Getting ready for baby challenge

I work as support staff in a school. It's 6 weeks 90% and then something like half pay for twelve weeks plus SMP. 26 weeks after SMP. I'm an academy though so don't know the exact amount and it's tricky to ask 😁

Well said, thank you

Thanks, Squirrel. Think I might set up a spreadsheet for dates [rubs hands] I love spreadsheets!

grumpy i think having been a teen mum it makes you way more wary of judgy people - this time tho im married with secure job and house so should be a lot less of that! And if there is stuff em. Our choice not theirs!

ssh i dont think you are ever ready money wise. We have done a basic budget, and worked out we can live off just one salary (just, but we can cover mortgage, bills, food, the important stuff) so i think we are as ready as we can be. Tbh the only reason we arent ttc now is that if we wait 6 months i will get better maternity benefits!

I'm lucky though as my work offers 6 months full pay. It's so tough for those who only get SMP.

We finally have the money now which I'm very grateful for, and time (work/life balance, childcare etc) should be ok but we don't really have enough space so trying to extend / possibly move. I don't want to move!

Smu it's nice to talk to someone in the same boat! I'm determined not to let work people being judgey ruin it either (they might be fine but probably will make comments, so want to have a thick skin) - otherwise I'm just swapping one set of judgey people (11 yrs ago when I was a "teen mum") for another! You can't win can you? Never a good time to have a baby. Figure I might as well do it now than wait 5 years for a non guaranteed promotion and then risk being too old.

Mrs I would count it as a period even though it is technically just withdrawal bleed so you have something to go on (timing wise) for expecting AF. I have no idea what I'm doing as I had no periods on cerazette for years so I'm just waiting... (bit scared)

Hard isn't it. There will never be a right time but don't want us to be crucified financially!

Ssh my DH is worried too. He wants to be earning my what my annual salary is on top of his own so we're not worse off. Don't think that's going to happen!

Hi everyone waves
I'd love to join you if that's OK? I took my last pill this morning so am officially TTC! Sounds like you've all got good plans. I've been taking Seven Seas conception vitamins for the last month. Not had any nausea with them although I take them at bedtime. I also need to get back to the gym. Not planning on temping or OPKs just yet as don't want to pressure myself. Could imagine myself becoming obsessed haha! I wonder if anyone knows: when I have a bleed in a few days (last pill today) do I count that as my first period so day 1 of cycle or is it still a withdrawal bleed?

Anyone else worry about finances?!?! DH earns £22,500 a year, I'm worried how we'd survive on that and SMP whilst I'm off work.

Sounds like me Grumpy! Had him at 18, so any new pregnancy/baby is going to be like new again! At least our oldest are toilet trained!

Welcome smu
I feel like I've forgotten everything from last time, as it was so long ago! Looking forward to enjoying & planning this pregnancy (DD1 was not planned & I was v young). I feel more anxious but maybe that's because I'm more aware of the risks!
How about you?

Aww Shh I know hormonal contraception can be scary can't it! Luckily for me I stopped in September due to side effects, so hopefully will be back to normal. Have always had regular cycles (I was on Micronor which only stops ovulation about half the time, so think I was having "proper" cycles with regular periods. Typical that when we decide that we'll soon start TTC, my period decides to go AWOL...

But yeah everything I've read says no harm will come of stopping immediately. Even the conception guidance on mumsnet says so, but you may want to have a little look yourself for peace of mind :)

So I could just not take my pill tonight and go from there?!?! Not looking forward to having 'normal' periods back - bit heavier than the light ones on pill. At the same time, petrified my periods won't come back. Oh body please be normal FC!!

Also confused sorry to hear about your BFN/cycle confusion, so frustrating!

And yes thank you, DD loooves her teepee, keeps gathering things to take in there Can't believe your DH spilled the beans, but we had a gathering of DP's close friends and someone asked about if we're thinking about another one and we spilled the beans too! Have been dropping hits to family nd think my sister understands, but am still feeling weirdly nervous about telling my mum even though she loves having grand children!

And no AF for me yet, but have somehow (probably due to the distraction of Christmas) I've managed not to test. Am a week late now though!

Can I join in? Much like Grumpy I have a 10 year old but now married and looking to ttc june time. January I shall start getting healthier in preparation!

I've read that it's fine to stop whenever :) Some people say it's best to wait until so you get your "period" at the same time but since it is actually just a withdral bleed there is no practical reason to.

I've been on the trying for a baby Reddit and they are very knowledgeable over there! They recommend temp charting as well as OPKs to confirm ovulation, particularly helpful when coming off hormonal contraception :)

I was thinking of making a separate thread but thought might be worth asking here first - would it matter if I just stopped my pill now?! 8 days into my last pack?! I don't fancy waiting until the end and midway through jan before pill break but can I do that?!?! I just feel like new year, fresh start!!

Posted too soon - that's why the monitor is worthwhile for me as I'm really hoping to time it accurately

Confused the actual main thing is like 30 per cent off on Amazon right now. So the kit of 20 or so sticks and the monitor cost a total of £100. It's being delivered today! Woop!

I'm very keen to conceive in May as I'd like (a Feb baby) the spring & summer off work - I'll only take six months and my DH will take the second six months under SPL.

Hey Ladies!! I hope everyone had a great Christmas hello to all the newbies too

So an update from me... my AF did arrive for 1.5 days!! deffo not upduffed after 2 tests have been BFN so either the spotting i had before official AF should be CD1 or im completely confused. DH got so drunk he spilled the TTC news to the whole of both of our families... in some ways it was nice but now the negative comments will come (this happened with our wedding also). But i think we will probably make a start trying before June now but i really dont want a Christmas baby

HB do you know if there is a blood test they can do to see if your DP has contracted Zika? It may help with the timing. Also DH is very concerned about money but my mat package isn't awful and we are going to use our savings each month to cover the downfall in my wages.

wiggley i can imagine trying to save for both will be really hard! Although my advise would be to ask for money from all your guests... we did that and didn't even give a gift list. We actually told everyone we were too strapped for a honeymoon and thats why we wanted money to book one (which was 100% true) but it was nice because people knew they were contrabuting something better than a toaster! Lol so basically get a baby fund from your wedding guests. Also im thinking Christmas has mucked up all of us complaining of weird cycles!

Orange thats what I expected from DH but we have had our little nephew 2yo with us all Christmas and DH was so excited and broody he can't wait now!

Hows everything going Evie did you get AF or BFP? Also did DD like the TeePee?

Theres my DH was also a twin (sadly stillborn too) but there is no history in my family so I am not sure of our chances. You should get some cheapie OPKs from Amazon like me i'm sure they must be fairly easy to use but also cheap! I think I am going for a similar approach to you with Diet and Exercise but I can't cut out carbs! Infact a PT told me once not to do it so i've stuck with that forever! Lol

grumpy i keep looking at CBFM but i just don't know if i can spare the cash for all the bits! Have you used it yet and do you like it?

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I'm not sure there has been a moment where I'm not eating or drinking except for sleep so I'm more ready than ever for the health challenge!
On a more irritating note, my Christmas Day expected AF has yet to make an appearance. There's no chance of being upduffed as we're been using protection so just my cycle going wrong. Do you think it's because I've been focussing on it more this month? Is that even possible?! It's been so regular for the last 3 months

Hi everyone and those are great goals tea

Mine are:
Dry January
Eat more green veg or at least fruit (I actually love both - am just lazy / forget.. especially in winter)
Give up bad carbs (I have a croissant habit)
Get folic acid vitamins and take them on top of my daily vitamin D
Track my cycle - downloaded Ovia