TTC First Baby Thread 19

@FlapJackered @MrsH497 Yep my jelly belly is showing no signs of leaving - trying to drink loads of water and herbal tea to flush it away!!

@ELW85 Thank you lovely - I know, I feel a bit calmer about it now as there’s sod all I can do about it; my fear this month was getting pg if I do have an issue that needs some treatment - but I’ll mention it to the consultant tomorrow and hope she doesn’t look at us like a pair of naughty teenagers!! Hope you get that positive OPK very soon :) Some months my Ov date has been 2-3 days later than expected for absolutely no reason at all. Stupid eggs.

@LokiCat I’ve put on a full stone since TTC; it’s taking its toll!! Had a lot of anxiety and stress around the MCs which hasn’t helped, so glad to be back on the ball now. I am SUCH an emotional eater though!!

@xELENx Welcome! I also prefer a prenatal vitamin rather than just folic acid, cutting down on caffeine is also a good tip, try to stay active for your BMI and mental health etc. Tommy’s have a fab online tool as a checklist for trying to conceive!

@MrsR16 so excited for you!! I’ll be checking the pg board next week for your updates :)

@Lottiepink Good for you!! 4-5 times a week is amazing, it’s what I’m aiming for at the mo! It shouldn’t affect your cycle at all (never has with mine) - apparently it would only be hinderance if you lost too much weight. I eat enough to ensure that doesn’t happen haha!

@FlapJackered How frustrating about your BMI!! Make sure you don’t poop that morning; you can easily retain 2-3 lbs that way!!

@starkid Fingers crossed you Ov super soon!!

I’m exhausted today - one day back at work has taken it out of me! Also keep feeling a bit sick and wondered what was going on, and realised I’m starting to get really nervous about my appointment tomorrow. I just have no idea what she’s going to say or find. Trying to do the whole ‘this time tomorrow I’ll know either way’ but don’t think I’ll get much sleep tonight!

@FlapJackered - wow, crazy. pounds and pounds of pasta it is 😂 free food and spa! sounds amazing xx

@purplefig thanks lovely. Unfortunately they just said it is the guidelines for referral. You have to meet the criteria. They have never told me that it is an issue. If you saw me you wouldn't say I was very skinny so I don't think it would be causing a problem, I will try and eat more though and see if I can up it!
We are going to a spa for a few nights next week so I will make sure I take full advantage of the free food! 😂 🍗

@starkid it is a referral to the fertility consultant. Very frustrating! Good ideas! It will blatantly be a heat wave next week and I will turn up in 5 layers with coat and boots!
Fingers crossed you get your positive soon. With me they go very quickly from faint to strong.

@FlapJackered Ohh I'm so sorry about that! I honestly think the BMI is not an ideal system (I get we need something, and it's better than nothing, but it's so rigid and doesn't take many factors into account). I love the receptionists advice, and your husbands! Do you think there is any merit at all in gaining weight - did they explain why they thought you should? I know, anecdotally, a few accounts of very slim women putting on a bit and consequently getting pregnant, but I wonder if there is research to back it up.

@LokiCat awww, thank you lovely! It sounds like you're totally on the right track. I'm considering doing the couch to 5k programme too as I haven't ran in about 2 years :/ we'll get there!

@Fivebyfive2 - good luck with your scan at the weekend!
@ValidUser - omg I'm glad I'm not the only one making baby amazon wishlists sometimes think i'm a glutton for punishment. Good luck for testing next week
@FlapJackered- sorry I missed some pages, what was the referral appointment for, that you can be too low in bmi for it? Very annoying! heavy boots, stuff in pockets, heavy jeans and bulky clothes for definite! I used to always have a very low bmi too (it's now crept up to normal in my 'old age' haha)

So have had what feel like ovulation pains on my left side on and off all morning. If it is that, last cycle I got a positive OPK the day after experiencing them, so fingers crossed things are finally looking to be heading to ovulation as not going to lie, this every other day malarky still going on is making me tired 😂 still had ultra-negative opk's all yesterday

@ELW85 haha! I'm sure if the BBT app could talk, that's what it would say 😂
That does make sense if you're usually pretty regular. Are you going to test throughout today incase the surge happens a little later? As you've said, I'm sure it'll happen but it's understandable to be worried. Have fx for you 😊
Yeah, it's so easy to emotionally eat, especially ever since the mc but hopefully I can get back into healthy eating and exercising! I think seeing everyone's dedication on here is going to give me the kick and motivation I need!
Your responses are always so sweet, thank you :)

@xELENx welcome and happy first wedding anniversary!
I've just started temping this cycle and it's been handy to understand my cycle and when ovulation has occurred etc (although it's also given me something else to obsess over!). Seems like you're on the right track though :)

@purplefig yeah a lot better today, thanks!
I'm not exercising as regularly as I was. When I had my MC in March I think it put me on a downer and I haven't really been to the gym properly since then. I have signed up the Couch to 5k app and hopefully that'll get me back into the swing of things. Will start meal prepping as well, to stop buying crap for lunch at work.
As I said above, I'm getting the motivation seeing how you all are going about things :)
I love reading your responses to everyone, always so positive and helpful.

