TTC 40 plus!! Lets share the ups and downs!

[40s Gal]

Gotta love the pets (two cats and two dogs here), he looks very handsome.
What day is typical ovulation in a cycle? Wondering if I should get an ovulation kit, any recommendations, looking for easy to read and figure out more than anything.
Thanks!

 

[Redfroggy]

Hello, all. My name is Laurie and, as of yesterday, I am officially 40 & TTC. I was hoping for a birthday conception but I don't think it's going to happen (no thermal shift this month ). Maybe a Christmas conception...

 

[Missy]

Welcome Laurie and good luck and baby dust to you
40s gal, ov typically occurs around 14 days before the first day of AF so day 14 of a 28 day cycle, day 17 of a 31 day cycle and so on. Don't know about ovulation predictor kits. I've used the cheapy strips but wasn't getting any positives, only feint lines so don't know if I'm not ov'ing or whether they don't work for me or what! I'd be interested on others' advice on kits as well please.

 

[greens]

I find using kits gets a bit stressy, so prefer to look at how cervical mucus feels

 

[JustMeNewMom]

Hiya everyone

Hope u are all well...ive not been on for a while, or at least posting cos i kinda went off the rails. The whole TTC got too much for me so had to take a step back. Im much better now and i think thats partly due to my new addition (charlie me cat lol)..hes me likkle pal!

Good luck to everyone xxxx

Heya serendippy and all,

Ditto, me too. Posted on my journal today to update since my last visit. Just got fed up of TTC and getting worked up each month and wanted to just relax and chill with my husband and appreciate him for who he is and enjoy making love and not see it as a work in progress towards conceiving and if we get pregnant, that's a bonus, and if not, then we'll enjoy continuing to try, without trying, and making love. I was beginning to feel very under pressure and didn't like poas, and getting my hopes up thinking ok, I've done everything right, charted my temperature, poas, found out when I was ovulating, made love every night leading up and after ovulating and using Yes Baby then still nothing. Bah!

So got fed up and not trying right now. Yes Baby is £25 per pop and that's too expensive monthly. I have a little left that I can use this month but not going to try as it feels too clinical. I've just starting using EPO and my CM has increased and become more fertile again (I'd lost it the past couple of months or so) and that should eracidate the need to use Yes Baby or any of the Yes Intimacy products / lubricants.

I had bought meditation tapes to help with ovulating and implantation online but have stopped using them as well.

Breathe, relax, chill.

 

[Omi]

Serendippy- OMG, he's gorgeous!! Reminds me of my avatar's brother who is tabby on top and has a white face and sides/underbody. Lovely furbaby

40sGal - as far as ovulation kits are concerned you might have to try some sticks and find a) what works for you and b) what you like using.

Personally i don't temp as i found it a pain in the ***. Instead i got myself a CBFM from ebay (nearly half price) and Ive been using that for 3 years and it still works like a dream. I also like that it tells you your fertile days before ov and not just confirms ov (which i usually know by other signs anyway). Some think it expensive but a pack of sticks, for most people, will last you 2 cycles at £20, or less if on ebay.

There are also the more expensive ov sticks that all pharmacies and supermarkets sell. I find those prohibitive in price, personally but i use those cheapies below and don't have to mess with that really Some like them however as some have an easy to read smily face on ov.

Finally its the small little sticks which you can also buy online - i get mine from ebay again! Dirt cheap, usually as many as 20 for about 3 quid (incl shipping costs) !! Their drawback is twofold. One is that you tend to get cross eyed trying to interpret them as sometimes the colour on the test line isn't always a 100% so you wonder whether its a + or a -. Secondly, some women have trouble getting a positive (never experienced this myself mind you) and you have to test at certain times and for a few days in a row. Finally, it only tells you you are about to ov (or as the case may be already have) and therefore, in my mind, a bit risky as the only confirmation one would use. If you;re only using it as a back up to make sure then thats fine. I use them too sometimes to check how close i am to ov as mine get darker the closer i get.

