Ongoing and continuing conceptions and follicling ahead of Feisty, Fabulous Forty somethings

[randomimposter]

Just to start us off.

May this be a happy and lucky thread for all of us.

Hi all
sorry have been lurking but with nowt much to say.

No more spotting. Tired, occasionally nauseous, VERY vivid dreams (including one last night about being a nurse in UCH in London and miscarrying in the toilet). 7+2 today, still not wanting to get hopes up that all is ok. May contact EPU in the next 2 weeks for a reassurance scan. But really don't want to hear "there isn't an X-week pregnancy here" again...

But feel a bit of a fraud saying any of that knowing a bit of what Rainbow has gone through.

Anyway hope all doing ok.

Hi all,
Thank you all for the well wishes.
Deige I will go and check my email now...
Italian the non-medicated was because it takes a few months for me to get back to normal after the hormones, so delaying the next FET. I knew the abroad clinics didn't do medicated, so thought it would be better to get back to normal before going there. Also I do have regular cycles so easy to track ovulation except -
having a bit of an aaargh! Because I have been doing OPKs and should have had a surge by now, but nothing. [sobs]
It's sooo annoying, this is my fault, helping things along by taking red clover and wild yam, why do I tinker!!
There was a second line on Monday night, but it wasn't dark, so not really very helpful, and I haven't had any ovulation pains yet.
Grr.
So this puts the transfer at risk because we wouldn't know when 5 days after LH surge would be.
Fingers crossed it arrives today or early tomorrow, hopefully that would still be OK.
Otherwise I will have to cancel the flights.
Stomps off!!

rowing all the best with getting a pos on an opk - I usually get faint lines a few days before the dark one - hopefully you will too. I was ridiculsouly excited when i got the dark line this month, cos i had no clue what day it would arrive (1st cycle after MC and all that) plus i was getting sick of the faint lines taunting me. all the best lovie.

diege enjoy your time with THEM - Hippy stomps off and makes loads of fab friends on lots of other threads - so there!

holeymoley you sound just like Italian - I got you muddled up cos she is hovering between adoption, egg donation and hoping for a little miracle and then you typed almost exactly the same thing. Good luck with your journey - wherever it may take you.

jolly over 6 weeks is fab. Just keep taking it one day at a time. I think i would be looking at a scan by now if i were you but then I find it better to know where I stand and if things are going to continue. You and Alba are my third time lucky people - i just know it. (ps. So am i -hopefully)

NB. I sorted out a problem for a customer today and it is the third time she's had something delivered. She said to me, "Well I really hope it's third time lucky!" I replied, "SO DO I!" - in a very definite voice but in my head I was thinking about me not her flippin' delivery - haha.

I was standing with one of my preggie friends at work today and the other one waddled past, before i knew it i was slap bang in the middle of another discussion about who has the biggest feckin' bump etc. (I would have been due 1 week before them!!!)

Anyway, tomorrow is my last day here and i think it will be better for my sanity when i no longer have to look at their bumps.

polly your due date for your lost little one is actually my birthday. It is crap not being preggers again as our dates approach - let's hand hold through it . xx

which OPKs do you use Hippy? I have some cheap ones which I never mastered, but maybe I should start using those (as my expensive CBFM ones are costing me a fortune in depressingly unfertile results...). am getting so fed up with swfi though I must say...

rowing good luck in getting a surge now. I am feeling depressed enough about getting nothing this month, and I don't have any flights or anything riding on it.

jolls 7 weeks wow. Glad you are feeling rough still and no spotting. (whereabouts are you in B - I keep wondering whether I've seen you in the park/playground/cafe?).

Hi all,
Will be trying the test again around 6:30pm. Did one at around 2 and there was a faintish second line, so hoping this improves by 6.
Polly I use cheap Ebay OPKs and they have always worked for me before, just when I want them to work. I don't think it is the test, I think it is me though.

Holeymoley yes, you do sound just like me. I think my DH is actually quite keen on adoption and not keen on having more fertility treatment but it may be that he thinks it is expensive!

Rowing Thinking of you. I really hope all is OK. Thanks for your email I will reply soon.

Diege Thanks for the file by email. Thinking of you.

Hippy good luck with the seduction.

doubleshotlatte, Lia, Pollyanna, Lunatic, Gum, Alba, Jolly lone to all.

