Sorry in advance... Another Covid thread!

[A08x]

Hello! Just looking to see if anyone is in a similar situation and wants to chat?

My DH and I have been having unprotected sex since around May 2019, however didn’t actively start TTC until September. (Before September I wasn’t using opk’s or tracking cycle so may not have even been having sex during fertile time). So as it stands I class us onto month 8 now of officially trying.

We’ve never had so much as a chemical pregnancy, so as the months drag on I can’t help but wonder if there is an issue with one of us.

Anyway, with the current corona virus situation I know it’s not an ideal time to be pregnant. We have discussed it a lot and have decided that we are going to continue having unprotected sex, however I will be deleting cycle tracking apps, no OPKs, no pre-seed (which has turned out to be shit anyway), etc ...

So looking to see if anyone else is feeling similar? I feel it would be far more detrimental to us for me to recommence on contraception at this time, as when this is all over if we still have not conceived it sets us way back for accessing fertility investigations.

No judgement or corona baby police please!

Also whilst I am here I need to have a rant - is anyone else SICK of the “corona baby boom” jokes due to isolation???? I swear if one more person jokes that I will be giving birth in December I may punch them in the face!

Hope everyone is coping okay with lockdown ❤️

I think what you suggest is definitely best. Do not go on hormonal contraceptives as it will be at least a year off them before they can test you properly and delay things further . If you choose to use contraceptives make it a condom.

And I hate those comments about the baby boom. I’m very blessed to have my ivf baby but for those still waiting my heart goes out to them.

I made an account just to reply. 100% yes - fuck “corona baby boom, lol”.

Im 34 and trying for our first. I’m pretty much in the same boat - we’ve been trying since July and not even a whiff of a faint positive.

We’re at the point where friends who started trying just before us Or at the same time are about to give birth. Whole humans have been grown in the space of time I’ve gone batty about a possible shadow on a 100 fucking expensive wee sticks!

We had just started down the road of trying to figure out why with our GP the month before this all started. I did my blood tests and husband was due to do his tests but everything now postponed. GP thankfully already referred us to clinic, which I need to book, but first visit not likely for at least 5 months or more.

Same as you, I’ve been debating what to do. We took a month off from trying this month just because I was so devastated last cycle. It felt like a real shift from “this just takes a while” to “we’re going to have a different journey with this”. As dramatic as it sounds, it was a mini grieving process. I couldn’t get my head around it - we’ve been doing everything “right”.

So. Same conclusion as you - going to stop opks (though I’m comically regular and can’t forget that I get my peak at 6pm on CD 11) and go with the flow.

I’m the least likely person in this world to even type out “go with the flow” so that’s a big step . I’m not going to test either. We’ll see though - I’m worried that a two week wait may break my mental health stuck at home!

Long post but thought I’d reach out and say hi, I’m with you x

It sounds like you're doing the right thing & you've strongly thought about it. There is lots of uncertainty in the world right now but there always is with the environment, brexit, economy to name a few... There seems to never be a good time so I would just continue as you are, I'm doing the same. Agree, the corona baby boom is so annoying , my MIL actually sent me a video about it

We are in the same boat, have been ttc to concieve since august 2019 and not even close to a positive result, such horrible timing with covid but dont want it to affect our goals of ttc :( totally agree with the covid boom jokes so stupid!

We’re in the same position, TTC #1, been actively tracking since July. Some of our friends got pregnant cycle 1. I cried. We’re continuing throughout and absolutely sick of hearing about Covid baby boom 🙄🙄

@louisetrees Thankyou for your response - and congrats on your baby 💗

@bernadettesunday Yes I feel ya 100%!!! The screenshots of pregnancy announcements that I’ve sent my husband in sheer jealousy over the months are now having their baby’s and it’s making me crazy!
I totally get you, makes sense to have a month off to let yourself get used to the change in paths. It’s so frustrating - I find myself wondering all the time, why me??? Sound like a complete self-obsessed drama queen but exactly what you said, when you’ve done everything right it just doesn’t seem fair.
I think I’m 1 baby boom joke away from slapping a bitch 😂👋🏼 Good luck with everything and here if you want to chat x

@Natt99 @rbrad260191 @SugarPlumBaby seems as though we’re all in a similar position. As shitty as that situation is, it feels better knowing we’re not alone. I feel as though all I’ve seen on here lately is negativity directed at anyone who is not completely halting their TTC journey, so I’m glad we have a thread here to chat without that x

Same situation, trying since August 2019. I'm 40, partner is 39 so we don't have time on our side at all.

I'm 1 week into 2ww at the moment, no idea what's going to happen

Well said @A08x we can have this as a negativity free zone x

Hi everyone?

How are we all getting on? AF arrived 14/4 for me. I'm constantly thinking about being pregnant or being really depressed about not being pregnant. I just can't get it out of my mind. I've just got this gut feeling that there is something wrong, we've paid for tests and everything so far has come back fine but there's just this niggle I have.

Fed up of people telling me stories of how their friends "stopped trying" and conceived straight away once they did.

I don't think my mind could even escape to pretend we aren't trying?! Anyone else?

@SugarPlumBaby hello again! Sorry AF arrived, mine came too on 27/04 which also conveniently was my first wedding anniversary! Happy anniversary to us 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️ I know exactly what you mean, I feel the same. If it’s not too personal to ask, have you ever had a chemical or anything? Feel free to not answer but just wondering as a lot of people on this board that have been trying for a while seem to have, and I’ve not, which also makes me worry that we can’t even get the “sperm meeting the egg” so to speak.

