Over 40 TTC - lots of baby dust for us...2!

[Hobbes39]

New thread as last one filling up - will try to link to this in old one...!

Thank you ladies! Was just saying to DH how chilled I am this time around. Haven't even thought about this morning and no ifs in my head about the next couple of days. As cool as a cucumber

Fab news @Russkispy xx

Good luck Russkispy! Yes Cleo, we definitely should be in line for a positive. My cp was over a year before mc so maybe thats my average...3rd times a charm.
I tut a bit at the 40plusers dreading becoming pregnant...if only it were that easy. However my friend and I had a giggle when talking about cycles. She tracks hers to prevent the outcome I'm tracking mine for! What a luxury that must be...that and actually being free to dtd for fun/love/intimacy rather than because a digitalised grinning fecker indicates that its go time!

Hey ladies hope all is well! Have just caught up on thread as I’ve been awol for a bit. Fab news @hobbes39 glad all ok.

@Ruskispy I’m in heartfordshire but work in London would love to meet up with you all. My sister did the same and all of them had babies or got BFPs and then met again after, it was fab seeing them all on their journeys!

I’ve been a bit quiet as I have been having a mare of it emotionally with my stims this time. After my cancelled cycle last month and then the bfn I just didn’t really think I would be going ahead so soon again. But base scan and bloods were good so started stims on Sunday. Had another scan yesterday and have 6 follicles all way bigger than last time with 3 between 10mm and 13 already after only 4 days of stims! Another scan booked for Monday but looks like they want to go ahead this time even if I only have a couple of follicles at the end, given I’m a poor responder. They say my lining is fab and bloods couldnt be better, it’s just getting the pesky eggs! I’m a bit dubious at going to egg collections with very few follicles but will know more Monday and Wednesday. Looks like EC will be next Friday or the following Monday for me!!

Evening everyone.
Congrats to Hobbes, Megan and Karigan. Wonderful news all round.

Booseys - I feel for you. I can tell by what you say how much you want a sibling for DS. Would you ever consider adopting? Big hugs to you.

Rose - pm me and I’ll post the RJ and the rest if you want it but I’d definitely do a bit of research on them if I were you.

Cleo - my GP basically said it’s my age and stress. Day 43 and nothing happening.

Minime - your comment about the grinning face made me lol. It is ridiculous if yuh really think about it! Sorry AF arrived.

Eloisa - I’m so over obsessing about supplements now. I’m just trying to relax and enjoy life. I’ve got to the point where I feel I’ve done everything I possibly can and it’s done me no good. So I’m trying to relax and de-stress. How are things with you?

Chat - are you sure you’re out this month?

Btw I’m in Scotland so as much as I’d love to meet up it’d be tricky. Do let me know though. Perhaps my DH would let me escape for the weekend:)

Hi ladies, I'm actually in London and would love to meet up. Do say if, where and when, if it's possible with everyone else.

Not much hapoening with me. My cycles are still long now 35 days but at least i can kind of predict ovulation. Still got weird spotting going on for days and days after proper period bleed has finished, my acupuncturist thinks it's stress related and my GP thinks my cycle length is within ths norm, but i just can't help wondering why it's changed like this and so suddenly.

Good luck everyone starting ivf cycles and those at the beginning of a new one. I hope it happens soon for everyone xx

@Snowie3. Hi I had stress related spotting once. I took magnesium for it and it calmed it right down. I just got these bone strengthening supplements from boots that have magnesium and calcium in it

Snowie - once I started getting the after period spotting it never stopped, it's just part of my cycle now. Some momths it goes on for longer than others, but there is always some. Do you find it can be a bit stop/start? You think it's gone then it comes back?

Mimosa - day 43? Urgh, that must be so frustrating! Are you still keeping an eye out for ov symptoms? As your long cycles do usually result in ov eventually don't they? Are you getting the shitty symptoms?

Reality - sounds much more promising this time, fingers crossed!

Cleo - yes and yes. In the last year I’ve had 3 of these cycles (this is the 4th) and they’ve all ended up with ovulation then a normal luteal phase. This one I can’t say yet but I goddam hope so. I’m looking out for signs of ovulation everyday but nothing. I’m getting the usual horrid dry symptoms but the hot flashes aren’t as bad. More like a gentle heat when I go indoors or get into bed. I’m also feeling the cold more. So it’s almost like my body can’t control my temperature as well as usual. My TCM guy seems a bit confused to be honest. He’s lovely but I’m not sure he knows what to say. He treats me as he knows best but he can’t give me any answers. My best guess now is stress. Apparently it can shut off your reproductive system if it’s bad enough. The HPA axis or something. Sigh.

Snowie - I get that too some cycles. No idea why but it seems we all get it! Stress probably again! We’re all under a lot of stress in everyday life and with TTC/ the longing for a baby it’s off the scale. Your acupuncturist is probably right.

Just found this online. It’s just one of many many articles about stress and hormones.
“Stress can cause just about anything. Emotional stress (depression, anxiety, worry, insomnia) and physical stress (weight loss or gain, illness,poor diet) can both affect your menstrual cycle. Hormones such as estrogen and progesterone are necessary for normal menstrual cycles to take place. Stressors cause an increase in another hormone called cortisol (secreted from the adrenal gland which sits on top of your kidney), which diminishes the release of estrogen and progesterone. The result can be spotting, and late or lighter periods. Menstrual spotting can be caused by various factors, and if this is an ongoing issue, you should contact your health care provider.“

Cleo, yes the spotting appears to stop amd start. I wouldnt mind too much but ovulation around day 20 is horrible as its so late and adds an extra week to my cycle. Tbh though i never tracked my cycle until i started ttc and so don't know if things like this have happened before.

