Thread 24. TTC #1 - It's been a tough start to the year but 2017 is still the year of the BFP

[AlexiaB]

Calling all OPK-ers, Temp-ers, Clomid-ers, Femara-ers, IUI-ers, IVF-ers and anyone else on the TTC #1 Bus.

It's not been the best start of the year for most but we're still trying to keep it PMA

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. We've ditched the Gregorian calendar in favour of the TTC Cycle Day calendar, and we don't get a lot of baby dust in these here parts, we just keep it legs spread and fingers crossed (LSFX). We love a baby bomb from a prior bus-mate but if we get told to 'just relax and enjoy it' ONE MORE TIME you will get a punch in the face!

We have a new Grad's Thread. We recently lost a whole load of ttc veterans to the good side and we're absolutely desperate to join in the fun! May 2017 lead us all to upduffed heaven and the Grad's thread, amen.

We don't have rules as such but expect to be talked down from the ledge with kind but firm words if you get too hysterical. But most importantly, don't convince yourself that you're pregnant in the tww. That is paramount!

Hop on board, post your stats and prepare to be dazzled by the wealth of TTC knowledge we long-timeys have to share...

Jam, that sounds like an excellent count! You've done everything you can this FW so I'm sending lots of PMA your way.

Binky, hope you feel better soon and you're not sickening for anything!

Sk1pper, I know the feeling re appointments. I feel like I'm having to plan my diary about what tests I need to have when. I've got whole days blocked out for when I think AF may arrive so I can book a scan.

Miranda, I think you're totally entitled to moan about it! Zika isn't nice at the best of times (one of my colleagues caught it in Mexico last year) but obviously you have to be extra careful. It's the kind of thing that also brings home how it can sometimes feel like life is totally on hold too.

Mouse, so glad the scan went well today. Must have been so exciting to see that heartbeat!!

Jam so happy to read your update! A count of 300m is a completely different ball game with those morph numbers. Plus good motility too. I take back my previous sorry negative comment and think you do have a chance at natural conception. Maybe try and get your hands on Clomid or something at your fertility appointment.

Yay Mouse that's fabulous news!!! I'm so pleased for you ❤️

Sorry about the BFN wine

Binky I'm dying! Hahaha. Tell me about it! And that bloody Stephanie Davies! Makes me so mad. Btw meds are still on route to me. Sorry you've been experiencing some annoying symptoms

Miranda better to be safe than sorry and hopefully you're upduffed well before October so you're too busy baby shopping to care!

kwick were you having a scan today lovely?

Kwick - the gynaecologist I saw also said the next step would be IVF not IUI. I wonder why that is...also, if all the results come back as normal - is it just the case that people like myself and Pyjamas have been really, really unlucky with the sperm meeting the egg?

Jam - it is frustrating, you're right! If there is one thing I've learnt whilst TTC its that not a lot is actually known about infertility, the fact that there is even this official term of "unexplained infertility" really boggles my mind. I'm glad you've been referred and you are on your way to sorting everything out. Try not to worry about the morphology of your DH's sperm, it's not going to change the result either way and you need to stay relaxed. I don't know why, but I just feel that you're going to conceive naturally - it's just taking its sweet time.

Miranda - sorry must have missed your post about AF

Mouse - I am so chuffed for you!! Incredible, aww if I could hug you I would.

Updated list, just posting AF dates so I don't swamp the thread - if anyone else would like to be added let me know:
Macsworth - 21 Jan
Peaches - 23 Jan
Passme - 24 Jan
Penguin - 26 Jan
Gimble - 27 Jan
Mrslz - 28 Jan
Winging - 30 Jan
Missy - 31 Jan
Gaelach - 31 Jan
Londonjam - 3 Feb
Star - 4 Feb
Tonks - 5 Feb
Mrsblue - 5 Feb
Kathrino - 7 Feb
Harriet - 8 Feb
Flash - 8 Feb
Geeup - 10 Feb
Binky - 10 Feb
Pyjamas - 11 Feb
Carleycolie - 11 Feb
Colourmylife - 12 Feb
Kaydee - 12 Feb
Sk1pper - 13 Feb
Pug - 14 Feb
Eva - 15 Feb
Hep - 16 Feb
Miranda - 17 Jan

Just to highlight the difference between men and women when it comes to TTC...

