Looking for official TTC buddies!!

[Grey Eyes]

AFM, its cd25 today. My temp is 97.41 and i have a negative opk. So im pretty much waiting for ov to happen. DH and I dtd yesterday and I've noticed we are not dtd alot this time around. I think its better that way so when ov does occur..atleast we didnt decrease the chances with all the bd. Every time i look at the lines with the opk..it looks like its getting a little darker. I test with the digi opk after i temp in the morning because my work schedule will conflict with me testing in the afternoon and dont want to wait until the evening to test because I dont want to miss the surge. So i think its best if i test in the morning.

Patrice- I have heard that dtd like every other day as opposed to every day is actually better...gives your man's soldiers time to gear up Also- I wonder about temping int he morning...everything that I have read suggests the best time is to temp between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m...something about the LH hrmone luetinizing in your body at the right times. I guess it is not as apparent in your urine in the a.m. That part never made sense to me but I tested twice a day - about 11 a.m. and again at 6 or 7 p.m. and always managed to catch the surge. Do you have any IC tests so you can splurge a couple times a day? BTW you are probably right about your work schedule--your boss wouldn't understand poas

 

[lauraemily17]

Another rubbish day for me started in the same bad mood as yesterday which didn't help but after working 10 hours with only 2 10 min breaks I was an emotional mess, uncontrolable tears when I got home & poor DH cancelled his trip to the cinema with friends so I didn't spend the night alone. Tired of the hormones now! My nerve pain has also stepped up a gear, (prob fr being sat at a desk for so long!) do it's 3 am & I'm sat up on the edge of the bed as it hurts too much lying down!! At least I have a day off tomorrow & working from home Wed! Seriously thinking of bringing maternity leave forwards by a week!!

Coy - your girls are just adorable, Kat looks so excited with her cake!! That is s dilemma re the assignment, I think personally I'd go for handing it in a day late to give me a chance to read it over with a fresh pair of eyes in the morning but I'm not too great with writing essays. How long into your pregnancy will the course last?

Steph - that's a pain that everyone cancelled this weekend but prob did work out for the best if you got a well needed rest. Is your photo session including bump pictures? I think they're beautiful when done by a professional, we've got a shot scheduled for the end of May. Really looking forward to it.

Patrice - re the OPKs, check the instructions but I think with the clear blue digi ones you are supposed to take them in the morning because they monitor estrogen as well. I know the clear blue fertility monitor worked that way & I think I recall Emma saying the digis were the same. Like Coy said you can also supplement with cheapy 1's to take in the afternoon or evening, just in case! You can never poasa too much in my eyes!!

Shradha - good luck with your testing. Sometimes no symptoms is a good sign, especially if you haven't got any AF symptoms.

Felt the funniest movements from Beanie earlier. He had the hiccups but instead of feeling rhymic kicks, from how I think he was lying I was being rhymically head butted in the cervix!!

 

[Steph32]

Hi ladies-- Sorry I haven't been around, I am just starting to come out of my funk today. Well, slowly... lol... I think it was too many days of eating horribly, too much dairy (which I know I shouldn't do but do anyway) and it all caught up to me making me so sick and sluggish.

Coy- Your girls are the cutest things ever. Kat has a great smile, she's so angelic! I just love the olive tone of their skin too. Just beautiful girls! Re: the paper, I would have said heck with the 10 points if it'll buy me another day to get sane again! But seeing that your post was yesterday you probably already did that.

Patrice- I also always thought that it is best to test with opk's in the afternoon, or at least 2nd urine of the day. It's because the morning urine is still considered the previous day's level. And I agree with the dtd every other day. It'll give his spermies the chance to build back up-- even if he doesn't have an issue with low sperm count, it's a good thing anyway. AND it also gives your cervix a rest!! Haha... just with all the bleeding you get and everything, it might be wise to not dtd AS often... then you'll know whether the bleeding is irritation from dtd or something else.

Laura- Our photo shoot is rescheduled for this Friday, and yes, it is with a professional. But she is also a family friend so we'll get a decent discount. I've been wanting to do it soon, before I get TOO big and uncomfortable because my belly is already starting to hang out just a bit more than what would be ideal for pictures! We will be doing lots of belly pics, and I especially want to get some with Nicholas next to/kissing my belly.
Sorry you have had a tough time with work and just feeling crappy... I know how you feel with the pains, as you know I have been having issues with my lower back, hips, and now my pelvis/pubic bone hurts. I don't know if it's because baby is sitting so low or what...? But sounds like I'm starting to get the classic SPD symptoms you were talking about. Re: maternity leave, if you move it up a week does that mean you would have to go back a week earlier?

