Welcome to 'Trying To Conceive Over 35'

[alicatt]

The first pic I took was in the bathroom but the lighting was bad so just edited and replaced it with a better one I took in the bedroom. Yes I laid the pee stick on the bed in desperation of getting a better pic

You are so funny! Now stop stressing and PACK! Then rest, that 3am flight is going to be here before you know it. Then a 4-5 hour flight to Barbados right? Oh my you are going for a long time, 2 weeks! awesome! Have a wonderful time and try to relax and enjoy!

 

[Philomena]

Thanks Phil for reassuring me that 8 weeks is a good time. So I am now in the 4ww after bfp I suppose. I am hoping that since I am going to a high risk OBGYN that she will give me ultrasounds to make sure baby is growing. GP's don't do that here.

How is breastfeeding with babes? I would love to hear how her sleep patterns are and how you are feeling healing from your c-section.

AFM:

Breastfeeding Babes has now hit the 'it's extremely easy' point..... the beginning is always a challenge, but then you hit a point where it gets significantly easier to breastfeed than it would to bottle feed.... at night I can just pop the breast in her mouth and snooze myself! when we are out, there is nothing to heat up, no water to sterilize, it's always ready and accessible! no extra gear to bring etc etc....
As for sleep.... well, that's still all over the map, but I try to get a nap in with her each day, and that makes the nights a little easier. She's had a few nights where she's gone for 4-5 hour stretches and when we have a night like that, I find it way easier to operate during the next day!
I am at the 5 week mark now, so I'm almost cleared for normal activities.... I find I can put the carseat in and out of the car ok, and pushing the stroller (or pram, or pushchair) is fine as well. I couldn't carry it any great distance though. I've started to do a little yoga, stretching and planks and squats along with trying to get a good walk in each day, but I have to be careful as I can feel my incision, my lower abdomen and hip flexors protesting when I do them.... so I am still rather gentle with what I do.... I 'feel' good, though, and as we get into a routine, it's getting easier to do chores around the house as well....

Babes has fallen asleep in her mechanical swing for the first time, so I'm going to take advantage and tidy up the living room and kitchen while she naps.... (usually she falls asleep in my arms and then won't stay asleep when I put her down!)

I'm so excited for you Chantal, and for my other BnB ladies.... here's some just for you!!

xoxo
phil.

I am so happy that you are enjoying breastfeeding and that you are healing well Phil. Tomorrow we will be telling my parents that I'm pregnant. Can't wait!! awwww Please take a pic of your baby girl in her swing.

I couldn't help myself.... I told everyone early on! Your parents are going to be so excited!!
I WISH I was going on your trip with you!! Warm sun, and sand??? sign me up!

 

[never_give_up]

AFM - still pretty crampy and feeling crappy too. Between the cold weather, my head and my abdomen, its looking like I might just go back to bed!

I think perhaps I will go take some aleve and read for a bit until the cramps are gone, then its laundry and cooking time.

I bought the ingredients for the following:
GF chicken tenders (baked)
GF chicken stuffed with spinach and cheese (also baked)
Chili
Fire roasted vegetables and steak over rice
Broccoli salad


BTW.. the key to making baked chicken tenders that are also GF is using a combination of either corn flakes or rice crispies, some parmesan cheese and some spices. Soak the chicken in buttermilk, then dredge it in some rice flour, then egg, then the rice crispies mix, then on to the baking sheet.
The stuffed chicken breasts, you need to pound them out. Then soak them in the buttermilk. Then put your cream cheese, parmesan, mozzarella and spinach mixture in the middle. I know that sounds like a lot of cheese, but I mix this stuff sparingly (so it is 75% spinach and 25% cheese). Then roll it up and secure with toothpicks. Dredge the outside with rice flour, then egg then the rice crispie mix. During the last few minutes of cooking you can pour some spaghetti sauce over the chicken and top with a sprinkle of mozzarella, but I find that it makes them less crispy, so I just serve with some spaghetti sauce for dipping if I'm in the mood.

Once I'm done doing this I will freeze most of it, and then mix these things with the other food I have in the house and I'll have food for quite a while! Then its just a matter of pulling something out of the freezer, shoving it in the oven/microwave and adding sides. Makes eating healthy a whole lot easier when you work 10 hour days and don't have time to cook.

Ali I was so excited to find gluten free PANKO bread crumbs at Giant the other day. The brand is Aleia's. Panko makes best extra crunchy topping. I mix it with a little olive oil and sprinkle on top of casserole!I missed my Panko breadcrumbs so much when I found out I had celiac and went gluten-free.

 

[never_give_up]

The first pic I took was in the bathroom but the lighting was bad so just edited and replaced it with a better one I took in the bedroom. Yes I laid the pee stick on the bed in desperation of getting a better pic

You are so funny! Now stop stressing and PACK! Then rest, that 3am flight is going to be here before you know it. Then a 4-5 hour flight to Barbados right? Oh my you are going for a long time, 2 weeks! awesome! Have a wonderful time and try to relax and enjoy!