I am so obsessed just now, my Instagram discover page is full of baby/pregnancy related things! I got tagged in a “tag someone who’s coming out of lockdown pregnant” post on Facebook, I thought yup comedy genius you are!

This month we have started taking extra precautions (on top of the pre-seed, opk’s, etc). We have started to both take daily supplements (folic acid (been taking this for a year), vitamin C and D, glass of pomegranate juice, glass of orange juice and in addition to this DH is also taking omega 3/6. Greens with every meal, no caffeine or alcohol. DH also only wearing extremely loose shorts with no boxers to keep his balls cool, putting phones away from us (apparently to reduce wireless signals) and changing exercise to reduce sweat lol. Sound like a looney but we did some extra research this month as AF really pissed us off a lot more than it has before.

Also DTD every day from when AF ended until it comes again - wish me luck ha ha think I’m gonna need it!!!

Are you trying anything new this month? X

I'm sorry AF arrived when she did, very selfish! Hope you still managed to have a lovely day though.

Not too personal at all, in fact I'm relieved you asked as I was feeling exactly the same. I've never had a chemical, my periods are pretty much like clockwork, I've been 2 days late but with brown cm (tmi 😂) but never a hint of a positive on a test. I'm concerned as we haven't used any hormonal contraceptives in years.

I am equally obsessed, constantly googling, checking boards, looking on instagram #ttcuk and any other hashtag I can find! Listened to so many podcasts too.

We've used preseed on and off, as a lube rather than getting out the syringe and killing the mood. We've started this month taking supplements as someone recommended luisa zissman's blog. And eating lots of beetroot 🤷‍♀️ At this point I'd do anything!!

We booked a virtual consultation with CREATE fertility and they sent a blood test in the post. It also includes a scan when they reopen the clinic, it was £180 and I just felt like I needed to do something during the lockdown to help ease my mind. We have had tests previously and they came back 'fine' but no real analysis. We were due an nhs initial appointment in a few weeks but it was obviously cancelled, mentally I'm really struggling and the thought of more waiting was upsetting. I've had a lot of close family bereavement in the last 6 years so it's really taking a toll on my stability. X

@SugarPlumBaby Exact same here, my period is like clockwork to the point i know what morning to start wearing a liner, pad etc! This month I text my friend and made a comment about how I would wake up the next morning with AF, she thought I was joking but without fail there it was lol. Suppose that’s something going in our favour to remain positive about?!

Ooh what’s the link for her blog? Worth a wee look. Another tip I read about 13 pages deep on a conception website was about keeping your body at above room temp to keep the womb warm to encourage conception (apparently an old Chinese tradition). So not eating or drinking anything too cold, wearing socks to bed, etc.

That’s a really decent price! And will definitely help your mindset if you know you’re being pro-active 😊 I’ve been keeping an eye on nhs fertility & seen the service will start back up again in the coming weeks, but I’m unsure if that will only be for those in the middle of ivf cycles and such, or if that includes initial fertility investigations as well. I’m Scotland, where abouts are you?

I’m so sorry for the loss you’ve experienced 😔 this whole process is so mentally draining before you even consider the outside factors such as seeing other pregnancy announcements, people asking if you just “don’t want kids”, etc .. it’s such a tough time💔 Do many of your friends / family know you’re trying? X

Haha I suppose so!

Ooh that's interesting to know too, her blog is here: www.luisazissman.co.uk/?p=647

I'm in England and hoping it will be for us too, I'm sure it will be as they know how stressful it is!

Most of our friends know yes as we have always been quite open about it, but I do feel like a broken record. I try not to moan too much because it must get sooo boring hearing it. They have obviously said it's fine but it's so repetitive. Some don't ask so we only talk about it when I bring it up, which is fine. I think we'll tell DH's parents if we aren't successful this time, I think they're probably aware though. What about yours? X

@SugarPlumBaby

Thankyou I will check that out! Absolutely it’s such a stressful time. Hopefully won’t be too long before GP/conception services are back to being semi-normal!

Aww that’s good you have people to talk to. I’m sure your friends are more than happy to support you and definitely won’t mind being an open ear ❤️ None of our friends know, it’s something we’ve tried to keep between us as I don’t know if people asking us would upset me more or not. It does mean that we get some insensitive child related comments from people but I suppose I need to accept that. We have never hidden the fact we want kids and before our wedding we were open about the fact we can’t wait to have them, and we got married a year ago, so it’s not exactly rocket science lol.

The only person I have told is my mum a few months back as we have quite a close relationship, but she was just a bit patronising and suggested we may not be doing “it” at the right time of the month as she conceived both me and my sister within a few months 🙄.

Where abouts in your cycle are you just now?

Yes fingers crossed they resume soon!

I'm actually going for an internal scan at the fertility clinic on Tuesday morning as they are reopening! So that's something to look forward to I guess haha.

That's a shame you haven't got much physical support, but I suppose that's what these boards are for!! People not in the same position just don't understand, so although I'm sure your mum meant well and to be helpful, it's just annoying when it's not helpful - but honestly what comment would be helpful?! I can't think of anything, even 'it will happen' is bloody irritating!

I'm on CD27 now so due on tomorrow, I don't seem to have any unusual symptoms except for my boobs aren't as sore as usual for this time in the cycle, but I'm definitely not getting my hopes up!

Whereabouts are you in your cycle?