IMPORTANT - LT forum members PLEASE READ

[sushee]

Ladies,

Just a reminder to everyone who posts in the LTTTC/AC forums that there is an extra need for sensitivity when contributing to these forums.

The internet can sometimes make messages come across the wrong way, or insensitively, causing hurt and frustration to other members, because internet communication is the written word rather than face to face. There isn't the value of the spoken word with internet communication. So please be very mindful of not only what you post, but also the way in which you phrase your posts.

BellyBelly's forums all demand a lot of support, understanding and kindness, but specifically this is even more of a necessity in LTTTC/AC. The frustrations of LTTTC/AC along with hormones and meds means that everyone is understandably very sensitive, and this really needs to be a place of positive support - be careful if you are ever tempted to use sarcasm or humour, as even with the best intentions, these messages can be read as very hurtful.

Please find following some updated guidelines for the LT forums. Please read carefully, and should you wish to discuss the content of this post, please feel free to contact SeaChange, Lenny or Marcellus directly by email. You will find details of our email addresses in this post.

LT Vent Forum: This forum will be restricted to those who are LT TTC only. If a member becomes pregnant, their membership to the forum will be removed. If the member starts to TTC again, they are encouraged to resubmit their application for membership. This is to allow the members who are still TTC to vent without fear offending anyone. This is effective immediately.

LTAC Forum: this forum is for women who have gone through many cycles of AC/IVF. It is a 'veteran's' forum, and it also incorporates the 'Donor Conception' thread. Please be sensitive when posting and that you ensure that your child/pg related tickers are not displayed. There are specific guidelines that relate to this forum are above, please read them. Information relating to the Donor thread can be found HERE

LTTTC: this thread is for anyone who has been trying to conceive for longer than 12 months, and includes anyone who has recently started trying with the aid of medical intervention. However, we have a seperate thread for anyone (no matter how long you've been trying) who are using Clomid/Metformin.

Once you fall Pregnant As a LTer myself, I can assure you that it is a celebration indeed when a LTer finally falls pg, and it is very common for someone in those early stages of pregnancy to not wish to leave the support and familiarity of their LT discussion group. But please be aware that you may have been cycling with someone who did not get their longed-for BFP and to see your progress can sometimes be heart-wrenching.

However, we do understand that falling pg after LTTTC has challenges all its own, and it is in recognition of this that we encourage you to join the Pregnancy after LTTTC forum, where you will be able to obsess with women who have BTDT, while still being sensitive to the very people in the LT forums who supported you.

If you do pop back in to visit your friends, please be sensitive and turn off your pregnancy ticker

Recommending Fertility Specialists or IVF Clinics: Finally, can we ask that if you are asking for recommendations for Fertility Specialists or IVF clinics, that you put in your request for other members to respond to you in the form of a PM. If you are a member that does not have access to PM, and you are happy to be contacted privately via email, please put this in your post and a Moderator will try to help out.

Thank you for reading and again, should you wish to discuss anything, please feel free to contact one of the moderators of this forum.

[marcellus]

Just posting a reminder about signature guidelienes for the LT TTC and LT Assted Conception forums. Note that we have added restrictions on baby or pregnancy related emoticons (including flashing bfp signs) - Please remove your signature when posting in these areas if you have these.

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The Moderation team here at Belly Belly have compiled some signature guidelines for use in the Miscarriage and Loss and Long Term Trying To Conceive Forums. These guidelines are in an effort to be as sensitive as possible to those in these forums.
These guidelines are in effect immediately and are for all threads in the said forums with the exception of the Pregnancy and Parenting threads of these forums.

In the Miscarriage & Loss threads links to your child(ren) website that fall within our guidelines listed HERE are permitted.
* In the LT TTC forums links to your child(ren)'s website are not permitted.
* The following tickers are allowed - TTC Tickers without photos of babies, weight loss, christmas countdown tickers are the only tickers admissable in the said forums} - with the exception being the parenting and pregnancy threads of the above forums.

Signatures with emoticons of babies, breastfeeding, children & pregnancy are required to be disabled in these forums also please.

If in doubt tick "show your signature" in the bottom right hand corner of the text box before you click "Post Reply". This way you can be sure that you don't inadvertently upset a grieving person.

If you have another ticker or a signature that does not comply with the above guidelines you will be required to turn it off prior to posting.

To disable your signature simply untick the box "show your signature" - you will find this if you scroll down below the text box you post in.

For members who find all signatures/avatars confronting you can disable them across the board via the User profile page and under Edit Options you can tick if you want to see avatars/images/signatures etc.

We understand this can be difficult to remember at times but we ask that you get in the habit of doing this so we can be sensitive to posters in these forums. If you do not remove your ticker it will be edited out. Repeatedly dismissing these guidelines will incur an infraction. For more on infractions see HERE .

Most "older" members are aware that we have had similar policies for a long time now on Belly Belly - however with many new members we feel it's important to set guidelines.

Please be mindful of this when replying to all posts in the Miscarriage & Loss & in the Long Term Trying to Conceive forums.

As with all decisions made by the Administration and Moderating team - this is a united decision. We ask that members gracefully accept this as a rule of our community. Debating with regard to this on the boards will be infracted & posts removed - we ask that members step outside their circle and accept that many find pregnancy and baby tickers upsetting after loss. Those that disagree are by far in the minority.

Thankyou for your consideration & understanding.
The Belly Belly Moderation Team.
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