Pom Poms, Placards and Picket Lines. The Berries are putting up the barricades and will not be crossed! A delightful bunch of 30 something Ladybros TTC #1.

[happylass]

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:

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. 3 failed ICSI cycles, 1 failed FET and 1 abandoned cycle due to poor response. Awaiting next and final cycle with own eggs hopefully Feb/March time. HATE THIS SHIT!!



Beaky 35, ttc 3 yrs, 2x failed iui 1 long protocol ivf cancelled, 2 short protocol IVF both BFN, very low amh/poor responder etc. 3rd IVF in January.



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. Private tests showed high nk cells activity and th1/th2 as well as mthrfr gene. Started downregging for long protocol ivf in Oct 15 plus two intralipid drips, and got pg. Third mc @ 6.4 weeks despite heparin, intralipids, metafolin and prednisolone. Last Ivf attempt starting February 2016 then on to adoption. 



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 Jan 16. 



Lucieloos, 36, Low AMH & sperm motility. ICSI#1, April 2015, Czech Republic, BFN. Icsi#2, cancelled before EC. Icsi#3 & 4, Embryo Banking. 3 blasts in freezer. Icsi#5 in Czech in Jan. NHS cycle in Feb / March.




Sesame, 40, ttc 2 years with no dp, multiple failed IVFs, 4 ETs, 1 bfp followed by 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. 



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. Currently experimenting with different cycles in an attempt to thicken lining.

Clem, 39, ttc since 2013. diagnosed with anovulation by nhs so on a course of clomid. no male factor issues. all other test results have come back okay inc. ovarian test reserves. currently being referred back to nhs for single funded cycle.

Nolly, 33, TTC 3 years, 1 confirmed MC, 2 more suspected. Starting IVF in January.



Antonia79 36, ttc #1 since 2009, adhesions made for sticky insides & one tube removed, confirmed NHS IVF route Sept 15, TTC naturally again as recommended by doctor until IVF cycle starts (early - mid 2016) if not conceived by then.



Grin - 35, TTC 3 years, NFI why I can't get pregnant,, 3 X failed clomid attemots, 2 X ICSI failed fertilisations, 1 x IVF BFN. Doing another cycle in Mar 2016 and thinking of embryo donation.



The Roll of honour:

Pip - Quite simply the Best In Show.
Lumen - The Legend that is....

Haha boodle streaking was always a classic!

I'm here beaky, just with naff all to report. I'm on 'operation get in to shape for holiday' mode. Managed a swim, yoga and a resistance training session so far this week and my PT does a weigh in on Friday so will see how I get on! Want to drop 7lb and be a bit more toned!

How are you? Hope the new job is going well. Sorry about the baby bombs. It feels like they are everywhere all the time.

Glad you've got a plan ant, how are you getting on with it this week?

How is everyone else?

I'm in a funny place at the moment re TTC. Still can't really find any sort of feelings about it all, a bit numb and just getting on with stuff. New job a decent distraction. Will hopefully get my NK biopsy results in a couple of weeks, see if that sheds any light. Till then, just plodding on thinking about other things!

Had a mini panic then when I could find the thread. We'd fallen off the first page for the first time ever I think! Quiet times at Berry HQ! Maybe we need a recruitment drive?
Ant great to hear you've got a plan.
Beaky/Tiger how is the new job going?
Hope everyone else is ok. Hang in there it's almost the weekend!

Yes I think you're right Happy lets recruit!

Any long time readers first time commenters out there??

Anyway, hope you are doing well Happy, I think of you and Barking often.

Tiger fx for something helpful from the results, although it's difficult to say what result you'd prefer. Obvs you don't really want high levels of nk cells but on the other hand you'd have something you could treat at last. Good luck for your weigh in today, you sound like you've been working hard so far. I haven't done anything yet, my working and travel hours are quite a bit longer with this job but hopefully I can get back to the gym next week. Also I start yoga this weekend, woohoo. May need tips from you and Sesame.

Ant how you doing? That's a good plan, make sure and take any supplements you want to from now too as if you are doing IVF they take about 3mths to help. Your follow up sounded positive though at least.

Sesame gave you decided on any next steps? How are you feeling?

Clem how was the fertility show? Anything helpful to share?

hi everyone, sorry I've gone quiet...I've had a few pieces of bad news relating to family health in the past week, so not been online much. still intend to update on how the show went, will try to this weekend.

hope everyone else is okay.

Sorry to hear you've had bad news Clem. Thinking of you

Sorry to hear that Clem, hope you're ok.

How are you Happy? Hope you're sleeping ok.

