Queer Conceptions - June! - Page 2

[AmandaHope]

Well, my KD tried to ship me the fresh stuff (including the $50 buffer--sigh), but FedEx assured him that the last pickup was at 6pm, and when he went to drop it off at 5:45, they apologized and said that the last GROUND pickup was at 6pm. The last overnight pickup was at 5pm. So he has it ready, but he can't get it to me. And he heading to the airport to go out of town first thing tomorrow morning. UGH. So much for my three insems and a good, calm sense of this cycle.

Well, I have two vials of frozen, so I'll just have to use that! I'm sad, though.

[chiquitayy]

Wow...I'm unable to post for a week and everything happens! Hooray for all the BFP's! Congratulations, ladies!

I'm not even going to attempt any personals, I'm just too far behind for that.

I'm waiting to O, had a short cycle this month...I may end up taking the month off, because I still don't have a job, ack! If I get one in the next week, I'll go for it, but otherwise I don't think it'd be a good idea. Going to have KD's sperm analyzed just to make sure everything looks okay, because I don't want to keep trying month after month only to realize it was pointless the entire time. And I'm definitely trying pineapple next time I insem.

[gellybeangrl]

New Queer conceptions...

Hi I'm new to queer conceptions. I'm 37 and my partner and I are so excited about adding to our family.

This month will be our second attempt ttc# 1. On our first try we had 2 inseminations of frozen sperm, with clomid/met, hcg shot and u/s, done at the clinic. During the 2ww I also had progesterone supplements. During the IUI's we found out that our sperm didn't have the best motility...and we didn't concieve.

We have now decided to do at home insem with frozen sperm, from another sperm bank that my dr recommended. I have been taking fertilityAide Prenatal pills (3x day)...the are herbal and they don't suggest taking clomid with them (has anyone ever taken this? did you also use clomid?) I'm still charting and checking cm, as well as getting excercise 3-5x's a week. I am on cd 31 and should get AF any day now. Then comes the waiting, watching and getting ready to insem.

I'm not sure whatelse to say...I am excited and happy to have found a group for advice, suggestions, and support.

Thanks, Gelly

[CascadiaMama]

Welcome, gellybeangrl! Good luck this upcoming cycle.

chiquitayy - fingers crossed you get a job. That's a frustrating additional twist to the TTC drama.

AmandaHope - that's a bummer about missing the cutoff time. Two isn't bad, though!

Escher - belated congrats! I've been rooting for you, with Brill's "almost always" bit running in the back of my head. 3's the charm!

AFM, the swim team is on the way! I convinced DP to do two IUIs this month. My last cycle was so epic - 55 days - that we didn't spend much of our May TTC budget at all. That means doubling up this month, which I'm excited about. I also added soy isoflavones to the regime this cycle. It's CD7, the swim team should arrive next Monday, and I'm so ready to get knocked up.

[LibraryLady]

Good morning ladies!!

So excited for all our bfps! It really does make me think about whether or not we could manage more than one insem this month. It'd be a stretch, but whomever it was up the thread who said they'd hopefully be 'broke but pregnant' hit the nail on the head. I've just been thinking about how few sperms actually get to make the journey and it makes me even more nervous. I mean, I know it happens, but maybe you multi-ladies have the right idea. Well, CLEARLY you do, eh?

AmandaH~ SO SORRY about rubbish FedEx and their misinformation. You've got two vials, though, so that's a good thing, though not quite the thing you wanted.


LOL about having a glass of beer a day to improve blood flow! My mom had my little brother in 1987 and when she went in for her amnio, the doc sent her home and told her to have a wine cooler or two 'to relax her and the baby'. But it's true, I think about all the Baby Boomers born to women balancing martinis and ashtrays on their bumps and think 'Probably a half-glass of champagne will be okay...'

