New TTC Thread

[Off2Nvrlnd]

I have heard that you can BD too much if there is a case where your partner already has a low sperm count, but that if he has a regular sperm count, then there's no problem... Just what I have read, but I'm no specialist.

I have read the same thing in different books. I also read to try to bd every other day if you are not sure of when you are ovulating.

 

[helenabear]

Diana, I have used both Clear Blue Easy and EPT digital tests. I liked them both. I say call your OB/GYN right now and see when they want to see you. Mine like to have you call right away and then depending on your history, they'll schedule your first appts. Oh and quit reading about the bad stuff now I had to do that myself because I kept scaring myself.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

There are quite a few digitals out there. I know that EPT and Clear Blue Easy make them. I think you might even be able to get a store brand one but I'm not 100% sure.

I made my appt. a few days after I got my BFP. My clinic didn't see me till I was right at 10 weeks along though but I scheduled it right away. If you have a history of miscarriage or a medical reason then they may schedule you a lot earlier than that. Good luck!

 

[Off2Nvrlnd]

Do you have a history of ectopic pregnancy or multiple miscarriages? If so, insist on being seen soon - they will want to monitor you. If you are concerned, you might ask for a blood test to confirm, and they might do that in a lab appoinment without seeing a doctor. Some doctors' offices don't want to see you until 6-8 weeks, some do - it all depends.

Denae

No history of these things, just paranoia. It's been so long since my first baby, I don't quite remember how these things work. DS was unplanned and I didn't know I was pregnant until almost 2 months later. Thought I had a horrible flu that wouldn't go away

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

__________________

 

[skuttle]

I think I'm going to pull my hair out this month! I decided to do OPK and my temps and it's driving me nuts!! I'm having a hard time matching the two!!

My base line temp is normally around 97.1-97.2. I didn't start temping until CD14, where my temp was up to 97.6. Then, the next day, it jumped to 98.1, which is normally where I stay after O. But then, the following day, on CD16, it dropped to 97.6 again. Since then it has risen and today, on CD18, it's 98.2. Which sounds more like my pattern since I usually O late.

I took my first OPK on CD14 and it was negative. I thought on CD15 I had a postive, but it wasn't until I saw the OPK on CD16 and 17 that I realized CD15 probably really wasn't a positive. I don't think I got a postive OPK until CD16 and CD17. THat seems in line with my past cycles where I used OPKs. But, it seems odd that I would get a positive OPK yesterday, but then today my temp spikes to show that O occurred?? Unless I caught yesterday's LH surge at the very end.

Ugh...I should have just stuck to the OPK's!! Our BDing has been good this month, I'm just not sure when to consider O.

Okay, I think I've made a confusing enough post for first thing in the morning!

Hope everyone has a great day!!

 

[allie_to_you]

For those who are going the IUI route, has anyone had to use donor sperm? If so, did your fertility clinic have it there or did you have to go through an outside resource. My fertility clinic gave us 4 websites of places they use, but there is so much information to go through and though they give you lots of opportunities to pick the donor you want, It seems very hard to decide on someone. Also, it's definitely more expensive than I figured it would be.


I was supposed to go back to the doctor at the end of the month for blood tests and for them to check my progesterone levels. The doc took me off my birth control last Friday and assumed I'd start my period 2 days after coming off the ring, but so far, I haven't started (I didn't figure I would since I'm so irregular) but now I am going to have to postpone my visit again because he wanted me to come in 22 days after I started.

It's getting very frustrating.

 

[isyne4u]

I used donor sperm for my 3 year old and I just did again on monday.

I went through Cryolabs out of Fairfax, VA. When I ordered my specimen the first time it was before they were online (1996) so I had a paper catalog. But I sat down and went through looking for the traits I most wanted to match me (as I was doing this as a single woman). So I looked for a caucasion, with brown hair, blue eyes and then from there i looked at other individual traits. I choose a couple and got bios on them and then finally narrowed it down to the one I ultimately ordered. I now have a wonderful little boy (he's the tow head in my avatar...but the hair is finally turning brown! LOL!)

It is a lot of information to process and it can't be done quickly. And it is expensive. My last order of two specimens was over $700 but I figure for what I'm getting out of it is way better than what I would have spent that money on! LOL!

