Trying to conceive over 40

@Honey2 How are you doing today? x

@Mum2baby07 Sorry - just read that back and to be clear - cycle length only needs investigating if you go from a very short to a very long cycle. That can suggest menopause, but a long OR short average cycle is fine. Mine vary by a few days. x

[quote Mum2baby07]@Geriatric1234 I average about 25 day cycles - or did before this miscarriage - not yet sure what ‘normal’ will be for me. Should I worry about shorter cycles? I was tracking my period before so I knew when I was due but will start to pay attention to ovulation now. Guessing ovulation tests are a bit of a must have, especially post mid-carriage.

I’ve got Co Q-10 as my OH takes it - is that not as strong as Ubiquinol? Any recommendations to keep OH in optimum health too as he’s older than me (and I’m old enough in the baby making world!)?

Thanks x[/quote]
Hiya,

I'm not an expert but it's my understanding that a 25-ish day cycle is not unusual or anything to worry about. "Worrying" things are very long to very short cycles.

The only issue with shorter cycles is the Luteal Phase. You need about 9 days after ovulation for a blastocyst to implant (ladies who know more do correct me if I'm recounting this incorrectly!) so if you're tracking ovulation do you know which day you usually ovulate?

I believe ubiquinol is the purer version of co-10 (and is priced accordingly...urgh!). I take 300mg a day. My OH also older - about to hit 50! So he's on ubiquinol and Naturelo brand vits for men - chose that brand as it's a recommended one in the It Starts With An Egg book.

Have you had a cycle since your MC?

xx

I’ve been looking into fertility and conception supplements - has anyone on this thread used FertilitySmart Conceive for Women and if so any thoughts?

And congratulations on your pregnancy @Littlemiss40andfabulous

@Mum2baby07 welcome to the group! Sorry for your loss xx

@Catconfusion no I'm not planning on having a private scan. What will be will be and other than eat healthy, keep myself well etc I have no control over what happens next so will just wait and see.

Had my mum come to stay for the bank holiday so shared the news with her. She was pleased and interested but quite pragmatic too- and was sharing that when she found out she was pregnant with me she had to wait for 2 missed periods before seeing the GP, and then had to send off a urine sample and wait for the results! Next milestone for me will be ringing the midwife on Monday (if no period arrives before then).

@Geriatric1234 I average about 25 day cycles - or did before this miscarriage - not yet sure what ‘normal’ will be for me. Should I worry about shorter cycles? I was tracking my period before so I knew when I was due but will start to pay attention to ovulation now. Guessing ovulation tests are a bit of a must have, especially post mid-carriage.

I’ve got Co Q-10 as my OH takes it - is that not as strong as Ubiquinol? Any recommendations to keep OH in optimum health too as he’s older than me (and I’m old enough in the baby making world!)?

Thanks x

Hiya @Mum2baby07 and welcome. So sorry about your loss - so horrible. We are the same age FYI!

How short are your cycles? I also take the same Zita West sups as @Catconfusion along with ubiquinol. Are tracking ovulation? Have you read "it starts with the egg"? x

Thanks @catconfusion for pep talk - you are absolutely right - statistics are averages and I need to remember I've been told I have no fundamental fertility issues so it's just time. And I'm sure I'd like my own child....right....;-D x

And @Honey2 lines deffo look darker to me. Even asked colour blind DH which he though was darker and he said 5+6. But I'd be the same as you and bracing for worst whilst hoping for best. xx

@Catconfusion thank you so much for the warm welcome and info. I have short cycles so not sure if I need to do anything differently because of that? The diet interests me as I conceived naturally when I was eating healthier and walking most days and my lowest weight in almost two years so I will get back to that after 9 weeks of being too scared to do too much in case I lost my bubs but I did anyway . On the lookout for a good all round supplement for fertility so will check out your info and any other recommendations too x

Welcome @Mum2baby07 I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s so devastating and horrible to feel that pressure to try again due to age. You’re in good hands on this thread.

Personally I take Zita west vitafem, omega 3, inositol as I have long cycles and ubiquinol. Also a Mediterranean diet. I’m now trying to up my exercise as I think that helps too. Xx

@Geriatric1234 you rant away. Ttc is really stressful and boring when you can’t drink much and have to watch your diet. Hopefully you’ll get lucky soon. I’m sure you will make a brilliant mum. On the surface it looks so hard but when it’s your own baby it’s totally worth it. I doubt you’ll be having lots of them too. I honestly don’t know how mums of 2 plus do it.

The statistics really get me mad because fertility is individual and plenty of people have babies in their early 40s. It’s wise to get tests and make sure all ok, if anything just for the reassurance.

