40+ ttc: bring on the bfp's!

[ababsurdum]

Continuation of the long-running 40+ ttc thread.

Link to the previous thread.

Yay, exciting Violet! Fingers crossed and keep us posted.

Congrats Violet... Great news!! Looks like you're getting reward for stamina as I think you said went for it ED 9-13?

Welcome Leannie... Good tohave you here ;-)

Hi Leannie, I recognise you from PMA. Welcome and good luck!

Hello leonie, and welcome. I've found the info from these threads really helpful!

Thanks, we aren't really taking it seriously till next Friday which will be 30 days. I'm just going to start taking some extra thyroxine next week. If af comes it won't really matter and I'll just stop.

It wasn't raised it quickly enough in my first pregnancy which led to a few issues.

I don't think I even knew about chemical pregnancies in my first pregnancy!

I am surprised it was only 9 dpo though. And I'm feeling pregnant. Bloated-farting-sicky-need-to-keep-eating state has started already!

leannie sorry!

Hi Violet. I'm hypothyroidism too, and have a hx of anaemia. Adv Dr I'm TTC and had FBC, thyroid and bvit screen last week. Currently waiting on results. I'm aware re thyroid issues and preg, but didn't know t4 needed to be increase when preg. I'm really glad I read your post!

Welcome Leannie, I just joined this thread myself. It's actually quite nice to know that there are quite a few others in their 40s that are ttc. Felt ancient on the other threads...

Violet: congrats! Very inspiring, I hope this is a trend

Clara, thanks for sharing, it's comforting to hear that things can work out after a loss.

Ali, re B6: what dose do you take? Did you feel it helped for you lp length?

Sorry- im not illiterate! my autorrect hates me! Should read I am hypothyroid. And increased.

Hi Patient, I had a 13/14 day LP when I started taking B6 and it wasn't the reason I started taking it. I just read it was good for fertility. But since I started taking it, my LP has increased to 14/15 days (not including last month which was 18 days but I think due to a CP).

I take 50mg daily and there is some in Pregnacare too.

Hi leannie, tsh needs to be below 2 or 2.5 (can't remember) but best really around or just below 1 of ttc.

The recommendation is to raise by 25 on bfp and then test again before 12 weeks (8-10) and adjust. (I'm not sure if on confirmation from gp or at home; last time I didn't get that till nearly 7 weeks so I'm raising sooner)

I raised three times before 12 weeks last time but still was tsh 13 at 12 weeks (there was an issue with the brand though which is fine now and sipppsedly better regulated.) Unfortunately I was then raised again on hospital thyroxine at scan (to 225) and went too high. Most people go up by 30-50% by end of first trimester (Nice guidelines) and then slowly drop in last trimester or there abouts, which is when baby develops own thyroid. The first trimester is the main issue.

My son is absolutely fine though, I wasn't great from 12-17 weeks till levels had corrected.

Actually, leannie, I'm glad I checked - the nice guidelines seem to have changed for hypothyroidism last year:

There's been an awful loophole whereby gps and midwives didn't know about raising thyroxine and it was only done by obs at first scan, when it was rather late.

It seems to say refer to endo in this (my brain is scrambled!) which would be much better (?).

https://cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroidism#!scenario:3

However, this is the basic advice:
http://www.btf-thyroid.org/projects/pregnancy (info section).

(So sorry to hijack thread but this has changed hugely since I had my son - for the better!)

Please note:
• Women with known thyroid dysfunction who are taking levothyroxine may need the dose increased by 30–50% from as early as 4–6 weeks gestation De Groot et al, 2012].

Violet, I'm extremely grateful to you for taking the time to research and pass that on. I'll certainly be doing some reading myself. I tend to have to visit my Dr armed with information, rather than trust that he'll inform me of anything new or significant.

Thank you very, very much!

No problem leannie, there's woefully little knowledge about this and there really should be!

I'm trying to work out how much extra to take. My calculations make it and extra 50 daily for 40%.

It's just a bit worrying to know whether to do it now or not!

A question for anyone else: my son was low birthweight and my DH Remembers being told to take aspirin in the first trimester; someone else said from conception?

Ali are you on aspirin by any chance?

I've asked** in a local mums group and a mw said if be best contacting the unit at the hospital to tell the gp to prescribe. Last time I asked a gp she said it would be at 12 wk scan.

It's starting to sound like I should have been on it already?

Hi Violet,

I take a daily baby aspirin and I understand it's safe to do so until the end of the first trimester.

I think it's to increase blood flow to uterus during conception/implantation and prevents clots during pg.

But worth double-checking.

Congrats Pingus and Violet 😊
I'm in the third month of ttc since my cycle became regular again after coming off the pill. At 48 (almost 49) I know I don't stand much chance, but any chance is better than no chance 😊
The last 2 months I've been using the ovulation calculator app, but have this month also used strips to confirm raise in LH. According to the app I should be ovulating tomorrow, but I had a line on a LH test the day before yesterday but it was a negative result, then yesterday I tested and had a line the same colour/slightly darker than the test line. Today there is no line other than the test line. My temperature has also gone up slightly the last couple of mornings compared to normal, so fingers crossed these signs are all good.
I never bothered with temp or tests for raise in LH when I was ttc my three grown children, but then my age was in my favour... my youngest turned 20 last week.
Good luck everyone

Hi Jelly that sounds promising. I discovered this time it's best to test in the afternoon for opks - or do 3 a day around your fertile period to catch it. I caught it this time using that method.

Used (and paid for) fertility friend this time too, which I've found very helpful. Before that I used my days (free) to track. I've found ewcm monitoring helpful too.

I took evening primrose this month till ov - definitely improved ewcm!

Thanks Alibaba. Is that from your own research or were you advised to?

Hi Violet, I have only seen one fertility specialist - he agreed with taking daily baby aspirin for 40+ ttc. My friend is pg and her OH is a GP. She took it for ttc and the first trimester. She's 39. I can ask her if you like? She actually had a clot but I think it's gone now - but she was taking aspirin before she knew about the clot.

I don't think it's essential but I also think such a small dose can't do any harm.

I'm mainly taking mine to increase chance of conception/implantation rather than for pg.

How are you feeling now?

Out of interest, you said you dtd every cd from 9-13. Which cd did you get your positive opk?

Jelly, it sounds like you've ovulated to me.

Violet, just a few things I've read on baby aspirin:

www.livestrong.com/article/521880-can-taking-baby-aspirin-help-with-a-pregnancy/

www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Asprin/

Hi ladies and welcome Jelly! Will have a read of these links Ali. I'm in that annoying TWW bit when I keep wondering if I might be this month but know age is against me so don't want to get hopes up (again!)...

How many dpo are you Clara? Are you getting any symptoms?

Totally understand how you feel.

Hi all, I'm new to this site.
I am 41 and already have 3 grown up children who have left home. (Mad I know) 🤔
I came off the pill last month. I had a AF on the 14th Feb so guessed i would be OV on the 28th Feb. Next AF due 14th march so a long wait to go 😬
I do worry with being 41 that it might not happen at all

Thanks Ali, I'm cd26 now and ovulated somewhere between 12 and 14 so I guess around 13dpo. Symptom possible metallic taste but most probably my wishful imagination..!! Not sure if temps are going down so will see nxt few days I guess. Hope everyone ok!