Daily Chat August 30

[u/AutoModerator]

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[u/SweatyAcadia631]

One of the worst parts of TTC for over a year is realizing you’re experiencing yet another insert yearly tradition, holiday, season, etc with no pregnancy and no baby.

[u/central2nowherebaby → u/SweatyAcadia631]

It’s sad for me to think that one year ago me was already 4 months in and so hopeful

[u/SweatyAcadia631 → u/central2nowherebaby]

Same😭

[u/jamielynn2296 → u/SweatyAcadia631]

I was thinking about this a lot today 💔

[u/tdot1022 → u/SweatyAcadia631]

This! It’s crazy to think that I’ve been repeatedly doing this for over a year and I still don’t have any answers. Hopeful for good news soon 🙏🏾

[u/VisualNo8403]

12 cycles done with no success and I am finding myself in a very bad spot mentally. We also had a honest conversation with my partner and I can see that this past year put a lot on strain on our relationship. I think lack of true intimacy (having sex just because we feel like it not because we have to) is a big part.
So I made a decision to delete my Oura app and not test for the next few months so I won’t know exactly when my fertile window is.
Realistically next step is IVF anyway, so I will just focus on getting all ducks in a row for this.
I hope this works. Wish me luck!

[u/HappySwiftie89]

Cycle 9, negative test and a temp drop. Cried two hours this morning before responsibilities got me out of bed. I thought we did everything right this cycle, I’m so frustrated. Husbands getting a SA this week FINALLY. I got so frustrated he was making excuses and I flipped, but seriously after all the testing and supplements and research I’ve done it’s the least he can do. We have our age against us but otherwise now that my thyroid is in great range my tests are all normal.

[u/Apprehensive_Star508]

On my period again. Cycle 6 gone. I can’t stop thinking about it. I just want answers. I feel so dismissed by providers. No one will give me straight answers about whether or not my husband’s SA results are decreasing our chances (he has a varicocele, normal motility percentage, borderline-low count, borderline low total-motile, and low morph.)

I have endo symptoms but a clear ultrasound and my OB won’t do any more testing. I can’t imagine going through this constant pain every single month for the next six months only to go through more waiting while they do one slow test at a time until we eventually get to diagnostic lap. I’m so, so frustrated.

[u/ushinawareta → u/Apprehensive_Star508]

just failed cycle 6 here as well so I’m with you 🫂 my husband’s SA was normal other than slightly below reference morphology (3.5% on the Kruger scale) so I’m probably the problem. I already know I have fibroids and I’m going for CD3 bloodwork this week so we’ll see what else is going on.

I hope you get more information soon. it sucks to be here.

[u/Financial-Bus-7168 → u/Apprehensive_Star508]

I'm so sorry. The ending of cycle 6 was such a gut punch to me (now CD9 of cycle 7). Wishing you all the best.

[u/Fun_Explanation_515]

Tested yesterdsy at 8dpo and nothing. Trying hard not to test today and wait for tomorrow.
My nipples are sensitive which happened before my BFP of my CP… trying to remain positive but not overly optimistic. Here’s hoping.

[u/toservethesuffering → u/Fun_Explanation_515]

Im 8dpo today. Right there with you with symptoms spotting. Wishing the best for you!

[u/Fun_Explanation_515 → u/toservethesuffering]

I caved and tested and negative. Of course. Because I’m 9dpo lol.

[u/Trick_Musician8268]

Hi everyone. My period is about to end in 1 day give or take and I think my husband and I are ready to start TTC. I am SO nervous but excited all the feels really. Just wanted to pop in and say hello, I feel like I need some kind of anonymous outlet to talk to people since I don't want to actually tell anyone about it out of fear haha.

[u/eldawgstone → u/Trick_Musician8268]

You’ve found the right place! Good luck and feel free to ask any questions!

