All aboard the love bus! Get your ticket for a February BFP!!

[KittyVonCatsington]

We're are getting dangerously close to 1000 posts on the other bus so thought I would start another one. Will update stats in another post. Fingers Crossed for lots more BFPs

Good luck for wed then kitty!

Impatience I'm sorry. That's awful, and such a sad feeling. we are thinking of you.

MissMrs my understand is that to be eligible for SMP, you need to have worked there for 26 weeks by the time you are 25 weeks pregnant. BUT, that is 25 weeks pregnant based on your last period date, so 15 weeks before your due date by your lmp if that makes sense. If you aren't eligible for SMP, but have been working in the lead up to and during your pregnancy, it is highly likely that you can get MA. The tricky bit with MA as a teacher is choosing your relevant weeks so they don't fall in the holidays if you are on a temp or supply contract! To be eligible for AMP is another question altogether. I think as a teacher you need to have worked there for a year and a bit before falling pregnant in most local authorities to get AMP, your contract will specify that one.

Hopefully that waffle makes sense. I'm not very good at explaining it and struggle to get my head round it in term of teaching contracts, but my previous career used to involve dealing with legal claims over mat pay so I still have a few bits in my head about how it works, it still looks the same to me from what I can make out!

Mrs that must have been very hard with a six day old ds!!

Thanks barmy it a job outside teaching that I was looking at. I think I am eligible in my teaching job as this is my fifth year but I'm just seeing what would happen if I left. Not sure if I will :-/

Hi missmrsmummy-as far as I know with SMP, your service includes any sickness you have had as well so you should qualify easily.

No spotting this morning-just thick white CM. Still on knicker watch. The next few days will be long...

Has AF appeared in full yet? Have you gone past CD1 and getting ready for a successful March?

X-posts! Ah, I see. Still doesn't hurt to look at options x

I was wondering about that MissMrs. I'm not 100% on this, but I think even if you leave whilst pregnant, and then start a new job shortly afterwards, you should receive SMP if your dates work. I looked at this when I resigned from my perm teaching job in Dec and had a break of a few weeks whilst we moved, and was still covered. Irrelevant now as I'm still not preg, but it was useful to know!

The gov.uk website is a good one to look at dates and mat pay.

Have you found something outside teaching that you are interested in? Good luck with whatever you decide about it!

This really isn't a good bus, is it? jones I'm so sorry to hear your news, please look after yourself over the next few days/weeks.

I bought a frer and tested this morning... Nothing. Now starting to get af symptoms which will be a not so happy present this week. But fingers crossed for a big rush of good news for everyone in this last week!

Thank you so much for your kind comments, they really mean a lot xx

I'm so sorry to everyone who has had sad news, TTC is so tough sometimes.

I got a bfn this morning again, feeling very down now. I'm 9 days late and was convinced this was our month.

I'm still on the Feb bus, in the limbo room! I'm still late, no spotting or anything yet, really think I'm preg. I got a few BFNs last week and decided not to test over the weekend. I'll see what I get on Monday. If I am preg I really don't understand how I could have enough HCG or whatever to feel symptoms but not enough to show up on the stick!

Cursiveletters I feel the same I have pregnancy symptoms but testing neg and it's so frustrating. I honestly feel like I am but if I'm not I'd rather AF just came so I could get it over with, the wait is horrible. Fingers crossed for Monday for you!

Ok I'm back in the UK...just a 6 hour journey home to now! AF due tomoro, crotch watch in full flow, poor guy next to me on the plane must have thought I had tummy trouble I went to the loo so often.

Hello ladies, can't believe the bfn's are continuing! We really need some good news for this bus! So sorry to hear of all the tough times!

I'm still spotting (brown watery, sorry tmi) only at cervix not even noticeable when I wipe! But that is pretty usual stuff for me pre af! I reckon this will continue now for the next 6 days until full flow! But suppose I'm still on the bus until full flow!!! Of course I'm wishing for a miracle and that the spotting doesn't turn in to full af....but going on the last 8 cycles I'd say that's highly unlikely :(

I'm also still in limbo! Haven't got time to pop to the shop for a frer. So will wait it out until tomorrow. I don't feel particularly pg, so I expect my body is on strike until Monday morning when schools back. I've noticed over the years my body does that. It sort of waits to be ill or waits for af until it's ready.