I can add that this has been the most stressful time since ive returned to work after having my son and my employer increased my work load to cover for a maternity leave. That with only 4 hours sleep looking after my baby has been killing me. That coupled with this whole ttc journey has made me so stressed and have been getting sick. So it could be that..

Karigan - thanks for the advice regarding the magnesium, i am going to order some!

Mimosa, I'm not sure if i am right but did you say that you had one ovary? Sorry if im mistaken, its just that i was reading about the journalist Kate Silverton who lost an ovary when she was younger and then went on to have 2 children, one at 43. I found it an interesting story.

Snowie - yes I only have one. I had my 2DC no problem but was in my mid thirties then. It sounds like you are extremely stressed! Just one of those factors would be stressful but all of them my god. Us women put up with some sh*t don’t we. It’s no wonder our cycles are going squiffy. Especially at our age, we have accumulated a lifetime of issues & stress. Most women in their 40s are juggling young kids, aging parents, responsible jobs and running the home. And that’s before you factor in trying to have friendships and a bit of a social life/me time!!! If you Google ‘stress and periods’ it’s eye opening.

Here’s the link to Kate Silvertons story. I just read it and it’s v inspiring:) She had rounds of IVF, one ovary and fell naturally at 41 & 43.
www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2680854/amp/Im-43-year-old-women-one-ovary-eggs-The-odds-stacked-against-A-delighted-Kate-Silverton-introduces-miracle-baby-son.html

4 fertilised out of 9. Such a better outcome from our first round in December. And praying here they will all make to blast. ET is on Wednesday and the rest to freeze. Needing all the hope and luck in the world right now!

All the good thoughts and baby dust your way @russkispy!!!!!!!

Great news Russ! Come on little embryos💪🏼

Best of luck to you russkispy!! Sounds very promising.

Interesting about the stress thing. I am under no stress currently, aside from the ttc malarky, however when my periods first started going squiffy when I was 39, I was epicly stressed, I had passed my driving test and was trying desperately to keep up the driving and to make it work for me, but I found it intensely stressful to the point of not sleeping and thinking and worrying about it 24/7. I've only recently connected the two things, but after hearing about the stress & periods issue, it must be what caused it all to go wrong for me. Interesting.

@Russkispy.. Such great news! Sending you best wishes for the next step xx

@littlemimosa.. thanks for your msg. We can't adopt sadly as we have a 2 bed house and cannot move to a 3 bed. DH has been made medically redundant from his job so we're stuck. We just have to think well we have a house now at last and a beautiful son so we are grateful

Fingers crossed @Russkispy

AF arrived today so that's that. Silver lining is that it was a 28 day cycle for the second month so hopefully the erratic cycles towards the end of last year were just down to stress.

Can't try next month as I'm away (argh) so will just focus on sorting out my diet etc

42 seems to be drawing closer and closer

Xx

Hello all.

My AF arrived yesterday on cycle 4 of ttc. Frustrating knowing time is ticking.

Neither myself nor my then partner smoked when my 2 were conceived. Jomg story but I've lapsed back after 12 years off. I know i need to stop and at 41 I really can't afford on many levels to be having the odd fag. Add to that too much caffeine and a healthy though not perfect diet.

I'm thinking of getting the Zita West book - would anyone recommend ?

Hi barnburntdown.. sorry AF has arrived. Mine is due tomorrow and I'm feeling ratty and over tired. I wake up too early and can't get back to sleep and I can't stop worrying about anything and everything! I managed to knock the smoking on the head about 10 years ago but know if I went out drinking I'd prob relapse. I onky have a half glass wine am every night except for 1 or 2. Depends how shit I'm feeling! I find it helps with pmt which I have 2 wks of every cycle. As for caffeine..I've tried to cut down but love a proper coffee in the mornings then have about 3 cups of tea the last being at 3pm. How about you? I have palpitations and racing heart rate. I can even see my heart thumping thru my clothes! Had it tested and they said cut out caffeine but I can have no caffeine all day and still get it.. I think it's hormone related as is worse before AF and mid cycle.
Sorry after all that I'm prob not much help as I haven't read Zita West!

3 are still growing and 1 is out of the game, just been told. Still praying 🙏🏻 3 will make to blast 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Hi Everyone haven't thought as much about getting pregnant this month been too preoccupied with wedding plans we got engaged 3 weeks ago.

My period in Jan was 12th then in Feb 8th so I thought my cycle was 25 days? The period in Feb was longer than usual 7 days so trying to work out days but pretty sure I'm late, I might test tomorrow when I haven't got the kids.

Am I right is that a 25 day cycle never been very good at working it out been using an app and if it's 25 days days should have come on on 5th.

We had a faint positive in the summer and feel every time I think I'm pregnant I'm putting him through an emotional mill he doesn't have kids and would be very happy.

M

@Marty77 Congratulations on your engagement! I make it 27 days from Jan 12 until Feb 7. So assuming another 27 day cycle, your AF should have been due March 7 (last Thursday). So it looks like you are 3 days late. I might be wrong though.