Candle smugglers of the world unite! The Berries have loaded up the charabanc and have Barry on repeat. Destination BFP (via the pouch of Douglas)

[happylass]

The small print:

The Berries have strict entrance criteria: TTC #1 for 12 months+, over 30, NO instadiffers, must have a special pimping pot and absolutely no mention of baby dust/dancing. Not that we're fussy

Current passengers

Happylass, 37, TTC since Aug 2012. 2 failed ICSIs. Hopefully FET early May with only frostie. Long awaited NHS appt in June
Beaky 35, ttc coming up 3 yrs, 2x failed iui 1x long protocol ivf cancelled due to poor response. On the pill awaiting short protocol IVF in may
Minx, 34, both tubes blocked, 1 buried ovary, IVF info evening June, IVF "booking in" appointment in July
Nolly, 33, TTC 2.7 years, mc Dec 2014. awaiting ivf August 2015 while dh is off on a jolly.
Wild 40 - TTC for three years. Embies on ice and planning FET with immune treatment in June.
HampshireBlues 36 TTC 3.5 years, unexplained. Cycle 1 chemical pregnancy, cycle 2 abandoned due to cyst, cycle 3 failed. Plan thrombotic profile, scratch and short protocol.
Lumen, 35, ttc since Nov 2011, unexplained, two IVF cycles in 2014, both bfns, waiting for lap&dye and results of numerous bloods, aiming for one last IVF cycle in the summer.
Tigerdog, 34 ttc since Jan 2013. Unexplained and all test results good. Currently in the middle of long protocol IVF, 13 eggs collected and awaiting news for next steps.
Gillster, 41, TTC since Feb 2012. Had IVF in Feb 14 and had 6 one cell embies frozen due to polyp. 2 x 2 day embies finally put back 14 months later on 16th April, BFP 28th April
Smidge, 39 this month, TTC since Jan 2013. Unexplained. IVF#1 Short protocol July '14 BFN, IVF#2 Nov'14 and IVF#3 Feb '15 both Long protocol BFNs. High NK cells immune treatment. 2 frosties due to be put back in natural FET in May or June.
Kuma - 40. TTC 2.5 years. Low AMH high FSH - DH antisperm ABs. Failed IVF June 14 and March 15. Looking to change clinic and try another natural cycle in June 2015.
Lucieloos, 35, TTC 18 months, low AMH & sperm motility. 1st ICSI in Czech Republic in April 2015. Awaiting results.
Barkingtreefrog, 35, ttc since Dec 2011. Clomid bfp summer 2013, mc @ 7 weeks. IUI bfp summer 2014, mc @ 7 weeks. Diagnosed with factor v leiden thrombophilia (but
not thought to be the cause of the mc's as they were too early). Failed IUI January 2015, failed IVF March 2015. No further NHS help. Going private for nk cells testing and a scratch before putting the frosties back, hopefully this summer.
Rain, 33 ttc since March 2012. unexplained. mystery bfp oct 13, MMC Nov 13. NHS IVF starting in June
Spare planning FET with remaining frosties shortly
Pont 1st IVF in Czech Republic in July.

amazing news hb!!! at last a new phase in your journey.

am with you pipbin on the food front. I got pregnant the cycle I got absolutely smashed and went to loads of parties

Congrats HB

Not got long but on the DHEA front I was told to take by consultant at the lister. Although beaky it's a steroid so start taking if AF arrives, not during 2ww. I was told to stop taking it then. I got a good quality egg that cycle. I take 50mg per day I think but will check at home. No hairy face for me but is does make me a bit spotty. I also take 600mg? Per day of coq10.

Oh wow HB, that's fantastic news! No second guessing that line . Guess that's a benefit about having an extended OTD!

And phew thanks Pip (and Nolly for seconding the theory!) I've been on te booze and bad food since our last BFN and I can't see myself doing anything overly healthy between now and the FET. Am hoping this is the answer .

Think you were asking Beaky about whether my dates are working out for June... Hard to tell at this stage. Ovulation was definitely earlier than I'd hoped this month... I'm after a 1st June Day 1, but I've had several days of spotting already so I'm not liking my chances. (Though, having said that, last month it was 3 weeks from positive OPK to AF, so I'm not ruling it out just yet).

Just checking on news from Beaky. Hope you're ok?

