Fabulous 40++TTC. New Year and New Hopes - Page 6

[BelovedK]

Yes, Lovestolearn, I am so crossing my toes and fingers for you xo

[lovestolearn]

 Beachlover~  Thank you!

Just trusting my intuition.  Same intuition told me (last minute!) to use Pre-Seed.  

However, If it helps this headache go away, that would be a plus--so I might go ahead--it certainly won't hurt!

I have been using Pro-gest every cycle from day 16-26 for the last year.  I have also made quite a few dietary changes--eating a Primal diet, going low carb, supplementing with Vitamin D--all of which have been known to help balance hormones.  Had acupuncture, too.  I have a sense that my body is shifting in a good way from all these changes...

[gumblossom]

Lovestolearn, I'm really excited for you, I hope this is it for you!

I'm feeling excited and happy that I have ovulated. I'm surprised as I thought it might take a bit longer after the miscarriage. I felt O pains 3 mornings ago and did an opk which was positive. Unfortunately my DH went away the same day, so although we BD that day, that was all. I'm having weird twinges in my boobs which I got at 1 and 2 dpo with my last pregnancy.I feel like it is happening again, but I just don't want to put too much hope into it as I'll be so upset when AF turns up.I'm just trying to take one day at a time and hope for the best.

BelovedK, are you feeling better today? I'm sure your drs visit must have been so hard.

[WaturMama]

Lovestolearn that sounds so promising! I had spotting around the time of usual AF or just before every time I've been pregnant. Sending lots of baby dust. To you too, gumblossom!

(((hug))) BelovedK. I have bad memories of a certain room where there was an ultrasound, too.

[contactmaya]

Belovedk

Lovestolearn, tonnes of baby dust to you!

Gumblossom, yay for ovulation! I finally had my temp shift too, on day 17 no less (glad you finally delivered ovaries)

Im  continuing the epo in my luteal phase, and might go back on the dhea-there is no chance of pregnancy this cycle.

For those interested in dhea, here is a great link-
http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/alternative-treatment/523344-dhea-change-cycle-2.html

Donor embryo- miracleswaiting.org (or .com) is a place where you can post an add if you are a donor or recipient. Cost is $150 to join.(free if youre a donor)

[lovestolearn]

Thank you so much for the support, Ladies! 

Alas, AF came last night.  Very slow flow for me.  Tested just to be certain--BFN.

I'm thinking the dietary change threw me off.  Many women lose their painful menstrual cramps when they eat a Primal diet and I think this is happening for me.  I am thrilled with the effects and imagine that my hormones are contnuing to come into balance.

A bit sad, but accepting. 

[Kristin0105]

BelovedK sending you a great big hug and lot's of hope. I had a bad doctor's visit a few years ago. I felt shellshocked walking out but I immediately ( well once I stopped crying) went into atiuon mode and found a super great acupuncturist and bought the Infertility Cure and Inconceivable, both give me such hope.  And it all changed my life I am so much healthier now and know more about my body than I ever did before. Funny it had to take me until my 40's to actually tune in and learn about my fertility. Ugh. But anyway, I think these watershed moments can bring us clarity and peace once we are over the shock and pain. My acu says age is simply a number and everything we do to improve our fertility is more important. 

Contactmaya have you tried contacting a fertility clinic for a donor embryo? Some have donor programs. You won't have to pay anything to be put on a list. When they have an embryo available for you they contact you, you pay for the meds and the transfer. The embryo is free (illegal to sell embryos). I have not taken the step to get on the list yet but my other acu, said it was very simple and she had seen it work for the women she works with. 

So the goddess arrived yesterday!!!! And I have an interesting and sort of frustrating experience. So I have been waiting to o and all my signs had gone away except for the occasional ovary twinge. Well, I bring goddess home with me from work and I have to say she is quite beautiful,l I wish I could make one like this, anyway.When I was getting ready for bed I noticed that my CM had returned so I checked and I had a fertile CP. hmmm! luckily dh was still awake (very unusual as I worked late),and hoping for some adult time. The timing couldn't have been better. However, his timing was a little off. Ugh. LOL just my luck. So the goddess was at work for me but I am thinking our chances are pretty slim and we would need a miracle to conceive. I am not sure if I o'd last night, I woke up and my face was flushed my tell all sign but I was up late and woke up early so not sure if it was just because I hadn't slept very long before getting up. I hope today's the day and it wasn't last night. I'd like to give the goddess a chance to work for us! She seems to be casting her magic already ;)

Thanks Buzzerbeater for the token. I am not sure if I am supposed to share what I received so I'll be cryptic. They made me smile I actually love both of the kinds you sent and am looking forward to spring to use them. I will think of you as I watch through the seasons. And now I am inspired to include something to make the next person smile. I was wondering, do we want to keep a list on the first page of what we receive? I also thought I would copy the one thing that you included and pass it on, I would add one of my own and if we all did that by the time she returns to you there would be a nice list of cool and probably very interesting things to compile into a little book. Does that make sense?

