TTC first baby thread 26

[Annny27]

Hello all, setting up a new thread for us old timers to keep up and stay sane on the ttc journey!

@thislittlebird Thank you so much! That does help. Hopefully that's the same for me.

How do we de-stress ourselves? I swear cortisol is my main hormone at the moment!

I didn't get any flashy smiley faces last time, straight from zero to peak so I'm not sure what is going on to be honest.

I don't think I can take any more supps. The amount I take every day is obscene. I will need a new multivitamin without any vitamin a in when the current batch runs out.

Hope yours works for you! Where are you in this cycle? Sorry, I have lost track!

I think, if we have no joy this month, I might pay to do some of the home tests. I think it will be worth it for me. Don't think DH will do his though!

Also @thislittlebird how did your acupuncture go yesterday? Good that you do seem to be ovulating but wonder how they're going to help support your progesterone. Do you think you might end up with those suppositories?

Do you take the ubiquinol?

I’m pretty sure I’m about 96% cortisol right now @CycloGoose. Stress is a huge issue for so many of us imo, especially in this scenario, everything is just compounded and the stress just gets worse. It sucks.

Acupuncture was good, and I do think it chilled me out. I can’t say much more about it really because it’s just kinda odd and not uncomfortable? But I do feel calmer having had it.

Oh no, the supplements are almost embarrassing lmao. How many/what have you got, dare I ask? My collection keeps building 😩. I do have ubiquinol but I only started on this cd1, and only 100mg.

I’m on cd 10, what about you?

I wouldn’t worry too much about tests if you’ve just started ttc, at least I think you said you had so correct me if I’m wrong? But if it puts your mind at ease a couple can’t hurt.

I have no clue what they’re going to do with my progesterone but I wish they’d hurry up. Need to chase my referral on Monday.

Morning @thislittlebird sending calming thoughts 🤣 Glad the acupuncture served at least one of its purposes. I had a lovely massage just before lockdown 3 and came out of it with pityriasis rosea... I don't think my body likes me much.

My supplement stash is diabolical. I already had a few things I was taking so didn't get a pre pregnancy multi so I've got nearly everything on its own 🙄 Are you ready? Here goes! Standard multivitamin with zinc, folic acid, b12 X2 (I'm borderline anaemic otherwise), ubiquinol, Acetyl L-Carnitine, Inositol powder, iron. Feeling I'm missing something.... Oh vitamin D. Husband has a couple of these plus maca root and fennel seed extract. It's terrible. Should have got the multis but I'm in too deep to turn back now!

Also one of the other groups has convinced me to buy a fertil-lily cup. Two of them with bfp this month and one thing in common! Hello Amazon Prime!

I'm not sure what you class as just getting started as I know you're further down the road but we're 6 months in but I'm 34 not 35 so haven't crossed the arbitrary line in the sand.

I'm on CD8 so not far behind but we got early flashy smiley faces - like you. So I'm expecting to be in an anticipatory state for some time. Think DH got a bit confused by them though and I'm worried he's going to burn out. We've DTD 2 days in a row which is not normal for us even when TTC. I'm a bit sore and I'm sure he won't be able to keep it up (for want of a better phrase) until CD14 when I'm guessing I'll ovulate as 'normal'.

Let us know how you get on with the referral.

@Annny27 thanks for new thread and the tag. Yes I have read it, definitely worth a read. Also don't get too hung up on stuff in that you can't avoid all harmful toxin exposure it would be nearly impossible and at least put you in looney bin. I did buy glass Tupperware and actually need to get more sizes so can get rid of the plastic ones altogether. I also have to calm myself when DP sprays his deodorant 🙄😬 (a real bug bear of mine) haha it just makes you so aware of everything. She does say similar in the book; to just do what you can.

Also welcome to the newbies. Top tips try stay calm about it for as long as possible it's quite normal for it to take up to a year.

I got my appointment through on the 8th of March so I'm hoping to start drugs end of March or April latest. It's cycle dependent so 🤞🏼

Thanks @Loki21 @CycloGoose HyCoSy is clear, everything suggests we are both fully functioning in terms of fertility! But jist no BFP. I spoke to GP at new surgery yesterday and highlighted the urgency of getting us on the list as as we don't want to have to do a 4th round of tests! I've jist ordered us nearly £100 worth of supplements to try and help! Until recently I followed such a strict lifestyle regime including low carb but still ended up with Type 2 diabetes despite being normal BMI and active etc. So I've jist kinda gone eff it and now jist do everything in moderation as that's far less stressful! I wanted to lose weight for aesthetic reasons rather than health reasons but the only way I could ever achieve that was by literally starving myself and I though that's a bit counterproductive to fertility. It never made any difference to my blood sugar levels.

@thislittlebird I've now got Accupuncture booked for 10th March so will see how that goes.

Now on CD6 of this cycle and resuming DTD routine for it. We'll see what happens!

