Ho ho ho! We all want Santa to come (with loads of BFPs)! It's the December thread 🎅🌲🎁

[Squiff70]

I don't know. Not even a week into November and sadly some are out for this month.

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas and you're definitely on Santa's NAUGHTY list, this is the one for you. Not a December bus but a December SLEIGH!

So go Dasher, go Dancer, go Prancer and Vixen! We don't want you to bring us those toys. Please stuff our stockings full of BFP joy!

@Shortmamashortcycles thank you. I have adjusted my app and it means I'm CD29..which is still the longest my cycle has been for a few months but means I still have a few days until AF is "late" even though I'm past the usual 10day LP.

@Sunrise321 it's frustrating isn't it. I had spotting Sunday that was similar to how it started 2 days before my last period but then it stopped completely and now nothing at all but still cramping. I would go by what shortmama says and not count it unless its proper flow so I would guess consistent throughout the day. See if it progresses into anything more over the next few days. Fingers crossed it could by IB at 9dpo x

@Nico89, @Sunrise321 - yeah wouldn't it be nice if our cycles were just like the ones described in the textbooks.

There's really no way to be 100% right here. My best advice would be to track a couple of cycles, esp for you Sunrise as it sounds like you're getting to know your normal post-mini pill. I literally have a spreadsheet... then you will get a feel for when you're ovulating and when you're spotting.

In my case, after my daughter, my periods would involve up to 5 days of weird brown spotting on and off, including full days with nothing and then boom, AF. Then I got pregnant again on the second cycle of trying and even then had weird brown and even red spotting before my BFP.

That ended in MC (but at 13 weeks so unrelated to spotting) and since then I've had almost no spotting before AF. Go figure!

My luteal phase is around 10-11 days (counting 1DPO as day 1 and day before AF as final day) and doesn't seem to stop me catching... if that is any reassurance!

Afternoon ladies, I am 5dpo today and have noticed some interesting changes.. My nipples have become very dark in colour and I have lots and lots of creamy DC (I know this is normal after ovulation so not thinking too much into it) and woke up in the middle of the night with shooting pains in my nipples 🤔

Has anyone had anything like this?

Hi @AmberRH1993 with my first (and only) pregnancy. My first symptom was sore and tingly nipples. Especially in the cold! It was Baltic! I also fell in December… so was walking around holding my nipples for a while lol… so defo could be something!

I am…. According to app as I didn’t use OPK properly this month… 4DPO … and could also be heavily unrelated but I’m very sick. Off most food but forcing down some beige… I know it’s a far too early to symptom spot but I’m so worried I’ve caught covid (but no covid symptoms only nauseated!!!) or some other sickness and it will jeopardise this months efforts ✨

Staying strong and trying to power through feeling at fault. What will be will be, I just hope this sickness passes soon.

My son is turning 2 this morning and I can remember having tingly nipples too - my first telling signs were very strong sense of smell and crazy dreams.

I fell after 2 cycles with my first and This is our first month trying for our 2nd off the pill and everyone says you can fall quicker with the second so let's see 🤞

Have you done a covid test?

Anyone on this thread get ovulation pain / mittelschmerz? I don't usually, but have been having the weirdest dull pinching feeling in my right side for the last few hours... does that sound likely? 🤔

I have had them before but wasn't taking opks. When are you due to ovulate?

@Shortmamashortcycles

Anyone on this thread get ovulation pain / mittelschmerz? I don't usually, but have been having the weirdest dull pinching feeling in my right side for the last few hours... does that sound likely? 🤔

I get ovulation pain. It's like a sharp tugging feeling, a bit like somebody's pulling an elastic band. It's a weird sensation for me that's hard to describe!

Little update, I mentioned the initial cramping I was having around 5-6 days ago (I think? Lost all track of time this week!), since then it's turned into more of the same - along with sharp pangs and a lot of creamy cm.
I thought we could still be on to something but it's approx. DPO 11 and no sign of a BFP.

