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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.

Trying for our first baby! EEEEK!

36 replies

HaveCourageBeKind · 04/12/2017 12:36

Hi all! Totally new on here and just trying to get my head around all the info about conception etc :) I'm almost 35 and we decided to try for a baby and I'm just curious if there is any advice you received that you found useful when trying to get pregnant or in the first weeks of your pregnancy? Thank you Xmas Smile x

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TonicAndTonic · 07/12/2017 22:51

Clearly it's a personal choice but DP and agreed no temping/ovulation sticks for at least the first 6 months and no testing early. Just lots of DTD! I did chart periods but nothing else. We also tried really hard to keep DTD fun! Took 5 months to get a bfp and for us this approach definitely kept us sane. But like I say, it's about what works for you personally.

Rainbowandraindrops67 · 07/12/2017 22:48

And it’s not a 25% chance every cycle - it’s 33% if you time it right - the chart on this explains it right. This is why timimg is everything
yourfertility.org.au/for-men/the-best-time-for-conception/

Rainbowandraindrops67 · 07/12/2017 22:42

Take folic acid and a pregnancy multi vitamin (even before you are pregnant)

Don’t put off life whilst you are ttc

Cut back on caffeine and alcohol

Ttc is all about timing! You need to work out when you ovulate.

The time period between ovulation and your period arriving is a fixed period - absolutely fixed - although what it is fixed at is different for everyone. The average is 14 days. You can use this info once you’ve worked out your timing to plan

You work out when you ovulating naturally by when you have most vaginal discharge

It’s the consistency of egg white. When you get egg white discharge (in your pants or when you wipe) get doing it

Your partner will also find you most attractive when you are ovulating so do let natural attraction work too

You can only get pregnant by having sex about 3 days before and 1 day after ovulation and the day of ovulation - any other days of the month just don’t count even if you are at it like rabbits. Work out when this 5 days are therefore (naturally as above or with ovulation sticks)

Male fertility affects 50% of ttc so get your partner to be healthy, cut back on alcohol etc too

If you have irregular periods you aren’t ovulating regularly (as above with the fixed periods)

Use first response tests when you want to do a pregnancy test - they are most sensitive to low levels of pregnancy hormone so will pick up pregnancies before others will

Don’t let it take over your life

Don’t start being jealous of pregnant women etc - you don’t know what they’ve had to do to get there or how long it’s taken them

Go to gp and ask for tests after 6 months ttc at your age - don’t wait longer

HaveCourageBeKind · 07/12/2017 22:39

Welcome @zoClueless 🙌🏻 Fingers crossed for you Hun! Hope all is back to normal soon for you x

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zoClueless · 07/12/2017 22:25

Just popping on to say hi too! Xmas Smile

We'll be starting to ttc in a couple weeks too. I had my last pill and withdrawal bleed towards end of October. Still waiting for first proper bleed though. I know I can take some time to return but just eager to know things are starting to work again!!!

HaveCourageBeKind · 07/12/2017 22:00

@VenusStarr exactly hehe my new cycle is due to start any day then followed by all the trying and the dreaded 2WW lol 😂

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VenusStarr · 07/12/2017 21:38

@HaveCourageBeKind it is scary and exciting! I know what I said about not obsessing but I know myself and I'm 'aware' of when I'm due on so it's highly unlikely I won't be thinking about it! :)

HaveCourageBeKind · 06/12/2017 08:58

holly crap my computer went mental and posted it 4 times!!! YIKES!!!! :O apologies everyone :)

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HaveCourageBeKind · 06/12/2017 08:57

@Miss83 yay!!! similar to us just DH is slightly older... did you start any ovulation checks beforehand? I started pregnacare last month to get the folic acid as well as omega 3 tablets and magnesium.

@TheIntrovertedMum thanks hun! Trying not to go too crazy but it's so hard not thinking about it or read up some info :)

@Sealaplace hehehe you are not on your own.... gosh feel exactly the same.... part happy put 'holly sh*t are we ready for this?' you know standard stuff :)

@Marymaymay I will definitely be testing to know I am pregnant no worries... but someone will have to tape my hands I think not to try and test too early and use 597435 tests heehehe :)

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HaveCourageBeKind · 06/12/2017 08:57

@Miss83 yay!!! similar to us just DH is slightly older... did you start any ovulation checks beforehand? I started pregnacare last month to get the folic acid as well as omega 3 tablets and magnesium.

@TheIntrovertedMum thanks hun! Trying not to go too crazy but it's so hard not thinking about it or read up some info :)

@Sealaplace hehehe you are not on your own.... gosh feel exactly the same.... part happy put 'holly sh*t are we ready for this?' you know standard stuff :)

@Marymaymay I will definitely be testing to know I am pregnant no worries... but someone will have to tape my hands I think not to try and test too early and use 597435 tests heehehe :)

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HaveCourageBeKind · 06/12/2017 08:57

@Miss83 yay!!! similar to us just DH is slightly older... did you start any ovulation checks beforehand? I started pregnacare last month to get the folic acid as well as omega 3 tablets and magnesium.

@TheIntrovertedMum thanks hun! Trying not to go too crazy but it's so hard not thinking about it or read up some info :)

@Sealaplace hehehe you are not on your own.... gosh feel exactly the same.... part happy put 'holly sh*t are we ready for this?' you know standard stuff :)

@Marymaymay I will definitely be testing to know I am pregnant no worries... but someone will have to tape my hands I think not to try and test too early and use 597435 tests heehehe :)

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HaveCourageBeKind · 06/12/2017 08:56

@Miss83 yay!!! similar to us just DH is slightly older... did you start any ovulation checks beforehand? I started pregnacare last month to get the folic acid as well as omega 3 tablets and magnesium.

