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!!! 🐣

Hello @Sydney1986x hope you’re well. Wishing you all the best of luck in your tww. That’s great news you’re in the mindset for your hycosy, you sound in a very positive frame of mind.

I’m not going to tag anyone as I know we’ve all been going through a lot the last few days and weeks but safe to say I’m thinking of you all. I’ve had a few days away from here but will carry on reading 😊 and I do hope everyone is well and healthy and any of our pregnant members are all feeling ok with a healthy baby 💚

I had my first mmr jab yesterday, it’s a two phase one so the next is in 4 weeks. Recommended to not get pregnant for four weeks after but we didn’t realise it was a two step jab. From everything I can see online it’s recommended to not get pregnant in case I got unwell, and in ladies up to 12 weeks pregnant there were small signs of transmission in some cases when babies were born (in regards to antibodies) but no congenital defects.

We have a few days to decide between ourselves if we take any theoretical risk (our governments wording, not mine!) and still try to conceive.
I can’t see any evidence online. It’s difficult as I don’t have two months to waste, but we’ll see.

I have my first acupuncture session booked in today, I’ve been eating really well and meditating and really trying to relax my mind since last week, really focusing on being gentle to myself for whatever comes my way regarding fertility and potential treatments.

I hope everyone waiting for test results gets good news. I hope everyone going through their losses are as ok as can be and look after yourselves.
I hope everyone struggling through this journey is alright and just taking this day by day being nice to themselves xx

Hello ladies,
I’m back.
Went to the gynaecologist for a post-loss check-up.
She suggested waiting a cycle and I’ll follow her advice.
She did ask if I was going to treat the underlying issues that were causing us to revert to the yoghurt pot. My case is vaginismus plus loss of libido. Loss of libido is the main cause now.
Anyone else in the same boat? I feel I’ll hit menopause/or die of natural causes before I understand why it is what it is. That or fork out lots of £££ to private psychologists. Anyone in the same boat or sought treatment via NHS? Any luck?

*waiting a cycle before trying to conceive again.

Hi ladies,

Lovely to see all the updates on everyone. @AdriannaP keep posting with updates ! Don't ever feel that you can't post simply because you are where we all want to be x you have been through the same journey as the rest of us ❤️

I think my AF is fucking with me !!
This month I've had a short cycle again..25 days...started testing for ovulation on CD 6. Empty circle on CD6, cd7 got a flashing smiley (wtf again) and today cd8 got another flashing smiley!!

Should I be worried that for 2 months now I seem to be ovulating about 4 days earlier than I have been since I started testing again last year ????

So hubby and I have done 2 SI's so far and probably doing another tonight as well, a friend suggested we just shag every day as soon as my period finished...if only that was possible !! Delayed ejaculation would mean that I would be horrendously sore after 2 days in a row !! And raw as hell ( sorry tmi)
Honestly though you ladies are the only people I talk to about the method that we are using x

How are the rest of you doing the SI ? Are you doing every day while in fertile window ? Or every second day ?

@Carol1980 we did SI every day in the fertile period. And then nothing for the rest of the cycle. Worked out to be 10 days of SI in the last cycle.

@birdbybird
My hubby has just came downstairs from the man cave to ask if I want a 'sample' tonight 🤣🤣 thats our code word that we seem to have adopted for our SI, my worry is that will the quality of the sperm be compromised by doing this for potentially 10 days straight ? 🤷‍♀️

Poor guy probably feels like a sperm bank at the moment 🤣🤣

@Carol1980 thank you!!

We’d usually SI 2-3 times per cycle only jn my fertile window. More was not possible for my DH. The two cycles I feel pregnant we did two SI, on the day of and after the static smileys (on clearblue opk). The cheap OPK never worked for me, I could never tell when I was ovulating.

@AdriannaP lovely to hear from you x hope you and bump are well ❤️

I've used the clearblue for years like you I just thought the cheap ones were crap and always had problems pinpointing ovulation with them 🤦🏼‍♀️

According to Ovia I'm on day 1 of my fertile window, so think we will probably just do a SI tonight, may as well 😂 Maybe give him a break tomorrow depending on what my OPK says in the morning !

