Christian ladies TTC, we can encourage one another.

[xxx_faithful]

Hi ladies

I've never been in such a ridiculously good mood upon arrival of AF. Still spotting but I think it's close. I'm officially on holiday for the year! With just 1-2 hours of teaching ONE morning a week as from next week, till mid December.

My plan for this cycle involves taking 1 cycle off of clomid, just eating healthy & exercising; and then after the lap&dye diagnosis I might do some acupuncture. No point in spending money on fertility acupuncture if there are anatomical problems which are causing permanent infertility! So we will see. In the mean time I am going to thoroughly enjoy my holiday and be thankful for every day in this wonderful South African summer!

Hope everyone is doing well and have a really great weekend.

Hi Fern81,

Seems like your doing the best thing for your body at this current moment by taking it easy, doing acupuncture and exercising.

Previously what was your dosage of clomid for those three cycles you had? Did you test positive for ovulation those three times?

Rest up!

xxx_faithful

 

[Beanonorder]

Hi ladies

I've never been in such a ridiculously good mood upon arrival of AF. Still spotting but I think it's close. I'm officially on holiday for the year! With just 1-2 hours of teaching ONE morning a week as from next week, till mid December.

My plan for this cycle involves taking 1 cycle off of clomid, just eating healthy & exercising; and then after the lap&dye diagnosis I might do some acupuncture. No point in spending money on fertility acupuncture if there are anatomical problems which are causing permanent infertility! So we will see. In the mean time I am going to thoroughly enjoy my holiday and be thankful for every day in this wonderful South African summer!

Hope everyone is doing well and have a really great weekend.

Fern I'm glad you have such a positive attitude!
I am also South African and I miss the summer there so much! I'm a teacher too but unfortunately we don't get enough time off over Christmas to justify a trip back.
Enjoy your break!

 

[Fern81]

Hi ladies

xxx_faithful I took 50mg the first cycle, CD5-9. Day 20 progesterone tests were negative for ovulation; but I did have a 35 day cycle so I think I might have ovulated later than day 20. I didn't temp or do OPK's though so I don't know if I did. Cycle 2, took 100mg (took it on the wrong days though since I mistook spotting for AF!) but O was still confirmed by temps and OPK's. Cycle 3 took 100mg again, CD3-7. O on CD 22, confirmed with temps and O pain. Had progesterone b/w done 7dpo but still awaiting the results.

I just need a break from all the chemicals, and I have heard of many ladies who can still get bfp's even after clomid. I still have 1 box (100mg) left which I will take next cycle if this one is unsuccessful again but I want to determine if I can't ovulate on my own during a low-stress time ; seeing as my initial diagnosis was anovulation due to stress.

When are you expecting your next LO? So exciting!

Beanonorder - awesome RSA buddy ! I will enjoy the sun for your sake as well. We are going on a short holiday to the South Coast near Richard's Bay soon...! How long have you been living in China? And all the best for your pregnancy as well! How is the medical care over there?

Have a restful weekend all x

 

[Jules8]

Hello Ladies!

I was wondering if it would be alright to join you? I have found wonderful support on this site, however I think some Christian women to talk through this crazy rollercoaster would be wonderful.

My husband and I just celebrated our 1 year anniversary in September and decided that we are ready to add a LO into our lives. We had a rough first cycle, but I am trying really hard to keep my spirits up as we move forward.

 

[No Doubt]

Welcome Jules! There is a wonderful group of ladies here to support you!

 

[cupcakestoy]

Welcome Jules!

 

[Jules8]

Thank you!! I look forward to getting to know you!

 

[Fern81]

Hi Jules, welcome!

TTC is very hard and it can really mess with your head, so I agree having support through the process is very important xx All the best for your new cycle! On which CD are you currently? Are you under any type of medical care for infertility?

AFM - after receiving a great 7dpo progesterone result for the previous cycle (101,8!), and consulting with my family and DH, we decided to still do clomid just for this cycle in combo with the lap& dye, and then I am still thinking of taking the next cycle off and just have a chem-free month. So I am currently on CD6, 3rd day of clomid 100mg.

I don't really know what to do if the clomid doesn't work as I haven't been able to ovulate at all (so far) without it. I'm thinking of stopping ttc totally after the next 2 cycles and just carrying on a life without kids. It hasn't been that bad so far and even though we both really want to have kids; maybe we should just face the inevitable and start living OUR life fully. If God doesn't want us to have kids then He must have a reason.

