TTC for the Over 40s

[birthdaycake]

The first thread I've ever started.

Me age 41 and TTC since mmc in June. Anyone else out there.

With my first pg I realised I had been counting my cycle length all wrong and what I thought was a 28 day cycle was actually a 34 day cycle How daft can you get?!

Was counting from end of AF to beginning of next AF! LOL Had been doing that for 23 years - and I was 34 at the time! How could I get A level Biology and not know that!?

hi juicy!!! fingers crossed for you

Day 31. Last cycle was 33, but normally I would be 29/30 max. But only had 2 AF's since giving up BFing, so it's still in the realms of normality (I think)

No roadcones rowing boat, but much silliness as I was out with other mums on a mission

Will wait until w/e to see if AF comes, if not then will test. We bd'd so randomly and I don't think ever in the "zone" time. Not getting my hopes up.

cece I'm only taking pregnacare leftover from my pg (for the folic acid) too at the mo, but may give the Evening Primrose from AF to OV a go next month if and when AF arrives

hello I just though I would pop in to say Hi and see how you are all doing. I'm fine 17 weeks now and actually start to belive I will have a baby.
cece the "taking charge book" is brill and don't feel daft I didn't know this stuff either and i have a degree in biology and Phd in biochem! You just don't learn this useful stuff, it such a revelation when you understand what your body is doing. Rowingboat I managed to take my temp for a couple of months but the month I conveved it had all gone to pot but I just followed my ewm and it worked.
If you want inspiration there are some great stories on the 40+ pregnancy thread in pregnancy (surprisingly enough).

hi hedgepig, good to hear you are doing well and your babe

it is always good to know of women over 40 being pregnant and healthy

Hi Hedge and minihedge! Now you are past the first trimester I hope you can start to relax and enjoy the morning sickness.
It's great to hear you are both doing well, please keep popping in to keep us posted, and keep our hopes up!

Hi Aviatrix, an end to the madness of TTC, that can't be bad.
I hope you are feeling OK about this.
Have you thought about adopting or fostering, just out of interest, or are you feeling quite content with your LO?

Feeling horribly disappointed. After 2 mc at 8 weeks and 12 weeks was thrilled to have a bfp last week. Started bleeding this morning with horrible backache and cramps. Thought it might have been 3rd time lucky this time. Feeling like my body has really let me down and it all just seems so unfair.

sorry to hear your news minmooch.

I'm giving you a hug love

Hi Minmooch, so so sorry to hear that. I had that happen to me as well last month.

I found it hard to think about trying again.

Be kind to yourself

Had my first acupuncture at zitawest today. feel quite relaxed, actually so relaxed i fell asleep on the treatment table!

she told me not to use tampons overnight(to use pads) and during the day, to use organic tampons. she said that tampons block the natural shedding of the uterine lining.

My next treatment will be just before ovulation and after ovulation.

I have had aromatherapy massage, reflexology and reiki treatments in order to help me relax over the last few months. As much as they are nice i can't but help feel as though nothing is helping .

Not only am I feeling sad I am so angry with my body. I had all the symptons: tender boobs, metallic taste, nausea - I feel like my body is lying to me (know that sounds ridiculous if I say it out loud but ttc is sending me loopy ). On top of that I have been taking folic acid for so long I look like the tablet, have drunk decaf coffee for so long I now cannot remember the real thing, cut down on alcohol etc etc etc

I suppose the saddest thing is that each pregnancy is approached now with trepidation rather than the excitement that it should be.

Need a HUGE glass of wine and a big cry.
Then I need to try and find my sense of humour to deal with all this

minmooch - so sorry

You deserve a mahoosive glass of wine and lots of special treatments. And shoes. Obviously. Well works for me.

Just to update you. AF arrived yesterday. Heho. Another month...

Haven't posted on here for a bit but just popped in to say hello and to say sorry for you minmooch. Juicy, AF came for me today too - as you say, here we go again...having a glass of wine and a piece of ds's b'day cake is helping!!

