TTGP Grad Announcements w/o 5/24

bows22 · May 2021

If you are a contributing member who has been active here for a full 3 months with a BFP this week, CONGRATULATIONS! Please share your success with us here.

How do you know if you're a contributing member?

1. Ask your heart if you have contributed positively here.
2. Do these people know you? Will they be happy about your pregnancy?
3. Have you offered support to others or have you just blasted your own info out there?
4. We ask that you only post here if you have been participating meaningfully here for at least three months.Sometimes the silence is kindest. Those of us who lurk BMBs will see your intro and PM/comment/love tit.
5. Again, take a moment and step away from your excitement and ask your heart if posting would be potentially hurtful.
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This thread has mild restrictions - thread is primarily BFP announcements but doesn't allow for direct questions or lengthy/personalized congrats in the comments. Use the "Love It" button or "congrats!", "H&H 9 months!", "I was hoping this was your month!" and other short & sweet notes.

Regular board rules apply-- this is not the place to ask if you are pregnant based off your symptoms or for second opinions on your tests. We do invite you to contribute in the daily TWW and WTO threads and discussions. This community gives back tenfold what you put into it! When you see somebody who has possibly violated a guideline of this thread, please quote the section of these guidelines and include a callout to the poster, but keep snark to a minimum. If you have a post called out, please edit your offending post to add a note that you've been made aware of the rule and will keep it in mind in the future (if you are being asked to change wording due to unintentionally offensive phrasing, please remove that part of your post with a note of "EDIT: Removed offensive phrasing"). Remember: this thread is not a tribunal. Continued arguments and defenses about a post have no place here and are considered off-topic. If you would like to make an argument for or against a rule, please create or update a META thread to discuss.

CD/DPO of first BFP?

How many months/cycles had you been TTC?

How long have you been an active participant on the TTGP board? (minimum: 3 full months)

What did your chart look like?

What were you doing TGKU?

How was your timing? What symptoms did you have, if any? (CS & CD breakdowns welcome)

How are you going to/did you tell your partner?

Anything else to add?

[Deleted User] · May 2021

<img alt="" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/80/tyr4r7xrvhgz.gif"><img alt="" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/py/nv8byalltrcv.gif">
CD/DPO of first
BFP? 4dp5dt

How many months/cycles had you been TTC? This weekend marks six years of being
married, and six years of TTC. It took us 31 months to get our first BFP at the very end of 2018. This time around, we called the
doctor about returning to center in February 2021, so then we had a testing /
preparatory cycle in March, one FET in April, and our second (and final) in
May. 

How long have you been an active participant on the TTGP
board? (minimum: 3 full months) I joined in November or December of 2015
after we had been TTC for six months or so with no luck. I had already been charting BBT on paper, and eventually I downloaded FF and kept tracking… We started Napro medicine in
2016, and learned how to track my cycles with Creighton method. They did a pretty comprehensive testing workup on me. My cortisol was high (Ha!)
but nothing conclusive. Unfortunately, I felt like I
really had to advocate for a semen analysis. We did the first collection in a perforated
condom, brought it to the lab, and we waited.
We waited So Long to get the results back, I was calling the doctor, and
finally the nurse told me, the doctor thinks it’s probably a mistake, because
there was no sperm. I remember exactly
where I was sitting in the car parked outside the dog groomer when she told me
that. Of course, we had another test to
confirm / refute. I went in to get the
collection kit, and she was about to charge me $5 and I was not having it, lol I
just took the kit and left. We did a
conventional collection just to be sure there was nothing funny going on with the
sample, and it came back the same. This
time, I asked the Andrologist, and luckily the lab manager was kind enough to personally give me an (incredibly prompt) call back that same morning, just as we were walking back in the kitchen door, to unofficially confirm our diagnosis over the
phone: Azoospermia.

To say we were devastated
would be a start. It has been a
journey. We were hesitant to do IVF for
religious reasons, and we asked the Urologist to see if there were any surgical
repairs he could do with DH's tubes, while going in for a surgical sperm
retrieval, since I believe we had both NOA and OA components. (His FSH was almost 10, but
the tubes were also missing, too small, cut, I'm not sure what. All the genetic screenings came back
completely clear, but often there is a connection to CF carrier status, in addition
to other chromosomal factors. Ultimately in our case, there was
no known genetic cause ever found). He took
three months of Clomid leading up to his sperm retrieval procedure, to try and boost whatever
counts might possibly be there. Sure
enough, best birthday present ever!?! We
found sperm!!! But the doctor said he
was unable to make any surgical repairs.

