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.

sebs You could ask at your hospital to find out if they have a private consultant there. My hospital has that, it's quite a big department of fetal-maternal care who are interwoven with the NHS bit, but you can opt for private care there, if you want. Otherwise, if you check the private clinics or hospitals in your area to see if they have gynaecologists/obstetricians. I was recommended a private consultant by my counsellor, that's how I found out.

annie Thinking of you today, hope it all goes well and that you'll manage to find some closure, at least from the physical side of it all.

My scan is on the 29th, I will be 14 weeks. Quite late, but I will be in France for 2 weeks as of Saturday, so it's really the only option. But they should still be able to do the nuchal test, they told me that they can do it until 14+6.
Fortunately, my anxiety levels are OK at the moment. I have been so busy and stressed at work that I haven't had much time to fret about the pregnancy, and the last scan was such a milestone. I'm hoping it'll stay that way, so that I can enjoy my holiday (even if I can't have the wine and soft cheeses!).

Ladies, a question - should I be worried that my period lasts only around 2.5 days?

Goodbye how does it flow over those 2.5 days? To give an idea of mine (which is only three days long usually), I either have spotting day 1, really heavy day 2, heavy day 3, and then light spotting thereafter. Or heavy day 1 and 2, light day 3, spotting thereafter.

If it is very light for 2.5 days every month I would be suspicious of how good my lining was. But because I have two very heavy days I think that's just how my body works.

i guess 2,5 heavy flow days could be Ok for a period. the same length with very weak flow - I would ask for lining check in the late phase of the cycle.

Sebsmummy you can google fertility clinics in your area and it will come up with them. You can refer yourself, but obviously you have to pay. I found a really good one in my area that were getting some great results and I got quite excited about it. Unfortunately DH and I have decided not to go down that route, so we are still ploughing on with the natural method!!

Goodbye - my periods have definitely got lighter since I've had my DS and got older (don't know which to blame!). I have spotting for about 1-2 days before it properly starts, then about 2 days of reasonably heavy flow, and then a couple of days of spotting at the end. I used to get about 4 days of really heavy flow and have to wear tampons and liners at the same time. I can now get away with just liners. I have worried about it being lighter and whether this is a reason for me not getting pg, but any doctor/consultant that I have spoken too doesn't seem to be too concerned as long as I am getting a couple of days of 'flowing blood'. Don't know if that helps at all.

Anyway, speaking of periods....mine arrived today bang on time. That witch is so damn regular it's ridiculous. Every month, bang on schedule. It adds to the frustration of why I'm not getting pg - I have a bang on 28 day cycle, I always ovulate on CD14, signs shows that I do ovulate (opks and temp), and I time my sex accordingly. But still nothing. Are my eggs really that crappy?? This month marks 2 years now that we've been trying for no.2 and absolutely nothing - never even been more that a day late. I don't know what more to do. I'm currently taking DHEA, Co-enzyme Q10, vits D and E and a conception supplement. Should I try anything else? I've heard agnus castus and macca root mentioned. Anyone got any advice on that? I'm scared to take too many supplements in case they start counteracting each other!!

Hope the pg ladies are all doing well. Oh, and Annie I hope that today went as well as can be expected.

It starts a bit slowly on day 1, then heavy for the evening part of day 1, then super heavy on day 2, and then not terribly much on day 3 i.e. no tampon.

All in all, I've really used 5 super plus tampons and had 2 overflows (sorry, TMI) but then an abrupt stop and now very light.

If this is a sign that my fertility is declining (obvs my fertility is, not sure this is a sign of it)- then would this be borne out in my ClearBlue readings (doing this for the first time this month)?

thanks everyone. Really glad to have found this thread.

Goodbye - have you tried acupuncture at all? I've been having it for about 9 months in all and it changed my cycles from 23 days to 28. I found a local lady who specialised in fertilty acupuncture and was affiliated to Zita West. I honestly really rate it and I was a huge skeptic.

Hello lovely ladies, just to say thanks for your support and it all went v smoothly today. I found ERPC sooo much easier than natural mc, I'm pleased I plucked up the courage to go for it. On the sofa at home now having a duvet day. Feel absolutely fine and didn't get upset at all. Very happy it's over .

Annie,

Glad you're ok Annie.

sebsmummy we have agreed to stop short of anything that we can't do ourselves to get pregnant this time, although I can feel myself becoming slightly ambivalent about this pledge already.

Well done, Annie, you have done brilliantly

My periods only last 36-48 hrs and are light. I have no spotting beforehand and perhaps a tad at the end of day two. It hasn't stopped me getting pregnant.

Cloud, it is marvellous to see you progressing so well. Gum, how are your nerves and which Wednesday is your scan? Is it tomorrow?

