Faith, trust & baby dust! ✨💕✨ TTC 12 months + 🤞🏼 On this rollercoaster together with a little love, support and giggles to get us by! 💕

[HopefulGlow]

Hi all!

We were getting to the end of the previous thread, so thought it’s best to start a new one.

A quick catch up I think mainly everyone on the old thread is as 12 months + TTC.

Newbies are always welcome.

Just sharing our journeys, supporting each other when possible, and having somewhere to moan and let it all out

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Congratulations @LA9610 did you do anything different this week x

Month!**

We have just started TTC with no. 2 currently in the TWW and trying to resist the urge to test every day.
the longest two weeks ever

Aww amazing news @LA9610 congratulations 🥰 xx

@LA9610 Congratulations! 🎉 fabulous news!

Thanks everyone, it really was such a surprise as I was past the point of expecting it to work! I'm still in that really anxious phase and feel like im going to get my period any minute now and it will all be over 😔 I just did 2 more tests, a digital one which came up pregnant and a cheap Morrisons one which also shows 2 line but the 2nd line is even fainter than a couple of days ago. Going to wait a good few days and then use the other test and hopefully it will be a nice dark line to put my mind at ease. Also going to book a private early scan for 7.5 weeks as I just can't wait until 12 weeks 🙈

@apwilso nothing really to be honest! If anything just less sex than normal, we would usually dtd every day or every other day for a good 12 days straight after my period stops but im sure we only had sex 2 or 3 times max as my husband wasnt here for the first part of the FW, and then after predicted day of ovulation we were staying with his family in his mums bed so we didn't bother 🤣 I stopped tracking ages ago so don't have a note of it unfortunately.
I drank alcohol throughout the month, actually I was so not expecting to be pregnant that I had been drinking wine the night before I realised that my period was late with no signs of it coming. Actually I had absolutely no symptoms at all (still dont) so never at any point did I think oh that could pregnancy symptoms!

@Squishybean good luck! It's so hard in the beginning to take your mind off testing isn't it. J used to sometimes test if my period was due on a weekend so i could get over it but for the past 6 months or so I've always known my period was coming so didn't need to test as just knew I wasn't pregnant.

@Lauralozzle thank you! We did complain and luckily we only had to wait another few weeks for a cancellation. Then a another few weeks for the results. They didn’t really say much, just that we qualify for being referred?! So what does that mean?

then my doctor refused to refer us, because we moved house a couple of months ago and was out of their area. So we had to register with a new doctors and ask them to refer us. They said they couldn’t until we had redone the tests. I’m just so fed up. So next week I have the blood tests but I’m hoping that’s enough for them to refer us finally. HOWEVER the lady on reception then said that we don’t even qualify for treatment as my partner has children from a previous relationship?! This is the first I’ve heard of it. The doctors haven’t mentioned it and I just feel so confused.

Any more news about your tests and referrals?

anyway, I feel bad for not being on here for so long. I hope you are all okay.

@Longbin that’s so annoying! Have you managed to sort something now? It’s just such a long wait, it’s so frustrating isn’t it.

@xoJellyBean how are you doing? I know you said chlomid didn’t work, I’m so sorry. What are the next steps?

@Fra1991 that’s amazing news about the IVF, I’m so happy for you. Fingers crossed for you!! How are you feeling about it now?

@AZ1992X thank you!! I’m feeling a little better now. I’m kind of used to the idea of not getting any help now. As horrible as it is. So if we do get any help it will be a lovely surprise. I’m just wishing that we get good news soon and things start to turn around.

How are you doing?? I feel like it’s been so long.

@LA9610 oh my goodness!!! I was hoping for some amazing news when I checked today and this just makes me so happy 💕💕💕💕 congratulations!! How are you feeling??

@Tinkerbell098 thank you for the lovely words!! 💕💕 how are you doing?

@Gigi88 so sorry to hear but welcome!! Everyone is so lovely here, so you’re in good hands.

what is everyone up to this weekend?
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Aww @HopefulGlow lovely to hear from you again, things sound like they’ve been so stressful for you 😰😰I hope it all works out soon.

they upped my dose to 100mg and I’m in my 2nd round, currently 14dpo (af due today, haven’t tested yet!)

have a fab Saturday xx

@xoJellyBean its just hard staying positive sometimes isn’t it!

oh my goodness well done for not testing, are you waiting to test? I have all my fingers crossed for you ✨💕✨

Hey! This is apwilso just changed name for a bit of fun.

