TTC First Baby Thread 22

It's like 50 mins by the way so a proper watch.

@MIW01 no worries, really try not to overly read into it though. just think it's good you are doing smep but that's still not a guarantee.

I watched this documentary on YouTube 'the great sperm race' may seem weird at first but I found it soo interesting and actually a comfort because those experts acknowledge it really is difficult for sperm to catch that egg and that everything has to be just so.

@Kiza tomato puree is a new 1 on me!

And @orangeloo sorry I forgot to tag you earlier I know this is having a big impact on you too.

Thank you @Makeafamily19 and @Larrydavid I can't emphasise enough how reassuring that is. I think I'm just feeling a bit overly anxious about it all after reading about SMEP being so successful first time round for so many and watching fertility Ted Talks! (That was silly). I don't think there's enough honest conversation about it not working, people just don't talk about this stuff!

@Kiza with you with the contrived and forced. Everything about ttc is hard and I hate the forced ness of fertile window sex but there is just no choice. I think I might take December off tracking and do it whenever. Feel the need for a bit of time off. Also think my desire for a baby won't actually allow this though haha.

@MIW01 totally with you on this one! DP is also eating a tablespoon of tomato purée daily due to the lycopene apparently being great for his swimmers. Trying to keep SMEP fun and light hearted is so difficult as often it can feel contrived and forced

@MIW01 it took me 4 cycles of SMEP (plus an extra two cycles of almost-smep like DTD) to get pregnant. I reckon it definitely improves your chances but still only to about 30% per cycle. I don't know if this is helpful or not but I know how hard it can be to feel like everyone doing their first round of smep falls pregnant straight away. Keep at it x

@MIW01 I'm cycle 5 and have done SMEP the last 3 cycles so I'm with you on that one but it still doesn't guarantee anything :( so I wouldn't say something is wrong just because you have followed SMEP and haven't got a BFP.

Ugh it's such a pain. Having said to everyone else how important it is not to stress, I'm stressing! We've done SMEP for 2 cycles now and tbh we are pretty on it with DTD during fertile window and some most of the time!

I know we missed last month fertile window cause of campylobacter but we've even stepped up an extra notch DTD while AF is here as she stays around 7 days in total so started SMEP CD4 just to make sure we weren't missing any opportunity!

Honestly, if it doesn't happen for us this month I'll be really concerned as I've been reading up and most people doing SMEP who don't have issues make it happen for them! This month is cycle 5. Today is CD 14. AF is due 13 November.

Thanks @Lottiepink 21 day bloods are called that as based on standard 28 day cycle. Should be 7 days after you ovulate- whenever that maybe. Most GP's don't acknowledge this I think. So yeah prob will work out better In The end. Good luck

Thanks @MIW01 and @orangeloo

I couldn't go yesterday in the end, my boss had a meeting arranged that I couldn't get out of, I'm going to have to try and go tomorrow. Which isn't ideal for day 21 bloods but with me ovulating later it might be better in the end?!

@orangeloo aww no sorry for rgr BFN, still early to test tho, don't let it ruin your day!

@MIW01 it's just not fair sometimes is it 😕

@Lottiepink did they manage to get your bloods yesterday?

Felt like I had loads of symptoms and have been needing to wee very frequently so I caved and POAS at 9DPO this morning BFN. Whhyyy What a day ruiner. On the other hand I thought my hopefulness and symptom spotting was taking over my days and almost felt like I needed a reality check now so I'm not to devastated when AF comes. what a rollercoaster. Dreams every night that I was pg too

Oh sorry to hear about the bloods fiasco @Lottiepink nightmare! Hope it's successful next time. There's no guarantee about the length of the road but whichever roads you take the journey will hopefully mean you arrive at the same destination!

As mentioned before my family are fertility factories so I had no idea this TTC malarkey would be so difficult! I hope everyone gets their wish eventually.

Evening ladies,

Sorry I have missed quite a lot of posts over the weekend was out having a Lovely time with my best gals lunching drinking wine and cocktails- the perks of not TTC 😂

How is everyone doing? What have I missed?

@orangeloo @Kiza @MIW01 thank you so much!

I feel better having started the route but I just feel there's going to be a long road ahead, but who knows! Went for first bloods this morning and they couldn't do that as my veins are a nightmare... always have been, no idea why, so back tomorrow 😕 any ideas what could help? Other than plenty of fluids, I drink lots of water anyways.. hopefully tomorrow is a better day!

Hope you all had a fab weekend!

@orangeloo I was totally the same last month thinking we've done everything right with the supps, had a chilled month with lots of fun and laughter, work had thankfully been easy for both of us and we completed SMEP successfully. I was then really annoyed when AF arrived 🤦🏼‍♀️
I think the hardest thing is that it's completely out of our control!
@MIW01 sounds like a great weekend! Glad you had such a good time

Hey all. I'm half way through my tww. Started spotting yesterday as per so don't think realistically it's gonna be my month again. However before I started spotting I was soooo hopeful and convinced this was the time. Anyone else get like that every tww? I convince myself it's gonna be the month but when I'm not in tww I think it will be so easy to stay realistic and not get excited that this is it.

Welcome back @Lottiepink got everything crossed for you.

Lol position of the day @orangeloo @Kiza

Welcome @Bestronger enjoy the journey! Sometimes easier said than done.

As for the drinking thing. It's better not to drink alcohol, caffeine, co some lots of sugar and processed food, exercise 3 times a week etc. But if all that is unsustainable, causes stress and means you'll live a miserable existence, I don't think it will be helpful. I believe finding a balance is best.

We went to a friend's wedding last night so yes I did drink and eat processed crap and missed a work out but I had a great time! And we got to DTD in a hotel room and really make the most of the night away

Hi @Lottiepink welcome back. Taking a break is always good if it's what you need.
How do you feel now you've got the testing underway?

@Makeafamily19 glad I am not only one! Yeah I won’t be drinking much either as it is not worth a risk. Enjoy your night!

@Bestronger I was trying to find this out too as I'm going for someone's leaving drinks tonight and I'm in the TWW. I found some info that suggested it can increase risk of miscarriage even early on but then lots of info that said it's fine until the placenta develops. So who knows?? I think I'm just only going to have 1 or 2 drinks. I'm not a big drinker anyway. Really don't want to risk it not implanting or something if there's a chance it could have caught!

@orangeloo Really? how fascinating is that - I am taking in a lot from MN and google and it is really interesting how this works

I won't go too mad with booze but I will go ahead with couple of drinks

Welcome back @Lottiepink glad you've got the ball tolling with tests.

@Bestronger even if you were pregnant and didn't know it, the foetus isn't attached to your blood supply until about week 5 I believe. so in moderation, personally I would say go for it.

Hi guys - don't mind me jumping on this boat as I am TTC too (just started this week)!

I got a question (hope I don't sound stupid) but do you think it is okay to drink while TTC as it is my friend's bday this weekend and we are going out for meal and few drinks. My DP thinks it should be okay but I am not sure if it is worth a risk...

Morning everyone,

Sorry if I missed any BFP's, congratulations if so 😊

I've not really been posting for a while, or checking the thread, I took a break away from the whole situation as I think we needed it.

Back into it all now, I was delaying going to the doctors and should have done it sooner to be honest, but we were doing well keeping calm and I knew going would start to add to the stress. But I've been and booked in for first bloods next week. DH is going to get his SA kit next week (he couldn't make my first app and kinda felt like I needed to get things straight in my head first anyways) So least we now have the ball rolling!

Hope you are all well!