Thread 17 TTC#1 Follow the fallopian road ~~~○

[StarkyTheDirewolf]

Hugh enjoys ISW and his love affair with Doreen. He watches out for skittle tits and weepyitis. Mrs Arseholey Fucknut (Af) shows up when you least want her but brings wine and soft cheese as a consolation prize.

We don't have rules as such but expect to be talked down from the ledge with kind and well meaning but firm words if you get too hysterical. But most importantly don't convince yourself you're pregnant in the tww That is paramount! It messes with your head and makes you crazy crazier

We don't get a lot of baby dust in these here parts. We want a fanny full of determined Doreen, not unicorn farts and gnome tears with extra sparkle. We've been going a while now so the novelty has somewhat worn off and we're slightly battle scarred and bruised in the cervix area.

Post your stats and add your dates. A more lovely, supportive group of ladies you couldn't wish to meet. We've got a few grads sticking around I won't leave and no question is too daft. We have opk experts, cervical mucus management teams and symptom spotters extraudinaire!

Hello zenkestral sometimes just a few days head space can help a big amount. Welcome back hope AF stays away

Welcome art! Wishing you a smooth and brief journey to bfp

Haha alice we've had very similar convos!

Thanks penguin can't help the guilt, I'll try not to worry so much

Enjoy your day off purple!

Day 27 for me and I'm not sure when AF will come as ovulation was a few days late. I woke up at 6am wide awake and too hot - very very typical of this point in my cycle. I've got lots of abdominal twinges going on but I've had this before too. I also appear to have started symptom spotting - also very typical of this part of my cycle hahaha I'm nothing if not consistent.

Thanks Alice, Audrey/Stark and hep!

Jem I wouldn't worry about having a few glasses of wine at all, I always ended up having the odd one during 2ww. As others have said its really nothig to feel guilty about and if anything is a good thing if helps relax you! I realised I drank half a bottle of prosecco a few days before getting my BFP

Glad to see you back hep/zen and I hope your GP appt brings some answers. Don't let them fob you off this time!

That sounds frustrating re doc appointments lovely. At least it's booked in now.

Glad things are going well on the jizz front this month for you alice

Have a lovely day off purple!

Welcome art! It took me 39 days to get my first AF after pill. Be patient and enjoy this exciting time!

So I'm on my way to work with my case with me. Going to go ahead with trip home after work tonight, as hated thought of pulling sicky (DH says I'm too conscientious!) I think I will probably tell my mum and dad, emphasising it's really, really early days, as that's less stressful than trying to hide it. Still not sure what to do re bridesmaid dress shopping but got a few more days to decide about that. I may go for a few hours and cry off early if needs be saying I'm feeling ill. And just hope that I can maybe steer her towards just research and then having a think before actually buying anything, by which point I can hopefully tell her... At least I can now ask my mum for for advice!

I have also just been invited to an interview for one of those jobs I applied for. Gaaah!!

congratulations again marmite! Just when you think nothing is ever going your way everything you wanted turns up at once!! Good luck with the interview, at least any sicky feelings can be blamed on nerves! sounds like you've made the right choice about your trip too, have a great time and just enjoy telling your parents - you'll never get to do this again (telling them for the first time, I mean!) so just enjoy it - early days or not.

Morning ladies. Been a tad awol recently. I've been feeling really down and quite upset. Think it's been a build up from my miscarriage and I just needed time to process everything in my own head. Back to this now with a bit of a better attitude. Hope everyone is well. Need to have a proper read back through everything and catch up with you all.

skip so sorry to hear you miscarried. Glad to see your feeling positive about trying again. It truly is an emotional roller coaster! Fx we are not to far away from a wee bean sticking and happy healthy 9 months x

Congrtulations marmite hope your trip isn't too stressful. Think telling your parents is a good move, and your right they will help you decide what's best to do with regards to your bridesmaid situation.

In terms of this month, OH has decided the best course of action is to just dtd as much as we can. No charting, timing, peeing on sticks etc... when I think back this is what we done on the run up to out bfp at the beginning of the year, and this is the advice that the NHS give you too. One way or another I will know what's what come the end of the monthb

Not long until the weekends upon us. And hopefully some more bfp's .

Hi all, had a few weeks out as had decided not to try this month due to the zika issue I mentioned with going to Florida in a few weeks but we have had a couple of slip ups! I didn't think anything of it as we DTD a lot particularly last month and still nothing happened but then I've been so hungry and so knackered this last few days/week and thinking to some symptoms I've read on here and now wondering....

I just can't get away from symptom spotting even when trying not to haha!