I’m convinced diet is the key to improving ovulation and egg quality. It’s not been too bad so far. We’re on our 4th week of it. Also we’re counting Pizza as Mediterranean on our cheat night 😂 xx

Hi all love to join this thread. Spent 9+1 hoping my little bubs would hang in there and be viable but sadly not meant to be. 42 so no time to waste on trying again. Our bubs was a total surprise so please share your hints, nutrition and supplement tips, and anything else. I’ve not TTC for 14 years so it’s all new for me x

@Catconfusion That’s a really positive update! And thanks for diet info I will deffo check them out!

@Littlemiss40andfabulous I’m so pleased to hear that! I agree that symptoms are so individual I wouldn’t stress and just go with the flow. I think the tests are your best source of reassurance as it’s all about the hcg.

I’m off for progesterone and DHEA tests today. I panick booked them after my weirdly short cycle last month (which I now think was my vaccine).

Overall I’m feeling rather “meh”. I’ve foolishly been googling over 40 pregnancy stats again. No idea why I do it.... I think I’m just rather bored of TTC. I’ve never been bothered about having children so this TTC stuff was really about me and the DH looking back and “having no regrets by giving nature a shot”. We are not even considering IVF. But now I feel like it’s limiting my life a bit... Possibly as I approach 43 (in august) I’m just a bit too selfish for kids. We had the deadline to stop at December but I think we might pull that back a bit. It just feels like the statistics are rather against us and I’m getting bored of lying about why I’m not drinking! God I sound pathetic...🤭

Might add we had friends staying this weekend with their two children aged 5 & 2 and the 2 year old was a nightmare. Not sure I’m mother material...🤣

Blimey. That vent came from nowhere! Sorry!! The sun is shining, it’s another day!! Xxx

For anyone interested, the dietitian is @fertility.dietitian.uk on Instagram. I paid for a diet plan from her and it’s pretty easy to follow.

@Littlemiss40andfabulous that’s fantastic news. I really hope this is it. I have everything crossed for you. Will you have an early scan? Symptoms seem to vary so much. With my first pregnancy I was projectile vomiting for 8 weeks and it was a mmc 🤷🏻‍♀️. No symptoms or lots of symptoms it seems hard to know if all is well without a scan. The signs are looking good for you with such a strong positive.

I follow a couple of fertility nutritionists and a Mediterranean diet seems a good choice for fertility. Lots of omega 3 and lowish carbs. I can’t be sure it it’s caused my early ovulation but since I’ve had three long cycles (50 days plus) in a row like I used to have before ds, it seems a sudden change. Xx

Little update from me-

I'm 5 weeks and 3 days today. Not really getting any obvious symptoms and feel quite normal. Did another cheap poas stick this morning and the test line is still darker than the control line. I'm planning on waiting to see if it lasts over next weekend and if it does, inform the midwife and make it official. But so aware there are potentially a lot more hurdles to cross for this to be a successful pregnancy!

@Catconfusion thanks for your update. Glad to hear there isn't a backlog, but I really hope getting pregnant will just happen for you.

The change in diet sounds really interesting and beneficial. What made you change to that?

@Honey2 I agree with @October1979 the 5+3 looks darker. Many women have stated they never got above 2-3weeks on clear blue tests and went onto have very healthy pregnancies. So I wouldn't rule out that your actually progressing nicely. I realise that probably doesn't help with worrying though xx

@October1979 thanks - I totally labelled it wrong it’s actually 5+3 and 5+6, I can see what you mean the later one does look a bit darker on 2 of the lines. I think my hcg may still be creeping up but I’m pretty sure it’s way to slow to be viable. We’ll see. I’m trying to resist buying any more tests 🙈

Oops I labelled those pics wrong - it’s 5+3 it 5+1!

This is what the inside looks like FYI...

@Geriatric1234 thanks for that, i know I shouldn’t but (after seeing it on another thread) I actually broke open the CB tests to have a look at the strips - inside there are 3 lines and all 3 need to be dark to hit 3+ both 5+3 and 5+6 looks the same - no darker but no lighter. I have just got to wait abs see! But I think I prefer to consider I’m out and then maybe be surprised if there does happen to be a miracle 😊

@October1979 I’m so sorry to hear about the bleeding. But you seem incredibly good at getting pregnant which suggests to me (Obvs I’m now a fertility doctor thanks to Google!) that it’s just a matter of time before you get a sticky bean. Xxx

@Honey2 as you know I’m not an early tester and when I got my BFP in December I tested after AF was 8 days late making me 5weeks and CB digital said 2-3 weeks (I just scrolled back through photos to check date and result!). And CB says it measures from conception, not missed period (pic attached) putting you at 5+ still legitimately in the 2-3 ish bracket. So I’m not sure you are out!! Xx

@October1979 massive respect to all teachers - you guys have the patients of a saint!! I guess a head teacher role would be pretty stressful, but rewarding too. I work in Marketing, which pays well but isn’t very rewarding. I’ve often wondered about re training as a midwife, but I’m not sure the night shifts and pay cut would go down that well with the family 🤣