When should you start giving up.....(most things)

[Unami]

Hey. This is the first time I've wanted to ask a pregnancy related question, and this seemed like the most sensible place to ask it.

Partner and I very suddenly decided that a baby would not be a bad thing. But he's working for long stretches abroad right now, and I'm not going to see him for the next few months. But I had been off the pill for about four days before he left. I'd had my usual withdrawal bleed and only took one of the new pack.

I know that it's incredibly unlikely/virtually impossible that anything could have happened, but I still find myself worried about drinking alcohol/caffeine etc. This is just crazy, right? And how soon should I start taking folic acid/avoiding booze, when I know we won't be together again for a few months?

Any advice appreciated.

[HavingALittleFaithBaby]

Ideally you should take folic acid for three months before TTC so I would start now. I would cut down the booze and caffiene gradually so you're having less habitually when you do start TTC. If you smoke, now is the time to stop!

It's unlikely that anything had happened yet - for some women it can take a few weeks - months for ovulation to kick in but of course even one missed pill can give the body a window of opportunity to ovulate so for this cycle you'll have to wait and see!

[MaybeAgain]

Hi unami we are hoping to start TTC #3 from April and I've just stopped taking my pill. I've started taking folic acid daily and have cut down on caffeine and alcohol (me & DH haven't actually had a drink since NYE). I've been on a diet plan for quite some time and I'm hoping to be at target by April (hopefully). I think it's personal to you, when I became pregnant with both my babies I had had a BIG drinking session, DS was conceived after 2 bottles of wine and a drunken idea to walk to asda for the midnight sale of a Harry potter book we did wait until getting home to DTD

We're a little bit older this time around so I'm trying to get a healthy body beforehand, as much as I can really, although I will be having some wine when I fancy it. Can't let my DH beat me in our dryathon though

[EuroShagmore]

Folic acid is recommended from 3 months before you start trying.

Bear in mind it can take a while so you should be realistic about how you want to live for that time. We've been ttc for over two years. In that time I have spent several months caffeine free, alcohol free, etc. Now I am just living as normally as possible and that involves trying to eat well, having a little bit of caffeine and the odd glass of wine. I think that is the healthiest approach mentally for me.

[Unami]

Thanks very much all. I'd feel a little silly avoiding absolutely everything while we are apart, but it makes sense to cut down and definitely to start taking folic acid - I didn't know you had to start so soon. As I have just come off the pill I'm not expecting anything to happen soon, but circumstances mean that we have a relatively short window of opportunity, so I'll give it a good go and prepare within reason.