Warm Winter Wishes and BFP's 40 ++ TTC - Page 33

[karabooboo]

Congrats, ContactMaya on your healthy baby!! I found your 2011 thread "43 & Pregnant" and hoped I'd see this success story when I viewed your more recent posts! 

I am 43, single and plan on TTC next month using ICI or IUI.  I feel I've lived a healthy life.  Never had any problems with Pap tests, stds, cysts or anything else.  My mother first conceived at 35 then again at 37.  I think she drilled it into my head to WAIT to have kids and "live your life."  Well, I did all that but now in 40's, finding a BF/husband wanting to conceive is like searching for the Holy Grail.  With some recent life changes I said NOW!

I get my "3 day test" results next week which will advise on ovarian reserve, FSH, etc.  An OB/Gyn yearly visit next week as well.

I'm praying to not have to do a huge amount of IUI/ICI cycles as I have to pay out of pocket for each.  ($800 sp w delivery and $200 midwife).  Any IVF necessity and my dreams will be blown out of the water.

I am taking prenatal vitamins.  They were nauseating at first!  Then chose to take 1/2 in AM and 1/2 in PM and problem solved!!!

I plan to taper off RX meds.  Trying to get my ducks in a row for my mid-October IUI/ICI.  Is there anything else I should be doing???  Comments welcome!!

[contactmaya]

Karabooboo, i wish you the best of luck in your hopefully short, ttc journey.

I also really appreciate the congratulations, and making the connection from my original post in 2010 and 2011, to now. My baby girl is now 8mths old!!! My ttc journey was relatively short compared to others, but at the time, it seemed like i would never conceive again, and it was heart breaking for me. It took me 14mths, and then bingo, i got a bfp. Bleeding in the first trimester, but i made it to the 2nd, then 3rd,  and finally had a birth (home) without complications. It was practically unassisted because  my doula and midwife showed up 10mins before the baby crowned. Thank Gd, the baby was healthy and normal ( i had bypassed all the elderly gravida tests they pressure you to do, apart from the 20 week ultrasound) She came out very alert, and looked around in wonder. She had the cutest little face. I just started crying.

I turned 45 a week after giving birth.

I had worked with a  known donor, and did at home ivi's (intravaginal) I even occasionally tried ni (natural intercourse) when possible.  Always bfn.s. I had good ewcm when i started, but then took  soy isoflavones, and never regained it back. (research soy isflavones on this site,but beware that  it isnt the best for over 40.s, or if you already have a strong cycle) Then for months i tried to get it back with green tea,  evening primrose oil, and nothing.

I took dhea for a few months, and then stopped it abruptly, upon giving up, and  1 or 2 months later conceived.

I finally had an iui with an anonymous donor, and conceived the 2nd cycle.  It was to be my last anyway. The nurse said i had good egg white that month. It may have been the fact that it was an iui that allowed me to conceive, or maybe it had been a sperm issue all along.

I will never know, but i do know I love having 3 kids,  and baby's older brothers love having her around. The age difference has worked out well so far, at 8mths, 4 and 7. 

Baby dust to you, and everyone ttc on this thread!!!

[contactmaya]

ps there are more ttc details that i am not remembering very clearly, but my above post mentions the essentials.  I also took progesterone in many cycles to prolong my lutual phase which had been short because of nursing, and continued to be weak as time went on.  With my bfp, i used over the counter progest cream, but discontinued it after about 10 days (i think....).....

[amommyTTC]

I wondered if anytime during your TTC experience did you do a fertility test, or have an FSH done? I am 48 and thinking my chances are even worse than most here. I tried for 12 months with a known donor, had one month with a chemical pregnancy but no sticky babies. 

[contactmaya]

I didnt do any of those tests because i was breastfeeding, and they would not have been accurate. Later, i researched that they are not accuarate even if you are not breastfeeding. I do not believe they give an accurate reflection of our true fertility. I cant remember why this is (sleep deprivation is clouding y mind, but it will come back to me) Anecdotally, there are women with high fsh's that conceive, especially younger women, and then those with low fshs', that dont (especially older women) Amh isnt much better. The tests only judge egg quantity, not egg quality. 

I do  know that on the cycle i conceived, i only had 3 follicles. I actually didnt want an ultrasound but they did it anyway (typically they do an ultrasound when having an iui) Apparently that was typical for a woman my age. Thats when they told me i had good ewcm, because i certainly didnt see much of it.

[amommyTTC]

Well that sounds like better news! I was pretty bummed actually.. I do know I have conceived a couple cycles out of the past year.. maybe progesterone is the key.. My LP and cycle's are completely normal, in fact my LP has lengthened from what it was when I was younger (I used to have an LP defect of 10 days). 

I really appreciate the reply and I will continue on my quest for one last miracle! 

Christi

[TenzinsMama]

ContactMaya, I remember being on the thread when you were ttc'ing!  Such a wonderful, encouraging story.  I'm hoping to have one more baby, but I will certainly be getting up there... Did you take any B vitamins? 

[WaturMama]

Great to see you here ContactMaya and TenzinsMama!

