Summer Lovin'...bring us some babies!

[minuet]

Thanks all you ladies for your kind words and prayers. I'm just trying to stay positive and patient! I'm very happy but not wanting to get crazy excited because it's still so early but I really do have faith that this will end up being a healthy pregnancy. DH is so worried it's triplets. He said last night that he thinks his swimmers were just having trouble getting past the cervix this whole time so "3 eggs + 67 million sperm makes 3 babies." LOL I keep reassuring him that there is a less than 1% chance of that.

Minuet, I think you are on the right track with the IUI. Of course I don't know all the particulars of your situation, but I obviously have a soft spot for Clomid+IUI as it gave me my first BFP in almost 2 years of trying. I think if you can afford it, it really gives you the best chance. Especially since it would include washing the sperm before they inject it into your uterus, so that would get the best of your DH's swimmers. I don't know what normal is, but it doesn't seem like he has the best motility and morphology. So that basically means how well they swim and whether they are shaped normally (so healthy). Washing the sperm will get rid of many of the slower or misshapen ones and concentrate and take out a lot of the journey for the healthy guys.

Lol your poor husband! That is a lot of swimmers, so I can see why he'd be worried. Really though, your line wasn't blaring dark on the last test, and I'd figure if there were multiples it'd be much darker since there'd be more HSG. You're probably just baking one healthy little one.

That's interesting about the washing, I always wondered what the point of doing that was! I agree that his motility/morphology isn't very good, and the chances should be better with an IUI. I will have to see at the start of next cycle what my doctor thinks about that, as I'm not sure if she even does IUI.

 

[minuet]

Minuet a path you could take, and forgive me if you are already doing this, is to do a medicated cycle and then on around day 12(since you have longer cycles) go in for an ultrasound to check follicles. Then the doc can prescribe you ovidrel and tell you when to take it to make you ovulate. Then try at home. That way it takes the guess work out for you! And don't give up hope! A close couple to us got pregnant after her husband battled cancer. Just had their baby boy in May.

That's a good sounding option. So ovidrel kind of forces the body to ovulate? A good solution if it won't do so on it's own! Probably a lot cheaper than IUI also.
Thanks for the encouragement.

 

[minuet]

I heard that pomegranate juice helps build the uterine lining. My lining is thin so I need all the help I can get!

Ohh well that is cool! Did not know pomegranates were so useful.

 

[beaglemom]

Still negative opks, and my temp went up again today. I really want to just go get a follicle scan to see if anything is even happening in there! But we really can't waste the money for that on a cycle that's probably a bust anyway.
I've been wondering if we should just go straight for an IUI next cycle, assuming we can get Clomid to make me ovulate. Since hubby's swimmers are still recovering from chemo last year, his count - taken a month ago - was on the low end of normal - 20 million, morphology was 30%, and motility was 20-50%(whatever THAT means).
With numbers like that, if I even by some miracle ovulated, wouldn't it be hard to get pregnant? It seems that with such a count it would take a few natural cycles to have a chance of getting pregnant - and with using clomid we don't have cycles to waste!
I don't know, I just don't want to waste medicated cycles, and after 4 1/2 years I'm really REALLY over waiting, and ready to do more complicated stuff to get this to turn into a BFP.
Thoughts?

I personally think you should be with an RE & doing IUI to start with. I am in the same boat as you when it comes to count issues. It is not impossible, but not as likely to get pregnant with intercourse alone. You have been at this a while & I think having a monitored cycle with no IUI is a waste for people like us. My u/s cost $250 & I had 2 each cycle. My trigger was an $80 copay. The actual IUI was $500. This was all no insurance coverage (except on the meds) with an RE. I don't know your financial situation. But I think if you are already in for $500+, you might as well go all in. I am sorry, I do not remember if you have already seen an RE & had testing done on you.

I am not trying to sound negative, just saying these are my thoughts & our situations are similar. My husband's count started at 12 & has come up to 40...but post wash has ranged from 1 to 9 million. With a good count in the perfect environment, I think something like only 200-500 thousand make it to past the cervix. So with a lower count, the number that get past the cervix is way less.

