Fabulous Fecund Over Forties TTC: fertile,prolific,fruitful and productive. Hand over the bfp's and hand them over now!!

[hopefulgum]

Starting the new thread for you wonderful ladies before I fly off into the sunset.

May this thread bring us the happy news we've all been waiting for.

Hello! Really lovely news Irish I am so pleased for you. I know you are still worried, but everything is looking as it should at this stage, couldn't look any better. Is your next scan in a few weeks?
Gum that's brilliant advice re: pupils' behaviour. I have had to deal with the same myself in the past, but the students I deal with these days are usually 'mature' and while they natter a bit are easier to deal with! Good luck mozz - everyone in teaching has 'been there'.
Oh and the colleague at work, yes...she has 6 grown up children so this was a massive shock. Natural conception too, and by all accounts literally a one hit wonder...her husband is not taking it well at all Everything looks good so far pregnancy-wise so it's just a case of mentally adjusting I suppose!
34 weeks today - back at work but only 2 weeks after this then on leave..Have placenta scan on Thursday so will see if it has 'moved up' and what that means (or not) for delivery plans. Bit nervous!
Hope all are well - think notsoold is about the same weeks-wise as me?

Irish....such good news and I am particularly pleased about the good treatment at the EPU.

Diege... Same weeks as you!!!
I am still here :)

Ds has been poorly with his beginnings of year cold ( every first week he get a bad cold with fever etc)
Our dog seems to have turned a corner and is better again. As DH does not deals with the dogbeing poorly it was mainly me take her to the vet!!! Ohhh stress
Hello jbrd and gum hope you are well...xxx

Good morning all.
Such lovely news irish...it must be an anxious time for you however. So lovely that the epu nurse remembered you.
I'm back to using my phone....the internet here is dreadful (i still have overhead wires supplying my house). It took four attempts for BT to deliver my hub!!! They sent two to an address I lived in nearly 2 years ago....I so hate incompetence especially from big companies who make huge profits.
I'm still awaiting af after having to end anovulatory cycle with provera. Its strange that with the synthetic progesterone in my body that i have sore boobies (something I always used to get pre miscarriage but not since). I had my first appointmwnt with my new Dr on Monday who wants to redo all the initial bloodtests before referring me to fertility services NIreland but has advised keeping my November appointment back in England. I admit to losing belief that this much wanted baby is ever going to happen for us :(. I really should see if the English clinic will send my/our results to me.
My lovely dd2 is coming to visit me next week...i cannot wait. Missing my dc's soooo very much. I also have a job interview next week....in a prison eeek. Initially i was excited however on reflection its a band lower than my previous job which would, in time , mean losing accreditations in two of my extra qualifications through non practice. That aside its also an hours journey away on pretty poor roads. The last thing I want is to end up in the nightmare of stress and anxiety I have just left behind in my previous job. I almost fancy a complete change of direction and have taken the plunge and ordered myself a course in nail enhancements. I just feel ready to make complete changes in my life. I figured that I may have business on camp (army) and could pick and choose when Iwant to work.
Feel free to tell me I'm bonkers ladies. :)
So the nights are drawing in, its getting colder and xfactor is back on tv (I confess to only watching to giggle at the awful ones)....it all seems to be happening on a revolving repetitve roundabout. Cant help but feel time is running out for me and ttc. I'm 43...I wonder how long I can really let this be such a big factor in my life?

Hi Everyone, Congratulations Sparkly and thats good news to hear irish.
Not posted for a while, you may remember I was bleeding for what seemed to be forever. Blood tests came back normal. I am now on cd60 and waiting for af to come back. One minute I was wishing it would stop, the next I'm wishing it will come back. Any advice, anyone?
Calibee I have just enrolled on a Business Administration Course, something I have no idea about. I think your nail enhancements sound great. I have just turned 43 too and feeling like you.
We are off to Ireland for a weeks break, sounds great but we are taking my parents so things could get quite strained. Altogether there will be 9 of us to occupy, entertain and please!
Sorry I havent name checked everyone, I'm still lurking! xx

mumalah hello...yes I do remember you. Have you seen gp re bleeding.?
I seemed to spend a couple of years where I bled at the drop of a hat but now like you wishing it would all start so that I can take my clomid.
I was give oral progesterone (Provera) to kick start af on anovulatory cycles...maybe you could ask your GP about it :)
Where abouts in Ireland are you off to??

