SMEP-ing our way to a BFP 🍁🍂🐿️🍂🍁

[Aurora81]

Our SMEP plans continue.... The old thread is almost full, so I started a new thread so we can continue on SMEP-ing to a BFP ✨☺️✨

These cycles really keep us on our toes @LucyFraser1981! Can I ask you guys that use BBT, I have been debating it but fear it's just another thing to obsess about and I don't really like the idea of seeing my temp drop before AF so that puts me off however I'm prepared to try anything! Assuming you are DTD every day / every other day when flashing / static smiley, what extra difference do you find it makes? Or is it more so you know you have ovulated, rather than seeing it coming? I'm not sure if you are using it to time when you DTD or just to know after the event, if that makes sense?

@fsr111 BBT is the only real way to confirm ovulation, as all the OPKs do is tell you when your LH is surging, but you can have an LH surge yet not ovulate. Sometimes if you don't ovulate after an LH surge your body may produce another LH surge which will then cause you to ovulate, so you can then ovulate much later in your cycle. By charting your BBT you can see if you're still in your pre-ovulation phase, or if you've ovulated and are now in your TWW. Like this month if I'd not been temping I'd still be expecting to ovulate on Sunday or Monday, but having put two more hypothetical higher temps in for tomorrow and Monday, the data is showing that I ovulated yesterday, probably late last night.

@fsr111 also it gives you info about your cycle and your hormones - the temp should be within a certain range pre-ov, and then should rise by 0.4 of a degree post ov. There is a range which shows your progesterone levels. On top of that, you can confirm your luteal phase

Think I’m out again this cycle. I’m only 7dpo but my boobs are feeling firmer which happens most cycles. I know it can be an early pregnancy symptom too but at only 7dpo and it happens often I’m guessing it’s because I’m out

I’m definitely out 😢

I’m only 8dpo but I usually start spotting at some point in the afternoon on 10dpo so we thought we would dtd this morning and afterwards there’s been a bit of spotting so think the sex has made the spotting start even sooner 😩😢

My RHR also went up as usual after ovulation but it’s stayed the same since then when it usually goes up higher by now so I think maybe it’s a low progesterone issue although it always keeps going up higher usually this is the first time it’s ever done this. I guess my day 21 bloods will give some answers if that’s the case

I’m going to have to reschedule my day 3 bloods I think as they are booked on the 19th (queen’s funeral) so I doubt they will be going ahead that day now and it was already CD4 because of the weekend so I’m not sure if CD5 will be too late if I reschedule for the 20th?

@allgoodthings84 I’m sorry that you think you’re out so early 😩.. hopefully you’re wrong and this is not the case.
I had some drinks last night at dinner as we had a date night - so after alcohol my RHR and BBT does rise so it’s not reliable for today which is annoying ..
I think the Queens funeral will be 19th, so probably won’t go ahead- same as mine, although I have another flashy today, so not sure if I’ll even ovulate cd14 anyways - such a headache.
day 3 bloods are supposed to be during AF - if you go day 5 chances are you might not have much AF left ? mine is basically spotting come cd5

@NSx yes day 5 is my last day and very very light. I’m thinking I’m going to have to cancel those and reschedule nearer the time for the following cycle (when I’ll know when cd3 will actually be) but it’s all just pushing things back further and further and being nearly 38 I’ve not got loads of time as it is 😢 referral to a fertility clinic after those test results are in can be up to a year. We can only afford private if we know what the problem is already. We wouldn’t be having ivf so hoping the spotting issue (what causes the spotting) can be solved

@NSx i can only think I must be out to be spotting 5 days before AF due after dtd. It always 3 days before when the spotting starts. The closest we have ever dtd before is 7dpo and that didn’t bring on any spotting but 8dpo dtd has. I’m really sad not just because I’m out but that I think there’s definitely something wrong with me and probably my fault if my partner can’t have a child (unless he leaves me).

@allgoodthings84 im so sorry you’re feeling this way.
I think you need to speak to the gp about it tomorrow - and reschedule - or just ask is it ok to go ahead with bloods see result and then if need be redo the bloods again next cycle, atleast you would get some sort of ball rolling — and that might be good for your mental health tbh.
I don’t think for a minute your partner would leave you so don’t think like that - 38 isn’t old, even 39 isn’t but I totally understand why you’re feeling like this, I’m feeling the pressure and I’ve just turned 35 in July (I don’t have any living children at all though 😥)
don’t be too hard on yourself - pls Don’t go down that rabbit hole as it’s hard to get out of … you’re still young and there’s still lots of hope. ❣️

@NSx i won’t be able to speak to the gp tomorrow as it took 2 weeks from ringing to getting an appointment to speak to one in the first place (ours are so busy) but I can ring up and ask the receptionist to find out from the doctor what I should do maybe. I’ll ring and see what they say

I think it’s more of an issue after ovulation so the day 21 ones are probably more important but I just wanted anything I can get.

I’ve actually had a 5p sized spot of blood on my liner from earlier. This would have been some time in the last 5 hours. My spotting never comes out (only when wiping). I always pop a liner on in case from 10dpo and a white one to easily keep an eye on it. I’m cramping too so I think dtd at 8dpo has brought it all on. I’m only CD20 and never had a cycle shorter than 24 days before (AF starting on CD25 well CD1 but you know what I mean) so I’m hoping it’s not messed me up. Wont be dtd at this stage again that’s for sure.

