Tips, Tricks and Old Wives' Tales

Re: Tips, Tricks and Old Wives' Tales

• dragonfaerie member

  May 2016

  Asparagus is supposed to help you conceive a boy. And supposedly, swimmers that would be a boy aren't as strong, so positions that put them closer to the egg in the first place are supposed to help conceive a boy as well. Heartburn means you'll have a hairy baby, or a boy. And of course, there's the ubiquitous "just relax and you'll get pregnant!" Some of the advice just makes me laugh and laugh, and other makes me want to strangle someone.

  ---Trigger warning---

  Me: 31 DH: 27
  TTC since April 2013
  Two cancelled IUIs in Aug and Sept '15 due to low motility/count
  IVF round 1: January 2016
  ER: February 17, 2016; 9 retrieved, 7 mature, 7 fertilized
  Day 5 Blastocysts: 5 BB, 1 AB, all normal from PGS
  FET date: May 11, '16; transferred 1 AB embryo
  First beta: May 23, '16: 998!!  Second: May 25, '16: 1648
  EDD: January 27, 2017

  

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• MntnGirl member

  May 2016 edited May 2016

  - Supplements for BFP: chaste berry, maca, raspberry leaf and fertility blend teas (pre IVF), seed cycling, NAC, CoQ10, DHEA, prenatal+DHA, D, baby aspirin.
  - Avoid alcohol and caffeine.
  - Stress less, sleep more.
  - DH avoid tight pants, tight undies, hot tubs, hot showers, alcohol for at least 3 months prior to BD.
  - Fertility abdominal massage prior to O.
  - Shettles Method of timing intercourse for boys or girls. If you want a girl don't BD on O day because male sperm don't last as long, but are faster swimmers. 
  - Eat African yams for multiples.
  - Avoid dairy for BFP.
  - Eat more fruit and vegetables.
  - Pomegranate juice for healthy lining pre conception.
  - Pineapple core and Brazil nuts for implantation.
  - Take Mucinex around O.
  - Don't use commercial lubricants, including those for conception. Use oils like grapeseed or olive.
  - BD like crazy after HSG. HSG can open tubes and remove cobwebs.
  - Prop your lower back up after BD with a pillow.
  - Drink and eat warming foods.
  - Keep your feet warm.
  - Stay positive.
  - Pray.
  
  ---TW---
  Whether they work or not they can give hope. I had 1st BFP (CP) after HSG and switching to olive oil (after 1st IVF consult). Never experimented with the Shettles Method - that seems like a luxory for more fertile couples. The only reason I haven't tried African yams is because I haven't found them.
  
  ETA a lot because I wasn't done.

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• kyrgyzshan member

  May 2016

  Wow, @MntnGirl  what a great list!  It'll be interesting to try some of these out!

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• wintersong555 member

  May 2016

  I've heard supplementing magnesium can be beneficial! In addition to other health benefits, taking it daily can help muscles relax which in turn can quiet down any uterus contractions and help the implantation process. Also, it helps with menstrual cramps! I can testify to that one. I had my first painless period for the first time in my life last month. There may be something to it!
  

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• zigzag8412 member

  May 2016 edited May 2016

  In casual baby conversation I have been told to try the following by three different people:
  
  -Pillow under hips after BD
  -"Just drink a beer or get drunk and it'll happen."
  -"I stood on my head after and I got pregnant."
  
  I just laughed internally.
  
  I actually might try the pomegranate juice since OBGYN's putting me on clomid... 