Joey, it took me 29 cycles to get to here. Don't give up. I was on maca root when I got pregnant this time plus 400mg co-enzyme q10.

and soothing gentle hugs annie

Annie, rest up now and let DH care for you. You will be rather tired for some days, I am sure, also emotions might hit later on when the hcg plummets.

Annie

Annie, I am glad to hear it went well.

Goodbye, I worried about my lining not being thick enough because my periods had become lighter since DS 6 years ago. I think it's due to age.But apparently it isn't a problem as I've gotten pregnant a few times and the losses weren't caused by that.

joey, this month I took red clover isoflavones,like you would soy isoflavones or clomid, just days 3 -8 (I think, can't remember). I looked back at my successful pregnancy in my forties, 6 years ago and had taken it then. I also took it last month and I had a super light + the day before period started, so I think I had a chemical. Maybe it's made a difference, maybe it hasn't? It is supposed to help with oestrogen levels.

Flotillas - how are you, have your symptoms returned? I seem to have a sort of pattern: wake up feeling non-pregnant, no boob tenderness, no sickness (just ravenously hungry), then it seems to gradually work up to feeling sick and having tender boobs at bedtime (at about 7:30 pm!). I also notice that the sickness goes away when I am eating, so if I am socialising and eating I tend not to notice it, then get paranoid about losing symptoms. I've said it before and I will say it again: the first trimester is a complete headf*#k

My scan is this afternoon, and DH is coming with me. If I get bad news I don't want to be trying to put my PIN in the card machine whilst tears are dripping off my nose, like last time. I have lain awake half the night trying to convince myself that all will be well, then telling myself that I shouldn't be hopeful as it will hurt so much if all is not well. Whatever I find out, there's nought I can do, but I can't help but feel worried. I just want some good news so I can relax and enjoy being pregnant. I keep reminding myself what a wonderful achievement it is jus to be pregnant at 48, and to get to 9 weeks, and I should be happy with that. I'd just really like a baby at the end of it though, please?

I will pop in tonight and let you know how it went.

Annie - glad to hear it went ok and that you are resting up. Look after yourself

Good luck, gum, crossing everything for you!

My periods also have become shorter since having DS - 2 days of really heavy flow (yes to the overflow in spite of super strength tampons), the it tapers off quickly. I used to bleed heavily for 5 days with bad cramps and backache (requiring quite a lot of painkillers), but now I hardly feel anything.

Annie - you've been really brave, well done you. I'm so sorry you've had to go through this and wish you a speedy recovery.

Sebsmummy - I was on Progesterone 200mg twice daily when pregnant, so your 400mg sounds about right. Seems like a good idea to try to see a consultant privately and you've already had some good tips on finding someone. Perhaps you could even try Googling something like "early pregnancy miscarriage consultant + name of your city"? Maybe its a coincidence but it brings up the top one or two people where I live. Otherwise I'd look on the websites of private hospitals near you (particularly the big chains like 'BMI Healthcare' and 'Nuffield') they usually have write ups of the consultants and their specialist interests, so you could pick a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist who had an interest in early pregnancy/fertility/miscarriage say. I did that for a gynae issue once and saw someone (via a BMI hospital) who was also clinical director of a top fertility clinic as well as his NHS practice, consultation cost about 150 I think. It must be an anxious time, but hope things go well for you.

Joey - kind of reassuring that you're regular as clockwork, but how frustrating AF again! I hesitate to say this, but did you ever think about SA for your DH, or asking for your tubes to be checked? I had a HyCoSy (privately, quite reasonable) and was a relief to know that at least it wasn't that ...

Cloud, Flotillas and Gum - hope you're all feeling OK and growing your little beans well.

Still no AF here .

I'm reminding myself that I've had a couple of FSH tests in the past few months which were OK (7 and 5) so surely would be too bizarre for it all to pack up completely. Am fed up though ...

Meant to say Gum - crossing everything for your scan x

Everything crossed for you Gum. Think positive x

I have had the scan. 8+2 so right on with earlier scan but no heartbeat sadly. Honestly so tired of the terrible worry, at least I know where I am at. Thanks for all your support and good luck. I won't be ttc again as I just don't have it in me anymore. It really is time for me to move on. d and C (erpc)will be Friday.

Oh Gum I'm so sorry . I don't have any adequate words but I have been in your position just a few months ago and totally understand the feelings of numbness and devastation.

Huge, huge hugs

Gumblossom so desperately sorry for you. Been there and know there are no words I can say to make this situation any better. My heart goes out to you and your husband, please look after yourself.

I've been quietly following this thread for sometime (44yrs old and still TTC number 1 ) but just had to comment on Gum's sad news.

Oh Gum.... My heart sank for you....So so sorry that this is how it ended. hope Dh takes care of you and you can manage it all as well as possible.

So, so sorry Gum.