Staying Sane - Positivity during TTC journey

[KnitKitty]

Hi ladies,

So, TTC is an anxious and sometimes heartbreaking time and is just a constant roller-coaster of emotions:
Some of us have been trying for a long, long time and just feeling like it will never happen.
Some of us are trying after a previous pregnancy loss.
Some of us aren't seeing eye-to-eye with OHs.
Some of us don't have an OH to lean on and are going through it alone.
Some of us are trying with fertility treatment.
Some of us are trying for our first, and some our fourth
Some of us want to be trying but can't yet for one reason or another.
Some of us are dealing with health issues which may affect fertility or mental health.
And some of us are about to, or have just started trying and might be worrying about how long it will take or if this or that will effect fertility etc etc...

It's just not the funnest journey to be on and I thought we could do with a thread just for positive messages and thoughts.

SO, no negative messages on this thread, but feel free to post:
A positive mantra or affirmation you use or think someone else could use
An idea of how to relax or pass the TTW time
A nice thing that happened to you recently
A success story despite the odds
A picture or word of hope (rainbow pictures most welcome)
A positive message to those who are going through one of the above scenarios at the moment even if you're not on the same journey as they are right now
A nice/positive quote you've read or heard
Or something which brightened up your day

The idea is that anyone having a wobble for whatever reason can come here and soak up some positive energy to help them feel better.

I'll go first:
A mantra I have been repeating to myself at the moment is "Good things happen to me. I accept miracles in my life."

A word of hope for anyone thinking of coming off the pill or who has just come off the pill and who has a history of endometriosis; I have suffered with endo in the past and was very worried that the moment I stopped taking the pill I would get all clogged up with endo again, but I conceived in the second month after coming off the pill and I have a colleague whose wife conceived two children (one the first month after coming off the pill, the second the third month after the pill) without a problem even though she has endo too.

Right, who's with me? Any more positive stuff to share anyone?

Hello sunshine ladies. The doctor saw what she thinks is a gestational sack in my uterus, but as I'm only at 4 weeks it was too small for her to be sure. So I had blood tests today, and I have more on Wednesday. I'll hopefully find out on Thursday whether my HCG levels are going in the right direction.

So, positive affirmations all the way. My baby is loved, my baby is safe, my baby is in the right place.

I like yours too @TedLife.

@Frazzlerock, if you knew for definite you were less than 7dpo, you'd be ok as there's no blood supply, but if not... at this early, but after 7dpo you're likely to damage the foetus but the risk of miscarriage increases if you're drinking. But it has to be your call!

Hi again,

God, I was rambling on about my bloody 2WW and whether or not to drink alcohol and now I've read though the last five pages since I last posted and loads has happened!

I shall start from the top

@CookieWaffle What did you buy at Ikea? I've not been there for ages. I'm waiting for my BFP so I have an excuse to go!
BTW, I had Applejack My Little Pony! I wish I kept it, they look totally different now. Bloody ugly looking things!

@ChaosMoon WOW! WOW! WOW! Just WOW! I'm so pleased for you, and I love your quote back on 21st July "Not all storms come to disrupt your life. Some come to clear your path." I'd never have believed this during my two year hell, but now I have hope on the horizon I love it. How are you feeling? Has it sunk in yet? Sorry to hear about the scare, it's such a worrying time isn't it.
BTW, what gig did you go to? Anyone we'd know? I love live music.
Also, the sore boob thing.. I do that regularly during my supposed 2WW but I poke them to see if they hurt, then they hurt because I've poked them

@KnitKitty Can you remember that YouTube video you saw? (Pregnancy after MC) Could you share a link if so? How's the beautiful pupster? Do you have any photos to share? I'd have a house of pets if I could. We have three cats and a crested gecko, plus a tank waiting to be filled with an axolotl when we can finally get hold of one. If you don't know what they are, google them - they are so cute. Great news on the prospect of a promotion! And yes, it is so good to have that feedback whatever happens
Your 'pep-talk' is awesome BTW, I think I need to have that tattooed to the insides of my eyelids!

