Trying to Conceive 2016 onwards Chat Thread

shortstuff!

Excitednervous wrote: »

Hi everyone
We have just started ttc this year, I used an ovulation kit to check when I was ovulating and we tried every day in the lead up to the smiley face indicator and a few days after, I was sure we would conceive but I just got my period 2 days late and I'm crushed, has anyone got any advice, I know it's early days but it's very upsetting 😢

It is upsetting when it doesn't happen, I'm sure you got your hopes up especially when you were late. It's very common not to conceive the 1st month so try to relax a little, easier said than done I know. Fingers crossed for next month!

shortstuff!

Had a positive test this morning! Usually keep it to ourselves for the 12weeks including the net but all I got from husband was don't get your hopes up:( We miscarried in January at 8weeks, so 30 seconds of happiness this morning and crying since basically. He's regretted his choice of words since but what can ya do...

bbkk

Hi there Hopeful2016 my fertility doc told me to start taking inoself last year as i have pcos, like you i didnt trust it as i couldnt find anything online but as she recommended it I tried it (thought what had i to lose) after a few months of taking it and not seeing any changes I thought it was a waste of money (was using cheap ovulating sticks and wasnt getting a postive when i thought i should - the joys of pcos!!) until today when my GP rang (decided to take a break from the fertility doc felt like they were pushing IVF etc.) and said that my 21 day blood test results were 65!!! Super news considering I have pcos and last results were at a 25 and 29! Im over the moon about it - poor hubby doesnt really get it all :-). Frustrating with the cost of the powder but its certainly cheap than some other treatment and I have had no side effects what so ever. I have recently changed my diet to reduce my intake of sugars and carbs for pcos, also have an under active thyroid too. Hope you got some more feedback on it... I would recommend it. Best of luck

Loveinapril

shortstuff! wrote: »

Had a positive test this morning! Usually keep it to ourselves for the 12weeks including the net but all I got from husband was don't get your hopes up:( We miscarried in January at 8weeks, so 30 seconds of happiness this morning and crying since basically. He's regretted his choice of words since but what can ya do...

Congratulations!

I completely understand how you are feeling. I feel like a previous miscarriage really dampens the excitement. I actually don't really feel excited at all, just nervously hopeful. Your husband was probably just trying to protect both you and him from being hurt again x

shortstuff!

Loveinapril wrote: »

Congratulations!

I completely understand how you are feeling. I feel like a previous miscarriage really dampens the excitement. I actually don't really feel excited at all, just nervously hopeful. Your husband was probably just trying to protect both you and him from being hurt again x

Yeah it's like I'm not proper pregnant this time round until 12weeks. Fingers crossed for us both! Yeah he did say afterwards that he's just more aware of how fragile it is, but I didn't need reminding that of course it could go wrong again. Needed a hug & a "hopefully it'll work out this time"! Think we'll just veto all pregnancy talk for the next 2months, save him saying the wrong thing! Emotions running high & all that!!

PhoenixParker

shortstuff! wrote: »

Had a positive test this morning! Usually keep it to ourselves for the 12weeks including the net but all I got from husband was don't get your hopes up:( We miscarried in January at 8weeks, so 30 seconds of happiness this morning and crying since basically. He's regretted his choice of words since but what can ya do...

While I understand your husbands instinct for self preservation, there is no such thing as don't get your hopes up when it comes to a wanted pregnancy. The fact that you're pessimistic or avoiding getting your hopes up won't make you any less sad or devastated if it does go tits up again.

My advice is enjoy it, nervous as you are. If it goes right you have happiness, if it does go wrong at least you'll have had happiness to go with your sadness. Not getting your hopes up means meh is the best case scenario and misery the worst.

shortstuff!

PhoenixParker wrote: »

While I understand your husbands instinct for self preservation, there is no such thing as don't get your hopes up when it comes to a wanted pregnancy. The fact that you're pessimistic or avoiding getting your hopes up won't make you any less sad or devastated if it does go tits up again.

My advice is enjoy it, nervous as you are. If it goes right you have happiness, if it does go wrong at least you'll have had happiness to go with your sadness. Not getting your hopes up means meh is the best case scenario and misery the worst.

