New Cycle starting 13/01/21

[KeepSmiling89]

Just wondering if anyone wants to join me for a new cycle starting yesterday (or thereabouts)? AF reared her ugly head yesterday so it's new cycle time. This will be my 3rd cycle after a MMC in October last year. Let's support each other through this!

That video is good @KeepSmiling89 because it’s so true that no one talks about it.

@2020mission it's DH's 50th birthday on valentines day so I'm treating both if us I think. Getting new glasses tomorrow so that'll be my treat probably!

Aww that's tough to have a big birthday during lockdown! Hopefully he still has a good one 🥳

@thislittlebird I'm the same I'm petite so usually need my ID for alcohol 😆 so always have mines with me

Me too lmao @2020mission, the double edged sword of being short.

So I found out today I’m probably not ovulating, which kinda sucks, but I guess I have somewhere to start with getting treatment. Got my day 21 results back and they were only 10. I don’t know if I want to wait for the nhs referral if it’s going to take months so might talk to the private clinic soon about next steps now I know that my progesterone is low.

You've all gone quiet 😴 how is everyone?

@thislittlebird aww so those test results suggest you're not ovulating? Did you ever track BBT and get temp rises? Try to keep positive as it's good you have found out if that's the case and hopefully they can give you something to help. I'm going to have to call the GP next month if I have no luck and expecting it to be a really slow process. I might consider going private if it's really slow, it's just hard to wait for the NHS when you're in your 30s!

I couldn't find any suitable pomegranate juice in the shops so I bought the seeds... although I'm now wondering how many seeds I'd need to eat to get the same level of nutrients as a full glass of the juice. Not quite matching up to my usual chocolate snack 😂 I've added blueberries for some variety.

Yeah @2020mission, it seems very unlikely I am or maybe it’s “weak” ovulation or just very low progesterone. Starting acupuncture on Thursday and hoping it will help the hormones and lack of progesterone. Speaking to the private clinic tomorrow. The nhs wait times really aren’t viable when you’re late 30s especially, and sometimes you weren’t late 30s when the process started . This month is pretty pointless I guess, but we’ll try anyway I suppose, just in case I do ovulate successfully but still....not much hope of it happening without help probably. I do get temp rises but they’re not leaps, as such. So I think I’ll give up temping because it was just super stressful and clearly shows me nothing of much of use right now.

The pomegranate seeds don’t look that appetising, I won’t lie lol

@thislittlebird they really don't look good do they haha but thankfully taste the same as POM juice so it's fine! I actually just checked and my local deli stocks Biona pomegranate juice so I've finally managed to order some 🙌 my BBT temperatures as generally quite low which isn't great. I drop as low as 36.0 Celsius in the first half of the cycle and never reach anywhere near 37 in the second half 😬 still tracking it though for now. I see a rise in the second half so hoping the fact they are low overall isn't too much of a concern. Acupuncture is definitely a good idea🤞 it might feel pointless this month but keep going, you never know it could just be the one month things work out!

It’s weird how they taste the same as POM @2020mission! The Biona one tastes so different. Glad you got hold of some of the non concentrate though! Temps are weird, I found them very anxiety inducing this month and I learned very little so gonna have a break I think.

Yeah we’ll keep going but you know what I mean. The motivation is low. Maybe the acupuncture lady will inspire me when I speak to her!

@mollyaimee @KeepSmiling89 AF must be almost gone? 🤞 missing the chat from you all but understand most people need a break from MN while AF is here as there's not much you can do. I think I've ovulated so I'm already starting my 2WW due to early ovulation again. Attached my chart so far for anyone also temping for any comparisons. Sadly my free trial has ran out so no more RHR graph or cycle interpretation in the app 👎🏻

@thislittlebird my 2 wee bottles of biona pomegranate juice turned up today. Tried it and I think it tastes a bit like vinegar... quite glad I didn't commit to the 6 pack of 1 litre bottles 😅 hopefully worth it though!

@2020mission hi!! Yes have missed the chat on here too but agree that it’s nice to have a break and I even enjoyed a glass of wine or 2!! On last day of AF today finally so can start trying again! Hope you’re doing well? Fingers crossed for you if you’re already in 2WW!! Did you try anything different this time?

