The Official TTC Thread!

[fisherofmengirly]

Peony,

You know, I was thinking back to December when your husband took you and your baby on a walk/ride (what''s it called if you''re being carried?) in the snow. That was one of the most precious moments I''ve read about. I think if it''s still snowy where you are, you should give this baby the same trip!

As for testing... aye. I struggle with this. I have tested before on cycles and I''ve never seen a thing and Paul *always* does and it ends up leaving me a ball of nerves because I see nothing and get sad, and then hopeful because he sees something, only to be let down days later when I find out my dream of being a mommy is still just a dream, and not even in the works yet. I want so very badly to test, but with FF and charting, it''s showing that of the last 5 cycles (this is cycle 6 trying for us, although it''s been since June), my luteal phase shifts between 13 and 16 days. However, I think 14 is my *real* LP and the others were either shifted by incorrect O day detection by FF or because I possibly was carrying a child who didn''t make it too far in this world. But who knows? Anyway, FF says I should test on Wednesday, which would be 16DPO. If I don''t have a period by that point, I will test. I have been wondering lately if my LP is lengthening, although I''m not sure why it would be. My first chart was 13, my last was 16. Odd.

I''m also starting to wonder, since my charts show clear ovulation every cycle (although delayed at times), maybe my tubes are messed up. I honestly hadn''t thought about that until someone posted about the dye test and all that.

I don''t know if I posted this last cycle, but I tested several times and now I''m down to only one FRER. I have a coupon for more FRERs, but it''s been my secret hope not to have to buy any more. Haha. Kind of silly, but I put the coupon in a drawer and said I wouldn''t ever need it. It''s good til April, so if I need it, I''ll use it. But I''m still hoping I won''t.

Thanks for starting the positive streak. I''m hoping so very many of us get to tag along on the streak!! I''m having super positive thoughts about it for you girls!!!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Date: 3/6/2009 7:33:25 AM
Author: fisherofmengirly
Swimmer,

Well girl, when you do get knocked (*accidental* or otherwise

), you''ll have to be sure to tell us about it!

***
Peony,

I''m thinking only the best things for you, dear! Tomorrow is Saturday! TOMORROW! Hopin, hopin, hopin!

***
Tiffany,

I''m *so* sorry for the let down of that mean period coming on! I think about you often and hope only the best for you. I know the wait is long and the struggles get to us all sometimes. I''m awaiting the day you come announce good news!! Truly!

***
Sunkist,

How are you holding up these days?

***
November, I''ll attach a picture of my beloved FlipFlop. She''s a precious girl!! We also have a little boy, Ta Dah!! He''s trouble, but so loving!!

***
In my world: I think I''ve become too emotional and sensitive lately. Yesterday at work, during lunch break (a lot of us gather in the kitchen during lunch, rather than going out) I was having pineapple with my lunch and my good friend Amy was in there (we share an office and she knows about all things TTC with regard to me) and someone asked why I''ve been having pineapple every single day (not like me to do the same fruit for so many days in a row. And Amy said it was to ''make her baby stick'' (Haha. that''s exactly what I told her, too!), and then someone else rolled her eyes and said that if all I do is think about having a baby, I''ll *never* have one. Then she started to talk about another employee who''s since left (with the birth of her child) who was ''so annoying'' because she wanted a baby so bad.

Well, it hurt my feelings that someone would feel like they have the authority to tell me that I''ll *never* get pregnant if I want a baby so badly because that''s just idiotic! She had her son at age 17, purely by accident, but that''s not how all children enter this world! And the thing is, she''s my friend, so that''s part of why it hurt me. And I realize it''s the work place and I don''t go around talking about my TTC efforts all the time. Not at all, really. There is another woman at work wanting a baby, and we do discuss the things that I learn about TTC from this place, FF, and other internet sites and books. But I don''t just go around announcing it to people who don''t care. But everyone does know that I want a baby. I think that''s just part of my life, who I am right now, and friends are going to know about that.

So now I feel like I''m being equated with someone ''annoying'' who used to go into very graphic details of all things TTC in her life (which I do not! I''m way too conservative to do anything like that.).