Thanks PhoenixParker, totally agree, couldn't have put it better myself! Easier for men to put it to the back of their minds, the 1st trimester can be tough, there's no ignoring it so I'm going to work on the assumption it'll work out & day dream about the future as much as I like! Stressing can't help

Meubles

Congrats LoveinApril & Shortstuff!! I totally know how you are feeling, I had a loss at 7 weeks and am now 17 weeks pregnant. I did spend a lot of time worrying in those first few weeks when I passed the '7 weeks' I felt a lot better. I cried my eyes out when I heard the heart beat at 9 weeks. Let yourself be as positive as you want and enjoy it you deserve it! And good luck with your pregnancies

LegacyUser

6 months in trying with my wife. She is getting upset and blaming herself. I know it could be a number of reasons why we are having no success so far including myself. We are both fit and healthy by the way and in our early 30's.
Does anyone have advance on what to do next in relation to tests etc. Wife is planning on getting hormones checked with GP next week.

Neyite

Male-ttc wrote: »

6 months in trying with my wife. She is getting upset and blaming herself. I know it could be a number of reasons why we are having no success so far including myself. We are both fit and healthy by the way and in our early 30's.
Does anyone have advance on what to do next in relation to tests etc. Wife is planning on getting hormones checked with GP next week.

Hormone checking is the first step - 2-3 blood tests. One before ovulation and one after, then if something is unusual, a repeat of a test to establish if there is indeed an issue or just a blip in a hormone, which can happen with some of them.

Then, the next step is a referral to a fertility specialist. Usually they write to you with a list of blood tests you need to have done at your GP prior to your appointment. Bring the letter into your GP in plenty of time for the results to be there at your fertility appointment. Female partner will need to bring details of her cycles so if she's keeping track of those the more information the better. The male partner usually does a semen sample an hour before the joint appointment and the lab analyses it right away so the results are known at the main appointment. Female gets an internal ultrasound, and possibly referred for a HSG x-ray.

They recommend checking things out at 6 months if you are over 35, but a year if under, so it's possible your GP might be reluctant to refer her initially. Statistically most couples with no fertility issues under 35 conceive within the year so if she's getting stressed and upset 6 months in about it, she really needs to do her best to work on that as its counter-intuitive to TTC. Fertility investigations are stressful, emotional and often difficult in themselves so you really need to have a positive and focused mindset facing into it.

Very best of luck.

shortstuff!

shortstuff! wrote: »

Thanks PhoenixParker, totally agree, couldn't have put it better myself! Easier for men to put it to the back of their minds, the 1st trimester can be tough, there's no ignoring it so I'm going to work on the assumption it'll work out & day dream about the future as much as I like! Stressing can't help

Positivity didn't work I'm afraid. 8+1 in January, 6+3 this time. Was so sure it was gonna work out.

catrionanic

shortstuff! wrote: »

Positivity didn't work I'm afraid. 8+1 in January, 6+3 this time. Was so sure it was gonna work out.

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. I can't imagine how sad you must both be feeling. Take some time to look after yourselves and look after one another. Sending big hugs and wishing you a healthy and happy pregnancy in the future.

flix

Hi everyone, I've been reading this thread for a while but haven't posted yet. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories, it's great to have an outlet to discuss these things.

We haven't been ttc for too long really, I've been off the pill for a year but this has been the first cycle that I've really kept track of the dates we dtd and my symptoms etc (although I think half these "symptoms" are in my head!)

We've no reason to suspect anything is wrong, I've just always had this assumption that I'd find it hard to conceive. Maybe everyone is the same?

Anyway, my periods returned as soon as I came off the pill, put have been pretty irregular, anything from 26 days to 40, but averaging around 31 days. I'm currently on day 29 and not at all sure when I ovulated. I seem to have CM most of the time anyway, but this is the first month I've been keeping an eye out for EWCM. I did notice some around CD17. However, I had some spotting around CD 13, which has never happened before, so I've been convinced I'm pregnant ever since!! This two week wait...or three in my case...is so hard! I'm driving myself mad! How is everyone else getting on?

laylag

flix wrote:

Anyway, my periods returned as soon as I came off the pill, put have been pretty irregular, anything from 26 days to 40, but averaging around 31 days. I'm currently on day 29 and not at all sure when I ovulated. I seem to have CM most of the time anyway, but this is the first month I've been keeping an eye out for EWCM. I did notice some around CD17. However, I had some spotting around CD 13, which has never happened before, so I've been convinced I'm pregnant ever since!! This two week wait...or three in my case...is so hard! I'm driving myself mad! How is everyone else getting on?

