SMEP-ing our way to a BFP 🍁🍂🐿️🍂🍁 Part 2

[NSx]

Made a new thread as the old one was full

@NSx am I understanding it right that means 224MILLION SPERM per ejaculate?!
That's insane haha I never thought of the quantity of individual sperm that are all swimming around inside us before 😂

@TunnocksTCake yesssss 😂😂😂😂 wild isn’t it, obvs peoples numbers vary but yes I think minimum is like 40 mill, so even at that the bare minimum you need to have a normal sperm count is 40 mill haaaa

Hello ladies hope you are all doing well - thought id drop by and update you all on my bfp that I got yesterday.
I can't say we strictly smep'ed for the entire time we ttc'd but it was certainly the spring board we needed to learn how it all works.

@NatGee 💜💜💜 congratulations babe ✨ I’m so happy for you! How many dpo are u? What will be your due date? I’m so glad, I knew you would get there in the end 🎉 xxx

@NSx thakn you lovely, means a lot. Very glad to be joining the pregnancy forums now. It's all very early still - I am only 13 dpo (AF was due yesterday). Because I bbt I could see the bfp coming a few days before even, with my temps behaving very differently from usual. In fact, I used your chart to compare what was happening to me ha, must have looked at it a few dozen times.
Are you due in October? how many weeks would that be? How are you feeling?

Here it is if anyone's interested

@NatGee ohhh that’s just made today more lovely 💜 I’m so pleased for you.

YES! The BBT charts acting diff is a defo tell tale sign, how funny is that, we both had the exact same experience 😂🎉.
I’m due 27/28 October, so I’m exactly 6 weeks at the minute, I have a scan on the 15th so will know dates then. How are u feeling? I’m so excited for you, when you told me your partners sperm I knew it was absolutely perfect and it would happen soon 💕💕💕💕

Aww congrats @NatGee that's amazing news!
SMEP round 1 didn't work for us, I have docs appointment on 15th to investigate more or see what we can do next!
Roll on Monday when we start SMEP round 2!

@NatGee congratulations I’m so so happy for you!

@NSx appreciate the faith, it was really helpful when you shared your DPs SA results. Im not far behind you at 4 weeks but different months which is a pity as we are now not on the same thread. I am quite crampy and think im getting insomnia other than that, all good. Do you have any symptoms yet? My first midwif appointment on the 8th of april which got booked much faster than i thought. Will that be an early scan? And do you do it privately?

@Matildahoney thank you hope month 2 of smep works out for you. Will you be discussing next steps with your doctor or will there be any tests performed?

@allgoodthings84 thank you so much, how are you and the pregnancy? Any scans yet?

@NatGee 💜 absolutely wonderful news.

so my first scan is on 15/03 when I’ll be about 8 weeks, it’s an early one at fetal medicine due to what happened last year. My 3 month scan isn’t until April too.

so you’ll be around 2nd week of November? Tbh it could be closer than you think between us, if someone goes early/late.

my original DD last year was 04/11 so I’m kind of glad it’s a different month.

as for symptoms … I didn’t have many at the start tbh, although now I have constipation, occasional cramps & im awake every day at 5am on the button 😂😅😅😅

@NatGee I had the 7 and 21 day bloods before I fell pregnant. So I don't really know what the next steps are!
My DPs GP has just said his results are normal, but haven't said what they are!

@NatGee your first midwife appointment is a booking in appointment where they take all of your details and ask loads of questions, weigh you, take bloods and urine samples and so on. Your first nhs scan (unless you’ve had 3 or more miscarriages, ectopic, or second/third trimester loss) will be 12-14 weeks. I had “only” had 2 miscarriages so I paid for a private scan at 9 weeks and all was good. I then had my first nhs scan at 12+4 weeks and all good.

Then a few days later I started having brown blood in my discharge once a day and my midwife wasn’t concerned at all told me to book a thrush swab at GP (no symptoms of thrush at all) but my GP was concerned because of the previous miscarriages so I was referred to EPU and they checked my cervix and checked baby and all was fine (this was 13+3 weeks by time I was checked). They didn’t know why it was happening so out me on progesterone until 16 weeks as a precautionary as all pregnant women who have any bleeding if they have had even one previous miscarriage should be put on progesterone apparently (I googled this after and it’s true!).

I’m now 15 weeks today and I’m constantly on edge and worried about a mmc all the time. I have hardly no bump and my symptoms are gone (both totally normal for this stage). With my daughter I had no bump until 21 weeks and it just popped overnight so I know it will happen it just worries me. We are hoping to book a private gender scan for in a couple weeks but my partner starts a new job next week so got to wait for his shifts before can book. I’m scared of that though as the other day a lady in the August due date thread went to her private scan to be told the baby had died since her 12 weeks even and a mmc which is what I’ve been terrified of. The worrying doesn’t go away unfortunately 😞. It should be exciting but I’m scared to buy anything or plan anything yet.

I’ve got my 20 week nhs scan 13th April when I’ll be 20+6 which is the latest they are meant to do it typically. Guessing because my 20 weeks hits over the Easter bank holiday weekend so it’s all pushed back a bit.