I also know what the person at work *meant* by what she said, because my mother thinks the same way about this. It wasn''t said to be mean. So it''s not a matter of being mad about that. Oh I don''t know. Now that I have it all written out, it seems petty. Eh, let''s just say it irked me and hurt me a little, too. I so wish people could be more sensitive to women who feel somewhat inadequate already when they''re not getting pregnant as soon as they''d hoped.


I''ve been emotional toward Paul lately, too. So I think it was just a matter of the hormones and the eyes rolling and the being told I''ll not have a baby as long as I want one. Like it''s a switch you turn off and on. Come on!!

***
In happy news, today is Friday!! Yay for the weekend!! Today at work is ''represent your team'' day and we get to wear any sports clothing we want. Whoo hoo! I''m all about representing the Thrashers today! (And it''s Paul''s shirt, so I get to feel like a teenager wearing her boyfriend''s shirt around! Oh nostalgia of the good ol'' days of puppy love...)

The part that says it''s to SWIMMER was supposed to be to MIA.

I''m sorry. I''ve been writing the wrong name of the person I''m typing too often...

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Steph,

I don''t like any sports other than hockey! So funny, I totally thought I''d hate it (as I do all other games Paul''s taken me to) because I get so confused and can''t focus in on the rules and it''s just overwhelming for me. But for whatever reason, hockey makes sense to me. I don''t know all the rules, but I follow along pretty well.

Paul still laughs at me when we go to games because I get worried when two (or more) players start to pound into one another and I scream out, "Oh, don''t hurt him!!" It''s just a natural reaction, I swear.

 

[sunkist]

Yay Peony!!!!! Whooopeeeeeeee!

I''m so excited!!!!! (I saw your news a little bit ago, but hubby rolled over and wanted to cuddle, so I begrudingling put down the computer instead of responding right away...haha) I''m so happy you got this as your birthday pressie. That has got to be the BEST!

 

[E B]

Date: 3/7/2009 11:08:57 AM
Author: peonygirl

Ebree, thanks so much! I could actually use your expertise now. Of course I am desperate to do anything to prevent another miscarriage, even though I know that most of the time that's not possible. It's a Saturday now, but hopefully I can get in contact on Monday with the ob/gyn I saw for Clomid to ask him if there's anything. Since you've had more experience with this than me unfortunately, I thought that you might know specifically if I should ask for anything, like progesterone monitoring. It's very high now and I doubt that was my problem last time, but just in case! Would it be too late to do something like baby aspirin at this point?

If you're worried about falling progesterone levels, let your doctor know. I was on progesterone vaginally until just after 13 weeks, though I was told I could stop at 12. From what I understand, extra progesterone doesn't hurt if you don't need it, it's just...extra. If you do need it, well, it's great to have! I've also been taking one baby aspirin a day since after ovulation, and my doctor said I can stay on them for most of my pregnancy if I feel comfortable doing so. Your doctor may have a different take, but both my RE and my OBGYN agreed I could take these safely. If you want official, Doctor-given answers now, do you have an on-call service through your OBGYN's office? If so, give 'em a call.

More than likely, though, you'll be absolutely fine taking nothing at all (but prenatals, of course). That's a nice dark positive for 10 DPO- I think you've got a sticky little bean in there!

 

[mia1181]

Yaaaay Peony!!!!!!

Reading this news was such a great way to start my morning! You must be so happy. That is one incredibly dark line for 10dpo. I gotta tell you, I had my doubts, because it didn''t seem like you BD''d at the right time, but that chart did look so tri-phasic! Your posts the past few days gave me the sense that you would have been really depressed if you got a BFN so it definitely came at the right time! Honestly, I think about when you had the chemical, and how couragious you were to get right back on the (floor?) again, and now even to test so early.... You really deserve this! Congratulations!!!!!!!

Sending lots of industrial-strength super glue sticky dust!*********************

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 3/7/2009 8:56:06 AM
Author: icekid

Date: 3/7/2009 1:33:14 AM
Author: missjaxon

Date: 3/7/2009 12:26:10 AM
Author: mia1181
Well my temp finally went below the coverline today and AF paid her visit. So I am excited about my 11 day luteal phase! Yay! I might be able to sustain a pregnancy one day!(hopefully). I hope that is where it will stay. Does anyone remember how long after going off BC before your LP became regular? The TCOYF book says that LP''s usually are the same length every cycle for most women. Have you found that to be true?


