calling old duffers or old up the duffers

Marinda, with my first pregnancy I didn't have any symptoms before finding out I was pregnant, not did I with my second (which m/c). For the 3rd (also m/c) and fourth (this one!) I had more of a sense that I was pregnant, but I have always been sceptical about "knowing" and think it was all in the mind. I have convinced myself that I might be pregnant when not on many occasions. Not much help, I'm afraid.

For Persona users, I was also a Persona girl, and got on much better with it than temping. Weeing on a stick got very tedious, though. As well as looking for the "o" I also looked to see if there were two lines on the stick, which also indicates ovluation. Normally the day before my "o" the second line would appear very faintly, be strong the next and then disappear, and so gave a little advance notice of when ovulation was to happen. I know the day and date of when I conceived this time as it was the only time we bd'd that week (it was the day before my "o"), so we were very lucky.

Hi. Iam 37 and TTC no.2. DS is 2 years 3 months and was conceived straight away. Have been tryin for no.2 for 8 months. Have been using Ov predictor kit for last 2 motnhs just waitng for the little blue line to appear this month. I have real probs charting temp just started this month but it seems to be up an down from one day to next so not sure how I can tell when the increase post ov occurs, anyone else had probs charting temp?

Nikkichik, if your periods are irregular, it just takes a little longer for Persona to figure you out. You have to use it for several months at the very least until you get a little "0" shape on the screen during your "red days". This is the time to go for it. Morning, noon & night! Persona works by testing the amount of hormones in your urine but it takes time for the kit to get sufficient and consistent information on your cycle. HTH!

I feel very old and hag-like at the moment and have suddenly gone all spotty - uck!! I hate January!!
I am just about to start using Persona as my cycles have been a bit erratic for the last few months (one of 35 days and then one of 26 days!! - usually 28/29 days) so am a bit confused now. Thought Persona would at least help tell me when I really am ovulating (assuming I still am). Any handy hints on it's general use would be appreciated. Fingers (but nothing else) crossed. Have egg white cm so am going to step up the bding now - if I can find the energy from somewhere and dh can stand to look at my spotty face! (idea - make sure it's dark!) - dd is being currently being a bit of a monster!!!!

Hi sansouci, how great to hear your success story. I have used Persona with no luck yet but I find it invaluable. Critics say that you can get the same results from charting, but I have no faith in my body's signals and loads of faith in scientific little boxes with winking lights, so it's Persona for me!

Wifeof, your post made me laugh. Images of you with straw in your hair, daubing your face with woad... SpaceNK do mail order, btw...

It is ideal, thankyou.
We felt so so ready for ds in every way.
Mentally we were happy, settled and prepared, our house was nearing completing renovation works, professionaly and financially we were secure. Most importantly we had done every thing that we wanted to do as a couple, been together for 9 years and it was the next logical step for us.
I was in no way capable in my teens nor my 20's and in fact didnt really like children too much if the truth be known!
I sometimes worry that i wont have the energy for a second baby as ds has been incredibly hard work and at 18 months still hasnt slept the night through yet.
BUT i have gained so much from him and i love bieng a mum. I would have 10 babies if dh would agree and we won the lottery.

Hi all. I'm 42 and my dh is 55. We're ancient compared to most of you but have a dd who's now 4 and ds who's 17 months. They run us ragged! I've forgotten what it feels like not to be tired but anyway... I conceived DD by using Persona. It's a fabulous device for finding out when you're ovulating. (I wouldn't rely on it as a contraceptive, btw.) Is Persona still available? As you can see, it worked a treat for us. Good luck and have fun trying!

Hello ladies, I've just been catching up with this thread - WOW isn't it great? I think we shall all bond brilliantly.

Our news is that dh has his GP appt for Friday, so I just hope he doesn't chicken out!

Marinda - will definitely keep in touch although I only get on here roughly every other day (and not at W/Es).

Have been LOL about make-up. What is SpaceNK? Sounds like something on the moon! We don't have make-up here in the Sticks, just mud!!

Love to all, Wifeof xxxx

Having babies at 33 and 36 sounds ideal to me! Many of my friends got pg in their late 30s, and it happened really quickly for all of them. (My role is to balance out to the average, obviously.) One friend had always been undecided about having children, finally decided that for her 40th birthday she would have one go at IUI (with donor sperm). She didn't really expect it to work, just thought it would lay the whole issue to rest. Well, you've guessed - her little boy is now two years old.