@NSx thats next week! how exciting, i am sure it will all go well. Can I ask what kind of scan it is? i imagine you have to pay for that? Yeah I'm taking these due dates with a pinch of salt. Apparently only 3% of babies are born on their DDs. Ill stick to birth month :)
ohhh so many symptoms already? constipation doesnt sound fun... are you doing anything to help it? In fact, can pregnancy related constipation be helped?

@allgoodthings84 ahhh thank you so much, so new to all of this. About the progesterone as a preventative, so glad they did this for you and didn't just dismiss it. I know you were worried about your two previous mcs and wanted support on that front but not until a third mc - so cruel.
But look I honestly think youre now on the otherside of the danger zone, youve had a couple of scans and even statistically the chances of a mc are really low now (something like 5%) so put your mind to rest, and enjoy this period of no symptoms and that your baby is now snuggly gaining all the energy he/she needs to meet you when the time comes. Are you still able to wear your pre-pregnancy clothing?

@Matildahoney Ask the GP for a copy of your blood tests - you want to check them yourself. If you want to, you can ask for a scan so they can take a look at your uterus/tubes. I had an internal one and the lady was able to tell me straight away what she could see. Has your partner had a semen analysis yet?

@NatGee yep I don’t really have a bump at all so still wearing my normal clothes including my high waisted jeans! It does worry me as it’s my second and everything you read says how second baby bumps pop a lot sooner. I’m 15+2 weeks now and nothing. No symptoms, no bump and no feeling movement or kicks (this bit I’m not worried about as I have an anterior placenta). Basically it’s the no bump that worries me after having some brown bleeding

@NatGee its at the fetal medicine unit, so on the NHS, due to what happened last year they’re giving me it as a reassurance scan. I probably would have paid for one privately if not though as I did pay last year. Not sure if it will be abdominal or transvaginal?
yes so the doctor gave me lactulose but tbh the thought of some things is making me feel a bit sick so I can’t take it every day, like I should. It defo helps though. I had the same issue last year 😅

@NSx most nhs trusts do internal scans before the 12 week scan as it’s not always possible to find easily before then abdominally and they don’t have the time to try abdominal to then move to internal so go straight to internal.

my private scan at 9 weeks was abdominal but they did say when I first got there that they may have to swap to internal but it was fine

I hope it all goes well. It’s lovely seeing them on the scan especially after previous losses 💕

@NatGee I have seen some women use fibrogel too

@NatGee all his GP have told him is that his results are normal and advised me to see my GP due to my age! Nothing like being helpful is there?!

@allgoodthings84 I’ve heard this to be honest, I’m not bothered if they have to go that way but would rather not as I heard it can cause spotting.

when I had an early scan last year it was abdominal and it was perfectly clear, so fingers crossed.

how are u getting on?

@NSx I think private try abdominal first however early you are but nhs go straight to internal to save time and cost. I had to have an internal scan 2 weeks ago when I had some brown blood in my discharge for a few days as they wanted to check my cervix so to save time and cost did the baby check at the same time as cervix check. It was ok and didn’t cause any spotting. The brown spotting in discharge actually stopped the following day luckily. It can cause a bit of spotting but if you’re aware of it you would know what’s caused it. Hopefully it will be abdominal for you 😊

Hey everyone! It's been a while! I didn't see this thread and it just popped up! Nice to track you all down, I was wondering how everyone was going. So, so happy to see there's some babies on the way! Such lovely news. Congratulations @allgoodthings84 @NSx @NatGee, I'm so happy for you all! Hope your pregnancies are smooth sailing so far.
Been a bit absent from these boards, been trying not to get so worked up about TTC as it was really starting to affect my mental health. Had a laparoscopy recently as GP suspected endometriosis, but didn't show anything really which is kind of good and bad DH been waiting for a SA since forever, been crazy to me that I got referred to gynae and had an op in the time it took him to get an appointment! Anyway, that's done now, just need to get the results. After that, not sure what's next, had everything we can from NHS, been TTC for 18 months and nothing, so it's either private IVF or giving up really - and I'm struggling to make that decision!

@fsr111 I’m so sorry to hear of the struggles you’re going through. It does suck when you can’t get any further nhs help. If your partners SA throws up something simple to sort they may diet that though? It is mad how long you have to wait.

@allgoodthings84 im hoping that they allow me to try abdominal first to be honest, but will see what they say. I’ll keep you posted as it’s next week (WED) which I’m terrified but equally excited! 😅😂.

@fsr111 it’s so lovely to hear from you 🤍 I hope you’re keeping well.
I think the SA will be great help to you, there may be something there that can be made better. Sperm is so easily fixed with a few supplements and lifestyle changes so I’m hoping you do find something there which can be fixed quickly and that can give you a better outcome and get you you’re well deserved BFP🤞✨ I can only imagine how you are feeling, ttc really sucks it’s honestly is so demoralising but the fact you’ve kept going for 18 months is a testament to you, you’re a strong, strong person! Sending you hugs and lots of baby dust ✨✨✨

@NSx Last 2 reassurance scans I've had at EPU at around 7wks they have tried abdominal first . First time they couldn't see anything so went to transvaginal (MMC) second time I was actually 8oz and they could see everything fine.