that had to be done (seems kind of pointless though if the results aren't accurate!) Maybe the fertility department will conduct their own tests anyway.

Haha omg! We're terrible! I asked DH if he felt like a sperm making machine and he said no that we DTD loads last cycle. Guess my poor guy gets exhausted, especially since I rarely do any of the work 🤣🤣

Your temps are looking good! They're pretty stable. You could very much have an 11 day LP again! Not much is happening with my chart. My temps are low but stable too. I haven't checked for fertile signs yet but it's still a bit early.

Do you really think it'd would take that long to finally have IVF? A whole year is so far 🙁 But I suppose it's good because you'd prefer it that way anyway because of the wedding. Do you have the option of having the treatment done through the NHS at a private clinic? It might be quicker that way.

Is your MOH a friend while your bridesmaids are family?

I know what I'm getting you for your birthday! I want to ask you if you'd like it but at the same time I want it to be a surprise.

My personal laptop 🙁🙁 If the data is stored locally on a hard drive then it won't be safe. Hard drives don't last forever and can fail, so it's good to back up on another hard drive or on the cloud.

DH didn't eat any but I did tell him before I ate it that if I got sick, I would blame him (as he chose not to stop me).

Maybe we can pretend it's implantation? #WishfulThinking. It would be nice if it was. It'll be a lovely birthday gift for you.

I hope the NHS moves quick for me. I'd like to at least get my tubes checked because that's the only physical thing left to check then everything else will be hormone and blood tests I'm assuming. Plus a HSG is expensive so I'd want that done on the NHS.

Haha! Poor guys! I really hope they don't feel like sperm making machines 😂 I literally woke up this morning and said to DH "We're having sex today!" And he was like "ok!" But I haven't DTD with him since my last fertile window so he kind of is like a sperm machine 😔

Oooh you're patient! You'd wait another month before chasing them? I guess since you won't want IVF straight away because of the wedding then you have some time for investigations, but a year will fly by so definitely push early if necessary. How's the wedding planning going anyway?

I'm on CD8 - I forget too!! I have to check FF or else I lose track! Haha omg, no more leaky nipples pleeease 😂😂 I'm sending leaky nipple vibes your way too 🤣🤣🤣

Yeah, I think I'd need to think about luxurious looking packaging. I probably won't go high-end as I won't be able to afford the fabrics needed, like 100% silk and other natural fibres, so I'll aim for a mid-end market, like Dune for example. I'm aiming for at least a 50% margin, so if the product costs me £10 to make, I'd want a £10 profit, but my goal is 67%. What do your profits look like?

My laptop died! So I've had to wipe the hard drive and install the operating system again. I've backed up my important files but going forward I'll be automatically syncing all my files to the cloud!! So this is a friendly reminder to backup your data!!

I agree! If it's not green, then it's safe to eat (except for in this case!) I knew I was taking a big risk with it but it did look safe! Clearly not! I woke up yesterday feeling a bit bleh but much better now. I'm fully recovered from my self-inflicted ailment 😂

In my naive state, I'd say your temp spike was due to implantation but who knows what's going on in our bodies half the time. Maybe you have a mild fever, although those temps aren't crazy high. What did they do today?

I'd hate to be diagnosed with unexplained infertility! Because then what else can be done! Let's hope the only reason is that we're unlucky and it will happen eventually! Although I still think I have lots of NK cells because I'm rarely ill (unless I'm poisoning myself with contaminated bread.) I still have rubella antibodies from my vaccination as a child and apparently the antibodies can disappear after 20 years but mine are still there so I must be super healthy (my unsubstantiated theory).

In 3 months time, we would have been trying for 12 months and officially become classed as infertile 😭😭 I don't think having no money makes it easier. It just means we're getting closer to infertile status with no resolution! We're going to try and replicate DH's sperm count from last cycle, where he didn't ejaculate for 4 days before providing the sample. So we'll DTD CD8, then CD12 (or the day of a +ve OPK) and maybe the day after ovulation.

Ok, so good news about the contrast MRI. Since you're doing the MRI, then it's worth having it done properly so you can get conclusive results the first time round. Bad news that you're not a huge priority. Do you think you'll ask your consultant to bump you up the priority list? I remember you did similar for one of your tests but I guess this is different because it's outside of the fertility clinic's remit.

Leaky nipples have been the strangest symptom to date! I just understand where it came from!!

Yeah, my AF ended a few days ago. It was very normal. I've started getting some twinges in my ovary so I think I'll be ovulating from my left this cycle. I upped my dose of soy from 120/120/160/160/200 to 120/160/160/200/200 to see if it would change things.

