Nice to TTC you, to TTC you nice

[PistachioLemon]

Follow on from 'Strictly come baby dancing - TTC waiting room and dance floor'...

will bring over the list in a second

PistachioLemon, what does 2WW mean? (Sorry I really am hopeless with all this!)

Ooops sorry Still I forgot to give you this link before What all the abbreviations mean.

2WW = the horrible two week wait between ovulation and finding out whether preggo or not during which you may find home pregnancy tests irresistible and become obsessed with 'pregnancy' symptoms which turn out just to be PMT (or not sometimes!).

Still that sounds quite stressful for you. We've only been trying for six months but it is so frustrating when you think you are doing everything right (well, at least having sex around the 'right' time) but it still doesn't result in a pregnancy.

Can I ask, when you conceived your DS, did your DH also have low volatility? If you haven't got it already, Zita West's How to Get Pregnanthas a big section on men's health and how to get an increase of healthy sperm so that you can maximise your chances of conception. To be honest I'm not a great fan of the book as it's a bit too scary and prescriptive for me, but it might be worth checking it out at the library if you're interested.

Hello, I've just joined tonight, glad I seem to have found lots of women in the same boat! Just looking for some tips and advice as I feel like I'm going out of my mind getting my hopes up every month!

Hey Spinky, welcome as well. You're in good company here, quite a few TTCers here along with LOTS of successes.

How long have you been ttc? And do you already have any children? We're trying to have our first.

Still glad you're getting treatment, sorry your GP was rubbish. Now you know what you're up against, you can just do all you can to get past these problems. ICSI - is that a form of IVF but a stage further? Where they help the sperm on the way into the egg? I have the Robert Winston book 'A child against all odds' which explains all the various treatments, the history of how they were developed plus the religious views on each treatment. I read it about 15 months ago and I must re-read again, fascinating. Anyway wishing you lots of luck. Stay with us, we can only just try to support each other.

PL I have every sympathy with the exam thing. I did my professional exams while working full time and its hell. I am sure you will pass, good luck. How many more have you got? And are they taking your mind off the 2ww?

By the way I think I will get that Zita West book you mention, can't hurt can it to follow it!!

spinky welcome tell about you - how long etc? Is this your first you're trying for now?

Hope Mollie got on OK today.

Thanks, PL - that is a very useful link. 2WW is exactly where I am at ... I really do work myself up into this wonderful fantasy about how I am going to tell DH and what the due date would be etc etc and then every month this crushing disappointment ....

Now that I know that there are things that are not right and that the chances of conceiving are low I am trying to be more realistic but I actually caught myself thinking about getting a pregnancy test on the way home tonight even though I have only just ovulated! This way madness lies.

AS to DH's sperm - I don't know whether he had low volatility when we conceived DS as last week's test was the first one he has had. Would be interesting to know. DH is now on vitamins for "men's fertility" and the doctor gave him antibiotics as apparently that can help too but I think I will check out Zita's book as well. A friend had advised me against it but I am so desperate now I will do anything!!

Claire, I'm not really sure what ICSI is exactly. When the doctor talked about it and I looked at her blankly she then just said IVF so I assume it is some form of it but she did say that because of DH's issues it would not be as easy as just putting the egg and the sperm in the petri dish. They do have to insert them somehow. Doesn't sound too promising, does it?!! But as you say you just have to keep at it and hope for the best.

(PS It is really lovely to be on here talking about this ... DH and I have agreed we won't talk to anyone in RL about this and it is so hard when it is the only thing on my mind!)

We've being ttc since January for our first, had a few disappointments along the way but keep hoping!
I know we've not been trying long but it feels like it's been ages! Its great to hear so many people thinking and feeling the same thing!

I think (and this is remembering back to when I read the Robert Winston book) that basicially they 'drill' through the outer shell of the egg that the sperm would normally have to burrow through, to give the sperm a head start, by placing the sperm where it needs to be.

The two week wait madness is awful. God there have been months when we didn't even have sex at the crucial time but I've still wanted to test two days before my period was due. I plan out in head too, think ooh we will have a November baby etc and then like you say the disappointment. Madness.