Thanks Ali! I have been packed for over a week because I knew I would be busy with Dh's birthday celebration. Our flight is at 6am from Reagan in DC so we have to leave the house at 3am. More convenient for my parents to pick us up at 2:30 pm. The next flight would have arrived there at 10:30 pm. Flight is 2 hours to Miami and then 3 hours to Barbados. There is no direct flight.

 

[Samsfan]

I think you definately do it. 20 lbs!!!!!!!! Oh my. Im thinking of skipping a this cycle. Im afraid of my weight and what you are telling me. I really find the Dukan diet effective. Its similar to a gf diet. No carbs only naturals ones.


Chantal. Relish this wonderful time. Phil and alicatt have all given you good advice.

Good morning everyone!

Chantal- Can't wait to see your pic!

So I've gained 10 lbs since Christmas! I'm on it! I went to gym this am. I'm going to cut out my diet coke..but I'll keep drinking my one cup a day until next week.

How is everyone doing?

You and me both! I have gained almost 20 lbs since early December. Yes I said 20. I didn't lose the weight from the IVF and then I had this wonky cycle where I bloated up and ate all sorts of bad things. So now I'm in serious trouble!

I promised myself as soon as I got my period I would get back on the GF diet, so starting Monday I'm back on it. The first few days are difficult but after that I feel great, and the weight sheds off. So I hope to be down at least 10 of those lbs in the next 3 weeks. Think I can do it?

 

[Samsfan]

Phil. Sounds wonderful!!!! Walking is always good.

Thanks Phil for reassuring me that 8 weeks is a good time. So I am now in the 4ww after bfp I suppose. I am hoping that since I am going to a high risk OBGYN that she will give me ultrasounds to make sure baby is growing. GP's don't do that here.

How is breastfeeding with babes? I would love to hear how her sleep patterns are and how you are feeling healing from your c-section.

AFM:

Breastfeeding Babes has now hit the 'it's extremely easy' point..... the beginning is always a challenge, but then you hit a point where it gets significantly easier to breastfeed than it would to bottle feed.... at night I can just pop the breast in her mouth and snooze myself! when we are out, there is nothing to heat up, no water to sterilize, it's always ready and accessible! no extra gear to bring etc etc....
As for sleep.... well, that's still all over the map, but I try to get a nap in with her each day, and that makes the nights a little easier. She's had a few nights where she's gone for 4-5 hour stretches and when we have a night like that, I find it way easier to operate during the next day!
I am at the 5 week mark now, so I'm almost cleared for normal activities.... I find I can put the carseat in and out of the car ok, and pushing the stroller (or pram, or pushchair) is fine as well. I couldn't carry it any great distance though. I've started to do a little yoga, stretching and planks and squats along with trying to get a good walk in each day, but I have to be careful as I can feel my incision, my lower abdomen and hip flexors protesting when I do them.... so I am still rather gentle with what I do.... I 'feel' good, though, and as we get into a routine, it's getting easier to do chores around the house as well....

Babes has fallen asleep in her mechanical swing for the first time, so I'm going to take advantage and tidy up the living room and kitchen while she naps.... (usually she falls asleep in my arms and then won't stay asleep when I put her down!)

I'm so excited for you Chantal, and for my other BnB ladies.... here's some just for you!!

xoxo
phil.

 

[Grey Eyes]

Chantal- Yay for great beta! Yes, I thought from your chart you were 13dpo...Are you stressing? How odd is that? I mean, newly pregnant mom-to-be stressing out? LOL! Join the club Chantal! Stress is the name of the game for the next, ohhhh...18 years or so? I am a bit worried you might starting tanning hard in Barbados Getting hot is bad in pregnancy, you could hurt the egg I think? Please be careful! I wish I could come with you and mother you and say "Time to cool off! Don't eat that! Quick- drink more water! Oooo that suntan lotion is bad don't wear it...Spit that wine out! Time to nap..." ETC. lol...Am I pathetic? Yes. I am. Re:beta. I think 35 is perfect. Not too low because you are between 1-2 weeks since CONCEPTION. SO- perfect! The 3-4 the FS gave you will measure from what they consider the beginning- the egg. There is always that "extra" 2 weeks on there The age baby from egg but I was always great w/that Implantation can vary by a day or so that is why the wide range in their suggested beta. You would have been just under 2 weeks since conception, the avg. ranges between 40-300. Here's a link to a calculator. I will find a better one and post it:
https://www.countdowntopregnancy.com/tools/beta_doubling_calculator.php
Hmm, I wondered about the yellow cm--seems like I had that too, I think it is hormonal? Here are a few link I found:

https://babyandbump.momtastic.com/pregnancy-first-trimester/261241-bright-yellow-cm.html
https://www.fertilityties.com/post/show/yellow-cm-tmii-might-be-pregnant

Ali- still AF today? K, so I am going to backtrack your posts and try to figure out your next step. Let's just jump straight to ET! I can't wait! And since they have targeted those NK cells... Good to go Btw, omg, as I am typing my response the pages on bnb are growing! And I think the link I gave Chantal is the same countdown you mentioned...

