Increasing your chances of pregnancy at 35+

[Rainforestandshine]

Is there anyone 35 years old or over trying to conceive their first child? What are some of the thing that you are doing to increase your chances?

Im 38 and TTC my 3rd child. My youngest is 8, so its been a while.

I'm taking a ton of supplements, but whether they are doing any good I have no idea! All I can do is hope!

This is what I take:

Ubiquinol form of Co-Q10,
Myo-Inositol,
Maca,
Prenatal Vit,
Zinc,
Vit C,
B-100 Complex,
Magnesium,
Chromium,
Omega 3 Oil,
Evening Primrose Oil from CD1-OPK+,
Raspberry Leaf Tea from CD1-OPK+,
Nettle, Dandelion & Green Tea from OPK+ to CD1.
Grapefruit Juice in fertile window,
Bromelain or Pineapple Core after OPK+ to CD1.

This cycle I also used Vitex, and I drank Red Clover Tea from CD1 to OPK+.

I've decided not to continue the Vitex as it doesn't appear to be helping much and ive read stories where Vitex has messed up people's cycles/ovulation. Lots of success stories too, though, so it's worth considering.

Next cycle I've decided to use Soy Isoflavones from CD3-7, as its supposed to be "nature's Clomid". I'm hoping it will help me to ovulate better. Worth a try.

Wow, that is an impressive list. I assume that some of them are contained within a single product, or are you taking them individually?
I’m taking Seven Seas Trying for a Baby, which contains Folic Acid, Iron, and Vitamin D, among other things. As a vegetarian, I can’t get my omega oils from fish, so I take the vegan equivalent. I read that it helps with CM.

It really is quite a list! I'm a bit of a supplement addict I think! It just makes me feel better that im "doing something" to hopefully improve my chances, you know?

Everything I listed is separate - I added extras in because the prenatal vitamin doesn't have a high enough dosage for certain vits/minerals that can boost fertility. xxxx

ooh, and I forgot to add NAC (N-acetyl Cysteine) to my list. xxx

I conceived first baby at 40 (DH was 45) and we took nothing and did nothing, all it took was a very boozy Christmas. Not what is recommended but in our case it was gin and prosecco cocktails. We were barely even having sex really! Just managing 2-3 times a month.
I’m not convinced that any of the supplements make much difference. It either works or it doesn’t.
Currently 38+5

Haha! Did you take the same things when you conceived your first two children, or are you more conscious about your food and supplement intake now you’re 35+?
How long have you been trying for your third child? This is my fifth cycle. I recently bought the CBFM and I used it for the first time this cycle. It was then that I discovered that I actually ovulated a lot earlier than the app I was using predicted.
Btw, be mindful of the green tea as it contains caffeine – although, as you have a multisource tea it probably doesn’t contain much.

@ Megan2018 Congratulations. Prosecco and gin – never tried them together, but could be persuaded. HaHa!

I'll be 35 next month and currently TTC #1. I was taking Pregnacare Conception for a while but it gave me wicked heartburn and headaches so I stopped. I don't take/do anything now, just DTD regularly and keep my fingers crossed x

@Rainforestandshine I didn't take anything when I conceived my 1st child. I was 19 and so fertile back then that I got pregnant the first month we tried. If only it was still like that! Much easier! haha

I took quite a few of the same things TTC my 2nd. Not the Myo-Inositol or Co-Q10 though - theyre new additions!

Whats the CBFM like? Is it worth the £££? Id love to be able to afford one. x

@Each2TheirOwn Good attitude as DTD is the only way it’s going to happen. While some supplements are good and are advised, there can be a tendency to go overboard. While I may not do it, I do understand it – the desire to feel that you are giving yourself the best possible chance of success.

@ coconuttymummy. I don’t think I’m yet in a position to endorse. It was frustrating to get error messages quite often when I inserted the stick in the mornings. However, it supposedly detected my peak days – which were completely different from what Ovia app predicted. Quite naturally if I conceive this month I will be screaming about it.
I bought mine on ebay. It was new but it was about £30 cheaper than the major retailers. But I agree, it is pricey.

39 and currently 24 weeks with first.

I had an early MC end last year after TTC for two months. My current pregnancy was month 3 of TTC. I swear preseed was the difference!