Hello Calibee and Mumalah. It is good to hear from you. I still think 43 is young, but that's because I am so much older. I do understand how you feel - wondering if it will happen, where to go from here. Cali, I think keeping your November appointment in England is a good idea, who knows how long you will have to wait for an appointment in NI? What kind of treatment do you want to do with the clinic? Have you and DH talked about how much you are willing to do? IVF? I know you'd just love to fall pregnant naturally and not have to bother with all of that, I just wondered what's the next step.

Mumalah, sorry I can't recall if you have taken clomid? It sounds like you might need a kick start to ovulate? Are you open to fertility treatment? I think if you were to take a course of provera to start AF, then the clomid, and have ultrasound to track ovulation, you could then time sex for when the egg is about to arrive.

Of course I say all this not really knowing what you want to do. I can't do any of it, mainly because my DH isn't on board at all for anything but an "opps! Looks like we are fertile after all" type of pregnancy. I still hold out hope that I will be one of the lucky ladies who get pregnant when they are on the wrong side of 45. I keep hearing good news stories, but I also know it can't happen for everyone over 45. I have a friend with a proven fertility record - 6 children. Her last at 42. Since then she has been open to another (but I honestly don't know if she bothers with anything like opks, temping etc, I don't think she does), and she is now 50, but hasn't had another baby. She has had three miscarriages in the last 6 years though. So although I have a great fertility record, had my last at 41, and I am timing SWI etc,etc, it doesn't mean I will get my THB. I just have to keep at it in case I really do have one more golden egg. And who knows, maybe I have two or three? Triplets at 48 GASP! I don't know how happy I'd be? I think I would really struggle.

Cali, I think your idea of changing career is a good one. Why not? And nail enhancements would be a great little earner when you have a baby too (positive thinking here, when, not if).

We have had a change of government in Australia, and the cutbacks to education are staggering and frightening, so now would be a great time for me to have a baby and go on leave. The only decent thing the government want to do is give women 6 months paid maternity leave (it is much, much less at the moment). So perhaps the universe has been kind enough to hold off on my pregnancy and THB so that I could have the paid leave?

The cut backs are really going to affect our conditions at work and I often think about changing jobs, but I have no idea what else I'd do, and I actually really do enjoy my job. But I think teachers will be under more pressure with the cutbacks and I won't enjoy it as much. I am already considering private school for my DS as I worry about how good government schools will be with less money going into them compared to the private schools.

Anyway, if I could just have one last baby, I could take my paid leave and think about changing career and maybe even retrain (though I had thought I might do that with the last baby and found I had no time or energy for re-training or study).

Ok, better get organised for work. I have a Health Ed lesson first up and no lesson plan, best get organised!

Hello! Yes I did see Gp re bleeding but she just told me to have blood test which was supposed to be day 3 on day 23! Says results would be the same to check fsh levels(I'm not convinced) Results were given as normal, no further action needed (that doesn't tell me what the levels are).
I Had 6 rounds of clomid, I started ovulating on the 3rd cycle, and have been charting ever since which each month until now a clear temperature shift suggesting ovulation. I have read that Vitex can help with hormone imbalances, does anyone have experience of this? I have been discharged from the hospital for fertility treatment due to a blood test i had that suggested my fsh levels were high (i have since researched that Clomid can cause higher fsh results) I did have something to bring on af on round 2 of clomid, it was called Northisterone, perhaps I should ask for that.
Calibee I'm off to Courtown near County Wexford, going by boat so its going to be a long journey. I used to holiday there as a child, as I have relatives dotted all over Ireland. I've been told its a lot more expensive over there, have you found this ?
Well today I am packing, well supposed to be! Typical I've left it all to the last minute, with tons of washing to do, and its pouring of rain.
Hopeful Do you think that acupuncture would be of any benefit to me?

mumalah, yes, I think acupuncture could be of benefit. If nothing else it will balance your body and is great for relaxation. I think that since having acupuncture regularly I get sick less often than I used to. Also, I am 46 and still regularly ovulating and having AF. I don't know if acupuncture makes any difference, but I think it may help. It is certainly worth a few months trial.

