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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

One year+ TTC part 4

743 replies

lemons44 · 20/11/2022 10:45

Hi all
Onto thread 4! Hopefully this one is lucky for us 🍀 🤞🏼

Just a supportive thread for those of us who have been TTC for over a year. New faces are welcome. Feel free to vent, cry, laugh, ask silly questions, seek advice and talk about anything.

Tagging our BFP ladies who are rooting for us too.

@Tinkerbell098
@NatW2021
@Koalie
@Netflixnchilli
@JSS15
@BakinABaby
@KatieLooLa
@Indianna2006
@Carla2601
@BritInNZ
@FlyOnTheWall89

Feel free to tag anyone I have forgotten.

OP posts:
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Original poster
lemons44 · 20/12/2022 13:05

@Carla2601 congratulations 🎉💗 a beautiful baby girl, I am so happy for you. And what a wonderful surprise to have her here for Christmas! 🎄 it really does feel like yesterday you announced your BFP. I hope you are feeling ok? Must have been a shock to go into labour early! Sending huge hugs. Rest up and enjoy your little bundle xxxxx

OP posts:
SaraSS · 20/12/2022 12:45

@summerchild92
Hi, glad to hear you're into the TWW.
I'm about 10dpo, maybe 11.. I'm testing with FMU and getting nothing. I suspect I'm out this cycle so getting my mindset on being able to have a drink at Christmas. Although obviously I'll keep testing just in case.
How you feeling this cycle?

Also, lovely to see some happy news on the thread 😁 congrats @Carla2601

NatW2021 · 20/12/2022 10:06

@Carla2601 - Congratulations 💗💗💗 such lovely news and how lovely that she made her arrival in time for Christmas - how magical. Hope you are doing ok xxx

FlyOnTheWall89 · 20/12/2022 09:11

@TinyDancer91 my take on it would be to stick with the NHS for now unless you are completely unfazed by the cost of a 'fertility' package and then the future costs of private care. If you end up needing help, you'll have to do all your tests through the NHS anyway (I'm pretty sure this is the case everywhere). There is no reason after the time you've been trying that you can't have your day 3 bloods on your next day 3.... these tell you lots more than the 21 day bloods.

Your OH absolutely needs to have his sperm tested asap - it's v normal for men to freak out about it. Ultimately he is just as likely as you to be the one with the issue so it needs to happen. Most of the time, this take 2 weeks to come back. Once you have your D3, D21 bloods and your SA, you will be referred to a fertility clinic and they'll advise you on next steps depending on the results. I got my AMH tested privately as they don't do this on the NHS until you're basically about to do the IVF. It was around £100. With the NHS, just be on-it with calling up to get in on cancellations etc to move appointments forward. Had we ended up needing IVF, from referral to start it would have taken 6 months so not too bad and in the end I fell naturally pregnant despite borderline SA results.

Best of luck! X

FlyOnTheWall89 · 20/12/2022 09:05

OMG OMG YAY @Carla2601 so so happy for you. Feels like yesterday that you told us everything went successfully and you got a positive test. What a year. And a girl tooooo like me. Honestly so happy. Enjoy your new born bubble over Christmas 🎄 and into the NY xx

summerchild92 · 20/12/2022 09:00

I’m currently at 4dpo if I assume I ovulated on CD16. I got a positive opk on cd15, also a bit off cramping before the blazing positive so idk really. We dtd around ovulation time so we should be covered … hoping letrozole did something for us! 😬🥹

how are you doing?

@SaraSS have you tested again? :)

2021lady · 20/12/2022 08:56

Hi everyone. I posted a while ago and then got lost in the chaos of daily life
I'm currently cd2. Plan was to do femara this cycle but I'm so unwell already with this epic cold going round I'm waiting till next cycle
.hoping i catch without it
It took us 7 months ttc for ny daughter but this time cycle 18 now I think and nothing.

This month I've made a promise to myself not to test unless I'm a good few days late.

Hope you are all ok

monsteramunch · 20/12/2022 08:46

Aaah massive congrats on your little one's arrival @Carla2601 Flowers

Very frustrating OPK strip results here early yesterday evening (CD10) One was quite dark so quickly (almost immediately) for that day in my cycle that I took another (within minutes of the first) to check if I was likely to ovulate earlier than usual but then that was even lighter than the day before's?! Not sure how that works as surely should be the at least the same or darker than the day before each time? Negative digitals both days.

