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.

Hi @Geriatric1234 dhea is actually one I'm not on! 😂 I also take b complex High dose, vit e, magnesium, folic acid, pregnacare, iron 210mg (prescribed) evening primrose oil, maca root

@sabtom I'd say you ovulated cd17

Hi @Tillybabs I don't test unless af is late cos I hate bfn

@Marvellouslymadmum I don’t normally test at all tbh. I don’t know why I did this month. Now just waiting on AF!

I’ve now bought a bbt to start temping.

I’ve only ever used OPKs so will look up when to temp etc.

Thanks @sabtom and @Marvellouslymadmum! Much appreciated! X

@Tillybabs temping is great to confirm ovulation, just take your temp at the same time every morning before you get out of bed. I have my alarm set for 6.45 which is what time I get up for the school run but have it set for same time every day, then reach my arm to bedside table and grab thermometer without moving and take my temp then if it's not a school day I go back to sleep 😂

@sabtom gosh sorry not sure I can help with your chart... the temps seem very low. Is that normal for you? No chance your temp tracker is not working right??

I’m taking similar supplements to you, pregnacare, ubiquinol 200mg D3 8000iu (doing a high dose for 2 weeks) and folic acid 400mg. I’m wondering if I should be taking 400mg but it’s so expensive!!

What is the vit E B6 and C for?

My partner is also on the wellman conception and I’ve asked him if he would cut out all alcohol for a month next month if I don’t fall preg this month. Lol he didn’t look impressed but I think he will agree - for one month! Not sure how much difference that will make. He drinks loads of coffee too but de-caff so hopefully that’s ok.

Today (7DPO) I’ve got some pains like ov pains low down on my right, very confused as I never get ov type pain any other time than actual ovulation. very strange - wondering if he actually something completely unconnected like trapped wind lol but I don’t feel bloated. It’s so easy to over analyse every twinge!!

@Marvellouslymadmum thanks for the tip. Haha the things we do!

@Honey2 I use the Ava bracelet which takes skin temperature, so that will normally be lower than taking oral temps.

Vitamin C and E are form of antioxidants and the B6 is to help lengthen my LP. To be honest, I have no idea exactly what they all do, I just researched best supplements for fertility and took the advice of my acupuncturist 😂

@Honey2 apparently vit e is very good when ttc and b6 is good for Hormone balance c is be again very important ttc and most are deficient. I don't think you can not over analyse when ttc it's impossible 😂

I am 47 and going through my second miscarriage in one year. I started to try to get pregnant when I was 46 last may and got pregnant at forst try, there was heartbeat at 6 weeks but no hb at 8 weeks, than in February I got pregnant again there was again hb at 6 weeks than in 8 weeks scan the baby had no heartbeat and measuring 6 weeks. I discovered I have hypothroidsm and had ureaplasma infection and green yellow discharge through my second pregnancy. I can get pregnant but every body thinks I am crazy if I try one more time. It is possible to get pregnant until menapause for sure maybe other people have better immune accpetance, physiology than mine can be succesful. All I can say is it is possible to get pregnant but for the rest you need a team who belive in your pregnancy I could not find this. I am so heartbroken people tell me why you wait until this age to try to become a mother... what can I say, everyone is not as lucky as they are

@littleangle46 Thank you for sharing this. I’m so sorry to read all this and feel so awful you’re going through it. For what it’s worth I DON’T think you’re crazy at all, I think you’re extraordinary. You are clearly very fertile and still capable of having a child. Are you going for your first? Perhaps now the thyroid issue is diagnosed your next pregnancy will be successful. Just takes one egg. My friend’s mother had my friend naturally at 48. xxxx

@littleangle46 I’m so sorry for your loss it sounds like you’ve had a very difficult year. There is such a stigma about pregnancy in later like. Ignore other people. If you want a baby keep trying. Would a private clinic help you with any underlying issues? I really hope next time works out for you. Xx

@littleangle46 thanks for sharing your story... I’m so sorry you are going through such a tough journey. I really hope you can find some medical help if you decide to keep trying. In the meantime I’ve found this a really great place to share feelings and get support.

Talking of sharing feelings, I’m feeling a bit nervous this pm... this afternoon I had the tiniest amount of blood on wiping. Nothing since on a pad. I’m 8DPO so I figured it’s either implantation spotting (good) or the start of my period (very bad) very bad because my periods are normally pretty regular at 27/28 days. So starting to spot from day 8 would not be good ☹️
I know only time will tell but I can’t help but over analyse! Will have to see what tomorrow brings.

Just wondering about how early to test - my pregnancy in Feb I tested at 10dpo and got a pretty strong line on a FRER. If this is implantation spotting (massive big fingers crossed) how soon after it could I test?? Is it too soon to test in 2 days time at 10dpo??

Thanks xx

I meant my cycle is pretty regular at 27/28 days - so bleeding should start 14/15dpo

@littleangle46 so sorry for what you're going through, you are clearly fertile enough to get pregnant and I agree that maybe now your thyroid issue is diagnosed you may be able to carry the pregnancy ok

@Honey2 could be ib! It's totally down to you on testing, a lot of people test from 10dpo I personally don't like to test until af is late because I hate the disappointment but if you want to do it give it a try

Okay - so AF just arrived FOUR DAYS EARLY!!

Now - I knew I was probably out this cycle but was all geared up for the next one.... and this short cycle has possibly scuppered the next one because based on my last few months of OPKs, I’m going to ovulate on Sat 22nd when I’m away with a mate from Friday PM!!! Should I just take a month off?