@mollyaimee glad to hear you've had some well deserved wine 🍷 that was me at the weekend too haha! Not much new happening this cycle for me except for a bit of supplement and pomegranate changes.

This months TTC list from me:

• Moved from Pregnacare supplements to Seven Seas trying for a baby.
• Husband is just coming to the end of his first month taking Wellman Conception supplements
• Moved to pomegranate seeds and pomegranate juice not from concentrate (starting from ovulation day) to make sure I'm getting the benefits of pomegranate for womb lining 🤞 last months I was drinking pomegranate juice form concentrate
• DTD every second day and then every day once I got peak OPK readings... close to SMEP so far

The other usuals that I've been doing for months:

• Glass of Tropicana grapefruit juice every day from AF ending until ovulation (for fertile CM)
• 1 tbsp flaxseeds and 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds with breakfast first half of cycle until ovulation
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds and 1 tbsp sunflower seeds with breakfast from now until end of the cycle
• 2 Brazil nuts every evening

What's everyone else doing? Any other tips welcome! 😆

Your list is extensive @2020mission 👀. Are the seeds for progesterone? I read something about this earlier. I warned you about the Biona, it’s so grim lmao. I have a Sainsbury’s pink grapefruit juice in this month, let’s see how that tastes. Will start it tomorrow probably, along with CB testing.

I won’t ovulate until the end of next week sometime (if my body can even be arsed to do it lbr) so it’s nuts how you’ve already had yours. How long are your cycles?

I’ve been busy arguing with fertility clinic staff about how useless they are, does that count as new? Lol. I got very annoyed when they knew bugger all about tests they said to have when I pressed them for more info on said tests. So great day for me!

Otherwise, I’m also starting acupuncture tomorrow and I’m anticipating that I may end up having a full meltdown at the acu woman so that’s fun.

@thislittlebird ugh you'd think fertility clinic staff would know what they are doing 🙄 not looking forward to that stuff which will be coming soon if this month is a write off! Let us know how the acupuncture goes 👍🏼
The seeds are supposed to help balance oestrogen and progesterone in each half of the cycle. I've attached an image for reference. Not sure what good it's doing but it gets some extra nutrients in at least and makes breakfast a little more interesting 😆

My cycles vary from 24-28 days. I had a 19 day cycle in October 😬 and occasionally they can be up to 31 days. Average is 26-27 days. Probably a little on the short side really... what are yours usually like?

It’s super frustrating @2020mission. All I want is some more info or help with the low progesterone issue while I wait for my referral (which the GP receptionist is still sitting on nearly a week later) but instead all I got was a lack of help and some suggested tests. When I followed up the next day (today) some woman started talking nonsense about IVF at me in response to questions, it was bizarre and infuriating. I’m not enquiring about ivf right now, but this is all some of these clinics seem to deal in when what many of us need is just a regular gynaecologist or whatever to ask questions to.

I need to balance my hormones, maybe I need to get on the seed wagon. I’ll start with acupuncture which is apparently good at this.

Mine are a little variable too, but I ovulate a fair bit later. They can be 27-36 though, but most months they’re about 29. I don’t love the slight unpredictability lol

@2020mission hey! Sorry for going AWOL! I'm off work this week and just applied for a new job today so been busy with that - just found out about it in Friday. It's the same job I'm doing now but closer to home so fingers crossed!
AF only visits for a couple of days for me so I only had it from Friday-Saturday last week. CD6 now so will start OPK testing this weekend and keep doing our baby dances. Bit worried re maternity leave if I get this job and fall pregnant soon but it's such an amazing opportunity and I don't want to miss out on it. Will wait and see what happens. I tend to get ahead of myself a lot!

@KeepSmiling89 ohh fingers crossed for the job! Honestly the amount of days I've spent hating my job and wanting to move jobs but then thought "no I can't, I'm TTC and could be pregnant any time soon...". Over a year passes and I'm still here 😑 so I definitely don't think you should avoid looking for a new role. Also my thinking is if you end up on a little more money, any less maternity pay you get should eventually balance out with the higher salary 🤞

@thislittlebird talking about IVF when you're just looking to up your progesterone 🙄 is this a private clinic? You can't help but wonder if money is all the motivation with these clinics. I was hoping when I get on at the GP that they would do some tests and be able to give me progesterone or any other hormone balancing prescriptions that could help but I'm losing confidence now. Hopefully you'll get through to them soon!