So I'm assuming the first one was faulty especially as the line is sort of broken. Will do another in the afternoon today and keep doing the same time of day each day.

Annoying. So annoying. As is not being able to upload recent imagery to MN on the app, only to desktop!! Grr.

Just an error on the darker one I took between the two light ones I guess.

Have DTD so far on CD9 and 10. Will try to do at least every other day until a flashing smiley digital then three days in a row / until static smiley, and one day after that too.

Koalie · 20/12/2022 08:45

Oh @Carla2601 congratulations !!! What lovely news 🥰 so pleased you’re both doing well xxxx

Carla2601 · 20/12/2022 05:34

Hi everyone, just a little note to let you know our baby girl arrived! A couple of weeks early but after all the waiting were pleased as punch! She’s absolutely perfect, unlike her labour haha and we wouldn’t change a thing.

Thanking all her cheerleaders on here and wishing you all the baby dust for all the BFPs in 2023! And I’ll of course be staying around, can’t get rid of me that easily ☺️ x

SaraSS · 19/12/2022 13:00

@BritInNZ thanks for the advice.
I'll try to stay away from the tests until a realistic timeframe next cycle.. I should know better by now! Blush

SaraSS · 19/12/2022 12:58

@TinyDancer91
Hi, sorry to hear of your struggles. It's such a frustrating journey.
As others have said, getting on the NHS wait list for fertility checks is a good idea to get the ball rolling as it takes a while to get appointments.
Hopefully you'll get pregnant in the meantime but no harm in getting on the list :-)
This group is great, lots of people in similar situations, with lots of knowledge!

TinyDancer91 · 19/12/2022 10:24

I had day 21 bloods done.

AF is due around New Year's Day for me, so I will be pushing for us to get some help/answers if/when AF arrives.

So, may be tmi, but OH had an undescended testicle at birth and had to have a procedure to sort it as a baby. He is worried that that may have caused some issues.

My gp was really good when I mentioned to her about our struggles and got me straight in for the day 21 bloods. I know it might not be the same for other tests.

Not being able to have a baby of my own has always been one of my greatest fears in life

Koalie · 19/12/2022 09:58

@TinyDancer91 I second what @lemons44 said! The process of actually getting any help on the NHS can be so long! I know it’s scary but worth remembering that knowledge is power and lots of fertility problems can be overcome one way or another - you just have to know about them before you can make any positive steps towards your end goal 😊 Which bloods did you have? Day 3 or Day 21? (Or both?) x

Original poster
lemons44 · 19/12/2022 09:41

Hi @TinyDancer91

Welcome to the group. Hope you're feeling ok - it's tough.

I'd recommend getting on the NHS waiting list for fertility services now if you haven't already as it just takes so long and you have nothing to lose by asking for a referral now. Some areas are quicker than others but for the majority of us it has taken a really long time.

If you can afford it I'd also recommend booking in for a private fertility MOT in the mean time as these have no waiting lists and are quick and painless. It costs about £500 in most clinics and it includes an AMH blood test for you (checks your egg reserve), a scan for you to check your ovaries and lining and a semen analysis for your OH.

I know it sounds scary and I remember feeling so scared before we had tests. I remember people telling me on here to get the ball rolling as soon as possible and I'm glad I did because otherwise we wouldn't have found our issue for ages. Hopefully everything is fine for you guys and you get your BFP soon! But in the meantime keep talking to us as we know more than anyone how hard it is to have AF arrive month after month 😅😅

xx

OP posts:
TinyDancer91 · 19/12/2022 09:11

@Koalie I've had bloods done so far, they all came back 'normal'. OH wants to wait until the new year before going to the dr...

I think he's scared to be honest so I'm not pushing it for now. We're both holding on to hope for a Xmas miracle.

This is all very new to us as like everyone, we thought it would just happen with no issues.

Any advice greatly received!

Koalie · 19/12/2022 07:15

Hi @TinyDancer91 welcome to the group :) sorry to hear you’ve been struggling. What tests have you and your OH had so far? X

TinyDancer91 · 19/12/2022 02:38

Hi ladies, can I join you?

We are currently TTC #1, on cycle 13 with absolutely zero success so far.

