2023 TTC 35+ Part 4

[VixFromThe6ix]

New thread, ladies!!!!

Hope you can all find it.

Feel free to tag others to continue the conversation.

@LeopardLover thinking of you and sending lots of love. Hope the weekend has gone ok for you and so hope that EPU are able to provide reassurance tomorrow. ❤️

Thank you @Eirlys1986 i’m probably going to sound really stupid but what is smep?!🤣

@Eirlys1986 we sort of did a variant of SMEP this time before I knew what it was (basically DTD loads pre and post positive opk 😂). Time will tell if it had any effect! If not this cycle, I might attempt it to the letter next cycle and see what happens!

Join the SMEP thread too!

Thank you for all of your support 💗
@SnookyPook and thanks for the tag tonight, Snooky! 🥰
@RoseH36 I'd say my husband is more of the realist, so we balance each other out - probably like you two. 💕
@MrsBP15 ah, you really get me from one ☀️ to another. Thank you, I actually welled up reading your message earlier this weekend.

I've cried privately quite a bit this weekend and hidden all the discomfort from pain - I've had headaches, really painful cramping, hip/buttock pain and lower back pain. No more bleeding though since Friday's wipe. Tomorrow will tell! Strangely nausea came back this afternoon but it's hard to see that positive side when the pains have been so considerable. I had loads of cramping with my son but not this relentless! I've been expecting to bleed every time I use the loo.

Enough of me, I really hope you've had nice weekends full of lots of action for those in the FW and distraction for those in the TWW! ❤️

@VixFromThe6ix I'm so sorry you've had such a hard time of it recently 😔 I think you've had some great advice from the ladies including @Eirlys1986 with her medical insight. I hope you seek further help and you're able to discuss things no matter how painful. I understand the feeling of the clock ticking, but having a child already increases your chances of falling pregnant again so hopefully you aren't waiting too much longer. 🙏🏻 And sharing is caring. We've got each other 💕x

The best of luck for tomorrow @LeopardLover , I will be thinking of you xx

@MrsBP15 sperm meets egg plan! You are basically trying your absolute bestest to ensure that sperm and egg will definitely meet each cycle to give things the best chance through sex timing.
https://fertile.com/sperm-meets-egg-method/

@LeopardLover yep he's definitely the realist of the two of us and keeps me grounded. I know that feeling of panic every time you go to the loo and not knowing if there will be anything when you wipe. Will be thinking of you tomorrow x

Sending you so much love today @LeopardLover. Well done for getting through the weekend. Sounds like you’re were pretty amazing in the face of some serious discomfort and pain.

@VixFromThe6ix don’t feel any guilt on taking a step back. The most important aspect of this thread is that it supports and serves you as you need it. I think we all need space from TTC at times, regardless of our journeys. This is for the good bits and the hard bits, if you feel like you want to share them.

Sending you a lot of love to both you and your DH too. Your baby is coming. Each month you’re learning more and you’re getting closer to holding them in your arms, it’s just really difficult to see right now. You’ve got this.

I’m CD 31, 10 DPO and expecting AF on Friday. Very tender, sensitive boobs again, but I learnt last cycle that that doesn’t mean anything. It’s funny- I used to get sore boobs before my period when I was in my late teens and early twenties, it came back just before I had my daughter and now it’s come back again now when I’m symptom spotting. Typical! 😂

Thank you @Eirlys1986 i have heard of SMEP and even have the book somewhere, just haven’t managed to read it yet 🤣 that article is super helpful though, I’ll look into over next few days whilst I’m on my period.

Just bought some clear blue ovulation sticks and some pre seed lube. Has anyone used pre seed? Any other recs from anyone? I’m open to anything right now!

Thinking of you today @LeopardLover sending you love and of course sunshine 🌞 in abundance. You are stronger than you know and I have everything crossed for you xx

@Eirlys1986 good to hear a Proceive recommendation. I’ve just ordered the dual pack of tablets because thought the sachets might be less practical for us.
@LeopardLover lots of luck for today. Good to hear there was no more bleeding but sorry to hear there were painful cramps xxx
I’m on CD2 and having a rather painful period. I used flex disc/soft cup and conceive plus lube both for the first time this month around ovulation. I then spotted between ovulation and my period. I usually spot a bit at ovulation or before period but not usually consistently (although TMI it was brown for a week before my period so probably all ovulation bleeding). Now wondering if the lube or soft cup didn’t agree with me so am wondering if I test them
separately this cycle. I have heard about people having reactions to the conceive plus.

Oh also I think some others mentioned they had older DHs. I know female age is thought to be a major factor but he is coming up to 46 so it’s playing on my mind.
has anyone’s partner done a sperm analysis and can let me know how/where/their experiences?
we are on cycle 4 and have an existing child so not sure what the NHS offer would be (if any) at this stage.
we could probably spend £200 max.
thanks

Hi everyone. I keep going on and off the thread, sometimes I find it easier to not think about it but then I head to the ovulation testing part of the month and need that community feel you all have so it's not so lonely! Takes me forever to catch up though so posting before caught up. Into 2ww now, not a great try this month, we have both had colds and just a lot going on so 2 DTD before peak time but none during peak. Know that means we're not out just less likely. Also had fertility appointment, will post about that when caught up in case helpful for anyone.

