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

[EpdTTC]

My mom said she talked to my sister the other day. My sister lives in Texas and has been a labor and delivery nurse for 15+ years. She said that she delivered women all of the time that were 300-400lbs so she said that she doesn't think that weight necessarily impacts fertility or miscarriage. Just FYI. I love this forum too. It is amazing to me, sometimes overwhelming even, how many of us there are out in this big world who are all trying to get pregnant at the same time-many of us who so badly want it and have to go to great lengths to be a mom. It has been truly humbling and eye-opening. It is also really helpful because it helps to normalize all of the emotions that go along with this process, including just how much of an obsession it can become. It is hard not to become obsessed when you have to take your temp everyday or check your cervical mucus, or cervical position, or saliva, or pee on a stick. It's not just like we can lay back and see if we get pregnant, there's a lot to monitor and track...it can be exhausting sometimes, but nobody understands quite like all of the women on here that are going through the same stuff. The comradery has been a gift!

 

[Nimyra]

Trippy,

I think I missed somewhere that you've adopted 3 kids. How wonderful! How old are they?

I have 2 step kids - they are 15 and 17 (and really great!)

 

[LunaBean]

I think it depends on who you talk to whether BMI affects fertility or not, I know bigger women who have kids, but also who are having trouble getting regnant, so I guess it just depends on the person. I have the opposite problem, I was in hospital last July for surgery and was refered to a dietician because my BMI was on the low side (18 and I'm 5ft 7.5") so I've had to put on weight, which I wasn't happy about because I keep having to maintain it and it's hard because I walk alot, but if it helps me get/stay pregnant I'll do it!

Em - how are you getting on? 13 weeks already!!!!

 

[Nimyra]

Hi Lizzie~ the time speeds by, doesn't it? I'm doing great. Morning sickness has passed for the most part - dealing with a touch of sciatica, but otherwise doing fine.

 

[LunaBean]

Thats great! Are you gona find out the sex at 20 weeks? Do u have a preference? Bet ur excited!!

 

[Nimyra]

I can't wait for my 19 week ultrasound. I really want a girl but I have a pretty strong feeling that there is a little boy in there. I'm already thinking about jungle theme bedding and toys. I know I'm getting way ahead of myself but I'm reading parenting books - and not just the ones geared towards babies and toddlers.

 

[LunaBean]

Thats great! I have a whole library of parenting books lol. I reallly want a boy..I hate anything pink lol

 

[HopefullMommy]

Not sure if you have ever heard of a thing called Intelligender. Its a pee test you take at home & it predicts the sex of the baby. I believe it is 80% after 8 weeks or something like that. I know a few girls who have used it & its always been right! Sounds fun especially if you can't wait!

 

[Trippymama]

Hey All! We had a major snow storm, so I've had no Internet for about four days now. Ugh. Anyway, I bought a cool book called Taking Charge of My Fertility or something similar. It's incredible. I highly recommend it. And, yes, Lizzie... I agree... about the weight. I think it really does depend on the person. My doc said the same thing about delivering lots of babies from overweight women, and I don't have any of the signs of the increased estrogen that goes along with weight issues. So, I have my fingers crossed, and I'm going to really watch what I eat. Growing up in Georgia around southern food just doesn't start you on the right track there.

Anyway, I'm on day 13 now with predicted ovulation at 21, and I'm doing a few things different this month. I have the Clearblue Easy Ovulation Predictor computer thingy. And, I'm hoping that I will know exactly when I'm ovulating this month. Also, I'm thinking of reapproaching my donor about testing his sperm motility so that I don't waste anymore time. I'll be 35 on Thursday, so my eggs will be approaching wheelchairs in the near future.

Also, my beautiful trio (for those who wanted to know) are now 6 (Anthony), 10 (Savannah), and 12 (Ella). We adopted them four years ago.

Hope all is well in the Baby and Bump world....