In other news, DH and I talked about TTC today and I think he is on board to start trying next year (provided his career is back on track by then). I know none of you will be here then

, but I can''t wait to join this thread!

I am such a huge lurker on this thread but I just thought I would post to tell Mia that I am planning on TTC next year as well as long as everything goes according to plan. I am sure all of these wonderful ladies will have graduated long before I begin to post in this forum even though I am already starting to have extreme baby fever. Maybe we will both be posting here at the same time.

Another lurker...

I am thinking of next year, as well. My job is such that there will basically never be a good time, unfortunately. If my hubs ends up having a long commute to work when we move this summer, a baby probably will not happen during my residency. Crossing my fingers though! I, too, have baby fever in the worst way!! ack.

There was never a good time in my career either (academic) but we just went for it and things have worked out great! It will work out for you too, get preggo whenever you want!

 

[Clairitek]

Coming out lurkdom to say WOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO for Peony!!! What a kickbutt birthday present!!!! I am hoping hoping hoping for a sticky!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Peony that is so WONDERFUL!!!!!! I am sending all my sticky vibes your way, but I feel confident that this time is a sticky. Am I right that with you m/c it was only a couple of days after the BFP?

 

[mia1181]

Date: 3/7/2009 11:27:39 AM
Author: fisherofmengirly
The part that says it''s to SWIMMER was supposed to be to MIA.

Ha! I was like "hmmm I''m pretty sure Swimmer is trying,

isn''t she testing soon?" Oh you guys will know before lots of people IRL, I''m sure.

If it''s an accident you might know before DH!

MissJaxon and Icekid! Are we going to be the next generation of TTCers?! I can''t wait! Baby fever has me practically debilitized at the moment. My poor DH!

I know the right time will come though. DH and I will have been together for 10 YEARS in June! A decade! We are 27 and have only been married for 6 months, but I am just so ready. Add that with the fact that I nanny for a living and taking care of babies is what I do... It''s very hard to think of anything else besides starting a family. Here''s to next year!

 

[NovemberBride]

Congrats Peony! I am so excited for you and glad you birthday wish came true. I am sending lots of sticky vibes your way.

 

[so cal girl]

I was lurking on the preggo thread and saw peony''s news, and I just had to sign on to say CONGRATULATIONS! I am so happy for you. See you on the preggo thread!

 

[missjaxon]

Date: 3/7/2009 12:44:51 PM
Author: mia1181

Date: 3/7/2009 11:27:39 AM

Author: fisherofmengirly

The part that says it''s to SWIMMER was supposed to be to MIA.

Ha! I was like ''hmmm I''m pretty sure Swimmer is trying,

isn''t she testing soon?'' Oh you guys will know before lots of people IRL, I''m sure.

If it''s an accident you might know before DH!


MissJaxon and Icekid! Are we going to be the next generation of TTCers?! I can''t wait! Baby fever has me practically debilitized at the moment. My poor DH!

I know the right time will come though. DH and I will have been together for 10 YEARS in June! A decade! We are 27 and have only been married for 6 months, but I am just so ready. Add that with the fact that I nanny for a living and taking care of babies is what I do... It''s very hard to think of anything else besides starting a family. Here''s to next year!

First of all CONGRATULATIONS Peony !!!!!!!!!

That is such a fantastic Birthday present and Happy Birthday as well!


Mia I can''t wait either! I know exactly how you feel and I used to be a nanny too! I just LOVE kids. I am looking to forward to one day being able to post here. The worst part is that my FI wants a baby as badly as I do, but we told ourselves not until after the wedding since I want to look beautiful in my wedding dress and all.

Okay I am done thread-jacking...

Good Luck to all of the other ladies testing soon!!! Lots and lots of baby dust to you all!

 

[steph72276]

Huge congrats to Peony!

