TTC baby #1 Threat #2

[GaaaaarlicBread]

Hi ladies ,

@Cheyanne101
@hopefulhel
@Liam2018
@Maddy0405
@notalwaysalondoner
@Hannahb26
@CurbsideProphet
@ToCaden
@JEMMA18
@LeaBri
@bubblyboo900

Our other thread is getting quite long and I know they stop at 1,000 comments so thought I’d make a new one for us .
I am so sorry if I’ve missed anyone , just going by usernames I remember off the top of my head !
I’m currently 5 weeks pregnant (miscalculated and thought I was only 4+3). Going for an 8 week scan (I’ll be almost 9 weeks) on 25th Jan.
but I am really enjoying joining you on your journeys on TTC and you’ve all been amazing so I didn’t want to just say goodbye to the thread .
Please come on in if you’re new here , and join everyone on their journeys . I feel like we’ve been chatting forever but it’s only been a couple of months. What a roller coaster it’s been!

Anyway, as we were!

Hello both 👋 AF has settled now thankfully and we got back on the DTD train today! 😂 I'm with you on my head being resigned to not getting pregnant but my shopping basked not reflecting that! I had good news from my GP that my iron levels are now normal so I can stop the bumper tablets. He recommended I continue with a multi-vitamin which includes them. My mum has been sending me Wellwoman vegan multi-vitamins (I think she thinks it will save me from
COVID!) so I think I will just take those. They don't have vit A in them, which is the only one to worry about I think?

Glad you're feeling optimistic @camha 👍 did you see a pre-ovulation dip with your temping? I think it's fair enough to be feeling a bit wobbly @CurbsideProphet - this whole thing is such an emotional nightmare.

My OH has said he doesn't want to go for private tests and wants to wait for the NHS. So we're just going to ride it out until the end of August. I would be quite open to them at this point to be honest.

The redundancy thing sounds stressful @CurbsideProphet. It's all really bad timing. I suppose as @camha** says - if you get pregnant it may be less likely to happen, and if you're not/only very early you could hopefully find something new without having to mention it?!

@camha are your tests on Tuesday?

Sorry to hear about the spotting @CurbsideProphet and that you're feeling low.

@CurbsideProphet Accidentally clicked post before I finished typing! 🙄 sorry you're feeling low. It really is so hard, especially when life in general is a bit rubbish as well.

@MGee123 yeah my appointment is on Tuesday! Great to hear about your iron levels, and sounds like a good idea to keep taking a multivitamin. I'm currently taking a prenatal, ubiquinol and vit D..
I think I had a dip, but my temp was so up and down before ovulation so I'm not sure. It's been increasing quite a bit the past few days though (0.39 since the day before ovulation) so that's a good sign I think! I've attached a pic of my chart if you're interested!

Yes it does look like it's going in the right direction, and looks like a bit of a dip! 🤞 for you 😊

I just checked the multivitamin this morning and it's says it include 400us of folic acid - does that mean I don't need to take an extra folic acid supplement do you think?

My best friend had her first baby yesterday evening. I'm so happy for her but it's made me feel really emotional. He is beautiful though and all went well 😊 I hope this happens some day for me, not having a good day today really 😢

How are you @CurbsideProphet ?

@MGee123 oh how difficult for you. It's so hard feeling happy for someone else in this situation 😔 Hopefully you have some time today to just be kind to yourself 💐 I had a good cry to my DH yesterday. I think it's a bit better to do that, rather than keep it all bottled up.
Btw I take 5mg folic acid because of my medication. I don't think every woman needs to take that much.

Thank you @camha 🙂

Work wise it's tricky. I work in the charity sector. I don't expect other charities will be hiring any time soon. We're just going to see what happens. I wouldn't be eligible for a maternity package from a new employer anyway.

@MGee123 that must be so difficult for you. As @CurbsideProphet says, it's so hard to be happy for someone else in this situation. I hope you're feeling a bit better?

@CurbsideProphet I definitely agree, better to get it all out than keep it bottled up. The work situation must be stressful. I can imagine the job market will be tough in the coming months.. Fingers crossed it'll all work out for you!

I had a slight dip in my temp today, only .04, not sure what that means.. 🤷🏽‍♀️

I've really not had a good day but had a good cry on a dog walk with my OH earlier. I feel like such a selfish cow - I am so happy for my friend but equally just feel so sad and frustrated. I swear I was never this self-absorbed before TTC!! My chat with OH was good though - we struggle a bit as he doesn't really want to talk about the TTC palava whereas I feel better if I do. He was great today though.