There was a funny story about being in labour once. Mw came out to me in labour for home birth. She was such a buttoned up old spinster. She did an internal and I could feel my cervix disappearing up my back. She was awful. Oh not in labour dear! I asked when she went off shift, Wednesday night. I was in slow labour for 4 days when earth mother me came on shift on Thursday, she came out at midnight I'd had ds by 1.30am! I've got a funny body!

Sorry to hear your news Impatience. I remember that you mentioned on the 2ww thread that this was on your eighth month of trying as well, so I'd felt really happy when your test showed a line. Look after yourself.

AF arrived for me late last night at last so I'm heading off to the March bus. Wishing everyone left to test in February good luck.

Mrsextra wow! Love how your body controls things!!! Haha!

Sorry ciner! Good luck for March.

This bus has had such sad news, I only hope that the March bus has lots of happy news for everyone next cycle, it can be such a traumatic process this ttc!

Sorry to see all these BFNs! Last week of the Feb bus hopefully this last stop will bring lots of BFPs!
Anyone else due 28th? When are you testing??

So sorry to hear of all the BFNs, and I'm really sorry to hear your sad news Jones and Impatience. I hope you're doing ok.

AF started this morning full flow after spotting yesterday. I was pretty upset and told DH that we should take another ttc break, but he changed my mind :) so I'm off to the March bus.

Good luck to everyone in limbo land, and everyone else waiting to test!

Littlemisssunshine I would have been due bfp 28th but it's looking highly unlikely now I've started spotting already! But as usual, I will hold out false hope until full flow arrives! Good luck hope you get a feb bfp!

I'm sorry mama, that's rubbish! Hope you've got chocolate handy!

I stepped on the march bus a couple of days ago but then spotting stopped. So I'm just on this limbo bus instead!

Jones and impatience- that's horrible news for both of you. I'm sorry to hear it. Be kind to yourselves.

I had a touch more spotting this morning so af is due tomorrow. I've stopped testing as I'm sure I'm out, although I'm looking forward to the trying bit again already

Has anyone tried those at home sperm count tests? I saw them in boots the other day and wondered if it was worth a go.

MrsE glad to hear yours has stopped! When is your bfp due??

Don't even have choc cravings yet, not close enough to af, usually need chocolate about 2 days prior....just feel tired and frustrated with the spotting!! Hope you get a bfp!

Mango how long have you been spotting for?

I think those sperm tests only do sperm count but not motility and mobility of sperm so I feel they are a bit misleading as they won't really tell you if there is an issue just the count! Hence DH is waiting on one to check his at the hospital.

Thanks mama. I'm still tempted by the test as i dont think we are quite ready to go to the docs. I've just been spotting today and yesterday, which would be normal for me before af (although perhaps a little lighter than usual as I've only had one spot each day). I got a bfn on frer yesterday (and I'm 4days late) so consider that an almost definitive no for this month.

Af was due 5 days ago. Usually fairly regular 28 day cycle although last month a day early at 27. So I'm day33 today. Tested on 28 and 30 I think, both bfn. I'm not expecting a bfp as my thyroid tests were so off the scale when results came back. My dose has been upped but usually takes a good few months to get right and feel well normalish!

So I expect my hormones are just off having a rampage as its half term. The spotting was momentarily on day 31. I will actually eat my hat if I'm pg and then worry because actually with thyroid results so bad it's not always good news at this stage. But until the flood arrives we all can't help wondering can we.

Fingers crossed they get your thyroid medicine sorted quicky MrsE.

I often wonder if it's worth getting tested again. I had half my thyroid removed many years ago. I've had the function tested several times since and always been told it is 'normal', although I've never been given any numbers and I suffer from some common symptoms (eg always cold and tired), which weren't present before I had it removed.