Birds do it... Bees do it... even Ladies in their Forties do it.... 40+++ Spring TTC - Page 11

[contactmaya]

CONGRATULATIONS PURPLEFISH!! HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT THAT STRONGER LINE. 

 

STEVI,   I CAN RELATE TO THE FRUSTATION OF BEING FERTILE (WELL, WE HOPE)  AND THE DONOR ISNT AVAILABLE. MY DONOR WASN’T AVAILABLE LAST CYCLE, WHICH IS ANOTHER REASON I GOT AN IUI. ITS SO STRESSFUL. 

 

LITMAMA, BEING ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT 3 DAY WINDOW SOUNDS PROMISING, NOT TO MENTION, SOUNDS LIKE YOURE HAVING FUN WITH LOTS OF FRIENDS AROUND. FINGERS CROSSED THAT YOU WILL JOIN  THIS WAVE OF BFP'S.

I AGREE WITH YOU ON THE DHEA. IT CAN BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE  IN SOME WOMEN. I STOPPED TAKING IT FOR THAT REASON, BUT FOR ALL I KNOW, IT COULD HAVE HELPED ME CONCEIVE THIS CYCLE.

ILL GO FILL OUT THAT SURVEY TOO, WHAT A GREAT IDEA!

 

AFM....DON’T WANT TO BE A DOWNER HERE, BUT I DO WANT TO EXPRESS THAT  I AM NOT CONFIDENT ABOUT THIS PREGNANCY. I  HAD BROWN SPOTTING  AND CRAMPING YESTERDAY,(17DPO) BUT TOOK MORE PROGESTERONE (ANOTHER 50MG) WHICH STOPPED IT. THIS MORNING (18DPO), GOOD NEWS, THE LINE IS DARKER THAN THE CONTROL LINE ON THE PREGNANCY TEST. SO HCG LEVELS ARE RISING, DOUBLING? THAT I DON’T KNOW.

 

BASICALLY, UNTIL I GET CONFIRMATION THAT THIS IS NOT A VIABLE PREGNANCY, I WILL CONTINUE WITH PROGESTERONE, ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT I JUST HAVE LOW PROGESTERONE.

 

 I THINK I HAVE GOOD REASON TO BE A TINY BIT OPTIMISTIC-EVEN  THOUGH THE CYCLE I CONCEIVED ON WAS VERY WEAK WITH A SLOW TEMP RISE, AND SUBSTANTIAL SPOTTING, I  STILL CONCEIVED. THAT MEANS THAT THE EGG MIGHT BE OK, JUST PROGESTERONE LEVELS ARE LOW.  BEING   44, AND STILL BREASTFEEDING DS 2-3 TIMES A DAY, THAT IS UNDERSTANDABLE. MANY WOMEN HAVE  CARRIED A HEALTHY BABY TO FULL TERM WITH THE HELP OF PROGESTERONE SUPPLEMENTATION.

 

ON THE OTHER HAND, I HAVE TO BE REALISTIC TOO. IVE NEVER HAD SPOTTING BEFORE IN A PREGNANCY.

 

BASICALLY, IM PLANNING FOR THE WORST. BUT IM TAKING PROGESTERONE ANYWAY UNTIL I CAN GET A BETA.

 

IM  GRATEFUL TO BE PREGNANT AT ALL.  WHO KNOWS IF I WILL EVER BE PREGNANT AGAIN? SO I AM ENJOYING THIS FOR WHAT  IT IS. (I ESPECIALLY LIKE ALL THE EATING ;-)  

 

I AM STILL AMAZED AT MY BODY AND THE HUMAN CONDITION OF PERPETUALLY TRYING ITS BEST TO REPRODUCE. 

 

IM ALSO LOOKING AT SYMPTOMS-  BLOATEDNESS, ACID RELFUX,  TIREDNESS, HUNGER/NAUSEA, PEEING ALL THE TIME…ARE THEY CAUSED BY HCG OR PROGESTERONE? THE ONLY THING I CAN GATHER, IS THAT  THEY ARE CAUSED BY BOTH. SO THE PRESENCE OF THOSE SYMPTOMS WHILST TAKING, EVEN A LOW DOSE OF PROGESTERONE, DOES NOTHING TO EASE MY MIND. DOES ANYONE KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS?

 

[Stevi]

Contactmaya...   With my second pregnancy/miscarriage I continued using progesterone cream until I knew for sure that it was no longer supporting my pregnancy. I was getting my blood HCG checked regularly, and the numbers kept going down. I never got more than a faint BFP. I finally stopped the progesterone the 22 of December and miscarried on the 23rd. I knew the miscarriage was coming based on the plummetting HCG, and I didn't want to miscarry on Christmas.

This all taught me just how powerful progesterone can be. Since you are continuing to receive dark BFPs, I totally agree that you should continue the progesterone!!

Can you get some quantitative blood tests? Seeing the numbers rise may help you to be more sure things are going well. Though I really do think they are judging by your tests and symptoms!!!

AAM...   I just weaned myself off of DHEA myself. I've been taking it since May of last year and decided it might be a good idea to at least take a break from it.

