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 ✨💚

@Bizawit that's the a rubbish feeling isn't it? That panic of "is that my period" every time you wee!! Heartburn can be a good early sign apparently 🤞 not for me though as I get it as soon as I ovulate usually and then suffer for the whole tww 😂 although last cycle I didn't get any until AF was due. Bodies are cruel and misleading.

@eloiseislost sometimes you just need to eat all of the bloody chocolate and call it a day!!

7dpo for me. Am I symptom spotting? Yes! I don't usually until 9dpo+ so 😂 I have started early and irrationally as Christmas gift to myself.
I had a tiny spot of blood yesterday 😕 and then my rhr and BBT dipped this morning🙄 was hoping they'd both go up!!

Some "tww symptoms" I've not had in my tww in a while (I wonder if my body is trying to stop me from getting bored by swapping things every few cycles): nipples have gone crazy - pointy all of the time and sore against my clothes, burning feet, NO cramps, strong sense of smell. 😂 WHY is every tww so different?? Not excited but fun to obsess.
I won't be taking my BBT for the rest of the cycle as another gift to myself! Aren't I generous. 🎁

Statistically speaking with everyone else entering tww at the same time, we must be bound to see some positives!! 🤞😍

@Makingnumber2 thank so much ❤️.

@MrsKin90 I’m in full on symptom spotting mode now 🙄. In the negative box I have cramps and needing to pee constantly (I know they say that’s an early sign of pregnancy, but for me it’s also def a sign of impending AF). in the positive box I have nausea (probably a mix of covid Christmas anxiety & a determination to believe I’m preg 😂) and a bit of heart burn.

A spot of blood sounds like a really good sign at 7dpo no? Or is that normal for you? (I had an implantation bleed with my first baby at 9 dpo) . And isn’t your temp meant to dip slightly after implantation? Sounds promising to me! 🤞🏻

@MrsKin90 I hate to be "that person" and spread false hope, but the spot of blood and the dip in BBT and HR are very good signs. I didn't have the blood, but I had an intense cramp that lasted a couple of seconds and the dips in 8DPO when I got pregnant. Keeping my fingers crossed for you -for a BFP and a better outcome of course! 🙂

A spot of blood in my tww has yet to ever be a good sign for me but I guess has always happened in cycles where my LP is a bit longer than expected 😬 it was more worrying than exciting as it wasn't bloody CM. Just a spot of blood lol. I don't know. We'll see! Thank you both for being "those people" and being positive 😊 my feet are firmly on the ground though as far too early to genuinely be excited about anything.

@Bizawit I'll be crossing my fingers for you that they are positive signs!! Will you test soon?

Hope spotting is a positive sign for you @MrsKin90!

I'm terrible for symptom spotting. When I look back through my Ovia app I have basically spotted every single pregnancy symptom in the world during the TWW and then it's been a BFN. Hormones are wicked because the hormones in TWW cause the same symptoms as pregnancy symptoms. Just cruel if you ask me!!

@MrsKin90 I admire how sensible you are! I suppose one thing we learn from TTC is to hold a small basket…!
I saw these meme, I don't know if any of you are The Office fans but it made me giggle! 😄

@eloiseislost love this!
My DH keeps trying to get me to watch the american Office, but haven't done it yet. I loved the original so much I'm not sure anything else could compete, even though I have heard good things about US version. Now I'm living my best Tier 4 life maybe I''ll have time to binge a series!

@Makingnumber2 I love the original UK one too! But because the US version is longer, they eventually go a different direction, and you get to know the characters more. It takes a few episodes to really appreciate it. But I think I may have watched the whole thing 6 or 7 times now!!

I'm starting to doubt if I ovulated this weekend. 😣 Temp has not risen to my normal post-O levels, my whole chart is a mess in fact! I guess it's to be expected so soon after the MC. 🤷🏻‍♀️

@eloiseislost I will give it a go- it's good to know it goes in its own direction- I didn't realise it ran longer than the British one.

I'm so sorry about your MC.
That graph doesn't mean much to me as I don't track BBT (yet... I do have a 2 decimal places thermometer ready to go though)are you doing OPKs too? Which is most accurate indicator of Ov do you think?
I know with OPKs they only detect LH surge and actually an LH surge doesn't mean you actually ovulate (mind messer that one to me!)- but I so far have stuck to them and hoped the pains I get when I get a peak are a pretty certain indicator of Ovulation but who knows.

Hope you're not feeling too despondent about it if you think you definitely haven't ov-ed this month.