If you are tired of wasted time & want to be aggressive, go straight to IUI with monitoring & trigger. I did 3 with clomid & timed with opks with my gyno...I wish I had not wasted the time or money...it was much less expensive, but even with opks, the timing sucked.

 

[beaglemom]

So something has been on my mind since I was in NY & thought I would share. I thought this could be fun.

I am curious what everyone is looking forward to most about being pregnant. Whether it is the actual positive test, the baby shower, telling people, the cravings, ultrasounds, or the delivery...anything at all. This is mine.

I seem to be obsessed with the nursery. Am I going to buy a crib bedding set, make one, buy pieces separately, what theme. So many thoughts & ideas. So my thing I am looking forward to most is shopping for the nursery. I pretty much know which way I want to go. Heading up I95 north, there is a huge outlet shopping area I have yet to be able to shop in. Usually I am driving super late/early or with dogs. So I want to plan a trip up there...it's about 4 hrs. I want my mom to come with me & maybe my sister who is 2 hrs away can meet us. I love Ikea & think that will be where I get most of my furniture. There is also a Target & Babies R Us near by. I think it would be a great place to shop especially for baby. I would like to drive up early, spend a great day shopping, stay the night, & leave in the morning. My husband & I have discussed the nursery, so I think I can shop without him & really would love to spend that time with my mom.

Anyways...that is what I am most looking forward to. I can imagine finding out I am pregnant & just counting the days until a gender reveal so I can start on the nursery.

Anyone else want to share?

 

[misaacs117]

This is probably not going to be anyone else's thing they are looking forward to since most women hate it. But I am most looking forward to my big belly and feeling the baby move around in there. I want a big ol baby bump lol. And having dh lay on my belly and talk to the baby. When we had our cp he was already laying on my belly and talking. I can't wait for it!

 

[floridasian]

Had my CD3 scan and labs this morning at CD2. AFC was good - 4 on the left and 5 on the right. Doctor was happy with it. My fibroid grew a little bigger and it looks like there's another small one forming next to it as well. I blame it on all the extra soy I was taking/eating the last two cycles. Neither is pushing into the uterine cavity though so he's not real concerned about it at this point.

I also got my prescription for Letrozole. It's 2.5 mg from CD3-7. I'll be going back on CD11 to check on the follicles. Not sure if we want to do an IUI this cycle yet. I asked him if I could wait till the results of my labs come back to decide but I think he misunderstood me. I'll have to ask him again when he calls me back on Monday with my results.

I asked about the cost of IUI and my doctor said it was $350, but that's just for the insemination itself. I have no idea what else I would need or if the ultrasounds cost extra.

 

[beaglemom]

Had my CD3 scan and labs this morning at CD2. AFC was good - 4 on the left and 5 on the right. Doctor was happy with it. My fibroid grew a little bigger and it looks like there's another small one forming next to it as well. I blame it on all the extra soy I was taking/eating the last two cycles. Neither is pushing into the uterine cavity though so he's not real concerned about it at this point.

I also got my prescription for Letrozole. It's 2.5 mg from CD3-7. I'll be going back on CD11 to check on the follicles. Not sure if we want to do an IUI this cycle yet. I asked him if I could wait till the results of my labs come back to decide but I think he misunderstood me. I'll have to ask him again when he calls me back on Monday with my results.

I asked about the cost of IUI and my doctor said it was $350, but that's just for the insemination itself. I have no idea what else I would need or if the ultrasounds cost extra.

Sounds like a good appointment. My u/s are extra. The only other cost is cost of the sperm wash...he could be including that in the $350, but you will want that clarified. Are you using a trigger with intercourse or just the femara? You can decide to do an IUI timed with opk up until the last scan (your cd 11 scan). But if you want IUI with trigger, you would need a few days to get your trigger. I had to get mine mail ordered, but it may be possible some places have it local. My mail order has overnight, but I still needed a day or 2 to get my order placed & verified. I used freedom pharmacy.

