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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Over 40 TTC - lots of baby dust for us...4!

999 replies

SparrowSG · 22/07/2019 14:57

Here's our new thread (sorry, not good at coming up with exciting titles!!)

SparrowSG: 44. 1 DS 2.5. TTC for ever! 1 ectopic 10 wks Feb 2014, 1 successful IVF 2016, 1 failed IVF 2018, 1 MC 12 wks Feb 2019. Planned IVF Oct 2019.
KCM99: 43, 2 DC, ttc no.3 since April. 3 early losses since then.

OP posts:
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21
aprilfoolsbaby · 06/08/2019 00:48

Quick update from me.

Because of our ages (me 41 DP 57) we went to a fertility clinic to see what our chances were after only 4 months of ttc. We got the results last Monday - I was where they'd expect someone of my age to be but DP had low sperm count (something like 4 million where it needs to be at least 15 million to be normal.) Consultant bombarded us with all the statistics and basically we were told we don't stand a chance of conceiving naturally. With ivf there would only be a 17% chance of success each cycle. Off we went with lots to think about.

I went for acupuncture last week and we had decided that ivf wasn't for us and we would both do for acupuncture and what would be would be. Acupuncturist said DP would have to go for at least 12 weeks but it can improve sperm count.

Fast forward to yesterday when my period was due .... took a test and it was positive. We can't bloody believe it. DP is nervous and full of trepidation due to a CP in September (when we weren't ttc) I'm nervous too if I'm honest but just plan to take one day at a time. We're off on holiday on Friday. Please keep your fingers crossed for us that this one makes it.

Hopefully my story gives you all some hope x

aprilfoolsbaby · 06/08/2019 00:55

Quick update from me.

Because of our ages (me 41 DP 57) we went to a fertility clinic to see what our chances were after only 4 months of ttc. We got the results last Monday - I was where they'd expect someone of my age to be but DP had low sperm count (something like 4 million where it needs to be at least 15 million to be normal.) Consultant bombarded us with all the statistics and basically we were told we don't stand a chance of conceiving naturally. With ivf there would only be a 17% chance of success each cycle. Off we went with lots to think about.

I went for acupuncture last week and we had decided that ivf wasn't for us and we would both do for acupuncture and what would be would be. Acupuncturist said DP would have to go for at least 12 weeks but it can improve sperm count.

Fast forward to yesterday when my period was due .... took a test and it was positive. We can't bloody believe it. DP is nervous and full of trepidation due to a CP in September (when we weren't ttc) I'm nervous too if I'm honest but just plan to take one day at a time. We're off on holiday on Friday. Please keep your fingers crossed for us that this one makes it.

Hopefully my story gives you all some hope x

KCM99 · 06/08/2019 07:14

@aprilfoolsbaby congratulations and really hope this is your sticky baby!!

I hear this a lot, where couples go in for fertility testing and after listening to all the results/stats feel the situation is hopeless without IVF. It makes me sad that couple's hopes are temporarily dashed by them up-selling IVF (I'm not saying it doesn't have its place, it truly does) but it only takes one sperm and 4 million seems like plenty to me! There's lots to improve sperm quality. It's great you explored that and stayed hopeful! Hope you have a lovely holiday 😊

Catconfusion · 06/08/2019 10:26

Great news @aprilfoolsbaby

So I just got back from the doctor and had the most positive experience. I'm four weeks pregnant today and she couldn't do enough for me after a mmc and a mc. She's prescribed me progesterone which in her opinion anyone who's had a loss should have. She's given me baby aspirin, because I'm 40 she's said it's a must. I have cyclozene in case my sickness ramps up like it did in the first pregnancy. She's calling me in two weeks to arrange a 7 week scan and then will refer me for consultant led care.

When I was pregnant for the first time at 39 I was told I didn't need to see the doctor. The midwife was super positive and wouldn't even talk about miscarriage risk. We were just told to sit tight and wait for 12 weeks. I'm now wondering whether baby aspirin could have saved our first pregnancy but no one told me it's important for an older mum. Anyway it doesn't matter now.

Just wanted to share this as it's stressful being 40 and ttc / being pregnant and a decent GP really helps! Xx

KCM99 · 06/08/2019 12:26

@Catconfusion that's awesome news! Your GP sounds great. [My GP was a compete meano towards me told me off for asking for progesterone when I was last pg]. I am now seeing RMC on 19th Aug and they'll give me progesterone so until then I'm using my own stash and taking baby aspirin.

I have learned I have raised T killer cells T57 and that is seen in ladies with repeated implantation failure RIF. So not sure how they'll treat that? 🤔 there's a clinic in England I've self referred to.

Catconfusion · 06/08/2019 13:04

@KCM99 I'm so sorry to had to get your own stash and we're told off. That's awful! It does seem rare to just dish it out but I'm thankful just in case. My GP mentioned about killer cells, again astounded she even knew. I hope you get support with treatment at your appointment. It's so hard! Xx

aprilfoolsbaby · 06/08/2019 18:05

Catconfusion congrats and I'm so pleased you had a good experience. How much baby aspirin are you taking? I wasn't going to go to the docs before I went on holiday but maybe I should.