My news is I am NOT going through the menopause....yet.... the doc said I am not so that is good. I got checked out as I was a bit concerned about my ?symptoms?. I was so emotional once or twice a month. I told the lovely (lady) doc I was very emotional twice a month. She said it was not menopause. She knows because she asked questions and I answered - TMI, egg whites/not dry vagina, periods still quite regular, no hot flashes or hot flushes (whatever you call it) and no sweats. She said did I want to jump out the window or the like! I said no, I am just very miserable for a short time then fine. She said things do effect it ? for example if I were TIRED (HA HA), this could lead to depression (I said it was not depression as I felt fine later) and stress (thinking about adopting verses more treatment) and disappointment of treatment failing. She hit the nail on the head I think! She recommended exercise (I said yes swimming and cycling with family) she said what about me-time; I said what is me-time! So she said good to have alone-time for me and get exercise. She seemed to think I could control it more. She liked the sound of Agnus Castus and said there was evidence it works, medical evidence. The doc seemed to think miracle baby was completely on the cards; mind you she is not a fertility expert! It is good for health not to be going through the menopause at the moment, lots of things follow menopause, osteoporosis can etc! So it is great news.

Hi all, am taking a little holiday in the hut of doom. Will be back when feeling bit less gloomy. Meanwhile best of luck to all.

Hello all.I've been away on a shopping expedition in the city, and still not home, at SIL's, will be going home tomorrow.

I've been anticipating Ovulation for days, so loads of SWI, but still no temp rise.Had + opk 2 days ago, then to my surprise had another yesterday morning. Luckily was able to grab a quickie after the shopping!!So I'm guessing I either Oed last night or today.I had O pain yesterday, but still feeling a bit tender down there, so who knows??

I'm guessing fertility friend will say I oed today.I'm glad I was able to make a bigger effort this month, but TBH I think it is just because DH is on holiday. If he wasn't, I doubt we'd be getting as much in,and I don't know that I can sustain it month after month! I just hope I get a BFP before too long...

Shopping was fun - got some great bits and pieces for the kids in the winter sales.Didn't get much for me, but I like to think I'll have to buy new maternity wear soon, so I'll save up for that(might as well be optimistic)

Rainbow, I am sorry to hear your news.I do hope the doc you see can give you some help.
Pearshaped, also sorry to hear things aren't going well for you.
Rowing, I hope those eggs get themselves organised soon.It is about time they behaved themselves!!
Italian, glad to hear you aren't going through the dreaded menopause yet.I'm not looking forward to it at all.
Polly, i hope your ovaries start behaving too! Last month I didn't O til day 20 or 22(can't remember).
Must run, take care everyone...

Just a quick note to say am panicking because at last night's bastille day party I had a little Absinthe!! well, a few sips from someone's glass. Can you believe I didn't know it's contraindicated... GP said they dont really know enough about it to say if I've done harm or not...

Hello ladies, I just posted on mc/loss then noticed your friendly thread so hope you don't mind me popping in. I'm 42 and going through my 2nd mc this year, and having a bit of a down day. Looking for a bit of hope really. I seem to be able to fall pregnant easy enough but seem to have suffered a blighted ovum both times. I have other children but don't want to give up on just one more, but wonder if this is how it's going to carry on. I'm sorry to unload when we've never 'met' before but I admire your optimism(sp) and bravery. Hope to find some for myself and maybe try again.
Kind regards Spotty

Hi Spotty, I recognise your name (Hippy's old birds preg thread maybe?), so sorry you're going through it, it's really hard work staying positive after MC's, and easy to think there are all manner of things wrong (like I did) at our age... I thought I'd chip in quickly with a bit of hope for you... I had 2 MC's this year (one MMC at 11 weeks, one Chem Preg at just 4.5 weeks), and am now 15 weeks pg and all well so far -- having trouble believing it's going to work still, but midwife has a great deal more confidence! I'm nearly 42, so fingers crossed for you that you'll also be third time lucky

Hippy, great news on the positive OPK, hope the troops are where they should be

Rowing very best of luck this time!

Jolls glad all still going well -- after 8 weeks a heartbeat is v good odds of all well, a trip to the EPU next week should give you a lot more confidence (though I know I was a gibbering wreck before each and every scan, and utterly exhausted afterwards despite good news)

Gum relaxing on holiday worked for us, crossing my fingers this is your month

DSL, congrats! And a sip? surely will make no difference at all?? (though feel for you with the panic, I was bad enough when I read that bagged salads aren't allowed - listeria risk - and had been eating loads thinking I was being healthy and good! )

Diege, jealous of the sleep ... I'd forgotten how bad even fairly early pregnancy is for sleep, and combined with DS being a bad sleeper too, I'm a zombie just now... make the most of it!

