Yogurt pot yuppies, sexy basters and UFO discs - part 3

[eloiseislost]

Starting yet another thread on self insemination before our second one locks down!

Welcome to THE most supportive group you could wish for if you’re starting or you are already on a self insemination journey.
Remember, nothing is TMI and you are not alone. 💖

Calling the usual suspects, in no particular order (and sorry if I missed anyone 😊):
@ComebackQueen
@Makingnumber2
@Janefx40
@AdriannaP
@MrsKin90
@primrosechill
@bigsweetpotato
@Sydney1986x
@Bluey18
@Birchybirch
@Lori23TTC
@Cathie102
@Labrat3
@DinkBoo
@Oilyoilyoilgob

Let it rain BFPs!!! 🐣

@Makingnumber2 I hope it's OK, I inverted the colours, because I have paid for FF and why not? 😄

@eloiseislost I’m 13dpo. With my first pregnancy the earliest I got a squinter was 13dpo and from what I remember it really was a squinter. So I’ll have to wait and test again tomorrow. If it’s an evap I’ll feel so stupid and sorry for wasting everyone’s time!

Oh wow thanks @eloiseislost! So a second line does exist? Or would an inversion show an indent?

@Makingnumber2 Although when you read a test outside the timeframe, it is considered invalid, in my experience evap and indent lines appear when the test strip is bone dry and usually that takes at least 1 hour.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed this will end up being your BFP! If AF doesn't show, time for a FRER! 😃 🤞🏼 🤞🏼 🤞🏼

@Makingnumber2 Based on how inverting RGB works, it would only "light up" if there was colour, otherwise it would look black. I think the second line has light to it, I'm very hopeful for you! 😃 How many DPO are you today and what brand is the strip?

@Makingnumber2 Sorry I missed your message! 13DPO would add up for a line like this on a cheapie I think!
Also, you're not wasting anyone's time! If this is an evap, I'll feel bad for getting your hopes up. But I really think there's something there and I'm keeping my fingers crossed I'm right! 🤞🏼

Thanks so much @eloiseislost really appreciate your doing the invert and your kind words. I so hope with all my might it’s a BFP - not going
To mention to DH yet though until I’ve got better confirmation. The strips are cheapies bought in bulk from Amazon- instructions are in German I think 😂 I have to say I’ve never had a line appear on a negative test and I am not too proud to say I have fished out BFN tests before 30 mins later in Hope they may have magically changed to a BFP. Let’s see how it goes. I’m going to double my folic acid from today just in case as no harm and at my weight I would need to be on a double dose.

@Makingnumber2 wishing you the very best of luck for another test in a few days 🤞🏻 Keeping everything crossed you get your positive ☺️

Well, I’ve definitely started my period this morning 🙁 I’ve been absolutely weepy the last few days and can’t stop crying about my girl. Better to be weepy I guess then my usual murderous pmt self, so my husband has had it easier than normal these last few days!
We’re going on a big walk now to a high hill near us, I’m going to let some of her fur go into the countryside, on this glorious bright day.

Take it easy to everyone who has started their period, I’m with you on how crap this is. To everyone about to si or still in their tww-good luck 💚🍀 xx

@Makingnumber2 Hey, no shame here, I have put my hands in the bin many a times to fish out old tests! 🗑🤣
I did it just this month actually, and saw what I thought were indents on two tests but maybe they were not after all, we will never know! 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm so sorry AF got you @Oilyoilyoilgob. You are in my thoughts every day because I know what losing a pet is like. 😔
New cycle, new opportunity in terms of TTC though, as hard as it is to look at it this way now. I was out for a walk yesterday with a friend who knows about my MC but not that I got another BFP. She said to me "I don't know how you keep going with TTC after the MC, I'd be terrified" and I told her that when I started my period I was overcome with a need to do it again, as though the emotional and physical pain of the MC had been erased from my mind. I really do think that our instincts keep us going no matter the heartbreak of BFNs, MCs, etc. So as bad as CD1 is, I'm sure you'll find your determination to pursue your dream again. And I wish from the bottom of my heart, for you and everyone here, many many BFPs soon. 😘❤️

So sorry @Oilyoilyoilgob that AF has turned up and you're understandably feeling so weepy and emotional- you've had a very tough time of things even without TTC in the picture, so just let the emotion out as it hits you. I'm so pleased today you have glorious weather to go and pay homage to your beautiful girl- I hope it brings you some peace today to be out in nature and honouring her memory like this .

