General chatter while we wait (and commentary on the "pull out method")

[WinterBub]

Pretty- so sorry to hear that. The poor little guy what happened? How long does he need the cast? Thinking of you- I'm sure it has been a really stressful experience all around. On the plus side, he looks to be taking it pretty well in your pic. Love how kids just roll with life's ups and downs.

Flueky- that's awesome. What you do is really important, and makes people's lives better when they really need it. Thank you for the OPK tips, too.

Dobby- nope, you're not obligated to take plan B. i understand his stress, but he made his choices. Plan B has risks attaches to it, too (ie. Ectopic pregnancy). So if you want to take it for yourself, then you should. But if you dont, then you're well within your rights. Do whatever you think is best. Also did not like the "he asked not so nicely" aspect. No, bro.

One last OPK question- if I do it once per day (ie. First thing) will I definitely catch the positive? Or do I need to test more during the day? Not looking to use it to get pregnant for a couple of months at least, but would like to see and confirm that my cycle is getting back on track. So I'd be happy enough with "oh yep, it happened 4 days ago" if you know what I mean!

 

[Flueky88]

Winter thank you. I preferred testing in afternoons. Opks except the clearblue digital are not to be used with fmu. I usually tried around 230 or 3 so that I peed after lunch and held for a bit. Also, some ladies have short surges which can last like 12 hours. I don't think that's "common". Personally, mine was usually caught over the span of 2 days and negative by 3rd.

 

[DobbyForever]

Winter yeah he wasn't like suppppper mean but there were some choice language that I could have done without he seems to have calmed down today but I'm in a mood so he can wait until A is in bed to talk to me.

I agree with Flueky. Unless your specific opk says FMU, SMU is the way to go. A few hours hold is good just avoid drinking so much you dilute your urine. Your surge will usually last at least a day, mine tend to go 2-3. So even if you were only testing once a day, you might be okay. I usually don't test until CD 10. Then once I get my estrogen rise (usually a couple days later), that's when I test 2-3x a day. Just because I like to see the progression of my peak from barely positive to strongest positive then back down to barely positive and finally virtually nonexistant positive negative. Also, I've had cycles where I may get a positive with fmu and smu but then negatives. But I have pcos. So that's my only caution with testing once a day. I stop testing once my tests go back to super negative. But yeah if you just want to confirm you surged/O then wondfo is the way to go. If you want a backup, I agree with Fluek. CB digital but not the advance is good.

 

[shaescott]

Dobs if you’ve already ovulated it’s too late for plan B. It would be a waste of $50 at this point, there’s nothing it can do. In fact, once your LH surge starts, it’s too late for plan B. So no, you are not ethically obligated to take it.
Which test is the one that senses your estrogen rise? Considering my O is later than usual since stopping the IUD (CD19-23 usually) it would be nice to know when the estrogen is actually rising.

AFM today is day 6 in a row of spotting. No clue why. There’s really no way to know considering it’s not ovulation related.

ETA:

Pretty poor Alex I hope he heals up quick. Kid x-rays are so cute with their spaced out/not as many bones

Winter the general OPK recommendation is SMU. I personally use FMU because I’ve found it works better for me, but I’m definitely in the minority. Once my OPK seems much darker than usual but not positive, I test every time I pee until I get my peak positive, so until it gets positive and then starts lightening again.

 

[DobbyForever]

It’s the CB advanced digital BUT depending on when you O, there’s different recommendations for what day to start. Assuming you start at the “right” day, you should have 2-4 days of high reading (estrogen rise) before peak (lh surge). But if you start too early, your estrogen baseline is too low and you can get a false high reading and end up with like a week of flashing smiles. Or more annoying, you start too late and then never get the high reading just jump straight to peak. The joys lol.

I appreciate you all. He and I hashed it out, he understands why I’m not running to cvs. And he understands that takes two to tango. So for now things are ok lol key words for now

 

[PrettyInInk42]

Winter - No, haven't told anyone else yet. I'm hoping to announce on social media on Halloween, even though I'll only be 11w5d. Hopefully that's close enough to 2nd tri to be "safe". I haven't booked any appt yet except for my first MW one in late October. Really need to get on that though. It'll probably book the U/S for really late this month.
For OPKs, I like the Easy@Home brand from Amazon and I found the premom app pretty helpful. I would test once in the morning and once in the evening until the 2nd line starts to darken and then did one with every bathroom visit until the 2nd line was faint again.