Diege is a bit of a vitex expert, hopefully she'll come and tell you all about it. I have used it here and there, but I don't think I really need it.

I have just come in after a big swim (60 laps). I don't know that it was a good idea as it's a fast day and I haven't eaten much today and felt a bit wobbly afterwards. Might swim fewer laps on fast days I had to go to the bottle shop (that's where we buy alcohol in Australia, it isn't sold in supermarkets) and pick up a carton of beer for DH's work department, and I was a bit vague and left my wallet in the trolley whilst wandering around the cool room searching for the type of beer he wanted. I was very lucky it wasn't stolen. What a silly billy As soon as I got in I had to eat a small tin of salmon as I thought I might pass out. Feel a bit better now, but can't wait for dinner.

I think I may have some good-ish news, though not for everyone - my sister's lover of 4 years has finally told his wife that he's leaving. For her it means she may have the new start she's wanted for years, but I am not so sure, at this stage he hasn't actually left, and I don't know if he can be trusted. My sister is happy, but I feel very sad for her ex-husband (who wanted to reconcile) and the lover's wife who had no idea about the affair and will be reeling from this news. I hope, eventually, they will all find happiness.

DS wants me to cuddle up while he watches Bananas in Pyjamas, so I'll do some knitting.

Happy days

Hello! Wow gum how you manages to swim that far with 500 calories (is that right?) I don't know! Tin of salmon wouldn't have touched the sides here! Hope all sorts itself out soon for your sister...sounds pretty traumatic. Oh I also meant to mention about your new PM..hmmm, what to say...are you all mad? I have a feeling you wouldn't have been one of his voters though Gum
On the vitex-front, it did work wonders for me - increased my luteal phase from 9 days to 11/12 and no side effects whatsoever. I'm sure it helped when I was ttc-ing, and also helped with regulating my cycles (so I didn't bleed every 3 weeks) when not.
So scan day today to se if the placenta has 'moved' up or not...my hunch is not but then again I am such a pessimist with scans (not generally one!) On the plus side I have had no spotting whatsoever which you can see if placenta is still low, so we'll see. My palms are sweating just writing this!
Calibee I think the nail tech idea is ace - you have such a captive market there where you live and as Gum says it will work well with a baby
Love to all - sorry not to do more personals - must pay ds2 some attention!

Irish, I'm so pleased for you that you are pregnant again & that the scan shows all is well at the moment. I understand your anxiety, and have everything crossed that this one stays put.

Calibee, your nail tech plan sounds a good one. It sounds like you are settling in in NI, despite your dodgy internet. And hopefully your new GP is sympathetic. Wishing you a sticky bfp soon.

Mozza, how are you getting on in your new job?

Gum, 60 laps in the pool on so few calories?? No wonder you felt wobbly. If I haven't eaten much at work, I sometimes need chocolate just so I can make it home (2.5 mile total walking). I'm definitely not missing work at the moment though.

Diege, I hope your placenta has moved up. I can't believe you're 34 weeks (and notsoold too). I found the last few weeks went quite fast, but I really enjoyed being home with DD1 over the summer hols.

Thank you all for your good wishes. We are doing ok. I'm trying to type one handed while DD2 feeds. She's sleeping and feeding well, though we are struggling with the latch a bit. DD1 is thrilled with her baby sister, and wants to hold her/make a fuss of her all the time, which is great, but we are having to rein her in a bit & keep reminding her about LOs neck. DH is making sure I'm fed, but I'm not getting much affection from him, which is hard. I feel like I've lost him at the moment & I just want him to come back to me. He is interacting with his new DD though, but hasn't changed her nappy yet. Having MIL to stay was better than I anticipated, she was a star at keeping us fed, but drove DH especially up the wall. On a pleasing note, when I went for midwife check up last week, they queried why I was induced at 40 weeks, and they were very surprised when I told them my age . The induction was much better than last time, I was in labour for less than 3 hours, and then DD2 came very quickly - the midwife & DH managed to catch her.

I do know how truly fortunate I am to have a (hopefully) healthy baby at my age, and I wish everyone on this thread a sticky BFP very soon. I shall keep reading and popping in when I get chance if that's ok.

Lovely to hear from you sparkly - it sounds like you are doing impressively well, especially with an under-performing dh ...It's lovely too that dd1 is so happy with her little sister How do you feel in yourself?

