If TTC # 2 has turned you into a nut job this thread is for you! (Part 4)

[sebsmummy1]

Hey!! We have had lots of graduates from Part 3, so let's get on the TTC bus part 4 and make this place a ghost town.

Destination Pregnancy, choooo choooooo

Happy new everyone and here's hoping all our mad cycles calm down and we get a load of BFPs.

Felt ridiculously emotional earlier after chatting to someone who suggested I might not be ovulating at all given my slightly all over the place cycle. Hadn't even occurred to me that that might be what's going on so now I'm fretting about it. Looks like I'll have to start using opks to find out! So much for my attempts at a calm and relaxed approach to TTC!!! Bloody body!

How long have you been TTC cakebaker? I was very surprised to find I was possibly not OVing. I had periods as regular as clockwork, an instantly conceived one year old, and had been trying for 6 month. Also, the OPKs always showed a smiley each month, I used them from the second month of trying. It was the day 21 blood tests that showed no/late OV. so maybe the GP could confirm it to put your mind at rest? With me it is is the bfing that was to blame. But if you weren't OVing this is something that can be remedied it seems.

My CB fertility monitor is causing me confusion. So many days of high fertility (11 days now!) but no peak. I am not convinced it was £100 well spent but it is making me get lots of trying in at least.

Statistically, surely there will be some BFPs on here soon. Bring them on!

Hi Zippy, only off the pill in oct and not been very scientific about when etc as was just waiting for my cycle to calm down a bit, plus Dec a right off with work commitments etc getting in the way. So I doubt GP would do anything yet?

Hi everyone,
I haven't read the whole thread, only the last couple if pages, but found it really interesting and was hoping I could pick your brains / join in.
Bit of background. Am 34 with a 2.6 yr old ds. Tried for sometime to conceive him but dh was working awful hrs at the time and I'd come off depo so think neither thing helped. Am still bf ds, periods came back when he was 14 months. Had a very short LP for a lot of the following cycles but since I day weaned about 4 months ago, I've had regular 29 day cycles. Have temped and opk'd and am pretty sure I'm ovulating but still not pregnant
Zippy was this what happened to you? I see you've written about bf being the cause. Everyone I speak to tells me how easy it is to fall pregs whilst bf but it's not my experience at all. Any advice would be much appreciated.

I didn't get proper periods back til I stopped bf altogether jakey. But my ds was only 9 / 10 months. I first got preg again when ds was 14 months (first time we tried but then miscarried and still here with just another mc to show for it)

cake just lie a bit about how long trying and ask for a day 21 test - most doctors will offer you this if you are worried about not ovulating. I was offered it 4 months after mc after I said I was worried i wasn't ovulating after my mc.

zippy I've heard mixed reviews about the cbfm but mostly positive from RL people and just more neg on MN. It could be that your body is gearing up to ov at its 'usual' time but actually only releases the egg later hence the late / no ov. In theory the progesterone test should happen 7 days before af arrives. Tricky if like me your cycles are all over the place!!! I think somewhere I read to go on your longest cycle and do 7 days back from there.

So I'm in the 2 ww of my wtf cycle. DH is upstairs being ill and I feel like af is on its way. Was going to POAS this morn for a laugh but then decided to wait it out. I don't actually know when af is due tho - I think some time next week.

How are you doing punky?

Hey everyone,

I'm ok thanks, temps did go up and FertilityFriend has given me an ov date of day 20, last Saturday, and we bd'd on the Friday.. so in the 2ww now, and hoping for a decent luteal phase this month, though skin has broken out like crazy in spots which has been a recent sign (since EP) of upcoming AF.. just like when I was a teenager(!) so will see..

Been a bit hectic last few days. DH has man flu, and DS (2 yrs old) ended up in hospital (minor injuries unit) yesterday in lots of pain with a dislocated elbow.. GPs this morning about that and other things, and back to hospital as his arm still wasn't better, and then sent to an A&E in another hospital where they finally fixed it.. fun fun fun.

Another one happy to see the back of 2013.. we didn't even stay up on NYE, DH was just starting with the man flu, and went to bed at 10pm, and I was tired so just went at the same time (knowing I had no back up if DS had a bad night). Our bottle of bubbly is still in the fridge unopened!

I'm sorry I can't help about the no ov queries.. I got pregnant with the Ectopic on the 2nd month of trying (2 months after coming off the pill) so am assuming everything is working in that department for me (just my tube that failed us) though no idea what impact the ectopic has had on ovulation... I guess I will see in time.