Anyone else been told this. It's 2 years for fertility help no matter what. I had my MMC last April and they won't see me now till 2 years. Because "there's nothing wrong with me" my periods are regular and I've been pregnant before

@HopefulGlow thank you so much! Pretty much been feeling fine to be honest, I've got really sore nipples and getting a little bit funny with food, not actually feeling nauseous or being sick just like not fancying much to eat and the thought of some things is turning my stomach. But for the most part I dont really feel pregnant which is a bit worrying. I've been doing the clearblue tests every week and they've gone from 1-2, 2-3 to 3+ today and I'm six weeks now. Got an early scan booked for 7 weeks + 5 just to make sure everything okay.

Really sorry to hear you are having hassle with doctors and referrals etc. That's so crap if you've gone through all of this to get no help?!

@apwilso yeah as I understood it, you need to have been trying unsuccessfully for 2 years to then be referred for assisted fertility services. After 1 year you can get all of investigations etc but if they find nothing then you have to wait until the 2 years is up. Surely they should be referring you by next April at the latest if you don't fall pregnant before then?

@xoJellyBean good luck! Got my fingers crossed for you xx

Af arrived for me so I’m back on clomid again :)

@LA9610 just such a let down with it all. Just a long time to wait I guess so hopefully it happens soon!

@Bubbles1995 hi! Like the new name 😁

yeah I think it’s different depending on what area you’re in. There was a list I found for the UK area guidelines. I will see if I can find it. But we weren’t told anything by our doctors, we had to find it out by ourselves. We will be 2 years in October and we might have to wait until then, if they even offer us help. I just wish they were honest with you. So when you go to them straight away they are clear and tell you what the process is.

at least that way you can get yourself sort of ready for the journey ahead.

how long have you got to wait now? When I spoke to the receptionist at my doctors she said “there’s always private” 🤦🏼‍♀️ I was like geeze thanks I had no idea!!! We can’t afford that right now, otherwise I would have jumped at it.

@LA9610 that’s crazy, after all this wait, all these months of symptom spotting. You get no symptoms haha typical! Obviously I’m happy you’re not struggling but I also know a few symptoms will be welcome, just to make it feel more real. I bet it hasn’t fully sunken in yet. It must feel like a dream 💕

I’m trying very hard to stay positive and also think of the things I can do to possibly help. So I’m making sure I’m taking my vitamins and such. My OH is quitting smoking too, which I’m very thankful for, because he never smoked until the court stuff came up anyway. Haha which I found odd 😅 BUT the next step is drinking, he likes one drink with his dinner, which I know isn’t a lot but when TTC, they recommend to cut it down.

I barely drink at all now, so I’m looking forward to him being on the same page, so at least if we get help we are in the best position.

how is everyone doing this week?

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@HopefulGlow yeah I'm the same having to wait till next April😢 I don't know how to feel I really hope it comes naturally but not sure. Why boyfriend is the same trying to quit or cut down on vaping. I've stopped drinking which I was a big drinker about two years ago and stopped now. I think I pay my taxes etc so why would I want to go private. I want the NHS as I don't have a couple grand sat around. If I could go private just for the speed of stuff I definitely would do it but it's not doable at the min. What are you feeling about it x

@HopefulGlow Haha I know, the only symptom I had at the point of doing the test was bloating. The bit that was weird was that I felt like I couldn't suck my tummy in at all so it didnt feel like normal bloating and I usually have a pretty flat stomach (I'm a typical pear shape!). I went shopping for holiday clothes on the Saturday and ended up getting nothing because I just felt so huge but thought it was because period was due that day and it was early hours of Monday I did the test 😂
Even the bloating has pretty much gone now but I have been eating really healthily since I found out and tbh I'm probably saving a lot of calories on wine because my wine consumption was getting quite high in recent months 😳. So yeah having some symptoms would be welcome but hopefully not really nasty sickness at least until after our holiday, we go away a week on Sunday!

That's so frustrating them saying there's always private 😠 not everyone can afford that! And you don't really want to be decimating your savings right before you need to spend so much money on baby things and take a cut in pay etc!

@xoJellyBean really sorry to hear that 😔, fingers crossed for next month.

@HopefulGlow that sounds infuriating! Especially having to do your blood work again and everything. In our area, to my understanding, they’ll refer and do tests (ultrasound etc) but if one partner has a child already then ineligible for NHS IVF but I thought it was just an IVF thing but I also think it varies depending on CCG. It means though that if we need IVF, and luckily get pregnant on the first free round, any sibling would cost an absolute fortune!

