TTC for 6 months+ thread #1

[Shemozzle]

Anyone care to join me? The monthly bus threads just starting to get me down, I'm starting to feel bitter about congratulating all the first month of trying BFP's and so I need to step away. I was very lucky to have conceived accidentally somewhat miraculously with my dd1 and dd2 and always imagined I'd struggle if actually trying, and here we are.

I'm 29, dp is 43
TTC number 3
Cycle 6
Cd1

That's the spirit LovelyFishy.

I'm getting so frustrated. I'm 47 days into this cycle and AF still hasn't arrived! What's going on.

I just want to get a new cycle started so I can try again!

47 days? Is that a normal cycle length for you Lara? If that were me I'd be doing a jig by now!

Not at all Lovely but I've been so irregular since I stopped using contraception. I had my Nexplanon removed about 18 months ago, after which I did a short stint on the mini pill.

In the past year I've had cycles that vary between 30-41 days. The top end of that having happened twice.

I used to be so regular before having DS.

I'm starting to wonder if I should speak to a doctor.

Morning all! I am new to this so might not be great with abbreviations to begin with! I am in cycle 7 of ttc #2, DS was conceived in cycle 3 so this has been a bit of a shock and I am struggling to remain positive even though I realise it is still early days.

I'm sure you have been asked this question many times but are any of you using the clear blue ovulation tests with dual hormone indicator? I am just not sure it is working right! I used cheap test strips in cycle 5 and it showed I ovulated on day 23,on cycle 6 I started using clear blue and went straight from nothing to a static smiley face on day 14? And now this cycle I have just got my first flashy face and am only on day 13! My average cycle is 35 days so both of these seem pretty early.

Your advice would be greatly appreciated 😀

Welcome Koko. I use Tesco's own brand and I ovulated day 14 if that helps? I do have a 28 day cycle though!

Hi everyone,

Sorry, I have not posted recently, I want to thank those that left really kind messages and suggestions - I really appreciate it. I am feeding DP his washed vegetables and handing supplements out to him every morning.

On a positive note, he has 30 million little swimmers which I don't think is too bad! The motility is normal and the morphology is just two numbers below normal. I'm sure I can get pregnant from that still. I would be able to eventually I'm sure if we actually dtd more than once a week (sometimes less)!!.

The pressure is really getting to him now and I am literally unable to mention the words 'baby' or 'trying to conceive' to him ever again!!

Anyway, how is everybody else? Do we have any BFP's yet?

Lovely Fishy sorry to hear about your BFN. Just keep telling yourself - it will happen.

Lara I'd be so frustrated if my cycle lengths were that long. It might be worth going to see the doctors. They might fob you off though with - it's normal when you have come off the pill. The pill just messes about with your system, I'm never going back on it again.

Has anybody tried acupuncture for help with ttc? I was thinking of getting my DP to try.

Acupuncture and reflexology are next on my list of things to investigate. It may be a fad but if it makes me feel relaxed and more in control then I reckon it's worked! I'm going to have to try getting DH onto supplements this month.

I'm glad the results came back good Zoe. Time to make a baby! At first I couldn't mention baby making to DH but he's chilled out about it now. I think the fact that it's taking time has been good for him at least!

Thank you Lovelyfishy. I agree with you re acupuncture. It is supposed to relax you and we know how important it is to be relaxed when ttc.

Aw your lucky with your DH. I feel like my DP has found it harder the more times we try and the more BFN's we get. I feel as if he is taking it personally almost. When it got to about month 5 and I started to hint that there might be a fertility issue with one of us he was so quick to say that he was fine and perfectly fertile. Then when the doctor told him that his results were sub optimal and he needs to sort his lifestyle out, he has been less willing to dtd, doesn't want to talk about it, starts arguments with me over the silliest of things.

It has started to become a negative journey for us and I'm not sure how you turn it around :s.

Hi Koko. You have been sincerely spoilt ttc in your past then!

I have used clear blue ovulation tests and the cheap Amazon ones.

It took me a while to get used to the clear blue ones. I didn't have the duel indicator btw. I think they are good to start you off because they are accurate and easy to read. Once you are used to them and get to know when you ovulate better, you really don't need them. Just get the cheaply ones.

Regarding your confusing results - if advise that you call the helpline. I have called them a couple of times and they are really helpful.

Excuse my bad spelling and punctuation btw. I always type in a rush and I can't get used to this predictive text !

My DH said before we started ttc that he was sure 1 month would be all we'd need. Of course things haven't quite worked out that way! If we did get tested and he got any negative feedback I have no idea how he'd react. It must be tough for you!

