The Official TTC Thread!

[Hudson_Hawk]

BTW ladies, Walmart has Clearblue digitals, pack of 5 for $20. I thought it was a pretty good price.

 

[AllieLuv83]

Hudsonon your month that was like mine did you get AF at the regular time or later than usual? I just assumed that if AF came the right time it would simply mean that I am crazy whack job and just imagined everything and if it doesn''t come by CD31 then I will start to wonder. But this would lead me to believe that if it doesn''t come by CD31 even if I am not preggy then it should come by CD37 (O at CD22+15dayLP)?

 

[Bliss]

I have a random question:
Why in some tests for FRER or whatever, do the lines become blotchy/mottled?

Sometimes they are nice and even, other times the lines are all ragged/smeary/uneven? Some parts of the line are darker than others, they are mottled or even wavy...anyone experience this?

Just weird.

Wondering if anyone knew. Maybe bc of the m/c I have some extra wonky hormones that are throwing it off!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I got AF two weeks late. 14 days exactly in fact.

 

[AllieLuv83]

By the way here is my chart sans the temps from the middle of the month because I was away!

 

[AllieLuv83]

Date: 1/7/2010 1:56:59 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
I got AF two weeks late. 14 days exactly in fact.

Yes that is what I thought would happened as well but I guess I have a few days left to wait and see. What do you think of my chart?

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Bliss, no idea...maybe your urine was more diluted one day and less the next?

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

In a word? wonky.

I just reactivated my FF account. I'm going to start charting/temping this coming cycle if AF shows.

 

[AllieLuv83]

It almost looks like my body tried to ovulate at its regular time and then it hesitated and then maybe sometime in between tried to ovulate again! Oh I don''t know! I am so impatient. Obviously if I o''d late there is no way I would get a positive this early on.

 

[Bliss]

Allie, that looks promising! Hoping for you! Baby dust.

Hudson... awww, I''m so sorry about AF. Do you think you may have had a chemical pregnancy that was too early to register? (HUGS) I know how disappointing it can be to get AF. It sounds like you might have been pregnant for a short time? If so, that is really good news for the next time. (HUGS)

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I don''t have AF now! I''m waiting for her, she''s due early next week. That was in November/December''s cycle...

 

[meresal]

So price and strength. Thanks for answering ladies!

Bliss- I think that HH was answering a previous question at the top of the page from Allie... not referring to the current time. Still hoping for this one!!!

 

[Bliss]

OH THANK GOD!!!

Because I was really really puzzled!!!!! It sounded current!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whew. I was all confused because from all accounts, I really feel like you're pregnant!

Heehee. Thanks for clearing that up, HH and Mere!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Hey Lanie-

I think I'm just going to not test and wait and see if AF comes on the 17th...Even though we BD almost everyother day from CD6-CD17 (and this was our first cycle actually trying) this cycle feels kind of I don't know...ho-hum...I didn't see any EWCF, but seemed to have tons of watery CF (either that or I am peeing on myself all throughout the day, but I seriously doubt that

) We'll see what happens in the next few days.

The past two cycles from about CD 17-CD24 I felt really strange (my boobs got noticeably larger--about 1 cup size!!!-and really sore, I was gassy like no man's business, slightly nauseous, exhausted, and had sme cramping.) The first time it happened I took a pregnancy test, it came up positive after the time was up but the control line never came up. I went to the Dr. their urine test came back negative, I had a UTI, and I got my period on schedule (maybe one day late...).

Last month the same thing happened, but I took three tests and all came back neg, plus my period came on time...

This month we're actually "trying" and I'm kind of tired of stressing. So, I'm going to save my $10 and see if AF shoes up...(let's see if I change my story next week

)

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Hi ladies!

Guess what? It''s SNOWING here! (I know, not a big deal to northeners, but HUGE to us here!!) Very exciting, work was cancelled due to inclement weather, and my Paul''s off too! The rest of today and tomorrow! Whoop! Long weekend with fires and roasted marshmellows, here we come! And one of the best parts: I''m feeling much better and will be able to enjoy it. Yipppee! Tonight I''m making chili.... life is good.

Last night was weird, I was feeling better and then I got hungry and then I felt pukey. Eh, I guess it may still be lingering a little, perhaps. And I still have the sniffles, but that''s no biggie. Yay! I''m better!!

Allie, I won''t be testing. I stopped doing that, gosh, I don''t know how long ago. It really consumed me with anxiety and so now, I don''t know how I''ll really know when I am pregnant. Probably not until I''m really, really, really late. My luteal phase is kind of weird in that it changes (which the "books" say it shouldn''t do, but my dr. said not to worry about it since it only varies from a couple days... anywhere from 13 to 16. One time it went beyond that, and I wasn''t pregnant, or at least I wasn''t pregnant with a baby that lasted long (at all). So, yeah.... If I''ve not started a new cycle by our anniversary, I''ll probably test then. That would be considerably late.

