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 ✨💚

This is our 17th cycle so almost a year and a half and I actually can’t remember when we started SI but I think it was just over a year ago, never been pregnant but hopefully this is our year 🥰 only started using soft discs last month tho and they are a game changer🤞

I never went back on birth control after my DD was born in 2018 but not a hint of a pregnancy (Chance would have been a fine thing ). 12 cycles of opks, this is only my 2nd cycle of SI tho.

I'm having horrible flashbacks to eating pineapple core by the bucket load years ago, I don't think I can go there again . Genuinely think I might have permanently damaged my taste buds 🤣🤣

Hopefully this isn't AF @sydney1986x, you aren't out until she shows 🤞🤞

Cd13 for me. No peak on opk yet but we are going to do SI tonight, I'm so paranoid I'll miss ovulation!

CD13 for me as well @Bluey18! No signs of peak yet, which is unusual for me, my OPKs are the faintest they've ever been. 😞 No SI tonight, we'll keep going with the SMEP and do it tomorrow. I feel a bit crap tonight to be honest, just very tired and drained. I hate Mondays!!

@eloiseislost oh that's so annoying if it's normally consistent for you. My peak used to be bang on CD13, but it's been really erratic the last few months, it could easily be another 5/6 days for me going off previous cycles. I hear you about Mondays, I'm just feeling bleh tonight.

@Bluey18 I'm the same, my longest cycle last year was 32 days and my luteal phase is 11 days so maybe I could ovulate within the next 7 days or so. Plus, with the MC in December, maybe the next few cycles will be a bit off. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I'm just really frustrated because I'm getting the covid vaccine on Thursday and I was hoping we'd be done with SI for this cycle!

Off topic, but I'm a crazy cat lady so here's the cutest photo I've ever taken of my cat! 😻 He cheers me up so much. 💖
@Oilyoilyoilgob I hope your cats are doing OK!

@eloiseislost he is perfect! Oh I love him 😍 what a cutie!! Sorry you guys are feeling down... just think this time next week hopefully you all would have ovulated and will be feeling more positive, I wish my period wasn’t 4 days otherwise I would be around the same time as you! X

@eloiseislost Ahhhh, he is beautiful 🥰🥰. I am a crazy dog lady, but I love cats too, that cute face has really cheered me up

@eloiseislost he is a stunner!! Beautiful colouring- what kind of cat is he? Sorry your peak hasn't arrived yet- I'm sure it will be here in next few days. Today has felt particularly gloomy and grim for me too- not sure why, thought maybe it was the weather being such a contrast from the lovely blue sky and sun we had yesterday. I think it's all the lockdown stuff that's getting to me a bit- life is feeling like a bit of treadmill/groundhog day currently.
Hope your peak is soon too @Bluey18- my DD was born in 2018 as well, May How are you finding lockdown 3.0 with toddler??

Oh how lovely @Makingnumber2, mine is a September baby . It's really tough, isn't it?! I'm an essential worker, I'm out of the house 10 hours a day. My poor DP is trying to work at home and mind DD. Can feel like such an effort to get SI done sometimes too, which I'm sure you know 🤣

@eloiseislost wow - your cat is so beautiful! Gorgeous.

@Makingnumber2 We think he is a ragdoll, because of the pattern and the blue eyes but we can't be sure! He's definitely a placid, gentle giant (he weights 1 stone 😹).

He’s gorgeous @eloiseislost 😍 definitely looks a rag doll! Fellow cat lady here too!! Xx

@eloiseislost what a gorgeous (heavy!) Cat!!

How is everyone feeling today? Hopefully you're all a little less down! But it's okay if you're not, we're all allowed to be down sometimes.

CD15 for me today and we managed to SI hoorah. So have done CD13 and today. Will try to do one more Friday if I haven't ovulated by then. I've been getting a bit of EWCM, heartburn and boob pain today so fingers crossed my egg is on the way.

