Welcome to 'Trying To Conceive Over 35'

[Grey Eyes]

Andra- O my goodness 14 and 5'9"!! I am jealous! lol but poor darling must have growing pains not to be believed. I am glad you are scheduling this time, especially for you....as wives and mothers we automatically backseat ourselves when, in all reality, we need to take great care. Our family needs us to be in top form, you know? Yes. That means massages, hot tub soaks, an occasional lol!

Seriously.

Aw, your dh shouldn't get frustrated with you...Maybe stop telling him you are O'ving and just tell him you are inexplicably horny?? Great idea on the FertiliTea, I was looking into that at one point but can't really afford it. Dh and I are discussing if we want to have another baby but if we decide that we do (before I get too old lol) we need to talk to God about it first...I am currently trying to figure out my cycles but I have read that breastfeeding releases a hormones that inhibits ovulation, so Nuts on trying to figure out a cycle!

Sam- I agree with Ali, it'd be a good idea to get thyroid checked

BabyyyyyDuuuuuust! !! Yay, glad you are back! I am sorry for your mc I know how painful it can be...and it does seem to be harder when folks are around and you have to put on a happy face iykwim? However, you know you can get prego and one thing I have learned from my 2 mc's is that you seems to be super fertile the several months following So I have my fx'd for you girl! Right now your chart looks awesome

Ali- how are you today? Headaches going away? Try to relax...I'd demand a free massage Your massage place sounds awesome!

Babywhisperer- hey lady, how are you?

Chantal - thanks for your always encouraging words! You chart looks great also

Jess- I miss you!


Phil- have that baby yet?! Can't wait to hear your great news, I hope you are feeling fit and strong and labor didn't kick toooo hard!

 

[Grey Eyes]

AFM-

It has been several days since I have been able to test bbt- usually Aeryn or Kat waking me up in the "I need Mom NOW" mode, lol! Anyway I tested this morning and thought for sure my temp would be up but stupid low 97.1 Anyway I am currently 20 dpo or some silliness so I think the breastfeeding must be interfering in LH release? What do you chart readers think??


I am working out much harder now and it feels AWESOME!! I am following the January full body workout Jess gave me a few months ago plus dh showed me some extra moves to focus on delts and triceps that are pretty killer atm... So I am happy doing that

Last night dh and I talked about bodies and how it is unrealistic to think we can ever be just as we were in our late teens or early 20's. Men and women mature and have you noticed how bodies mature too> take John Travolta for instance (did someone just say "I'd love to"?? lol) He is still very fit and muscular but as he aged his face and body grew fuller, bigger, etc... As men mature their muscles get "old" or heavier, harder, etc, and they lose that super slim look. So I told dh I think women must be the same way. At 38 (almost 40!!! aaahhh! lol) I have no unrealistic goals to look like I did as 105 pound 20 year old. I do however want to totally rock a bod like Jess - why not, right? Look out muscles, here I come Dh ordered me to toss out the weight scale as my waist and butt and thighs are shrinking w/all the working out but my weight stays the same- depressing, right? Anyway he said muscles are heavier than fat so currently- no weight scale, lol.

 

[alicatt]

AFM-

It has been several days since I have been able to test bbt- usually Aeryn or Kat waking me up in the "I need Mom NOW" mode, lol! Anyway I tested this morning and thought for sure my temp would be up but stupid low 97.1 Anyway I am currently 20 dpo or some silliness so I think the breastfeeding must be interfering in LH release? What do you chart readers think??


I am working out much harder now and it feels AWESOME!! I am following the January full body workout Jess gave me a few months ago plus dh showed me some extra moves to focus on delts and triceps that are pretty killer atm... So I am happy doing that

Last night dh and I talked about bodies and how it is unrealistic to think we can ever be just as we were in our late teens or early 20's. Men and women mature and have you noticed how bodies mature too> take John Travolta for instance (did someone just say "I'd love to"?? lol) He is still very fit and muscular but as he aged his face and body grew fuller, bigger, etc... As men mature their muscles get "old" or heavier, harder, etc, and they lose that super slim look. So I told dh I think women must be the same way. At 38 (almost 40!!! aaahhh! lol) I have no unrealistic goals to look like I did as 105 pound 20 year old. I do however want to totally rock a bod like Jess - why not, right? Look out muscles, here I come Dh ordered me to toss out the weight scale as my waist and butt and thighs are shrinking w/all the working out but my weight stays the same- depressing, right? Anyway he said muscles are heavier than fat so currently- no weight scale, lol.