Dobby - A little tardy to the party here, but I wouldn't have taken Plan B. I know you've gone back and forth on the pros and cons of having a 2nd, but I feel like generally people don't regret having one more. And it would be hard, but we all know you could make it work. Either way, just gotta wait and see now.

Flueky - Yay for super fast internet. Do you find putting the finishing touches on your home fun and exciting or tedious and annoying?

shae - Sorry that you're still spotting for no reason. :/

Re: Alex. So, last Saturday night, he fell down several steps at his cousin's new house. We put an ice pack on it and the cousin's mom (who's a nurse) said it didn't seem broken. He was being careful and tender with it for the next few days, so we decided to take him to a kid's walk-in clinic on Wednesday. They ordered XRays and we got them done the next day. Shortly after, I got a call saying the bone was fractured and to go to Emerg. After being there for 3 hours, he walked out with that temporary cast. We were told to take him to a fracture clinic at another hospital the next morning at 6:45am. :/ SO offered to take him, so that was nice. Alex now has a cast on most of his arm. It needs to be over his elbow for 2 weeks, so he doesn't move his arm too much considering both bones are broken. After that, I believe they're just gonna cut it and then it'll probably have to stay on for another few weeks. Never a dull moment.

AFM, not too much else to report. Still so early that I'm just scared all the time, but trying to remind myself that whatever will happen will happen and to just try to relax.

 

[DobbyForever]

Shae that's super odd with the spotting. I wish I had some insight. Or better yet, a way to make it stop

Pretty can't wait to see your announcement! I'm glad the timing has worked out to still announce Halloween! That's so scary about the stairs. I'm glad that you followed your gut and took him in when it didn't resolve. He definitely seems to be in good spirits though in the photos. Also, maybe I just never noticed because I'm usually on my phone but yay for your ticker!!!!

For sure, a second this year versus waiting a year is not ideal financially. But I'll figure it out somehow. The gears are super turning over here lol. I'm trying to reign it in and not get ahead of myself. I know BD on O/O+1 is possible, but I'm still not entirely convinced any sperm went in. I know it "only takes one" but yeah. The only thing that's odd to me is that I usually get insatiable around O but that feeling immediately goes away on 1dpo or 2dpo. I'm still very much in the mood. But my opks have gone totally negative and my temps support O. FF even gave me crosshairs.

 

[DobbyForever]

In random news, I ordered our Halloween costumes. I was gonna let him choose but then I remembered I only have so many years to do mommy and me costumes so he’s gonna be Sam Wilson’s Capt America and I’m gonna be a widow. Not Black Widow though cuz I’m not trying to pay money for a wig I’ll wear once

 

[WinterBub]

Thank you for the opk advice! I ended up buying some store brand ones in the supermarket the other day, as they come in a case (like CB etc preg tests do), and that super works for a noobie ill buy some test strips thereafter if this is going to be a months long thing. The ones I bought were on close out, so I only have 20 to work with. I'm still bleeding here and there, so actually will go buy some pregnancy tests tomorrow. Curious when my hcg will be at zero. Really over it at this point. And thank you for the opk tips. Glad FMU isn't advised as I hate doing things right when I wake up.

Are you still spotting, Shae? Commiserations for mysterious body happenings

Poor Alex, Pretty. That sounds like a legit slow rolling nightmare. I can't get over how cheerful he looks in the pics you posted!! I hope he's doing well, and the rest of his time in the cast etc will be easy to handle. Is it hard to do stuff like wash his hands (as best possible) etc? Big hug re: the miscarriage fears. Once you fall pregnant, so much of what happens is out of your hands. Especially early on. Not that reassurance from an internet stranger is worth much, but I feel like all will go well. I'm also really intrigued to see if your sway does end up with a girl!

