First time TTC?!! Let's get through this together - Calling all first time frolickers and fully proficient frolickers!

[summerbird]

A new thread to follow on from Part 3 - AKA the lucky thread!

Lets get some more BFP's this month

x

Ladies, i'm starting to get a little paranoid that i'm a thread killer as since i've popped back on here everyone's gone quiet

come on guys - what are we all up to then? dont give MAF the paranoids!! MAF tell us tales of your follies!!

Hello all!!!

Sooooo, had my 36 week scan yesterday and Jelly is already weighing in at a healthy 6lbs 11oz so it looks like she's going to be about 8lb 11ozs when she's born.

They have decided to induce me at 39+2 so 5th June is the day!! That's 3 weeks today.

The plan is that they will induce using the pessary gels and will try 4 times at 6 hour intervals. If that doesn't work, they will send me home for 24 hours for a rest. Then they will get me back in and try 2 more times, again at 6 hour intervals and if still nothing happens, it will be a c-section.

If it does work though, as soon as my cervix is dilated enough to break my waters, they will do so and then, just before they put the Oxytocin drip in to speed up the contractions, they will give me the Epidural and Anti-sickness drugs. So that all sounded really promising.

The only downside of all this is that because of the GD, they will have to test my blood sugars every hour. Normally with an epidural, you can get some rest because you're not in pain, but they'll be waking me every hour so I guess it's not going to happen, so I hope it's not too long a labour otherwise I'll be shattered... I also won't be able to eat at all during that time because the insulin drip will be giving me glucose or insulin, depending on what my hourly readings are. So I'll be bloody starving by the end!!

So, it's all in hand now. We've got the MW coming to do a home-visit this afternoon to have a pre-birth discussion and to answer any questions that we might have. So DH and I will be spending my lunch-hour today, thinking of all the questions.

Crunchy, so glad that you got another scan sorted out - it's like you say - amazing that they can find you a slot isn't it?

MAF, oooh yes - follies tales please!!

Summer, how are you doing hun? How's the Summerbean?

Big waves to everyone else!!

xxx

good god dawn it is sooooo imminent! we are hoping my babba isnt early as we might be getting a new carpet fitted next Friday if we get it ordered on time (i know - cutting it fine!!) i also want to finish all my ante natal classes which dont finish until a week on Wednesday. So i am hoping for another good couple of weeks rest.

Way to go Jelly!!

Dawn and Summer WOW i can't believe you are both so close. Its brilliant

Hmmmm Follies are still buggering around this month. Started stabbing myself on day 2 and have done every other day since. Had a scan on day 9 and was told had 7 follies on the left and "multiple" follies on the right (although they were in a very pretty necklace shape ) but none over 10 mm so starting to feel like deja vu! They started me on low level drugs because of my PCO but doesnt seem to have done anything so far, i'm so tempted to just up the dose myself with the pen i have to inject myself but DP thinks thats not such a great idea.

Anyway back today to get dildo cam'd and then we will go from there. Have a crap feeling i'm gonna end up with another canx cycle grrrrrr I just want to make it to IUI at the moment, sod the two week wait i just want to get basted lol

Hope everyone is looking forward to a lovely weekend

Dxx

Dawn that's so soon! Good luck and i'm sure they will take good care of you. I always think if things are already planned for it has to be better than taking emergency action!

MAF i like the sound of your necklace follies! I hope they grow big enough for you though. I'd say trust the doctors for now too... I know it seems like a long time but it's only been relatively short so far and you've got to trust it will happen soon

well i'm off for a date with the husband tonight. He's taking me to see Angels and Demons (I loved the books so i'm very excited!) only down side is it's a 10.30 showing cos he wanted me to have the premier seats and i'm soooo tired! i'm going to get a nap now so i don't fall asleep in there!

hey guys i am going off line for a while as we are pulling the study apart and hence the computer will be out of action. i think my nesting instinct is starting to kick in!! we are getting a new carpet fitted upstairs so have decided to redecorate the box room - er - two weeks before my due date

and yes we are crazy crazy!

speak soon and good luck with follies/ttc/scans etc and i will catch up with yer soon

Hi there

I'm new to Mumsnet and fairly new to posting on forums. Been reading various threads for the last couple of hours and thought I would introduce myself.

I'm 41 and have completed three cycles of IUI (with stimulation)which my girlfriend and I funded ourselves. Because of my age, my doctor thinks I should go ahead with IVF. We have been travelling to another city to have the IUI, but have now made enquiries about having IVF locally.