Yeah, that's her! You're right about the pattern being too big. I was thinking the same things about some of the fabrics I sent you yesterday, but I found a site that sells very luxurious fabrics for upholstery. I've ordered samples from them. They're very pricy but if I'm going for luxury, then I'd need to invest in quality. I like the Nellie collection (there are more colours if you do a search for nellie) and from 1 meter of fabric I should be able to make 12 makeup bags. The £67 price tag is steep but for 12 bags it'll cost £5.60 per bags. Factoring in lining, zipper, etc, it'll maybe come to about £10 per bag and I'd sell for at least £25 maybe, up to £35.

Hahaha I got banned because I was poaching their vendors for my website that I was making for made-to-measure fashion 😂 Luckily it was done under a business name I don't use or own anymore.

Haha it was a weird dream. I got into a fight with random people on the streets of Bristol 🤷‍♀️

I'm literally sick to my stomach. I gave myself food poisoning and it wasn't even by accident. We had some 3 month old wraps that weren't mouldy looking so I thought I would chance them - bad idea 🤢

I think I'm just naturally low in progesterone. I've been tracking my cycles for at least 10 years and they've always been around 24-26 days so my LP has probably always been short. I don't know if there's anything I can do to change it and I don't even know if that's what's stopping me from getting pregnant. When I was on the pessaries, I had major palpitations so my body probably can't handle too much progesterone.

We couldn't book in the IVF if we wanted right now. We don't have the money anymore. We've just spent £3k on a new boiler and we're due to spend another £1k on our leaky roof. We may be able to afford it in September, but not this month.

You've literally been waiting months for your MRI now. Do you wish you'd stuck with the HSG? The NHS must be seriously backlogged. There probably isn't anything you can do but wait.

I've started taking soy again, days 3-7 for a change. I probably won't take it again next cycle as it hasn't really made a difference to my cycles.

Was your ovulation painful?

Oh gosh, that's scary! How can you tell if a mole is cancerous?? Do you get yourself checked over once in a while?

Thank you! I went with your suggestions about dark colours and I think I like the colours I've chosen for the website. It's finally at a place where I like it so all that's left is to add products. I have some leftover fabric that I could make a product from. It's the fabric that my sister's wearing on my other instagram - the flower one - what do you think? Too dark?

I can see the '1 Sale' on your etsy profile! So awesome! Your images look great too! I actually got banned from etsy once but just made a new profile and used it anyway 😂😂😂

I had a dream and you were in it! I came to visit you with my family 😂

Meh, it is what it is. I've bought natural progesterone cream from the US to try. Seems like my FP is perfect but I've never had a scan during my LP so maybe that's where everything is going wrong, although I do bleed for a good number of days so my lining must be fine?? I just think it could be a hormone imbalance? I still have left over cyclogest but it wouldn't be enough to sustain a pregnancy so I've just left it in the fridge.

How's your cycle going? Has your temps started going up? I thought my AF would change after the vaccine but it's literally been the exact same. It's not particularly painful and the flow is normal. It's just a pretty chill cycle, so nothing like how yours was. But it seems like your cycle is back to normal now.

No, I don't think they're sun related. I've had them all my life. Particularly on my legs and chest but they seem to have increased randomly. Unless it's always been like that and I just wasn't checking my body enough so never noticed. Maybe the whole lactation fiasco brought my attention to them.

Haha! My cousin was like that! 2 weeks late as well and completely shrivelled up 😂 I came right on time 😄 the perfect baby. My middle sister came a day late and my younger sister came 3 days late but was due on my mum's bday.

I'll send you a link to the website. I was just so fed up of feeling sad so needed to do something to take my mind off another failed cycle. So basically, I was sat in my bed, being an absolute misery guts and across my line of vision was the makeup bag I made for myself sitting there and all these ideas just flooded into my head, so I went online and bought some nice fabrics and decided there and then that I'd make unique accessories. I'll start with makeup bags and expand my range as I grow.

Haha! Congrats again lovely! You must be so proud of yourself! I'm really pleased for you 💕

Wellness day off at work today, which I suppose has come at a perfect time because I started spotting yesterday night, and now the spotting is redder so AF will likely start today. Plus my temps have more than confirmed it. Have you ovulated?

As of now, we're both on cycle 12! You're in the middle of yours and I'm at the beginning of mine. My cycles are stupidly short so they come around pretty quickly.

I suppose if you didn't have the whole appendix issue as a child, you might have been fine and conceived pretty easily. I just don't know what's wrong with me or what I did to break me.

DH is clueless and said they looked normal to him - but he is wrong. Mine isn't as bad as Michael Jackson and not as extreme as vitiligo. Think very tiny freckles but lighter instead of darker and spaced quite far apart. I haven't been able to find anything on the internet about it.

I haven't even checked my account to see if he deposited it. I don't want his money and I'll probably just send it back to him if he has. I guess being in lockdown and having no reason to look even remotely human has made most of us really complacent with our appearance. I think I'll do something with my hair so at least it doesn't look like a matted mess on top of my head.

