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 ✨💚

@MrsKin90

Thank you, I called the NHS e booking line and used my NHS number and they confirmed they have no referrals relating to this. I’ve made an online request with my surgery to ask for when and where the referral was sent so I know who to follow up with in 2021. I hope I’m not coming across as pushy to them but it’s been a long an agonising wait to get here.

I’m contemplating selling all my items of value to go privately but I don’t have anything of real value. We are over stretched financially on our new property so I just feel like everything is piling up on me.

@ComebackQueen You are not being pushy at all, you just want to make sure that you are referred to the appropriate service. It is your right and don't let anyone make you think otherwise! Unfortunately, these are very difficult times for the NHS, I am part of it, so I know that every aspect of the services is disrupted to a degree. I sincerely hope the referral goes through quickly and the waiting time is as short as possible! 🤞🏼
I sense that you are overwhelmed and I understand exactly where you are coming from. You've done everything in your power at the moment, you asked for medical help, you had tests done and you will be referred to specialist services. I know NHS waiting times can be long, but if it is all you can afford at the moment, then that is good enough. You have very, very good chances of holding your dream baby in your arms! There are a million factors that play against all of us women: age, hormones, environment, nutrition, medication, partner's sperm, timing, pure luck… But babies are born every minute, against all those terrifying odds. So, as hard as this is, try to take care of yourself. It's all you can do right now.
You and everyone else on this thread are in my prayers every night, wishing for a happier 2021 and lots and lots of babies! 🧚🏼‍♀️

@eloiseislost thank you so very kind of you.

I’m so glad @MrsKin90 mentioned following up, my surgery called and confirmed no referral was made as they couldn’t find my emailed version of hubby’s sperm analysis.

I had to re send and once scanned, the referral will be made, so looking like after Christmas the receptionist said.

@ComebackQueen That's good, at least it's sorted now! You could give them a call after new year, to make sure it all went through OK, just for peace of mind. But at least now you can relax and enjoy Christmas! 🎄

I got my peak on the OPK this morning, though it had started getting very dark last night so we did one SI yesterday and we will do one today and tomorrow. 🤞🏼 My hormones are probably still out of whack from the pregnancy, but my motto is "waste no egg"! 🐣

How is everyone doing today?

@eloiseislost yay to your peak I also got my peak this morning! We have been using the soft disc this time... using no syringes and feels like a positive change for us. We have been doing it every night since Monday so day 6 tonight and last one will be tomorrow so hopefully that should be enough! Praying for a Christmas miracle 🤞

@primrosechill I hope the IUI works for you lovely I think that’s our next step, I have a follow up with my fertility doctor in the new year as I’ve had all my tests done now so will see what they say.

Xx

@ComebackQueen as a fellow vaginismus sufferer I really feel for you - it’s tough as it is and adds so much more pressure/complexity once you are ttc-ing! While in the IUI clinic, a doctor gave me two pointers: one to explore a possibility of botox to relax the muscles and the second to sign up for a full-on week “vaginismus camp” where your whole days are dedicated to working through this with your doctor. I feel like I’ve made a lot of progress in the last couple of years thanks to dilators, physio and therapy, but I’m just frustrated at how slow it is so I might look into both options in the new year, if I’m not pregnant this cycle. Is there anything that works for you?

@eloiseislost @Oilyoilyoilgob @MrsKin90 @Lori23TTC thank you for lovely words. Starting my daily dose of progesterone today, too and so the tww is officially on. Is anyone’s AF due this week? Would love to hear some positive early Christmas news on here 🥰

@ComebackQueen I forgot to add: My husband had poor morphology (2.5) and motility when we did SA this summer. Since then, he started running three times a week, cut out booze and started taking supplements. We’ve done two SAs since and each one was better than the previous one - I’m not saying this to give you false hope but rather to say that in our experience it is not a myth that a healthier lifestyle can improve sperm quality. In our case, his volume is super high so my thinking is always: lower morphology in a bigger sample still equals MORE healthy sperm than average 🤔 Good luck with your doctors!!

Hi all- I've been lurking on here for about a month and have just been a bit nervous to say hi.
I've name changed because I'm relatively active in chat section and have probably posted some potentially outing things under my usual username, so just to ensure total privacy I've name changed.

DH and I are trying self insemination for first time today and we are both really flustered about it all. I ordered some flat head 5ml syringes based on a recommendation on this thread so we have those- but we just have a lot of questions and I'm hoping someone could help answer them- they're probably stupid ones.

