We might be over 40 but we are young at heart, taking our supplements, shagging on time and waiting for the precious BFP!Over 40's TTC, join us here...

[Gumblossom]

Starting the new thread, Cloudjumper.

Anyone over 40, trying to conceive, whether it is your first or 6th (or more), we're facing the obstacles together.

I've been at it for 6 years now, but there are plenty of good news stories from these threads over the years.

Come and join us with your worries, woes,successes and milestones, we are here to support one another in our quest.

Grizzer, I had the same thoughts, and I'm taking the aspirin I the morning and do the heparin injections at night. No one has ever said that this would be better, but I thought I'd try and spread the blood thinners as much as possible.

Sending lots of love to everyone on the thread who needs it today

Good luck Grizzer and Gum. Thinking of you both.

Nothing to report here. DTD/ ovulation time roughly but have been sloppy with dates for few months now. It all gets so exhausting... I'm feeling fed up! I never thought after three years of trying, I still wouldn't have a whiff of a BFP. I got pregnant ridiculously easily with my three DC (and the two pregnancies that didn't make it). Also, according to clear blue monitor I've been ovulating regularly...
Anyway... I am stocking up on lots of supplements, working on getting fitter and trying not to despair staying positive.

Vortex, are you taking co-enzyme q10 (the recommended dose for women is 300mg per day)? I was taking it at 400 mg per day when I fell pregnant. I honestly couldn't believe it. 29 cycles of BFN's and then I start taking co-enzyme and maca root and two months later I conceived. Perhaps the supps were nothing to do with it, but I have a strong feeling they improved the environment in which the eggs are stored. I wonder, too, whether the three brazil nuts a day I was eating improved my chances of implantation.

Sometimes I have the feeling that ppl conceive successfully and carry to term if they are on white wine / all other holiday drinks instead of all vits and supps we are on:-) Bfn here, and feeling I was not yet ready for another rollercoaster run. So I am supplementing with some white chilled wine for a change!

AF arrived this afternoon. I was so hopeful this time. We have now been trying for 20 months. I'm in bits, I feel so useless and can't stop crying.

Mama, don't give in to the despair. AF and all the accompanying hormones are to blame. Keep having plenty of sex at the right time - I hit the jackpot after 29 cycles

Jass, I'm sorry for your BFN. I don't believe alcohol or sugar or caffeine or lack of exercise or being a bit weighty have any impact whatsoever on fertility. My husband smokes and I do no exercise whatsoever. My diet is shockingly high in sugar and carbs. I am slim, though, and have an AMH of 5. I think there was probably always going to be a good egg in there, but why 29 cycles of nothing? Bizarre. This was the first cycle in yonks, however, where we DTD every other day instead of the punishing - and probably old-man's-sperm-destroying! - Sperm Meets Egg Plan.

I have never been SMEPing, always the old folks' every other day!

So sorry Mama, I got mine today as well. My boobs were super-sore so I was a bit hopeful.

Let's look onward to June 18th, shall we?

Sorry to hear about AF,ladies. I think JAss is right: chilled white wine sounds like a plan.

Annie - I hope you are ok?

Hi Gum, I'm here. I'm ok thanks. Feeling fragile but the worst will be over soon. Nothing horrible has happened yet, no spotting or cramping. Im scheduled to go to hospital for a D&C on Tuesday. I've never had one so a bit anxious about it but I think it will be better for my mental health.

I am philosophical about it all really. It was not meant to be. I don't think there was anything anyone could have done.

Not sure whether I have it left in me to continue on this road.

Annie, give it time. people mostly fall into two groups in this situation - half seem to doubt they want to try ever again.The other half is planning how they could try next time and do it differently somehow before the d&c done or straight after that. But after some months have passed, most dust themselves down and try again

flotillas, thanks for the advice on co-enzyme. I do take it, but possibly not enough. I am going to increase supplements because I hopeagree that sometimes the body just needs a little push with the right 'ingredients' for the environment to turn more accommodating.