Yay! Finally! I bet you're so glad to have his results. Looks like everything is fine with him. Even his morphology. Apparently it's rare to get anything above 8% so don't worry about that. His SA is pretty similar to my DH's newest SA so I guess I should be pleased that my DH's sperm is doing quite well now, despite his obesity.

I think I must have separated the rabbits for at least two weeks. Just so they were properly healed. Then I let them fight it out.

Haha! What if your DP couldn't drive and the ambulance were taking ages?I guess in the throws of labour, stuck at home, and you can't do anything else but push and then suddenly the baby flies out, I don't think a C-section would be needed then.

It was so stressful. DH wanted us to book holidays but I didn't want to apply for a new passport in case it would turn up. There was a lot of backlog when covid first started, so I thought if I just waited, I'd eventually get it back. But month after month went by and I called up the DVLA almost daily and they didn't have it. So I eventually had to apply for a new passport. Luckily I'd gotten two additional copies of my marriage certificate (I recommend you do the same), so I have the original with me and one more spare copy left.

That dress is gorgeous! I really wanted a dress that had beautiful back detail - maybe next time. Back fat is the worst! But easy to lose if you do full body workouts. You have time! I'm sure you'll look gorgeous in it.

I'm thinking about maybe starting some sort of accessories business. I like sewing, but making clothes to fit bodies can be complex, so I'm thinking maybe accessories will be less stressful. I want to distinguish myself by using weird and unique fabrics so I'm going to buy some fabric and do a trial run to see if anyone would be interested in my stuff. Any luck with your etsy shop?

As expected, looks like it's all over for me! Just waiting for the spotting or AF. And then hopefully my hormones sort themselves out next cycle.

Awesome!! You'll probably get your peak later on today or early tomorrow! Maybe our cycles will somehow sync up again, the only difference being that I'll be one cycle behind you instead of two.

I actually asked my mum how long it took to conceive my siblings and it took her no time because we were all accidents!!!!!! Lucky her 😒

I reached my peak temp today. The only time I've gone over 36.9 was when I was on progesterone, where I peaked at 37. So although this cycle's temps seemed quite low, I ended up reaching my peak at the same time as last cycle's. It could start falling from tomorrow but I'd like to see it go up! I haven't started spotting like I did this time last cycle so I'm hoping for my usual length LP (or longer) or a BFP! RHR seems stable too!

Apart from leaky nipples, my boobs seem strange. I'm just waiting for DH to get in so he can tell me if my boobs look normal or not to him. I'm getting hypopigmented dots all over the skin of my breasts and chests. It's like I'm losing colour from my skin. My mum has them and I usually have very very few but it's like they've increased in numbers and now they're properly noticeable. But maybe they've always been there? So now I'm doubting myself but I'm really freaking out too. I even have white bumps on my areola. I'm scared I have the C word. Might need to book in a GP appointment!

Feeling super emotional today. I just want to cry. DH sent me £100 to treat myself because I'm so sad but I'd rather cry! I feel ugly. I just go around the house looking like a homeless person 😭 I'm just so miserable today 😭😭 How's your week been so far? Are you having terrible weather as well? Is the weather forecast available for the day of your party? Historically, what's the weather been like on your birthdays?

Sounds like you have to go through so many hoops to get your DP's SA! I completely get your frustration and in your shoes I'd feel the same way! Are you able to send and receive messages through this new portal? You may be able to get quicker responses through it. Also have your DP communicate with them too to take the pressure off you.

My rabbits love herbs! Especially coriander. I fed them cat grass because Aski wouldn't eat it, and they loved that too. They're not a fan of kale however. I do give them half a grape or some other fruit once in a while but it's mostly on very rare ocasions. Your hutch has two levels so maybe you can block off access between the levels? After the surgery, grey rabbit was quite alert but it took another day for white rabbit to properly recover - maybe because he's a lot smaller than his brother so it had a bigger effect.

I suppose if given the choice, I'd rather give birth in an ambulance than inside my car! Do you think you'd ever choose to give birth outside of a hospital? My mum gave birth to my youngest sister at home.

Maybe it takes time for the search listings to be updated? How many days has it been since you started paying for ads? Good idea to reach out to them. There might also be some info out there on how the etsy algorithm works, so that might give you some ideas as to what's going wrong.

Yay! Congrats on having a MOH and bridesmaids! Good idea doing a signed for delivery. I learnt my lesson after I posted my passport and marriage certificate off to the DVLA with no tracking and they got lost!

Woooooo! Wedding dress shopping!! 👰 try on lots of styles and take your time making a decision. I regret rushing mine 😞 send pics of what you're thinking!!