First thing I thought of this morning when I woke up at 6.30 was to POAS. Other half knows I was going to test today, 2pm in the afternoon and he still hasn't asked if I did, if it was positive etc. Don't think it's even crossed his mind!! Obviously he is interested and wants to have a baby as much as I do but it just goes to show how much more relaxed they can be about these things!

So sorry for your loss Gimble

Can anyone give me some advice on OPKs? I received my IC's today and this is my first test.

As the line is lighter than the control line I believe this is negative? I got all excited when the second line showed up, but I've since read that LH is always in your system, so some ladies may have a faint line all cycle?

I'm guessing I just need to continue POAS to get an idea of what's normal for me, and hopefully will see line get darker as LH increases?

Sorry I'm a bit of a newbie to all this still :)

CarleyColie

If the line is lighter than the control line it's a negative.. I have a slight issue with these as mine are always fairly dark. So not sure how reliable they are.

This is mine on CD 8 following a miscarriage so there's no way I'm ovulating yet!

I guess if you do them every day and then can see a pattern when the lines get darker or lighter.

Hope that helps!

Thank you Claire, damn, was thinking I was a natural at this TTC stuff when I got a line first time

Will continue using them with caution, trying to DTD every other day anyway as I'm not clued up on my cycle yet.

So sorry about your mc

So glad your scan went well mouse
*
Pass* never has a truer word been spoken, men are definitely from mars! I imagine it must be very different for them, as much as they want it, they don't feel every single tingle or pain.

CarleyColie

Yes I think doing the deed every other day is the most foolproof method until you know you're cycle. I'm doing the same while I try to figure out the OPK and temping. My partner isn't so upset about the situation 😂

Thank you. It was a very early miscarriage and I conceive the first time with it so at least I know I can conceive.

Good luck!!

This is moving super quick
kath I had the same my first month with the clearblue digital and started getting some days of "high" in the following months, makes no sense but maybe it does calibrate it against your peak or something?

mac probably a bit late in terms of yoga stuff, I love adrienne but I tried to get DH into it and he was having none of it, was a bit better with Rodney Yee as I think he liked having a man instructing, Ryan Giggs also did a yoga DVD for unflexible men I think.

pug great minds think alike, I'm also NHS, on slimming world, doing yoga with adrienne on and off and headspace slightly more often - not been very good at either recently but manaeged to lose the stone I put on with holiday and christmas! Oops!

sk1pper can I be added to the list, i'm slightly unsure of dates though - 2 different apps say either 7th feb or 29th Jan for period/testing. end of jan fits better with my peak OPK but feb with what my cycle has generally been doing - might be I have a silly ong luteal phase which would explain the lack of BFP as been a bit rubbish at LSFX through the month and seem to be focusing on predicted fertile week (only started back on OPK this month).

I'm feeling terribly sad and teary today. Just want to hide away from the world.

mouse I'm so pleased to hear your scan went well. Fantastic that you saw the heartbeat.

ema I didn't manage to do headspace or yoga yesterday. I originally lost 4 1/2 stone with slimming world 3-4 years ago. Unfortunately put 3 1/2 of that back on. Started back on the 4th, found out I was pregnant 2 days after restarting, lost 2.5lbs but then started to miscarry and so I've been off plan for about 10 days now. I had planned to get back on it today, but just can't get my head in the zone today.

On the bright side looks like a trip to Ikea tomorrow (bloody love the place) to buy some kallax cubes for our bedroom to store all the crap my DH has which is cluttering our spare/DSD's bedroom.

Awww Pug - I love ikea. I'm so jealous, I hardly go because OH hates the place.

pug I'm so sorry about your miscarriage, completely understandable you are struggling to get back in the zone. At least you know that when you are ready you can lose anything you may have gained while you do whatever you need to do to keep functioning.

I love ikea avoid going because I spend too much though. Keep planning to tidy and possibly try and go all konmarie that might need storage for sorting!

