Self insemination - Any success stories?!

[TurkeyBasterHopeItWorks]

Hi everyone,

I have NC'd for this to save our blushes!
DH and I have just had our first round of IVF which was sadly unsuccessful after an early miscarriage.
We have 2 frozen embryos but we would like to TTC naturally for the next 6 month's first in the hope the IVF hormones might help boost our chances.
DH has always struggled to ejaculate inside me when DTD. Therefore we have decided to try self insemination in the hope it will take away some of the stress.

I would love to hear any success stories.

Also which insemination kit did you buy?

Has anyone tried a soft cup / Ferti Lily conception cup after inserting the syringe to help things along?

Thanks everyone!

@eloiseislost thank you I hope it stays up too! Don’t think we insemenated enough but who knows. Sorry to hear about your boiler that must be awful! I hate being cold! X

Adding my postive thoughts and all the luck to the chorus @AdriannaP

And very gentle hugs to you @Oilyoilyoilgob I hope all is as well as ot possibly can be!

@Oilyoilyoilgob Sorry to hear about your other cat having issues too. Sounds like arthritis which is common in old ladies, hopefully with some pain relief, she will be able to enjoy her golden years to the full! 😺
Don't beat yourself up about not focusing on TTC this month. Yes, we want a baby but we also have a full life outside of this desire and life, well, is unpredictable, with constant ups and downs. Once, I asked one of my friends, who has two lovely girls, if her daughters made her life complete. She looked at me as if I was crazy and said "I adore my children, but my life was full before them." And I always try to remember that during this God awful TTC journey; it makes me pause and think about the things I have right here and right now that bring meaning to my life. My cats are one of them, though when they are unwell, it stresses me out massively! My husband is another, even though when he doesn't do his share of housework he makes me MAD! 🤬
So chin up and take care of yourself in the way that is best for you! ❤️

Ah ladies thank you, you’re all so lovely 💚💖

@eloiseislost that’s such a lovely way that your friend thinks, that’s good to hear. It can be really easy to be caught up in counting, sticks, logging charts etc thinking about being pregnant, thinking about being a mum etc etc.
We do have lives going on around it and that’s how I’ve seen it-this month I’m being very selfish about not thinking about conception. I can’t tbh, I don’t have space left!

I hope you all have a lovely, cosy and relaxed night xx

Sorry late to the party but fingers crossed for you @AdriannaP

Faint line on Clearblue this morning (evap?), BFN on frer. Still no AF. I assume I am having a chemical pregnancy. 😔💔💔💔
I wish I could curl up and cry the whole day, DC is on half term break so need to entertain her.

I wanted to let you all know to not lose hope in the method. I fell pregnant twice with SI (never doinf it more than 3 times per cycle), the method does work. All the very best and I really hope you all have BFPs very soon. 💖

@AdriannaP Clearblue almost always give me faint lines, I think they are pretty bad for indents and evaps. Every time I use one, I wonder why on Earth they are so popular and expensive! 🤷🏻‍♀️
You are not out until AF arrives but I completely understand how you feel. Maybe keeping DC entertained will take your mind off of things! 🙂

And thank you for reinforcing my belief in the SI method, I'm feeling a bit off this cycle about it all. Yesterday was CD8 and normally we would inseminate, as per SMEP and because I ovulate between CD12-14 but I just couldn't be bothered. I passed out on the sofa before 9pm after eating a whole pizza 🍕 and that's all I wanted to do. Today I woke up stressed that I screwed up this cycle and I didn't start early enough and what if I don't feel like it today either… Spiralling!! 😱

@Oilyoilyoilgob How did your girl get on at the vets? 😽

@AdriannaP I'm very sorry. ❤️

I now have a faint line on Frer too. If you google it, you can find bad reviews for every single brand and reports of evaps. It’s ridiculous. On their website clearblue claim their tests very very rarely give false positives.

I want to curl up and cry the whole day out of desperation and sadness. 💔💔

@AdriannaP I'm so very sorry for what you're going through. ❤️
Is there any chance your GP might do a blood test since you are late and have all those lines on different tests?

Thanks @eloiseislost I am speaking to my consultant later today, let’s see what he says.

@AdriannaP oh so very sorry to hear this! My friend is going through the same thing and her fertility doctor has prescribed her various vitamins etc. So perhaps you can revisit your doctor for more answers?

Sorry I've been MIA the last few weeks. My AF came with a vengeance after weird spotting for a few days which I never get. I think pregnacare has extended my cycles because it's the only thing I've changed and I've read that this happens to a lot of other ladies too. So have stopped that this month and just on normal folic.

I'm also going to try and do my first month without proper inseminating! I've been working hard on my vaginismus the last few weeks and have managed to overcome some of the anxiety with trying to conceive the 'other' way and have made some progress! I think we'll have syringes for back up though! @primrosechill I tried lots of things this month which have helped so happy to PM to discuss.

Hope everyone is feeling good! Seen lots of poorly fur babies hope they recover soon.

@AdriannaP That's good, I hope the consultant gives you some sort of peace of mind! You will be in my thoughts. ❤️

@Busybee93 I had the same experience as you on pregnacare, longer cycles and terrible PMS! I'm on Seven Seas now and it's been very good for me. But each body is different, folic acid is really all you need while TTC and during pregnancy.

Hello everyone ☺️

@AdriannaP sorry to hear what’s going on. I’d honestly if possible give yourself a few days off from testing, it’s so stressful sounding for you ☹️ I hope you get some answers from your consultant and sending best wishes.