I took progesterone intravaginally 2 cycles, separated by a couple months, when I thought we'd have good tries. Both times afterwards I had very light bleeding and short cycles. I don't like the idea of messing that much with my cycle since it seems to be working pretty well. So I think I'm not going to be trying that again. I am lower key trying now. Trying to get used to the idea that ds might be the only one, while also trying and doing the things I feel comfortable with. Even though I'm not doing the progesterone two major changes since my last m/c are that I'm nearly gluten-free (I do eat some rye and oats) and I'm taking more D. Those of you taking D, in what form are you taking it?

[contactmaya]

Nice to see you too Waturmama.

To answer the question about vit b,  i have been taking an 'ultra prenatal' since after the birth of ds1 in 2005.  I havent really switched since then, and see that i still have it . It contains 50mg of vitb6 which is twice the usual dose.  It also has higher doses of other b vitamins. I have been taking this throughout my pregnancy and breastfeeding years.

I reduced coffee intake to one third a up a day without suger (honey instead) and a cup of green tea with that during my ttc time. I didnt radically change my diet however. I take 2000mg of omega 3's a day.

[lovestolearn]

Waturmama~ I take 6000 IUs of Carlson's Solar D Gems.  D3 gel caps in a CLO base.
 

[carmen358]

I just popped in after not checking in for awhile and was happy to read your story, contactmaya :) What an encouraging story!

karabooboo, good luck to you! I get pregnant very easily but unfortunately can't seem to get past 9 weeks. I had a fairly rigorous plan that I followed. I did weekly acupuncture with a fertility TCM doctor, chinese herbs, prenatals, fish oil, 2000 IU vitamin D3 (sisu tablets for whomever asked...), 400 IU of vitamin E, coq10 (for egg quality), no caffeine, gluten free (I have an allergy) and we were doing at home artificial insems with a known donor (my partner is female). I think acupuncture with an experienced doctor that specializes in fertility is the most important thing to do with any fertility issue that is "unexplained" especially. All my tests came back picture perfect....RE thinks egg quality due to my age is the culprit.

Hi to everyone else :)

[WaturMama]

Thanks everyone! Good to see you all.
 

[karabooboo]

Originally Posted by carmen358 

I just popped in after not checking in for awhile and was happy to read your story, contactmaya :) What an encouraging story!

karabooboo, good luck to you! I get pregnant very easily but unfortunately can't seem to get past 9 weeks. I had a fairly rigorous plan that I followed. I did weekly acupuncture with a fertility TCM doctor, chinese herbs, prenatals, fish oil, 2000 IU vitamin D3 (sisu tablets for whomever asked...), 400 IU of vitamin E, coq10 (for egg quality), no caffeine, gluten free (I have an allergy) and we were doing at home artificial insems with a known donor (my partner is female). I think acupuncture with an experienced doctor that specializes in fertility is the most important thing to do with any fertility issue that is "unexplained" especially. All my tests came back picture perfect....RE thinks egg quality due to my age is the culprit.

Hi to everyone else :)

Hi Carmen, Thanks!  My first ever TTC will probably be this weekend.  An ICI at the midwife (only available donor sample was unwashed and midwife says her office's washing is not a good one.)  So I will have 2 ICIs since I have 2 vials.  After that I'll be looking at a new donor and IUIs.  I know nothing about progesterone creams or accupuncture - will definitely researach those issues!  I've been on prenatals for 2 mos.  Off caffeine, alcohol and prescription meds (except for ulcer med).  It will be interesting.  These message boards  have been helpful in keeping my expectations in check.  I will keep you all posted after my procedure. 

[KarinaNYC]

Hi- just popping in to this thread and wondering if anyone here conceived and had their first when they were 40+. I guess I'm looking for a little encouragement and was curious if anyone had some positive and uplifting stories to share. I'll be 42 soon and have never conceived. Been with my partner for 13 years and haven't used bc for the last 7. We've both had the standard tests & everything came back within "normal" range. Just trying to see if I'm being realistic or if I'm deluding myself. We never proceeded with any medical interventions, so I'm wondering if now at my age that route is my only recourse. Sorry to hijack! Good luck to all!

[TenzinsMama]

Hey waturmama, carmen and lovestolearn!  Good to hear from you! (thread has been pretty quiet lately...) I've been thinking of you and wondering how you are doing.

[gumblossom]

Hello everyone, it has been ages since I visited here. I just don't really have any news to share. I've still been ttc, but since my last miscarriage at 5/6 weeks back in April, nothing has happened. Last month I had the best high temps I had had in ages, but it didn't result in a pregnancy. I often wonder if I am getting fertilised eggs that just won't implant.

I will be turning 46 next week, so I know my chances of a pregnancy are slipping away.But I am not giving up, I still believe where there's life (or regular AF) there's hope!

Good luck to everyone.

[contactmaya]

Happy birthday Gumblossom!

[miss_sonja]

Welcomed a baby boy on nov 3, born at home after an hour of labor. 42 weeks!

Thanks for all the support here back in the spring when things felt so tentative. I turned 45 last month...golly!

[gumblossom]

Congratulations MissSonja - that is such wonderful news. It gives me such hope.

Just yesterday on Fertility Friend I saw a 46 year old got a bfp! There are still many,many great stories of hope out there for us.
 

[TenzinsMama]

Miss Sonja, oh YAY-- yes, that is such WONDERFUL news!  Congratulations!!!!  Just want I want to hear right now, as I am needing encouragement about trying for another baby in the months to come (I turn 43 next month).

Gumblossom, nice to hear from you!  Hope you have a special day on your birthday!