First Timers TTC. Safe space for brain dumps, questions, whinges and celebrations. Part 2!

[TinyDancer91]

Hi All.

This is a continuation from my past thread, but no need to go read that one if you're new here!

Quick TD;LR from the old post (but with up to date info) - I'm 31, OH is 35. We are TTC baby #1. Been TTC since Jan 2022, now on cycle 14. Haven't told anyone to avoid pressure.

Feel free to post any questions, thoughts, whinges, celebrations, basically anything here!

Going to try to be a bit more positive than I was toward the end of the last thread 😂

Love & baby dust to all. Wishing for BFPs for everyone this year 💖

Hey girlies, re-joining after the last thread.

CD18 of cycle 7, my cycles are very long (40+ days) I have had an ultrasound which came back with enlarged ovaries and lots of follicles (or fibroids? I can't remember) which is typical of PCOS but had my bloods done and all came back normal. Have an appointment coming up with the GP to discuss what they think is going on. I'm worried I am not actually releasing an egg!

We have just had a new puppy join our family so finding time to DTD is proving tricky 😂but she's filling the empty hole in our life which is nice and she's a pleasant distraction from constantly analysing every symptom of my cycle! I use Natural Cycles and measure my temp every morning and have done for the past 4 years (most of those I used to prevent!).

Good luck to you all this month x

Welcome back @RainyDaysByTheFire

A new puppy!! That's so exciting, what breed have you got?

I've just had a phone call with the dr. Apparently, someone should have called me after they did my day 21 bloods in October but they never did! I was told by reception all was normal. Apparently, they need to repeat them due to 'lab errors' but only with the hormone tests, so kidney, liver function, iron etc all fine.

Mixture of annoyed and scared now that there is something wrong... having to wait 2 weeks to have my bloods done again now due to only being on cd8. HATE waiting and not knowing...

@TinyDancer91 she's a little Labrador! So cute 😍but my goodness it's a good window into how a newborn might be. At least we'll be prepared!!

That's really interesting about the info you got from reception as I think this is what is happening here, she just said the notes said all normal. No one has mentioned day 21 bloods though. Glad I pushed for the GP appointment after the blood test results. Guess I'll find out more at my appointment!

A friend of mine who has also struggled TTC said all her bloods always came back as normal too. I think we really do just have to keep pressing them for 'so what else can we do'. I understand the frustration of having to wait though!

For anyone doing blood tests, do ask for a copy of the results from your GP so you can check the numbers yourselves. The thresholds set by the NHS, and what is deemed "normal" may actually be too low/high for you.

Had that happen recently, I went in for a day 21 blood test to check my progesterone and I saw it was far too low (I hadn't ovulated that month) yet when I called I was told it was normal.

@RainyDaysByTheFire omg!! I love labs!! 😍🥰 golden or chocolate?

Going to really start pushing for answers from the gp and see what steps we can take.

Not sure it was a good idea, but I've just started watching Alex Jones:Making Babies on UKTV play... sobbing like a fool!! 🥺😭 good insight into the process though!

@NatGee our gp is due to make it so that we can access full medical records on the nhs app in Feb so hopefully we won't need to ask for copies of results after that 🤞🏻 worth looking in to if you don't have access. It's already live for some gps

@TinyDancer91 thank you, I didn't know 😊

@TinyDancer91 golden! 🐾

@NatGee great advice, thank you x

@RainyDaysByTheFire I too got myself a puppy to take my mind off TTC - we've been at it for what will now be cycle #9. We rescued a staffie and she's been a handful lol but now that she's settled my mind has gone back to conceiving a baby. Good luck to us eh?

@NatGee & @RainyDaysByTheFire you have both got two of my absolute fave breeds!! Super jealous!!

Any chance of some pics to brighten up my day?

I'm not allowed a puppy at the moment as we have a cat... well I acquired him from my OH's ex as she didn't take him with her when she left.... I still love him to bits and wouldn't be without him, even if I would change his name 😂😂

Here's Graham the cat 🐈‍⬛

Awww 😻 so cute

Hi, I wonder if it's ok if I join you all? I'm a total newbie, this is our first month trying and already am super confused about my symptoms and body acting strangely. I'm 27, turning 28 next week.

Hello everyone! A bit about me…

❤️I’m 30, partner is soon to be 32 and we’re TTC our first!
🧡I’ve tried on and off for over 3 years (was engaged in a long term before).
💛Been diagnosed with Endometriosis - had an op to detach my ovary from the womb lining… seems to have helped a little as had a BFP for the first time in Nov (ended chemical)
💜 From Wales! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

This month, I’ve been religious with my folic acid. I’ve bought pregnacare supplements however hesitant to start those until we’ve continued for a few more months as I read on the box it can affect your cycles and I’ve got them down to a tea atm! Would welcome any feedback though and wishing you all the best of luck for the cycles (hopefully just cycle…) of 2023 🎉🤞🫶

Hi, I have endo too and ttc out first. I had chemical last month and on cd 6 now so about to enter my fertile week again from tomorrow

