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

Hi everyone. So me and my partner have been having unprotected sex but not trying as such for over a year, we both have children with other people but have talked about it and decided we really want a baby together so I’m now looking at dates I ovulate and have bought an ovulation tracker and I’m taking vitamins. Just jumping on board as I am ten years older than when I had my last child. Baby dust to everyone x

@Angelsrose thank you so much for the boots preconception mention. I have a really weird allergy that loads of other conception vitamins have included in their recipes so will try this as a baseline one. I have gone for the Zita West Ubiquinol high dose so will see if it makes a difference.

@Sarahloudobby welcome to the thread. Baby dust to you too!
@VixFromThe6ix you never know, you might get lucky! On the AMH test, a lot of people really worry about it, but the gynae I spoke to said it's quite unpredictable and the jury is out if it's helpful unless you need IVF. She said as long as it isn't super low or high there's normally nothing to worry about. Anecdotally, one of my friends found hers fluctuated depending on the lab testing and she actually had a significant increase at one point. I am sure other people will know more but I just wanted to flag as it causes a lot of anxiety.
@Muriel84 @Eirlys1986 how are you getting on?

Also agree with AMH testing. My friend had hers done about 15yrs ago when she was mid 20s, told it was low. She had a child 6yrs later and now pregnant with 2nd at 39.

@TheFanciestPants hi 👋, now on CD14 and keeping to the smep plan. Absolute miracle we have done as 18 month old son is cutting 4 canines at once so he has turned into something from the exorcist over past few days and was up almost hourly overnight 🙄. Feeling a bit flat as still getting complete negatives on the OPK. I did ovulate late a couple of cycles ago around day 17 but I’m suprised I am not even seeing a hint of something happening on the lines by now. I’m actually wondering whether little one’s more frequent visits to the booby bar has resulted in perhaps no ovulation this month, time will tell 👍🏻. How are you getting on with things @TheFanciestPants

No problem at all @TheFanciestPants ! Wishing everyone lots of luck and Baby Dust.

@TheFanciestPants im fine thanks. CD9 so break from smep today! Seem to be getting some ewcm already tho. Seems early. Maybe it’s the glass of grapefruit juice a day! How are you? X

@Eirlys1986 wow I’m super impressed you’re able to function at all on hourly wake ups, let alone dtd. That sounds brutal. I hope he settles soon. My opks are always faint until CD13 when they go dark but never mega dark. I don’t use premom. X

@Muriel84 my OPK are usually like yours, nearly always some form of line then darken at surge, so who knows what is going on this month. I’ve decided I shall test twice daily now morning and evening as in fertile week and don’t want to miss it with all the effort going into the smep thus far! 😂
Enjoy your break from smep! It’s slightly sad but I know myself and OH quite like the off days 😂

@Sarahloudobby Welcome! 😊 Tracking ovulation is the secret weapon for many (at least it helps increase your chance anyway). How old are you? I'm TTC #2 and I'm 37!

@Eirlys1986 So impressed you're sticking to the plan with molars! We're still waiting for the last molars and I'm scared. They are brutal! Hopefully you ovulate in the next day or two.

@muriel84 I think I need to hop on the grapefruit train! 🤣💜

I'm 7DPO but we only caught the end of my supposed fertile week as we're not technically starting until June. So I'm not expecting anything and don't feel any different! I think I'll sneakily track ovulation next month and not tell DH so he doesn't feel pressured 😅

@LeopardLover sneaky tracking is definitely a win win situation, you know you’re dtd at the right time and your DH doesn’t feel pressured as you say 👍🏻
unfortunately our current teething hell is just canines but seems worse than the first set of molars we already had. Lord knows what the final molars will be like, I don’t want to think about it! 😂

Ooooh!! Hopefully these come through ASAP and the next molars are a breeze for you 😅 I'm finding my DS is becoming more dramatic with age so I'm hoping ours come through STAT.

