At Home Insemination - Buddies?

[H8624]

For several reasons hubby and I are going down the route of at home insemination. It can be quite a lonely process I think - does anyone want to join me and we can go through it together/share tips etc?

Bit of background - we've tried for 2 months now both unsuccessful. I'm using clearblue ovulation detector to get my peak, and we've been doing the insemination every day from when I get my flashing smiley to the day after the peak, give or take the odd day! Using 10ml syringes and laying down afterwards for 20-30 mins.

Finding the 2ww a real struggle, and my heart breaks every time AF comes! I know it's only been 2 cycles and could take a lot longer so need to be patient! Altho feel like everyone around me is having babies which doesn't help!

Anyway sorry for going on - anyone want to join and share their experiences/tips? Need some motivation and hope!

I finally got my positive opk - so I guess inseminating a day earlier then it could still work.

What brand of opks have you found good? I bought a cheaper one to the clear blue and they haven’t been very good - the test line barely shows.

@Waiting2BAMummy it’s just so strange. I luckily haven’t come across the NI men, but I guess because it’s me and my wife they know we’re unlikely to go for that. I just end up sending loads of messages and get nothing back.

Yes @Overlyanxious I messaged about fifteen donors last night and only 2 replied!

I used to use the clearblue advanced ovulation tests but I’ve read they can detect your surge quite late and when using them alongside wondfo sticks I got my positive on wondfo the evening before clearblue.

I’m currently using easy@home sticks with the premom app as it scans them but so far only low fertility. Hope you’re one try does the trick.

@Waiting2BAMummy they sound like a right bunch of perverts, stay well clear, chin up you will find a good egg.
@Overlyanxious I didn't realise you had a wife too, is this your first time or do you already have children?

@Busybee143 It’s our first. My wife isn’t particularly bothered about being pregnant - but will have a go if I struggle to get pregnant. Ideally we want 2 children - so twins would be great 😀

I agree with @Busybee143 they sound a bit

Sorry cut off!

But yes I agree with BusyBee they sound a bit Pervy @Overlyanxious if you're a donor it's not for you to dictate that, just give it up and move up!

Well I think it's finally sunken in, however I already have an anxious feeling each time I go to the loo. Praying not to see red like before.

I'm absolutely knackered, prepping my daughters new bedroom all day ready for birthday surprise tomorrow! Bed soon

* them give up their sample I mean and move along! Not you give up @Overlyanxious* my god I can't type tonight lol

@ChunkyButFunky87 I hate that anxious feeling - but I don’t think you have anything to worry about. It’s nice you have your daughters birthday surprise to concentrate on.

I think these NI men think they can get away with it because women are desperate to have a baby. It’s so horrible. I have read about women who agree to do it.

@Overlyanxious I sort of felt the same then I saw wifey go through it and definitely wanted a go.
@Overlyanxious don't accept anything that's not good enough for you, we're all here to support you.
@ChunkyButFunky87 I'm not going to lie to you the worrying never stopped for me and it still hasn't, I'm still scared to tell people I'm pregnant. I'm not trying to tell you this to stress you out or annoy you but to offer you some advice. What will be will be, love and enjoy what you have right here right now and appreciate every day of pregnancy. You have to be really strong now and put all the worries to the back of your mind, I nearly let my worries consume me. Set yourself little milestones, I promised myself I would go for a scan no earlier that 9/10 weeks, that helped me to focus on that particular part and get me through the nervy weeks. I also understand how nervous you will be when it comes to previous miscarriage time in current pregnancy. Make sure you use us lot as a sounding board if you do get stressed or worried, happen I may just be more of a worrier and you will relax much more than me. Hope what I've said has done more good than damage x

Ah thank you @Busybee143 100%, hubby is still on the over cautious 'don't talk about it' incase anything goes wrong! I find that more frustrating but think it's very much a male response, as far as I'm concerned baby is here and here to stay. I rang docs yesterday and got my booking in appointment, again trying to be optimistic so that's end of November.

Here's to a smooth, successful pregnancy x

Hi Everyone,

I hope you don’t my jumping on this thread, I’ve been reading through it and I’m looking for advice from folks who have more knowledge / experience than I do.

Basics:
TTC 4 cycles, #1, known donor. I’m 38 years old. Same sex relationship.
28 day cycle with 12 day LP
Tracking BBT, CM and OPK (Fertility friend)

My donor is only happy to come round once so it’s crucial and very hard to get the timing right.

I understand his perspective as he has donated successfully 3x before and says once is enough as long as the timing is right.
It’s harder still because I have to pick the day in advance so he can arrange childcare.

But looking back I’ve ovulated on CD 14, 16, 17 and 15.

If you were going to pick one day for AI in this situation which day would you aim for?

I’d be grateful for any advice. I also posted on a separate thread so apologies for duplicating.

I’ll be trying again this month. FF predicts my ovulation at 12/13/14th nov (CD 15,16,17) so we’ve planned for him to come on the 11th (CD 14)

Thanks again x

Hi @Supermathsdoc

I think CD14 sounds like a good bet, even if early, hopefully means some in place for when egg arrives.

I'm very similar and I've caught twice now on CD14

Hi @Supermathsdoc I agree with @ChunkyButFunky87 CD14 seems a good bet.

