30 something and TTC #1 for a year

[cupcakesarah]

Hi mk8, I'm ok. Just turned 33 which is quite sad as still no baby. About 3 of mine and hubby's friends have had babies in the last month so I'm full of self pity as expected. My sister in law is currently going through an IVF cycle so I have my fingers crossed for her. She lost lots of weight beforehand which can only help. I was inspired by her to go on a diet and I'm quite pleased to have lot nearly half a stone (I'm a little overweight but nothing major, a few pounds will do me good). To be honest it's been nice to focus on something other than baby making (or attempted baby making in my case as still no baby made!).

Going to see fertility clinic on Jan 3rd for review of cancelled IUI from sept and meeting to start off the IVF. It was our choice to leave it that long, I just wanted a break and a fresh start next year.

Been busy booking holidays in the mean time, going for a rather exciting trip in April for our 3rd wedding anniversary, Paris, Las Vegas then New York. I cannot wait. Again it's nice to have something good to look forward to, instead of getting own and depressed about friends or family lapping me in the baby making. For example a friend at work has tried for a baby, had a baby, now got a 2 yr old and is now pregnant with number 2 in the time I've been talking about it since before we got married and then been trying (here comes my self pity again).

Did anyone watch the baby makers on bbc2 this week, it was interesting to see hat the clinics do.

 

[GettingBroody]

I watched that Cupcake - it was so sad Hopefully next week will have some happy endings...!

 

[aleja]

Hi gals ..
Cupcake I'm the queen of self pity. It's normal because we are used to failure. I got 3 girls in my office all due in March. I have to just keep a smile on all the time.

Mk my DH wasn't with me when I POAS. He was at the football. I only decided to test because I started spotting. I was devastated but thought it was very weird as my AF was due a few days later. I think it was an implantation bleed because it stopped within a day
So I sent DH a text with a photo of BFP... I really couldn't believe my eyes so I needed confirmation !

It's a shame there is so much difference between areas in UK. It's to very equitable .
In case you (and cupcake ) do go down the IVF path as hard as it is financially and emotionally it does work. My FS said to me in my last consult that most women around my age (just turned 35) will fall pregnant.

In the meantime enjoy your time off to re- group. Oh and CUpcake you are such a traveler ... Lucky girl x

 

[lilyV]

mk8 - worth requesting the x-ray? hsg? what's the advantage to it that the other tests wouldn't show?

aleja - :-O omgggg, sounds horrendous!! What we do for that unborn, er, unmade baby....

cupcakesarah - would you be able to locate baby makers on youtube or somewhere so I could watch?

 

[brassy]

Hello ladies!
I hope you are all well...

I am not. We had a dr's appointment yesterday. I had an ultrasound to check for follies. My lining, uterus and ovaries are good. I have several small follies on my right and two dominant on my left (which is strange). This is the first time I actually see follies on my left ovary. Dr said ov possibly in 3-4 days from yesterday. However, I am not optimistic at all at this point and I feel that my first clomid cycle is gonna be a waste.
We got DH's 2nd SA results which show a deterioration from last time in the motility. According to the dr these nos are not forbidding, BUT they make a natural conception v.difficult. So our chances are slim I guess. What do you think about the two SAs? How is it possible after beeing on vits for so long, having no infection this time (we were told parameters would get better if no infection) and eating more healthily to have a lower motility?. Also DH has quit alcohol completely since September...

1st SA May 2012 (infection found)
volume 1.5ml
count 27mil/ml (total count 40.5 mil)
morphology 7% (strict criteria)
motility
18% fast forward moving
23% medium and slow forward moving
21% moving localy
80% alive
15% motile survived after 24 hours

2nd SA November 2012 (no infection)
volume 3.3 ml
count 15.8mil/ml (total count 52 mil)
morphology 12% (strict)
motility
25% fast forward moving
4% medium forward moving
5% slow forward moving
13% motile survived after 24 hours

Second sa was also done in a different lab. The first one was one specializing on SAs. The only thing I can think of is that it hasn't helped that DH is lately working long hours and sometime during the weekend, meaning sometimes going to work for 12-13 concecutive days and then having only 1 day off. 3-4 weeks before the SA he had a bad cold. Also had an infection after removing a mole and had to be on antibiotics for some days. He stopped those a week before the test.