Annie, hold in there. It is such a tough thing to have to go through.

Annie - I can only echo what gum and jass have said. One step at a time. First, you need to get the ERPC behind you - which, by the way, is really straightforward. I found the worst thing was that I wasn't allowed to eat or drink before! But when you wake up, you know it's over, there is no more waiting around, and you can focus on recovery.

I agree with cloud annie. with mine, 4 weeks ago, they offered me the opportunity to let nature take its course (although i had bled heavily for over a week, i hadnt actually lost any clots) or to go to theatre that day and have an ercp. I wanted it....done and dusted (that sounds callous, but i hope you know what I mean) so I could then focus on retrying (as i'd been told that you can be super fertile in the weeks after an mc) rather than wait and wait, and never know when it would happen.

also, i felt that waiting would hamper my moving on, in that obviously you dont know when its going to happen, "should I take spare sanitary towels and knickers with me wherever i go just in case, can i go to this family event, what happens if the mc happens there, sod it, im too sad anyways, i'll just stay indoors for a month" etc

whatever you decide sweets, it will be whats right for you, and what helps you to cope the best way you can.

Much love (((annie))) xxx

Hi girls,

I'm stumbling in here again hoping for some advice re. medication. I very stupidly didn't go to Coventry so now I'm wandering into this pregnancy with no medication at all (I honestly didn't think id fall pregnant again).

I have left a message with my RMC consultant's secretary that I am in the very early stages of pregnancy. Because I haven't missed my period yet (it's due today or tomorrow) she sounded surprised I was ringing at all. Anyhow the consultant said previously she was only happy to recommend aspirin though she did say she would go along with the Coventry protocol reluctantly. As my last pregnancy ended due to Downs she felt as though any intervention was 'overkill'.

I'm contemplated buying some Cylogest on eBay. Not great I know but I had two episodes of bright red bleeding on Saturday (got my BFP yesterday) and I'm now totally terrified. I'm getting a small amount of tan discharge which is pretty much how miscarriage 1 went until I finally lost it at 6 weeks. If I do purchase the Cyclogest online can I ask how much people are using per day? I see quantities of 400 and 200 talked about and I'm trying to figure out how much supply I could get my hands on. I think you take it until 12 weeks?

sebs Have you tried speaking to your GP at all? Mine was very understanding, and she actually prescribed me the progesterone - however, this is standard RMC protocol at my hospital, and they had provided after my 3rd mc a letter stating that I should receive it, should I fall pg again.
I'm a bit surprised that your consultant is so reluctant - yes, age is certainly a factor, but my 3rd mc was also a chromosomal abnormality, as was my 4th, and they are still all happy to prescribe me the progesterone.
I have heard both the 2x200mg and 2x400mg dose being given, but I don't know the reasoning behind these!

However, I would be very cautious buying this over the internet - it is not an over the counter drug, and needs prescription for a reason. Progesterone is also known to cause bleeding, I bled/spotted in both pregnancies during which I have/am taking it, and I have heard similar stories from others. No idea if it's due to the progesterone or not!

It's a horrible limbo, and I feel for you! You want to do something...
If it's any consolation - I am not on the Coventry protocol as such, however, I am currently taking aspirin, heparin and progesterone - progesterone because of my RMC history, the aspirin and heparin due to a history of DVT. I was taking the exact same drugs in my last pregnancy, which still ended in mc, due to trisomy 18. This is why I did not go to Coventry, and I seriously doubt that my consultant would have considered giving me the steroids, as it's clear that my age is most likely the reason for my rmcs.
Do you think your consultant would consider prescribing just the heparin? In my opinion, this might be the most effective thing to do - more than anything, it has cytoprotective function and helps the placenta to establish. Unless you have reason to believe that your immune response is involved somehow, I would stay clear of the steroids.

Sorry for the ramble, and probably not too helpful! I would try your GP and suggest a modified Coventry protocol to your consultant, stressing that both heparin and progesterone are standard rmc protocol, independent of age. Good luck!