Gellybean~ so nice to meet you! Your first IUI sounds frustrating~ poor motility's no good! Tell us more about the fertility pills you're taking~ I've never heard of them. What's in them? What are they supposed to do? I've never taken Clomid, but I've taken Femara and am old friends with the progesterone suppositories. Best of luck and welcome to the conversation! We're a pretty decent group, I must say

Newbian~ Nice to hear from you! How are things in your neck of the woods? Read any good books lately?

Scarlett~ This is a bit late, but I love Lush cosmetics! They have something called the 'glitter bug' which I adore (being as how I have the aesthetics of a nine year old girl...) It's a ladybug-shaped lotion bar with irridescent sparkles in it, and when you rub it on your hands/face/arms etc it gives you the most wonderful sparkliness. If you're into that sort of thing, which clearly I am (do you see why I want a little drag queen baby? I have a vision of me and my son, covered in glitter, doing Lady Gaga routines in the living room. I'll just cling to that...) Just going into a Lush is a magical experience. Smells so nice!!

Okay, more coffee. It's a weird day~ as a librarian I have an extra day on my contract, so I'm at work today with literally actually nothing to do (all books have been shelved, all computers except this one covered, etc). I'm at the back of the building and the secretary's at the front and there's no one else here, nor will there be, all day long. I see a long lunch in my future.

Forgive my morning no-coffee fog if I forget names or get yours wrong.

[burg]

I got my blood result a little bit ago- HCG was 41.2 which is the low end of normal if I am 1-2 weeks (I believe). Need to retest in 48 hours. I am hoping to be in the 90-100 range by then! Please cross fingers!!!!! Trying not to stress or obsess but it is not going to be easy. It does bring me back to WHEN THE HECK DID I O?!?!

[AmandaHope]

Welcome, Gelly! Good luck with this next cycle! I've heard of FertilAid. I think it has many of the same herbs as fertility tea, Rainbow Light prenatals, etc. It is all good stuff, I think. I do take vitex (which I'm sure is in it, also), which some call "natural clomid." The herbs may have some of the same (though gentler) effects as clomid, which may be why the manufacturers suggest not using both.

Amy Exciting that you get to do two IUIs instead of one. Here's hoping that does the trick!

Chiquittay With all the fresh insems you are doing, I think it is a great idea to get your KD's swimmers tested. Really good idea. Hope the news is good.

AMom Still no dang O? I see those PFs, though. I bet you are getting close! I'm afraid I'm in the same boat...waiting...waiting...waiting to O..... Hope you get your clear positive sings VERY soon.

AFM, FF says I Od on day 11, which I'm SURE is wrong (being vigilant this time!), but the only sign of impending O right now is that my cervix is opening up. That is good, but it can stay open for days...so I'm counting on the OPKs to give me guidance and am quite worried that I could miss O if I don't get a positive. Somehow, the news last night about my KD missing the ship time really turned my mood sour. Without the fresh, I have to get the IUI timing just right, and I'm just not confident about doing that. I really think that if this cycle doesn't work out, I'm going to wait until I get the RE referral to do any more. This could drive a girl NUTS!

Oh--and the couple who own the house we bid on are getting divorced and have their lawyers fighting over our offer. So they haven't countered. More limbo. UGH. I'm optimistic about it, but it is hard to have more patience when we were in a short sale contract since January!

Escher, Korey, and Burg How is early pregnant life? How are you three? Who have you told, and how has it gone? Have you bought stuff yet? What? Still so happy for all three of you...

[AmandaHope]

Originally Posted by burg

I got my blood result a little bit ago- HCG was 41.2 which is the low end of normal if I am 1-2 weeks (I believe). Need to retest in 48 hours. I am hoping to be in the 90-100 range by then! Please cross fingers!!!!! Trying not to stress or obsess but it is not going to be easy. It does bring me back to WHEN THE HECK DID I O?!?!

I think you Od when you thought you did--with that first big temp spike. The later scenario (FF) doesn't make any sense. The chances that you would have conceived (and tested positive) with insems so far ahead of O are slim to none, I think. From what I understand, the doubling time is more important than the number for HCG. So hang in there for a few days until you retest. I'm sure it is hard, but you ARE PREGNANT! Yay!