 

[LunaBean]

I have that book too, it's amazing! I can read charts like a pro now lol. We've had alot of snow here too, tho nowhere near as much as you! AF is 2 days late now, and if I hadn't been 100% sure I idn't inseminate this month, I'm be 100% sure I'm pregnant lol. Ive felt sick alll week! But I'm not, so onto next month! Wish it'd hurry up and come alreadyso I can start charting again and get the donors lined up!

 

[Trippymama]

You know, I'm generally a happy person almost all of the time, but I'm almost 35, and my friends (and occasionally my partner/donor) don't understand what it's like to be paying attention to your body all the time. It's an exhausting process, and you have to constantly tell your self to forget about it for awhile. Additionally, I just carry around this real worry that I'm not able to get pregnant. And, while it's nice for others to tell me not to stress about it, that I'm being ridiculous because there's no reason to think I can't, it still is something that just looms. It's my body, and right now I'm in a place where I just don't trust it at all. I'm trying to figure out all of the signs that it supposedly sends me, but my brain is pretty strong too, and last month I felt some of the symptoms of pregnancy when I wasn't.... yep. Just ranting a bit.

 

[firstprincess]

This is something we would consider in the future too. Who is still ok to be pm'd? And has anyone used or heard anything good/bad about fertility1st? A friend used them and I wondered whether it may be the way forward?

Thanks.

 

[Trippymama]

I'm just wondering if anyone uses the Clearblue Fertility Monitor? I'm having problems with knowing if your pee can sit for awhile before you test. I started the computer too late in the day.

 

[Trippymama]

Where is everyone with their cycle this month? I'm on day 15... thinking that I'll ovulate on day 21. We are trying insemination every day this month from day 18 to 22 instead of every other day like we did last month. Also, I've started taking one baby Aspirin a day. I'm still considering the whole Robitussin method. You? Has anyone tried acupuncture? I've heard it really helps with fertility.

 

[firstprincess]

My friend had infertility problems, she tried for 5 years - she then had reflexology and went to a chinese medicine clinic who gave her acupuncture... she became pregnant within 6 months. I dunno if it was coincidence, but it didn't seem it. x

 

[LunaBean]

I've been having reflexology too...I got pregnant the 2nd month after starting it..I think it def helps!

 

[RubyRainbows]

Em -- How are you feeling?? Already in the 2nd trimester! I was sure i was having a girl, when i was preggo -- but turned out to be a boy! I had a dream when i was pregnant though, & in the dream i had a baby boy! The baby in my dream looked exactly like my son ended up looking like around 10 months! I have heard that it is common for pregnant women to dream about the sex of their baby & that they are usually right!

As far as weight, i am very worried about this too! My mom just called me last night to tell me that she watched something on TV about obese women dying during child birth! I got so mad! She even said maybe i shouldn't TTC bc it's too risky! Way to be supportive!

I was overweight when i had my son, & that pregnancy went well for the most part. Although, i am heavier now.

The fertility doc wants to push my IUI back until June bc my blood results showed that i am insulin resistant, which is a precurser for diabetes. So now she prescribed Metformin to lower my insulin & wants me to lose weight before the IUI. I got the call at work & started crying in front of my co-workers.

Feeling so frustrated.......

 

[RubyRainbows]

Firstprincess -- Feel from to PM me anytime!

 

[Nimyra]

MommyTammy, I'm so sorry about the postponement! Having to wait is so hard - especially after saving up the money for another go...

Thanks for asking - physically I'm doing really well - the sickness has passed, thank God! My husband left 2 weeks ago for Iraq so emotionally I'm pretty much a mess. Thinking about baby things is pretty much the only thing that distracts me. Hopefully it will get easier as I settle into life with him away. I had a chat today with Erin (Epd_ttc) that was really nice! It's midnight here now and I should be asleep not posting online!

 

[RubyRainbows]

Em -- Glad to hear you are feeling better! Have any names picked out?