I've been TTC only for a couple of months. Last month I was on day 40 and I was convinced I'd be getting a positive result. I had some pains at around day 30 like cramps and stuff and a little bit of spotting. Sadly got period on day 45 so back to square one now.
I'm trying to stay away from googling symptoms now....and just trying to relax about it. I had the implant for the past few years so my periods are still a bit all over the place!
I'm trying to track dates on an app to keep track of everything so hopefully that will help! Glad to hear I'm not the only one with irregular cycles!

Loveinapril

For those of you with irregular cycles, I would highly recommend getting some cheapie ovulation sticks from Ebay. You can get about 5 for €1 and at least it will give you an insight into when/ if you ovulate. My cycles were regular enough with the odd week late once or twice a year but the sticks showed me that I ovulated a day later than I 'should have' every month. It was good to know. (I am 12 weeks pregnant).

flix

laylag wrote: »

I've been TTC only for a couple of months. Last month I was on day 40 and I was convinced I'd be getting a positive result. I had some pains at around day 30 like cramps and stuff and a little bit of spotting. Sadly got period on day 45 so back to square one now.
I'm trying to stay away from googling symptoms now....and just trying to relax about it. I had the implant for the past few years so my periods are still a bit all over the place!
I'm trying to track dates on an app to keep track of everything so hopefully that will help! Glad to hear I'm not the only one with irregular cycles!

Sorry to hear you're back to square one! Although in a way it must be good to see the back of the tww and to put it out of your head and enjoy the trying...!

I know what you mean about trying not to google, we'd planned on taking a relaxed approach about the whole ttc business but I've just become obsessed with it, every twinge, cramp or burp has me convinced I'm pregnant!

I currently have AF type cramps and have had an awful breakout so I'm pretty sure it will arrive tomorrow. Very tempted to do a test out of curiosity though, as we did the deed a few times during what I think was my fertile window. I'll try to wait until I'm officially late before testing! According to my app I'm due on Monday, but it could be any day really. I'm using the Clue app to track dates and symptoms, I find it great, what are you using?

flix

Loveinapril wrote: »

For those of you with irregular cycles, I would highly recommend getting some cheapie ovulation sticks from Ebay. You can get about 5 for €1 and at least it will give you an insight into when/ if you ovulate. My cycles were regular enough with the odd week late once or twice a year but the sticks showed me that I ovulated a day later than I 'should have' every month. It was good to know. (I am 12 weeks pregnant).

Congrats Loveinapril, delighted to hear your goood news. Best of luck with the pregnancy!

Thanks for that, it's something I'll definitely be trying in a couple of months if we haven't had any success.

GaGa21

I had been using the sticks from Dealz for €1.50 then a friend gave me the Clearblue fertility monitor and used that this cycle. Had high fertility but no peak.
Hoping it's just adjusting this cycle and will have success next cycle. Or am I ovulating at all? I have endometriosis so want to try naturally before going down the ivf route. But the more time goes on, more I wonder am I just wasting it...

bee06

GaGa21 wrote: »

I had been using the sticks from Dealz for €1.50 then a friend gave me the Clearblue fertility monitor and used that this cycle. Had high fertility but no peak.
Hoping it's just adjusting this cycle and will have success next cycle. Or am I ovulating at all? I have endometriosis so want to try naturally before going down the ivf route. But the more time goes on, more I wonder am I just wasting it...

Have you had the blood tests etc yet? No harm in getting those done first to know where you stand.

GaGa21

bee06 wrote:

Have you had the blood tests etc yet? No harm in getting those done first to know where you stand.

Not yet. I did have an appointment for an AMH blood test and 7 day ultrasound with clinic but had to cancel due to unforseen circumstances. But think I will reschedule soon....at least I'll know if my chances will be more or less than I think they are now.
I know i have one small cyst on 1 ovary but uterus is clear and normal. I did have one blocked fallopian tube due to endo but they were able to clear it so thought that would improve my chances, but not so far.

flix

Just looking for some advice ladies...warning in advance that this may be tmi!