OPKs... don't always work for me, only ever get a definite really clear positive once I'm already pregnant . Gave up on them in the end

Italian, here's to you getting your miracle baby!

Big waves to everyone, and lots of old bird pregnant vibes to all

Hi all,

Spotty, I'm sorry to hear about your mc. Of course you are welcome to join us here. We are a friendly bunch.
We are quite a cross section, some of our ladies have four or five children some are later starters (me) and are trying for their first or second.
So make yourself a

DSL I didn't think that absinthe with wormwood was available anymore, so wouldn't it just be the same as having a few sips of an alcoholic drink?

Gum that sounds like a promising month. Not sure about the double OPK. I have been reading about OPKs recently (not surprisingly) and the LH surge usually lasts between 10 - 24 hours, so it could have been the very start and very end you picked up? Either that or you released two eggs and are possibly having twins.
Funnily enough, one of the forums I looked at for OPK advice had a woman who had two positive OPKs a few days apart and further down the thread she was pg with twins.

Italian that sounds like a lovely doctor. Your appointment was so funny, I was laughing reading it.
So are you feeling inspired?

GPS I have replied to you in the hut, take your time until you feel better. [giant hug]

I will do another OPK now, but if it shows positive I will have to change the return dates for the flights and have a later transfer. If not, I don't know. Will wait for a bit longer for OV pains, but if nothing today I think I will move the flights to September.
If I do August it would completely clash with DS starting school and I don't have holidays anyway, so not really a goer.
This is so typical.

Quick post sorry. Can someone please enlighten me?! What does OPK stand for - Im thinking ovulation predictor kit? Not tried these before or done any sort of charting!? Can you recommend a particular brand/are they worth it?
Italian sounds like you have a fab doctor. Must make you feel more hopeful for a miracle conception.
Guess you ladies will have seen the thread re stories of women over 40 conceiving and having babies - very inspirational.
My twin boys had their last day at pre - school today - all very emotional and lots of tears. Me not them!!!!

Holey, you are absolutely correct with your guess. [rummages around for a prize for Holey]
I have been using the ones on Ebay and they do seem to work pretty well. The benefit of them is that you can do quite a few without worrying about the cost.

Ah, bless about your diddy boys. Mine had his last day at nursery (school) a couple of weeks ago (Scotland) and it was quite sweet.
What do they think about starting school?

Completely forgot to post, but finally got a positive on the OPK, this morning, only two days late. Grr!
Have emailed the dude at the clinic to see if I could have the transfer in the morning and still catch my flight on Tuesday (fingers crossed) otherwise I will have to pay for two new flights and another night at the hotel.

Oo,Oo! I did a Google about red clover delaying ovulation and a few animal husbandry articles appeared about ewes consuming red clover having delayed ovulation, due to the high oestrogen content.
So my little, helpful, oestrogen top-up, has actually buggered up my cycle. Thank goodness I stopped taking everything yesterday except agnus castus, which eats oestrogen (kind of) and increases LH levels.
What a daftie I am (DS's favourite insult).

Rowing any news re whether you are still able to go ahead with the ET? Fingers crossed. Thanks for prize! You say you use ebay OPK?s ? what are they called? Hoping for a miracle baby and can?t do any harm to try them especially if not too expensive.
My boys are not at all excited about starting big school ? they have had a couple of ?breaking in? sessions at the new ?big? school and were literally clinging to my legs and crying when I left them there the first time!? Needless to say they survived the experience and ended up having a lovely time! Just feel so sad that that stage of their lives is now over and its looking less and less likely that I will have another child to experience it etc IYKWIM.
I know that I am extremely extremely lucky to be blessed with twins but somehow it doesn?t lessen my desire to have another child.
Someone in our village has just come home with twins (3 weeks old) from a surrogate in the US ? really pleased for her as the last attempt with same surrogate (triplets) ended in a MCC at 8 weeks.
Italian have been thinking a lot about adoption just recently but have not actually taken steps to further our application. A friend of a friend who is a single lady in her early 40?s has just adpoted a 6 year old girl via local CC ? whole process took approx 2 years. I have not met this particular girl but according to our friends who were refereees for the adoption she is absolutely delightful and just like the little girl on the TV prog ?Outnumbered?