Congrats to the BFP's! How long have people waited before they've sought medical advice?

Pcos can be present in women who don't 'fit' the usual symptoms lovely I guess the other blood are probably to check things like your LH, FSH, testosterone levels etc.

I don't take any pills or meds for it currently. Most GP'S suggest the Pill, but obviously when you are ttc that's not an option. Some women are prescribed metformin as pcos can be associated with insulin resistance and so the metformin helps with that and can aid weight loss.

My next step is to ask my gp about metformin and whether it would be beneficial as my weight loss has been soooo slow. In fact I've stopped going to Slimming world now as it was just frustrating me and instead have started eating low gi foods, higher protein foods and low fat (not fat free as full of sugar) foods. Trying to choose organic as much as possible within budget.
I've been trying this for almost a week now so will let you know how I get on!

Started getting a very light brownish discharge today so maybe AF is going to appear soon. As much as I do want her to make an appearance, we are going on holiday Monday and knowing my luck she'll arrive bang on then!

Welcome back peaches. Glad you're feeling better and fx for enjoying dtd and trying to be zen.

lovely and jem... I am also wondering if I have PCOS. I have had two blood tests that showed I wasn't ovulating, but have no symptoms. Regular 28 day periods, don't OPK every month but 90% of the time I got a clear positive (unless I'm reading them wrong). I'm a bit overweight (size 14-16) but have always been abut this size. Waiting for DH test results and then our referral to FC where I'm sure I'll have some scans done. Just want to know!

Welcome back peaches! I don't think it hurts to occasionally step away from the thread - I've had to to stop myself constantly thinking of TTC a couple of times and I haven't been through what you have. It's nice to have you back though. :)

I'm symptom spotting too Jem, despite trying not to! I don't temp anymore so I've no idea what that is, but things keep niggling at me and it's so hard not to put them together. Cautiously optimistic but at the same time I'm pretty much thinking I'm NOT pg, just that it would be rather lovely if I were.

Symptoms this month have been interesting, though. After getting acupuncture the day I ovulated (I think, not sure exactly what day that was) and getting a well-timed shag in there, I spotted at 5/6 dpo - which I've only done once before - accompanied by a metric ton of creamy CM on just that one day. Since then it's been pretty normal, CM wise anyway. I have a sore spot under my left arm that feels like a spot sunk way under the surface of the skin, but could equally be tender breast tissue. I've been an utterly grumpy madam the last day or two for no good reason (poor DH!), but above everything else, I'm absolutely shattered. I got a good night's sleep last night but still feel like I could crawl into bed right now and sleep away the rest of the day. It's been like this for the last few days, though that could easily be down to sleep deprivation as I've been staying up late too much, apart from last night.

I'm almost hoping I'm pg not because I want to be (though obviously I do) but if I'm not then I'm not sure where this moody knackered cow has come from - I don't like her!

Also trying not to stress out because DH has been out of work for nearly 3 months now and just got offered a job earlier this week which he's waiting on the paperwork for (it isn't real until we see that), and I've been kind of headhunted by another company. I'm in a bit of a dilemma - I love the team I work with ... they're like family, almost - and I've been with the company long enough to get a decent maternity package - but the new place that may want me (I'm on my 4th interview tonight) is a company I'd be tremendously excited to work for. I'm passionate about what they do and the people I'd work with there seem really nice - plus there could be a very nice pay bump on top of all that - but I wouldn't get the rights to maternity leave until I'd worked there for a year. It just seems typical that after over 10 years in my current location I could well lose on maternity if I move to another job - but I don't think I can pass this opportunity up.

If I do turn out to be pg this month, though, I'll totally laugh. The other day I booked up a 7 course sushi tasting menu with DH that we were given as a wedding present. I held off on booking it originally because I thought it would take months to get a spot at the restaurant and by then I'd expected to be pg already (ha!! ha ha ha). After DH was particularly down about his job situation earlier this week I thought I'd just go ahead and book it, and got a spot for later this month. Would be typical if I was actually now pg and couldn't eat half the menu!!!

We'd also been gifted an afternoon tea at a very nice country house I was saving until I got pg because it was a way to celebrate that didn't involve alcohol. I booked that for Saturday this week to cheer DH up too, thinking that it wasn't worth hanging around. If I actually AM pg it'll be like it waited to happen until I booked the tea >_< Tempted to take a FRER Saturday morning just to check though my period according to FF isn't due until Tuesday. Just don't want to essentially end up peeing on a tenner - it might be worth just going and enjoying myself. :)

It's been ages since I've popped my head in here! Big congratulations Marmite and live!