@Makingnumber2 Strictly speaking, there are only two ways to definitely confirm ovulation: progesterone blood tests and BBT. All the other signs can be strong indicators, but ultimately they happen when your body is gearing up to release an egg and rarely that doesn't happen for one reason or another.
I'll need to see how my BBT goes, I have a feeling I did ovulate but who knows? 🤷🏻‍♀️ In any case, we were only trying this cycle as a way to cope with the MC, I didn't have high hopes anyway!

I’ve got another quick question and apologies if it’s TMI. I’ve been using the curve ended syringes for SI over last few days and just done the final one for this cycle. It seems like as soon as the syringe is emptied and removed all of the fluid just leaks straight out of me... this is making me worry all of the SI we’ve done the last 3 days has been a bit futile... is this why people think the soft discs are better? I am staying with legs in air for about 20mim after each SI but if all the fluids leak out after 2 or 3 mins then it seems a bit silly to be lying on back for so long afterwards?

@Makingnumber2 No such thing as TMI here! 😁
What is advised is to keep the syringe in for 10-20 minutes after, while you are lying down. In any case though, swimmers are incredibly fast and they will reach the cervix very quickly. What leaks out is the seminal fluid and it's meant to do that, it's nothing to worry about.

@eloiseislost it almost looks like you ovulated the day before your peak going by your BBT? I wonder if you'd get crosshairs if you took the opk away? Either that or your BBT might hope up tomorrow. Are you going to do SI until you're sure you've ovulated?

@Makingnumber2 what goes up must come down 😂 it's normal for it to leak out. Maybe make sure you're squeezing it very gentle and slowly rather than very quickly. And as said above, you can leave the syringe in for a few minutes - I don't do this as I find it makes it messier!

@eloiseislost and @MrsKin90 thank you for your answers! And good to know TMI isn’t a thing on this thread got a feeling that will come in handy during this SI journey!
I think perhaps I’ve been depressing the syringe too fast to try and somehow emulate a real ejaculation. Geez there’s a sentence I never thought I would ever type!!

@MrsKin90 What's really odd is that the evening (CD17) before the morning I got my peak (CD18) my OPK looked very close to positive, but Premom had it at 0.7. This wasn't a particularly concentrated sample as I had forgotten about it and didn't hold long. If I set this to positive, FF gives me solid crosshairs on CD17 which is normal for me, I ovulate shortly after my OPKs get darker and it's always in the evening when I get my first positive. Either way, no more SI for us this cycle, I feel like I'd be putting too much pressure on us and my body so shortly after the miscarriage. Whatever will be, will be. 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Makingnumber2 I was the same as you, I thought I had to do it quickly to simulate a normal ejaculation, but I read somewhere that the extra pressure can damage the sleek -some damage is always part of the deal when they come out during the ejaculation anyway. Also it creates splatter, whereas theoretically if you do it slowly, it just gently deposits them where they should be. Having said all that, try not to worry too much about it, like my DH says "the important thing is to get the sperm inside, it only takes one!" 🤣

@eloiseislost it sounds like you've got the right approach really. It's not fair to put that extra pressure on yourself so soon. I'm surprised it's given you crosshairs on CD17 rather than Cd15! Fingers crossed you've done more than enough.

@Makingnumber2 you'll soon learn what works best for you and what you're more comfortable doing 😊

I'm 8dpo and have had a bad day after a bad nights sleep.
I've had these weird bad stabbing pains in my lower back on one side all.day. and slight cramps, and a headache, and I feel sorry for myself as I feel generally achy all over!! 🥺
Nothing exciting to report! If I DO have anything exciting happen (a suddenly increase in resting heart rate is what I usually aim for), then I'm going to test on 12dpo which is Christmas day 😬 maybe a bad decision haha. So we'll see!!

Hope everyone else is getting on okay! I distinctly remember saying I wasn't going to be on here in my tww this time 😂 that went well.

@eloiseislost wow 2.64 ! Do the numbers mean anything? It’s my first month using Premom and my peak was only 1.6 🤔

@MrsKin90 sorry you’ve had a bad day 😔. Not the best my end either- hope it’s not PMT 😬. That’s brave of you to test on Christmas Day ☺️. I think I’m going to try to hold off on testing but may cave..

So I have a new symptom to add to the list 😂 - sore teeth and gums! I looked it up and apparently it’s a symptom of early pregnancy, although on the other hand so is everything else I look up! 🤣

@Bizawit I know, I couldn't believe my eyes, that's the darkest test line I've seen! That's why I suspect the onset of the surge started the previous day, I just didn't catch it. That and/or probably the miscarriage has caused my hormones to be out of whack.
Anything from 1 and beyond is normal, so don't worry about it. Plus, I suspect the Premom app while does a good job generally on interpreting OPKs, the lighting, the camera you are using and how much dye is in each strip will all play a part in the numbers it will give you.

