TTC in 30s and already have kids thread but struggling to conceive?

[JuicyPakwan]

Is there a thread for those of us who have kids but are struggling to conceive for some reason or another?  I don't want to crash another thread that is for those struggling with primary infertility but would love to bounce off ideas and frustrations with others.  I have a few kids and for some reason my body has decided at 34 to stop cooperating.  Since I have kids we will be doing some testing but won't be doing anything drastic for another so not sure where to look.  If there is not a thread with theses issues I'd love to start one!

[SKJ2011]

I'd be interested in this.  I'm 34 and have been trying for going on 10 months to have #2.  #1 is 20 months old.  

[geek_the_girl]

Me too. I am 39, have one child and have been ttc for almost two years.

[heatdodge]

Wow, how timely - I was just thinking, I should see what the mamas on Mothering have to say!  I've just turned 36 and suddenly realized we've been lazily TTC for a year now!  That totally freaks me out that I didn't even notice how long it's been.  Both my other kids were kind of unplanned in a "if we get pregnant that would be okay" kinda way.  Last year I said, okay let's stop trying not to get pregnant, and just assumed in a few months I would be.  I guess not.  I admit that with everything going on in my life, being preggers-tired and/or nauseas would have really thrown me for a loop.  I'd like to think my body was just doing the right thing.  BUT time is running out.  I'm afraid of drs and tests...what kind of tests do you go in for if your not particularly thinking of doing infertility treatments?  Do you go to a GP, a gyno or an infertility dr??  Pretty much the only medical care I get is when I'm pregnant!  Are you all doing anything dietwise or accupuncture or anything to help?

[dbl_my_luv]

This is my story too.  We've been TTCing on and off for almost 3 years now, and had two miscarriages in the time.  We already have 2 children (ages 8 and 5) and I'm 34. 

We're in the same boat of wanting to find out why we're not achieving pregnancy, but not sure how far we want to go in terms of medical procedures or expense.  I've been trying extra vitamins and it seems to have helped my LP, but not sure if that was even the problem.  I'm going to a naturpoath/accupuncturist on Friday, so hoping that will help!

[JuicyPakwan]

I am so glad to have company in this!  I feel almost embarassed sometimes when I even mention being sad/upset that it's not working out this time like I should be glad for what I have. 

For me I'm not really sure I think there is a combo of things>  I went on the mini pill (to control period pain which it did but replaced it with cycts) for four months in the winter of 2010-2011 and my cycle has not been the same since.  I have had two confimed miscarriages last july(6wks) and oct(5wks) and nothing since.  I spoke with an ob who wants me to come in and run test the minute I get another positive to see if we can see what's going and hopefully correct it.  Also I am doing some natural herbs to try and regulate my body.  So we have been actively TTC for 8-9 months but my youngest is almost three and we have not been very careful at all since she was born.

dbl_my_luv - I'm with you other than some simple things like blood tests and such I'm not sure how far I will take this.

[geek_the_girl]

I finally went in a few months back and got tested. My egg quality is starting to decline I'm in the very early stages of Perimenopause and I'm overweight. He told me that I need to lose some weight and then come back in. I'm working on it but it is not as easy at 39. At this point I think i'm past the point of feeling bitter. I am going to keep trying and hope for the best but I've decided for me personally and my own situation fertility treatments are not for me.

I'm in the 2ww and trying not to think about it and refuse to even jump on the crazy testing bandwagon like I have almost every cycle in the past.

Edited by geek_the_girl - 1/12/12 at 2:51pm

[SKJ2011]

Thought I'd add more details to my story.  My PPAF came in April (DD was 11 m/o and nursed until she was 17 m/o) and we weren't preventing.  We started actively TTC in June, so I'm now starting month 9 of actively TTC and 11 of unprotected sex.  I've read that when dealing with secondary infertility, the golden rule is to see a doc after 6 months of unprotected sex if over 30 (I'm 34).  So, I saw a doctor last month. He said the next steps are an HSG for me and SA for my DH.  His suggestion was to wait until a full year of trying, which would be March.  In the meantime, he gave me progesterone b/c my LP has been only 8 days.  This last cycle, the progesterone got me to 12 days, but I had some spotting a few times.  I called for an appointment to start the testing b/c I figure, why wait to have more info.  I know that it can take a healthy couple up to a year to conceive, but I just have a feeling something is not right considering I've had 10 cycles and still have a really short LP. 

Glad to have some fellow ladies to talk to about this. 

[gozal]

Me too.

I always wanted a large-ish family, 3-4 kiddos. Got married, started right away. Bam, pg after 2 cycles. I was 28. At my 6-week-pp appt., my OB asked me if I wanted BCPs. I said no, we would welcome another pg anytime. 

DS is now 4.5 yo.

Diagnosis took forever, I have a rare kind of tumor. Fixed that, got pg third cycle trying. Miscarriage. 

Since then, nothing. This is our sixth cycle trying since the m/c. 

Theoretically now that my tumor is gone I should excellent chances. I've had all the tests, they all came back great. I try to stay positive, but most days I cry.

I'm on my second round of Clomid. We'll see what happens.

