Still struggling to conceive no. 2 after getting pregnant easily first time round

[LittlePoot]

So, on the back of a run of rather fantastic success stories, it's time to start another thread for those of us still driving ourselves a bit nuts trying to work out why number 2 seems to be so elusive. New frustrated, obsessive testers always welcome (as are our lovely graduates) and let's hope this thread turns out as many success stories as the last.

I use clear blue too - I think it's 12-48 hrs from first static smiley - although I have had 3 days once - and missed window as gave up bd too soon - rats rats

That was when I was on soy when not on soy I ovulate 12 hrs or less from static I think - I also temp so it's all a bit obcessive over here

So yes jump on him on Thursday and you're in with a chance

Static smiley gone now and dh not back yet. Boo!

When did he go? I had a crazy month aim sept when we dtd sat and sun and DH went away for 3 weeks on the mon. I got static smiley on the thurs after he'd gone and I did get pg that month although had early mc. FC you're a late ov'er and def pounce ASAP!!!!

So sorry it didn't have the outcome you wanted, but shows not to rely on them then!! He went Sunday, so super bad timing! Hoping clear blue was wrong as only one flashing smiley then static and I thought there should be two flashing, before static.

Ready to pounce!!

Hi all, well hycosy wasn't so bad, it showed my tubes weren't blocked, but using my clearblue digital ovulation machine thing it shows I haven't ovulated this month. It's so depressing, I have honestly had enough! DP doesn't get it, he goes mad at me for getting upset. I very rarely get upset but today I feel really down about a few different things including this fucking fertility journey. How can it be this hard? On the plus side I have my final hospital appt today, but there's nothing they can do for me anyway besides clomid and they weren't keen for me to it due to my massive amounts of eggs.

Oh village - I'm sorry. Great news obviously that your tubes aren't blocked, but so sorry you're feeling down. Its a truly crap situation we've all found ourselves in that's for sure. And we haven't had a whole lot of good luck recently.

I wonder if there's anything from my crazy ivf nutrition plan that you haven't tried yet? They have me on a high protein, low gluten diet (god, I miss bread....). I'm using a whey protein supplement, taking 4g myo inositol, 200mg CoQ10, 50ug vitamin d, fish oil and the usual pregnacare conception vits. Also lots of nuts and fruit and veg. Its a joy. No comfort food whatsoever. All supposed to help with egg quality apparently.

Have you had your thyroid tested? Not common, but underactive thyroid isn't good either. More tests. Probably not what you want.

On the plus side, all that protein is killing my appetite and together with the no sugary stuff I'm still gradually losing weight. I now weigh less than the first time I ever got pregnant about six years ago so at least that's something.

village would they go for a monitored cycle with clomid? - then at least you'd know how many eggs were developing.

little keeping my mitts crossed for you

Not too much to report here 7dpo, having my ultrasound Friday - they have scheduled it for the antenatal clinic - the lack of sensitivity never fails to amaze
Then HSG next cycle, if that works out. Kind of feel pretty in hopeful about the whole thing now.

Feel too old - was super pleased when id'd in the pub last week - door man nearly fell off his perch when saw my dob

Hi There, There are quite a few things that influence ability to conceive and one of the worst is stress. If you're suffering from higher levels of stress your body diverts the building blocks for progesterone into the production of cortisol. This means that even if you do release a viable egg and you manage to fertilise it implantation won't be successful because there's not enough progesterone to maintain the pregnancy.

The best things you can do to improve your conception chances are manage your stress levels and get some low impact exercise. (walking, swimming, gardening, housework) investigate mindfulness-there are some really good aps on phones and you can find videos about it on you tube. Mindfulness really helps reduce the amount of cortisol your body produces.

If dealng with these things still doesn't get you pregnant then there are herbal medicines that will help.

Hi ladies, I was discharged from the hospital yesterday. Tubes aren't blocked, DP's sperm is great, I have PCOS but still ovulate more months than I don't. Doctor was reluctant to reassure me in any way that I could still conceive. We had a very brief chat about clomid (She didn't go in to much detail) And from what she told me I don't think it's worth it, as doesn't it only ensure you ovulate every month? I ovulate most months so what's the point in me giving clomid a go?

