TTC first baby thread 25

[Annny27]

hi ladies,

Setting up a new thread for all of us ttc our first baby!

Will tag all the names I can remember from top of my head (I.e easy to spell haha)

@kiza
@lozzlepop
@orangeloo
@lottiepink
@timswifey
@XjustagirlX
@lizzie198

Graduates:
@whatsthecraic91

@Annny27 from memory my DH had morphology just on the borderline of being normal. The consultant said as he has a really high sperm count it doesn’t matter.

We thought about not TTC as my RM appointment has been deferred to January and I thought the hycosy would be in October. I phoned up and the hycosy definitely won’t be before November so we decided to try this month.

I got a peak and that was the day we decided we should try. So I could possibly of missed it this month. I’m 5 dpo today.

Im going to really try and remain calm and stress free this month.

Evening ladies :) had my progesterone test this morning so fingers crossed its all okay!

@XjustagirlX thats good to see that high sperm count can counteract low morphology!

Fingers crossed for you! Will you need any progesterone/ aspirin if you do conceive?

@kiza happy 40th for whenever it was :) but definitely bittersweet about the delays to ivf! Can't imagine how frustrating it is for you both :(

@orangeloo ahh okay gutting that your DP has been away but nice to have some months off of symptom spotting I imagine!

@Annny27 due to the 3 miscarriages I imagine I will need some help if I do get pregnant but I won’t be given any. My appointment was moved to January so if I get pregnant before then I will just have to hope it works out on its own.

The lady from the RM unit was so lovely. I explained that mentally I need a realistic date to work towards to get the tests done. She originally told me November would be my appointment. She then phoned me up to let me know it was moved to January. She didn’t have to do that I suppose.

She did say that one of the first things they look at is vitamin D and folic acid. She advised buying 5mg folic acid tablets as the normal ones people take only have 400micrograms in them. Also she said I should get a vitamin D blood test with my doctor as it should be above 50. It was 119 so that’s ok.

Also I just want to tell you all a story about one of my friends. I recently spoke to her about my issues and she told me this.

She struggled to get pregnant as she had limited eggs. She was on the borderline of qualifying for ivf and the doctor told her she had a 10% chance of it working. Luckily it worked and she got her first child.

A year ago she went to the clinic to enquire about transferring another embryo. For various reasons she didn’t go ahead with it at that time.

A couple of months later she found out she was pregnant naturally. And she was over 40.

When she told me this it gave me such hope as it was pretty much impossible for her to get pregnant.

@Annny27 yes it has been nice having some time off and no symptom spotting. It's also easier now I've started the referral process at least I feel like some progress is happening eve if very small.

@XjustagirlX I wonder if you got pregnant again before you were seen and phoned up telling them they would offer you some help or advise anything you can do maybe.
Thank you for sharing that about your friend I love hearing success stories like that. They do give me much needed hope :)

Morning :) 12dpo and feels like AF is on the way 🙄

@XjustagirlX thats good that they checked your vitamin D and folic acid. I had a recent blood test, cant remember what for now haha but they did a full blood count and said that my folic acid levels were really good from the vitamins I am taking which is reassuring 🥰

And thats lovely to hear a success story!

@orangeloo yep its relaxing when you are being seen by a fertility clinic i feel. Like if my period arrives I am having a blood test days 1-5 and then a mid cycle ultrasound so I feel things are being looked at atleast!

Hi all, how are we all doing? Sorry I have been absent just been trying to take some time out and take stock of the past few mental months.

@XjustagirlX this is so interesting as nobody has ever mentioned this to me, I wish the information was consistent across the board, I wasn't even aware you could buy stronger folic acid, are there any risks associated with taking a higher dose?

@Annny27 thats good that you are getting a scan etc, what do the blood tests look for exactly do you know? Again when I had my ultrasounds etc they never asked where I was in my cycle.

How is everyone doing with the ever changing restrictions? Hope everyone is well and staying safe.

