Assisted Conception (and the bits in between) Volume 6

[rowingboat]

Hi all,
I just went to post on the old thread and noticed it had been locked, so here is a new one!
Come on in!

Just de-lurking to say mahoosive congrats to Lateatwork! Lovely news, so pleased for you' ARGC rock!

Hi all,

Italian sorry that was a bit vague wasn't it! I thought you had actually created a new emoticon, with your software engineering skills, then I saw it in the list.
But very good about AF.

Vallin good to hear things are all going nicely. The spotting is a worry, but it is quite normal, I had spotting with ds and I had a very healthy pregnancy.

late- I agree with BOH. You are certainly giving us prospective ARGC-ers loads of hope!

rowing and Italian- I suppose it's great that AF has FINALLY shown up. But it's never a good time for anyone, is it?

Val- Yay for you! I know you're stressed about the spotting, but I know loads of people who spotted in their first twelve weeks, and were completely fine. Try not to give in to the stress...

AFM- Seven weeks to go until Hawaii. I could really use a vacation...

Evening Ladies!

How are you all?

Italian - we are perfectly synchronised - I also started my period yesterday!! I suspect that a good deal of last week's angst was caused by pre-menstrual hormones... Thanks for your words of support.

Val - how are you doing? Hope you're okay.

Rowing - your comment about prams made me laugh! I have my eye on a Cath Kidston changing bag (although, even though I am a huge CK fan, I think that the CK pram is going a bit far. I have considered it though).

I am feeling a bit better today. Had a nice coffee (de-caff of course) with my friend this morning and then this afternoon had fun with DH planning our upcoming holiday to California (sooooo excited!!)

Thanks my lovelies (you really are so great in my times of stress!) - the spotting had stopped by Sunday morning so probably just...oh, who knows!!

I hope all is well with everybody - can't believe Monday is here again. I am having this very odd time sensation. It is dragging so slowly in terms of getting to the end of my first trimester but at the same time my weekends disappear with alarming speed!

Au Contrare, Lissy, said in Black Adder voice! Having a period for the first time in six months it is wonderful. I am so pleased. I feel like a new woman!

Hi all,
Vallin good to hear the spotting ceased. It doesn't end at the BFP does it - the worry!
Only another 7 months of fretting, it'll whizz by! Take it easy!

Italian, I do know what you mean about the AF thing. Such a relief to know she is still visting. What next?

Idream where are you going in California?

Lissy sorry I'm a bit absent-minded, but when are you going for your next cycle?

I've still got this stoopid cough/cold thing. So annoying. At this rate I'll crawl in for the FET on all fours, wheezing.
Am going to rearrange the flights later, but just have to check when they want to do transfer. It's going to be a mad dash. Either that or I get stuck there for days, which I just don't fancy.
Don't want to leave DS for days, rubbish!
Will report back shortly...

Italian-Ok, I stand corrected! Mazel Tov on the arrival of the witch!

rowing my love, just remember, in through the nose, out through the mouth. It'll all work out, sweets. Going for cycle when DH and I come back from Hawaii in April. Hate this 'twiddling my thumbs' feeling, but I have to pat myself on the back for doing the responsible thing. I quote Inigo Montoya, from The Princess Bride..."I hate waiting".

Val and late- So excited for both of you, and eagerly await updates and news...

I'm on the edges of a flu-like sinusy thing, and feeling quite lousy. AF is on its way as well. At least I have next week off to be a blob around the flat...

Will mostly be lurking more than posting for the next month or so, but I'm around!

Hugs and kisses to all...

Hi all,

Lissy thank you for your wisdom darling! I am trying to take your advice and be calm.
So funny that quoted 'The Princess Bride' I loved that film.
Sorry to hear about the flu-sinusy thing and hope it comes to nothing. I strongly recommend getting as much sleep as you can for that kind of thing and lots of fluids. Big hug!

Still haven't emailed the clinic, better do that now...

Rowing all the best.

Late and Val all the best.