That sounds very strange Tiger - why would the rash spread out like that? Take a look at this link which includes some lovely photos of itchy red rashes. They are apparently a pregnancy allergic reaction. Or somr people are allergic to progesterone, could it be that?

Beaky any news? I'm echoing Happy in hoping everything is ok.

Hello berries, I've been sleeping off the drugs all afternoon as I ended up vomiting a lot at the clinic. sadly not on the baby wall haha Anyway, thanks for your well wishes, they must have worked as there are 2 eggs on the right plus 2 smaller ones on the left which the consultant said he would try to get despite their size. So I'm really pleased with that! I just hope that there is some fertilisation tonight, eek. Nervous. Everything crossed again!

There were two others in for EC and one got 5 eggs and one 15, on the way out I was so out of it I almost shouted good luck everybody!

HB how are you feeling? I am so pleased for you

minx definitely see how you feel but I'd be temped for the champagne! One of my young cousins has just instadiffed despite breaking up with the partner, oh my days.

Tiger sorry your dh is down, I hope you've managed to have a nice day. Strange about the rash, would your clinic do any immunes testing?

Gill how's the holiday and how are you feeling?

spare when's otd? How are you feeling?

Wild are you still on holiday? Hope you're enjoying plenty of champagne!

Waves at pip how are you?

Lady how are you doing?

Kuma thanks for the dhea info, I was wondering whether to continue it through the 2ww or not. if we get to that When are you looking at doing your next cycle?

Smidge fx AF holds off, a 3 week LP is long eh.

Happy are you enjoying half term?

Nolly how was your weekend?

Barking enjoy your hols!

Hooray beaky so glad that they got a few eggs! Everything crossed for good news. When do you get the call?

Thanks for the link wild thankfully I haven't got anything that bad! I thought it might be progesterone but who knows.

Wow lots of good news on here! Huge congratulations hb very pleased for you. I would also be interested to hear if you did anything differently this time and how many cycles you have tried.

Congrats to beaky too, sounds like your scan went well

Happy, I am taking dhea this time around. I was recommended it by my doctor to try and increase egg quality rather than response. I too was like you and a bit wary of it but having looked into it I decided it was worth a go. I also cycled alongside another lady at the same clinic who was 41 (I am 35) She had been taking dhea and was on the same stimms as me. She was always one step ahead of me in her response and she did so well. She had donor eggs as a back up but her cycle was so much better than even the twenty year old donor so she didn't need them. She had 7 eggs collected and 3 top quality blasts on day 5. Two transferred and got a bfp and one frostie. I was always really impressed with the development and quality as she was going along but didn't realise until afterwards she had taken the dhea. I am also taking ubiquinol 200mg a day. I was taking the ubiquinone version for my last cycle but have switched for this one. There has been lots of research into it and looks to be some positive effects on quality.

Another thing I would try, which I am also trying this time around is to do a mix of Gonal-f and menopur rather than Menopur only protocol. The LH in the Menopur is not good for ladies like us with low AMH and it can cause poor egg quality even if we get decent day 5 blasts.

Im starting stimms again in about 3 weeks so can let you know how I get on. I won't have time for the full dhea treatment but hopefully it will have a little effect.

Hi berries, thank you so much for your messages, I am still overwhelmed to be honest. We have a scan booked for just over two weeks time so just need to get to that and then I'll hopefully start to feel a little calmer about this.

For those that asked, we did quite a bit differently; I had a scratch the month prior to starting, had short protocol instead of long, had 5mgs folic acid and pyridoxine along with aspirin and then fragmin from ET. Oh and I took coenzyme Q10. So who knows what worked! And this was our third full cycle with one abandoned due to a cyst before Christmas.

Beaky that's amazing, Barry White is on low in the background and I'm keeping everything crossed for you.

Tiger I'd definitely have a chat to the clinic about the rash, could be something or nothing but when in doubt, point it out!

Smidge I wouldn't worry too much about the diet etc. so many people out there get pg and have done nothing in preparation. I also think that when we have all tried as long as we have that it is pretty bloody hard to stick to being good all the time!

Right, back home now - I can confirm that I am taking 50mg per day of DHEA - recommended amount by the clinic and in It Starts with the Egg is 25mg 3 times a day, but I found that dose made my heart race sometimes, so dropped down to 50mg which seems to be fine. With the Co-Q10, if you are on ubiquinol the recommended amount is 300mg per day, on ubiquinione, the most commonly sold its 600mg per day.

