Trying to conceive first child with PCO/PCOS or irregular long cycles

[Catconfusion]

Hi there,

I'm currently on my 3rd cycle ttc my first child and I suffer with irregular cycles due to PCO. I conceived first cycle but it was a missed miscarriage at 10 weeks. My second cycle was a chemical pregnancy. I'm now on my 3rd and it's day 34 with no ovulation yet. I'm using Ovusense to temp which helps to show when I've ovulated. I can't help but worry it was a fluke to fall quickly like I did. Just wondering if there's anyone else in a similar situation struggling with long cycles as I'm finding it really frustrating. Looking forward to chatting to some of you! x

@EssJayyCee that sounds like a good outcome, it's great that you can still attend. When is the appointment? Hopefully you'll be on the journey to a healthy pregnancy very very soon xx

That’s great @EssJayyCee I’m so glad you can still go to the appointment. Also that you have a good GP. The GP I had this time last year was amazing too. I don’t know how I would have got through that time without her. She’s just retired and I’m struggling to find someone as good. Just cling onto her if you can. When is the gynae appointment? Well done for phoning up. I used to dread calling about appointments etc in case I got upset. You’re doing really well! xx

I don't blame you @Avocuddles I took a test every day for 3 weeks. I am going to try not to do it next time though. I think I became too obsessed in seeing progression. Although I say that now when the time comes I will probably do it all over again!

My appointment is 12th of February 🤞🏻 fingers crossed they can do something for me this time. I have a feeling I will have more bloody blood tests! I want real action not just continuous blood tests.

I have had blood tests that show both ovulation and annovulation so I don't really know what is next for me.

On my early scan last week they reported my ovaries were normal with no cysts so it seems my cysts have disappeared for now?

@Catconfusion I hate phone calls in general. I don't even call family and friends so it was a huge deal for me ringing them up in the first place.

How did your glucose test go? Xx

Hey @EssJayyCee it’s so difficult to not test. I swore I wouldn’t do it the next time and I did, though I managed to stick to every other day rather than daily.

Have they commented on your levels of progesterone? Even if you do ovulate it could be low in which case you might need a pessary when you get a positive test. I was on progesterone for the first 16 weeks of my pregnancy and I have a feeling it helped me keep it. Doctors have mixed views on how useful it is. Worth bringing up though.

It’s really interesting you had no cysts. When I went through my first loss I was shocked to hear the cysts had gone when I’d had so many when I was younger. I think the cysts can disappear with the pregnancy hormones. Also cystic ovaries can improve with age. I hope they’ve cleared up and your ovulation is now more regular.

It’s such an emotional time so if you find phone calls hard anyway it must have been tough. Is your sister ok?

It was fine thanks. We’re just waiting for the results. I really hope I don’t have gestational diabetes. It can cause complications with the birth and baby’s health. I think there’s lots I can do to prevent it getting worse though so hopefully he’ll be ok if I do have it. If not then he’s just a very large baby. He’s 3 and a half pounds already and I have 11 weeks to go.

Anyway look after yourself and I’m so pleased you don’t have too long until your appointment. xx

@Catconfusion my GP commented on the fact my progesterone was low when I didn't ovulate. I honestly think progesterone pessarys could have helped this pregnancy but like I say the woman I saw last time was so uninterested in my concerns she just sent us away telling me not to worry. And low and behold I lose the baby.

I am unfortunately going to my next appointment on my own because DP can't get out of work that day :( so I need to try and get the courage to ask about it and other things.

Fingers crossed everything is okay.
My SIL is due in 4 weeks and her baby is weighing at 6lb 4oz at the moment but she is fully engaged and when they were trying to measure her head she looked as if she was pushing ready to come out so they think she might come early!

My sister is doing well thank you. Baby is fine. She has to go for a scan every 4 weeks to check the placenta is still growing as her hormones are all out of whack but she is over the moon. At least one of us had good luck this last week 👍🏼

I am doing my best to look after myself.. but food has become my comfort for the time being so it's making me gain weight. My dad has given us some money to treat ourselves to a meal this weekend so we are using that as our last naughty meal and then we are both getting stuck in to getting fit again.

Thank you xxx

@EssJayyCee Tommy’s did a study showing that some ladies with low progesterone have spotting in early pregnancy and a pessary can help save the pregnancy. It would be interesting to know what your P level is when you do ovulate. Your chart showed quite unstable temps after ovulation. It’s worth exploring but there is nothing you can do about what’s happened. Chances are it would have happened anyway.

Just make a list of questions and run through them. Ask for the doctor to listen to each one and answer. Explain you’re nervous as you’re attending on your own and want to make sure you cover everything.

I’m so pleased your SIL and sister are both doing well. I’m sure you’re happy for them but it must be tough. Just remember life can change very quickly and it could be your turn very soon!

All you can do is your best. It’s still early days after what happened so treat yourself. It’s such a good attitude to allow yourself a naughty treat and then work on diet etc after. I found it so hard after my losses. People don’t generally talk about what loss does to the body. All the hormones can make you gain weight but you feel sad so want to eat. After too losses I’d put on a stone. I guess I’d got to 12 weeks with the first one so understandable. In the end I think I only lost half of it before I fell pregnant with this baby. If you can keep your BMI down it will help but don’t put too much pressure on yourself. From what you’ve said you’re a good weight anyway. Xx

Am I supposed to do a pregnancy test to check hcg has all gone or am I safe to just resume life?

I don't want to do one and it be slightly positive because of leftover hcg because I think it will make me sad and miserable again knowing it's not real.

How are you all? Have you had nice weekends?