Dr prescribed l-carnitine for 3 months. Then another SA and we will decide from there. I won't take anymore clomid before we check the sperm.
I am a nervous wreck at this point since I feel that being in limbo for so long is not gonna do any good. I would like to proceed to iui asap but DH doesn't want to. He wants to try more naturally. BUT, we both turn 36 in Feb and even the thought of it makes me depressed. What would you do?

 

[lilyV]

awwwww, hon, I'm so sorry. Talk w the DH. State your reasons (based on some facts) of why you think it's time for iui. If he persists, be willing to go 1-2 cycles trying naturally BUT he has to come up with a plan like when you guys are going to BD. You need optimal times and you need to stick to your schedule. No "i'm sick, I'm tired, i'm angry at you" nothing like that. He can't stall on this. When you get preggo, it still takes 9 months to have a baby. Each year, there's possibility for complications, etc, etc. gl, fx, and praying.

 

[GettingBroody]

Brassy. I would push for the IUI too or at least put a definite date on doing an IUI cycle in March (for example) and trying naturally in the meantime. I think in my situation it was somewhat easier because dh's SA were so low that we were told there really was practically zero chance of conceiving naturally, IUI wasn't an option either and ICSI was our only choice. DH would have been very happy to try naturally for another year I'd say but after being told those odds then there was no point in even discussing it!

Lily - I had a look online and there's no sign of that show on YouTube. If you subscribe to the bbc player it's probably available on that because it was a bbc program but I don't so I can't check...

Aleja - is it tomor you're going back for more bloods? Good luck! Have you got your scan date yet? So exciting!!

MrsP - 12 weeks to mat leave!! I bet you're counting down the days!!

Cupcake, Mk8, MrsG - and

Afm, been hit suddenly by eating problems! I can manage breakfast and lunch but after two bites of dinner my stomach heaves and I have to jump up to spit it out and then throw the rest of it in the bin! (actually by "bin" I really mean the dogs' dinner bowls!!) I think it's the texture that's upsetting my stomach. Totally worth it though!!!

So, it sounds like lots of you might be going down the IUI road in the new year. Here's to lots of 2013 IUI bfps!!!! (and maybe a few surprise natural ones too!!)

 

[lilyV]

naw, I don't subscribe to that. don't even know what that is.

 

[aleja]

hi gals,
broody you made me laugh with your dog bowl hurls. I did the same the other day...the dog didn't seem to mind eating stuff that came out of my mouth...eeewwwwwww
My scan is 2 weeks away. I have no idea how I will survive!!!!! my 2nd beta came back today. Very good numbers- I'm still slightly worried there is two in there. yikes.

Brassy, I agree with the others. I think you need to set a time frame for this natural way. We all want to fall preggers naturally and for some reason men especially get freaked out by 'assisted conception'. However the facts are some of us (1/10 couples) find it hard. Unfortunately after 12 months of ttc with no luck the odds get worse. Yes you do get the miracle stories (hi Mrs P and Sarah!) but by the mid-30's we dont have the luxury of time to wait around for miracles sometimes.
Having said that, the clomid may work really well to give you a good cycle and this could be enough for the spermy.
I was like Broody that my Dh's sperm was soooo bad that ICSI was our only option.

 

[mk8]

Yay aleja!

 

[MrsG2010]

We won't be pursuing more fertility treatments until we move out of state. We are planning to move in about 4-6 months. Our last iui was so bad we do not want to pay for anymore.

 

[brassy]

Hello ladies!

Aleja, great news, what a joy! Looking forward to your ultrasound...

MrsG I am really sorry for the long waiting time. I hope you get a natural bfp in the meantime!
Mk, Lily, and cupcake I hope you are all well!
Also, I hope our pregnant ladies are glowing.

