Strapping on our lady balls and going menkul because we HATE THIS SHIT!! The Berries: a lovely bunch of 30 something Ladybros TTC #1

[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 Ladybros:

Minx 35 - TTC 2.5 years. Stage 4 endometriosis, both tubes blocked, 1 buried ovary, IVF #1 started Aug '15 at Mustache Towers, if all goes well results due mid-Sept.

Smidge 39, TTC since Jan '13. Unexplained. Some high NK cell immune treatment. IVF#1 Short protocol Jul'14 BFN; IVF#2 Nov'14 and IVF#3 Feb'15 both Long protocol BFNs; Natural FET Jun'15 - Another BFN. Trying to work out what to do next.

Happylass, 37, TTC since Aug 2012. 2 failed ICSI cycles, 1 failed FET and 1 abandoned cycle due to poor response. Hoping to start antagonist cycle mid September. HATE THIS SHIT!!

Beaky 35, ttc 3 yrs, 2x failed iui 1 long protocol ivf cancelled, 1 short protocol IVF BFN, very low amh etc etc. In 2ww for 2nd sp IVF.

Tigerdog, 35, ttc since Jan 2013. Unexplained. IVF #1 chemical pregnancy. Currently redoing tests in preparation for IVF #2.

barkingtreefrog 36, ttc since Dec 2011. clomid bfp summer 2013 then mc @7 weeks, iui bfp summer 2014 then mc @6 weeks. Factor V leiden thrombophilia diagnosed at the repeat mc clinic. IUI bfn Jan 2015, IVF bfn April/May 2015. FET bfn August 2015, remaining frozen embryo perished. Pursuing private tests and then long protocol ivf in Oct/Nov.

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.

Kuma - 40. TTC 2.9 years. Low AMH high FSH - DH antisperm ABs. Failed IVF June 14 and March 15, cancelled cycle June 15. Last try September 15

Lucieloos, 36, TTC 18 months, low AMH & sperm motility. ICSI#1, April 2015, Czech, 2xblasts transferred, BFN. Icsi#2, cancelled before EC. Icsi#3, 2 mature and fertilised, both to blast and frozen. Icsi#4 in October, embryo banking.

Rain, 34, ttc since March 2012. unexplained. Mystery bfp oct 13, MMC Nov 13. IVF#1 Aug 2015

Sesame, 40, ttc with no dp, on this road for 2 years, multiple failed IVFs, 3 ETs, 1 bfp then mc, poor responder with v low AMH, but still looking for the golden egg.

nolly, 33, TTC 3 years, 1 confirmed MC, 2 more suspected. still in limbo

Spare, 34, TTC 3 years, IVF#1 short protocol + ICSI August 14 BFP but pregnancy loss at 20+ weeks, 3 failed FET, IVF #2 short protocol + PICSI August 15

Funkymonk 33. Ttc since October 2012. Mc June 2013, Mmc dec 2013, mc June 2014. Factor v Leiden thrombophilia. Abandoned IVF Jan 2015 due to thin lining. Abandoned FET Aug 2015 due to thin lining. 4 embies on ice. Cycling again November time I think.

Clem, currently on 3rd Clomid Cycle

Pip - quite simply the Best In Show.

'Sup ladybros

Just wanted to pop my head in and say hi. Still no news or updates from me, but I think of you all often, and not only when I see champagne!

Thanks all, yep am triggering tomorrow, fly to Czech on Thursday and collection on Friday then back home the same day! Really hoping I can collect all 4 that would be brilliant.

Minx, make sure you stick around and pop in and say hi would be sad to see you go altogether.

Just a quick update/little whine from from me. Have had to move the initial appointment about IVF to two weeks later as Mr.A has an important work thing that he can't get out of. Appointment now 26th Nov.

A woman I know who claims she never wants to have kids because they're too much work and ruin her body has just declared that's she's pregnant with a gushing, lovey-dovey announcement on FB. You know when you read something and your stomach sorts of twists itself inside? Yep, that. Ah well.