Your work stuff sounds really stressful @CurbsideProphet. What a difficult situation.

I think a bit of temp fluctuation is normal so try not to worry @camha. I think if it persistently drops it's a sign your progesterone is dropping so AF probably on it's way, but the odd blip probably doesn't mean anything. I'm really not an expert though!

I hope your appointment went well @camha?

@MGee123 sad and frustrated pretty much covers it!

I found out today that the results of the strategic review at work will be announced in August. I'm so gutted. If my pregnancy at new year had been successful I would be going on maternity leave in September and I wouldn't care about work 😬

@MGee123 so sorry to hear you didn't have a good day yesterday. I hope today has been a bit better for you?

@CurbsideProphet it's so upsetting thinking about 'what could've been', isn't it.. I hope the work situation works itself out!

My appointment was very good, though I'm still quite overwhelmed by it all. They did an internal ultrasound scan and she said everything looks good, no evidence of anything to be concerned about. She also saw a ruptured follicle, which more or less confirms I've ovulated this month, so that's great news! She suspects I have low progesterone levels, which would cause spotting. I'm actually CD21 today so she did a day 21 progesterone test, though she did say that even if that comes back all good, my levels could still decrease and cause spotting at any point. She was also concerned that I ovulate late, which, combined with the low progesterone, could mean a fertilised egg doesn't have enough time and hormones to implant. So she basically recommended two options, first one is to start Clomid on CD2 and continue for 5 days, then have an internal scan and an ovulation trigger injection on CD12, then start progesterone suppositories on CD18 and continue until CD28, then take a test and if positive, continue progesterone and if negative, stop progesterone and AF will arrive. The other option is to skip the first two steps and only do the progesterone. DH and I have talked it though and I think we'll go with just the progesterone for a couple of months and see how we get on. As it's all privately, the first option will cost around £300 per cycle due to the scan and trigger shot, so we'll hold off on that for a bit.
I feel a lot better now, even though there's something not quite right, it could've been a lot worse and there's things I can to to 'treat my it. Of course crossing my fingers AF won't come this month so I don't have to do any of that, but if not at least I'll have proactive steps I can take to improve our chances!

Sorry, that was so long!! 😂

Thanks both, I do feel a bit better today. As you said @CurbsideProphet - a good cry can help! The 'what if' thoughts are so horrible, I struggle to shut them out. Hope you hear some good news from the review 🤞 at least you will know what is happening sooner rather than later I suppose?

@camha I found your appt info really interesting. It sounds like it was really helpful? I am now even more tempted to go for some private testing! I think waiting for things on the NHS will take forever at the moment due to COVID. Did your DH have a sperm sample done? I think your plan sounds really sensible. When do you get the results of your bloods?

Weirdly I had a big temp dip today (CD 9) which might suggest ovulation soon. I hadn't even started the OPKs yet this cycle as ovulation has been CD 16 the last 2 cycles! So now I'm all confused 🙈 we're treating this as a possible early ovulation so are going to DTD every day the next few days. Will wait and see what my temp does the next few days. Just as I thought I was getting a handle on my cycle!! If it is ovulation though that might be a good thing - with a 24 ish day cycle I was worried CD 16 was a bit late 🤷‍♀️

@camha can I ask how much the progesterone option costs? I really want to look into private tests even though DH isn't keen. None of the gynaecologists from our nearest hospital even do private work, so I would have to look at options...

@MGee123 originally I thought the announcement would come at the end of the year and that I would be pregnant by then with some level of protection. With it coming in 2 months I won't be protected at all 😔 I could be competing for a new position with colleagues and outside candidates.

Luckily we live in the North, so we could just manage on DH's salary and dipping a bit into savings. Obviously I keep catastrophising to myself that I'll be trying to look for a new job and ttc 😬

I've also become v self-centered since we started ttc. It's awful 😩

@MGee123 it's good to hear you're feeling a bit better today! And that's so confusing about your temp, I had a couple of dips in the week leading up to ovulation.. it'll definitely be interesting to see if it rises tomorrow, let us know! It's definitely a good idea to be on the safe side and DTD! Cycles can be so confusing, can't they...