Lissy may it be all of us too soon - it will never be too soon!

Choco hugs

Horton how are you?

Love and hugs to all, AF seems to be leaving so it is my first night of sex with intent in a long while (since camping in fact!).

HUGS to all - sorry not to name check further, got some sex to have!

Italian - that's outrageously wanton behaviour (just !!!!)

Hi everyone! xxxx

Choco Well the sex with intent went out the window. Seems my hubby was more interested in reading Ewan McGregor's motor biking book until bed time! So, no, I did not take my own advice and dance in my frilly undies! Instead I said gruffly, OK tomorrow then!

So I am on a promise for tonight.

Love to all.

Hi all,

Not checked in for ages as been on holiday. A week in Lanzarote was ace. Hot sun, relaxing, all very very nice. Got back on Sunday and straight to nurse consultation on Monday, which was a pretty big thing to jump in to. Ready to roll now. Just need af which bizarrely came naturally just before my holiday - not had a period in a long long time. Anyway, need to wait till day 35 and if no af, induce with drugs. My acupuncturist reckons she may be able to get things going but I have to say I'm doubtful. Anyway, we're about to begin it all again. I have to say I'm a bit scared. Last time we were at this stage I was so excited - I just thought I was going to be pregnant in a couple of months - yipee, like the 1st time. Now after the 2nd time not working I'm soooooo scared this won't either.

Anyway, enough about me.

Late - congratulations - that's amazing. Well done you...

Vanilla - sounds like things are going well - I guess you're just one of those people who spots and that's just OK for you. Seems to be so far - are you still not exercising.

NookNook - how's things?

Italian - how's salad treating you.

Too tired to name check more - hope you're all ok

x

Shirleycat - hello! V. of your hol in the sun. We've had sun here in Leeds today but I've been cooped up in an office all day

Italian - your DH/sexlife sounds like mine!! Have fun tonight!!!

I've been a bit naughty this evening and have had 3 glasses (but it was GOOD ha ha!!!)

Night all xxxxxx

Lateatwork - How you doing? I just wanted to ask you a quick question. I noticed on a post a bit ago you said that you were advised to drink a litre of milk a day and lots of water by your clinic. Do you know anything abut the reasoning behind that? It's just that my clinic hasn't told me anything about diet, but my acupuncturist has said I should avoid dairy and try goats milk/rice/oat milk instead. I love cows milk and have a good pint a day and that other stuff is rubbish and expensive. Anyone else heard of avoiding it?

Acupuncturist also told me to eat hot food and to avoid stuff like salad and ice cream - again I eat lots of both and I think changing my diet loads without good reason might cause me more stress than it's worth. But then I feel guilty that I'm not doing all I can to give myself the best shot.

Can anyone offer me any advice, or just tell me to shut up and stop stressing about daft stuff.

Finally, exercise. I do a fair bit and with my first cycle and subsequent pregnancy and birth, I didn't really slow down too much. Clinic says carry on as normal. Acupuncturist says rest, before down reg, during stimming and after transfer. Again, this could cause me stress, I think exercise is a big stress reliever for me. But again, I feel guilty for over doing stuff and then not letting my body get what it needs. Any ideas please. I guess I just need some reassurance and see what other people are doing.

Thanks in advance and I hope everyone's OK. This was all about me. Sorry. I'm not usually so self-centred...

Shirley I am just starting treatment and also have been told nothing about diet except to eat lots of protein and no caffeine, so am interested by your advice. I would have thought exercise up to egg collection was fairly a good thing unless a specific reason not to. I don't intend doing my normal gym routine but my pilates class and walking outdoors for next month, perhaps a swim too. I have been looking up foods high in protein to grow good eggs - and have bought whey to go powder as I don't eat meat and hate fish but am forcing myself to eat it! I would have thought as you had one birth that what you did then helped? All the best.

