Home The Official TTC Thread!

[february2003bride]

Ebree- I bet your doctor takes that into consideration and knows how much to add or subtract to get your right number?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 8/26/2008 9:01:03 PM
Author: lovelylulu
just a quick drive by from the ocean:

LittleL:

I just knew it

so many congratulations!

amber: hope that everything's getting better with your family!

nyc:

to AFF

welcome and good luck to all the new TCCer's

As for me, that no good, dirty, AFF showed up this evening, and on my vacation no less. it's disappointing, certainly, but i am a bit concerned that i may actually have a progesterone issue. my internet gumshoeing seems to confirm my suspicions/fears, but as i'm no doctor i'll put in a call to see what the heck's going on. basically to recap, i've had spotting beginning a week before AFF, lasting up until AFF for the last two cycles and a few more before that. i didn't think anything of it until the go-around i started typing in my pattern and low progesterone seems to pop up.

boo.

LULU I am so sorry, about AFF and about having to worry about progesterone. It is an easy fix, and will proabbly involve Clomid since it also increases progesterone (there is some debate over whether or not the suppositories/shots actually work or not, apparently). Get thee to a doctor this cycle and get it tested! Better to know than worry, I think.

 

[ljmorgan]

So I know that I recently posted a sort of self-pity party about how I was out this cycle buuuuuut.....

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Today I got a BFP! Actually I got 4 of them, if you count all of the tests I took afterward in disbelief! Actually, I am pretty sure the husband must be tired of "I just can''t believe it!!" My cycles are very irregular and long, which makes it really difficult to time things. In fact, I was using OPKs (cheap internet ones) and never really got a clear positive. I started having light cramping Saturday, a little spotting Sunday, and I was sure AF was on the way. After Sunday I had no more bleeding, and I have been having light cramping every day since which I thought was odd.

This morning I took a cheapie internet ovulation test and it was positive, which surprised me getting such a strong positive in the AM, as OPKs show better in the afternoon. Well I took another OPK in the afternoon and it was negative, and thought UGH what the heck! Well as a lot of you know, LH tests can pick up HGC... which is stronger in the morning

After I got off of work I decided I was going to get ovulation tests that actually WORK, so I picked up some Clear Blue Easy digital OPKs that had a free pregnancy test thrown it. I really had to pee and so on the way out of the store I figured what the heck, I''d take it. I sat in the stall waiting for the digital to show up and was like "forget it, I don''t know why I''m waiting, I know it''s negative" so I threw it in my purse and went out to my car. Once inside I pulled out the test and was SHOCKED to see a positive.

Tonight I took three more tests, all positive. The internet cheapie HGC tests were awful for me -- I tested with that too, and it was the faintest line ever... but the digital CBE and Firt Response tests were no problem. In fact I ACTUALLY got a BFP yesterday with an internet cheapie and didn''t know it. I never saw the line yesterday, and tossed it after like 2 minutes. Today I realized that the lines are super faint -- I checked the one from yesterday, and sure enough it had been a positive.

I have no clue when I O''d, but I either conceived 15 days ago or 10 days ago, so I am thinking it was 15 days ago considering ALL of the tests have been positive, even at night??? Anyway I just want to thank everyone here for the support, and please send sticky vibes my way. I was always worried I couldn''t get pregnant with my crazy cycles, and now I don''t even believe all of the tests I''ve taken tonight!

 

[february2003bride]

Lindsey-

OMGOMGOMG!! Congratulations!!! How are you feeling?

Ugh about the internet tests though! What a waste of money!

I have about 10 more left and all of mine have been negative.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Lindsay what a great story! LOL! Congrats

And may I be the first to say Jerkstore!!!

 

[littlelysser]

Lulu - Thanks for the kind words! Please enjoy the ocean!!! Like DD said, it is an easy fix, so try not to worry TOO much! But get it checked out for sure! But enjoy your vacation!!!

Ebree - I''ll be thinking of you tomorrow! Good luck with the test...I''m sure your doc will know how to account for the clomid! Please check in ASAP!!!

And CONGRATS LINDSEY! Your stay on the TTC board sure was short! EXCITING STUFFS!!!! Many sticky vibes going your way!!!

Amber - I hope you are alright!!!!

