[Susie_Lou]

Hi guys,

I haven't posted on this forum before but I've surely used it a heap and read a heap. Anwyay, I just wanted to share my story as today I've finally got a BFP fter 12 months of trying!

We already have a wonderful, healthy 20 month old, who was conceived in my second month off the pill. It happened so very easily, we were surprised but stoked.

Fast forward and trying for no. 2 has been a different story. To us it has really been like trying for the first time. I had no idea about monitoring for ov, I didn't even know how long my cycle should be as I'd come straight off the pill when I fell pregnant with DS.
I have a sister who falls pregnant at the drop of a hat, while breastfeeding so thought I might be the same, but no.

I got my period back only 4 months after DS was born despite breastfeeding so I assumed I would be able to conceive quickly again. My cycle was all over the shop though.

I stopped BF at 12 months at which point nothing had happened so we tried a little more consciously. My cycle was loooong though - 40+ days and I had no idea when I ovulated.

I also have had problems with thrush. I get it nearly every month which makes BD not so much fun, but I didn't think it would have any impact on falling pregnant.

We went on for months trying despite the odd cycle and thrush and no luck. I spoke to a friend who is a Dr and she said that actually thrush can have an impact as you need the good, fertile, egg white CM for the swimmers to swim up. If you have thrush, it's going to make it harder. I wanted to cry as I felt our efforts had been in vain.

I thought people might like to know what I really think helped me (it's nice to think there are some things that can help):- I started taking B6 (after reading about it on forums) and it has helped my cycle - now down to 30 days.
- I used OPKs and although I never got a really strong positive (which i put down to drinking lots of water) I certainly got an almost positive for 1-2 days per cycle. Also I got no results if I tested earlier in the day, I had to test at around 6-8pm.
- In this last month we tried using Preseed which I think worked a treat in overriding any thrush I had and making a nice environment for conception. I would totally recommend it tto anyone who has problems with thrush or even just if you're not getting that classic egg white CM.

I had been to my normal GP when we'd been trying for around 8 months. He was quite awful, very dismissive and told me 'it'll happen'. Recently (around 11 months TTC) I saw a new GP who was great... had an US for PCOS (negative) and had my hormones tested (still waiting on 21 day progesterone test result) as I'd tested low for progesterone previously.

The new GP also was happy to refer us to an Ob/Gyn given the thrush and odd cycle. We have an appointment booked to see our Ob (who delivered DS) re fertility treatment and I'm so glad to be able to cancel it! I do think that feeling like things were being investigated and that we were going to see a FS took the load off a bit.

It has been awful though. A lot of the people who had their first baby at the same time as us have already had number two and have no qualms about asking when you're going to do the same. I think I had got to the point though where I was becoming ok with it all. This month I packed up all the baby clothes to go into storage. I was about to put the maternity stuff in storage too but today, we got good news

Anyway, hope someone finds some assistance in my story, as I have found assistance and comfort in so many others. Best of luck to you all.

Oh and btw it was a really busy month for us (husband working long shifts) so we only BD twice - two days in a row when I got the almost positive ov test.

Again, good luck to you all.

[FaithHopeLove]

congratulations that is awesome!

[Lisags]

Yay - are you still going to get the re-occurring Thrush looked at since you are pregnant?

[Susie_Lou]

Thanks guys! I'm just hoping tomorrow my BFP won't have magically gone away. Not that I really think it would, but after trying for so long it all doesn't seem quite real.

Yes will discuss the thrush with my Ob/Gyn as my GP couldn't find any reason for it (ie she did a blood test for diabetes/blood sugar which came back normal). I never had it when I was on the pill, or when I was pregnant last time so my suspicion is it's all down to hormones doing weird things. Things were just so normal when I was on the pill!

[bec_1108]

Congratulations on your BFP! Thanks for posting your story. I too suffer from recurrent thrush. I probably get it every second cycle, and yes it makes BD difficult, particularly as it usually coincides with when I O. I often have wondered if it impacts chances of conceiving. I might give the pre-seed a go. I've had the diabetes check and all is fine. All the best for your pregnancy!