@VenusStarr How is the new bed? New carpets too! My friend has gorgeous carpets, they are sooo soft. I need to find out where she got them. We have the carpet the house came with but it could do with renewing as the cats have scratched them to buggery.
How was the wedding?

@Angelmiracle I am googling kinesiologists near me now! How are you feeling and when is your booking in appointment?

@TedLife hello, welcome to this lovely thread
I struggle a lot with seeing other ladie's BFPs on boards. It's not that i'm not glad for them but i feel so sad that it's not me, and wondering why it's not me. But I haven't lived their life or been through everything they have so I need to stop thinking about positive pregnancy tests as a limited quota that are given out to everyone else and I get missed. I will try to be better at this.
Yes! I totally relate to this. It is probably why I stay away quite a bit. I was so much worse after my MC's in the two years DP put the baby ban on. I was horrid, and couldn't bear to discover new pregnancies that weren't mine. I never want to go there again. I'm so much better since the baby ban has been lifted, friends and family have even noticed the difference in my well being and commented on how much happier I seem. I still struggle with other BFPs but I know that one day there is a chance for me too.
How was your fertility massage? What does that entail?

@chanel05 good luck on your new cycle!

Question:
Do you have to have EWCM to ovulate? Mine is nearly always creamy if not sticky and dry. In all my years of tracking ovulation, I have never had EWCM, but there is a chance I have missed it and I have been pregnant four times so... But now I am manically looking for it every day.

I've decided to wait until CD50 before I even contemplate testing.
I've been taking Inositol powder for a couple of weeks now and also using Conceive Plus the past week. My app has pushed my ovulation day back 2 days, no idea why. I'm now on CD26, PCOS is SO BORING!!
However, I think I am getting the metallic taste I seem to get a couple of weeks before AF. This is a relatively new thing that my PCOS tries to fool me with, but I am onto it. I won't fall for that trick again! Metal mouth now used to = pregnancy. It now means AF is on it's merry way. I still have no idea if I have ovulated. My cycles are a bit of a joke really!

@ChaosMoon I had no idea about that! It is risky for me as I will never really know when or if I have ovulated yet.
DP and I are having a 'date night' tonight as my boys are with their father until tomorrow. DP suggested we get a cab to the restaurant so we can both drink, he is very adamant we carry on as normal and if it happens it happens so I don't want to say "I'm scared to sabotage a possible pregnancy" but I also don't want to put my life on hold which is exactly what he wants to avoid.
God this TTC (or not TTC but TTC...) malarky is so hard

@Frazzlerock I adore your amazing 5 day catch up! It's a really difficult decision to make. I've definitely had a drink or two in the 2ww, and I personally agree that life needs to carry on while you're trying. I just go a bit easier than I might do otherwise. It's probably still worth getting that taxi!

I can't remember (and I'm sorry but I'm lazier than you) did you say that you do temping or OPKs?

Wow so much to catch up on since yesterday morning!!

Firstly, ChoasMoon Huge hugs! Well done for being so brave and thinking of the positive at a difficult time.
Bleeding in early pregnancy is actually very common. Some women bleed every month right the way through pregnancy at the time their period would normally be. Sometimes your cervix can bleed too, with the hormone changes it can be very sensitive. I bled very early on in pregnancy (before I even knew I was pregnant and then a bit after I found out) and one of the nurses at the EPU said a lot of the time it's just unexplained bleeding but there's a theory that sometimes you've created such a thick healthy lining that you're over-fertile and some of it needs to shed. So lots could be going on right now! I have absolutely everything crossed for you that the HCG keeps rising by Thursday. xxx

TedLife Just hoiking up my positive pants! Thank you for that! haha!
I think I'm going to use your affirmation this week. I needed to read that.