 

[HOUMedGal]

Yaaaay! Congrats, Lindsey!!

Sending mucho sticky vibes your way!!

So I picked up a copy of TCOYF today at B&N....I''m excited to start reading it! Also, hubs and I talked last night and agreed on the plan to stop BC in March of ''09 and start trying in earnest in June or so. eeeeeek! sooooo exciting!

Good luck and baby dust to all who are knitting/POASing right now!!

 

[dani13]

Congrats to you and your hubby, Lindsey!!!! How very exciting!!!!!

 

[happy in love]

Congratulations Lindsey! Jerkstore

I''m glad your stay here was short and sweet!

 

[oobiecoo]

Hi everyone! Some of you may remember my posts from a couple of months ago about considering having children while I''m still in college. I received a lot of negative replies and just a couple of positive stories. DH and I have discussed (at great length) the possibility of trying, our budget, childcare, insurance and all of that... and it seems that we have decided that we are ready to start TTC!

I know that this isn''t the best option for everyone and that it will be a little more stressful because I am in college. But we do have his parents who live nearby for possible help, we can afford daycare or a part-time nanny, and I have very few classes left to take. It is important to both of us that I finish my degree so quitting is not an option for me (no matter how hard it gets with a child), especially since I have so few classes left (about 10).


I really hope that I can find support in this thread!

 

[robbie3982]

Congrats, Lindsey!!! That''s so exciting! Sabine and I were just saying to each other yesterday that we had to have at least one more jerkstore this round of testing! (I hope we have more than that though!) Yay you!

Houmedgal, how exciting that you have a timeline! I know that really helped me when we first started talking about it.

Welcome, oobiecoo! It sounds like you and DH have made an informed decision, so I hope your stay is short!

 

[tiffanytwisted]

Congrats Lindsey!! The fact that you suspected it from an OPK is funny.

Oobiecoo- Welcome and good luck. It sounds like you made an informed decision weighing all pros and cons. I don''t remember your previous thread but I don''t think anyone on this thread is going to judge you. We are all at different stages of our lives while TTC and we''re here to support each other.

 

[ljmorgan]

Thanks to everyone for all of the well wishes! And I am very excited to be a Jerkstore

I am keeping my fingers crossed for more BFPs this round of testing! I think that this thread has some magic baby dust going on!

 

[ljmorgan]

HOUMedGal, TCOYF is SUCH a great book -- I really thought it was one of the most interesting books I''ve ever read. Actually, a book has never made me feel dumber, since there was SO much I didn''t know. It''s a really cool experience! I hope you enjoy the book and learn tons!

 

[ljmorgan]

february2003bride no kidding about those internet tests! I did buy them because they''re obviously a lot cheaper than the store ones, but I also thought for whatever reason that they were more sensitive. I may be one of those rare women OPKs don''t work for, but I have definitely gotten a positive OPK from store tests. Plus I got several positives from those digital preggo tests which I read ar technically a bit less sensitive than the internet strips, meanwhile I couldn''t even tell from the internet strips that they were positive. I hope someone else has better luck with them than I did!

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 8/26/2008 4:20:48 PM
Author: littlelysser
Hey ladies.

Amber - Buddy...We are thinking about you. I hope things are alright...

Feb - You are still early!!!

NYC - I''m sorry. I agree with Pandora! Have an unpasturized cheese and sushi party!

AM - I had water7 CM like CRAZY this cycle (and still do actually)...so it might not be a bad thing. My luteal phase was short as well. My cycle before my BFP cycle was only 25 days. And I tend to ovulate around day 15 or 16...So it was short.

Pandora - Yay for getting off the meds. I called my GP when we were TTC and she suggested I ween myself off my happy pills...(i was on a small dose of celexa)...and I have. I''ve been off them for two months now...So I''m glad about that. Did you ask your doc about the best way to taper down?

Robbie and Fisher - I''m sorry you guys are still under the weather. That stinks.

BB - I''m thinking good thoughts for you!!!!! And I totally understand...my guess would be that if you have a weirdo symptom that you haven''t noticed before...and you''ve been TTC for a bit, and therefore noticing EVERY single symptom, the sore (*)(*) is probably something new, ya know???

Mela - Have a WONDERFUL trip!!!!!