  ~Ziggy
  

  Me:27 (diagnosed anovulatory May 2016)  DH:29 (normal)
  Met 2008 | Dated 2010 | Married 2012
  TTC#1 since June 2015
  June 2016- 50mg generic clomid CDs 5-9 w/TI | 2 follies (14 & 12), thin (2.45) lining | BFN
  July 2016- 1mg estradiol CDs 1-7, 50mg generic clomid CDs 5-9 w/TI | 2 follies (14 & 10), thin (~4) lining | BFN
  August 2016- 1mg estradiol CDs 1-7, 50mg generic clomid CDs 5-9 w/TI | BFN | Referred to specialist, visited once, was told we have less than a 3% chance even on medication, recommended to IUI for up to a 50% chance, decided not to pursue at this time | Stopped "trying"
  October 2016- We became licensed foster parents
  November 9, 2016- Arrival of DD#1, 4yo
  March 1, 2017- 1 day late, feel like crap (low fever & exhausted) | Mom suggested test before taking meds, I laughed but did it anyway | BFP! *shock*
  
  

  
  
  

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• MntnGirl member

  June 2016 edited June 2016

  @wintersong555 How much magnesium do you take and how often for cramps? I have some in powder form and it does help with cramps, but I don't know what dosage I should use and don't want to overdo it. 

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• wintersong555 member

  June 2016 edited June 2016

  MntnGirl said:

  @wintersong555 How much magnesium do you take and how often for cramps? I have some in powder form and it does help with cramps, but I don't know what dosage I should use and don't want to overdo it. 

  I take 400mg daily, regardless of what day in the cycle I am. The lowest dose being 200mg, highest 600mg- I've heard people taking more, but I don't know too much about that. Too much magnesium can cause loose stools, so it's just a trial and error to find the perfect balance in your body. 300mg - 400mg daily is a good start, though.  Magnesium oxide has the lowest absorption rate. Magnesium citrate has a good absorption rate and is the one you'll find readily at walmart and target, etc. It's the one I use, too.
  
  As always, make sure all you beautiful ladies out there consult with your doctors before supplementing if you have kidney issues, etc.  
  

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• MntnGirl member

  June 2016

  Thank you @wintersong555! 

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• MntnGirl member

  June 2016

  I remembered another supplement.
  - Serrapeptase for blocked fallopian tubes
  
  I took it after HSG confirmed a blocked tube. A year later a second HSG showed both tubes open. The second HSG hurt much worse than the first so it may have pushed fluid through with enough pressure to unblock the tube. I don't know for sure if serrapeptase helped. Also, you can get KU with only one tube and it does not matter which side you O on.

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• KLake42 member

  June 2016

  I've also heard that coconut water is a good way to hydrate during IVF stims.  I don't know if it's true, but I like coconut water (even though it's pricey), and I'll indulge if it might help!
  

  Me- 39 (turning 40 in April), TTC for the first time ever (since Jan 2015), low ovarian reserve

  Married 3/14/14 to my wonderful wife, but her sperm count is rather low

  TTC with frozen donor sperm and science
  
  7 IUIs, 7 BFNs.
  2 IVF attempts, both cancelled and converted to IUI, both BFNs.
  Decided that my tired old ovaries are ready to retire.
  Next step- reciprocal IVF, using my wife's eggs, my uterus!  
  fresh 5 day transfer (2 embryos) 4/17/17- BFP! 
  Identical twins "due" 1/2/17 (but anticipated arrival sometime December)

  
  

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• wintersong555 member

  June 2016 edited June 2016

  I know this is a little off topic, but how do you do the "@name" thing? Could someone help? Oh pretty please?  Do I just...type "@" and the person's name as well? Or is there a nifty little button to push somewhere?
  

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• dragonfaerie member

  June 2016

  @wintersong555 It's just the @ and then the name so it tags someone. No special buttons needed

  ---Trigger warning---

  Me: 31 DH: 27
  TTC since April 2013
  Two cancelled IUIs in Aug and Sept '15 due to low motility/count
  IVF round 1: January 2016
  ER: February 17, 2016; 9 retrieved, 7 mature, 7 fertilized
  Day 5 Blastocysts: 5 BB, 1 AB, all normal from PGS
  FET date: May 11, '16; transferred 1 AB embryo
  First beta: May 23, '16: 998!!  Second: May 25, '16: 1648
  EDD: January 27, 2017

  

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• wintersong555 member

  June 2016

  @dragonfaerie Bless your heart!! I've been itching to figure out how to do this, hah! 

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