I'm currently 19+1. I was diagnosed with PCOS years ago; had a few scans over the years which showed one ovary completely covered with cysts, and the other peppered with them. Had loads of other symptoms including difficulty losing weight, insulin resistance, hair thinning and, confusingly, excess hair growth. I was on the pill for 16+ years as it was the best recourse for minimising symptoms. Tried metformin, but didn't find it useful so discontinued this. I was told by 4 different doctors in two countries that I wouldn't conceive naturally.

Started trying in January this year, and was upduffed by cycle 4. I was fully expecting to try for a year and then begin IVF. During an early ultrasound, I asked to have a peep at my ovaries and they were both completely clear of cysts. Apparently PCOS isn't a static condition, so please trust me when I say there is hope!

Hi Peaches its good to hear from you, its a horrible mindfuck and I'm only a week since mc, so I am really not looking forward to the next few months. Ever since getting the first scan results I felt like I was stuck on a speeding runaway train that I couldn't get off, I still feel so stuck and its miserable.

Mayago 19 already! Can't believe how fast the weeks fly by (when other people are pg lol!!) each day seems to take forever for me!!

Pug your diet sounds great, seems like you are really taking control so fx for you!

lastly kav just go - eat the sushi, drink the fizz. Enjoy yourself. If you're pg you will still be pg - healthy embryos don't just up and leave because of a bit of fizz (several bottles is a different matter). Just think of all the japanese alcoholics who have perfectly normal babies...or not, but still - enjoy yourself!!

Enjoy telling your folks marmite I hope your mate can be swayed to delaying dress purchases.

Hello peaches lovely to see you, sorry you've been feeling so low. It sounds like there's lots to be said for the blind approach, I hope you can both relax and enjoy it.

Hi tigger this is cycle 8 and I've been to see my GP, mainly because I had a scan of my uterus and ovaries a few years ago that showed a few cysts, so I wanted to get the ball rolling on looking into pcos. I've been referred for tests at the start of my next period, but she said they won't look into anything more or treatments until we have been trying for a year. I may have told her this is cycle 9

Hope it's not AF pug

kavan that sounds really promising. Spotting isn't something you can make up in your head. Keeping fingers tightly crossed its a bfp brewing!

Hi may thanks for popping back and sharing your experience. Glad all going well for you.

Big hug skip hope you're alright

Thanks for the welcome back ladies, missed the crazy chat and giggles

Congratulations live

Hi newbies waving and hi maya glad your keeping well.

pug the last few months I've been trying to eat healthy and exercise. Started out ok but I've hit a bit of a brick wall. Think I need some inspiration food wise. Hate when you seem to always eat the same things. Hope you see results soon.

skip yes! The midwife that helped me was lovely. She had a miscarriage herself before going on to have 2 kids (which is reassuring). I feel she knew exactly what was going on and could relate well. She warned me not to try and rush getting back to normal, which of course I tried to do. Just trying to take back some control in it all. And to be honest, like ttc there really only so much of this process we are in control of. It made feel really anxious and angry, but the last week has been a lot better. If you want to chat or ask anything fire away. Sometimes a good vent is required .

kav maybe your lucks about to change? New job for DH and a baby on board? As for the things you have booked don't stress you will enjoy them just the same. And yes skip the whole list of banned foods when pregnant always makes me laugh. As you say, there must be a million Asian ladies across the world pop out little humans who eat these foods we are so forbiddin to have! My mum was anemic having me and was encouraged to have liver etc... to give her and me a boost. Complete no no nowadays. As my mum says your here, your fine, it's not a big issue

Lifes to short to give up every thing whilst ttc. There's no way I'm putting the brakes on waiting on my bfp, short cut to obsessing and madness

So I'm on the train and my mum just texted me 'I have olives, hummus, crisps and a large glass of rose waiting for your arrival' definitely not going to be able to keep this one to myself then

Hello peaches lovely to hear from you again. I can only imagine how long it must take to feel even vaguely 'normal' again. Here's hoping a chilled out cycle is just what you need.

Sounds like you've got some interesting symptoms kav and an interesting work dilemma. I'm in the same situation with losing a great maternity package as well as working with good friends if I leave. Can you negotiate enough of a pay rise to help offset a bit the maternity pay you'll lose?
I think I'm going to go to interview on Tuesday and keep my options open a bit longer. Thinking about booking a private early 8 week scan too which would give me a bit more of an idea about things...

Thanks may! Hope you're enjoying a happy healthy pregnancy!

