Fantastic 40+ thread - part 6

[Curlylox]

Over here everyone

Itailian take care. All the best xxxx
Hi all; you ve lost me on all the technical stuff!!!
Love to all xxx

italian sorry to hear you are finding it so tough physically and mentally. Totally understandable. Can you take some time off work? Take care of yourself, and know we are all behind you. Sending up more prayers and will do so every day. Xx

Oh lovely ladies Thank you so much.

Sorry to hear things are hard, Italian. I'm thinking of you, and hoping that you'll have a lovely baby soon, to make all this worthwhile. ((HUGS))

Not much going on over here, but just wanted to take my spot.

FWIW, I had all the testing after my second miscarriage. I was desperate for answers, and did get some eventually. I had the fertility tests, and had very low AMH, high fsh (11) and low estrogen. My doctor said - "looks like your peri-menopausal". I found that very upsetting, but all the while believed that things would get back on track - and they did - I am ovulating and having a regular period (and my progesterone level says I am ovulating). But maybe my egg quality is poor.

The thing is, after feeling quite low from those results I realised that those numbers aren't infallable, that although a doctor would right me off as a hopeless case, there is always hope. So I guess it depends how that information would affect you.

I personally think having progesterone tested is a good idea, because as you get older hormones can wane, and a lack of progesterone can cause a miscarriage. Apparently progesterone tells the body that it shouldn't chuck out a "foreign" body - it calms the autoimmune response.

Jolls - I don't remember that stuff about taking DHEA. I know vitamins work better when you take them with fat(in your food, or with fish oil), but didn't know that about DHEA. I take a split dose, and take them when I take vitamins and oils. I read recently that vitamin E is the "fertility" vitamin. SO have added that to my regimin. Blimey, I should rattle, I'm taking so much stuff.

Oh - and I have noticed that I have become very close friends with the tweezers too! It was bad enough before (being of Italian descent), but seems worse lately...

So much for just dropping in to keep my place! I'd better run- got to get spruced up for work.That might take a while...

morning everyone, I have lots to say - as per usual - but have to get off for my scan now, so will send a proper post later.....the helicopter is on it's way to pick you all up for moral support....handbags and good wishes at the ready please.

chin up italian xx

sorry if that sounded flip italian, its' not meant to, I just mean hang in there and hopefully you will turn a corner soon.

Hi there ladies! Please accept my most sincere apologies for barging in uninvited like this. I am interested in DHEA- created a thread yesterday, with no replies unfortunately. You girlies seem very clued up on the stuff. Where can I get my mitts on it in the uk? How much to take, how often and which brand? Have you heard of any successful pregnancies achieved as a direct result of supplementation of this? Sorry, once again for the interruption of your thread. Grateful for all advice. X

I'm sure one of the other ladies can help on here wishing...I don't know about the DHEA stuff.

Just came on to say, thinking of you latestarter. Hope the scan goes well. Just boarded helicopter and we're whizzing our way over to you now xx

Thanks knickknacks! Hopeful has just kindly resurrected my dead thread with an answer! Glad that this thread survived inspite of my rude intrusion! X

Is there room for me on the helicopter Knicky? Hope everything goes/has gone well latestarter and that you are able to come back and up date us when you get the chance.
Gum that's interesting about vit E. I'd also heard that a while ago, but had forgeotten until I read your post. A friend took after after ttc for months and got pregnant the month after, and swears that the vit E helped. Seems very odd to think of you in when it's been bitterly cold here! (N.West).
Italian I'm so sorry you;re feeling so rough - not at all surprising thinking of what your going throguh physically and mentally. I totally understand taking a break, but please make it a brief one as we will miss your lovely posts. I'll keep a paella warmed up for you on the snug aga just in case...
Love to all xxx

Dear ladies

Today is international women's day so sending love to all you lovely women.

I was just checking up on this and another thread I post on (de-lurking for a moment!).

The 12th March is St. David's Day. Although I have no idea what all your spiritual/religious beliefs are, if any, (and I do not wish to offend you) I thought I'd post this prayer. Please read it and if it helps, great - ignore it if not! If you are not able to say it as a prayer, maybe you may wish to read it as a poem.

I have no real idea about the website it comes from and I do not recommend that site especially, but just these few words that we may all have peace.