I don't know why I'm feeling deflated, I knew our timing wasn't right but it's still disappointing when it's something you want and you start getting the symptoms... it gives you that little bit of extra hope.

It's not over until AF comes, but I think I might be out!

Focusing on other positives so this post is a bit happier:
I got a new job today (yay) and have had a chilled out chat with DH about when we'll next be trying (18th - 23rd December, incidentally my birthday). Not giving up hope just because it's not our month.

Think I might be out this month. No progression (this is this morning's test), and I've got cramps and brown tinged CM this evening. I wish oh could see the squinters too, I hate the feeling that it just didn't exist at all once it's gone.

@AmberRH1993, I'm not sure - I'm in a cycle after a chemical pregnancy so really not sure what's going on in there! I've had a bit of EWCM the last two days but not as much as I usually get...

@rainbowzebra05 - yeah I'm really struggling to describe this. It's not like period cramping and doesn't feel like trapped wind or digestion.

Really sorry to hear about your squinters and spotting. The bit right before AF is always the worst...

[quote Shortmamashortcycles]@AmberRH1993, I'm not sure - I'm in a cycle after a chemical pregnancy so really not sure what's going on in there! I've had a bit of EWCM the last two days but not as much as I usually get...

@rainbowzebra05 - yeah I'm really struggling to describe this. It's not like period cramping and doesn't feel like trapped wind or digestion.

Really sorry to hear about your squinters and spotting. The bit right before AF is always the worst...[/quote]
The EWCM is always a good sign.. Fingers crossed and loads of baby dust!!

Well, that's me out. AF is here a whole 3 days early. Next fertile week is predicted for Xmas week, might start on opks as soon as AF is over so Im not left wondering like last time!

I'm pretty sure I'm out. More cramping today and some spotting this evening so think AF will be here by tomorrow

Oh @madeleine85 I hope you and hubby are feeling better soon! Day 17 is definitely better than 20/21 so that's good news, at least :)

Hello and welcome @arianasky! So sorry to hear about your chemical and recent MMC, I understand how just upsetting they are. I hope you enjoyed your Christmas shopping and prosecco today.

@MindZGap sorry to hear about your BFN. So many of us will be ovulating over Christmas so at least is we're out this month we know we can have a drink (if we choose to) and some fun!

Sorry also about your BFN @Mummytobe93. Try to stay warm and look after yourself!

@Nico89 sometimes our cycles can be so confusing. I wouldn't count spotting as day 1. Wait until it's heavier then start from CD1. How are you doing now? It has been a good few hours since your post this morning.

@Shortmamashortcycles glad you've had your booster! I'm having mine this Friday. It can be a difficult decision to make when TTC but especially during pregnancy. I am petrified of catching covid as I'm C.E.V but equally I'm no use to my daughter if I'm ill with covid (or any other serious illness) so will do what I can to protect myself and her. I do understand it's personal choice, however. Let's hope if this isn't your cycle then the next one behaves and fully co-operates! I do get a lot of ovulation pain and at times it's absolutely excruciating. Four years ago I spent a long time in hospital following a very serious illness which left me fighting for my life on a ventilator for 5 weeks. I was on a ward some time later and crying and begging a nurse to call a doctor as I genuinely believed I had appendicitis the pain was so bad. She did, but the doctor rules out appendicitis very quickly and blamed an ovarian cyst. I was sent for a scan days later but the pain had gone so we never 'caught' the cause.

@Sunrise321 How is your spotting now, if that's not a completely weird thing to ask?! Sounds like your last cycle was a bit chaotic but to be expected after so long on the pill I guess.

Hi @AmberRH1993. You have some interesting symptoms there for 5DPO! Keep us posted please. Happy Birthday to your little boy! My daughter also turned 2 a couple of weeks ago. Interesting age... but very cute (so far).

Hope you also feel better soon @lottieb92 - sickness bugs are no fun AT ALL. You might want to do a PCR test if you can stand it.