[fivegrandbaby]

Wow - so many of you are insemming more than once a month. Sigh. We haven't done that yet and with only two tries left with our KD, we probably won't do it this month either. It would be so great to have a donor who lived at least in the same COUNTRY as us. I feel really good about this month (read: I'm trying very hard to not put ANY NEGATIVE ENERGY out there), so I'm going to say for the second pregnancy (because this one is going to work! I know it! ) if we have to move on to an anonymous donor, we'll probably do more than one per month. Our KD lives in Europe and probably wouldn't be able to leave us another donation until next May. Sigh.

Escher - I think I'm JUST starting to feel the drugs today. Today is day 5 of injectibles... and not only did today's shot really hurt (the other ones haven't, for whatever reason), but I felt extremely nauseous this morning. One of our dogs always smells so good, I don't know what it is about her, but she does not smell like a dog - and this morning she was on my lap and I couldn't stand the smell of her. So I'm blaming the drugs for that. I've actually been in a better mood than normal, which is unexpected, but I don't know if that's the drugs or the forced optimism I'm working on this month! Did you use any drugs to get your BFP?

Our RE did a quick u/s yesterday and said it's still to early to tell how many eggs I'll have, but at this point, I have A LOT. We asked him for 3-4.

By the way, just putting it out there - if anyone ever needs to have an HSG, hysteroscopy, or polypectomy, I've had all three and am glad to offer any advice/shared experience!

This month is our sixth try - the luck has to be on our side soon, right?

[sarahcecile]

Yay Burg and Escher!!!!

So great! I hope this means a huge number of BFPs are coming down the pipes!

AFM: just popping in to report my BFN. So hopefully AF will show up tomorrow or the next day and we can get the next cycle on the road. So within 3 IUIs I should be preggers? Really really? I sure hope so! Can I be moved to: Waiting to O please? (oh wait, I may still be there cause I never mentioned moving... hehe

[AmandaHope]

Originally Posted by sarahcecile

[B]

AFM: just popping in to report my BFN. So hopefully AF will show up tomorrow or the next day and we can get the next cycle on the road. So within 3 IUIs I should be preggers? Really really? I sure hope so!

Sorry about the BFN, Sarah. s Darn. Does your post mean that you are planning to do 3 IUIs next cycle? How many did you do this time? And remind me, are you taking meds or doing u/s monitoring, etc?

I just took my tank to a welding supply place for a refill. The guy asked what it was for, and I just looked him in the eye and said "sperm." He was all business after that.

[justrose13]

Originally Posted by AmandaHope

I just took my tank to a welding supply place for a refill. The guy asked what it was for, and I just looked him in the eye and said "sperm." He was all business after that.

that's hilarious!! good for you.

Sarah, i'm so sorry for your bfn... i wish there was something more i could say but as we all know, there aren't really words that make it all better.

5G, they say that 1 in 5 tries = BFP. so the 6th time is a charm, right?! ink

burg, i've got everything crossed for you! stick to the pole little bean!!!!

amy, i hope that 2 IUIs are just what you need!!! G/L!

gelly, WELCOME!!! hope your stay here is short and sweet!!!

afm, nothing really... acu is great!!! i feel so good! my acupuncturist gave me a fertility diet and it is quite informative so i will share it here

to all

[burg]

OK, done having my mini freak out, thank you for the replies all! The woman at the office was just so rude too. After she told me the level was low and I needed to come back I asked what it was to which she said "That won't mean anything to you!"

Gelly- Good luck you with the TTC madness, try to stay zen and positive! I hope that you get your BFP soon!

Wehrli- Glad acu is great, I hope that it does the trick! Thank you for the sticky bean wishes! Stick stick stick!

AmandaHope- Wow! The situations we find ourselves in during the process! Sorry about the timing with fresh sperm, try to stay positive...it just take one little sperm, right? Sending lots and lots of fertile thoughts your way!!!