As I mentioned before, my periods are quite irregular but I was expecting it to arrive today (assuming that I'm not pregnant). Yesterday I noticed some brown CM when I wiped so presumed it was on the way. Then I started to wonder if it could be implantation bleeding. It lasted all day, I wore a sanitary towel but didn't really need one, it was only there when I wiped. Noticed a small bit of red in it during the day.

This morning, it is still brown, quite dark brown in colour. It's kind of similar to what I'd notice at the end of my period. Has anyone had this before? Could it be implantation bleeding, or is it lasting too long to be that? I'm afraid to get my hopes up! Also, I did a test on Friday which was a bfn, and I swore I'd never test again until I'm at least a week late! I just feel like I can't trust myself at all as I had myself 100% convinced I was pregnant before taking that test, so I think my brain is over sensitive to possible symptoms.

I had booked an appointment with my gp today anyway to discuss blood tests etc as I'm worried I'm not ovulating. So we'll see how that goes!

brokensoul

flix wrote: »

Just looking for some advice ladies...warning in advance that this may be tmi!

As I mentioned before, my periods are quite irregular but I was expecting it to arrive today (assuming that I'm not pregnant). Yesterday I noticed some brown CM when I wiped so presumed it was on the way. Then I started to wonder if it could be implantation bleeding. It lasted all day, I wore a sanitary towel but didn't really need one, it was only there when I wiped. Noticed a small bit of red in it during the day.

This morning, it is still brown, quite dark brown in colour. It's kind of similar to what I'd notice at the end of my period. Has anyone had this before? Could it be implantation bleeding, or is it lasting too long to be that? I'm afraid to get my hopes up! Also, I did a test on Friday which was a bfn, and I swore I'd never test again until I'm at least a week late! I just feel like I can't trust myself at all as I had myself 100% convinced I was pregnant before taking that test, so I think my brain is over sensitive to possible symptoms.

I had booked an appointment with my gp today anyway to discuss blood tests etc as I'm worried I'm not ovulating. So we'll see how that goes!

Tis nearly impossible to know. I think that implantation bleeding usually happens earlier in the cycle than your period should be due, but I had some bleeding when I was 6 weeks pregnant which when I was scanned they told me was implantation bleeding that had ben trapped in my uterus for a few weeks so you never know.

Good luck with the GP appointment!

flix

brokensoul wrote: »

Tis nearly impossible to know. I think that implantation bleeding usually happens earlier in the cycle than your period should be due, but I had some bleeding when I was 6 weeks pregnant which when I was scanned they told me was implantation bleeding that had ben trapped in my uterus for a few weeks so you never know.

Good luck with the GP appointment!

Thanks Brokensoul. The GP did a test which was negative. She also did a blood test so looks like I'll just have to wait and see!

bee06

I used to get spotting every cycle (I have PCOS). The first time it happened I got my hopes up and thought it was implantation bleeding as well. If your periods are irregular I would definitely recommend getting blood tests done to see what's going on.

flix

Well I'm not pregnant anyway! AF has definitely arrived. Have to go back to the GP on day 23 for the second blood test. I feel much better now that I'm doing something!

LegacyUser

Myself and OH have been trying for just 6 months but since we're both over 35 we're going for tests soon just to see if there is anything wrong.
It's hard doing all this charting stuff, OPKs and BBTs. OPK in particular I find a bit odd, I'm never sure I've followed all the instructions correctly or I'm just not ovulating when I think I am. This month in particular I got no positive result during the time I should have so now I'm wondering if I'm ovulating at all...tests and a chat with a doc will help I suppose.

flix

Hi girls...am still in shock typing this but I got a positive result this morning...pregnant 1-2 weeks! Can hardly believe it! I know it's very early days, but it's impossible not to get excited.

Having been totally obsessed with pregnancy and symptoms last month, I totally switched off and just relaxed this time round. The only symptoms I've had are feeling exhausted, I mean absolutely drained. I had two very poor nights' sleep in a row which is very unusual for me. And I've had mild period type cramps this week. Today is day 34 for me and I should have gotten my period yesterday. Best of luck to all those trying xx

LegacyUser

squigglyd wrote: »

Myself and OH have been trying for just 6 months but since we're both over 35 we're going for tests soon just to see if there is anything wrong.
It's hard doing all this charting stuff, OPKs and BBTs. OPK in particular I find a bit odd, I'm never sure I've followed all the instructions correctly or I'm just not ovulating when I think I am. This month in particular I got no positive result during the time I should have so now I'm wondering if I'm ovulating at all...tests and a chat with a doc will help I suppose.

