New Cycle starting 13/01/21

@thislittlebird sadly wasted a test this morning... whiter than white FRER over here 👎 hope you ladies have more luck this month! My temperatures were totally teasing me so lesson learned not to trust BBT 😆 and I'm definitely out as I had spotting late this afternoon too.

I'm switching to one decaf coffee a day now and sticking with water and fruit caffeine free teas as I can't think of anything else to try next!

Well at least you didn’t waste a test @2020mission, you can see what happens with it. I’m glad I’m not temping this month since it stressed me out so much last month. I’m not as manic so far, let’s see how I get on.

Acupuncture was fine. I didn’t really think about the needle side of it when I booked, I just wanted to try something to help my hormones. When I was there I had a brief flash of needle panic but it was fleeting and they were fine. You just breathe in and they insert them as you breathe out, it wasn’t painful. Vaguely uncomfortable in one area (lower back, which she claimed was a nervous system sensitivity or something) but fine overall. I did feel more chilled after, it was odd.

I’ve decided I need to shed a few winter pounds so today I’ve started on the seeds and will try to eat well and exercise after a couple of months of very little activity.

Good news on the interview @KeepSmiling89!

@thislittlebird I've held off as my temperature hasn't went up this morning and RHR is on the way down 👎🏻 not looking good for me now. How was the acupuncture? I don't like the look of it haha but I'm guessing it's not actually that sore? It's definitely widely recommended for fertility so hopefully it will help you!

@KeepSmiling89 woo great news! Fingers crossed for the interview going well🤞😃

Mine only lasted two days last month @KeepSmiling89 which really isn’t normal for me but what’s normal anymore, my body decided to reject normal periods some months ago

@2020mission do you still need talking down or did you test? I would always wait because you won’t trust a negative at 10dpo.

I’m 2dpo because I ovulated on cd14 (instead of 16-18) this month and I have no idea why, maybe the acupuncture did it?

Taking myself to shops this morning for some seeds, how’s your seed cycling going? That could be helping your chart.

I’m trying to be more chill this month because stress isn’t good for my progesterone levels. I’m going to start working out again and stuff which I had stopped after I got into a deep funk when I found out a friend was pregnant in December. It’s been a rough couple of months mentally.

@2020mission I haven’t even ovulated yet and I’m already thinking this month will be another negative😩 gosh it really does make you think you’ll never get a positive doesn’t it!!

Oo that’s promising with your BBT isn’t it! Fingers crossed for you!! Keep us updated 🤩

@mollyaimee Aww I know it doesn't matter how many months it's been, it's always tough to take. Maybe this will be the month though? Keeping hope is all you can do 🤞 your peak will be coming soon hopefully!

I've not really got any symptoms but my BBT is looking better than usual this month. Usually the temperatures are erratic but they seem to be consistent and a bit higher than usual this month. It's going to lead to a real downer if it's negative though now 😅 I'm going to see if my temp is still high tomorrow morning and will test if it is I think

@2020mission hiya!! I’m currently on cycle day 14, peak doesn’t seem to be coming yet so thinking I’ll ovulate around day 18/19 again like I did last cycle! I’m always an enabler and a tester just because I want to know aha so take that advice however you wish😂 feeling really deflated this month to be honest, just feel like I’ll never get my positive! (I’m just being super over dramatic, this is only our 3rd cycle TTC) but definitely feeling it more this month! Any symptoms for you?

@KeepSmiling89 @thislittlebird @mollyaimee 👋 where are you all at in your cycles now? I'm tempted to test tomorrow morning at 10 DPO... someone talk me down (or tell me I should 😆)

@KeepSmiling89 any news on the job yet?

Do you have longer cycles @KeepSmiling89?

I got my peak today on the old clear blue fertility monitor, which is ahead of schedule. I usually am about 29 days but it can vary, and I usually ovulate 16-18 from what I’ve tracked in previous months. Wonder if my acupuncture brought it forward? Or supplements? Dunno. I started on cd8 too @2020mission, clear blue demands cd8 lol.

Getting annoyed with news features involving lockdown babies, I won’t lie. My friends will be due their babies soon, meanwhile here I am 🥴

@KeepSmiling89 @mollyaimee I ovulated on CD 11 😅 so I have to start OPKs at CD 8! I'm 6 DPO now because of the early ovulation. Really hoping this is the month... it's my birthday just after I'll be testing - a BFP would be a great present!

Crossing my fingers for you with the job @KeepSmiling89 🤞

@KeepSmiling89 I’m on cycle day 11 too so think I’ll start testing today too as I have a 29 day cycle, although I didn’t ovulate until day 19 last time so we’ll see!! I also knew I would test this month even though I said I wouldn’t 😂 I’m exactly the same as you and keep stumbling across pregnancy announcements on Instagram and feeling so happy for them but also a little sad for myself at the same time. It’s crazy, we’re only on cycle 3 but it just feels like we’ll never get our BFP!! Good luck for the job too!!

Hi ladies! Hope you’re all doing well😃 random question, has anyone else had any trouble with evap/indent lines on Easy@home HCG tests?

@KeepSmiling89 ahh well a saving in fuel and time commuting is still a win. Fingers crossed for you🤞it's not always about money - I'd take a job with a bit less money if my work/life balance was better! Also would love a good manager above me for a change 😑

@thislittlebird stress impacting TTC is worry... and leads to more stress 😅 this pandemic isn't helping either. Hopefully when things improve and restrictions are eased combined with some better weather, we'll all be feeling less stressed and progesterone will soar!