@eloiseislost thank you, sadly as expected it was another cancerous lump. It’s extremely rare in cats this type of cancer. So there’s a 60-80% change a lump will return but in half of cases it will just be primary on/under skin. It’s been a year nearly since last one spotted and she has no other symptoms so praying it’s just under her skin. She’s doing fantastically in her self, much braver than I’d be! I love caring for her.
Took my other old lady today and there’s a prob with signals transmitting to her right back leg, and swelling on her disc-so I think she’s fallen or landed badly. She’s had an anti inflammatory jab and I have 2 weeks of anti inflammatory liquid and she’s on two week bed rest! I’m just in a bedroom that’ll now be hers as it has the lowest bed and lots of diy steps up to it now.

Wow sorry for cat essay.

So my head has just totally not been into insemination and pregnancy this month. I’m stressed and fed up. I’m supposedly 4 days late but as I had a two week epic bleed I don’t know where I am really. I’m also taking pregnacare.
I’ve been retching and feeling like a have a huge lump in my throat but I think it’s stress. I’ve not slept properly since January at cats first cancer diagnosis so I’m surprised I’m still ticking 😄 I’m very spotty and tearful and crabby and had mega sharp pain rh side last night so sure period is coming but after last month I’m going to leave any testing, not having the thought of 5 days of being pregnant and happy then that shite.

Actually just realised I wrote war and peace there so thank you all to whoever made it to the end of that epic 😄😜 think I’m a bit delirious off no proper sleep xx

Also @Busybee93 that is fantastic news re trying and vaginismus. I’m delighted for you!

I really hope you have a great month trying 💚

@Oilyoilyoilgob Sorry to hear the lump was cancerous. But it's very positive that she seems well and strong and a year between recurrences is a good indicator. Fingers crossed it will stay away for good this time!
Did the vet give you Metacam liquid for your other lady? You've probably already been told, but make sure she takes it on a full stomach. My boy gets all vomity on antiflammatories! Never apologise about a cat essay, or any other essay for that matter!

We will inseminate tonight, CD9, past 2 cycles ovulation was CD12 and CD13. I'm out of sterile specimen cups so I'll have to get creative. Unfortunately, I'm Greek so I buy my yoghurt in 1kg buckets, not pots, I'd probably lose it in there! 🤣
Do you think I can use a small glass tub with a lid?

@Oilyoilyoilgob sorry about the lump! Poor little thing. 
How late can your periods be usually? I'd say maybe if AF is a no show by day 7 time to test?? I try not to test until I am at least 5 days late just to avoid the disappointment but then the false hope that I may have tested too soon.. it's a never ending cycle!

@eloiseislost do you have a pharmacy near you? I went there when I was all out and asked for a specimen container and they gave a few to me for free! Think they assume it's for you to drop off a sample to your docs... little do they know!

@Busybee93 That's a good shout! I don't have a pharmacy nearby and I am working from home today but I'll try it tomorrow when I'm in the office! 😉

Aw thank you @eloiseislost and @Busybee93 ☺️ It’s a crappy time but they are 12.5 so expected that they’ll get ill. I just don’t want them to and want them to be with us forever ☹️ Yes Eloise he let me know thank you! I’m spoon feeding one as she has the cone of shame, I’m hoping lady 2 will accept the painkiller and pouch combo as easily 🤞🏻

We just used a cleaned Little porcelain bowl when we’d ran out of cups, and just kept the sperm warm. Even if the pharmacist just gives you one you can clean it in the dishwasher or in boiling water.

Busy you’re right and I’m going to wait at least nine days. Last month my ‘period’ came 9 days after my expected date and 5 days after my positive tests. So I said I’m waiting at least nine days next time to not go through that and hospital again-I’ve has enough of medical settings!

Eloise wishing lots of baby dust for tonight ✨✨✨

I spoke to my consultant yesterday, who said that implantation had happened for all those tests to show a faint line. He wanted me to come in for a blood test today. I don’t think there is any point as I have started cramping and spotting dark blood overnight.

This is my third eary loss/chemical in a row, and right now I am not sure I have the strength to continue. I have also spent thousands on a fertility consultant, tests, medicine, acupuncture and TCM. I feel drained.

Wishing you all the very best and lots of baby dust.

I'm so sorry @AdriannaP for all you are going through. It's normal to feel drained, the emotional toll a loss can have on a woman, no matter how early or late, is devastating. You will feel better in the future, regardless of how impossible this seems now, I promise you. And whether you decide to continue TTC or give up, I hope you find peace and happiness. Virtual hug 🤗

@AdriannaP I’m ever so sorry to read this, my heart goes out to you. It’s normal to feel drained, shocked, depressed, sad and more-and that’s ok. You don’t have to feel that you have to have the strength to continue right now, save that for later and for now just try and look after yourself in this moment.

Wishing you some future days of looking after yourself, however that may be. Sending hugs xx

@AdriannaP I’m sorry to hear this I hope you are ok ❤️ Sending you hugs x

@AdriannaP I'm so sorry. Please don't feel bad for any of the many emotions you are processing right now. I hope you can take some time just to look after yourself and recover your strength to whatever end you choose

@AdriannaP so sorry to hear about your news and I'm equally embarrassed because I have to say a part of me was slightly envious of how seemingly easily/quickly you managed to get pregnant the last couple of times - but then I remembered what it is like to have that hope and have it crushed, and I can't imagine what it must feel like to go through this three times in a row... I'm so so sorry. I hope you manage to take your mind off it at least for a while. TTC is so draining.

@Busybee93 glad to hear you have managed to make some progress with vaginismus! Yes please, send me your tips in a DM - I'm desperate to try new things!