The rats are all going to be jolly well smacked, we are going to have lots of festive BFPs and possibly a mince pie (or three)

[Munkiii]

Welcome to all!

Grab a glittery tinsel wrapped ramekin, grab some mulled wine and join our very lucky thread.

popcorn don't feel too disheartened by that BFN, 11dpo is still early. I'm sure fertility friend has done some analysis on when people actually get their BFP, based on their charts not on people who vaguely think they might ovulate on day 14 beause that's what they learnt in school. found it

bean sorry everything feels so tough with DP at the moment, and don't worry about the lack of brooking, we'll take up the slack Perhaps, if teh misery of BFN/af will be too much on Christmas day, would it be worth having a month off ttc? I'm not suggesting just relax and it'll happpen , but maybe completely take the pressure off and use condoms this month. Its just a suggestion, and I'm not sure I could do it (fear of missing the golden egg!) but if it makes for a less stressful time at the MIL's it might be worth it. Hope that helps, and if not just ignore me

Wow, beedle, those stats are wildly different!

Sorry that AF has got you too, cupcakes, the witch

Thanks so much bean, that means a lot

Don't worry about feeling a bit miserable, this is the joy of the wonderful brookers support network :o

Has DH done is SA yet? Last I recall, he was avoiding dtd... :o

Hope all you rat smackers are preparing yourselves for an alcohol free festive period to go with your soon to be announced BFPs.

Thanks for taking up the slack Brookers, you really are ace.

Cupcakes - MFing AF witch. Totally get the rage - hope you had a good morning of that and are enjoying the decs and a singsong. Great plan (and wonderfully schizo image )

Beedle - I think you are right. Put TTC aside. It does scare one, the thought of missing the boat, but after this weeekend it makes sense. I will at least put aside SWI and try to rediscover sensual pleasure - remember that?!

See Pop - I did wonder if 11dpo is necessarily going to tell you either way. Hang on in there!

My DP was supposed to be booking GP's app today but I'm not convinced he will feel inclined given nuclear mushroom hanging over Bean Towers. Don't blame him really. We'll see. I'm off for tests tomorrow so I should feel calmer than I am really... Have found a little more dignity at the back of the fridge since I last dropped in though; it's only slightly mouldy.

BTW cupcakes - can imagine that is v tough for you if DH is so upset at BFNs, bless you both - it's so unfair. His face will be amazing when you get that BFP though and in the long-run you sound v close over TTC. Thanks for advice to be kind; you are right we do normally have a very strong relationship and it's me who's putting it under pressure, although DP's work is now coming a close second. But it's probably just a phase as I've realised most of life can be sorted out by remember this! x

Boo & hiss to AF Beedle and Sweetie, but here's to celebrating our Xmas BFPs together! And yay for your AF Looopy, let the brooking and rat-smacking craziness begin!

for BFN Popcorn but I have had BFN at 11 dpo which have turned into BFPs later so I still have everything crossed for you. In fact I think my earliest BFP was a very very faint line at 13 DPO so you never know, it ain't over until the fat lady sings!! I am hopeful you will find an agreeable pee stick in a couple of days.

for your BFN too Cupcakes, am loving the sound of your afternoon of Xmas songs and decorations tho - enjoy! And if the witch does show then you will be able to join in with the crop of festive BFPs in a few weeks time!

Bean I am so sorry to hear how stressed you are feeling. I have been there several times in the last 2.5 years but I have found these things come in peaks & troughs, so just remember that when you are feeling low there will hopefully be a more positive time just around the corner. I feel very positive at the moment and I wonder whether the Vit B6 I started taking last month is having some effect - it may be worth a try, apparently it is prescribed for PMT as it helps control hormonal mood swings. Also please don't think that your age is the problem, one of my friends took 13 months to conceive both her DCs and she was in her 20s and I girl I work with took 19 months and again she is in her late 20s. I know you conceived quickly first time round but I honestly believe it's a bit of a lottery,all of my pregnancies have taken between 6 months and 13 months to conceive so there doesn't seem to be a pattern IYSWIM. In the meantime we will all be brooking hard on your behalf!

I have been soup making this morning whilst DS was at pre-school so I'll leave you ladies with a steaming bowl of curried parsnip soup and some nice crusty bread for dunking!

Sorry you are feeling down beangrower. If you ask me, your DP is being a tad unreasonable. My DS goes to nursery 10 hours a week, and my DP gets home after he has gone to bed. So the only time he can spend time/bond with DS is the weekend, and i think i would be upset if he didn't want to or said work was more important. Not sure what to suggest you should do to try and smooth things over though. Does he do any activities with him? Perhaps he could take him swimming each weekend? Or to a local soft play centre? Would give you a break/some time where you are not looking after DS and not working, everyone needs some me time and it might lift your spirits and give DP a chance to enjoy your DS, and maybe make him more keen re supporting you re TTC for number 2?