Pug sorry you're feeling low today

Sorry Pug - I got so excited about your ikea trip I forgot to say that I hope you feel better soon. You are such a strong and supportive lady, and when you wobble it really surprises me. But it's okay to be sad from time to time, I hope you get your sticky BFP soon, I know you will. You can PM me if you're ever feeling down, I don't have the best advice but I can at least try to reassure you as you've done for me in the past xx

Lots of for you pug.

Hey guys, just logging on from last day of holiday to say AF arrived 5 days early so I'm out again this cycle. But at least this one was 30 days so I'm finally getting back down to pre-pill cycle lengths after 11 months!

Sorry not had a chance to read any of the updates since we came away but hoping there is lots of shagging, chilling and fun being had x

jam I'd be very positive about those figures, as with such a high count the morphology percentage is far less significant. Need to get my dh on whatever yours is on ....Did you say he was on proxeed?

Winging,here's the list...

Daily supps:
Ubiquinol (coq10) - 400mg
Zinc - 30mg
Selenium - 200mcg
Omega 3 - 2000mg
Folic Acid - 400-800ug
Vitamin C - 500-1000mg
Multivitamin +iron - 1 a day

Antioxidant fruits are also very good for sperm and nuts like walnuts, almonds etc.

I found this link helpful: www.bubblesandbumps.com/how-to-improve-semen-quality-in-90-days-even-morphology/

Big hugs Pug always here if you need me xxx

Sorry about AF Inspector but good news on the cycle length. Hope it hasn't spoiled your holiday

Thanks alexia he's been on wellman conception for a bit so I'll see how the quantities compare and see what needs upping :-)

Evening all 🍷

Excellent list keeping skip thanks for getting us in order. You're right I do need to relax. I am going to make a conscious effort to let any sperm thought that pops into my head drift on through and away again.

Miranda that's so presumptive of your brother! Florida sounds fab on the upside, though

Glad everything is going well mouse what a relief for you

Alexia no need to apologise at all lovely, I was thinking exactly the same reason ivf and icsi. If it does come to that then at least these things exist also!

Pug sorry you're feeling sad lovely I think that's completely natural it's not that long. Be gentle and kind to yourself. I hope ikea lifts you tomorrow

Sorry about AF inspector , that is good news about your cycle though and I hope you had a good holiday

Winging DH is indeed on proxeed. He started taking it after this SA though. Very intrigued to see if it makes a difference. His next SA is next month so we shall see.

Spent today with an old friend having lunch and a big old chat. She took 22 months to conceive her little boy and nothing was wrong with either of them. He's 2 now and lovely, and she is 31 weeks with her second baby. That one took 8 months. It was really good to talk to someone who had been through it and could see it from the other side.

DH got called into work but we managed to DTD before he had to go, so we basically did it from Tuesday through to Saturday with the +OPK on Wednesday. I feel like that's hopefully given us a good chance, the rest is out of my hands!

Now for the good old TWW 😒 will be popping out for pineapple tomorrow - and I've got my big socks on!

That list is great Alexia. I have dh on wellman conception & i get mava powder in him through Ella's energy balls (the sugar free vegan recipes). My only battle is dh is a drinker (& cyclist which isnt helpful for making the swimmers hot).

I take coq10 as tbh ubiqionol was expensive. I know it is better though, do those of you that use it take it as ubiquinol?

• oops maca powder

💐 and hugs to you pug. Sometimes hiding away, having a cry and licking our wounds is exactly what's needed.

Jam that is some excellent dtd-ing - I so hope this is your month!

I take the ubiquinol form EJ as I want the biggest bang for my buck and as I'm no spring chicken (in ttc terms), it gets harder to absorb.

It was a bit of an emotional day for me - my dad called me (haven't seen him in 14 years, haven't spoken since March last year as he didn't even text me on our wedding day in April - long story). I gave him both barrels and told him exactly what had been building up over the years/months and although I feel much better now after getting it off my chest and getting an apology, it was emotionally draining, especially after yesterday.

alexia surprised by this list, remember seeing something saying women taking supplements other than folic acid is linked to miscarriage.