Frazzelrock They say drink until it's pink.
I've come to the conclusion that there's no point putting life on hold for "what ifs", it just makes life duller and we need to be enjoying life to be at our most relaxed and happy when TTC. PLENTY of women have fallen pregnant and kept drinking before they found out and have perfectly healthy babies. In the first month your baby gets its nutrients directly from the yolk sac too, not from mamma's blood supply. I would say, don't over-do it, but do enjoy yourself. A glass or two here and there should be fine.

I've found that my body is a lot different in terms of TTW symptoms after MC. Weird and I've no idea why, but it's a common phenomenon.

So today's word is FOCUS. I know we all struggle to stay positive sometimes; I for one have been struggling a little more than usual this week. I wouldn't expect any of us never to have bad days, or to find it easy to be positive all the time, but we need to focus our attention on the small positives in our day even when the negative is shouting a little louder so we can find the path back to a happier feeling more easily. I've posted a couple of pictures of my quotes for the day on this theme.

You guys have been a brilliant help with grounding me today. I've been spiralling a bit, but reading through these messages and looking for a positive quote to post for you has made me feel so much better again. Thank you sunshine ladies!

About to pass out on a long day but glad no bad news today @ChaosMoon. Will be thinking of you and tiny bean over the next few days xx

Thank you @CookieWaffle @KnitKitty.

I'm so glad you're feeling a bit better KnitKitty. You're right, everyone has bad days, but this thread is such a help when we do! I always feel like I have to find a positive, or at least something I want to try, before I post. But, as you say, it's such a help to go through the process of finding that affirmation, or working out what I want to do. And in the meantime, I can read all the other positivity and borrow that!

Love that idea of focusing on the good. I may borrow that today.

Hi all, struggling today, cycle day 1. I was so full of hope this month that it's hit me really hard. Going to step away for a few days to give myself some time out. Don't want to bring the thread down, feeling really quite sad and upset xxx

@VenusStarr i'm so sorry you're feeling so down. It's perfectly fine to take a break if you feel you need to but equally if you need some positivity we'll still be here. Sending you these affirmations today. Take care of yourself xx

@VenusStarr many hugs to you. Take all the time you need xx

Using this lovely thread to try and keep me positive today. I feel very non-pregnant and a bit ill today. I will probably definitely still cave in and test tomorrow but I'm not expecting anything.

More big hugs from me @VenusStarr. I read a lovely wrote the other day "perhaps poor eyes needs to bee waged with tears once in a while, so we can see life written a clearer view again". Take all the time you need and remember that you're wonderful. This new cycle could be the one you've been waiting for.

And hugs for you too @CookieWaffle. Seems grossly unfair to get ill in your 2ww! Symptoms can be so misleading though, don't lose hope.
Another lovely quote I found - "an optimist is someone who figures taking a step backwards after taking a step forward is not a disaster. It's more like a cha-cha."

Oh dear. That should have said "perhaps our eyes needs to be washed with tears once in a while, so we can see life written a clearer view again"

What I said made no sense!

Thank you @ChaosMoon :) When will you hear about the blood test results? xx

Thursday. Which basically means I'm still symptom spotting until then. If I feel worse, it must be due to increasing hormones right? So I'm currently very excited about feeling sick. 😁

Hugs VenusStar. If you're not feeling positive to join in, don't worry, but keep reading the messages on here, they might make you feel better. Oh the other hand if you just need to step away from MN completely for a while, I totally get that. xxx

CookieWaffle I hope that if you get a BFN tomorrow you feel ok about it, and if you get a BFP please let us know so we can celebrate with you. xxx

ChaosMoon I LOVE both of those quotes, thank you so much for sharing. I think we're all cha-chaing through life at the moment, aren't we?
Remember that symptoms can come and go this early in pregnancy, so don't panic if you have a good day (as odd as that sounds). I know how you feel though. I didn't get any sickness with my pregnancy and now find myself hoping for morning sickness with my next pregnancy. But it's worth noting that every pregnancy is different. Some women sail through with hardly any symptoms what-so-ever (one of my best friends was one of these fortunate people) and she has a lovely little baba now.