Pop - how are those PG symptoms coming along?

Green - what a lovely post. Thanks so much for all your words for all of us.

Very glad vitB6 is good stuff for you and really great to be so positive. I can see that you're a survivor and your attitude is v groovy. And that soup sounds delish - can I? I gobble all sorts of pills in the morning - all natural. Bee pollen, Om6 oils, fertility vits and herbs from my qualified cousin. I think in another life I would have made a dedicated drug addict.

I am sensing a BFP winging its way to the Olives household very soon, btw. I too have a friend who went through all sorts of problems (MC, necessary termination and a third unremembered problem) - but she still ended up with three DCs. (Though I think she would have liked more!!)

The one thing I'm struggling to accept is that I could be almost instantly fertile at 37 and infertile for a year at 39/40, but any sensible woman would sit back and realise this is quite normal and that some babies take their time getting ready to join us. I'm a big fat hairy sloth slow mover when it comes to accepting and adapting I think.

Anyway - I have been nice to DP and read a lovely article by Miranda Sawyer about how much she enjoys being a mum of one - which is always a way to go about this dilemma!

Plus DS gave me some lovely smiles and hugs before he went down for nap. So there we go - I am so lucky.

ps How does your DS find pre-school? Can't remember but I think from you telling us his age he must be in the first term? Sorry if guestimate is wrong!

Afternoon everyone. I seem to have taken to mostly lurking on here. Not really sure why, just can't really think of much to say about my ttc situation. I've decided to get healthier though, so went swimming yesterday. Found it really enjoyable, and only a bit achy today. Very, very tired though. Worst part of the weekends is Monday morning.

Bean so sorry everything's gone a bit mental for you. Stress does strange things to everyone, and having two stressed people, plus a DC, in the house is going to be hard work. I really hope everything sorts itself out soon. The break from TTC seems like a good idea, I'm not sure what I would do if AF was due for Christmas morning. I have a different problem, with SWI required right through Christmas week, and we'll have 7 people staying in our little 2 bed house! I hope your DH surprises you with a self booked trip to the doctors.

Beedle and Sweetie sorry about AF turning up, but this will be the first day of your pg!

Popcorn fingers crossed you've just tested too early. 11DPO does seem early to me, my rule is to wait till 18DPO though I've never got there! Really glad your DP is fully on board with TTC. I had a chat with mine over the weekend, and he's not really worried that we've not managed a pg yet. He wants to wait and have all our test results back, and will only worry if they show a problem.

Imps I envy you all your snuggles. I'm really looking forward to my nephew visiting for Christmas. He's become aware of his WMD (yup, weapon of mass destruction), he knows he's cute, and that holding his arms up to you and saying "cuggles" will get him whatever he wants from anyone. He even tried it on the photographer for our wedding so he could play with her camera!

Loopy grats on AF! Though it feels mightily weird to be saying that :)

I need to get back to doing some work, big wave to everyone I've not mentioned. Hope you're all having a good day.

Sorry Loopy - just read your post. Thanks for your thoughts. DP is mostly a lovely Daddy - I think he's just stressed by work and can't handle my evil AF-ridden sadness at the same time. He tends to do breakfast with DS every day and is home at least 3 nights per week to do a final nappy, book and say goodnight. They're not so good at 'activities' at w'e - as DP doesn't like too much structure - but they do spend a lot of time together one way or another. DP does urge me to go out more which is why I was annoyed this morning when he complained that I did and that he'd had to look after DS a lot - quite unusual for DP tbh; he's very kind and gentle. It's just stress all round I think. I felt sorry for DS as he's not used to the tension either. Anway - I think we've improved matters (well - I have as I rang up for a quick lunchtime chat and sent an olive branch). Thanks for suggestions. I might suggest they look for at least one 'club' they could go to on a Saturday - they enjoyed babysigning once upon a time... What do your two get up to - any particular favourites?

Stasi lovely to hear from you. You sound like the best Aunty ever. Lol at WMD and cuggles... My DS now says 'peas' (please) all on his own if he senses any chocolate in the house (and he knows where I hide it)... Anyway - I hope you get gallons of cuggles.

I think your DH sounds sensible - I do envy men and their calm attitude until science gives them reason to reconsider!

I hope SWI at Christmas is fun for clandestine reasons. Maybe time to book yourself into a hotel for a night and let your family get on with it? Champagne breakfast served in bed after SWI seems like the only way forward.

Stasi it's lovely to hear your DH is so relaxed, it's nice to have a confident man take the lead sometimes isn't it? I am just a natural worrier I'm afraid - I need DH around to slap me with the proverbial wet fish :o
I can recommend a duvet on the bedroom floor when you have a houseful - or send them to the park for an hour while you "cook" :o :o

bean You are not infertile!
I'm still constipated but DH is coming home via Tesco pharmacy (gosh I do love that man!)