The local clinic mentioned we might be able to get NHS funding. However, because of my age, we would have to apply to the 'Exceptional Funding Board' to explain why I haven't started fertility treatment at a younger age. My argument is that if I HAD asked for funding when I WAS in my thirties, they would have turned me down anyway (for being a lesbian).

So we have to decide:

1. Stay with the private clinic we are at now or try the local NHS one.
2. Do more IUI cycles (contrary to what doctor advises) or go for IVF.
3. Fund it ourselves or try for NHS funding (bit of a long shot, but without it, the one IVF cycle will wipe out the remainder of our savings in one go).

The good thing is that my GP is really supportive and will support our funding application to the PCT.

Does anyone have any experience of getting funding when you don't fit the PCT's criteria?
And how do I decide IUI or IVF?
And should I start my own thread to ask questions like this?
Not quite sure of the etiquette yet!

Basically just wanted to make contact.

Hey Moondaughter and welcome!!

If you wait for MAF to jump on, she may be able to advise you slightly better than me - but I didn't want your initial post to go ignored!!

This is a really friendly thread and even if you feel the need to create your own thread to ask specific questions, which would be a good idea to be honest, also feel free to stay with this one aswell, it's always great to have new people TTC on here!!

Summer, I so know what you mean about nesting. Although the jobs that I wanted to do, I can no longer do so I just wrote out a big list and got my DH onto it!!

Well, I had my homevisit from the MW yesterday to discuss the birthplan and choices that I can make. The major downside is that they said that because of the GD, I will likely have to stay in hospital for 2-3 days after the birth, even if everything goes well. I'm going to try and fight that though if my blood sugars are OK. I've managed them fine so far so I don't see why I should have to stay in. Can you imagine trying to sleep with just your own baby, let alone another 3 or 4 in there!!

But she went through all our questions. She asked whether I still wanted an epidural, even if I don't need the Oxytocin drip, which I hadn't even thought about actually because I just assumed that I'd need the drip. So I've said that if I have to have the drip, I want the epidural before they put the drip in, but if I don't have to have it because once they've broken my waters, the contractions start on their own, I may well hold off as long as I can and then get an epidural when I'm ready...

She did say though that TBH, as far as the hospitals are concerned, the birthplan isn't really worth the paper it's written on and really your DH/DP is the walking birthplan so to make sure they fully understand exactly what you want as the MWs are likely to ask them for guidance on your wishes. So I think that's fair enough. Of course every hospital and even MW is different I guess, but it was good to be prewarned about this in advance.

So, no more news from me. Just onwards and upwards now. Bought our yummy food from M&S yesterday to have after the birth, so we don't have to do much shopping and got the final bits for my hospital bag - so I'm pretty much there now.

Oh, Summer, just a word of advice if you haven't already got these. My Mum suggested buying some babygros that have the scratch mits attached to them, as Ewan spends all his time removing his and has scratched his face quite badly. They're £9.50 for 3 in Mothercare, we got some yesterday.

Right, I really am going now. Off to Tescos to get the final bits and pieces.

See ya!!

xxx

hi guys just nipped on before computer is pulled apart!

welcome to MN moondaughter and of course to this fabulous thread. Our friend Makingafamily (or MAF as we call her) is in exactly the same situation as you and so is the best person to advise you, as she is going through IUI at the moment. So do stay with us as we will all hold your hand through this!

right am off now as have been given an electric sander and told to do something with it

Hey ladies

Summer i can't believe i missed you before you went offline. Hope your back with us soon

Dawn you sound very prepared

Crunchy How was Angels and Demons? Really want to see it

Hey moondaughter I'm not really sure if i can help with any of your questions as to date i haven't yet made it to IUI but am doing a medicated one this month so fingers crossed

Did you know that you can access treatment as a private patient at an NHS hospital and its alot cheaper. Although you usually then need to buy your sperm in. We got ours from The European Sperm Bank. For example at our clinic an IUI is 400 and IVF 2500 and also if you have a supportive GP you can ask her to write you a prescription for the drugs which saves a lot.

I would def try and get NHS funding. We were told we wouldnt get funding as we are using donor sperm. After alot of emails to our PCT and with our GP support we are now getting funding although still havent got anything in writing and no one will confirm exactly what we can have So were just turning up and seeing what happens.

Good luck and feel free to ask away. This really is a supportive thread, everyones lovely and its also vry lucky :0

Hello there to you all. Thanks for making me feel so welcome.

