Pink swayers' December thread

[Mochagirl]

Sorry, lemon - I've never used a CBFM, so I have no idea!

Z - thanks for the advice. You're right - if I'm stressed about it, that's not going to help anything and might actually hurt my sway. I did take another OPK just now and it still isn't anywhere near +, but this pain in my left ovary has been strong all day! Maybe I'll get dh to release soon then I can always change my mind about dtd later - he needs to release either way, right? I might just use a teeny finger of rephresh though - just in case O is on the verge of happening, I don't want to kill all the spermies! If I do it right now it will be 4 hours before our attempt. Do you think that's ok? I really, really want to get pregnant this cycle....

[lemon2012]

Zan....since you are so helpful!!!!! We dtd this am and there was not much to the attempt at all. DH had a hard time keeping it up and in there...I am truly sorry this is TMI for SURE! He just does not release this much ever!
So, do you think we shld go again tonight or just leave it. We have lots in there from 0-2...and then whatever came out today....0 day! Just like mocha...i want to get pg!

Mocha...i think you need to start dtd...besides you are travelling on Thursday and they all need to be in there!
You hardly eat anything and you have 3 boys and Christmas....so stop stressing and start dtd!
I don't think he needs to release again before you dtd....if you are clearly not oing tomorrow it probably won't matter and if anything, it might make it harder closer to o...take it from me!

Again Z, how much came out of DH when you conceived,.....seems like a long shot for me!
But, my eggs are old....! groan!
And how much rephresh????

Mocha...you would now how much you used when you did not get pregnant...would this hurt your chances?
Maybe use a little?
Did you use the whole tube when it did not get you pregnant?

I hope we all get BFPs and girlies like Zan

[Mochagirl]

Lemon - I've never used a whole tube of rephresh close to O - only when I'm far away from my fertile period. I usually squirt about half a tube onto my finger and insert it that way - every 3 days. That's what I was doing for the 3 months in the summer when I wasn't able to get pregnant.

So...I updated on the swayers over 35 board, but I did end up putting some rephresh in, but by the time I did it it was only about 3 hours until our attempt. I also ended up using more than I intended - maybe 1/2 a tube. Now I'm worried I've ruined our chances of getting pregnant if O is indeed about to happen. I think maybe I won't get dh to release first after all and rely on our 6 days of daily release + 1/2 tube of rephresh to lower his sperm count. I'm definitely not jumping and dumping, either. I've taken zyrtec and might also pop a benedryl closer to BD time.

If O is still a few days away, hopefully the rephresh will have run its course and by then dh's sperm count will be low enough on its own for us to dtd without it. What do you all think? Have I messed up my sway?

[Jamie86]

I find this all confusing because I know that when reading about rephresh it says it is it safe to use while TTC but I know a lot of ladies here say it can really hurt your chances. I used a whole tube yesterday afternoon and then DTD last night and this afternoon, so did I perhaps ruin my chances of conceiving?

[Mochagirl]

I know, it IS confusing, isn't it?? Technically, rephresh is fine for TTC. Many women, including our own lovely Zanacal, have gotten pregnant while using tons of it. The fact is TTC is a gamble no matter what we do, and I think we all want to blame something for not getting our BFP.

For me personally, my BFP cycle last September came after I changed only one thing in my sway: I dropped the rephresh. The BFP may have had nothing to do with dropping the rephresh, but I've made that connection in my mind, which is why I'm leary of it.

That being said, you're young and likely a lot more fertile than me (I'm 37). I wouldn't worry about having used it, but if you don't get your BFP this cycle you could try to change it up and either not use it at all or use less of it.

[rainbowflower]

I know, it IS confusing, isn't it?? Technically, rephresh is fine for TTC. Many women, including our own lovely Zanacal, have gotten pregnant while using tons of it. The fact is TTC is a gamble no matter what we do, and I think we all want to blame something for not getting our BFP.

For me personally, my BFP cycle last September came after I changed only one thing in my sway: I dropped the rephresh. The BFP may have had nothing to do with dropping the rephresh, but I've made that connection in my mind, which is why I'm leary of it.

That being said, you're young and likely a lot more fertile than me (I'm 37). I wouldn't worry about having used it, but if you don't get your BFP this cycle you could try to change it up and either not use it at all or use less of it.

I think it's exactly this - chances are those on here who have boys had "better than average" fertility anyway so it can be a shock when lower fertility means it takes longer to conceive, and it's normal for AVERAGE fertility couples to take 6 months to conceive even if timing BD right around OV... and for pink swaying we're lowering fertility through diet, etc.
I definitely don't think RepHresh would prevent pregnancy, I think it taking longer to conceive is just a sign of a sway working.... frustrating as that is!

