TTC for fabulous 40+

[xserialshopper]

I've decided to start the new thread

Anyone coming to join me?

I'm so pleased I didn't kill thread

Rowing - Sorry your hormones are messing with you. Must be very exciting planning your IVF trip (even if also stressful). Can't it be someone who has known you for 2 years, rather than your DS? I'm sure I got my boss to sign my DS's when he was 6weeks.

Had funny brownish discharge (sorry if TMI), am thinking AF is already revving up her bloody motorbike in time for next week. Beatch.

OMG Juicy, that sounds like it could be implantation bleeding. I'm sure I have seen other threads where they describe brownish spotting. Oooo! Fingers crossed for you!!!
It is exciting, but still feeling a bit dodgy, but a bit better. It is like extended PMS. I am going to ask my boss tonight to sign the form for me. It can't be two years for the child - as you say, they may not be two years old at the time of completing the form. That is a good point!
Daisy, I haven't been to Eastern Europe at all, so it will be really interesting for us. Could do with a holiday, so it would be nice to explore a bit of the country or cross into another country.
These are the main factors influencing our decision -
At the moment the Hungarian clinic is quite new and slightly unknown, although I did speak to a lady who is going back for a second IVF treatment this month.
The Polish clinic is in Warsaw, but they have another two clinics in other towns. They are much more of a known quantity, and lots of people on IVF forums have had success there.
The Hungarian clinic has told me they will transfer three embryos (if I have that many) whereas the Polish clinic will transfer as many as requested, so four or five. This is quite important for us, because of egg quality/age - it is likely that there will be fewer viable eggs to implant.
The Polish clinic seems to always do an embryo transfer after the embryos have been developed in vitro for three days. But I have been reading that it is better to wait for five days where possible, which is what the Hungarian clinic does.
Also the Polish clinic give steroids after transferring the embryos, which I think may suppress the immune system and lower the chance of rejection from the womb.
I don't think the Hungarian clinic offers this, but I haven't checked with them yet.
Those are the main aspects that DP and I have to discuss.
If the two clinics break even then we decide on the basis of which country we prefer (Hungary for me - even though I haven't been )
So that's the skinny - the prices are roughly the same and the cost of flights and accommodation are on a par.
My head hurts!

rowing sounds like you've done lots of research - I don't know much about these things but I would have thought the more transfers the better?

juicy my immediate thought was implantation bleeding too - I hope it is Timing sounds right, anyway.

I reckon I've about another 2 days to go, but feeling distinctly pessimistic as I can't honestly say that I feel any different from normal in the run-up to AF. I've been very good (so far) about not getting carried away, but sure that I will be devastated come Sunday/Monday as the whole blasted thing starts up again. I know it's not over till it's over...but just feeling very about it at the moment

Hello everyone, I think I've been on here before a while back but not sure. I had an MC in June after conceiving naturally, and have been TTC since, but after two normal periods I had a few days spotting and now nothing. I have all the pregnancy symptoms but no PG. No period now for 45 days. I am 44. Has anyone experienced this? I am worrying like hell as a (twenty something)doctor suggested it could be peri menopause

MsDynamo. I had a blood test last August to see if I were peri menopausal. So that should be easy for the medics to arrange. I hope they have sent you for one, just to put your mind at rest?
Had my appointment with Dear Consultant today. As he wasn't there to start with, they decided I might as well use the time up for another scan. There was Little Tab with her little heart still beating away. She's now 11mm long and has doubled in size in a week. No more scans now until I either start bleeding or get to the 10 week past conception point. I am still to take the Aspirin.
Rhet. I didn't have any pregnancy symptoms with any of my (now four) pregnancies. Even though I lost the first three, they did last for a few weeks. No noticeable symptoms to start with with this one, either. Am I just abnormal? Probably.

Tabitha very glad to hear that Little Tab is going strong! That's great news. Did you get to see Mr High and Mighty in the end?

msdynamo Tabitha is right - you can check. It also doesn't necessarily mean you can't get pregnant. Sorry to hear about your mc - perhaps this has thrown your cycle off?

Mr High and Mighty is now Mr Nice and Kind Consultant. Unless, of course, I lose this Little Tab... At least he didn't tell me off for being PWP... Pregnant Without Permission, as he'd told me to take the Aspirin for 3 months before the next round of TTC, when, in fact, I was sitting in front of him three weeks ago already pg by two weeks. Ooops.

Hello lovely ladies. I have been lurking on and off and posting the odd thing. Thought would say hello. I am pretty sure I am pg and I am 45!!!!!!!!!!!

2 neg tests but only 3 dpo but temps still up so testing early next week and then we shall see. I am pretty terrifed. IF IF IF this sticks then worried about amnio/cvs, all the other risks, money and the fact we live in a 2 bed house and already have 1 LO.

We only tried this month (on a whim it must be said and yes I know this is silly and impulsive. Didn't expect to get pg first time and then only did it twice. I had paid upfront for 3 mnths FF!!!! Expecting a long haul and not very expectant that I would get pg.

Of course this worry all may be in vain as I could be wrong and who knows what the next few weeks will bring.

Anyway sorry for venting all this. I'm terried and happy all at once. God I'll be 120 by the time the kids are in high school - ugh. (Well nearly.)

Fifi. Welcome and good luck with your testing next week.
At the clinic yesterday, as wrinkled as I am, there were three ladies there who looked older than me (I'm 43) and they were all rather heavily pregnant. Come on everyone, we can all get there.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Still no AF and haven't tested yet but really awful cramps and backache like I usually get with AF BUT no blood at all. WTF is going on???

I can't remember from my last pg but is cramping early in pg normal or not?

I need to test really don't I. The suspense is killing me!

Ah - now the blood starts......C'est la vie. Was convinced I was up the duff.

