Trying to conceive baby No 1 over 40

[October1979]

I am 40 nearly 41 and ttc baby no1. I fell pregnant for the first time in December but suffered a missed miscarriage at 8 1/2 weeks in February. I've been trying ever since with no luck. I use Clearblue advanced fertility monitor. Take vitamin B, C and Co Q10 as well as pre conception tablets daily. Until lockdown I did weekly acupuncture. I guess I'm feeling low as af turned up today and I turn 41 very soon.

I am usually positive and hopeful. Trying to think what's for me won't go past me...

Looking for some buddies in the same boat or some over 40s who conceived naturally to give me hope and share their secret to success.

Oh wow @October1979 that's amazing news. Also a good line, I wouldn't say faint. I've got everything crossed for you this is it! xx

@October1979 congratulations! If that doesn't convince me to get an Ava bracelet I don't know what will lol

First month using Ava and it actually brought my fertile week and peak days a couple of days earlier than clear blue fertility monitor. It predicted the week before it happened @sabtom. Thanks @Catconfusion it's one test so will wait till the morning and do some more. Still sceptical as fertility monitor says not pregnant. Bit concerned it could be a chemical xx

@October1979 so does the Ava bracelet actually tell you when you will ovulate and if you have? I thought the reliability would be the same as getting a peak OPK?

Yes a dip suggests ovulation but a few days after it gives you a tick on a circle to confirm. You can see a diary view and a chart @sabtom. If you look at both my attached pictures you can see confirmed ovulation. The circle in the diary on the 16th and on the chart at the top. The 16th is my lowest dip before it goes up

The tick next to the circle on the predicted ovulation day is confirmation after reading information over the next few days . If your data suggests it will be later/ earlier it shifts your green fertile week/ predicted ovulation day. It did that once for me by a day

It's very sad you had a miscarriage. However, you did get pregnant and that means you can most likely get pregnant again.

So you wouldn't need to use OPKs with this bracelet then @October1979? I guess I might have to wait till next cycle before I start using it, if I get it.

Hi @sabtom no you wouldn't need to use opks. But I did both as it says it can take a couple of months to learn about you and this is my first month. It uses artificial intelligence so it learns as it goes. I would do both first month to see if both were predicting the same. However I got my first peak on clear blue opk the day Ava said I'd ovulated. So if I had to waited there was a chance I would have missed it. I got my Ava second hand off eBay for £160. I got the new model. There are two. I figured if it worked for someone else it might work for you me. They also give you an article each day to read and tells you any patterns

@sabtom your cycles need to be 25-35 days. So you should be fine.

You can also start using as soon as you get it @sabtom

Thanks @October1979, I'll have a look at eBay first, I think £249 is a little excessive to get a brand new one

There are lots that have only been used a few months that are being sold @sabtom

@October1979 that's definitely positive. Congratulations!

@Shadow79 I couldn't read your heartbreaking story and not say sorry for your loss Best of luck to you x

Hi everyone, did another couple of tests today and they seem faint for 15dpo. Also still not pregnant on clear blue fertility monitor. Worried this could be a chemical ☹️

They're still obvious positives, OP. Much the same as yesterday's and it hasn't been very long at all. The strength of positives varies quite a bit at this stage. I know we'd all like to see very dark lines, and I can't guarantee everything is okay, but I don't think there is reason to worry at all.

@October1979 it’s so difficult to say at this stage. I’d say it’s looking good as the lines are not always dye stealers at this stage. Does it look darker than yesterday? The threshold level of hcg on the monitor might be quite high. If a pregnancy implants late it can take a while for hcg to show in samples. All you can do is keep an open mind and maybe test again in a couple of days. Above else try not to worry or get stressed. Thinking of you and hoping for a stronger line in a couple of days. Xx

@October1979 I echo what @Catconfusion says. Only time will tell but it's definitely a good thing you are getting positives now. Wishing you all the best for those darker lines XxX

Thanks @Catconfusion @Livingmagicallyagain I'm trying not to panic. Went a bit daft and done 3 more this afternoon. Definitely think lines are getting lighter. But was afternoon urine. Will try and wait a couple of days abs see then. Only time will tell

@October1979 it could definitely be more diluted samples giving the weaker line. Until 48 hours have passed they might not look any darker. It’s so tough at this stage. Virtual handhold! Xx

Thanks @Catconfusion I'm going to my acupuncturist first thing tomorrow to see if this will give me a boost

I've just read through this thread, fingers crossed for you

@October1979 all my fingers and toes are crossed for you hun!

Having a bit of an internal scream today.

Tonight I have acupuncture, which is also for period pain.

Tomorrow eve after work I have blood tests - getting AMH, Vit D and Thyroid function checked. DH getting SA done next month. Also getting scan just to check my fibroids aren’t going to be an issue.

Am taking Omega 3, ubiquinol and high-value prenatal with top notch folate.

But I feel WEIRD. I feel like I’m at a strange for in my life where I am working towards one goal but not sure what’s going to play out as the messages to woman over 40 are so mixed. We’ve already decided we don’t want to go down the IVF rabbit hole now as it’s just not our bag, but my head is overwhelmed with what I should/shouldn’t be doing.

Should I take DHEA?? That can have a negative impact apparently if it’s not needed. The place I’m getting tests done aren’t testing me for progesterone as I fell pregnant first time (Nov 20).

But I also feel nervous if I do get pregnant because I feel so down about the statistics for chromosomal issues. I have had two friends have stillbirths in past year (one was 34 years old and one 38, so not related to being over 40, just nature) and I feel like my anxiety IF I even get pregnant again may be off the charts. When can we even relax once pregnant?

And is anyone else scared about not being able to be vaccinated for COVID?? Obviously we are not a group that can afford to wait until September to start trying but....

AAARGHHHH I dunno. This is such a negative message I know but I just feel so bloody anxious about every result.

Thank you in advance for just reading this and letting me vent!

All the above aside - I absolutely believe healthy pregnancy over 40 is statistically more probably than not. It just takes 9 months of holding one’s breath!

xxx

(And to the one or two people popping on this thread to say pointlessly unkind sht like ‘Why leave it so late?’ some of us weren’t fortunate enough to meet our DH/OHs until later - I was 39 - so PLEASE kindly f*k off ;-D)

Good luck today with acupuncture @October1979. Crossing everything for you!