Trying to conceive over 40 part 2

[October1979]

Here is a new thread for us girls

[Lastyearttc]

@ponymum1980 I'm only a week ahead of you and also have exactly the same symptoms. The all day nausea is nearly unbearable and I haven't found anything yet to subside it. However mine doesn't sound as bad as what you are experiencing @Catconfusion, I do really feel for you as don't think I could take much more illness. Plus I'm on my own with a 6yo so can't be bed ridden! Just really, really hoping this is all worth while 🙏

[Catconfusion]

@Lastyearttc how are you? Will you have an early scan. The nausea is horrible in itself. I hope it passes or the doctor can give you something for it.

I’m not going to lie, it’s been so challenging. I was a 16 month old so I’ve needed grandparent help. On the days I’m on my own with ds I’m having to rely on the tv which isn’t ideal. I just have to lay on the sofa with a sick bowl. My ds can actually say sick bowl as part of his first words 😂. Luckily DH finishes work at 12.30 so it’s a half day really. I was ill in my last pregnancy but this is far worse. Xx

[October1979]

@Catconfusion @Lastyearttc @ponymum1980 glad everything is progressing well for you all. @99pctpractice good luck. I've finally ovulated after mmc 🎉. Glad my body is back to normal. For those prescribed progesterone. Do you wait to bfp to start taking it? The recurrent miscarriage clinic said to phone if I fall pregnant before my appointment and they will try and make a case to a consultant to prescribe. Just wondering if that's too late or if I should push for it now to have in the cupboard just in case? Thoughts? Xx

[Marvellouslymadmum]

@BebeYoda hi and welcome, have you had any investigations or anything yet?

@ponymum1980 so glad everything is going well for you!

@99pctpractice ooh not long to go now, do you think you'll hold out for testing ok?

@Catconfusion sounds like a nightmare, I think when you're pregnant with a toddler the tv is definitely a good help! Lucky that your partner finishes early for you too, hope you start feeling a bit better soon.

@October1979 oh that is good news, can't help on the progesterone front I'm afraid but i have seen so many get a bfp when they take it from ovulation

[Catconfusion]

@October1979 thank you. I think I’d probably push for it sooner if you can. With this pregnancy I took it from 3 dpo and it stuck. I can’t prove it helped but when I told the EPAU nurse, she said the nhs are increasingly recognising the importance of progesterone and it’s completely possible I needed supplementation during the whole luteal phase to sustain the pregnancy, with ds I took it from bfp and that one was fine so I don’t know.

I’m so pleased O has finally come. Fingers crossed for you xx

[Catconfusion]

Thank you @Marvellouslymadmum I feel like such a bad mum. Luckily DH is taking him out to the park in the afternoons and my dad is helping out too. It’s such a conflict of emotions feeling so grateful and excited to be pregnant but also quite down physically and emotionally from being so sick. I really hope it eases soon too. Xx

[Marvellouslymadmum]

@Catconfusion you're not a bad mum at all! When my son was 7 months old he was diagnosed with severe brittle asthma, I had just found out I was pregnant with my daughter at the time and ended up spending days and nights in the hospital with him and each time he was sent home we were under strict instructions that when his breathing started to get even a little bad we had to keep him sitting and calm! So we had to use the tv while he was sitting in his high chair or Walker as well as things like puzzles and little toys if he would sit still for them. I spoke to the doctor about it feeling like this wasn't the best for him and he Said at their age there's so much stimulation on the children's programs it'll be good for them and it was far more important to keep him happy and still so he didn't get stressed. So I'm sure it won't hurt him having some tv time while you're poorly xx

[Catconfusion]

@Marvellouslymadmum thank you. It sounds like you had a really rough time when your ds was small.

He’s 17 months now and has so much energy. Every day he’s saying new words and doing new things. I guess it partly the ex teacher in me, wanting to take advantage of the learning opportunities. I need to remember there’s plenty of time for that. Tv is great though and some of his new words come from things he’s seeing on tv. He also loves to dance and a lot of children’s tv is musical so it’s great to see him bobbing up and down. It’s certainly entertaining me. Xx

[Marvellouslymadmum]

@Catconfusion yes it wasn't an easy time, he was in and out of hospital for the first 6/7 years but luckily his consultant managed to get it quite well under control by that point, he is also autistic and has adhd so there's still many challenges just in different ways lol I love babies dancing it's just so cute to watch!! 17 months is a lovely age xx

[99pctpractice]

Thanks, @October1979 @Catconfusion @Marvellouslymadmum. we had luckily scheduled our first holiday in 2 yrs for the 2WW, which is definitely helping as a distraction!! Quite conscious of the odds so trying not to get our hopes up.