Claire have you got the Toni Wechsler book 'Taking Charge of Your Fertility'? If I had to choose between the two, I get that one first. It's much more straightforward, and less judgey. You could of course get both!

Oops, sorry, started that post ages ago and then went off to have dinner. Got to revise now but will be back later or tomorrow.

How is the ZW book judgey, PL? Am intrigued ...!

yes I have TCOYF - the photo of the oozing cervix is something I am in therapy to try to forget

Well, it's probably me, but it made me feel guilty for not being at the very pinnacle of fitness and lifestyle, and not that willing (at this stage anyway) to seek out accupuncture and the like. And some of the things she suggests I just don't think are that sustainable, but they are interesting and I may try some of them over the summer.

Having said that, it does contain a lot of useful information so from that point of view I think it's worth it.

The TCOYF book is just more simple really, much easier for my simple brain!

Oh yes, the oozing cervix in glorious technicolour... gave me nightmares that did!

I know this is going off the thread a bit but has anyone got any thoughts on early pregnancy signs? Im in my 2ww at the mo and every twinge or nauseaus feeling is making me wonder!

Totally on thread! I love symptoms... although mine always turn out to be PMT!

I convince myself every month that my boobs hurt and I have super smell haha! I feel different this time though, I cant wait to test, just hope Im not disappointed.Are you trying for your 1st PistachioLemon? x

I dont know where I am in my cycle guys Have been in loads of pain this month- me and DH made up but sex is sooooo painful and my bowels are awful so have not felt up to it anyway- still having EWCM and cramps on my left side but dont think I will OV this month, I can just tell something isnt right Feel really sorry for myself BUT my new baby kitten in cheering me up!!!!!! she's so sweet!!! only 8 weeks old, I love her.

Any news from mollie?

Good to see other newbies joining us- I totally recommend Zita West. My DH only has 6% morphology (although has a high count) and we have conceived- although granted, I did MC Vits are the way to go I reckon- vit c, vit E and some zinc, you cant go wrong!! Its all the little bad boys need....

claire what will the rsults mean for TTC? Did they say? I know someone with 2 kids who's uterus is totally split in 2 in a heart shape

love to all

xxx

Evening all!

Hi to the new folk - great to see you. stillstanding, sounds like you and I are in a similar place - we're 16 months in, and first test has shown problems with Mr. Hol's sperm (low count - to the extent that there's no point in talking about motility and the rest!) We were told that there are two ways of testing: in one they take a drop and assume it's representative of the full sample (that's what we had), but in the other they check the whole sample. Hubby is going back for the full sample check before we start panicking - I don't know if it's a location thing (we're between areas, first test Wiltshire, second test Berkshire). Might be worth finding out which way you had if you don't already know?

Welcome spinky. Since Jan is quite long enough to be trying! I don't stand by this "no-one is allowed to whinge until 2 or 3 years" thing, when you're trying it's hard no matter how long.

Claire, am off to read your thread in General Health to understand a bit more. In a way, must be good to be finally getting some answers?

PL best of luck with the exams, hope you're managing to relax a bit. There's a reason I picked a career with no more exams, couldn't face them at this stage of life

m2o, kitten pictures please! Sorry you're struggling this month. I always fight with Mr Hol at important times of the month, must be an ov symptom!

Hey, everyone else. Scan news as and when it comes in please!

m2o I too would like kitten pics, to drool over please!! Also sorry its all so difficult this month.

Shayera how are you?

I have had some nawty wine to help relax me so I'm feeling mellow now I'm sure Zita would not approve!!!!

ust to let you know all went well at the scan last night, big sigh of relief from the Mollie household I think we are actually having a baby

Our NT measurement was 0.91mm which I understand is good, will get blood results Monday (if not before) At the moment all feels a bit surreal to be honest. Only problem is I feel hungover this morning (without the drunken fun) so tired, got a headache etc didn't get in til 10.45pm which actually felt like 4.00 am! Anyway back to work will pop on later to post to everyone else

That's great news Mollie

Mollie, wonderful news.