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

@SparrowMaiden

@ItsMeantToBe

Thanks for your response I'm probably just tempting fate and know I'm
Going to ovulate! It usually happens CD 15 and usually get a positive opk on cd 13 ! I'm currently Cd 12 and usually have a flashing smiley by now! I'm still holding some hope as I'm starting to get EWCM BUT OH is out for scotland and England game I told him we need to DTD tonight so hoping he comes home reasonable 😂😂 xx

@ItsMeantToBe well I definitely would have cracked and tested this morning but my toddler lost it at the thought of me going to the bathroom without her so I’ll make it to 10dpo at least 😂.

@Laurenxx94 hope your OH made it back from the football in a reasonable state 😂. Who knew we’d have the Euros to contend with as well when ttc!

@SparrowMaiden it’s a promotion at my current job so I will still be able to TTC but it’s only a year in the first instance and we’re booking our wedding so I feel like it’s gonna take my mind off things and hopefully it just happens naturally like last time? I think I’ve been putting so much pressure on both of us and I don’t think it’s helped.

@Flopsy88 @ItsMeantToBe how are you both feeling?

@bea19 keep us updated!!!

I have my friend home from London so seeing him tonight and having drinks so I’m pleased about that!!!

How is everyone else??

I think I'm out this month as I haven't been able to stop myself testing every day but there's not even a hint of a line at 10 dpo! This is my first cycle trying since my MMC but I'm going to try calm down next month as I can feel myself getting a bit obsessed!!

@TBF29 sorry to hear that you think you are out. I think the average for implantation is 8-9dpo though, so 10dpo could be too early to see on a test, even a FRER. Fingers crossed for you in the rest of the TWW.

Thanks @bea19, good luck to you too!

Hi everyone can I join please ? I had a miscarriage at 7 weeks pregnant in jan this year! I had trouble after and bled for 3 months!
Was a surprise pregnancy to us so we were devastated. We are TTC again, I've had 2 cycles but only now Cb OKP and having never used them before all new to me ! Sending all best of luck to everyone! Has anyone had any ever successes of OKP? Xx

@CMcA21 Sounds like you've got a lot to look forward to! Hope you enjoyed drinks with your friend. I'm feeling good thanks. I feel like my pregnancy is moving at a snails pace, but that's the first trimester for you!

@TBF29 you never know, don't loose hope.

@CocoLady welcome and sorry for your loss. I used the CB digital OPK my first month of trying. I got a static smiley face but didn't get pregnant that month. The following month I used cheap OPK's from Amazon as well as checking my BBT and found that I ovulated really late. I got pregnant that month :). Fingers crossed for you.

Hi all, how are we doing? I'm on CD14, 3dpo according to my app, temp finally went up properly today. Birthday tomorrow. Planning to have some bubbles, even though that's naughty. I figure implantation wouldn't have happened yet anyway so probably not too bad?!

Hello everyone! How are you all doing?

@SparrowMaiden I think it's absolutely fine. I had a few drinks in the tww, just didn't go mad. You're right, implantation definitely won't have happened that early! Enjoy your fizz 🥂

@CMcA21 I hope you had a lovely time with your friend! It's so exciting seeing people again after so long isn't it? Glad your feeling more chilled and enjoying your wedding planning

@CocoLady Sorry to hear about your loss. It must have been awful to have it going on for so long. I used the one step OPKs from amazon cos they were really cheap and found them really helpful so never felt the need to splash out on the clearblue. I tested twice a day around ovulation and usually got a surge on day 14. They went from no line at all to positive within 24hrs. Wishing you lots of luck for this cycle!

@TBF29 Completely understand the urge to test daily. I always started at 7dpo 🙈 How are you getting on? Did you start acupuncture?