It is so hard to get the timing right with only one donation when your ovulation isn’t consistent. My new donor says the same and will only donate once. For me though, I’ve ovulated anything from CD14 through to 30 so that’s really not helpful. Have you thought about trying to find another donor who is a little more flexible? Or maybe even using 2 and just having one donation from each of them?

@ChunkyButFunky87 I have everything crossed for you!!!! I really hope this is your time!!!!
@Supermathsdoc I'd be tempted to go for CD16 what days have you done previously? What kind of peak on a stick do you get? My 'peak' used to be around for 2 or 3 sticks if that makes sense. Sounds like you've got a good length LP, I struggled with having a short LP some months.

@ChunkyButFunky87 thanks so much. That’s reassuring to know you think the timing is right and it has worked for you.

@Waiting2BAMummy yes I’m definitely thinking about whether I need to find another donor. I’m hanging on because this guy really is perfect and he said if after 6m it doesn’t work he will come twice.... it’s been 4m so I’m trying to nail it (as much as is possible) for the next 2 cycles.

@Busybee143 CD16 is what I wanted but he can’t do Thursday so he said Wednesday (CD14) or Friday (CD16)

I feel like going early is better than later. I also feel bad for getting frustrated when he’s obviously doing a massively kind and altruistic thing, but when you only have one shot you definitely need it to be the right day!

With the lockdown imminent I’m also worried that he may just not come at all ....

I’ve attached a photo of my OPK sticks from last month, which I’m grateful for anyone looking at. AI on CD 15 pm (1 day after the peak) but at 38 I think thats way too late and I felt ovulation pain in the early hours. I confined ovulation with a temp rise on CD16.

I’m worried about that too @Supermathsdoc as it’s highly I’ll get to try at all in November. I’m CD20 today, no positive opk or temp rise as yet but I feel like I’m getting AF. I’ve taken soy isoflavones this month and looking back when I started taking them earlier in the year my first cycle was only 20 days too.

@Waiting2BAMummy I feel exactly the same. I’m not sure if we will get to try either this month. We have discussed ways of him donating without us having any contact, but ultimately it’s about how comfortable he feels.....

I realised I didn’t attach the picture so have attached it now.

In terms of supplements, I’m taking uniquinol
200mg and the seven seas pre conception stuff.

@Supermathsdoc your timing seems good, it sounds like you have a nice donor.
Were a little different as our donor has already given us one child and we have met him a lot of times because of me not conceiving as fast as partner always in our home. We were comfortable leaving the front door open and allowing donor to go straight upstairs to deposit then leaving and he was happy with that too, just a suggestion.

Just looking back on this group, mental the amount of messages sent since February!

How's the pregnancy @H8624? This is your thread after all lol x not long to go now x

@Busybee143 thanks so much for this suggestion! We are chatting about doing the same but it’s reassuring to know that other people think it’s reasonable too. It’s so hard at the moment to know!

Apologies for hijacking this thread having not previously contributed. I’m super grateful for the reassurance and responses, it has helped put my mind at ease a lot, so thank you x

We’ll be needing to start a new thread soon @ChunkyButFunky87 because I think 1,000 posts is the limit and we’re not far off.

It is crazy that we’re all still chatting but lovely too. So many BFP’s since this thread started gives me hope when I’m feeling like this is never going to happen.

How is everyone doing today? How are you feeling @ChunkButFunky87? I hear what your DH is saying about not getting carried away just in case, I guess it’s self preservation but honestly you’ll be just as upset whether you let yourself get excited or not so you may as well just enjoy it for what it is right now. Of course you’re going to worry but plenty of women have loses and go on to have perfectly healthy babies so there is no reason to think you will be any different. Cant wait for you to be posting bubba’s first mugshot from your first scan!

I haven’t tested yet today but no positive opk as yet. Temps are still low too so at least I know I haven’t missed ovulation. I have a new donor and he visited Friday night and this morning but he doesn’t produce very much (sorry TMI) so am having him make his donation straight into a soft cup then he leaves and I insert it. He said he can come over during this week too but am hoping I get a positive opk soon. They’re not getting any darker at all so I hope it just suddenly changes. Last month my cycle was 44 days so I must have ovulated around day 33 because I believe my LP is 11 days. Really hope I don’t have to wait that long this time as donor will get fed up!

@ChunkyButFunky87 I am doing well thank you - 9 weeks to go so not long now! Counting down the days until I finish work 😂.

I am so glad I started this thread as it was nice to have the support of those going through it at the same time as me, and also nice seeing many other BFPs since mine with many more to come im sure! I often check in to see how you're all doing and I'm so excited you got your bfp @ChunkyButFunky87! Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly! Do you think you will book an early scan if you can?

Can't believe how many people have joined this thread as well - glad to see it's helping others who are going through the same/similar 😊. The process definitely works!

Yes new thread time soon! @Waiting2BAMummy I'm good thank you, I bought bean a little item today, I did the same when I found out I was pregnant with our daughter, sounds daft but it just kind of solidified to me she was there (before I knew she was a she!) and I remembered I didn't do that back in April, so decided to do it again, whatever the outcome, they exist right now and they have their little hat ready to keep them warm (I also took my daughter home from the hospital in it last time so I'd love to think I can do the same)

Gosh not long at all @H8624 it'll be a nice thought though knowing you can finish at Xmas and not having to go back! Are you planning on taking a year off or less?

On the plus side, if this bean arrives in July as planned, my daughter starts school in September so I'll be able to take her and pick her up which will be amazing