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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Every piece of advice for TTC, food, lifestyle, the works

34 replies

ScarlettInSpace · 20/02/2012 16:11

Chuck 'em all at me.

I'm over a year into this TTC malarky and with 1 tube & a hycosy looming [whether this month or next is dependant on whether the surgeon has time to see me when he gets back from his holiday in South Africa Hmm] I'm going to throw every bloody thing I can at it over the next couple of months.

So far in the last 12 months I've done the obvious: cut out caffeine, just about stopped smoking ish and tried to limit alcohol intake apart from during AF as I have a generally sod it attitude for those 4 days stopped taking ibuprofen for pain-relief, aiming to limit OH to SWI every other day, vits & folic acid every day obv...

What other pearls of wisdom do you all have?

Should I be eating 7 cranberries on the 7th day at the 7th hour?

Tried and tested, old wives tales, or even just amusing anecdotes, please let me know what else I can be doing to chivvy mother nature along...

OP posts:
bettergetamoveon · 20/02/2012 17:11

OPKs - after 8 months TTC my DS the first month i got these i realised i OV later in my cycle. Fell PG the month I realised.

Other things I did differently the month i conceived:

I had an orgasm immediatley after sex
We had morning sex.
Started swimming regularly.

Trying for another baby again. On CD1 of cycel 2. Maybe i should take some of my own advice.

Kaloobear · 20/02/2012 16:54

Conceive Plus lube worked for us-I think. At least, we got pregnant in the month we started using it-no way of knowing whether it was that I suppose. Are you charting? Toni Weschler's book was a godsend.

beangrower · 20/02/2012 16:52

Oh and congrats to Quit.

beangrower · 20/02/2012 16:52

Brazil nuts contain selenium which is hard to ingest in vitamin form. My GP made some quip about the Russians swearing by walnuts for sperm. But my GP experience re' TTC has been pretty dismal.

Yes - to boxers instead of the other type. But my DP has always worn boxers.

Also hot baths are not recommended, esp' for guys.

We are trying acupuncture for both of us now. And Chinese herbs. But be prepared for an empty purse after this lot. We're giving it another three months... Will let you know if I think it has helped!

Holidays are important. Apparently our fallopian tubes tense up just like other parts of our body. Hence the utterly effin annoying advice 'Just relax' having some truth in it. Darn it. We are house-swapping to avoid the Olympics in London. I'm hoping this might lead to a bit of BFP action.

And summer is coming - which is generally a nice time to cuddle up.

Keep smilin' Scarlett - and please tell me the same in a couple of weeks when AF gets me. Grin

quitcomplaining · 20/02/2012 16:43

Apparently men are suffering from lower sperm count and poor swimmers these days due to wearing 'tighties'. Anyway don't know how much truth there is in the theory but dd was conceived during a two weeks holiday with dp swinging his balls freely in swim shorts.

I am currently 10 weeks pregnant with dc2 after 4 months of trying. And you guessed it they were conceived on holiday!

SquishyCinnamonSwirls · 20/02/2012 16:36

Brazil nuts for the selenium I think.
I'm not sure how good my advice is, 5 years in and not a sticky bean in sight!

Original poster
ScarlettInSpace · 20/02/2012 16:32

bean yes re OH, he had his SA this morning and was very proud that he was in & out so quick he didn't have to pay for parking at the hospital Wink

and yep, this is no doubt fuelled by my AF-induced melancholy Grin

teaandchocolate brazil nuts?! I'm sure someone once mentioned walnuts too {bean was that you?]

Acupuncture, hmmmmm might look into that...

OP posts:
teaandchocolate · 20/02/2012 16:27

Agree your DP must do his bit - I read something about avoiding using laptops on your lap and eating brazil nuts?!

I also really recommend accupuncture and/or reflexology - I found they really work. I also took loads of vitamins but cant work out whether it made any difference or just helped to bankrupt me - Marilyn Glenville's website has advice on this.

Is annoying when people say this but trying to stay relaxed/not stress - I know easier said than done! But that's why giving up alcohol and caffeine is such a pain...

good luck!!

beangrower · 20/02/2012 16:22

Scarlett (sorry - an old face for you here but hey) - has OH been tested too? And is he doing his bit - manvits etc - like you are. It takes two to tango, as they say.

Other than all of the above that you list, maybe just a bit of gentle exercise that makes you feel good? (I manage some sloppy yoga but it has helped.)

Oh - and make yourself happy. Go out to the cinema, meals etc, buy a load of nice clothes - whatever makes you feel good. Obsessing takes its toll (don't I know about it).

When I conceived DS (I was 37) - I thought it would take ages so had limited expectations. Pg cycle 2. Then I thought DC2 would be a doddle and had big expectations. One year on, and nada. BUT we have just discovered that DP has poor motility (as well as my age being a barrier). I have done everything from acupuncture to cough medicine for EWCM and wheatgrass. OPKs and CBFM etc. But DP is really only just on board - has given up drinking and is trying acupuncture.

And actually, I realise just need to chill the fuck out if at all possible.

BTW - AF always does this to us, I think. It feels a bit more manageable after she's done her worst.

Chin up and we're brooking for you. You will get your BFP.