@Lowkeyloopy @ItsMeantToBe How are you both getting on? I'm 5+2 today and feeling quite positive so I've booked in with the midwife. I was planning to have a scan around 7 weeks but we're really busy around then and then going on holiday for a week so I can't find an appointment that works for us. I can either go at 6+3 (which feels a bit early) or 9 weeks, so I think I'm going to hold out til then. I might not get the reassurance I want at 6+3 and then I'll be anxious whilst I'm away. It's not going to change anything anyway!

@Flopsy88 I think I started testing at 6dpo in the desperation of seeing a line appear but unfortunately nothing did and AF arrived early!

I went for my first session of acupuncture last week and I'm not sure what I thought of it to be honest. I expected to end up like a pin cushion but she only put about 8 needles in and then left me for 25 minutes! I'm going to carry on with it for now and see what happens as it's nice to have some time to myself and it's almost a bit like a counselling session too when you have a consultation beforehand.

I'm going to the hairdressers this afternoon and asked her to cut my hair short. I'm hoping I don't regret it but I feel like I need a change to help me draw a line under what's happened this year and re-set my mind. Does that sound mental?!

I'm glad to hear you are feeling positive. I agree going for the later scan is probably going to be better although I bet you're desperate to see something now!

@SparrowMaiden Happy birthday! Hope you're enjoying your day. I agree that a few drinks will be absolutely fine.

@Flopsy88 I'm feeling fine thanks. Struggling with the tiredness and have shooting pains at times! Definitely go for 9 week scan, I was slightly disappointed when I sent for mine thinking I was 6 weeks but measured 5 weeks and it was too early to hear the heartbeat. Hope you enjoy your holiday!

@TBF29 If you're sure about getting the chop then go for it! Good luck.

How's everyone else doing?

@TBF29 did you go for it with the hair? How did it feel?!

@Flopsy88 & @ItsMeantToBe thank you and I did enjoy my fizz - although I swear my dd has an alcohol sensor - she is usually a good sleeper these days and she woke up at 4.30am this morning, full of beans! Just what I needed!

Re early scan at 6+3 - It's a tough one - if it was me I know I would be worrying about it all week when I was away so I would probably go for the earliest possible, but I suppose that could also lead to more worrying!! Maybe 9 weeks is safer if you can hold out that long!

@SparrowMaiden yes I went for the chop. The moral of the story is don't make rash decisions when you're potentially not in the right frame of mind ha! It's ok though, I'll get used to it and I think it has helped me draw a line under things in a weird way.

Having said that has anyone else become strangely superstitious/more spiritual since TTC or after miscarriage? We moved house just before my MMC and now I walk our dog in the woods twice a day. Ever since I lost the twins I keep seeing robins everywhere and I like to think it's a little sign from them and it makes me smile.

Even writing that down feels ridiculous as I never would have bought into anything like that before but it's funny what this whole journey can do to you!!

@TBF29 oh my god I cannot believe you’ve said this… whilst we were pregnant we were always looking for 2 magpies. 2 for joy of course. We saw them ALL THE TIME and so we were convinced it was all good. We knew it was joy. Obviously we were wrong.

More recently all I’ve seen is one magpie alone, constantly. There’s been 2/3 times when one single magpie has landed on the motorway when I’m driving to work and I’ve had to slam on the brakes. At first I was panicking thinking it was ‘one for sorrow’ but someone told me it’s a loved one looking after you. My mum died when I was 9 so I started believing it was her telling me everything’s okay and now i see one magpie about 3 times a week. I went to Ireland for 5 days and I saw one magpie constantly. On my mums anniversary, I was sitting in my dads conservatory and I’ve never seen a magpie in his garden before. One single magpie landed on a branch right in my eye line out the window. My dad also said he’s never seen a magpie in his garden in 20 years of living there. It could be my mum or it could be my baby looking after me. I kept saying to myself it was stupid and coincidence but when I told my counsellor she said, why deny yourself that comfort, it’s too much of a coincidence so now I love seeing one magpie ❤️

Hi everybody! I'm sorry for the radio silence from me - I've had a crazy busy couple of weeks at work, and another busy week coming up, but managing to catch my breath this morning. It's been good really because it means I haven't been able to obsess over every symptom (or lack of symptom) and it's helping time go quickly!