Fingers crossed for you @orangeloo

@CycloGoose god I could really do with a massage, so annoying that we can’t do all that stuff still, although since you reacted badly you might not want one again lol

I’ve got Seven Seas trying for a baby, ubiquinol, EPO (for days 1-ovulation), Omega 369, acai (antioxidant) and I’ve just ordered magnesium and b6 which may or may not help balance my hormones a bit, we shall see. I also have a vitamin D spray I use when I’m in the mood to lol. Husband has ubiquinol, impryl, omega 3, b12 and vitamin c I think.

I would try these cups if I was any good at using them, but I can confirm I am not so it’s legs in the air for 15 minutes for me lol.

Oh no, it’s not you, sorry, was thinking of someone else on month 1 but 6 months is down the line enough to be having tests on the brain imo. I started them at that point but I had just turned 37 at the time.

We’re trying every other day this month. I say “month” but probably more like two and a bit weeks because we just started yesterday. Handy because I had a migraine today so can’t be getting up to any of that right now but thinking we should have started a little earlier.

Very tempted by the glass Tupperware myself @orangeloo. Most of ours is very old anyway.

@MIW01 let me know how it goes! My next session is 11 March. good news on your tests!

Good evening ladies!!
Mind if I join?
Hubs and I are TTC our first after one year of marriage but been together for 10 years.
We decided in Dec 2020 to stop trying not to get pregnant and to just go with the flow and see what happens!
So while we're not avidly trying, I have OBVIOUSLY Googled the bejesus out of conception, fertility, implantation, fertilisation, ovulation, LH, HGC, progesterone, CM, pregnancy tests, ovulation tests... You name it!

Anyway, we're officially on our third proper month of trying. I had a chemical last month (kind of a weird experience seeing that faint positive then bleeding, but not really emotional about it as seriously did not expect anything to happen so soon!).
I'm now on CD14 so officially in the TWW (pretty sure I OV on the 11th, so 3DPO).
PHEW as much as I never thought I would get absorbed by this all... Here I am, completely absorbed!
Good to know I'm not alone though!

Sending lots of love and luck to you all!

@MIW01 sounds like a really painful journey for you both. Good to know nothing 'wrong' fertility wise but also then completely frustrating as to why no BFP!

I think if your dieting was making you stressed it's probably no help. I know lots of people have successfully reversed diabetes with diet but doesn't mean it is going to work for everyone. Sounds like you are on a more realistic track. My heart goes out to you. I'd be suffering serious withdrawal if I had to give up sugar!

@thislittlebird sounds like you have all bases covered on the supplements front. No point in DTD every other day ALL month. Try not to be too hard on yourself.

Welcome @Deedlebum hope you have a calm and successful TWW.

I started ripping out the ensuite yesterday... Therapeutic or more stress inducing I don't know!

Thank you @CycloGoose good luck with the en-suite reno! We've just moved back in after a year having our entire bungalow done. There's still a lot to do but It's so worth it! I think you're right about the 'dieting' I originally tried intermittent fasting after Michael Moseley' 5:2 programme back in 2012 but that's when I realised I needed to sort the hunger out so cue keto low carb paleo etc. And I did so well with these and totally not attached to sugar at all! It really helped to improve my ME symptoms so I stuck with it 80-90% (because life) since 2015 until last summer. While there are so many benefits it really is time consuming cooking everything from scratch all the time and never having anything "convenient" and after 2017 as my ME improved and I started full time work again my lifestyle just didn't allow for all the time needed for planning and it became very stressful no matter how man "hacks" I applied. So the diabetes is bizarre and I think must be autoimmune but nothing found on tests. Anyway after realising I wasn't getting the results I hoped for (either weight loss or blood glucose control) I realised I missed variety as I was slowly but surely going 'off' foods I used to love like bacon and chicken and spinach and cauliflower - I think that was my body's way of saying we need more variety! I'm on insulin and metformin and my blood sugar control has improved and my body shape has also improved - I gained muscle. Lost fat and got a more feminine shape, suggesting this who fat loss stuff really is more than just the diet and exercise!

Please also keep me updated @thislittlebird I'm looking forward to the holistic benefits as well hopefully. I'm hoping it will help with several other symptoms at the same time

Welcome @Deedlebum it really can become all consuming. I even had a break from MN for nearly a year but now back (been TTC since 2018). My morning routine consists of taking my temperature, passing on sticks, and sticking fingers in my fanny! Obligatory charting steps to check ovulation and to plan DTD lovely stuff! There's a lot of ladies on here who are a wealth of knowledge.

I'll reply properly later. Just in a queue but had to laugh. Not heard the word fanny since I was at school 😂😘

gotta have a laugh about these things @CycloGoose! And that was supposed to say pissing on sticks obviously

Sorry, I did have a good chuckle. I was just out for a walk with a friend and waiting outside whilst she was collecting something. We met at our marriage preparation classes (MIL family Catholic) and we've stayed close. Wanted to tell her about TTC as wondered if they were trying but they want to FINALLY have their honeymoon before they try. We didn't do anything exotic so weren't too bothered. At this rate we may end up being pregnant at the same time anyway 😂

You really have been through it, haven't you! Glad to hear your ME symptoms are improving now and that you have insulin support. I love the 'the truth about' BBC series - which I think the Moseley thing was one of the first episodes - they've done 2 in lockdown and one about immune system and they talk a lot about variety being the best thing for your biome so you're probably doing the best thing for yourself by properly nourishing yourself.
I know how you feel about convenience. I do all the cooking and it really is a faff. I'd be buggered without the occasional cheat! I do normally cook for 6 and get a few goes out of it.