Anyway, have a good rest of the week ladies. I'm on holiday!!!

 

[No Doubt]

If it's any help Fern I too did Clomid when trying to conceive my first. I did it for nine months and my body needed a break. I was Oing on my own and would have great day 7 numbers too, but it just didn't work. A few months into my break I got preggo naturally. So if you do decide to stop taking it, it doesn't mean you'll have a childless life. Sometimes the the way we expect things to happen don't, but God always had control and already knows how it will unfold.

 

[cupcakestoy]

Good luck Fern! I'm debating on doing my last femara script this cycle. Not got a lot of hope it will work, but feeling down this cycle, since this time last year is when we got our bfp that we lost.....Figure in a way it can't hurt, but also fear I will be setting myself up for a heartache again if it fails, which it likely will *sigh...Just have been mostly NTNP since JULY. Don't feel good physically today, so please lift me up in your prayers...Thanks ladies! Have a Blessed Day!

 

[Jules8]

I am on CD4 right now after an almost 60 day cycle. Usually my cycles are 32-36 days so I am not sure what happened. I had some tests done a few months ago and one of my hormone levels is a little bit higher than it should be so they want to check again and send me to a endocrinologist. I am trying the herbal route by taking maca and vitex to try to prevent medication to even out my hormones..but what be will be. This month I am going in with a way more relaxed, positive, and open mind.

 

[Jules8]

Cupcakes toy- I will keep you in your prayers! I know that this is a hard and trying process, especially with a loss. I hope you find comfort during this time and no matter what you decide, I know you have a lot of support around you.

 

[ProfWife]

Jules - stress (even from excitement) can sometimes delay a cycle. Our first cycle TTC was 42 days (I normally have a 29/30 day cycle). I didn't even ovulate until CD28 that cycle.

Try to avoid putting pressure on yourself and your husband. While there is some comfort in knowing you're doing "everything" possible each month (charting temps and mucus, opks, vitamins, timing, etc.) it does take some of the excitement out of it. Plus, even if you do everything "right" - it's ultimately God's timing. Stats say only about 20-25% chance per month of getting pregnant if you're both healthy and there are no complications. You can't live or die by the stats, after all, stats say my chances of natural conception are somewhere in the single digits after 2 years of absolutely nothing.

Give yourself some grace. Our bodies were beautifully designed in a mysterious way to know exactly what to do. God created a beautiful system to support this process. Try to enjoy the closeness with your husband as you start this journey and don't let it get so bogged down in timing and trying that you lose that intimacy.


Oh - and if an endocrinologist was recommended and you can afford it - do it. That's my only regret so far...that I didn't go when it was first recommended. I tried the herbal/holistic approach and burned almost a year doing that while thinking I had one thing wrong with me (because of the holistic doc) when it turned out I had the exact OPPOSITE issue. Instead of having chronic fatigue because my adrenals were low, which is what my symptoms suggested, I had chronic fatigue from adrenal hormones being too high from chronic stress. I would have continued a treatment that made me feel ill and ran my adrenals even harder until I went into an adrenal storm or adrenal failure since this holistic doc didn't run proper tests on me. My reproductive endocrinologist refused to move forward with any treatment until about 20 blood tests came back and found the issue. I'm now on proper meds (3 months) and feeling great. Best decision I made.

 

[Fern81]

Thanks ladies

No doubt - that's what I've been thinking as well. Just let go and let God! If this cycle is not successful, and our next clomid-free cycle is not successful, we are planning on moving to ntnp. But we will see when we get there! Today I don't feel like trying anymore but who knows what our decision will be next year.

Jules it will be interesting to see how you get on with the herbs . I'm also taking some natural supplements (EPO, green tea and rooibos tea) and have been doing daily green smoothies (yuck, still not used to them).

xx

 

[Jules8]

I go in for my second blood test in January to re-test my hormone levels. She said right now the one level is higher than they would like to see, but still in the normal range. I have to wait until January to get blood tests again to see if it went down, up, or stayed the same so I figured I would try the Vitex and Maca in the meantime just to see if it does anything. I am not putting all my eggs in that basket, but I had success with it balancing out my cycle a few years ago so I figured it can't hurt.