I am feeling a bit better. Dh decided that he wants to repeat the sa next week. We are a bit concerned about the handling of his specimen in the latest lab. He left it on a cold surface and it wasn't picked up for sometime. Even if his spermies have deteriorated we would like to know. So he is going to the lab that specializes on sas. He has also agreed to see an urologist after we get the results to check for varicoceles, etc. We will decide after that what we are going to do. But you are right girls a limit should be set.
I got a positive opk today and have been having lots of (sorry tmi) eggwhite cm since yesterday. So clomid hasn't done any harm on that. Also, since yesterday I feel my ovaries being heavy. I have twinges not only on my left where I had the two dominant follies but also on my right. Perhaps one of the smaller ones has caught up? Who knows. Today I feel like an egg carrier! I could feel my ovaries during my yoga session at the gym!

For the ones of you that have been on clomid how many follies did you produce on 50mg? Also did you ovulate later or earlier compared to a natural cycle? I am definitely having a later ovulation!

 

[mk8]

Hi brassy, whilst clomid didn't bring me my bfp I can tell you about my experience on 50mg clomid.

I was super horny!
I had more ewcm than usual. Totally not what I had expected.
I ovulated cd13-15 (first three cycles earlier, later cycles like I was immune) I think...
Had very light periods, especially my last three cycles on it (I had 6)
We bd'd every other day

 

[mk8]

We won't be pursuing more fertility treatments until we move out of state. We are planning to move in about 4-6 months. Our last iui was so bad we do not want to pay for anymore.

Hi mrs g, so sorry you're down. 4-5 months will fly by. Hang in there Hun. Sounds like a plan to move on to more aggressive treatments. Fingers crossed. In the meantime, try enjoying hot date time with hubster, making sure you're in perfect health for treatments etc. hang in there!

 

[brassy]

Hi brassy, whilst clomid didn't bring me my bfp I can tell you about my experience on 50mg clomid.

I was super horny!
I had more ewcm than usual. Totally not what I had expected.
I ovulated cd13-15 (first three cycles earlier, later cycles like I was immune) I think...
Had very light periods, especially my last three cycles on it (I had 6)
We bd'd every other day

Thank you Mk! So, it's not just me. If I remember well you were unmonitored so you don't know how many follies you produced...

 

[aleja]

hi gals,
brassy on 50 mg clomid I had 1-2 large follies . I remember the first clomid cycle feeling like my ovaries were big but nowhere near as big as the ICSI cycle!! he he

I ov'ed earlier than usual. Without clomid I ovulate CD18-21. On clomid 12-13 so it makes a huge difference for me .

Im glad your DH is having another SA. They usually do two anyway before making a definite diagnosis. It may well have been a bad sample.

MrsG, i dont know what to say. Its great that you and DH are moving elsewhere as it will be a nice change. As for TTC, perhaps the break will be just what you need x

 

[mk8]

Hello ladies just checking in to say i hope youre all well. X

 

[MrsPTTC]

Hi mk :wave: hope you're doing ok!

Brassy I only had the 1 dominant follie, 3 were growing well when I first went for scans but only 1 'popped' and it made me ovulate earlier though just a bit.

Hope everyone is well x

 

[brassy]

Hello girls!
Thank you for the replies!
I ovulated super late on clomid, cd17-18. I wonder if this is ok. Don't know how many eggs popped but I had sharp twinges on both sides for about 3-4 days before ovulation.
DH went to repeat the SA today. He went to the spermatology lab this time. If results are bad again I will stop clomid, wait for a couple of months maximum, and then perhaps look into iui. If results are ok I will continue the clomid and will try au naturelle for another two cycles. If nothing we will look into something else perhaps combined with iui.

How is everyone else?

 

[MrsPTTC]

Have you had any ultrasounds at all to make sure the clomid is working Hun? Any monitoring at all? How many rounds you done now? I found the more rounds i took the earlier I ovulated.. X