I think I'm making my way back to being more positive again after a while feeling down in the dumps. I don't know if hormones have been playing a part, but I'm starting to feel more on an even keel and more upbeat and ready to look for those silver linings and positive moments.

Hope you've all had a good day, or have been able to appreciate the good in your day if it's not been the best!

@KnitKitty glad you liked them despite me managing to get the tears one wrong twice! Stupid predictive text 😂 Rationally I know you're right, but it is nice to be reminded from time to time. And I already know what you mean about panicking about a good day! (Or hour, anyway 😊)

I'm very glad you're starting to feel more positive. I've said it before but it's so unfair that we get this influx of hormones just as we're at our most vulnerable.

How's it gone this morning @CookieWaffle? Did you test?

I hope everyone else is ok.

Off to the hospital later for blood test number 2, so I've just done Yoga with Adriene, Head and Heart Reset. Such a positive way to start the day.

Hey ladies. Well I did it. And now I'm a little scared. It's faint again, just like last month. And now cramps have started. Not sure what to make of it just yet

Oh wow! A faint second line, I take it?p @CookieWaffle I completely get why you're feeling scared. It's understandable, its natural. But take a deep breath and remember, just because it went wrong once, does not mean it's going to go wrong again.

Of all the positive mantras we've talked about over the last few months, of all the things have that have made you happy, which is the one you liked the most? Hold on to that today.

Will go to your GP today?

Big hugs. Xxx

Yep it's a little very faint second line @ChaosMoon :)

FF predicted AF today but I suspect it's a couple days out. I'm going to keep an eye on things til the weekend and hopefully them I'll know for sure what's going on.

I am going to 'choose to be happy' today and not let this panic me out. I am going to smile and appreciate my colleagues (even the annoying ones) and have a nice day :)

Hurray for second lines, however faint! And hurray for choosing happiness! Well done @CookieWaffle xx

Just had a voicemail from the hospital - my hormone levels are rising normally, thank goodness! They want to scan again in 2 weeks but it sounds like that's just to be on the safe side. 😊

Happy hump day everybody. Hope you're all ok. Xxx

@ChaosMoon congratulations that sounds amazing!! Fx for you that levels keep on the rise 🤞💕

@Frazzlerock thank you for asking I'm doing good nausea has ramped up this week all good signs! I have booking in appointment and dating scan on 4th Sept. All still a waiting process will be excited to see something wriggling about in here 😊

You ladies are doing such a good job fulfilling the aim of this thread and the positive support is amazing 💕💐

"I Affirm that my Womb is Ready to Carry my Baby"

CookieWaffle how faint is faint and what pregnancy test are you using? FRER pick up really small amounts of HCG and some women have naturally small traces of it so sometimes a very faint line can show on theirs. I've decided to only use less sensitive tests from now on not to get my hopes up after my CP a couple of months ago.
I really hope this faint line gets darker!!! Cramping is normal for pregnancy too, so could be a good sign...

ChaosMoon that's FANTASTIC news!!! :D I think it's reassuring that you're having another early scan. Nothing for you to do now except rest, drink lots of water and think lots of positive thoughts!!!

I've had a good day today. Nothing special, just a good day.

"Keep choosing happiness daily and happiness will keep choosing you back." Fawn Weaver.

Ahh @ChaosMoon I'm so happy for you! xx

Hi ladies I’ve been lurking for a few days reading comments but have been trying not to comment to stop myself stressing as much this cycle. AF is easing off so will be back on the opks next week. I get married in two weeks so hoping for a honeymoon /wedding baby 😂.

@CookieWaffle fx for you!

@ChaosMoon glad to see that things are on the up :).