@allgoodthings84 is it bright red or pink? (The 5p size blood)

the receptionist should be able to have a GP confirm that for you.
in my work anyone who phones and says they need an urgent appt get a telephone consult that day - we aren’t allowed to then anyone away who says they need urgent/emergency appts - so people are wise to it 😂 and say it’s urgent and normally it’s not 😅😂

@NSx I’ll tell the receptionist it’s really important I get an answer on whether 5 days is too late or not then, thank you.

it’s a brown colour same as my spotting always is before AF arrives properly. Although when I wiped right after dtd it was a small smudge of red but that’s the only red. Dtd has definitely brought it on as was fine when I went to the toilet 2 hours before that

@allgoodthings84 and there’s no way at all it could be implantation bleeding at all?

@NSx i don’t know. The colour etc is just like my normal 10dpo onwards spotting but that never leaves a mark only on wiping and only is that obvious a colour the day before AF. Before 10/11dpo it’s just a very watery slightly brown tinge. It’s stopped for now I just went to the toilet and nothing on liner and nothing when wiping but when I spot it’s not there every time I wipe so that’s why I’m thinking early spotting because of dtd but it’s not happened before as closest I’ve dtd is 7dpo with no issues

@allgoodthings84 it could be - you never know, just wait it out and see - fingers crossed for you it’s not your usual spotting 🤞✨

@NSx actually thinking about it I don’t think it can be implantation as my RHR has stayed the same since just after ovulation when it’s normally a couple bpm higher by now. The whole thing points to not being lucky this cycle

@allgoodthings84 i hope you’re wrong 🤞🤞🤞

@NSx me too. Time will tell as you say. I’m swaying towards dtd bringing on the spotting 2 days early. Not sure how that works unless there’s something wrong with my actual cervix so giving me even more things I’m thinking could be wrong with me 😂. Thank you for listening to me going on.

@allgoodthings84 i hope it’s absolutely none of the above and you get your BFP!
don’t worry about it - we all have these thoughts - it’s so easy to think the worst , but it could just be your mind over thinking it all! 😅

ooooh just got my static smiley 😄

Oh chuffing heck, I think my thermometer might be knackered 😖 had three higher temps, but all super similar, so just tried taking it several times after having got up and moved around and had a load of readings, one of which was super low. So used my backup one, and that seemed OK after several readings, consistent and slightly higher each time, which makes sense as I'm up and about now. So now I'm worried that I haven't actually ovulated on CD11 (CD14 now), so maybe partner went back to his too early and should have stayed to BD last night too 😖 wondering if I should get him to come over tonight, even though he's working away and diesel is 💲💲💲🤦🏻‍♀️

Sorry you've not had a good weekend @allgoodthings84 😔 I'll keep my fingers crossed for you it's IB 💗

Yay for the static smiley @NSx !

@LucyFraser1981 oh how annoying - have u checked the battery sometimes you just need to re insert it ?

I got my static last night but my strips higher this morning so I think I will ovulate tomorrow ? I will keep an eye on my temps.

how are u today anyways ?

@NSx I've ordered some batteries from amazon that are coming tomorrow (not the most exciting thing to buy myself for my birthday 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣) so will see if that makes a difference. I tried it a few times once I'd properly been up and about and it had gone up to between 98.2 and 98.5, so it may be ok. Partner isn't back now until Wednesday evening for our anniversary/my birthday long weekend away, so I guess that's it for catching the egg this month, just have to keep fingers crossed 🤞
I'm ok, was a bit grumpy yesterday, not sure if it's hormones or my imminent birthday, so have added fancy chocolates to my grocery delivery that's coming tomorrow 😊
How are you, how was your weekend?

@LucyFraser1981 😂😂😂 batteries 🔋… get yourself something good 🎉 chocolates sound lovely !!!
my wkend was good - went out for a date night dinner to a new restaurant which was lovely & lots of BDing 😄😂 …
I managed to change my day 21 bloods which was on Monday next week (7 days after ovulation), but since I only got peak OPK this moeninf it’s more likely to be Tuesday for ovulation so a week tomorrow is my ‘day 21’ per say, so that’s a relief 😅 as I was worried I wouldn’t get an appt 🫣

I’m at work just now, I work in a GP’s surgery and we’re so busy and it’s just turned 9 😄😵‍💫

@NSx well the trip away is my birthday present really, plus all the meals out 😅

Ahh sounds like yours was more fun than mine! My son was here this weekend, and as he's autistic we have to stick to a pretty boring routine, so it involves lots of cbeebies, his tablet, and me seemingly constantly making food and filling his drink bottle, plus all the usual housework 🙄

I have my day 21 bloods booked for the 21st, but now I've ovulated early (probably) then that will likely only be 5 days before my period is due, so not sure what I can do about it really, as 7bdays before would be the bank holiday 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

I can only imagine how busy and stressful it must be to work in a GP surgery! I'm classed as my son's carer, so only do volunteer work as a chef/helper at my local forest school, so nice and peaceful for me 😌