The Turkey Baster Gang (gobble gobble)

[Oilyoilyoilgob]

Just starting a new thread on self insemination before our first one locks down!

39 pages of highs and lows and THE most supportive group you could wish for if you’re starting or on a self insemination journey.

💚✨ good luck ✨💚

Hi ladies! Never posted in this thread before but I have a quick question which I'm hoping doesn't sound too silly...

I'm self inseminating with the help of a donor (no partner for me, going the single mum route before all my eggs dry up!) and it's going to be my second cycle soon. First go I used a syringe, my donor has suggested softcup for the second cycle.

Now here comes the very silly question. My donor (who is a doctor) said I should practice finding my cervix and inserting the softcup, checking to ensure it's covering my cervix. I have no idea what's going on inside my lady bits but I cannot find my cervix at all - I'm very tall (almost 6ft) and I'm wondering if perhaps my fingers just aren't long enough, but I've tried at different stages of my cycle and I just can't find it.

What I CAN do perfectly easily is insert a softcup, they're no problem for me. What I'm concerned about though, is that I'll insert the softcup and somehow miss my cervix - I'm concerned I'll kind of trap the semen from entering my cervix if I can't confirm that it's covering it. At least with a syringe I don't have to worry about inadvertently trapping the swimmers from entering my cervix in the first place!

So my question is... is this possible? If my cervix is particularly high, is it possible that the softcup will be too short and 'cut off' my cervix and trap the swimmers away from it? This feels like such a silly and embarrassing question but if I'm being honest, I don't really understand where the softcup sits inside me and I'm just paranoid of using it and doing things wrong!

Thanks so much to anyone who can help and I hope you're all having lovely relaxing Sundays! x

Hi and welcome @restingwitchface86 😃
I switched from syringes to softcups on the 3rd TTC cycle and it worked!
I think I understand your concern, but if you tuck the rim behind your pubic bone and it does not move or leak thereafter, it means it's sitting where it is supposed to.
The fact that you can't find your cervix can be down to many factors, even the length of your fingers. Your cervix sits on top of the end of the vaginal canal and the soft cup sits against it -I don't know if the attached diagram is of any help.
Best of luck! 🧚🏼‍♀️

@eloiseislost Thank you so much! That diagram definitely helps - so technically it should be impossible to trap the swimmers in the softcup and miss my cervix? I think this sounds like a great route to take then and I'm glad my donor suggested it!

@eloiseislost I'm just finishing the one DH made for me about 4 hours ago!

Glad you're doing ok!
Hope you're able to get some decent relaxing in, in between the panickiness.

You have my sympathy on that score. I keep panicking about Christmas now we are allowed to mix. I love my family, but I also kind of just want to hibernate here (away from a hot house, cooking and other smells, and a ten minute walk from the epu).

@restingwitchface86 You are very welcome!
Looking at anatomical diagrams helped me understand that the cervix is not a continuation of the vagina, but rather it sits on top of it. So that means, if you insert the cup correctly, the swimmers will have nowhere to go but through the cervix! 🤞🏼
I have to also say, every time I inserted a soft cup with swimmers in it, there was some leakage, and yet it worked just fine, so try to be relaxed, it only takes one! 😉

@DinkBoo Did you reheat it or do you drink it cold? I'm one of those weird people that drinks beverages at any temperature! 😅
I will feel better once I've had my booking appointment and a scan to make sure that all is OK. For now, it doesn't feel 100% real.
DH wants to spend Christmas with his family but I'm apprehensive, it's not like covid will take a break! Vaccine is just around the corner, part of me just wants a safe, rather than a family Christmas… We'll see! 🎅🏻

@eloiseislost Thank you! It's amazing how simple the diagrams make it look, but when you're trying to feel around up there it's a whole different story, haha! I'll try not to panic about any leakage... can I ask if you found it easier to insert lying down or standing up?

@restingwitchface86 I inserted standing up, with one foot on the bed. Haven't tried lying down, a lot of woman recommend it but it just didn't feel right for me. Maybe you can practice with some lubricant both positions and see if/when you have leakage?

@eloiseislost cold; much to DH's horror every brew I have ends up being finished cold as I take so long to finish them

Fingers crossed the wait doesn't feel too long (though I know it will ) and you get to feel like no time has passed at all when you get to your scan.

I love cold tea! I need these teabags!

@eloiseislost really pleased you’re ok. Completely natural to feel stress I’m sure during this, try to have some downtime from the worrying and enjoy resting and lots of lovely brews ☺️ If you need some time away during family visits could you pretend you have a migraine/bad headache? It’ll at least buy you some time out to relax 💚

I found my cervix the one and only time I checked-I thought I’d left a tampon in in January and had several rummages (it was the last time I got drunk off my normal two glasses of wine 😅) and @restingwitchface86 if you find it, it’s like a medium sponge-the tip of your nose feels similar!

