Hiya all – AF turned up last Monday as predicted and I’m finally out of my sulk now, although I’ve been finding myself generally feeling (quite weirdly) over-emotional about anything and everything.
Jass - yes I agree about the benefits of getting outside in the fresh air to lift one’s mood, but unfortunately I’m a total baby about being out in the rain, which is pretty much all that’s been on offer round our way lately. I’m sure I vaguely recall reading somewhere that we’re supposed to get at least 30 minutes outside exercise / good quality light in order to maintain melatonin levels, for hormone regulation, ovulation etc. Does that sound about right? Definitely don’t manage it though!
Hope you're doing OK? And are you still TTC, or NTNP?
Ababs - it took a bit of strength temporarily, but I did get through AF without getting smashed – in fact, without any alcohol at all. Although not that it was actually a big deal; I’ve been pretty much teetotal for about 3 years now: pregnant, then breastfeeding, then TTC - but I just didn’t plan on TTC for this bloody long!
You mentioned you might expect AF to show up tomorrow – does that mean the breakthrough bleeding has stopped now? Hope so? All the best for your scan on Wednesday – FX for confirmation that everything’s fine and you can start TTC again with renewed positivity.
Tidesout - you did well with your GP and the sperm analysis form! My GP has been happy to run some basic bloods (just day3/21) for me, but DP’s GP was a bit shirty about him asking for an SA on the NHS. In the end he self-referred to the Andrology/Fertility clinic at our nearest (and excellent) NHS hospital, but as a private patient and it cost him £62 + VAT. He had the results made into a T-shirt with “so it’s not me then” printed underneath. Not really (obvs) but he can be a smug b*stard about it (as he eats his takeaway pizza with me scowling at him ...)
Slinky - hope all is well with you? I had some bleeding (in fact quite a lot of bleeding – it’s a long story) when I was pregnant with DD. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you everything’s fine.
Hi little02pots - I know it’s tough when you think you’ve got your timing just right as per your OPK smiley faces or whatever and then the witch turns up – arrgh! You’ve just got to keep going, right?
BalaBot - I’m sorry you’ve had some challenges with your first child, but it’s good to hear that you all seem to be on a good track now and in a position to add to your family.
As regards OPK saying you ovulate, but blood tests not: as Ababs said, you can’t write yourself off on the basis of one month (it could easily have been an ‘off’ month) so could you ask GP to repeat the tests for you? I think the day 21 test is done then on the assumption that it will be roughly 7 days after ovulation (and peak progesterone). So if you ovulate either earlier or later than day 14 the test could miss picking it up entirely.
I’ve heard that thing too that a strong indicator of fertility is regular periods – in fact an esteemed recurrent miscarriage consultant told me that if your cycle was regular it was almost certain (i.e. for the majority of women) that it means you would be ovulating. So the fact that you say you have regular periods is a good sign isn’t it? I don’t think the fact that they’re occasionally light means very much. My periods have been quite light ever since I had DD and sometimes worryingly so. I mentioned this to a gynaecologist I had to see and he didn't seem in the least bothered by it and said it was ‘normal cycle variability’. Plus I’ve had mid-cycle lining thickness (amongst other things) measured on ultrasound scans and apparently it’s been fine.
I'd love to ask people what they're doing about caffeine - any thoughts on how much daily / giving up altogether? By any measure, I know I have way too much.
Also - what about alcohol? I'm thinking about for DP really. Its getting towards our last month of trying (probably) and this cycle's 'fertile window' falls bang in the middle of his Christmas party season. Any theories on how alcohol affects sperm quality?
Anyway it’s late and I’m going to see Santa Claus in the morning – well my 2 year old DD is – and we all know what I want for Christmas – same as everyone else on here I reckon!