According to What to Expect, the ‘typical’ pregnancy signs are as follows:
- Tender breasts
- Different coloured areolas (look it up, I had to)
- Early bleeding/spotting
- Frequent urination
- Exhaustion
- Nausea
- Sensitivity to odours
- Being bloated
- Late period (AF)
- (and obviously) a BFP
Over the past few months of trying I have faced during the TWW (closer to the end of the TWW though) at least six of these ‘signs’ not to mention other ones that are also known to be linked to pregnancy. These are:
- Cramping (like you wouldn’t believe, and I’m not one for cramps)
- Food aversions/cravings (Remember when I could have eaten a cow one afternoon? How about when I went off coffee?)
- Spotting
- Vivid dreams (definitely, and in colour!)
- Gas (pull my finger…)
- Headaches
There are plenty more, simply write a symptom and add ‘sign of pregnancy?’ to your search.
However, with all this in mind, I am still facing BFNs and even within this cycle, I’m starting to think that this one will be a BFN too. So what the frack is going on with my body? No website or forum is currently able to explain why I am getting nearly all of the above without the BFP. My temperatures give me hope but then they come crashing down in line with an up-and-coming visit from AF.
I understand that a lot of the above signs are also linked to AF (this includes tender breasts, bleeding and cramping), but I’m pretty sure food cravings/aversions aren’t – is something being created but then not making it?
When I first started trying, I didn’t think it would be so hard. I knew that we probably wouldn’t get it first time, but I thought that perhaps the second or third try (I seem to be a third-time-lucky girl) would be successful. My mum and my sister had no issues falling pregnancy so why not me?
See, you’re regularly lectured from parents and teachers about the risks of having sex with boys and what will happen, blah blah blah, however if I knew it would be THIS hard then I would have slept with a lot more boys! (JOKING – EUGH!) It just infuriates me when these girls (they’re still girls in my eyes) are getting knocked up after one accident… ONE! Which means either she is incredibly fertile or just extremely unlucky (in her eyes, at least).
The signs for ovulation are there and I’m getting the positive OPKs, we’re inseminating at the right times (although probably not as often as I’d like) and I’m pretty much relaxed about the whole matter and giving my body what it needs. So what’s the problem?
In all seriousness though, should I be worried? Is there something we’re missing? Are there any hints and tips? Is there any particular food we should eat before insemination?
We’ll pretty much take anything you’ve got!
K
7 comments
Honestly, you’re doing everything right. Even the most fertile couple with sperm on tap can take 18 months to conceive. So long as you do the normal sensible things, there’s nothing more you can do than hope.
When you start introducing sperm into your body when it’s not used to it it does weird things to you. My wife has had a crazy shift in her periods including increased pain since we started trying, the only time you need to worry about stuff like that is (sorry if it’s TMI) if there’s big clots coming away with a lot of pain when you’re on your period. If that’s the case, it might be worthwhile talking to your doctor about it.
We’ve been doing this for 18 months now, it’s the most heart breaking journey we’ve ever been on but just keep focusing on the end product.
Thanks, hun.
I know it was going to take some time but it’s getting depressing now.
Saying this, I really must stop writing posts like this because I forget how much longer others have been trying. I’m so sorry.
Don’t worry about upsetting people with your posts, there’s a lot of us in the position and we’re all here for support. When it doesn’t work 1st, 2nd or 3rd you kinda feel that it never will because it seems like it worked for everyone within 3 attempts.
It took my brother and sister in law 4 years to conceive their youngest and while I hope it doesn’t take anything like that long for you guys, it shows that perseverance pays off.
Give me a shout on Twitter if you want a bit of a rant or chat x
Our friends went through years of trying IUI before finally getting pregnant 1st time with IVF. It’s the main reason we went straight for IVF despite the cost and the fact I do know of people for whom IUI has worked. Overall it is just a really difficult and unpredictable process and I wish you lots and lots of luck with your next cycle. X
Thanks, lovely.
Unfortunately, we can’t afford anything like IVF or IUI. So, we’ll have to stick to AI and keep trying. X
I’m totally with you on this! I think the third try and fail has been the hardest. I keep thinking it really shouldn’t be so hard – a + b, right? Then when I hear about all the barriers, I wonder how anyone gets pregnant. Unfortunately, I think that all (or almost all) ‘symptoms’ are caused by progesterone which is in abundance during the TWW, pregnant or not. That + heightened awareness can equal craziness. I am 100% with you on the confusion. I’m hoping the BFP is around the corner this try.
Thanks for the comment – it’s much appreciated. Sorry for the delay, we’ve been taking advantage of the weather.
It has felt a little harder this cycle, especially when a lot of other couples seem to get pregnant after the third try, plus I’m a third time lucky girl so I thought this cycle might have been it. I am desperately trying not to think about it, but you’re always going to think about it when you’re actively doing something.
Saying that, although a lot of couples are getting pregnant it’s reassuring that we’re not the only ones having trouble, if that makes sense? I don’t want to sound evil, I just thought there may be something wrong if I’m not getting pregnant (I am a woman with working bits at the end of the day) but knowing I’m not the only one is reassuring.
I think you’re spot on with the symptoms. The BBT are also playing games because, obviously, the progesterone will appear before AF appears. We’re thinking about having a month off just to see what my BBT are like without the sperm and then we can compare and see whether the the months with sperm are any different so we know whether we’re on the right track.
Anyway, thanks again for the reply, it’s reassuring having a nice support network. 🙂
K
Comments are closed.