2023 TTC 35+ Part 4

[VixFromThe6ix]

New thread, ladies!!!!

Hope you can all find it.

Feel free to tag others to continue the conversation.

@Eirlys1986 Haha well to play it safe I'm tempted to get the trimester 1 ones and start on those as soon as I get a positive result as I know I can get pregnant so maybe it'll help to stay pregnant 🤷‍♀️they are £20 for a month supply then.

Hi everyone wondering if you can help me. I spoke to the GP today to say we’ve been trying for six months without any luck and she has asked me to book two blood tests. One day 2-5 of my cycle and then one 21-28 of my cycle just before my period. This is going to sound silly but might you have any idea what they are testing for? They also want my husband to book in for a sperm analysis. I was at work and as always a bit distracted and didn’t ask the things I should have. Any steer on here would be super helpful, thank you x

AF has arrived early. I’m out. But, actually out of even trying for four months now. My DH is away for 6weeks at a time. When he’s back next in four weeks we need to hold off as due date will fall over my best friend’s wedding and I’m bridesmaid. Feeling a little numb.

@Bumblebee413 oh sorry to hear that 😞 it takes a couple of days for me when AF comes until I feel like I can look ahead again. I’m sorry it’s so tortuous this process.
@MrsBP15 That is good the GP is taking action. My guess would be progesterone tests to check if you’ve ovulated? Though others might have been through it and have advice on that?

@Bumblebee413 so sorry to hear this 😞 I'm not sure I'd hold off trying in your next available window... Surely a friend who is close enough to want you as bridesmaid would be delighted for you if this happened? Perhaps talk to her and mention where you're at etc and that you'd rather not miss another chance to try...? It's one of those 'seize the moment' kind of things... Sending you massive hugs xxx

@MrsBP15
The day 21 will be progesterone to confirm ovulation is occurring as just because you see an LH rise it doesn’t mean ovulation has actually happened as a result so that’s what the progesterone tests for.
The other bloods check general health bits like anaemia, thyroid problems (which can affect fertility/ increase miscarriage risk) and also check for other hormonal conditions like potential pcos, they also do a rubella screen to check you have immunity to this from childhood vaccines as if you don’t they will advise a booster vaccine prior to pregnancy to make sure you can’t catch it whilst pregnant 👍🏻

@Bumblebee413 im so sorry 😞 This would also have me feeling awful as I know it’s so horrible to have to put trying on hold xxx

Thank you @CurlyWurly1991 and @Eirlys1986 that would make sense. I’ll have to wait for my next cycle but good to know what I’m (most likely) booking in for.

@Bumblebee413 I’m so sorry. Getting your period is completely shit but knowing you now have a wait makes it even harder. I hope you have the opportunity to take some time for yourself and maybe do some self care, whatever that means for you 💕

I just recently bought some pre conception vitamins - seven seas ones which were £4 for a month on Amazon. What's supposed to be the difference between those which must be standard and procieve? That one seems so expensive. I always think are they just playing on people's emotions. But interested to hear you gave it a go @Eirlys1986 as you are medical.

Curly wurly thanks for your review of them.
Think online reviews are tricky as who knows if someone gets pregnant if it is due to vitamins or just their time! And if someone gets pregnant they are just happy whatever!

Ah bumblebee that's hard. Honestly if it's one month in 4 you could try I would consider going for it. After all, lots of people get pregnant without trying.

Not sure I am making much sense tonight!

Hello, can I join? I’m 37 and TTC for the first time. Came off pill very end of June, had withdrawal bleed, then 24 days later had AF. It’s just finishing up now so going to try more this cycle!
I’ve got the Apple Watch and in the weeks after my withdrawal bleed I noticed a dip in temp, then a spike which started falling again a day or two before AF appeared. I find it all very interesting!

@EvelynKatie welcome! I really rate fertility friend for the BBT temping. There’s a charting course and Q&As with loads of info on tracking fertility signs.

@Pineappleapple you are absolutely correct that with any product relating to conception or indeed once you’ve had a baby, marketers know there is a lot of emotion invested in that so people are willing to pay more for such products. It was my understanding from research I did when ttc number one that proceive contains a much wider range of additional nutrients to more standard formulations(I think proceive max has around 32 whereas standard preconception ones have around 8-10 and then I think pregnacare max had around 18-20). Co enzyme q10 in particular has been proven to potentially improve egg quality and a lot of the “max” formulas(there are lots of others than proceive!) include this ingredient. The “max” formulas also tend to have much higher doses of various vitamins in but who is to say that is actually required? There’s every possibility out bodies may just pee out any vitamins over and above that it requires daily anyway! 😂 I’m sure co enzyme q10 will be buyable separately anyway!
Obviously had I not had a positive experience with it, I would be in the camp of saying “don’t waste your money and just take standard vitamins” and I must be 100% transparent that when I recently saw a consultant obstetrician in miscarriage clinic she just recommended standard vitamins.
I would definitely never want anyone on here to be spending additional money based upon anything I say believing it must be superior because I’m medical! I guess I’m just recounting what I’m doing and what my experience has been. I’ve conceived quickly on them but that may have happened anyway and obviously our latest pregnancy ended regardless of expensive vitamins. I think we’ve just all gotta do what we think is best for us in that cycle etc and the unicorn tears will do the rest for us! 🦄 xxx

