Continuing conceptions and follicling ahead of Feisty, Fabulous Forty somethings

[rowingboat]

Hello world!

stinky what wonderful news. Sorry to hear someone on here was horrid before. So far I've only found dead nice people on MN. Glad you came back to tell us about little billie (not so little actually - I like big healthy babies - I had 2 - not quite up to Billie, but big enough! Give her a big squeeze from us. )

Lia just checked out the twin lady. Terribly sad but there is still hope for Imogen. I was sobbing away reading all the comments and saw that you did too.

Italian thanks for the tip about stress. Not sure what the headaches were. COuld be work related cos didn't have one today !!!

I don't think this is my month though. This morning my temperature shot up and i was like, "Wow I've gone tricyclic (when your temp goes up again after inplantation). I was quietly smug with the news that I was almost certainly preg (as that's what it says in my book). But then this pm, more spotting and more importantantly I had egg whites which I have read is a sign that your corpus luteum is breaking down. The first thing your womb sheds is clear fluid. So i am now not so quietly smug at all - I have more cramps and some pink spotting so am 99.9% sure that AF is coming really soon.

italian Hope that 6 months flys by. We'll all be here to count down with you.

alba - hope all is ok. Keep that bean safe.

ps. I read that as you approach the menopause your cycles become first shorter as your body tries to ovulate as often as possible in a last attempt and then they become longer and longer - so I think we are ok with the shorter cycles - it means we still have a way to go before menopause.

Hi all,

Hippy you are symptom spotting like a demon there aren't you! Still could be good news.

Jollster that bowl story sounds truly awful. Great news on the house though. Did you have to do loads of work on it to get it to the current standard?

Italian glad to be of service. I hope it is something to think about.

StinkyP I do remember you. I can't remember what happened, but you were very upset by posters on another thread and we all clucked around you and cuddled you. Very very good news on baby Billie, gorgeous name and unusual. Did you have anyone in mind when you named her?
Oh and ouch at 10lb 3oz.

Helloooo out there. Haven't posted much, so little to tell!But I'm losing my place, so best leave a little note.

Italian, I don't have any real writing credentials - but I am trained as an English teacher and I did an English Literature degree. So I don't really have an advice for going for the position at work. What sort of writing is it? I guess what I have tried to do is imitate what I've seen online - but as it happens I never did apply for the online writing position because they expect you to write at least ten articles a month and you get paid about $1 per article. Definitely not worth the trouble IMO.

Anyway, let us know how you get on at work with it.

Stinky, super - congratulations on your little one. I too, would like to know how much over 40 you are?

Well, just read another book on fertility www.amazon.co.uk/Fertility-Diet-Sarah-Dobbyn/dp/1847372007
I really enjoyed it and loved that she is so positive about success after age 40. It says everything I expected it to say about a super clean diet, organic and so on, but there were a few little tips I didn't expect but also some I'd take with "a grain of salt" like giving up rhubarb and peas because huge quantities can cause infertility. Personally I'd be surprised if it had any effect at all.
She also says stay away from dairy products, which is controversial as I've read that a serve of full fat dairy everyday promotes fertility, so who knows?
I will try a few things, but I won't go totally vegetarian. And having no alcohol at all doesn't really work for me. I like to have the occasional glass of wine socially, and it isn't even every week, so I won't give it up entirely.

Well, time for me to do some work.I have to do my tax return...blah...otherwise I'll get a late fine.

Keep up the good work folks!

Gum Hi, wow, are we twins seperated at birth! I did an English literature degree (I got a 2:2 - as we used to call it a Desmond - Desmond Tutu!) and I was an English langauge teacher too!

The job is charity writer and I worked as an editor for a charity publication for a few years as a volunteer, totally unpaid but I think this qualifies me for the role so it just depends how stiff the competition is! I would so love this post! Speakingof posts I have posted like mad on the adoption thread! It is much quieter than it is here on fertility and forty!

Sorry this is all me, me, me....

Gum any news on giving up breastfeeding, any decisions or just going with the flow (no pun intended!)

Stinkypinky Welcome

Hippy stop checking those knickers, get those troops in place and chill. And now stay clear of rhubarb!

alba and all waves and grins and chocolate.