Look at the time you are taking to start your period as time to look through the catalogs and decide what you and your husband want.

Don't get frustrated!!!

Good luck!!!
tara

 

[TrueEeyore]

I think I'm going to pull my hair out this month! I decided to do OPK and my temps and it's driving me nuts!! I'm having a hard time matching the two!!

My base line temp is normally around 97.1-97.2. I didn't start temping until CD14, where my temp was up to 97.6. Then, the next day, it jumped to 98.1, which is normally where I stay after O. But then, the following day, on CD16, it dropped to 97.6 again. Since then it has risen and today, on CD18, it's 98.2. Which sounds more like my pattern since I usually O late.

I took my first OPK on CD14 and it was negative. I thought on CD15 I had a postive, but it wasn't until I saw the OPK on CD16 and 17 that I realized CD15 probably really wasn't a positive. I don't think I got a postive OPK until CD16 and CD17. THat seems in line with my past cycles where I used OPKs. But, it seems odd that I would get a positive OPK yesterday, but then today my temp spikes to show that O occurred?? Unless I caught yesterday's LH surge at the very end.

Ugh...I should have just stuck to the OPK's!! Our BDing has been good this month, I'm just not sure when to consider O.

Okay, I think I've made a confusing enough post for first thing in the morning!

Hope everyone has a great day!!

Have you considered buying a fertility monitor? I recently bought the ClearBlue Easy Digital one. I've heard nothing but great things about this. It tells you the high days of fertility and the two peak days, so there's no guessing with temps and tests. I know you've been TTC for a long time, and this just might help. It's expensive, but I went to Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com and got the monitor, 30 test sticks for the monitor, 10 pregnancy tests, plus a sample of Pre-Seed for only $200. With free shipping!

Just giving you a suggestion

 

[CheshireVal]

I think I'm going to pull my hair out this month! I decided to do OPK and my temps and it's driving me nuts!! I'm having a hard time matching the two!!

My base line temp is normally around 97.1-97.2. I didn't start temping until CD14, where my temp was up to 97.6. Then, the next day, it jumped to 98.1, which is normally where I stay after O. But then, the following day, on CD16, it dropped to 97.6 again. Since then it has risen and today, on CD18, it's 98.2. Which sounds more like my pattern since I usually O late.

I took my first OPK on CD14 and it was negative. I thought on CD15 I had a postive, but it wasn't until I saw the OPK on CD16 and 17 that I realized CD15 probably really wasn't a positive. I don't think I got a postive OPK until CD16 and CD17. THat seems in line with my past cycles where I used OPKs. But, it seems odd that I would get a positive OPK yesterday, but then today my temp spikes to show that O occurred?? Unless I caught yesterday's LH surge at the very end.

Ugh...I should have just stuck to the OPK's!! Our BDing has been good this month, I'm just not sure when to consider O.

Okay, I think I've made a confusing enough post for first thing in the morning!

Hope everyone has a great day!!

I read in Taking Charge of Your Fertility that by the time your temp spikes, ovulation has probably already occured. So I would think count Day 16/17 as your O?


I've been charting for the past three cycles, and I'm having a weird problem with OPKs, too. My charts show a good reliable pattern of ovulation (though late, usually day 20-21 of a 33 day cycle), but every time I've tried OPKs, they're not showing that I'm ovulating at all during that time.

I'm going to assume that my charts are more accurate than the sticks, though, since I've been testing later in the day after I've had a lot of water and/or coffee.

 

[momsully]

Allison - I could never make the OPK work for me. I could not decide if the line was darker or not. I went with my temps and tended to ovulate around Day 17 or 18.

 

[skuttle]

This is the first time I've done the temps and the OPK's at the same time. I seem to O around the same time every month, but I'm just confused doing both together!! I don't think I'm doing this again!

I'm sure I"m not pregnant anyways. After trying for this long, I'm thinking it'll probably never happen just "naturally" for us or it would have happened by now!

 

[2MuchOhana]

Skuttle,

I have a Clear Plan Easy fertility monitor you can have if you want it. I went out and bought myself a new one last year. I never figured out what to do with the one. I don't think having two will double my chances. It's a lot less work and a lot less stress than temping.

The test strips I believe run about $50 for a 30 pack. Maybe more or maybe less depending on where you get them. They sell them at WalGreens which is where I also got mine from.