Also, LOL at the hoochie coochie thermometer discussion. I''d keep it by the nightstand. If someone is digging around in your nightstand and finds it and uses it...well, that is the penalty for being a SNOOPER! hehee.

Funnily enough

, like all my projects, I''m about as expert on my illness as my consultant is. My GP asked me to go away and research my meds and safety in pregnancy as he knew I''d leave no stone unturned.

When I first went on them they wanted me to titrate up in bigger doses and closer together. I''d read a lot of the US research papers and went up at half the dose and over double the time and had no problems at all (going up too quickly can trigger Steven Johnson''s Syndrome which can be fatal) unlike a lot of their other patients who had to stop due to side effects (my consultant is now trying it out my way with people.)

So, I tapered it down myself - just worked out the amount of time it stays in your system and worked on that. My only worry is if I don''t get PG for ages and end up having an episode - I''m manic depressive - which would not be fun. I''d come off them altogether, but I also use them for nerve-pain in my legs and back as they cut down the amount of opiates I have to take by a massive degree. I can stay on the opiates as they''re safe for use, but the quantities I was on before I started the anti-epileptic would have meant that they would be treating any eventual baby like a heroin addicts - not so good. So, I''m just juggling things so that I can walk and have a normalish life and that any potential child will have the best start I can manage to provide.

I''m just fortunate that all my consultants and GP are hugely supportive of my TTC and of any decisions that I want to take regarding my meds.


Congratulations on getting of the happy meds - it takes quite a bit of psychological courage to stop them. I''m presuming that you are aware (and your doctors) that you will have a slight increased risk of PND?

 

[Pandora II]

Yay Lindsay!

PS May baby number two!

Congratulations!!!!!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Yay, Lindsey!

Congratulations to you! How cute that you couldn't wait and took the test in the bathroom at the store!!

Your story gives me hope; I have crazy odd cycles and I get worried that it's going to be a LONG road for us...

May babies already... wow!

I'm going to try going back to work today. We'll see if I make it through the whole day.

Welcome, Ob. I hope your stay's short.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 8/27/2008 1:41:03 AM
Author: oobiecoo
Hi everyone! Some of you may remember my posts from a couple of months ago about considering having children while I''m still in college. I received a lot of negative replies and just a couple of positive stories. DH and I have discussed (at great length) the possibility of trying, our budget, childcare, insurance and all of that... and it seems that we have decided that we are ready to start TTC!

I know that this isn''t the best option for everyone and that it will be a little more stressful because I am in college. But we do have his parents who live nearby for possible help, we can afford daycare or a part-time nanny, and I have very few classes left to take. It is important to both of us that I finish my degree so quitting is not an option for me (no matter how hard it gets with a child), especially since I have so few classes left (about 10).


I really hope that I can find support in this thread!

Oobie only you can decide when you want to have kids. There''s always SOMETHING that makes it harder... there is never a perfect time! JBut there sure is the time you really WANT to, and it sounds like you are there

I am a university professor and have had many many *mature* students in my classes who have kids and they have always done well... many profs will give you special considerations (extensions on assignments etc) if you talke to them about yiour situation. Good luck!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 8/27/2008 7:05:15 AM
Author: Pandora II

Date: 8/26/2008 4:20:48 PM
Author: littlelysser
Hey ladies.

Amber - Buddy...We are thinking about you. I hope things are alright...

Feb - You are still early!!!

NYC - I''m sorry. I agree with Pandora! Have an unpasturized cheese and sushi party!

AM - I had water7 CM like CRAZY this cycle (and still do actually)...so it might not be a bad thing. My luteal phase was short as well. My cycle before my BFP cycle was only 25 days. And I tend to ovulate around day 15 or 16...So it was short.

Pandora - Yay for getting off the meds. I called my GP when we were TTC and she suggested I ween myself off my happy pills...(i was on a small dose of celexa)...and I have. I''ve been off them for two months now...So I''m glad about that. Did you ask your doc about the best way to taper down?

Robbie and Fisher - I''m sorry you guys are still under the weather. That stinks.

BB - I''m thinking good thoughts for you!!!!! And I totally understand...my guess would be that if you have a weirdo symptom that you haven''t noticed before...and you''ve been TTC for a bit, and therefore noticing EVERY single symptom, the sore (*)(*) is probably something new, ya know???