Hope everyone's start to the New Year has been a bit more fun than mine! Am actually looking forward to go back to work next Monday for a rest :-)

xxx

Hi punky phewf what a few days for your family! Hope you are ok and DS has been mended.
Welcome to the 2 ww with me. Although I don't actually know if I've ovulated and having weird cramps so this is a funny cycle for sure (but as expected as first since mc)

I'm dreading going back to work :(

Well after only DTD once in the fertile period, an extra long cycle, and expecting AF any day (not to mention now being a uni-tuber) I am not expecting much this month. It would be a miracle to get a BFP this cycle.

I'm only really looking forward to going back to work as I am kind of changing jobs.. going back to travelling with work rather than wfh. I liked the convenience of wfh, but hated my role and never seeing anyone (apart from DH who also wfh!). Anyway, looking forward to something a bit more challenging, being a part of the human race again, and some me-time in the evenings.. I only work a 3 day week so only will be away 2 nights so it is just enough without missing DH and DS too much.

Hi jakey, I am about the same age as you, and one baby who is nearly 2, conceived instantly. Bf her until early November but it was down to once a day in the evening (and the odd 3am feed...). Periods came back when she was nearly one. TTC since April/May. Periods were regular, appearing on day 27, just as before DD.

In late Sept, after 6 cycles, I went to the GP. Surprisingly, perhaps, given I was bfing, 35 and had a DD conceived first cycle, she ordered blood tests at day 3 and day 21, and a scan. Scan was perfectly normal. The day 21 tests indicated I was not OVing, but I am fairly sure that was because the cycle was unusually long that month, unhelpfully. However, I wanted more answers when the blood tests were unusual, and the GP didnt seem to know, so I paid to see a consultant in November. £200 and an appointment the same week. GP wrongly assured me that Bfing would make no difference as I have regular periods and was once a day.

Consultant is quite an eminent chap, runs an IVF clinic, seems to know his stuff. Anyway, he took one look at the day 3 results and said a) he thought I was ovulating, and b) he could see I had very low FSH levels. Low FSH is a good sign because it gets high when you are peri menopausal.Low is caused by excessive exercise, being underweight or bfing. With me, he was confident it was recent bfing as I am normal weight and don't exercise too much.

A couple of months on, I've stopped bfing but still leak milk occasionally (I always had lots and carried on bfing even when working FT hours). He has suggested I leave it a bit then have some scans through the cycle to check when OV is happening. I cling on to the words in the letter that say there is a good chance of conceiving without assistance now bfing has ceased. fingers crossed. good luck. x

Thanks everyone.
Zippy that's really interesting. I think we may have crossed paths before on another thread too!
Sounds like we are at the same sort of stage with this ttc lark! I've decided I'm going to night wean at the end of the week, leaving just a bed time feed to see if that helps.
I think I will stick around guys if that's ok. Nice to chat with some people who understand how frustrating this all is!

Hiya girls. Happy new year to us all xxx

Well I have bitten the bullet and made a doctors appointment for tomorrow. I, possibly very stupidly, used my christmas money to buy a clearblue fertility monitor, and all it's managed to do is make me feel even more disconcerted.

I honestly have no idea if I'm ovulating or not. I started it on cd7 instead of cd5, which might not have helped. But is thrown up a high from cd 10 to cd16 and I think missed my surge (if there was one). Just looking at the test sticks has made me feel as though my hormones are fucked. There is no obvious sign of oestrogen rising and my LH line has stayed pretty static. The only sticks that look that different are around cd11/cd12 so I'm going to assume if I did ovulate, it was probably around that time.

The only things that are positive is my post partum hair loss has finally stopped, which could be an indication if hormones stabilising.

Hopefully zippy might be able to sympathise with me re the fertility monitor I remember yours was throwing you lots if highs too.

Happy new year everyone and sebs I really hopes the docs tomorrow is helpful, keep us posted. I've just about managed to resist buying the clearblue monitor, think I'd better give opks a go first of all.

Giving everyone a wave who is still TTC and still a nut job, no change here.

Hi sebs welcome back!!!! Just a quick one re cbfm I have heard it takes a few months to figure you out.

Glad you are back and got a doctor appt in the diary :)

Xx

waves

I've turned into a nutjob and only on month one. I thought I would be MORE relaxed with number 2 but it seems not! Everything I've been reading (except things trying to sell you stuff!) says fertility experts advise not monitoring (as it can be inaccurate/stressful) and having lots of sex throughout the whole cycle, so that's the approach I'm taking… however if it doesn't work for a few months or more I may re-think!

I am still bf but having regular periods. I think that means you're USUALLY fertile? Unless you have known problems? Eep! Step away from Dr Google and keep shagging, that's my philosophy…

Let's have some BFPs soon ladies! :)

Ha ha weebairn xxxxx. I think the problem with the internet is sometimes information is too readily available and you end up convincing yourself you have things wrong with you when maybe you don't. God knows lol!!

