Considering at-home insemination with donor sperm...?

[topazicatzbet]

go into ff, on to home page and there is a link to copy it has numbers on the end.

or save the pic and add it as an attachment

 

[DaisyDoodles]

I think I have it... https://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2fc876

 

[topazicatzbet]

yep thats it. doesnt matter that its ignoring that temp, wont affect anything, its cos it was a bit erratic.

todays temp could be an implantation dip, will need to see what the next few temps do.
good luck.

 

[DaisyDoodles]

Thank you!!

 

[EpdTTC]

Welcome Wrighty and Sparkly!

Ruby-your niece is an absolute doll. I am so glad to hear that she is doing so well. What a blessing. Good luck searching for a donor. I'm glad to hear that you are giving that a shot and I really hope you find someone great!

I am doing pretty good. I had my first appointment with my OB yesterday-I was seeing my RE up to 12 weeks. I REALLY liked him so that was a huge relief. They did a scan for the nuchal translucency (the thickness behind the head-if it is thick then sometimes it indicates Downs Syndrome) and I am thrilled to report it looked excellent. Had a quad screen done where they check different hormones and proteins to try to estimate risk of downs etc (since I will be 35 when I deliver). I should have those results in about a week. I don't really want to have any further testing done-nothing invasive like CVS or amnio so I'm hoping the quad results come back good. The only way I think I'd consider something more invasive is if if something came back looking severely problematic-then I might want to try and find out so I could be as prepared as possible at the birth. Hoping none of that will be an issue.

Baby was super active in there yesterday-went from being face down with butt in the air to facing us and waving to then being on his/her back. Was really incredible. My next appointment is in three weeks-not sure if they will do a scan at that appointment which stinks. I am spoiled from going to my RE where they did a scan about every week to 10 days. I know it will be very different with OB, although he is high risk and I think if I share my anxieties that maybe he will do a quick reassurance scan. I will be almost 16 weeks when I go back so I'm hoping for a scan to see if we can tell the sex of the baby. Yesterday I asked if they had any early guesses and she said she could not see any obvious 12 week male genitalia but that didn't mean that it couldn't be a boy. I really look forward to finding out. How far along where you guys (Em, Ruby, Topaz, and anyone else that already has a child) when you found out the sex?

Anyway, I will attach the scan pic for you guys.

Hope everyone is doing well-with 2ww or getting ready to start a new round. I'm amazed everyday that I really got pregnant with a round of home inseminations with donor sperm. It really can happen!

Erin

 

[topazicatzbet]

i found out at the 20 week scan, in the uk you only get a scan at 12 weeks and 20 weeks if all is ok.

it was very obvious he was a boy

can you spot the boy bits

https://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o224/topazicatzbeth/boyshot.jpg

 

[Nimyra]

20 week scan, which incidentally I had at 19 weeks.

 

[LunaBean]

Aww yaye for ur scan erin! I think he loos like a boy! lol.

Im waiting to test, cus I peed and forgot to pee in a cup

Went to meet my puppy today, he's wayyy smaller than I thought he would be, he was smaller than my foot!!! I pick him up on the 24th!!!

https://i56.tinypic.com/2cnvbjl.jpg

 

[EpdTTC]

Can totally spot the boy bits Topaz! Very cool!

Pup is adorable. I remember when my girls were little like that, so cute!

 

[RubyRainbows]

I found out the sex at the "20 week scan" which i also had at 19 weeks! The position from the bottom (topaz's picture) is the best angle to see the boy bits -- the dr. told me if it's a boy it looks like a turtle peeking it's head out, right between the legs.

Erin -- so glad your scans are going well! I hate that darn quad screen! My results had come back positive, saying my son had a 17% chance of down syndrome. I went for all sorts of extra U/S's after that... but had refused the amnio. The test has a very high rate of false positives!!!!!! My son does not have DS & i worried & was stressed for most of my pregnancy for nothing! I don't think i will have the quad screen done in the future.

I am talking to one potential donor -- he lives out of state. He is older (mid/late 40s) & has grey hair....... but he seems nice, normal, intelligent, & i like his reasons for wanting to be a donor. If we decide to proceed we will meet at a hotel in the middle (2 hours from us/1 hour from him)... the distance stinks bc we'll only get one donation per cycle... but its better than nothing!

 

[snagglepat]

Hiya,

Great news on the donor front Ruby. It only takes once. We just tried the once this time, with a donor who is now 47 (he was 43 when we conceived our daughter) and here we are! A sperm count is worth getting regardless of his age but if that comes back OK then it's not likely to change greatly even over a couple of years. One insem each cycle with fresh sperm is a much more likely prospect than with frozen. Good luck with continuing to get to know each other. Exciting.