It is so nice to hear from you Sparkly. It sounds like DD2 is doing well. Have you put a picture on your profile? I would love to see her. Sorry your DH isn't stepping up. That must be very hard for you, feeling you have lost him. It is an intense time when you have a newborn. Perhaps when everything has settled down he'll be better, or at least you might get a chance to talk to him about his behaviour? Is he having any counseling? It sounds like he may still need it.

Diege, I hope the scan went well, come and tell us as soon as you can.

As for our new PM, it was a bloody landslide victory, which has me baffled because I cannot understand why the majority of Australians would want a right wing government, nor why they'd want him. He's already made so many sexist faux pas when he was in opposition. Not to mention the shocking and horrible ideas they have to send assylum seekers back to war torn countries and the abolishment of the carbon tax, so big business, mining etc can go ahead and put as many emissions as they like into the environment with no financial comeback. It's really baffling. However, I think many traditional Labour voters didn't vote labour simply because of all the in-fighting in that party over the last 2 years. Rather than looking at policies, many people tend to look at the person (the leader) and the personalities within their party.It is worrying, but we shall have to wait and see what happens.

Well not much news here. I am CD9 today, so soon will crack open the opks. I am pleased to report that DH isn't going away this weekend as we have too much on socially It may not have made much difference, as he would have only been away for CD 10,11,12, but who knows, I may ovulate early - I have ovulated on day 11 or 12 before.Now he's going to go away in 2 weeks time, so that will be fine.

So we are out tonight at a restaurant with his work department (those boys love to drink!). I will eat at the Indian restaurant but won't be going with him to the party afterwards where they all watch the football and drink whiskey (ewww!). I am so pleased DS2 now has his driver's license, so he can pick up DH in the early hours. Then tomorrow night we have a friend's birthday.

No rest for the wicked, as they say

Hello! Hey glad I didn't offend you Gum with my negative comments about your PM It is indeed very odd that he won so convincingly - his sexism/racism/homophobia is what I'd associate with a maverick also-ran, but obviously a lot of people either don't see it like that or were attracted by other things...You are living in 'interesting' times to be sure!
Talking of interesting, I am a bit after yesterday's scan. Placenta is still low, though not covering cervix (to the side of it) and I'm being rescanned in 2 weeks to see if it's moved (still a chance but I'm not convinced). The shock I had relates to fact that I may need a section anyway - baby is measuring 42 weeks , with head and legs at 41 weeks, abdomen off the scale (43-44wks). Consultant wasn't worried, saying it's just a big baby (est weight if born yesterday 7ib 8, and predicted over 11ibs at birth . So we shall see! I do feel there's no room left, have never gone past 39 weeks before, and figure my body will probably go into labour in the next 2-3 weeks, if not before. Baby is doing well though (ironically head down, perfect position for birth etc) so they will just 'observe'....
Hope everyone else is ok xxx

hi deige. On my phone so no bold letters. Wow! Baby will be a whopper. As for going into labour in the next 2-3 weeks, are you feeling ready? I am very excited about your new bsby coming so soon.

Off to dinner now.will check in tomorrow morning.

Diege Wow, that's a whopper of a baby! How many weeks are you now? I'm sure it'll all be fine, esp as they are keeping a close eye on you.

Sapphire - sorry you DH isn't participating, that must be so frustrating. Fingers crossed he'll come round soon!

Cali - I can heartily recommend changing careers, if that's what will make you happy! It's exciting and challenging, and I for one have not regretted it. I also think that the beauty/wellness area is great to move into, there always seems to be a demand!

Not much new here. I finally feel I'm getting back to normal, finally caught up with work, started exercising again this week (the pain!) and will go back to WeightWatchers today, to try and loose the weight that has been creeping up again over the last few months.
And I'm currently being tested left right and centre for the recurring miscarriages - I thought it would take forever to kick off, but it all started happening really quickly. They took blood from DH and me, and today I'm having an ultrasound scan. All that's missing now is a blood sample from day2-5 in my next cycle. I already have been given an appointment with the consultant to discuss all the results in November! Really quite impressed with the speed. Although this could mean we'll be back to ttc really soon, scary thought

Hi girls.

