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...

Afternoon girls. Lots of people at the gp. Glad I made my appointment for Friday as the bleeding is more like a light period today, 13 days after the last one started! Crashed and burned this morning after a dream that all the bleeding was because I was having another ectopic.

Temp went up a tiny bit, but all the bleeding makes me think no ovulation this time. Just ready for any tests/investigations I can get to help figure out what's going on.

ron if you can wait until AF is due to test that's the dream, but often one is tempted to test sooner.
I don't test early anymore as v long term ttc unfortunately, and would rather see AF than BFN. It has crossed
my mind though that I could miss a CP - or chemical pregnancy, or very early miscarriage.

binky glad your GP was so nice and helpful. I hope in the meantime your cycles slowly shorten naturally

Glad your GP was helpful too kathrino, that's great he was happy to work alongside the private plans too

When you say position over quantity... do you mean DTD position? Or timing?!

harriet I think the highest change of success if you DTD -2 and -1 days before O. There was a graph someone
shared once showing the chance of conception by DTD proximity to O, if that makes sense. I'm not sure
what to google to find that...

alexia on it. PMA!

Jam, I meant position of the sperm (ie timing) rather than DTD position which, from what I've read, doesn't make that much difference. It was much more clearly expressed in my head!

Alexia, I think there's a market for a study on bowel movements and our cycles. I know hormones have a big impact on the former too.

There is a useful chart on timing intercourse on this site

yourfertility.org.au/for-women/timing-and-conception/

Thanks for all advice guys. I definitely had EWCM yesterday and today so maybe ov will be thurs after all.

Only safest course is to dtd every day I think!

Oops posted too soon. Meant to say that DH didn't want to know when FW was so as not to feel under pressure...think he might guess at this rate!

That is really interesting London. I'm still scratching my head as to when I actually conceived (if anyone fancies a riddle I can post some dates). Possibly looking at -3 or even -5!! Although I'm trying not to over think it since I'm also thinking bubs might be too small too. Urgh. This waiting is just so difficult.

harriet I think I would find it impossible to hide from my DH. We get so tired of it we just stop doing it during the TWW. I think I do focus too intensely on fertile week, but I'm not sure how to change that. We just don't naturally have sex 3 times per week, every week!

Do others continue DTD in the TWW? We just can't face it / have had enough. The official advice is to DTD every 2-3 days throughout cycle - but I fail to see how this makes a difference post ovulation?

mouse maybe you ovulated earlier than you think? When is your scan?

Jam, we continue in a very desultory manner so we might DTD at the weekend during the TWW but it won't even cross our minds during the week. I tend to go to bed before my DH and I don't think I could cope with the lack of sleep otherwise! I tend to think that kind of advice is skewed towards the majority (?) of women who are TTC (actively or not) but who are not bothering to OPK / temp etc and therefore have no idea of when they're ovulating. If, as most of us are, you're pretty sure you can pinpoint exactly when you're fertile, it doesn't really help.

Go for it harriet!

Mouse, thinking of you. When is your next scan?

God we're like you London. After so long we literally do it every other day (sometimes 2 days running) in fertile week. Then at weekends maybe in 2ww then nothing from when af starts to day 8ish. We tried a month or two of every other day throughout the cycle but neither of us fancy it that much and as you say it feels pointless forcing yourself to after you know you've ovulated. Too much sex makes it feel even less romantic when you have to in FW if you know what I mean?
I got babybombed badly from a bestie yesterday and it's her second since we started trying. Feeling very glum so cancelled everything until after our ivf appointment. Need to focus on us for a bit.
Hi to all. Sorry I've been quiet. Just got nothing to say really at the moment.

Kathrino brilliant! Really pleased your GP was on board with everything. Think there might be something in the BM thing. 4 cycles in a row for me now! It's great though as it's an early warning sign to get dtd!

Yes post your dates and things Mouse, I'm always intrigued by that kind of thing! Kmfxd for you xx

I couldn't hide FW from DH either. It'd be too difficult as I love to tell him every little detail and plan it out. Jam I'm going to post a pic of my last 2 charts. All the PM/AM is actual sex but the X is me keeping a note of DH wanking. It's very important for sperm quality that a man ejaculates every 2-3 days so DH is in board with this and does it before his shower as often as he can/wants to. I should add he's not that type of guy at all so it's his 'job'! We're good leading up to and during FW but it you look closely we didn't actually have sex between the 29th and 19th I just wasn't feeling it in the tww and then had the mc, but at least his balls were still working!

Sorry about the baby bomb Geeup, they're always so hard to take My best friend is NTNP and I'm sooo scared she'll fall pregnant with her third before I even have one! Focus on you and DH and do the things you enjoy. Hope your appointment is here very soon

I've tried to catch up, but I had to go really far back...sorry if the moment has passed. Sorry for anyone I've missed but things are feeling relatively positive on here right now -right?

Alexia - just seen your incredible amount of BDing. This is brilliant, though how are you not completely knackered yet! So nice to see you more active on the thread, I do miss you when you are not here xx

Kwick - how come you are still travelling so much? I thought you were meant to cutting this all back? Make sure you look after yourself and baby first and foremost, screw work. And that dream sounds horrid, obviously your subconcious is still worrying about your pregnancy but I'm sure you'll be feeling more confident soon.