I'll have a proper read through this weekend and catch up with everyone else's news and updates. Hope you're all okay and keeping your chins up

hi everyone, sorry I've been quiet for the past week, its not been a great one.

antonia the end of Nov will come around quickly hopefully, not that will make you feel any better...sorry your having to deal with instadiffer news...I had the same last weekend (see below)

lucie glad you survived your weekend, must have been very very tough...good to hear your scan went well tho, fingers crossed you get the quality you need and good luck for your trip later this week, will have everything crossed for you. am considering picking a fc overseas, so may need to pick your brains on that soon.

minx hope your scan went okay on monday. will be sad to see you leave here, but it is for all the best reasons...please lurk though, your always welcome.

spare hope your are doing okay.

smidge was learning (for the first time) about PGD at the weekend, when we went to the exhibition. hope you are able to make the decision soon.

tiger when are you off to copenhagen? I haven't been on a city break for ages...very jealous great news that you've chosen a venue.

happy sorry its a no go for you this cycle, hope you are coping okay with the waiting around.

waves to everyone else who I have missed.

so this past week has been testing, was on the 2ww last week, and I'd given up trying to not symptom spot (as I do it regardless of whether I say I will or not). last week I had very very light spotting for 3 to 4 days prior to when AF showed up. I never get spotting like this, and combined with this light spotting, which could feasibly have been implantation bleeding, I also got no pmt symptoms (no sore boobs/stomach cramps etc), again unheard of for me...so I was in a place when a bfp seemed like it may be possibel...we tested sat am (bfp) and then few hours later I was on heavy. so gutted, as was DH...he has been really sweet and supportive tho lately.

went to our first fertility exhibition at the weekend, which was amazingly informative, but blimey...so much new info...we were like rabbits in headlights, feeling like our heads were about to explode. I'm now looking at a few fc's, to try and work out, which one we go with. all this info to research, success rates, making the right decision is making me really anxious though (wish someone else could decide for me).

oh, and to top it all of, a close friend from work, told me over the weekend, that his partner is pregnant with their 3rd...and it was an accident. bloody instadiffers

that should have said bfn when we tested on sat (obviously)...wishful thinking perhaps

clem, I’m so sorry about your weekend and the instadiffer! What a mindfuck your 2ww has been What are your next steps then? Are you planning on trying some fc open evenings?

antonia hopefully end Nov will roll up pretty quick and then you can get things moving. Do you know when you would be likely to start IVF? Is this NHS treatment?

lucie do you have a scan tomorrow before you go, or is it just trigger and off you go to Czech? Fingers crossed you get a nice egg from each of those follies.

minx thanks, I’m really glad I did the run . The scratch was horrible at the time, but now I’m wondering what all the fuss is about… Wow, it must have been amazing to see that heartbeat . Please do feel free to hang about between scans and keep popping by to tell us your good news and give us some berry inspiration. We’ll be pompoming for a nice uneventful pregnancy for you!

spare hi back, how are you feeling about things at the moment?

beaky when do you get the results of your blood tests?

barking any news about the results of all those tests?

smidge any sign of af? Did you say you’ll be on LP this time? When would you start DR?

Have any berries ever been to the big fertility show in Olympia in London in November? Is anyone planning to go? I’m wondering if this might be something I should consider, if my current cycle goes awry?

Clem sorry about the instadiffer it's been happening a lot to me recently too and it's so hard. If you ever want any info on treatment abroad I would be happy to help.

Sesame, no more scans just triggering tonight and off I go! I really wish it wasn't going to be such a nail biting one again and we had more follicles like our first couple of attempts. It was so tense last time with only 2 fertilised waiting to see if they would make it to blast. Looks like we will be in for more of the same!