Profwife- You are so right. I was seriously starting to obsess and had to remind myself that we are trying to bring a child into the world not running a race to see how fast it can happen. God has a plan for all of us and he works in such mysterious ways. I am doing what I can, but ultimately it is His decision when it happens. Patience is deffinitely a virtue when it comes to TTC. I am focusing on God, staying healthy the best I can, and enjoying my husband in the beginning of our marriage.

Fern81- Sometimes the pressure can get the best of us. If you feel that you need a break, no one will judge you for that. I know so many people who just relaxed and started focusing on other things, only to find out in the midst that it was exactly they needed. I wish you a lot of luck on your journey! We are here for you!

 

[ProfWife]

Fern81 - Have you tried Winter Mint rooibos tea? I don't know if you would have it in SA, but it is soo good (especially iced or chilled). I have no clue if there is anyone near you who makes tea blends, but worth investigating if you like the taste of rooibos.

Jules8 - Hope you're staying warm up in PA. What's the temp up there? Do you remember which hormone was out of whack?

 

[No Doubt]

Ladies please pray for me. I'm scheduled for a c section on Friday and I'm really nervous. I'm nervous about everything honestly. I'd like to go natural but am afraid as my last one ended in emergency section. Thank you in advance.

 

[sportysgirl]

No doubt,
Praying for you and your baby. I hope everything goes smoothly will be thinking of you.

 

[xxx_faithful]

Jules - stress (even from excitement) can sometimes delay a cycle. Our first cycle TTC was 42 days (I normally have a 29/30 day cycle). I didn't even ovulate until CD28 that cycle.

Try to avoid putting pressure on yourself and your husband. While there is some comfort in knowing you're doing "everything" possible each month (charting temps and mucus, opks, vitamins, timing, etc.) it does take some of the excitement out of it. Plus, even if you do everything "right" - it's ultimately God's timing. Stats say only about 20-25% chance per month of getting pregnant if you're both healthy and there are no complications. You can't live or die by the stats, after all, stats say my chances of natural conception are somewhere in the single digits after 2 years of absolutely nothing.

Give yourself some grace. Our bodies were beautifully designed in a mysterious way to know exactly what to do. God created a beautiful system to support this process. Try to enjoy the closeness with your husband as you start this journey and don't let it get so bogged down in timing and trying that you lose that intimacy.


Oh - and if an endocrinologist was recommended and you can afford it - do it. That's my only regret so far...that I didn't go when it was first recommended. I tried the herbal/holistic approach and burned almost a year doing that while thinking I had one thing wrong with me (because of the holistic doc) when it turned out I had the exact OPPOSITE issue. Instead of having chronic fatigue because my adrenals were low, which is what my symptoms suggested, I had chronic fatigue from adrenal hormones being too high from chronic stress. I would have continued a treatment that made me feel ill and ran my adrenals even harder until I went into an adrenal storm or adrenal failure since this holistic doc didn't run proper tests on me. My reproductive endocrinologist refused to move forward with any treatment until about 20 blood tests came back and found the issue. I'm now on proper meds (3 months) and feeling great. Best decision I made.

You speak a lot of wisdom. You would of really spoke to me when i needed it with my first child conceiving in 2011. Everything you said i agree with, having been through years of trying to conceive, doing the holistic approach and stressing/not stressing/stressing again.
Your words and experience, I know you will impact others.

xxx_faithful

 

[xxx_faithful]

Todays Devotion

"When we make plans for our life. God laughs."

I came across this funny statement the other day. At first i felt the statement didn't make sense, why would God laugh when we are busy making plans for our life? I shrugged it off and went away a little confused. Doesn't he want us to plan ahead making our requests known to him along the way?

Of course..

Then why would he laugh?.

You see, God works in ways we don't understand. He has plans for our own lives as well. And when you mix your plans and his plans together, you may not always get the same outcome. It could be a greater plan of the plan you have orchestrated. Or it could infact, be a massive detour to a different destination. We may not always know where he is taking us, we may not always see his master plan. But don't under estimate the perfecter who is creating the path and plan for your life. This is why he laughs. He laughs because his ways are not our own. He laughs because sometimes, more times then not, we take ourselves way too seriously and think we are left, cold and barren. He laughs because our plans have no mistakes, no errors, no possible indicators of a hold up further ahead. It is a smooth, faultless journey. This is why he laughs. Because life is not always like this. Life is unexpected, interrupted and sometimes we get thrown around in and amongst doing life.

We need to blanket ourselves in truth, in his word (which is our water) laugh a little and know that he always has a plan for us, in and amongst our own.

xxx_faithful