@MrsKin90 So sorry you are feeling bad today. Once again, I admire your sensibility! I always start testing at 10DPO! 🙊🙉🙈

Hey I’m just catching up! It’s so nice a few of us are going into the tww together! I only got my soft discs last week, I did a practice with some pressed and was terrified of putting it fully in as I brought a menstral cup and even now I can’t get it in, the docs have said I’m small up there so I think I’ll just never be able to use a menstral cup but I’ve been presently surprised with the soft disc. I prop my bottom up in bed and hubby does it in a cup which we then just pour into the disc and I put it in while I’m lying down, it goes in easy and I just push it in enough that you just feel it pop behind your pubic bone (hard to explain) and then I take it out when I go for a wee as kinda pushing down a bit helps dislodge it and that’s it. I’m really hoping this works as as I’ve never been able to find my cervix I never know if I’m pointing the syringe in the right place so I feel this is good for me, I will continue to use them abd highly recommend. Our Xmas has been ruined too we are in tier 4 so just be me and the hubby xx

Just realised I’ve missed a whole page... just going to catch up on that too x

@eloiseislost I’m similar my app is saying I ovulated 3 days ago. But my post ovulation temps haven’t been as high as normal so who knows. I think I have I’m just not sure what day. I think your body is just adjusting to what has happened, we won’t be doing anymore SI now either so fingers crossed for us all x

@eloiseislost many factors can affect the readings in premom app, I might be a lucky one that the app never gives me significantly wrong reading ever. Honestly, the LH progression is more important than the numbers.

@Lori23TTC That's exactly my experience with the soft discs! When I first looked at it I was like "No way this will fit!" but they truly live up to their name, they are so soft! 😁
I think with BBT no cycles are exactly alike, so as long as you see a shift, that means ovulation has happened. It usually takes me a couple of days to reach my luteal line, I don't see a sharp increase.
My temp went waaaaay up today so that's a relief! Still no crosshairs on FF but I definitely ovulated sometime in the last 3 days. And we did SI 3 times so it's good to know we did all we could. Fingers crossed for everyone, we are due some good news!! 🤞🏼

@Louisa199 You are right, even if the individual numbers are not 100% correct, as long as you see a rise and a fall, it's good enough, especially if you monitor other signs at the same time.

Hello everyone! I had 52 posts to catch up on, I’m glad to see everyone reads in good form 😄
@Makingnumber2 welcome, if it helps I keep the syringe in the full 20-30 mins and press the plunger down really slowly-I keep my hips angled and curved in towards my belly button to try and avoid any seepage 🥴

Well I’m 8dpo, had the strongest reading yet of ovulation (pic attached) I’m still going to carry on with the opks so premom can can better predictions.
I’ve also been much better at filling in my symptoms, moods, cm etc

I had my massage and facial yesterday, first one in 14 months and by god I needed it. My back is sore today as expected, but the power of touch and getting those muscles worked on felt divine. Then spent all day finishing shopping so I don’t have to leave the house, ready for private Covid rest on Christmas Eve.

I’m sorry to read about people’s tier/Christmas changes, I just can’t believe how this year has been. @MrsKin90 sorry about your Boxing Day plans xx
I’m praying that from now going into 2021 brings us some good news on new babies ☺️

Today I will be cleaning, doing cat physio (my girl is still hanging in there) and yet more cleaning!
We’ve started our walking again and while walking we do our ‘gratitude for three things’ I’m trying very hard to be positive (among seeing pregnant celebs in the papers and getting irrationally jealous 😅)

Xx

Morning all! Ha, its amazing how many messages there are to catch up on when you miss a few days!

Keeping everything crossed for those of you in the tww right now!

Re the "squirting speed" yes, I too thought you had to do it quickly to mimic ejaculation, but recently read that slower is better, so I've changed that up this week (I should be ovulating on the next day or two).

I had my docs appointment yesterday. As I'm 36 and been trying almost 6 months, I thought it best to get booked in. I asked about whether bloods/scans were the next step, or a referral straight to a fertility clinic.... At 1st he said the fertility clinic will only really want to know once we've been trying a year...but then I mentioned how we SI every day during my peak. He then decided the SI was reason enough to put is straight through for a referral. Apparently I should get the letter in a few weeks (will possibly give it a month before chasing up).

I presume iui or ivf will be offered to me eventually at the clinic, although we are going to continue to SI as normal until that time comes.

Again, I'm really happy that I reached out to the doc for help. It was a phone appointment, so there was no embarrassment of talking face to face with him x