Forgot to say, I was just reading about how stress can knock your progesterone out of whack and how acupuncture rebalances hormones so I’m optimistic about tomorrow.

Yeah definitely go for the job @KeepSmiling89. I took my job with the maternity package in mind and I’m feeling so stupid for not ttc earlier now because I was worried about hitting the time where you can’t claim full mat leave because you haven’t been there long enough. Now I don’t want to move jobs or move away because I want that damn maternity package I signed up for lol

Yep private @2020mission, had some tests with them for AMH and follicle count previously. I had already told them I didn’t want ivf at this stage, I was hoping they’d say xyz might help me but no, recommended some tests, leading to a Barney with them when I called to get more info about the tests. I was raging this morning, the (non-doctor) woman I tried asking was useless.

Might differ everywhere but I’m not sure what GPs are and aren’t allowed to prescribe now. Mine said I might be given something for progesterone by specialist once referred.

Yeah I know what you mean, pros and cons of different cycle patterns. Who knows what’s good and not really.

@KeepSmiling89 ohh fingers crossed for the job! Honestly the amount of days I've spent hating my job and wanting to move jobs but then thought "no I can't, I'm TTC and could be pregnant any time soon...". Over a year passes and I'm still here 😑 so I definitely don't think you should avoid looking for a new role. Also my thinking is if you end up on a little more money, any less maternity pay you get should eventually balance out with the higher salary 🤞

@thislittlebird talking about IVF when you're just looking to up your progesterone 🙄 is this a private clinic? You can't help but wonder if money is all the motivation with these clinics. I was hoping when I get on at the GP that they would do some tests and be able to give me progesterone or any other hormone balancing prescriptions that could help but I'm losing confidence now. Hopefully you'll get through to them soon!

The one perk of my shorter cycles is moving to the next cycle after a failed cycle quickly, but really it's got to be better having cycles that are more like your length! I don't think ovulating early is optimal as it's less time for the egg to mature and less time for my lining to thicken

It’s super frustrating @2020mission. All I want is some more info or help with the low progesterone issue while I wait for my referral (which the GP receptionist is still sitting on nearly a week later) but instead all I got was a lack of help and some suggested tests. When I followed up the next day (today) some woman started talking nonsense about IVF at me in response to questions, it was bizarre and infuriating. I’m not enquiring about ivf right now, but this is all some of these clinics seem to deal in when what many of us need is just a regular gynaecologist or whatever to ask questions to.

I need to balance my hormones, maybe I need to get on the seed wagon. I’ll start with acupuncture which is apparently good at this.

Mine are a little variable too, but I ovulate a fair bit later. They can be 27-36 though, but most months they’re about 29. I don’t love the slight unpredictability lol

@thislittlebird ugh you'd think fertility clinic staff would know what they are doing 🙄 not looking forward to that stuff which will be coming soon if this month is a write off! Let us know how the acupuncture goes 👍🏼
The seeds are supposed to help balance oestrogen and progesterone in each half of the cycle. I've attached an image for reference. Not sure what good it's doing but it gets some extra nutrients in at least and makes breakfast a little more interesting 😆

My cycles vary from 24-28 days. I had a 19 day cycle in October 😬 and occasionally they can be up to 31 days. Average is 26-27 days. Probably a little on the short side really... what are yours usually like?

Your list is extensive @2020mission 👀. Are the seeds for progesterone? I read something about this earlier. I warned you about the Biona, it’s so grim lmao. I have a Sainsbury’s pink grapefruit juice in this month, let’s see how that tastes. Will start it tomorrow probably, along with CB testing.

I won’t ovulate until the end of next week sometime (if my body can even be arsed to do it lbr) so it’s nuts how you’ve already had yours. How long are your cycles?

I’ve been busy arguing with fertility clinic staff about how useless they are, does that count as new? Lol. I got very annoyed when they knew bugger all about tests they said to have when I pressed them for more info on said tests. So great day for me!

Otherwise, I’m also starting acupuncture tomorrow and I’m anticipating that I may end up having a full meltdown at the acu woman so that’s fun.

@mollyaimee glad to hear you've had some well deserved wine 🍷 that was me at the weekend too haha! Not much new happening this cycle for me except for a bit of supplement and pomegranate changes.

This months TTC list from me:

• Moved from Pregnacare supplements to Seven Seas trying for a baby.
• Husband is just coming to the end of his first month taking Wellman Conception supplements
• Moved to pomegranate seeds and pomegranate juice not from concentrate (starting from ovulation day) to make sure I'm getting the benefits of pomegranate for womb lining 🤞 last months I was drinking pomegranate juice form concentrate
• DTD every second day and then every day once I got peak OPK readings... close to SMEP so far

The other usuals that I've been doing for months:

• Glass of Tropicana grapefruit juice every day from AF ending until ovulation (for fertile CM)
• 1 tbsp flaxseeds and 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds with breakfast first half of cycle until ovulation
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds and 1 tbsp sunflower seeds with breakfast from now until end of the cycle
• 2 Brazil nuts every evening

What's everyone else doing? Any other tips welcome! 😆