@TheIntrovertedMum thanks hun! Trying not to go too crazy but it's so hard not thinking about it or read up some info :)

@Sealaplace hehehe you are not on your own.... gosh feel exactly the same.... part happy put 'holly sh*t are we ready for this?' you know standard stuff :)

@Marymaymay I will definitely be testing to know I am pregnant no worries... but someone will have to tape my hands I think not to try and test too early and use 597435 tests heehehe :)

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Marymaymay · 05/12/2017 20:05

OP - loads of shit things can happen to you at any time in life. Just get on with enjoying it and please don’t go round thinking about mc statistics. Honestly, if you were to have one, which is less likely than NOT having one, you’ll have enough time to think about it then.

Test early if you want to, but test for the joy of knowing you are pregnant rather than to know if you have a miscarriage.

If you start the path of parenthood off with worry about losing a child it’s a slippery slope!

Best of luck with it

Sealaplace · 05/12/2017 19:58

Hopping on here for some wisdom! First cycle of ttc and I'm scared and excited and everything in between! Trying so hard not to get carried away because I know it might not happen for us straight away.
Good luck x

TheIntrovertedMum · 05/12/2017 18:43

Welcome to the club!! I would say relax and enjoy it. Don't let I become a chore and don't stress out about it too much! Also start taking pregnacare cause then you know you'll be covered with all your vitamins and minerals!

I'm ttc number 2 atm Smile

Miss83 · 05/12/2017 16:50

Wanted to say hi.... Me and DP and both 34 and just starting TTC. Just had cycle one.... On to cycle two this month. Good luck in your journey and thanks for sharing all the advice. I have just been taking folic acid for the past four months. Trying not to tell anyone we are TTC but people keep on all the time about when are we going to start lol.

user1470147116 · 05/12/2017 16:15

Hi @user1470147116

As far as I know all trusts will do detailed fertility testing if you have 3 or more miscarriages, these include chemical miscarriages.

Hi @havecouragebekind

Early miscarriages (5 weeks) are very common and most women will never even realise they had one!

A chemical miscarriage is when you do the test a week early (using sensitive test like First Response) and then a week later you get your period.

If I didn't test early every month I may never have know that I got pregnant.

A very common cause of early miscarriages is APS:
www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/pregnancy-complications/antiphospholipid-syndrome-aps

I think its the cause of 25% (?) of miscarriages and most women will never know they have it unless you ask GP to test for it (like I did).

If you have APS you simply take low dose aspirin/heparin to stay pregnant.

On Mumsnet everyone told me not to test early but if I followed that advice I would not be sitting here in my 2nd trimester!

HaveCourageBeKind · 05/12/2017 14:39

Thanks so much @user1470147116 ! This is really informative and I also didn't realise about testing early... also it's quite frightening to hear about just how many miscarriages happen... I always thought it's very rare...

So if it's a mechanical miscarriage the test would be positive but you would still get your period... am I correct?

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MaisyPops · 05/12/2017 14:03

user1470147116
I didn't know that.
Is that all trusts?
We always avoid testing early to avoid getting upset.
I might test early if that's the case.

user1470147116 · 05/12/2017 13:54

Do test early, few days before period due using First Response test.

Because if you have 3 or more chemical miscarriages (like I did) the NHS will test you and may find a solution (this happened in my case).

I only knew I had these chemical miscarriages because I tested early (otherwise you might just think its a heavy period etc)

If I didn't test early I would never had know I have APS. The NHS only test for it if you have early losses.

Now I am on right medication to keep baby.

So testing early every month using First Response test means I now am 14 weeks pregnant!

user1470147116 · 05/12/2017 13:48

My advice (this worked for me, am 14 weeks pregnant, and 40 years old)

Use Clearblue monitor and make sex about 4 times during highs/peaks

Limit alcohol (especially for men)

Limit caffeine

Eat more fruit and veg

Yoga

Pregnacare conception tablets

Fish oil tablets

Ubiquinol tablets

Do fertility tests after 6 months, don't wait 2 years.

Good luck!

HaveCourageBeKind · 05/12/2017 09:53

I agree @MaisyPops... It's good to know that and not panic if the things don't go as quickly as I would like them to...

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HaveCourageBeKind · 05/12/2017 09:51

Ahhhh exciting times @VenusStarr ! I would be too impatient to wait that long heheh :) when we decided last month this month will be fist try! YIKES! Exciting and scary all at the same time...

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VenusStarr · 04/12/2017 19:53

Hello everyone

I've just finished my last pill (last Thursday) and waiting for my breakthrough bleed. We're not officially trying yet as we're getting married early next spring, but like some on here, I'm mid 30s and a bit worried it may take a while. Equally what happens if it doesn't take long?! So I flit between these two thoughts. I've been using ovia for the last few months just to get into the habit of recording my body changes. I'm not going to temp or use ovulation sticks yet. If nothing has happened in around 8 months (my next birthday) I'll probably start that. I've also started 7 seas preconception that that's vit d and folic acid.

I felt quite strange last week knowing it was my last pill :)

MaisyPops · 04/12/2017 17:39

I'm not trying to be negative, but I wish someone had spelt this out to me when I started trying.
We started August last year and I WISH someone had told me this.