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.

I conceived and gave birth to my DS when I was 42. We had been trying for about 3 years and I had 3 early miscarriages in the year before that. We had fertility investigations and my FSH level was a bit high at 12.6. We were due to start IVF. We did the sperm meets egg plan and I would recommend it. You start having sex on day 8 and then do it every other day until you get a peak on the clear blue ovulation predictor. You then have sex 3 days in a row and then once again after another 3 days I think. I googled it and got all the details. Think timings also depend on your length of cycle too. Turns out I ovulate really early so this helped us. Was quite tiring but I feel so lucky to have my son as I didn’t think it would happen for us. Just want to wish you all the best and am sorry for your loss

Thank you for this @Cityzen74 I will give it a try next month. Open to anything at the moment. Loving all these positive stories about how you got your families

How are you doing @Bouncytree ? Any news

Great to hear all the post I’ve stories 🥰

I really don’t think you’ve missed your chance @October1979, but I understand that feeling. You just really want a baby and of course that makes you worry.

I realised I got my dates wrong, AF should be today. 🤦‍♀️ But it still hasn’t arrived 🤷‍♀️.
Did a bless blue early test this morning with FMU and negative.

Felt horrific this afternoon. Awful cramps and nausea. Couldn’t concentrate on work and was like a demon! Had to lie on the floor for a bit.

So I’m terribly confused and In total limbo. Anything is possibly at this point I guess.

But I feel so strange 🥴 cramping on and off now for 6 days.

It's still early @Bouncytree. They say implantation is between 6dpo and 12dpo. So it may still be too early. I still have heavy sensitive boobs. Refrained from checking at work, but did when I got home and they look normal. But I do think they started feeling tender earlier. I don't think I've had cramping. But definitely sharp pain especially my hip and lower back. Although starting to suspect tummy cramps may come.

@October1979 thanks. Yes good point that could be an explanation. As I’ve had cramps since 6 dpo I though they may have been implantation but it could have happened later. I’ve always has results on day of missed period so this is new to me!

Still no AF today, BFN with FMU. I’m my head I’m flipping widely thinking I must be PG to don’t be silly...but then what’s the explanation. 🤷‍♀️

I know what you mean @Bouncytree I have been doing the same. Been really tired and felt some pulling but flipping between it's probably cramps not pulling and had a hard week at work. Also boobs not so sensitive today. I also haven't had the Metallic taste or fuzzy head which I had last time. Have you had many symptoms?

Ohhh sounds promising @October1979. Eeeep fingers crossed it’s your moth.

Feeling nauseous again tonight, and had a faint metallic taste in my mouth which is stronger tonight...it’s all starting to get a bit suspicious 🤔.

My period is never late, 3 days now. But Afraid to get my hopes up. I thought I saw a shadow of a line on test this morning but couldn’t tell if indent or my imagination. I’m hoping it turns into a proper line tomorrow!

AF came for me today unfortunately @Bouncytree but 3 days late for you! that sounds really positive. I think I can see a shadow on your test. Fingers crossed that you get your line tomorrow. Let me know how you get on

@October1979 sorry to hear about af, it’s always a bit of a sinking feeling. Are you doing ok?

Oh I’m glad u think there might be something . Eeep fingers crossed. Maybe just maybe 🤞

I'm fine thanks @Bouncytree. Yesterday was disappointing. But back on track today. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you.

After all that...bloody AF has arrived! She has been Playing tricks on me. I ovulated late and maybe that just pushed AF forward. Few days. I really felt gross and what were those 6 days of cramps about 🤷‍♀️

Anyway mystery solved at least I suppose. Gutted when I went to test. But over it now. Back on the baby dance train 🚂🤣

It’s always disappointing when you see AF. But then I kinda feel relieved to have a mental break for a few days before the testing starts again 🤣

I'm sorry @Bouncytree I know how disappointing it is. I had a low couple of days but bouncing back to start trying all over again. Hopefully this month is our month

@October1979 hi how are you doing? Sorry I’ve been off line for a bit. I think I just really needed a break for thinking about TTC. Intense month last month with the late period, really had me convinced I was PG fir a few days.