Anywhoo chicken, as you can see its a bit trial and error. Maybe start with the cheap sticks and see where you get from there would be my advice (if you do, have a look at www.peeonastic.com which will tell you anything you would ever ask about ov and pg tests)

Phew! LOL!! All the best and good luck to all

Omi xxx

 

[serendippy]

Hehe Omi, yeh hes mainly white but with a couple of brown patches on back and head and a brown tail, and omg hes soooo fluffy lol.. Whats ur cats name? He looks well cute and a bit mischevious lol.

Hiya 40sGal....i used cheapie sticks when i first started TTC but they never worked. I switched to tescos own and ive had positives every month since. I even used a cheapie and a tescos on the same urine and tescos came up positive and the cheapie was neg. Try a few diff ones until u find summit that works on u x

Hi Justmenewmum...yeh very similar to me really. I just got to breaking point after circumstances stopped us from trying last cycle. I was so obsessed and i just didnt like what i was turning into. I feel a bit more in control now and happier. Good luck hun xxx

 

[hollowlegs]

Hi
Need some advice please ladies before going to dr.

I ov'd 28th Oct, had really positive symptoms up to dpo11, sore itchy boobs, cramps, lower back pain, heartburn, nausea, tiredness. Had implantation pains on dpo11 but on dpo12 started spotting, thought was implantation bleeding but by late pm was getting heavier. Bled for 2 days medium flow, stringy and red then spotted for a day. AF usually lasts for 5-6 days and a lot heavier. Done a bit of research and I believe it was decidual bleeding (hope so anyway). It has been 8 days since bleeding started and symptoms are getting worse, can hardly bear to touch boobs now and still cramping. Done hpt on Mon - bfn and one today - bfn. Stomach is now swollen, jeans are hurting. How long after decidual bleeding could I get bfp. Any advice at all would be much appreciated.

Baby dust to all of you.

 

[greens]

I would go to the Dr, they may do a blood test to see what your reading is.
Good luck
Forgot it is Friday now and too late for Dr. Doh!

 

[hollowlegs]

Thanks, will have to wait until Monday now.

 

[Tititimes2]

Hi ladies. It's been a few days. Unfortunately, had a very early m/c this past cycle, got an infection but doing well now. Finally feeling a bit better about it all.

I am not giving up although it is hard to deal with it all at times. Trying to get back to the positive of life, of which I am blessed with many.

Hope everyone is doing well.

 

[40s Gal]

So sorry TTimes, it's incredibly sad for a few weeks (at least) isn't it? Even when it's early. Hugs!

We were trying this month but then had a talk with hubby this week and he's uncertain he wants another child because he's concerned about employment. So unofficially we've stopped trying. We have his two daughters to think about as well. I will still see if anything comes of this month. I felt like a felt myself ovulating this month, such a sharp pain in the ovary area on the left side, quite low in the pelvis. It would be earlier than a normal period (if I was ovulating). But I don't feel any differently so not thinking anything's happening. I might be fading out from the forum after this month. We will talk about it again in a week or two.

I had a dream the other night that I was holding a three year old boy in my arms and he was asking me questions, what's that, what's that, kind of stuff and my husband was next to me. So it made me a little more sad that it probably won't happen for us. But I went into this with the opinion, it was ok either way.

I think it's important for us both to be excited about it, and I think he's stressing a bit, so want to make sure we are both on the same page, and will wait a bit on a final decision.

 

[40s Gal]

hollowlegs, I'm a newbie really just starting for a first this year. like you said, if it seems like the symptoms, but not feeling life threatening pain, all you can do is wait. probably too early to get a reading on the hpt?

 

[shroom5]

thanks missy moo, my children are 23,21,17,11,10,6,5,3 and 8months...i am so lucky...