So we proceeded with
IVF+ICSI, since IUI is out of the question, and surgically retrieved sperm are not developed enough to
fertilize an egg on their own. We did two back
to back IVFs for me in September of 2017.***TW*** IVF Retrieval stats

<div class="Spoiler">The first cycle yielded 18
eggs, and 3 frozen blasts. We knew we
wanted a bigger family, if possible, so we repeated. The next yielded 21 eggs and 4 frozen
blasts. We did not do PGS.</div>

I have never had a successful
transfer on the first try. So if you are
someone who is discouraged, I am here to tell you, sometimes you just have to
keep trying.***TW*** LCs<div class="Spoiler">We did two medicated cycles
to get our DD in 2018. We switched to
natural cycles when we returned, including one cancelled medicated cycle, to
finally, after our third FET, get our DD2 in 2020. She was my VBAC baby, so we were able to
return to treatment six months sooner in order to retrieve our last two
remaining embryos from storage.</div>

What did your chart look like? A hot mess! Lol It’s been hard with early
monitoring appointments messing with my schedule to get a consistent temp
time, but it was enough to see a shift. My doctors were watching for my
surge with daily bloodwork anyway, so charting wasn’t really necessary.<div class="Spoiler">ETA chart + moar gifs
<img alt="" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/x3/4ezp2a98xqqe.jpg">
</div>
What were you doing TGKU? Levothyroxine, HCG Trigger, and supplemental progesterone (Endometrin) as part of a Natural FET protocol, plus probiotics (tablets, in addition to
eating kim chee, raw kraut, beet kvass, yogurt etc), daily avocado, *bone broth, Brazil nuts
(a natural source of Selenium), RRL tea, pom juice, beets/beet juice prior to transfer,
limiting coffee/caffeine; PNVs, DHA, Flax, CoQ10, B6, C, E, D+K, Cal/Mag,
Zinc… I’ll add more if I remember anything else; it was a lot. I also had been taking myo-inositol and
l-Arginine consistently during the previous transfer cycle, and cramp bark closer
to transfer, but I backed off of those this time, because I felt fewer reservations about taking
the more, “conventional,” vitamins, and prioritizing getting food-based nutrients, than other things that hadn’t been prescribed by my doctor. That
has generally been my pattern: I try all the things first cycle out of the
gate, then when it doesn’t work, I just do what feels good and manageable, keep
putting one foot in front of the other and… Voilà!How was your timing? What symptoms did you have, if any? (CS & CD breakdowns welcome)
Five day frozen embryo transfer. I did an
HCG trigger shot in the evening, prior to ovulation, and then five days later
was transfer day! We do an abx vaginal
gel the evening prior, and then an extra 200mg compounded progesterone
suppository 1-2 hours prior. I will be
taking Endometrin through 8-10 weeks.Symptom Breakdown:<div class="Spoiler">TRANSFER DAY!!! The nurse said my uterus
looked, “gorgeous,” and the embryologist said the embryo was doing great! My own doctor did the transfer that day, and
she said that must be a good sign, that they both said everything looked so
good. I got a real sleepy spell on the
way home, which I was hoping would be a good sign. (But I’m also generally feeling kind of exhausted
all the time, due to keeping crazy hours with all the appointments.) Overall, I was feeling much more calm and
content this time, which I mostly attribute to having deepened my prayer life - out of necessity. I knew I was going to
have to find a way to be okay, even if this last transfer didn’t go well, so I
really had given it to God in a way that I trusted whatever outcome would be
the right one. And in a possibly crazy
way, there was a part of me that never doubted it would work this time, even though
logically, I know that it often doesn’t.

1dp5dt – I woke up very mildly congested, and had a slight nosebleed in the
shower, which is not normal for me. I
also felt some slight cervical zaps while driving that morning, but nothing
that couldn’t be explained away or possibly just imaginary SS.

2dp5dt – I felt very warm that morning after getting out of the shower. SIL was here, and I was saying OMG it’s so
hot in here, I had to take my cardi off, but she said she thought the house
felt cool. Perhaps just a fantasy, but I
saw my chubby reflection in the window outside an office building later that
day, and thought maybe I, “looked pregnant.” Lol I was still mildly congested,
but nothing outside of normal every day seasonal allergies or sinus funk.