Lucie where have you been getting ubiquinol from, I've really struggled to find it and am rarely even able to get the 200mg pills of ubiquinone in Holland and Barratt, and it's eye wateringly expensive. I've managed to find 50mg Ubiquinol capsules on the Biovea website, but nothing stronger and I'd need to be taking 6 a day, currently 60 50mg tablets are on sale at just over £30, which would last 10 days.... so that would cost me £90 for the rest of this month.

Beaky I'm supposed to be doing my next/last IVF when AF arrives. I've got an appointment with the nurse on Thursday to fill in forms etc - 3 clinics means three rounds of the same bloody forms! AF due in about 3 weeks time. I'm just feeling really disheartened this time around, the fact that I've had two consultants telling me that it is barely worth bothering with hasn't helped, although they are still happy to take my money. DH and I discussed trying donor eggs, but neither of us are keen. I thought he might be interested in the idea, but he says he isn't interested in a child that is his and some unknown persons. Otherwise, if this cycle doesn't work we need to think of a way to grow old disgracefully - his words....

Barking have fun in Spain, very jealous. I so don't want to go to work tomorrow; finding work quite dull at the moment; I work in a very small office and really miss talking to people - often don't have any interesting conversation all day if DH is out late.

Tiger good luck with the healthy eating, I might have a last ditch attempt this last month so I know I've done everything I could for my last cycle.... I've been quite bad with drinking this month though, have drunk very little for the last 2 years, but this last couple of months since my last IVF I've kind of given up trying.

Nolly, Pip, Wild, Happy, Gill - Hello

Felt like a saved a friend from an unhappy situation the other day, she instadiffed after getting married last year but had an early MC and hasn't got pg again yet - she's been quite down about it and put on a bit of weight, two of her friends asked me if she was pg, which I'm pretty sure she isn't, could have been pretty upsetting for her. It really bothers me that people are nosey about that kind of thing. Some chap DH and I were talking to in the pub on Friday asked us if we were planning on having kids - a bit forward for somebody you've never met before, I thought!

Sorry, just babbling now, need to go and do useful things like laundry

Beaky sorry forgot to say how pleased I am that you got 4 eggs in the end, that's great! Hope you feel a bit better soon.

Great news on the EC Beaky, I'm so pleased they managed to get a few more eggs. Sorry to hear that you were a bit unwell afterwards. Hope your DH is waiting on you hand and foot and that you have time off work tomorrow. Leave the music to me, you need to rest lady!

All OK here, thanks for asking. Will be 8 weeks tomorrow and just taking it day by day. Wondering how I'm going to get through work tomorrow without an afternoon snooze!

Wow Gil that's gone quickly! Other than the tiredness how are you feeling?

Kuma, I get my ubiquinol from natures best. It's £27.95 for 60 x 100mg which lasts me a month.

Woohoo great news on the bonus eggs Beaky. We'll be blasting out the Barry tonight in your honour. Sorry to hear you were poorly afterwards though. Look after yourself and take it easy for the next few days.
Thanks for all the replies re the DHEA/CO-Q10. Am definitely going to get the CO-Q10 and am still considering the DHEA. Where did those of you that are taking the DHEA get it from please?
Tiger I had a horrendous red itchy rash across my face during my last stimms. But I suffer with eczema and very sensitive reactive skin anyway and it's not unusual for me to have such flare ups so could be coincidetal (although this one was particularly bad). I've been eating 80% clean (just allowing treats on the weekend) for the last month though and my skin has been amazing. Always thought I was sensitive to nuts but I've eaten loads lately and been fine. Is obviously something else giving me grief. I've been particularly bad this weekend though including my first alcohol/caffeine in 6 weeks and my skin isn't great today. Definitely back to clean tomorrow though I've got loads on this week which involves eating out so it will be tricky!
Barking have a fantastic time in Spain.
Waves at everyone else and hopes all Berries have had a fantastic Bank Holiday.

Beaky that is brilliant news. I'm sure they are getting it on tonight in their little Petri dishes. Hope you feel a bit better now after being so sick. And yes I'm still on holiday, so just dropping in for a quick check up now and then.

Tiger thank goodness your rash is not like those in the photos, they look grim. Be interesting to get some answers as to what it is.

Kuma don't be down about your final shot at IVF. The chances may be slim but you must feel there is still a chance to bother going through with it. It's good that you and your DH are on the same page ref donor eggs. It isn't the right choice for everyone and is a very personal thing.