I downloaded Fertility Friend after seeing someone recommend it here and after cross posting all my data from the past few months it calculated that my ovulation would have been several days earlier than the other app (Period Tracker in TTC mode). PT app was only recommending taking my BBT in the days coming up to ovulation so I've missed out on having the BBTs and OPKs coming up to it. At least I feel like I'm a bit more tuned in to signs now, the videos and tutorials on it were helfpul, still a few to get through!

Congratulations flix, it's great to read the good news stories!

shortstuff!

flix wrote: »

Hi girls...am still in shock typing this but I got a positive result this morning...pregnant 1-2 weeks! Can hardly believe it! I know it's very early days, but it's impossible not to get excited.

Having been totally obsessed with pregnancy and symptoms last month, I totally switched off and just relaxed this time round. The only symptoms I've had are feeling exhausted, I mean absolutely drained. I had two very poor nights' sleep in a row which is very unusual for me. And I've had mild period type cramps this week. Today is day 34 for me and I should have gotten my period yesterday. Best of luck to all those trying xx

Congrats Flix, wishing you a very happy & uneventful 9mths!!

laylag

flix wrote:

Hi girls...am still in shock typing this but I got a positive result this morning...pregnant 1-2 weeks! Can hardly believe it! I know it's very early days, but it's impossible not to get excited.

flix wrote:

Having been totally obsessed with pregnancy and symptoms last month, I totally switched off and just relaxed this time round. The only symptoms I've had are feeling exhausted, I mean absolutely drained. I had two very poor nights' sleep in a row which is very unusual for me. And I've had mild period type cramps this week. Today is day 34 for me and I should have gotten my period yesterday. Best of luck to all those trying xx

Delighted to hear ... amazing news! Congrats!

Toots

Congratulations Flix!

brokensoul

Congrats Flix, lovely to hear good news.

RubyXI

Been trying for about a month now and although I'm terrified of it actually happening, I also seem to be scared of it not happening. I find myself thinking my stomach is bigger- after a month of trying- Every pain or unusual feeling has me thinking something is happening. Logically I know there's a really small chance of anything happening yet and even if it did i wouldn't have any symptoms. It's messing with my head. I suppose it will get easier as the months go on.

babydream

Congrats to all on the news of there pregnancy Were back to Trying to Conceive after taking a break for the last few months.

Due Af this weekend and excited to start back again

Cant believe its been a year since we decided to start trying, really thought we would have had success by now. Ive had all my bloods done and an ultrasound and all normal. So if by January and nothing has happened were going to go to the next stage and see a fertility specialist so fingers crossed for a BFP before then

xDisneyDivax

I'm gonna join as we decided we would start... We started taking pregnacare supplements last month and I started going for acupuncture as prep aswel.

hollymartins

6 months ago I came off the pill and my cycle has been regular since. Possibly TMI - on Sunday afternoon what I thought was my period arrived, I had heavy dark blood (presumably old blood?) so I then expected newer bleeding over the following days but it just petered out. I got a BFN on Sunday morning before I had the bleeding so I'm wondering was it possibly implantation bleeding and it was too early to test?

My periods would normally be 4-5 days, could it just be I didn't ovulate and that's why it was unusually light rather than pregnancy? I guess I should test again but it was 4 days since the BFN so how long should I wait just to be sure?

Loveinapril

hollymartins wrote: »

6 months ago I came off the pill and my cycle has been regular since. Possibly TMI - on Sunday afternoon what I thought was my period arrived, I had heavy dark blood (presumably old blood?) so I then expected newer bleeding over the following days but it just petered out. I got a BFN on Sunday morning before I had the bleeding so I'm wondering was it possibly implantation bleeding and it was too early to test?

My periods would normally be 4-5 days, could it just be I didn't ovulate and that's why it was unusually light rather than pregnancy? I guess I should test again but it was 4 days since the BFN so how long should I wait just to be sure?

