HELLO!   I have already been crying, so please bare with me but at least it has been happy tears!  

I finally got my ph strips in the mail...found out that I am 4.75 and DH is 7.5.  WITHOUT ADJUSTING ANYTHING.  So, question 1 -should I start any supplements for me to lower it a little?  question 2- does your ph change throughout your cycle? 

We finally got the incubator regulated!  We did our first SU attempt (our egg was only an 8 but I had the time & wanted to do it)...EW sank immediately!  I didn't want to waste the attempt so I figured that I would go for a swim down since it was only for research & I was trying to get the hang of things.  I know that I have to wait awhile again as the ph rises on the eggs.  We'll have it at 9 before too long.  We had 4 1/2 mil of DH sample & we used it all to sort....maybe next time, try a smaller sample?  Suggestions, anyone? 

1 hour later-there were three distinct layers.  I separated them and checked out the girls first...THEY WERE THOUSANDS IN THIS TINY LITTLE SPECK!!!  (at least that's what I think) The girls layer was only 1 1/2 mil. total but I had a major problem finding any Y's!!!  YEAH!!!  I AM SO EXCITED!  AS I TYPE THIS, I AM CRYING AGAIN!    I never imagined DH having any girls in there...bless his heart-he has them!  I did check out the other layers as well.  The bottom layer (which normally would be the top) was all swimming straight and fast!  The middle layer was mostly swimming straight...I actually didn't see any X's in this layer at all.  DH checked it out as well and was seeing the same as me! 

So, to make a long story short-I actually feel like I have an honest to God's chance in having a DD.  I can't believe it.  My goal now is to perfect that EW layering and we should be ready to go...if I can get it down. 

yup still do diet and supplments and ions and everything.. just not to much worry about pH

yes your pH can chage in a cycle

As far as the ions go, I'm not sure I'll even make an attempt during a full moon.  All my DS's were conceived in the FM...so, I would even wait until the right timing...that's how patient I have to be. 

How much can it vary?  I'm thinking (granted I'm new at this so I might be wrong) that I may have O'd in the last 12-24 hours or so...yesterday, I checked my CP and it was soft but creamy.  today, firm and low.(about 24 hours in between checks)  I am taking Claritin for my allergies...would that affect whether or not I get EWCM? 

claritin lowers pH and drys up cm

cm can go dry, sticky, creamy, wet, ewcm, wet, creamy, sticky, dry and pH can go low during dry-creamy then high wet-wet and then back to low again

I guess it's good that I'm drying up the CM since I'm trying for a girl. 

I know that the CM can vary like that.  I was meaning, how much can the ph vary in a cycle?  Is there a dramatic difference? 

 That is awesome!!  I can't wait to start practicing.  Good luck with your first attempt!

PurpleDream:

EW sank immediately!  I didn't want to waste the attempt so I figured that I would go for a swim down

PurpleDream:

The girls layer was only 1 1/2 mil.

PurpleDream:

know that the CM can vary like that.  I was meaning, how much can the ph vary in a cycle?  Is there a dramatic difference? 

this depends on the person.  For some women it can swing from a 4 to a 7 and for others not at all

I did warm the EW...DH wondered if we should have warmed it even more & I wonder if it was how I layered it in there.  I think, next time, I need to go a little slower as I rise with the EW.  We'll also make sure it's a little warmer as well (even though I thought it was warm enough-it was very thin). 

  Q, is anyone else's DH helping with the experiments or is it just mine?

This was the very top layer since it was a swim down.  I'm actually even more excited to do SU because it is suppose to make it an even better sort....what I saw (& DH as well) looked pretty well concentrated. 

 This was not the first time that I looked at swimmers...I've looked at them two times prior.  It is the first time that we did a SU.  It was so awesome that they were separated and quite easy to look at. I couldn't believe it.  I can't tell you how many times I've cried since we've completed the first attempt even though it wasn't perfect...in a way, it was just right because it showed me that we actually have girls in there.  I didn't think there were...it has definitely helped me stay positive in my thinking that we can do this.  If we just stick with the rules-we will have a daughter in our arms before we know it.   

I do have a question.  I just got off my BC and am not sure what is going to happen with my cycle.  If my cycle stays as regular as it is suppose to, BIG IF, I am suppose to always O during the full moon.  I am afraid at the even slight possibility (even with my ph being correct, diet, supplements, fabulous sort, etc.) of trying TBM during a full moon. Suggestions?  I don't want to even try to alter the ions...I'm that afraid.  All three DS were conceived during a full moon. 

Regarding the ph, how often do I need to monitor?  Only during fertile phase? Or should I be familiar with it during my entire cycle? 

PurpleDream:

I did warm the EW...DH wondered if we should have warmed it even more & I wonder if it was how I layered it in there.  I think, next time, I need to go a little slower as I rise with the EW.  We'll also make sure it's a little warmer as well (even though I thought it was warm enough-it was very thin). 

PurpleDream:

Q, is anyone else's DH helping with the experiments or is it just mine?

 Mine is too!!

PurpleDream:

I did warm the EW...DH wondered if we should have warmed it even more & I wonder if it was how I layered it in there.  I think, next time, I need to go a little slower as I rise with the EW.  We'll also make sure it's a little warmer as well (even though I thought it was warm enough-it was very thin). 

I had my EW very warm and they were SUPER thin. When I put them in they went immediately to the bottom then by the end of the hour everything was mixed. I did not see any layers  Don't know what else to do 

PurpleDream:

  Q, is anyone else's DH helping with the experiments or is it just mine?

Well, we did more 2 attempts of SU today.  Here's the synopsis:

1st tube of (3 1/2 ml.) : EW warmed to 99* and it stayed on top. At the end of the hour, it was all mixed up. This sample sucked!!!!

2nd tube (1 1/2ml): EW warmed to 99*, placed on top, and a small portion slide into the bottom layer. 

EW-super thin, same temp as the sperm, layered slowly...HELP!!! 

What am I doing wrong?  How do you get it to stay on top?  The only time that I have had a great sort is when I did a swim down... I am feeling like I should always have 2 test tubes going when I do an attempt...always do 1 swim down and 1 SU just so I can always get at least 1 good sort to look at.  GRRRR!  I know that people have done this but it's frustrating when you don't know what you are doing wrong.  Ideas, ladies? 

Well, we did more 2 attempts of SU today.  Here's the synopsis:

1st tube of (3 1/2 ml.) : EW warmed to 99* and it stayed on top. At the end of the hour, it was all mixed up. This sample sucked!!!!

2nd tube (1 1/2ml): EW warmed to 99*, placed on top, and a small portion slide into the bottom layer. 

EW-super thin, same temp as the sperm, layered slowly...HELP!!! 

What am I doing wrong?  How do you get it to stay on top?  The only time that I have had a great sort is when I did a swim down... I am feeling like I should always have 2 test tubes going when I do an attempt...always do 1 swim down and 1 SU just so I can always get at least 1 good sort to look at.  GRRRR!  I know that people have done this but it's frustrating when you don't know what you are doing wrong.  Ideas, ladies? 

 I know, it's frustrating! I am having the same problem with the EW and starting to freak out because our attempt will be in the beginning of October! I hope someone can help