The all new rat smacketers thread, this way for a 2012 BFP we are BROOKING NO ARGUMENT

[farfallarocks]

Just wrote a blardy long message before getting the 'thread full' message so here we go.................

I came off the pill in Feb last year Sweetie though I have had an MC and a few near misses. I don't honestly think my cycles started behaving until September time.

You are a spring chicken Sweetie and don't y9ou forget it

Will be brooking for you on the 16th Stasi

The Cotswolds are down south right? [hmmm] Your positive attitude is really inspiring Imps I resolve to be more like you from now on.

Hope Munx and Cakes are doing ok.

Sweetie I got myself really stressed by reading our pct fertility policy. It was very vague but I did manage to understand that they only fund ivf for couples aged 39-40 which seems completely ridiculous. I imagine with messing around with referral times they can guarantee that they don't have to fund anyone. It mad me very especially as if we lived two miles down the round we would be able to get 3 rounds of ivf on the nhs. I really hate this postcode lottery.

God I've now forgotten what I was going to say to everyone!

Sorry for the crazy rant there. I'm actually in quite a good mood today. I don't know if I said but I eventually bought my kitchen aid mixer and I'm planning on a lot of baking today. What colour is yours Maybe?

Oh I meant to ask for some advice over vitamins. My DH has been taking zinc since ttc and his SA was normal. I wanted to get him to take some wellman conception vitamins but he is reluctant to as he thinks it's unnecessary as he is a cheapskate Any thoughts?
I guess I wanted him to take them as I feel bad that I can't take the conception vitamins due to already being on iron supplements and my b12 injections. I just don't actually know if they are that helpful for guys

Cupcakes - that is a shit postcode lottery. This game is all so unfair. Enjoy some baking instead (though that sounds rubbish when I write it, sorry, I am just trying to sympathise). Anyway - I hope it doesn't come to IVF.

Sorry about AFs and BFNs. Gah and double gah. I want us all to win a baby and straight away. I am brooking for all of you.

Sweetie - try not to worry about age. That's a lottery too, I'm afraid. I was 37.5 with DS pg and 38 with homebirth if that's encouraging?

I'm one of those who can no longer watch OBEM. I held off watching the first series (as pg at the time and smothering myself in + natural birth stories only). Watched it after I'd had + birth while bfing DS. Now can't watch it as it makes me feel sad/nostalgic.

Thanks Maybe - book is tough (and requires far too much chocolate fuelling) but getting there. I'm absolutely 100% sure that a sore shoulder is a sign of hormone changes due to pg. We're relying on you for a BFP.

Pops - so excited for you tomorrow. Enjoy.

TTFN. xxxx

I think the zinc is the most important thing Cupcakes and as long as he is having a healthy diet, I am sure he will be fine.

My Kitchenaid is a pastel teal colour. I love him so much. WHat colour is yours? What are you making with him today?

The NHS policies are mental. I honestly think that things should gbe the same for everyone, no matter where they live. Though I know this is totally unrealistic. But don't panic, as we shall not be needing IVF, as we are already preggo

Cross posts Bean glad the book is going ok. And in my opinion, chocolate is an absolute requirement for the kind of work you are undertaking

As expected, a google of 'sore shoulder in pregnancy' does indeed starte it as a symptom So ladies, it is official, Any symptom = pregnant

I have just had a call back from the PCT to clarify, as neither of us has previous DC, are between 23 - 39, have a BMI between 19 - 30, been in a stable relationship for 2 years. We should qualify for up to 3 cycles of IVF, but any cycle must start before my 40th birthday. There was no mention of the 6 month referral over 35, only trying for 2 years!!!

As you all say what a post code lottery.

bean I am not so worried, just wish I was 10 years younger and I had longer left. I didn't meet DH until I was 36, married at 37 and now 38 - how time flies when having fun!!

Ha anything is a symptom of pregnancy! Maybe mine is blue willow. I really wanted the electric blue but couldn't justify the extra £50. I absolutely love it. I'm going to make DH a Chocolate mint birthday cake.

I'm very hopeful that I won't need IVF Bean. I used to have quite erratic cycles but from September they have been regular. Also I used to really suffer with pmt that has improved in the past few months. I think that all the vitamins and the healthier lifestyle is helping. As all tests so far are ok I'm determined it just a matter of time now

Forgot to say before good luck for tomorrow Pop it's so exciting that the kernel becomes official tomorrow

And thanks for the vitamin advice as I suspected my DH is in the right for once!

So does that mean you would qualify then Sweetie if you where referred now? Sorry I find it all a bit confusing.

I also wish I had started earlier as there is a strong family history of problems ttc but you can't force these things unfortunately. I was ready years ago but my DH wasn't. I could have forced him into it but I'm sure it would have ruined our relationship if I had.