Meresal, For me, it''s about the cost and then also the absolute of seeing "negative" blasted right in your face. For so many TTCers, so many things can be so negative (when our spirits are down, etc.) that seeing a word plastered there pointing right at you, that it''s easier to use the lines until you feel confident (or somewhat confident, or if you''ve seen negatives so long, you really can''t believe you saw two lines or a plus this time, for real

) that you''ll see *good* news splashed across the readout. At least those are the factors for me.

 

[Lanie]

Date: 1/7/2010 1:58:02 PM
Author: AllieLuv83

Date: 1/7/2010 1:56:59 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
I got AF two weeks late. 14 days exactly in fact.

Yes that is what I thought would happened as well but I guess I have a few days left to wait and see. What do you think of my chart?

Allie, I''m no chart expert by any means, but I think it''s pretty hard to tell with that big of a gap. They advise to look at the overall picture, and a couple of highs and lows that are out of range are normal and should be taken with a grain of salt. BUT a temp rise this late in the game is promising! If your cycle is usually like clockwork and you are expecting AF pretty soon, then that would raise my eyebrows. Good luck!!!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Date: 1/7/2010 5:13:25 PM
Author: Lanie

Date: 1/7/2010 1:58:02 PM
Author: AllieLuv83

Date: 1/7/2010 1:56:59 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
I got AF two weeks late. 14 days exactly in fact.

Yes that is what I thought would happened as well but I guess I have a few days left to wait and see. What do you think of my chart?

Allie, I'm no chart expert by any means, but I think it's pretty hard to tell with that big of a gap. They advise to look at the overall picture, and a couple of highs and lows that are out of range are normal and should be taken with a grain of salt. BUT a temp rise this late in the game is promising! If your cycle is usually like clockwork and you are expecting AF pretty soon, then that would raise my eyebrows. Good luck!!!

I agree with Lanie; based on the chart, there is no way to know when you ovulated, due to the gap in the temping. You could have ovulated after the first set of fertile CM, or you could have just recently ovulated after the second set of fertile CM and you're just now getting the temp rise on your chart. No way of knowing. Even very regular cycled women will have times when they ovulate late (lots of times this happens when traveling, or when stressed, dealing with something out of the ordinary, ie--holidays), so if you do test in a bit, don't be heartbroken just yet... you may be testing too early.

Not trying to be a downer, but simply trying to prevent heartache that I had when my charts did this same stuff.... golly how my body would gear up and up and up before the itty bitty egg would finally drop!!

 

[AllieLuv83]

Thank you ladies I am honestly not getting my hopes up! In my mind the odds are so slim. Although it would be awesome and I am kicking myself in the tushy for not keeping up with the temping. I will definitely keep you posted. I am gearing myself for AF (hope for the best but expect the worst!)

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Date: 1/7/2010 6:03:40 PM
Author: AllieLuv83
Thank you ladies I am honestly not getting my hopes up! In my mind the odds are so slim. Although it would be awesome and I am kicking myself in the tushy for not keeping up with the temping. I will definitely keep you posted. I am gearing myself for AF (hope for the best but expect the worst!)

You know, if that second set of CM was your ovulation, you had great timing.

(Our chances this cycle are kinda "off" too, based on us being on vacation over Christmas and not free to just baby dance on a whim. Like you, I hope for the best!!)

 

[AllieLuv83]

I am hoping for the best for you and your DH too Fisher...and to all the other ladies hoping and praying for a 2010 miracle!

 

[icekid]

Date: 1/7/2010 12:46:19 PM
Author: Lanie
Bella, Icekid, Fisher -- when do y''all test?

Well, that is not yet decided, though I did buy a couple FRER yesterday. I am on call Saturday this weekend, which may ruin my chance for Sunday (10ish DPO) FMU

And testing on a workday when I get up at 5 am and rush out the door sounds less than ideal. So perhaps the best idea is to just wait it out?! My LP is predictably 14 days. Of course, this is the first time we''ve remotely tried so who knows if I''ll actually have the patience to wait for AF one way or another.

HH- Still hoping for you!

Fishie- Enjoy your snow! Having grown up in Buffalo, I''m much happier to NOT see the white stuff

 

[Bella_mezzo]

I''m right there with you icekid

Fingers crossed...

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Ice,

I don''t think I''d like snow nearly as much if it happened often enough that the world didn''t STOP when it starts to fall. And then stick. I love that. And, I love having the day off tomorrow and knowing Paul does, too. All because of this pretty white covering that''s formed on the landscape. What a lucky deal!

So, none of us except Hudson are testing?

Talk about a way to draw out suspense.

(Bliss, are you holding on to your 4, or do you wanna downgrade back to 3?)

 

[icekid]

Date: 1/7/2010 7:23:49 PM
Author: fisherofmengirly


(Bliss, are you holding on to your 4, or do you wanna downgrade back to 3?)

hehe.. no pressure bliss!!

