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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

When would you make the decision stop trying for a a baby?

7 replies

CrystalQueen87 · 15/11/2023 22:06

We have a 6.5 year old. He is amazing and our absolute world.
We have been trying for a sibling and got pregnant in March this year only for it to be an Ectopic pregnancy which I had to have emergency surgery and tube removal.
It was traumatic and we started trying again this September. No luck so far.... I'm not tracking ovulation as I did the first month and got sooooo stressed out trying to work out what the tests meant and why I hadn't got a peak yet I decided not to put myself (or my poor husband!) through that.
But my question is when would you say 'Ok I'm grateful for what I have a beautiful boy and I am done' ?
I'm 35 years old and so is hubby for context with no health conditions other than the sporadic ectopic.
My son is 6.5 years old.
When would you have a time in your mind to say right enough it enough? I need to get this straight in my mind because I'm so anxious and worried about it all the age gap between a possible baby and my son, my age getting older etc etc 😞

OP posts:
Outliers · 16/11/2023 00:04

In this context I think I would have my fertility examined and ensure there are no obvious issues. For example I read someone on here posting she got pregnant following a tube flush.

I'd probably try for 6months to a year under doctor's advice (i.e. medication) before considering alternative methods of conception (e.g. IVF) depending on affordability.

After a few years I'd let go and look into Foster care maybe.

Yolo23 · 16/11/2023 00:28

I think it’s so different for each person so it’s really impossible to say - only you can decide and I know you probably know this 🥰 my situation… currently no children. I’m 31 but have put a time limit on trying at 33 as this will be many years TTC. We’ve been referred now for IVF so I’m hopeful that we will have 2 rounds funded and then I’m happy to pay private for a ‘third time lucky’ approach before I reach 33. If this doesn’t work, we’ve both agreed to move onto adoption. Well aware this could take a year or more so I’ve factored this into my thoughts.

I think having a plan/stopping point is especially useful for your mental well-being. For us, itdoesn’t mean we will stop trying all together - we will probably never use contraception, but mentally I think we know we need to agree these points to move on. I don’t want to be stuck in this never ending journey of trying and trying forever which is why this tough decision has been made. It wasn’t easy to decide but I feel comfort knowing it’s the right choice for us.

No doubt people in similar situations to you would be better placed to answer but I didn’t want to pass without sharing my own deadlines! 😂 xx good luck making your decision xx

Goodnessgraciousmee · 16/11/2023 00:34

It was really unlucky you had an ectopic pregnancy in March, what a horrible experience and I'm so sorry for your loss.

However, since then you have only been trying for 2 months? I see no particular reason to worry that you will struggle to fall pregnant again. You don't need to be thinking about investigations, fertility medication or IVF right now. I know it's easier said than done but I would as a starting point, try to conceive for 6-12 months and then if you're not getting anywhere consider your options and maybe visit the GP. Instead of having a definite plan, planning a "review point" of 6-12 months might allow your mind to rest a little?

I think you've made the right decision not to stress yourself out tracking ovulation etc. You've been pregnant (at least) twice, once earlier this year so every chance you will fall pregnant again.

Hopefully someone will come along with experience of a larger age gap soon. Best wishes to you xxx

deliwoman1 · 16/11/2023 11:02

We're also debating this question. We're currently in the tww of cycle 5 for baby no.2, and once again pregnancy is not looking likely. This experience is very different from our first time ttc, when I fell pregnant on four out of five cycles (losses before my DD, who's now 17 months). I was 38 at the time, DD born when I was 39. I had to wait a year before trying again due to c-section.

I'm 41 early next year, so quite a bit older than you, OP. I would ideally like to have had a second child before my 43rd birthday, and certainly before my 44th. It's an arbitrary cut off but that's where my mind draws a line. If no pregnancy this month, it's a trip to the GP for us to check for issues, but I'm afraid they won't do much to help given my age and the fact we have one child. We're thinking about going private for fertility tests, and whether we want to travel the IVF route. But we're not rich, and the low success rates for women my age make it especially hard to go for it. I feel very much like we have an extremely tight window for all this to happen. 😞

If I were you I would put age gaps aside for now and, focus on considering the impact ttc might have on your mental health and relationship. Two months is hardly any time at all, and there's no reason you won't conceive spontaneously, but it's no wonder you're anxious based on past experience. If ttc is already stressing you out it's good you're aware of what things might be like for you if it turns into a longer-term endeavour.

Like others have said, a tentative plan to try for 6 months before a trip to the GP is a good idea, and then you can go from there.

If you can't wait though and have the funds, there's nothing stopping you and your DP from having a private fertility MOT. That'll at least give you some information about where you stand, and if necessary, get you on a path to righting anything that could stand in the way of conceiving.

Good luck, OP! I hope next month is your month!

Justanothermanicfunday · 16/11/2023 11:10

We tried for a Year for our second DC, had one miscarriage during that time. The GPs refused to have any fertility discussions with Me until we had been trying for 18 months! We would have kept trying for a few years probably.

MoonIightDreamer · 16/11/2023 11:41

I've never gave up.
I'm currently 5 weeks pregnant.
My little miracle was a result of ivf.
It's taken us a long 18 years of trying
The one thing I've always had was hope.
I just never gave up believing this will happen one day

moosey89 · 16/11/2023 17:43

I just posted something similar on the infertility forums. I've been trying on and off for 8 years, had 2 losses, no living children and for several reasons IVF isn't an option for us (I've also had all the fertility tests and there's no cause for why I'm in the situation I'm in). I'm currently trying to figure out when we will call it a day, and look at adoption or whether we choose to remain childless. I'm 34 now and have never wanted to have kids past 40.

It's never going to be an easy decision, my only advice from my situation is keep talking and being open with your other half about how you're feeling.

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