[Buzzer Beater]

Kristin, you may share what you like with everyone... I just thought that if somebody sent a poem or prayer the recipient might want to keep it to themselves for jinx kinda reasons. My SIL is so like that and can respect it. I'm glad you like the goddess. She's tiny enough to go with you everywhere, you can wear her or keep her in your pocket...

One thing I wanted to add to the embryo conversation is that embryo "adoption" or "donation" doesn't "cost" anything- but some couples will ask you to pay the fees for the lawyer contract or storage fees retroactively, and that can add up to thousands right there. Add the meds and transfer fees on, and who know what you're up to.

Hugs to everyone, I've been reading but DH is out of town so not much time to type personals. GG was up 5 times last night, but I did get out for a ski this morning (out the back door no less!) when the sitter came.

[Stealthee]

Beachlover:  Thanks for the info about B6 and LP.  I'm glad to hear that your cycle seems back to normal already after your m/c.  I've also heard that you're more fertile 3 months afterward.  I didn't wait to ttc after a 10.5 week m/c and I got pregnant with DS  three cycles later, but who knows?  I agree with Waturmama about following your instincts.

Fuller:  I also got pregnant on a "scr3w it" cycle.  I didn't chart, overindulged at a couple of parties and even smoked about 1/2 a cigarette.  Yikes! 

Waturmama:  I really hear you about striking a balance between TTC and the rest of life.  Since September 2007, my world has centered around reproduction and I know that other areas of my life have been neglected.  

(((BelovedK:)))  I'm so sorry that you're feeling low.  

Lovestolearn:  Dangit!  Your symptoms sounded so promising.  Sorry that AF found you.  I was one person who mentioned Esther Hicks and the Law of Attraction.  I dabbled in it while TTC #1 and have become re-interested in it in the last couple of months.  I was wondering if there would be interest in a TTC with LoA thread.  Anyone? 

Maya:  Thanks for the DHEA link and good luck in the 2ww!  I think it's so exciting that you're looking into embryo adoption.  It makes perfect sense, doesn't it?
 

Kristin:  May the goddess bless you!  And all of us.  I love the idea of compiling a little book, or something similar, to pass along to each other.

BuzzerBeater:  Skiing out your back door?!  I am a little jealous.  A little less so about you waking up 5 times last night.  :)

AFM: I'm 10 DPO and just waiting to ovulate.  I'm not being very proactive these days about TTC despite all the discussion of late.  I'm charting and daydreaming a lot about a new babe, but that's about it at the moment.  I'm going to the States in a few weeks and I think I'm just waiting to get all my TTC supplements there since it'll be cheaper and easier. 

I wish that my DH was more open to other options to complete our family.  He's definitely not interested in donor embryo, even from my sister and her husband (who looks like DH's brother), donor eggs or adoption.  He'd probably do IVF again if our insurance covered it, but it doesn't.  And honestly, I feel like our chances naturally are just as good as with IVF at this point.  Guess I really should get busy with maximizing my chances.

[lovetolaugh]

Hi Everyone

I've been a frequent lurker here lately.  I've been so drawn to the love, support and wisdom that you ladies share.  Stealthee had a post not too long ago, and at the end she said 'hi' to the lurkers   That finally gave me the courage to post, so thanks, Stealthee!! 

I am 40, soon to be 41, but I honestly don't feel that old.  I don't know how that many years could have gone by already! 

I have 3 children (9,6,1) and I just feel like there is another baby out there for us.  Baby #3 was very difficult to conceive, so DH does not want to ride the ttc/miscarriage roller coaster again.  BUT...although he knows he is responsible for any and all birth control....and my overwhelming desire for another  ...he has NEVER used any.  Sooooo....