I feel very peeved that my mates got all the good luck and left me with the bad but it just shows that all the statistics in the world - and all the tests, which in my case show nothing wrong - don't tell you what will happen to YOU.

i do feel old in my bones yes and im 35 this year, planning baby no 2 for 2006/2007. Just at the planning stage at the mo.
Funnily enough, although medically i was considered "elderly primagravida" at 33 when i had ds im not actually!
My close friends and indeed my sisters have all had thier first babies within about 2 years of each other, all over 30.
It is the oddest thing, we have all gone through our late teens as friends, had fab social lives and holidays together through out 20's and now are all getting wed and having our babies.
There is about 10 of us!
So im already in a real life old duffers club!(although i wouldnt say that to them as they all still think that they are 18!
Any way, its nice to chat to you all,im sure you can offer me great advice when it comes to ttc in the next couple of years x

Pacinofan - seems we've got lots of different advice on this, which may suggest that nobody really KNOWS (may depend on individual circumstances etc?) I think every day is good (more risks depleting the sperm) and would only do every other day if doctors advised because of low sperm count.

Donbean - good question! These things are so relative - when I started ttc at 35 I felt SO old; now anyone in their 30s seems to me a spring chicken. So come on ladies, we'll try to be liberal but who would we seriously just laugh at for joining this thread? Someone of 34? 32? 23?

romilly - sadly didn't manage Boots last night, but nothing will stop me this evening. BUT today I wore my new Chanel eyeshadow for the first time, and it is lovely. Sheer and almost weightless, and stays in place (almost too much; you have to blend very quickly). I swear you'd never guess I'm near-menopausal!

Marinda - would love another (heart) but head says no: I'm knackered most of the time and I need time for the older ones as they are growing up. But b*dy dh won't have snip , and I had to have internal scan the other day (don't ask with what, girls!), and ws told that my ovaries are still shelling eggs like peas, so I have downed tools, so to speak! Not sure who'll crack first.....

donbean - 66 yrs old would be the upper bracket - hee hee

pacinofan - if u both have the stamina go for every day (according to the venerable prof. winston)

azure - welcome and nice to meet again (you kindly helped me out recently with your sound advice)

welshmum - thks - i'm glad you didnt say Llandudno or Aberyswyth cause that would be a bit of a trek for me

hester - did u go to boots yet?

pacinofan, we got very lucky and conceived the second month of trying. the first month we tried every other day for the 5 days on either side of my estimated ovulation date. The second (lucky) month we did every day during the same time period.

So, can i ask what is considered "old" in the duffer stakes?

Right folks, personal question here. Have been doing ovulation kits and today is 'the day'. My question is this, how often do we do the deed, every day or every other day, or does it not matter?! I have read so much conflicting stuff about how to maximise our chances, just wondering what you all think? Cheers.

hester - have never been described as a goddess before - not even by my doting dh!! Have to confess though that I feel more like an old crock at the moment! That's the price of being an pg old duffer I suppose!
Bubble - yes - it seems as though the timing did work! We asked at the 20 week scan and they said 90% certain it's a girl! Hope they're right as I've already bought a couple of irresistible little outfits. Will be a shock if it is a boy but tbh we really won't care - we knew dd would prefer a sister to a brother and we know what to do with girls but we won't be disappointed if it turns out to be a boy.

Ms MI, if I didn't know that you are petite and have two children, I would think you were me

it's SO painful, isn't it? I've never cried during an internal exam before or since - not even during the HSG, Marinda - but being touched Down There with PID - blimey

I had PID too, vile vile vile.

You're right, aloha, there is so much mystery in fertility and conception. One of the things that's so hard about it - the lack of KNOWING, and the lack of control - but of course it's also the thing that keeps hope alive.

Marinda, PID is pelvic inflammatory disease. It's a nasty business, very painful, and can leave scar tissues in the tubes. I had two bouts of it, eventually cleared up with painkillers. I feel very lucky that it left no damage behind.

Romilly and Hester, despite being 43, I still don't know how to put on make-up! I walk past Spake NK and think, 'I wish I knew how to make use of all those lovely colours'!

Another old duffer up the duff reporting in. I'm 38 and 8+ weeks pregnant. I had DS one month before my 35th birthday - how young that seems now. I was TTC # 2 for about 2 years in all and had 2 miscarriages in the time - who knows if it was age-related, or just plain bad luck? Conceived DS 2nd month of trying. I'm just hoping and praying that this little bean makes the distance. Best wishes to everyone here.