Olives thank you for the positive words (I love MN :) ). Either way, I'm feeling less upset and stressy today, which is nice - thank you :)

Hello everyone. I've sobered up resurfaced. Have actually had an ill toddler all weekend, which rather impaired the celebrating.

Sorry to hear about some BFNs, and bean I gather you're having a tough time, so extra cake for you.

Thanks for all the congrats. Now when I give advice, I tell you it's doctor's orders. That's the last you'll hear of it though.

Welcome / welcome back newbies.

Rushing off again now, but back later.

Hey Pop - constipation is good; it's a sign of a decent amount of progesterone in your body (this is actually true). Bless DH and his tending of your digestive tract.

Better shut down now but see you all tomorrow and we could do with doctor's orders around here Whimsi, especially if that means prescribed cake. Mine's a chocolate/guinness style doorstopper of a tea-time special.

xxx

I think he feels a bit guilty because he forgot his keys yesterday, so I had to wait up for him coming home from work - a little guilt goes a long way :o

Whimsy what are you a Dr of now, if it's ok to ask? :)

Hmmm, I will totally out myself pop, but I am a Doctor of Throwing Stones at Fire Engines.

Psychology /Urban Studies basically.

Aaaahhhh, so you set up the riots in August as a scientific experiment did you??!!

ha ha ha @ Imps! :o

Urban Studies, that sounds very interesting (and complex)!

Yes Bean my DS is 3.5 so this is his first term of funded pre-school but he actually started after Xmas last year just doing one session a week and then after Easter we addded another session. He has loved it right from the start but I have really noticed him blossom since going to 4 sessions a week in Sept. He was always a talker and a thinker but his physical skills (climbing, jumping etc) have come on in leaps & bounds - literally! In fact he is always disappointed on Friday because he doesn't go (they are full on Fridays otherwise he would go then too!) It is lovely seeing him get more & more independant although that also means he is growing up too fast for my liking! We took him to the cinema yesterday for the first time which was a great success - "Mummy that is the biggest tele I've ever seen!" We saw Arthur Christmas which was a lovely story - I even shed a tear at the end! On your point about activities for DH and DS mine go to swimming lessons on Saturday and both thoroughly enjoy their "boy" time. I have to take him once a month when DH has to work a Saturday and it's really nice for me to see how is improving month on month. Sorry for chatting on so much, as you may be able to tell DS is one of my favourite subjects Hope the smiles and cuddles from your DS are still keeping you smiling now

at Imps

Sounds like a lot of you are having a tough time at the moment. Hugs to Bean, Popcorn, Stasi, Beedle, Cupcakes, Sweetie and Green and all of you in fact.

Popcorn I have to agree with Bean though that constipation is a strong symptom of pregnancy and 11 dpo is too early to be sure from a BFN. So I have a good feeling for you this month after all.

I had a scare last night with some bleeding, but it's settled down now. I'm only about 5 weeks so can't get a scan yet, but the GP has arranged a blood test to see if the hCG level is where it should be. I'm brooking no argument that all will be fine though. I bled lots with DD, so I know it doesn't necessarily mean a mc although I've had two of those too

Thank goodness Monday is nearly over - sounds like an emotional one for many of us!

It's an emotional thread atm, I hope everyone is ok xxx

I was very stupid today and did a hpt and got a bfn. I can't believe I did it, something seemed to overtake my usually rational brain and I actually walked my dd to the shop in the freezing cold to buy one. Then did it after drinking two cups of tea and not holding in the wee for any time at all. Stupid Stupid Stupid.

I'll still do one Weds morning if no af, as I want to know if I need to postpone acupuncture, but I'm really not holding out any hope now

Generic hope you are ok, really brooking for you lovely. Not sure what else to say but am sending you positive vibes.

DH cheered me up by bringing home strawberry trifle, which is really a treat for both of us. Yum, yum, feel even fatter now but hey ho! Will be joining weight watchers after Christmas - any tips popcorn?

bean hope you enjoyed the cake and a cuppa!

drwhimsi sounds mucho brainy and hope the little one is better soon, fancy using the riots as a social experiment imps

popcorn hope your gift from DH is having the desired result

Off to have a soak in the bath and early night, night night brookers

Oh Little, that's a shame. Please don't stop holding out hope. One of the things I love about this thread is the positive thoughts. Keep on hoping!

and generic, it sounds like a scary time for you too. Fingers crossed. At least you have a supportive doctor.

and popcorn, I thought you were due at the same time as me? Friday? It's far too early for testing yet isn't it! I thought I would test first thing Fri, as down for flu jab later in the morning. Just so I know either way.

Doing extra brooking for every one. I think you/we all need it!