Shradha- Symptoms are a tricky thing... sometimes you'll have them, sometimes you won't but either way it doesn't necessarily mean that you are or aren't pregnant. I think a lot of us have found that symptoms can be very unreliable! That's what's so annoying about the 2ww-- we can analyze all our symptoms but it's really just a way to pass the time before testing! Sounds like you're ready to test soon! I've always tested around 10-11dpo, those were always the days I would get the first hint of a positive.

 

[shradha]

Steph32- hope you feeling better now......do you crave for something sour and spicy...or sometimes crave for ice creams in the night?? Was just curious coz my cousin sister always craved for different things in the night when she was expecting....

My mind was playing games with me.........I finally couldnt bear the suspense..though i know its early and I do have time......I got up in the morning and took a test....... got a negative result.....now i think why did i take it.......well... ..Af is expected in other 2-3 days......so i still have time.....will test after 4 days........So nothing depends on symptoms ..right.....yes......I feel confident now..................Thank you soooooo much!!!!!!!!

wow...so you are having a photoshoot.....family pic......waiting to see you and your family...do post a pic.....and dont worry ..i am sure you are one hot mommy to be....

Grey eyes....so sorry I just wanted to ask you ....are you coy??? I mean I never asked you your name earlier...how silly of me.....Are you working in a school??? I guess thats what happens when you join late...

Patrice- Last month I found out that testing late is better than testing in the morning....Previously I used to test at 11 am everyday....but of late i have been testing at 6 pm......Hopefully you too get a result soon.....

Laura- It must be difficult to work when you are having terrible symptoms.......When are you due????when are you taking maternity leave....You must be waiting.. to relax and take it easy.....Hope today is a better day for you......

 

[SpudsMama]

Patrice - If we're talking cheapie OPK's then testing in the afternoon is better (around 2pm) but with the digis then FMU is perfect. They monitor an extra hormone or something like that. As long as you test at the same time each day you should be fine

Steph - Looking forward to seeing your maternity shoot pics! I won't be getting any done, I hate having my photo taken so I'll stick to my fortnightly bump progression instead

Laura - If I were in your shoes I'd be seriously considering bringing ML forward too, especially if you're still walking to work? Look after yourself and little man

Coy - I would've left the essay until the next morning too. You'll end up producing better work if you're not falling asleep at your desk

Shradha - Sorry to hear about the but you still have time yet!

AFM - I felt baby hiccups for the first time today! Either that or I have an OCD baby who likes to kick very very rhythmically

 

[lauraemily17]

Definately sounds like hiccups Emma. That's how I differenciate them to normal kicks!! It was also because he wouldn't stop as soon as DH tried to feel them like ge usually did! Not sure if ge was shy or stubborn but he's now far more aggreeable to moving & kicking his Daddy now!! I'm not walking to work any more, physically can't do it, I really enjoyed doing it, helped my stress levels so stopping has prob partly increased my grumpiness!!!

Steph - that's fab that you know the photographer, I think it'll make all the shots so much more personal! Can't wait to see picks. Glad you're feeling a bit better now. It must be hard avoiding dairy as calcium us something you need a lot of in pregnancy, i drink so much more milk now, happily a pint a day, i love it!! Yes id need to come back a week earlier if i leave a week earlier which I didn't want to do but now I'm thinking, if I can take a years maternity leave + accrued holiday which'll be almost 4 weeks what difference does a week make?! I've got a midwife appointment today & going to ask about my maternity belt & what's best to help it, I'll let you know what she says. I think so far I'm lucky as that pain isn't getting worse at the mo, last night & still this morning it's the nerve in my bum which is killing me, it usually gets better when I sleep but I can barely move my left leg. it must be even harder for you with the SPD pain with Nicholas to run around after. My only pace now is very very very slow!!

 

[lauraemily17]

Shradha - boo to the bfn but we always say you're not out until AF shows!

 

[SpudsMama]

I've always loved drinking milk but it's one of the few things I still can't have too much of because it makes me sick again. I can have little sips of chocolate milk, and I've been having a bowl of porridge every morning which seems to be staying down fine so hopefully I'm coming out of the dodgy milk phase! There's calcium in my Pregnacare supplements though, so I know I'm not going without... xx

 

[shradha]

Laura & spudsmama- yes I still have time until AF arrives..........I m really hoping I get a .............When are you both due?

 

[mzswizz]

shadra-boo the bfn.

Steph-A photo shoot..how awesome!! cant wait to see those pics!