I tell you this thing works. Became pg with DD first try with it. Same result last year only I miscarried. Still could stand to lose some weight but bp is under control. Thinking of ttc either this month or next.

I would really like to see you graduate for this thread. I know you have been around too long because I am pretty sure you gave me words of encouragement after I miscarried last May.

PM if you are interested.

Jodi

 

[KiKi Mouse]

Forgive me if this is the wrong thread to be asking...but I don't have a clue where else to ask.
I had a miscarriage and my husband and I are having a hard time coping. There seems to be a lot of support on the internet for women but I can't find anything for men. Does anybody know of a site that DH can talk with other men who have been through this? I am worried about him as he is not sleeping and shutting down (not towards me or anything).
We have good family support but late at night maybe it would help to type it out in a forum where it is appropriate.
Thank you
I hope to join you all when we are ready to try again.
I wish you all good thoughts and our prayers as we know even more now how precious a baby is.
I look forward to reading your success stories.

 

[momsully]

I'm sure I"m not pregnant anyways. After trying for this long, I'm thinking it'll probably never happen just "naturally" for us or it would have happened by now!

Don't give up hope. I never thought it would happen for us naturally and it took a long time including a failed attempt at metformin and at clomid before we finally became pregnant. We had a chemical pregnancy two years before this pregnancy but that was it. Definately keep talking to your doctor. I don't remember when you were supposed to go back.

Kiki - Sorry for your loss. I don't know of any groups but maybe if you tried to google you could find something.

 

[skuttle]

Oh, Jodi, thanks so much for the offer. Very sweet of you. Trust me, I am SO ready to graduate, too!!

Kiki, I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm sure there has to be some site somewhere for men.

Momsully, thanks. I try to stay positive, but I've been in a slump the past couple of cycles. We started TTC in July 05, I had a chemical pregnancy in April 06, and then started Metformin in October or November of 07. I have one more refill left on my Metformin, so I'll be making another appt soon. My DH will be getting checked out over spring break. From there, I'm not sure where we'll go.

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

_________________

 

[Madaboutthemouse]

Had my baseline u/s today on CD3. Things looked okay so I'm clear to start Clomid today. Follow-up u/s is scheduled for St. Pat's day so hopefully we'll have a good follicle then! Of course, DH is supposed to go out of town the day after and he won't be back until late Wednesday night so timing could be tricky. We'll keep our fingers crossed I guess.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Allison - I can't tell you anything about the OPKs, never used them. But keep your chin up - hopefully at the next doc's appointment, they'll have something else for you to try.

 

[vetrik]

Oh, Jodi, thanks so much for the offer. Very sweet of you. Trust me, I am SO ready to graduate, too!!

Kiki, I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm sure there has to be some site somewhere for men.

Momsully, thanks. I try to stay positive, but I've been in a slump the past couple of cycles. We started TTC in July 05, I had a chemical pregnancy in April 06, and then started Metformin in October or November of 07. I have one more refill left on my Metformin, so I'll be making another appt soon. My DH will be getting checked out over spring break. From there, I'm not sure where we'll go.

I've been following your story too, and I just wanted to say that you should definitely not give up. Has your DH ever been checked before? You never know what could happen.

I have a friend who got pregnant with her 1st after only trying a couple months. 2 1/2 years ago, they decided to start trying for their second, figuring they wouldn't have any problems since everything went so smoothly with their first. They tried for well over a year, and then she was finally referred to a fertility specialist. She went through all sorts of testing, tried Clomid, etc for months with no luck. Finally, her DH got tested, and it turned out that he had an extremely low sperm count. The doctors said it was a complete fluke that she got pregnant so easily the first time!

It ended up that he was able to provide a sample, they did some procedure where they washed the sperm, and then she received an IUI. It worked for them on the first try, and she's due in June (along with almost everyone else I know - this friend, my brother's girlfriend, and 2 coworkers are all due sometime between June 20-25th).

Well, the time is getting much closer for us to start trying - we're planning to start in May. I'm on the ring for birth control, and I'm still using it (although I'm getting very tired of it - I really want to just stop). My doctor said I could take it out and just not put a new one back in whenever we were ready. I'm wondering if maybe I should stop now so I'll have an idea of what my cycle is like without the hormonal influence.