35+ TTC #1

[elisev]

Hi all,

Just wanted to start a thread for all of us over 35 just starting out.

I am: 36 (37 in Nov)
Cycle #1 CD 22

I've been 'prepping' my body for this for a year, lost weight, increased my fitness levels and been taking vitamins etc so I feel like I've been mentally preparing for this for AGES, as a result I'm finding the waiting game torturous! I've been tracking my cycles, 27 days average, and using OPK's - just started that this month. We dtd the day before getting a smiley face and then twice on the day we got one.

Are there others who feel impatient/worried like me because you feel time is not on our sides? So bloody stressful!

Sorry that sounds a bit grouchy so I will try to muster some Christmas cheer, maybe a mulled wine. Like Blueberry I have the odd glass of wine and I might have some 'forbidden foods' as even if BFN is wrong I've read here that there's no need to avoid until BFP. Where's that brie?

Nah, don't worry about being grouchy, baguette. We all get like that. I just knitted a pair of baby booties for a colleague who got pregnant first month trying and is now leaving at 7 months (DP and I were trying for 4 months when she got pregnant) and I'm surprised I haven't collapsed in tears over them.

Sorry things are a bit crap, city.

We are officially not trying now, so going to get DP an SA during Feb half term and generally just enjoy each other again. Not planning on temping or charting but may still do opks as want to miss the window. Five months until we ttc again. I hope I'm doing the right thing by waiting. But five months can't do much harm, surely?

@jenebaguette the brie is in MY fridge and an aunt & uncle just came round to visit & gave us a nice bottle of Médoc

@Sooz last week a colleague I hadn't met before was remarking how many people in my department had gone on maternity leave and she said (jokingly) something like "will you join this trend next?". I just said "I'm 41, so that's unlikely" (she didn't know my age & I look much younger). She didn't do it in a mean way at all and I'm sure she would have been mortified if I'd said I'd been TTC for 9 months without success

Please may I join this thread?
I'm 37, nearly 38. Oh is 41.
Ttc1.
Only been trying a few months and it's driving me insane.
On cd 27 af due cd 29 tested today n got bfn - feel devastated, been crying for hours.
My oh works crazy shifts - so he's always tired or not here which makes baby dancing few and far between. Only did it once in my fertile window this cycle. So frustrating! Oh is stressed enough so don't want to talk to him about it. Feel really lonely with this tTC lark as all my mates fall in to one of two camps- got kids already or don't want them.
Xxxxxxx

Blueberry I have some naice crackers to go with that brie, and some pâté if you like. We could crack open that Médoc or are you saving it for the 25th?

AF is well and truly on her way, it's like she waited til I wasted a FRER! I will count tomorrow as CD1 of new cycle (I was expecting her on Wednesday).

Sooz well done on knitting the booties, difficult when you want to be making them for your own baby. And knitting is anyway in my book, though I'm doing a few 'crafty' things at home for Christmas and might plough ahead. I'm sure I could knit a whole wardrobe of baby clothes waiting for this BFP.

I do have alot of pregnant women in my life at the moment, but of my closest friends 4 out of 5 couples struggled to conceive but all have children now. 2 of those had IVF to conceive, 1 had recurring MCs and 1 had IVF that didn't work but then got a BFP naturally. DH's best friends are a fertile bunch all with 3 or 4 children.

City has the wine helped at all? I'm about to pour a large one!

Welcome hippy you'll find you can vent on here. Do you think you can fit in more DTD next cycle (though it only takes one good swimmer at the right time!)

Hi everyone - one time contributer and long time lurker here. Sorry, I find it hard to keep track of lots of threads! A quick recap on me:

Age:35 (nearly 36)
CD 30 (AF is late)
17dpo
Will be starting cycle 7 once AF shows

So yes, AF is late but just did a frer and got a BFN I'm abroad at the moment so I'm guessing the jet lag has affected my cycle.