@Carol1980 has your husband had a semen analysis? My husband’s counts were fine, (morphology was on the low side of normal). I remember reading that if the volume is normal and not low then intercourse every day does no harm.
So that’s the choice we made.
I ovulate very early in the cycle (around day 12), so we start SI around day 8.
I reuse the syringe plus pot. Just wash it with water and ensure it’s dry completely. So I’m not really wasting anything (other than the sperm!)

@birdbybird
Thanks for your reply ❤️

We did a sperm test ( from the website Dr Fertility) and his sperm count came up as normal, although we did get two tests in the kit we have only used one so might try the test again if this months is not successful again x

Because we have a child already we are unlikely to have the doctors run the test but we haven't gotten to the doing private tests yet

By the way, last cycle we did SI 10 times because I ended up ovulating on day 15 instead.
Anyway, it worked, but in the end didn’t stick.... don’t like to use that ‘s’ word :

@Carol1980 during the ‘peak’ day, I’ve even been tempted to SI twice, to improve our chances... it was a weekday so didn’t get around to it.

@AdriannaP such a lovely and inspiring update ❤️❤️🥰. So glad to hear all is well and thank you for sharing xx

I’m 4dpo here. Feeling a bit deflated and exhausted but trying to stay positive.

X

@birdbybird
Yeah I think my hubby will be working hard this month 🤣 this is the first month where we've pretty much decided that we're just going to get some in every day, I got another flashing smiley this morning, usually I get 2 or none so will be interesting to see what happens with tomorrow's result.
I'd love to say we have tried having sex this time round but I'm loaded with a cold ( def a cold and not COVID-19, ive got self testing kits so it's negative) and to be honest I'm not in the mood to have sex as I feel so rotten !
So actually doing the SI is helpful !!

I've had a few times where it has worked and unfortunately it stuck too so feel your pain 😢

@Sydney1986x and @Bizawit exciting that you're in your tww 🤞🤞 hope this is the one for you both! Try to keep your spirits up however you can.

Oily that's really annoying for you! I think I'd be nervous about not being given the second MMR jab if you happen to be pregnant at that time as they might refuse to give it? So if it were me I'd skip one cycle until I'd had the second jab and then go wild. Otherwise personally I think there's very little that would put me off TTC for two months. A tricky decision for you both when there's no set answers! How did you get on with acupuncture? I'm so interested in it but bloody hell it's so expensive!!

Birdybird I hope you can spend this month 'off' taking good care of yourself and treating yourselves to lovely things. Our case is a case of DHs low sex drive and inability to ejaculate during sex. We've not sought help for this or even mentioned it to a doctor but wish I could be helpful and provide some insight 😕

Carol - I'm sure the NHS would still run a semen analysis even though you've already got a child wouldn't they? You might not be eligible for treatments but they should still be willing to run some routine tests in my opinion, not that they care what my opinion is!

After some difficulties with preparing for the original SA date, we've delayed DHs SA until April when he has a day off. This will fall in line with (hopefully) when I get an appointment for an ultrasound to look at my uterus lining and ovaries. I did consider just buying a little microscope and looking for myself 😂 would be easier and quicker 🤦

AdriannaP that's really made me feel better as I worry constantly we can't do it "enough"!

Carol we do every 2-3 days but have managed the last three cycles to do every other day for the most critical time and it's made no bloody difference. Although if we COULD do more, we'd just do as much as we could I think. Sorry you're feeling poorly ❤️

I got my blood test results back. ALMOST everything was fine (they tested my thyroid, testosterone, diabetes, STDs, inflammation markers x2 and progesterone).
I've got raised inflammation markers - "8" but should be below 5. Dr didn't think this mattered/didn't mean anything (so why do the test in the first place?) but will retest this cycle.
Progesterone was 29 and should be 30 or above for ovulation. Such a small difference and my period arrived 4 days later rather than 7 so I expect it's that, not too worried about it but having it done again this cycle.

