Feisty & Fabulous at 40+ - the continuing adventures of TTC

[fruitbowl]

Erm hope this will do as a continuation thread. Hello to anyone new to the thread. All welcome... xx

I think grapefruit juice is meant to make your CM more watery and therefore more friendly to sperm.

Thanks for that Fifitot, are you feeling better, any other signs yet? - this all so new to me and I'm keen to find out everything I can. I have been likened to a lighthouse - complete darkeness and then suddenly on full beam.

Where is everyone it's very quiet? Hope all is well perhaps all too tired after all that BDing!
FLS Hope you are feeling a bit better too, I was incredibly moody yesterday, still don't know why.

DH went to Docs yesterday and yes they're willing to do the tests and if they are OK refer us to the local fertility clinic so that is great news. Doc wouldn't discuss me but I spoke to them over the phone and will do bloods on Monday which is supposedly 7 days before AF though for me she's been turning up early each mnth. DH then picked up grapefruit juice on the way home - I then also found another great website (I don't know what the etiquette is on giving out names)which explained it and also mentioned a constituent in cough medicine and baby carrots why baby more than normal I don't know. It also explains test results which will be very handy.
FSH kit arrived too, very fast and only £3. All good but then took temp this morning and I am sure I should be clinically dead 92.3F
it's a digital ear one and I'm sure I must be doing it wrong because it is so erratic. Desperate to see if I OV this mnth.

Hallo everyone, I nearly wept when i found this site last night - especially other 'older' over 40s like me. I really was beginning to think I am crazy for wanting another lo at the advanced age of 46 + 1 month but here you all are sounding a lot like me (breathes huge sigh of relief). I have a DS of 3 1/2 and really didn't contemplate having another until all my new 'baby' friends all became pregnant again...and some again! I did a ovarian capacity test over a year ago and it was equivalent to a 30 yo so we thought if it happens, so be it. Then in April I had a MC at 7 weeks - very early but i had everything planned like you do...so here we are 3 whole cycles later, I have been seeing a fabulous acupuncturist who specialises in fertility issues and he can see no reason why I shouldn't conceive naturally again. I bought a OPK which I will be using in 8 days time - and then who knows!
Anyway I'm really looking forward to meeting you all and sharing in your trials and tribulations and of course joy!

Hello DD and even though I'm new to this thread too I heartily welcome you especially since you are at my end of the scale. I keep hearing stories of conceptions in this range so keep on trying. Sorry about the mc but you'll find you are not alone. Best of luck.

Hello Dilemma! I too am 46 (just) and trying for number 2, with a DD who is 3.

Due on any day so waiting for the wipe of doom at anytime! If I don't catch this month then am going to try acupuncture. I can't face going to the docs and asking for a referral at my age! Well done those who have done it though!

It IS quiet and a few names from early in the thread have disappeared totally. Where are you all?????

Hi Fifi & Summersky, it's so good to meet some other 1960's vintage mums! I was convinced I was pg last month, but actually came on 4 days early (unheard of for me,) hopefully it's my body clearing itself out and not the dreaded menopause!!
Day 4 today, roll on when i can start playing with the sticks next week....I'm in Wiltshire, toying with the idea of moving to Kent

Hi everyone, just popping on during my lunch break to say hello. I think quite a few people are on holiday, lucky things. Hope you're all enjoying your Fridays.

Hi Ddilemma, I'm glad this thread has cheered you up. Great news that there isn't anything obvious stopping you from conceiving. The fact that you 'can' become pg is also very positive.
I'm off to acupuncture next week in the weeks leading up to our next IVF treatment. We had a failed cycle in May, but I feel very positive about this next one.
Fifi I hear you about the yucky tummy, I've been feeling rubbiiiish since yesterday, so have only been reading the thread - sorry!
Phoned the hossy this morning and they told me I was supposed to have started injecting this morning, but it was OK to take the pill again tonight and start the jabs tomorrow.
Grrr! I'm sure the other nurse said to start on the 1st.
S'pose I had better find the bag with all the needles and stuff and have a look tonight.
My DS is quite accustomed to me injecting my tummy after last time - hope he doesn't start discussing it with his nursery teacher. Hmmm!
Off to collapse on the sofa, speak soon....

Hi everyone

There's obviously something in this holiday lark as I also conceived on holiday. DH is manic at work at the moment - but must try and find time for a break.

summersky - thanks for the advice and kind words. They helped pick me up. The website looks great (the diet section was reassuring as I'm doing most of that already). Not sure I'm brave enough to send a hair sample! Have you used them?