Laura-Wow that must've not been a good feeling especially being headbutted in the cervix

Coy-No i dont have any ic's. But i did read the instructions and the cb digi said you can test any time of the day but at the same time so im thinking its best to just keep using FMU.

Emma-Thanks. Yeah i figured that out about the FMU. I read that booklet so many times and the box that DH thought I was studying for an exam

AFM, its cd26 for me already. This cycle is really flying by quickly. My temp is 97.17 and the opk is negative. Today is May 1st and so its 12 more days until Mother's Day in the U.S. Even though it was raining yesterday, i had a good day. I hung out with my friend and we had lunch. DH and I had an argument but it ended in apologizing and dtd in the wee morning We also had some wine last night and it was pretty darn good Before, I use to stress about drinking wine etc while ttc but now im saying to heck with it. Im going to enjoy life with DH and enjoy my life. I havent been enjoying myself because I was soooo worried about what anything will do to my body to effect me to not get a bfp. I cant make myself live in a bubble. We only drink wine anyways so its no harm in that and we drink it on occasion. So no more stressing for me and it feels good to just live life with no worries. If we get a bfp before july then great and if we dont then its great too because we have a great ob/gyn that will help us achieve a LO so either way it goes...its going to be great. Well, i go back to work tomorrow and I know the boss is back. Still waiting for a job to call. Any day now...because full time is exactly what i need right now and higher pay. So we shall see. Oh and here are my opks from cd23-today.

 

[Grey Eyes]

Patrice- In looking at your oppk's I'd say you are def getting closer! I used to do that too--I'd get a negative on the digi but take it apart to see if the line is getting darker. Too bad they didn't come witht he words "cold, getting warm, warmer, super warm, hot, getting hotter!, Burning up!" like that game as kids And yes, if the instructions say anytime of day

Shradha- yep I am "Coy" And yes, I am taking college classes..right now it is Criminal Procedure. I wish you would set up on Fertility Friend with anovulation chart so I could read your temps I am a ov chart addict I get caught up in the suspense of rising temps lol. What dpo are you?

Steph- the pics sound exciting! Can't wait to see some

Laura- this course of Criminal Procedure only lasts for one more week, so I have final testing this week We go in five week intense studies...then I am on to Juvenile Justice Systems and Processes...I am scheduled clear through to next year but I am thinking I will eventually have to discuss with my academic advisor about taking a two week break when the baby is born I could probably manage but that first week or so of getting a routine set is pretty dragging and exhausting. I'd say move your ML up a week maybe give yourself a little extra time to get ready for labor. What's your view on labor btw? Are you planning all natural or will you use pain meds? lol- with my first o my gosh I felt like I was spliting in half and my midwife patted my shoulder and told me "It's gonna be hours and hours and hours yet pumpkin" I thought "Oh s%#*!, GIVE ME DRUGS!!!" lol, but then she says "Oops-I was wrong, the baby is already slipping out" !!! So she totally had me mind-psyched! Now I know how it feels so I tell them what to do lol.

AFM- slept crappy again last night, something about my position is giving me headaches After my shower in the morning they seem to go away so that's a plus. Today is kind of cool and grey so I plan on getting some basic grocery shopping done, budgeting the month out and doing my crazy assignment paper.

 

[mzswizz]

Coy-Yes i know. The exciting part is the getting closer to a smiley. And I know that once i get a smiley..since i test in the morning, i cant tell dh and we could probably dtd before he goes to work But i know dh will pounce the minute he hear i have a smiley. My cycle is going by pretty quickly now so im thankful for that. And if it had those words it would be great Til this day dh and I play that game And hoping you will be able to find a better position to lay in so you can have a better sleep. And its very sunny out today and im happy about that but it does have the random showers.

 

[Grey Eyes]

Oh, almost forgot to mention- I have my next appointment tomorrow afternoon. I always get a little bit nervous/excited...hopefully we will be able to hear the hb this time on doppler and no emergency scans! I can do without stress like that! I have felt a few squiggles in there though, so that is very comforting.

Patrice- do you work today?

Laura- about the nerve pain, what did your doc say about it?

 

[mzswizz]

Coy-I didnt have to work today which was great for me. I go in tomorrow though. But atleast it is only a 4 1/2 hour day for me so time will just fly.