If I'm honest I'm sick to death of TTC now. I'm sure we all are. This will be month 19 now for me, I think. I feel very sorry for myself but I know I need to try to stay positive.

Hi @MrsKin90 I hope you’re well and thanks for checking in on me 😊

That’s sounds fantastic news on your blood test results and great that you’ll have another to check for any changes. At least if the inflammation markers are high again it’s logged on your records and the GP might then suggest something to help?

Exciting news for next month for sperm analysis and your ultrasound 😊 may I ask is your ultrasound private or through your GP? I have a chat with mine next week about my bloods then a joint couple one with our gp about next steps so would be good to know if the nhs offer the ultrasound.

I’m sorry to read you’re sick of it 💚 Hopefully it really won’t be too long for you until you get a lovely positive pregnancy test. You’re in my thoughts and fingers crossed it will be soon for you, 19 months is such a long time.

I think we may try this month. I guess right now the chances of me not getting pregnant are statistically higher sadly, and after chatting together if I did get pg this cycle the risk is there but incredibly low of catching rubella. It’s very difficult as missing one cycle is one too many right now. Tough choice coming up. It’s be interesting to see how good the first jab is for antibodies, we rang a fertility clinic who said I’d need to show proof of antibodies or that I’m immunised.

I really enjoyed acupuncture! It’s a community one which lowers the cost so I had a very thorough consultation then went into a main room with seven zero gravity chairs all spaced far apart. She’s not going to treat me period wise as my cycles are regular and not problematic and we both decided it’s best to treat for stress/anxiety and feeling down. I don’t know will it work but I felt lovely after just having that time to lay back and have an enforced relax. Felt great yesterday then at 4pm was totally zonked out exhausted and I slept all the way through to this morning. First time in a long time this week that I’ve felt ok 😊

For people asking about regularity if SI, we once did 13 days on the trot with no luck! Some people hit the jackpot only doing 2-3 SI on a cycle. I do honestly think it’s down to luck and general health.
Good luck to everyone who is going into SI or the tww.

It’s been lovely hearing positive stories on conception and pregnancy and hopefully we will all get there soon.

Thinking if everyone who is feeling down and going through loss, I hope you’re ok.

Hope everyone else is ok too, I’m not going to tag anyone but everyone on the thread is in my thoughts 💚 xx

@Oilyoilyoilgob yes I was happy with the blood results overall. Would have made me feel better about it taking so long if there's something small/easy to fix but should just be grateful all seems well. My progesterone obviously isn't where it should have been but not worrying about that until I have repeat results and weight loss is meant to help improve that anyway so hopefully every pound lost will help that.
I'm still waiting for my ultrasound appointment letter but was told by the department that it would be in April (so fingers crossed). It's an NHS one but is literally just an ultrasound and not a HSG/HyCoSy. It's just to look at my uterus lining and the condition of my ovaries. I assumed this was offered to everyone as standard fertility investigation but it could also just be because I have PCOS? I tried to ask a GP yesterday if the HCG/HyCoSy was offered by the hospital or if I had to get down to an acceptable weight to be accepted by the fertility clinic for that - but he'd never heard of that test🤦🤦 although I did confirm with him BMI needs to be below 35 and 'on the way down towards 30' as all our local information says it has to be below 30 for them to even accept the referral to a fertility clinic.
I didn't even know MMR was something they checked, I've not had that checked? Or was it just not on your records that you'd had it done? The risk of catching it must be so small but I had no idea they took it so seriously! You've just got to make the decision you're happiest living with. I'd make the same one definitely.

It's good to hear your acupuncture experience. Did you have needles everywhere or just in certain places? I'm glad you've had such a positive experience and it already made you feel good for the first time in ages ❤️ hopefully it continues to do so.

Maybe I'll treat myself to some 😬 I don't think there's such a thing as a community acupuncture treatment here, not sure how I'd find out as I can only find independent people who rent clinic spaces.

@MrsKin90 it’s great news on your bloods and the progesterone is only just off-with your PCOS and cycles not being regular could it be that? At least you’ll get your second reading to compare, and it’s fantastic you’re on your weight loss journey ready to start fertility treatment if needs be 😊 better to start stuff now then have lots to sort out later on (hoping you don’t need fertility treatment but if so you’ll be in tip top condition!)