Morning ladies. It would seem my and DH's relaxed approach to ttc means we are utterly clueless, so have been doing some reading. Salvia kills sperm...wtf? So much to learn

marmite what did you decide in the end about the bridesmaid dress situation? I was in a similar situation when it was my wedding. My bridesmaid told me that she was expecting as we were planning a shopping trip (and live in different countries making it a little tricker). She was only 5 or so weeks pregnant, so super early days and she asked if would I mind holding off on ordering dresses until she had her first scans etc, which was totally fine

*Saliva, not salvia

I really wouldn't worry about that Art, you'll drive yourself crazy otherwise!!

The top Google result seems to debunk it as one of the many TTC myths anyway:

Myth: Saliva can kill sperm cells. The truth: Some studies show that large quantities of saliva can impair sperm motility in an infertile couple. This might be true for a man who already has a decreased sperm count. But in most cases, if the man has a normal sperm count and motility, it's not true.

Hope you had a good journey home Marmite and a lovely night sharing the news with your folks. Enjoy the shopping!

Welcome back Peaches, glad you are feeling better

So I am currently on my way to Europe for work and will be there the whole of my fertile window. Without DP! Looking forward to some good weather but gutted to lose this month of trying.

Have a great Friday everyone and a fab weekend. Good luck to all - especially those testing imminently. I expect more BFPs when I get back next week!!

marmite an idea sprung to mind re: bride and dress but depends on your current size... Could you ask that she holds off actually ordering yours for a couple of months as you're trying to lose weight (the thought of being a bridesmaid gave you a kick up the bum)? If you're already slim and that wouldn't be believable then maybe not

*bridemaid dress!

Thanks for the suggestions art and tigger. I'm already a slim size 10 so the weight loss one wouldn't work unfortunately! art that is a possibility, I will think about that thanks.

Sorry about missing FW inspector but just think you'll be dosing up on lots of lovely vitamin D in the sunshine! I'm sure the fact we'd just spent 2 weeks in Italy just before BFP cycle helped things along! It's an excuse for sunshine anyway
Happy Friday everyone

large quantities of saliva. WTAF? large quantities. I mean, each to their own and whatnot, and I'm not one to judge but surely having large quantities of saliva up your foof is a questionable life choice?

Says the girl who stashes shot glasses at work to pee in and has been known to carefully administer pineapple to herself (orally, don't worry) at strategic points in her cycle. I no longer know who's crazy.

marmite enjoy the hummous olives and maybe a small rose - telling your mum will be great! Mine was mildly surprised that I was actually fertile, then proceeded to tell me (again) how worthless life is until you hold a baby in your arms. Needless to say I haven't spoken to her since the mc!

Thanks peaches it is really nice to know there are other people out there who understand. I'm done with being told 'at least you know you can get pregnant/want children now/its just a practice run/it obviously wasn't meant to be' or worse, being asked DAILY if I am ok. People in RL can just sod off!!

Penguin maybe with the travelling you'll ovulate later in your cycle anyway (thats what happened to me anyway) so try not to think about it too much!

skip lol !

Welcome back Hep! I don't post a ton but I do always find myself coming back here. I don't think I'd be able to up and leave altogether. The support the wonderful ladies on this thread give is invaluable ... it really does make a difference to me to feel I'm not going through this alone. While DH is very supportive he wouldn't ever be able to fully identify with the frustration you feel with your own body and the stress we put ourselves through trying to make that magic happen. I'm really glad, whatever happens, that I found you all. :)

Skip, you made me laugh talking about Japanese alcoholics! I'm sure you and Peaches are right - Mum ate plenty of things you're apparently not supposed to and I think I turned out more or less OK

I thought of you marmite when I was posting my job issue, only you're a step further down the road than I am. I think you're right, you should still keep an open mind. Ultimately what I've been thinking is about which job I would be happy going back to after giving birth; while I'd like to say I could try being a SAHM I'm not sure finances or my sanity would allow for it. Even if I end up only taking statutory maternity leave, the choice between going back to the job I do now (boring but I love the people) or going back to this new job ... well, that makes the choice easier. And yes, like you mention - the pay rise would probably help out a bit there too.

DH still waiting on hearing about my job. Trying not to go nuts over it.

Jem, I think I'd have lied and said I'd been trying for a year already so you shouldn't feel bad about telling them it was cycle 9 ;) - I forget sometimes which cycle I'm on after being stuck on this merry-go-round for so long. As it is, because I'm older I was OK to go to the GP after 6 months anyway but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have hesitated to exaggerate slightly if that's what it took!!

DH still waiting on hearing about HIS job, not mine. It's not ALL about me, I promise ...

So.... My bra was starting to hurt me so....

That's a line!!!! xx