TTC after MC - new thread for newbies / lurkers on other threads!

[Lowkeyloopy]

Hi all!

I know there are several threads dedicated to this topic, which I've lurked on for several weeks without saying anything, but some threads (sadly) have so many people on them that it can be a bit hard to follow, or it feels awkward to jump into the middle of a conversation between people who have been chatting for a while. Does anyone fancy joining me on a new thread?

My story: 33, TTC baby #1, conceived first cycle in Feb, but had a MC at 6 weeks in early March. Absolutely awful, as everyone knows, and I was in a rubbish place mentally for a few weeks, but I've also counted my blessings - it was early, I needed no medical intervention and at least I know I can conceive. Also AF has returned today - 29 days after first day of my MC. I usually have a 28-29 day cycle so am so grateful that my body seems to be getting with the programme again.

So CD1 for me, and I'll be TTC this month and back to tracking - BBT from tomorrow, OPKs from CD 11, still taking my Pregnacare and trying to keep exercising and eating healthily!

Would anyone like to join me if they're going through something similar? How have you been coping since your MC? What's on your TTC to-do list?! (Other than the obvious..!)

Baby dust to all xx

@Flopsy88 it makes total sense how your feeling I totally understand. I think because of your loss everything will go through. Your head!
Remember every pregnancy is different and like you say the fact your lines have been dark! Maybe a reassurance scan at 6/7 weeks to put your mind at ease ? Xx

@flopsy88
I know my last pregnancy didn't last but I had also convinced myself it was molar or ectopic and it was neither so try not to assume the worst - much easier said than done I know! It's so sad that miscarriage robs you of the innocence of pregnancy.

Thank you ❤️ I know I'm probably worrying about nothing! I'll do a digital in a couple of days and if it says 2-3 weeks I'll be happy

And yes @Laurenxx94 Pomegranate juice is delicious!

How are you doing @CMcA21? Have you been celebrating this weekend? Is AF due today? 🤞🏻for you xx

Hi ladies, just catching up! Welcome to everyone new - I’m so sorry for your losses.

@Flopsy88 I’m so sorry about your brother. Keeping everything crossed that he gets everything he needs as soon as possible! I can completely relate to your anxiety - I was convinced my last pregnancy was ectopic (it wasn’t) and I think any pregnancy after a loss is incredibly anxious! I don’t really have any tips, other than if there are any tricks that worked for you to get through the TWW they might help now? The only thing that really distracts me from anxiety is making myself really busy but obviously everyone is different! I was really anxious until my 12 week scan with our DD (pregnancy after a MC) and fairly anxious until my 20 week scan. It got much better after I could feel her moving, and after that 20 week scan (though if I’m honest never completely went away for me). How many weeks are you now? Could you book a reassurance scan to feel proactive?

@CMcA21 congratulations on the job! That’s fantastic.

@ItsMeantToBe hope your Sunday hcg readings were reassuring.

@Aila1994 I am about the same cycle stage as you. Not sure exactly when I ovulated as I got a peak fertility reading on a CB digital opk on CD12 so assumed I ovulated CD13 but then had EWCM on CD15 so I’m either 2 or 4 DPO 🤷🏻‍♀️.

@Flopsy88 How are you feeling today? I completely get your anxiety. You're bound to feel nervous until you've had a scan. Sickness sounds like a good sign though. It's such a shame we can all just relax and enjoy the experience isn't it?

@bea19 my HCG doubled again :). They have booked me in for a scan on Wednesday, which I'm glad about but so scared! How's your TWW going so far?

@ItsMeantToBe that’s fantastic. Fingers crossed for your scan.

TWW ok for me so far - I’m normally ok in the first week and then I get impatient!

Hi everyone,

@Flopsy88 how is the nausea. I agree with @ItsMeantToBe it sounds like a good sign to me!

I've lost track of who (if anyone) I'm synced up with... I'm on CD 7 today... this month I'm trying grapefruit juice and Brazil nuts on top of everything else! I've also decided to go down to dtd every other day rather than every day, just as an experiment... I'll let you know how it goes...

Thanks girls for all the lovely messages about my job! So happy 💜 been lots of celebrations this weekend.

@Flopsy88 AF due either tomorrow or Wednesday according to Flo.. no symptoms at all apart from sore boobs but I get those before AF anyway so I’m just waiting for my period now. Also last time I was pregnant I couldn’t stomach alcohol at all and I’ve drank a fair bit this weekend so I think that’s another sign. I will keep you updated though.

Floppy - I convinced myself I was having an ectopic last time, but it wasn’t. I would say that a reassurance scan will help too if you get your digital progression.

@ItsMeantToBe glad your hormone levels are looking good! Let us know about the scan! 🤞🏻

@SparrowMaiden good luck with the DTD!

@CMcA21 yay for your new job and good to hear you have celebrated properly. Every pregnancy is different so you never know! With my dd the month I conceived was the only one I drank once my AF was finished, and I wonder if letting you hair down is good for ttc sometimes!