• What kind of container for the sperm is optimal? Do you use disposable ones or do people use same one and just wash in boiling hot water or do you use soapy hot water?
• Is it better to try and orgasm whilst inseminating?
• How long do you lie with legs up for after it's done?
• How many times during fertile week should we be aiming to inseminate?

TIA for any pointers for 2 very flustered people totally new to all this!

@Makingnumber2 hi! I can tell you what I do- but don’t know if it’s correct?!

• use a disposable container or soft cup. Use a fresh one each time.
• yes definitely orgasm if you can. Apparently it can help suck the sperm up into the cervix
• I usually lie with my legs in the air for about 15-20 mins, but no idea if it’s necessary.
• I usually do everyday in the fertile weeks, and sometimes even twice on OPK peak days, but that’s possibly overkill 😆

@ComebackQueen I'm glad you chased your referral. Will they confirm receipt of the emailed scan? These things often go missing or get left in a "pile of stuff" on some poor sods desk and never get dealt with. I've had this issue with every single referral I've ever had for anything!

Welcome to your tww @eloiseislost and @Lori23TTC! I hope Christmas helps it go quickly.

@Makingnumber2 welcome! Me and hubby always do a 'practice' insemination a few days earlier than needed as I find it's like making pancakes, the first one can go a bit wonky!! If you're feeling nervous I recommend it just to get used to it.
We use a menstrual cup rather a plastic pot but anything like that clean and dry is fine.
Orgasm if you can but sometimes I use that free time to relax instead if I don't feel like it'll happen.
I lie with hips raised/legs in air (depending how lazy I'm feeling) for about 15 minutes. I'd say 15-20 is probably fine. It isn't necessary after sex but I'd say probably necessary for SI to give those swimmers an extra chance.
We've been trying to aim for every other day but usually just do what we can. Before ovulation is the most important time with one day and two days before being most effective. Are you using OPKs to track?

I'm 6dpo, so AF due somewhere around NYE. Won't that be just fucking lovely?!

I started this reply ages ago and then just had the Christmas Rules Change news and feel furious! Rightly or wrongly. I'm being very melodramatic now and don't feel like doing anything at all for the rest of the year. The tee can come down as far as I'm concerned. Was about to bake/build a gingerbread house. Might just bloody eat the dough.

@primrosechill I'll be praying for a bfp for you!! Hope your tww goes quick x

@Lori23TTC Yay, we are ovulation buddies! 🙌🏼😆 We used soft discs this time as well, as I swear them and the cough syrup got me pregnant last cycle -I could be wrong of course but I just have a very strong feeling!
Best of luck, I hope you get your BFP this cycle! 🤞🏼 🧚🏼‍♀️

@MrsKin90 it’s rubbish isn’t it? 😡 so gutted.

Also on my TWW, 11dpo so AF due on Tuesday. Christmas is going to be even worse if it comes 😭

@eloiseislost & @Lori23TTC
Looks like we are all hitting our peak today! 🙌🏻
This cycle is longer for me aswell which is good I guess day 13 today as opposed to ovulating on day 11 last cycle. Fingers crossed with baby dust everywhere for 2021.

I’m sorry I can’t find the user who said their hubby was a poor SA.
My hubby was very low at his first and they told him to take the wellmans preconception tablets and while he still fluctuates its still higher than it was initially so I would recommend them, and they are often on sale on the boots 3 for 2 offers x

@Nej1983 Funny how 3 of us got our peak on the same day! 😁 Let's hope they are good eggs and meet some good sperm! Now to drink or not to drink at Christmas? 🤔 🍷

Thanks so much @MrsKin90 really appreciate the info and tips! My DH seems to think we need to SI multiple times a day but I'm not sold tbh as thought when TTC traditionally the advice is sex once a day or once every other day through fertile week to allow for sperm replenishment?
I am the same as you after that announcement- in an absolutely foul mood and ashamed to say I also shed some tears (although suspect that might be more TTC stress related as today has felt a bit fraught and the announcement was just the trigger to them coming out!)
I do use OPKs and usually have a high reading on CD16- which is today for me-and bad ov pains CD17 - however I haven't had a high reading today (faint line at midday) and my OPK readings have been a bit odd this week with a faint line on CD13 and CD 15 but no line at all CD14. I have ordered a new batch of OPKs because these are same batch i used when TTC number 1 and although they're still in date I wonder if they;ve lost their magic a bit.
We will aim to SI tomorrow and Monday too.
I think if we aren't successful this cycle I will splash out on the soft discs that @eloiseislost is recommending although am nervous about using them successfully. But as you've said MrsKin I'll be more prepared and do some practice runs!