@CurlyWurly1991 Even if you don't qualify for fertility treatment, most GPs can offer a sperm analysis.

Omg what a roller coaster of a day. I think I told you guys I've been very emotional since thursday, crying at the drop of a hat, which is not usual for me although saying that I did cry once last month through feeling alienated at work. Arrived in today and everyone (all men) in my team knew I'd gone to the cinema Friday for the first time in 2 years as had rare childcare. No-one asked how I was, no-one asked how my weekend was, no-one asked how Barbie was - they all asked each other about their own stuff that was going on. I was in a hump because this always happens - since I noticed it a month ago I can't unnotice it. Anyway then my autistic colleague chirps up and asks about Barbie and I was so grateful to receive this social nicety I thanked him so much for asking. Then my boss confronts me about something stupid. I stood my ground and didn't let him shit-talk me. Hadn't heard from the job Friday - which he knew - and I think we both assumed I hadn't got it. I think he was behaving worse with me thinking I was trapped. Its such a toxic atmosphere. I welled up and had to go find a quiet corner to phone dh to calm down and only the sound of my son eating his cheerios and chattering to me about washing up and nursery calmed me down.

Anyway then I got the job! And it really can't have come at a better time. Although my boss showed no emotion at me saying I was leaving I can't wait. Just 3 more weeks for me then annual leave.

But I'm driving myself crazy thinking "why am I so emotional??". "Could I be pregnant??". And even though it would be massively awkward to start a new job pregnant (it's a physical job and I'm a high risk pregnancy and I know they've been short staffed) I STILL want it so much.

@Bumblebee413 we are both due on Friday I'm 11 dpo over here. Worst time. You think if I'm not pregnant can I at least stop feeling so upset and unbalanced all the time?? Xx

Congratulations @MOGMOGMOG85! (on the job of course not the feeling emotionally awful! Xxx). Sounds like your boss can shove his job up his behind tbh 😂

@MOGMOGMOG85 Congratulations! Thats fantastic news. The end is now in sight!

@CurlyWurly1991 my DH is 46. He's not had any tests or anything but whether they'll recommend it once we've had an appointment with the recurrent miscarriage clinic I don't know.

hope you got on okay today @LeopardLover 🤍 everything crossed for you xx

Huge job Congratulations @MOGMOGMOG85! Regardless of potential pregnancy hormones, you’ve had so very much going on this last month- TTC and all that has brought for you over the past few months, a little one, rubbish environment at work and all the potential uncertainty and hope that comes with applying for a new job. I think that will probably do it. If positive then it will be joyful and if not, once you’re over the initial sadness then hopefully it will be a period of relative calm where you can recuperate a little and prepare for the next cycle xxx

I don’t feel pregnant this time. I have disregarded the boobs as they were such terrible red herrings last month!

@Bumblebee413 thanks so much, all kind words are appreciated today. I'm so sorry you feel like you're out this month, I really hope you're wrong. But then again in a way its almost better to get it over with and on to the next one and at least you can clear your head as you say.

I've had a pink smear whilst going to the loo just there. But I'm cd25, I think I've only ever had a period that short once. Urrrrrggggh I'm so hopeful now that this is the elusive "implantation bleeding" that I google every month in hope when my period starts... I guess its conceivable my period starts Thursday so maybe im just getting spotting? I usually only get spotting a few hours before. Jayzus omfg uuuurrrrrggggghhh take me out of this hormonal hell and transport me to the weekend please!!! 😫

Also I agree that boobs are red herrings (what an amusing image)! Been pregnant twice - once they were cripplingly painful, sadly didn't end well. Second time nothing, not a single twinge, the whole pregnancy like what on earth??

Also hi @Pineappleapple 👋

And @CurlyWurly1991 I'm sure you could get fertility testing just not fertility treatment? I know things are v tight right now for most...

@VixFromThe6ix have been thinking about you today xx

@Bumblebee413 sorry it feels like you are out, you never know though, it would be absolutely typical to have had a cycle like you previously did where you had really convincing symptoms and then have another cycle with no symptoms then that be the one where you are pregnant!
@MOGMOGMOG85 arghhh so sorry about the crazy symptoms at present! I agree with @Bumblebee413 that there’s been sooo much going on for you but also you could well be preggo. I just hope the weekend comes as fast as can be for you! Xxx
@LeopardLover thinking of you today and hope all ok xxx

Agree with comments about clear blue and the price! Yep same couldn't see anything on cheapie ones.

@VixFromThe6ix That is hard, really tough. I wanted a shall gap but starting to think a bigger gap, though not what we originally wanted, will be ok. Hope the doctors can give some advice re the testosterone. Like Rose our gap will be 4 years if it happens.

Sez281 and mrsed welcome

Loepardlover withing you the best

Will have a look into proveive if it's for older ladies

Decided to test tomorrow as I've gone fully insane tonight wondering what if. No idea if my test will work 3 days early it's a cheapie. Will report back :(

Sending calm and sane vibes to evryone else as I'm clearly lacking them this month...