@SparrowMaiden I'm on CD9 , kind of similar! Xx

Well my desperation to be pregnant again has taken over and I did a test this morning at 5 days post ovulation. Of course I couldn't see anything! I think I may be losing the plot!

@TBF29 I done that my first 3 cycles I was absolutely obsessed! X

@TBF29 the lure of POAS is real! Hope you’re not disheartened though, as you said, far too early to see anything

@Laurenxx94 I can see me going the same way!

@bea19 no I'm ok at the moment :) my mum has said to me all along that she thinks I have coped with what's happened almost too well. My concern is that if I don't manage to get pregnant again I'll spiral into a bit of a hole as every month passes. I'm starting acupuncture tomorrow though so at least I can feel like I'm being proactive!

@TBF29 it really is so hard to wait!!! I have four tests burning a hole in my bedside table right now and I have been SO STRONG the last two cycles not using them. I said after my cp I would never test early again, but every month I feel less convinced I'll stick to that...

@Laurenxx94 ah nice yeah we are pretty much in sync! How long are your cycles? Mine are usually 25-26 days so I am lucky in some ways, not having to wait so long, but I ovulate super early usually so my actual fertile window is depressingly short

Have you read about Vitex or B6 to help with that? Apparently Vitex is amazing to lengthen your cycles and ovulation!

I'm usually 29 days give or take a day but I'm not sure as this is first after chemical x

@Laurenxx94 Ah yeah it can change a bit the first one after, mine was a couple of days longer but I'm not even sure if I ovulated - I didn't track that cycle.

I think Vitex is more for if you have a short luteal phase, rather than a short follicular phase, which is my issue. I did a fair bit of research and couldn't find anything that could reliably make that part longer. I have a dd so I know it has worked in the past at least, which is reassuring! B6 might be an idea though... willing to try anything really!! How long have you been ttc? (Sorry you may have already told us this - this thread is so long now!)

@SparrowMaiden Have you looked into Soy Isoflavones? I think if you take them on certain days of your cycle they can lengthen the follicular phase. There's a thread on here somewhere that explains it well in the OP

This one www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/4198783-soy-isoflavones-yay-or-nay

@Flopsy88 no I hadn't heard of those... Tey sounds interesting (if potentially a bit scary with the side effects and things...!) Maybe I'll talk to my doctor about them if I keep ovulating early. Thank you!

We have been ttc 9 months now. It's getting so draining. I'm using my OPKS from today got a slight line so just waiting game now! What about you? Xx

@Laurenxx94 ah it's so hard isn't it. It's completely consuming! Last time around it took us 5 months to conceive my dd, and I was so worried there was something wrong with one of us. Now at least I feel happier that it can happen, and I was so excited when we conceived on our third month of trying, but that was when I had my cp. This is the third month since then, so sixth month overall. I was supposed to have a Boxing Day baby but now I guess it's going to be at least Spring or Summer next year. DD is 2 in a couple of weeks. It would be nice to have a sibling for her before she is 3....

Oh and re OPKs, have you used them every month? I feel like they just make me stress more. I'm going to just stick to dtd regularly and I'm still temping just because it's interesting and at least then I know if/when I have ovulated.

@SparrowMaiden totally understand , my daughter is 5 with a previous partner we weren't trying but had 2 mc before her! With my current partner he doesn't have children but totally hands on with my girl! We are desperate for her to have a sibling also and would of really liked it this year. But again like you so happy we know we can get pregnant even though ended in a chemical we genuinely thought there was something wrong , my partner got a sperm analysis and has to get repeat next week. It did come back low but obviously resulted in a pregnancy. My progesterone came back low also (21) but apparently that's good which I've read isn't so god knows. Obviously it wasn't that low but they did say after my chemical it was really low which could of resulted in the chemical but only time will tell. I'm starting to get over the upset and look forward to the future but I have some days I just break down completely 😭 I've read it's very common after a chemical to fall pregnant but obviously not the case for everyone but it does give me hope!
With regards to OPKs I was going to cut them out but found the month that was going to be my last using them I actually ovulated day 15 and was typically day 12/13 so thought it would be better to keep using them just incase! Last month when I did fall we did relax more and used conceive plus I do think that really helps the swimmers! Are you trying anything new this month? We also take vitamins too xx

@Laurenxx94 did you get the progesterone/sperm analysis on the NHS? I keep thinking it would be good to know one way or another if something was wrong, but I figured because it has only been 6 months they wouldn't do it for us yet.

In the month we had the cp my partner was taking the vitabiotics vitamins. He HATES them and as soon as I had the positive test he stopped taking them. He took them again the next month but not really properly and then not at all last month. This month he is back on them properly!! I'm also doing the grapefruit juice thing as recommended by @Flopsy88 and eating Brazil nuts for selenium. I can't take a preconception vitamin as I am already on high dose folic acid (they put you on it when you are ttc and are type 1 diabetic because we are more high risk for birth defects anyway) so I just take that and vitamin d.