 

[swimmer]

YEAH Peony! just amazing news!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Today was just like Spring here. So exciting! I went on a big bike ride (okay, not big, but *big* for this beginner) while Paul walked the dogs and I did laps around them. On the way home, we spotted a garage sale sign and decided to follow it. We've been looking for some furniture for the guest bedroom. We get there and they're packing things up, but ask if there was anything we were looking for. No furniture in sight, so we say no, but thanks. As we're headed back to the car, I see a Boppy and casually ask how much it is. The woman says she had it marked for $3 but had decided to just take it to Goodwill, along with all the other baby stuff, since no one expecting came today at all. Anyway, she just assumes we're expecting and says I'm about her size and asks if I'd like the box of maternity clothes she has already packed up in a box, to take to Goodwill. I just look at Paul, like, "um, but we're not pregnant yet." She holds up some of the clothes and we're talking CUTENESS. The box had several shirts, a sweater/jacket, and about 5 pairs of pants, all my size. Exciting! She said she wanted nothing for it, was glad to know it was going to someone who would benefit from it, and gave us the Boppy, too. I didn't know it until we got home, but the Boppy has a cover on it already, in pristine condition with the Boppy underneath spotless. Exciting! Still, Paul went to the car and brought back some cash for her. What a surprise!!

Is it bad that I came home and did laundry so I could have a "fashion show"?

 

[sunkist]

Oh Fisher you''ve got me laughing out loud over here! I LOVE that you had a fashion show!

What a nice lady and what a score for you, I love garage sales. I saw some today while I was out but didn''t stop. Unfortunately I don''t "need" anything right now... Congrats on the fabulous find!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Haha, Sunkist. The laundry''s not done yet. I''m just getting ready for a fashion show. I''m sure Paul will luagh at me and tell me to stop being a nut. I''ve already found the perfect big mixing bowl to be my belly.

 

[peonygirl]

OMG Fisher, I use a mixing bowl too! I was testing to see if some of my shirts/dresses would carry me through at least the first 7 months of pregnancy. I think the answer is yes! Congrats on the fun finds!!!!!

 

[Pandora II]

Congratulations Peony!!!!!

Fingers crossed for you - and I have a good feeling this time.

I can''t believe some of the insensitive things people have said (and I''m pretty good at the whole ''open mouth and stick both feet into it'' thing myself). Part of me wonders if they shouldn''t teach some of the TTC stuff at school. Even though I was incredibly lucky to get KTFU so quickly, the memory of filling in the charts and seeing those BFNs before the BFP will always stick with me. Probably if DH and I had just thought we''d let nature take it''s course I''d never have got the partial insight I did.

Hoping for some more March BFPs!

 

[curlygirl]

Another lurker coming out to congratulate Peony!!

I have been following along and was shocked that you were able to hold out on testing until today with the way your chart looked--I would not have had the patience! Sending you lots of sticky vibes!!

 

[snlee]

CONGRATULATIONS peony! I am so happy for you! What an amazing birthday gift! Sending tons of sticky dust your way!

 

[radiantgirl]

Just wanted to pop in and say CONGRATS to Peony!!! Happy belated birthday as well. What a great birthday present. I totally understand your nervousness about this pregnancy since you went through a miscarriage last time. I was on baby aspirin after I got my first AF after my D & C and stopped at 12 weeks. I was also put on progesterone the day after I got my BFP at 10 dpo per my doctor''s order. I don''t think progesterone was the problem the first time around, but like Ebree said having extra doesn''t hurt at all. Congrats again and sticky baby dust to you!!!

 

[dani13]

Just wanted to pop in to say CONGRATULATIONS PEONY!!!!!!! Sooooo happy for you!!!! What a great b-day present!!!

Wishing you a very happy & healthy 9 mths!!!!

 

[Maisie]

Congratulations Peony!

I have to say, reading this, that we don''t get anywhere near as much care trying to conceive here in the UK as you do over there. We would have to see a fertility specialist before we would be offered anything to help us. I wish I lived over there! Anyone care for a houseguest?

 

[icekid]

Date: 3/7/2009 9:44:52 AM
Author: peonygirl

Icekid: Thanks so much!!!! Well, as you know I''m applying to medical school this cycle, which cannot possibly be the best time! I''m sure it''s not the worst time either. Right now I''m mostly concerned about having a due date in the middle of interviews! Hopefully most of them will be around Sept/Oct and then I can schedule some in Dec. We shall see.
Are you a PGY2 or 3? And. . . internal medicine? I might be confusing you with gingerbcookie, who I know did IM and them heme/onc. I remember you from my LIW days!
Don''t worry, I think we are almost the same age, so you have tons of time. Okay, I know that doesn''t help at all with the baby fever, but I am jealous that you are so much farther ahead in your training than I am.