I'm 7+2 today. Still a bit scared and looking for blood every day but am starting to tentatively hope that it's going to be ok. My main fear now is a missed miscarriage but I'm trying to tell myself there is no reason for that to happen (and I've just spent too much time on MC forums!) and my symptoms are still here so hopefully all ok.

I've fortunately not had any actual sickness yet, but oh my god the retching... if I get remotely hungry or smell something a bit different (including air freshener) it sets me off. I guess it's like a weird warning signal from my body not to eat weird smelling stuff?! Also boobs are pretty tender but that definitely fluctuates throughout the day and from day to day (to reassure anyone who panics like I did a few days ago when the boob tenderness seemed to disappear). Also increased CM (which terrified me for a few days and had me running to the loo every half hour to check) and some light twinging, which I guess is growing pains. All cramping that I got early on has stopped now though.

I've booked an early scan for 8+3 - couldn't really fit it in before then anyway, but I also heard good things about seeing a heartbeat at 8 weeks for everything being likely to be ok until 12 weeks... so I'm hoping that will keep me calm. What did you decide in the end @Flopsy88 ? And how are you feeling? And you @ItsMeantToBe?

@CMcA21 I just loved your magpie story - that was so moving. I'm so sorry you lost your mum at such a young age. It's lovely to hear that the magpies bring you comfort though. I agree with the counsellor - no need to rationalise yourself out of that comforrt. I always spot them as well and panic if I only see one - I desperately swivel around to try to find another! But I'll have in mind the thought that it's a loved one looking out for me now :)

I'm sorry not to have kept up-to-date with everyone who has joined us, and I'm so sorry that you find yourselves here, but so happy that this thread is providing support! Keep the faith everyone - I was completely sobbing my heart out at 5DPO in May, as it felt like everyone around me was getting pregnant and I was utterly convinced it wouldn't happen for me, or that I would just MC again. I got a BFP less than a week later and that was four weeks ago. I'm by no means out of the woods yet, but things are looking brighter than they were. Sending hugs and baby dust to everyone. Xx

@CMcA21 that is a lovely story, tinged with sadness. I have to admit that I always search for a 2nd magpie whenever I see one on it's own but from now on I won't mind the single ones!!

I agree that it's nice to search out things that bring you comfort so I'll carry on looking out for my robins even if my husband thinks I'm bonkers every time I go 'hi little robin' when we're out walking!!

@TBF29 I've always been superstitious about certain things. That's lovely about your twins, I definitely believe in robins and signs etc. @CMcA21 I definitely believe that's a loved one reaching out! The day before I had my DS we still couldn't think of a name and all of a sudden I knew what it was, like I was certain of it. Someone told me that when that happens it's a loved one putting the idea in your head. It's always made me love his name even more. I hope it happens again for this one, as I've got no clue on names!

@Lowkeyloopy Glad you're doing ok! A scan at 8 weeks sounds really sensible and I'm sure be really reassuring. I keep panicking about my symptoms too. I worry that I'm just imagining them but then other days I'm sure they're there. I feel like I won't be able to hide my pregnancy for much longer. I'm normally really sensible with my food but I can't stop eating and piling on the weight. I've already had to buy more clothes! Hopefully I can tell family after my scan next week.

