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!!! 🐣

@MrsKin90 I think on a textbook cycle (14 day luteal phase) progesterone peaks between 7-8DPO and then goes downhill from there. Sounds like your luteal phase is pretty much textbook, so you're right 8DPO would be ideal.
I'm sure it can be booked last minute, it's a simple blood draw. The only "upshot" of the pandemic is that less people visit healthcare settings, so there's a bit more flexibility for those that have to -for blood draws for example.

@MrsKin90 i think I have the same umbrella 😂 I am ok CD16 and some slight cramping so possibly Ovulation but who knows 🤷🏼‍♀️

@AdriannaP awww so glad the scan went well and baby is growing healthily 🌈 wishing you a continued happy and healthy pregnancy

Thank you all! So relieved for now. ❤️🌈🙏🏼
My midwife appointment is a phone call though - I guess due to Covid. Bit nervous about that, don’t they normally take bloods and a urine sample at the first appointment? i can’t remember now.

@eloiseislost you can’t hear the heartbeat yet that early but see it flicker on the screen. The sonographer showed us. My DH is excited but doesn’t want to get carried away until we are 12 weeks.

@Makingnumber2 no please don't apologise. This thread confuses me completely and I can never remember who has done what etc. I feel like I'm not doing well with congratulating people and sympathising.

It's too early for congratulations. I am so freaked out it's set my anxiety off and now I'm scared that if it is a real positive I'll lose it due to the anxiety.
I have a long history of mh illness and despite wanting this I feel it's triggered it off again.. agh. But we shall see and I'm TRYING not to think about it, especially giving birth which is what I started thinking straight away and was the whole reason I've waited until I'm 41 before trying properly.

@Remembermee Say it with me and say it loudly: "Anxiety does NOT cause miscarriage". Each woman that gets pregnant has 15%-20% chance of miscarrying, which is sad, but also independent of factors like mental health, occupation, etc.
It's absolutely normal to feel worried and anxious, no matter how much you want this -I know from experience.
Try taking it one step at a time. Today you are 7DPO and you have a faint line on a very old test; it could go either way. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 😉

@Remembermee I totally understand what you mean about the positive triggering your anxiety. I was the same with my first pregnancy and 1st tri was horrendous. This time round though I'm determined to try and keep on top of it. Things I'm doing to try and do this-

• get out for a 30 min walk on my own 3x a week.
• When I feel my chest getting tight and anxiety creeping in, stopping whatever I'm doing, close my eyes and take 3 really deep belly breaths. I tell myself it's good for the baby as deep breathing improves circulation and I'm helping to get lovely oxygenated blood to the little bean.
• sniffing lavender oil like it's going out of fashion - I used it as part of my sleep regime as when my anxiety is bad my insomnia is awful, and I find the scent really soothing and soporific.
• I try to be mindful when doing boring daily chores and when driving. This stops my mind running at 1000mph with anxious thoughts. So I'll practise mindfulness when washing up, hoovering, wiping surfaces and driving too.
• I try to do some yoga stretching- not tons like 5 mins- in the evening to help me wind down for bed.

Doing these things helps me feeling control of my anxiety rather than other way round. Sending you a big hug cos I know how horrible it is when you're anxious about being anxious which then makes you more anxious.

In terms of birth- I wouldn't think about that at all yet if you can- every time you start thinking of it, just try to be present and mindful in the here and now with whatever you're doing.
I also really love a visualisation technique that I learned in one of my many bouts of therapy. Imagine your worries are clouds up in the sky. Lie back and watch them as they move through the sky- acknowledge they are there, but you don't need to do anything with or about them, just watch them move across and out of sight.

Hope some of this is helpful in some way! xx

@AdriannaP I can't remember if I had a blood test at my booking in appointment, but pretty sure I did a urine sample. I just remember every appointment I had it was all about the urine sample- they were obsessed. You will have more appointments won't you as a high risk pregnancy? So hopefully some of them will be face to face. My sister is pregnant with her first and has had a few face to face appointments but some have been zoom ones. I'm not sure if the provision across different trusts is different too.

@AdriannaP congratulations 🥰 🌈 such wonderful news 💕

@Makingnumber2 wonderful advice. Meditation and mindfulness for us all on this thread is I’m sure much needed-it’s a long old rollercoaster!

@MrsKin90 so glad you’re ok. Hope the pain eases off soon and just a few days until it’s over. May I also stand under your umbrella 😅
If it helps, I have my bloods booked in on cd22, GP said cd21 but a day either side is fine if it falls on a Sunday (which it does!) she said by then it should show ovulation. Wonder if it’s worth checking with your gp if you’re blood test could be calculated this way? Much easier ☺️

@AdriannaP fantastic news and I hope you feel relieved that this first step is complete. Understand completely about anxiety but in between those times remember that all has gone well for today, keep holding on to that xx

@Makingnumber2 Thank you so much for your lovely and thoughtful post. Lots to try and do there! Just been for a lovely walk too :) I like the image of the clouds too [heart]

@MrsKin90 so sorry to hear AF got you :(. I know exactly what you mean about it being the boring part of the cycle. That’s how I felt this month- just waiting for fertile window 🙄. Hopefully it passes quickly xx

Ladies for those of you who syringe, do you wait for it to liquify? If so for how long?