I've started temping. We must be using the same thermometer as my first reading was seriously high despite feeling fine??? I signed up to Fertilty Friend and I'm finding their lessons (they email one to you each day) quite useful. But they recommend that you don't use an ear thermometer - not sure why. Typically I had just bought one, having spent ages tracking one down as every pharmacy was out of stock due to swine flu. Mind you, I read something about it's best to take your temp vaginally - so maybe it's a good thing to have another one in the house .

fifitot - will have my fingers crossed for you in the next few days. Hope you're feeling better after your earlier post.

ddilemma - welcome on board. I'm another new joiner here. I've been having acupuncture for the last 2 weeks and find it great (just had a m/c and it's really been helping me recover). Will be interested to hear how you get on.

Have a great weekend everyone. The sun is finally making an appearance here - hope it's shining on you all.

Quick update - have spent two hours looking for the stuff for the injections was squealing like the little pig who couldn't find his way home.
Finally, pulled everything out of the last cupboard (it's all still on the floor) and there it was. Phew!
Oh the joys of being organised!

Am doing chores, so have popped on to avoid them. Bad kiwikat! Get back to the laundry and hoovering!

Hi ladies. I have just started with Fertility Friend too. I used the website when I was ttc my last baby and found it very useful, it helped me understand the whole point of temping, and I just loved torturing myself analysing my temps in the two week wait! Anyway, I am just keeping track of cervical mucus at this time, cos there's not point temping when I have to jump up for DS in the morning, and who knows when I'll ever ovulate again(DS still breastfeeding at night and no sign of AF).

Summersky - what was the website you were refering to? I'd like to read more. That Randine Lewis book is one of my favourites, I've read it over and over.I just love the positive attitude towards older mums. Over here (in Aust) health professionals actually call you an "Elderly" mother when you are over 35! How silly.My Grandmother had her last baby at 43 and I don't think it was considered a big deal in those days, especially if you were catholic!

BTW, just curious, will/ did you have testing, like amnio? I didn't for my last babe (at 41), but had a dodgy screening test, which set us in a tailspin for 4 weeks, waiting to have a detailed scan and amnio.It was awful waiting and not knowing.In the end we had a professor do the scan, and she said it all looked good, so we didn't go thru with the amnio.I don't think I'd go with screening again, I'd go straight to amnio. The wait last time was just too horrible.Our wee boy is perfect, thank God, but we faced a tough time worrying about him.

Anyway, goodluck with whatever avenue you are persuing, hope to hear about some positive pregnancy tests soon.

kiwikat - housework is the work of the devil! Stay on MN.

rowingboat - I missed your earlier thread and was thinking what injections? Isn't it always the way. I've read some great stats about how much accupuncture can increase the success rate for IVF.

angifi - I guess that's one of the advantages of TTC number 1 - at least there is a lack of interurptions! My doctor was telling me that she was considered an older mum a decade ago at 28 . Trying to work out where you are. Aust = Australia or Austria?

Hi everyone

Lovely to hear all your news. Welcome to DDilemma - love your "vintage mums" phrase - makes us sound splendidly classy!

Fifi / Rowing - Can I join the squiffy tummy gang again? Been away without DH for a few days and we were due to BD on my return yest as it was CD14. I ended up going to bed clutching a hotwater bott to stomach at 8pm - I suspect food poisoning from (don't laugh) a pot of coleslaw which I have returned to Morrisons this am. Can't say I feel much more like BDing tonight and it feels such a waste having taken those horrid clomid tabs for nothing.

Rowing - it's a bit early (or late?) for a spring clean isn't it? Hope you're not still sat surrounded by cupboard contents. Good luck with injections x

Kiwi - I'm with TFLS - who needs chores? Get back on here and give us your news!

Hi Angifi - if IF I ever get pg again I'll def do the amnio. Didn't have it last time when I was expecting DD when I was 36 but feel at 41/2 the odds are less in my favour and I'd rather know.

Hope you all enjoying weekends - off to stock up the MN choc n wine bar ...

Just did a test as got a banging migraine aand can't take the medication if pregnant.

BFN. FFS - 10 months of trying and NOTHING!!!!!

Fed up.

Just found a bag of DD's choc buttons in the cupboard and necked them - practically in one go! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I KNOW I'm OVing because of FF, wondering if this targeted approach to BDing is no good but tbh lack the energy to do it much more.

Maybe will just go for it from day 10 next month......if I decide to bother.

Life is so unfair.

Hi Fifi, sorry to hear that you have a headache - hope it's nothing to do with swine flu - and v sorry about the bfn. And you, Rowing and Fruit all have dodgy tums - hope you're feeling better now.

Fatlady, housework is indeed the work of the devil - but I feel so goooooood when it's out of the way. I should really do it more regularly than once every 6 months.

Spent the afternoon with one of my mummy friends, her ds1 and four month d2, hearing about all of our friends and their dc1s and dc2s - I WANT A DC2!!!! But I didn't let it get to me, because my new thing is that there isn't a baby shortage, they're not using up all the available babies, and if it's going to happen, it's going to happen. So I'm surprisingly quite chilled about it all, which is a bit of a breakthrough.