I'm off for my first official yoga session later, hope it goes well!

Hi everyone, thanks for the welcome a few weeks ago I've been a bit busy in rl and thinking about this was just too much

We had our first ivf appointment in January but I chose to postpone it until July because I just don't feel ready for it. I'm no closer to feeling ready so at this point in time I'll be postponing again come July..

I only get one go in my area and I don't want to use it because once it's gone, it's gone, don't know if that'll make sense to anyone else..

so, I thought I'd finally get my arse in gear and write down how the exhibition went...

it was about half the size of the one we went too in birmingham at the end of last year, but there were enough fc's there to make it worth our while driving all that way ( not to mention the 2.5 hour wait in the early hours of sunday morning, when there was a crash on the m40, and we had to turn engines off, and sit there ).

it felt so much better walking into somewhere like this, feeling more informed (having got clomid and an ivf cycle behind us)...no rabbits in headlights this time.

we went prepared with all my fertility related notes (just took the whole bloody folder), and when stuck in traffic on the motorway, we bullet pointed everything that had happened weirdly organised for both of us ).

we spoke too:
spainish fc
portuguese fc
care
couple of adoption/fostering stands
an embryologist (not affiliated to anyone)

the good thing about it being quite small, and relatively quiet, meant we were able to get a good hours sit down with:
doctor from spain fc
nurses from care fc/portugal fc
the independant embryologist

spain - we spoke to them at the last exhibition too, and they stuck in our minds...may have been the pgd element of what they do, which they discussed again here, as an option. the doctor was lovely, and wanted to try what I'd describe as a more aggresive approach than others...she was keen to prescribe a cycle that included stims to get as many eggs from me as possible (she was happy with our amh results/semen analysis, but did want to stick dh on some more vitamins (c I think, and something else), to help improve them further. obv. aware of ohss, but willing to push things, to get better results, and give her a decent sized batch of my eggs to work with. Ref. timings, with the tests needed around the pgd analysis, plus the fact they are fully booked in July (closed in Aug (entire clinic), then other than treatment planning in June, it would be a start in early sept and then back for et in early october (feels like a bloody age away). part of me likes the fact they want to take an aggressive approach. obvs. this option would mean travel out to spain. and then there is the 4 month time frame...not sure I can

care/ferticentro - as we didn't get time with the doctor, these chats were not quite as detailed as the above, but it still gave us a chance to show them our notes/test results, to see what they would suggest (fairly standard short/long protocol stuff by the sounds of it)...was also good to say "we are taking these supplements to help improve eggs/sperm...do you agree/suggest anything else"...they did, which was good...gives us some faith we are doing a few things right.

embryologist - this lady was a bit of a find, and it was my dh who managed to get us in a room with her (we talked for so long, the exhibition finished/everyone was packed up, when we came out ). basically she worked for a charity, wanting to educate people better, but her day job was an embryologist, but she wasn't linked to anyone at the exhibition, and so was totally independent. we again went through all our results with her, talked to her about our last ivf cycle, and what that clinic are suggesting for a 2nd cycle (which is a long protocol, but not too aggressive), she thought that sounded like a good approach, and also talked to us a lot about my egg quality (which was crap last time...fragile eggs, exploding on impact with icsi needle)...she was of the mind, we shouldn't get too hung up on my egg quality, for the last ivf, as it was only 1 cycle and may have just been a bad batch as it were. she suggested another cycle would give us a lot more info, as to whether my eggs really are ab issue or not...so that made us feel a lot more comfortable, with possibly remaining with our uk clinic (who are suggesting a long protocol this time, but nothing too aggressive). one thing she did say though, was that she had concerns with the clinic in spain (the pgd one) - and this comment wasn't in response to us saying we had spoken to them, it was just in general, talk she'd heard whilst there, as she felt the fact they were suggesting that to us, and the more aggressive approach, was a bit to full on for us, given we are only 1 cycle of ivf in so far, with no specific problems.

we are now torn between staying with out uk clinic, which feels like the safe option, or going with the spain one (pgd does appeal, due to the improved success rates, if we go down the pgd route). yes its more aggressive, but with turning 40 in a few months, I'm not sure I want to wait too much longer.

got a few freebie supplements too, and some magazines

hope some of you find this useful, and sorry for the brain dump (actually helped me to get it all written down).

if any of you get a chance to go to one of these exhibitions, I would definitely suggest it...purely for the chance to have free discussions with fertility doctors, other opinions can't hurt at all.

pm me, if you want to know the name of the people who run these.

