TTC February 2024 babies

[Hankthehonk]

Starting a thread because I don't see another one yet - I guess it is early for the potential Feb babies!
I'm on CD6 of 2nd cycle post miscarriage/6th month in total, ttc #2, due date would be around 2 February if we're successful this month.
Last month I was way too obsessive about testing, this month I'm really going to try to not let it take over my life - but let's see where I'm at in a few weeks' time. It's a busy month for me with a big work trip just after my fertile window then a family holiday when af is due so at least the tww shouldn't be so much of a drag.
Anyone else early in this cycle who will be trying for a Feb baby?

@Bubblesandtroubles that should definitely cover it, wishing you lots of luck!

@Dinosaur39 to be honest I have been so busy (work travel, stressful long work days, not enough sleep) this past week that it's impossible to say what's a symptom or not. Very far from a normal week for me and I feel like I've put my body through a lot. I'm exhausted but that's logical with the week I've had. I've been emotional/had serious mood swings. Usually I'd be much more aware of my body and logging symptoms but haven't been able to.

@teaontap21 I've read mixed things about twice in one day. Some people say it's best not to as it reduces sperm mobility or something- but I'm not an expert! Maybe do some googling and see what you think. Logically it makes sense that doing it more times would give you more chances

@teaontap21 The last one looks great, it's darker than I get at my peak, 👍🏻 it doesn't seem strange with syringe, I have seen it talked about on chats, but don't know any info on it.

@Hankthehonk sounds so promising... have you ever had that before at this stage in your cycle?.... 5dpo is acceptable for you to start testing is it? 🤣

@Floralsandsmiles If you decide you want to try it, pm me and I am happy to send you all the details on it and the one i took etc if that is helpful

I was thinking this exact thing about turkey baster style earlier today! I presume it must not work that well or else you'd hear more about it and it'd be "a thing"? 🤔 (I haven't verbalised this idea to my husband yet as not sure he'd be as on board! 😂)

@Ladyinpink1 I've never had spotting at this stage before but I did have what I think were implantation cramps with both previous pregnancies (I have one daughter and had a miscarriage in March). The cramps right now feel similar I think...but as with any symptoms it might be wishful thinking.
I had random spotting around ovulation this cycle too, also a new thing for me. Not sure if it's because it's my first complete cycle after mc. Still trying not to get my hopes up too much.

@Hankthehonk That's tough because it all sounds like good symptoms but I know what you mean about being guarded, it's gutting when you have symptoms, have your hopes up etc and get neg tests. Still, hoping for you that it's good news. Will you wait for AF now or be tempted to test?

@Ladyinpink1 I'll test earlier, no point pretending I won't! I'm aiming to hold off until Wednesday which will be at least 9 dpo, possibly as much as 12dpo. I've had bfp at 9dpo before. We fly Wednesday morning to spend a week on holiday with my inlaws...guess I'm packing both pregnancy tests and period stuff 🙄

@Hankthehonk Great to have that trip planned, if it's bad news then being away will keep you occupied rather than being sad at home and if it's good news, you can celebrate on holiday! 🙂

@Ladyinpink1 Yes exactly! Either way I simply can't obsess as much as I would being at home. It's the first foreign holiday for my dd who is almost 3 and I'm so excited to make memories with her. If af shows up I'll commiserate with a cocktail by the pool. Too bad I can't plan this every month.

Hii, cd 14 and took my first ovulation test this morning, not peak yet. Hopefully havent missed one. I usually get my peak at cd 14 to 16, we will see. Anyway, funny thing happened to me yesterday while I was taking a shower, i noticed a whiteish drop on my nipple. Wasnt sure if its shower gel so i squeezed my nipple and got a drop of milk, got it on both nipples. I stopped breastfeeding 16 months ago. Im kind of panicking right now. Could be hormonal imbalances which wouldnt surprise me considering Im in a lot of stress theese last months. I read on forums that it could be totally normal aswell. Not sure what to do. Anybody words of wisdom?

Hi @Ladyinpink1 , I'm going to have my repeat bloods next month, to check if the extra iron tablets and weight loss have lowered testosterone, if not, yes I will want to take them! Please do! Did you have the same issue and took these and it lowered them? Xxx

@Rainyday33 I haven't experienced this, but I hope you get some answers and a positive opk soon.

@Floralsandsmiles hope you get good news at your appointment! will pm you details