Your DH is right! Throw out the scale! Go get yourself a tape measurer instead. You have probably hit a point where your weight is going to remain, but you are actually losing inches. It isn't that muscles weigh more than fat, its that they are denser so they take up less room than fat. Plus they give you that wonderful slim, streamlined 6-pack! Keep up the good work! I so wish I could get my arse off my couch. The migraines are making doing anything difficult.

I don't know what is going on here, but I'm now having heavy spotting. What is that all about? I had EWCM on Wed/Thurs, then spotting yesterday and now heavier spotting? It was enough to put a tampon in. Am I having a miscarriage? Is this really the period I was supposed to have 2 weeks ago? I'm so confused!

 

[Grey Eyes]

Ali- hm. I wonder about the spotting also....you already bled once after the IVF, right? This could be a mmc but you'd think that would all be past now. There are 2 possibilities that pop into my head first:

1) 2 embryos=2 bleeds possible mmc

2) just your body correcting its cycling after all the ivf hormones.

I am inclined o go with #2 as you were pumped pretty full of hormones, plus all this estrogen issues causing the headaches. I read that estrogen drops just before AF starts (of course) and it can cause migraines...

https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/guide/hormones-headaches

Hopefully this is just AF and no more migraines! How's your head feel today? Oh yeah, tmi maybe but tampons could be toxic so maybe use pads or liners while ttc...I have always been afraid to use tampons!

Thanks for the encouragement btw! no more scale for me for a while

 

[alicatt]

Ali- hm. I wonder about the spotting also....you already bled once after the IVF, right? This could be a mmc but you'd think that would all be past now. There are 2 possibilities that pop into my head first:

1) 2 embryos=2 bleeds possible mmc

2) just your body correcting its cycling after all the ivf hormones.

I am inclined o go with #2 as you were pumped pretty full of hormones, plus all this estrogen issues causing the headaches. I read that estrogen drops just before AF starts (of course) and it can cause migraines...

https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/guide/hormones-headaches

Hopefully this is just AF and no more migraines! How's your head feel today? Oh yeah, tmi maybe but tampons could be toxic so maybe use pads or liners while ttc...I have always been afraid to use tampons!

Thanks for the encouragement btw! no more scale for me for a while

Yep.. stupid estrogen! Still having headaches, and I hate taking meds for them, because the meds just cause more issues, like acid stomach, etc. I have not used pads since I was a teen. Can't stand the mess of them, so I just go with tampons! My FS has tampons (no pads) in their restroom, so I think its OK? They often do ultrasounds during AF, so that is why they provide the tampons for afterwards. UGH.. cramping is getting worse, I think I'm having some sort of AF. Maybe the 3 day mini-period I had on 12/30/2012 was not really a period? But its now almost 2 weeks later? I'm so confused.

 

[Babywhisperer]

Coy - Happy Saturday! Hope you and your DD's and DH are having a great day! You asked me about my massage place, I go to a place called massage envy, and they offer a monthly membership, the first massage is $49 and each one after that is $39 (for an hour), so that is how I get to go 2x a week. I love my massage therapist, but the admin staff are sometimes airheads. I'll tell them next time I'm in there that they didn't call, and impress on them how much they screwed up my day.

Phil - I'm assuming you had the baby as you have been MIA for a few days now. I really hope it all went well.

Two2Go - that is great news about the massage therapist. I love it, it just makes me so relaxed What is fibromialgia? You and never seem to have it, but I don't even know what the symptoms are?

BabyDust - oh my, what a wild month! So sorry about your MC, and the difficulties with your Mom. I always comment about how wonderful my Mom is, but we have our struggles as well. I don't think any family is perfect. That is just life, the best thing you can do is make sure your own relationship with your kids remains strong I hope you revisit your RE now that you and your DH are feeling better. If you don't mind me asking, when are you having your MC's are they shortly after your BFP, or a few weeks later? Early MCs I think can be caused by lower progesterone levels, so it might be an easy fix for you! Welcome back!