Kiwi, you are so right. I used to think there was some kind of competition, like there were winners who got babies and losers who didn't and there was just one baby trophy.
As you so sagely put it, there isn't a finite number of babies and when somebody other than me falls pg that means there is one baby less available. It doesn't affect me directly.
It does sound as if your wisdom is helping you to chill out.
Smelly housework, I can't even see out of my windows any more.

Fifi boooo! But ten months isn't really that long. Big hug!

TFLS 28 year old mums elderly, I think that's the average age now. When I went to parenting classes with DS there were no parents under thirty. Are you exercising as well as the diet? I don't know if I have lost weight since joining the gym, but I do feel firmer.

Fruit your poor tum. Mine is recovering now, but I blame the pill for the ickyness. All finished with that now.

Ooer better go and book our lunch table - my bruv's up from Luton airport (Lorraine Chase image appears) so we're meeting up soon.
Hoooge hugs to everyone speak soon...

Oh dear just seen the time must dive

Fruitbowl - we are all splendidly classy aren't we??!! Vintage makes me laugh as does 'retro' - it's just all the stuff I wore in the seventies recycled, even the writing fonts are the same on all the brands!
Fifi v sorry to hear you're bfn - keep at it pleeease
Am surrounded by pregnant households here - the only one who's not has a 16 week old dd, in this small road there are 5 pregnancies, including my meant to be bf who is sadly drifting away even tho she only found out 2 weeks ago sorry feeling a bit sorry for my self there
On a more practical note finished putting up DS new trampoline this morning, and rapidly discovered I should have done more pelvic floor exercises when preg - had to exit bouncing v rapidly. Off to do some elevator exercises........

LOL re the trampoline. I went on a bouncy castle with DD recently and weed myself! Lovely!

Oh the joys of childbearing!
Trampolines and bouncy castles!
DD keep off the trampline, they are lethal! I went along to a trampoline centre with my DS and got a bit 'carried away' thought I was in the Olympic squad 'Wheeeeeeee!' and my back was knackered for a good month afterwards.
I think you can over-stretch your spine or something, horrid! Kids don't do it of course, just grown-ups.

Fifi don't give up! It's not been that long, it just feels like it! Sorry you are having a downer, but it's the hormones as well, making it worse. You will be up and at 'em again in no time.

Fruit - guess what the cupboard contents are still on the floor [slut alert]
I haven't had time to pick them up or energy or something.
How's your dodgy tum. Are you able to eat? Hope it isn't painful.

Angifi I wanted to give you a hi five when you wrote about not managing to temp. I could not, could not do it either, for all the reasons you gave.

TFLS Fertility Friend FF is great, the lessons are really helpful. I must warn you can turn into a raving lunatic demanding sex in a scary way, which causes husbands and partners to hide in cupboards.
However, I am confident you will be giving birth to triplets in no time.

OK more symptoms today, not nausea, but lack of appetite and now depression. Oh joy! Cor, this mucking around with hormones is just one thrilling surprise after another.
I'm hoping that all these horrible, stinky symptoms are a good sign though. Well you have to laugh don't you.

(waves quickly as realises she should be off doing the do instead of chatting to you lot!) Not gonna get pg sitting here typing!

Catch up soon ... x

Drat! So typing doesn't work? Hmmm! I'll have to look into that.

Hope everyone with the squiffy tummies are feeling better. Lousy timing for you fruitbowl . Did you see that thread about someone who's husband had swine flu I think and they resorted to a turkey baster type approach?? The things TTC drive us to.

fifitot - sorry about your result. Sending you another bag (or two) of chocolate buttons. It is a rollercoaster of emotions. Hope your migraine has cleared up and you feel up to trying again this month.

Love your philosophy kiwi.

rowing - brilliant description re Fertility Friend. I have been warned !. Hope the symptons are OK this week. I find myself peeing on sticks/into cups etc and think "oh the glamour". Hopefully it will be worth it - no pain, no gain etc!

ddilemma - hope you made is safely off the trampoline!

Hi Girls,

Very quickly logging on to see how you all are. have had no access to computer and feeling very out of the loop!

kiwi - would love to meet up in london , would be fun, but have OH and DD in tow so it seems a bit unlikely i can escape for long....! I'll see how it goes, dd is high maintenance and OH knackered...

Well the update from me is that I've done 5 days of puregon injections. it went fine...though no idea what was going on as wasn't monitored... my usual hassles with timing with OH flying in to join me a bit too late in the cycle...

Talking of timing....a quick question...how long after you ov does the temp rise happen? Is it generally the next morning or can it be, say, 36 or 48 hours later? Trying to figure out if there's any hope that sperm and egg actually met...