DH and I went for our first round of tests a couple of weeks ago - DH sperm analysis was good, my ultrasound was fine but my ovarian reserve is low for my age which was a bit of a blow. She said not to worry as it's no indication of egg quality and only matters if we go down ivf route as it only takes one to conceive. But she also said that if we want more than one child (which we do) that we need to get cracking - so all those leaving it too late fears are coming true! Next step is an X-ray to check the state of my Fallopian tubes.

Sorry for the downbeat post - hate seeing BFNs and I'm finding TTC so mindnumbingly tedious and frustrating! The thought of gearing up for another month of TTC and timed dtd is making me want to smash my head (or uterus) against a wall.

Hello @Hippy, glad you could join us . It's good to share both positive & negative experiences with women in same situation .

Hi again @pyjamas; I feel your frustration. My DP is a "let's do things spontaneously" type of chap, so me telling him "we have to DTD" can be a passion killer! Re the FRER; a pharmacist told me that it's best to wait until 14DPO to test as hormones can be too low to detect before that, so if you're beyond that, the BPN is probably correct (sorry ).

I'm now on DPO6 and progesterone is kicking in (spots! tender boobs!). AF due on Christmas Day (FFS!!!), so Fertility Friend app is telling me to test on Boxing Day. We'll be at DP's mums for Christmas and won't come home til late on 27th, so I'm debating whether to take any HPTs with me as surely sod's law will mean if I take a test with me I won't need it?

Hey all. Thanks for all the good wishes. There is a lot going on in my life right now that I don't want to discuss in public so I will probably just lurk occasionally on here to make sure you're all still DTD.

Best wishes and may santa bring one of you a BFP.

Take care, life is short.

thank you for welcoming me ladies.

I'm officially out for this month... af has arrived! Gutted - yes absolutely.

But I am very grateful for the following -

1. The phenomenal support from all of you lovely ladies.
2. My periods are regular and I have negligible symptoms
3. I love my life
4. I love and have a man who loves me
5. I haven't lost the faith in the fact it will happen
6. I'm a million percent sure that I want a baby
7. It's nearly Christmas 🎄 yaaay

Good luck to all those still waiting
Bring on 2017 xxxxxx

As suspected, I'm officially out, AF is here

I'll be fine in a couple of days! Just need to wallow a bit today.**

Sorry to hear AF got you too hippy

Hope you're ok city

I'm sorry to hear it, pyjamas, but those pictures did make me laugh!

Welcome newbies, make yourselves at home (but hopefully it won't be long, in the nicest possible sense)!

City, sorry life is tough for you right now, I will keep my fingers crossed that something changes for the better soon. Do lurk! Big hugs x

Ha ha - they cheered me up as well SoozC. Found a few corkers on google!

Have ordered all the recommended supplements from 'It starts with the egg' - probably all bollocks, but worth a shot

@Pyjamas - I've heard of the book, but haven't read it. Which supplements did you order? As well normal conception support vitamin, I'm taking Ubiquinol, Royal Jelly & Maca, and was already taking an Omega 3 & 6 supplement for eye health anyway.

When I discussed supplements with fertility clinic consultant, he said apart from conception support vitamin, the only other thing he would recommend would be to get my vitamin D levels checked out and supplement if needed. He said the other supplements I was taking would not do any harm, but there was limited evidence of positive impact on fertility .

I'm still taking the "additional" supplements, but given that I seem to be suffering from nothing more than normal age related reduced fertility, but DP has a motility problem, the supplements may be having a positive impact that can't be put to good use! However, egg health still vital if we decide to try IVF; am just trying not to think about that over Christmas/New Year.

CD20, DPO7. AF due CD24 (25th Dec!!!). TBH, I don't really have any expectations of BFP, so I am quite relaxed (even had 1 small yesterday after running club....)

Hi Blueberry - hope AF stays away for you!

On supplements, I ordered the ones relevant for those with low ovarian reserve (like me):

CoQ10 (ubiquinol)
Fertinatal (a DHEA supplement)
Melatonin (to boost egg quality)
R-alpha-lipoic acid (antioxidant)
A pill organiser so I don't have to carry all these bottles around!