Rowing, you are a right daftie!(what a cute little insult! Love it)
I thought red clover was supposed to help out us oldies because we don't have enough estrogen.I didn't realise it would delay ovulation. So glad you finally got the + opk. Great news, hope you can sort out the transfer etc so you don't have to pay for more flights.
Interesting about the OPK. I did get the positive before we left to go away (Tues a.m) then again in the a.m the following day - so it was about 24 hours of + opk's. I'm guessing it was only the one egg.Blimey, I don't think I'd cope with twins, and I know for sure my DH would find it terribly hard! I really hope we got the timing right, but I know there's so much else that has to be right to get a sticky baby.Let's hope I'm lucky enough.
Welcome Spotty and Holey.Sorry to hear you are having your second mc, Spotty. I hope you get your sticky little baby soon.

We are home after our little trip away, and although we had a nice little break, it wasn't exactly relaxing with a toddler.It is much more relaxing being at home, with him allowed to touch everything. It is hard being in less than baby-proofed places, I felt I had to be alert at all times! we did go out one night for a gorgeous meal at a beautiful restuarant.Something we haven't done sans children for ages. I really enjoyed it. It was lovely to have someone else cook something delicious, then clean up after me!
Well, I better go and bath the nuaghty little possum before he pees on the rug again!

spotty started typing a fab long post to you last night and then we had a powercut right in the middle of it - laptop was plugged in at the time so lost the post.

I think what i was saying was this - I have also had 2 MC's this year . first was a MMC at 11.5 weeks and the second was possibly a blighted ovum last month (they could only see a small sac at 6 weeks).

My gp said that obviously fertilisation and inplantation are taking place but the embryos we made just were'nt progressing. I feel like - if I could just get a decent embryo I know my body can do this(I've had 2 successful pregs in the past).

I read a very good book last week-end - By Lesley Regan, What every woman should know about MC. It made me realise that there is a much greater chance of a chromosonal problem once the woman is in her 40's - BUT it is do-able!!! You obviously don't have any probs getting preggers (to have had 2 MC's by july) and that is a good sign.

We just have to hope for a good egg next time.

There is another poster on here called alba who had a MMC followed by a CP and she is now on her third time lucky - she is about 15 weeks and all is well with her so far (not even a high risk at the nuchal). Also jolly is on her third time (2 MMC's) and so far is doing ok,but admitadly she is still at the early stages (about 7 weeks).

I think it is very sad that we have to suffer MC's just to get a decent embryo - but that is unfortunately mother natures cruel little joke .

I don't intent to give up just yet. I want to be quoted as one of the 3rd time lucky ones. [begging face icon].

Thinking of you and hoping that something I've said will help a little .

rowing glad you go the pos you needed - stop messing with those potions witchy-poo!!!!!

Alba think I recognise you from mc thread. Glad everythings going well for you, hope you can start 'believing' soon.
Rowing everything sounds so complicated for you. Hope it all works out.
Rowing and Holey I was very blubby when dd left nursery, then the first day of school, then when she lost her fisrt tooth infact every milestone makes me sad. She's very independent and tells me not to be silly. The time just goes too fast...
Gum lucky you having time away, I'm a bit of a pet freak which makes it hard to go anywhere. Are you from Australia?
Hippy thanks for all the +ve info, I'm a bit of a pessimist wish I wasn't. But.... I went for a scan today bit gruesom as its only D3 of MC didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. Saw the most lovely MW who was so positive, she had her first baby at 40 and is now 42. She told me she is still making up her mind about having another, but her age is not an issue. She sees so many 'older' ladies every day with good outcomes that she is in no hurry. She said almost the same as you Hippy, it will go right just keep trying.
I will be a +ve thinking, temp chart plotting, opk peeing, persona watching fertility mad woman.
Just kick me, Sorry.

spotty it's only day 3 of MC - it is VERY understandable that you're feeling negative. Once the bleeding stops and you start seeing signs that you are gonna ovulate you will start thinking, "Maybe next time it will work out ok!".

I know I did. These lot will tell you that i got ridiculously excited about a postive opk the other day. I was all excited to be getting another go at an egg I figure there might be a good one left in there.

Give yourself a bit of time.

Hippy news - I finished work yesterday. No more jobs for us - our department is moving up norff. I was a bit sad but even on my last day I managed to get caught up in yet another 'bump' chat between the two friends who are due one week after I would have been. One minute we were talking about the cake I'd brought in to say goodbye (I finished a couple of weeks before everyone else) - long story, not relevant.