Good luck! I think maybe for the first month you could just do the follicle check & femara...you got pregnant once naturally, so you may not need a lot of help.

 

[beaglemom]

This is probably not going to be anyone else's thing they are looking forward to since most women hate it. But I am most looking forward to my big belly and feeling the baby move around in there. I want a big ol baby bump lol. And having dh lay on my belly and talk to the baby. When we had our cp he was already laying on my belly and talking. I can't wait for it!

I have a feeling I am going to agree with everyone who answers this! LOL!

I am totally looking forward to this as well. We already do the talking bit. He talks to his boys after the IUI. The other thing about getting bigger, is I can get fat for a good reason. I am currently in skirts & dresses because I have gained weight & cannot wear my pants anymore. However (this may change) I am NOT looking forward to the potential belly touches...yuck! I hate people touching me as it is. I need my own personal space bubble. This rule does not apply to my husband or my mom But who knows...maybe pregnant hormones will make me more sentimental & gooey inside. But I highly doubt it. I think it will just make me more of an emotional, bitchy, mess

 

[floridasian]

See, what's the interesting thing - I had scar tissue in my uterus and my cervix and I got pregnant. Now the scar tissue is now and I can't get pregnant! However since I was able to get pregnant on my own with scar tissue everywhere including the cervix it led me to believe that DH's count must be good if his boys were able to fight through the scar tissue at the cervix!

It didn't sound like the doctor thought I would need trigger and I think it would definitely be too late by CD11, since I have a tendency to o early. We might just end up doing Femara only this cycle and IUI next.

Oh and I ordered some Pomegranate extract online yesterday. Thanks Beaglemom for that suggestion. I did not know that they make it in a supplement form.

 

[floridasian]

Since I'm a crazy coupon lady the most exciting thing for me is to go out and shop for all the baby items on the cheap! I personally make it a challenge to see what deals I can score on good quality items. We are still hitting garage sales every Saturday (it'll be hard in the winter though since there are virtually none in the winter) we see high end items that are barely used all the time. I'm already stocking up on diapers of course.

I rub my belly and talk to it all the time in my LP thinking that I have some magical powers to make things happen! LOL!

 

[beaglemom]

See, what's the interesting thing - I had scar tissue in my uterus and my cervix and I got pregnant. Now the scar tissue is now and I can't get pregnant! However since I was able to get pregnant on my own with scar tissue everywhere including the cervix it leads me to believe that DH's count must be good if his boys were able to fight through the scar tissue at the cervix!

It didn't sound like the doctor thought I would need trigger and I think it would definitely be too late by CD11, since I have a tendency to o early. We might just end up doing Femara only this cycle and IUI next.

Oh and I ordered from Pomegranate extract online yesterday. Thanks Beaglemom for that suggestion. I did not know that they make it in a supplement form.

Ha ha...I didn't know either. Just know they do for cranberry so figured it was worth a google.

I forgot you O early...you may want to ask the dr for an earlier scan. I have mine on cd 10 & do femara the same days as you. But I am more manipulated. The femara may extend out O for you. I am not sure about femara but clomid does that.

I think a few months on femara alone is a good idea. Your body may just need an egg quality boost.

 

[floridasian]

Michelle, I asked my doctor about DIM. He had never heard of it but he took the piece of paper I wrote it on and left the room so he could go use a computer to look it up (he computer he was using in the room only had access to the Intranet, not Internet). I thought that was pretty cool!

I can't remember the exact words he said but he said he wouldn't recommend me taking it because whatever it temporarily decreases/blocks is actually needed for fetal development (it's responsible for the cell growth and dividing, etc.)

But check with your doctor and see what yours say!

 

[floridasian]

Good luck on your HSG, FutureBabyG! Mine was easy and painless. It lasted less than 10 minutes (even with the suspicious shadow in my uterus that turned out to be scar tissue). If you don't have uterine scarring it might take even less time. I had to roll to the sides, left first, then right to see if the suspicious shadow was just an air bubble. Even with that I was in and out of the hospital in less than an hour!

