Trying to conceive over 40 part 2

Slept for Britain this weekend and that seems to make the biggest difference with the morning sickness. My poor other half is trying so hard and is affronted at me turning down food I'd normally love, but I think he's understanding the food aversions a bit more now. Headspace Guide to Pregnancy is so good and thoroughly recommend it for the conception period too. I'm feeling bad about the horse not working just now, but it's been hard to find someone who can ride. Might just have to accept she's going to have the first trimester off then can start doing ground work in my second trimester once energy levels start to come up again.

So interesting this whole progesterone debate, I had two NHS fertility consultants, my GP and one private fertility consultant tell me to take it from 2 days after ovulation. Then a different private fertility consultant and a locum NHS GP told me it was a waste of time! My conclusion was that they don't really know whether it makes a difference or not but the miscarriage charity Tommy's supports prescribing it and if they support it there has to be a valid case for taking it.

The doctors who supported taking progesterone all told me that it can mask miscarriage but that it's still worth taking it just in case it is a viable pregnancy and that it wouldn't do you or the baby any harm.

Just to add on the progesterone convo... I had mine tested at the epu at 5.5 weeks pregnant, it was really good at 120. However when speaking to the junior sister I asked if it could drop and she said when she joined the role she didn't think so but have since known women who levels have. So she called my fertility consultant who reluctantly prescribed it for me as I said this is my final shot and I would rather try everything and not have regrets. Anyhow, junior sister said it would be from a heartbeat so timing is fine but then said after that the fertility consultant said before 6 weeks, so I was ok to start it!?!?

So I'm on it, it's messy shite but at least I'm trying. The fertility consultant warned that it could mask miscarriage though but I was ok with that as have another scan booked in at 8 weeks on Friday. So we will see 🙏

Last time with ds the consultant thought it was a waste of time me being on it in the first place. However the nhs seems to be recognising the use of progesterone a bit more. I’ll let you know what the advice is. Xx

Ahhh yes that makes total sense @Catconfusion and I’d be really interested in what consultant says too.

Hope you’re managing to keep some food down! Xx

@Geriatric1234 I think I had progesterone measured but wasn’t day 21. They just wanted a level for my fertility referral. In fact I was pregnant with my last early miscarriage when I had the test. I don’t think I ever got the result as I knew I’d supplement anyway.

The way my Gp described it when I was pregnant with ds is progesterone is difficult to reliably measure because it fluctuates in early pregnancy. She felt it was worth supplementing in case as it would do no harm. Obviously after ovulation or with a bfp so can’t see how it would affect egg quality. I’ve taken it since 3 dpo and this pregnancy is going well. I have my 12 week scan next week so will mention it to the consultant and see if I can come off it now the placenta has taken over. Xx

Or after a bfp

I think for natural conception progesterone is only used after ovulation beginning 2 or 3 days after ovulation

Very interesting @Mattieandmummy! If you’re happy to share what the doc says @October1979 I’d love to know. My fertility consultant was adamant that my day 21 result (48) was high enough to suggest no supplementation was needed and could in fact be detrimental taken pre-pregnancy as it would make me ovulate an underripe egg. But we didn’t discuss post-BFP so if I have one again I think I’ll be straight down to the EPU for advice on it, as sounds like it’s quite a good idea to get on it early in case if a drop. X

I think progesterone is used in ivf because you have an artificial egg collection rather than your body ovulating naturally. So without having progesterone supplements, your body would not produce enough progesterone to make your womb lining thicken properly and all the other good stuff progesterone does. I started taking the progesterone the day of egg collection (ie faux ovulation). @October1979 I would definitely speak with your dr about it, if there’s a possibility that it could help you then it must be worth a shot!!

Ah also some women have a drop in progesterone around 5 weeks and then bang miscarriage x

I was told by our consultant that anything between 30 and 40 for a 21 day progesterone test is good and the closer to 40 the better. Being over 20 means you have ovulated but probably weak ovulation so hormones a bit out of wack or poor quality eggs.