Minmooch, I'm sorry! How sad to have this happen again. I'm not surprised you are feeling sad and angry, it's only natural.
You sound incredibly fertile to me, having had so many bfps. Have you been to see your GP, to see if they can check your progesterone levels, I think that is a key factor in retaining a pregnancy.
I know it is tough, but I think you have every chance of having a baby soon, you do seem to fall pregnant quite easily. To put it in perspective, I personally have had one very faint bfp which ended in a chemical since starting TTC ages ago - not so much sad as monotonous.
I hope you can get some sleep and feel better soon, it is bound to make you feel sad, perhaps taking a month off TTC to do other things and focus on other projects might help? Big hugs to you tonight!

Thanks everybody for your kind words.

I do feel slightly better today. Went out on thursday night and cried over dinner with some girlfriends and drank way too much wine.

JuicyLucy - I definitely needs shoes! After last mc I bought a fab pair of boots for £275! Maybe this time just some flip flops for summer, linen trousers, couple of tops .......... until I feel a whole lot better!

DH is being v supportive - I think he feels guilty that I am having to go through all this. He is even making moussaka tonight!

Rowingboat - I have been to see my gp and we have been referred to a fertility clinic. I have had my blood tests done and all seems fine there. DH had a semen test last week and we get results from that next week.

I think maybe you are right and a month off just to relax will do me more good than bd'ing on the right dates, pressure etc. We are off to Spain for a week in a couple of weeks so maybe after then.

I am wishing all of us loads of love and luck - if only these future babies knew how hard we are all trying. xx

Oh Minmooch, so sorry Hope your moussaka, wine and shoes make you feel a bit better. A least you've got some to tests completed which will help once you get your hospital appt.

Has anyone else used the cheapie ovulation tests? I've used them for the first time this month and only got a faint line on day 11 then nothing since even though I'm day 16 now [hmmm]Is it the sticks or is it an indication of a feeble ovulation! Looks like I'm on the 2ww now...

Thats interesting advice Heron. Better stock up on some pads! Oh and very impressed with all the vitamins lots of you take. I thought I was doing well, remembering to take one folic acid a day !

Hi Gem I use those cheapie OPKs and the pregnancy tests from Ebay. Haven't had many opportunities to test the preg ones but the OPKs seem to work pretty well. Having said that I only use them from around day 13, but they always show a line on day 14 for me.
Do you think you may have ovulated early?
Allegedly, the best thing is to do temping, but it's only possible if you employ a full-time nurse to take you temp when you are still in bed, otherwise it's a bit difficult to remember.
Funnily enough, I used an OPK today and forgot I did it and forgot to go and look at it. DOOOH! I just remembered when I read your post [kicking self icon] and went to check it. It had a faint line, but I don't think I should pay any attention after an hour and a half has elapsed. So only have one left.
It's day 14 for us so another bd tonight I reckon, and I'm at work tomorrow.
I will be joining you on the 2WW tomorrow - anything special planned?

Glad you're feeling a bit better Minmooch. I think you're right about taking a month off. You and youre body have gone through quite a lot recently.

Good luck on the two week wait rowingboat and
gem2mum.

DH gets home on thurs and then we're off to Spain for a week on Sat, so this is the official start of our TTC. Bring it on

Oh how romantic Juicy! Lucky you! Where are you going(I just want to imagine Spain and lying around)?

Thanks Rowing, I realised this morning that there was a sheet of usage instructions in the envelope that the test sticks arrived in . I had been so keen to use the sticks that I just dived in and assumed I was supposed to test first thing in the morning when infact i should have been testing between 10am and 8pm and using a room temp sample! How can I be that stupid?!
As for temps, I kept forgetting because I was jumping out of bed to dd before I ever remembered to temp. Mind you, today, for the fist time, she managed to climb out of her cot, open her door and come and wake us up so I can definitely forget taking a temp from now on!

2ww here I come..nothing exciting to take my mind off it. Only positive side to getting a BFN is I will be able to enjoy my holidy in france next month with a bottle of wine or two

Enjoy your hols Juicy

Villa in the hills outside Malaga with friends. I don't intend to leave the villa all week if I can help it. Am aiming at staying poolside as much as possible

Gem2mum - sounds like the kind of thing I would do! Never mind at least you know now.

I'm the same with the temping. I would love to do it as the OV sticks have never shown an LH surge (even the expensive ones). But remembering every day at 6am in the morning?? Me no think so.