Sarah- very sorry about BFN, big hugs! How many dpo are you?

fivegrandbaby- Fingers crossed tightly for you! I can relate to the urgency with having KD move away, that is the boat we were in (are in) this try. Do you have the resources to visit? Baby making in Europe sounds romantic.

Library- I hope that this is your cycle. Lots and lots of finger crossing for you!

AmyPDX- Sending fertile thoughts your way good luck with insems!!

Originally Posted by AmandaHope

Escher, Korey, and Burg How is early pregnant life? How are you three? Who have you told, and how has it gone? Have you bought stuff yet? What? Still so happy for all three of you...

Early pregnant life is an odd place to be. I go from elated to not wanting to feel too assured and back and forth and back in forth. I keep picturing holding my baby and every day that image is getting more vivid but it is hard while trying to protect my heart. We've told DW's family and a bunch of close friends but that is about it. I am going to tell my family after the 2nd beta if all goes well. There are some other family things going on so I would just assume not go there until then. I am trying not to blurt it out to everyone that I see but that is hard sometimes! I haven't bought anything lately, I am feeling more superstitious about that since the BFP. I may want to go get something if I get good news on Friday after the 2nd beta, not sure though.

for many more BFPS here in the near future!!

[sarahcecile]

Originally Posted by AmandaHope

Sorry about the BFN, Sarah. s Darn. Does your post mean that you are planning to do 3 IUIs next cycle? How many did you do this time? And remind me, are you taking meds or doing u/s monitoring, etc?

I just took my tank to a welding supply place for a refill. The guy asked what it was for, and I just looked him in the eye and said "sperm." He was all business after that.

Thanks guys, and no, I don't think we will be doing 3 IUIs. I thought that there was some discussion at some point about Brill saying that within 3 IUIs the majority of women will get pregnant. Maybe it was WITH 3 IUIs in one cycle, I hope not . We are doing monitored cycles with an HCG trigger shot (just completed and failed our first). I think we are going to do 2 of these and then move on to Clomid maybe. We can't afford more than one unit of swimmers per cycle - since we have no fertility insurance and are on one income.

Can anyone help me with a Clomid question? I seem to always ovulate on my own, but have had long cycles in the past, and used to (and may still - not sure because I take progesterone) have an LP defect. BUT this past cycle I ovulated on day 14 and had two mature eggs when they looked. One was 20 and one was 22 on CD12. Soooooo - do I need Clomid? Is it possible I am ovulating but it isn't a "good" ovulation (ie not strong enough) which I've heard is a reason for Clomid. I would happily and gratefully accept twins (even if I'm terrified of the idea) but higher order multiples not so much. I feel like I need to plan ahead if this next cycle does not work. Any thoughts?

wehrli - glad you are enjoying the Acupuncture! I love it and wish the Acupuncturist I love still lived in town, she was awesome! Thanks for sharing the fertility diet.

Amandahope I love it! Go you for giving the straight answer. Ha! Sorry about your KD's shipping difficulties. Ugh. Hope the couple selling the house get their issues worked out and answer you guys about the house soon.

fivegrandbaby - yes yes yes, the luck will be on your side! And mine too

burg - sending BIG STRONG doubling beta number vibes your way. Hope you get all those fears wiped away with the next beta!

Okay, DD is having a meltdown. Must run!

[AmandaHope]

Originally Posted by wehrli

afm, nothing really... acu is great!!! i feel so good! my acupuncturist gave me a fertility diet and it is quite informative so i will share it here

to all

Thanks so much, Wehrli! Not surprisingly, this is very similar to the nutritional approach that my accupuncturist recommended, but your link is much more thorough, explanatory, and useful (ie, recipes!). Yay!

I got my FSH results back: 5.4! (Normal is anything under 10). Whew! No aging eggs for me!

[gellybeangrl]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!!!