Mela - Have a WONDERFUL trip!!!!!

Also, LOL at the hoochie coochie thermometer discussion. I''d keep it by the nightstand. If someone is digging around in your nightstand and finds it and uses it...well, that is the penalty for being a SNOOPER! hehee.

Funnily enough

, like all my projects, I''m about as expert on my illness as my consultant is. My GP asked me to go away and research my meds and safety in pregnancy as he knew I''d leave no stone unturned.

When I first went on them they wanted me to titrate up in bigger doses and closer together. I''d read a lot of the US research papers and went up at half the dose and over double the time and had no problems at all (going up too quickly can trigger Steven Johnson''s Syndrome which can be fatal) unlike a lot of their other patients who had to stop due to side effects (my consultant is now trying it out my way with people.)

So, I tapered it down myself - just worked out the amount of time it stays in your system and worked on that. My only worry is if I don''t get PG for ages and end up having an episode - I''m manic depressive - which would not be fun. I''d come off them altogether, but I also use them for nerve-pain in my legs and back as they cut down the amount of opiates I have to take by a massive degree. I can stay on the opiates as they''re safe for use, but the quantities I was on before I started the anti-epileptic would have meant that they would be treating any eventual baby like a heroin addicts - not so good. So, I''m just juggling things so that I can walk and have a normalish life and that any potential child will have the best start I can manage to provide.

I''m just fortunate that all my consultants and GP are hugely supportive of my TTC and of any decisions that I want to take regarding my meds.


Congratulations on getting of the happy meds - it takes quite a bit of psychological courage to stop them. I''m presuming that you are aware (and your doctors) that you will have a slight increased risk of PND?

Pandora it seems like you are doing everything you can to balance the need to take care of yourself and your future child! I''m just curious, does pregnancy tend to help or exacerbate bipolar (as we call it oven here) symptoms? I could imagine it going either way...

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 8/27/2008 7:56:12 AM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Pandora it seems like you are doing everything you can to balance the need to take care of yourself and your future child! I'm just curious, does pregnancy tend to help or exacerbate bipolar (as we call it oven here) symptoms? I could imagine it going either way...

It tends to help during pregnancy - most people don't have any episodes.

BUT, you have a 70% chance of PND and a much higher risk of a full blown psychotic manic episode (I only have hypomania so I'd like to avoid that one please!

). So they will be upping the meds again straight after birth and they will send someone round to see me everyday for at least the first month and possibly longer to make sure that I am okay and coping.

If I'm having problems they have a huge support network who come in and help - sleep deprivation is a huge trigger for mania, so they will often arrange a baby sitter for you so that you can get some sleep. They also provide support to your partner.

I'm so lucky to live in London and in an area with top-notch mental health facilities. Also to be fully aware of the risks.


DH was worried about whether we should have kids at all because of it - I have a strong family history of bipolar type II, and his father has very severe bipolar type I, so the genetics aren't great. I talked it over with my psychiatrist and he said I shouldn't worry at all and of course we should go ahead and have children.

 

[radiantgirl]

Lindsey - Congrats on your BFP!!!

Hope you have a healthy and happy 9 months!!!

HOUMedGal - You''ll have so much fun reading TCOYF and learn so much. I still refer to mine every now and then. Sounds like you and your hubby have a plan going there.

oobiecoo - Welcome and hope your stay is is short.

fisher - Glad you are feeling better.

 

[Pandora II]

I was thinking about ways to tell DH if I eventually get that BFP.

He''s not the sort who would appreciate a POAS test with a big bow on, and since we''ve already picked names a Baby Name book is out.

Is there a ''Father''s Guide'' or similar out there?

How do you all plan to tell the expectant daddy? Or those of you that are PG, how did you tell them?

 

[msb700]

congratulation lindsey

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 8/27/2008 8:29:24 AM
Author: Pandora II

Date: 8/27/2008 7:56:12 AM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Pandora it seems like you are doing everything you can to balance the need to take care of yourself and your future child! I''m just curious, does pregnancy tend to help or exacerbate bipolar (as we call it oven here) symptoms? I could imagine it going either way...

It tends to help during pregnancy - most people don''t have any episodes.