@Bizawit I do a "pour" test. If I can move the cup it pours from one side to the other, I think it's ready. If it still sort of gloops across, it needs longer.. 😂

Haha “gloops across”. Love it 🤣

I didn’t liquefy as I only found out about it this cycle after my fertile week had passed. It sounds like the best way to do it though from what I’ve read online and on here too

I’m having a little panic- when I went for a wee after lunch I saw a tiny yellow brown speck on paper after I wiped. I thought it was because the paper was recycled paper. I went for another wee just now and there was a brown speck on paper- I had a close inspection (sorry bit grim) and it definitely isn’t the loo paper. So I’m worried I am spotting and what this means... my lower back is really aching and I often feel my period cramps low in my back (I think because I’ve got a tilted uterus) and yeh I’m just having a bit of an internal panic about the fact this was a chemical after all and AF on her way

@Makingnumber2 Ah the classic panic while wiping…! Brown generally means old blood so it could easily be part of the implantation process for you. Take a deep breath and wait until the next pee to see what's going on. How was your line this morning?

Thanks @eloiseislost that has made me feel better. I forgot this part from last time- the dreading going to loo and panicking about every tiny spot or discharge etc. Line this morning seemed similar to ydays- no lighter or darker which I thought was ok as levels are supposed to double every 48 hrs so should be darker tomorrow. Today’s test is on RHS. Blue test was first one I did.

@Makingnumber2 There is definite progression there, which is good! 🙂
But because it's early days, implantation is not complete, so some spotting and some pains are very common!
It's probably going to be 9 months before you pee and wipe without your heart rate going up! 😄 😉

Thank you so much you're an absolute star- I feel calmer now and you're right- it's going to be a rollercoaster for my poor heart rate going to the loo for at least first tri!
Wishing everyone a lovely weekend- wrap up warm folks as I think we're in for a cold one!

@AdriannaP so happy your scan went well and you are more reassured now ❤️ Hope the next 5 weeks goes quickly for you xx

@Bizawit I usually wait a couple of mins for the goods to liquify. I keep warm in my hands in the cup. It doesn’t take long. Alternatively it will liquify anyway in the syringe. Il usually keep the syringe in until I ‘O’ then gently press the plunger- chances are it will liquify with warmer temp. They say it can take 10-20 mins to liquify.
Sorry if TMI but I hear over and over on here nothing is TMI on this thread 😂 x

@Bizawit we leave it 10-20 mins warm in the medical cup with the lid on-husband keeps it under his top and his hands around it. By then it’s nice and runny and not snotty 🤢
I then suck it up and keep it in the syringe until just before or during orgasm. Nothing is tmi here 😁

Ok so here’s an update. A BFN today. Sooo odd that there was faint line yesterday.
I compared the sticks though and realise the one with the line did not clear to have a completely white background.... does that mean anything?
I only got peak ovulation on the 28th Jan so still very early.

Good morning @Remembermee!
Sorry for the BFN today but, as you said, it is very very early and you are still in with a chance for a BFP. 🙂
Depending on the consistency of the urine (e.g.: how concentrated it was), sometimes tests dry out to a yellow colour, that's nothing to worry about.
Looking at yesterday's test, now that it is completely dry, it looks more like a dodgy test than anything else.
Given that the tests are close to their expiry date, I would personally chuck them and order new ones from Amazon; they are very cheap. As you are getting closer to the potential implantation stage of the cycle, last thing you want is dodgy tests confusing you! Best of luck! 🤞🏼 🧚🏼‍♀️

@Oilyoilyoilgob snotty 😂 semen is actually pretty gross isn't it?

@Remembermee sorry that you're going through a bit of confusion. I do think the other test looks like a bit of dye run has happened. I would also encourage you to stop testing for now as you're so early 😊 easier said than done I know but you're just going to drive yourself crazy ❤️

@Sydney1986x do they really say it takes 10-20 minutes? 😱 My hubby's sperm takes like five minutes max. I've never waited longer than that, there isn't enough time in the day! Hopefully "quick to liquify" isn't going to be a bad thing when he has his sperm analysis done 😆 I'm sure it does liquify in the syringe but just wanted to say I think the point of letting it do so before sucking it up is so the least amount of damage possible is caused by the sucking up and squirting out process.

I also wonder if it goes all wobbly-jelly after sex? Or because it's in a warm wet place does it stay liquidy.. 🤔

@MrsKin90 If it makes you feel any better, my DH semen comes out pretty liquid, it has never been thick or 'snotty' or anything. I was obsessing about it and googling and found some sites that say thin liquid semen can indicate low sperm count! 😱 But, BUT it worked just fine twice now, so observing semen=not an exact science! 😆