I’d imagine if it’s inserted right the only way the majority of the sperm can go is towards your cervix, so good luck! Xx

Hi all! Been a bit quiet as a lot going on at the moment but it’s so nice to come back here and have a lot to read from your lovely selves 🥰 @Oilyoilyoilgob so sorry your cat is suffering and @MrsKin90 I’m sorry AF showed her ugly face - sounds like you both are taking your bad news like absolute troopers though. Is it weird to say that I feel very proud of you? Ha. Stay warm and stay positive ❤️

Nothing major to update here - 9DPO today. My BBT has been zigzagging like it’s on a ski slope and my face has broken out like I’m 16 again - so I’m slowly bracing myself for my period to arrive, though it shouldn’t be for another 4-5 days. Anyone testing soon? We need some good news and excitement on here 🥰 Big hugs!

@MrsKin90 haha thanks, I'm now 10dpo and feeling the familiar more intense cramping and no more sore bbs so just waiting for af - but oddly enough this part of 2ww is easier for me...I guess because it's closer to a fresh start and being able to try again? Madness lol. How are you doing with everything?

@Oilyoilyoilgob I know what you mean...I think the longer it's gone on for me the easier it's been to put it to one side and not necessarily expect it to happen every time. But not 100% doable of course! I guess as long as we're at it it'll happen sooner or later!

@primrosechill hey! Mine is also very zig zagging! I’m DPO10... site boobs and a few spots on my chin area so not sure on this month.

All you ladies talking about the soft cups I think I’ll get them for next month if my AF comes. I’ve never been able to locate my cervix so I don’t try anymore as it stresses me out! Xx

@primrosechill added a pic so you can see x

Aww hello @primrosechill thanks for your kind words. Our lady has an emergency appointment with the head neurosurgeon on Wednesday and we’ll hopefully get an mri. Be it good or bad news at least we are doing all we can.
She isn’t insured (I know I know!) as they are indoor cats and have always been in good health so I’m trying to soften it by saying that we haven’t had a holiday or really gone out this year 😅
If we ever get another furry child we will get petplan 😐

I hope everything is ok with you primrose?

It looks like us and @Lori23TTC are at similar stages I think I’m 9dpo. Really spotty and twinges though so I think I’m going to have a period. Absolutely HUGE painful spots that don’t get a head on them but are bright red and shiny-nice!

@shelbyrae that is exactly it. I don’t have any expectations of getting pregnant (I have the hope!) so yes I get down and disappointed and sometimes hacked off but weirdly on tww I’m ok. I get thoughts of ‘what if’ but then they are gone.
I’m an absolute gold medal worthy winner of worrying though so I think that’s why, my brain is too busy pondering other things. Tbh with two poorly cats they’ve taken that headspace the last few weeks so I’ve escaped the tww worrying!

Xx

@Lori23TTC what is the difference between the rounded and triangular spots on your BBT chart? Also, I have to admit that there is a part of me that slightly hopes the dip on my 7DPO is implantation but I think it' probably too small. Fingers crossed as well that your 9DPO is an implantation dip and that your temp will only keep rising for the next few days ❤️

@Oilyoilyoilgob these big spots are the worst, aren't they?! They actually hurt so much. Feel like they're worse in the winter as well, not sure if it's due to the lack of sun or just cold. I feel like a teenager!

Oily, Lori - is either of you tempted to test or are you waiting until AF is due?

@primrosechill the triangles are an off temp so I should take my temp at 6.30am every morning but if it’s out by 30 mins it puts a triangle so it’s just not completely accurate... I’ve had a lot going on and the weekend before last I only got a few hours sleep on sat night so it shows as off, I really struggle to do it at the same time every morning tho as I always wake up early or during the night! It still shows a good graph tho so I don’t think it’s to much of a problem! I’ve been so hungry today I keep eating 🤣

@Oilyoilyoilgob gosh yes they can get expensive can’t they! Mine has had a funny belly this week but he seems better now 😻 good luck on Wednesday.

I’m not going to test yet... I’m due on at the weekend so a little while for me yet. I can’t bare to just see bright white on the stick so id rather not know and live with the hope a bit longer! Will you test? X

Hi everyone
I’ve just found this thread and caught up on messages.
Currently I’m 4dpo on our 2nd cycle of SI.
We’ve already been down the iui route twice in august & September with no BFP.
HSG done and didn’t reveal any blockages.
Hubby had a fluctuating Sperm count so we’ve decided to try the SI while we save up for IVF.