Peony- you''re thinking of Ginger who is going into heme/onc. Unfortunately, I am a sad little intern. And I''d love to change places with you... you can take my intern spot if I don''t have to be a doctor anymore

Interviews might be a bit of a challenge it sounds like! Fortunately, med school interview season is fairly long, at least. I''m sure you will do this, but I think the earlier to get your applications in, the earlier your interviews will come and you''ll have more choices re: dates. Congratulations again

 

[icekid]

Date: 3/7/2009 12:44:51 PM
Author: mia1181

MissJaxon and Icekid! Are we going to be the next generation of TTCers?! I can''t wait! Baby fever has me practically debilitized at the moment. My poor DH!

I know the right time will come though. DH and I will have been together for 10 YEARS in June! A decade! We are 27 and have only been married for 6 months, but I am just so ready. Add that with the fact that I nanny for a living and taking care of babies is what I do... It''s very hard to think of anything else besides starting a family. Here''s to next year!

mia- I would love to TTC with you and MissJaxon (or.... er, with my hubby, but you know what I mean

). After 10 years, I''d sure be darn ready too! That''s amazing that you''ve been together since you were 17. I am also 27.. but pushing 28 pretty soon. Hubby and I have been together 5.5 years and married for two, so I feel like we''ve gotten in some good alone time. OH, and I just saw you grew up in WNY in another thread! Both my husband and I did as well, a bit north of Buffalo. Too funny!

 

[icekid]

Date: 3/7/2009 12:34:32 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 3/7/2009 8:56:06 AM
Author: icekid

Another lurker...

I am thinking of next year, as well. My job is such that there will basically never be a good time, unfortunately. If my hubs ends up having a long commute to work when we move this summer, a baby probably will not happen during my residency. Crossing my fingers though! I, too, have baby fever in the worst way!! ack.

There was never a good time in my career either (academic) but we just went for it and things have worked out great! It will work out for you too, get preggo whenever you want!

Sigh... I wish we could just go for it! But I will probably overthink it enough that we won''t have a baby for 4 more years. The program where I am training is pretty hard core. Too many residents have told me that they wish they didn''t have a kid during residency. One of the girls I know at my program was pumping breast milk, in the car, driving to work at 5:30 AM

It all makes me very nervous! Family is all 450 miles away too, so they will be no help. Plus if I take off more than 4 weeks, they will have to shift other residents who will have to pick up the slack for me, which I am quite loathe to do. I''m sure we could make it work, but the amount of complication that it will involve is intimidating. I''m not sure that my hubby will agree to it yet! I don''t even know if I can justify having a baby when I am working 80 hours/week. But I have baby fever ALREADY; will I really be able to wait 4 more years?! I guess I will be 32 when I finish residency, which isn''t so bad. But it''s just not MY ideal for a first baby. There''s my train of consciousness for today.......

 

[natalina]

Hi Peony! My due date is October 8th. First "real" doctor appt is this Tuesday. Congrats again!

Fisher- I''m so glad your friend realized her insensitivity and apologized. That was nice of her.

So who''s testing soon? I''m so excited for all of you!

 

[peonygirl]

So sorry I went MIA yesterday and didn''t respond to posts! I had to do an assignment for school, and then I just crashed! I just saw pictures of a friend''s baby who was born yesterday, and I''m getting even more excited about the BFP. I''m just really hoping that it''s sticky. I''m wishing really, really good things for everyone else, and I feel so blessed to have such a great community of women!! It seems like other TTC boards are so big that it''s pretty anonymous, but I feel like I know all of you!

Sha, thanks so much!!!!!! Clomid can and does work, and I bet it will work for you! If at all possible, trying to BD on the day of your positive OPK and the day after are probably the most important days (but I''m sure you already knew that). Thanks for sharing your experience with Clomid before I went on it.

Fisher, yeah, I remember that! Being carried around is one of the benefits of being teensy and petite (though I hated my height growing up). It''s not snowy out now (just rainy), but sometimes he just carries me around the house, like when I''m on my computer and too tired to walk to bed.