Sweetie you can't help when you found the one. You are still young, so many women have children in their late 30's/early forties. My mum in fact really struggled to have me and my DB when in her twenties (it took 5 years for him and 4 years for me) then she had a very happy accident at age 40!

Ooooh, lovely colour Cupcakes mine is jusgt called Teal I think. DH was trying to get me the metallic red, but I love mine as it is (plus it matches the Lecreuset )

I think it is quite hard making the decision to actually TTC, though it seems that when you have decided, you can't ever imagine not wanting to TTC. That doesn't make much sense, but hopefully you will catch my drift

Don't beat yourself up about it cupcakes - You just can't tell where or when fertility problems will strike, I think secondary infertility is a good example of that, in fact. There's no way you could have known it wouldn't happen instantly.

Is IVF something you're in a position to consider sweetie ? I suppose even if you didn't go for it now, you could self-fund in a few years if that's an option for you, financially (not that you will need to, but maybe that knowledge will take the pressure off?)

Postcode lotteries suck bum, big time.

I just read this in our PCT's fertility policy:

Male infertility affects about 25% of couples.

That can't be right, can it??

Maybe they mean 25% of those going for IVF? But otherwise no, it can't possibly be right! It would fly in the face of "90% of couples get pregnant within xyz"

Imps - that is right. 40% is down to both male/female problems in combination. I was pretty sure that when I was going for all my tests that we really needed to get DP checked out too, despite everyone banging on about my age.

Sweetie - I am so with you about the 10-year delay. You did the right thing though - and that's very important. Cupcakes too. And DP and I didn't even have time to enjoy much romance or even consider marriage - but I had been clear that we could only get together if he was willing to have children. I think we honestly thought it would take longer to get DS. Though how I would have coped with prolonged TTC before DS I don't know. You are keeping it together and will get your BFPs. 4/5 year wait for your Mum Cupcakes. Wow. How brilliant that she still had three.

xxx

IVF does scare me to be honest, more the emotional side if it was unsuccessful, than what you have to go through although that isn't pleasant either. We could afford to self fund if we needed to. DH just thinks you rock up at the clinic, bish, bash, bosh, preggers!!!

Imps think the male factor is quite high, from what I have read other places.

That 90% figure (actually 85% according to Walnut doc) - must surely be out of all people who actually get pg, not of all couples TTC?

100% get pg after 18 months says Walnut, so has to be of all people who get BFPs.....

But the word "infertility" suggests that the man cannot make a baby, end of. I could understand 25% of men being sub-fertile, but not infertile.

Anyways, I don't know why I'm reading that policy - I shan't need it so nerr. Although it is reassuring that OH and I meet the criteria for 3 NHS funded rounds after 3 years of non-baby making. Plus there only appears to be an 18 week waiting list which is good, even if I'm not entirely convinced that that's right.

So what Walnut is saying is that 100% of people who get pregnant, get pregnant at some point. Errr....yeeeeeeees

So male infertility affects about 25% of couples diagnosed with fertility issues?! I heard it was closer to 40%... Not 25% of all males are infertile?

But maybe that's right... I know that sperm counts have halved in the last 60 years. Scary, scary stuff.

Yes, it must mean that male factor affects 25% of couples having problems conceiving, rather than 25% of all men are infertile, it just doesn't say that. I just don't believe that the latter can be true (given my vast amounts of expertise in this area ). Sperm counts probably have halved in but it does just take one, doesn't it?!

bean I hadn't thought of that, I always thought it meant 90% of people ttc I am shocked that infertility stats are so high.

Why do you think sperm counts have halved?

Pg is most likely if you have 60+% motility and make love roughly every other day throughout the woman's cycle, which apparently doubles your chances....

So yes - just one has to get there, but if most of them are a bit rubbish the chances of just one getting there are a lot lower. Still to be positive - just one got there to make our DS even though I'm guessing DP was prob not brilliantly fertile then too so men with low sperm counts can still make babies.

Is that helpful?!

Very grumpy and crampy today. But hey - I get to use my CBFM soon.

Wow, I am [shocked] at those stats. I hate stats with a passion, and I also find that the way some people analyse data can give a totally different outcome than to someone who has analuysed using a different method

Sorry you are feeling rubbish Bean I am hoping very much that you don't need to use your CBFM

I don't know what infertility stats are actually Pop. Do you? I'm guessing at least 10% of couples who want children have fertility treatment or adopt...? Possibly more.

The culprits up for reduced global sperm count are: petroleum-base plastics in the environment; changes to lifestyle (more transfats/sugar in diet, much less exercise, much less life-work balance) and possibly other pollutants/chemicals (esp in food - eg, pesticides). I imagine people are generally having less sex too - down to stress and other diversions like telly (apparently there is a surge in conceptions that coincide with power cuts!) Less sex = lower sperm counts in general. Some ideas from bean towers anyway. Font of all sperm knowledge...