3dp5dt – Still mildly congested, but feeling good, calm and happy! The weird thing is I was getting this strange
tingly sensation all afternoon, (Sorry to be TMI,) but like an almost aroused
sensation? I was also excited because
there was an audition that night I was getting ready for. Originally, I was trying not to test, because
if it didn’t work, I wanted to just say in that PUPO/PASP bubble, but I was
feeling so good, I decided to go for it!
There was a faint line on a FRER, which was to be expected because I was
only 8 days past trigger, but it still had me feeling hopeful… I had a great
night at the audition, and experienced some mild cramping at home later that
evening.

4dp5dt – Feeling weepy / happy / emotional, and more of those tingly
feelings! I took a FRER in the afternoon,
and it was Darker!!! I cried and was
shaking, but then I had to get on a work call, so that was a good
distraction. I tried another FRER that
evening, but it wasn’t convincingly darker, although the controls also were
totally different, so I tried not to let it worry me. I was feeling some low back pain, and pain in
my right foot (that I need to get xrayed), but my quads were also sore from dancing
the night before, so I wasn’t sure if it was symptom-related, or workout
related. I also had some slight pelvic
twinges at bedtime, like SPD pain, (which I had very badly with my last
pregnancy), but nothing all that definitive.

5dp5dt – The FMU FRER line was there, and maybe a little darker, but I wasn’t
too sure because it wasn’t as dark as the one from the previous afternoon. But then I thought to check, and it did show
progression from the other FMU from the previous day, so that was encouraging. My wondfos had darkened, which I knew had
been only vvvvf shadow lines last time at this point, and there was a visible line
on the Easy@home cheapie, which had been SWN at this time last transfer. I knew it was early, but I wanted to take a
digi anyway, and stupidly, I followed the directions to dip for 20 seconds, and
drowned the test! I had a feeling that
would happen, but anyway. I should have
let it go at that for the day. But I
tested again and it said, “Not Pregnant.” I called the nurse line to see if they could
get me in earlier for beta, in case it turned out to be a CP, and had to just
leave a message. However, I was having
some mild cramps and very mild nausea in the evening, and my second FRER seemed
to maybe show a little progression…

6dp5dt – I had saved one last FRER for the morning, while I waited for a fresh
stockpile of tests to arrive. The line
was still there with FMU, but still not overwhelmingly dark. I tried to put it out of my mind and go about
our day, hoping my new tests would be there when we got home from Church. The nurse also called me back and said the
earliest she could move my betas was up to Tuesday / Thursday, so I had that to
look forward to as well. Sure enough, the
tests had already arrived when we got home, and I had a nice four-hour hold. I tested with the FRER first, and it maybe
looked good?? I decided to be brave and
try the digi… and it popped!!! Best Anniversary
present ever! <3 I never thought I'd get to be one of those annoying people who gets a BFP on a special day like that, but here I am. lol
<img alt="Happy Anniversary GIFs - Get the best GIF on GIPHY" src="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2Fl3q2vSszWywLqvFDy%2Fgiphy.gif&f=1&nofb=1">
</div>
How are you going to/did you tell your partner? I initially texted him the first
comparison picture between 3dpt-4dpt, which I wasn’t even sure if he saw,
because the image wasn’t going through at first. And when it eventually did, the phone wasn’t showing
he had seen it, so I deleted it. But
when he came home, he asked me about it, and I lolled and showed him the tests. Over the next few days of testing, I was semi
keeping him in the loop. Once I got the digi
last night, I came downstairs and said, “Hey, check out this thing I just got
from Amazon!” LOL I know, lame. When I
showed it to him, he was happy, but still skeptical. He said he understood that the transfer had maybe
actually worked this time, but asked when we could stop worrying. Ha!
First trimester is scheduled to end around his birthday, so we will probably
plan to tell family then.

Anything else to add?
It’s crazy to think this is
the end of an era for us. The long,
crazy chapter in our lives that has been TTC has officially drawn to a close. We don’t have any more of DH’s samples
stored, and we won’t be going back and creating any new embryos at this point. Adoption is still on the table, as we may hope to continue to grow our family in that way as well – God willing – after
this baby arrives safe and sound. But
that’s a journey for another day. ❤️Words fall short to express
how much have loved this TTGP community over the years, and I suppose that’s
why I have made a point to try to keep giving back. I have made friends who were with me every
step of the way, blow-by-blow of our trying battle with infertility, and that’s a very
special bond that is not so easily severed.
By the grace of all we had been through, I am especially grateful to
have been able to be a support for another Azoo wife when she joined TB,
AlohaKumu. <3 There have been a small handful of very severe MFI ladies on
the board, and we totally get it without
saying a word. Really though, everyone
who is here, and everyone who struggles – we may be fighting our own unique
battles, but we share so much more in common than our different diagnoses, and
I’m truly just so incredibly grateful for this community. It will always hold a special place in my
heart, and I will continue to lurk and root for everyone here, to the bitter
(or joyous!) end.<img alt="Happy 2nd Birthday Nerd Out - Nerd Out" src="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fnerdoutapp.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F08%2F6357875535778725211873103047_tumblr_inline_mi4wc0An6C1qz4rgp.gif&f=1&nofb=1">
<img alt="Mtv Guy Love GIF - Find Share on GIPHY" src="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2FVRlNLlwZXJF0Q%2Fgiphy.gif&f=1&nofb=1">
<img alt="" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/v7/rnqafwz7gn50.gif">

