TTC #1- Looking for buddies!

[Dream143r]

Bre1990 - Never had an O spotting before. Have you checked with your doctor? Like TB suggested also, I always temp 3 times. The first one is always lower and the second two are usually about the same. I feel like the thermometer just needs to warm up.

TB - Urgh! Sorry about the bleeding. I think you're right though. It's clear your body is def trying to hold onto these beans.

Amber - My condolences for your loss and also Happy Belated Birthday!

Sunny - To see your ticker this morning made me smile. One day at a time and we're here with you every step of the way.

AFM: CD24/7DPO. I'm feeling pretty indifferent about this cycle at the moment. No idea if this is going to be the one or not. Trying not to get my hopes up. I restocked on all my IC strips earlier this month so I'll have no control to wait. I'll likely start tomorrow at 8DPO.

 

[AmberR]

Sunny- so happy to see your ticker! Remind me when is your appt and ultrasound?

Dream- excited to see your test tomorrow!

Bre- I've never had O spotting but have heard of it happening. When I was temping I just used the first temp, I was too lazy to take multiple ones Lol!

CT- I bet you are busy and so in love with you new little one, hope we get an update soon

Steph, jmack, Sarah, and anyone else I forgot- hope you all are doing well!

 

[SunnyBe]

That's a tight timeline Tb! I hope you get to time it just right. Did you get an order in for your meds? So excited for you!

Dream, yeah after a while it's hard to get your hopes up every month only to be let down time after time. I remember the first cycle we were TTC thinking I would definitely be pregnant right away. So shocked when I wasn't. Can't wait to see your test tomorrow

Amber, it's in exactly 3 weeks (at 11 weeks). Such a long wait!

I keep testing once a week to see if the line is still there. At a certain point, there's just no progression though. Control line is barely visible and the test line is just as dark as can be. So yesterday I tried dipping the test directly in the toilet bowl (gross, I know!). Test line is still darker than the control line, so yay. It's stupid to keep on testing though. I know that even if something is wrong, it takes quite a bit of time for hCG levels (probably in the 10's- to 100 thousands) to drop. I should just really try and relax a bit!

 

[Bre1990]

Yeah I've told my doctor she thinks it is also ovulation bleeding but would like to check for endometriosis because of the shocking pain I also get between periods. We'll be looking into that after im done with college graduation which is next week (finally!!)
But my temp has been rising since the bleeding so I am pretty sure its ovulation bleeding.

 

[Dream143r]

Sunny - your dipping in the toilet bowl made me chuckle. I love that the test is still dark after doing that though.

So didn't I just say a few hours ago I wasn't symptom spotting? Arg. Well my heart rate is def elevated. I don't wear a fitbit or have anything that proves it, I just feel it. It's happened in cycles past but not in a long time, at least 6 month. Hopefully it means something and not just because I ate a cherry Jolly Rancher lol

 

[SunnyBe]

Bre, sounds positive!

Dream, you should totally install a heart rate app on your phone! I have this one: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=si.modula.android.instantheartrate&hl=en_US (or for iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/instant-heart-rate-hr-monitor/id409625068?mt=8) and it works really great. I measured my heart rate for about 8 months I think, every morning. It got a couple beats faster after ovulation. Wish I stuck with it just a couple more months so I could compare my + cycle to my - ones.

 

[Dream143r]

Very cool Sunny. I didn't think that they would have apps for that, but of course there are! I downloaded it. We'll see if I can get any trends. Thanks.

8DPO, BFN, yes I know it's early, quite frankly, too early. but once I start I can't stop. FX

 

[SunnyBe]

Still very early indeed. I wonder what a BFP would even look like at 8 DPO, can it be captured on camera?

 

[steph1607]

Hello from across the pond ladies! May already, where is time going????

Sunny I am so happy to see your ticker, you definitely deserve to be enjoying this. (After looking at it I think I need to take a trip to the other side of the office to see if anyone wants to give me some chocolate).

Dream 8DPO is so early, but I know you know that, and I know how much you want this to be your month. Sending you so much luck. And what on EARTH is a Jolly Rancher?!

TB, sorry this has happened again. But now to look forward to what lies ahead for you

Amber, 21 weeks nearly??? How crazy is that. Your little boy will be here before you know it

AFM, I am very happy to say that I have been accepted on to the Adult Nursing Masters programme. I came out of the Selection Day feeling a little deflated because I didn't think I had done as well as I could have, but I guess my worries were unfounded! What a challenge lies ahead!!

 

[Dream143r]

Yay!!!! That's awesome, congrats Steph!

LOL I guess they don't make Jolly Ranchers everywhere. It's a hard candy. I had a cherry one and it was delish!