There's always such a positive vibe on this thread, thanks all ❤️

The doctors just rang and I have been rejected for a referral, apparently my bmi is too low 😭. It seems so unfair as to look at me you would definitely not say I was underweight. I have got to be weighed one last time in a week and if I am heavy enough they will refer me. The receptionist was very kind and said wear lots of clothes and drink lots of water/eat a lot before coming in. She also booked it for 7pm. I just really struggle to put weight on and I think I just have very light bones. I have a jelly belly and love handles which I can properly grab so I don't think my issue is that I am too slim. Gah! Sorry for the rant. Just feel so upset. DH's suggestions have been to put sugar in my bra and paperweights in my hair 😂

@MrsH497 I didn't realise either until I spoke to my SIL who also had a mc and she has the same. It is really frustrating that it won't go down, although wondering if it might help me with my referral now! Just need to grow it a bit more.

Welcome @xELENx

@FlapJackered @MrsEG I've got a bit of a jelly belly too didn't realise that could be a post MC thing!

Have a great holiday @Lozzlepop

How is everyone? X

@ELW85 I haven't done any research into vitamins affecting O date, but just a thought as I know so many factors can impact it. Probably smart just introducing one thing at a cycle as you can pinpoint what's responsible for what! Meanwhile this cycle I introduced: temping, a daily fertility smoothie, pregnacare, acupuncture and exercise . Still having about 1/2 cup of ground coffee a day, but if no luck this cycle that's going next cycle.

@Purplefig - the vitamins are EXACTLY what I was worrying about, although it’s VitC and only a little B6, so I didn’t expect it to alter O, just LP.
It’s all trial and error I guess! So pleased I didn’t start on the Vitex!!

@ELW85 no prob - am I correct in thinking you started new vitamins this month? Could they potentially have delayed it? It's so frustrating but I guess all you can do is keep testing and it will come eventually! Enjoy those distracting workshops

@xELENx if you do a search on the last thread (or maybe the one before that....so either 18 or 17) there was a big discussion about caffeine and I think @ELW85** posted a link to some studies that are worth a read through. Happy TCC-ing!

@LottiePink @ELW85 @purplefig thanks all, will do a bit more research on caffeine and looking forward to charting my temp and seeing if that sheds any light for me 🤞

@Purplefig - thanks for the respective pep talk :)
My O was definitely delayed when we were on honeymoon and I was jet lagged to death but I thought it would take something of similar proportions to do the same again.
I’m going to try and just relax and go with it. And I’ve got an entire day of workshops today to distract me! So lucky...

@MrsEG @FlapJackered I think @MrsEG** is right and that it depends on how much they specifically know about exercise. It's strange about your acupuncturist though, like you said she's knowledgeable on everything else. I think ultimately you've got to do what works for you. It might be worth shelving your regular exercise for a few months to see if it works, or it might not be worth it to the hit your mental health will take without it. I think like with everything, you've got to weigh up the pros and cons and consider how it fits in with your specific lifestyle. It's a fucking minefield though, agreed.

@ELW8 Thanks for the temp pep talk - it's my first month so I think I have unrealistic expectations + my chart was so visually appealing and now it's not ahaha! Re: your ovulation date, one thing I took away from TCOYF is that lots of different factors can delay ovulation e.g. stress. It's not really a fixed 'known' unlike your LP. Even those with pretty regular cycles can have the odd curve ball if something delays ovulation e.g. travel, moving house etc.

@LokiCat Oooo I love a 9pm bedtime! Do you feel better today? I'm with you on the heaviest I've ever been thing too, which granted isn't overweight or anything but after months of no exercise and period-induced chocolate binges I am definitely keen to up the health kick. Are you exercising? I've only been back at it for a few weeks as I must say I feel better already.

@xELENx welcome, sounds like you're doing all the right things! I agree with @Lottiepink thank temping is the best for pinpointing ovulation, especially when combined with OPKs.

Welcome @xELENx
I would restrict caffeine to 200mg a day and research how much caffeine is in various things, as it’s more than you think!!

@Leodot thanks - going to try and be positive about this cycle. DH better be ready for the ovulation window! Lol

@MrsEG yeah I'm pleased for them too, knowing now how hard it is to actually conceive - seems a bloody miracle! Haha! Thank you and good luck to you too :)

Thanks @Lozzlepop will def try temping 👍 feel like such a novice, didn't appreciate how much I didn't know until now!

