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

[Edensmum]

Erin,

Goodluck for Monday. I've been tracking your posts and can see how anxious this hcg result has made you. It's of little help, but if things have worked then your number will be higher and you'll have your pregnancy (which along the way I'm sure will have more ups and downs!) and if things haven't worked, then it's past tense and there isn't anything that you can do, or could have done differently to make it work.
Science can play a huge helping hand but irritatingly mother nature still has to do her bit, and sometimes she lets us down.

Nevermind twins or more, I do hope things work out and you get the baby you dearly want. Keep us informed.

Kirsty -x-

 

[LunaBean]

Hope everything goes ok tomro! It could be that you were having twins, but maybe one was absorbed again? (vanishing twin syndrome) That could have been why ur hcg was so high? Try not to worry, tho I know, from experience, waiting to find out if you're still pregnant or not is terrible. Like you said, anything over 25 is pregnant, so I'll cross my fingers!!!

 

[Trippymama]

Hello Everyone! I love this forum. My partner and I inseminated three times this month with the help of a close friend. I didn't realize until I read all 23 pages here that there is so much I don't know. First of all, I think those stupid ovulation sticks.. the cheap ones... don't work very well. I could never tell if I was testing the right time of day or if I was ovulating or not. One day the lines were the same, but the main line was lighter than normal, so I wondered if the stick was old or something.

Anyway, I have one of the Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitors now... the computer, which I will use for next month. I'm much more confident in that. I hate that I messed around this month and just took a shot in the dark (in more ways than one), but I guess conceiving is possible. So, I'm 34 and a bit overweight. I'm not sure to what extent that will make getting preggo harder. I've never really tried to get pregnant before. I adopted a trio sibling group as a social worker four years ago, and now I'm ready for a birth child or two. Thanks for all of your help on here. I like to check the forum daily. I guess if AF appears soon then I'll just begin with the temp, ovulation predictors, and cervical mucus stuff next month. How do you know what the mucus means? Do you have it during ovulation, before or both? Because this month, the day the ovulation predictor showed positive (indicating 24-48 hours until ovulation) I was already dry as could be. Mucus was gone. I dunno.... guess I haven't gotten in tune with my body yet.

Well, I'm glad to be here on this journey and to know that others are on the same path.

Hugs, Trippy Mama

 

[LunaBean]

Hey, and welcome!!! You should really invest in the book 'Taking charge of your fertility', you can get it pretty cheap on amazon!! Tells you everything you need to know! You usually get EWCM (egg white cervical mucus, the fertile stuff!) just before and during ovulation, it helps the spermies swim! Some pre-natal vitamins can dry this up tho, so look into getting some Pre-seed, or I just use normal egg white from a chicken egg, warmed to room temperature!! Only free range tho, so theres no pesticides. Ur OPK (ovulation predictor kit) should be as dark, if not darker than the control line, then you'll ovulate within 12/24 hours. There's always LH in your system, so you could get a faint line any time of the month, only when the 2 lines are the same darkness will you ovulate. Here's a pic of mine from last month, when I got preg, but miscarried. The graduation pic is all the tests I did that week, CD15 was my positive, so I inseminated that day and the day after.

https://i49.tinypic.com/2m6va1k.jpg

https://i47.tinypic.com/2pzwb3m.jpg

Once you've been charting awhile (do you chart your temps? It's the best way to know when you're ovulating, and if you definately did, as sometimes you don't even month, even with a positive OPK. I use Fertility Friend, the charts are confusing at first, but that Fertility book explains everything!) Here's my chart, ignore the cycle wheel at the top, it even confuses me! Fertility Friend Chart

You could start taking Evening Primrose Oil too, this gives you more cervical mucus. If you have any other questions, ask away!

 

[EpdTTC]

Thanks for all of your support ladies. It really means a lot. I just wanted to give you an update. I decided not to test while I am alone in Atlanta. After discussing it with my mom, girlfriend, and a couple of friends, I decided that there was really no sense in testing while I am here. I do have a little bit of anxiety about waiting to find out what is going on, but truthfully, if I was going to get bad news, I really didn't want to get it when I am here by myself. I have to be able to function and get work done and I don't go home until Thursday evening.

I also spoke directly to my Dr on Saturday before I left and I think this helped me feel a little better. First, he told me that I am definitely pregnant, so no possibility of a false positive due to the trigger shot. Secondly, he did say that it was a bit disconcerting that my number dropped and that this could mean impending miscarriage but he doesn't necessarily think so. He also said that we tested sooo early the first time (at only 8 dpo) and that it was a bit odd that my number was so high to begin with. He did say something similar to what Lizzie Moon said, that I could be carrying multiples and maybe lost one. I told him I didn't want to test while in Atlanta by myself because I was here on business and that I feared that bad news would be too upsetting and stressful. He understood and said that was ok. I mean really, what's the difference whether I find out on Monday or Friday? At least on Friday I will be in town with my mom and girlfriend if I get bad news and if I get good news I can be excited with them. I look at it this way, if I am going to miscarry, what is the harm in enjoying being pregnant for a few extra days? It took me a few days to get to that point, of course at first I was just so anxious that I thought that knowing right away would be better but I thought better of it. In closing my doctor said to me "Well you are definitely pregnant so enjoy it. You did it, you're my hero. If you're going to miscarry that's out of your control, that's in God/nature's control, so there's no point in worrying about it. If that happens then we'll talk about it and make a plan but I don't think that's going to happen". Talking to him did help put me more at ease. I have an appointment Friday morning at 10:00 am to have blood work and an ultrasound. I will probably find out the blood work results that afternoon. I'm not going to lie, I am still very worried, and every time I have a slight cramp or think my breasts don't hurt as much as they did the day before I worry about an impending miscarriage. I think I do a pretty good job of calming myself and trying to think positively. The good news is that I am not spotting or anything so as of yet there are no physical signs of miscarriage. I still am terribly fatigued and I have some heart burn and occasional nausea. Fingers still crossed. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again for your kind and supportive words.
Erin