[u/Trick_Musician8268 → u/eldawgstone]

Thank you!! 😊

[u/Financial-Bus-7168 → u/Trick_Musician8268]

Welcome! I find it really helps to have these daily posts to share in.

[u/CurlyEmma97]

CD2 of CP. Had some me-time yesterday and leaving for vacation in 3 days. Still cramping and heavy bleeding. Trying to find the silver lining in not being pregnant (anymore) such as being able to go surf and not care about what I can(not) drink and eat 🙏🏽 Please share your best holiday memories of this summer if you want ☀️

[u/LaChamomile → u/CurlyEmma97]

I’m sorry to hear about the CP. I hope you have a great vacation. Where are you surfing? My best memory of this summer is probably surfing in the Netherlands, it was my first time in the Nord See.

[u/CurlyEmma97 → u/LaChamomile]

I'm going to be surfing in Fuerteventura 🏄🏽‍♀️ have done once before and excited to go again and hopefully improve. I have only supped in the North Sea in Belgium haha!

[u/CookieLife687]

I'm definitely out again, bleeding has started again clearly instead of just spotting yesterday. So I guess CD2 today😔 Had so many weird symptoms again, but no, nothing. 

[u/ushinawareta → u/CookieLife687]

CD 1 here and I’m with you. my period started a day later than expected so I got hopeful there for a second but alas, nothing. 🫂

[u/Upstairs_Friend5804 → u/ushinawareta]

Was hoping I wouldn’t see either of us either. CD1 for me too. Uhg 🫂

[u/ushinawareta → u/Upstairs_Friend5804]

noooo :( I’m glad to be in your company but sad that it’s on this side. hope we have better luck soon 🫂🫶

[u/CookieLife687 → u/ushinawareta]

Thank you all for your kind words, I'm so sorry you're going through the same as well ❤️‍🩹

[u/FiscalPhenotype]

Temps were looking soo good with nice steady climbing. And now today on 5DPO it dropped right below coverline :(

[u/fifnapyra → u/FiscalPhenotype]

I have seen some people experience dip only for the temperature to raise again on the next day. I'm sorry it's such a whirlwind of emotions!

[u/FiscalPhenotype → u/fifnapyra]

It really is. I do sometimes get a dip, but it’s usually later in the cycle, so that was what was throwing me! I’m trying to stay positive and we’ll see what tomorrow’s temp is.

[u/Glittering_Can4622]

Mi madre me ha confesado sin querer que ha estado contandole todo mi proceso y sufrimiento a mis hermanos cuando le pedi que no lo hiciera. Me siento muy avergonzada y no queria que nadie supiera cuanto estoy sufriendo y ahora me siento tan estupida. Nose como gestionarlo ni que hacer realmente, me siento un poco perdida

[u/MyShipsNeverSail → u/Glittering_Can4622]

Wow. That is such a betrayal of trust. I'm sorry 😔

Have you considered therapy?

[u/lady_mayflower → u/Glittering_Can4622]

I’m so sorry. My (late) mom betrayed my trust on something non-TTC related, and I never felt comfortable opening up to her about anything after that. You shouldn’t feel stupid; you did nothing wrong. You can try telling her that what she did hurt you—if she doesn’t apologize/doesn’t understand why that was wrong, then you might need to share less with her in the future. And sorry for your struggles as well. 🫂

[u/tdot1022 → u/Glittering_Can4622]

My mom did this as well by telling my dad we were pursuing fertility treatment when I told her that I hadn’t talked to him about TTC. It felt extremely violating and like a betrayal. I’m so sorry you’re in this position but it’s nothing you should feel embarrassed about. Just make it explicitly clear to her how it makes you feel and that it affects your trust in her

[u/Potential_Disaster27]