Well I am glad I am not scared of needles and the injection teach was helpful. Same time each night is going to be the issue, remembering! So alarm setting perhaps a good idea. I have decided to inject myself because if dh does them all and then he is not home in time for one I don't want to be in a panic. My first one I was so nervous the needle bounced straight out before any liquid went in, oops!

shirley yes cows milk and lots of water. the cows milk is for protein and is also supposed to help the lining of the womb.

i was advised NO exercise and NO swimming, baths or sex for the first 12 weeks. a little bit of mild walking fine. i was complete bedrest 48 hours after ET.

with my daughter, i played netball until i was 17 weeks and was lugging bags of rubble around. i also flew extensively....

but considering the ivf is costing us around 10k...i am doing everything they tell me to do...

oh and the injections? i was doing 4 a day during stimms... but the progesterone ones are a killer post ET. they are intramuscular and the needle is enormous. i can barely walk somedays.
hth

Shirleycat - my ACU insists on a pint of milk a day for the protein. It takes some getting through! You can have it in decaff lattes or hot choc though, and obviously on cereal etc.

Am doing a pint of milk in my protein shakes, so 2 things in 1!

Thanks everyone. I think I'm going to ignore my acupuncturist on this one and keep my milk in. Do you know if skimmed is Ok?

Zita says whole milk, Shirleycat. Def ignore your acupuncturist on this one - cats need their milk!!!! xxx

Yes, I have changed our milk to whole milk, from skimmed (not good for weight, but if it gets a bfp I don't care!)

Hi Ladies,

I'm being sent to Coventry.... on a course!

See you when I get back.

Have a happy Valentine's Day :)

xxxxxx

Hi all in case you are interested I went to see my consultant last week. The key factors seem to be that my thyroid, although within reasonably safe margins, is not great for trying to get pregnant. The hormone which is driving the thyroid, TSH, was a bit high. So for TSH 5 is normal, but for someone trying to conceive it should be 2, apparently. So anyway my TSH was a bit high, at about 6. After taking the tablets for about a month it was down to about 4. Now after a further two weeks it?s down to 3. So my consultant has said to increase the dose a bit and he will write to my GP.

Also my consultant says that I have had most of the level one tests and he did not feel I needed the level 2 tests. Level 2 tests cost over a £1,000 so I must admit I was not looking forward to getting them. Consultant thinks that I may have a small indicator of a clotting factor problem, which can affect the embryo's ability to implant. So he has said he will write heparin and aspirin into the protocol for our final lot of treatment and also a low dose of steroids.

So I think we are fully covered for pretty much any eventuality. I do now feel very positive.

Can't advise about diet. I just don't know but personally I would not make any major changes unless my diet was very poor before-hand.

One website I looked at said "Clinical research shows that drinking milk to increase fertility may be possible since fat soluble foods may improve ovarian function. A study published in the journal Human Reproduction says that eating low fat dairy products can affect ovulation and reduce fertility." I found this at pregnancy.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Drinking_Milk_to_Increase_Fertility here by Googling fertility and milk. and then it goes on to say "The issue of drinking milk to increase fertility is still controversial. Some studies say that the consumption of dairy products improves ovarian function. But, others claim that the process of pasteurization kills the beneficial nature of the vitamins because cooking changes the molecular structure in such a way that the body no longer can absorb them." and then to mention how unpastorised milk is unhealthy etc.

ALSO findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_n11_v145/ai_14909342/ here says "Women who would like but have failed to conceive a child may want to review how big a role dairy products play in their diet, a new study suggests. A team of researchers in the United States and Finland now reports that where per capita milk consumption is highest, women tend to experience the sharpest age-related falloff in fertility."

SO I think it is very consufing! So personally, I would not start drinking loads of it or cut it out, but just keep to normal healthy amounts unless you have access to soem very good study.

Having said this, caffine does not (as far as I know) give anything helpful so I think I would void caffine and alcohol while in the process of fertility treatmemt, cut it out slowly in the led up to treatment. But that is my opinion. I am not sure how much I have read about caffine but it seems to be a bad thing in general.