 

[SpudsMama]

Coy, good luck at your appt tomorrow! I see my midwife on Friday morning, for the first time since 16 weeks so very excited about hearing Spud's heartbeat again I'm hoping my blood pressure will have improved as well, or if it's still low that she'll do something about it... I'm sick of these constant dizzy spells!! xx

 

[lauraemily17]

Patrice - your OPKs are identical to the ones I used on my monitor so it probably is estrogen the other hormone it monitors. In which case the lines work a little differently. You'll find the dark 1 will actually get lighter showing an increase in estrogen before the LH surge. Looking at them I would say you're still at least 5 days away from O. Keep posting pics, I'd love to analyze them for you!!

Emma - don't be too surprised if your blood pressure is still low, you're at the point in pregnancy where to goes down. I'm not sure there's a lot that can be done for low blood pressure. A friend had it & was told to drink plenty of water & that was it!! Hope otherwise everything is good. They'll measure your bump on this 1 as well.

Coy - hope you're appointment gies better this time. Now bubs is bigger I'm sure they'll find the heartbeat sooner. Are you drinking enough fluid through the day? I had a few weeks of bad headaches & was told to increase my fluid in take which worked really well. That was around 16 weeks I think. I'm seriously impressed with your brain power to study through your pregnancy with only a couple of weeks off!! I really really struggle & feel like I've lost 20 points off my IQ!!

Afm - I had a kindof good & bad appointment with my midwife! Firstly the nerve pain I'm just going to have to live with, kindof what I thought but she showed me how to wear the maternity belt which is low & tight across the hips. I was really worried I was squishing him but she said no it won't & it's meant to be tight to hold the pelvis together & raise the bump.

She also had a feel around & found him on my right but couldn't tell what way round he was as I apparently have good muscles!!! I'm very proud if that & hoping it means things will shrink back quite quickly! She found his heartbeat on the Doppler & from that figured he was head down. Bump also measures spot on at 31cm. Iron levels are excellent, 13.5 actually higher than at 12 weeks & urine was clear. Do lots if good.

The bad, blood pressure was 138/82 which although not badly high yet still on the rise. It was 113/80 2 weeks ago. Also the swelling. It's getting worse, my feet are about an inch thicker & when pressed a mark stays so she said it's pitting odema. It actually makes my toes feel a little numb sometimes. My fingers are also starting to swell up really badly at night to the point where when I wale up to GP toilet I can't clench my hands into fists, the joints are also getting quite achey around my fingers. She said theyre all warnings but there's not enough yet for her to be very worried but I'm now on close monitoring with fortnightly appointments & she's told me to contact her immediately if my face starts to swell or I get a headache which doesn't go after taking Paracetamol. I've also got to try & drink more to help move the fluid & put my feet up high as much as possible when at home. Based on this I'm very seriously considering leaving a week early & going to have a chat with my boss on Thursday.

 

[lauraemily17]

Once again excuse the appalling English in my last post, really need to learn to read what I'm writing a bit better on my I phone!!

 

[lauraemily17]

Coy - in response to the pain relief question I'm planning on nothing more than gas & air, going for the brave option!! I am however quite open to changing my mind having never actually feeling a contraction before but going to give it a go the natural way!!

 

[Grey Eyes]

Coy - in response to the pain relief question I'm planning on nothing more than gas & air, going for the brave option!! I am however quite open to changing my mind having never actually feeling a contraction before but going to give it a go the natural way!!

Not exactly sure what gas and air is--something similar to what dentists use here?? Ah yes, contractions- just imagine a period cramp that starts to intensify and gets so bad you are on your knees. Then it hangs for about 20 second and then fades. That's the bad ones. I identify them as "period cramps from hell". However- the worse the contractions the faster the delivery I am convinced About the time my midwife was telling me it'd get (and I quote) six times as bad and last for hours - that's when baby is crowning. But every body is different and every delivery is different. I was a bit afraid my first labor becasue 1) I didn't want to be a weenie in front of my big strong Marine/Soldier husband 2) I imagined the worst- baby gets stuck, I pass out--any number of things. But then I calmed myself by remembering women have done this for thousands of years and if anything does go goofy I'm in a hospital where they can knock me out, perform a c-section, and get my baby out if they have to! So, no worries. I am sure you will do awesome, you have been handling the rest so very well!!

 

[mzswizz]

Laura-Eeek. i am excited then if it looks like i will ov in 5 days. And thanks for helping out with the opks. I will post when i take new pics so you can analyze them for me because i dont know how to read the lines Hopefully i do ov soon. So i can finally be in the tww and see what happens.

RE about your appt: Hopefully you can get a week early off. I think you need to rest and kick your feet up. Good that everything else is fine and seems like your LO is ready to come out into the world. Hmm maybe he'll come before your edd. I know I came before i was suppose to..2 days before my mom birthday..guess i wanted to be her birthday present