Flash - can't you get an emergency appointment if you are worried? I'm glad you are seeing your GP though. Maybe bring up endometriosis because I believe that can cause you to bleed mid cycle. I know its a term that's thrown around a lot but that's because a lot of women do suffer from it in one form or the other.

Pug - Oh my gosh, your pugs are absolutely adorable! What are their names?

Peachy - congratulations, a positive is a positive no matter how early or late you test.

Binky - how old are you again? Yeah unfortunately they don't like to do anything until after a year, and even then they can sometimes get a bit funny. I know you're worrying about your long cycles but you are regular, which is the main thing. Do you ovulate later than normal or is your luteal phase longer?

Kath - glad your appointment went well too - seems like a good week for GPs right now!

Jam - my gynaecologist told me to continue DTD every other day in the 2ww but I can't face it either. I burn out after fertile week, especially ovulation is painful.

London, I doubt it as baby is measuring 5 weeks. (Well as of Saturday)

Here are my stats and dates.

LMP is 28th November until 3rd Dec (I was very light only spotting the last day)

DTD on CD 9,10 12 & 13

No positive OPK however I think I ovulated on CD16-18 due to EWCM and dating from the scan.

Baby measured 5 weeks on Saturday at 2mm. Sack was 10mm. By LMP I was 7+5 on Saturday.

I'm so confused as all my apps say baby should be huge in comparison. Urgh at the way they date.

I've attached my chart too. I stopped temping that cycle and stopped using OPK after CD16 as we "stopped trying" so I could get my MRI scan. I'm just so glad I tested on New Year's Eve as I did it just to clear my mind for the scan. Didn't think it was a possibility. I drank lots of coffee and took a scalding hot bath that week too.

Kath so glad you said that yes that's probably right. I know when I ovulate it's so obvious. 14 cycles of heartache cannot be due to poor timing by me!

Gee glad you feel same way re DTD too. Sorry about baby bomb ☹️ when do you start IVF?

Alexia I'm in awe of your graphs 😮 we are the same with ensuring regular ejaculation. This is one of DH's jobs when he's down route. It's one he actually complies with, unlike booze...

Skipper we are all trucking 👍🏼 how are you?

Mouse the sperm must have hung around!

Slight DH grumble. We have a whatsapp group with another couple we meet up with regularly. The girl has suggested a gin running event on 27 May - which is annoying in itself as she knows we are trying. DH has just replied saying "I'm up for that" without mentioning anything to me separately. Has he just given up? Assumed we still won't be pregnant in May? He's probably right but it still hurts. Ugh. I'm the only person who hasn't replied, and knowing this girl she will keep pushing it!

Wowee mental day at work and a lot to catch up on here!

I just did a cheapie OPK (pic below) which I reckon is positive, did the clearblue digi to confirm and low and behold, a static smiley! This always seems to happen - flashing smiley in the morning, then positive OPK and static smiley early evening. Which means we're looking at 4 days (inc last night) of dtd 😫😱😫😱😫😱😫😱😩 DH has suggested a glass of prosecco to help us along...

So glad to see DH and I aren't alone in the crap TWW dtd-ing!

Promise I'll catch up on everyone's news properly soon!

Thanks Alexia looks much like my progesterone applicator.

Great progress with your GP kathrino

flash I hate bad dreams

mouselove I am right there with you: last week when I had the scan if I had conceived on day of IUI and likely ovulation (which I triggered) then I would have been 6 weeks but I guess the hope is that I was less than that and that is why they could not find a heartbeat or yolk... how long can an egg survive once released from follicle.
I am not sure I want to have the scan on Thursday... do not think I can handle bad news.

I am very jealous of all this DTD talk... so long since I had any chukka-chukka

geeup sorry about being baby bombed. I think you are right to focus on yourselves - IVF is very intense and emotional.
TBH I have always been a bit iof a hermit but since TTC I have really narrowed who I interact with outside of work - except on MN of course!

at least his balls were still working hilarious Alexia!!!!!

jam what the hell is a gin running event????? Yep I would be livid!!

pyjamas for me that is a positive: get on it like a car bonnet!!!

sk1pper I am taking it easy compared to my normal travel schedule - just two more day trips and then a break for a few weeks.

I have been lurking on the grads thread... our miw had a miscarriage my heart goes out to her.

Kwick, its right at the end of the 5th week or within the 6th week that the heart starts beating. Which is why I think I'm measuring smaller than I should. Some ladies on the sept thread have like 12mm babies and due after my LMP!! I'm sure Thursday will be fine, they grow sooooo fast it's bonkers.

I'm so gutted about mewi, absolutely gutted.

Well that's just killed me. My younger brother has just told me his GF is having an abortion tomorrow, literally right after I just told him about my mc. Fuck fuck fuck I'm a mess.

Oh poor miw, how devastating.

Sorry Alexia, didn't see your post. You must be absolutely gutted, I'm so sorry

Oh *Alexia.
*
What an awful thing to hear. So sorry to hear that.

Different level but two cousins announced their pregnancies this week. I had to announce I lost my baby.

Life is crap sometimes. Chin up!

Oh no miw I'm so so very sorry to hear that, my heart goes out to her ☹️💐

Alexia that's horrible timing , how insensitive ☹️

Kwick - god knows! But I'm not doing it 😬 so hopeful for Thursday for you lady, there is so much positivity for this scan from us all.