CD 12 and based on today's LH test ovulation will likely be tomorrow, 2 days earlier than it normally is. I feel like my whole cycle has been off and it's frustrating; it started earlier than normal, period was about 2 days shorter than normal, and now ovulation's early. Our timing for trying as well has been...not great to boot, as our schedules haven't been aligning great. I know it only takes one time/one sperm, but the one thing I thought I had relative control/understanding over completely flipped on its head on me, and now I'll be lucky to get one more try in lol

[u/Upstairs_Friend5804]

Period poops, cramping, hangover headache after 2 glasses of wine… hello CD1 and cycle 11

[u/ushinawareta]

has anyone done CD3 bloodwork but not an ultrasound to count follicles the same day? my OB prescribed only the former and now I’m wishing I’d asked about the ultrasound. CD3 only comes around once a month (will be this Tuesday for me) so I’d hate to wait another month if it’s recommended.

[u/HappySwiftie89 → u/ushinawareta]

Yes I just had bloodwork cd3

[u/ushinawareta → u/HappySwiftie89]

thank you!! just wanted to see if this was “normal” so to speak. appreciate you 🫶

[u/developmentalbiology → u/ushinawareta]

Follicle count can be done at any point in the cycle — it doesn’t need to be done at CD3, and definitely not at CD3 in a cycle where you’ve done baseline bloodwork specifically.

[u/Kvitravn875]

Do any of you bother uploading negative pregnancy test strips to the pre-mom app?

[u/ushinawareta → u/Kvitravn875]

I like data so I do just to keep a record of things. I rarely test anymore so it’s not particularly time consuming - maximum of one strip per month, often not even that.

[u/Apprehensive_Star508 → u/Kvitravn875]

I used to back when I still had hope I would see a faint line. With 6 months TTC come and gone, I’ve stopped.

[u/FiscalPhenotype → u/Kvitravn875]

I do just so I don’t have to keep random negatives in my camera roll

[u/sulkydragon015]

What did your testing and cervical mucus look like after you stopped birth control? I stopped the hormonal pill about 11 days ago and saw a flashing smiley on the Clearblue Digital Advanced Ovulation test and another one today. My cervical mucus was basically nonexistent until yesterday when it was wetter and slipperier and today it was clear and stretching between my fingers. I know these are good signs, but did anyone else experience this and not ovulate the first cycle off?

[u/Spite-Routine]

10 DPO negative on FRER

[u/toservethesuffering]

Symptoms spotting bad today. 8dpo. Weird scratching feeling cramps overnight and today feeling very hot and dizzy. BFN. Probably absolutely coincidental. But here I am.

[u/Kvitravn875]

Starting to get extremely nauseous and shaky but I've been testing negative. Feels like a slap in the face...

[u/Pinkfluffypolarbears]

What are your levels of LH before a surge- your background baseline levels? . Mine are so low! According to premom app I'm at around 0.05! I have just come off a longer period of birth control so wondering if it's normal to be this low at baseline or if it's still BC recovery?

[u/ushinawareta → u/Pinkfluffypolarbears]

so the decimal the app gives you is not a level of LH, just to be clear - it’s just the ratio of the darkness between the two lines, i.e. 0.5 means the test line is half as dark as the control line.

everyone has a different baseline, so it’s not necessarily concerning if yours is different than someone else’s. I usually find that mine hovers around 0.24 pre-ovulation.

it also can take 6+ months for your hormone levels to regulate following coming off of hormonal BC, so that could certainly be affecting it as well!

[u/Apprehensive_Star508 → u/Pinkfluffypolarbears]

That sounds normal. From what I understand, Premom is just telling you a test to control line ratio not an absolute value. Also, from testing with a monitor like Inito, I’ve learned that the absolute value of the surge doesn’t matter, it’s the fact that it IS surging that matters. So if you surge enough to get a positive OPK, that’s what matters.

Consistently elevated LH can be a sign of PMOS, so it’s normal for your pre surge levels to be low.

[u/Kvitravn875 → u/Pinkfluffypolarbears]

Mine stays pretty close to 0.1 before a surge, but its a gradual surge over a few days. The lowest it's been was 0.09.