St. David's Infertility Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings in my life. Help me to remember them as I face the challenges of infertility. I pray that I can surrender myself into your hands. Let me accept the reality of this situation and have the wisdom and courage to take action where I can. Strengthen my body, mind and spirit to endure the trials of infertility. Keep me ever mindful of the needs of others and grant us your peace. Amen.

www.beliefnet.com/Health/2008/09/Healing-Prayers-for-Infertility.aspx?p=2

DHEA - try agestop.co.uk (I think). xxx

Italian I totally understand how you feel - just want to reiterate the other ladies in hoping you come back soon - we'll miss you xx

Bean I think it's my hormones - they seem to be raging on a regular basis the last few months :-(

Had my first acupuncture yesterday and found it very relaxing - I was diagnosed with a cold uterus, doesn't surprise me as I'm constantly shivering except for when I'm on hols somewhere sunny and it's 40 degrees plus!! My hands and feet in particular seem to be consistently freezing. I had a stinky herb burnt on my back as well as the needles which is supposed to warm the blood and help it to flow - fingers crossed ongoing sessions do the trick!

Starting my next lot of injections next week then IUI number 2 - let's hope this is the one

Latestarter - I hope all went well with your scan.

Tina - great to hear that you are having acupuncture. I really love it. I find it very relaxing. Did they mention using a hot water bottle to warm the uterus? I've heard of this, it helps blood flow - but don't do it after ovulation. Also, a low dose aspirin will keep the blood flow moving too.

Thankyou, Italian, for the lovely prayer. I hope things are going well for you.

I'm working an extra day this week (professional learning) and the week has flown. I'm glad because my DH has been on camp all week with year 12's. It'll be nice to have him back. The kids have been great, but I'm feeling quite tired.
But not complaining - just so glad to have this as my lot...

Tina and hopeful i was told i had cold patches on my uterus when i went. I've been twice now. would like to go back but taking a break for a few weeks.
What else did she say? my spleen (which works in conjunction with uterus i think she said) the pulse was erratic and not harmonious. she worked on that the second session. I'm trying to get my cycle back on track as still all over the place, early days i know ERPC 5 weeks ago yesterday. Acupuncture is nice though, i didnt expect it to relax me at all.

Well I had an interesting scan yesterday, still very early so only a sac which is what I expected, seems a little on the small side (3mm at 5 weeks), but trying to be positive. The interesting/completely freaky part was they think there might be a second gestation sac - didnt see that one coming. Anyway it is even smaller, so even if it is, doesn't seem to be growing so well. My second HCG on 20DPO was 760, which seems a bit low generally let alone for twins. Jollster, did you do early bloods? And how has your gestational sac been measuring?

Thanks for all the good wishes and helicopter buddies.

Then I was up all night with DD, ended up going to A & E as I couldn't get his temp down after almost 24hrs of Calpol, tonsilitis. Dont know how you mum's with more than one do it.

Going back a few days, three Aussies gum and mia, we'll be taking over soon . Where you live sounds lovely gum, I lived West when I was a kid and we spent a lot of time camping up and down the coast. Do you live in the UK Mia?

Diege, my DD is 2.2 and luckily still having afternoon naps, I am dreading the day when he stops...funny how they always do what they're told at nursery though isn't it?

It seems like a couple of us wouldn't mind meeting up at some point, sorry i cant find whose posts they were now, but after Easter seemed to be the go. How about May or June when we might be lucky enough to have some nice weather and it will be more pleasant for those who are training it?

Someone asked about doing the fertility blood tests. I was about to go down that path and possibly assisted conception. I'm in two minds, I agree it could be really depressing to find out bad news, but I think ultimately for me, I would rather know where I stand and then what my options are, even if I then decided to continue naturally. I wouldn't want get to a point further in the future and then think, in hindsight maybe I would have made a different choice if I had all the facts before me. It could also be good news and some simple measures could get you on the right track.

Big hugs to everyone.....yippee it's Friday....hope you are all feeling ok and where appropriate getting ready for a nice glass later. What are everyone's thoughts on drinking in early pregnancy? Have you done it? xx

latestarter, focus on the positives, a sac is good. The horrid thing about early scans is that they are so hard to get "right". I was scanned at 6+3 (from last period) and there was a HB and they measured at 5+5. Then I was scanned again at 8+5 and baby had caught up to 8+6. Had no bloods taken this pregnancy. Due another scan next Friday. am 9+6 today.
A second sac? eeek exciting and scary all at once!
Keeping all crossed for you.