BabyWhisperer - Funny you should mention that your second opinion is at Cornell! There are a few ladies doing IVF at Cornell in the next 2 months on my IVF thread and they are all very happy. I guess the Dr's there are more progressive and are pushing the envelope in how they do things. We were talking about something called co-culture. This is where they take a biopsy of your uterus before your cycle starts, freeze it and then when they do the egg retrieval they add the biopsy cells to the medium that they embryos grow in while in the lab. From what the ladies are saying, they have had much higher results using this technique. I was going to talk to my FS about it, but then realized that it wouldn't help me much since my embryos are already at blast stage. Anyway, if they are doing things like this for IVF, who knows what other things they are trying for IUI? Oh! I was just thinking, maybe you would be a good candidate for the MINI IVF? That is where they do minimal stimulation, and you might get 4-6 eggs, then do the ICSI with your DH's sperm and see how that goes? The plus of that protocol is that you aren't hyper-stimulating your ovaries, so it isn't as hard on the female body. I also wanted to mention that a woman that was diagnosed with DOR (diminished ovarian reserve) had 28 follicles growing at her first ultrasound after stimming. So don't count yourself out just because your AMH came out low. Hers did, and check out those numbers!

AFM - Slept in, YAY! No lawn mowers, no blowers, no garbage tucks, just pleasant silence! It has been unnaturally hot here the past few weeks, and I would love it to be cooler so I could turn off the A/C and open my windows. So my list of things to do today:
- laundry
- cleaning the patio of mold
- grocery shopping
- purchasing new picture frames
- ordering photos to fill the frames for my 'rogues' gallery
- football

Not sure I will get any of that list done unless my headache goes away! Freaking head. Very happy I have a Dr's appt on Tuesday. Going to get something to address them!

To all the other ladies out there!

This is amazing info thank you! Can you send me the link for the IVF thread you are on? I'd love to read it.

 

[never_give_up]

Happy Saturday ladies. I checked before I got in the shower and everyone appeared offline. Now I see messages posted here. Must be my firefox browser I also had to allow private messages as it was blocking them.
How is everyone today?

 

[alicatt]

Coy - Happy Saturday! Hope you and your DD's and DH are having a great day! You asked me about my massage place, I go to a place called massage envy, and they offer a monthly membership, the first massage is $49 and each one after that is $39 (for an hour), so that is how I get to go 2x a week. I love my massage therapist, but the admin staff are sometimes airheads. I'll tell them next time I'm in there that they didn't call, and impress on them how much they screwed up my day.

Phil - I'm assuming you had the baby as you have been MIA for a few days now. I really hope it all went well.

Two2Go - that is great news about the massage therapist. I love it, it just makes me so relaxed What is fibromialgia? You and never seem to have it, but I don't even know what the symptoms are?

BabyDust - oh my, what a wild month! So sorry about your MC, and the difficulties with your Mom. I always comment about how wonderful my Mom is, but we have our struggles as well. I don't think any family is perfect. That is just life, the best thing you can do is make sure your own relationship with your kids remains strong I hope you revisit your RE now that you and your DH are feeling better. If you don't mind me asking, when are you having your MC's are they shortly after your BFP, or a few weeks later? Early MCs I think can be caused by lower progesterone levels, so it might be an easy fix for you! Welcome back!

BabyWhisperer - Funny you should mention that your second opinion is at Cornell! There are a few ladies doing IVF at Cornell in the next 2 months on my IVF thread and they are all very happy. I guess the Dr's there are more progressive and are pushing the envelope in how they do things. We were talking about something called co-culture. This is where they take a biopsy of your uterus before your cycle starts, freeze it and then when they do the egg retrieval they add the biopsy cells to the medium that they embryos grow in while in the lab. From what the ladies are saying, they have had much higher results using this technique. I was going to talk to my FS about it, but then realized that it wouldn't help me much since my embryos are already at blast stage. Anyway, if they are doing things like this for IVF, who knows what other things they are trying for IUI? Oh! I was just thinking, maybe you would be a good candidate for the MINI IVF? That is where they do minimal stimulation, and you might get 4-6 eggs, then do the ICSI with your DH's sperm and see how that goes? The plus of that protocol is that you aren't hyper-stimulating your ovaries, so it isn't as hard on the female body. I also wanted to mention that a woman that was diagnosed with DOR (diminished ovarian reserve) had 28 follicles growing at her first ultrasound after stimming. So don't count yourself out just because your AMH came out low. Hers did, and check out those numbers!

