Those of you that have fallen pregnant recently...

[VillageFete]

Hi,

Just wanted to know how you managed to conceive? Obviously you had sex but was it just casual, DTD as and when you felt like it? Or was it a case of cramming as much sex as possible in during your fertile window? Or did you take the approach of DTD every 2-3 days throughout the month?

How long did it take you to conceive doing it that way?

Also, i've just read something about taking vit B whilst TTC, did anyone take this or any other supplements? I'm interested in trying the vit B.

And if anyone is willing to share, i'd love to know when you are due (if you haven't already had the baby) and what gender you had or are expecting (if you know) i'm nosey!

[Oysterbabe]

Hi Village,
I'm 34 and just over 5 weeks pregnant with my first. I came off the pill at the end of November and started sort of casually trying then. It seemed to take a few months for my cycle to return to normal though. Started taking it a bit more seriously in March and started using opks and temping. We tried to have sex everyday in my fertile window. Then we got married and went on honeymoon. I didn't bother with opks or temping while there and just had a LOT of sex, usually twice a day. I got my positive test result a week after we got back. I'm due 31st January.

[Oysterbabe]

Oh and I only took Folic Acid. DH and I are both quite fit and healthy which I think helps.

[VillageFete]

Congratulations oysterbabe! Since September DP and I have been trying to cram it all into the week when i'm going to ovulate, it hasn't worked so far, so we've changed our approach and are now DTD every 2-3 days, not worrying about ovulation, just enjoying ourselves. Hoping it works this way!

[ValancyJane]

We were trying for six months before I finally fell pregnant. I'd been on vitamins since the beginning of ttc, OH had been on them for about three months. We dtd EOD that month (I remember thinking afterwards that we'd had a good crack at it!). The other big difference was that I cut down my caffeine to just one coffee in the morning, and cut down my alcohol intake quite a bit too. Due in January, if all goes well :)

[JessieMcJessie]

you might be better of posting in pregnancy and not conception. People on this board tend not to be pregnant yet or are very early on and not yet ready to discuss their pregnancy as a success story.

[Wineandchoccy]

I came off the pill and we dtd during my most fertile time and used Opks it took 10 months before I got pregnant unfortunately at my 12 week scan we found out I had a mmc.
After waiting for 1 period we decided to dtd every other day I didn't use opks this time as I felt they made me wait to dtd if there wasn't a strong enough line and I fell pregnant 2 months later and I am currently feeding my 7 week old daughter.

I took 7 seas pregnancy vitamins or sanotogen vitamins depending which were on offer.

Good luck I hope you get a BFP soon

[bwow]

Came off the pill after many years of no periods. Within a month they had returned. Had three cycles. Cut out caffeine and took conception vitamins. Used ovulation strips and had an app. Dtd on fertile days. Success on first month of trying.

[cathpip]

With all 4 dc (am expecting no 4 at the moment) I have come off the pill started on frolic acid and dtd every other day esp around my fertile period. I took 12 weeks with dc1, 8 weeks with dc2, 1 year and a mc with dc3 and 4 weeks with dc4, which was a shock after dc3 and the fact that I was breast feeding.

[shinysparklythings]

We were successfuly in our 3rd month if trying, however it was the first month in which we timed it right and no performance issues.
The month we got gp we had ttc sex 3 days and 1 day before I ovulated regular cycles and I had been tracking ewcm good luck :)

[Stinkersmum]

Took us 13 months. Only used a basic ovulation app based on period cycle length. No tracking/temping etc. Didn't particularly cut down on anything before falling pregnant. Started folic acid as soon as I knew I was pregnant. Maybe I'd have fallen sooner than I did if I'd gone down the track/temp route but I didn't want to make such a deal out of it. I think I was maybe subconsciously not putting too much effort in, then I couldn't be too disappointed if nothing happened. We're due in October and I couldn't be happier. I'm 40 and dh is 46 so probably our only dc which I'm happy with. We didn't want to find out what team we're on but the Dr accidently let it slip at ny 20 week scan. I thought is be really disappointed to know but I'm not. We're not telling anyone else that we know. Our families are both excited for a surprise

[cookielove]

Started trying just being causal not putting to much pressure on us, got impatient after 4 months bought opk's, the next month used opks and followed the sperm meets egg plan and boom got pregnant! At 12 week scan found out we had had a mmc! :(

Then without even trying we fell pregnant a few months later and now we have a wonderful 9 month old boy!

[Beanie42]

Hi Village

I’ll be 43 in November and I’m 23 weeks pregnant with my first, (- a boy). I came off the pill last August and had my first period a month later. While DH and I was trying to conceive I had blood tests done to check my fertility and DH had a sperm analysis done. We both started taking Pregnacare conception vitamins and I cut down on alcohol and caffeine. I used an ovulation calculator to predict my most fertile days as I am fairly regular. Initially I did use the Clearblue OPK to check to see if it coincided with my calculated, which they did more or less, but stop using them after a few months because of the cost.

We DTD every day during my most fertile period but after a couple of months we realised that it was very exhausting during the week, especially after a long day at work. So I tried to make sure that we DTD two days before I ovulated, the day I was supposed to and the day after if we could. I did try to make it seem less clinical and more relaxed. In the lead up to Xmas we didn’t focus on trying as it was a very sociable month.

As it turns out DH had a good sperm count but had very low motility so was recommended to take Proxeed Plus vitamins. I decided to take Proxeed Woman, the female version, too. They are pricey but we felt it was worth a try. I also had an HSG test in December following my blood tests and it show that my fallopian tubes were fine.