How's everyone Saturday going ? Jus a quick question if anyone can help after a miscarriage how long did your periods get back to 'normal' and how long did it take
You to ovulate ?
I bled for 3 months after my miscarriage was on the depo straight after and now it's been nearly 3 months of periods all over the shop harder to track my ovulation! So
Disheartening x
Hope everyone's well ? X

Hi Ladies...
I hope you dont mind me commenting?
I commented earlier on in the thread but have just been following all your journeys since from the sidelines.
Congratulations to all the BFPs, its so lovely to see some postive stories. Just wondering if anybody did anything differently the month they conceived?
I have just got AF again, been trying again since our 2nd Miscarriage in January but still no BFP.. im honestly beginning to loose hope.
It feels like there are pregnancy announcements everywhere at the minute and its becoming unbearable.
I have been referred to my local Gynaecology department due to being 35 and i have an appointment next week and im pretty worried about it.
My periods have always been pretty painful but only on day 1 and i went on the pill as a teenager due to fainting on the first day of my period nearly every month. Since my 2nd Miscarriage they have been a bit all over the place from 28-35 days. But only lasting about 5 days and i dont have excessive bleeding. Im not sure if this is all normal or if i should be worried about endometriosis.or something else... bloody google makes you overthink everthing. 😏
Sorry for the rant and im not really sure what i am asking tbh....but weve not told anyone so ive been holding it all in 🙈
Thanks for reading xx

@CocoLady My periods didn't go back to normal following my MC. The month following it I had a 33 day cycle I think, when I've always had 28 day cycles. According to my CB digital j did ovulate but didn't get a BFP. I conceived the following month but didn't ovulate until CD25, so that was a long cycle too. I get how frustrating it must be. Have you been using OPK's? If your not ovulating maybe it's worth a chat with your GP? Good luck!

@Scoaf the month I conceived I didn't rush to the toilet after DTD and put my legs up on the bed rest. I also used cheap OPK's instead of CB digital and tracked my BBT each morning. I done that all month until I took pregnancy tests. My fingers are crossed for you!

Hi everyone, hope you've had nice weekends.

@TBF29 I was definitely more superstitious when pregnant with my dd, and there were tonnes of magpies where I used to live so I was always counting them!! I had never heard the idea of it being someone watching over you @CMcA21 but that's a lovely thought and much more reassuring!! I used to just say "Good morning, Mr Magpie" to all of them which I was told was how you stopped the bad luck!! So silly isn't it, I am not at all superstitious normally!!! Having said that my aunt and uncle brought me these little carvings back from a trip to Uganda and they are apparently fertility symbols, so I have had them by my bed since ttc last time!! And today in a moment of madness I just held one against my belly and wished really hard 🤣 that makes me sound so mental...

Pretty sure I'm out again this cycle, only 8dpo but temps already started dropping. If they aren't back up again tomorrow then it's definitely not an extended implantation dip and just and irritatingly slow drop back before AF. Gargh.

Hi ladies,

Sorry to hear your temp is dropping @SparrowMaiden. fingers crossed it was just an implantation dip.

Glad you’re doing well and have a scan booked @Lowkeyloopy.

I was hoping to be sharing good news today as I got a very faint positive at 10DPO, a faint one at 12DPO (but even my DH could see it) and a decent BFP when AF was due 5 days ago. Although the line on my third test wasn’t as dark a line as I had been expecting, I initially put it down to it being a different brand of test, but this morning I took a digital test to see if it would be showing 2-3 rather than 1-2 and it said not pregnant! I started bleeding this afternoon…. I’m completely gutted. I had been feeling much less anxious than I had expected and now just can’t believe I’m having consecutive miscarriages.

@bea19 so sorry to hear this. Be kind to yourself and also be as sad as you want - don't let anyone tell you it's "just one of those things" - it's not. It is awful, it is heartbreaking, and it shouldn't happen. Also even though the current guidance is 3 consecutive miscarriages before treatment, it might be worth telling your GP to see if there's anything they can do at this stage. Some are more supportive than others about this stuff.

My temp came back up over the last two days... trying not to get my hopes up... might test tomorrow, haven't decided if I can bear it or not.

Aunt flow decided to show up today 😭 ! Was a relief thought tbh as can get cracking onto next month ! Congrats anyone u had BFP!
Does anyone know what day you should start testing ovulation from the first day of your period is it day 8 , someone said day 10 my app says 11! So confused 🤔