Anyway, as I say - we were talking about cake and then we were miraculously talking about their scans and if they would get to see their little ones again before they were born. I just turned away and shoved a bit of cake in my gob!!!!! Will not miss those chats at all!

rowing thinking of you as you embark on this journey. I really hope this is the start of something amazing for you and your DH.

love to all - have a fab week-end.

ps. It seems like 5 minutes ago that my youngest started at proper school and this morning I went to his leavers concert. In september I'll have 2 in Juniors -

Hi all,
Booom! [Huge explosion from potion]
That was for you Hippy. Let me know if you need your ovulation delayed, I will be happy to tell you what I took. Make sure you only do it when you have lots of money and arrangements resting on it being at the right time. It's not exciting enough otherwise.

Gum that timeline sounds a little less worrying (I would think twins plus five other children might be a bit much). Is Charlie's bum a bit less red now, with all the nappy-free time?
I'm glad you had a nice restful meal, you deserve it! What's happening with the schools down under, is it holiday time there yet?
When does pre-school start for Charlie?

Holey give the OPKs a go, can't do any harm [well it could if you don't get a positive, but we won't think about that}
One person on here, possibly GPS, did the proper test where you don't drink for 2 hours and tested and got a strong positive.
I have bought from various Ebay sellers and you pretty much get exactly the same product from all of them.
It is quite a big step, going to school, but they will soon get to know the teacher and other children. Are they going to be in the same class?

GPS (if you are looking in) I was looking at one of the sellers whom I have dealt with for OPKs in the past. They don't seem to sell OPKs anymore, but they do have a home sperm test!!! OMG! How fortuitous! [evil cackle]

So it's all on again!
The clinic are going t fit me in for an early transfer on Tuesday so that I can get a taxi to the airport after. [Screech of tyres]
Because the embryos were a bit slow (great! Rolls eyes) they were at the normal day 4 stage when they were frozen on day 5. This means that even though the transfer is slightly earlier than they would have liked, the embyros might be fine because they are 'behind'.
Either this means they are doomed, or they may be girls - they are slower to reach blastocyst (day 5) than boys - I have been reliably informed.
Not like us is it!
It's not exactly what I would have liked, bit more stressful than I wanted, but at least it is all in hand.
Will be starting progesterone tomorrow.
We also need to do a bit of 'the other' as it helps with implantation, and you never know....
Fell out with DP last night, and also forgot the golden rule - skimpy attire. Forgot and wore a gigantic nightshirt over PJ bums. Doh!

rowing I really wish it was october and we still had those little smiley faces with the witches hats - alas it's not october,so I can't be hysterically funny.

All the best with the trip. It sounds like you should just have enough time to put your knickers back on before it's, "TAXI!"

rainbow just read all about your trip to the docs on the hut of doom thread. Wow that's really interesting and it does possibly explain why you get perg sooo easily (as in - passing your DH on the stairs on one or two occasions) and also why you are so unlucky to keep losing them. I wonder what they propose to do about it though???

I conceived DS1 within 2 months, DS2 within 3 months, MMC within 5 months and MC within 3 months. Does that sound bad then??? I'm guessing it's only an issue if you literally get preg every month you try. I'm stupidly hoping for a pregnancy this month because I'm going on the theory that this is the next egg out after my MC and you can't get 2 bad eggs in a row (which of course is nonsense!!!! )

rainbow you don't get perg - you get preg!! sorry.

Hi, I hope no-one minds me barging in here, but I just wanted to say that I am currently 13 wks pregnant, aged 44, having had four m/cs in the past four years.

My first was a partial molar pregnancy, then I had a mmc, then went on to take clomid for a year without success. i had two further m/cs which I lost 'naturally' (The last one in Feb this year).

I hadn't actually been actively trying to get pregnant before I miscarried earlier this year, and subsequently decided that I was absolutely happy and content with the three gorgeous dcs we are blessed to have.

I was absolutely dumbfounded to discover I was pregnant again in May, and very distraught immediately fearing the worst.

I wept when I had a positive scan at 8 wks.

I know there is still a long way to go, am having amnio at 16 wks, and will not really feel 'fully' pregnant until I get a positive result from that (I suppose I'm simply protecting myself after so many losses).

Anyway, I have been lurking her for ages, and just wanted to share a positive story with you, from a very old bird!

So in a nutshell, stop trying to get pregnant, accept your lot, and bingo! You'll be pregnant in no time.