A concerned other half needs advice

[paolocee]

My girlfriend, just turned 39, been TTC (see, I know some of the lingo) for 5 years.

Had one unsuccessful IVF cycle.

Yesterday she had a positive ClearBlue Conception Indicator at around 5pm. It was the day her period was due. It said conception had been 1-2 weeks ago which would have been spot on. She'd been suffering from bad cramps for the past few days. Very grumpy too (no change there, then ;)). Had odd food cravings. Higher than average temperature. Experienced apparent implantation cramps and a little spotting a week ago. All looked good. We were very excited. Very.

Then she retested again last night at 8pm. A BFN. Not to worry we thought, she'd drunk a gallon of water - the HCG must've been diluted.

We'll leave it until morning and a FMU (is that right? I may be straying from my comfort zone now). Another BFN. Utter gloom. Total and utter gloom.

She's on the sofa now watching a week's worth of Corrie. She still hasn't come on, although, as she's felt for the last few days she feels like she's about to.

My guess is that it was a chemical pregnancy. But is there still hope? Any words of wisdom much appreciated. I feel so helpless.

No, not at all, I meant that if a mid afternoon test is fairly faint on Day 36 then it may not be visible at all on Day 31. hence wait til tomorrow morning, when any result will be much more reliable than it is now. I tested again on the morning of Day 37 and it was as clear as day, if that helps. Huge difference in only 18 hours.

Hey MainlyMaynie
Thanks, thought you would get it. Pretty sure she was sure. She has a good understanding of her body. And the initial result suggesting conception had been 1-2 weeks previously was in the ball park (had been 8-10 days I think).

You know, we've become so used to bad news I can't barely imagine what seeing a positive would feel like. Even when she showed me the result on Friday I didn't really believe it. Not really and truly. So the BFN 3 hours later came as no real surprise. And that maybe another reason we're putting it off....

Flangelina, OK, got you now. Thanks.

thanks iloveberries. Do you know what I just ate? A big bowl of berries.

Thanks maples. If goodwill counts for anything she'll be laden with octuplets.

Haha! I do love berries. Fingers crossed for you. Five years is a long time to wait and it's excruciating when it's just not happening.

No af is a good sign though. When is your dp testing again? X

Tomorrow morning if AF still refuses to show her ugly mug. Excruciating is the word, all right. Berries must be a good food for conception, right? I've been feeding her with berry porridge for breakfast for the last 6 months.

I guess any healthy food is good although my chain smoking, obese, booze hound friend has just announced her second pregnancy-conceived on month one - so who knows??!! Maybe I should start the alternative ttc diet!

How many days late is she?

Sorry, I'm already on that ttc diet, minus the chain-smoking.

She was due on Friday, which is when she took the first - positive - test. Two negatives since then, the first 3 hours after the positive.

Hope you've been lacing that porridge with folic acid. Another mner keeping her digits tightly crossed for you here...

And the clearest memories I have of very early pregnancy are ravenous hunger, especially for carbs :-)

If she was only 10 dpo (days post ovulation) on Friday then it's still pretty early actually. Have you looked to see what concentration of HCG the test you've bought detects? There's quite a big range in OTC tests, some are not very sensitive. Crossing my fingers for you!

If she's sure of her ovulation date and she is now beyond her usual luteal length phase (no of days between ovulation and period beginning) then that's a very good sign.

The period-y feelings can last for ages I'm afraid but the stress must be adding to it for her.

Oh and if she's very hungry she should definitely go with it, just in case that comes just before being very sick .

Fingers crossed for you from another TTC veteran - our baby was 4.5 years in the making.

I really do hope it's good news for you in the morning.

Thanks MakesCakesWhenStressed and thanks again kalidasa.

She usually craves chocolate around AF time (she's usually 100% savoury otherwise) but has only been craving cheese over the last few days. No chocolate cravings at all (I've been taking of chocolate business in her absence - it's a dirty job but someone has to do it).

If she was only 10 DPO when she took the test, then it's no surprise you've had mixed results. Even if you have a short luteal phase the time for pregnancy tests is based on average luteal phase of 14 days, so you would be lucky to get a positive test on the day her period was due. I'm feeling very positive for you! I felt period-y for weeks into pregnancy.

(BTW for your next baby, 10 day luteal phase is quite short and she might benefit from agnus castus. You probably already know that.)

I can't stand the suspense, so Lord knows how you must feel-do you have any nails left? I could tell you the story of my friend who after one baby and six years of trying for a second, was told she would never conceive again, that her baby was a miracle and she would have to accept just one. She then had three is two years (twins) and each time didn't find out for months as she was convinced she couldn't be pregnant. So from infertile to three under two...
I am really hoping for you and have all crossable parts crossed.

MainlyMaynie
To be honest, we're now not entirely sure when she was ovulating. We've had such miserable luck our recent efforts have been quite desultory - we know we did something around ovulation time but we're not 100% sure when that was. In our defence we have just moved to a new country so our slackness can be forgiven.

And I have no idea who this Angus chap is - sorry.

Thanks for the encouraging words HellyMellly.

Oh, and thank you to CockDodger. No wonder it took you 4.5 years. I'll get my coat.

Just to say...I'm keeping everything crossed for you guys!

Paolo :)

Took us 6.5 years to get DD3. Remember this sort of event well. Horrible. Sympathies.

Crossing fingers for you.

Good luck! My first symptom was what I thought was mad, insane, batshit level PMT In fact I felt so mental and hormonal I had a shit day and went to pee on a stick simply to confirm I wasn't pregnant so I could rant and rave even more about how shit my day had been DH still laughs when he remembers me coming in with the very faintest pink line and a face...

I should have known something was amiss as I don't normally get mental PMT...

Keeping everything crossed for you :o

Another one keeping their fingers crossed for you.

Thanks again for your good wishes. They're really appreciated.

Angelico, you're not my DP in disguise are you? That sounds frighteningly similar to Friday around 5pm.