@Lozzlepop she didn’t say there were any side effects. I’ve just had a quick look online and couldn’t find anything worth worrying about. I also didn’t realise I could get a higher dose of folic acid

@XjustagirlX @Lozzlepop I am on 5mg folic acid as my levels are low (I'm also b12 deficient and they are sometimes related). The high strength folic acid is prescription only so I'm not sure why they said you could buy it as this isn't true. I'm a pharmacy technician so I know from work. I wish I could buy it though as last time I got some from my GP he said i shouldn't need it really and to just take a supplement if I really wanted to so won't give me any more 🙄 even though the bloods have shown I am low and I can feel it when I stop taking it. I have nearly run out again 😭

@Narwhal88 i was told to take it because my recurrent miscarriage appointment was moved back. the lady from the RM unit said that’s the first thing they would give me so I might as well start now.

She said I should get my GP to prescribe it. I asked what I should do if I couldn’t get it prescribed and she said just buy it.

I’ve since bought some off amazon. I didn’t bother going to the GP as the prescription price was higher than the cost from amazon.

I just typed in 5mg folic acid and amazon had loads.

Morning ladies! AF started today 😔 not tracking atall this cycle - no OPKS and not stressing about where I am. Having tests this cycle so doesn't feel wasted:)

@XjustagirlX how are you getting on in the tww?

@lozzlepop I had my day 21 progesterone done this week and rhen next week is checking for LH and FSH as well as rubella immunity! Not sure what those things indicate but I have an appointment at the fertilitt clinic in 2 weeks so they will go through things I am sure

@Narwhal88 definitely worth seeing another GP in the practice to see if they will prescribe it

Morning ladies :)

@orangeloo had my progesterone checked and my levels were 60 something! So within normal range. Sometimes I spot and sometimes I dont so perhaps my levels fluctuate but I have taken that to mean I dont need to take my supplements anymore and my spotting must just be the progesterone reducing or just my uterus getting ready for my period.....who knows but my doctor isn't worried so neither am I haha

Morning ladies,

Been missing again for a while!

Great to see your getting tests done @Annny27, hopefully it's giving you some peace of mind 😊

How is everyone getting on?

CD 15 and just waiting for ovulation... again 😂

This is a very quiet thread these days - seems we are all fed up of ttc 🤣 i know i am......

Got my ultrasound next week so hopefully that all goes okay- I have had lots of ultrasounds whilst pregnant and miscarrying so will be on a non pregnant cycle just to check all is good :)

@Lottiepink I am cd7 so ovulation is a fair bit away I think - going to start the every other day sex today. Can barely contain my excitement 🤪😴🤣

@Annny27 I think you're right as I know I'm fed up! I feel like I've almost given up tracking and focussing on it as I'm now on cycle 27. I've also given up calling the IVF clinic and instead am focussing on the gym and trying to get defined abs at the ripe old age of 40! 😂

Wow 27 cycles! @kiza
I cant remember what cycle we are on haha - maybe 18 haha!

And yayyy for getting abs on 40! My 28 year old abs are not defined at all 🤣

Having loads of ewcm at cd9 so I think an early ovulation in a few days for me

@Annny27 hahaha maybe I mistyped that- abs are still very much the journey- not yet at the destination!
Yep cycle 27, you can understand why I switch from feeling desperate for IVF to ' I can't bare talking about TTC anymore'. 😩

Good luck for this cycle ladies. Surely one of us old timers is due a sticky BFP soon?! 🤞🏼

Morning ladies :)

Has my ultrasound today and all looks okay - she said I am due to ovulate soon which adds up with my ewcm :) just took an opk to see and its nearly positive so definitely on the way to ovulation:) she also said she sees no reason why we haven't conceived......the joys of unexplained infertility!

@kiza well you are a step closer to abs than me so go you!! Ahh it really is a whirl wind of emotions. Have you heard anything more on referral?

Hi everyone

So no BFP last cycle. I’m in CD 8 today so will probably start BD tomorrow.

I had some every frustrating news regarding my tests. My RM tests have been moved from November to January and I’ve since been told that they are just on pause until they can reopen. Basically someone high up has decided they are non essential.

Im also waiting for my hycosy. Don’t have a date for that yet but won’t be before December.

I have also decided to pay for the NK cells tests at Coventry. It’s £540 and they do a biopsy to check the levels of NK cells and suggest treatment. However there is a long wait so the tests won’t be till January probably.