These will be taken in addition to my pre-conception multi-vitamin and evening primrose oil (helps CM).

The first two (ubiquinol and DHEA) are recommended by our fertility clinic where they advise patients to start taking them three months before ivf. May as well get a head start!

Pyjamas - Flowers:

City - Flowers:

We need some PMA on this thread ladies xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

@Pyjamas Thanks for this info. I got a pill organiser too Be careful with DHEA as my consultant said they only use it for women not ovulating properly and many fertility sites say consult your doctor before taking it.

Ah thanks for the heads up Blueberry - will check with my consultant!

Hi PJs I also can't keep up with all the threads but wanted to say sorry AF came, I've been rooting for you. I hope being with your family is a bit of comfort. I don't live near mine and had also imagined telling my parents in person. I saw your clinic recommendation on another thread and DH and I are going in the New Year. My NHS progesterone test was "equivocal" re ovulation (25 and it's supposed to be over 30) but things are moving too slowly for my liking! Can I just check it was same day results?

Ah thanks JeNe** I'm feeling better about things today and it's great having DH here. I never get to have everyone I love in the same place so I'm focusing on enjoying that for the next week instead of allowing anything to ruin it

Was your NHS test done at the right time in the cycle? I couldn't get an appointment quick enough so the peak had passed meaning I was only just over the threshold. And yep - it was same day results at the Lister and all part of same appointment so you don't have to go back. I'll be making my X-ray appointment to check Fallopian tubes and will be going back there! I did my AMH test there separately as GP recommended I get it done and they Lister doesn't do it as part of first consultation. It's really easy to do though as they have a walk-in clinic for blood tests so as long as you've returned your paperwork, you don't need an appointment. Cost £65 and I'm glad I did it as it turns out the result is low for my age which I'd rather know than not know. Fx for you!!

@jenebaguette @pyjamas - I feel there's a lot we'd all rather we had known before we started TTC!! I underestimated possible problems e.g. starting TTC while marathon training was bad idea, and overestimated likely success; all those stories of women conceiving naturally in their 40s are misleading..... I would definitely advocate having relevant medical investigations done sooner rather than later.

CD21, DPO8. I have much lighter PMS symptoms this month; only a few spots and slightly tender boobs. Wonder if that's hormone balancing effect of Maca? I've decided not to take HPT with me to DP's Mum's house. I feel doing so would tempt fate and if BFP does happen this month, it doesn't matter if I test on DPO12 or DPO14 (when we're back home). I strongly suspect I won't need to in any case boo

Have a lovely Christmas ladies and here's to lots of BFPs in 2017 .

Thanks Pyjamas will get the AMH done too. The progesterone test was done either 7 or 8 dpo, though I wasn't temping I was using CB opk. I might have it repeated but would just prefer the private tests as they are more thorough.
Blueberry marathon training is pretty impressive, so ironic that getting to such a level of fitness is detrimental to TTC.

Hello ladies, hope you're well. Just want to wish you all a lovely Christmas!!! Will be thinking of you and hopefully soon you'll get your BFPs!! 🎄🎄🎄
I'm 15 weeks today and doing ok, suffering from random headaches and nosebleeds but ok otherwise.
Sending you all big hugs 🤗🤗🎄🎄🎄

@Jenebaguette it's because marathon training means your body has to focus on recovery & repair, not conception. Dr said running 3x per week with longest run 10 miles (my current schedule), is no problem.

@Russkispy - glad to hear you're well; sorry about the nosebleeds. Ask Father Christmas for lots of tissues

CD22, DPO9. BBT has plummeted, so probably a sign AF is coming. PMS symptoms still rather light, which is a bit odd, but by now I'm used to my cycle behaving oddly!

CD24, DPO11 (luteal phase normally 11 days), some discoloured CM, so looks like AF will arrive tomorrow bang on time . TBH I wasn't expecting anything else; to get BFP the month before we should decide whether to do IVF would simply be too good to be true.

On the bright side, having lovely Christmas at DP's mum's and it doesn't matter that I've drunk a (small) glass of or two today .