Thanks for letting me know re ultrasound, I’ll be able to ask our gp next week what is our next step, she’s really lovely so I’m hoping we can get the ball rolling.
The mmr was something she checked, it seems we’re all getting different tests done! As rubella is so dangerous to a baby up to 20 weeks, the fertility clinic we called were very strict on that I’d need to show proof of immunisation or antibodies in a recent blood test. The nurse checked my records before my jab and seemingly I never had it, parents are really surprised as I had all my other vaccines and they’d never have opted me out.
I think we are going to try this month, from what I’ve seen online the results showed some babies had antibodies if their mum was given the mmr at up to 12 weeks gestation but no birth defects.
I’m doing my opks in case we do decide to go ahead.

I had an acupuncture needle in a finger on each hand, forearm, wrist, one in each toe, top of feet, middle of brows and one in each ear. Only one gave the tiniest of stings which she warned me of but even that was absolutely fine. They had music playing and one lady was already in and left, them another came in so only three of us there. Ill wrap up warmer as it was cool and windows open due to Covid, apart from that it was a lovely time!
I didn’t realise it was a community one until delving in their website, from next week I can decide to pay anywhere from £15-25 for a 20-30 min session. Maybe try googling community acupuncture and your county and fingers crossed you have some nearby!
I also have a massage treatment booked in from next month and I’m just really going to be nice to my mind and body. I’m really hoping that will help tell my body that I’m ok to carry a baby 🤞🏻

You do sound in good form and I really do hope you are, it’s such positive news on your blood tests and that you’ve got the ball rolling for any fertility treatments-great to be in control during a time that’s so easy to feel out of control! Sounds like you’re on the right track, I’m really happy for you xx

Hi everyone- just checking back in to see how everyone is doing.
@Sydney1986x and @Bizawit hope you're ok and surviving the never-ending TWW. Have everything crossed for you guys that there's a BFP at the end of it for you.

Great news about your bloods @MrsKin90. I think with inflammation markers they can be raised by something as minor as a cold, and as yours were raised so minimally it's unlikely to be an indicator of anything else. This is what I was told when in hospital many years ago by the doctor. 19 months is a long time and no wonder you're feeling fed up of TTC- I hope the BFP at the end of this long road is just round the corner for you.

@Oilyoilyoilgob the accupuncture sounds fab! I'm going to look into community ones in my area as I really like the sound of it. I think I would also be doing same as you in terms of just continuing with the TTC between vaccine doses if what you've read shows the risk to be minimal.

birdybird hope you're doing ok. I have no advice for you I'm afraid about NHS treatment for vaginismus. I thought there was someone on the thread who had had pyschosexual counselling/treatment for it but I can't remember who it was. Hopefully they'll be along to give you more insight into their experiences. I hope your cycle off is relaxing and you can do lots of nice things just for you. I've become very fond of a facemask of late- nothing special just the packet ones from Boots/superdrug. Makes me feel like I'm pampering myself

@Carol1980 the last cycle DH and I did we did SI every day of FW. It got us the BFP but obviously not quite the one we were hoping for.

@AdriannaP it's lovely to hear everything is going well for you and bump and I hope the same for you too eloise.

So I am/would have been 10 weeks pregnant this coming Tuesday. I've got the 2nd NHS scan (scan 4 in total) on Tues along with pre-surgery assessments for my D and C next Friday. Last Tues was my birthday and I spent the morning on the phone to BPAS trying to see if they could provide D&C sooner after NHS told me the day before I would need to have the 2nd scan etc. Not quite how I imagined my birthday but such is life! BPAS had a long waiting list, so I pushed again with EPU and they said the 2nd scan wasn't negotiable but they would book me in for D&C in advance of the scan. Weirdly it felt like a birthday present of kinds because it was like the gift of knowing all of this shit will finally be over so I can draw a line under it and move on. I went back to work 2 days this week which I'm pleased I did and due to appointments and surgery next week I'll only be in 2 days next week too. Think being busy has helped a lot. Work have been great too which has helped. I'm not sure what to expect in terms of cycles returning after D&C- but DH and I have agreed we will start trying again asap, so I guess I'll start doing OPKs 12 days after the surgery and see how I go.
Sending lots of love to everyone and hope you all have a lovely weekend xx