Yep fed up you are right. People do talk about it needing a few cycles. I think if the sticks had given me a bit more variety in the readings I might have felt better but they just look so similar. But if any good has come of it I guess it has pushed me into making a docs appointment and who knows, it might help.

I was just talking about dr google yesterday and it's pros and cons. Pros - self diagnosis when gp is shit or can't get to see one. Cons - we know more than the doctors!!

Welcome wee. All total nutters here. Month one I was quite sane, a year down the line and two mc later am an official top of the league nut job!!

oh nice to see you back sebs - did you de-cancel Christmas?!

Yes my CBFM was indeed showing lots of highs, but it also showed me I got to peak much later than I ever would have thought. In fact I got to peak on day 24 last month which meant a short luteal phase though I gather that's common post bfing? Last month, AF showed up on day 33, six cruel days late.

This month it was highs day 11 to day 26 (?!) but I think once you get a high it stays high until peak occurs, not sure though. If you are using it for longer than the 5 seconds I think it can affect it too.

Some blood tests from GP should help reassure you re hormones? A day 3 and a day 21? good luck. AF was due for me yesterday but has been late the last three months (after being regular my whole life until the point I am actually obsessing about it!) so don't suppose it counts. Not even tested but fairly sure I'm out this month. I actually savour the days of being late now, they're the nearest I get to a BFP, tragically enough!

Oh yes, that lovely 'what if?' bubble. Can totally relate and I too have sought sanctuary within it, not wanting to know either way until the bitch shows up. Obviously hoping and praying there's a positive outcome for you xxxx

Yep I assume it will be the 3/21 test. I'm strangely resigned to me being infertile now actually. I've gone through the excitement months and through the hopeful months and now I'm in the probable peri-menopause zone where I'm feeling very very grateful to have my son.

That's very interesting to hear about your late ovulation and yep, very common whilst breast feeding and soon after.

I've been looking back at my FF app and my charts. My first chart was October (still bfing). I ovulated on cd 16 and had a 28 day cycle with 12 day LP. Before that my LP were around 9 days and I can remember bleeding very heavily which I suspect pointed towards the cycles being anovulatory.

Since November I am now having regular 25 day cycles with ovulation taking place on cd12/13/ - 12 day LP. I have absolutely no idea what used to be normal for me pre DS. But I do remember assuming I had a 28 day cycle and then AF always appearing early. So I think I did have short cycles previously, but not this short.

Anyway, docs will probably ok the tests and I'll find out whether I'm screwed or not soon enough. If I don't have the egg reserves then there is nowt they can do, I shall just have to suck it up.

Sorry, yep christmas was back on day before Christmas Eve and we had a lovely time thank you xxxx

I'm not sure the blood tests will tell you you're screwed, Sebs. I think they might tell you that you're OVing (if progesterone is high on day 21) which would be helpful to know. They might also give you the FSH readings from day 3. High isn't a great sign as it does get higher the older we get (was strangely pleased consultant said mine were very low and much lower than he'd expect at 35 even though this low is actually the reason for fertility being suppressed by the BFing)

Crikey, just a few months ago, I wouldn't have even understood this post myself. We all learn so much during this process don't we?!

Glad Christmas was not cancelled after all. Good luck at GPs. Don't be fobbed off. x

Well let's see what they say tomorrow. I imagine they will do the tests because if my she and the length of time we have been TTC.

I've just done a little calculation based on my sons conception time and when I had my period that month and it seems to indicate I was having a 25 day cycle that month with ovulation on day 13. I know I can't be totally accurate as not every pregnancy is 38 weeks from conception but it's made me feel a bit happier stupidly xx

Age not she lol

how long have you been ttc sebs? x

Since July.

Well I had a reaction from the doctor that I wasn't expecting!! He really wasn't interested and wasn't prepared to run any tests.

He was the resident doc that deals with fertility issues and he said it is still early days. He would count a year from the time we started trying, it's only 6 months now. That even if he did decide to do the tests if I wasn't pregnant by another 6 months it would only be in preparation for referral which would basically be for self funded IVF at 5k a pop.

I don't know whether to be relieved that he was so presumptuous that is be knocked up soon enough with no intervention needed. Or pissed off that he couldn't give a shiny shite about my baron womb.

The only plus point was I didn't cry!!

Just to add salt in my wounds we met a little girl in there one week older than my son who was saying full words and being really sociable. My son was in turn pulling his 'weasel face' (head tilted, face contorted, eyes squeezed shut) and cooing like a pigeon.

God I am a failure on all fronts lol