MAF thanks for getting back to me. And all the best with your IUI I didn't know about possibility of buying sperm in or about getting GP to write a prescription for the drugs so that is useful information.

Dawn thanks for suggestion of starting new thread for specifics but hanging out here too. How great to be discussing birth plans! Feels like a way off for us at the mo. But good to feel like it is all possible.

Summer hope you got on well with the sander. We are currently decorating our place so totally relate to whole power tools thing. Next weekend my in laws are coming over to help us put up our bannisters!

I am still wary about putting my body through the whole high dose of drugs involved with IVF. On my IUI cycles, I had one follicle the first cycle, two the second and three the third and that was only on 75-112.5 Gonal F. My doctor at LWC wants to put me on 450 Gonal for IVF which seems a huge increase.

I have been on fertility friends and heard about mild IVF at the Create Clinic in London. I have spoken to my DP and I am going to give them a ring and book an appointment to discuss things with them. I think its always good to be informed.

MAF do you ever post on LGBT threads on fertilty friends? I haven't done so as yet, but thinking I might, and also the over 40s thread.

Will endeavour to keep in touch here though. Especially as it is a lucky thread - let's hope it rubs off.

Hey

How's everyone's weekend's?

PL i'm happy to report everything in the greenhouse is going nuts and i think we'll have enough tomatoes to keep us going throughout the summer

Moondaughter yep, i'm on FF user name Dyketastic! I picked something a little more subtle for Mumsnet lol

Also another really good site is Rainbow Families on Gingerbeer. We have a monthly TTC'ers meet up in Central London and its a great group of girls. (Most of whom are on FF as well) Between us we can cover most lesbian TTC subjects and actually most of the girls are mid IVF at the moment and 1 of them at LWC

Do stick around here, i've been on this thread since last summer and think its great

Hi everyone

I've still got a horrid lurgy so I've had to go to doctors this morning for another sick note. So sitting at home watching old episodes of House Doctor and sleeping loads.

One positive thing I have managed this afternoon was to phone and book an appt at Create Clinic for 5th June. And I have booked appt with my own GP to organise another round of blood tests. (Mine are one year old now so I need current ones). I was really lucky with Create appt as we are coming to London that weekend anyway to see Pricilla, Queen of the Desert (treat for DP's birthday).

MAF thanks for heads up about FF and Gingerbeer. Will check it out.

Hope you all having a good week.

Hi all! i've been off work today as im really run down. Did any of you pg ladies have any time off early on? My mom thinks i should have the week off as i've been so run down- i'm off next week then and hopefully it will give me chance to pick up a bit. I really dont know if i should though... i feel really guilty whenever i'm not at work!

I had the midwife again today though and i'm O- bloodtype so have to have a series of anti-D injections or my body will start attacking the baby! I was quite distressed but after looking at good old google i think i understand it a bit better. apparently O- is the worst one for this although any negative can have that effect- i should have known i'd be O!

i'm glad everybody here is okay although i'm quite jealous of MAFS greenhouse! xx

Hello all,

Moondaughter, we won't be forgetting the 5th of June on this thread then - that's the day they're taking me in to hospital to induce me!! Lots for us both to look forward to!

Crunchy, it's horrid when you hear that something isn't going according to plan in your PG and then you google it and it makes you feel worse. Just remember that the professionals will have dealt with your blood situation many hundreds of times before and will know how to look after you and your LO. So try not to worry. If you're feeling run down hun, absolutely take the time off. How many weeks are you now? I had a few days off but more due to upset when we found out at the high downs risk etc. I was quite lucky that I didn't suffer any illness. Don't push yourself though, if you're not up to it, don't work - you need to look after yourself.

Well I had my first real Hypo last night. It was really scary... I had dinner at 8pm and took 34 units of insulin with it. I normally have to take my bloods 2 hours later. But at 9.30pm I was feeling a little bit odd. I was trying to write a shopping list and couldn't concentrate on it. I was also really hot and sweating like mad. DH was worried and told me to do my bloods and my blood sugar reading was 2!! That's danger level!!

DH sat me on the sofa, by this time I was struggling to focus and got the emergency bag of Jelly Babies (that's what the hospital recommends for a hypo) and I eat 6 of those while DH made me a high carb snack. It took a good 30 minutes for me to feel Ok again and then I had to wait up until 11pm to take my bloods again before I could take the overnight insulin.

All back to normal this morning though, but it was scary there for a while. Jelly seems fine though and no doubt enjoyed the Jelly Babies!!