AFM - Slept in, YAY! No lawn mowers, no blowers, no garbage tucks, just pleasant silence! It has been unnaturally hot here the past few weeks, and I would love it to be cooler so I could turn off the A/C and open my windows. So my list of things to do today:
- laundry
- cleaning the patio of mold
- grocery shopping
- purchasing new picture frames
- ordering photos to fill the frames for my 'rogues' gallery
- football

Not sure I will get any of that list done unless my headache goes away! Freaking head. Very happy I have a Dr's appt on Tuesday. Going to get something to address them!

To all the other ladies out there!

This is amazing info thank you! Can you send me the link for the IVF thread you are on? I'd love to read it.

https://babyandbump.momtastic.com/assisted-conception/1179015-ivf-oct-nov-dec-419.html

It isn't that active of a thread anymore as most women have moved on to the next round of IVF (Jan-Mar) thread, or the lucky ones have moved on to the 'I'm pregnant after IVF' thread. Still, people post here on occasion. This is where I met the 45 yr old 'Chase' the guy that is using a surrogate. We're still going to meet up when he comes for his ultrasound. So excited! Anyway, the one woman 'oneof14' was the one discussing Cornell, and the co-culture technique.

 

[never_give_up]

Babydust so sorry about your miscarriage during the holidays. It is hard when people around you don't understand.
When I miscarried my mother-in-law said" dont worry you'll get pregnant again because she had a miscarriage and then got pregnant soon after and then had twins soon after (dh and his brother).Well she was 19 and I am 41. That was 3 years ago 2 ivf later and we are still not pregnant. She also said if we start adoption then I'll get pregnant. Her advice just makes me shake my head. I am adopted and my Mom never had a baby even though my parents tried their best.

 

[never_give_up]

Ali Sorry you are having another af 2 weeks later. I have heard that happen before. The nurse at my FS office always offered me tampons too but I brought my own pads. I avoid them unless necessary because on the fertility yoga dvd I do they say it prevents proper emptying of the uterus. My uterus is tilted backward too. Pads are messy you are right

Coy WTG on your workout! Ali is so right. Muscle weighs more than fat. When I did karate I put on 5 pounds muscle. Acupuncturist said when ttc it's better for me to stick to yoga but that doing zilch for toning.
Regarding the breasfeeding while bbt I found this on a forum:

"Your temp goes up when you get the progesterone surge that comes after Ovulation. Since prolactin levels can keep your prog. levels down, your temps might be a little lower then if not BF'ing. Progesterone levels start to dump when AF is on the way which is why you will see your temps go down if you are not pregnant - progesterone levels will rise if you are pregnant, which is why you will see a temp rise if BFP is coming. One of the reasons it is hard to get pregnant while BF'ing is that low prog. levels can cause a short luteal phase."

I'm trying to pry dh away from the computer so we can take a walk before the Football game starts at 4.

 

[alicatt]

Babydust so sorry about your miscarriage during the holidays. It is hard when people around you don't understand.
When I miscarried my mother-in-law said" dont worry you'll get pregnant again because she had a miscarriage and then got pregnant soon after and then had twins soon after (dh and his brother).Well she was 19 and I am 41. That was 3 years ago 2 ivf later and we are still not pregnant. She also said if we start adoption then I'll get pregnant. Her advice just makes me shake my head. I am adopted and my Mom never had a baby even though my parents tried their best.

I think that people just don't know how to 'help', so most of their comments come out strange. It's like trying to comfort someone who has just watched a loved one pass. What can you say? There really isn't anything comforting to say. So often their suggestions or words that they think are comforting come off as everything but that. I know it is hard to do, but sometimes you just have to ignore what they say, and just know that they are being supportive.

As for adoption, I was adopted, so was my brother. My parents never had a child naturally. However sometimes it does happen! Less so in our generation, due to ART. Back when we were born, they didn't have the same testing or methods to create babies in test tubes. I know of 2 people that were adopted and their parents later had natural born kids. I don't think that going the adoption route will automatically make you get pregnant, but maybe taking the pressure off of you will help improve your chances? That is possible. Course you can get the same results by stopping to TTC, and just letting things happen. Thing is that at our age, things happening naturally are less and less likely. Sounds like you and your DH just need to have a heart to heart. Decide, are you going to try IVF one more time? Or move on to adoption. If you do choose IVF, I would suggest going to a different FS, getting a second opinion and seeing what they suggest?