Special wave for italian x

hi all, just popping in. So glad to see the old helicopter getting used again .

italian much love to you, sweetie. This has been such a long journey for you and I sincerely hope all goes well for you and your frosties.

wishingiwaslucky. Gum is a great person to ask about suppliments - she is very knowledgable. i was gonna ask you actually gum - a dear friend has given me some DHEA and some agnus castus - I am gonna start by taking 25mg a day and up it to 50mg a day if i don't get a beard. i am also gonna take 15 drops of the agnus castus daily. BUT if i see a temp rise and think i've ov'd i am gonna stop both. what do you think? Good idea? i don't really expect it to make much difference and am still mentally moving on but i have read some good stuff about both and feel it's worth a try.

latestarter not too sure about sac sizes and HGH levels I'm afraid. I know the main thing is that the levels should keep doubling so one reading alone doesn't tell you much on its own.

I did have a sac that only measured 4mm at 6 weeks and i did MC BUT I don't know if that is relevant to what you have said at all and remember we are talking about millimeters here. I guess at this stage you are playing a waiting game. Hang in there FTYAP :)

Latestarter I agree, there are positives to take from the scan. They have seen a sack (or 2, eek!) and while it might be measuring on the small side things are notorioulsy difficult to see/measure properly/draw conclusions from at this stage. I have everything crossed for youy for your next scan xxx
Right, I think we all need some decent snug bistro grub. I have lost 4 pounds this week on SW so need to put it back on, so am having a roast chicken dinner with cripsy roasties, lots of gravy, and minimal veg. Rhubarb crumble and custard to follow and 3 cream eggs to finish (don't ask). Orders ready to be taken!

Hello all

Been reading your news and hoping that Latestarter is ok - but it seems good to me that the sac is there, possibly two, and keep positive. Maybe don't drink if you can avoid it!

Slightly personal question from me - sorry if TMI - I was wondering if anyone here who has had a DC suffered with any prolapse? I am mildly prolapsed after DS 2 years ago, but can just about manage to use tampons. Does anyone have reassurance to offer about TTC with mild prolapse? We manage to have sex fine, but sometimes I do wonder if the sperm is getting anywhere near my cervix... .... Perhaps there are better positions for this?!

And was it someone on here who advised against having baths while TTC? I do enjoy the occasional bath with my LO but have tried to stick to showers just in case it's playing havoc with body temperature around ov...

Sorry, slightly paranoid questions from me! I'm sure I had lots of baths throughout conception/pregnancy last time round and it was a wonderful luxury!

Lots of love to everyone and thanks for the St David's day prayers, Italian - as a Welshy I feel particularly chuffed!

xxx

Hiya

Thanks Curly for the new thread!

Just me. Half way there now 20 weeks. Not due til get my next scan for two weeks, really want to get it done and dusted. Just heard that a dear friend at work (she works in different dept) who just had her 20 wk scan got the news that her baby girl has hydrocephaly and Spina Bifida. She is devasted but knows that there is a broad spectrum of symptoms which could present themselves, and so is being positive. It sounds really selfish of me, but the news really affected me and I can't stop thinking about her, I say selfish as I can't help thinking that the same could happen to me and I am really worried, when I should really not worry about this stuff when it has not even happened yet. She is an angel of a soul, always doing stuff for chartiy etc. She is only 32 and this is here first baby. My brother had the same condition and he was my mum's first child too. He was a much loved member of the family but passed away when he was 16.

I think the reason I'm being like this, is because I kind of know what she is going through, but ours had a more positive ending. For a whole month after our 12 week scan we weren't sure if our baby had Downs or not (we had an inconclusive CVS which happens in 1/200 CVS analysis. In the end, he didn't have any symtoms of Downs but I faced the horrible situation of feeling lost and confused and not knowing what to do.

Sorry for this being a bit of a sad post. But it astounds me how people take stuff like pregnancy for granted and that it is all going to go smoothly etc. I am referring to the people who hand out their twelve weeks scans round at parties and on facebook etc. I know some of you may disagree but that's fine.