I had a pleasant evening out last night. The food was lovely (Indian) and company good. I sat near a young couple who are expecting their second baby. Their first is 18 months old and she is 10 weeks pregnant. They announced their pregnancy weeks ago; I sat there feeling so that they could be so confident and tell the world all about it, when I know if I ever get pregnant again I won't be telling anyone (maybe not even DH) until I make it past 10 weeks. Of course I am happy for them, they were a lovely couple, just a little sad for myself. And because I have had five and everyone thinks I'm done ttc, some of the comments were a bit upsetting, about how I don't need to think about that sort of thing anymore etc,etc.

Jbrd, I am glad that the testing is happening already. How do you feel about it? I suppose it would be good to know if there is a cause,especially if it can be sorted out, but I suppose in some ways knowing it is simply an age thing has different feelings attached. I speak for myself - I had a lot of testing done after my second miscarriage and although little things were found, they couldn't really pin it on anything. It did reveal that I have an underlying autoimmune disease (I don't know what at this stage) and it probably makes no difference to ttc. I was also a little low in Vit D, but ultimately, and after a long time, I have basically come to think it is down to being older and there's nothing to do but wait for a healthy egg.

Whatever is the case for you, I do hope they can help you and that you will have a THB soon.

I have to run now - another evening out. Both DH and I feel tired and in some ways would rather have an early night. It's an hour drive to our friend's farm and I know driving home will be hard. AI should stop complaining _ I will probably enjoy myself. The worst thing is finding something nice to wear when I just want to snuggle in tracky pants and ugg boots

Evening! Just a quick hello en route to bed. Very stormy here - don't think that summer will return...
Sounds like you've got a busy few days going on there gum (not to mention the upcoming action ) Hope you can find t relax properly too x
Hope everyone's ok

Morning Ladies. Actually Diege I think the weekend sounds worse than it was. I was pretty tired when we went out on Saturday night after a late night, early morning and then taking DS swimming and swimming my laps. I have to admit to doing a lot of yawning throughout dinner, and leaving at about 11. Which is reasonably late, but we'd only just finished dessert It was a pleasant evening.

I made up for the tiredness by having a pretty slack Sunday. A friend brought her kids over for a playdate, and they had a ball. Then we chilled out all afternoon, watching movies. Poor DH had to go and do some work for his dad on their farm, so he wasn't as rested as me.

His dad is starting his 5 weeks of radiation therapy tomorrow. We found out from DH's sister that the doctor said there was a real possibility that he may not have a year left but they would do the treatment to slow things down. It is sad and I know it will be a difficult time for my DH. He's never had a close and loving relationship with his father, so I worry about how this whole process will go, I think it will be harder because they aren't close. My DH is being very good to his parents, always there to help, sometimes at his expense and the expense of time to do things here (for example all the yard work he did for his father yesterday, really needs to be done here).

I wonder whether having anew baby would be a blessing or a problem with DH's parents ailing. I can see how it would put DH under pressure, though I am the hands on one with the kids. I just know,more and more he'll have to help his parents out (and of the four children, he's the only one living close by). But, I do think that having a new life (a baby) around would really help with the sadness of losing his parents IYKWIM?

Anyway, its all just academic isn't it, as I am not even pregnant, and the chances are getting slimmer as they years march on.

Despite my poor chances, I am day 12, no positive opk yet, but plenty of SWI, so that's a step in the right direction. This cycle I'd really like to try and have SWI on the day of ovulation, because all the pregnancies I have had since charting have had SWI on O day. The problem is, I seem to feel too tired and "over it" by the time it is O day, and I convince myself that the shop is closed by then. However, all those pregnancy charts have various days before O (day 1,2 or 3,or a combination) and O day.It will be my mission this time

How is everyone else? It's a bit quiet in the Snug these days. I remember a time when we'd get to 1000 posts very quickly, I was surprised to see we only have 318 messages on the thread. I sometimes feel I am talking to myself, but that's ok, as it is good to have somewhere to rabbit on about all this, kind of like a personal journal.