Does anyone else make a wish when they look at the clock at 11:11? Me and hubby always wish for a baby 😂 if only it was that easy! But I declared "11:11 make a wish!" To someone at work today and they looked at me like I was a psycho 😳

@MrsKin90 I'm feeling much better today, the ice has finally melted and I was able to go out for a run which worked wonders on my mental health! Also had our monthly phone consult with the sexual health counsellor about DH's DE, it always makes us both feel better. 🙂

CD14 here and I finally saw EWCM and my OPKs are getting darker! It's all happening!! 🤣 We did another SI tonight and then I had a bag of shredded kale for dinner because folic acid. It was horrible! 🥗

Oh my God, you do that with the time too??? I thought it was a Greek thing, I haven't heard anyone in the UK talking about it before! I'm one step further, I do it every time I see double numbers, 11:11, 12:12, 13:13 and so on! 😂 You are not a psycho, you are just seizing every opportunity!! 🌟
I hope your wish comes true very soon! ❤️

Hi everyone, happy new year to you all!

I haven't been on here for a couple of weeks, so got a but if catching up to do, but so far I'm so sorry @DinkBoo to read your news :( also @ComebackQueen it's awful reading about your referral being delayed, and the receptionist being arsey with you.

Will catch up on the rest of the posts now, only about a week to go.... 😂

Aww @eloiseislost I love your cat! He's gorgeous!

@bigsweetpotato huge congratulations on the bfp!

@ComebackQueen that's fantastic that the call with the practice manager was more promising.

I think I may have some news. My cycles are normally like clockwork, 28/29 days. Last month af came a few days early, then for some reason this time I didn't ovulate according to my opks until around cd 21. Was SI-ing everyday for about 10 days (poor dh!) to cover past my peak. According to 1 app I'm a week late (it's a basic one, doesn't measure anything, but learns your cycle from when you put your periods and ovulation days in). My other app l, fenometer, is linked to my opks. According to that one af was due today. Usually a few days before, I get a bit of a headache, but there wasn't really any of that. Was going to wait a few more days, but crumbled and tested today, and although it registered as negative, and its a squinter, we can see a v.faint second line!

It's really hard not to, but trying not to get carried away. Going to wait a couple more days, then retest, see if its any stronger.

In some ways I don't really feel any different, but my boobs do feel sensitive, I've had really vivid dreams for about 2 weeks now, and I'm getting the odd little twinges on my left hand side (normally af cramps would be more central for me) everytime I feel a twinge I repeat "inbed not shed" in the hope that it's the former, rather than the beginning of the latter! Also my chin is covered in little spots that come to a head quickly, but kill as they're growing. I can have flare ups of spots for seemingly no reason though, and I realise all my "symptoms" are explained as things other than pregnancy.

Still a loooooong way to go, but I've allowed myself the smallest glimmer of hope! I've not really done anything different this time. I too use a small round tub that we sterilise with boiling water before and after each SI. The syringe, well it was from when we had to give our dog steroid meds early last year 🙈 of course it was washed loads, and is also sterilised before and after every use.

Anyway, sorry for my ramble! I'll see what the next few days brings! X

Oh, forgot to mention, as I get up for what feels like my millionth wee, that I do feel like I've been weeing more, even though I'm drinking pretty much exactly the same amount of fluids. I think that's a symptom...or the cold is doing a number on my bladder! X

Evening all!

@Birchybirch eek exciting, have everything crossed for you!!

@eloiseislost I do the same with 11:11, in fact my friends do too! I think whatever gives us hope and a positive mindset is worth believing in/ manifesting. I’ve also started a gratitude journal too and positive affirmations around conceiving and it helps calm me. I’ve felt much more settled at night.

Still awaiting AF, none of the usual symptoms apart from a bit moody and snappy ! I might cave and do an early pregnancy test tomorrow morning. I don’t know if it’s worth doing on CD 24 or whether to just wait that little bit longer to see if AF arrives.

Have exercised 3x today, just felt I needed to keep myself occupied and focused on something.

On a separate note.. I saw someone mention about the covid vaccine (can’t remember who). I have been offered this through work too (work for NHS- clinical staff) but I have said no due to trying to conceive. Is this the right thing to do or can anyone point me in the direction of credible sources? Luckily my manager is off sick so didn’t feel like I needed to give an explanation for saying no

Sorry my message is a bit all over the place 🤪xx

Hi @Birchybirch I'm new here so we've not "met" before. This sounds so promising and so exciting. Fingers crossed things progress. Hard to know with symptoms. I've only ever been pregnant post IVF so never sure what I'd feel if I wasn't being pumped full of drugs. People definitely say the pee'ing is a thing so you never know!