Iam thrilled to see another lady trying for number 10!! My whole life has been caring for my children, its the best job in the world. My children 5 girls 4 boys aged 27,23,21,20,16,13,10,7 and 4 years. We are so blessed I know and I pray for all you ladies who are ttc I had m/c sept 09 10wks 3 days cos of undiagnosed Campylobactor. (Dr said it was my IBS playing up) Been trying ever since, just hope its not too late. Well thats my story, been lurking for months and thank you ladies you all are inspirational

 

[Tititimes2]

40s gal - I hope that you find some peace with whatever you decide. I understand wanting to be on the same page with DH.

AFM- You are so right. It is definitely tough for a time. One minute you're fine, the next a mess. Part of me feels a little numb to it right now but it is probably my defense mechanism kicking in. I think initially my DH was very laid back about it all and didn't quite get my stress level but after this last m/c we both are taking a different attitude about TTC. No more "fairytales" over here but alot of hope still.

Saw a repro/endo specialist last Tuesday. I'm lucky that my mom works for the practice so we had a great warm reception from doctor/nurses/lab techs, etc. Our consult went well and they are going to do a "work up" and essentially follow me through my cycle to test and see where my hormone levels, uterine lining, etc. are to see if there is any issue. So far, all my tests done after the first m/c are normal as are my DH's and all genetic tests were fine too. It really may be about just getting a "good egg". So we have to just fight through it to try to get one. Guess we'll see.

 

[Tititimes2]

Hello, all. My name is Laurie and, as of yesterday, I am officially 40 & TTC. I was hoping for a birthday conception but I don't think it's going to happen (no thermal shift this month ). Maybe a Christmas conception...

Welcome Redfroggy! Hoping you get your BFP by Christmas!

 

[Tititimes2]

Hi
Need some advice please ladies before going to dr.

I ov'd 28th Oct, had really positive symptoms up to dpo11, sore itchy boobs, cramps, lower back pain, heartburn, nausea, tiredness. Had implantation pains on dpo11 but on dpo12 started spotting, thought was implantation bleeding but by late pm was getting heavier. Bled for 2 days medium flow, stringy and red then spotted for a day. AF usually lasts for 5-6 days and a lot heavier. Done a bit of research and I believe it was decidual bleeding (hope so anyway). It has been 8 days since bleeding started and symptoms are getting worse, can hardly bear to touch boobs now and still cramping. Done hpt on Mon - bfn and one today - bfn. Stomach is now swollen, jeans are hurting. How long after decidual bleeding could I get bfp. Any advice at all would be much appreciated.

Baby dust to all of you.

hollowlegs - How are you feeling? Hope you are better and are able to get some answers Monday.

 

[mumoffive]

Hi, goodluck for everyone ttc!!!
Sorry to hear about your m/c TTimes. I had one very early on too and it is still heartbreaking.
Well i have my scan on Friday this wk!!!..at last..er this is meant to be my 12wk scan. However i will be nearly 15wks!!! ridiculous! Anyway, keeping my fingers crossed that everything is ok with beanie! Can feel he/she move so thats reasuring me! x
Goodluck to everyone!

 

[hollowlegs]

Tititimes2 - Symptom s keep coming, got app for dr Mon so hopefully will do a blood test.
So sorry for your losses.

 

[Alexp]

Hi again Girls

I said I would update you on my progress for inspiration.

Aged 46 conceived naturally. Have three children from 1st marriage. Lost 5 babies, two at late stages.DH has had a vascetomy reversal after 13 yrs, (lost 2 babies, then low sperm count)
Suffered bleeding in this pregnancy was loss of twin sac. Have large growing Fibroids, in absolute agony and can hardly walk BUT

here is our little man at 23.3 weeks. although he is 24.3 in size. He even smiled and has a dimple (this is early for a baby to smile so he has proved over he is a strong fighter. We really hope it gives you inspiration to carry on. We know its not an easy journey for you all but out of tears can come Joy

1st pic smiling with dimpled cheek, 2nd his face and 3rd his very obvious bit of his anatomy proudly sticking up. that made us giggle