I haven't been to a fertility show but from what clem says sounds like there's a vast amount of information. It could be good to talk to the different clinics though and get some idea of what to do next.

seasame - yes just trying to come up with a shortlist, and then yes try and do some open evenings. one thing that a lot of them definatley reiterated at the exhibition was for me to get my AMH antral follicle count tested (think barking suggested this originally), so thats something I am trying to book in for asap, so that at least I know whether I have a chance with my own eggs with IVF (not entertaining using donor eggs at the mo, but need to be realistic about this, and see what our options are)

lucie thanks for the offer, will definitely be in touch soon about the abroad stuff.

ref. the exhibition (this one was just a very small one, at a local hotel, with about 15 exhibitors...still spend 4 hours walking round talking with them all tho , and whether I would recommend going....I would say yes, because its good to have lots of different people in one place to talk too...and they are very receptive...cause after all its a sales pitch for them, to get your business...but I can honestly say, everyone we spoke to at the weekend were lovely and helpful.

for us, it was a good starter for 10 because it allowed us to ask questions, to start getting our heads around the whole IVF topic...but I think it would be equally as good, if you have already been in the IVF process for some time, as you will understand more, and have more detailed questions to ask them.

hope that helps

sesame well done on the run

Great news Lucie

Exciting to have a venue Tiger
Smidge you're right, it's good to be able to plan for something that will actually happen!

Antonia maybe she was over compensating to hide the fact that they'd actually been trying for ages? We had similar with friends of ours. Their lives were too good as they were, never interested in babies. Turns out they'd been trying longer than anyone, had had a mc and failed ivf.
Sorry for the appointment delay, it's so frustrating.

Sorry the announcement hit you clem

No news here, just waiting for tests results and confirmation of starting when we have our appointment on Friday.

Hi sesame. No sign of AF yet. I'm already downregging. Currently CD33 I think, and my normal cycles are this length (my 2ww is nearer a 3ww coz I still ovulate on CD14 ). The downregging always lengthens my cycle though - last time by another 3 days. I had to go for a blood test this morning nonetheless, as they never seem to want to change their schedule. Hey ho. I'm getting used to being ignored!

Oh my word ladies. What a shocker. I just had the nurse call back after my blood test this morning - and she started off by saying it's good news. I thought they were going to say I could start taking the FSH already, even though I haven't got my period yet, which was about to make me go . But no.... She said I'm pregnant.

Talk about an FUFC !

I have goosepimples! I kept asking her to be sure... she said my HCG is 175 and that my hormones are all good. AliG has looked at the results and is happy with it. Apparently she wants me to call the annoying secretary to book an appointment though, as it sounds as if she wants me to go on the clexane again... but to be honest I'm not sure I need it (though suspect after this initial euphoria disappears I will be anxious and wanting to take anything to keep it!)

I've got 2 basic preg testers in the bathroom - I haven't done one yet though, as it says first morning urine is the answer (and it's 2pm here). I haven't told MrSmidge yet. I'm too scared to tempt fate - I need to see those lines myself first - and preferably for a few days in a row getting darker before I believe it - it's only CD 34, which for me is no more than 2 days late. (and they tested for HCG on CD21 and it showed nil points)

But you know what berries - I thought my boobs were a bit bigger. I almost mentioned it to MrS but I thought it was just the Synarel - was pretty sure I'd read it can do that. Dr Google I haven't had anything like as much of my normal pre-AF spotting though - some, but not nearly as much and just assumed that was the synarel.

(btw, the nurse said it doesn't matter that I've been taking synarel, it won't impact anything - but I can obviously stop now)

What was different for me this month do you think? One thing is for sure, I'm looking forward to emailing the Prof (after I've seen a week of preg testers get stronger) - he was the one who gave me the antibiotics I'd kept asking about - I took them 2 months ago, and he also gave me the DHEA. Who knows if either of these things made the difference, but I figure it must have. It certainly wasn't my diet.

smidge that's bloody amazing!!!!! Congratulations! Everything so tightly crossed for you that this is it.

I LOVE this, what absolutely great news on so many levels - a lesson in not giving up if there ever was one!