On a lighter note, I really want to know the sex but my hubby doesn't. I don't know if I could keep it a secret, but if I did find out, I think I would feel guilty too. This will be our 3rd baby, we have a DD and a DS.Took DS to church last Sunday, he put his sister's (and by proxy his) Barbie doll in his buggy (he is 2.5). When we got there he took her from the buggy and we sat down. Quite soon a lady sat in front of us - you would not believe this, but she was a dead ringer for Barbie herself!! So DS proceeded to hold up Barbie up to the back of her head to compare their hair, and shout 'Barbie hair, Barbie hair'. The man behing me burst out laughing and I had to try to supress mine. It wasn't as bad as the time DD took out my Always sanitary towel from my bag at Church and waved it about like Chamberlain and his letter from Hitler in front of the whole congregation.

Lots of love and baby luck to everyone. xxxxxxxxxxxxx

I'm a bit crap at making the bistro and it looks like you were on your own last night diege :(. Your chicken dinner sounded really nice and congrats on the weight loss.

jollster, you're right it is such a non-exact science this measuring business and blood levels, I'm actually feeling alright about it and if I'm honest, I feel like it is going to be ok and I'm having twins...can anyone else be absolutely convinced of one thing one minute and then just as convinced of the opposite five minutes later?

bean you're also right, drinking not such a good idea, but sometimes you just want to chill with one.....being good so far :). Sorry don't know anything about prolapse, but it kind of makes sense that it could hinder optimal ttcing? As to baths, I've heard both good and bad, I think maybe as long as it's not scalding hot and you hang around for too long it's ok?

congrats marytheresa on 20 weeks, I can totally understand that you are feeling anxious about your upcoming scan and concerned for your friend. Fingers crossed that you will be able to relax a bit in a couple of weeks. As to other people taking pregnancy for granted, I have also wondered about that before, but then I figured good luck to them. For the great majority of people, getting and staying pregnant with no problems is what they will experience, so if they are spared the worry and the knowledge of just how many things can wrong, that's probably a good thing. I could do without the amount of fertility, conception, gestation etc etc knowledge I have seem to have accumulated .

happy sunday everyone

Late - I did drink the odd tipple when I was pg with DS, but I think after this long time TTC (and giving up alcohol all together for TTC) I wouldn't want to risk it during pg - and I will be 3 years older of course, if I ever get pg again.

The advice from the consultant re prolapse - apart from "think of it as wear and tear" (thanks for that) - was it would make no difference whatsoever to conception as long as sex is comfortable (it's fine); but I think I just wanted to hear a positive story from someone here. Prolapse is very common and a quick tuck would fix it but I couldn't have a natural birth if I did go on to get pg after and as I had a homebirth last time I would want to do the same.

Good luck with the next few weeks and have a lovely relaxing time with sparkling apple juice.

And mary - that does sound traumatic for your friend and totally understand that you must be anxious too. Best of luck for your next scan - that's all we can say for now. xxxx

latestarter wow, amazing news, just try and hang onto the fact you of what you saw, try not to get too carried away either way, if all is fine with one, you don?t want to be disappointed with two but if it is two you don?t want to feel too overwhelmed (I would imagine) so if at all possible try not to rev your engines in neutral as you can?t go anywhere just yet! Just eat sensibly, get lots of rest and wait, impossible I am sure but we are all here willing you on!!

Oh dear my lurking and not positing is not working too well, I keep wanting to say hi!!

Marytheresa I am so sorry to hear about your friend and about your brother. Bug hugs to you and to your friend. Please try not to worry about scan, it will all go well, I feel very confident for you. I LOVED you Barbie story! What type of church do you go to? I loved the idea of your child waving your sanitary towel like Chamberlain?s letter! I once nearly offered round a box of tampons instead of cigarettes in the pub! How weird, that was probably about 25 years ago, when I smoked and when you could smoke in a pub!

Hippy nice to hear from you.

Hugs to Blackcatdancing, Hopefulgum,Tina, lovely jolls, bean, Diege and all you fab people.

Sorry Late I meant "...try not to get too carried away either way, if all is fine with one, you don?t want to be disappointed it's NOT two but if it is two you don?t want to feel too overwhelmed..." If you see what I mean.

Marytheresa I meant BIG hugs not bug hugs!!!