Ready to get back in the saddle again 🤭🤣 CD 10 here and starting opks and thinking about DTD on CD 12.

How are you doing? I hope all is good

Good to hear from you @Bouncytree . I went into a panic when af arrived but settling down now and trying Sperm meets egg method this month. So did the doing the deed every second day from cd8 then 3 consecutive days when I get a positive opk one day off then once more for luck. I'm 2 tries in so far. I'm also cd10, Looks like we are in sync this month.

@Bouncytree how long are your cycles?

Hi @October1979 oh that’s fun that we are in sync! Normally 28 days but 31 last cycle, ovulating 2 days normal. Been fretting a bit about that as I feel like they are normally regular, but hopefully just a blip.

How long are your cycles?

Sperm meets egg plan, you are going for it this month! Gawd I barely have the energy to get through a normal month of DTD. 😅 I’m going to start DTD on CD 11/12 and then every second day till ovulation peak.

@Bouncytree . Yes going for it! Well trying too. But barely have the energy myself. I'm usually 25/27 days. But my luteal phase is always 11 days. So AF usually comes 11 days after my second peak day. Fingers crossed. My hubby not keen on ivf so he is trying everything to avoid it. I have it in my head to reevaluate after Christmas

Yes you will definitely need your weetabix this month!

Have you seen this? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/4083148-2-miscarriages-looking-for-some-hope?watched=1&msgid=101881394#101881394

Just really nice to hear positive stories and have ‘there is nothing wrong with you’ reiterated

Had a read @Bouncytree it really does make you feel hopeful. Fingers crossed this is our month. Third try in and still no peak for me on opk. Still have my 3 in a row to do. Hopefully tomorrow. Going to acupuncture tonight. How are you?

Checking in again - fingers crossed for this month!

Wanted to reassure you about your results too. My AMH is was 1.1 a year ago and AFC was 4!! Yet I still got pregnant first try (as soon as levo sorted my TSH). Your results are within range for our age group. You can do a lot for egg quality.

Just came on to say, I conceived at 40 and gave birth at 41. First pregnancy. As I only met my DH at 38 I pre-emptively did all the tests and knew I was fertile before we started trying. I started doing a Mediterranean fertility diet, taking ubiquinol, etc just to try and conceive the month after we married! However it didn't happen. I was confused as I was fit abs healthy too. After 7 months I went back to the clinic. As a last ditch attempt before ivf they did a HyCosy. Have you had one? They simply pump dye up your Fallopian tubes to check for blockages. (Obviously a blockage in just one tube reduces conception chances by half.) No blockages were visible. So seemingly there was no explanation for my not conceiving... however.... the consult did tell me that a surprisingly significant number of women report getting pregnant the very next cycle after having a HyCosy. The reason is that the pumping of the dye can in itself dislodge any blockages which may have been there. And guess what, the very next cycle I fell pregnant. I knew it immediately and didn't even need a pregnancy test.

I know you've been pregnant before so presumably both tubes aren't blocked, but you might find that one is, and having the HyCosy could make the difference. Good luck!

Hi @PyjamaLlamas @Livingmagicallyagain thank you for your positivity. It is so reassuring to hear your AMH and AFC were not a problem. This gives me so much reassurance. And you both had babies how lovely. Congratulations and thank you so much for sharing.

@Livingmagicallyagain what did you do to improve egg quality? @PyjamaLlamas interesting about the Hycosy. Will keep this in mind.

I followed the advanced plan from 2nd Ed It Starts with the Egg. I invested in good supplements, not cheap Boors Q10, for example. Her website has a UK supplements guide. Made sure my TSH was around 1 or 1.5. It all seemed to work!