I'll post this then carry on before I do a Squiff and delete everything I've just written...

@KateInHappyland you're still not out! Keeping everything crossed for you. Massive congratulations on the new job! And Happy Birthday when that comes too - so you're a Christmas baby? :)

@rainbowzebra05 I don't really see a second line in your photo but my eyesight isn't the best. Maybe there is one - and I hope it progresses for you!

@SkaterChick soooo sorry about AF! At least you're not left in limbo I guess. Deffo start on OPKs from about CD7, so next Tuesday ish. I find it amusing just how many of us are due to ovulate around Christmas Day!

6DPO for me today. Nothing to report except still bloated. Maybe I'm not. Maybe I'm just fat :( :)

Just re-posting the calendar as it last stood:

7th - @katem1990 (about 10DPO)
8th - @Mummytobe93 (10DPO) @MindZGap (about 11DPO)
9th - @Nico89 (13DPO if I last that long)
10th -
11th - @Bundaberg84 (12DPO) @Squiff70 (9DPO)
12th -
13th-
14th - @beckybabyx (12dpo)
15th -
16th -
17th - @Peauela (14 DPO)
18th -
19th - @BH1926 (15DPO) @Natalie2304 (11DPO) @Tinkerbell098 (14 DPO)
20th -

Hi All,

No luck for me again. This was 4th month TTC and despite a few mishaps I was hopeful we would still be in with a chance. I've decided to reflect on what I've learnt in these last months since starting TTC:

My periods are fairly regular but I don't always ovulate when I think I do. It turns out EWCM isn't always a given on my peak days. This was my first month monitoring my BBT with an OvuSense wristband. So far we have only tried BD on the days leading up to ovulation. It turns out that I ovulated 2 days later than I thought (according to OvuSense). My period was a day late this month so I'm inclined to agree it was correct 🥴 Turns out we missed the two days before and the day of ovulation completely 🤦🏻‍♀️

Symptom wise, I've had practically every possible symptom in the 2WW - 'late periods', fatigue, Insomnia, blood in my nose, early cramps,a single day drop in BBT one week post ovulation, getting up for a wee in the night (3 nights in a row) and even a mild metallic taste 🤷🏻‍♀️ I'm inclined to think like so many others that my body will just do something random and different every month and I'll not be able to tell so I'm determined more than ever not to symptom spot as it just stresses me out! Typically this month I've been really calm and work hasn't been too stressful but we've not BD on the best days 🙃

I'm hoping next week to incorporate everything I've learnt so far: Preseed, bottom up afterwards, BD every day including ovulation day and day after 🤷🏻‍♀️ whilst trying not to overthink it and relaxing 😅🤣

My next period is due around NYD so it could go either way as a start to 2022.

It's good to be on this board and seeing everyone's journeys. Happy Christmas and Baby Dust to all,

Hi @Squiff70 had some spotting earlier this evening, kind of mucousy with a bit of old blood and some pinker fresh blood. Was convinced that was AF on her way but just been to the loo and nothing at all. Our bodies really do like to keep us guessing!
Still experiencing cramping this evening seems to be consistently on the right side...maybe it is in fact my appendix thst would be just my luck!
Covid booster clinic cancelled tomorrow (annoying!!) So rescheduled for next weds instead.

@Squiff70 Thanks so much, I hadn't even heard about it 72 hours ago (internal vacancy, essentially straight to interview) so the week so far has been an absolute blur - hence losing track of days. Nice to have some positive news though.

And yes, 23rd December, very festive!

We'll be keeping everything crossed until AF too...

I appreciate the reflections @Timeaftertime21 and imagine it was helpful to look back. I'll do the same if AF arrives for me. I may try some form of BBT tracking next cycle as I have a suspicion I may have been ovulating later than thought and like you may have been missing most of the fertile window as a result!

What stops me tracking BBT is the hassle (and I often get up at different times) so something like a wristband that does it for me sounds ideal.