LittlePoot You poor thing with that diet! But fingers crossed it's all worth it in the end for you. I know I need to lose some weight, i'm not grossly overweight, but since I was diagnosed with PCOS i've read that losing weight can help you to ovulate a little more regularly. It's just such a tricky time of year to lose weight! I have so many events coming up, plus nights out, days out with DD, Christmas is hectic! So much food and drink on offer. I am starting slimming world in January, so do you think i'm best trying to stick to high protein and low carb and see if that helps with my egg quality? What kind of things are you eating?

Fruitbat I really don't know much about clomid, the Dr was rather vague. She did say there's no guarantee it will get me pregnant, just that it will ensure I ovulate every month. The thing is, i'm getting the timing right on the months I do ovulate and it still isn't happening. What's this about knowing how many eggs are developing when you're on clomid? (I told you the Dr was very vague!)

Nottingham I'm a huge ball of stress most of the time. Will look in to mindfulness. That's really interesting.

Hi village sorry to hear the doctor was vague.

As I understand it with clomid the main risk is that you super ovulate too many eggs on it and get twins or more (I guess that's why they are worried about all your eggs) but that the cycle can be monitored with regular ovarian ultrasounds to check how many eggs are developing so you can avoid dtd if too many eggs are there. - at least that's how I understand it.

But I do see your point if you are mostly ovulating anyway why bother with it?

• why did doc think you wouldn't conceive? - interesting as the doc I saw went on and on about how plenty of women in their 40's have babies, not at all discouraging although I am personally pessimistic if it didn't happen at 39 it's not really going to happen at 40 is it.

Yup as the thread title says still struggling AF in full flow off into cycle#11 once it's over will be off to gp in January if not lucky next month. What do I ask for? What should I expect?

I feel like it's never going to happen I should just be grateful for ds and move on but I can't ......not yet.

Same figgy. Exactly how I feel. Now I've got this far along the treatment track, I'm worried what I'll do if it still doesn't work. I don't know when the right time might be to stop. Saying that though, the end of the last thread saw lots of success for "old timers", both in age and in time trying. So it is possible, just a long and painful journey.

With the Dr, you want blood tests at the start of your cycle (FSH and LH) then a day 21 progesterone test. Your partner should be offered a sperm test. Depending on the results, you should be referred to the hospital consultant for discussion and possible scans. Worth asking your Dr to test thyroid function at the same time - can affect fertility and is easy to treat. x

Ohh me too figgy feel so stuck - part of me worries that I won't be able to move on til the menopause (another 13 years if I follow my mother's age).

My visit to gp was similar - then referal to fertility clinic - had to push a bit but was because gp didn't know referal guidelines - everyone gets testing -scans, more bloods, after 6 months if over 35 and 12 months if younger, but no treatment if you have a child already - that's round here at least.

Oh and hello little [waves] really really holding my thumbs for you

Xxx

Thanks! I'm off to the clinic for another scan this morning to see if my eggs are growing. Judging from the pain around my ovaries, I'm certainly hoping something good is happening!

Thanks ladies

Have stepped away from the other ttc#2 thread as it feels like there are bfp's all over the place there with people on their 2nd cycle.

Putting things in perspective haven't been trying that long but I know I don't want extraordinary measures we wont be entitled to IVF as we have ds and wouldn't put myself through it anyway am not sure on what the steps are in between I am sure there are plenty. I have friends who have had much more issues than me with one taking 6 years to conceive naturally, one needing ivf due to a less than 1% chanc of conceiving naturally (which then miraculously did happen with no.2 just as they were about to embark on IVF again) another cries every month after 3 years of ttc#2 things could be worse.