I hate infertility. I had no idea that I would have this much trouble and go through this much 'hell' to get to where I am now. Which is basically 9 months older with nothing to show for it! I do have 4 frosties and I do have a new possible relationship, so I just have to keep thinking positive. Yet, I know its hard!

 

[alicatt]

Ali Sorry you are having another af 2 weeks later. I have heard that happen before. The nurse at my FS office always offered me tampons too but I brought my own pads. I avoid them unless necessary because on the fertility yoga dvd I do they say it prevents proper emptying of the uterus. My uterus is tilted backward too. Pads are messy you are right

Coy WTG on your workout! Ali is so right. Muscle weighs more than fat. When I did karate I put on 5 pounds muscle. Acupuncturist said when ttc it's better for me to stick to yoga but that doing zilch for toning.

Trying to pry dh away fro the computer so we can take a walk before the Football game starts at 4.

That is interesting about tampons.. hmm. Well maybe I should get some pads. I hate them so! GROSS

GO BRONCOS!!! (I know you guys are probably a Raven's fan, but I lived in Denver for 8 years). They went to the championship before I moved there, and now they are playing well again, and of course I don't live there now. Figures! Same with the Saints and the Dolphins. I seem to be the curse to any NFL team. If I live there, they will suck! LOL.

 

[never_give_up]

Dh is a Ravens fan. I am not into football. I like baseball. They are so violent in football I am wearing my purple shirt though and dh keeps shouting and high-fiving me every time there is a touch-down!

 

[Grey Eyes]

Chantal- thanks! I wondered as my luteal phase was super short last time around! Makes sense now

lol at your dh and high-5'ing!

 

[Samsfan]

Coy. I agree. You are nice and slim. No need for the scale if you are happy with your inches. Throw out the scale. I need a slim down plan. I need to take it off. Everyday is a new day and i screw it up and start tomorrow.

Sounds like your taking time to surge. I had a positive opk last night, but my temp stayed the same

AFM-

It has been several days since I have been able to test bbt- usually Aeryn or Kat waking me up in the "I need Mom NOW" mode, lol! Anyway I tested this morning and thought for sure my temp would be up but stupid low 97.1 Anyway I am currently 20 dpo or some silliness so I think the breastfeeding must be interfering in LH release? What do you chart readers think??


I am working out much harder now and it feels AWESOME!! I am following the January full body workout Jess gave me a few months ago plus dh showed me some extra moves to focus on delts and triceps that are pretty killer atm... So I am happy doing that

Last night dh and I talked about bodies and how it is unrealistic to think we can ever be just as we were in our late teens or early 20's. Men and women mature and have you noticed how bodies mature too> take John Travolta for instance (did someone just say "I'd love to"?? lol) He is still very fit and muscular but as he aged his face and body grew fuller, bigger, etc... As men mature their muscles get "old" or heavier, harder, etc, and they lose that super slim look. So I told dh I think women must be the same way. At 38 (almost 40!!! aaahhh! lol) I have no unrealistic goals to look like I did as 105 pound 20 year old. I do however want to totally rock a bod like Jess - why not, right? Look out muscles, here I come Dh ordered me to toss out the weight scale as my waist and butt and thighs are shrinking w/all the working out but my weight stays the same- depressing, right? Anyway he said muscles are heavier than fat so currently- no weight scale, lol.

 

[Samsfan]

Babydust. Very sorry for your tough month. Hoping for a much happier month and luck heading your way.

 

[Grey Eyes]

Sam- how much do you want to slim down? I generally tell myself "this is what I want to lose total- " then cut that in half as my first goal....plus I let myself cheat I have ice cream almost every other night lol! I still have many inches I want to lose but if I watch the weight scale I will go Mostly all I can encourage anyone to do to lose weight is eat protein rich foods (protein burns fat to process) and as Ali stated complex carbs, e.g., I eat tomatoes, brussel sprouts, etc. Once a week or so I eat something like a fresh baked pretzel I love Fiber One bars....I tell myself fiber helps flush my body Plus I drink tons of water. I have figured out HUGE diet changes are destined to fail- I just try not to eat candy bars (ahem! except my Fiber One bars...ahem....) etc, cut back on sugar.