Twiggers- yay for moving in!!

Phil- yay for easy bf'ing Cheap and best for them! I love it....Aeryn has a swing too and loves it!

B]Sam[/B]- don't be scared! Ali is just a puddy-tat and she went through IVF...OK, Ali is ANYTHING but a puddy-tat She's a tuffy! But so are you, IVF is a cinch for tough ladies like you two No worries hon. Re: your chart. It looks awesome. you very well COULD be preggo. I don't see BD dates there but I am guessing great timing too. Your LP's are nice at 12+ days and you seem to always ov around 14-15CD I wouldn't stress! K, I can understand the no-coffee thing being stressful I am a HUGE addict, I love it, it's "my thang" lol! But, while ttc I stopped all caffeine because it interferes. The fallopian tube has to flex to push the egg into utero for implantation. The caffeine paralyzes the tube. Anyway once you ARE preggo caffeine can be bad for a while too, so stay tough and avoid it if you can. Try suckers! Or something hot, I used to drink Nesquick heated up in milk, replaced my "have to have a hot mug" addiction

AFM- wow, I actuallys lept last night lol...No one woke me. I did get up as I heard Aeryn chatting to herself in her bed. I changed her and Kat woke up, so I tucked her back in but no drama! Yay! It was awesome, I have to admit Anyway I went to bed at 9:30 and slept til 8 am I feel great Today...school! T still has a bit of a fever and those darn white spots on her throat! I don't know what to do. If she takes antibiotics or echinacea they go away...If she stops for a few days they come back with a fever I don't know what the hell it is or how to get rid of it And our doctors look and declare with absolute certainty it is one thing or another and we test her blood and saliva- negative! So Idk. It's driving me crazy And if we have her tonsils out, what then? Will that do any good? No bad breath or anything like that but they are slightly swollen. Ugh.

 

[Grey Eyes]

Chantal- be careful in the heat of Barbados! Don't cook your teeny baby in all that awesome heat! I am seriously jealous btw, I wanna come! lol Have fun

 

[twiggers]

x

 

[Samsfan]

Coy. Sounds like she definately has an infection. Fever is definately a sign of an infection. Hmmmmmmmmmm. Are her tonsils swollen? Or her lymph node? Hmmmmm

Coy Glad you slept.

I just had another nap. Dont know if im getting sick

Hope he got my egg this time. We bod cd 15 16 and 18. We were traveling cd 14

Chantal. Coy is right stay cool!!!!!!! Hat and out of the heat!

Twiggers. Hope your lucky too. We are on the same timer. And decorating is always fun.

 

[never_give_up]

Chantal- be careful in the heat of Barbados! Don't cook your teeny baby in all that awesome heat! I am seriously jealous btw, I wanna come! lol Have fun

Thanks Coy

Sorry to hear your eldest is sick Sounds like she has tonsilitis I started getting tonsilitis and ear infections at age 10 due to unhealthy tonsils.

I will remember all your wise advice. I had not even thought about the sunscreen. I have not had a glass of wine since I don't remember when so don't worry I won't accidently sip any. Oh and since 2004 I stopped suntanning because the dermatologist said I get malasma (hypermigmentation) in my face from suntanning (which looks like pregnancy mask) so I am guessing it will be worse now that I am pregnant. So I stay in the shade under the trees and wear a straw hat. I would pack you in my suitcase if I could You need a vacation more than I do sweety! Oh do you think snorkelling is safe?

 

[Samsfan]

Coy. Now that Im looking at my chart. I probably waited too long to bo. What do think? Cd 15 may have been too late.

 

[Samsfan]

Im officially obsessed with my chart and with this website.

 

[Grey Eyes]

Sam- nope, I think CD15 was perfect! Plenty of time for the egg to travel And yes, T's tonsils and glands are swollen I fear we will have to have her tonsils out.

Chantal- how big is that suitcase, I'm coming!

Ali- where are you?

 

[AngelSerenity]

Happy Valentines day!!

OMG! FAINT!!

I got up at 4:30 am bursting to pee and tested with a early result Answer hpt. The control line came up really fast. As I was expecting..one line. So I threw away the pee in the cup and washed my hands. I know I am supposed to wait 3 mins and it was about 2 mins later I was going to throw out the test and I saw a second faint line! With hands shaking I took a pic but I can't see anything in the pic. I wish I hadn't thrown away the fmu so I could test again.

