TTC APRIL

[RMS0209]

Hi!
Making a thread looking for some company/support
I'm currently going into cycle 4, trying to conceive baby 1.
Looking for others in similar situation.
Beginning to feel a bit deflated now, as I am sure many many others are too.
Trying some things different this cycle to hopefully get a BFP
•ordered an Ovusense core
•carrying on with my reflexology weekly
•Trying the SMEP method
•Hot water bottle after ovulation as I read someone else done on here
•carrying on with my supplements

Any other advice/recommendations/suggestions welcome

May April be the months of lots of BFP's 🌟.x

@RMS0209 yep DS couldn't have bashed into the lamp post at a worse time for me..I said to him 'happy wife, happy life' so he's come round again.

@Hello47 omg your chart looks incredible I'm waiting to take my OPK today (usually best time for me is around 3pm) and then I'm joining you in TWW 🤪

@MO22 only really for s few days to confirm peak but not after that xx

@MO22 no I stop after the CB static! Mostly just because I'd be bankrupt otherwise and don't trust myself to not get obsessive about using the cheap ones throughout my whole cycle haha! But that's the only thing I go by really, and I did the progesterone test just to make sure I was ovulating when the CB told me I was (as I know for some people it can record peaks but not mean you're ovulating, so wanted to double check)

@RMS0209 me too, I hope it works for you this month.

@alwaysseeingstars Yes, @RMS0209 you could be raking it in!

@Rhianne18 my friends partner is 60 and she tried for 2 months before falling pregnant so I think it's so different for men but good to get checked anyway xx

I am now obsessing about this week's test results and how they compare to the two monitored cycles I did two years ago.

This time round I had a 10mm follicle on day 12 (yesterday) compared to a 9mm follicle on day 11 last time, so probably fairly similar. But I still have low estrogen according to my blood test this morning, whereas I was already heading into my estrogen rise on the same day last time round. My endometrium is thicker this time though... weird!

Next round of blood tests and ultrasound on Friday. I'm hoping my doctor gives me the go ahead to do my trigger shot on Sunday.

@babyjellyfish is it much lower? I think that's why the clearblue sometimes goes from zero to static. It's all about estrogen levels.
I need a career change im so interested in all this!

I find the charts very confusing, so I will just smile and pretend I know what's going on I am going to do my cheapies just to match up for this next while until I know it works the way I want it to, hoping that every 2 days 💃🏼 then the 3 days in a row on peak does the trick this time. X

[quote MrsGrealish]@babyjellyfish is it much lower? I think that's why the clearblue sometimes goes from zero to static. It's all about estrogen levels.
I need a career change im so interested in all this! [/quote]
God, same. I wish I had the time and money to retrain as a gynaecologist.

My serum estrogen level this morning was 36 and I got a low reading on the Clearblue test. (Currently CD13.)

In my last cycle (back in 2020) my estrogen level was 42 on CD11 and I got a low reading, and then it was 70 on CD13 and I got a high reading.

But interestingly, my endometrium measured 5.8mm yesterday (CD12), whereas in the last cycle it only measured 4.2mm on CD11. So I think my endometrium is thicker to start with this time round even though my estrogen level is still low.

My period was also much heavier this time (my first postpartum period) than I am used to. It lasted five full days (including three heavy days) whereas when I was having recurrent miscarriages and had a thin endometrium I was getting maybe a day or two of light bleeding.

I'm hoping this is a positive sign that this time my endometrium is going to thicken properly. I still don't know why I had recurrent miscarriages but that could have been a factor. And my scan yesterday showed at least 8 follicles on each ovary, so my doctor doesn't think my eggs are the issue because he says that if I had poor egg quality due to premature ageing he would expect there to be fewer of them.

@babyjellyfish literally fascinating. Well yea that's the ideal to have a heavy period and build fresh endometrial tissue. And it's building really well!
And 8 follicles without any stimulation? You'll need to give me an update on Friday 🙏
I have a heavy period unfortunately most likely due to blood thinners so a totally different scenario 😏

I am still in the mid follicular phase so by Friday I should have a dominant follicle and some of the smaller ones will have disappeared already.

My prediction is that the dominant follicle will be about 15.5mm and I will be delighted if my endometrium is 8mm or more.

Ideally I'd like to start seeing the estrogen surge tomorrow. I could go for another blood test tomorrow (my prescription is valid for up to five) but that might be a bit excessive.

Here in France we have labs all over the place where you can just get blood tests as a walk in whenever you need.

@babyjellyfish that's amazing that you have that opportunity! Yet another reason I want to move to France

I'm not gonna lie, I am profoundly grateful to be doing all this pregnancy and childbirth stuff in France and not the UK.

When I first moved here I was very dubious about it, but I have to admit I have been completely won over.

By the way, public service announcement for when you all get pregnant, EPIDURALS ARE WONDERFUL, GET THE EPIDURAL. Nobody in France understands why anyone in their right mind would try to give birth with just gas and air.

@babyjellyfish LOL I gave birth 3 times with just gas and air. I have a long needle in spine phobia 😂😂

@MrsGrealish huge respect for you 😂 I've obviously not given birth before but from the experiences I've heard I will definitely be getting the epidural! I'm impressed, you really must be against needles to go through that pain!!
I've had a lumbar puncture before though so am not bad with needles luckily..

I had an epidural too. Would like to try without this time. Being alone and induced in the lockdown didn't help the way I was feeling.

Did another cheapie and it's darker today. Going to go to boots and get an ealry

@alwaysseeingstars lumbar puncture is my literal worst nightmare!

Just need to get pregnant now and I'll be up for anything..needle in spine yes please 😂

@MrsGrealish it was terrifying I won't lie, I'm a fidgeter so was terrified of moving! Didn't help they were training someone at the same time so had 5 people around the bed 😂 but in fairness they were very good at keeping me calm which helped.
@RSmamaa ah wonderful news! Get yourself to Boots and let us know sorry to hear you had a bad experience though, giving birth in the lockdown must have been horrible. Hopefully a better experience for you & your partner this time!

@alwaysseeingstars @babyjellyfish yep I would go to France in a heartbeat. However did A level French and can't remember a word of it.

@RSmamaa exciting!

@RMS0209 just pondering the SMEP method whilst I got caught in the biblical rain... Is that when you do 3 times a row from peak? Is the idea you catch it if you ovulate early or late?

@Hello47 joining you in the TWW 😊

Hi! Yes pretty much I was stuck between that and purple method I'll send photos of both

...

@RSmamaa 🙌🙌 congrats 🎉