Drop in and say hello if you are lurking...and have one of these

Wel that's definitely my time to delurk..as I got a BFP!!
With such an high risk of mc though, it doesn't even seem real..I think I'm trying to protect my self from hoping too much..
But just for today it's still good news isn't it?

sparkly work is hard, some classes are manageable, but I have one class where they are so noisy and naughty I can hardly speak.. You can hardly split the "bad ones" as there are too many of them....
Happy to here about your baby arrival and the enthusiasm of DD1..I really hope your Dh will cope with this new situation and change his mood, he may needs some time though..no way to have a chat with him?

Fantastic news, mozzarella, good for you I know what you mean about not wanting to hope too much (I've been exactly the same), but for today you're pregnant. Congratulations - here's too a smooth, easy pregnancy.

I'll gratefully settle down with that , gum - just what I need! I'm always here reading, but I post less than when I was TTC, partly as I don't have a lot to report, and also because I don't want to complain here about every little pregnancy niggle as I know that everyone here would love to have those niggles (you know what I mean ).

Anyway, am 19+2 now, got my next scan in 2 weeks, though due to see my gynae before that. Am finally feeling less tired, and in fact I feel so well now that I forget I'm pregnant - and keep getting a shock when I see my little (but fast-growing) bump in a mirror.

Wishing you all a lovey week!

Congratulations mozzarella That is wonderful news. When did you find out? How far along are you?

Morien, it is nice to hear from you. Wow! 19 +2. I can't believe you are almost half way through. I hope you can enjoy your growing bump. How exciting.

Must dash, DS calling me from the bath...

I am 4 wks +3..almost no symptoms..I will try to see my dr next week..actually Ididn't expect it for this month as I thought we didn't dtd on fertile days..maybe it's a super SWI who survived for a few days..should I worry even more?

Congratulations mozzarella, what lovely news! Here's to a smooth, trouble free pregnancy - I really hope this one works for you.

Jbrd, that seems really quick with the testing. I hope they find some explanation and something treatable.

Diege, that sounds like a huge baby! I hope you're doing ok though.

Gum, I don't think you're talking to yourself! It's always good to read your posts however you're feeling and I do think that having an outlet is really useful. I know I've found it helpful.

My brother & family came yesterday to meet the new arrival. DB & DH went for a drink (for much longer than they said), but my clever DB finally got DH to talk. DH and I haven't had chance to talk as he collapsed in a heap on the bed and went to sleep, but I'm sure it's helped so hopefully we can make some progress. Otherwise all is good, DD2 gaining weight, I'm losing sleep, but finding it much easier this time round!

Mozzarella... Wonderful news!!! Many congratulations!!:)

Morien...I agree with gum that time flies!!! Will you want to know the gender????

Sparkly....excellent that people are talking to your dh!!! I hope he comes around soon!!!lovely to know baby sparkly is doing well!!!

Gum my thoughts are with your dfil starting radiation. Your questions is very valid regarding the right time to have a baby, and only you can answer it. I always think that problems are always with us but good things we grab them as they present themselves...xxx

Jbrd how are ww coming along??? Good news people are testing you !!!!

Diege...that is a big baby!!! Are you going to have another scan confirming size or is that it???

Cali, how is life in your new place???

irish....how are you doing?? Xxxx

hello!!!

I am another lurker always reading and keeping fingers crossed for you all....
I will have another scan in less the two weeks ( will be 36 weeks then) to see if baby is still breech and if so what will be done....still working until the end of September!!!

Hello to everyone else I missed

Just a quickie to say congrats to mozzarella mummy. I am sending my best sticky vibes.

Glad to hear you're coping we'll with the sleepless nights sparkly. Hope your husband gets his head straight soon.

Diege - wow to a big boy! Were your others big too?

JBrd - pleased to hear you're getting swift and thorough attention.

Gum - I am on day 13 so I think we're in synch. I am sorry I don't post more at the moment. My dad has a sarcoma - soft tissue tumour in his hip. Waiting for biopsy results this week but he's clearly in agony and already on morphine. :-(
I feel very sad to be far away. I know he's getting great care - going to the marsden in London but I wish I could be there even just for a cup of tea and a chat. So, I sympathise - must be hard to watch your fil and by extension your dh suffer. Nobody is ever ready to face this stuff.

So - I am a bit all over the place and my little one is really playing me up. I would love her to have a sibling - everything going on makes me want that more for her and yet emotionally I'm exhausted and dtd is not top of my list of priorities but I want it to be.