Gill good to hear you are doing well. Could you get in a quick nap under your desk? Or in a cubicle in the ladies?

On the healthy diet question - I think eating healthily can only be good for you in all sorts of ways. But to my mind there is a big difference between eating a full on junk food/ ready meal/ fizzy drinks / crisps and chocolate type diet and eating a reasonably healthy diet with a few unhealthy things from time to time. Switching from junk food only to the perfect clean eating plan will have a bigger impact than switching from a reasonably balanced diet to clean eating perfection. Just my take on it.

Happy, I got my Dhea from America as they are the only place that sell the micronised version which are absorbed more easily and the dose is pretty much guaranteed whereas it can be a bit hit and miss with the UK ones. I am taking 3x25mg a day.

Lucie what brand/website do you use please? Do you take it all through your cycle or just for the first half?

Is this any good? Says micronised?

www.dhea-uk.com/product.php?productid=1

Thanks berries! Fx eh.

Gill loving your dj skills there! Wow 8 weeks has flown, when is your next scan? So pleased things are going well for you.

HB hopefully this next 2 weeks will fly over, but today, you are pg!

Kuma thanks, I'm hoping the main one at least will get to go back in! Eek. My dh said the same about donor eggs, that he doesn't want to have half his DNA and half someone we don't know. I can see where he is coming from but I think we need to revisit the conversation again in time. I've just ordered the ubiquinol from natures edge too, much cheaper than Holland and Barrett, although still expensive. Will you be doing a natural cycle or any stims? I'll be keeping everything crossed for you. I've found out some of my in laws were circulating gossip I was pg as have a little pot belly going on! So cheeky though.

Tiger call is going to dh tomorrow morning. I can't handle it especially since I'll be at work. After the bank hol weekend we will be so so busy. Eeeeek. Fuck. Anyway, have you got Divina's 5 weeks to sugar free? It has a whole section on desserts and cake, they all look lovely. Also I have another one I could send you some recipes from - they might help so you can keep baking.

lucie that's not long to wait, fx for you. Will you be going to Prague again?

Yes happy that's the one!

Sorry I missed lots of posts! Thanks Happy and Wild and yes I feel much better. Had a steak and spinach salad for tea which I managed no problem! Hoping to keep up the healthy eating now.

I think 80% clean is a good plan happy. I too have had my first alcohol for a few months, and then some ...been drowning my sorrows rather a lot. Back to booze free after this weekend.

wild I agree with you - my plan is just to continue with healthy and cut back on sugar. I think I may follow your example and do a detox. When are you having your fet?

Kuma I get the feeling of needing to do what you can to give it a good go. The things I can do keep me sane in the face of everything else I can't control. I'm sure the drinking won't matter - the most common story from my friends is 'I thought it was a very bad hangover but actually I was pregnant'. So for most people it seems to make no difference at all

gill glad all is going well.

Beaky are you sure you want to be going back to work tomorrow?? I couldn't stand up straight for 2 days after EC. Felt much worse in the days after than I did the actual day of. Please look after yourself.
Was going to post the flowers then but they seem to have gone?!? What's this >>>>>

Cross post beaky. Glad you are feeling better but could you take tomorrow off? I would have struggled at work the day after EC.

Yes, I did get 5 weeks to sugar free but I was a bit disappointed - hoping for more alternative ways of eating and more of a plan. Still, some good recipes,

Yes that's the one I got happy. I got the standard delivery and it was here in about a week. I am taking it throughout my cycle. Haven't noticed any side effects yet.

Beaky, yes I'm going back to czech for the next treatment. I'm a little worried as another clinic I spoke to said I would need careful monitoring as I have really short cycles (22-23days) and that a dominant follicle may develop before my previous cycle had finished and that they would need to make sure they collected that one even if it meant sacrificing other smaller ones. Also they said short luteal phases of less than 12 days could indicate poorer egg quality. I'm just worried now if that is the case.

I have thought about donor egg as well and as hard as it would be not to have my own genetic child I think I would still rather go ahead and experience pregnancy and carry my husbands genetic child than never have a family. I've also read up on epigenetics and how 99.9% of genes are the same in everyone. Whilst the baby wouldn't have your genes there are markers in your body which affect how the genes are expressed so the baby would look very different if carried by two different women so I do think that donor recipients play a part in how the baby looks etc. although I know it's not for everyone and still find it a bit difficult to get my head around myself.