Have you told Mr Smidge? Very interesting if it was the antibiotics that made the difference.

good luck lucie, hope all goes well for you.

clem sorry you got your hopes up only to have them dashed. It's bloody cruel. I was a day late this month, and although I knew in my heart I wasn't pg, it didn't stop me from hoping I might be. You'd think after a few years I'd know better, but then smidge has just proved anything can happen!

Goodbye and good luck minx. Keep us posted on your progress.

Sorry about the announcement ant. Some are so hard to take.

Not been to a fertility show sesame. Hoping to have two more NHS goes before having to be in the market for a private clinic, although I guess it would be good for info gathering - are you going to go?

barking do you have an appt for the results? Wedding planning will certainly distract me! Have venue, caterers, bar all sorted. Notice of marriage booked and will confirm registrar this week. Bro is designing invites etc, and I'm trying on my favourite dresses tonight! Will be making my own cake, table decorations, bunting etc (hopefully) so that will certainly keep me busy.

beaky how are you my dear?

Hope all the rest of the ladybros are hanging in there.

OMG! Smidge - that is the best news ever! I let out a little shriek and dropped my phone when I saw your news. That's amazing. .

I was just dropping by to say that Jellie's Berry babies have arrived.

Amazing news Smidge, I'm so chuffed for you. I can understand that it's all a bit unbelievable, particularly as you haven't seen the cold hard evidence yourself. Good luck for testing tomorrow and let us know Mr Smidge's response when you tell him. X

Congratulations Smidge! Love a FUFC. I know it's v early but there is a grad thread called the Berry copter in antenatal which has been desperately waiting for some good news, if you are on FB there is a much more active group on there.

yay! smidge that is awesome! a bona fide FUFC!!!!!!

Rude lurker popping on to say - bloody hell Smidge, excellent news, well done! Genuinely thrilled for you!

tiger thank you so much for being so happy for me!

I've always been genuinely chuffed to bits when one of the berries has made it to the copter and beyond, and always thought the berries were an amazing bunch. But to see the support from this side of the BFP, i feel so honoured to have met you all! I still haven't told him tiger, I daren't just yet. I feel I have to see those lines for myself - and in fact not just that but I need to see them get darker. After imagining what you (and other berries) have had to go through after getting the yearned for BFP, I just daren't. but then again if I do get a chemical won't I need him to know to help me get through it? I'm not sure what to do really yet. It still hasn't really sunk in as I TOTALLY didn't think - in any way - that I was even in with a chance. It simply hadn't crossed my mind. I think it's because I just assumed everything was connected to the synarel, and anyway I'm still getting bits of brown spotting so if they hadn't tested, I'd still be assuming AF was on the way.

Oh gosh I've been drafting this so long that now I see there have been visits from the copter! Gosh I hope hope hope this bean sticks.

And congrats to jellie! That's amazing news! Happy day.

Good things come in threes...

Honestly smidge it's made my day. We'll be here for you just as much on this side of the bfp. Everything tightly crossed.

Hello to the visiting preggos and grads!

smidge that is truly amazing news! An fufc is brilliant! That looks like a good hcg level too to kick off with and you probably won't need fmu to pimp. Congratulations to you and Mr S!

smidge what amazing news to wake up too, so happy for you . now have a big smile on my face. keeping everything crossed for you. xx

Oh my god Smidge this is amazing news!!!!!!! Waaaaaaaahhhhhhhh honestly, I am so so over the moon for you! Hooray to antibiotics and dhea!!!! Gosh I am so excited and over the moon - a natural diff for you after everything you've been through is just amazing.

Sorry I've not read the rest yet, I was trying to get on to catch up at a quiet moment but there's been so much! Back soon though.

OMG smidge!!!! That is the stuff dreams are made of! You must be absolutely elated. I think I would die from shock if that ever happened to me. I'm so happy for you.

I'm sat in the airport now waiting for my flight! Will update you all on the egg count tomorrow but it's going to be a max of 4. Argghh please pray for my little eggs!

Waaaaaaahhhh!!!!!!!
Amazing!!!!!!!