GODDAMMIT FLO. Work with me here!!!! 🤣

p.s- I’ve gone back over last ten years of my period logs and my shortest cycle is 24 days (has happened 7 times in last decade) and longest 31 (twice) so I think this variation isn’t too troubling. Probably due to all fertility vitamin supplements. But should I get progesterone/anything else checked to be safe? Xxx

Hi everyone, I'm fairly new to MN and just saw this thread - I turned 41 last month and am TTC for the first time also.

My husband and I have been back and forth on the issue of whether to have kids, and when we eventually decided to give it a go it was quite a sudden and comple change of heart - I had my (copper) coil removed about a week before my 41st birthday and started trying straight away. Just discovered that cycle #1 was unsuccessful, and holding out hope for the next one.

I have a question: I'm taking Pregnacare Conception every day - I notice that some of the women on this thread are taking a similar multivitamin along with other vits on top - has this been recommended by your doctors? Or do the Pregnacare vits not provide enough levels of certain things for older women?

Hi @Miller2021! Welcome :-) I’m on cycle #4 and 42.

Lots of us here are following the advice in the book “it starts with the egg” which was written by a woman with low fertility who also had a science background. She basically compiled LOADS of fragmented data to provide different supplement plans for women with different fertility challenges, including those trying later. It’s a really good read if you’re starting ttc over 40 and helps you decide if it’s worth getting any extra tests done so you do t waste time trying if there’s an issue (most fertility issues have relatively simple solutions). There’s a website of the same name with supplements guide.

She suggests certain extra vitamins. I’m taking a pre-natal, 300mg ubiquinol, B6, D3 and vitamin c. I’ve had my AMH/thyroid/vitamin d levels checked (also mentioned in book and these can cause miscarriages) and a transvaginal scan to get follicle count and check for any visible issues. All of this was very simple and quick - I went private and cost was about £500. I just wanted to know alm was as okay as it can be before wasting time.

If you read through this thread from the start you’ll get loads of brilliant info - I swear some of the women here are more knowledgeable than doctors 🤣 xxx

@Geriatric1234 our bodies really like to keep us guessing don’t they?! It’s definitely AF and not implantation bleeding?? If you are going to ovulate earlier than expected Maybe you could DTD on Thursday and Friday before you go?? Sperm can theoretically live for quite a few days??

Do you think the vitamins affect cycle length negatively then? I’m now 9DPO and have some spotting. I do spot normally before my period for 2 or sometimes 3 days before but never this early in my cycle. I’m keeping everything crossed it might be implantation bleeding, but I have a horrible feeling my temp will drop tomorrow and AF is coming early. ☹️ If AF came tomorrow that would be a 24day cycle and I’m normally 28days regularly.

@Miller2021 welcome to the thread... it might be worth you taking a look at the book ‘it starts with the egg’ I think that’s where a lot of us have gotten into about additional vitamins for TTC over 40. You are right the preg multivitamin doesn’t have high enough doses of some things but also there are extra things you can take like Ubiqinol that are supposed to improve egg quality. Wishing you the very best luck xx

@Geriatric1234 jinx!

@Geriatric1234 @Honey2 Haha! Thanks very much both - much appreciated! My GP did tell me to sign up for tests and get on the IVF waiting list if we didn't conceive in the first couple of months, so hopefully the wait for tests isn't too long as I would like to know if there are any easy fixes first. Looks like I'm also buying "It starts with the egg" - thanks for the recommendation!

@Honey2 HA! Great minds

Definitely period as very heavy, but I think you’re right re: next cycle. I can just dtd around the weekend and see what happens! Who knows, perhaps when one least expects it!

I read on another thread of some women thinking the supplements impacted cycles but it was purely anecdotal and I haven’t researched properly.

@Miller2021 I feel like that book is the bible of ttc-ers! Be warned that at this age IVF will be shoved down your throat but ivf success rates over 40 are depressingly low. Base your decision on your other numbers and whether you qualify for free ivf, as lots of fertility stats are based on IVF research so it’s bleak. Xx

@Geriatric1234 I'm afraid I can't offer much advice on the af length, mine are generally 24-31 days with a few 20/23 days thrown in and a 57&66 🤷🏼‍♀️over the last couple of years. As far as taking a break this month I would think it depends how much you're looking forward to going away? If lots then yes take the break and have fun! If not I'd move it or cancel and stay at home to bd lol xx

@Miller2021 hi and welcome, I take quite a few extras some Recommended by the go, some by research and what's best when ttc

Hi everyone welcome @Miller2021 my cycle is all over the place this month. I've had all highs no peak yet on Clearblue opks my Ava is saying I ovulated last Friday. But to me it doesn't look as if I have. If I did it would have been the earliest ovulation day ever. Not sure what my body is doing. I think I am out this month. Think the CP has knocked out my cycle. If I have DH didn't get back from working away until Saturday so will have missed it. Hoping it is wrong. Good luck to everyone this month xx

Hi all, so I did a FRER this morning at 10DPO - I know it’s early but the spotting continued yesterday and it was killing me thinking my period was coming so early.... well the test came up positive. Faint, but defo 2 lines. I know I should be happy, but to be honest all I can think are negative thoughts like ‘it’s going to be a CP’ or ‘I bet this spotting turns to AF in a couple of days’
I’m sorry I don’t mean to be insensitive to those out this month, I am pleased and I know I just need to take it one day at a time and fingers crossed it will continue to get darker... but TTC is bloody stressful after 40 ☹️ I know really I need to stop obsessing, what will be will be.