@EssJayyCee I know it’s really tough but I think I would just to check everything passed. However, if EPAU said you were clear you might not need to. It might be worth calling and asking their advice. I had to because I’d needed surgery. It was horrible but at least I knew when we tried again if I got a bfp it was definitely a new pregnancy.

I’m good thanks, doing lots of housework so nothing exciting. Xx

@EssJayyCee I'll echo what @Catconfusion says, it's important to take one to make sure everything has passed - you don't want to risk getting pregnant again if there are any tissues left as that could lead to serious infection or another bad outcome. First time round it took me three weeks to get a negative, second time two. Hopefully it won't be long for you x

@Catconfusion @Avocuddles when I was at EPAU I had to do a pregnancy test and she told me it was negative. 🤔

In which case you're good to go 😉
Glad to see you on the TTC after pregnancy loss / getting healthy board. They've been such an important support to me over the past eight months. I honestly don't know how I would have got through without all of you x

That saves you the distress then @EssJayyCee The pregnancy loss boards were really helpful for me too. I found the ttc threads were far less relatable after going through something like this. Although I set this thread up to chat to people who understand the difficulties of irregular cycles as well. MN definitely makes you feel less alone. Xx

@EssJayyCee I am happy that they kept your appointment ! I hope that the appointment and further tests will bring answers that will help you have your baby !

@Avocuddles, how are you ? Do you have a scan appointment any time soon ?

@Catconfusion how are you doing ? Did you purchase anything for the baby yet or are you still waiting ?

I have started tracking my bbt, hopefully that helps.

oops, forgot the question I wanted to ask :-)

I would like to use opk in addition to bbt. The notice say that tests should be made with concentrated urines (like not peeing for the previous 4 hours) so I guess I should not drink to much during that time frame so that the urine keeps concentrated. But how do you do that when you take two tests a day (like one around 1 pm and one around 6 pm) ? Do you restrain from water intake during such a long period of time ? Drink normally ?
I have read you have better chances of success if you take tests twice a day when you are in the fertile period as the window is so short and easy to miss. Any thoughts ?

Hi @Ellabb. Temping never really worked for me but I've definitely used lots of OPKs!

I took one a day first thing in the morning most of the month, but when it looked like a surge was potentially coming I switched to two a day. I basically wouldn't drink anything after lunch time and would then do the second as soon as I got in from work. I use the easy@home ones from amazon and the premom app - I like that you can photograph the OPKs each day and graph the line progression. They do a big mixed box with 50 OPKs and 20 pregnancy tests for less than £10 which is way better value than the clearblue ones when you have a long and unpredictable cycle!

Scan is on 10th feb when I'll be 7 weeks (hopefully....). Very nervous but trying to just keep going!

@Avocuddles thanks ! I will do the same as you then ! 10£ is a clearly a deal so I will go for them. I have had CM for the past two days which I have had for months, so I am hoping it is a sign that my body is ready to have it's first ovulation since my son's birth. I just try not to bring my hopes to high in case it is not the case. The ttc period actually sucks with its emotional ups and down....... but I know it gets even worth in your situation when you try to not invest too much into the pregnancy yet cannot do anything but keep your fingers crossed.

@Ellabb you're right both situations are pretty rubbish! I think the most important thing is to try to stay as relaxed as you can be throughout the whole process, each of the times I've conceived is when I've not put too much pressure on myself. Hopefully you won't have too long to wait, CM is promising!

@Avocuddles I try to stay relaxed..... but have dreamt of CM all night...... so probably not as much relaxed as I should lol !

Hey @Ellabb I used the Easy@home ones and premom too and did much like @Avocuddles. I got quite a few false positives due to the irregular cycles but usually a week later I’d get the actual surge. That’s why tracking my temperature with ovusense helped because I could see if it was a genuine surge if my temp went up and stayed up. I did find opks a bit stressful if I’m honest. At least with ovusense I could upload the data to my phone each morning and try not to think about it after that, easier said then done though.

We pretty much have everything we need now. We’ve been told he’ll come a couple of weeks early due to him being big so although I’m 29 weeks it’s more like 32 in terms of his size. I’ll likely have him the end of March.

I really hope you can confirm ovulation soon. The waiting is so frustrating! xx

@avocuddles not too long to wait now. Been thinking of you. Those early scans are so difficult to get through and the wait before is tough. I’ve got everything crossed it’s good news! Xx

@Catconfusion thank you very much !! I agree that opk can be tricky with long cycles that is also why I take my bbt. When ttc for my son I would get like 10 days of cm which made it difficult to really identify the O day. I will invest into ovusense when I have my first period.

End of March looks like tomorrow ! Well almost ! You murs start feeling really excited !

@Ellabb yes it’s so frustrating and one of the reasons I started this thread. Our bodies just don’t behave the same and unless you have irregular cycles or pco/pcos it’s difficult to understand. It makes ttc really stressful, as if it’s not already. You have a very good plan which is important. I can’t recommend OvuSense enough. I’m not sure id be in this position without it.

Yes we’re getting excited but a little scared too. I’m not sleeping great at the moment because I’m uncomfortable but also a little bit of anxiety about the birth creeping up. It will all be worth it though and we feel truly blessed! Xx

Hey,
How is everyone? X

Hey @EssJayyCee I’m good thanks. How are you feeling? Xx

@Catconfusion I am okay. I feel like I've moved on quicker than some people but it's made me feel bad about not being really upset still.

I just want to be pregnant again..

@essjayycee don’t feel bad. I’m so pleased you’re feeling better. We all process things differently. It may be that since it happened early and you didn’t need any medical intervention you’ve been able to move forwards quicker. Focusing on falling pregnant again is a good thing now. When is your appointment with the gynae doctor again? Xx