Maybe try and spend some time reinforcing the two of you? How great you think each other is, etc. I once threw a "Happy Tuesdsy" evening for DH and I just to give us a bit of fun and r&r!

Haha lovelyfishy my DP said three months and was very confident of that statement.

It's difficult to imagine how they're feeling. but at the same time it's us ladies that have to do all of the ovulation calculating, tread on egg shells around them so they don't think that we only want to dtd with them for their sperm. (Sounds kind of funny when you say it like that).

Funny you should say that about the 'happy Tuesday' evening. I scheduled a kind of pyjama party with him on Friday.

Thanks lovelyfishy and Zoe, I will persevere with the clearblue this month and see when it gives me the static smiley! I find it more confusing as I seem to get other ovulation signs much later in the month, I am terrible for symptom spotting but just can't help it!

Zoe, I definitely think acupuncture is worth a go!

I think my DH is just super bored of the whole thing. He's better about having sex on demand these days. Only a couple incidents of performance anxiety at the beginning. I do think he's been surprised it's not happened yet. He's just praying I get up duffed before he has to jizz in a cup. Don't blame him really!

Zoe my DH is going down that route - he refused to DTD on sat/sun despite it being my fertile period. I'm gutted.

Lovelyfishy I've been having acupuncture since Jan. A few weeks ago the dr swapped my acupuncture sessions for more Chinese herbs because she said they're better for getting my body in the right place to conceive. It's made me feel better in myself, but obviously I'm not pg! It hasn't been successful in lengthening my luteal phase either. And it's super expensive.

Last time I conceived I had reflexology just before ov. The reflexologist could tell I was about to ov and I got pg first month trying! Haven't tried reflect his time as I thought I'd go for acu first. My acu sessions have stopped now so will try reflex next month.

Baby - how did you find your acu therapist? Did you just google. It's def something I am keen to try.

Zoe, Lovelyfishy - my DH is fine with DTD to the extent he can be a sex pest when it's not fertile week - apparently we need to practice but he said the other day that he doesn't want to go down the IVF route

Different set of problems there.

I go to a place across the road from work - have had treatment there before several years ago for something else. I also looked into a Zita West practitioner who was absolutely lovely but advised me not to come to her as she felt that getting to her would be too stressful for me due to her closing times and my working hours. Might get back in touch with her actually - my current place feels like they're just trying to get money out of me all the time

Zoe I love the pj party idea! Looking for our next evening off together now.

Bluebird can't blame your DH regarding the cup business. I can't imagine anything worse! At least as a woman it's just lie back and think of England! Teehee...

AF is finally here! I've never been so happy to start a cycle!

Good luck with them koko. Thank you for the acupuncture advice. X

Lol bluebird - 'jizz in a cup.' I was laughing when my DP had to do that. He was like stay downstairs, do not enter the room under any circumstances. I was like, what porn are you watching luv. Haha.

Aw babyinthecorner. I know that feeling all too well. It's just torture. I have spent the past 6 months symptom spotting, wishing and hoping that af doesn't turn up and this month I know for a fact she's coming and I'm so upset about it.

Luckyblackkitty - you are a lucky lady - don't take it for granted.
Have you asked him why he doesn't want to go down the ivf route? You have a different problem to me - mine wants Ivf. In fact I think it's partly the reason why he is lazy about Dtd. I think that he thinks 'ah well we're probably going to get Ivf soon anyway.' I don't really want to go through the Ivf route.

Haha lovelyfishy you should do it. It was great fun. Make sure you have lots of wine and snacks!

Yay for you Lara. Not long and you'll be able to start Dtd again!!

I don't really know a lot about IVF, but it isn't easy is it? Do you have to inject yourself or take pills? I'd still defiantly consider it. Adoption is an option but I'd want to exhaust all other avenues first. I want to see what parts of me and DH our future child has!

I don't either lovelyfishy but it sounds; exhausting, painful and emotionally draining. That's why I'm not so keen to be honest but I would go through it if I had to.
The disappointment of a failed cycle with ivf worries me. I can't imagine going through all of the injections and egg collections, how awful it is to get a bfn.
Hopefully it won't come to that for us though.

Bah, AF officially here. At least this means I'm moving forwards to trying once again. Day 1, cycle 8, hurrah.

Aww so sorry to hear that lovely. Xx

Yes, stay positive, you haven't hit the 12 months yet either so your still very much within the normal time frame.

I hope that you get plenty of Easter eggs this weekend to cheer you up.

Just look forward now to trying again very shortly. Xxx