I had my H.S.G the other week, it’s messed up my cycle though, only got a positive opk the other day (about 5 days out). Appointment is on Monday at the fertility clinic, so we’ll find out what the plan is then. All my tests are fine, no real idea if things look ok though. Lady from the H.S.G said things look okay, but it was on the sly like, officially I know nothing until Monday.

@Bubbles1995 nice new name 😊 Doctor refused to send anything off until we had been trying for 2 years. I’d query it and push it though, you don’t want to be nearly at the 2 year mark, miscarry, then have to start all over again because it’ll never end!

@Bubbles1995 I was the same, before we started trying I loved my wine!! And would gladly have it regularly haha I’m shocked at how easy it’s been tbh. It’s very rare I will have a glass at the weekend now, but I’m
happy with that. My doctor was pleased my partner was vaping more than smoking, he said that’s better in his eyes. So he’s vaping to cut down on smoking but he needs to stop soon.

i know what you mean about using the NHS, I think things like this are perfect examples of the NHS being beneficial to people who need it. But it feels like recent years have made them be more strict with the requirements and I honestly think it’s unfair.

@LA9610 oh my goodness that’s so strange!! I remember asking someone when I was younger what it felt like to be pregnant. She said “I knew because j was bloated and couldn’t suck it in like usual, it was a weird sensation!” I’m glad you didn’t buy any clothes either, there’s nothing worse than having an off day and trying to get clothes. You will need some comfy maternity ones now 😁

I can’t blame you for the wine consumption! Things get stressful, especially after so long of TTC. Have you found it okay to eat well? I know you mentioned you’ve gone off food a little too. How is DH doing with this all? I bet you’re all so shocked and happy!

@Lauralozzle yes I think most areas are like that now since they changed the funding a few years ago, it honestly infuriates me.

His children are not my own, they never will be, no matter how much I care and love them. We barely see them at the moment too, something that will hopefully improve. But I hate the thought of us not getting help simply because of his previous choices in life. Especially as the circumstances were not great and tbh he was in an abusive relationship, that’s not how someone dreams of having children.

sorry for the rant, but I do still hope, wish and pray that either we will get some sort of help or thorough investigation, or it happens ‘naturally’ soon. I suppose it’s all we can do for now.

fingers crossed for Monday for your appointment, I hope they have some great news and you come out with some positivity. Keep us posted.

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@Lauralozzle exactly! I was like oh right and she just said your not eligible because of my regular periods. So here's hoping something happens naturally or else I'll just be stuck!

@HopefulGlow I was a bit of a party girl loved a gin and lemonade maybe a jagerbomb here and there! So going from nights out every weekend to be the settled down alcohol free girl is hopefully going to help (I weren't trying when I was a party girl though! I was single and loving life 😂). Oh really I won't be telling my boyfriend they said it's better because he will never stop 😅. It seems so strict but I'm speaking to her on Thursday following a blood test for my liver and she will discuss it with me more. I might push for some other tests or tablets or something

@HopefulGlow Strange isn't it! Such an odd feeling as well.

All was fine for the first 2 weeks but i'm starting to find it really difficult finding things I can eat this week. The thought of most things is starting to make me feel really ill. I made a few portions of chicken and chorizo rice at the weekend for quick dinners this week and its one of my faves but honestly even just thinking about it sitting in my fridge right now is making me feel sick 😐

Going to have to have a think about dinner ideas for things I can actually stomach, i'm thinking like mince and potatoes or something which i've not eaten for absolute years! If anyone has any ideas of sort of plain and boring dinners let me know 😂

Yeah DH is over the moon, he's been offshore since like the day after we found out so we've not had much time to talk about it or get excited together, looking forward to him getting home next Wednesday.

Literally haven't told anyone else yet... Not sure what to do as we have a family BBQ on the 4th June and I don't know whether to tell people then (9 weeks 5 days) or try and fake drinking by putting non-alcoholic wine in wine bottles or something. If I don't drink everyone will know because I never not drink (LOL) and they know we have been trying for a long time and I can't even use driving as an excuse because they live literally a 5 minute walk from us. I will have had the early scan 2 weeks before but still not like I will know 2 weeks later that everything is still fine.