However was so freaked out by it that think I need to think really hard about whether to try again this cycle.

Hello again,

Thanks for the advice Tabitha and Rhetorician. Everytime I feel a bit low I read the fabulous 40's pregnancy thread, as so many of us over forties are on there with recent babies. Last night I ovulated, despite having no period this month, so who knows what is going on! The doctor didn't want to do any tests, telling me to return in 6 weeks. I am going to stay positive and just see this as a temporary hormone glitch.

Fifitot, sorry about your disappointment, but as you say, you can now think things through for next time.

Tabitha, congrats on the little Tab! Are you taking junior aspirin? Should we all take it if TTC and if we've MC'd in the past?

MsDynamo. I'm on 75mg per day Aspirin - I've just bought the plain variety as, apparently, the Enteric coated ones only give a dose of 50mg. I've no obvious blood clotting problems - the tests all came back normal. However, despite the fact that they are making me sick, my consultant insists I keep taking them. He told me to take them for 3 months prior to getting pg again, but I didn't manage that. I'm now 5 weeks pg and have been on the Aspirin for only 3 weeks. I don't think I would have taken it unless he'd told me to. I think I might have been worried to. Ask your doc what he thinks. Although, of course, it's the consultant at the fertility clinic who I've been seeing. (We don't have a recurrent mc clinic here).
As for testing for peri menopause, when I told doc in Aug last year I was going to try for a baby, the test was offered to me straight away. Also, a sperm test for hubby. (Hee, hee). All on the NHS. It appeared to be standard practise. They don't make us oldies wait.
I know 2 ladies who, within the last year, both had healthy babies at age 44.

By the way, I don't know if it's relevant, but I had my 3 mcs all within 8 months. Perhaps if more widely spaced, he wouldn't have suggested the Aspirin (which might not work for me anyway).

Hello all,

I haven't left the thread just been busy and also had MIL staying. The computer is in the spare room where she sleeps!

Was 9 weeks yesterday. I have a 12 week scan now booked for 5th Nov. Getting nervous about it already.

As for symptoms. I had no symptoms prior to BFP (apart from one afternoon of cramping about a week after OV. I also don't get morning sickness either. However, I do feel absolutely knackered at the moment!

Hi everyone,
Cece, good to hear from you. Tabitha, fingers crossed for you and little tab.
We are on day 11 and I'm not sure whether to TTC this month or just take a month off.
If I do take a month off I don't think I will be on here for a while, but I'm getting a bit jaded with TTC so perhaps I should have a break and three glasses of champagne a night (as if).

but rowing couldn't you see your way to giving us a tiny weeny little post from time to time; we'd miss you. Know what you mean about the jaded bit tho...

Hi Rhet, sorry, I'm being fed-up a bit! I don't want to drag down the thread, especially since there are so many positive vibes at the moment. I promise to post as soon as I am a bit more chirpy.
Hope you are OK and preparing an elaborate, bungee leap for your next lecture - and you get a huge tax rebate.
Might go and moan in that hut, nothing like a good whinge is there.

don't worry rowing not exactly feeling chirpy myself; AF a day late but have some spotting so think that it's only a matter of time. Rather cruel of nature to tease me in this way is all I can say. But I suppose I wouldn't feel like that if it was to a good end, but I know it's not, so giving in to big time sulking now

Hi rowing - I was interested in all your information about Poland vs Hungary. All I can comment on is that 'Hungarian' is a really tough language to speak - which probably isn't much help in your decision! Which month are you thinking of going over?

Sorry to hear you are not chipper - me neither - almost certainly about to miscarry and had a very challenging time at A&E today with 2 year old in tow.

My friend who battled for years to get her 2 children (both my IVF) just emailed and told me the joy was worth every ounce of the pain off TTC. It is pretty emotionally gruelling though isn't it!

Fingers crossed for you rhet

All the best.

daisy thanks for thinking of me when you've clearly had such a rough day. Fingers crossed big time for you - take care.

Ahhhh Daisy5 I hope the little bean stays sticky

I'm feeling the same as rowing so haven't been posting much.

Daisy am so sorry to hear that.

I have got about 14 days to consider whether to ttc again this month. Convinced was pg up until yesterday.

Pros - of course another little baby, a siblilng for my LO and all the joy that comes with being a parent.

Cons - can't afford it, not enough house room and bloody terrified of tests, waiting for results and all the things that can go wrong.

If I was 5 years younger I wouldn't hesitate and I know some of you are only just 40 - so go for it. Had my LO at 43.

Decisions, decisions.

Hi everyone

Just checking in as officially not TTC for a few months while "getting healthy" on the marilyn regime / vitamins & waiting for a referral to fertility clinic. Wanted to say hi though.

Daisy5 sorry to hear you think you might be MC.ing. I've got everything crossed for you.

MsDynamo lovely to see you on here. You were such a support to me when we went thru our MCs in the summer. Nice to see you again. I know it;s not the same symptoms as you but I had a weird thing a year or so back where I would bleed lightly for days mid cycle and I had a blood test to check if I was menopausal and was also referred to a gyney. Maybe if you push for the test they would do it? As someone else said, if they know you're TTC over 40 they hopefully will?

Good luck

Hello girls.

Some of the luck of this thread seems to have rubbed off on me - got a BFP this morning!

Bizarrely, I was waiting for my period to start so I could start down-regging for IVF, but it just didn't come. Sore boobs did, however, and funny cramps, so did a test this morning. Now utterly terrified, as I've miscarried all five previous pregnancies. Already thinking 'boobs aren't as sore as yesterday', etc.

Off on holiday to New York for a week tomorrow, so that will take my mind off it, and by the time I come back I'll be six weeks! If I don't lose it, obviously.