[Jamie86]

Thanks ladies! I get what you both are saying, I think it's hard also because it's my first cycle and I'm not sure if I'm doing too much or not enough but like you said if I don't get my BFP I can change some things next cycle.

This morning was a little strange again as my strip was VERY positive and the clear blue was negative again. I went and dug out the instructions and they clear blue definitely says to use first morning urine (not exclusively but it says it is usually best) but it seems to not catch it with first morning urine. I'm going to take another this afternoon and then I might stop because I'm pretty sure I Oed yesterday. I had light cramping Sunday night and then last night before going to bed my left ovary (or at least where it is located) had a few sharp pains and I've been bloating (which I'm not sure if bloating is a normal O symptom but I've noticed over the last year of tracking my cycle to TNTC that I bloat every time I ovulate).

[Mochagirl]

So....we did end up having an attempt last night. I'm glad we did it, even though I think O may still take a few days to arrive. I think it's better to be safe than sorry, and I don't want to be continually worrying I missed our egg. I used 1/2 tube of rephresh maybe 3 hours before the attempt and I also took a zyrtec, so I didn't bother having dh release beforehand - I decided to rely on his 6 days of release + those other factors to lower his sperm count. I hope that was enough!

My cervix is even more open today but the cramping has stopped for now. I'm going to try my best to do at least 2, maybe 3 opks a day to watch for my surge, but I find it sooooooo hard to have more than one concentrated pee sample a day with all the liquids I'm drinking (3 cups peppermint tea a day, 2 cups RRL tea, up to 3 cups CL/Diet Pepsi). Anyone have any advice on how to do this? Normally I only have coffee in the morning then wait until about 1pm to do an OPK, then I start drinking all my stuff for the rest of the afternoon/evening...but if I want to get an early evening OPK in there how should I time my drinks? I did do one with FMU this morning, and it was -, but it was just an ic and I don't think you're supposed to use those with FMU.

Anyway, I suppose in the end it doesn't matter as long as we keep dtd and temping so I know when O has come and gone. Still praying it's going to come in the next 2 days....

[Jamie86]

I wanted to add I had a strange dream last night. I was already pregnant and for some reason around someone with an ultrasound machine. I knew in my dream that I was 15 weeks and I told them I found out the sex with both my boys at 15 weeks (which is true) and begged them to take a look. I didn't even lay down I was standing there and pulled up my shirt and when they did the ultrasound I could see boy parts clear as day. So I was sad and trying to find a way to cope.

[Jamie86]

So....we did end up having an attempt last night. I'm glad we did it, even though I think O may still take a few days to arrive. I think it's better to be safe than sorry, and I don't want to be continually worrying I missed our egg. I used 1/2 tube of rephresh maybe 3 hours before the attempt and I also took a zyrtec, so I didn't bother having dh release beforehand - I decided to rely on his 6 days of release + those other factors to lower his sperm count. I hope that was enough!

My cervix is even more open today but the cramping has stopped for now. I'm going to try my best to do at least 2, maybe 3 opks a day to watch for my surge, but I find it sooooooo hard to have more than one concentrated pee sample a day with all the liquids I'm drinking (3 cups peppermint tea a day, 2 cups RRL tea, up to 3 cups CL/Diet Pepsi). Anyone have any advice on how to do this? Normally I only have coffee in the morning then wait until about 1pm to do an OPK, then I start drinking all my stuff for the rest of the afternoon/evening...but if I want to get an early evening OPK in there how should I time my drinks? I did do one with FMU this morning, and it was -, but it was just an ic and I don't think you're supposed to use those with FMU.

Anyway, I suppose in the end it doesn't matter as long as we keep dtd and temping so I know when O has come and gone. Still praying it's going to come in the next 2 days....

I think it was a great idea to have your attempt. And what you did sounds very similar to mine DH missed a day of release before our attempt so I used a whole tube of rephresh 3-4 hours before and took antihistamine before our attempt. In my amateur opinion I think you did great to make up to lower his sperm count especially considering it wasn't right on O day.

The drink problem is the issue I always have and why I usually take my OPKs with FMU. Maybe just drink what you are going to directly after you take one OPK and then don't drink again until after you take the next OPK. So divide the drink up semi evenly except perhaps drink a little more after you take your last OPK for the day. I'm really not sure I'm looking to see what advice you get.