I’ve got lots of tests coming but not until the new year hopefully. I just feel like my life is on pause.

We considered stopping trying as I thought my tests would be sooner but we have decided to keep trying as the tests could keep being pushed back.

@Annny27 hey, glad your progesterone was good. Mine was 70 something one test and another was 50 something. Then on the home tests they were showing as below 10 at 8 DPO so god knows. I really don't see how it can come down that much in a day?. I don't think they will ever get to bottom of spotting as they don't care about it anyway. Good your scan was good I also had the lady who scanned me say all the baby making bits look perfect. I of course was pleased at that but also annoyed. Unexplained infertility does suck!!

@Kiza I feel very similar to you. I'm just focusing on trying to be healthy now. In a way I feel it would not be great to fall pregnant naturally now as at least if we do IVF we will hopefully have some embryos in the bank rather than keep slogging away ttc style. It's a relief to think okay my referral is underway it's not all on us in the bedroom now haha.

@XjustagirlX SOrry about your tests being pushed back that sucks. I understand you still trying and think I would do the same.

My ovulation has come forward though the last few months to CD14 which is good I spose. but I also worry why the change? Is it because I'm getting older 😂 this journey makes u so paranoid and negative sometimes.

I have consultation with consultant on the 3rd I'm not certain but the nurse said after that she will probably refer you straight for IVF. God knows how long that wait will be though. I really hope not too long.

So random but of luck. I phoned the hospital to get my blood results day 3 and day 21. They wouldn’t give them me over the phone as it’s not their procedure to do this. This didn’t make sense to me so I phoned the consultants secretary to hopefully get them.

She mentioned that they had had a cancellation for a hycosy and if it suited with my cycle I could have the appointment. It did so I’ve got my hycosy tomorrow morning. Any advice if anyone has any experience of this? I’ve bought Nurofen with codeine.

Also I want to ask the consultant about progesterone. When I had my initial bloods on day 21 done last December I was told my progesterone was 34. They said that was normal (ie I’m ovulating) but actually I’m wondering if my progesterone is low. Does anyone know what the normal progesterone level is for day 21. 34 just seems very low if the limit is 30. I also get spotting before my period and occasionally mid cycle spotting. Also each time I’ve been pregnant I’ve had spotting.

I can’t seem to get an answer from google.

@XjustagirlX I found an nhs link which states above 30 so as you say if yours is 34 I'd say it's only just above the cover line. Mine was 51 and was told that's 'healthy'.
I'd be inclined to ask again. I had a HSG (which is similar to Hycosy) mine was a bigger due to them not being able to get the catheter in, once it was in though she was very kind in that she inserted the dye very slowly so no pain at that point. For the rest of the day it was like period cramps so I'd advise taking some painkillers and hour beforehand and keep on top of them- hot water bottle helps too ☺️

@orangeloo I think once your referral is in I reckon it won't be too long before your treatment planning appt for IVF as all clinics are now up and running. Depends on the 'average' wait time at your clinic so you could phone and ask?

@Annny27 at last we have movement with ivf!! We got a call on Tuesday and next week we will hopefully be doing the online information thing (it's like the group info giving they used to do in lecture halls pre Covid) and then we sign consents online. Then the following week treatment planning appointment then hopefully good to go! Working out when my period falls I reckon I'll start meds 21st Dec ish

@XjustagirlX sorry forgot to post the link www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/our-services/services-we-offer/pathology/tests-and-investigations/progesterone/

@Kiza good news about the movement for IVF!

@XjustagirlX that's good news about HYcosy I found mine quite uncomfy but they struggled getting the little ballon thing to stay in ( it's like a little umbrella that stops all the fluid they put in coming out) and struggled to get caheter in. Definitely take a painkiller about an hour before. I found having something in my hand to squeeze helped too. And just breath through it.
I wouldn't worry too much about progesterone as it varies cycle to cycle and throughout the day. You can do seed cycling and eat certain foods to help increase it too. If you get through the RM a unit and then get PG they will prescribe this as support. If you get pregnant beforehand try not to worry too much as it is supposed to increase on its own.

@XjustagirlX I should say they will probably prescribe just because the few people I know that have been through this were. but not sure if all RM units would do the same.