Found the last 3 or 4 cycles really hard, started off with such a positive attitude towards the journey when we first started trying and feel like such a Debbie downer at the minute.

Currently on day 18, not holding out too much hope for this cycle but would love to go into 2023 with a BFP 🤞🏻

BritInNZ · 18/12/2022 23:05

@SaraSS going to agree with @FlyOnTheWall89 and say to stay away from the tests. It took us 18 months TTC and I think after the 6 month mark I didn't use any tests unless I was late for my period. The month I fell pregnant I tested a day after my period was due and there was a very clear line. Best to save the guessing, heartache and money 😊

SaraSS · 18/12/2022 17:03

@FlyOnTheWall89
Words of wisdom- thank you.
I have absolutely no will power with testing early though.. at this point even if I was to have a chemical, I'd want to know to show at least sperm is meeting egg! Currently I feel like the 15+ years I was on contraception was utterly pointless..! All those GP appointments, daily pills, coils etc, the amount of unprotected sex we've had and nothings happened..
Ufftt.. loosing hope as we get to the end of 2022.
Sorry to be a misery, just having a moment!

FlyOnTheWall89 · 18/12/2022 14:57

@lemons44 I love that idea - get away, just enjoy the two of you of know that things are going in the right direction now 💖

@SaraSS implantation is more likely to happy more than 9 days after ovulation for at 7DPO it is very unlikely to have been anything sadly. My big warning on tests early is that those first weeks crawl by at the slowest pace and if you know even earlier when the chances of a chemical pregnancy are at their highest, it will be even more gruelling. Plus it's just a waste of emotions and tests. I would put the tests down....!

SaraSS · 18/12/2022 14:40

@llemons44
Hiya. Yeah I'm Ok, I've not seen anything on today's test (10 or 11dpo) so I'm loosing hope for this cycle.
The lines I had seen I guess were shadows? I haven't seen them before on the brand I have but I guess I know what they look like now!
You'd think I'd learn about testing early and looking after the timeframe after 18 months but I can't help myself!!
Hope you're all doing well! Apologies I'm a little quiet on here, I've been keeping busy trying to take my mind off TTC..

KatieLooLa · 18/12/2022 11:45

@lemons44
Neither on any medication yet, looking into conceive plus motility for OH and ovulation support for myself, but we'll probably wait till after Christmas.
For now we're going to just enjoy the festive season, going to visit our families after 3 years (due to covid) so be nice to have some time away x

Original poster
lemons44 · 18/12/2022 10:52

Hi all

@Koalie I've been back and forth debating whether to tell my bosses. They are all ladies and lovely and understanding. But I still can't decide whether to tell them or not. I work from home too so I'm lucky in that sense that I can probably hide some of the side effects if I do get any.

Thanks @Carla2601 how are you feeling? You must be so close now.

@Tinkerbell098 now you've said that I remember you saying about the national shortage. I'm really glad you are finding the frozen cycle more easygoing. Thanks for all your reassurance too ❤️ I will be having 'IV sedation' for my egg retrieval which sounds like what you and @Carla2601 had.

@KatieLooLa sorry they have found that with you OH's sperm. Is he on proxceed? I know that can really improve things. I knew a few ladies who had PCOS on an older thread and I think they were give medication to make them ovulate which really helped their cycles. So try not to panic ❤️

@SaraSS hope you are ok. It's so hard when you think you see a faint line on a test and then nothing on the next one.

@NatW2021 I completely get the age related worry. 35 is made to seem like such a scary number but remember it's not like we wake up at 35 and our eggs suddenly shrivel up like dusty prunes. No big change happens, so try not to let that worry you. I can't remember what you said your AMH was but I read that it declines very slowly. I've been quoted about 1.5k for my ICSI meds.

All good here. I need to start on day 21 and my next day 21 is the start of January and I don't think we will have our sperm transferred by then due to Xmas so it looks like we will likely start at the beginning of Feb. I feel ok about that and I think me and OH may try and squeeze in a little January UK mini break before then. The whole traumatic sperm retrieval saga really took a toll on us so we're trying to make more of a romantic effort, especially as there will be nothing romantic about how our potential future baby is conceived! x

OP posts:
Carla2601 · 17/12/2022 18:36

@Koalie honestly you’ll be fine I walked him and it’s a good mile or so! I was scared too so it’s totally normal to feel like that!