 

[minuet]

I personally think you should be with an RE & doing IUI to start with. I am in the same boat as you when it comes to count issues. It is not impossible, but not as likely to get pregnant with intercourse alone. You have been at this a while & I think having a monitored cycle with no IUI is a waste for people like us. My u/s cost $250 & I had 2 each cycle. My trigger was an $80 copay. The actual IUI was $500. This was all no insurance coverage (except on the meds) with an RE. I don't know your financial situation. But I think if you are already in for $500+, you might as well go all in. I am sorry, I do not remember if you have already seen an RE & had testing done on you.

I am not trying to sound negative, just saying these are my thoughts & our situations are similar. My husband's count started at 12 & has come up to 40...but post wash has ranged from 1 to 9 million. With a good count in the perfect environment, I think something like only 200-500 thousand make it to past the cervix. So with a lower count, the number that get past the cervix is way less.

If you are tired of wasted time & want to be aggressive, go straight to IUI with monitoring & trigger. I did 3 with clomid & timed with opks with my gyno...I wish I had not wasted the time or money...it was much less expensive, but even with opks, the timing sucked.

Thank you beagle, you are confirming what I've been thinking about for a week now. Hubby's count is not horrible, but I really think the odds are against us for a decent number of swimmers actually getting where they need to go.
IUI doesn't have the greatest odds either, but it definitely increases the chances of achieving conception.
I'm also concerned about Clomid not causing me to O, and from what I understand, the trigger takes that out of the equation? Need to do more research on that aspect.
I think I'll call the doctor on Monday and find out if I can come in for an appointment and talk about this. I assume a regular obgyn wouldn't do a monitored cycle with trigger and IUI, but we'll see. She isn't monitoring me at all right now, so I think it's just wasting time.
Considering all the other medical expenses we've had to pay the past few years, a few hundred for a shot at getting pregnant is small potatoes.

 

[beaglemom]

My ob did not monitor. The trigger will make you ovulate. The secret is monitoring you to confirm you have mature follies to release. So they would give you femara, clomid, or follistim (or some variation of this). For most, they will check your follies on cd 10. If you have one that is at least 16-18 (this varies with each dr) they will tell you to trigger then IUI 36 hours later. The trigger makes you ovulate 36 hours after taking it. The one good thing about it is you can see where you are throughout the whole cycle. It is controlled & makes you feel more proactive.

 

[misaacs117]

Floridasian I did a little research but couldn't find much. But someone posted a youtube link to a guy named Marc something and he had a video on supplements for endo. So going to re watch it and write those down along with what you said. Then ask my re and see what he says. Thanks though!

 

[minuet]

My ob did not monitor. The trigger will make you ovulate. The secret is monitoring you to confirm you have mature follies to release. So they would give you femara, clomid, or follistim (or some variation of this). For most, they will check your follies on cd 10. If you have one that is at least 16-18 (this varies with each dr) they will tell you to trigger then IUI 36 hours later. The trigger makes you ovulate 36 hours after taking it. The one good thing about it is you can see where you are throughout the whole cycle. It is controlled & makes you feel more proactive.

Thanks for the information. Realizing that Clomid alone isn't going to cut it has been really discouraging. I was hoping that just a few rounds of Clomid would net a BFP, but am now looking at the possibility that IUI can take several tries to be successful.
I'll get over it, it's not the first time my hopes have been dashed. Just frustrating.
Ordering Fertility Blend + their other male vitamins in the hopes that'll improve his swimmers for three months from now.
I know you've had to go through way too many IUIs, so I'm not trying to ignore that fact at all. Just upset and discouraged right now.

 

[minuet]

Ok so I'm wondering if I'm feeling ovary pains? Never felt them before so not sure....
It feels like a dull ache, been going on for hours, and recently became more noticeable but still more of an ache than sharp pain. Located in lower abdomen over near the left hip and from what I read this seems to be the right location.
OPKS have been negative all day though, but I'm hoping this means something? I guess cysts could cause pain too though.

 

[beaglemom]

Could be O. For me it almost feels l Iike light af cramps. A positive opk could be coming.