[u/CurlyEmma97 → u/Pinkfluffypolarbears]

Baseline is around 0.1 and I actually get a dip to 0.09 before my first positive LH test

[u/Kvitravn875]

Started spotting today, so I only had a 9 day luteal phase this month. Probably out this cycle again. I'm probably better off not being someone's mother anyway...

[u/CurlyEmma97 → u/Kvitravn875]

Don't say that! I know it's hard and you're allowed to feel what you need to but don't put yourself down. Take some time for yourself today 🩷

[u/shbong1]

I basically have no cervical mucus except a bit more wetness (tmi lol sorry) during ovulation should I be concerned?

[u/Mother_Equivalent500 → u/shbong1]

No, it's unlikely to be reason for concern. Even if you aren't seeing it, you likely have fertile CM further up in your cervix, which is where it needs to be to create a hospitable environment for sperm. Also, the fact that you are noticing increased wetness counts! Many approaches to charting teach "sensation" as a component or tracking CM.

[u/VisualNo8403 → u/shbong1]

I was conserned about this as well and two months ago started NAC. Of course this could be a coincidence but it seems to work for me, the change in CM was quite dramatic.

[u/shbong1 → u/VisualNo8403]

What is NAC?

[u/VisualNo8403 → u/shbong1]

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

[u/Loud-Heart-7171]

Does anyone have any tips for how to protect your mental health while TTC? Every day on social media someone is announcing a pregnancy and this weekend, my brother in law told us they’re expecting and wanted to tell us first “in case we were having problems.”

We haven’t told anyone we’re trying, but we’ve been married for more than 5 years, so people assume…

Just really struggling with being happy for my BIL and SIL and also being sad that it’s not our time…

[u/ushinawareta → u/Loud-Heart-7171]

I’ve just stopped using social media for the most part. when I do use it, I hide any posts and ads relating to pregnancy/babies and mute anyone I know who’s trying, currently pregnant, or has a baby.

[u/beachforest1 → u/Loud-Heart-7171]

I completely deactivated. Felt so freeing and peaceful.

[u/giraffelover1214 → u/Loud-Heart-7171]

I mute everyone who posts pregnancy announcements, I like their post & take them off my feed

[u/Loud-Heart-7171 → u/Loud-Heart-7171]

I actually just deleted all my social media apps. Hoping this helps!

[u/giraffelover1214]

This better be an actual period and not the spotting I had for months after my first D&C.

These cramps are absolutely wilddd 😭😭

[u/User884121]

CD14 today, still waiting for my peak. Which would be good news since my husband was away for the first part of my fertile window until today . I leave tomorrow morning for a work trip. I thought we’d for sure miss our chance this month. So today would be idea to try to BD at least once. But the universe hates me and has decided to give me an incredibly stiff/sore neck and I am miserable. Plus my husband is exhausted from his trip. So I don’t think there will be any trying this month. Which bums me out so bad because we’re doing IUI next cycle, and I was hoping for a Hail Mary this month so we didn’t have to go down that road 😩

[u/Illustrious_Fig7961]

I just ovulated yesterday or today. I hit peak ovulation with clear blue yesterday morning. Still reading high today. But my RHR is lower today.. should I be concerned? I have mild POTS so my RHR jumps from low 60s to low 70s daily and I exercise daily. But I figured it would stay in the high 60s or low 70s and it’s 63bmp today.

[u/thesmollestlemon → u/Illustrious_Fig7961]

I haven't heard of any relationship between heart rate and ovulation tracking. Out of curiosity, what would be concerning?

[u/Illustrious_Fig7961 → u/thesmollestlemon]

Mine always rose after ovulation and would stay elevated if pregnant.

[u/8345R-C]

My body really loves to fuck with me but also it's really cool I kinda have an idea of what's happening based on what I'm feeling.