Thanks for starting this, I need it!

FWIW, I don't for a second think this is anything other than infertility and I have personally found all the ladies on the IF boards extremely supportive. I love those gals.

[JuicyPakwan]

SKJ2011 -   I agree why wait a short LP can really be a challenge.  I hope you can find answers sooner than later.

Well I am currently pg.  It has been very difficult for me to get excited because of the last 3 however I am optimistic as my hcg numbers went up sufficiently for a normal pregnancy and I will be getting a U/S on Feb 14th to confirm a heartbeat. I think I will believe it more when I see the heartbeat.  I am on progesterone as a precaution and it is making me feel like a zombie and I have to nap every afternoon and I have sore breasts but that can all be side effects of progesterone so I can't rely on those at all.  The kids are getting suspicious though my 12 yo old is asking me every day why I am so tired he's no fool but I am putting him off I don't want him crushed.  He would love to have a little brother.

[SKJ2011]

Congrats JP!  Here's to a sticky one and a nice, strong hb on valentine's day.  I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

AFM, I called the doc last week and he kindly left a nice long message for me.  He basically said that I'll need to wait until the 1 year mark for insurance to cover any testing for infertility.  He said that I could pay out of pocket, but that if i was willing to wait until April, I can have my HSG and b/w and DH can get his SA and we can submit it to insurance.  So, I guess that is the reason to wait.

I asked my acupuncturist if there was anything else I should be doing to help myself.  He sent me a bunch of dietary guidelines for Kidney Yang deficiency (KYD).  Turns out, I have been eating almost exclusively foods I should be avoiding!  I was both happy and annoyed to find this out.  Happy, b/c I feel like I have something I can be doing in the next few months to improve my chances, and annoyed that neither acupuncturist mentioned diet to me since I started going back in September.  So, I feel like I've wasted time since dietary changes are not a quick fix.  but, I can't really go back in time, so I'm trying to stay positive and embrace my new diet.  I also got "the infertility diet" to learn more about the TCM side of infertility.  From what I've been reading, sounds like I would be a good candidate for clomid, so maybe that will be my solution.

Right now, I'm on CD 7 with EWCM already.  I have been having crazy amounts of CM throughout my whole cycle, which is part of the KYD. I've also started temping again.  I'm not sure that all this reading is such a great idea, b/c it definitely makes me more obsessed about the whole process.  Anyways, hope you ladies are doing well!

[AuntRayRay]

I have also been TTC for awhile( plus one miscarriage)..I am going to be 34 soon and have 3 boys 15,14,7. Had no trouble getting preggo with the 3 i have. But now it seems a problem..very frustrating:(

(((hugs))) for all the mommas having this problem!

[AuntRayRay]

Originally Posted by JuicyPakwan 

I am so glad to have company in this!  I feel almost embarassed sometimes when I even mention being sad/upset that it's not working out this time like I should be glad for what I have. 

For me I'm not really sure I think there is a combo of things>  I went on the mini pill (to control period pain which it did but replaced it with cycts) for four months in the winter of 2010-2011 and my cycle has not been the same since.  I have had two confimed miscarriages last july(6wks) and oct(5wks) and nothing since.  I spoke with an ob who wants me to come in and run test the minute I get another positive to see if we can see what's going and hopefully correct it.  Also I am doing some natural herbs to try and regulate my body.  So we have been actively TTC for 8-9 months but my youngest is almost three and we have not been very careful at all since she was born.

dbl_my_luv - I'm with you other than some simple things like blood tests and such I'm not sure how far I will take this.

I feel the same way...glad to have people who understand/feel similiarly....and agree with feeling like i can't express my upset/disappointed feelings of it not working out to the people around me. People around me are like," you have three boys, isn't that enough!" So this post helps:)
 

[CA Country Girl]

Hi Ladies

Dropping by to encourage everyone.  We have a 6 year old (2 days) DD and were actively TTC #2 for over 18 months (and NTNP for a year or so before that) with no luck.  I am 36 and I started to get really discouraged.  What worked for me was a fertility acupuncture practice.  They ordered the blood tests (no regular doc. needed) and gave me herbs and treatments specifically to regulate temperatures and raise progesterone.  Not quite 4 months of treatments and BFP.  I will be twenty weeks on my daughter birthday in a few days. If you are wanting to take action, but not ready to go the traditionally fertility specialist, I am convince this helped me.  Good luck to you all!

[SKJ2011]

CA Country Girl - Congrats!!!  I'm totally with you on the acupuncture.  I started it in September and after 6 months, almost to the day, I got my BFP this morning.  I totally think acupuncture was the trick for me.  I also supplemented with progesterone the last two cycles and my O date moved way up (from CD 17 to CD 13).  Between the herbs/acupuncture and progesterone, something just clicked.  We'd been trying for 8 months and were NTNP for 2 months before that.  

[haleyelianasmom]

I'm 29.5 and in the same boat.  I'll come join you in another 6 months.  Good luck, everyone!

[geek_the_girl]

I am thinking about trying acupuncture soon. I am back in the TWW again after having a chemical pregnancy last cycle.