@october1979 I would definitely push for progesterone sooner than later if you can. I know ivf messes with your natural cycle but there’s a reason why they prescribe so much progesterone from egg collection onwards.
@catconfusion that sounds awful. I’m so sorry you’re so poorly - hope you’re managing to stay hydrated and keep some protein shakes or similar down so that you’re getting enough nutrients!

[Geriatric1234]

Hey all,

I feel like I've looked away and so much is happening on here!

@October1979 Yay to ovulating!! Can I ask why you are so concerned about progesterone? What was your day 21 result? @Catconfusion was yours low too or not? I get SOOOO many mixed messages on this - one study says it helps, one it doesn't do any harm, and another says too much progesterone can cause immature eggs - but I concluded that as my Day 21 result was so high, and the last thing I want is to is bring my ovulation forward, that I wouldn't think about it anymore. As @99pctpractice said they use a lot in IVF, but isn't that because they are trying to over-stimulate follicles as they want to 'trick' them into releasing lots of eggs? I didn't know they keep it going afterwards too! Now I'm wondering if I'm missing a trick... I think I have TTC FOMO... IT'S A THING!! ;-D

xx

[Geriatric1234]

Also @Catconfusion I am so sorry you're feeling shite but SO LOVING to read your progress! xxx

[October1979]

@Geriatric1234 I had my day 21 and they said things were fine for my age. I can't remember the reading I think 4 or 40 rings a bell but not sure what. And not sure what it means or what is good? Will phone GP and double check what my results were. I just feel I've tried everything. I'm conceiving and with chemical (probably chromosomal issue) or MMC both times heartbeats but babies stopped developing around 7 week mark. I've read a lot that progesterone is needed to support development so wondering if my pregnancies stopped developing due to this. I also hear how often it is prescribed for ivf. Just makes sense at 41 my levels will be lower than 21. Also a lot of reading about how women with recurrent miscarriages get prescribed progesterone and it sometimes works. Willing to try anything really x

[Mattieandmummy]

I was told by our consultant that anything between 30 and 40 for a 21 day progesterone test is good and the closer to 40 the better. Being over 20 means you have ovulated but probably weak ovulation so hormones a bit out of wack or poor quality eggs.

It's not quite so straight forward though if you have, like me (of course 🤦) a secondary estrogen surge on 21 which messes up allllll your numbers. 🙄

But if your number was 40, that's really positive x

[Mattieandmummy]

Ah also some women have a drop in progesterone around 5 weeks and then bang miscarriage x

[99pctpractice]

I think progesterone is used in ivf because you have an artificial egg collection rather than your body ovulating naturally. So without having progesterone supplements, your body would not produce enough progesterone to make your womb lining thicken properly and all the other good stuff progesterone does. I started taking the progesterone the day of egg collection (ie faux ovulation). @October1979 I would definitely speak with your dr about it, if there’s a possibility that it could help you then it must be worth a shot!!

[October1979]

Thanks for all the information @Mattieandmummy it's definitely worth considering. I will phone and have the conversation x

[October1979]

And @99pctpractice xx

[Geriatric1234]

Very interesting @Mattieandmummy! If you’re happy to share what the doc says @October1979 I’d love to know. My fertility consultant was adamant that my day 21 result (48) was high enough to suggest no supplementation was needed and could in fact be detrimental taken pre-pregnancy as it would make me ovulate an underripe egg. But we didn’t discuss post-BFP so if I have one again I think I’ll be straight down to the EPU for advice on it, as sounds like it’s quite a good idea to get on it early in case if a drop. X

[October1979]

Will let you know @Geriatric1234 however my gp is useless so not holding out much hope. EPU said if I phone with bfp before my appointment for recurrent miscarriage clinic they will put my case to a consultant and see if they would prescribe

[Mattieandmummy]

I think for natural conception progesterone is only used after ovulation beginning 2 or 3 days after ovulation

[Mattieandmummy]

Or after a bfp

[Catconfusion]

@Geriatric1234 I think I had progesterone measured but wasn’t day 21. They just wanted a level for my fertility referral. In fact I was pregnant with my last early miscarriage when I had the test. I don’t think I ever got the result as I knew I’d supplement anyway.

The way my Gp described it when I was pregnant with ds is progesterone is difficult to reliably measure because it fluctuates in early pregnancy. She felt it was worth supplementing in case as it would do no harm. Obviously after ovulation or with a bfp so can’t see how it would affect egg quality. I’ve taken it since 3 dpo and this pregnancy is going well. I have my 12 week scan next week so will mention it to the consultant and see if I can come off it now the placenta has taken over. Xx

[October1979]

Let us know what the consultant says @Catconfusion would be good to know

[Geriatric1234]

Ahhh yes that makes total sense @Catconfusion and I’d be really interested in what consultant says too.

Hope you’re managing to keep some food down! Xx