I want to ask you very wise mamas for some advice, so here's the situation put very simply...I've been pregnant 9 times, but I've miscarried 6 times.  Each time that I've miscarried, I was nursing during that pregnancy.  The 3 children that I have now were all conceived when I was not nursing.  I've asked my RE and my midwife about this, and searched for information everywhere, but everything dismisses nursing as a cause for the miscarriages.  I feel so strongly that it IS the cause...that my body is lacking in some nutrient or something, and it can't maintain a pregnancy and lactation at the same time.  Does anyone have any diet/supplement/lifestyle advice? 

I ask this because I am nursing my 15 month old, and we're not ready to end that relationship yet, but I really want to ttc a sticky bean.

Thank you for sharing your kindness and wisdom and support...this is really an inspiring group of mamas! 

[BelovedK]

loveto laugh, I wish I had an answer, but I think your instincts are right. I know I used nipple stimulation to induce labor.

I just had to endure a while workday of listening to my coworker (who is too early even to test) gloat about how she is now pregnant, telling all of her clients over and over, and talking on her phone in the breakroom where I am eating lunch.

I am feeling better today, a bit, but I am angry at my DH for some things, and trying to get over it. Wondering if I should even be thinking about this?????

[Buzzer Beater]

Welcome lovetolaugh, I will put you on our TTC list. I wish I had some answers for you... I'm also nursing right now and don't plan to stop soon, even if it meant getting pg I guess. This is the best relationship I've ever had, me-n-Georgia... I didn't nurse my first.

Originally Posted by BelovedK 
 I just had to endure a while workday of listening to my coworker (who is too early even to test) gloat about how she is now pregnant, telling all of her clients over and over, and talking on her phone in the breakroom where I am eating lunch. 

 That sucks. What a big mouth.

[Buzzer Beater]

I put a symbol next to Kristin0105 on the front page as she has the goddess... I'll move it when the goddess moves. Sign up if you want to play! You can be on our map! Earn prizes and fertility vibes!

[Kristin0105]

The Goddess is on the move but with me today. I wore her around my neck today as I went about my day. She learned all about the hearing aids I need ;) and I want to have a baby I am so old I need a hearing aid. At least that's what my dad implied when I mentioned I wanted another child. He told me I better get on with it as I'm getting close to the edge. LOL he's 88, says he feels 60 and I think is probably a little delusional from time to time and quite delusional at other times LOL. So Goddess went for a ride today. I will try to get my act together and find the right prize to send along with this beautiful girl and then pass her to the next contestant.

Beloved your coworker sounds like quite the gal. Have you considered tacks on her chair? tehee just kidding but really enough already just get off the phone and do what you are supposed to be doing and stop talking about the imaginary baby. And goodness I can't imagine what she might be like for the next 9 months if she is pregnant. You may been ear plugs in order to work with her.

[beachlover]

Originally Posted by lovetolaugh 

Hi Everyone

I've been a frequent lurker here lately.  I've been so drawn to the love, support and wisdom that you ladies share.  Stealthee had a post not too long ago, and at the end she said 'hi' to the lurkers   That finally gave me the courage to post, so thanks, Stealthee!! 

I am 40, soon to be 41, but I honestly don't feel that old.  I don't know how that many years could have gone by already! 

I have 3 children (9,6,1) and I just feel like there is another baby out there for us.  Baby #3 was very difficult to conceive, so DH does not want to ride the ttc/miscarriage roller coaster again.  BUT...although he knows he is responsible for any and all birth control....and my overwhelming desire for another  ...he has NEVER used any.  Sooooo....

I want to ask you very wise mamas for some advice, so here's the situation put very simply...I've been pregnant 9 times, but I've miscarried 6 times.  Each time that I've miscarried, I was nursing during that pregnancy.  The 3 children that I have now were all conceived when I was not nursing.  I've asked my RE and my midwife about this, and searched for information everywhere, but everything dismisses nursing as a cause for the miscarriages.  I feel so strongly that it IS the cause...that my body is lacking in some nutrient or something, and it can't maintain a pregnancy and lactation at the same time.  Does anyone have any diet/supplement/lifestyle advice? 

I ask this because I am nursing my 15 month old, and we're not ready to end that relationship yet, but I really want to ttc a sticky bean.

Thank you for sharing your kindness and wisdom and support...this is really an inspiring group of mamas! 