When I did a pregnancy test the day before my period was due in Jan, (– only because I was going out for a drink and thought I’d better check just in case-), it was positive!!! We have no idea if DH sperm motility improved – he did have another test but we never got round to finding out the results. The doctor said as well as the vitamins it could have also been the HSG clearing any mucus or debris that might have been in my tubes.

Hope my story gives you encouragement and help. I consider myself extremely lucky as I thought I had missed my chance. I have no idea if anything in particular that was the deciding factor. Finding out about other people’s experiences definitely helped. I was considering acupuncture just before I got pregnant because of the success stories. A lot of the women seemed to conceive when they were more relaxed about it so what you’re doing now sounds right. Also, DTD every 2-3 days. I would consider getting DP checked if it seems to be taking a while and if he’s ok with it? But it might have to be a certain length of time before a doctor will give you a referral letter.

I wish you all the best and that you get a BFP soon!! x

[JessieMcJessie]

Hi Beanie42. I am 41 and TTc our first. after 8 months and one early miscarriage I was starting to lose hope so thanks for your story.

[Allstoppedup]

Wasn't sure when I was ovulating as my periods are very irregular and hadn't returned after DS1.

Was still BFing on demand with co sleeping baby so we just went along with DTD every other day.

We got really lucky and got a sticky bean first month of trying. Obviously we didn't have the stress of trying for a long time but it was good fun and nice and casual rather than enforced Iyswim.

Good luck OP!

[Lilymog]

I have literally just had my bfp!

I am 43 and this is our second pregnancy, my first ended in mc on Christmas Eve at 10+2. I have no idea whether this is a sticky bean yet, but hoping and praying!

So we have been trying really for 3 years.

My first pregnancy when I fell in October was the first month I used the Clearblue digital opk's. Before that we had used nothing and had "hoped" a lot.

After the miscarriage, I got a lot more serious. I decided to take the following vitamins: folic acid & zinc. Then I read up on vitamin D and for the last month I have been taking them. Also, I read that co-enzyme Q10 can help the quality of your eggs and as an old bird thought it would be worth a try.

If I had got to the page where it had suggested vitamin B then I probably would have tried that as well.
My hubby was on, zinc, magnesium, omega 3 and cod liver oil (for his knees!)

I also had my bloods done and they were fine, and hubby just got his letter from the hospital to check his sperm. I think he's still going to go as it's still very early days and just in case anything goes wrong with this one.

Now DTD. This month was really strange. As it said I used the Clearblue digital opk's, I also used a fertility app called Ovia, but never really got into the temperature business, although I am sure that if I'd gotten anymore desperate, then I would!

We also read the Sperm meets Egg Plan which suggests having intercourse on alternative days from day 8 until you get your positive opk, then every day for 3 days and then miss a day and then one more for luck! Well, I am 43! The hubby just turned 50 and that is so much easier said than done. I worked out in the calendar month of May we only did it 6 times in total. Once I saw this, I did tell hubby that we had to up our game in June, if we were ever going to get the result we wanted!

Also this last month May, I never got my smiley face at all on the opk, so that might be why we were a little lax in the bedroom department. I really really thought that I did not ovulate. So the times we did do it were based pretty much on the app readings.

I firmly believe that we were doing it too late, and for us, waiting for the positive opk we may have been missing it, for some it's the other way and it's delayed, so you do need that extra one for luck.

I also had 3 sessions of reflexology with the specific intention of helping us conceive. My practitioner was fab, this again was always done around the time of ovulation and I believe she did my feet the last time just a day after we conceived. There is no scientific evidence for this, but it was lovely and in my mind, I'm sure it helped.

Just to add as well, it was hubby's 50th the week we conceived, we were off work and relaxed, there is a lot to say about not stressing, but hey, that is generally my permanent state and it would only have got worse with all the passing months and cycles!

Good luck and keep going!

[GotTheKey]

I came off the pill last March with a plan to get it out of my system before actively TTC. we used precautions until January 2015 and started taking vitamins then. I used an app to track my cycle for 6 months and became aware of signs of ovulation. In February we started TTC and I was pregnant straight away. Good luck! X

[Skeppers]

I'm 36 and DH is 42.

Came off Pill at end October, just had sex as and when (weekly/fortnightly) as before, got BFP first weekend of December (was a shock!) and now 31 weeks with our first, a boy.

So, it took all of about 6 weeks. Neither of us are particularly 'fit' (I have a high BMI) but neither of us have any health problems either. I was only taking folic acid as we weren't so much 'trying' as 'let's come off the pill and see what happens!'.

So you can be old, fat and unhealthy and conceive quickly!

[VillageFete]

Such lovely stories! So pleased for you all & I hope everything goes brilliantly for those of you in the very early stages.

I'm really sick today, so chesty & run down (working ridiculously hard lately) the thought of DTD is last thing on my mind. I came off my period a week ago and we have DTD 4 times this week. My period tracker says i'm due to ovulate next Saturday but I take that with a pinch of salt as it's usually a couple of days out.

Going to Sainsburys soon, not sure what vitamins to pick up?

[cookielove]

I took seven seas when pregnant as the pregnacare made me feel sick and when TTC I just took folic acid!

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

First DC actively trying for 14 months, taking folic acid and conception vitamins, tracking ovulation and concentrating efforts around that time. Had an appt booked with the dr to discuss fertility testing when I got BFP. I was 28.
Now 30 years old and 36 weeks pregnant with DC2. Was on mini pill and breastfeeding, and was the only time we had sex that month! Obviously completely unplanned so no folic acid etc.

[Karani1]

Just got my BFP.. I've been ttc for 5 months but what I did differently this month was that I took Pregnacare conception and it happened. It works for sure