Any updates on your story, Dobby? When can you test? I get the guy suggesting Plan B. I just think while suggesting is fine, pressure is not. So if this doesn't end up in a pregnancy, is your plan to have a second a year from now? Love the Halloween costume. And thank you for the reminder to start shopping for costumes.

Nothing too exciting happening here. My 2yo has turned into a nudist if hes out of sight, he'll take all his clothes off (diaper included) and when you find him, hes just like "yes?"
I'm also cracking up at some of these emojis on here. Especially: what on earth is that supposed to mean?!?!?!

 

[DobbyForever]

I'm sorry the bleeding is still here and there. Sending hugs. Glad you got some opks, even better than they were on sale! Woot! And lol for real some of those emojis are a trip, but that one is like a whole different level haha. I always thought it was *ahem* a lady as she channeled her inner cowgirl because I have a gutter mind. But I think it's just boobs in general LOL

No updates. I slept with The Boy last night. The kissing is still amazing, and his technique is good. But without the giant crush on him it was meh. But I figured if I am pregnant then I'm not getting laid for years again so YoLo. Talked off and on with VI hottie, but nothing substantial. I reckon I'm 6dpo. I think I'll take a frer on Friday at 9dpo. I have a ton of wondfo hpts because I bought a combo pack. Meanwhile, I'm just wasting opks to satisfy the poas urge lol. I don't believe in symptom spotting because with my wonky hormones I get tons of pregnancy symptoms when I know I'm not pregnant. But I am super bloated and gassy, irritable, and still crazy horny. I usually stop wanting sex 2dpo until a few days before AF like a last call at the bar and then I'm usually in the mood during af even though I can't get any haha. I really don't want to test best I don't think there's any real chance I'm pregnant. And I know logistically that makes the most sense. But I've now had 6 days to sit around and fantasize about it. Plus my coworker just returned my infant car seat that I gave her. She's had it for her two kids and now she's done but it doesn't expire until 2023. Just thought it was funny that of all times for her to text me to bring it to work it's this last week lol.

 

[DobbyForever]

So in opk land that I know means nothing LOL. Evening 9/15 was 0.95 and fmu 9/16 was 0.9 (cb advanced read peak). Trying not to read into it this afternoon’s opk increasing ratio lol

 

[PrettyInInk42]

Dobby - And I can't wait to announce. Just gotta wait for stores to start selling pumpkins and then it'll be time to wrangle the boys. lol
I already got Halloween costumes for my kids too. I got them on clearance at Party City and large enough that we can hopefully get a couple uses out of them. And they were $15 total, before tax.
Sorry that DTD with The Boy was kinda meh, but they say sex is like pizza. Even when it's bad, it's still alright.
Gonna keep my FX that you'll be at peace with whatever the FRER says on Friday.

Winter - Sorry that you're still bleeding. And I know what you mean about being "over it". After my MMC, I was like "Ok, time to pick myself up, dust myself off, and get back at it."
Thanks for your reassurance. I keep trying to remind myself that I've had 2 successful pregnancies, so there's no reason why this one shouldn't be the same. Also the stat that like 25% of known pregnancies end in MC and this is my 4th. I've already had a MC, so this one will be fine. I'm also anxious to find out if my sway worked. Except for the fact that I had a few O's before my SO "did his part", I think my sway was pretty much perfect, according to the method. Guess we'll have to wait and see. I have a SneakPeek test that I believe can be taken at 8 weeks, but I'd rather wait a few more weeks to make sure there's enough of whatever chromosome to be detected and to be sure this is a sticky bean.
Your LO sounds like a cheeky monkey. lol. Hopefully it's a short lived phase.

Re: Alex. He's doing ok. No complaints about having to wear the cast or itchiness or whatever. He seems to be able to do most things fine. Pulling up his pants after going to the bathroom is a bit of a struggle, but he can do it. The only thing he hasn't been able to do is rub lotion onto his uncasted arm. lol. And it was all that silliness and his laid back comments about pain that made us think it was just a sprain, not a break.

AFM, finally made an appt for bloodwork on Sept 29. Trying to schedule an U/S around work is like pulling teeth, but I'm aiming to have it booked by end of day tomorrow. Otherwise, just business as usual over here.