Here's my thoughts on nursing and TTC. I have nursed and gotten pregnant while conceiving quite a few times. This will be a REALLY long...lol, so read or don't. I love to write anyways, so I don't mind either way...lol

I got pregnant while nursing my daughter when she was 15 months old. I had, only had one period and got pregnant the very next cycle. I was not tracking my cycles really and had no clue way back then what Leutal Phases and such were. Without really seeking advice I  figured nursing  while pregnant was not a great idea, was happy that I had made it to 15 months this time (with my older children I hadn't made it that long) so abruptly weaned her. I had cramps at 9 weeks and an u/s showed the baby had a heartbeat but was measuring small, but they reassured me that all was fine.  However, when I should have been 12 weeks I started bleeding. This was many years ago, so by the time I got in for u/s etc. I was nearly 13 weeks and the baby had passed. 

I took a while to heal emotionally that time, and waited about 8 months and got pregnant again. Not nursing obviously, healthy pregnancy.

When this little guy was 10 months old, I made the hard decision to wean him abruptly because he had given me mastitis every 3 weeks basically from the time he was born. It was a horrible time but I continued on with  nursing, until he suddenly spiked a really high fever and it scared me that I was making him sick. In the end, I think it was him that was carrying strep in his throat and continually infecting me as we had it in the house for months with our older children. Anyways, I weaned him, not having had a period, got a ton of EWCM and we DTD and I got pregnant. So never even had a period.

I made it to 10 weeks 2 days, not really feeling all that pregnant, gaining no weight and started bleeding. An u/s showed a too small baby with a heartbeat, that was pretty slow. 2 weeks later I m/c the baby at home.

At this time, I started researching and learning about Leutal Phases(LP) etc. I learned that you need a long enough leutal phase to make enough progesterone to sustain a healthy pregnancy. I really believe that low progesterone caused a poor lining, leading me to m/c.

Anyways, I got pregnant 2 months later. No problem, healthy baby. I nursed her until she was near two years old and when my cycles first returned I avoided BD when I had signs of ovulation until my LP was long enough.

Since that time. I  have managed to successfully nurse in pregnancy until I was well into the second trimester 4 different times. Two of those times we lost the baby, but that had nothing to do with me nursing. The babies passed away from other problems. The other times I would wean around the time they got to 20 weeks and delivered healthy babies. I was careful in all those cases to make sure I did not conceive until my LP was long enough. 

Then I got really old. When my present 2 year old (who was born 2 weeks before I turned 42) turned about 10 months my cycles came back. My LP was a mere 3 days the first month or two and I basically spotted for a period. I swear I could have missed it the one month if I hadn't been paying attention. It was only there when I wiped, but I knew I had ovualted. Anyways I carefully avoided BD during ovulation and I finally started taking a B complex vitamin to help lengthen my LP. By the time he was about 15 or 16 months old, my cycles were pretty regular and my LP was fine. So I started trying again. I had a few times, where I think I may have had chemical pregnancies because I'd have very faint +++s on my HPTs. Then when he was 21 months old, I got pregnant. Nice strong +++. However when I was about 7 weeks, I knew things weren't right and just short of 9 weeks, I m/c. Then two months later, I had another positive that took a while to get darker and then suddenly started getting lighter and lighter and at 5 weeks, I started my period, or miscarried however you wish to look at it. Then nothing. I had always gotten pregnant, without trying and suddenly, months were passing with nothing. I was still nursing. I want one more baby pretty desperately so decided to make the hard decision to wean my 2.5 year old. I really felt like it was hindering something. I stopped nursing and that month I got pregnant. It hadn't even been a full cycle without nursing but I got the +++. Again the tests took quite a while to darken and  I was prepared for the worst. But at about 16 or 17 days they were suddenly darker than the control line. I had started using progesterone cream at about 10 or 11 dpo. Maybe a bit later, my memory is failing me.  Anyways, I had hope. I got bloated. It was Christmas so my mind was busy with other things so I was shocked when I started bleeding at just over 7 weeks. I mean seriously I was stunned. I m/c just two days later.

So I don't have a happy ending to this last part of my story...YET. But I truly do believe that nursing was playing a part. The fact that abruptly weaning him at the end, allowed me to suddenly get pregnant after months of not being able to gives me that hope. I do think I started the progesterone cream too late, as I've heard for it to work you really need to start it right after ovualtion. 

Anyways, so in my personal experience I feel that you can get pregnant and m/c because of nursing especially if you don't have a good Leutal Phase or if you are struggling with high prolactin levels and/or low progesterone levels, which tend to occur more naturally when we are older.