It's not quite so straight forward though if you have, like me (of course 🤦) a secondary estrogen surge on 21 which messes up allllll your numbers. 🙄

But if your number was 40, that's really positive x

Also @Catconfusion I am so sorry you're feeling shite but SO LOVING to read your progress! xxx

Hey all,

I feel like I've looked away and so much is happening on here!

@October1979 Yay to ovulating!! Can I ask why you are so concerned about progesterone? What was your day 21 result? @Catconfusion was yours low too or not? I get SOOOO many mixed messages on this - one study says it helps, one it doesn't do any harm, and another says too much progesterone can cause immature eggs - but I concluded that as my Day 21 result was so high, and the last thing I want is to is bring my ovulation forward, that I wouldn't think about it anymore. As @99pctpractice said they use a lot in IVF, but isn't that because they are trying to over-stimulate follicles as they want to 'trick' them into releasing lots of eggs? I didn't know they keep it going afterwards too! Now I'm wondering if I'm missing a trick... I think I have TTC FOMO... IT'S A THING!! ;-D

xx

Thanks, @October1979 @Catconfusion @Marvellouslymadmum. we had luckily scheduled our first holiday in 2 yrs for the 2WW, which is definitely helping as a distraction!! Quite conscious of the odds so trying not to get our hopes up.

@october1979 I would definitely push for progesterone sooner than later if you can. I know ivf messes with your natural cycle but there’s a reason why they prescribe so much progesterone from egg collection onwards.
@catconfusion that sounds awful. I’m so sorry you’re so poorly - hope you’re managing to stay hydrated and keep some protein shakes or similar down so that you’re getting enough nutrients!

@Catconfusion yes it wasn't an easy time, he was in and out of hospital for the first 6/7 years but luckily his consultant managed to get it quite well under control by that point, he is also autistic and has adhd so there's still many challenges just in different ways lol I love babies dancing it's just so cute to watch!! 17 months is a lovely age xx

@Marvellouslymadmum thank you. It sounds like you had a really rough time when your ds was small.

He’s 17 months now and has so much energy. Every day he’s saying new words and doing new things. I guess it partly the ex teacher in me, wanting to take advantage of the learning opportunities. I need to remember there’s plenty of time for that. Tv is great though and some of his new words come from things he’s seeing on tv. He also loves to dance and a lot of children’s tv is musical so it’s great to see him bobbing up and down. It’s certainly entertaining me. Xx

@Catconfusion you're not a bad mum at all! When my son was 7 months old he was diagnosed with severe brittle asthma, I had just found out I was pregnant with my daughter at the time and ended up spending days and nights in the hospital with him and each time he was sent home we were under strict instructions that when his breathing started to get even a little bad we had to keep him sitting and calm! So we had to use the tv while he was sitting in his high chair or Walker as well as things like puzzles and little toys if he would sit still for them. I spoke to the doctor about it feeling like this wasn't the best for him and he Said at their age there's so much stimulation on the children's programs it'll be good for them and it was far more important to keep him happy and still so he didn't get stressed. So I'm sure it won't hurt him having some tv time while you're poorly xx

Thank you @Marvellouslymadmum I feel like such a bad mum. Luckily DH is taking him out to the park in the afternoons and my dad is helping out too. It’s such a conflict of emotions feeling so grateful and excited to be pregnant but also quite down physically and emotionally from being so sick. I really hope it eases soon too. Xx

@October1979 thank you. I think I’d probably push for it sooner if you can. With this pregnancy I took it from 3 dpo and it stuck. I can’t prove it helped but when I told the EPAU nurse, she said the nhs are increasingly recognising the importance of progesterone and it’s completely possible I needed supplementation during the whole luteal phase to sustain the pregnancy, with ds I took it from bfp and that one was fine so I don’t know.

I’m so pleased O has finally come. Fingers crossed for you xx