[gumblossom]

Yay Purplefish! Congratulations. It's so lovely to see all these bfp's.

Contactmaya, the dark pregnancy tests are a good sign. But I do know what you mean about enjoying the pregnancy. Having a miscarriage last time has taught me to enjoy every moment - even the awful ones. I'm feeling good about this pregnancy - my tests are also getting darker. I'm also doing my best to stay positive. I feel differently to last time. Last time I was obsessed with reading sad stories about miscarriage and death - which was very strange, but I couldn't seem to stop myself - I think it was a preparation for what was going to happen. I feel so different this time. And have decided to just enjoy it.

It's a bit weird not telling my DH yet. I have almost told him a few times, but he has been snowed under at work and will be for a couple more weeks, so I think I might just let it go until then if I can.I can't really see the point of worrying him yet! I know he won't be jumping for joy when I tell him, but I know he'll love this one as much as our others.

I've been having a lot more cramping this time than in the past. I hope it means the baby is burrowing in deeply, for a good 9 months.They feel like AF cramps, although I haven't had them for years. So it doesn't make me think AF is coming, it just feels like it should be happening. My temperature is still high and yesterday would normally have been the start of AF, so I guess I'm 4 weeks. How exciting.

[gumblossom]

Me again...just had lunch at the pub with DH.He asked me if I am pregnant and I told him I thought so, my period is late and I feel like I am. I said I would test (small white lie) soon, but I didn't want to say anything for a couple of weeks because of his workload. He laughed and said, could I wait another couple of months to test, then he wouldn't have to think about it til then. He then said it would be alright, whatever will be will be.

So I guess I worried far too much. He was lovely and then told me he'd retire early so I can go back to work full-time while he looks after the kids! There's no way I'm going to let him do that!

Feeling very relieved and welled up when he was so sweet.

Phew.

[enigo]

Yay!! Gumblossum

[contactmaya]

GUMBLOSSOM, PHEW, RELIEF! GLAD YOUR TESTS ARE GETTING DARKER TOO.

STEVI, THANKS FOR SHARING THAT. I HAVENT HAD A CHANCE TO GET MY BETAS DONE. I ALMOST WENT WHEN I STARTED SPOTTING THE FIRST TIME, AND FELT SO DEPRESSED, AND IMAGINED THE WORST. I FIGURED THEY WOULD WAVE THEIR FINGERS AT ME AND TELL ME I SHOULDNT BE PREGNANT ANYWAY.

TURNS OUT, I HAVE BEEN TWO DAYS OUT IN Y CALCULATIONS. I GOT MY BFP ON DAY 10. IM ONLY 17DPO, NOT 19DPO.  ANYWAY, I WILL GO ON MONDAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT, AND AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT MY AF DATE. I ONLY KNOW MY OVULATIONS DATES :-)

I BOUGHT SOME PROGESTERONE CREAM, SO NOW I USE A 50MG SUPPOSITORY AT NIGHT, AND RUB ON ABOUT 20MG OF CREAMIN THE MORNING. TRYING TO KEEP THE DOSE LOW AS I CAN.

INTERESTINGLY, WHEN I WAS USING 200MG SUPPOSITORIES AT THE BEGINNING OF  THIS TTC JOURNEY (I WAS BREASTFEEDING ALOT AND HAD A LP OF ONLY 8 DAYS), AF STILL CAME ON TIME, OR ONLY A DAY LATE. I COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND HOW 200MG OF PROGESTERONE DIDNT PREVENT IT.

[Stevi]

The few times I used progesterone cream for TTC (i.e. during the TWW), my period always came on time as well.

[SpiralChrissy]

Gumblossom - Hurray about your DH! What a relief!

Congrats Purplefish!

Sending lot of energy and love to everyone. 

[WaturMama]

Gumblossom, what a sweet conversation with your dh. Yay!

[contactmaya]

FEELING GOOD, NO MORE CRAMPING OR SPOTTING, DEFINITELY FEELING MORE PREGNANT, CONSTANT HUNGER AND CRAVINGS BUT NO NAUSEA.  I HAVE STOPPED USING PROGESTERONE IN THE DAY, BUT AM STILL TAKING 50MG AT NIGHT.  

[greenmama66]

Contact- I used progesterone cream (first time using it) the cycle I got pregnant- I started right after I ovulated and I continued using it (can't remember if I put it on 2 or 3 times per day) until I was around 18 weeks pregnant. Then I weaned off of it- I was never diagnosed with a progest deficiency nor did my cycles come before 14 days after I O'ed- it was something in the back of my head that told me to use it. I have read it makes for larger smarter babies LOL.

[WaturMama]

Wonderful news, CONTACTMAYA! Thank you for checking in. Yay hunger and cravings!

My temperature shifted, probably Sat, definitely by today. I had disrupted sleep over the weekend, helping my elderly dog who was having stomach issues in the middle of the night, so I'm not sure about those weekend temps even though they seemed shifted, but this morning was clear. This is just 17-19 days after I started my bleeding and just 7-9 after I passed tissue and last bled. My boobs had just shrunk back down and then I guess with the return of the progesterone they are larger again! And I feel a bit nauseous today--I think my body is really responding to the progesterone--it's like "I" know what to do this this stuff! Dh and I had decently timed BD, so I am officially in the 2WW and hoping/praying.

