Newbie Intros w/o 7/26

fameonmain2

Welcome, new members! Please read The Ultimate TTGP Guide pinned at the top of the board (https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12685680/the-ultimate-ttgp-guide-newbies-read-this-first). It's full of information about TTGP and about our community here on The Bump. 

Please introduce yourself and share as much (or as little) as you would like. Once you're ready, feel free to jump into any of our daily/weekly threads to participate in the community!

Ages (you and SO): 

How many months have you been TTC?: 

What are you doing to get knocked up (WAYDTGKU)?: 

Tell us about yourself! (Kids, pets, job, hobbies, etc.)

battybetty

Hi there!
I'm 30, TTC as a single mom by choice.
Preparing to TTC in September.
I have kids from a previous relationship and two kitties. I am a full-time WAHM.
Hoping to make some friends on this journey!

optimistgardener

@battybetty from one "single mom by choice" to another, a big welcome! there aren't a lot of us around here but i've found it to be a great community anyhow. feel free to give me a shout if you have any questions about the getting-knocked-up-solo process. I've been struggling with fertility issues that it seems likely you won't encounter, so as a result I know my way around everything from the super-simple "a friend and a syringe" method through to donor sperm, IUIs, and IVF. What's your strategy?

acleverusername

@battybetty Welcome to the group! Are you going to do IUIs to start with? At home or in clinic? I hope you'll find the support you need in this group. 

bluebox07700

Hello! I am also TTC as a SMC! I'm 33. I have no known infertility, though my day 3 testing did show that my AMH is on the lower end (.85). All my other numbers are good. I purchased sperm from a sperm bank last week, and am going to be going in for my first IUI my next cycle (late August). I had started out thinking I'd do ICI, but my lower AMH made me decide against that. I'll do three non-medicated cycles before looking at any kind of medication. I bought 4 months worth, so hopefully one of them sticks! I recently moved back to my hometown to be closer to family as I start this journey. I'm a social worker, avid knitter and crocheter, and in non-covid times enjoy swing dancing (though that hasn't really been a thing since before Covid).

optimistgardener

@andi202 welcome!! great to have you here. Here's hoping you get pregnant right away! Since buying sperm is so stupidly expensive, it's great that you have done initial bloodwork to tick those boxes. I'd also recommend an ultrasound if you haven't done one already. When I finally had an u/s done after more than a half year of trying, they found fibroids that were impinging on my ability to implant. Deets in my signature.

For some hopeful reference (because my history is a little depressing!), I know two other women who have gotten pregnant either solo or with queer partners. One woman has now had two kids this way, both conceived by ICI (the first was a BFP after her first cycle in her early 30s, the 2nd after I believe took 4 or 5 cycles in her mid-30s); the second woman took I believe 7 or 8 months for her BFP, the first few months of which were ICI and then she converted to IUI. She was in her mid-30s at the time.

bluebox07700

@optimistgardener Thanks! Sperm is ridiculous. I was so tempted to go with a small, anonymous only bank because it was $455/vial (I even wasted $45 buying profiles from them), but decided that open ID and donor sibling info was too important. I went with Seattle Sperm Bank because it's the most reasonable, but you still get a lot of info and it's Open ID. My sperm is arriving at my clinic next week! I talked to my RE about the ultrasound. She basically said that they typically wait until I've done a few natural cycles because it's an expense I may not need. On the flip side I know I could waste a few months worth of expensive sperm if something *is* wrong, but it's hard to know the right way to go.

optimistgardener

@andi202 I looked at seattle sperm bank also, but wound up going with one of the more expensive options (sperm bank of california) because i used to literally live right down the street and could go pick up a vial on my bike if i wanted to, which saved me shipping costs. They have also been really easy to work with. But their prices are hard to swallow. Happy to hear you like the seattle bank.
Glad you've had a convo with yr clinic about the u/s. It's always a balancing act to decide whether it is worth investing $$ early on to confirm that things are good, or risk $$ assuming that they are. Basically there is no right (or wrong) answer! Anyhow, welcome. Since you're doing natural cycles, if you haven't already started you should start temping and maybe do a practice cycle with opks to get the hang of your ovulation pattern. Folks in the dailies and in the opk help thread or chart stalk are great resources.

aloha_mama

Hello, all! I am a returning member from seven years ago while I was TTC before and I loved the community feeling I got of not going through this journey alone. 

DH and I are both 33.

TTC 2 months/cycles

Avid FF believer, BBT, CM, pomegranate juice, exercise, all the things. Haven’t begun OPK yet but will in a few months if no luck. 

We have a six year old DD who has been asking for a sibling since our state went on lockdown orders last year (“if I had a little sister I wouldn’t have to bother you as much to play…”). I love to hike, beach, read books, drink all the coffee/wine, and cook and bake. I’m an RN and IBCLC so I keep pretty busy, and I also homeschool DD (starting first grade soon, yikes!).