Hopefully now you're on such a positive path, your body will stop being cruel and play host to a beautiful miracle baby very soon.

I cannot get involved with the fanny feeling - DH only seems to enjoy a morning frisk and after that I have no idea what's mine or his 🤦😂 Same with temping. Not much time to mess around with a thermometer when that might mean you miss 'the moment' so I'm stuck with my sticks and my little pots of piss - they'll have to do!

Oh and bungalow sounds great! We've been doing (almost) everything ourselves. There's been a hell of a lot to do but we got such a bargain. I did the main bathroom almost all by myself last Easter and it was a big job - I rejigged all the plumbing so that we could have a toilet in the same room - shorter corner bath and moved the sink. It looks great but it was hard work. We had builders in at the time doing some structural work (they built us a porch and knocked through a wall upstairs and put in a downstairs loo) so I had them check up on me as I went.

Trying to decide whether to do the ensuite myself, too. It's, in essence, a much simpler job but I'm worried about getting the seal absolutely watertight on the shower so might get a man in. Plumbing, tiling, plastering, decorating my jobs. Cutting, carpentry, drilling and electric is DH. Hate paying someone to do something I can do but the finish will be better and would give peace of mind.... But if we save money here, I can spend it on the garden! Decisions!

Hi @Deedlebum!

God I would love a project @CycloGoose but I’m not skilful with these things. We need to get some of the house decorated and maybe a new bathroom but I’m conscious of possibly needing to save for ivf in case we need it so I’m never actually deciding to go ahead with anything right now. Hopefully we won’t need it and we can spend our money on other things!

Bungalow sounds great @MIW01

@thislittlebird we didn't have much choice on the matter with finding a leak that we'd hoped we'd fixed but was actually running behind the tiles. It's been done by real charlatans, too. It's a mess underneath. Bugger.

You sound like my fiancée @CycloGoose he hates paying for anything he can do himself! I just don't have the energy after a full week of work for anything and thank you.

@thislittlebird this renovation is the exact reason we aren't able to afford private IVF! It's still ongoing. Now doing the outside stuff

That’s annoying @CycloGoose

Ah yeah, understandable @MIW01. I think we might do a bit of decorating for leave it at that for a few months. And finish the garden work we started last year.

Ovulation test failed this morning (maybe I flooded it) but I’m fairly sure I’m not at peak yet anyway. Will dtd today just in case to cover the bases.

Just reading through the comments on stress, I always thought TTC didn’t affect my stress levels. However we have stopped trying for 2 cycles while we are having tests done.

I have really noticed my mood and stress levels are so much better now. I am a delight to be around 😂 When I’m TTC I get so upset and angry and irritable in the TWW. The stress must have been getting to me more than I though. I always blamed it on hormones but I must have been wrong. I was even in a good mood on the days before AF.

@Annny27 we are doing great thanks! Little man will be 8 weeks on Thursday! I know we started TTC December 2018 feels like a lifetime ago now! Hope you're doing okay! x

Hello! I have been a long time stalker and hope-junkie on Mumsnet TTC threads, but didn't quite have the push to actively participate.

I have been TTC#1 for almost 2 years now. My partner and I had a couple of SA and blood tests each respectively and have not had any major alarms (except for low morphology). They were done in private since my GP didn't want to do any intervention until we passed the 2 years mark.

Finally, now that we have done our time, I have my phone consultation with my GP today. I hope I will succeed in getting a referral today to a fertility clinic. I live in a county where IVF is not funded on the NHS, and I am almost sure after 2 years of monthly squinting and never seeing a second line, that IVF is the way ahead for us.

Please can I join the thread? I would love to share my journey with people, and also absorb knowledge as 2021 looks like the year I will finally have my first round of IVF.

Hi @yeahwhynot! Welcome, and I hope your GP consultation went well!

I got my referral letter through today, just waiting for them to get in touch again now.

Hey, I am on CD18 and getting stronger lines on my OV test strips, I feel that's really late considering I'm a 28 day Cycle person! Does anyone know if this is normal or not?

Hi @aims1991 there's a big range of normal so it's difficult to say. I'd say the fact you're getting stronger lines is great news and you should get DTD!

Have you recently come off birth control?

It could be that you'll have a later AF than usual this month or that you'll have a shorter luteal phase. All these things can be normal but keep an eye over time to see if you can find what's most normal for you. My luteal phase seems to be getting shorter and I'm a little worried about that but it could all be fine, too ☺️

Also sorry if you know all this and have been trying for ages. Hard to know from your post xxx