acleverusername · May 2021

OMG! YYYYYYYAAAAAASSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!

pajamstagrams · May 2021

@BusinessWife ahhh congrats!!!! So happy for you ❤️

optimistgardener · May 2021

OMG!!!!! I might cry!

acleverusername · May 2021

(Just wanted to get that out of the way before I compose myself.)

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/l1/r0grdb9cyywk.gif

I was thinking about you this morning @BusinessWife, and lo-and-behold, got the best news when I logged in here. Can't say much more than H&H 9 months. I hope everything goes well, and don't forget to keep lurking here. Your advice and opinions (unpopular and otherwise) are always welcome.

rachelredhead · May 2021

Yayyyyyyyyyyy! Happy and healthy 9 months to you!!!

[Deleted User] · May 2021

@acleverusername LOL Thank you!!! Yes, you must have heard I was up working on my novel this morning. :D I will continue to root for you and the IF ladies so hard! @optimistgardener

Thank you so much! @rachelredhead @pajamstagrams

mindyb2019 · May 2021

@BusinessWife ahhhhh yessss girl!!!!!!! Sooo happy for you. Congratulations!!! ❤❤ You so deserve this. Im so happy to see your name here. H&H 9 months to you.

gingermama29 · May 2021

@BusinessWife ahhh congratulations friend!!! I’m so happy for you!! 😊❤️ Wishing you a happy, healthy, and boring 9 months!!

[Deleted User] · May 2021

Thank you!!! @mindyb2019 So excited for you! Your rainbow is almost here... <3

shawnacrest · May 2021

Congratulations @BusinessWife! Have a happy, healthy 9 months!

[Deleted User] · May 2021

@gingermama29. Thank you so much, lady!!! You better be following me close behind... ❤️

Thank you! @shawnacrest

Lisa3379 · May 2021

*lurking* @BusinessWife WHAAAAAT!!!! So, so, so happy for you!!

rgn12 · May 2021

*lurking* congrats @BusinessWife!

kgg2241 · May 2021

@BusinessWife yay yay yay!!!! I am so happy. Just so dang happy for you right now! Congratulations!

mamanbebe · May 2021

@BusinessWife So happy for you and your family ❤️

b_1029 · May 2021

@BusinessWife I think this is the longest grad post I’ve ever seen 😆 congrats!

[Deleted User] · May 2021

@Lisa3379 Thank you! I'm sorry I couldn't join you in January, but I guess February will have to do ;)

@rgn12 Thank you so much!!! :D

@kgg2241 Thank you!! Hope to see you on the BMBs soon, too! <3

@mamanbebe Thanks for the love. <3 I appreciate it more than you know.

@b_1029 LOL Right??? I was actually jotting down notes in FF as I went along for my symptom breakdown because otherwise everything is just so random and vague it all becomes a blur. Last real post in TTGP Ever, figure I might as well make it count! :D
<div class="Spoiler"><img alt="Ted Talks GIFs - Find Share on GIPHY" src="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia0.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2FkvQb0oRiksFy4WxWkb%2Fgiphy.gif&f=1&nofb=1" title="Image: https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia0.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2FkvQb0oRiksFy4WxWkb%2Fgiphy.gif&f=1&nofb=1">
</div>

legallykate · May 2021

*lurking* @BusinessWife so so thrilled for you! Wishing you the happiest and healthiest 9 months for this last chapter in your story ❤️

[Deleted User] · May 2021

Ah! Thank you so much! @legallykate You must be due any minute! :# Please PM me, I'd love to hear an update! <3

keikilove · May 2021

@BusinessWife Congratulations on your final embryo resulting in your final BFP! 3 babies in 6 years is a blessing beyond measure for anyone, IVF or not. I pray that you get to close this IVF chapter of your life with exactly as much joy as you’re feeling today & with your sweet babe in your arms.

meggyme · May 2021

*lurking*

@BusinessWife congratulations!!!!! I am so happy for you and your family and I hope you have the stickiest little baby ever!

photographerwife · May 2021

*lurking*
@BusinessWife so happy that this last transfer worked out for you!! Wishing you all the best! TW loss, preg.

