What is day one?

[Pinklilly]

Hi all this might seem like a silly question but I am confused. I'm trying to work out if I have a short luteal phase, so do I count my spotting as day 1? Or is it actual period day?
I had some spotting 9dpo in morning then nothing at all, a little pink discharge 10dpo morning then nothing else. On 11dpo I got my period an actual flow. So I count day 1 as this but unsure if that's right?
Would appreciate any help!

[Daffodil21]

Hi, I asked this exact same question to a fertility specialist and they said the first day of full flow counts as CD1

[Pinklilly]

Hi @Daffodil21 thanks so much for taking the time to answer. I appreciate that. I'm hoping that's good news to an extent as that means my luteal phase is 11days which is technically within normal ranges. Just very disappointed with af arriving this month so appreciate your help alot.

[Daffodil21]

Hi @Pinklilly yes I know what you mean - it's so disheartening! How long have you been TTC?

[Pinklilly]

Hi @Daffodil21i haven't been ttc long, this was month 2. I have always had very regular cycles and used the copper coil for contraception so non hormonal. I have just been quite surprised that i ovulate relatively late into my cycle (cycle day 17/18 and prev cycle day 21) and then have a period 11 days later. I was just thinking that if this is something that isn't quite normal i should probably discuss earlier with GP etc rather than wait for a year ttc and find out the same information. However you have reassured me that technically am within the normal luteal phase so just going to try and be patient. I am going to take some pre-natal vitamins from today.
How about yourself how long have you been trying? How are you coping?

[Daffodil21]

I don't know anything about TTC after the coil so no advice on that aspect I'm afraid!

I've been TTC for nearly 2 years now. I've been pregnant twice but they didn't work out so it's been a bit of a slog. I don't take a preconception vitamin anymore. I took pregnecare for about a year but then I read how it can delay ovulation for some people so I stopped taking it. I do take other supplements but I don't take a specific conception one anymore.

Ha. Not sure I do cope tbh! My cycles vary every month so I'm not tracking anymore. I hate the tww so much, I always get way too carried away. This way I don't know when I'm in it!

[Pinklilly]

@Daffodil21 I'm sorry to hear about the pregnancies not taking, that must be difficult.
I too have heard this about prenatal supplements but my GP recommended some so I figured I'll try. Equally I'll test with opk and see if ovulation is delayed.

I think you have a good approach not tracking. I do wish I was of that nature but I feel peace through tracking and then I drive myself mad in tww even though I only have done this twice.
I wish you best of luck with the rest of your journey and thanks again for your help.

[Daffodil21]

Thank you. Good luck to you too!

I'm with a fertility clinic now and they obviously recommend folic acid, but they also recommend Vit D so it might be worth you looking into that. There might be enough in your multi bit already though (I take high strength but that's because of the research that's been done on links between vit d deficiency and mc)

I know what you mean about OPKs. In a sense it makes you feel in control so if you're happy doing it then why not. I personally have had enough of peeing on sticks and would rather just dtd every other day 😂

[Pinklilly]

@Daffodil21thanks for that I'll check the quantity of vitamin d in the supplement.ive gone for proceive which is quite expensive but I thought the composition of vitamins looked good.
I hope the fertility clinic is helpful for you, I think seeking help in itself feels like you're doing something to gain control

I wish we could dtd every other day but my husband has enough trouble being motivated in the short window. He just finds the concept of DTD every other day as a routine off putting. I find myself trying to be encouraging and motivating but don't think I can be that way for three weeks without getting a little annoyed. Good on you for managing it.

[Chanel05]

First day of red blood. If after midday, the following day should count as cd1.

[Daffodil21]

@Pinklilly we didn't dtd every other day in the early days either. Thankfully my DH knows we just have to for our best chance, and it's surprisingly not too unromantic, even at this point! We never used to dtd this often though, and if my DH knows it's the important time (ie when I tell him I've got a static face on ovulation test-big mistake!) it puts too much pressure on him. So now we just blindly dtd often with no idea when ovulation day is, and therefore no idea when AF is expect so no early testing and tww!

It's still early days for you so it's best to take it as it comes to some extent, and be a bit more regimented if you find it's taking if a while (which hopefully it won't!)

My DH takes the proceive men and they're pretty good - we've seen improvements in sperm analysis since he's taken them. We've added a couple more supplements for him too, but again that's just because of our history