2023 TTC 35+ Part 2

[VixFromThe6ix]

Hi ladies,
This is a new thread as we maxed the other one. I tagged everyone that posted in the last 12 pages. If I'm missing someone, please tag them in the comments.
@Eirlys1986
@Muriel84
@Un7breakable
@vitahelp
@Mirla
@TheFanciestPants
@Mummyme87
@FiddleLeaf
@Anna531
@Poppy708
@Golaz
@LeopardLover
@Floralsandsmiles
@Bumblebee413
@TrudyProud
@13Bastards
@DinkyGT
@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7
@TTCnumberfour
@Cirque1
@39starstartry
@Freya8
@Angelsrose
@TheBirdintheCave
@AgeGapBbe
@BengalMama
@BB2023

@Muriel84 hope work takes your mind off things. I worried all the way through my last pregnancy, after spending a long time worrying about TTC! It's so hard.

@Muriel84 hope you're okay. It's one of those things that can be totally normal, but it's never nice to see spotting. I had a little bit in my last pregnancy, and was terrified. Do you have any more bloods coming up? The strong line sounds good.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 @Pineappleapple thanks both. Yeah I’m being seen in epau on Monday again for a scan. It is so horrible when you see pink on the loo roll. My memory from miscarrying is that it came on quite quickly. I’m still very crampy. Will be rushing to the loo to check all day. I had brown discharge around 5-6 weeks in my last pregnancy which I was told was old implantation blood. X

@Muriel84 lots of love your way. Having had a MMC last month I can imagine how anxious that makes you feel. Hopefully it's nothing. As others have said, spotting can absolutely be part of a healthy pregnancy too. I really hope scan on Monday comes round quickly for you and goes well. ❤️

@Muriel84 sorry that’s so anxiety provoking and then having to go work on top of it isn’t great but hopefully a distraction. Hope you are feeling ok now. The scan on Monday will hopefully be a good reassurance in addition to the strong line today xxx
@Pineappleapple this does sound very confusing! I think your idea to go for the average 31 day cycle is a good one. I suppose with irregular cycles it will always be difficult for you to say whether a low progesterone result is purely a timing issue or low because of no ovulation. Sorry it’s stressful and difficult. Fingers crossed for the sperm results x

@Muriel84 thinking of you, sending you unicorn tears to ensure it is all ok!

My husband's SA results are in but apparently it's standard to only get results directly from a doctor and we have to wait until Thursday for a GP appointment! Urgh... I mean I know it's not long in NHS terms but it feels LONG!

@Un7breakable how did you CT scan go?

@Muriel84 sending all the positive vibes your way. Hope you feel better as the day goes on and you have some nice weekend plans to allow you to rest but also distract until the scan can reassure you further on Monday.

Hope everyone else is doing ok?

AF didn't arrive yesterday, tested again and very clear BFN. Trying to focus on the next month instead now.

We're trying for #1 and OH isn't great on reading up about stuff. To be fair, he's very supportive and has shared that for him atm more info would stress him out more (he worries easily) so try to limit to important bits and keep the baby dance magic alive!. We're off on holiday with his family a week Saturday which isn't great timing but confident we can make things work. However he's just let me know that there's a hot tub jaccuzi and he's really excited to relax and read his book in there. I've read about the importance of guys avoiding heat and the affect it can have on sperm for months after and feel like I need to alert him to the facts and ask him not to go in when heated, but equally now know how much he's been looking forward to this and apparently is part of the reason he booked the place 😕...

What would you ladies do? Am I being obsessive or is this a reasonable ask? We'll be going into our 6cycle of TTC

@Muriel84 Best of luck for Monday. Spotting and cramping so common in early pregnancy, but great that you’re going for a scan to see what’s happening for sure.

I think I’m out this month. I can just feel that AF is imminent! Slight period pains, headache, deathly tired - she’s coming!! Hope others have better news.

@Elen123 Ah that’s tricky, I feel for you. I hadn’t heard about the sperm/heat thing. Could you just ask him to not spend too long in there as a compromise?!

So, in the weird position of feeling relieved that AF has shown up today. I had my MMC just over a month ago and wasn't sure what to expect for my cycles etc. So although it's bittersweet, I'm actually really glad to be able to reset at this point and to know I can track ovulation again in the next few days etc.

Hope everyone else is ok. X

@Elen123 - if it were me I would just let him use the hot tub. There is so much information online that you could almost drown in it and there will always be something to worry about in our lifestyles. I think there is clear evidence that people like chefs can affect sperm count due to long term heat in that area. Similarly varicoceles are meant to heat up stuff down there and cause sperm issues. Both myself and a friend had partners with varicocele and it’s never caused an issue so these things just aren’t guaranteed. I think if he is really looking forward to something then just let him be and enjoy it. Just my opinion obviously! Xx

That’s really great @SnookyPook. Such a relief that things are resetting. Don’t be alarmed if it’s a bit heavier/painful than usual, mine was (and very long!). I actually had 3 days of super light bleeding a month after my mc, then my heavy “proper” period started 19 days after that! My GP just told me such madness is to be expected after the trauma of a mc and just to ‘let it happen’ - I quite like that way of looking at things to be honest!