@HopefulGlow don’t apologise for the rant! You’re right and the CCG rules are stupid and massively unfair. Hopefully some investigations will help, and because every CCG is different it’s difficult to know the exact criteria.

of course I’ll let you all know how Monday comes. I’m trying to get some weight off me for the appointment to be honest, my bmi is just marginally over 30 at the moment, I’m trying to shift it but it’s a bit ridiculous. Might very well tell me I’m too fat on Monday and be left in limbo. I’m a size 12/14 so it’s not like I’m massive! BMI is such an outdated measurement!

I’m expecting an unexplained diagnosis given the fact that the person said on the sly it looked okay and to get busy lol at the H.S.G. I honestly expected a blocked Fallopian tube on the right given cramps I always have on that side.

@LA9610 I Hope the sickness eases soon for you! Plain dinners for me are like, chicken and veg, sausage and mash, pie and chips, cottage pie or something. Basic English stuff haha! Meat and 2 veg basically!

so, I’m pretty sure I ovulated- peak opk and everything, my resting heart rate has risen but I have no pms yet. Usually tell ovulation by the painful boobies afterwards for 2 weeks until AF. It’s disconcerting, I’m only 4dpo I think but they usually start feeling a little sore by now.

Hi ladies, just swinging by to check how you all are and delighted to see your news @LA9610! sorry to hear you’re feeling rotten and going off food, crisp sandwiches were my best friend in the early days… super healthy 🙃

Lots of love to you all, still always keeping my fingers crossed for all of you xxx

Hi everyone. Had my second fertility appointment today, so I thought I’d just update on here.

Good news is my tubes are fine, apart from my borderline thyroid and prolactin everything with me looks good. OH SA is also all good. I’m having to have a third repeat of prolactin and thyroid which I’ve booked for the end of the month.

Bad news is that we are unexplained at the moment, so no idea what is wrong!

Saw the consultant today, he advised can either do IUI out of our own pocket for 3 cycles, or referral for IVF on NHS. Picked the IVF referral as explained would rather save that money for a second cycle if required. He said IUI would be about 30% success rate over the 3 cycles so really not worth it we thought. I have no idea if an egg can implant or fertilise and at least IVF with solve the fertilisation issue!

Then got weighed, my BMI is below 30!!! I practically starved myself over the weekend (slim fast twice a day and 1 biggish meal) as I was definitely over on the start of the weekend. It was hell but it’s done the trick! I know it’s mostly water weight but it got me over the line! Just (was 29.9).

We’re now at the pick a fertility clinic for IVF phase. It’s a bit of a nightmare finding the right one to be honest! It’s between care Nottingham and nurture Nottingham.

I’m so pleased we’re getting somewhere now! Once we’ve picked the clinic, then we need to tell the nurse who will sort out the paperwork and send it off.

Hi All,

Sorry I’ve been totally useless. Life definitely took us over!

@LA9610 massive congrats! I bet you’re a bag of nerve and excitement all rolled into one! Highly recommend non alcoholic wine in a normal wine bottle or if you can get someone in the know to mix your g and t without G that’s always easy!

We got the results of my husbands SA and it wasn’t good. There are some but all in all quite bad OAT so we are heading down the ICSI route. We have been referred on the NHS but having had a friend have her cycle cancelled 4 weeks before starting my the Homerton and me being 35 we’ve gone straight to private.

I’ve had an ultrasound + bloods (including the dreaded AMH) and have a HyCosy tomorrow, husband has had a repeat SA and we make a plan next week.

Im feeling overwhelmed, excited things are moving but also terrified about how quickly they’re going now and also really bloody missing wine! We are on a strict abstinence plan of almost everything fun before we start and it’s definitely not helping my stress 😂

@Amy259 Thank you, hope you are keeping well! Can't be too much longer left to go for you now! xx

@Lauralozzle That's great you managed to get your BMI within the limit just in time, that's exciting that things are starting to move quickly for you, didn't realise you actually get to pick the clinic. I assumed they would choose!

@Lkdjul Thank you very much, yes I think I will do the wine swap and take a bottle of gin with me but not actually use it. Congrats on making the decision to go private, sounds like a lot happening for everyone now :) Haha I can relate on the wine, I was still drinking up until the night before I got my positive so I definitely don't think one glass would hurt but of course it's personal preference. I'm sure on the BFP podcast they asked the director of Oxford Fertility if a glass of wine would make any impact on IVF and he definitely said it wouldn't.

We are off on holiday on Sunday, looking forward to going away and not being at home for 2 weeks of the long wait until our NHS scan.