I eat lots of greek yogurt. Egg whites, I dump the yolk. And etc! I could go on....and still wonder if I am doing it right, lol!

Oh yeah. And lift weight. Musles burn fat! Even when you sleep Dh tells me is a great way to lose weight

 

[Samsfan]

Grey Eyes- Sounds like you are very disciplined. Wish I was as disciplined as you. I want to lose 20. I'm up and down 30.. mostly up. So I'm chubby right now. I'm a stress eater. I used to workout religiously until I got married. Did spin and weights. Partial reason I was so shy at getting prego the first 2 years of being married. I'm trying to stick to protein... discipline..discipline..discipline... Right now I need to lose 20 lbs fast. I noticed I really don't want to BO at this weight. Libido definately increased at a lighter weight. My work and life make it real difficult. I know it is no excuse, but I'm so exhausted all the time. If I don't workout before work it is tough to get to the gym. If I have a stress day at work I'm on the chocolate. It is tough because stress is the name of the game at work.

Sounds like you really are reasonable with yourself. I love greek yogurt.. It's my favorite... I just lost 10 lbs on the dukan diet. It's mostly protein and veggies...but I fell off and I'm trying to get back on. Tough They have a great recipe for a oat bran.. protein type pancake. 2 tbsp greek yogurt, 2 tbsp oat bran; 1 tbsp splenda and 1 egg yolk beat it until its a mixture and than make your pancake! I love it.

Well you do encourage me. Maybe I can start on the right track tomorrow but sometimes the get into me and I eat! I have a stressful week in front of me.. so working out would help. It is also so crazy I hate to leave my hubby at night and go to the gym. He doesn't work out and he's just naturally slim. I wish I could wake up at 6 am for the gym shower there and get to work... but I'm not a morning person. My first battle is clean eating. That's what I need to do. You are inspiring!

Sam- how much do you want to slim down? I generally tell myself "this is what I want to lose total- " then cut that in half as my first goal....plus I let myself cheat I have ice cream almost every other night lol! I still have many inches I want to lose but if I watch the weight scale I will go Mostly all I can encourage anyone to do to lose weight is eat protein rich foods (protein burns fat to process) and as Ali stated complex carbs, e.g., I eat tomatoes, brussel sprouts, etc. Once a week or so I eat something like a fresh baked pretzel I love Fiber One bars....I tell myself fiber helps flush my body Plus I drink tons of water. I have figured out HUGE diet changes are destined to fail- I just try not to eat candy bars (ahem! except my Fiber One bars...ahem....) etc, cut back on sugar.

I eat lots of greek yogurt. Egg whites, I dump the yolk. And etc! I could go on....and still wonder if I am doing it right, lol!

Oh yeah. And lift weight. Musles burn fat! Even when you sleep Dh tells me is a great way to lose weight

 

[Grey Eyes]

Sam-

I read a book by Sylvester Stallone in which he hjighlights that it is okay to "eat junk" just not too much of it and not every day. In his life he allows himself a junk Sunday every week. I can be a stress eater too...so what I do when I am tressed is pop a small peice of dark chocolate then go burn my stress off on the weights. Afterward I feel awesome (endorphins) PLUS I have to admit I have notice working weights increases my libido...not sure why So maybe next time you have a stress day at work guiltlessy eat some dark chocolate! Then lift those weights and pounce your dh! I try not to fad diet as I always fall off so I try to stick to something I know I will always have on hand...chicken breast, if I want a "bad snack" I go for it if I have it around...but only let myself purchase it like once a weel. Doritos are abad addiction of mine so I only let myself buy them once or twice a month. Coffee I have given myself full reign on since I am not currently ttc...but once I am (if) I will cut it off comepletely. Sounds like your job is stressful! What line of work are you in?

 

[Samsfan]

Grey eyes- You are so on the money with this stuff. I'm going to take your advice. When I'm stressed or hungry I'll start with a bit of protein or dark chocolate, then workout! I'm in the legal field. (not fun)

Why don't you drink coffee when ttc?

You do motivate me... so I'm so glad to be part of this forum!