Cooper yes it does make sense, but if you are going to delay until you feel ready, maybe use the time to get yourself ready, i.e. Vits/supplements etc. There is a chance you might only need one round though! How long have you been trying again?

Clem that's very handy, thanks! Glad you found it helpful too. Why did the clinic say you need pgd? It's usually only recommended when you have a few embies due to the risks and if you only have a couple of embies anyway you may as well put them back. It's also very expensive at most clinics. The embryologist sounds helpful though, did they make any suggestions for improving egg quality at all? That's one of my eternal questions!!

Hello berries from sunny Tuscany.

Having a lovely holiday. Though woke up this morning feeling a bit morose about the upcoming big 4-0 on Friday. Think it's just another reminder that there aren't going to be any baby Smidges . I'm sure I'll snap out of it soon though.

Cooper I totally get where you're coming from with wanting to put off the IVF. I was devastated after my first cycle failed, as I had just assumed IVF was the fall back answer. It hadn't occurred to me that it might not work either. Having that fall-back hope is very comforting so I understand if you're only going to have one cycle, that you want to put it off for as long as possible. But it might work too! Have you had any investigations to know why it's not happened naturally so far?

Happy and Barking glad things still seem to be going to plan!

Clem sorry you've had some bad family news lately. Glad to hear the show was interesting if a little conflicting / confusing

cooper I think its a really good idea to wait until you are feeling ready...ivf in itself is a huge emotional roller coaster, so you need to be mentally ready, before you start your cycle. you are only 31...so try not to put too much pressure on yourself (easier said than done, I know).

beaky not sure why the spanish clinic defaulted to suggesting pgd (they said the same last time, when we spoke to them), inferring from what they said, it seemed to be mainly around my age. to be honest, I just think their default, is a more aggressive approach. ref. egg quality, there wasn't anything new that the embryologist suggested, she didn't seem to have too much of an issue with the two supplements I'm on at the moment (inofolic & proxeed). it was our last fc that suggested both of these (proxeed being a replacement for pregnacare that I was on), and inofolic, being due to me being borderline pcos. I think from memory, our last fc said inofolic included antioxidants, which was the best thing I could be taking to improve my eggs.

hi smidge really glad you are having a lovely holiday...not jealous at all. I know what you mean about how you feel about turning the big 4-0...I have that joy to come later in the year, the fact I'll be baby free makes me want to scream...but can't stop time from moving forward (unfortunately).

hi to everyone else.

Evening Ladybros. Smidge I'm well jealous of your lovely holiday in Italia! A very happy 40th for tomorrow my lovely. Hope you get to drink Real Champagne by the bucket load.
Clem glad to hear you had a productive visit to the show, even if it was a touch information overload!
Cooper definitely a good idea to wait until you are ready for IVF. It's a huge ordeal and you need to feel like you are 100% ready.
Beaky hope the yoga went well and things are ok with you.
What's everyone up to over the Bank Hol? Last day in school for me tomorrow before half term. I'm absolutely on my knees! We're off to see the Manics in Swansea on Saturday so will stay down for that then we're headed up in to the Beacons for a few days glamping. FX for nice weather!!

Happy holidays smidge! I hope you're having the most amazing time and that the morose feelings have passed

That is all useful clem. Have you come to a decision about next steps.

Have a lovely half term happy! Hope all is going well.

beaky how are you?

If you're not ready cooper then postponing sounds sensible. I felt like that but once you get started it isn't too bad. What do you think would help you feel ready?

Not much to report here. NK biopsy results came back as normal so that's another thing to tick off the list. I have a phone follow up with them on Tues so will see if they have any other suggestions.

Am on my way to the coast for a few days, can't wait for some sea air and seafood! Hope everyone has a fun bank holiday ahead!

Happy birthday for yesterday Smidge I hope you are having N amazing holiday and drinking all of the real champagne big hug for the other stuff though, it's not easy.

Happy enjoy your break! I'd love to go glamping but usually you can't take pets, anyway we have lots of family stuff planned so catch ups galore this weekend. Hope you are feeling ok. How many weeks will you be now? Yoga was brill, second session today so looking forward to that.

Barking hoping you are doing fine and getting some sleep!

Tiger interesting result with the nk cells biopsy, like you say another Thing to rule out. I forgot you said you were up to the coast! Have a lovely time, it'll definitely clear any cobwebs hanging around. How's the new job going?

Clem which Spanish clinic was it? I have two on my de list so was just wanting to check. Hope you have lots of lovely plans too for the bank hol!

I have got my little embie pics, clearly the clinic thought I was mad when I asked but tough I've got them. New work is going ok, holding off on booking any consultations for the moment as I need to get myself sorted and they are so bloody expensive too!