Thank you @Ladyinpink1 , I have a while to go before tests yet though 😒 xxx

Hi ladies, hope you are all well?
I'm struggling abit at the moment and trying to work out a plan through it all.
I posted on another group before on this option but now I'm considering it more and more.
Have you all heard of gaia?
gaiafamily.com/
So you find a local fertility clinic and get a quote based up, they work it on your age and bmi and any issues identified etc. Then they give you an insurance premium to pay each round. You pay this and then all other IVF fees and medication is paid by them direct to the clinic. You are insured for 6 rounds or less (individual dependant) and only pay back the fees accrued when you have your baby (this can be in installments and over up to 8 years). If you have all rounds fail that you are insured up to, you pay none of the ivf fees back and you will have only paid the insurance premium each cycle...
I'm 36 in a few months, DH has had sperm analyse and all is A'ok. However I spot up to 6 days sometimes prior to AF for no reason. My scans have come back OK with functioning ovaries, no cysts and fine endo lining. Bloodwork has been fine aside from low iron and high testosterone. I am taking a supplement for the iron and lost 22lbs in 6 weeks to kick start a healthy bmi and this should lower testosterone. However if it doesn't, there is nothing they can give me to level hormone imbalance, other than contraception!!! Because that would be a fertility referral and we don't qualify as both DH and I have a DC from previous relationships.
All of its exhausting and I'm thinking gaia maybe the best option as then they can help me with medication too. Plus we are trying naturally but ultimately if it's an imbalance with no medicine, chances are it will be near impossible to conceive the doctor said. She actually said that as I fell pregnant 12 years ago on contraception, the contraception probably helped level my imbalance of hormones and assist with conception!!
What are all your thoughts on this option? Xxx

@Hankthehonk That seems like the way to do it! Just keep yourself as busy as possible, I still find when I have a spare minute I'm on these forums or googling something tho!
I feel bit jammy this month as I'm off on a city break tomorrow and back on 10dpo so only the weekend to power through!
Have fun on your trip I'm really hoping for an extra reason to celebrate for you!

Looking for a little advice - Has anyone had EWCM at 5dpo and what did it mean for you?
I was shopping yesterday and TMI but felt so 'wet' and there was a fair amount there.
I'm nervous that I actually ovulated yesterday but I stupidly stopped tracking when I though I ov at CD15 and didn't manage to DTD yesterday so I feel like I'm actually out this month now 😢

@Floralsandsmiles I’m so sorry you’re struggling right now. I’ve heard Access Fertility is another one that may be worth looking into? I think there are a lot of plans out there so I’d consider your options carefully. I don’t know that much about it though. I really hope you find the right option for you.

@Dinosaur39 hope you can enjoy your city break.

Sending luck to all. Am 7 DPO and losing my mind. I’m really really grumpy, poor DH keeps getting his head bitten off. I keep trying to kid myself it’s hormones but I actually think it’s just the stress of TTC.

Thanks @hopefulsquirrel . I can't see an insurance plan for them, just the clinic itself? This gaia thing works with all the clinics all across the uk..and is kind of the insurance element of it that if you do not achieve the beautiful miracle you want by the end of the 6th cycle, you don't pay. The clinic work on a base figure etc.. xxx

Sorry I may be giving unhelpful info from my own googling.

Aww no, don't be sorry @hopefulsquirrel ! I'm justing making sure I haven't missed anything and I have never seen anything like this on the market to compare it too. Thank you for making me double check though xxx

@Floralsandsmiles I'm so sorry to hear all that you are going through. That's so frustrating that your doctor said being on contraception likely helped you conceive! Seems ridiculous but I guess it makes sense with the hormones. Have you thought about maybe taking them up on taking the contraceptive for a few months to balance hormones and then try stop them and try the first month after coming off the contraceptive? Or maybe taking the contraceptive but only taking every other day so that you're getting some of the hormones but it won't do much for stopping chances of pregnancy?
Sorry if this is all really unhelpful. It seems so unfair that you've been left with such a catch 22 situation.

I panicked and googled IVF yesterday and was totally overwhelmed by it all. We are off to the GP if this cycle doesn’t work as they said they’d investigate after 6 months due to our ages.

I’m 42 and NICE guidelines say I’m entitled to one cycle of IVF but my CCG only funds it funds it for women under 35. I found this horrible snooty document online all about how NICE is only recommendations and they don’t have to follow it. But we wouldn’t qualify anyway as we haven’t been trying for 2 years.

The reason we haven’t been trying that long, and are trying to TTC #1 at this age, is that for a long time I took medication that’s very harmful in pregnancy and it just wasn’t an option. I was chatting to a friend who said can’t they bend the rules for you because of that and I wish she was right, but I doubt it because it’s so unlikely to work at my age.

Am 7 DPO and still hopeful for this cycle at least.

I hate the one size fits all approach - it's so unfair. There should definitely be considerations for things like this!

@Floralsandsmiles I haven't heard of this, sorry things have been so frustrating, hopefully someone else will know more. Wanted to say well done on the weightloss, that is brilliant and I think that helps fertility too.

@hopefulsquirrel I was very grumpy yesterday too (i'm blaming hormones lol) , i'm 5dpo today.

@Dinosaur39 that's great to be away during tww, hopefully it makes it go in quicker 🙂 Hopefully the cm is a good sign!

Hey, I listened to a podcast lately that had a fertility expert on and she said something similar. They recommend some times taking a break for a few months go on the pill and when you come off your body is basically mad to ovulate/conceive! X

So this is the link I was looking at earlier: https://www.accessfertility.com/patient-faqs/

Don’t know any more than this but it says they refund if you’re not successful.

Thanks everyone for your comments back today. I'm looking into them all and thank you for the time you took to respond xxx