Catconfusion · 06/08/2019 18:08

@aprilfoolsbaby Thank you, it's 75mg. My GP thought it should be standard for anyone over 40. MIght be worth just checking with your GP. Maybe book a telephone consultation. xx

aprilfoolsbaby · 06/08/2019 18:10

I think I will. Thank you

Chatbash72 · 06/08/2019 18:24

Congratulations @aprilfoolsbaby and @Catconfusion.. did they say taking baby aspirin during the cycle? I know you guys are preg now, but it was something that I've been wondering for a while, if I should add it to my list of pills 🤣

Catconfusion · 06/08/2019 18:30

@Chatbush72 she didn't say about starting before a bfp, just ladies over 40 are more at risk of blood clots in pregnancy so best to start when first pregnant. xx

Russkispy · 06/08/2019 19:01

I was taking aspirin 75mg when TTC for my DD in 2016, and all the way till I was 12 weeks. With all my fertility treatments I was taking it as per my fertility doc's recommendations. And even though this is natural pregnancy, I started taking it again straight after my last MMC in May. I consulted with my doc and she told me to carry on with it
Brown discharge is still here, and my scan is tomorrow. I should be 7 weeks since the consultant readjusted my dates 2 weeks ago🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Catconfusion · 06/08/2019 20:06

Thanks for the reassurance about aspirin @Russkispy

Good luck for tomorrow! xx

Chatbash72 · 06/08/2019 22:18

Good luck tomorrow @Russkispy
Might add it to my list when I get back home xxx

Catconfusion · 07/08/2019 09:44

Hey ladies, I'm about to start progesterone suppositories today. I'm someone who's very sensitive to hormones. I was wondering if anyone else has taken them and you had any side effects? I was bed bound with nausea in my first pregnancy which may have been due to changing progesterone levels so just a bit concerned it'll make the nausea worse. Xx

CritterTamer · 07/08/2019 10:19

@catconfusion I took them following my IVF cycles and the only side effects I found were very sore boobs and acne (my skin is super sensitive to hormones).I believe some people get cramps and bloating with them too but personally I didn't. I don't think nausea is a typical side effect - that's caused by HCG not progesterone

Good luck - the worst thing about them is the horrible mess they make, although I used the vaginal pessaries so the suppositories might be better!

Catconfusion · 07/08/2019 10:25

Thanks @CritterTamer for your input. My boobs are already very sore and I'm very bloated. I'm just super sensitive to hormones. I tend to get nauseous before a period so progesterone does seem to affect me in that way. Having said that the extreme nausea in pregnancy is probably more likely to be the hcg.

I guess I'm worried about taking them, feeling unwell, having to stop and the drop in hormones affecting the pregnancy. Obviously my doctor is the best person to speak to if I have to stop. Just trying to access the likelihood of getting adverse reactions. Xx

Russkispy · 07/08/2019 15:13

Had my scan this morning and I'm measured now 6w4d and consultant wasn't worried about that at this stage. We saw a heartbeat! But consultant told me I have relatively large yolk sac. I don't even know what that means?! Good, bad, ugly? I kept asking him. He said it's large than normal and he will rescan me in 2 weeks time. Despite seeing the HB I left deflated because of enlarged yolk sac as nobody really confirms good or bad news. Everything else looked absolutely fine. Has any of you experienced that? Do you know who did? What does it all mean? Walking away, thinking, bloody hell, nothing ever is straight forward! On the flip side , the brown discharge/bleed/spotting completely stopped yesterday morning.

Cleozeta · 07/08/2019 16:17

Russkispy - great news! So lovely to hear a heartbeat. Is 6+4 what you expected?
I'm sorry I know nothing about the yolk sac thing, maybe they didn't say because it doesn't mean much? Fingers crossed for you that all continues well.

Hope everyone else is ok?

AFM - away at the moment so unable to monitor anything except for obvious body things, so I have no idea where I'm at. Trying to base predictions on previous months but my body is not always so predictable. Also can't dtd too much as we are in a shared hotel room with the kids so have to sneak off to the bathroom once they are asleel!
I had ewcm cd 7,8 & 9 (much earlier than usual and longer as it's usually only one day) and had ovulation pains today, (cd 12) which is also earlier than expected as I recently have been ovulating 5 days after ewcm. Not having my opk's or my ava has left me totally in the dark! Anyway, dtd on cd9 and hopefully tonight cd12.
I've been tracking for so long now it's frustrating not knowing, but at least ov seems to be happening so there's something

Russkispy · 07/08/2019 16:29

@Cleozeta I don't even know what dates to go by anymore as I think of one and then EPU changed twice so far. So I forget about previous and go by new ones. So today I'm 6w4d. See what happens in 2 weeks time

SomnolentSekhmet · 07/08/2019 17:24

Congrats Russkispy. I actually had a large yolk sac with my last successful pregnancy. Drove myself utterly mental because it was at the 95th percentile according to some paper I downloaded and everything else was lower than the 50th percentile but it worked out fine in my case. How big is your yolk sac?

Russkispy · 07/08/2019 18:09

@SomnolentSekhmet I don't have a clue apart from him saying it's relatively large and he put that in his written report and I got a copy of it. I'll call EPU tomorrow to find out and let you know. I just really don't know what to think about it!

KristieP2018 · 07/08/2019 19:01

Hugs @Russkispy. One of the ladies I follow on YouTube is going through the same thing as you. She had a scan last week and was told she had an enlarged sac. She’s 6 weeks as well. Hopefully everything will be fine at the next scan xx

Russkispy · 07/08/2019 19:08

@KristieP2018 thank you! And how's she getting on now? Could I follow her too, please?

KristieP2018 · 07/08/2019 19:22

@russkispy she is having another scan Friday to check everything out. She's our age and very sweet. She's Rainbow Baby Mumma. She's just trying to stay positive.