And what colour was his hair before it was grey?

No quad screening here, for similar reasons. We wanted our baby regardless and weren't willing to risk hurting them to find out something that we couldn't change anyway - plus the risk of additional worry that may or may not come to anything really didn't appeal.

Best wishes all round,

Gina. x

 

[LunaBean]

Yaye for the potential donor Tammy! 4 of my bfps were only with one insemination that month, and look how many get pregnant from one night stands, so never worry!!

Im having alot of trouble with tests, bfn..then bfp..then bfn again, ahhh!! I'm just gona wait til AF is late now and test again on Wed. I just 'feel' pregnant tho

 

[RubyRainbows]

Thanks Gina! Thanks Luna! I'm feeling optimistic! I prob wont ask him to get a sperm count check unless we try a few times & nothing happens! He has no children so that makes me worry that he never had any "accidental" pregnancies along the way?? His current wife has two children already from a previous relationship & can't have any more kids...... so he wants to donate just to know he has a fathered a baby. Gina -- he said he had dark brown hair -- but all the pics i've seen it's grey.

Gina -- so happy to hear your pregnancy is progressing right along! Can't believe you're half-way there already!! Ember will be a big sister very soon!!!!!!

Luna -- Sorry those tests are playing mind games!!!!! I think you need to muster all your strength & not test for like a week! Just wait it out & see what happens with AF. Otherwise, you'll drive yourself nuts!!!!!! Good luck! FX'ed for ya!!!!!!

Anyone want to share some specifics about what actually takes place when they receive a donation from their donor??

Where do you meet?
Where does he "do the deed"?
What does he put the sperm in?
How long before you inseminate it?
Do you offer him gas money for travelling?

Very curious to hear the specifics! I have to admit i'm extremely nervous about meeting him!!!!! And my OH is 10X more shy than me! So i think this may be AWKWARD!

 

[topazicatzbet]

here are the details of what i do.

i go to his house, as i leave the motoway i text him to say i ve left,he then does his business home alone, takes about 5 mins from motorway to get to his and i then bob up stairs to his bedroom and inseminate, while he gets the kettle on. lol

he just uses a pot to dtd in (tommee tippee one actually )

i dont pay him anything as i do all the travelling but if i didnt i would pay for his travel costs.

 

[LunaBean]

Hope this helps, Ive a few different answer tho cus we've been through so many donors, just find out whats best for you!! (this is gona be quite long Ive just realised lol)


Where do you meet?

- with our first ever insemination, our donor lived about 70 miles away, so we booked into a hotel near his house..he 'did the deed' in the room while me and OH waitied in reception...then he test us when he was done..we went back up..he went and waited in reception until Id inseminated, then text him to come back up. This was a bad idea because 1 - we were all SUPER nervous, it was his first time donating too. 2 - I could hear the people in the room next door talking really loudly, and it really put me off, so I found it really hard to relax and have the 'Big O'... 3 - It was a bad idea for us to let him back into the room, because although I was under the blankets, I was still naked from the waist down..I was uncomfortable, he was uncomfortable and tried making small talk, but it seemed like a good idea at the time, so he wasn't 'doing the deed' then we wanted rid of him.

The next few times, he got the train to our ouse, we had lunch, he went into the bathroom and 'did the deed', then I went into the bedroom and did the insemination, while he and OH chatted, then he got back on the train and went home. This worked better for us, as I was alot less stressed because I was in my own house, but I still felt weird with him being in the house whle I was inseminating.

With another guy, he lived 10 mins drive from us, so he 'did the deed' at his own house, and met me at the top of the street with it in a pot, then I ran home with it inside a sock in my pocket to keep it warm lol) and inseminated at home.

And with our current donor (who I love so much!), he usually works near our house, so he 'does the deed' at work, brings it to the house, pulls up outside, I go out and get it from the car, and then do the insemination while he goes back to work. On one occasion me and OH drove to his house and I did it there in his spare room, while he showed OH how to brew herbal tea in the kitchen, lol. It was all very relaxing, and we stayed for over 2 hours chatting to him after!

This month tho, my usual donor wasnt available, so I went to my sisters house, and had our backup donor bring his spermies to her house, then off he went again.

Personally, I think its alot better if they leave you the sample then go, as you're alot less stressed, you can do the inseminating in your own time, and you're not worrying about rushing so you can come back out and make small talk.

A few times Ive been at home alone while OH was at work, and sometimes she's here, that all depends on whether or not you're comfortable being with the donor on your own! I also think you and the donor should talk about whether or not he's willing to just leave it and go, as some want to stick around for awhile after!


Where does he "do the deed"?

