Ok, a word about early testing...

[chocolatecoveredlissielou]

dont do it. seriously, its shit. companies like FR and CB will sell their "find out 6d early tests" (what they actually mean is 6d from missed period, so still only 10dpo) to you by taking advantange of the fog of insanity that comes from ttc. they manipulate all that hope and fear to try to convince you that you NEED to know as soon as youve had sex. in fact, it takes up to 10 days for an egg to implant. many women dont ovulate on CD14 and have longer or shorter luetal phases. they dont publish the stats on how many women actually get an accurate result at 10dpo (about 50%, shall find the stats if anyone wants to see) or how many women get a faint bfp, start planning and getting excited, only for their period to start on the expected day.

seriously, early testing will NOT make you any more pg. you wont get to meet your baby any earlier. you wont get an earlier scan (most hospitals will only scan from 6w) or MW appointments. in fact, you wont believe the result (esp if its a BFN) so you will retest the next day with FMU. then the next day. then the next day. until either your period arrives or you get a clear BFP.

and while Im on the subject, tests should be read within the time scale on the leaflet. you shouldnt take it apart and its so much better to see a clear bfp than one you have to hang out of the window, tilt to the left and squint to see.

I know some people will come on and say "I got a bfp at 6dpo, and just gave birth" but for every story like that there are 10 more who didnt get a bfp til 14po (or later) or 20 more who got a bfp then their periods started.

[bemybebe]

hairylights interesting what you have said about aspirin. my ivf consultant advised that though there are no conclusive studies about aspirin in early pregnancy, in his experience it facilitates implantation but can be responsible for early mmc.

[chocolatecoveredlissielou]

i see what you mean.

[hairylights]

lissie I'm not on any meds. But after 3 mc I want to make damn sure I'm on aspirin from the first possible day. I've been told not to take them til after bfp as aspirin can impede implantation. Hcg is produced after implantation so bfp means implantation.

[chocolatecoveredlissielou]

RJ is good for alleiviating period pains iirc, but not sure about fertility tbh

[bemybebe]

I had a colleague who was ttc and tested obsessively frequently and early. Sadly, she did not get ppg when I was still there. We joked about how much money she spent every month and it was a lot!! Clever clever companies...

[bemybebe]

LaWeasel I know! Beats the hell out of me why anybody would choose this feature.

[LaWeasel]

bemy in that case, they have failed to cover the only possible use I could think of for them!

[chocolatecoveredlissielou]

buggerlugs, AC is pretty powerful and lengthens your LP so could be doing far more harm than good. if I were you, I'd consult a proper herbalist.

griselda, next month I shall start another "step away" thread.

I feel ov every month too, my last mc buggered things up a bit but i seem to be improving now (apart from weird period this month)

laweasel, Im the same period/pg symptoms all the same. the only difference is just a quiet knowledge when I am upduffed.

[bemybebe]

LaWeasel it does not work this way. The "window" to conceive stays the same regardless whos sperm actually gets to the egg and successfully fertilizes it. It can be either of the two partners in your example, although one may have better chances if closer to the ovulation. On top of it, the 'normal' range hCG is very wide and that is why clinics are very careful not to overemphasize the absolute levels and really take into account the relative (rising or falling) levels.

All this 1-2 weeks, 2-3 weeks, 3+ is really nothing but a marketing gimmick.

[LaWeasel]

I always think the 'date your pregnancy ones' must be for women that have slept with different men at least a week apart and need to work out which one is dad!

So far I agree. Pre DD I spent a small fortune testing early. The time I was actually PG I waited until I was 4 days late!

It's a good motivator for being patient this time I think.

Although I do need them. My pre-AF symptoms appear to be exactly the same as early PG symptoms.

[LineOnTheLeftOneCrossEach]

I don't understand that at all. Can you afford to guess? Er, no we don't guess we have science which you probably haven't heard of but at school they might have mentioned 'biology' to you. Your bloody wee stick can't tell us anything new anyway. It approximates and causes endless grief you coiffeured harpy. I'm sure "Claire" is lovely. The brand she fronts? Not so much.

I gave up on bbt and cervix checking too. I know I'm ovulating because I ovulate. Can feel it. Like an old friend. That lets you down but you can't live without. We're on good terms atm though. She has gone on holiday for 17 weeks and I'm not wanting her back any time soon.