Implantation bleeding is usually very light pink as it is the egg burrowing into the womb lining, so is new blood. Presumably if there is something to implant, the test would show a positive.

hollymartins

That's what I was thinking myself, implantation bleeding isn't that common either. I guess it was just an unusual period, if we weren't TTC I probably wouldn't have given it a second thought!

hollymartins

Well it seems that it was implantation bleeding as I had a positive test this morning! Very early days so I'll just wait and see if all goes well...delighted but cautious

Madam Oblong

Holly, I had the exact same type of non-period and it was a BFN. Tbh I'm not sure what it was

hollymartins

Madam Oblong wrote: »

Holly, I had the exact same type of non-period and it was a BFN. Tbh I'm not sure what it was

I honestly was not expecting the test to be positive, I really just did it to confirm that I wasn't pregnant and I could keep an eye on the signs for ovulation in a few weeks. It hasn't sunk in yet. But I'm reluctant to get my hopes up as I know from past experience (and from other posters here) that early pregnancies are fragile. I'll try not to worry, what will be will be.

catrionanic

hollymartins wrote: »

I honestly was not expecting the test to be positive, I really just did it to confirm that I wasn't pregnant and I could keep an eye on the signs for ovulation in a few weeks. It hasn't sunk in yet. But I'm reluctant to get my hopes up as I know from past experience (and from other posters here) that early pregnancies are fragile. I'll try not to worry, what will be will be.

Congratulations holly! Take it easy and enjoy it

xDisneyDivax

Congrats Holly! take it easy and enjoy!

Madam Oblong

hollymartins wrote: »

I honestly was not expecting the test to be positive, I really just did it to confirm that I wasn't pregnant and I could keep an eye on the signs for ovulation in a few weeks. It hasn't sunk in yet. But I'm reluctant to get my hopes up as I know from past experience (and from other posters here) that early pregnancies are fragile. I'll try not to worry, what will be will be.

Omg I didn't see your update when I posted! Congratulations that's amazing x

hollymartins

I'm afraid to say I'm pretty sure my hopes have been dashed. I had a bloated feeling all day followed by dark blood at lunch which I wasn't too worried about but I had bright red blood this evening (like a period)...enough to require a pad. Thankfully I'm not working this weekend so I'm going to take it easy and attend my GP appointment on Monday morning. I'll just see how things go but I presume he'll advise me to do another test in a week to confirm mc.

laylag

hollymartins wrote:

I'm afraid to say I'm pretty sure my hopes have been dashed. I had a bloated feeling all day followed by dark blood at lunch which I wasn't too worried about but I had bright red blood this evening (like a period)...enough to require a pad. Thankfully I'm not working this weekend so I'm going to take it easy and attend my GP appointment on Monday morning. I'll just see how things go but I presume he'll advise me to do another test in a week to confirm mc.

So sorry to hear this. Hope you're doing ok xx

xDisneyDivax

Really sorry to hear this- take it easy x

hollymartins

Thanks, obviously it's very disappointing but I'm glad it happened so early as I hadn't allowed myself to believe it (self preservation!). If I do fall pregnant again I know I'm going to be so anxious whenever I feel a twinge or need to go to the bathroom, but there's not much I can do about that.

My husband and I are going to take tomorrow off work and have day at home once I visit my GP in the morning. I'm going to put my feet up today and share a bottle of wine and a takeaway. For whatever reason this pregnancy was not meant to be but I'll take solace in the fact that I actually got pregnant, albeit briefly, so hopefully the next one will stick

xDisneyDivax

Holly, that is a very positive way to look at it! we DTD few times this week but I'm not expecting anything to come out of it either because it was only our first month 'trying'

catrionanic

xDisneyDivax wrote: »

Holly, that is a very positive way to look at it! we DTD few times this week but I'm not expecting anything to come out of it either because it was only our first month 'trying'

Exactly what I thought. 40 weeks later and there was a baba in the bed beside me. Best of luck.

Holly I'm so sorry to hear that things didn't work out for you this time. You are looking at things in a remarkably positive light and you're right - it's great that you conceived, miscarriages are common even in people without fertility problems, and I'm sure better news will come your way soon.

Best of luck at the GP tomorrow. Shall be thinking of you.