Currently ovulating on cycle day 9/10 as normal but previous scans have shown that my lining is thick enough by then even tho it’s early and I generally have a short cycle (anywhere between 22-26 days)

Trying to stay off google at the moment as I’m constantly symptom checking which I know it’s too early for but the tww drives me insane!😅

Hi @Nej1983! Welcome to the group :) I’m considering IUI next cycle if I get a BFN in the next few days. We’ve been trying with SI for 10 cycles (one pregnancy that ended in MC) and we’re getting impatient so considering other options. My husband’s sperm volume is super healthy but his morphology is a bit below norm so what draws me to IUI is the prospect of them “picking up” the heathiest sperm. Do you have any thoughts on IUI now that you’ve done it a couple of times?

@Lori23TTC I will TRY not to test but I also know that if I’m out this cycle, we will book in IUI apts and I sort of want to know sooner rather than later - plus I just know that the test will tempt me tomorrow at 10DPO. I do feel fairly sure it will be a negative though, just a gut feel, so similarly to you would happily extend the “what if!” period before I crush the little hope I have left 🙃

“Picking out” not “picking up” lol!

@primrosechill
My sister in law was 39 and got pregnant on her first iui attempt (but this is rare)
I liked the idea of iui as it’s cheaper and less invasive than ivf. (It’s only one small injection into your stomach for 9/10 days and then a trigger shot) We had two failed cycles and we starting our third when I developed a cyst so that cycle was cancelled. Got speaking to a really fantastic doctor in the clinic who, while he didn’t discourage us, pointed out that iui doesn’t have that much more of a success rate than normal intercourse. The sperm is washed so you a smaller amount but a higher concentration of “good swimmers” placed in your uterus so they don’t have to travel as far but you still over have about a 10% chance Of it working.

Between the treatments, scans and medications each cycle was About €1000.
Ivf & icis in the same clinic is about €5000-€5500 plus meds but has a much higher success rate.
I’m glad we tried iui and if it had worked I’d be over the moon but i do wish I had stopped after two cycles and used the money towards ivf

Thanks @Nej1983 - what are the two injections you mentioned? My doctor didn’t say anything about injections - she also quoted me significantly lower than you for the procedure - so I wonder if you had any additional needs and mine is literally just the insemination?

Well, despite seeing a slight dip in my temp this morning, I still stupidly tested 🙄 From my emoji reaction, I’m sure you can tell whether or not there was a second line there... I’m not surprised but I’m still disappointed but mostly pissed off because I know at 10DPO it’s not definitive yet and yet it has put me in a slightly vile mood this morning. Gah. I feel like we’re testing so many different syringes, lubes, timings, positions... JUST WORK NOW PLEASE. 💔

@primrosechill
The procedure was €845 and the medications was €120
It’s a shot of follitropin once a day and then a trigger shot around day 9/10 depending on how big the follicles have grown when you have a scan.
Is it the unmedicated iui you are going?

@Nej1983 welcome 😊 interesting to hear your journey so far - I'm very sad the clinical procedure hasn't been a success for you so far, I hope at home SI does the trick 🤞

@primrosechill we do like to torture ourselves don't we? Big hugs to get you through your BFN. Still plenty of time! Was there any reason you tested or just general TWW/TTC testing jitters?!

@Oilyoilyoilgob I hope you're doing okay! Fingers crossed for your BFP this cycle to see you through the stress of having a poorly cat! It's lovely that your OH sounds so supportive and caring 😊 😊 I refused to do pet plan as it's so expensive. We insured our cat through Argos pet insurance!

I'm CD4 today! AF is coming to a close. This has been the heaviest and most brutal period I've had in a while ☹️ so I'm glad it's almost over!!
Fertility Friend essentially told me today it has no idea when I'm due to ovulate and can't give me an accurate guess 😂 that makes two of us!!

I finally told a friend we've been TTC (but not that we have to do it this way) and she immediately said "stop trying and it will happen" which reminded me why we never ever told anyone IRL in the first place 😢
Also have been reading about the implications of being high BMI on pregnancies "taking", so I've screen shot a study outcome to use as motivation for some good weight loss this cycle!!

P.S. everyone who drinks cold tea is bonkers, anyone who reheats drinks in the microwave - that's even worse (just to make my judgment known 😂).

@primrosechill I’m sorry it was a negative but it’s mega early days still!
@Nej1983 welcome! I really hope you get your BFP soon ❤️
@MrsKin90 sorry it wasn’t A very nice AF this time... onto your next cycle and ovulation- exciting for another chance (that’s what I try to tell myself anyway) xxx