Hello! Struggling to keep up, but I have been reading, just not time to keep up! Dh back now after staying in London for a few days with his sister - first time I'd been on my own with all 4 since ds was born. Pretty tough but we got through, even managing bus trip into town to the museum and shops. He's also away next weekend, but I am storing away some credits for the future...
Gumblossom I think as you say that some of the 'tips' for increased fertility should indeed be taken with a pinch of salt. I don't for a minute think that cutting out alcohol 100%, or giving up peas, would make an iota of difference, unless of course one's lifestyle was totally hedonistic and crazily unhealthy! After my mmc I did find Zita West's stuff very interesting, and took her supplements for a while (like horsepills) though couldn't (literally) swallow them when pregnany with ds. Job was done then though! I also put dh on them, though doubt he took them regularly enough to make a difference!
Hippy don't give up hope yet - ewm hasd also been a pregnancy sign for me, though confusingly I've notyed it too when noty pregnant...That's intersting about shorted cycles. Mine have gone from 30--32 days to 26 the last 2 months I'll be ttc-ing this coming month (last month at 39!!) then will have to put things on hold for a few months (back in saddle AUGUST).
Big waves to everyone - will try to keep up more! This is such a lovely thread - I always feel very positive and calm reading through

Diege when are you 40? I'm 40 on 29th of May - would really like to be pg by then!

Jollster I went to a lady just up the road from Western Road - not sure about her yet. Bleeding didn't slow down after I saw her, and she did try to achieve that (although she said that sometimes it gets heavier - I think she was just hedging her bets really!). I am seeing her again on Tuesday and will see. Am so totally not in tune with my body at the moment that I am willing to try anything. Have no idea at all when or even if I am ovulating. Did I see that you are selling your house? Whereabouts (no need to be really specific!) are you moving from/ to?

Hi Italian no we haven't "met"! good luck with the adoption, and I agree that you should stay on the thread - if you would find it supportive to do so. and Good luck with the writing job - I work in the charity sector - fab sector to be in - if I can be of any help in applying.... (prob not, but I read the charity press!).

Hi Pollyanna I'm 40 on the 27th May! TTC number 5. What number are you on?

AF turned up on my doorstep today - .

I was so hopeful this month cos of the streak on day 19 and the extreme tiredness etc. Turns out I'm just plain old knackered after all.

I think I'm just desperate to be preg before august. Thats when I turn 44 (can that really be true!!) and also that's when my lost little one would have been due. I think it's just gonna be so much easier to get through that month if I am pregnant and looking ahead rather than just feling like sh*t. Of course even if I do get pregnant before aug there is no guarantees all will be ok by aug. Arrgghh I am in a BAD mood.

Yesterday in town I was shopping and I saw 5 heavily pregnant women in the space of 5 minutes. . Ended up buying myself 2 pairs of sandel to make up for it.

Anyway, enough about grumpy old me.

jolly it must be nice to finally get the house on the market. We are meant to be doing that as soon as DH has finished the kitchen floor - a slow process at the moment that seems to involve a lot of him standing about and instructing me to clean things!!!!

We have a few writers on here. No wonder it's such a great place to come. I did a few courses and workshops in creative writing a while back and did start writing a novel which seems to have gone by the wayside now. My poor characters are all waiting in suspended animation for me to get back and carry on with their lives .

Oh no Hippy Was it your usual cycle length? I know what you mean about wanting to be pregnant before your due date, but there is no reason at all to think that you won't be xx

oh no Hippy it's shit isn't it? my cleaner told me she was pg yesterday and I nearly punched her (not really!). my rtd came at day 21 this time which was a real bugger.

Diege I am on no 6. How old are your others?

Mine came on day 22. I did at least manage to get a decent - ish Luteal phase cos I ov'd on day 11. I guess the progesterone cream might take a few months to have an effect. (not the over night solution I was hoping for )

It does seem odd that there are a few of us who are all early 40's (I'm clinging to the early bit) who are having shorter cycles.

Does seem to go with what I read in Toni's book about the body trying to ovulate as often as possible before menopause. And as I said, apparently the short cycles are then followed by longer and longer ones and we defo don't want them!!!

Ahh well - not long till the egg white and then the crazy circus starts all over again!!!

Yes it does seem odd about shorter cycles doesn't it Hippy? Do you think these shorter ones last a few years, or that the clock really is ticking? . Not sure what's happening with me as the opk gave me a positive on day 15 and af started day 26 (usually 28-30)so I suppose that's not a great LP? I know very little about all of this - just what I'm picking up along the way. Agree that short is good re: EWM time though. Dh has already asked what his schedule is for this month
Pollyanna I have 3 dds (8, 7, 4) and a ds (10.5 months). Of course everyone thought we were 'going for a boy' and that we will stop now...it's taken me a while to get over the fear (fear??!!) of other people's comments, but figured it would be crazy to get to 60 and think we didn't have another because of what people would say! How old are yours? I'd love 6 (even number freak)!

I want 6 too! I prefer even numbers...Mine are quite spread out : 19, 17,13,10 and 20 months. Would really like the chance at one more, but feel may have left it a little late (I'll be 44 in Nov).But still hopeful.

Must run, Dh waiting to start a tv show - not sure what it is but is good...

