Fecking TWW limbo torture

[Secretsquirrelisfedup]

We are currently TTC #3. DC are 7 and 4 going into Juniors and Reception this year. DP has always been on the fence about whether to have anymore until early this year and now he’s as enthusiastic as me that it’s the right thing for us.

Both DC took 12-18 months to conceive and we got our hopes up so many times each time only to feel rubbish when it wasn’t to be. We haven’t been trying half as long this time and yet I’m convinced this month is the month, not for no reason. I had what I think was possibly implantation spotting yesterday evening and I’m crampy but milder than with AF and I feel a bit sick and knackered today.

I know it will take a couple of days for HCG to build up enough for a BFP if this is the case (didn’t stop me POAS this morning and getting a BFN). The sensible part of me is trying to stop myself from getting my hopes up as I know it could just as easily be my body messing with me and the start of AF a few days early but I can’t stop convincing myself I’m pregnant. Arrrrggg

@Secretsquirrelisfedup I gave pep talk to my uterus lining 😂😂😂 also to egg to hold on tightly to it 🤣

I've got really thick creamy cervical mucus.....again I'm panicky that it's just another sign that I'm not pg.

That’s just the kind of thing I do @AlmostLondoner 😂. I also bought a pretty rose quartz good luck charm on the off chance that it’s not a load of woo.

@Bigfatwiggle like you were saying before though that could actually be a good sign, or it could be a sign of normal monthly cycle. You’re just more in tune with every tiny change when you are TTC.

With my eldest DC we tried for about 18 months and so many times in the first 12 months I convinced myself I was pregnant and it was just AF yet again. I’d kind of given up looking for signs by the time I got my BFP. That month I can honestly say I felt completely normal, nothing out of the ordinary at all until the day I was due AF, I was convinced AF was about to appear, I had creamy CM like I get a day or so before and what I thought were period pains. Usually though they start a couple of hours before AF hits full force but they lasted a full two days and still no AF so I tested not expecting anything and got the clearest BFP.

Hi Ladies, can I join? We're 8th cycle of TTC #2. I'm 12 DPO (period should have started yesterday) and having symptoms - nausea, stabby boobs, irritable. Also my BBT is going up and up when normally it'd be dropping by now.

However, POAS yesterday and BFN, and I've been pretty convinced I was pregnant in other cycles but then AF arrived. Urgh. I'm trying to make myself wait until tomorrow morning to do another test but it is torture! Do you think I'd get a reliable result tomorrow morning at 13dpo?

You’re very welcome to join in @bananaraces. It does sound promising. I think it’s slightly trickier to know when you’ll get an accurate test if the second half of your cycle is shorter than 14 days as it can take up to 12 days for implantation once the egg is fertilised and then another 2-4 days for hormones to build up enough to show on a test. When did you start feeling possible symptoms? Also have you had any cramping or spotting at all? X

Hi @Secretsquirrel I started getting symptoms at about 8 or 9DPO and had very mild cramps last night, I actually thought AF was starting up but no sign. Maybe that was implantation and I should wait until Saturday or something? Also, I was the same as you first time round - the cycle we got pregnant was the first one where I hadn't had any symptoms at all until like 14DPO, I was convinced it wasn't my month again and only really did the test to confirm I wasn't pregnant.

@bananaraces if you’ve got internet cheapies or enough tests for a few days I reckon test every day if you can handle the BFNs that might happen but if you’re buying expensive ones or like me struggling with seeing that many BFNs then wait till either Saturday or Sunday. If you’ve had symptoms since 8 or 9 days and if you are pregnant you might have just not noticed implantation and the cramps could be stretching so today could be the last day in the days of hcg building up enough to test.

What sensitivity tests are you using? X

Oh, there you've got me, I have no idea how sensitive they are. They're just Boots Generic Liney ones . They came in a 2 pack so I only have one left... Maybe I need to get a more sensitive one and POAS again tomorrow. How do I tell which ones are sensitive? Sorry for being clueless!

So I’ve been researching like a mad woman this month on time frames for each stage and testing. I think the time frames given for the accuracy of tests can be misleading.

Implantation generally occurs as early as 6 days from ovulation or as late as 12 days.

HCG takes on average between 2 and 4 days from implantation to be detectable at all on even the highest sensitivity tests.

So some people can get a faint BFP on a high sensitivity test as early as 8dpo based on the shortest time frame for both factors. This is quite rare though. On the other end of it though it could take up to 16dpo even with a high sensitivity test to get a faint positive, also quite rare but entirely possible. This also assumes you are 100% sure when you ovulated as even with a positive OPK and cramps there can sometimes be a couple of days to actual ovulation so don’t count yourselves out completely until either AF arrives or you are still getting definite BFNs well after the longest time frame is up.

@BananaRaces bog standard pregnancy tests are usually about 25mlu I think. The sensitive ones are usually labelled as early detection (not fast results), advertised as able to detect pregnancy from as early as 6 days before missed period and have a sensitivity of 10mlu.

@Secretsquirrelisfedup Thank you so much, you are a mine of information! I'm going straight to Boots after work to get something more sensitive and will try again tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed!

@bananaraces you’re very welcome. Good luck for tomorrow’s test 😁

Oooooh I’ve just realised tomorrow is Friday so I’m testing tomorrow too 😬. If it’s another BFN I’m going to wait and see if AF shows up over the weekend before I do any more though.

@Secretsquirrelisfedup Good luck for you tomorrow too then!

Hey all,

Mind if I join in on the TWW Torture?

This is me:
TTC no 2
Age 35
Cycle no 8
CD 22
DPO 5
AF Due 14th

@Chops14 I totally am with you on the age thing, the doctor said to me "you do know you are getting older and at 35 your repreduction drops" I was like "Thanks!" I have never felt so old since TTC again.

Has anyone done any more tests?

Why is it that the logical part of me is good at giving sensible advice to other people and getting all the facts etc but the part of me that keeps taking over my brain at the moment totally will not absorb any of that info or advice and turns me into a panicky obsessive rollercoaster, talking myself up then down and getting myself in a right tizz.

If it's any consolation @secretsquirrel you are very supportive to everyone on this thread so whilst you might not be good at taking your own advice (who is?) You're very good at helping ease other people's worries

Hiya @HayleyD84 welcome aboard. I know they say fertility starts to decline at 35 but based on the non scientific data of DC1s primary class and DC2s nursery class, at least half of the parents in each were late 30s/early 40s when their kids were born.

Thank you @Bigfatwiggle. I’m glad I’m helping .

Im out this month :(

Sorry to hear that @chops14. How did the course with work go? X

Hi secret- im gutted but what can i do? Still early in our ttc journey.

Its a St John ambulance first aid intensive 3 day course- really good and interesting. I have an office job but its all useful in general as well.

How is everyone? X

@Chops14 sorry to hear that, dreaded AF 😢

Glad you enjoyed your course Chops. I’m trying to find a local babies and kids first aid course at the mo. I did one years ago but definitely need a refresher and it would make me feel so much more at ease, especially when I’m babysitting my brothers tiny kids as well as good for my own, his eldest is a bit of a hazard magnet 😂.

I’ve changed my mind about testing tomorrow. I think I’d rather just wait it out and let AF or the lack of give me a clue. It messes with my head building myself up to take the test then getting a BFN and squinting at it till my eyes go fuzzy and I just can’t get out of that mindset at the moment.

I think I will do the same......it's too overwhelming to be disappointed and stressed by it. I still have a week to wait before AF.

Really sorry that you are out @Chops14.x