Ps ….as I also said when my consultant spoke about eating really healthy during next cycle when ttc- “there are some women out there who live off absolute crap and have 10 kids with no problems”. That made her laugh and she then told me I was right and to forget everything she just said 😂. We’ve got to live our lives too xxx

Thanks everyone. Feeling a bit better now. Talked to my DH and as of today they’ve split up his rest slots, so he may be home more often than we thought he was going to be. Also, when we look at his time away, November isn’t too far away and he’ll be home and actually, that will be wonderful. It’s been a long year and although we can live apart, it will be absolutely wonderful not having to and just getting to enjoy being a family together again. I guess I focus on that now. The baby will come when it’s ready. Hope it’s ok if I lurk around here in the meantime? I’m quite attached to you all x

Welcome @EvelynKatie x

@Bumblebee413 so glad you are feeling more positive 🥰 and yes, you absolutely must stay and keep chatting along with us. ❤️

@Bumblebee413 glad you are feeling a bit better, it will be brilliant to not be separated as a family anymore and as you say, baby will come when they are good and ready xxx

Sorry to hear about AF @Bumblebee413 but glad that you're feeling a bit better now. I'm in a similar position in that if I don't get BFP this month it might be October before we can try properly again as DP is away during next predicted windows 🥴 I'll definitely stay on this thread too though as I find it so helpful hearing stories from people in similar positions
Welcome @EvelynKatie. Temping is about the only thing I don't do as I have enough of an obsession with OPKs so don't want to add to my insanity 🙈😂 In saying that I might by a BBT if it doesn't happen next cycle or 2

@Sez281 It's only because my Apple Watch does the temp stuff automatically for me in the night, I wasn't going to pay too much attention to it but it did seem to follow a pattern of increased temp then a dip 1-2 days before AF so watching it with interest! I also wasn't going to do OPK's yet but ordered some on Amazon, as want might be interesting to compare against what my watch is telling me.

Bumblebee that's so good that OH will be around a bit more than you thought! Definitely do stick around and tell us when you get your BFP in your own good time.
Evelyn, that's good your watch does the temp for you, it definitely does change. I did temping when I had my LO, but no chance now as I am woken pretty abruptly!
Eirys thanks so much for taking the time to reply about the vitamins. Will have a ponder.

@Pineappleapple I've been reading they are much higher levels of vitamins/minerals compared to other brands, they cost more to produce so cost more to buy. That was actually on the proceive website.

@Bumblebee413 I have to agree with Snooky, I think you should just go for it. Any good friend would understand and is it really worth missing one cycle for the sake of one day as a bridesmaid? My SIL should have got married over lockdown and had that gone ahead 2 of her bridesmaids would have been pregnant. She was totally fine with that and was happy to look at adjusting dresses or getting different ones. Obviously because of lockdown the wedding didn't happen for another 2 years but the point is that anyone should be accommodating and I'm sure she wouldn't want you to delay trying just for her day.

Hello! I’m joining the thread for the first time.

I’m 36 and cycle 1 ttc baby no 3. DCs are 5 and 2.5. In the past I’ve always conceived easily but have had 4mcs - had my kids by taking prednisolone and progesterone from ovulation so will be trying that again. I’d love to get pregnant quickly so the age gap isn’t too much with my existing kids but also feel like my age might be more of a hindrance than before.

Only on CD5 and will be trying ovulation tests this month 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Good luck @Ifyouknowyouknowyouknow ! I’m so sorry to hear about your 4 miscarriages, that’s just devastating 😞 x
Im ttc number 2, number 1 is almost 22 months now and I sadly had a MMC in June just gone, currently on CD 21 and feeling impatient!

Thank you @Eirlys1986 and sorry to hear about yours. 2 of mine were MMC (and had MVAs) and 2 were natural. All at around 6/7 weeks so I feel lucky they weren’t later. And in a way I don’t mind about them now as I wouldn’t have had my 2 beautiful kids if they hadn’t happened.

Onwards and upwards! 💪🏻

That’s definitely a good way to look at them @Ifyouknowyouknowyouknow , life generally works out in the end even if we can’t see the point of things happening when we’re in the thick of it! All the best for this cycle x

Welcome all newbies, so nice to have you all on board. I'm CD8 of cycle 8 TTC #1. Just starting the OPK testing for the next few days and may even attempt SMEP!