I am 35 in January hence why the dr has already done 14 day bloods and that showed me ovulating. So angry with myself for leaving it so late I didn't want to be having kids this late I have been with my dh since I was 22 I wasted/enjoyed my 20's took 2 months to get pg once turned 30 and then it took a few years for us to be in a position to be ready for another financially (DH had health issues couple years back which as he was self employed at the time then created money issues). I didn't want to be having babies so late it wasn't a choice I would have made since DH a few years older than me and he is already worrying about how he will cope.

DS goes to school in September we had hoped that I would be off to help him through that, save having to arrange wraparound care for him for the first year that is starting to slip away (whilst 2 of my 3 antental buddies have announced pg in the last month or so despite me being the first to start trying). I daren't change jobs in case it happens but will resent ttc if it doesn't. How does anyone make that decision that enough is enough?? cant even talk about it in real life as dh doesn't want people know we are trying and now struggling.

I might even go see gp again this month and take dh with me this time (oh how he is going to love the indignity of wanking into a cup).

Figgy 35 is still young! I know fertility dwindles as we get older but I would let your age worry you too much just yet. Really hope you get the bfp soon

Fruit It wasn't that she said I wouldn't conceive as such, it was more a case of not offering reassurance. I was asking "So, my tubes are fine, DP's sperm is fine, so on the months I do ovulate surely i'll get caught soon" Her reply "possibly, but I can't offer you any guarantees"

My concern is that on the months I do ovulate, we are getting timing right & it's still not working! It appears to be unexplained and that's even more frustrating.

Thinking about asking to have thyroid checked. Do you just go the Dr's and ask?

I just asked and they did it. Although my thyroid was pretty normal so it didn't help in my case. I do recommend the myoinositol though if you're not already taking it. Helped me lose weight too which was an added bonus!

Oh figgy, you're saying all the things I've said time and time again. But 35 really is still young so don't beat yourself up about that. I got pregnant twice at 35, it's just now that I'm nearly 41 that its not happening! Those first couple of days of af each month are so miserable though so I do feel for you.

Totally relate figgy I could have written all of that - my DD goes to school in September too and I so wanted to be off to help her:(

village I think you've got the pessimist doc and me the optimist doc.... Not that it really changes the situation

little still keeping them crossed

Over here we are on a long weekend away which is pleasant - 10/11 dpo didn't bring and tests or the thermometer but not optimistic tbh af due tues/wends.

My mind is f'ing with me - I dreamt I got a bfp last night.

I did have my USs on Friday - noting much to report a 1cm fibroid in the uterine wall - Google tells me this is non significant ;-)

Hi all, Well done for leaving the tests and thermometer at home, did it feel a relief?

Well I have at the signs I am out again, but I was on a very outside chance with dh being away. Better planning needed... He has to have the test done, I actually think that will help him take the ov timing bit more seriously as he never ever goes to the docs!

I always try to dust myself off and start a new month positively, but struggling a bit.

Sorry wait

I am not doing that well without tests and thermometer, well about as not well as I do with them when af imminent really. ie seems to make no difference sadly to how I feel. - I had hoped it would.

Currently cramping one half of my head saying af tomorrow other half saying was only symptom you had when pregnant with DD and you dreamt you were pregnant... (Agggh)

Oh well reality will out tomorrow or Wednesday I'm sure. And who wants an August baby anyway (except me if I have one)

Oh fruitbat - hope you're doing ok. I always had to test early to stop my mind working in overdrive, so these last few days must have been tough. Any more signs or symptoms (hopefully not af showing up)? How about you wait?

Well, I have a bellyful of big fat follicles apparently so egg collection is going to be on Friday. Frankly, I'm terrified. Up until now its just been taking this drug or that but now we will start getting numbers - mature eggs, fertilised embryos, how many if any survive each day and then how many if any have normal looking chromosomes. Its going to be a long week....

Hi, trying to be positive here a new month, new opportunity! So cycle number 10 here we come.

Lovely to hear the update from you Little, I can imagine it's very terrifying and exciting at the same time. I will keep everything crossed Friday for you.

Hope you are doing OK Fruit and enjoyed your weekend away, has AF rocked up yet or is there still hope?

*cycle number 10, I wish, typo!!! Cycle number 19 here we come.