Fisher- It''s true, the snow is so pretty when you don''t see it much. I like it too, when I don''t have to walk in it

Bella- yay for us patient girls.... (hehe, we''ll see

)

 

[lili]

icekid--
i knew i missed someone.
hope you get your BFP soon too.

fisher--
thanks.
i try to pop in and check on you ladies and hope to see some good news.
to answer your question, it is just as stressful the second time around when you don''t get your bfp after 3 cycles.
i think i''m more worried w/ this time though just because w/ the first i had my suspicion that there was something wrong w/ my pipe which the dr was able to rectify it w/ a lap.
w/ this one, it''s falling into the unexplained category.

 

[Bliss]

Fisher!

I am holding to my 4! There may be a rash of BFPs at the end of the month! You could tip my scales!

I shan't surrender!!!! Heehee.

On another note, Fisher: I really loved the book Conquering Infertility. It had some interesting points that you can get without reading the book. It mainly focused on how stress can hurt infertility - and gave great tips and exercises on how to relaaaaax. Ahhhh. I know, easier said than done! It had valuable mind-body exercises, which you can get online for free.

The other interesting thing is, she recommended cutting ALL caffeine BEFORE TTC.

And she recommended no alcohol before TTC! Not that we're drinkers, but even a month or so before TTC! I know it sounds silly because so many drinkers conceive with no problems. Anyway, that was surprising!

She also addressed how easy it can be to totally get so obsessed with baby making that you let life pass you by. That hit home for me because last night I was thinking about how lucky I am...and I'm ignoring all of these gifts and letting my life pass me by as time stands still in my baby focused world. So when the baby thoughts creep into my head, I am now gently guiding my mind back to something else. How full I am and how I have everything I have ever wanted. A baby's just another blessing on top. And I'm trying to let go and let God. You know? That in itself helps the stress melt away. Ahhhhhh...

So my takeaway was to continue doing all the fun stuff I love, to continue enjoying DH, family and our friends... to enjoy the city I live in, my career and all the great things in my life. I didn't want to be like the women she described in the book - the ones who risked their marriages and hurt themselves by being in that frozen time/space area. In the end, she said some women forgot who they were in the end. Of course, we're nowhere near that and no one is here...but it's a healthy reminder of what could be.

That was about it! She had a lot of stories from her patients and gave lots of great advice on how to navigate the maze of IVF, IUI, GIFT and ZIFT. It was really interesting to read. She also addressed secondary infertility and how that can be even harder because of the lack of support. It was a great read. I wish I didn't have it on my Kindle otherwise I'd send it right over!

 

[icekid]

lili- Hoping for a BPF soon for you, too! This world could certainly use another kiddo who is as spunky and gorgeous as your little J! Love seeing your avatar over here

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Lili,

I will certainly add you to my list of those I''m praying for to have a big positive soon! Have you been trying a long time, long enough to fall under "unexplained" already? Do they still give you the year of trying to hit that label, or does it come sooner if you''ve conceived once before? I''m thinking good thoughts for you! Your little one is adorable and I bet she''d love to be a big sibling!!

***
Bliss,

That sounds like a fabulous book. If only we could daily, hourly, minutely (I love to make up words) live the mantra of letting go and letting God, huh? I have such a hard time with that phrase.... I mean, does it mean, don''t try or think about anything and just "let it be," or does it mean pray, do your part in the "effort," and then faithfully wait for God''s timing for the rest of it? I don''t mean only in the world of TTC, I have wondered this for a good many years, in so many areas of my life. When am I trying too hard, not having enough faith because I''m trying to do it on my own, when am I trying too little, resting on faith when I know God calls us to *do* and have actions? Sigh. I wish you were on FB; it''d be fun to chat about this stuff.... By the way, that whole line of thought is really what led me feel so confused over the clomid.... and since I just didn''t have any peace on it, I stopped. And I do feel better now. Weird. But true.

I recently read a book about "breaking through worry;" it helped me *so* much, same basic info that it seems the book you''ve read entails.... releasing what you can''t control, keeping the positive of your life at the forefront.... (and it''s funny how much we forget our lives ROCK when all our minds can wrap around is the desire to rock a little baby in our arms...), relaxing, taking steps back when you feel yourself starting to worry, etc. It wasn''t about fertility/babies because I thought at the time that having a specific topic on babies would be really emotional for me. October was a VERY hard month for me. I think I could handle I book on the specific topic now.

I will add that I''ve been praying for you, too, and am so glad to see your spirit strengthening... I''m also so glad that you have a husband and a faith to see you through this. Greater things are yet to come, my friend. Have you heard that song? I adore it!!

Haha, you''re right... the scales need to be tipped.... I bet you do get your 4 this month. Know why? Cause 2010 is gonna ROCK!!!

 

[noelwr]

b] to take her test today>

I even buried the chicken''s head next to the egg on the blue moon on the 7th month of the meteor shower for you... which coincidentally was just a second ago...

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Sorry hun, I decided not to test today, I''m waiting to see if AF shows up instead. I had no issues yesterday other than being bloated but that''s clearly from the PNV that have me backed up to last Tuesday.