Yes, I think it's the answer so we are being as efficient as possible but without the stress! I've also bought us some Conceive Plus lube as that worked wonders last time 😅

@Muriel84 I get Ewcm from about CD8 and ovulate typically CD13

Ooo @LeopardLover I was looking at that the other day or something similar in Boots, fingers crossed for you x

Hi all, took a break from thinking about TTC for a week so just done a marathon catch-up on this thread. I can really see how SMEP would be quite a bind for most. We're not officially trying to follow it but we're a relatively new couple so there's enough enthusiasm that we've not missed many fertile days. I won't be mentioning fertile windows unless we're in danger of missing one because in the first month of trying, partner wanted to aim for every day, starting quite a bit earlier than needed (we didn't know what my cycle length was going to be anyway), and by FW on month two he was finding it super un-sexy from the pressure he'd put himself under. So I'll just quietly get on with OPKs and nudge him if needed, and otherwise keep it to myself.
My GP had bloods done for me on day 15 of last cycle and they all came back normal, which is excellent news, since I've had thyroid issues in the past, and super short cycles for a good while, but everything seems to have normalised right now! Just need the right egg now I guess...
Not sure how to get partner's side of tests dealt with as he's not a U.K. resident. Privately maybe? Anyone know anything about that?

Impressed by all you SMEPing with small kids.
CD10 here. Going to aim for every other day from tomorrow. My ov moves around a bit and so want to cover my bases. Tried this last month and didnt ovulate till CD17 😳 hope that's not the same this month.

@Eirlys1986 Thank you!! Need to try everything 😅

@Mirla That sounds like the best plan! It's good you are DTD lots for fun anyway so you can take the pressure off and join me with sneaky OPKs. Interesting re your partner and his tests! Is he on a visa or do you just mean he isn't a UK citizen (but has settled status)? I haven't even considered this myself and I'm married to an Italian! Hopefully it wouldn't be too expensive to do this privately.

@Mummyme87 thats good to know thanks! If I put ewcm in my apps it brings my ov day forward.

@LeopardLover ooh now looking at conceive plus… x

@Muriel84 it brings mine forward aswell
but keep doing OPKs, your positive will come

@LeopardLover No visa; he's only ever going to visit the U.K. for short enough periods that it is covered by EU travel rights. I'll be moving to him, but right now am also on tourism allowances when I visit, so neither of us has anything other than travel cover in the other's country. I'll get my healthcare sorted there soon ish but with language barriers I'm much happier doing what I can via the NHS...
The five minute timer really makes stealth OPKs a nuisance! Would be much easier if it were first thing in the morning when I could just take the time up with brushing teeth and so on!

@Mirla Oooh that makes sense! Perhaps use the NHS for you and then arrange a private test for your OH when he's next in the UK - for speed?

Ah, so I've only ever used Clear Blue digital tests which are in the morning! 5 mins is a long time 🙈 I've bought some classic ones, so maybe I'll start testing after work and just hang out quietly in the bathroom. And by quietly I mean with my toddler 😅

@LeopardLover im 43 so I’m not sure if my chances but keeping everything crossed. Going by my cycle and my cm etc I’m still ovulating but i know it’s the quality of the eggs I need to worry about

God I'm so happy I found this thread... I'm TTC my second at 37 yo. Been trying for 7 cycles so far. We try daily from day CD11, then 2x times during window - then chill from CD21 (I ovulate late - around CD19).

I'm currently 6 dpo (I think- didn't get new LH tests in time!) and cramping. I cramped around 6 dpo the same way when I got pregnant with my first. But I've not been too well in the last 24hrs so terrified to be excited in any way...

I've been having some bowel issues so this could easily just be caused by a bugs. Although the pains seem lower.. GOD the TTW is killing me 😓

Glad to find a thread where I'm not alone....!

@TickingTui hello 👋, such an exciting (and terrifying/nerve wracking) bit of cycle to be in! The cramping sounds encouraging though, I really hope it is a positive sign for you 👍🏻
You also sound like you make a stellar effort with dtd that much from CD 11! Here’s hoping this is your month! X

@TickingTui Ps what dpo were you when you tested with your first pregnancy?

So I've tested this morning and..... BFP!
However I'm not sure how to feel as with DD I had a dye stealer. It might be I'm not as many DPO as I thought so I'll keep watching.

@Eirlys1986 I know - it's part exciting, part exhausting lol... And thanks so much - I hope so! I want a BFP so badly - and I also wouldn't mind a break. I'm a bit over 11+ days of action every month!😂

Hope it's your month too! What CD are you on? x

Oh, and first time I got a faint line at 10 dpo, then a strong BFP the next day. So if AF doesn't hit me Saturday, I might be able to test Sunday.