The one perk of my shorter cycles is moving to the next cycle after a failed cycle quickly, but really it's got to be better having cycles that are more like your length! I don't think ovulating early is optimal as it's less time for the egg to mature and less time for my lining to thicken

Yeah definitely go for the job @KeepSmiling89. I took my job with the maternity package in mind and I’m feeling so stupid for not ttc earlier now because I was worried about hitting the time where you can’t claim full mat leave because you haven’t been there long enough. Now I don’t want to move jobs or move away because I want that damn maternity package I signed up for lol

Yep private @2020mission, had some tests with them for AMH and follicle count previously. I had already told them I didn’t want ivf at this stage, I was hoping they’d say xyz might help me but no, recommended some tests, leading to a Barney with them when I called to get more info about the tests. I was raging this morning, the (non-doctor) woman I tried asking was useless.

Might differ everywhere but I’m not sure what GPs are and aren’t allowed to prescribe now. Mine said I might be given something for progesterone by specialist once referred.

Yeah I know what you mean, pros and cons of different cycle patterns. Who knows what’s good and not really.

Forgot to say, I was just reading about how stress can knock your progesterone out of whack and how acupuncture rebalances hormones so I’m optimistic about tomorrow.

@2020mission it wouldn't be a pay rise unfortunately...just saving in terms of fuel. I work in the NHS but would be changing health boards...exactly same mat leave policies but I think I need to be at least 6 months to qualify. Will cross that bridge when I (hopefully) cone to it.

Application submitted today...closing date is Friday so playing yet another waiting game. Spoke with the manager to find out more about the job today though and she seems lovely so I'm feeling cautiously hopeful that I've made a good impression in these early stages.

@KeepSmiling89 ahh well a saving in fuel and time commuting is still a win. Fingers crossed for you🤞it's not always about money - I'd take a job with a bit less money if my work/life balance was better! Also would love a good manager above me for a change 😑

@thislittlebird stress impacting TTC is worry... and leads to more stress 😅 this pandemic isn't helping either. Hopefully when things improve and restrictions are eased combined with some better weather, we'll all be feeling less stressed and progesterone will soar!

Hi ladies! Hope you’re all doing well😃 random question, has anyone else had any trouble with evap/indent lines on Easy@home HCG tests?

Hi everyone. Been busy back to work after being off for a week. How's everyone doing? CD11 for me...I thought it was time to start using OPKs but pack says to wait til CD16 based on my average cycle length so will wait til Saturday.
Another pregnancy announcement on Facebook as well. Everyone's getting pregnant it seems except me! Still got my fingers crossed for this job though. Closing date was Friday so playing the waiting game...

@KeepSmiling89 I’m on cycle day 11 too so think I’ll start testing today too as I have a 29 day cycle, although I didn’t ovulate until day 19 last time so we’ll see!! I also knew I would test this month even though I said I wouldn’t 😂 I’m exactly the same as you and keep stumbling across pregnancy announcements on Instagram and feeling so happy for them but also a little sad for myself at the same time. It’s crazy, we’re only on cycle 3 but it just feels like we’ll never get our BFP!! Good luck for the job too!!

@KeepSmiling89 @mollyaimee I ovulated on CD 11 😅 so I have to start OPKs at CD 8! I'm 6 DPO now because of the early ovulation. Really hoping this is the month... it's my birthday just after I'll be testing - a BFP would be a great present!

Crossing my fingers for you with the job @KeepSmiling89 🤞

Do you have longer cycles @KeepSmiling89?

I got my peak today on the old clear blue fertility monitor, which is ahead of schedule. I usually am about 29 days but it can vary, and I usually ovulate 16-18 from what I’ve tracked in previous months. Wonder if my acupuncture brought it forward? Or supplements? Dunno. I started on cd8 too @2020mission, clear blue demands cd8 lol.

Getting annoyed with news features involving lockdown babies, I won’t lie. My friends will be due their babies soon, meanwhile here I am 🥴