Really hoping we get lots of BFPs to start 2021- because let's be honest 2020 has been an absolute shit show in so many ways and I think we all deserve some joy!!

I can't believe you're all entering the tww at the same time!! How lovely 😊

@Makingnumber2 it's definitely a rubbish announcement! We couldn't see anyone on Xmas day for various reasons so we were going on boxing Day 🤦 life goes on I guess. There's no shame in having a cry! Crying is ultimately good for you.
I think several time a day definitely feels like over kill! Every other day is a good tactic but everyday should be fine as long as there aren't low sperm count issues etc. 😊 I hope you get your peak soon! Lots of BFPs to put a positive spin to a 💩 year would be lovely!!

@Bizawit not many days left in your tww! How are you feeling?! Fingers crossed for some Christmas magic 🤞

I'm actually not drinking this tww/over Christmas. I've pre-decided by not buying any alcohol. 🤔 Not for any particular reason other than I don't fancy it! Usually I'm a "drink until it's pink" person 🤷I'd say, do whatever makes the time easier!

@MrsKin90 thanks! I’m feeling a bit anxious about it. Getting close enough to the day AF is due to feel like I’m running the gauntlet every time I go to the loo 🙈. I didn’t take it well when af came last month, and Christmas is so ruined this year as it is that I don’t think I can take more bad news 😢. I’ve been getting a few cramps here and there so that’s not ideal. On other symptom I’ve got - which is quite unusual for me- is a bit of heartburn. But 11dpo seems a bit early for that to be a symptom.. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Really sorry to hear your Boxing Day plans are ruined 😟. Hopefully you get some good news come new year 🤞🏻🤞🏻.

Good luck to everyone getting their peak!

@Makingnumber2 The soft discs work very well for me and take away the hassle of having to wait for the sperm to liquify, then make sure to suck it all up with the syringe, then try to place the syringe near the cervix. Plus, you handle the sperm less, so in theory more swimmers survive. BUT! You definitely need to practice with them until you are comfortable inserting and taking them out. The first time I tried to take one out, I panicked thinking that I couldn't reach it! Don't be afraid though, there is nowhere for it to hide really. 🤣

@MrsKin90 I am really sorry about your Boxing Day plans, what a shit show! 💩 All our plans went down the drain too and I'm left with SO much cheese and chocolate in the house, I'm afraid I won't be able to go out the door when the lockdown finally ends.

@Bizawit 11DPO is a bit early but symptom spotting comes with the territory when you TTC! Not long left on your 2WW and I hope it ends with a BFP! 🤞🏼

Hi @Makingnumber2
My hubby was the same when we started SI and I can understand the theory that the more times you do it the higher the chance but realistically it’s 12hrs for sperm to replenish so it’s prob only seminal fluid with very few swimmers in it the other times, that’s my take on it anyway. We’ve cut down to once a day during my fertile window and this maybe TMI but his sample has gotten larger and “thicker” than it was when he was “depositing” more than once a day so hopefully that’s a good sign 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

@Nej1983 @Makingnumber2 I'm surprised your DH is willing to do more than once a day, mine is usually exhausted right after and doesn't want to even think about it until the next day! 😅

😂😂 he’s pretty eager tho some days you can see it’s a struggle as he’s busy with work and because I was later ovulating this month it’s been a longer fertile phase so more samples given 😅

Thanks @eloiseislost and @Nej1983 for your tips! I am worried I haven’t been putting the syringe near enough to my cervix.... sorry if tmi but I’m putting it as far in as it will go before I wouldn’t be able to actually syringe it and am hoping that is good enough....
great point about 12h to replenish- will tell DH this. I think he is v keen to prove he can make SI work because I think he feels guilty we need to do this route this time (which he shouldn’t feel at all) but there’s no point doing SI multiple times a day with samples that don’t have many swimmers. I am def ovulating today I think because I have terrible ov pains this morning. So hoping the SI yesterday lunchtime and again this morning will stand a good chance but who knows.
Good luck to everyone else getting their peak in next few days.
It’s good so many of us will be doing tww together. Historically I am an anxious mess during TWW which probably doesn’t help with conception so I am trying to relax and just focus on Xmas (or what’s left of it!).
Fingers crossed for lots of BFPs to lift our spirits as we move into the new year.

Good luck @Bizawit - hope you get your BFP and AF doesn’t show!

@Makingnumber2 my hubby was the same he was devastated to learn that his SA should there was a problem. It could just have easily been on my side but I think that’s why he was so determined to do it as many times as possible before we actually learned that it wasn’t making any great difference.
So many of us in the tww over Christmas, at least there will be plenty of food, chocolate etc readily available to get us tru 😅