BUT, you have a 70% chance of PND and a much higher risk of a full blown psychotic manic episode (I only have hypomania so I''d like to avoid that one please!

). So they will be upping the meds again straight after birth and they will send someone round to see me everyday for at least the first month and possibly longer to make sure that I am okay and coping.

If I''m having problems they have a huge support network who come in and help - sleep deprivation is a huge trigger for mania, so they will often arrange a baby sitter for you so that you can get some sleep. They also provide support to your partner.

I''m so lucky to live in London and in an area with top-notch mental health facilities. Also to be fully aware of the risks.


DH was worried about whether we should have kids at all because of it - I have a strong family history of bipolar type II, and his father has very severe bipolar type I, so the genetics aren''t great. I talked it over with my psychiatrist and he said I shouldn''t worry at all and of course we should go ahead and have children.

Those are awesome support systems, I don''t think we have it so good in my area of Canada, though I have been surprised at the supports that are available for all types of issues if you know to look for them... and that is the hard part, I guess, because not everyone is a research-savvy as you are and so they don''t know to look for the help! And of course, many people who have bipolar or other mental health concerns haven''t found the right combination of meds, therapy, lifestyle changes to manage their syptoms, which is really sad

I know quite a few people in that boat and it is really hard to watch them struggle.

I think many people have to weigh the risks of having biological kids and passing on genetically-linked baggage. In most cases, the benefits of passing on your good qualities seem to outweigh the negatives if you really do a tally. And if it happens that one of your children does inherent a form of bipolar, then he or she will be lucky to have a parent who knows how to manage it so well.

It''s stories like yours that make me really glad to live in a country with socialized medical care! I can''t imagine having to worry if my insurance would cover such essential services.

PS: I love London. Have been there many times, its one of my favourite cities.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 8/27/2008 8:35:53 AM
Author: Pandora II

How do you all plan to tell the expectant daddy? Or those of you that are PG, how did you tell them?

I walked into the bedroom where he was still sleeping and whispered "I''m pregnant". Very romantic

Someone else on here, can''t recall who, bought a newborn onesie that said something like, "I love my Daddy". Or you could buy one of those "World''s best Dad" coffee mugs or T-shirts, that would be cute too.

 

[littlelysser]

Pandora - I did talk to my GP about the possibility of PPD...and luckily, she's awesome (I haven't met my OB yet) and she said that although getting off the meds is a good thing, if I started to have any depression/anxiety issues during the pregnancy, I should tell her immediately and she'd put me back on something. It is her belief that some of the drugs (prozac, for example) have been around FOREVER and are really quite safe. So I'm just sort of taking it day by day...so far, I'm feeling pretty good...but it is early and I'm definitely keeping an eye on things!

It is interesting how pregnancy tends to lessen symptoms of chronic diseases. One of my best friends has Rheumatoid Arthritis - she was considering TTC and was told by her doc that the disease would likely go into remission while she KTFU, but that there would be a pretty strong chance of a wicked flare up post-prego.

Oh, and I went upstairs after getting home from the airport and peed in a cup - looked and saw a faint line and said, "DH, COME UP HERE I THINK I SEE A LINE." I think that is even less romantic than DD's announcement!!! But I did go to the store and bought him the Father's Guide to Pregnancy Week by Week. Of course, that was after he knew I was prego.



Welcome Oobiecoo.

And I have a feeling we are going to have a couple more jerkstores this round of testing!!!!!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

lindsay, I am so happy for you! Congrats on your BFP!!! I took like four tests too out of shock. The good thing about having long, strange cycles is you will probably have an early u/s. I did which was cool.

 

[brgirl]

Congrats, Lindsey!

 

[E B]

This has to be a quick drive-through post because I've got to get ready for work (and then have my progesterone tested, followed by a night at the theater to see Phantom of the Opera!), but something odd is happening.

My LEFT boob is aching. It feels like it's originating from behind the nip, but the whole thing aches. It isn't sore (well, the nip is), it just feels like...it's stretching? I can't really describe it. I felt it the first time I was pregnant, but not this early (7 DPO). Which makes me think it could be the Clomid causing it? Or I'm pregnant with quadruplets. But it's just one boob. How freakin' odd. It started late last night, but I'm feeling it full force this morning, too- enough to take a tylenol.

Congratulations, Lindsey!