@ValidUser ahh that's amazing! Fingers are firmly crossed for you!

@Lozzlepop have a fab holiday!

I've got back into the gym bug... finally after only going twice a week, I've not upped it to 4/5 times a week and feel so much better for it. Just hope it doesn't affect ttc. So many things can, but it's just all a vicious circle 🙈

welcome @xELENx i think the temping would be better for you to pin point ovulation, especially with having pcos. You will soon pick it all up, when I joined I had no idea 🤣 frer is a first response test, which are the most sensitive when testing early

@MrsEG I love your attitude! I'm excited to see what your results are 😊 yes, I am getting excited now! It'll just be good to get past that 12 week mark.

Hi All,

I'm VERY new to this, just joined and this is my first post!

Just celebrated our first wedding anniversary (on Friday) and have decided it's time to TTC 😳

Age: 34 (35 in Oct)
TTC #1
CD: 27

According to Ovia (which I've been using for approx. 8 months) I'm on the last day of my fertile window. It originally said that was last week but after a week of negative ovulation tests it's moved it on a week.

I was diagnosed with PCOS at 19 but have had regular periods for the past 6 years. My average cycle length is 36 days so as this is the first time we're actively TTC, I'm not sure if I have ovulated during the predicted window (we are on holiday at the moment and didn't being testing kit with me) 🙄

Have ordered a thermometer which should be there when we get home. Been taking Folic acid for around 6 weeks now and cut way down on coffee. I don't drink or smoke anyway but is there anything else I should be doing?

I've had a read through a lot of threads but still trying to figure out a lot of the abbreviations - FRER, etc. 🙈 I'll get there 😊

Thanks for reading, just wanted to introduce myself x

Morning @LokiCat

My cycles are pretty regular, with O on CD13 and a 12 day LP. So today is CD11 for me, and my BBT app is like: “yo, you ovulate in 2 days, y’know. Fancy giving me some LH?”
Well, ok, it doesn’t quite put it like that, but I’m delirious as have been up early for the train 😂
Just not sure why CB isn’t even giving me a flashing smiley yet.
I’m sure it’ll happen, but I’m so surprised that it’s not today, and its just set me off on a tangent of worrying.

And don’t beat yourself up about putting weight on, it’s a massively stressful time, and I don’t know one person who doesn’t emotionally eat!

Morning ladies! Was so bloody tired after I got home yesterday that I collapsed and was out by 9pm! Hope you all had a good night!

@Lozzlepop have an amazing holiday!!

@ELW85 ah sorry for negative OPK, you still have tomorrow - stay positive! Are your ovulation days always the same (just wondering why you think it'll be on Friday)?

@MrsEG I admire your dedication to staying fit! I really need to get back in to it.. I'm the heaviest I've ever been and I don't think it's helping with TTC. My biggest downfall is my sweet tooth, I just can't say no to chocolates and desserts!! 🙈 it's pathetic, I know!
Don't beat yourself up about enjoying your birthday (bless your DH with his response!). Hopefully it'll all be fine.

@purplefig I had a really restless nights sleep Monday night and I'm wondering if that caused the huge spike yesterday morning, as it's gone down slightly again today, so I'm choosing to not include yesterday's temp.
Fx it's due to the sleep and you're still on track 🤞🏽

@FlapJackered glad your pains have gone! Hope AF isn't showing up for you 🤞🏽

Have a lovely day all 😊

Well after being so bloody positive yesterday, I have negative CB OPKs even though I’m meant to O on Friday.
The only thing I can think is that I’m maybe exercising a bit too hard. No idea, but feeling so frustrated.

@MrsEG - be kind to yourself; you enjoyed your birthday and couldn’t have known it was around O. And your husband’s response is hilarious 😂
Also - thanks for the tip on Chernobyl; had been looking for something new to watch!

@purplefig - keep your head up, my dear :) you’re certainly not out yet!! Temps are a super-hard thing to get consistent all of the time.

@MrsEG good idea! I will ask the consultant I am seeing in a few weeks too. Then we can go with the most common answer from the medical professionals! 😂
Urgh the jelly belly is so annoying isn't it! I mean what even is it? And why does it hang around?

@FlapJackered I have the post-MC jelly belly too!! I’m desperate to rid myself of it all the Galaxy hasn’t helped either! It is a strange one. I actually have some accupuncture now booked in for next Tuesday so maybe I’ll ask her!! Will ask my consultant on Thurs too (I ask absolutely every medical professional I see - I like the reassurance!!) I know for IVF patients they are told to just swim/yoga etc but as far as I’ve heard for natural conception just keep going!