 

[LunaBean]

I have everything crossed for you!!! I'm going away for the weekend on Friday, but will try to get online to see if there's an update! ike your Dr said, you're def pregnant, and you have no signs of miscarrying, so try to enjoy it!!!!!

 

[Nimyra]

Keep us posted, Erin. Sending good thoughts your way.

 

[LucyorJack09]

Jumping in here ladies,
SMBC here, did my first Home Insemination with one vial of ICI from Northwest Andrology and Cryobank. I just followed the instructions. Let it sit out till the frost was off it, then put it inbetween the girls(breasts) for 10 or so minutes then set up my syringe, preseed, catheter and instead cup. Im currently in the TWW and am hoping for a Valentines Day BFP. Ive used the ClearBlue Easy Fertility Monitor for two years now and have my cycles down pat. So I Inseminated 15hrs past my first peak reading. (I usually get two days of peak and O the second day). Having some positive symptoms here but ya know how the mind plays tricks in the TWW. This is my first attempt so Im not stressing too much.

 

[LucyorJack09]

Ooops Thought I was replying to McMlln a few pages ago..........

 

[RubyRainbows]

I learn so much from reading all of your posts! What insightful women you all are! Welcome to the new women who have joined the thread -- & best of luck on your journeys!

Erin -- i will be thinking of you & keeping my fingers crossed for a super-sticky bean!!!!!!

I had an early u/s with my son at 6 weeks & there were two heartbeats... & then at an 8 week u/s there was only one baby. They called it Vanishing Twin Syndrome which i guess is a very common occurance. I don't know what my levels were before & after but i'm sure they were effected??? I was heartbroken to have lost one of the twins... but the good news is i went on to have one beautiful, healthy baby! Please let us know how your u/s goes!

 

[Trippymama]

So, there's probably only a day or two more until I can test to see if our first month of inseminating worked, but I just feel like I didn't know my body very well this first time around. When I read everyone's posts, I realize how important it is to know where you are in your cycle. I'm lucky to have a known donor who is so sweet and patient. That way we don't waste a ton of money. I don't even think I'm going to take a preggo test, because I'm just trying to look forward to my next cycle. The waiting part is the worst. So glad this forum is always moving forward. Ireland girls, I have red hair and love IRELAND! My partner and I will retire there one day. I'm not sure how to message you, but I'd love to chat.

Trippy

 

[LunaBean]

From personal experience, you're better not testing until you're a day late, if you can wait that long! You'll drive yourself mad otherwise!!!! We're using a known donor too, saves money!! Think we're gona have to give this month a miss tho, we're gona see Mika on Saturday, but goin out of town for it, will be near one of the donors, but as it's Valentines weekend, he's busy all weekend!

You have to have at least 10 posts (maybe 5?) before you can PM anyone!! Come on over to Ireland for a visit lol

 

[Nimyra]

Trippy, where in Upstate New York are you? I grew up outside of Albany.

 

[Trippymama]

Near Ithaca... love it here. My partner and I moved from the Atlanta area about five years ago. We wanted to raise our kids up north.

 

[Trippymama]

Hey Lizzie Moon - Let's Pen Pal! We LOVE Ireland. Have been there a few times, once on our honeymoon. We rented a car and drove all around for a week, staying at bed-and-breakfasts. It was amazing. You guys should come visit New York. We'd show you around. It's very nice here... we live in what's called The Fingerlakes Region, surrounded by different lakes. We're four hours north of NYC too. Anyway, maybe after five posts you can send me a message.

Trippy

 

[Trippymama]

So I'm just waiting... not really sure when AF will arrive. Totally gotta track myself better in month two, and maybe now that this is my fifth post, I can earn more privileges. How's everyone else?

 

[EpdTTC]

Bad news ladies...hcg dropped to 19.4. I am miscarrying. Dr. says I will likely start bleeding the middle of next week. My heart hurts.
Erin

 

[jodie4805]

Bad news ladies...hcg dropped to 19.4. I am miscarrying. Dr. says I will likely start bleeding the middle of next week. My heart hurts.
Erin

 

[Trippymama]

So sorry Erin- does the doc know why? Will you take a break from trying? Our hearts are with you!

 

[LunaBean]

Omg I'm so so sorry Erin I know what ur goin through, it's the worst feeling ever Do they know what happened? Or did you get the 'Its one of thoese things' speech? I'm so sorry hun