I want him to be able to carry me around when I''m huge and 9-months pregnant! I think he will, he''s in pretty good shape!
As far as testing, from everything you posted it sounds like waiting might be a good idea, if you can. I was mostly testing early because I really wanted to know whether I had another chemical pregnancy, since that might be indicative of a larger problem. With my last chemical, my period was only 1-2 days late, so I might never have realized it. Either way, good luck!!!!!!!!!!!! It does seem like pregnancy happens in streaks here, so I am hoping to start a streak.

BTW, you are so cute with your bike! I got a really cute pink girls bike and I rode it to work all last summer and fall, but I totally had to relearn how to ride a bike. I was so scared at first!

Sunkist: thanks a bunch!!!!! I think that you also said you wanted a BFP for your birthday, so I hope your wish comes true! I really hope to be able to tell my kiddo that I wished for him/her when I was blowing out the candles on my cake! I''m really excited for you to be testing (or waiting?) soon! Do you know when you might test? I will check the boards that day!

Ebree: thanks for the advice! I will be calling to make an appointment tomorrow with the midwife I hope to use, and I will mention that I had a previous miscarriage and ask if they want to see me earlier than usual and/or do hcg/progesterone testing. You''re right that things will probably be okay, especially since the other pregnancy failed REALLY early on and never seemed that sticky to begin with as far as hcg levels. I don''t think I have a progesterone problem (my shortest LP was 13 days and I never have spotting, plus my BBT didn''t go down last time until my hcg was like 6!). Looking forward to seeeing you on the preggo board!

Mia, thanks so much!!!!!! Yeah, I would have been super depressed with a BFN, but I have survived it many times before. This TTC business is tricky, ya know? I understand about your baby fever. I think that I''ve had it since I was 8, ha! Your time will come though. Thanks so much for the sticky dust!

Clairitek, thanks for the sticky vibes!!!

Dreamer, thanks so much! It''s so cool that you still come to this thread even though you have your little one! Have you posted any new pics of him? If so, I will try to find them. How are you liking the cosleeper?

Did you get the mini or the regular? With my miscarriage it was SO early, 4 weeks and two days. I will take another test tomorrow or Tuesday, which will hopefully be darker. It''s just so reassuring to see that this test was already way darker than my last one ever got!!!

November, thanks so much, I really hope it happens for you too this month! Your timing was pretty good, right? *fingers crossed* I just think the fact that you finally ovulated is super. Let us know how your progesterone test goes.

So Cal Gal: Thanks a lot! Did I mention that I''m dying to move back to SoCal soon? I''m from San Diego. Hopefully eventually!

MissJaxon: Thanks for the birthday wishes! If this one sticks, it will be the best birthday present ever!

Steph: Thanks so much, and I KNOW that it is only a matter of time for you. Hopefully a short time!!!!!!

Swimmer: Thanks so much! Are you testing soon?

You''re on Clomid too, right?

Pandora: Thanks, and I''ll see you on the flipside.

I think if they taught TTC in school, teens would realize that it''s a lot harder than they think to get pregnant and would have MORE unprotected sex, ha! I do blame sex ed for making me believe that it''s super easy to get pregnant though!

Thanks SO much curly, dani and snlee!

Curly, if I thought that the test would have been positive sooner, I think that I would have tested earlier, hehe!

Radiant, thanks for the information and the sticky dust. I will be talking to my midwife about both of those things tomorrow!

Maisie: Yeah, it is so nice to be able to get Clomid from a regular ob/gyn. It seems like a lot even prescribe it without too much instruction on when to BD, so I''m glad that I was charting!

Icekid, I will definitely get my AMCAS done in June! I''m taking the MCAT May 22nd. Do you think that you just have the intern blues, or have you disliked medicine for a while? I''m sorry to hear that. I think there area lot of people in your boat. My DH is an M4 now, but he didn''t do the match this year because he isn''t sure whether he ever wants to do a residency. He''s MD/PhD though, so it really helps to have no debt when making that decision. What are you doing your residency in?

Natalina: I''m excited to have so many nice people with due dates close to mine! Are you starting to feel pregnant yet? I definitely don''t! Good luck at your appointment!