Hope everyone elses weekend was drama-free!!

xxx

Aww Dawn I hope you are feeling better today- that must have been really scary! not long left though is there? Im very excited about seeing your little one!

I am feeling better about the blood situation just been feeling down about work! I'm feeling too exhausted to go but am worried i will get in trouble if i have time off! I think ill have tomorrow off and say the midwife recommended rest cos of blood pressure- dont know if i can face the whole week off though!I panic! xx

Crunchy i'm A- so have to have anti d too. Not fun, i had it twice with the miscarriage. They haven't said when i'll need to have it this time but i think its 28 weeks. Its not quite as bad as your body attacking the baby and my gp said it is incredibly rare for it ever to actually cause a problem and even then it is usually easily treated so don't worry about it .

hi guys, back on line for a bit as DH has set up the computer again, we are still mid decorating but taking a break tonight.

dawn hope you are feeling better hun, that must have been a hell of a scare for you but at least you and DH acted quickly, you take it easy now as you only have two weeks to go!! OMG

moondaughter glad you are staying with us, do get lots of advice from other mumsnetters but stick with us as we want to know how you are getting on, i for one is completely fascinated with MAFs follie and Euro sperm stories.

Oh and MAF i think i prefer dyketastic!! and it is sooo cool that you have a network of other lesbian TTCers going through the same thing, all the extra advice must be a huge bonus and you make lots of new friends to boot. That is what i love about going to preggy yoga, i have made some lovely friends there and we can all have a good moan about our aches and pains!

My ante natal classes have been useful practically but socially not so good, it is bizarre but at 36 i am one of the younger ones!! Most of them are onto their 2nd or 3rd babbas which is good in that they give me lots of advice but i honestly thought i would be one of the oldest ones there..

anyway i hope to be online for another couple of days so catch up with you all tomoz

x

ooo and crunchy i would definitely take some time off, you need to look after number one and likkle number one as well, the best bit of advice i was given when pregnant was to listen to my body, if you are tired or run down then do give in to it and rest, you will appreciate it later on.

take care

Welcome back Summer and the preggie yoga sounds fab . I was in a children's centre this week and there were loads of new mums coming in for baby yoga, it was lovely

Moon and Dawn Good luck for the 5th and Moon friends of ours saw Priscilla and said its fab so we're hoping to see it soon. Dont know if you've seen the film but when i was living in Oz i lived right next to the pub that is in the opening scenes and used to go there every week for Bingay (Gay Bingo lol)

Crunchy Take some time off hun

Well follie up date. Am still jabbing everyother day. Had a scan on monday and my left ovary was playing hide and seek behind my womb but on the right i had two possible follies, 1 at 8mm and 1 at 13 and womb lining was up to 8mm . I went back yesterday and my left ovary decided to make an appearence with lots of little follies (which is good coz anything over two big ones and they will canx this cycle ) and the two on my right had gone up to 14 and 12 mm with womb lining of 10.2 WOOHOOOO Am back in for another scan tomorrow but if all keeps going as it is i will hopefully be getting spunked up over the weekend or on monday

MAF LOL at spunked up!
Good luck! Hope all the follies behave themselves!

MAF HUGE follie congratulations!!! woo hoo about time they made an appearance

good luck this weekend - i will raise a glass to you getting spunked up!!!!!!!

Hello all,

Summer, great to see you back hun!! Hope the Summerbean is doing Ok. Not long now - 38+1 and counting for you!! Yay!!

MAF, that is excellent news honey!! So can't wait to hear more news from you - PMSL about getting "spunked up"!!!

Big waves to Pistachio, Crunchy, Fairy and Moon!!

So, since Sunday night, I've had two more hypos - the worst being at 1am this morning. Luckily the symptoms woke me up as hypos can send you into a coma.

So I went to the hospital today to see the GD clinic and get some advice. My insulin requirement is dropping after lunchtimes so I'm having to reduce my evening insulin. Apparently hypos do no harm to Jelly at all but it's not at all pleasant for me. So getting very little sleep and feeling pretty ropey... But not long to go now.

One thing they did say today, was that a reduction in insulin requirement normally means that labour is imminent - aggggghhhhh!! Suddenly don't feel at all ready!!

DH thinks that Jelly will arrive next week. At least if she does, I'll avoid induction.

Anyway, I hope that everyone is doing OK.

MAF, keep us posted hun!!

xxx

good god dawn imminent labour?????

you take good care of yourself hun - not long now, i will be virtually holding your hand throughout!