I did find the appointment very helpful and also reassuring. My DH hasn't had a sperm sample done, but we've spoken about it and that'll be our next step. We're going to hold off until next week to see if AF arrives, if it does he'll get tested. We're considering checking with his GP if they will do it as he's on a lot of medication that could possibly effect it, but as you say with the waiting times it's tempting to go private. We live up to road from King's College Hospital in London and they have a private fertility clinic, it's £100 to get a sperm analysis done so we will probably do that, unless it can be done through his GP without silly waiting times.

I'm a bit of a control freak so I do feel a lot better from doing the testing and feeling like we're 'proactive'. I suppose it gives me something else to focus on. I'm still crossing my fingers AF won't arrive though 🤞🏼

I see what you mean @CurbsideProphet . I am sorry, extra stress you don't need at the moment 😢 I think being a bit more self-centred seems to be par for the course with TTC! I am hoping as lockdown starts to ease and we can get out and do a bit more, I might have a few more distractions to keep me occupied! I don't think our current limited lifestyle is helping.

Sounds like a good plan @camha. I am also a control freak and am at the point where I need to feel like I'm doing something about this. I broached the topic with my OH last night and said if nothing happens this month I think I will book in for private testing. He was okay about this and said he might join in too. I can't cope with much more of this uncertainty around is/isn't there a problem. I find it unbelievable how little the difficulties of TTC are talked about! Such a taboo subject and yet so emotionally difficult.

@CurbsideProphet I'm so sorry, I didn't see your message when I replied last night!
The progesterone option will only cost the price of the progesterone suppositories, it's on a private prescription so I'm sure exactly how much it will come to, but it can't be that much (I think!), I've never had a private prescription before 🤔

I'm so glad I did the tests, it obviously comes at a cost but i think it has been so worth it. I feel a lot better from it.

@MGee123 I so agree, it definitely isn't spoken about enough. Seems we only really hear about those 'was on the pill and still got pregnant' or 'got pregnant in the first month'. Don't really hear about the struggles. I suppose maybe because it's such a personal journey..

I'm honestly so happy we have this little thread, I find it so helpful chatting to you ladies. It really helps!

@CurbsideProphet I've just checked Boots online and the progesterone comes to £25 for two months worth! So not bad at all.

Honestly I couldn't be getting through this without you both. I don't have anyone to talk to in real life.
@camha that's so helpful thank you. I used to live a couple of miles east of King's College when I was a student 🙂
@MGee123 my DH and I had the conversation this morning (the good thing about us both working from home!).

We've agreed that if I'm not pregnant by September we will book private tests. We both have Simply Health and we don't think it will cost more than what we can claim back. He's agreed I can't just keep having periods every 24 days indefinitely. I'm in pain and we're both struggling with feeling sad.

I started Omega 3, Vit D, and Coenzyme 3 weeks ago. I think it takes 8 weeks to know if they're having an effect? If they've worked then August would be the month. We're also going to definitely dtd every other day. No complaints about being tired!

I'm also someone who hates feeling out of control, so I feel better for having a plan now.

@CurbsideProphet it's a lovely area but so expensive!!

It sounds like you've got a good plan. It must be so frustrating to have periods every 24 days.. 😱 I totally get the sadness, it can be so overwhelming.. and yes I think the supplements can take a bit of time to kick in. I started Ubiquinol, Omega 3 and switched from Folic Acid to folate about 6 weeks ago, and a new prenatal and Vit D about 2 weeks ago.. I'm really hoping this month is our month 🤞🏼

I got my blood results back today and they confirmed ovulation! So that's really great news. Apparently a result between 30 and 75 confirms ovulation, mine was at 42.7 so in the lower range, which is hopefully where the progesterone help. Generally though I'm feeling relieved and reassured, and still crossing my fingers for this month! I'm CD22 today, expecting AF in 6 days...

Yes I'm happy we've got this thread too! I'm not talking to anyone else about it and think I'd be struggling even more if we weren't chatting 😊

My temp increased a little but not dramatically so I think it might have been a blip rather than ovulation. Low fertility on the OPKs so far this month so will wait and see what happens over the next week. We've DTD the last 2 days just in case and are going to again today so we've got it covered in case it was signalling ovulation 😂 I'm CD 11 today and have felt really bloated so far this cycle - not sure whether it's my hormones going out of whack or whether I'm just eating too much 😂

@camha glad the progesterone isn't too much. Do you mind me asking how much your consultation and tests were? I have started looking at the different options - I'm keen to get something booked in for July in case we have no joy this cycle.