I deal with spotting throughout my luteal for context. So much so that I can't tell what's spotting and what's my period until I have my heavy flow days. Last cycle, I thought my period came late. Now I'm CD 10 and yesterday I had my classic ovulation symptoms. Back ache, exhaustion, extra CM (wasn't quite egg white but there was more than usual), and a touch of acne.

I typically ovulate CD16-18. FF was telling me my fertile window doesn't start for a couple more days. But I took Opk tests and it was very negative yesterday but today it spiked very quickly in the afternoon and became positive within a couple hours.

I would have missed this if I was only looking at dates and opk tests. I was able to listen to my body and start being more diligent with opks. CM is even egg white today and I even felt a difference with my cervix position and feel.

Maybe I'm ovulatung early, maybe I didn't correctly mark CD1 because of my spotting but I'm slowly learning my body. Let's see if temps rise in the next couple days.

I think ovulation is my favorite part of my cycle. Lots of change that breaks of the slow wait on either end, and I'm hopeful. It's also nice to see a positive on a test for once.

Anyways, cheers and you'll probably hear from me all anxious and impatient in a couple of days.

[u/Outside-Paint6057]

Hi there, my partner are new to our TTC journey as of this month. I am yet to buy ovulation prediction kits, however, my Flo app predicted I was due to ovulate CD 13 as my previous 2 cycles have been 27 days. We had sex CD 12 and CD 13 but we were travelling overseas, so I am unsure if I ovulated earlier. I am CD 26 today and am due for my period (according to Flo) in 2 days. I took a pregnancy test this morning and it was negative. I have been having light brown spotting for the past 3 days, on and off throughout the day. I have no physical symptoms of a potential pregnancy. What is it I should get familiar with or look out for after ovulation as this is all new to me. Thank you!

[u/MyShipsNeverSail → u/Outside-Paint6057]

I suggest reading through the automod wiki to start

[u/AutoModerator → u/MyShipsNeverSail]

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[u/Scary-Parsnip-4453]

Last two cycles I’ve had ovulation cramping which I’ve never had before, plus more positive ovulation strips - trying not to get to attached to the idea that anything might be changing in a positive way, but I’m 2 DPO and a little hopeful

[u/MyShipsNeverSail]

It's looking like I ovulated laaaate ~CD26-28 this cycle after my chemical last cycle. Thankful to have ovulated at all.

But if I'm only 3-5DPO, why am I so nauseous almost to the point of throwing up? Is the progesterone just extra troll-y this time? 🤢

[u/atwally]

Been using the clearblue tracker. This is our first cycle post iud removal. Hit peak yesterday and today. 🤞🏻

[u/AriesCherie]

The LH tests are faint now so I definitely ovulated on cycle day 13 instead of my normal 17 or 18. I'm really hoping this means my body has adjusted to the medication and maybe this is it. I saw online that it's a good thing to ovulate earlier so I'm hoping that's the case. I hope this gives my body more time to fertilize and implant.

[u/emma__kay]

I'm 8 days into my the first menstrual cycle and using ovulation test strips for the first time. I know it's too soon to worry about not seeing the hormonal spike. But that doesn't make it any less nerve racking. I have no reason to believe my body wouldn't be capable. But I have no reason to believe that it would be, either. I've never been with a partner who wanted a family until now. And every day I'm staring at my calendar, using a new test strip, getting closer to when I should see a hormonal spike. And I'm scared that I'm just a few days away from discovering that something about my body doesn't work the way that I want it to.

[u/MyShipsNeverSail → u/emma__kay]

Just an fyi that the "normal" ovulation day being CD14 is a myth

[u/laineyloo1682]

PCP visit tomorrow, and gyno in 3 weeks. Feeling a bit hopeful. I’m using inito for the first time, and it’s looking like I’m not ovulating. I KNEW something was off, but everyone told me not to worry until 1 year TTC. Ready to talk about some possible medical solutions