TTC for first baby thread !

[PeonyPatch]

Hello - I thought I’d start a TTC thread specifically for those of us who are trying for our first babies. I’ve joined other threads before but find it difficult connecting to others who may already have babies as I think ttc for your first is a whole other ball game as no other children and first time.

Any others? 🩷

@PeonyPatch I do ovulation testing sometimes, depending on how I feel really! From doing it for a few months I’ve found I consistently ovulate on cd14 and I can usually tell from cm etc so I don’t test religiously. I did track bbt one month which again confirmed ovulation on cd14 but I found it really stressed me out so haven’t bothered since.

its a lot to think about and complete isn’t it! Sounds like you’ve got a good idea of your ovulation day though. How many times do you dtd? We have increased it this month. I have also started taking supplements - every little helps!

Hiii...new here :) early 30s', trying to conceive with 11 months with my partner. Sister had a baby 10 months ago, she told me she tried for her little baby for 1 cycle. Love my niece so much to the moon and back, but just mad at myself its not me. Every month the heartbreak gets worse! Sorry for the rant. Hoping everyone gets there BFP soon :)

@PeonyPatch we usually dtd either every day or every other day between cd12-15, and always on ovulation day. So have given it a pretty good go which is disheartening in a way.

@Lillybeebaby i can totally relate, I have close friends who were similar, it’s so hard.

@PeonyPatch no idea at the moment! How about you?

@HopefulK we will be in the new year before you know it - I appreciate the wait must feel forever though when you’ve been waiting! It’s certainly a journey isn’t it 🥹

@Lillybeebaby im sure we can all relate to that feeling 🩷

Our GP referred us to fertility clinic this week and I got a notification on nhs app to select a clinic. We only got one choice come through for our local gynaecology department at the hospital, but there are no appointments available and it is saying average wait is 15 weeks!
I am wondering whether to go back to the GP and ask if they can refer us to another fertility clinic

7dpo and losing my mind 😂 feel like I’ve got every symptom under the sun but how frustrating is it that they’re identical to PMS symptoms??? Never has 2 weeks felt so long…

@jw97 I'm only a few days ahead of you and feel the same. This tww has feely dragged. I feel like I've had heaps of symptoms I never usually get as well but I took a test yesterday at what I think was 10dpo and it was negative so my optimism is waning

I totally get ye! 10 DPO today..ignored the urge to test, until yesterday and BFN. AF is due tomorrow hoping it will be a no show.no cramps to indicate it’s coming . I have every symptom possible for pregnancy, but my positivity is slowly depleting!

@PeonyPatch oh really? I have heard it can be quite the wait… can you find out what the wait times are for other clinics? My app is showing an appointment for 4th December but by the looks of it that’s just for the DRSS to review and then send to our clinic to then book an appointment 🙃

I am going to contact my GP tomorrow and see if there’s a chance we can get referred to another clinic. 😕

@PeonyPatch i wasn’t aware you could ask for different clinics, that’s interesting. We just got told we were getting referred and then got a letter in the post with an appointment, which was about 6 months ahead at that point. Seems like everywhere does things quite differently?! I’ve read of people on here getting referred to fertility clinic and then doing tests like uss and semen analysis etc but we’ve had all those done already, have you?

@jw97 I'm 8dpo and feel like this is the longest tww ever…

Yes, we had to have all the tests done I.e. semen analysis, swabs, ultrasound, blood tests prior to the referral. The reason I’m wondering if I can choose another clinic is because I had received an email inviting me ti pick a clinic and then that one was the only option. I think a 15 week wait time is absurd for something like fertility.

@HopefulK I have also started researching private clinics, and I’ve found one in London that accepts NHS funded patients from my area.

@PeonyPatch it is so long isn’t it 😟 re the private clinic that accepts nhs, can you ask your GP to refer you there then? I really don’t understand how it all works!

me either - I think it varies on your area… I am going to call my GP surgery tomorrow and see if it’s a possibility. I’ve also reached out to the clinic. I looked into private treatment but it’s so unaffordable for us. I feel upset as it doesn’t feel fair 😞

In the mean time, we keep trying 🙂 we are in the dreaded tww as well. Hope everyone is managing ok!! I’d love to know ideas for what helps to distract people x

Same! But not sure if I’m just hyper aware so I’m doubting myself 😫 fingers crossed AF is a no show next week! I have a busy weekend with some friends so hopefully that will make testing day come sooner…🤞🏼

I’m busy with work so that takes my mind off things a bit, and otherwise just trying to plan nice things as much as possible!
also finding series you get really into as that really takes you away from it!

I’ve just finished watching All Her Fault on Sky which I enjoyed! Now watching Not That Into You s2

Finally starting to see an increase in my LH tests, relieved as didn’t think I was ovulating, think today/tomorrow I’ll get my peak (currently CD18) and poor hubby has the flu 😱 so that’s us out this cycle! Typical timing!

Sooo think my ovulation is this weekend sometime between today and Sunday. My natural cycles app seems to have got very confused about ovulation timing just by having a couple of positive tests last month then af turning up 2 days late. Even my garmin tracker seems to have decided this cycle will be a week longer than normal 🤷🏼‍♀️. I’m just going to go on the usual timing of 2 weeks after the start of bleeding at the start of this cycle. Planning of dtd everyday over at least 1.5 weeks around expected ovulation and also keeping an eye out for ewcm. Wish I could keep my mind off it all but it’s such a preoccupation and I’m not even in the tww yet 🙈

Hey! Just saw this thread about trying for first baby - I’m in the same position although a tiny bit more advanced steps wise than I think some girls on here but hope you don’t mind me joining. I’ll send a second (and sorry for long) separate message but it might help some of the girls on here taking next steps/getting referrals.

For me, I’m 34 on the cusp of being 35 and hubs is 37. Trying for 19months not a hint of a positive and about to start IVF imminently. I have an under active thyroid (now under control) and mild PCOS, we also have male factor too.

I like a walking on encyclopaedia of fertility now it’s bloody tragic 😂 hope everyone is doing okay and surviving the TTC trenches. They call it the worst girl gang ever for a reason. 😅

For those who are at the referral stage sorry I can’t fully remember who has said what in the thread but I agree it wildly varies from each ICB.

Our experience was that we got referred from the GP to gynae first. Our GP had barely completed any investigations (they were beyond useless) so we had to do all that. Before we were ‘allowed’ a fertility referral we needed 2x semen analysis (cos the first showed male factor so they wanted to check it wasn’t a fluke), day 3 and day 21 blood tests and AMH, we both had to confirm no STIs, up to date smear, internal scan and a hycosy to check tubes were unblocked.

Then depending on the result of all that the gynae will make a suggestion like maybe they will suggest ovulation medication or IUI as a starting point but for us we got referred for ICSI.

The main wait for us was the hycosy (16 weeks ended up being 20 in the end) and then the referral from the gynae to our fertility clinic and initial appointment think we waited about 4/5 weeks.

Like I said though this is for Leeds, each ICB is different and have different processes so I would call up the gynae and ask for the process so you have peace of mind - the GPs literally know nothing. The whole thing is so frustrating but when you’re finally with the clinic it all moves quite fast (or at least in our case it did I think because we are quite a bog standard case).

If you’re thinking you’re about to embark on any process I would highly recommend listening to the IVF BFF podcast and the BFN podcast. Both super informative and funny.