We leave on Monday for Barbados at 3 am so can't even get a blood pregnancy test before we leave.
Do I tell dh tonight? Was going to bake valentines cupcakes today. Would be so nice if I could stick a note in one that says "we're pregnant!" But what if hpt is negative tomorrow? I don't want him to be disappointed. My breasts hurt, but they always do until Only thing different is that nips hurt too. aargh! I wish I hadn't thrown away the FMU! I haven't put the positive test in my FF...so scared I will jinx it....

Never, I dont know how I missed this, sorry and a big coming all the way from Ireland.


I logged on and went to the last page like I normally do and caught a post
from you and I was like eh???? What fab news and on valentines as well, it must be a great sign . Enjoy Barbados and try to relax xo

 

[AngelSerenity]

Coy, sorry to read about your DD, I hope she gets better soon. Has she had tonsillitis much in the past? Do they take them out quickly where you are? They stopped doing them routinely in the UK a number of years ago and now only take them out as a last resort.

How is everybody?

xo

 

[Grey Eyes]

Angel- she has had swollent onsils and off and on white spotty throat since October! Doctors keep saying "mono" or "strep" but tests are negative.. So, I amw ondering if they take out the tonsils do the stupid white spots go away and take the fever with them? If so we may have to go that route She is petrified of course, but it'd be fast- over and done with. but still...

How are you doing? Get your computer sorted?

 

[AngelSerenity]

Hmmmm, you would think they would take action then if is has been a chronic case. I'm sure you have looked into things Coy as I know you are like the rest of us and like to be informed. Is there anything with symptoms close to strep that it could point to? I tend to agree with your theory, if the temperature is happening when the spots flare up they do seem linked. And there's no way it could be some type of rare allergic reaction to something? It just seem vaguely familiar for something but I cant remember what, I'm probably thinking of strep. Or could she be having certain strep symptoms but the tests are negative because it hasnt manifested itself properly?


Things are still a bit pants for me here . I have no job secured yet and I finish at the end of March. I had a second interview last Tuesday and at it I found out that it was being covered by a temp so the process looked like a paper exercise. I got my 'dear john' rejection letter on Friday but I am the reserve so at least I know my interview skills are developing . That was my 4th interview so far, 1 I pulled out of due to location (Glasgow), one I was told I was perfect but the money was crap and included relocating, and then 2 others including this one which I have been unsuccessful in.


I went to the GP on Thursday and she is convinced my hair loss and itchy armpits that I have been having since my 6th MC in September are a symptom of stress. She prescribed me some anti-biotic cream and special moisturiser to try and alleviate the itching so we'll see how that goes. We had a long chat about my stress levels (work, redundancy, DH on a 3 day week, house in negative equity, all this and the timing TTC, my biological clock, possibly having to move for work and how that is stressing me as after years I now have a good care plan and a good RMC in place etc - PHEW). She was very supportive and even said that she hopes I don't have to move, but if I do the RMC and her will get all my papers and records ready so I can get immediate care where ever I move to and do not have to go through the systems again. She also strongly advised me not to WTT because of the age of DH and I and I said this was probably the most mitigating factor in my stress levels at the moment as I want to but DH has the sensible head on because of our work worries.

Well anyway, I text DH after the appointment and basically gave him an update with a suggestion that I want no pressure for either of us and we should leave things to nature and see what happens over the next couple of months, no mad trying with opks etc and no avoiding it either . He didnt get back to me and of course some valentine was on the cards so I was apprehensive about what would happen. I'm delighted to say that I think my DH has taken a step forward and we are now at nature's call .

I'm still charting and I know I will get more accurate with timing now but what the hell, I'll play the 'calm woman' if it gets me what I want


Sorry for being MIA everybody, I guess God has just sent me a big challenge which I am plodding my way through at the moment.


xo

 

[Grey Eyes]

Angel- aaargh for stres, right? We women sure do have our share...Sounds like the toughr oad looking for work. I have been doing the same but as we own our home and have 3 kids it is tough to get up and move iykwim? This is the only home the girls have known so when we do move I want it to count for something great for them. As far as employment here- it sucks! There isn't any, so I have been trying online work atm.

Yes, T has strange symptoms. Fever of 101+, white spots, swollen tonsil--if I leave it all alone w/no treatment the throat become sore but they have tested for strep 3 times! negative each time Then bloods for mono and it too was negative. I thought maybe a thrush of sorts and that's why Kat has it too? Kat gets itchy white bumps on her tummy and small patches of skin rash, hm. Ugh, hard to tell.

And I don't get it- something like echinacea keeps the spots away- which tells me immune system helps- but when she quits they come back in about 3 days!

 

[Grey Eyes]

Ali- I see you "thanking" everyone, but where are ya? Gots to get some thoughts in here lady!