Great not to hear 'Are you mad??' 'you've got your hands ful' etc etc etc here as obviously amongst kindred spirits Am meeting a friend this afternoon who has just decided to go for no.5. She is 26 and is one of those mothers that parent effortlessly...Still, there's time yet
Enjoy your tv show Gumblossom

Hello all, (been trying to find you - new to this!) I've posted this elsewhere.

I've just had a miscarriage (started on Thurs moning - positive test Weds morning after six days missed period).

BUT: I am feeling positive, believe it or not, as it's definitive proof that at the grand old age of forty two I CAN conceive (it's the first time I ever have, afaik) - and was only trying for a few months.

I'm fine, sad, but fine, and looking forward very much to optimising my chances of conceiving soon (I have stocked up with lots of healthy food and some Zita West tablets).

woops, positive test was weds evening not morning, so I'd only had 12 hours to get into it.

Hello ladies... I remember you too Rowingboat - you were so kind, and it meant so much.

I had Billie by ELCS the day before my 41st birthday. Billie is short for WILHELMINA - a name we like (character in Dracula apparently.) Wilhelmina is a bit of a mouthful, and a bugger to spell, so she is known as Billie, and it so suits her.

When I joined Mumsnet I felt I was too old to have any more, and it was this thread that made me feel 'ok' about wanting another, and quite young too

I was a late starter, having my first at 37, having been told I would never have any children following a MC at age 26.

I feel so blessed to have 2 beautiful daughters, and plan to get fit and healthy and try for another in a year or so.

Triplets in family, so would need to think really seriously

hairytriangle... love the name!

hairytriangle So sorry. Do you feel that it's better that you did the test and now know that you can get preg or would you rather have not done the test and just thought that your period was late but not had the hope followed by the loss??

Just wondered, you don't have to answer if you don't fel like it. I really hope that you are able to get preg again and that next time is successful for you.

stinkypinky Can't believe people were horrid to you on MN (well I can believe it obviously cos otherwise I'd be calling you a liar) What was it all about - don't answer if you would rather forget it.

lindalinda Lots of love to you. Take care of yourself - it's still early days.

Hi all,

Hippy boo to AF. When did you ovulate do you think?

Stinky how are you finding having two?

Gum and Polly you guys are amazing. I don't know how you have fitted it all in quite frankly.

Deige I can't imagine having five children at 26 - they were party years for me. Let's face it so were quite a lot of my thirties.

hairy I'm sorry to hear about your recent MC, but I totally take your point that it is heartening to get to that point.
Another plus is that you are more fertile for the first three months after an mc, I think it is something to do with the increase in HCG levels or something.

Linda - hi there. One of our graduates Fifitot was 45 I think, trying to remember who else. I will be 44 this year as well, who would have thought.

Feeling a little bit pmsy, kind of heavy in the lower abdomen, slightly sore boobs ath kind of thing and my feet are tired. AF is due Wednesday or Thursday, then it's all rockets firing as I zoom down to the hospital to get cracking.
Trying to be enthused about DS's school.

rowing I had terrible ovulation pains on day 11. So the LP is ok.

DH has seriously annoyed me today (wont go in to it - but lets just say he isn't as bothered as I am that we are not with child ).

I also cannot imagine having 5 kids at 26 - I can't imagine having them now!!!

rowing I got quite confused with all your options. If it's not too much trouble can you explain what you are about to do. I think it's defrost Barry and his mates and attmept to put them in at the right time in your natural cycle - is that right (is that it miss, is that it - says Hippy with her hand in the air!)

ps. If we are more fertile for 3 months after an MC then my next ovulaiton is my last month of being more fertile. OMG you thought I was manic this month - what will I be like after ovulation next time - you'll all be telling me to calm down!

hippychick I am SO glad I tested. As you say, I might never have known, and I had 12 hours knowledge (and it hadn't sunk in at all!) - had I not tested I would not now know that I can conceive, so it is a mixed blessing as I can go on with confidence that at least I can conceive!

hairytriangle glad you made the right choice. Good luck for next time.

Hairy, sorry to hear about your mc, but you sound positive, I hope you have a sticky bean soon.

Someone asked earlier about the breastfeeding.Gee, I wish I was a bit stronger, I just can't seem to muster the strength and energy to fight off the LO! He's only 20 months, but he seems to an iron will, and will not be swayed! I think I have to try a bit harder, but still hold out hope that I'll ovulate without weaning. Surely it has to happen soon?

I've been invited to a "girl's" weekend with all my uni mates.We meet up almost once a year, and I missed last year due to having a LO I couldn't leave, so I thought maybe I could aim for that(the first weekend in June). However, even if he is weaned, I think I'll still fret for him and won't really relax. Silly isn't it. Most people would jump at the chance. If it wasn't so far away ( 5 hours driving) perhaps I'd feel differently...I'll think on it some more.

I'm feeling excited for you Rowing...