I am seeing a gynecologist tomorrow. I'm going to talk to her about taking progesterone supplements. I'm curious how many others have done so. Have you? I like the large, smart babies news, greenmama.

The plan had been to have an u/s and make sure my uterus is clear, but I think I am going to forego the u/s. I don't want to take any chances with a potential delicate new being. At this stage I want to give every chance its best shot and not have regrets. Even my Western-medicine-skeptical TCM practioner thinks the u/s is probably okay. I know the doctor will, but my TCM person supports me being comfortable with what I do also.

[greenmama66]

It was here I read it from Oasis Serene website- If I become pregnant should I discontinue using Oasis Serene?
If you become pregnant while using Oasis Serene DO NOT DISCONTINUE the cream. Continue to use Oasis Serene through month four. Research has indicated that babies born to mothers who used natural (bioidentical) progesterone during pregnancy are larger, calmer and smarter!

What are the dosage recommendations for pregnancy?
The amount of transdermal natural progesterone you use to get or stay pregnant is no more than the amount recommended for perimenopausal and menopausal women: 20 to 30 milligrams a day. The timing is important, however. If you're trying to get pregnant, using progesterone cream can suppress ovulation. Don't use Oasis Serene until after you know you have ovulated. You can find out whether you've done so by taking your temperature each morning before you rise (it will go up slightly when you ovulate), or by using home ovulation tests available at most drugstores.

After that, use Oasis Serene each day, smoothing it onto your neck, chest, bottom of feet, and inner arms or anywhere that blood vessels are visible (thin skinned areas) rotating the application area. Once you've gone through the first trimester, you can taper off very slowly (don't stop abruptly) – your body will soon be producing more than ten times what you use transdermally. You don't need to stop using it during the second or third trimesters, since it's really a drop in the bucket of what the placenta produces. Katharina Dalton, MD, the true pioneer of natural progesterone therapy, has administered progesterone to many women during their pregnancies. An informal survey of her patients has revealed that their babies are more likely to stand and walk by one year of age, and that by the age of nine or ten, they seem to have superior academic performance.

[purplefish]

Really interesting about the progesterone. Its weird that there seems to be little research into effect of consumption eggs, walnuts and other natural progesterone sources. I had been about to post that during my last pregnancy I developed a real aversion to walnuts shortly before the miscarriage and I was quietly optimistic as this time I had no such aversion. But  I seem to have some light spotting so I'm not very optimistic anymore. Maybe the nursing and pregnancy are just not compatible but who knows? I also did some work in the garden yesterday and had started doing some light exercise again.

Edited by purplefish - 5/24/11 at 7:38am

[TenzinsMama]

purplefish, spotting can be a normal thing for some women and in some pregnancies, so hopefully that is all that it is.  I'm sending you hugs and positive energy!!!

[contactmaya]

PURPLEFISH, I DONT KNOW IF YOU ARE USING PROGESTERONE ALREADY, BUT IF NOT, JUST GO OUT AND BUY THE CREAM, AT LEAST TO PUT YOUR MIND AT EASE. ITS TRUE THAT SPOTTING CAN BE NORMAL, BUT WHY TAKE THE RISK?AND I BELIEVE THAT NURSING CAN AFFECT PROGESTERONE

LEVELS, ALTHOUGH I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU ARE ACTUALLY PREGNANT. IM SURE YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS, BUT MAKE SURE THE CREAM IS BIO IDENITICAL PROGESREONE  AND PARABEN FREE. I USE THE BRAND PRO-GEST.

 

THE CREAM IS SO EASY, AND SO NICE TO USE. THERES NO HARM IF YOU DONT NEED IT. 

 

IM WAITING FOR MY BETA TO SEE IF THIS PREGNANCY IS VIABLE. HOPING IT IS, AND CONTINUING THE PROGESTERONE JUST OT PUT MY MIND AT EASE. I REALIZE THAT BETAS DONT PROVE VIABILITY FOR THE LONG TERM, BUT THEY DO FOR THE TIME BEING.

 

THANKS FOR THE INFO GREENMAMA.

 

WATURMAMA,. FINGERS CROSSED FOR YOU.  

 

LITMAMA, I WANT TO FILL OUT YOUR SURVEY...WILL GET AROUND TO IT...

 

[purplefish]

Not currently using, though not sure if it's too late as already got back cramps (:

Need to get some for next time. Thanks for the info.

Good Luck with the betas.

Edited by purplefish - 5/24/11 at 10:22am

[contactmaya]

 ...it might not be too late. i had back cramping at the beginning and the progesterone made it go away. fingers crossed for you.

HEY ITS ME!!! I fixed the caps!!!!!

[contactmaya]

Purplefish, ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) 

[purplefish]

Wow liking the no caps :)

I'm not sure about the progesterone as I have been eating lots of foods which are supposedly high in progesterone. 

I like to spend lots of time reading up on things before I use them. So I think for now I shall just see what happens.