You were in the august 2020 group with the loss I had, and now it looks like you’ll be in February 22 with me too! Small world!

[Deleted User] · May 2021

Thank you @keikilove ((((((huge hugs)))))) I couldn't agree more; you are absolutely right about that. We have been lucky and blessed beyond measure. I say that all the time, I really don't know how we got so lucky... I like to think that we do appreciate it more when the victory is hard-fought. I will be hoping and praying that your next miracle may be right around the corner as well. ❤️❤️❤️

@meggyme Thank you so much!

@photographerwife I know!!! How wild is that!???? 😆 I was so happy to see you there, and starting to feel a little more hopeful, it was all I could do not to let the cat out of the bag! Lol. I'm so happy we get to share a BMB do-over. ((((hugs))))
<div class=" Spoiler"><img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/i5/o9fwsq1fkdg0.gif" alt="">
</div>

babyodo · June 2021

Yaaaaaaaaay!! @BusinessWife this is incredible news!!!!

daisy0322 · June 2021

@BusinessWife ahhhhh so happy for you I’m actually tearing up! Have the most amazing and boring 9 months ever. Seriously the best news! Congratulations ❤️❤️❤️❤️

ETA- okay actually crying now I’m just so incredibly happy for you!

dobiemom11 · June 2021

@BusinessWife. Lurking- so excited for you! Congrats!

lillywonderland · June 2021

@BusinessWife Congrats!! So excited to hear this news!! Are you staying team green again this time??

[Deleted User] · June 2021

@babyodo Thank you! Rooting for you as you continue to grow your family, too! And thanks to you (and YH) for your service, love. Hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

@daisy0322 Awww, thanks lady! <3 You are too sweet. You're going to make me cry here, too! hahah
<div class="Spoiler">I thought I would share this lovely prayer with you.
<a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.padrepio.org/pray/efficacious-novena/" title="Link: https://www.padrepio.org/pray/efficacious-novena/">https://www.padrepio.org/pray/efficacious-novena/</a>
Padre Pio was a very powerful saint of our times. I had a friend from Church not too long ago ask if any of us had any special intentions she could bring with her to pray for us when she visited the Padre Pio Center in Barto, PA. I said I did have a special private intention (that Padre Pio would know what it was!), and she said she would be happy to bring it! Then I found this little novena, which is really a daily devotion. I thought it was a good one. Perhaps it may be good for you, too. <3 I am so very hopeful for you!</div>
@dobiemom11 Thank you so much! Hope you and your sweet boy are doing well, mama! ;)

@lilywonderland Thanks! We haven't discussed it yet, but most likely, yes.

charhar0820 · June 2021

@BusinessWife O.M.G 😭 The mamas from the Aug2020 group are over the moon for you!! Sending congratulations and big hugs from all of us (majority still having troubles logging in w/o getting kicked out)
*I hope this posts*
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Deleted User] · June 2021

@charhar0820 !!!! OMG! YGPM Thank you so much! Oh, I hope you can get back in. I would love to be able to keep in better touch with you ladies. <3

anniemarie887 · June 2021

@BusinessWife congrats!!!

brookert615 · June 2021

@BusinessWife What amazing news! So happy for you!!!

fifilala516 · June 2021

*lurking*

Congrats @BusinessWife!! H&H 9 months.

[Deleted User] · June 2021

UPDATE - First beta came back positive! We are at 53.3, and today they want to see over 50. We also moved my beta up a day, so that's part of why it's maybe a bit on the lower side; it's still early. I go back Thursday when they will want to see a 66% increase, and then most likely next Friday 6/11 for our first scan! Eeep!!!

@fifilala516 Thank you so much!!! :) @brookert615 Thank you!!!
So glad we will get to be in such close BMBs! <3

@anniemarie887 Thank you so much! Will be rooting for you and watching for that BFP, lady! <3

anniemarie887 · June 2021

@BusinessWife such great news!

bumblebee0210 · June 2021

@BusinessWife. Congrats!!! Fxx for a sticky one and a boring 9 months

kiwi2628 · June 2021

Ahhhh @BusinessWife congrats!!!!

fameonmain2 · June 2021

@BusinessWife so so so thrilled for you!!! Congratulations!!

zwink1 · June 2021

Congratulations @BusinessWife!!!! So happy to hear thia fantastic news for your last transfer!

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