Hope everyone else is ok! enjoy the long weekend berries!

Glad the new job is going ok beaky and hope you've enjoyed the bank holiday. I think the NE might be the only bit of the UK that hasn't had sunshine this weekend - it's grey as anything here!

I feeling utterly sorry for myself as I've got a stinking cold - worst one I've had in ages. Bloody typical!

Hope everyone else is well. So quiet in here, there really will only be one or two of us left soon....

Ah yes Tiger it's been so dull! We had literally 5 mins of sun at our family thing yesterday! But it was still great. I did feel a bit sad about the no kids thing when there was so many there too. Hopefully you will feel better soon, a bit of sun would have been nice for you but hopefully you had a lovely weekend anyway.

I reckon there will only be me you and Ant soon! We need to send up the berry signal...

I'm still lurking. Haven't got anything much to say though.

Birthday was nice, thanks. Came and went pretty uneventfully, but my mum says I don't look a day over 39 .

Got to think about finding a job now

happy birthday for last week smidge (I think your birthday is the same as my dh's). glad you had a nice birthday, and didn't spontaneously combust when you turned the big 4-0 with my 40th looming in october, its good to know you can make it through in one piece.

tiger how rubbish is that, the NE stayed uncooperative grey all weekend. sorry you have been feeling so under the weather. feeling ill, is the worst...especially when you are feeling a bit fed up to start with. glad your nk biopsy results came back okay (totally understand its frustrating that they are okay, and not highlighting a problem/giving you something to deal with).

beaky it was ivf spain. if you want me to send you a scanned copy of the stuff I got from them (and any of the other ones), am happy too, just pm me (not sure how much of the info packs contain stuff about de's, but can check for you, if you want me too. glad your new job is going okay.

and just to mention (although I think most of you already know)...we got an unexpected bfp on Friday last week. we'd taken a month to just keep trying naturally, and then plan was to call fc today to kick of ivf cycle 2. but thats now on hold, whilst we see how this all goes. never had a sniff of a bfp whilst trying naturally, in all the years we have been trying, so can't quite believe this has happened.

Congratulations Clem! Over the moon for you I hope the next few months pass quickly and uneventfully. And yes if you wouldn't mind id like a copy of the ivf Spain stuff, I actually emailed them as they came up in one of my searches. I think they must be fairly expensive though. I'll pm you.

Smidge glad you had a good birthday and fab holiday, good luck on the job hunt. I'm pleased you are hanging around still belated birthday cheers to you.

We really are having a cluster diff at the moment...such amazing news clem! Everything tightly crossed for you. About time we had some surprise good news.

Definitely need to get the berry signal going beaky, for old and new berries! Glad you enjoyed the family get together.

smidge, glad you're still about. What sort of job are you looking for?

I'm properly ill, I think it must be a sinus infection as I've not felt quite like this for years, my whole face aches and I'm blowing my nose every five seconds and I have a really loud ringing in my ears. Woe is me, eh. Think a working from home day is on the cards for tomorrow.

Had a lovely catch up with my bro today, and of course my nephew who is 6 months old and adorable. I got to settle him down to bed, which I enjoyed so much although it made my heart hurt too, lots of cuddles and singing my favourite songs. Mr T spent the whole journey home in silence because he finds it really hard to have close contact with babies, can't blame him really.

Had my phone follow up post biopsy today too. This time with Prof Quenby. Verdict: be brave and try again. None of my worries were founded in her view. She also offered to do a free scratch again in Aug if my FET is not until Sept, so at least I don't have to worry about that timing aspect now. They also said they wouldn't recommend asprin (which my clinic did) So, nothing doing for now except to try naturally and plan for the FET.

Wow sees! Congratulations Clem, that's amazing news

That was supposed to say wowsers. (Not sure if that's any more of an official word than wow sees, but still )

smidge thank you.

beaky I'll pm you, ref. spain.

hi, just had an email, and a fertility magazine I subscribe too, are giving away some tickets to the upcoming routes to parenthood exhibition in manchester (the small hotel based ones, I've been too a few times). if any of you are in the right place (mentally and location wise), let me know, and I'll pm you the email address...worth a try if nothing else. x

Hellooooo?! So quiet in here. Not that I really have much to say, same old, same old. Waiting and more waiting, contemplating chucking away some more money on tests.

Hope everyone is ok? I'm on the holiday count down, 2 weeks on Sunday. It is the only thing keeping me going. Well, that and shopping - I'm just planning a holiday wardrobe!