Is @Elen123 I haven’t read up much around it but it seems that perhaps a lot of the studies on the hot tub thing may be talking about more regular hot tub users rather than someone using it for a week or so on holiday. Perhaps let him know about it but suggest reducing length of time per session to less than 30 mins or if longer to reduce the heat depending on whether you are abroad or not

@JumbleJo thank you so much - that's really helpful to hear. How long is it since your loss now and are you back to a 'normal' pattern? Did you bother tracking ovulation during the 'madness' phase? (Feel free not to answer if you'd rather not! Just curious!) X

@SnookyPook I don’t mind at all! I had the mc in early March. I did ovulate after my super heavy period - I had those Clearblue sticks that you use every day and it gives you a smiley face to indicate your two most fertile days. My ovulation was probably a bit later than it normally would be, I think just because my period was so bloody long (about 11 days!).

If AF comes in the next day or so (I think it will do judging by my symptoms) it’ll be about the right time. I was never strictly regular beforehand though, ranging from 25-29 days. So hopefully I’m back to normal but I’m not totally sure yet! Xx

Thanks so much everyone for your kindness ❤️ I haven’t had any more bleeding so far today and cramps have settled a bit too. 🤞🤞🤞

@Elen123 i would worry about hot tubs too. We give up SO much as women ttc and in pregnancy (including hot tubs!), I don’t think it’s a lot to ask him to limit how long he sits in a hot tub for.

@Eirlys1986 I’m also in the partner has a varicocele club! 🙋‍♀️how are you doing? X

@Muriel84 I’m ok thanks, actually managed to forget to take a pregnancy test for a whole 24 hours which was pleasant! 😂
I’ve booked my private 8 week scan for day we get back from holiday so there will be hopefully minimal build up to that for me whilst busy wrestling toddler through airport home 😂 I am now just hoping to not feel too sick for the holiday as wanted to eat all the food we’ve paid ludicrous money for! However, I will never be satisfied, if I don’t feel sick I’ll be worrying something is wrong 🙄.
Glad to hear you are feeling better and bleeding stopped, I remember getting some killer cramps early in my first pregnancy which lasted days so hopefully it’s something similar for you, maybe uterine contraction associated with things embedding themselves in more thoroughly perhaps 👍🏻 xxx

@Muriel84 my fingers and toes are crossed for your appointment on Monday and hoping no more spotting. It must have been so stressful for you. Xoxo

@SnookyPook sorry to hear about your mmc. Glad things have reset and you're feeling well about the new beginning. I had two MCs and my period started normally each time but I couldn't start right away. I took a year off from the first Mc. I was mentally in state of shock. Even knowing how common it was. So I'm proud of your strength. I wish I didn't waste a year.

@Elen123 I also read somewhere about hot tubs but like some previous posters mentioned, I would let him enjoy it. But I would also mention what you read and he can make a decision whether to go in a tub or not. These studies are so overwhelming. So many. Yet people get pregnant all the time in all types os circumstances. Maybe he can enjoy it for some time but not a long time lol Enjoy the weekend along your husband 🥰

@TheFanciestPants ok. Will get results in a few weeks. Was a bit upseting as they were like "we read that you moved your appointment as you could be pregnant are you 100% your not". Tbh last few days have been very tearful 😢

@Eirlys1986
Sounds positive

@Elen123 my other half bought! A hot tub last month. I immediately pointed out the problem with this so we have it set on a lower temperature which is apparently safe. Though my research suggested might only be an issue if low sperm count

@Un7breakable oh lovely. That is so tough. I am really sorry that happened. I would have been upset by that too. Gosh, what is up with these men and hot tubs?! 🤔 @Elen123 I would have to say something but maybe that's just me?!
@VixFromThe6ix how are you getting on?

This month has hit me really hard too. Everyone goes on about being more fertile for 3 months after a miscarriage but it doesn't seem to apply to me. I don't know what the next step is really, I hope the gynae has something more than platitudes.

Hi @TheFanciestPants 👋!!
Sorry you've been feeling down. I've heard about being more fertile after Mc but haven't personally experienced it. I had a chemical though right before I got pregnant with my son. Literally the month before. But it's probably just a coincidence.
Do something for yourself to get your mind off of it for a bit this weekend. Where are you in your cycle right now?

As for me... I finished my period two days ago so tomorrow I'm gonna start being on sticks again lol waiting for the ovulation to happen. I've got a phone call consultation scheduled with the same fertility doctor as before early June and she's got my blood test and bladder ultrasound results so I am waiting to hear how my body is doing. We are still gonna try this month but I dunno... With my husband being on testosterone shots, it's hard to stay optimistic till he's done with it sometime in July.

But it's the long weekend so I'm excited. I've put a couple bottles of rose in my fridge and we found a new show to binge on once my toddler is asleep so it's been nice to enjoy some wine again.

I’ve had more bad cramps during the night and then had some bright red spotting this morning so looks like I’m about to go through my third early loss. Devastated, really hoped the strong lines were a good sign. Two nights of barely having a wink of sleep not helping. Don’t have anything planned today so will relax but DP was out till very late.

Think I’d quite like to find a hot tub and some wine if this doesn’t work out. Can climb in it with our unicorn and fill it with our tears! 🦄 X

@Muriel84 I’m so, so sorry to hear this. I really hope you’re wrong. I know Monday must seem so far away and it’s basically impossible to relax. Wishing you so much luck xxx

Oh @Muriel84 I’m so sorry. I really hope it isn’t the case that this will result in a loss, it is good that you have the scan Monday at Epau planned. Spotting etc can be entirely normal in early pregnancy but of course I can understand you fears given past experiences. I hope so much that things settle this morning and weekend for you but sending my love if not xxxx thinking of you x 🦄

@Muriel84 I'm so sorry you have cramps and spotting, and I'm hoping it's not bad news on Monday for you x