If it's in a hotel, he usually uses the room first..then he texts you to go back up. I think it's best that he leaves to go home after that, so you and your OH can relax in the room, DONT invite him back in after its done, its awkward for everyone lol

When its in our house, he does it in the bathrrom while we make tea, then he chats to OH and I go into the bedroom to inseminate, or sometimes he does it in the bedroom, and leaves it by the bed for when I go in!


What does he put the sperm in?

I get sterile pots from Ebay, think its £8 for 50 Make sure he puts the lid back on tightly and keeps it warm, and don't use it for the first 5 minutes or so, its easier to get into the syringe then!


How long before you inseminate it?

About 5 minutes from its out, but no more than 20! (Tho I have got pregnant with some that was out for 30 mins!)


Do you offer him gas money for travelling?

We do offer, but all except one declined! (we ended up paying a driving fine for one tho, silly man!)

If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask!!! And good luck!!!

Oh, and I usually contact the donor when my OPKs start getting darker, and try to do it the day before or the day of the positive OPK!

 

[Sparklypants]

Anyone want to share some specifics about what actually takes place when they receive a donation from their donor??

Where do you meet?
Where does he "do the deed"?
What does he put the sperm in?
How long before you inseminate it?
Do you offer him gas money for travelling?

I was very nervous when I met my donor for the first time, but he was so lovely and very relaxed he put me at ease immediately.

He usually comes to my house, we get the pleasantries over and everything (although at the first meeting he sat down, went over his std and sperm certificates and of course answered all my questions) ... and then he makes his way to the bathroom. He brings his own sterile urine sample pot and in the bathroom I put a really thick fluffy sock (dark colour) and put his petrol money in it ready for him. He then does his thing (he's in there about 20 mins) and then hands me the sock with the sample in it. As it's been fairly normal in terms of temperature I just leave it on the sofa to liquify for roughly 10 mins. It's easier to draw up into the syringe that way. I use 10ml syringes by the way.

Whilst I am waiting I get my pjs on, put a dvd on and get a big cushion off the sofa and another little one (one for my bum and one for my head!)...

I then draw the sample up into the syringe really slowly to avoid getting air bubbles into it, wrap the syringe in a piece of kitchen paper and take it all into the front room.

I also have ready; tissues, baby wipes, knickers with a sanitary liner in them and a towel.

I lay down facing the wall, towel under my bottom and insert the syringe and push the plunger down very very slowly, I then leave the syringe in. I push the large pillow under my bum, the little one under my head and then put my legs up the wall.

I then use the baby wipes to clean my hands lol

I leave the syringe in for about 45 mins, I hardly get any leakage this way.

I take it out, wrap it back in the kitchen towel and then stay there for another 15-30 mins. After that I put the knickers on with the sanitary towel in them and either go to bed or lay down on the sofa.

You will have some leakage the next day, but I find that because I have kept the syringe in as a plug that I don't get much at all...

One thing I would say is to always remember to go and pee before you do the insemination! lol

Good luck!!! I really look forward to mine, have a nice glass of vino whilst I am laying on the floor too lol

x x

 

[LunaBean]

I also have ready; tissues, baby wipes, knickers with a sanitary liner in them and a towel.

I totally do that too I have a 'baby kit' for when I go see th donor, a small toiletry bag with 2 syringes, 2 sterile pots, a small pack of tissues, a small pack of baby wipes, 2 OPKs, and liners in it, lol.

 

[Sparklypants]

I also have ready; tissues, baby wipes, knickers with a sanitary liner in them and a towel.

I totally do that too I have a 'baby kit' for when I go see th donor, a small toiletry bag with 2 syringes, 2 sterile pots, a small pack of tissues, a small pack of baby wipes, 2 OPKs, and liners in it, lol.

Hehe.... well you gotta be prepared lol x

 

[rosie5637]

does anyone worry about their safety when they have a donor at their house?

i am still unsure about what to do. it would be so much easier for the donor to come to my house. they are gonna be the biological dad to my baby after all so surely it can't do harm letting them know where i live? the cautious, sensible side of me says to not give out my address in case they turn nasty or something. so confused

 

[RubyRainbows]

Wow girls! Thanks for all the info! Has definitely helped me to visualize the process!!!!! I didn't think of creating an insemination bag of all necessary items -- but great idea! Will def get working on that! He better be ok with "doing the deed" & then being on his way! I want complete privacy once we start the process! Ideally, i would prefer to never be alone in the room with him -- just wait in the lobby while he goes to the room.

Dumb question but what is a "pot"? Is that the same thing as a pee cup with a screw on lid, like the ones they give you at the doctor's office??

Thanks so much!!