Nursing effects our hormones. Many women nurse and have healthy pregnancies. I have. But many women nurse and either can't get pregnant at all or end up m/c. I have. I think every pregnancy is different and our hormone levels and uterine lining which can be effected by nursing are certainly going to be large factors.

I am really hoping that having my ds fully weaned now, will allow me to conceive and carry one last healthy baby to term. I'm using progesterone cream from 3 dpo and giving it my all. 
 

Today is 3dpo. This morning I started the cream and I  continue to take my B complex figuring it can't hurt much. It has folic acid in it which is important anyways.

Good Luck. It's really hard to know what to do with making the choice to wean and get pregnant. If I had weaned my son when he was one and I was only just 43, I really feel like I still would have been young enough to have one more baby, but I just couldn't do that because he loved it so and I felt that bond was important for him.

Now at 44, it may or may not be too late, but I felt weaning him was OK. It's all so personal and only YOU can answer the question of what's right for you.

[alittlesandy]

BFN for this cycle (at 14dpo). I'm over it.

[contactmaya]

Alittlesandy, sorry about your bfn

Beachlover,  its so interesting to hear about your experience.

I wanted to offer my 2cents based upon much less experience.  My understanding is that once  you are ovulating,  breastfeeding  can still inhibit pregnancy because it shortens the luteal phase. In my case, i took progesterone and this solved the problem for me. I conceived  and continued to breastfeed throughout my pregnancy.(this a few years ago now)  I took progesterone only in the  two week wait, to allow time for implantation.  My baby came  on my due date, and not before, despite my breastfeeding. I didnt even get braxton hicks, and when i thought i did, it was the real thing. My milk supply did  go down significantly.

This time, i startted supplementing iht progesterone for this very reason, but it appears that something other than progesteorne deficiency is preventing my getting pregnant. I now have my luteal phase back  (Ive been ttc so long :-) )

Lovestolaugh, I wonder, as a precaution, couldnt you take progesterone throughout your first trimester just in case your nursing is affecting progesterone levels?  Or could you get your progesterone levels checked on an ongoing basis as a precaution?
Progesterone is not harmful to the nursling, and is said to be beneficial to the fetus.
At least this way you know, that it is not the nursing causing the problem.

Kristen, the goddess sounds wonderful, i cant wait till i get mine.

[gumblossom]

Beachlover that really is interesting about nursing and pregnancy. I have been nursing my son while I was pregnant and had a loss at 10 weeks (baby died at 8 weeks). I worried that it may be due to breastfeeding, but I know I had a luteal phase of 13 days, so don't think it's down to luteal phase defect. However I did notice that since I got my AF back post partum it seemed lighter than usual. But when I got pregnant I thought it must be okay. Surely a LT defect or thin lining would mean an earlier loss?

I asked my Doctor about breastfeeding and miscarriage and she felt that because the miscarriage wasn't going to happen on its own (I had a D & C) that it wasn't cause by contractions in the uterus (which has been said to be an issue with breastfeeding). There are many women who nurse through pregnancy and then tandem feed successfully. But I think it is an individual thing, and maybe as we get older our hormones can't balance as easily as when we were young.

I'm trying to wean my son now, but finding it near impossible. It is the only way to get him to sleep during the day and at night.If he wakes in the night, the boob puts him back to sleep. I wouldn't mind so much, but I really do want to give him a younger sibling and don't want to risk another miscarriage. I'm going away overnight tomorrow in an attempt to maybe wean him. It's going to take an iron will to do it, I can't sit for a minute without him asking for it!

I'm thinking I should get some progesterone cream. I'm 6 dpo, so I should start right away shouldn't I?

Alittlesandy - so sorry about the bfn.

[EonJourney]

Hello Ladies,

I would like to ask a question and join this group too. I am not much of a conversationalist but will pop in occasionally to say hi. I am 40 years old and nursing my 2.5 year old. PPAF just returned this week. I had a 10 day luteal phase this cycle. Is this too short? Has anyone just started using OTC progesterone cream without testing for their hormone levels? I really don't want to wean but would like to increase my chances of a healthy pregnancy.Thank you Beachlover for your insight. I am currently taking Maca, B vitamins, krill oil, EPO and Folic Acid. I will be 41 in 3 months. Time goes so fast.

[greenmama66]

I used prgest cream and am using it -week 15 + pregnancy -age 44 - baby fine/pregnancy fine- did nt have prgest tested- PC brken here- wn't type certain wrds!!