[PatientGriselda]

That's me calling myself an idiot, obviously, not lissielou!

[PatientGriselda]

Read the whole thread, nodding safely in agreement and then went to POAS anyway (at 9DPO at the most). Idiot.

[chocolatecoveredlissielou]

line, I think i luff you I agree re just knowing. I dont check my cervix or even chart anymore (I just know... am old hat) but a HPT is really to confirm, so I can go to the gp waving my wee-drenched stick in the air shrieking "scan please!!"

I hate the CBD ones. "can you afford to guess how pregnant you are?"

ummm... no. thats why I know my lmp and have a twelve week scan. there is no medical reason that anyone would have to know really is there?

anyway they can swindle more cash out of us harpies though eh? wonder when the CB range fertility drugs will start appearing in the shops!

[LineOnTheLeftOneCrossEach]

I'd like to piss on claire's foot.

I don't feel reassured by a pregnancy test. It's odd. Either I'm pregnant or not. My bbt and cervix tell me I am. The testing? Weirdly academic. Doesn't convince me of viability or change any hopes (well pessimism really).

I've never tested at 8dpo and would never ever stare at a test for more than the 5 minutes, take it apart or fuss over it for hours. I can't explain it. I had a couple of years to get used to ttc before I had a cp and then finally dd. I never tested until I knew I was pg. I might have had the odd hiccup along the way but my body outweighs weeing on a stick and I have always hung onto that as a balance.

But if I could have 10 minutes alone with Claire and a pot of wee, she'd have a very wet foot. It's cruel. Bloody nasty, cruel, false-hope raising. And they're clever aren't they. How many times do you see 'they're the best on the market' or 'buy a cb digi, don't trust your supermarket's own'. Clever, clever bastards.

[chocolatecoveredlissielou]

sorry, that was a bit blunt. I just saw the AC and had a moment. have you done a HPT?

[chocolatecoveredlissielou]

were you advised to take the angus castus by a homeopath?

[chocolatecoveredlissielou]

see, Im the opposite. up until my 6th mc I was testing early, thinking "I need to know, I need reassurance" but now the idea depresses me and I would really rather not know for certain iykwim. but I see too many times "I just POAS and got a v faint bfp... am i pg?" or "I am 8dpo, just POAS and BFN, but I feel pg...." and CB and FR take advantage of that.

and I would love to send "claire" to room 101.

[LineOnTheLeftOneCrossEach]

My first bfp ended up as a chemical pregnancy. My second as a miscarriage. My third produced dd. I've been pg two further times. No more children yet, but this pg seems to be fine thus far.

I would say that early testing is inadvisable for the majority. I already know I'm pg when I test, the testing is academic and doesn't tell me if the pregnancy is viable. I don't do it for viability, I do it well because I can I suppose. I have a home doppler for similar reasons. Having lost pregnancies before and having had a problematic first trimester with dd, the confirmation it gives outweighs any problems until I can feel a kicking baby. But like I say I am informed and acknowledge any risks/possibilities. And I only test once! And only listen to the hb once a week between the dating scan and 16 weeks. Then I stop. I am not beholden to cb and their fecking nasty lure.

[chocolatecoveredlissielou]

exactly bemybabe, some people (like line) can cope with and are prepared for the posssibility of a CP. but for many its a huge loss. esp if you have been ttc for a long time and this is/was your first bfp.

[bemybebe]

Early testing also brings the heartache of the dreadful 'chemical' pregnancy. It is a miscarriage in all but name especially to those longing for a baby, but ignorance is bliss sometimes... (I may be wrong of course).

[LineOnTheLeftOneCrossEach]

I must admit, I do test early. BUT never ridiculously early, only with ebay cheapies (20 for £2) and in the sure and certain knowledge of everything that means. Faint positives, possible chemical pregnancy etc. If the technology is there, I avail myself of it. I am very, very, very fortunate though to not have any serious fertility issues and to know my body inside out. I've actually only ever tested when I already know I'm probably pregnant (bbt and just knowing how my body behaves).

BUT I would never give my money to cb or fr and I test early from a position of informed choice.