@Babydust99 oh wow! That’s crazy isn’t it 🙃 I’m a little further ahead this cycle - cd17 and I think maybe 3 dpo perhaps 🥰 sorry to hear you also had a chemical. Testing early isn’t for the faint hearted unfortunately… I learnt the hard way! Fingers crossed for this month 🫶

No it certainly isn't although I had symptoms so would have known I was even without a test. We're also relieved as we now know we can conceive as this is cycle 8

@Babydust99 yes we feel the same and I had lots of symptoms too. I’m wondering if those were more severe as my body was rejecting the pregnancy - hence the chemical so I’m happy we have got to that stage but interested and hopeful to see what happens with future cycles x

Yes same here, time will tell I guess xx

How is everyone doing? I'm currently cd11. Been really bloated this evening but putting that down to food 😂 🐷

I was looking in to what our local nhs trust offers in terms of fertility treatments. I found that AMH test are recommended and carried out by the centre for reproductive medicine (crm) but it's not funded by the NHS! 😱 the costs at my trust are £225 for a complete hormone profile and £80 for AMH... so I've ordered a Hertility test for £149 instead which should test all of the above. Does anyone have any experience of the Hertility tests/results?

Love & baby dust to all 💕

@TinyDancer91 heeey! I’m currently cd20 - keen to get through the next week or so (hope it goes quickly!) I’m currently led here looking at the similarities with this month and November as we had a chemical BFP that month. I know we’ve spoke before 😊

Knowing your next steps helps to feel in control so that’s a great idea. I’ve had a referral to a specialist which we’re waiting for (unsure how long this will take but expecting 6 months or more) and partner has a sperm test here to do but it’s a nightmare as you can only do it Mon to Thurs between 9am and 11am - not ideal when he works full time and you have to take it 40 mins away (mindful of traffic too 😂). There’s other ways around it I’m sure but we’re holding off and not pressuring so we’ll see how that goes in the coming weeks.

wishing you the best of luck! I’m also bloated but this is definitely from pigging out lately 😂🤪

@TinyDancer91 hello! CD 22 here and just starting to get the signs I'm ovulating. Had my GP appt yesterday and had day 21 bloods, GP is referring me anyway to fertility clinic as my scan was quite clearly polycystic ovaries. DH needs to go do a sperm sample and blood tests but still holding out hope we can do this without intervention 🙏

I've not tried hertility but I see it advertised on socials ALL the time. Let me know how you get on. I succumbed to an IG ad and bought some of that Rheal Superfoods stuff yesterday. 'Magic' superfood powder to fix all my problems? Go on then 😂

@TinyDancer91 hi
I had a look last night and found out that our trust only funds one round of IVF, which is disappointing. I don't know about the other tests.

We had some tests done at a private clinic recently which cost £425. It included a sperm analysis for my husband, then an ultrasound and AMH testing for me. Everything came back normal so no clues as to why we haven't conceived yet (currently CD 13 cycle 10). I think the AMH is mostly used for pre-IVF as it gives them an idea of how you will respond to the medication options they have. It's good to know my AMH isn't particularly low but obviously I can't know whether my eggs are good quality or not.

I've had a look at some of the home testing kits as I haven't had day 3 / day 21 bloods done. I would also like to get my thyroid and blood sugar checked as I have thyroid problems and diabetes in my close family. But I might wait until we have been trying for a year and then push for these to be done on NHS instead as I'm guessing they wouldn't prescribe anything based on the home test results anyway (I don't know ?). Have you checked whether your trust will use the result from the at home test or not? As if they will push for you to have "their" test done anyway it might not be worth the money.

We are just in the process of planning a holiday which will hopefully be in late March; if we do that and still no BFP then I will be going to the doctor as it will be 1 year of trying by then.

Hi all,

Would love to join to for some support.

Me and DH are both 39 trying for our first, we have been delaying while we built our career and financial stability. Now I think we may have left it too late...

Anyhow, I came off the pill Jan 2022 but didn't try as hard so only had sex about once a week. Until October 2022, started using CB OPK and got pg that month, but ended in MC just under 6 weeks.

Back at it now again, in my TWW at the moment. No symtoms at all so far but don't want to read too much into it. AF due on the 18th. Oh and we tried the SMEP this cycle.

I can completely relate to @J3ssa about the sadness felt every month when AF arrives. Even though I have told myself not to have any expectation but still can't help but get angry about it and then grumpy that few days. I am trying to distract myself but it's difficult when I keep thinking time is not on my side...

Anyhow, baby dusts to everyone on this thread and hopefully we will hear some BFP news soon :)

@Kayycatt I wish you all the best and I hope AF doesn’t come on the 18th! I don’t think you’ve left it too late at all but maybe ovulation testing kits would help so you’re sure of exactly when to dtd. I’m 35 myself and I know that things can get more irregular.

It seems I’m rather privileged as I’m on CD13 of cycle 1 and my LH surge is happening according to my testing kit. Gonna have a fun weekend and hope for the best. AF due on 28th so I’ll know then. I won’t test until 14th Feb (when I’ll be 6 weeks) because of what I’ve read about chemical pregnancies being so common. Baby dust to everyone xxx