@Makingnumber2 looks like a line to me. My lines were like that around 13 DPO. Agree with @eloiseislost that you wouldn’t see an evap after 10mins, it would take much longer.
FWIW my fertility consultant doesn’t believe in evaps. He said when you see a faint line, it means you have HCG in your body. 50% of early pregnancies never implant and it’s just because we test so early these days we even know we were/are pregnant.
Anyway, looks promising. I have all my fingers crossed for you!!

Big hug @Oilyoilyoilgob it’s a hard and tough journey and I know how heartbreaking it is. Wishing you lots of strength and sending all good wishes your way. Treat yourself to something that makes you feel better - a lovely bath or some flowers. 💐💐

Thanks @AdriannaP that is good
To know that even if it doesn’t stick we were able to conceive as that could indicate the issue wasn’t with DH sperm count but more likely with me in some way.

@Makingnumber2 and sometimes it wasn’t meant to be. Don’t blame yourself, many pregnancies don’t stick due to chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo.
You already have one DC right? You will be able to have another then in all likelihood. My consultant told me my body was able to carry one baby to term so there is no reason to believe it can’t do it again. Sometimes we just need a bit of extra help (I am currently taking a million things and injecting myself every day with blood thinners!)
So hope this one will stick for you!!

@Makingnumber2 I don't think you can draw conclusions as to whose "fault" it may be. There are so many factors that interplay during conception, implantation and the entire pregnancy for that matter. I just don't want you to be quick to blame yourself for anything and put pressure on yourself! ❤️

Ladies, thank you all. I honestly can’t articulate what your support means 💚 we let some of her fur go into the wind, overlooking where we live and the huge expansive views over the Humber and beyond with the sun shining on us. I feel the energy of her and loved ones passed around me.
I needed that today.

We called the doctor afterwards hoping to carry on the good energy-husbands sperm sample is normal which is great news and I have my blood test booked for 3 weeks today to get the ball rolling after March. Had a good chat today with husband and we’re taking the positive from this journey-we only started this properly in September and got pg once so it can happen and we will do our very best to make it happen! Just one child would be an honour and a blessing to have.

@AdriannaP that’s a lovely idea, I’m going to have a nice pamper tonight ☺️

Good luck to everyone on here with their sticky beans, the tww or the SI about to happen 💚 xx

@Makingnumber2 try not to think that. Our beans don’t stick for a huge number of reasons and no one is at fault for them.
This journey is tough enough as it is so try not to let yourself think it’s anything to do with you being at fault and give yourself added pressure when it’s definitely not needed.
We know from this thread alone sadly how often implantation doesn’t happen or miscarriage happens. Go easy on yourself there.

Sending a big fat hug Xx

@Oilyoilyoilgob so sorry to hear of your loss. Sending you healing vibes.

Sorry to hear AF also made an appearance, hopefully next cycle is the one for you and, all us other ladies will get our blessings.

@Makingnumber2 I agree with the other ladies, I think that’s definitely a line.
Fingers crossed for you.

Good luck to everyone, I am researching like mad now that I’ve been a bit of a fool first ‘cycle’ and think I need to get the soft discs. Trying to find more information on anyone suffering from vaginismus being able to get them in. I will probably use the syringe for next SI only because I know what to expert to and don’t want to shock the body forcing a soft cup up there.

I’ll be back in a few weeks when my next SI days starts, I’m helping my mother move house over the next two weeks. Don’t worry we are in a support bubble, so due to her disability my husband and I have taken 2 weeks leave, to box up the current house and then unpack in her new house.

This at least keeps me distracted until it’s time to do another SI.

Best of luck to everyone.

For those that got their BFP already, hoping these all stick and I need a full low down on what to expect from BFP to first scan. It seems like from what I’ve read, you’re left in limbo until you go for a 12 week scan, that sounds bad for mental healthy tbh.