 

[shaescott]

Dobs my baseline LH varies up to 0.35ish ratio, I wouldn’t worry at all about a 0.23. Doesn’t mean you’re not pregnant, but that’s definitely not a sign to worry about.

Pretty I’m glad Alex is dealing okay with the cast!

AFM the spotting finally stopped a few days ago. I think this is going to be my longest cycle off the IUD though still no fertile signs and OPKs negative.

 

[DobbyForever]

Pretty what a score!!! That’s amazing! I bought him a PJ set lol. Did the same thing when he was Maui. So much easier and cheaper than investing in a proper costume plus then you have pjs. No pumpkins yet?! I was at safeway yesterday and thought of you because the pumpkins are out.

so excited for your sneak peek when you do it!

And that’s great that the cast isn’t bothering him and he’s still able to be independent with most things

Shae glad the spotting stopped! Sorry the opks are negative and you are looking at a long cycle

AFM I’ll be fine. I definitely at this point would like to see a bfp. But the hopeless romantic and pragmatic in me is like bfn would be better. I still want that fairy tale romance and wedding and actual ttc and partner who is devoted to our family. And the logistics will be really tight and tough. But I would honestly be thrilled if it is a bfp. So I’ll be ok either way.

 

[PrettyInInk42]

Dobby - That's smart about the PJs. If I was to do that, I'd probably have to buy at least one size larger to accommodate a couple extra layers underneath. Oh, the joys of Canadian Halloweens. lol. And ya, I haven't seen pumpkins, but the only store I've been to in the last few days is a WalMart. They'll probably be getting a shipment in soon, but at the same time, I don't wanna buy them too early and have them go bad/be eaten by wildlife/potentially vandalized or destroyed before the 31st.

shae - Dobby took the words right out of my mouth. How's work been? Still super busy?

AFM, finally booked my first U/S for Oct 1st... I think. I used an app, so I'm not 100% that the appt was actually made. I'm gonna try to get a hold of the clinic and see if they can confirm. But the reason I used the app was cuz no one was picking up the phone or returning msgs at the clinic. So... *shrugs*. Just gonna keep my FX. Otherwise, just been feeling a little tightness/stretching in the uterus area. Hopefully that means the baby is growing nicely.

 

[DobbyForever]

Sorry quick update cuz A wants my phone. BFNs across the board. I know 9dpo is too early to be testing, but I had af cramps yesterday and all the other symptoms are gone so I feel out. No opk cuz did three and all duds . I have a three pack frer so I’ll test again sat and sun then AF is due Monday so I’ll get my answer then

ETA the wondfo looks like it has a shadow of a line in the pic, but honestly I don't see s* irl and you know they've burned me before so I count it as a bfn. I refuse to get my hopes up just to have another false indent shadow situation.

 

[DobbyForever]

Pretty for sure definitely forgo pumpkins for Halloween, but if you're setting up your announcement ahead of time. Though there's no logic in that when you can double dip the pumpkin use. I'm tired lol. And yeah I've definitely worn shorts and a tank top or a short dress or a shirt on the majority of our California Halloweens

Omg love it! That's like next week, right? You'll be 7ish weeks? I love little gummy bears. I can't wait! Did you get any confirmation email or something you can show? Hopefully you can confirm though. And yay for bubs settling in. Any symptoms yet or hanging in there? And will SO get to go? I know Kaiser allows partners for the first ultrasound but like nothing else

 

[Flueky88]

Hey guys. My step-dad is in critical care. Not covid but encephalopathy. He's on a vent. They are hoping to continue weaning settings and extubate him. He went to ER Tuesday around lunch. ICU is full so he is still being treated in ER but classified as critical care inpatient. Prayers and positive thoughts would be appreciated. I also started my AF on Wednesday. It was pretty heavy yesterday, more than I have ever had (from what I recall). Heavy today. I'm hoping this won't be my new norm. This is my 2nd pp AF and the first was pretty light but just lasted a week.

 

[Flueky88]

Oh and V was sick Monday and Tuesday. She's better now and was negative for covid, flu, rsv, and strep.

 

[DobbyForever]

I’m so sorry Fluek. What a rough week. Sending nothing but love and prayers your way