Morning everyone,

I can feel aunt flow symptoms well on their way. Last night I had fever like symptoms, hot flushes and very painful boobs. Headache all day, had to go to bed at 9pm. This morning I’ve woke up with sore back, cramps and the headache is still there.

For the rubella jab, I was asked about this too- but only when it reached the fertility clinic triage, they wrote to my GP confirming my rubella status, BMI and chlamydia results. Which reminds me, I need to phone my GP to give my private results and update them with my BMI!

Today is such a weird one, I love celebrating Mother’s Day for my mum (although cannot properly do so this year due to COVID) and I also long so much to be a mother myself that social media feels really triggering this weekend. I am going to stay away from it!

Hope you’re all ok and sending love x

@Sydney1986x hello, I was going to write the same today: Today is tough. A lot of women on my social media have become mums recently so I’m seeing a lot of “first mothers day as a mum!” posts and it’s heartbreaking. For all of us trying to get pregnant and for all of us who have lost a pregnancy, it can be super triggering. Hope all of you are taking care of yourselves today ❤️

@MrsKin90 sorry for slow reply. You asked if my partner did anything in particular to improve his SA results. First and foremost, he cut out booze - hasn’t had a beer in over six months, wowza! He’s also running a few times a week and taking wellmen vitamins. It’s nice to know that men at least can impact their fertility somehow (another way in which nature favours men 🙄)

I’m on CD2 today. AF came with vengence yesterday morning with the intentions of ruining my weekend but I’ve decided not to let her. We’ve booked for IVF for the next cycle - it will be over a year since the miscarriage and we’re both desperate to try something new, we have a consultation/prep meeting scheduled two weeks from now. A part of me still hopes I get pregnant this cycle but I’m not exactly holding my breath. IVF is yet another thing (after mc) that I used to put in the “other women have these but it won’t happen to me” category - yet here we are!

I can sense how tired some of us on here are and just wanted to send some love today ❤️ seems like people are doing all the right things, though - blood tests, SAs, accupunture (I’m auper curious about the last one and maybe should give it a shot myself 🤔). Hang in there ladies - you’re all absolute rockstars xxx

Sending love to anyone finding today hard.

@Makingnumber2 happy belated birthday! Wow you’ve really had so much going on, may I just say you have written with such dignity and strength throughout all of this and I really do wish you the best for your future cycles. I hope the next couple of weeks will be as ok as they can be.
Hopefully in a small way there will be relief for you as at least you have a clearer idea of what is happening and if you feel up to it can start trying again (without meaning to sound at all like I’m minimising you’re loss). Sending you big fat hugs 💚

@Sydney1986x I’m so sorry to read you think your period is on the way, that’s rubbish. Hope it’s not a bad one.
Good idea on staying away from social media, I don’t go on it and don’t want to see anything triggering today either!
Definitely get your doctor rang and give them your updated bmi-go you!

@primrosechill sorry your period came, how crap. I’ll repeat what I’ve put to making, you’ve shown such strength and dignity and I commend you on starting your ivf soon-I so hope it gives you your baby. Firmly with you on being in the ‘it won’t happen to me’ camp but there you go, it’s a campsite we’ll have to visit!

To all the ladies with their lovely little beans, I hope you and baby are happy and healthy 😊

Like others I’m sure on here today, it’s a mixed bag as I love celebrating my glorious mum but I do so wish I had a baby of my own or was pregnant right now. It’s tinged with sadness but we move on as time keeps ticking, and let’s hope it’s our turn soon enough ☺️
Take care everyone, have a love rest of this Sunday xx

Sending love to those who need it today x ❤️

Hi everyone, Can I just ask which were the best websites you used to get all the information about SI?