@Oilyoilyoilgob I'm so pleased it was such a beautiful moment for you all and that it brought you some comfort. How wonderful the positive energy continued and you had good news back about DH's sperm count! 3 weeks isn't long to go either til your bloods. You will both get the child you so sorely deserve- I know it. And thank you for the hug and kind words

@ComebackQueen thank you best of luck with your mum's house move. That sounds like a lot of additional emotional and poss physical labour too on top of all the TTC stuff! Your mum is very lucky to have you and DH to help her and I hope she will be happy in her new place. You shouldn't feel like a fool at all about your first SI cycle- this whole thing was alien to all of us when we did our first SI cycles and part of the journey is honing the process I think! The soft discs do squeeze down to be relatively narrow for insertion into a very squashed almost '8' shape, the wider parts are wider in width than a 5ml syringe I think but not hugely wider. I think do what you can and don't stress yourself out with any of it. Slowly and surely will win the race.

Thank you @AdriannaP @eloiseislost for your words too- they have given me some much needed perspective I think as my head is a bit all over the place today lurching from best case to worst case scenarios every 10 mins. I am trying to be fatalistic and just think what will be will be and I'm sure if I keep practising the fatalism I'll get better at it .

@eloiseislost
Yes, my hubby is exactly the same - can't do it in my presence either! We did psychosexual therapy but it didn't help us. They also discovered his testosterone levels were really low. He then went on medication for that which meant we couldn't conceive but it didn't help his ejaculation problems. The problem with sex is that it can just go on for sooooo long! He had to change his testosterone injections when we went to the fertility clinic so that he was actually producing sperm. It's taken over a year to get the dose right. But I was too scared to really try conceiving until this month... they're waiting to hear whether we go ahead with IVF... I just don't find the fertility clinic informative or supportive... Like, i have a price list but it says medication is not included. Nowhere does it say how much medication costs! And if we go ahead with IVF is there a waiting list or do we start straight away? I'm terrified of egg collection and injections so figured we'd give a good try SI first! But i'm not getting any younger!

Sorry to hear that you miscarried in Dec but congratulations on your BFP! It is very scary indeed, I can imagine.

@Remembermee It can be a very frustrating issue, but we have found a way to work around it. My DH was never investigated for low testosterone, our therapist maintains that it is a psychological issue for him and I agree, he fits the profile. But I'm happy to be working it out with him, once we started counselling, it has brought us closer. This is why decided to TTC.

Are you being seen by a private fertility clinic? Are you in the UK? I have no idea about medication prices, but I suspect they won't be very cheap. I would ask someone all these questions, they should be able to give you a quote and a plan as to what's next. Try not to think too much about what's next though, focus on one thing at a time. SI this month and when you hear back from the clinic about IVF, you can re-adjust your focus. 😉 Best of luck!

Morning everyone- hope everyone is doing ok.
I am still in line limbo over here which makes me think things are not looking super hopeful.
I did work out yday though that actually I was 12dpo yday and 13dpo today.
This morning I took another cheapie strip and a faint line came up within a minute. I didn’t need to squint to see it like ydays but in photos it looks fainter than ydays one! I also took a Superdrug frer which was atrocious btw- save your money. It had random dye lines all over the shop as it was doing its thing. Due to the dye lines all over it was hard to see a faint line of any kind until the strip inside had gone from pink to white which was just outside 5 min time to read it. The line is also not central in the window which is unhelpful too- it’s on rhs of window. I’ve attached photos but they aren’t great. I think it’s a case of just sitting and waiting and fully prepared for this to be a chemical.

Good morning @Makingnumber2! Literally I opened the app to find out if you tested again, I'm so invested in this! 😅
First of all, wow to that Superdrug test, looks horrible. The control line is way off centre! 😵 Makes me wonder if the test line is also off centre and thus hidden by the plastic cover. I would pry it open just for fun, but it doesn't look reliable.
The line in the cheapie is definitely there! Eeeek! 😬
Can you get a FRER?

@Makingnumber2 maybe it's still a bit early? I know I tested on the day that AF was due (13 dpo I think) and test was completely blank. I had slight cramp and a bit of spotting so thought AF was definitely on her way - the only thing weird for me was that my boobs still hurt and that usually goes away on AF. I think I tested 4 days later and there was a clear line. Fingers crossed for you!! X