 

[tbfromlv]

Omg sunny I giggled at your toilet bowl dipping mostly because I already know I’ll be that person lol

Dream- I’m there with you. I pretend I can hold out until a more reasonable time but when you’re stocked up with ICs it’s near impossible. I don’t know how people wait until AF is due.. like who are you?! I hope the next few days bring your BFP.

Steph! Congrats! That’s amazing! Does that start this September? So funny I have a big bag of Jolly Ranchers on my desk for my kiddos lol

AFM- just got some more blood work needed by the clinic and waiting to see if my doc will give me BCP to time this out! I need AF to start any day from the 13-18. Any later I’ll have to postpone until after my cousins wedding (ugh! I’m the filler bridesmaid and she doesn’t need me but I can’t bear to cause her more anxiety by backing out) FXd I time it well lol

 

[AmberR]

Steph- congratulations! That is so awesome. I didn't realize they didn't have jolly ranchers everywhere, Haha!

Dream- Fx'd for you, it's early yet!

Tb- hope you are able to get it figured out so you don't have to postpone till after the wedding!

Sunny- lol @ you dipping tests into the toilet! Nice strong lines are a good sign! I know 3 weeks feels so far away, but it really will be here before you know It!

We are doing a gender reveal for family and close friends on May 12th! It has been hard keeping it a secret, and I may have slipped and told a few people accidentally
Also, can't remember if I mentioned that my follow up appointment is on May 17th. It will be a 3 hour appointment which includes a detailed ultrasound and meeting with a specialist and genetic counselor. I am feeling a little nervous, but excited I will get to see my little boy again. I sure hope all this fuss is for nothing!

 

[SunnyBe]

Steph, congratulations!!! So happy you got in. Is it a 2-year program? Will you still be working while studying?

Tb, haha I hope you'll be dipping your sticks in a toilet bowl in a few weeks too Have you decided how long you'll stay in Prague?

Amber, tell me all about your reveal party!!! I can only imagine how difficult it is to keep the sex a secret. Just a little bit longer

 

[tbfromlv]

I got confirmation that my meds have shipped. That makes me feel better! We plan on being there the minimum number of days because DH only has so many vacation days left until August and August is not a good month for me! So I think I figured if I had a later ER of Cd 16, we would be there right about 12 ish days.

 

[AmberR]

Sunny- We are going to get a board with balloons stapled to it (like at the fair) and then have people take turns throwing darts until someone pops the one with blue chalk in it. At least that's our plan so far. Hope it will be fun!

Update on my bloodwork- my quad test results came back high risk for down syndrome. Normal risk for my age is 1 in 734, mine is 1 in 53. I was pretty upset to hear that, but I know it's just a risk and doesn't mean it's 100%. It's going to be hard to wait until May 17th to get the ultrasound and cell free DNA test done. I'm trying to come to terms with all this so that mentally I will be prepared. It's just so overwhelming.

 

[tbfromlv]

Amber what a fun way to do the gender reveal! I can’t believe you’ve been able to hold out and not spill it already!
I’m sorry that isn’t the news you wanted to hear. But you’re right, it is only a chance. And it’s a much smaller chance than what you have even trying to get pregnant! Will the cell fee DNA Test tell you for sure if he will have Downs syndrome? I’ll be keeping you guys in my thoughts!!!

 

[AmberR]

You're right tb! I am trying to focus on #1 that I am pregnant and #2 I have an otherwise healthy baby boy as far as we know! It's the fear of the unknown that I'm allowing to cause me a lot of anxiety. I just want to know one way or the other! Ok, ok I'll stop going on and on about it. I really do appreciate the support you ladies have provided. I get a little teary eyed thinking about it!

 

[tbfromlv]

You are welcome to vent your fears and frustrations here all you want, you know that! The fear of the unknown is so powerful, it’s true. We are here for you no matter what

 

[Dream143r]

Amber - I've seen that activity done for gender reveals before, always looks like a good time.

CD26 & 9DPO - BFN. Still lots of time. AF not due until next Tuesday. Trying not to over analyze my temp spike this morning. It happened many times before at this stage of the TWW, still gets me a little hopeful every time though. I think my progesterone just peaks around this half way point.

 

[SunnyBe]

So sorry you're in that awful territory of the unknown The accuracy of the quad screen is really low. Do you know what caused the 1:53? It's possible that your AFP, hCG etc. came back fine and it's only based on the ultrasound, right? Or did you get to see your actual blood values?

I read a study comparing NIPT to the traditional methods and of the 15,000 patients, 47 tested positive for Down Syndrome of which 38 were correctly labeled (so 9 false positives). But with the traditional screening, 892 out of those 15,000 women were flagged for Downs (so 854 false positives). That means that a positive was only an actual positive in <5% of the cases.

Hope it helps calm your nerves a bit! The planning of your awesome gender-reveal will hopefully take your mind off it a bit. So cute