Morning, thanks so so much for all the lovely messages, how kind 💕💕. I need to go back and read the messages properly, there were some questions too I think, have just not had a minute yesterday and fell into bed exhausted..
Just wanted to write down things that are coming to mind we did differently in case others find it helpful.
So, we did the @Purple29 method. Purple said she DTD on days 6, 10, 12 and 14 as her cycle is 27 days. Mine is either 26 or 28 days, so we planned to DTD on day 5, 9, 11, 13 and 15 to kind of cover both cycle lengths if that makes sense. I didn’t do OPKs so don’t know when I ovulated. In the end we did days 5 (we cheated on day 5 - see below), 9, 11 and 13. We didn’t do 15 as by that point I either had the bad toothache or the horrible thrush type symptoms, can’t remember which one and felt pretty confident by that point I had ovulated already (based on EWCM and previous cycles ovulation days). We found this method SO much more relaxing than DTD every day in a row which we did in previous cycles. Also, for those where DTD has become a bit of ‘work’ rather than just fun: our day 5 DTD wasn’t actually DTD but just OH getting rid of his old swimmers all by himself (sorry TMI 🤣), then we waited for 4 days to replenish and then DTD 3 times. All of it just felt like way less pressure. It’s funny cuz you think you have to DTD as much as you can (over Xmas we DTD 6 days in a row I think and were so knackered) but then I feel like the resentment is greater if it doesn’t work. This cycle I was just as inpatient in the TWW as usual but the one thing I thought was if it didn’t work at least our DTD was lonely and doable rather than a six day exhausting marathon.
The other thing that’s different is I started fertility reflexology in December (so second cycle after starting it I fell). It is sooooo relaxing so I highly recommend it.
I did another thing which was different. I take Q10 or whatever the supplement is called, usually I take one 200 capsule a day but this cycle I took two day. The instructions say one a day so I made my own decision (think I read somewhere that 200 is too low).
So a few things that were different and don’t know if one of those or a combination did the trick. Or if it would’ve happened anyway.
Also to give people some hope if she worries you: I’m nearly 41, OH is 44.
Plus I have health issues and am on lots of medication, steroids, painkillers and immunosuppressant medication, and this month I was on antibiotics because of tooth gate and taking all sorts because of the thrush/BV type issues and we still fell, again just saying this to give hope and that it can happen when the circumstances seem totally against you.
In terms of early symptoms, in hindsight I wonder if some of the tooth issues could be an early sign. I had read sensitive teeth can be a sign. When I brushed my teeth the AM I got the bad toothache I thought my teeth felt very sensitive and straight away thought ‘oh is this a pregnancy symptom’ in the typical TWW obsession but because I ended up with a tooth infection I then thought my body had just tricked me into thinking it was a preg symptom, now I think it maybe was? I also felt a little hungrier and a little queasy a couple of times about 3 days or so before I got my BFP, not hugely noticeable but enough to make me briefly think ‘that’s odd’. In terms of cramps, I felt they were milder and higher up than AF type cramps.. although having said that, the reason I tested on Monday night was because I was convinced AF was on the way (had quite a bit of CM and I thought some spotting but hard to know as i think I’m so raw down there (sorry TMI) from the thrush/BV that there was a tiny bit of blood from the rawness.. I genuinely genuinely thought I’m out but instead of waiting for full blown AF I just wanted to stop guessing/having my hopes up so did an IC and was honestly in shock when I saw a tiny bit of something... I haven’t had even a hint of a line on any tests since TTC #2, so then did FRER.
Other symptom was terrible crampy diarrhoea on two different days which I had with DC1 but I was sure I had this cycle from the antibiotics.. which still could be but again I now wonder if it was the hormones rather than antibiotics.
Hope this helps. I’ll try to answer other questions when I get a chance but maybe I’ve answered everything. I am sending soooo much baby dust to everyone 💕💕. Can I stay on the thread? Really rooting for everyone. Also, I realised my BFP was on 31.1. so technically the January thread but I left that ages ago? Xx