@CurbsideProphet sounds like you had a helpful conversation! I think having a plan does help. I think the supplements do take a few months to work. I've been taking ubiquinol since April now, and have swapped to just take a vegan multivitamin which includes the necessary folic acid and the B12 I need because of my vegan diet. Whatever you read seems to contradict each other a bit! I think you can pretty much find evidence for most vitamins helping - we'll all be rattling round like pill bottles 😂

Sorry, should have added glad you've ovulated @camha ! Fingers crossed this is the month 🤞

@MGee123 The consultation, scan and progesterone test came to £370. Quite pricey, but 100% worth it.

That must be so confusing about your temp, but better to be on the safe side with DTD. It'll be interesting to see what happens next week.

I'm CD23 / 7dpo today, I've had a bit of cramping over the past few days so I think AF might be on her way. I'm due on on Tuesday according to Flo, so we'll see. I'm trying to stay positive!

I was possibly expecting more! As you say, a lot of money but worth it if it's the right decision for you. I am going to contact a few places tomorrow and see if I can get something lined up.

From what I've read cramps can be good or bad! So many people say they had the same signs as usual AF before they got their BFP. That's part of what created the 'maybe' thoughts in my head!

I convinced myself today I was pregnant despite having full AF last week. Picked up and put down pregnancy tests 3 x at the supermarket - they must have thought I was mental! Finally put them down and gave myself a talking to! Spent the afternoon gardening and feel much better 😊 I find it much easier not having tests in the house..!

@MGee123 that sounds like a good plan! And yes, cramps could mean anything. I'm trying to still positive without getting my hopes up too much 🤣 it's hard not to overthink everything and 'symptom spot'.

It's crazy where our minds can take us, isn't it. I've also convinced myself I was pregnant days after a full period.. But you took the steps you needed to and felt better for it, so that's good! I went crazy with the testing in our first month of trying and it crushed me so much seeing negative tests, so I promised myself I wouldn't take tests unless I got to CD31 without a period. I've managed to keep that promise so far!

It's so frustrating that cramps can be a sign of pregnancy and AF! 🤞🏻 for you @camha that they are the right sort.
@MGee123 I also do the "I surely must be pregnant this time" 😬

I had an interesting day yesterday. I had a call from the specialist nurse for my condition. Apparently there was a telephone appointment booked, but I didn't know 🤦🏻‍♀️ Anyway, I told her what has been going on. She is going to write to my GP and request that I'm referred. There are risks with my medication and there are also higher instances of hormonal disorders with my condition. She thinks a cause of the chemical pregnancies / my short cycles needs to be looked into. She also thinks I could become anaemic and that needs to be checked, as my cycles are now 24 days long.

I feel reassured from speaking to her, as she actually has a PhD in women's health and my condition. But I'm also a bit worried now that there may be problems I can't control.

She agreed with me btw that referral should be after 12 cycles not 12 months ttc. She thinks a man created that rule, as we women know that our cycles aren't always 28 days 😀

@CurbsideProphet sounds like you had a really helpful conversation. It sounds like she really knows what she's talking about and I agree - should be 12 cycles, not 12 months! It really is so refreshing to speak to health care professionals who actually take you seriously! It does seem they're able to help a bit quicker, at least with running tests etc., when there's existing conditions / medications involved.

My husband just had a call with his GP and she's referred him for sperm analysis. She said he just needs to pick up a referral letter and call them to book, so fingers crossed the wait won't be too long.

I get what you're saying about it being something wrong that you can't control. I'm worried about the same for my husband. We just have to try to stay positive and not worry about what might be. Even though that's a lot easier said then done 🤦🏽‍♀️

I SO agree about the 12 cycles business! We're on cycle 14 now for goodness sake 🤦‍♀️😢 glad you had a helpful chat @CurbsideProphet, and that things might start moving for you. Did she give you any idea re how long it waiting times might be?

I have also made a deal I won't test until I get to CD 30 without AF after too many months doing too many tests! I've stuck to it since March I think 👍 I don't think early testing helps at all with my emotional state!

I have actually made some enquiries with Kings @camha. We don't live too far from London and I had preferred the idea of going to a private service affiliated with an NHS trust.

I am actually feeling much better today, despite the fact my temp is still a bit all over the place and my OPKs keep saying low! Mentally knowing I'm making plans for private investigations is really helping (even if I've not booked them yet!). Hope you've both managed to enjoy some of the sun 😊