I used Ovia app, dtd every other day in fertile window and used preseed every time. Each of the months I got pregnant was when I consciously used it every time-other months I was sporadic

Of course it could have been a million and one things but also mentioned it to a friend who had been ttc for 10 months and she is now 6 weeks pregnant...

Absolute best of luck! 💐

@Rainforestandshine I bought a Clear Blue dual hormone digital OPK for this cycle. It was faulty and wouldn't display any readings. I was so frustrated. Had to go back to the cheapie Amazon strips. xxx

@MyFartWillGoOn That’s heartening news. I actually have Pre Seed. Although, I don’t use it as much as I should. I may make more of an effort in future.

Well nothing's worked yet but I'm on folic acid, metformin (for PCOS) Inositol and co-q 10.

Found pre-seed a bit, well, runny!

Can I have a little moan? Why are period symptoms and early pregnancy symptoms the same! Ffs.

My cycle is 25-28 days. By day 28 (today) I'm climbing the walls.

Been ttc for 2 and half years. Fed up.

I'm 36 and was trying to conceive my second naturally but after 5 mc and 2 ectopics I have no tubes left so doing ivf

I really recommend Proceive Max for women (and men) - my egg quality massively improved whilst taking this and also 200mg of coq10

I would book in for a fertility mot with a private clinic if you can afford it and also get DH tested to know what you are working with as if the results come back bad you haven't got a lot of time to wait x

@Rainforestandshine

Me, 39 - just had a little cry as period arrived. You think I'd be used to it!

@MissBridgetJones Have you spoken to your doctor who should refer you to a fertility clinic for investigation. Two and half years is a long time and definitely warrants investigation. There could be an underlying issue that could possibly be resolved if discovered. Have you done this already? If not, are you open to it?
I’ve been trying for 5 months so I do understand how you feel. I spoke to my doctor almost immediately as I didn’t want to waste any time. She was very supportive. I hope your doctor would be too.

@coconuttymummy If it works then it doesn’t matter how cheap they are. I need a device that tells me what’s what. I can’t read strips. I would probably see things that weren’t there – wishful thinking! Haha!

Loving @Megan2018 's approach! Gives us hope! Thanks for your contributions though everyone, I'm only new to all this so it's fascinating 👍🏼

I’m not advocating not taking folic acid-but yes basically we conceived on 16 Dec after a boozy Xmas do and we largely carried on the very excessive Christmas eating and drinking through until New Year. BFP 5 Jan. That was quite a shock I can tell you! Fortunately I found out at 4 weeks so immediately started the pregnancy supplements, stopped all booze etc. Was slightly panicked that it would have harmed baby but MW assured me that what you do pre 5 weeks makes no difference. We went on to have NIPT though at 10wks to check for any chromosomal issues.

We’d had a really stressful year with a house build/move-hence very little sex. We’d also spent all our savings as we were really not expecting to conceive, so there is a big element of the “law of sod” at work! I do think it is important to carry on with life as usual though, don’t put anything on hold, that’s the route to madness.
Good luck all!

Me was 40 in July and 3 weeks into trying for 1st.
Left it late in life but only met the right man 4 years ago (ex was a knob who didn't want kids).
Other than folic acid not taking anything else but am seeing gp Thursday as I'm on long term medication and want to make sure it's ok

One of the things that I like about this forum is that you get to hear stories of women over the ages of 35 years old who have gone on to have healthy babies. It helps to keep the hope alive.

@claireb707 Going to your doctor is sensible.

Again, it seems like we all do what we can as individuals to give ourselves the best chance of conceiving and carrying healthy babies. My fiancé is going to have his sperm analysed very soon. He’s 33 and appears to be healthy, but it’s a necessary step before you can be referred for more intense fertility investigation. This may not be needed but I’d rather know now than to wait a year and have the chances of conception rapidly diminish. Therefore, I think you have to do whatever feels right for you while on the TTC journey. There is little worse than regret.

How long has everyone been trying, if I may ask?

@Rainforestandshine

Had all the tests, prods and pokes. Went privately as there os no funded fertility services where I live.

Mild PCOS (I have known this for a decade, take Metformin) higher than average egg count, tubes fine, womb lining good. Partner had strong but few swimmers.

I am getting fatter and fatter the more this goes on and my drinking has crept up. It's soul destroying x

I got pregnant at 36 from having unprotected sex once in my cycle. Two friends had the same at 40. It can be so different for different people.