I'm grateful for your ramble lol. I'm convinced I will lose this pregnancy through everyone else's apathy.

I went to my GP last time and asked for progesterone and they said no, so I know that is a dead end unfortunately. My consultant I'm not sure because I have a feeling I won't get to see her. It sounds very much like everything will be fed through the secretary and she said I might not hear till tomorrow.

I haven't specifically asked for heparin and progesterone beyond the conversation we had a couple of months ago. If the secretary comes back and says yes to aspirin, otherwise she will see me at 20 weeks or something then I think I shall specifically ask her if she would be prepared to prescribe me heparin and progesterone. If she says no then at least I have an answer.

I'm trying to not freak out and stress my body but I can't stop feeling this terrible cloud of doom consuming me. If only I hadn't seen that blood I might feel more hopeful.

Sebsmummy, can you just not change consultant and seek private help ASAP? It all sounds very stressful what you are going through with no help and understanding from any doctors. Why did you mc, is there sth which might cause such apathy? Was it always chromosomal? that would be only reason not to prescribe common mc protocol drugs I can think of....

I think because my last mc was chromosomal and the other two were very early and I suppose because I had my DS with no problems, they are of the opinion that my body can successfully maintain a pregnancy, if it's viable.

I'm about to purchase 40 x 400mg pessaries and someone else has kindly messaged me to offer me a few of their leftover ones too. I'm thinking if I can use 1x 200mg a day then that might be enough.

I wouldn't have the first clue how to change consultant or go private.

Seb, I wouldn't hesitate to get my prog pessaries on the net if I were in your shoes. Good luck.

Annie, I will be thinking of you Tuesday. Don't give up

After vomiting twice yesterday and since I got my bfp feeling nauseous with very sore nipples I am feeling no symptoms whatsoever today. I am scared and sad. Does this mean it's all over?

flotillas, no, it doesn't mean it is over. I have had exactly those feelings because my symptoms seem to disappear and reappear without a proper pattern. this is new to me. With all my children I was mostly sick most of the time in the first trimester.

I will say try not to worry, but I know that it is impossible!

sebsmummy, I am amazed at how unhelpful your HCP are! In your shoes I would do what you are doing. Sometimes I think the drs don't have a clue. Last year I got pregnant and talked to my family GP (I have a separate one for girly issues) and he said not to take aspirin or to use progesterone. This time, I am seeing my "girly" doc and she has me on aspirin and progesterone cream (my progesterone levels are very good, but I feel reassured by using it). Good luck with your pregnancy

Thanks Gum. They have been amazingly unhelpful from the very beginning actually. Refused to do any of the basic tests when I couldn't fall pregnant with my son, refused to consider progesterone in my last pregnancy even though I went in there pretty much begging them.

The only thing they repeated adfinitum is I wouldn't qualify for IVF. Funnily enough I never ever asked them or expected I would!!

Tanny has pretty much saved the day by sending me a stack of pessaries and I'm hoping I can still get the 40 off if the eBay woman. If I stick to 400mg a day I should have enough for the first trimester.

flotillas About 2 weeks ago, my nausea disappeared completely for 2 days - it totally freaked me out! But then it came back with a vengeance. First trimester symptoms are notoriously unreliable and vary from person to person, from pregnancy to pregnancy. Try not to worry too much! How far along are you?

sebs That's quite presumptuous of your consultant, she sounds really unhelpful. Not what you need! Any chance you could go private...? At least for an initial consultation? It is a lot of money, I realise that... Do you or your DH have health insurance through work? They can be a lot more useful than you might think.
Glad that tanny could help you!

Right, I am off to bed - it's way past my time!

I have no idea how to go Private or I would try! Do you go to the GP and ask to be referred to someone? I'm a SAHM currently and I don't think DP has private health cover in his current job, I know he did in his last but it didn't cover me.

For all I know my body is doing a wonderful job right now. I wish we could have standard progesterone level tests early so we knew if these pregnancies stood a chance.

When's your 12 week scan Cloud? I know it's soon xx