LibraryLady~ I haven't heard about rainbow light prenatals, but yes...it is an all natural complete vitamin and antioxidant support and it is supposed to help promote female hormonal balance and reproductive wellness.

"Fertilaid for Women
One of the most popular female fertility supplement on the market, FertilAid for Women contains a special blend of vitamins, minerals and herbal ingredients such as chasteberry (vitex) and red clover blossom to boost fertility.

These herbs specifically help restore the female hormonal balance, promote regular ovulation and support overall reproductive wellness."

I have been taking it for 2 months now...and am hoping that it will help me get a bfp!!!

My obgyn is being very helpful...but she is concerned about the long lasting affects of clomid on me...so she would really not like for me to use it for more than 4 months...so I wanted to start with the natural products and then move to the big guns later, if I have to.

[Coco99]

I refuse to hope !

Hey everyone !

Sorry if I have been scarce... I am trying to pretend that there is no tww going on and its working... to a point that is. The thing is, considering the temp rise that seems to show that we missed O by a full day, I DONT want to hope because there is too great a chance of it not having worked. We are at 12 (or 13 if we O'ed when I think we did) and DP's temp has been slowly dropping for the past days. So see... no reason to hope.......

And then yesturday night she ordered supper and when she opened the box, the smell of it made her so nauseous that she eventually got sick and it lasted all evening afterwards.

I know that there are like 100 reasons why someone could get sick like that... I even know that there is gastro going around where she works......... *sigh*but a part of me cant help but hope a little bit........ but I dont want to hope !!!

Coco

[Coco99]

gellybeangrl : Welcome among us ! You'll see, this is a great place to be to share support and find real understanding and fun !

AmandaHope : Yay for young and happy eggs !!

sarahcecile : About your question...... it sounds as tho you already hace clomid-like results (2 eggs on your own ! ) and to help with ovulation, perhaps a trigger shot could help ? Since you are doing mid-cycle US already, it should be easy to add ? What is your RE's recommendations ?

Burg : I understand with the diffuculty to hope ! But you are there girl !!! I am confident that you will hold that sweet baby in february ! Hoprfully, that second beta will put your worries to rest !

Everyone else, you are in my thoughts !

We are overdue for a QOTD..... so here is one !

Did you tell your friends & relatives about your TTC efforts ? If you did... do you regret it or are you happy about it ?

I did tell most of my close friends and family and sometimes (like right now when my hopes are way down) I wish they didnt know so they wouldnt ask about it ! But usually I am glad for the support.

Coco

[justrose13]

Qotd

Did you tell your friends & relatives about your TTC efforts ? If you did... do you regret it or are you happy about it ?

we only told a few ppl, like our parents, siblings, and bffs, at first. but as time has gone on (it's been a year now) we have started to tell more and more ppl... as it has consumed more and more of our lives. then after the m/c (we didn't really tell many ppl about the pg) some ppl started to wonder what was going on with us. the girls at work didn't understand why i was so upset and didn't want to share, etc. so i ended up sharing about the m/c. so now they all know of our efforts as well. it has been nice to have the support, at times... but it is also frustrating when ppl continue to ask us about the progress. it's like, when i know something and am ready to tell you, i will!!! ya know?!

[indigoscot]

hang in there coco!!! fx that it's a bfp for you ladies.

qotd - well, we told family and friends that we were planning on trying to get pregnant but we didn't let anyone know prescisely when. we definitely wanted to avoid questions from everyone, so no one but us, our massage therapist and acupuncturists knew the actual details. i think that helps a lot with the stress factor. in addition, we didn't tell anyone we were pregnant until we were around 13 weeks. we recently had 2 sets of friends tell us at 6 weeks and i was sending all kinds of good thoughts into the universe that everything would be ok - thankfully they are both in the second trimester now.

that is why i like this board - i can vent/cry/celebrate/commiserate with all y'all w/o it stressing me to the max. we have told family and a few friends that we plan on ttc baby #3 next year but again have not shared our expected timeline.

g