@MrsKin90 I've never heard of wishing at 11:11 but I'm definitely up for giving it a go

Good work on all the SI everyone.

Definitely ok to feel down - TTC is tough and lockdown is bloody miserable!

Xxx

@Sydney1986x I'm the one getting the vaccine on Thursday. The guidance on pregnancy, breastfeeding and TTC has changed, see screenshot.
It is a very personal choice and only you know what's best for you.
My thought process was we know that other vaccines that don't contain live viruses, like the COVID ones, are safe and even recommended in pregnancy (whooping cough, flu). And my job being high risk, working in inpatient ward with very vulnerable people, I think the risk of getting and spreading covid is just too much. Also, I am more afraid of what would happen to me or my baby if I got covid than what would happen if I get the vaccine while not even being pregnant yet. I've read stories about pregnant women dying of covid and I think there was a newborn that tested positive and passed away hours after he was born. But so far so good with women who got pregnant after getting the vaccine during trials.
Please don't think I'm trying to convince you to get it! 😁 I'm just explaining my view but it is such a complicated matter. Trust your instinct! 😉

@Birchybirch eeek sounds like good news!! Do keep us posted once you retest in a couple of days but looks like congratulations might be in order 🥰

@eloiseislost sorry you were feeling down but glad the exercise helped - I’m the same, sometimes I just need to move to clear my head

Not much to report on my end - I’m 2DPO today (CD15) - we SI’d 7 times this cycle and felt quite positive throughout but today I got some spots which is quite usual for second part of my cycle - trying not to plot negative scenarios in my head so early in the game!

@eloiseislost glad you got to go for your run!! I didn't know it was a Greek think, I don't know where I've adopted it from but have always done it 😊
@Janefx40 the "rule" I follow (Eloise might want to say I've made this up 😂) is that it's only magic if you glance up and it's 11:11. If you look at 11:10 you can't stare at it until it turns 11:11. If I look up and turns to 11:11 as soon as I look at it, I make two wishes 😳 😆
@Birchybirch ooooh! That sounds very positive and so exciting 🤞😬 I'll be waiting for your huge bfp in a few days 🥰

@Sydney1986x I would encourage you not to test before 12dpo if you can control yourself! I'm very sensible and the voice of reason in these situations (aka a massive party pooper) but I think testing early gives rise to early disappointment at a point in your cycle where it could easily still go either way. Good luck if you do decide to test and no judgment if you do 😊
Regarding the vaccine It's not that they think there will be risks associated with having it, they just don't know either way so have to advise caution just in case. If you're vulnerable to covid I think an argument towards having it could be made- as the unknown, possibly nonexistent risks of having it whilst TTC wouldn't outweigh the clearly known benefits of having it if you're in an at risk category IMO X

Ah, nice to "meet" you @janefx40 I've found everyone so lovely on here.

That's really interesting @eloiseislost about the jab. I'm presuming I'm quite far down the queue when it comes to it, although perhaps that will change when/if things progress...

Thank you all for your kind words. Very early days, and trying not to get too giddy! 🙂

Hey guys!
Brand new to the convo....
This is the only group I can find about this method, I’ve read through all the posts and you all seem like a lovely bunch and would love to be a part of your group!
My history...

TTC for 3 years now, diagnosed with PCOS and currently on Metformin. I can’t be referred to the fertility clinic cause they want my BMI to be 29 and it’s 31 (literally on the cusp) ....so whilst I try to lose weight me and my hubby talked about SI......it’s taken the pressure off of both of us IMMENSELY. Started in November last year and at the current moment according to my apps I am a week late tomorrow...day 42 of cycle? They aren’t usually this long....I’ve had sore boobs (varies day to day) for the past week or so and mild cramping which makes me think AF is on her way but no sign yet.
Going to be doing a test tomorrow morning just to put my mind at rest

Hope you’re all having a lovely week! Xxx

Welcome onboard @Labrat3 😃
Thank you for sharing your journey so far and keep up posted about the test! I have my fingers crossed for you! 🤞🏼
I too have found that SI took a lot of pressure off and it has helped DH and I to keep our sex life protected from the rollercoaster that is TTC!